AKL 20th Anniversary Trip, Very GAY, NOW COMPLETE!!!

What a great trippie! We are leaving in 19 days . . . not that I'm counting . . . :blush: Your report has given me an idea to secretly buy DH a nice bottle of Scotch for the trip and surprise him. I have been so busy thinking about the kiddos . . . but that is something he would really enjoy. As a connosieur, what would you recommend?
 
Hi, Viki,

Great trip report! I too was wondering how you managed to get down to Boma's, also my favorite restaurant. Dontch love Victoria Falls. I loved the picture of your niece. She is beautiful.
 
Hey Orlando Mike,

Could you come over to my house and pool? I need someone like you around....
 
You guys are wonderful! I love your attitude. Perspective is all and finding magic everywhere makes one's whole life magical. I am loving your report!
 

Hey Viki! Nice report! Now why is that I look like a fat deer in headlights in that pic? I look downright terrified or very confused. Perhaps it has something to do with the stories you both were regaling us with about how the two of you met? Hmmmmm.....?
 
Concerning the pic with the Dolewhip.......

The Ice Cream portion seems to have melted quite quickly.

Was it the heat of the day?

Or perhaps something was added to the drink?

Hmmmmmm :rotfl2:
 
WALLYb: My faithful supporter - prodder - and YOU are on YOUR way to AKL!!! :moped:
Can't wait to imbibe your next installment!
:rolleyes1
 
Hi, friends, I am back!

Unfortunately, I'm back because we've had a death in the family - my DP's grandmother - and we are on our way to the funeral, a celebration of her life and an opportunity for all of us to be comforted by our sure and certain faith in our eternal participation in the life of God. We are the ones who will miss her; she lived a great life, made it to 88, and wanted to "go home."

All of which is to say - I'll be back to this trip report by tomorrow!

Have a good one.
 
Im sorry for your and your DP's loss, I enjoyed when you say we are celebrating her life!
 
Wow Viki, that sucks :( My DGM passed in January, so I know how that is.

Rick, dont fret about that pic, all 3 of you look adorable :) Although now I want to hear the meet-up stories from Viki....LOL

Now I'm really mad I missed Rose and Crown...
 
DAY FIVE

TUESDAY
“Once you have stepped foot on the continent of Africa, it is hard to shake the dust from your boots.” Unknown

OK, this was my only rocky morning. I did not sleep well; I prefer to forget the details of the evening’s struggle to achieve a better and deeper slumber, but I do remember at 4 AM keeping company with three zebra, who were loudly munching their way through the savannah’s lush lawn.

Sometime past 9 AM I did rouse, worried that we might NOT beat House Keeping out of the room THIS morning (we did, but barely!) and decided that although I am NOT a breakfast person food, THIS morning, food would be medicinal.

Where, however, to eat? Well, it occurred to me, concierge is not all gifts, new best friends, and evening appetizer offerings. No, I do not mean that they commonly offer what some refer to as a “full” breakfast. Without the least hint of protein anywhere to be found in the morning offerings, I can hardly call it “full.” What I was thinking is that concierge might be able to score us Boma, no matter how crazy it was to get an ADR during free dining.

Sure enough, I picked up the phone, talked with one of our new best friends and had a 10:15 ADR to Boma before DP had even arisen.

Breakfast was wonderful, as always. We largely eschew the “American” offerings, and focus instead on the African-influenced food (we notice that lots of other folk, especially teens, pursue the opposite strategy – what a shame!). Yummy. All of it delightfully served by our CM Albert, who could not have been more solicitous.

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Continuing our rest and recuperation from the evening’s festivities, and after breaking our fast, we took to Uzima Pool and enjoyed several very hot hours before rousing ourselves, finally convinced that we had regained enough intestinal fortitude to brave the afternoon’s offering: our “private” Sunset Safari – bumpy jeep and all!

Cleaned up, we donned our “safari” garb,

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and headed out to meet our guide Megan,

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a biologist experienced in the area of elephant care and whose career goal is to become the manager of a zoo. Tim, who had been our Sunrise Safari guide, was our driver, and also joining us were two CMs, Michele, from South Africa, whose backyard back in SA includes two blue cranes, the national bird, and whose career goal is to become a manger of tourism and Kenta, from Botswana, whose goal is to work on a national animal preserve.

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This was a “private” safari, but it was super to have these additional companions who were so informative and excited that their one-year long internships were drawing to a close and both headed home –Ernie or NO! - on Sunday.

We shared with our companions that both DP and I had been trained as biologists. Indeed, DP still works as one and that was a happy coincidence because it meant that for the rest of the safari we could all throw around terms like “surface area” and “adaptive pressures.” (Read: we were a whole group of science GEEKS!).

It was, in fact, a most thorough safari. Here is a selection of the wildlife to which we were treated:

ANKOLE CATTLE: OK, the only AKL animal that is, in fact, domesticated. They can, however, brag their images on Egyptian pyramids.

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BLUE CRANE: National bird of South Africa, two of which live on Michele’s property back home.

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BLESBOK: Virtually extinct in the wild.

BONGO: Ghosts of the forest, very hard to spot in situ.

HELMETED GUINEA FOWL: Otherwise known as Mardy’s, the Zebra, favorite “playmates.”

PATTERSONN’S ELAND: Have been known to jump over each other from a standing start!

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RED RIVER HOGS: Highly social, live in groups called sounders, that contain up to 15 animals per group.

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RETICULATED (AND MONGROL) GIRAFFE: Mom and new baby are mixtures.


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Of course we also saw gazelle, zebra (including brown-maned Mardy!), kudu, impala, ostrich, and assorted other birds.

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My favorite two events were:

Seeing Mardy up close and hearing that she is indeed the bad girl of the “badboy” savannah.

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Apparently, she is the youngest of the four females and she is already exhibiting leadership qualities. That is, in the morning, when they ring the triangle to bring in all the animals for their morning feeding and count (you have to catch this on the corner of the Arusha savannah from 9:15-9:30 am – it’s like Noah’s ark!) Mardy rushes to be first at the gate and then begins whistling and snorting to get her “girls” to hurry up and meet her. Apparently, she is still befouled with failed leadership attempts – her “girls” are not quite as frisky, having achieved a greater age and being needful of greater respect. Simply put: they may still yet, but for right now, they are not following the baby – no matter how bossy she is!

Also delightful was the story about a group of REALLY smart birds – the name of which neither DP nor I can remember! –

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who are so smart that they’ve had to be temporarily removed from the Savannah. When we saw them they were lined up behind a gate, pacing back and forth, back and forth, looking way too smart for their own good. Apparently, before being banished, they developed a strategy of pursuing the Jeeps on the Sunset Safari that resulted in their being constant companions for the length of the trip, who could not be avoided or shaken. They will do ANYTHING for attention. ANYTHING!!! And, so, the strategy now is to train them to come into their pen before the safari begins. Good Luck. Oh, they’ll get the training, but then, I fear, they will discover ways around it. VERY SCARY BIRDS (think RAPTOR because, remember, modern birds are the evolutionary offspring of the dinosaurs!) Of course, being the professional troublemaker I am, I wish they would just SET THEM FREE!!!
 
Usually such a Sunset Safari would have ended in a family-style dinner at Jiko shared by all of its participants, but unfortunately Megan, Tim, Michele, and Kenta were just along for the ride, not the whole nine yards, so after sharing a safari respite of dried fruit, nuts, and meat, we bid our safari companions adieu.

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Our view from our table at Jiko.

At Jiko, DP and I enjoyed the family-style meal, with at least three servings of each course. Our server was Jeff, who was very liberal with the pourings of the wine pairings. Thank you, Jeff! And our chef was also wonderful, but I won’t name her because I want to pass on a few of the wisdoms she shared with us.

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First, she was very apologetic that the Jiko’s signature appetizer, the Firecracker, was not on the menu. This was a week of free dining and unfortunately WDW’s signature restaurants have felt sufficiently pressed by the economies of it, that they have temporarily removed “high-maintenance” items from their menus. This chef says that many free-diners, in search of the best deal, order the highest priced items on the menu, such as mussels at Flying Fish, only to find that they don’t even enjoy many of them. Frankly, I’m thinking this sounds a bit classist and not a little bit self-serving, but I appreciated her candor and she assured us these items would reappear as soon as free dining disappeared. Sigh … well, too late for us! Still, it’s good to always leave wanting more! Someday, a firecracker shall be mine!

THREE AFRICAN DIPS AND BREAD:

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JIKOS APPETIZER PLATTER:
LENTIL PASTILLAS WITH SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE
OPEN MAIZE AND SWEET POTATO TAMALES WITH WHITE TRUFFLE OIL
LAMB PATIS WITH MINT-CILANTRO CHUTNEY


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JIKO SORBET WITH HANGER ONE VODKA

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FAMILY STYLE SERVED DINNER TO SHARE:
OAK ROASTED FILET OF BEEF WTIH MAC AND CHEESE AND RED WINE SAUCE
CHERMOULA BASTED AND RAOSTED TANGLEWOOK CHICKEN WITH MASH POTATOES, OLIVES, ROASTED GARLIC, PRESERVED LEMONS, AND TUNISIAN CHUTNEY
PAN-ROASTED PACIFIC HALIBUT WITH VEGETABLES OF THE MOMENT AND TOMATO BEURRE BLANC

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Friends, I really don't like chicken. But the smashed potatoes with which they were served made EVERYTHING taste wonderful!

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Likewise, the macaroni and cheese is to die for!

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Isn't the fish dish beautiful?

JIKE DESSERT PLATTER:
PISTACHIO CREME BRULESS
FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE-MOCHA CAKE STACK
GREEN APPLE MASCARPONE "TRIFLE"

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The famous pistachio creme-brulee! Very good!

All things, of course, must come to an end and after an exhilarating safari and superb meal we made our way back to our rooms for a good 12-hour nap!
 
Viki,

Great trip report! A few questions: How was the pressed pot of Kenyan coffee at Boma? At Jiko, what was that hot pink stuff in the glasses (picture before the three entrees)? Sorbet, perhaps? Did you have the dessert wine (being it's so sweet)?

Kathy
 
John's Mom said:
Viki,

Great trip report! A few questions: How was the pressed pot of Kenyan coffee at Boma? At Jiko, what was that hot pink stuff in the glasses (picture before the three entrees)? Sorbet, perhaps? Did you have the dessert wine (being it's so sweet)?

Kathy

Hey, friend.

My DP reports that the pressed coffee at Boma was wonderful, surpassed only by the "real" coffee served at Victoria and Albert's.

You are correct, Madame! The pink stuff is sorbet.

And, yes, even though I generally eshew the sweet, we did try - and enjoy - the dessert wine. (In fact I may in process on this issue because we just got back from a trip to the Shenandoah mountains, where we visited a winery and did a wine tasting that included a sweet wine that I liked so much I purchased two bottles and will be enjoying a sampling of one dinner this evening.)
 
The winery, btw, was the Barboursville Vineyards, and the dessert wine is "Virginia Malvaxia Passito," Vintage 2003.

I've been thinking - how fun would it be to own a small winery? :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:
 
I love sweet wines: Ice Wine at LeCellier and Rosa Regale at the Italian Pavilion. The Chadds (sp?) Ford Winery in PA has a great dessert wine. You'll have to try it.

Kathy
 












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