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PhotoPOSTcard: Elephants in Kenya’s Maasai Mara Reserve

In the first two hours of our first game drive in the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya, we saw ostriches, zebras, a variety of gazelle, giraffes, cape buffalo, wilderbeests, a female lion and her juvenile cub, and my favorite, elephants. I would have been content after just this experience, but we still had ten more days of game viewing in Kenya and Tanzania. Could it really get much better?

Thanks for visiting.

Rose

This is Africa: A Hot Air Balloon Safari in the Masai Mara

Our first African safari – a dream come true. My husband and I had been planning this trip for over a year and had included all of our wish list items. The only optional excursion offered on our tour was a hot air balloon safari in the Masai Mara. We decided to opt in for this activity, though I was very apprehensive going into it. I have a huge fear of heights and I was not sure if I would be able to handle the ride without getting a bad case of vertigo. I was really torn, because this would be a once in a lifetime activity and there was no turning back once it started.

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PhotoPOSTcard: Floating Above Kenya’s Maasai Mara

We started our first full day in Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve with an early morning hot air balloon ride over the grasslands, floating softly over the landscape as the sun rose behind us. We looked down on these wilderbeests as they strutted along, their bodies half covered by the tall grasses that covered the landscape from horizon to horizon.

Such and amazing and memorable experience in an amazing  location.

Thanks for visiting.

Rose

 

 

PhotoPOSTcard: Portland’s Classical Lan Su Chinese Garden

Despite being surrounded by busy city streets, the walled Lan Su Chinese Garden is a peaceful oasis in the Old Town Chinatown section of Portland, Oregon. The garden is designed along the lines of a classical Chinese garden found in Suzhou, Portland’s sister city in China. About 90% of the plants in the garden are native to China, though they all came from gardens and nurseries in Oregon. The garden is only the size of a city block, but with its many paths, garden rooms and garden structures, it feels much bigger. Escape here for a few hours of calm and quiet with a cup of tea and almond cookies after a busy day of sightseeing.

Please note that my stay in Portland was hosted by Travel Portland. All content and opinions are my own.

Thanks for visiting.

Rose

Photo Inspirations

Photo Location – Portland, Oregon Japanese Garden

This Japanese garden is one of the most authentic I have seen outside of Japan. The garden was designed and built in the years just after WWII, and was intended to provide a visual understanding of Japanese culture and beliefs.

Thanks for visiting.

Rose

 

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Muddy wter is best cleared by leaving it alone #quote @inspirationalquote #portlandjapanesegarden

A Spring Day in My Favorite Portland Gardens

Whenever I page through gardening magazines, the gardens that always catch my eye are invariable located in the Pacific Northwest of the US. With a mild climate and good soil, it is not surprising that Washington, Oregon and northern California boast wonderful gardens. I was fortunate to be able to recently explore four of the best Portland gardens in the spring.

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PhotoPOSTcard: Peeking Into Jackson Bottom Wetlands

Looking out through a blind into the Jackson Bottom Wetlands in Tualatin Valley, OR, as a drake persistently courts a female duck. It’s spring and romance is in the air, even for ducks.

Please note that my visit to the Tualatin Valley Quilt Barn Trail was sponsored by the Washington County Visitor’s Association. All content and opinions are my own.

Thanks for visiting

Rose