Category Archives: Africa

Are WE Human?

Posted on March 14, 2011 | 4 comments

Are we human? What do you define as human? How do you define “human”? Regardless of the last days events, can we say that a specific member of the species Homo sapiens is more human than a certain member of another species?

In the trip to Tanzania I met many examples where I wondered whether we are really so different from animals (that is other than us). On one hand the Massai people habits that most likely resemble our ancestors, and on the other hand animal behavior and social life that resemble ours. So I am still puzzled… but after I saw across the following TED talk – I am certainly uncertain.

TED lectures are rated in a creative way – ranging from informative, through funny, inspiring, persuasive etc.  This talk is rated jaw-dropping. After spending 17 minutes watching it, I can assure you that you will look at (other) animals differently.

So are WE Human? How do you define Human ?

Comments, guys ?

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Posted in Africa, Life, linkedin, TED

Out of Africa – the pictures

Posted on March 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

Finally…

It took me 3 weeks to tag, delete, organize and distill the best of the best of the pictures (not to mention uploading it in 400Kbps…)
I tried various methods to upload and present the pictures as part of this site, but eventually I decided the best way is to use a Picasa web album.

But before I surrender the link… some credits:
The pictures were taken using a ten years old Cannon EOS 300 Digital SLR, with a 18mm-55mm and (20 years old) 100mm-300mm lenses. This  explains why most of the pictures are animals close up rather than scenery :-).

A great THANK YOU to Mr. G.N. who loaned me his camera. This was my first SLR experience, and it really upgraded the experience. I will never use compact digital camera again for trips !

There are 134 pictures – arranged according to the time they were taken, so you might find the lions scattered. The best way is to use slideshow view (see link below). If you want to know more about the picture, its tags provide you information about the location it was taken.

So here is the slide show (recommended), or the pictures in gallery view.

Enjoy !

(Arie)

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Posted in Africa, linkedin

Hakuna Matata

Posted on February 16, 2011 | 1 comment

Jambo,
I am back.
In one word  –  it was amazing. In three words: just do it.
Whoever you are, whatever you are – just pack and go.

It will take me a few days (or weeks?) to arrange and share my pictures (1700) my thoughts and insights with you. So for the meantime, I would like to share with you one of each:

A picture (above) – A leopard female picture, just as a sample. The picture was taken from a distance of ~3 meters.

An insight –  my main insights from the trip are simple:
1. Human beings are not as different from  animals as we tend to think
2. The difference between our way of living, and the African people way of living  is huge. possibly larger than #1.

So till I have the time, remember: “Hakuna Matata” (video from The Lion King)

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Posted in Africa, Life

Africa, here I come !

Posted on February 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

Finally, I am flying to my long-waited 8 days trip to Tanzania tonight, to see some wildlife and to get another perspective on life.


Although this is a trip for spoiled brats, I doubt that I will have the technology required to be able to share my experience during the trip, so I guess you will have to wait for the pictures until I back home.

Remember the old days when you had to take with you a travel guide (in a book format, not a person), a dictionary or a phrase book, maps, maps, a photocopy of the flight ticket, the insurance etc. (did I mention maps)?.
Well, these days are gone. A simple iPhone will do – just download the right apps, and you are ready to go !

I will just leave you with a quote from Toto‘s Africa (video):

The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what’s right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what’s deep inside, frightened of this thing that I’ve become

See you when I am back !

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Posted in Africa