The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “quintessential” as perfectly typical or representative of something. What is more quintessential than a “windpomp” (wind pump) in the Karoo? The “windpomp” is planted firmly in the soil, witnessing everything that happens on the seemingly silent stretches of earth called Karoo. It doesn’t whither in the sun or hide from fierce thunderstorms. It doesn’t require a blanket when the frosts arrive or an umbrella when the sun beats down on th

The highest mountain range in the world offers hiking opportunities galore. Our first adventure into the shadows of these giants was so much more than merely a getaway from everyday life in the city. It was humbling to encounter it from such a small distance, as opposed to seeing it as a white line on the from one of many viewpoints in Nepal. So we thought we'd amalgamate our Annapurna Circuit stories into one post and share it all with you. On day 1, we found getting to the

That-Man was excited. We were on our way to a restaurant where meat is served, and he was positively giddy at the prospect of a solid piece of meat on a plate. You see, meat in Kathmandu is either extremely expensive or not properly butchered, which is why most Nepali hosts will offer you hacked-up pieces of meat severely deep-fried or decidedly chewy, on the rare occasions that meat is indeed served. It had been close to three months since That-Man had had a solid chop or st

Aquariums are special places. It’s where children of all ages (1 to 100) are introduced to a part of our world that many will never see otherwise. It’s where we learn to marvel at the part of Creation that’s invisible to our eyes beneath the watery depths that cover more than 70% of our planet. It’s where we meet and fall in love with dolphins, where we encounter the shy hermit crab and where we learn about the way our lack of forethought is harming many sea-dwellers. The Two

Who really enjoys hanging out at an airport on a long stop-over? On three occasions we have traveled through Hong Kong en route to another destination. Sometimes you’ll find that Cathay Pacific has the best prices for your route, and before you can say “Dim Sum, please,” you’ll find yourself travelling to a city that’s always intrigued you. The seats are spacious, the food tasty, and the entertainment varied. Before we left on the first of these journeys, someone had told us