my mid week break

friday afternoon,...back home city skyline in the distance


azad at the poolside


enjoying the pool, hazeyview


this is for the indian parks board, ranthambore national park,..is an embarrasment,...no facilities, this is the loo at mac,mac falls...it is clean.


my boys at mac mac falls


mac mac falls


mac mac falls, the mist rolling in


view from the chalet door as the mist rolled in


moth in our chalet,...hazeyview


natural beauty of the park


crocodile sunning himself


family bonding


hippo grazing near a watering hole


camouflaged by the indigenous grasses and the accacia trees


2nd of the big 5...buffalo


water buck


his majesty, the african elephant


first sighting in the park...zebra's


paul kruger, at the entrance to the kruger national park
how long this remains, is yet to be seen


through the mountain pass, zasm...in the distance portable loo being delivered somewhere


the highlands, reaching mpumalanga


azad, diving for arshads milk shake the first pit stop


the long and winding road


through the car window...gold mine dumps, as we drive out of jhb

i am once again, thoroughly in love with this beautiful country, despite our political agro,...and the things i lament about constantly, crime, bureaucracy,stupidity, God has truly created a piece of paradise in this land, my fervant wish is that we have the brains and will to keep it beautiful for all time.

i took azad on his first vacation without mum and dad, well really four days, the country side was magical and the kruger national park was a sight to see, we travelled to hazey view in mpumalanga, a five hour drive from johannesburg, the little guy was a champion traveller, he will be learning to swim before he speaks, he loved the swimming pool, so this aunt is determined, to see the little skinny one floating about on his own.

my highlight was the weekend spent in umdloti, i have posted pics before, it was truly a sublime, rose tinted ending to a relaxed and lovely week, i am know wondering, why i did not do this before. walks on the beach,swimming in the warm indian ocean,....sharing home cooked meals with someone special,.....mmmmm. it was magical and i loved it all. being the commitment phobe that i am,...i am truly surprised by the spontaneity of a weekend at the sea, it was indulgent and fun, and surely a must do again, scenario.

with all that in mind, hope you enjoy the pictures of my beloved country, green,lush and verdant, the summer rains, have created a magical beauty out of the highlands.