In respond to “Where’s my Backpack?”
Photo taken near Jericho, Israel.

Submitted in response to Ailsa’s Travel Theme. The travel theme this week is “Entertainment.”
In response to Ailsa and her “Where’s My Backpack” challenge.
Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal
The Daily Post Photo Challenge this week is to show our interpretation of descent.
Halfway down the stairs is a stair where i sit.
there isn’t any
other stair
quite like
it.
i’m not at the bottom,
i’m not at the top;
so this is the stair
where
I always
stop.
Halfway up the stairs
Isn’t up
And it isn’t down.
It isn’t in the nursery,
It isn’t in town.
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head.
It isn’t really
Anywhere!
It’s somewhere else
Instead!
Poem by A.A. Milne
The Daily Prompt is “Twilight Zone“.
The Great Migration is a cycle of life and death, played out on the plains of the Serengeti (in Tanzania) and Masai Mara (in Kenya). Some 1.4 million wildebeest, 250,000 Burchell’s zebra and a smattering of trailing Thomson’s gazelle make this year-long round trip. In fact, around 250,000 Wildebeest and 30,000 zebra perish in this tough trek, mainly younger ones. Along the way, many migrating animals become prey to predators including lion, cheetah, crocodile and hyena.
We were one of the lucky people who actually witnessed this event. The Wildebeest would approach the river that they had to cross in response to a lack of drinking water. There appeared to be a leader who, to me at least, was surveying the crossing for predators. He would approach, look around, sniff the air, and taste the water. The first couple of times he, along with the rest of the heard just made a circle and returned in a few minutes. What he was seeing was crocodiles in the river and at least 3 lions on the far side who were also staring at him. Once the stampede began the sound was unbelievably loud with snorts and the water splashing as the Wildebeest began the crossing. Once the leader started across it was like an auto expressway at rush hour. Suddenly a crocodile sprang out of the water and grabbed the Wildebeest and drowned him. Other crocodiles join the fray. The Wildebeest far outnumbered the crocodiles and most made it to the other side. On that side were waiting a dozen or so lions who joined in the feast. The squealing sound was surreal. While having the appearance of a frenzy, recent research has shown a herd of Wildebeest possesses what is known as a “swarm intelligence”, whereby the animals systematically explore and overcome the obstacle as one.
This picture was taken on our recent vacation in Kenya. In fact on our last day. Our guide himself had not seen anything like this. You think you are alone on the large plains of the Serengeti and Masi Mara but the tour jeeps are in constant contact with each other. Once we found these Wildebeest getting ready to cross our guide contacted other tours and within minutes there were around 10 jeeps loaded with tourist like us. Guides are below:
Thanks to the Daily Prompt
See what others are thinking.
Thoughts are like arrows: Once released they strike their mark. Guard them well or one day you may be your own victim.
Navajo proverb.
This is a more elegant way of saying:
I have always been an introvert. One who says very little in meetings. I’d rather be in the audience than the presenter. Rather be behind the camera than in front.
The gentleman in the picture when I asked if I could take his picture just pointed to a little sign (which I have cropped out) that said “Photos $2” I guess he must be asked that question quite a few times every day. I know I will never be able to making a living that way.
There was a recent post on WordPress asking readers what is the furthest from home you have ever been. I guess my answer would be around 7,648 miles. That would be at the equator in Nanyuki, Kenya.
On one side of the equator the water drains clockwise and on the other side it drains counter-clockwise. Across the street was a little trading posts. I never realized that my wife could be a very good negotiator. She traded the inexpensive wrist watch she was wearing for some local crafts. I think she got a the best of the deal.
What is the furthest you have been away from your home?