wilderness – Think Wild

Tanzania, country so diverse and unique who could refuse a trip there? This was our thinking as we booked a tag-on vacation to our Congo trip. It turned out to be a truly serendipitous idea, as I was in great need of a holiday after the Congo.

Working at the remote hospital in the Congo for 2 months pushed me farther than I have ever been pushed. The heavy stress no doubt contributed to the stomach ulcer I came down with, and the 23 pounds of weight loss in 1 month!

To make it through periods of heavy stress I often fall back to a dogged stoicism. I grit my teeth and try to minimize what I am going through. It probably helps me avoid feeling overwhelmed. It is definitely a defense mechanism, and like most, not always beneficial.

In times of peace and quiet I reflect a lot on my life. I journal. I try to make sense of where I am, who I am and what I ought to be doing.

In times of stress I shut this down, and only afterwards can I start to put together what I went through. Being a physician, I have had my fair share of moments like this. I remember feeling this way after an obstetrics rotation in residency. It turns out weeks of call shifts that keep you up for over 24 hours is hard on the body but also the soul.

Thus, when it came time for our trip to Tanzania I was actually quite reluctant to plan or think about it. It seemed like just another stressor to add to the pile.

It turns out it was precisely what I needed! A time to relax and process all that preceded. I needed the time to journal and think without the pressure of telling my story to my loved ones back home. I needed time to release the tension and stress that had been building and heal my body.

The trip was amazing. But to be honest, it came with a lot of a guilt. How could we leave a country with such extreme poverty and proceed to indulge ourselves in the luxury of travel? Well, I don’t know. Maybe it wasn’t justifiable, as much as my life in Canada isn’t justifiable either. But this trip I certainly needed.

So with that sobering, rambling, and unexpected introduction, I present to you our wonderful vacation to Tanzania!

I have said enough already, I suppose, so I will leave the rest of this in the style of a photo blog. Enjoy.

First stop, Mount Kilimanjaro! (and area).

IMGP2267 copy — We went on a coffee tour, and learned their traditional method of coffee preparation. They roasted their beans then made the coffee over a fire!

IMGP2276ed — One of the many unexpected but beautiful sights!

IMGP2294 — We trekked up to the first camp on Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak.

The people of Tanzania were incredibly resourceful when it came to carrying stuff on their heads!

The Serengeti: the place that goes on forever!

IMGP2451 — A surprise visit from an elephant as we drove through a forest! (this guy was being aggressive!)

IMGP2988 — A more calm encounter with elephants occurred on our safari in the Serengeti!

IMGP2525 — We couldn’t believe the eyelashes on the giraffes!

IMGP2615 copy — A couple male lions just chilling on some rocks!

IMGP2720 copy — We were incredibly close to these female lions, at times they were just 5 feet away!

IMGP3087 — A lion cub hanging out in a prickly acacia! (we were incredibly close to these guys as well)

IMGP2871 copy — Cheetahs escaping the heat of the sun.

IMGP3134 — We were fortunate enough to see the largest mammal migration on earth! The wildebeests number in the millions, with zebras often following behind!

IMGP2756 — An early morning also means a beautiful sunset.

IMGP3310 — Some hyena scavengers running off with part of a kill after the lions were finished.

Zanzibar: silky white beaches, Arabian nights!

IMGP3374 — The white sand was so fine and lovely!

Stonetown had some amazing architecture and narrow streets!

Hope you enjoyed this post, feel free to like and comment!

Formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, the people of Haida Gwaii took back the name of their island and their heritage. They have been inspiring examples of how a First Nations group can take back their culture.

I am sure Steph and I were not alone in not knowing where or what the islands of Haida Gwaii were or represented. I find us Canadians are so spoiled with the riches of a vast and beautiful country that we overlook so much of its beauty. Haida Gwaii is breathtaking in both scenery and culture, it is an absolute must on anyone’s travel list.

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The Haida people were a clear highlight of our trip to the islands. They were so friendly and had such a strong sense of culture. It was inspiring to hear them talk about their ancestors and their history. Archaeologists and their elders agree that their people have lived on the islands of Haida Gwaii for over 14 000 years. Their stories and oral history line up remarkably well with the fossil record. For example, they tell a story about a great beast that was more fierce and destructive than any black bear they knew. It killed many men and was sighted mainly on one part of the island. Researchers later went into the area and found a cave with the skeleton of a grizzly bear (which are not native to the islands). Around the skeleton they also found several arrow heads!

On our boat tour with Haida-Style Expeditions, we were taken to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. There we met the Watchmen, Haida men and women who took posts on various important islands to protect them and their artifacts from tourists and also serve as interpreters. A local elder named Jags guided our tours of the islands, telling stories of his people. He was a powerful speaker and only struggled when trying to keep the ancient stories of his people brief, or when talking about the atrocities his people endured.

Haida will do anything for someone in need. A legitimate form of transportation found in travel books and blogs is to hitchhike! They loved to show off their land, tell stories, and share their culture. We attended Skidegate days in a small town and were welcomed into the festivities.

Another of our highlights was attending “Dining with the Kings”. A retired couple hosted people in their home for a night, serving gourmet food in a 3 course meal. Their dining room was transformed on weekends into a 20 person dining lounge! It was an amazing and intimate experience that was just so typical for Haida Gwaii.

We were quite sad to leave the island and no doubt will be back sometime in the future!

Tag: wilderness

Recovering in Tanzania!

To Haida Gwaii.