Kruger and Kapama Park!! :D

Hey Guys!! 

So, last week, my family went to a game park called Kruger.. Well, we didn't go to the real park. There are private parks next to the real park, and we went to one of those! It was called Kapama, and we stayed in the Southern Camp. It was AMAZING!!!!! So here are some pictures and details of what we did! And what animals we saw, because they were awesome! :D Hope you like it! Oh, and if you don't know what a game park is, its basically like a zoo, so you go to see animals, except it is WAY WAY better because the animals are in their natural habitats and so they are more relaxed. Also, it kinda seems more real, because the animals aren't tamed, so you have to be pretty careful! But it is 100% safe because the rangers that drive you around know all about the animals and they keep you safe. And it is really cool because they tell you facts about the animals when you see them! Also, since you don't drive yourself, the rangers drive you, you go in an open-air 4x4 and the rangers drive you off the roads and right into the bush sometimes! Oh, and if I talk about the Big 5, it is: Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant, and Buffalo


The Schedule

So, every day, they would call our rooms at 5:30am for the wakeup call. At 6:00am we would have tea, coffee, and a light breakfast, then at 6:30am we would go on the first game drive. It would still be dark out, and then around 7:30 it would start to get lighter and the sun would come up and it would be really warm and nice!! Also, they gave you ponchos if you got cold, and in the mornings, hot water bottles to put on your lap!! At around 9:15-9:30am we would come back. Breakfast was 9:30 to 10:30. Then you could just hang out, check email, swim in the pool, whatever you want, until Lunch at 1:00pm. High Tea was at 3:30pm, and the second game drive was at 4:00 until 7:00 or 7:30. It got pretty tiring, but it was really fun and we saw some AMAZING things! :D

Day 1

So, on the first day, we got there at around 1, so we had lunch, unpacked, had tea, and then went on the drive! We saw some pretty cool things that day... I was amazed!

Giraffes!!

BIG 5 SIGHTING #1!!  Female mother lion... we saw about 10 lions that day but this was the only really good picture I had... It was a mother, another grown female lion, and then lots of teenager lions.. no babies that day D: but it was still amazing to see the lions, especially because I had never seen lions in a game park before, and suddenly we were 10 feet away from them! We tracked these lions, so we were in the bush, and we were about 10 feet away from this lion!

Day 2

MORNING DRIVE:

BIG 5 SIGHTING #2!! Rhinos :D So, I believe we saw three rhinos the first time..? I think.. :) So they were eating, very peaceful... I don't think there was a baby, but I don't remember... yeah! :) 

AFTERNOON/NIGHT DRIVE:

BIG 5 SIGHTING #3!! So we saw this hippo, it was really cool because apparently it is really rare to see hippos out of the water, so it was exciting to see this one!

Then we saw some more giraffes, these ones were just crossing the road and eating.. haha :D 

Day 3

MORNING DRIVE:

Then we saw two more lions, there was a male and a female and they were asleep... haha I know it looks like its dead but its not I promise!

So in the morning, we saw some more rhinos... nothing too exciting but it was really cool because there was a baby! Unfortunately I couldn't get a picture because it was in the back, but above are some adults.

AFTERNOON/NIGHT DRIVE:

OMG you guys this was so exciting!!!! Our ranger heard on his radio that there was a leopard close by, so we went to see that, and on the way, he heard that the dominant male and dominant female lions were next to the river, so we went to see those. Unfortunately, we couldn't get close because they were on the other side of the river, and it was getting dark, and he wanted to take us to the leopard because they only have a few leopards in the park so it was pretty rare to see one! Here are some pics:

Here are the male and female lion, the ranger said that they have been together since around 31 December, which is pretty unusual for a lion, I guess, because they normally don't stay together for a long time.

BIG 5 SIGHTING #4!!! AND THIS IS THE LEOPARD!!! Haha as you can tell I was SO excited to see this, I'm really sorry the picture is out of focus, it was moving pretty fast and it was also getting dark, but it was SO cool to see this, because as I said before, it is pretty rare to see a leopard! Also it would've been super fun even if we didn't see the leopard, because we went STRAIGHT into the bush... like seriously... running over trees and stuff so it was pretty cool!!

Day 4 (Last day) :'(

MORNING DRIVE:

So, as soon as we got out of the gates, we saw... BIG 5 SIGHTING #5!! :) We saw these buffalo, this one was trying to knock over the pole! Buffalo are pretty cool, they aren't the nicest looking.. our ranger said that they belonged in the Ugly 5 (haha) but I think that they are cool!

And then we saw three more lions (even though there is only one in this picture, the others were too far away) there was a mom, another female, and a baby (shown above) and the ranger said that they were running away from a male lion, because the baby wasn't the male's baby, so it wanted to kill it! D: but they were pretty far ahead of the male so hopefully the baby is OK!

So then, since it was our last day, we decided to take some pictures of everybody that was on our safari. This is me and my friend Inga, who's family was also on safari at Kapama and they were in our same 4x4, so we got to be friends... :D

So then these were all of the people on our 4x4: There is me, my mom and my dad, Inga and her family, and then our ranger and our scout. So basically the ranger drives and tells us about the animals, and the scout sits at the front of the vehicle (where me and Inga are sitting) and finds the animals for us!

So I hope you guys liked this blog, don't forget to comment below your favorite animal, AND... comment if you are excited that I'm coming home in 1 week from tomorrow!! I sure am haha ;) Love you LOTS,

XOXO,

Leah <3

Whats been going on :D

Hey Guys!!

So its just me today, as Bea has very sadly gone home... I haven't done a blog in a while, though, so I just thought I'd tell you guys what I've been doing! 


So since I am on vacation until school starts in Rhode Island, I've just kinda been hanging out and getting ready to pack up and go home!! I know it seems crazy, but we are coming home in less than a month!!!!!! :D So we are actually going away in two weeks, we are going to Kruger Park, which is a game park near Johannesburg, and, just to make Rhode Island seem really small, did you know that Kruger Park is bigger than Rhode Island?? So we are going to Kruger for 3 nights, then we come back on Thursday, August 1, and then on August 9, we leave, and on August 10, WE COME BACK!!!!! So I've already made some promises to some of you guys: Don't worry Eve, I'm calling you from the NYC airport!! Bea, your mom said that she would bring Snowflake to our house like a few hours after we get back and that you would come too, and probably Maddie!!!!!! Peyton and Olivia, I HOPE to be able to see you guys on the first day, but I'm also gonna be with family, and of course, SNOWFLAKE!!!!!!! 


So.. yeah... I've just been hanging out, writing blogs, dancing (all my friends started school yesterday so I have ballet now... AHAHAHA they have to go to school mwah ha ha) :D

Sorry this is really short, I just wanted to tell you guys that... Oh, and I'll be doing a blog when we are in Kruger so you guys can see the animals!!!! I've never been but my cousins go when they come here and they LOVE IT!!! I think one time they saw a baby leopard so I am REALLY excited to go!! Bye Guys, love you all!! x

XOXO,

Leah <3

BEA'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Aloha fellow humans!!!

HAHA :D Hey Guys!!
 So as a lot of you guys know, BEA is here until July 10!! I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so SO happy that she is here!!! Here are a few things we have been doing:

SPUD 2!!!!!!
We went to see a HILARIOUS movie called Spud 2: The Madness Continues. It is a South African story (the second in a series) and its also a book series by John van de Ruit. I am not positive if you can get it in the US because it is South African but if you can you HAVE TO!!!!! The movies are hilarious and the books are even funnier... well in me and Bea's opinion they are funnier!! :D Here are sone quotes from the first and second books, just to give you an idea of how funny they are: 

Character List:
Spud - main character, has a girlfriend who he calls Mermaid but her real name is Debbie, reading Lord of the Rings, goes to an all-boys boarding school and him and his first-year dorm mates are called the Crazy Eight 
Wombat - Spud's grandmother, his mom's mom, certified mad in 1977, calls Spud David and Dad Roy, thinks she is the queen of England and signs all documents "Elizabeth Windsor"
Dad - Spud's dad, also crazy, makes it his life's mission to have Wombat arrested/killed, afraid of communists, Nelson Mandela, and South Africa falling to ruins
Mom - Spud's mom, daughter of Wombat, probably could've been normal but married Spud's dad, also afraid of communists
Buster Cracknell - Wombat's neighbor and the main suspect in her disappearing yoghurt saga 

First Book: Spud
Tuesday, 28 March, 1990: Milton Family Easter Holiday
1:08pm
Wombat hasn't stopped prattling on since we left Durban. Her worsening senility means she's told us every story many times before. Mom doesn't allow us to tell her about the constant repetitions because it makes Wombat confused and anxious. In hushed tones, Wombat told us for the fourth time this morning that she suspects that Buster Cracknell is now stealing her yoghurt. She reckons he's using the spare key to break into her flat and then gorges himself on her Woolworth's Strawberry Delight. We all nodded and shook our heads. Mom promised Wombat that she'd investigate the situation. (Wombat apparently phones the police every morning to report the matter - they have threatened to prosecute her for crank calls.) After passing Bethlehem, (a small town in the Orange Free State, and definitely not the place of Jesus' birth) my father burst into operatic song in the middle of the fifth repeat of the yoghurt story. Wombat told my father he was rude and unpleasant and that he should try to be more like David (Me?). Mom shook her head at him and dug her nails into his leg. Dad stopped singing. 

THE END 

Second book: The Madness Continues
Wednesday 23rd January

Feeling homesick. Called home but Mom said she was on her way out. In desperation I phoned Wombat for a chat but she thought I was a Jehovah's Witness so she told me I was Jewish, shouted, "Yom Kippur! Yom Kippur!" and hung up.

THE END

TABLE MOUNTAIN!!!!!!!
Yesterday we went up Table Mountain, which is this awesome flat mountain that has a TON of places to climb on the top and you can just walk around and explore! And since it is a big mountain you can see the city from the top which is awesome. Here are some pictures: 

                                     
                                          Me and Bea on top of a large-ish rock :D

A really cool (but disgusting) bug that Bea found and I took pictures of because she ran away screaming!! xD It got very confused and kept following me around.... hmmm.... (Bea says "ITS GROSS!!!!) :D

The view of a mountain (Lion's Head) and some of the city of Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain!! :D

Also at Table Mountain, we had really really sweet lemon meringue cupcakes with marshmallow whipped cream which were really yummy but so sweet that we couldn't finish them!!

Don't forget to comment below, we love you all SO MUCH, and we'll see you soon!!

XOXO,

Leah and Bea

Hey Guys!!

  So, right now it is 3:42pm and I have just gotten home from my last day of school here!! It was really awesome.. The people in my school are SO nice... they had a surprise party for me!!!! :) And they all made cards saying they'll miss me and they hope I have a safe trip back to America... It was really nice!! So here are some of the cards: 

   So this is the envelope that the cards came in

These two are from the same card.... she also gave me a necklace which has a green heart on it and its super cute :)

               

That is going to be it for now, don't forget to comment (if you can!) which card was your fave!! I miss you all so so so much and love you guys tons, BYE! <3

XOXO,

Leah <3

Rock Dassies + Pretty Houses!!

Hey Guys!!

 Sorry I haven't posted in a while.. I've been meaning to get this post up but kept forgetting, so now, FINALLY, here it is!

Sometime last weekend, my dad and I went out for a walk just about 10 minutes down the road from our house... we saw rock dassies, which are adorable little animals that kind of look like guinea pigs (well at least to me they do, I don't know what other people think they look like!) but, actually, the rock dassies' closest living relative is the elephant!!! You wouldn't think it is true but it is!! Also on our walk, I took pictures of some SUPER PRETTY (well, I think they are pretty!) houses along that street: 

Here are some dassies:

    And here are the pretty houses!

























That is going to be it for today... I love you all SO SO MUCH and I miss you TONS,

BYE!! 

XOXO,

Leah <3

Favorite Books/ Book Recommendations!! :D

Hey Guys!!

  So I know its been a SUPER DUPER long time since I blogged, and the reason for that is because we haven't really been doing many exciting things lately so I just haven't been blogging. Today I am going to do something really different, because this blog is mostly about what I am doing while I am living in South Africa, but as I said, we haven't been doing many exciting/important things lately. So the other day, I was reading Lily's blog, which most of you know if you go to Gordon, and she did a "Book Recommendations" blog and I really liked that idea, so I am going to be doing the same thing right now!! Hope you enjoy! <3


1. The Mother-Daughter Book Club Series: I really liked these, I'm pretty sure there are 5 or 6 (Correct me if I'm wrong Maddie!!) and they go from when the girls were in like 6th or 7th grade to when they are in high school. Personally, I liked the later ones better, I just felt like the earlier ones weren't as good, but all of them are still SUPER good, so you guys should read those if you haven't already!

2. The Penderwicks: OMG. These are the best, funniest, most AWESOMEST books EVER!!!!! I think they are for a tiny bit younger kids, maybe like 10 year olds, but I still read them anyway (haha!!) :) There are three right now but I think there are going to be five when the series ends.

3. KIKI STRIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you guys know me, you know that I spent most of 3rd and 4th Grade reading and rereading and rerereading these books. THEY ARE THE BEST BOOKS IN THE WORLD!!!! I would tell you what they are about, but I will definitely get too excited and tell you the whole story and thats not okay because you guys are TOTALLY gonna read them, right?! haha xD The author JUST came out with a third (Thanks. I'd only been waiting for like 3 years!) :) I read it in less than two days. I am addicted!! :)

4. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate: Don't let the title mislead you guys. Its a REALLY good book set in 1899 (once again, just let me finish!! I promise if you read it you will love it) about this girl named Calpurnia (Callie Vee for short) who is one girl sandwiched in between 6 brothers. You guys think YOU'VE got it bad!! :D She lives with all her brothers, her mother and father, and her grandfather. He is a scientist, and they start to get to know each other and they do their science-y things together.... ANYWAYS!! Its super good!





That is going to be it for today, I am going to try to blog WAY more, until my next blog, SAYONARA!!! (I know right? Where'd I get THAT?! HAHA) :D Don't forget to comment below saying what you think, or you can email me. And I really wanna hear if you guys try these books or have already read some of these, so once again, email me or comment saying which book you read and what you thought of it. :) BYE GUYS!!! :'( NO I DONT WANNA GO!!!! HAHA :) Bye :)



XOXO,

Leah <3

March Favorites 2013!! :)

Hey Guys!!

So I decided that I'm going to start doing monthly favorites on this blog because I need to blog more, so I am going to say my favorite restaurant, place, thing to do, etc. etc. OH and I'm going to be putting my South Africa fave and my Rhode Island fave for each one, so there'll be two!

OK here we go!!

Favorite:

Restaurant: 

  Rhode Island: Ichigo Ichi- I don't know how to spell it but its the best sushi restaurant EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THiS PLANET!!!!!!!!!!! South Africa: Col Cacchio's Pizza- Once again, can't spell it, but its a really great pizza place and we usually end up going there like 3 times a week because its so good :D

Thing to do: 

  Rhode Island: Hang out with friends, draw, dance :D South Africa: SWIM SWIM SWIM!!!!! (I'm a fish LOL) I wanted to make the Herzlia swimming team with some of my friends, but alas, I didn't, some of the people here are GREAT swimmers. I did swimming every Tuesday last term, and every week me and my friend Gav would race and he would beat me EVERY TIME!!!!!! But he is like supernaturally fast, it's actually quite scary :) 


 Song(s):

Don't You Worry Child by Swedish House Mafia, Autumn Leaves & The a Team both by Ed Sheeran, Same Mistakes by One Direction, Locked Out Of Heaven by Bruno Mars, and Want U Back & With Ur Love both by Cher Lloyd

Album: 

Take Me Home by One Direction 

Singer/Band:

Band: ONE DIRECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Singer: Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran or Cher Lloyd

Place:

Rhode Island: My house or Peyton or Olivia's houses :D  South Africa: Beach, pool

Sport:

Swimming, Field Hockey, Surfing




Hope you liked this and comment below telling me if you want more of these blogs! And guys please please comment if you can, just saying anything :)


XOXO,

Leah <3