I Yearn For Africa

Some of us hope and dream about seeing certain places, people, or

things before our time is up. One of my dreams was to go to Africa. I

went in 2005 with my boyfriend at the time and his friends. Africa is

not your typical vacation. Africa in fact is more like an adventure,

especially if you leave any major city in Africa. I remember landing

after a 24 hour trip to get there, I took a deep breath walking out of

the airplane and the air was completely different from what I was use

to. The smell and the way it tickled my skin was unfamiliar, but so

very familiar at the same time. I knew this was going to be a

challenging and interesting trip.

We started in African civilization, a beautiful city called Cape Town.

I was completely fascinated by the magnificence of the nature but also

by what was unnatural. The mountains, ocean, beach sand, small wild

animals, and the wild vegetation was so amazing to see. What was most

unnatural was the people that lived there. The very rich living on the

hill tops in their super mansions to the very, very, very sick and

poor living in the dirt valleys in 4x4 tin houses. None of this is

visible in the heart of the city, unless you drive to be there. I was

immediately immersed in the culture, but not knowing what was ahead.

Later going to the Skeleton Coast of the Namibian Desert I was no

longer wearing a purse but rather a backpack with safari gear. Never

mind, cell phones, internet or tv. We were in a place where most

people cannot live. Wow, what an amazing place. All desert not a drop

of water until you hit the coast. It was about 110 degrees during the

day and at night it went down to 40 degrees. Seeing amazing wild

animals like hyena, giraffe, elephants, and even a seal colony. The

seal colony was cool to see, but the smell was intolerable. I am one to

gag very easily, but that smell would make anyone gag. Quick sand,

dunes, and hills of beautiful gems covering the earth as if we were on

another planet. It was all so surreal. We then met the people of the

land. The people of the land, called the Himba Tribe. The Himba people

Live in the desert village that is as big as 2,000 square feet with

homes made out of elephant dunk, the size of a small tent. The people

were so happy to see us. The children have never seen a video camera

where they could see their image. I remember kneeling down to show the

little boy who was probably 3 to see what I had recorded of him and he

was so bewildered but fascinated. I was charmed by how the people

lived such a simple life but yet still were so happy.

After Nambia we took a private plane to Botswana. In Botswana we stayed

at two different camps, being able to see the different parts of the

country. We saw wild lions, zebra, vultures, kudu, hippos, crocodiles,

baboons, eagles, and on and on and on. Yes, we were no longer in

humans world. We were indeed in the animal kingdom. But with all of

it's fascinating beauty there was more than just great photos or even

a great story to tell. Africa taught me a lesson of life that will

stick with me for as long as I live.

To me, Africa is origin of the world. I felt comfortable there, even

though for most people its probably not the most comfortable sleeping

in a tent at night when you hear lion's roar in the distance. I saw a

giraffe giving birth and then seeing the baby giraffe taking its first

steps after 30 minutes of it's existence. I saw about 60 vultures

fight to eat the placenta of that the mother giraffe left behind. I

witness a lion hunt, a elephant tear down a tree, a hyena attack a

baby seal, and a rattle snake attacking a human. Okay, I am a girly

girl, but I don't mind getting dirty. However, Africa can surely

challenge even a man's masculinity. For an example, I would quote on

quote take a shower and I would feel that I smelt cleaner before I

took the shower. I was eating things that I never thought in a million

years I would eat. I was waking up at 4am every morning to go on

safari so that we would beat the heat of 130 degrees in the shade. I

never felt heat like that in my whole life. Your mind and body was

challenged everyday. You were surrendering yourself to your

environment and that is truly unusual to Western culture, especially

to a New Yorker. My boyfriend and I at the time saw this

transformation in our habits. We had changed. Africa had changed me.

Since I left Africa I have become a lot more conservative with the

amount of things that I have. I buy things when they are necessary,

not because I want it. I also have become a lot more environmentally

conscious. I am a lot more open minded with food as well. Most of all,

I don't take ANYTHING for granted. It was a true spiritual transformation to be 

there in Mother Earth's raw state of being. It was so refreshing to the mind, body and soul.
Before we left for Africa we had met up with Umberto's (my ex) friend out for lunch before our trip and he was telling us that he went to Africa and I asked him how was his experience, all he could say was "I yearn for Africa". Now I know exactly what he means.

My ValSecret; Most of us always play it safe, try getting out of your

comfort zone here and there. You might just learn a thing or two about

YOURSELF.

**As a result, I yearn for Africa.

Here are some photos I took on my trip. I hardly look at these photos because the memories are engrained in my head pretty good. :)

Himba People

Namibian Dunes

Umberto and his friend.