khutse and sweets

Michelle and i just returned from our one night out at Khutse lodge. It was nice getaway and we enjoyed our time without the kids. We were able to eat a meal without interuption, have discussions with other adults without having to chase around the little ones and drive through a game park without having to tell anyone to sitdown, shutup or to keep their hands to themselves.

we didn't see much game, but sat out on the salt pans and watched the sun go down..

On our way there we encountered some little ones working on their cattle posts.. this is located on the edge of the Kalahari desert and the people here are out there, in the middle of nowhere. they were families on donkey carts riding to town, boys riding horses and children working, fetching water and all the while asking if we had "sweets" as we drove by.. We stopped for a group of 3 boys who we thought we needing assistance, only to find out they wanted sweets. The reason they want sweets is because the only thing they ever have to eat there is porridge(sp.?). we had nothing to offer them, only a few bucks and one boy gave us kisses. It was very sweet. Here they are on their donkeys fetching water. Other pictures include the road through Khutse(dirt path through the bush), which in fact is the way the road is for 60 miles to the gate of khutes. also included are photos of the salt pans/bush at sunset, our mighty "Pajero" parked and awaiting the arrival of lions, road sign and a bus stop on way to Khutse. All in all a nice day trip, we will have to do it again before we leave.

One thing i forgot to mention is the absolute quiet that is in these places. you can click on the photos to enlarge them, but i don't think the photos do a good job of capturing the vastness of these places... And all you hear is the wind... michelle and i were perched on the top of our truck for about 10 minutes when the absolute silence of the place got to us.. Just not used to it. no airplanes, no people.. nothing.... so out of fear of being attacked by a large predator, we got in out truck and enjoyed the sunset from there.At night, back at the lodge, the power went out for about 2 minutes.... It was so dark then and even sleeping there, that I couldn't sleep at all.. Maybe my fear of snakes has become a fear of everything wild. But it is unbelievable, beautiful and unlike anything i've ever experienced.

right now the kids are with michelle shopping for yarn, while i am watching Botswana v. Zambia in soccer. It's rainy and cold here, for sure a movie night with popcorn.

all for now.