Wait! What?! You've Never Heard of Star Wars????

Call it naive, or arrogance, or just plain denial, but I really thought there would be some way for me to post blogs while "in the bush".  Which when I think about it, is quite silly since I don't even get good cell service in the building where I work!  Why would there be cell or internet service in Botswana?  Ok, I can deal with that, but the needle scratched right off the record in my mind when one of the guides told me he had never heard of Star Wars... What WHAT?  Star Wars! The game changer of all cinematic game changers and he hasn't heard of it??? But then the next sentence out of his mouth was "I will have to google it." He has an email account, is on Facebook, and can download movies, but no knowledge of Star Wars.  Needless to say, I have all his information and will be sending him a list of mandatory movies to watch.

But that brings me to the point of today's observation;  Botswana is a place like no other!  It really is a country in transition between old and new.  I met a young man in one of the camps who will be getting married in 2 years, to his fiancé that he has had since he was 5.... and she was 10 days old.  Arranged obviously, but it apparently doesn't happen as much anymore.  As Western civilization and ideas encroach on places like Botswana, old traditions are dying.  Some are embracing the change while others are fighting it.  One thing I can say is the people I have met are beautiful! They are kind, gentle souls, who have passion for what they do.  They are friendly, open, and always smiling and laughing.  And how they have incorporated eco-tourism from a national level on down seems to have benefited everyone; the people, the economy, the tribes, and most importantly the animals.  If hunting was still permitted in this country I would not have been able to see these animals on such a close and personal level.  So without further ado, here are this evenings pictures.

Don't worry, there will be more tomorrow!