Extraordinary Times Call for Extraordinary Measures

This is a very unusual and maybe unnecessary entry for me to write but it is something that has been bothering me over the last 24 hours and I want to settle it. Last night I received angry messages from some women who had come across my blog and read a few entries. Though the messages were somewhat confusing, I assume they were angry with some of my comments, how I had described things, or information I had revealed. It was hard for me to get such angry comments from people I had grown to love so much and I wanted to address their comments.

This is my personal blog. It’s a blog about Ann in Africa and it’s about my whole trip. This is my way of communicating with friends and family at home and it’s a way for me to document my travel, my feelings, and what I am learning. Sometimes I do get annoyed and angry and those times are apparent in my blog, but I also know that it is clear how much I have loved this entire experience.

I went through my entire blog last night and there are some parts that are very critical of specific people or places. I am very sorry if anything I have written has hurt someone’s feelings. That was NEVER my intention but I certainly understand how it has happened. Understand that entries are just tiny moments in a whirlwind learning experience and specific stories do not do justice to my entire experience or the people I encounter. I am also sorry if I have not done a good enough job to show the people I have met how much I have appreciated their hospitality and kindness.

That being said, I absolutely stand by my blog, by the experiences I have documented, the conversations I have had and stories about the people I have met. I want to thank everyone who has read my blog and supported me through this trip. I have received amazing feedback and I would appreciate it if you kept it up.

SOOOOO, an update about where Tim and I are right now. We just arrived in the Serengeti Sopa Lodge and checked into our room. It's been a really nice trip so far and I will have so much to report at the end, including pictures. We did Tarangire Nat'l Park first, which was just okay for me. I thought it was too dusty and too hot. At lunch the first day a monkey attacked us for food. Tim ran like a little girl and got all scrapped up by a tree. I reacted by covering my face and neck and rolling into a ball. All he really wanted was some of our lunch (I think!!) but it was scary nonetheless and a good lesson that we are in animal territory now and need to be respectful of that. We did a night there and then want to Lake Manyara. I thought Lake Manyara was absolutely beautiful. It has natural ground springs so there is a lot of green and its like an open plain. Today has been the Serengeti and that has also been amazing. We have seen lions, hippos, zebras, impala, tons of species of gazelles, elephants, birds, giraffes, serval cats, cheetahs and so much more. It's been really exhilirating and our guide Thomas is really great. I doubt I will be able to give any good updates while we are traveling, but expect something good on Mar 6! I hope everyone is doing well!
Love,
Ann