Out of Africa

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by hrissim

Hi Phil!
I`m so sorry for your troubles with this virus - there is nothing to do to avoid those invisible troublemakers. We are lucky enough to live in the times with the medicine developed to cope with.
But the things are going better with you - this is the most important thing!

What about me - similar troubles but in the mental direction. Last June I lost my job and for my bad I went into deep depression. So deep that I lost my passion in everything even to the mountains. In weeks I sat at home. And do you know what was keeping me alive? - the Internet, literally. I was travelling around the world including Africa by reading and watching written hitchhiking blogs of two independent Bulgarian travelers. Notice - the one is a girl ~30 years old who travels alone sleeping in tent and did circle of Africa starting from Bg - Turkey, Syria just before the war, Jordanian, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia... South Africa,... Angola,..., Nigeria, ... Mali /during the conflict/,... Marocco -Europe, Bg.
She is describing her adventures almost for every day. And I was reading and watching pictures with the next tab open Google maps and Street View. Fantastic. She also did Central and South America circle, to Indonesia and back, with bicycle to the most North point of continental Europe and back...
Now she is somewhere in the Middle East to Iraq.

The other ones are a couple that travel the same way - for almost 4 years to Fiji islands and back. Again describing all - day by day with pictures and info.
The interesting thing is that they are now in Israel - their current aim is to reach Mozambique for ~ 6 months. Here you are able to see some of their past adventures in English.

I`m glad that I know them both - they become my friends now as I met them in Bg.

Now I`m OK - recovered and driving both my 75`s with the previous pleasure

Cheers


Waiting for your pictures,
Ico

Hristo, you have done well to pull yourself out from the depths of depression, it can't have been easy. I have always maintained how mental illness is worse than a physical illness. Hopefully you will get back to work and play, doing what you love best. Take good care.

I have taken a few photos and waited for a break in the weather, as we have had torrential rain and floods across Kenya over the past month. Fortunately, we are high up on volcanic rock and not affected.

Lily the pink by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Tricolour Orchids (1 of 1) by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Orchids in the garden (1 of 1) by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

A Bulbul visits the Coelus forskohlii by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Bulbul (1 of 1) by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

[Gate Keeper]

African Paradise Flycatcher by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

Seen in the garden today, an African Paradise Flycatcher, an adult male. The female has a shorter tail

[Gate Keeper]

A Variable Sunbird tucks into a flower, its leaves are commonly known in Kenya as Kikuyu toilet paper....thank you for liking the photos.


Variable Sunbird tucks into Coleus forskohlii by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

[Gate Keeper]

Some recent visitors to the garden over Christmas.....



African Queen by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr



Dark Blue Pansy by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr



Rose chafers by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr



Narrow green-banded swallowtail by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr



Narrow Green Band Swallowtail by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr



striped seedeater (1 of 1) by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

[Gate Keeper]

Seen in a hedge today, an African Queen, a wingspan 65-75mm, beautiful and elegant.



African Queen by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

[Gate Keeper]

Seen yesterday in the garden, a 'Little Commodore' butterfly......



Junonia Sophia - Little Commodore by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

[Bluejon]

Poetry,shear Poetry in pictures Phil,absolutely superb.

Jan & I sincerely hope 2020 will bring both Jessica & Yourself much happiness,good fortune & good Health.

Keep up the good work,take care of yourselves until hopefully we may be able to meet up again

Best Wishes.....John & Jan.

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by Bluejon

Poetry,shear Poetry in pictures Phil,absolutely superb.

Jan & I sincerely hope 2020 will bring both Jessica & Yourself much happiness,good fortune & good Health.

Keep up the good work,take care of yourselves until hopefully we may be able to meet up again

Best Wishes.....John & Jan.

Thank you Jan and John, a very happy and healthy New Year to you both from Jessica and I. Thank you for the encouragement. I really like how you present your photos and how you frame each one with much skill and thought.

I took this photo a couple of days ago of a Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, one of a pair. Quite a noisy large bird, makes a baying sound announcing its presence. In the photo, the light was bad and the bird was at 12 O'clock high....when I moved to get a better shot, it flew away.



Silvery-cheeked Hornbill by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

[Gate Keeper]

We are visiting Nanyuki for the week. Yesterday I went to visit a mechanic in the town, 145 miles north of Nairobi. The mechanic has a 1974 Ford Cortina 2000 in his yard roadworthy. He was telling me he just sold a Ford Prefect to an enthusiast. The Prefect needs a bit of work. The mechanic was happy for me to take some photos of his house and his Cortina.....

[Odd Job]

Is that a Daihatsu Charade next to the Cortina?