For the Love of Winter! Maine!

Most of us think of escaping to the tropics during the harsh and dark months of winter.  However, there are those hardy souls that love the arctic spirit and turn winter into a wonderland of festivals, sports, frozen fantasies, and fun.  For these wonderful people who make the rest of us look like wimps, I give you Maine.



I give you Greenville, Maine.  This is the land of what happens in the north woods.  This place is fabulous 365 days a year.  In the winter in Greenville and the greater Moosehead Lake region, there are so many wonderful and unusual activities that you will never be bored and you will never feel like you are locked in the house.  West Cove Racing starts the end of January and goes through February each year.  This is where the men and the boys separate, as they race cars right on the frozen lake.  And if you think that's the only thing that goes on out there, you're so wrong.  Each January there is the commemorative snow machine ride up the the old B52 site to mark the anniversary of the plane crashing there back in the 60's.  Moosehead Lake is also ground zero for great cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, snow shoeing, and hunting.  In February, there is a weekend chocolate festival for your entertainment as well.



I would be remiss if I forgot to mention that there are several notable ski resorts in Maine.  You have Sunday River, Bigrock, Black Mountain, and Sugarloaf to name a few.  All of them have great skiing and great accommodations.  All of them have entertainment.  All of them are a good time, but I have to mention Sugarloaf separately here.



Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel is a premiere location.  This year they've added a 30 person outdoor hot tub so that guests can enjoy a Nordic experience with up to 29 of the closest--or not--friends.  It's another unique experience for the northern adventurer.  Also, at Sugarloaf each January they have White White World Week.  This is your chance to be crowned king or queen of the resort.  There are theme contests all week for the competition and everyone there has a lot of fun.



Auburn, Maine is home to some hearty souls and every January they have a wonderful winter festival.  There are playgrounds made of snow, ice sculptures to wander through and admire, all kinds of entertainment, pond hockey, and yes, they do really race bicycles down snowy slopes.  They also race decorated cardboard boxes, and they have a paintball biathalon.  There's a lot of action, great food, friendly folks, and family entertainment at this one.

 

If you've ever wanted to try out an Olympic sport, come on out to Belfast and try it.  The curling club there has all kinds of leagues, lessons, and open time to try out this surprisingly fun sport.  Make sure you bring an open mind and you will have a great time.



Acadia National Park is the easternmost national park in the country, and is a beautiful spot in the winter.  If you think that Cadillac Mountain is gorgeous in the summer, you should see it in a slight blanket of snow.  Acadia is beautiful in winter and you can go cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and horseback riding.  It's a lot of fun with wonderful scenery.



If you like horses, you could head on down to Lisbon in February for the World's Greatest Sleigh Ride.  This festival every year brings out all kinds of Belgian Draft Horses and tons of sleighs.  It's a weekend of sleigh rides and snowmobile racing with a festival on the side.  It's a lot of fun, and a great winter experience.



If you like the country atmosphere with sleigh rides and draft horses, there are farms and lodges around that provide this entertainment all winter long.  Northern Heights Farms in Waterford is just one of the many places where you can have your mini adventure with horses and sleighs for a wonderful winter experience.



Portland isn't the capital of Maine, but some say it should be, because everyone knows of it.  This blog has always been Adventures For Anyone.  So, if there isn't enough of for anyone and everyone there's always Portland.  It may be winter there and the winds off the Atlantic may be bitter and biting, but there's a town that just never slows down sitting right there on the shore.  Portland is a great place to eat with extraordinary restaurants all over town.  It's a great central spot along the coast, so you can do a lot of things with this as your hub.  And they have the Ice Bar at the Harbor Hotel.  The Ice Bar is seasonal, it is outside, and it is cold.  The decor is ice, the art is ice and even the glasses are ice.  There is entertainment and it's a lot of fun.  So, if you're hearty enough, come on out in the cold, have a drink and a dance and a really great time.

 





 

If you've ever wanted to take the plunge and embrace winter rather than hiding from it, take this time and come to Maine where winter is the best time of year.  America's Vacationland is at it's best in the cold.  So, come and enjoy the festivals, the sports, the entertainment, the food, the sparkling nights, the one of a kind adventures and by all means, the view.  Maine is one of the best places to spend the coldest part of the year, because it comes with some of the warmest hearted folks.  You cannot have a bad time in Maine.  I've tried, and failed many times.
Enjoy!

http://www.indianhill.com/event.php?B-52-Commemorative-Ride-104
http://cozymoose.com/greenville-maine-snow/
http://www.cross-countryski.com/maine.html
http://sundayriver.com/winter/mountain-report
http://www.skiblackmountain.org/
http://www.bigrockmaine.com/
http://www.sugarloaf.com/activities-and-nightlife/events/white-white-world-week
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http://www.teamsideline.com/Org/Home.aspx?d=PHPFRdXlc4Vz4ma9Znzu7w%3d%3d
http://www.teamsideline.com/Assets/196/winterfest_bro_2014_v1h.pdf
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http://www.portlandmaine.com/
http://www.belfastmaine.org/
http://www.lisbonme.org/
http://www.auburnmaine.com/
http://www.belfastcurlingclub.org/
http://bangordailynews.com/slideshow/sights-from-the-worlds-greatest-sleigh-ride/
http://www.high-view-farm.com/our-farm/
http://www.northernheightsfarm.com/index.html
http://www.pinetreesociety.org/snowmobile.asp
http://www.sugarloaf.com/vacation-planning/lodging-options/sugarloaf-mountain-hotel
http://westcoveiceracing.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html

Orangutans...In Sumatra

In recent years, the idea of going to Indonesia has become slightly less popular for a lot of people with us Americans heading the list.  Terrorism has seemed to flourish there if you pay attention to the news that you see on cable.  The question that I always ask myself is whether or not everyone there is a terrorist.  The answer of course is no.  That's why I look past the terrorists and see the people in a place like Bukit Lawang, Sumatra.



Bukit Lawang is in North Sumatra.  Where is that?  Well, North Sumatra is easy enough.  Sumatra is the fifth largest island in the world, and it sits in the middle of Indonesia, northwest of Borneo and New Guinea.  It's really not far from Singapore either.  It is famous for it's volcanoes, tsunamis, and rain forests which are being cut down as we share this time together.  Padang is the capital of North Sumatra, and that is where you would fly in and out of.  To go to Bukit Lawang from there you have to take a tour.  Don't bother with that independent spirit that I'm always talking about on this one.  Just look into it and take a tour.  There are some places that even I don't go alone.



I won't lie to you.  Bukit Lawang is nothing much to look at.  It's a shabby little village with the laundry hanging out and a rickety bridge over the rushing river.  It floods in the wet season, and there are no McDonalds around.  There are no paved streets, trains or taxis.

 

Bukit Lawang is becoming famous for their eco lodges.  That's what you'll find here.   This is a place where you go to commune with nature and not destroy it.  There are several eco lodges in the area that are comfortable, quiet and fabulous.  This is where you will most likely stay if you take a trip to this area.



If you love nature, this is your trip.  If you've ever wanted to visit the jungle, this is a great place to do so.  Most people come here to come to Gunung Leuser National Park, and see nature at it's finest.  Gunung Leuser National Park covers 950,000 hectares of North Sumatra.  That's a pretty good chunk of the land of that area.  There are elephants, tigers, hundreds of bird species, hundreds of animal species, thousands of plant species, and who knows what else that can be seen in that park.  But, this is a guide to unique destinations.  What is it that is so special that this place is being listed as an Adventure for Anyone?




I could have picked this spot for any number of reasons.  I could have picked it for the local culture, the eco tourism or the fact the Lake Toba is the deepest lake in the world.  I could have picked it for the volcanoes, the waterfalls, the caves, or the temples.  But that's not what got me.



I picked this wonderful tropical exotic location because of the Orangutans.  The Sumatra Orangutan is an extremely endangered species with approximately 6,600 of them left in the world.  It is illegal to harm them in any way at this point, as organizations try to repopulate them in the wild.  Orangutans are the largest of the tree dwellers, and most of us have seen them on television or in movies over the years.

 

What most people don't know is that these poor animals are trapped in the wild and forced into a life of captivity and performance.  They are abused by the people who pay to have them kidnapped from their home, and they are then rescued and returned to Sumatra where they need to be rehabilitated and returned to the wild to live free.  That's what they do at the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Bukit Lawang in Gunung Leuser National Park.  This is where this very worthwhile work goes on.  What does this mean to the tourist?



Well, I say go and learn something and have a great time doing it.  This park is the place where you can see these magnificent creatures in the wild.  There are areas of serious rehab work going on where the tourists are not allowed, but there are parts where the tourists are welcome.  And twice a day, if you go to the feeding area, you can see the people who care for these rehabbing Orangutans feed them.  It's a great experience.  You do not get to jump in or help.  I will tell you that.  Orangutans are large primates and they are wild.  They trust their human helpers, but they don't necessarily want to meet every person that happens by.  But the experience here is something that you just can't get anywhere else.  This is a little window into what these great animals think of their surroundings and the humans that try to help them.  It's the closest look that you'll get of these great monkeys.  It's well worth the trip.  It is a one of a kind experience.

 

North Sumatra is amazing and gorgeous.  It's not the easiest place to travel.  The roads are dirt, the villages are small, the conveniences are few and far between.  But if you want to go somewhere and commune with nature, I can't think of a better spot.  If you want to see good people doing good work with orphaned and abused Orangutans, this is the best place to see it.  It's one of a kind, and it's well worth the journey.  So, don't worry about terrorists night and day.  Take some time, travel around the world, and see some majestic primates living the life that they deserve.
Enjoy!

http://www.sumatranorangutan.org/
http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/53/bukit-lawang
http://orangutanislands.com/bukit-lawang-orangutan-reserve.htm
http://www.sumatra-indonesia.com/gunungleuser.htm
http://www.sumatra-indonesia.com/BukitLawang.htm
http://www.jungleinnbukitlawang.com/home.html
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http://www.sumatraecotourism.com/bukitlawang/index.html
http://www.sumatra-indonesia.com/padang.htm
http://travellinginindonesia.com/padang-sumatra.html
http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/north-sumatra/toba_lake.html
http://www.medanku.com/lake-toba-north-sumatra/
http://www.sumatra-indonesia.com/index.htm
http://www.eldertreks.com/tour/ETTD000431
http://www.adventureindonesia.com/sumatra-ou-sibayak.html
http://www.sumatraecotourism.com/orangutan.html
http://www.realadventures.com/listings/1266836_Orangutan-Adventure-In-North-Sumatra
http://orangutanexplore.com/bukit-lawang-jungle-inns-north-sumatra-indonesia.html
http://www.sumatra-indonesia.com/BukitLawang.htm
http://www.hotelsinmedan.com/medan-tours/medan-orangutans/index.html
http://www.orangutan.org/our-projects/rehabilitation/orangutan-care-center
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://ninakindred.wix.com/ninakindredgroup
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred
http://www.sumatratours.com/
http://www.orangutan.travel/
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings

Go South For the Winter...To Key West!

 Okay, Christmas and New Year's have passed.  We're all sitting here in the midst of storm Hercules or Bethany, depending on exactly where in the country you are standing at the time.  I know it's a cliche' but it's time to head to Florida.  I don't normally go for the idea of the tropical thing, but Key West is different, and the Overseas Highway that you drive to get there is one of the most scenic drives in the whole country.  It's 124 miles of amazing driving, vistas, and a whole lot of water.  It's one of the few places on Earth where you can feel more like you're captaining a boat than driving your car, even while you're driving it.  Beat that.



We've all seen pictures of the cement buoy that sits at the southernmost point in the US.  We've all heard about Ernest Hemingway's house and all the cats that call it home.  We've heard about the bars, the bikini's and the booze.  All good things, but there's more there than that.



In Key West, you can ride around on the Conch Tour Train.  That may seem like some cutsie tourist thing, but it's one of the remnants of a rebellious time in Key West.  April 23, 1982 Key West seceded from the US and proclaimed themselves The Conch Republic.  It was a short lived protest against a border blockade that was inhibiting their tourism in Key West, but it stuck.  It has been a part of the culture of the island since, and every year on April 23, they celebrate their Independence Day.  The event turned out to be a great boost in tourism, and you can even pay to be the honorary leader of the Conch Republic for the day if your heart desires.



But, in addition to comically being their own country, Key West has a lot of things that you wouldn't normally think of.  They have Fort Jefferson.  That's right, an American fort sitting right on the coast of the island.  It's historic in a traditional sense, which is something that Key West is not nearly as famous for.  In fact there are a lot of family friendly things to do in Key West.  There are several companies there that will take you boating, fishing, sailing, and out to see dolphins.  Key West is a premier dolphin viewing area.

 

Some of the best reef diving is available in Key West.  It's one of the top reasons that people come to visit, but in 2009 they got one reason more to come and dive off Key West.  In 2009 the General Hoyt S. Vandenberg was sunk off the coast to create more reef.  Now, it's a great place to go wreck diving.  You can go in and out of the giant ship, while it helps to improve the ecosystem in the area.



Key West Butterfly Conservatory is one of the most popular places to visit.  It's a wonderful place to go and see beautiful butterflies from all over the world in a natural habitat.  It's always a great time when traveling with the kids.

 

Another thing that nature provides in Key West is the sunset.  Mallory Square is the place where everyone gathers at sunset and relaxes to watch Mother Nature's most beautiful show.  It's a custom in Key West to stop in the evening and watch something that most of us don't even think about on a daily basis, but then again, maybe we don't have the kind of sunsets that they have in Key West.



So, there are many things to do in Key West.  They also have beaches, boardwalks, and parks.  There's a lot to do there, but it's a very laid back environment.  People there seem to worry a little less, get angry a little less, get bored a little less, and smile a lot more.  It's warm in more ways than one.  And, if you have a little bit of a different lifestyle they don't mind.  There are a lot of writers, artists, eco people, and alternatives running around Key West, and they fit in just fine.  It's the melting pot that we've all heard about as a country, but it really exists in Key West.

 

I think that the most common perception of Key West in the modern age is the drag queens.  Gay and Lesbian travel is extremely popular in Key West.  It's all part of the open and accepting lifestyle that everyone lives there.  If you like the cabaret style drag queen show, stop in at 801 Bourbon Bar and see the group that is so famous that there are books and documentaries about them.  All of the travel shows have visited this bar and hung out with the lovely ladies.  It's a once in a lifetime chance to have some great fun and meet a bunch of wonderful ladies that put on a really great show.  Remember, this one is not for the whole family, but it is a lot of fun.



So, if you're bored with the snow.  If the white Christmas is over and the crystallized water that makes everything look so nostalgic for the holidays is losing its luster, think about heading for the border.  Stop in at Sloppy Joe's and have a drink.  Take a walk on the uninhibited wild side and check out the free spirits that inhabit the Conch Republic.  Take a look at the world from a different point of view.  Check out a place that is either forward thinking for the time, or a place left behind in time.  Sometimes it's difficult to tell which way it really works there.  Take the time to meet a revolutionary, or a guy that looks like a girl.  And by all means, take the time to take the drive out scenic Route 1, the Overseas Highway.  Take your time and slow down enough to truly appreciate a gorgeous sunset.  Do some things that you never thought you would do.  Let your hair down and go to the southernmost point in the country just to dangle your feet in the warm water that makes you forget that your pipes at home are frozen.
Enjoy!

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http://www.historickeywestinns.com/the-inns/special-suites/hemingway-suite/
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http://www.keywesttours.us/?ctt_id=1735933&ctt_adnw=Google&ctt_ch=ps&ctt_entity=tc&ctt_cli=11x23045x69412x514070&ctt_kw=key%20west%20Tours&ctt_adid={creative}&ctt_nwtype=search
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http://www.zazzle.com/imagings

Spend New Year's Abroad in Budapest!

I know this one may sound a little nuts, but I've been and it's a great way to spend your New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.  There's something magical about the enthusiasm that the Hungarians have for New Year's.  It could be that they're still thoroughly enjoying the fact that they are no longer Soviet bound.  It could be that they've always been big on looking to the future.  It could be that it's just a great excuse to go out and party.  I don't know what it is, but Hungary is a great place to celebrate New Year's and Budapest is the zenith of it all.



In Hungary it's called Szilveszteri or Silvester's Name Day.  The city of Budapest closes most of it's doors for the day at noon.  There are cruises on the river, parties all around town, and fireworks at midnight.  There are streets full of people.  You can't find a more festive place.



Hungarians look to the future.  In the older times, they used to burn a straw character to leave the old year behind them.  They go and have their futures told.  They eat pork for luck.  I once went to a party where they came around just after midnight and had us pull a piggy's tale and make a wish for the new year.  They have many traditions and many superstitions, and I loved learning them all.  It's one of the best cultural experiences I ever had.

 

The Chamber Concert at the Danube Palace is probably the most traditional way to spend the evening in Budapest.  It's the one thing that the whole city knows about and everyone goes to sometime.  However, if you want to go to a party, visit any hotel, any club, half the parks, and the Fisherman's Bastion area of Castle Hill.  There are parties all over the place.  Just make sure you're in sight of the river skies at midnight to enjoy all the fireworks.  They are spectacular.



The Hungarians celebrate Szilveszteri everywhere.  They even have a bash at the Szechenyi Baths.  There's pretty much no place that you can go that is not celebrating this magical night.

The great thing about Budapest is that it is a great place to visit on a regular day.  Castle Hill alone is worth the trip.  Cruising along the Danube is one of the greatest experiences you'll have in a city in your life.  Budapest is a wonderful amazing place full of secret caves from WWII, gypsy fortune tellers, and amazing architecture and beautiful views in general.  The Hungarian people are friendly and love to meet new people.  And if you've never had a traditional Hungarian Goulash, you need to make a stop in this city.



I'll take more time to talk about Budapest in the future, but I didn't want to miss out on making a great New Year's recommendation.  Been there, done that.  Trust me, it's a great time that you'll never forget.
Enjoy!

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The Pink Pig?

Here's one that I love for a last comment on Christmas for my season.  The Pink Pig is a beloved tradition in Atlanta.  In the parking lot at Lenox Square Mall is the Pink Pig that zooms around in a tent for all the kids to enjoy.



The Pink Pig Monorail was the first creation.  It was created in 1953 and was the ride of choice for a long time.  The monorail has now been retired, but it will never be forgotten.  It's cars are inside the tent for everyone to remember times of old by.


Now, why on Earth would anyone come up with a pink pig monorail for Christmas?  Who did this and why?  Well, the Pink Pig is the brainchild of Macy's, and they've been a proud sponsor of the Pink Pig since it's inception.



The Pink Pig has become one of the most popular holiday activities in Atlanta.  It runs from Thanksgiving to just after New Year's.  The best part is that a part of the proceeds are donated to Children'd Healthcare of Atlanta.  The proceeds have always been donated to the area's children's hospital and other pediatric facilities.  That's right folks, it's all for the kids.



Most traditions for Christmas have to do with Santa, elves, or religious events.  This is something truly original, and something that anyone would love.  It's for a great cause.  Kids are always worthy of our generosity.  Christmas is a time of giving, and this is a great way to give and give back.



I work for Walmart, and we donate money to the Children's Miracle Network, which supports Children's hospitals all over the country.  No matter what anyone has ever said about Walmart, they support the kids, and that's a great thing.  It's that time of year when we are bombarded with charities, as is mentioned in the hilarious song, "The Twelve Pains of Christmas."  So, after you've encountered the Salvation Army bell ringing people, the Toys for Tots people, the local police toy drive, the food drives at all the grocery stores, and everyone else that is asking for money this season; think it over.  Take your kids out for a really good time and also support a wonderful cause.

 

As usual, there are trinkets that you can buy to remember your visit.  There are buttons and all kinds of stuff that say "I rode the Pink Pig."  It is a full blown tourist like attraction.  Just remember, it's all about the kids and it's all about Christmas.  It's a unique tradition that has a history of doing a world of good for children.



We all end up at the mall during the Christmas rush.  There's no avoiding it, no matter how hard we try.  Why not come on down to Lenox Square, start a family tradition, and have a little fun while you muddle through the Christmas Shopping.

Merry Christmas!  Enjoy!

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Just in Case You Want to Get Away For Christmas

If you've ever wanted to get away for Christmas instead of hanging out with boring old family, then I have a spot for you.  It's not cold, and it's not snowy.  You won't see any evergreen trees.  You also may not have a clue where Santa is coming from.



Melbourne, Australia is home to some of the most festive Christmas celebrations around the globe.  Sure, Santa may be surfing instead of flying a sleigh with reindeer, but it's the amazing Christmas Festival that makes it great.  There are amazing light displays all over town, and you can get a map so you can find them all.  That's a convenience that I'm not used to.  We normally have to drive around the get lucky to see the really good ones.



The big difference between Christmas here in the states and Christmas in Australia is the fact that winter is summer down under.  The kids are on their school break like our kids are in the summer time.  It's really hot there and people are spending their time at the beach and having barbecues.  As a matter of fact, there is a new and different character symbolizing Christmas that is kind of catching on.  They call him Swag Man.  Now, my understanding of Swag Man is that he dresses for summer, drives a 4 wheel drive truck with his dingoes so that he can get around the outback.  I don't know if it will catch on or take over.  I think Santa is still safe.



It is somewhat custom to gather at the beach and have a seafood barbecue for Christmas.  It's hot that time of year in Australia, and it's a great way to gather family, friends and whatever for the holiday.  Imagine swimming and surfing for Christmas?  Don't forget to bring a tree, but it probably won't be real, because it's just not customary.  There also probably aren't a lot of evergreen trees in most parts of the country.



Now, let's revisit the lights.  Melbourne has a light display custom designed to show on their town hall.  It's a changing projection that is fascinating to watch.  It's the coolest light display I've ever seen.  The Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas pales in comparison to this one.  It's all Christmas, with animals, and animation.  It's a real treat.



The City Square is transformed into Christmas Square.  It's guarded by nutcracker soldiers, has a maze in it, and you can visit Santa in this neighborhood as well.  You may get a chance to see a Christmas Bush, Australia's second cousin to the Holly Bush.  There are so many festive things to see and do in the city at Christmas time.  It's not all about the shopping.




So, the lights are great.  Santa comes on a surfboard.  Many people celebrate with an outdoor barbecue of seafood.  There's tons of shopping and Christmas trees.  People take their kids to see Santa.  There are parades to welcome in the holiday.  There are many similarities, but there are many differences.  I mean Swag Man is a little different, but definitely Aussie.



Here's one.  It's called the Mistletoe Bridge.  It's also called the Kissing Bridge.  It's only called that at Christmas, but it's a very romantic place to give your sweetie a kiss.  Kissing under the mistletoe is a romantic tradition around the world.  In Melbourne, they've found the perfect site to put it in.



Here's the adventure for you.  It's called Carols by Candlelight, and it takes place yearly at the Sydney  Myer Music Bowl.  Thousands of people come to this event to sing Christmas Carols and enjoy the holiday.  It's a huge event every year.  People come from all over the country and all over the world to see and participate in this fabulous show.  Some of Australia's most noted singers perform on stage.



So, if you've had enough of ice and snow for Christmas and want to do something different without losing the holiday altogether, Melbourne is something really different, yet traditional.  You can pick up all your relatives like in Home Alone, or you can run like the wind to get away from them.  If you want something really different for your holiday, and you've had enough of your own family tradition, make a new one in Melbourne, Australia.  It's an experience you'll never forget.
Enjoy!

http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/australia.shtml
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/australia.html
http://www.santas.net/australianchristmas.htm
http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne_details.php?id=40844#.UqXtauJuG5I
http://www.chiff.com/christmas/christmas-australia.htm
http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/Whatson/Christmas/Pages/christmas-events.aspx
http://www.australia.com/about.aspx?channel=paid-search&tacampaign=us-local-fy2013-167-about-australia&campaign=167-about-australia&message=brand&publisher=yahoo&website=yahoo&adgroup=australia&keyword=australian%20attractions&matchtype=broad
http://www.melbourneholidaytours.com/
http://www.meridiantours.com.au/vacation_australia.htm
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html

Thank You, Nelson Mandela, You Will Not Be Forgotten But Revered For All Time

It's not often that real news touches me in a way that makes me write about it in this blog.  This blog is about travel, and Lord knows that Nelson Mandela stands for way more than that.  It's just that the conversion of South Africa from Apartheid to a far more free country happened within my lifetime, with the culmination of events happening at the dawn of the years when I was really paying attention.  My life has been touched by music and television as anyone of my generation.  We saw the birth of cable TV and MTV.  We were the generation that began watching CNN so we were able to see the Berlin Wall come down.  We were the generation that watched the Artists United Against Apartheid on MTV performing the song "Sun City."



I remember seeing Nelson Mandela make his first public appearance after his release from Robben Island Prison.  I remember watching clips of his meetings with President F. W. DeKlerk.  I remember watching him become the President of South Africa.  Those are some amazing memories that you don't get to have many times in one lifetime.



Younger generations are growing up with the view of South Africa of a beautiful place with exotic wild animals that you can see on safari, gorgeous coastlines, towering mountains, Tabletop Mountain, Johannesburg, and so many other attractions.  That's the way it should be.  I'm glad that South Africa has left behind it's violent and racist past to become a premier destination for the exotic traveler.  Sometimes I'm very glad to see the world change.



There are so many things to see in South Africa.  The idea that the place was tainted with the legalized racism that was Apartheid seems all but nonsense in this day and age.  With the passing of Nelson Mandela, I hope that there will be enough talk about all of the pain, suffering and sacrifice that made the place what it is today.

I will take some time now, and use this blog for what it was designed, and talk about some things that you should see if you go to South Africa.  The first place that comes to mind is Robben Island.  This island that lies with a view of Tabletop Mountain right off the coast has been many things over the years.  It's been a hospital for people suffering from things that the masses didn't want to spread.  It was used as a training defense station in World War II.  Once the National Party created Apartheid, which legalized what was already going on in the country, it became a prison, and several oppositionists were housed there for a very long time.  We all know that Nelson Mandela was housed there for 27 years.



Today Robben Island is open to the public.  Never forget.  That's the motto of this place, and well it should be.  Nelson Mandela changed the world by staying there.  He won.  His protests worked.  How many single men can we remember who changed the world without violence?  I think we can all count that number on one hand.  There are many things to see at Robben Island, and you will have the chance to talk to former inmates about their time in the prison, because they are the tour guides.  It's a unique experience where you really learn something.


Robben Island is a half hour ferry ride from the cape.  That gives it an Alcatraz effect.  You can sit in the cell  that Nelson Mandela lived in.  You can feel the history of a divided nation coursing through your soul.  I believe that we should all try and understand someone so dedicated.  The resolve of Nelson Mandela is something that I can't fathom.

 

The Apartheid system was regarded as  hostile and unjust by everyone the world over.  I remember watching "The American President"  with Michael Douglas as the President.  I remember a line that he said in this post Apartheid movie.  He said, "A system of government that so many people were against that it doesn't exist anymore."  It said it all.  "Sun City" was the song that brought the true sense of the conflict to the young people in America.  It made many kids check into the whole thing and find out what was really going on.  I didn't fully understand the scope of Apartheid until I read "Kaffir Boy", by Mark Mathabane.



Sun City was created as a luxury resort where white South Africans and others could go and bask in their own glory.  There was gambling and strip clubs which were illegal in the rest of the country.  The South Africans called the area Boputhuswana.  It was cited by others around the world as a place where the South Africans could practice illegal activities without penalty.  It was the Las Vegas of South Africa.  Today the stigma has lifted and Sun City is one of the premier resorts for people from all over the world.  It has massive hotels, great golf courses, Vegas style casinos, and of course the Sun City Superbowl which has headline entertainment.

 

The world has changed and South Africa has changed immensely.  I did want to mention these two spots for your travel bucket list, because they were so tied to the fight that the world had with the white South Africans and Apartheid.  With the victory of Nelson Mandela came a whole new country.  In one lifetime, most of us don't get to see something like that happen.  Thank you Nelson Mandela for making the amazingly beautiful country of South Africa more beautiful and far more accessible.  Thank you for making us all believe that change is possible.  Thank you for never giving up on your dream.

Come to Sun City, Robben Island, and the rest of this amazing country from Johannesburg, to the Drakensburg Mountains, to Tabletop Mountain, to Kruger National Park, to the Cape of Good Hope itself and see what makes this country worth fighting against the machine to protect.

Enjoy.

http://www.southafrica.net/country/us/en
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http://www.zazzle.com/imagings