What happens when three traveling moms get together and let loose?

TheVacationGals.com is a fairly new blog by the women who brought you TravelingMamas.com. They write about trips they take on their own, without their kids.

The Vacation Gals in San Juan, Puerto Rico

They also recommend the best travel gear, cover travel-industry news and share helpful travel tips.

The Gals tend to write about their own vacations — the destinations, cities, resorts and hotels that they’ve experienced firsthand. Typically that means they are writing about North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

“We truly walk the walk when it comes to travel,” says Kara Williams. “Last year alone we took more than 40 trips for business and pleasure.”

One of their latest trips is a fascinating excursion to Ek Balam Maya Archaeological Site, a park recently opened to the public. It’s an easy day trip from Cancun and has one of the largest populations of pink flamingos in the world.

There’s also a bunch of travel news stories, including this round up of the top 10 wacky travel stories of 2009.

San Pedro. Photo Natasha Young

I got the hell out of bar-brawling Calama as fast as possible on an airport transfer (9,000 CP). It’s a winding, empty road through desert country to get to San Pedro (think Thelma & Louise as they’re nearing the Grand Canyon) and everyone was gossiping about the fact that we’d all shared a plane with a famous Chilean model, her handsome boyfriend and a TV crew. I still have absolutely no idea who these people were.

The tarmaced road runs out as you hit San Pedro. Suddenly it becomes a dusty dirt track and small adobe houses line the few streets that make up this tiny town. It really did feel like I was in the middle of nowhere about to enter a shoot out with the sheriff. I was John Wayne, only with breasts and a giant backpack.

Reality dawned the next morning. San Pedro de Atacama is tourist central. The one main street running through the town, Caracoles, is lined with tour agencies, restaurants hustling for business in English, souvenir shops and launderettes. Normal life facilities like cheap supermarkets, ironmongers, chemists and banks are few and far between. It was all quite a shock after Chiloe.

What I also hadn’t bargained for is that San Pedro is at altitute (2400m) and many of the tours take you to places at over 4,000m. That and the intense heat meant that I felt a bit weird when I got there, although I was lucky enough to not get sick. You seriously need to take a day or two to adjust before going to the geysers or the lagoons and grab some coca leaves from the market (500 CP) if you start getting headaches.

San Pedro is a pretty enough town but there’s not a great deal to do once you’ve wandered around the shops, museum and church. This place is sadly all about the tours. What everyone has come here to see isn’t that accesible without a 4×4 and a good map, which means the tour agencies make a killing and you have to troop after your guide for the day and do as your told.

I spent three days in San Pedro at the lovely Hostel Sonchek  (C/Gustavo le Paige 170. 10,000 CP per night for a single) and ended up having to book tours with 3 different agencies. Lonely Planet recommend Cactus Tour and Cosmo Andino. Both of these book up really fast and after taking Cactus’s Tour to the Altiplano Lakes, I can see why.

Valle de la Luna

Tourist Hell in Valle de la Luna. Photo Natasha Young

Famous for its beautiful sunsets and moon-like landscapes (hence the name), everyone does this tour. The cheapest (around 7-8000 CP) and closest of all the excursions out of town, it’s hard not to feel like a sheep being herded around by an over-enthusiastic border collie. Our tour guide didn’t actually say ‘ARE YOU ALL HAVING A GOOD TIME?!, I CAN’T HEAR YOU! but I’m sure it was on the tip of his tongue. Saying that, it is a beautiful other-worldy place full of ghostly crackling salt formations and gigantic dunes. We climbed up for a view of the sunset with at least a hundred others and then got whisked off onto the bus just as it was getting good. A bit of a let down to be honest. I went with Turis Tours (Cactus and Cosmo Andino were both full). Word on the street is they have a reputation for rushing. Cactus apparently don’t climb that dune and go to a secret spot where they get the view to themselves.

Nice view though. Photo Natasha Young

Altiplano Lakes

I did this with Cactus Tour and it was a joy from start to finish. Stopping at Laguna Chaxa in the Salar de Atacama to see the flamingos, Lagunas Miñiques and Miscanti and the towns of Socaire and Toconao, they deliberately set off way before any0ne else to get to the flamingos first. These weirdly proportioned pink-feathered creatures quite rightly don’t like being stared at when they’re eating their breakfast, so when all the other mini-buses start arriving, they all fly away. We crept in at first light and got to observe them in their natural habitat, a lagoon in the middle of a crusty salt flat, surrounded by mountains. An extraordinary experience and well worth getting out of bed early for. Cactus charge considerably more than other agencies for this trip but if you want to see the flamingos, have a knowledgable guide whose English doesn’t make you wince and a decent breakfast, they are a fine choice.

Flamingos. Photo Natasha Young

El Tatio Geyser. Photo Natasha Young

El Tatio Geysers

You don’t to see many geysers in Europe. El Tatio is one of the reasons you come to San Pedro and I can’t deny they are impressive. However getting up in the middle of the night and dressing for minus 10 is not normally my idea of a good time. In fact, I realised as I got up at 3.3oam that I’d never actually been out on the streets at that time sober. I did this tour with Atacama Connection. The guide was the handsome moody type, which I’m normally all up for, but a silent tour guide doesn’t leave you very well informed. As I boarded the bus at 4am, I was told that it would take 2 hours to get there and we could all have a nap. However the road was so eyeball-shakingly rocky and the van’s suspension having seen better days, I didn’t sleep a wink. The geyers are at 4300m above sea level and three of our group were feeling decidely rough. One little boy’s reaction to seeing his first geyser was to vomit sadly as his older brother, who was utterly unaffected by the altitute, gaped in wonder. My favourite part of this trip was spotting the wildlife on the way back. We saw a viscacha (like a big rabbit with a squirrel-like tail), vicuña (the sort of animal you normally see getting ripped apart by lions on wildlife documentaries), llamas and a whole load of birds I don’t know the names of.

Vicuña. Photo Natasha Young

So…

Accomodation: Hostel Sonchek for clean and comfy rooms, friendly staff, a nice patio and a garden with hammocks.

Trips: Cactus Tour get a double thumbs-up.

Food: Two places not in the guide books are El Tribu on the corner of Calama and Gustavo le Paige for great vegetarian food  and Chilean classics (2,800 CP for veggie fajitas with rice and salad) and Terra Oasis for fine food with a gourmet touch at a fraction of the price of the places on Caracoles (3,800 CP for a 3 course set lunch). The food stalls behind the museum knock out a fine Cazuela de Ave for 1,200 CP and the tomato, basil and cheese empanadas sold around town are very special indeed.

I’m currently in Arica and have paddled in the sea. Next stop, Peru.

Around 25km from Aurangabad,is a location i have  been planning to visit since my last two holidays.

Known among the birders and photographers for its potential for the respective fields,the dam is around 25mins of journey from the town.

I took around 174 shots out which less than 20 are presentable..highlight of the trip was sighting of bar headed goose and flamingos-winter visitors to this area.Just beautiful birds!

Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Flamingos with a painted stork

Flamingos

Flamingos about to fly

bar headed goose

bar headed goose

brahminy ducks and bar headed goose

Paach-Pinga

stilt

Stilt

Green Bee eater

Shit, bros, Portland is well into its first “Arctic Blast” of the season!  Just like last year, the mainstream media is striking fear into the masses.  Well, Beagle News HQ has taken the standard “stay home, stay warm” paradigm and turned it on its ear.  Here are some anti-freeze tips and hits to make you think that wearing shorts today doesn’t sound so bad.

Surfer Blood is the music for your day.  New guy bands don’t have good vids, but in the end, it’s about rocking out in your hipster Mercedes diesel wagon while cruising for hot winter treats wrapped in cashmere scarves (you’ll be in flip flops though).  Did I mention Surfer Blood’s rad banner on their blog?

Yes, centaurs on stage!

12/11 EDIT:::  SURFER BLOOD live on KEXP

Brooks Bros Flamingo Pants is the hot style for your day.   Who says winter means dark colors and wool caps???  Buck the trend, dick!

Hey, my cabana or yours!!?

And of course, this goes without saying…

Welcome to the tropics, ladies!

baltimore: lights on 34th street., originally uploaded by minervacat.

I don’t have a lot of shame when it comes to music I love; if I like it, I like it, and that’s that. But I have some shame when it comes to this: my favorite Christmas album is not a classic, and it’s not even kitschy-clever indie rock covers of classic songs. It’s a novelty album by a Baltimore native, David DeBoy, and it’s called Crabs for Christmas. Yeah. I know. I’m ashamed to know myself too.

It’s the sort of album that has an incredibly narrow target audience; Baltimore natives or Baltimore residents who have a certain sort of punny, twisted sense of humor and a passive-aggressive love-hate relationship with the city. Baltimore is as good at loving its ghosts and scars as it is at loving its human residents and current triumphs, and there’s a sort of bemused, begrudging, black humor that goes with a Baltimore birth (or long residency). It’s a city that gets under your skin; you shouldn’t love it, but you do. It leaves fingerprints on your skin, Baltimore does. It hates well, but it loves better.

And I feel the same way about this album: I shouldn’t love it, but I do. It’s cheesy and vaguely appalling, and I adore it. It’s my default go-to album for the holiday season. And if you haven’t lived in Baltimore, you’ll probably hate it.

[David DeBoy -- "O Little Town Of Baltimore"] 3MB, .mp3
[David DeBoy -- "Aluminum Christmas Tree"] 3MB, .mp3.
[David DeBoy -- "Crabs for Christmas"] 4MB, .mp3.
[David DeBoy -- "One More Festivus¹"] 3MB, .mp3.

Also, it has kazoos. Come on, I’m not made of stone.

Ha, I wrote this post last week, and then the Maternal Unit sent me Rick Dempsey’s Home Run Holiday; Dempsey of course being an ex-Orioles catcher and the 1983 World Series MVP. So now I have two kitschy Baltimore Christmas albums! EXCELLENT.

1: “festivus” was ex-ravens’ coach brian billick’s code word for the playoffs during the 2000/1 season; he wouldn’t let the players say “playoffs” and the ravens made a mint in tacky festivus-themed merch. i own a t-shirt. i’m not proud of that, either.

MP3s are for sampling purposes only; if you enjoy what you hear, please support the artists by purchasing their music. Files are available for a limited time only. If you represent an artist or a label and would prefer that I remove a link to an mp3, please email me at asdonkar at gmail dot com and I will immediately remove the file.

You can see  beautiful flamingos birds at Busch Gardens Theme Park in Tampa,Florida…enjoy them !!!  

Visit Florida’s Busch Gardens Theme Park at :

http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgt/default.aspx

Summer has arrived. Holidays are nearby. Freedom is all around us. If we want it to be. I am right in the spirit at the moment. Not just of Christmas but of childlike carelessness; lollies, PG movies, feathers, sparkles, dad’s boots, playing dress ups. Goodbye stress, hello mum’s make up. That sort of thing.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.

I went and saw Where The Wild Things Are on Monday night. I loved it. And yes, I do remember the book; all 7 pages of it. I cried like a baby at the end of the movie. The 8-year-old next to me didn’t seem to mind. Good movie, I recommend it. Loose in storyline but deep in characterisation so it offers a childlike escape filled with lots of emotions but void of thought. I almost over analysed it for a minute there in the cinema but try not to if you can help it. Damn adult brain always trying to find the deeper message. Watch, enjoy, cry if you need to.

FLAMINGOS.

Think corals, fuchsia pinks and wispy whites this summer. Flamingo memorabilia counts too.

FEATHERS.

Preferably on the shoulders.

BIKER BOOTS.

Teamed with short skirts, short dresses or leggings.

We are about to show you the two most ugly items were have ever seen on HSN. They are thousands of dollars, and they are almost sold out. What the heck?

We were checking out HSN’s Web site Wednesday when we saw a set of glass pink flamingos. We thought, what is this, kitsch? Well, one person’s tacky is another person’s masterpiece.

Those two Casa di Francesca flamingos are made of Murano glass, and cost $4,800! And they are almost gone. Yes, we know they are handsigned and were made in Venice, but so what.

Then there is an ugly Murano glass tropical fish that’s a bargain, priced at $1,900. It is also almost sold out.

We think that $15.50 spent on this pet Snuggie fleece blanket, with a recordable dog tag, is a much wiser purchase than that glass stuff.

“Pamper your pup…From Dachshunds to Dobermans, this lightweight blanket with sleeves keeps your pet warm while leaving his paws free for frolicking,” HSN’s Web site says.

“The Snuggie comes with a recordable dog tag. Use it to record your pet’s information and attach it to his collar, or keep it on your keychain to record reminders. Snuggie is available in blue or pink.”

It also comes in sizes extra small to large.

Gestern haben wir bei unserer Ankunft noch nicht viel gesehen, da es hier schon um 17:00 dunkel wird und wir erst spät am Abend in Cozumel angekommen sind.

Umso schöner war der erste Blick am Morgen. Wolkenlos, unglaublich süße kleine Behausungen, in denen wir untergebracht sind und die mich stark an die Schlümpfehäuser erinnern. Die Hotelanlage gleicht einem botanischen Garten mit den ungewöhnlichsten Tieren, die hier friedlich gemeinsam leben. Man kommt aus dem Staunen nicht mehr raus – beim Frühstücken beobachtet man zugleich Pfaue, Papageien und Flamingos, am Weg in unsere kleinen Hütte entdeckten wir 2 Leguane

Einfach nur schön,

Alles Liebe Eure Eva

Because Christmas sweaters are naturally blue. With flamingos. And feathers:

Mystery Flamingo Christmas Sweater

Oh how I wish I could tell you where you could buy this sweater, or who made it, even, but alas it has remained a mystery to me.

Even after perusing galleries of flamingo sweaters I’ve yet to find it.

I hust could’nt resist some more flamingo pics, there is something about their beedy little eyes staring back at you while they attempt to nap. First closed, then the eye opens and they give you a dirty look…
The first is a youngster who is just starting to get his colours, and the second it the brighter pink adult.
Have a great week…Ed

Deux  nouveaux Ptitsmobiles Flamant rose aujourd’hui! Un que vous retrouverez dans la nouvelle galerie “Ptitsmobiles disponibles” et un autre qui s’est déjà envolé pour l’Italie et qui sera donc dans la galerie “Ptitsmobiles vendus”…

Two new Ptitsmobiles Pink Flamingo today! You can find the first one in the new Ptitsmobiles available’s gallery, and the second one which has already flown to Italy, in the new Ptitsmobiles sold’s gallery…

Whew!  What a day!  We left here at 8 a.m., Stanley, my other trusty taxi driver-cum-tourguide and I, and headed out through early morning traffic to go to Lake Nakuru and see the flamingos.

The drive was really interesting, since we went up and down the mountain foothills a couple times, enough change in elevation so that you had to pop your ears several times.

The change in temperature was quite drastic, I’d say 10  – 15 degrees F between Nairobi and Highpoint, which was, logically enough, the highest point on our route.  Also passed through some wonderful farming districts, and the fresh fruit and veg being sold at the roadside made my mouth water.  Stanley suggested that I could better pick them up on my way back, so they wouldn’t cook in the car while we toured the park.  Unfortunately, the park tour took so much longer than expected that we didn’t get back until after dark (and that’s a trip I never want to do again!) so missed the chance to sample the really fresh wares as everyone had gone home.

We passed a couple other lakes and also some places where there were spectacular views of the Rift Valley – along with the craft sellers I mentioned before.  For a small country, Kenya has quite a variety of landscapes to pass through, so it wasn’t a boring drive.

The park was so much more than the guide books had indicated.  We saw a lot of  different kinds of antelope, two rhino families, baboon tribes, vervet monkies, many different kinds of birds, zebra – and a real pleasure, thanks to Stanley’s sharp eyes, two Suni, which you can actually see in the photos this time.  They are really small antelope, about the size of Paddington the poodle, for those of you who know him.  Maybe twice as tall as your average house cat – and 10 times as cute!

Flamingos on the lake. They're still pink.

Momma Rhino and baby napping in the shade

The babies have brown stripes - hadn't known that.

The photos I took of those I saw in SA turned out to not show them, they were camouflaged so well.  People don’t often see them, and they are a fairly rare sighting, so I’m really happy.

Had lunch at one of the lodges inside the park, and sat on the terrace watching the baboons play and groom in the field across the fence.  There were also some birds to watch, and it was very peaceful and pleasant.

Carcase of buffalo downed by the drought.

But, the big thrill I was looking forward to wasn’t to be.  The flamingoes were barely dots on the horizon, and not the huge masses of them as in the photo at the beginning of the blog.  The lake has receded enormously, and even though this is the season of ’small rains’ has not recovered to anything like its former size.

This was on HUGE guy, and didn't look too friendly . . .

Yahoo! A suni!

We drove as close as we could, which meant as far as the firm sand would allow, but had to stop where the edge of the lake had been as the salt pan the receding water had left was not good for cars.  Nor for people.

The wind was blowing slightly, and raising huge storm clouds of white dust.  It got in everywhere.  The car had a good covering all over the floor, seats, armrests etc even though we kept the windows closed tight.  Breathing was difficult, and in order to walk out to get a better view of the flamingos I would have needed a really good mask and goggles.  When I got home, it was even in my belly button, though that had been well covered with several layers. (Yes, my Britney Spears days are over, gang)

Baby baboons play while mom sleeps. She's probably worn out!

All the animals near the salt pan or downwind of it were greyish white, which caused some confusion at first when we saw strange ‘white’ buffalo, and really ‘white’ rhinos (all rhinos are grey – the white and black designations don’t refer to their colour) until we realised they were coated with this mineral salt dust.

As we left to continue around the lake, looking and hoping for a better vantage point, the wheels and brakes started to squeal, and when we got back to a good distance, when we opened the windows, they squealed too!  That dust is some wicked!  I expect too that it has a high alkaline content, so really hope it didn’t permanently damage anything.

I was just so disappointed that I couldn’t get closer to the flamingos and see them close up, since I think they are really beautiful, and they were, after all, the reason I went there in the first place.  And it was devastating to see the extent of the lake’s recession first hand.  It was so much more ‘real’ than seeing it in a photo.

And the drive home – Oh, Lordy!  In the dark, through windy, up-and-down, narrow highways, with trucks and people passing them and everyone else in typical Kenyan fashion., which means blind curves, solid lines be hanged.  An probably 70 % of the cars in the country had no tailights, almost as many had one or no brakes lights, and some had no headlights, or one.  Along with this was the homeward-bound highway-side vendors, on their bicycles, no lights, no reflectors, wobbling along with their loads, and you might see them about 3 feet before you passed them.  And lots of drivers just leave their turn signals permanently on to indicate that the moment they get insane enough they are going to pass everything in sight, so don’t get in their way!  Mountain driving and I just don’t seem to have any natural affinity – especially after dark!

On the upside, yesterday at the craft markets, I did find two really cute dolls for Diana and Natasha, African mamas, in African-lady clothes, with little African babies slung on their backs.  They are just so cute.  And I found some pretty nice collages made from banana leaves.  Interesting stuff.

And today I FOUND SOME MUSIC!!  Bought a couple interesting CDs, some benga and some older stuff, and a female singer whose music I like, and who is apparently a big seller in Europe right now.  AND I found out that there is a Kenyan written and acted musical in town, so I’m going to try and get to see that too.  Things are looking up in the culture department.

Anyway, someone else is waiting their turn here, so best scoot for now.
ttfn

Today was the day of flamingos!

I’m sure you’re wondering how look like  flamingos when they wake…  They look like this, crazy hair. Of course, before to put them on my mobile, I brush them…

Now they are ready, I can show you some pictures of them, just before the varnishing’s step…

Hmmm, I think I still have much work to do … Maybe, tomorrow 2 news flamingos mobile…

Double-wattled Horned Cassowary

I spend a lot of time at the Zoo—it’s two blocks away, and I work there. It’s one of the best places to go for photography in D.C., especially early morning when the light is beautiful, the animals ar

The National Zoo's pandas Tai Shan and Mei Xiang

Red Panda at the National Zoo

Pink flamingos at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

Pink flamingos stand on one foot at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

Cheetah at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

Babes: The new Sugababes song played whilst I was at Flamingo’s the other night. I had no idea it was them. I had been determined to hate their new track following the addition of Jade and the subtraction of Keisha. However, I LO-VED it!!! Better than ‘Get Sexy’ by a millions miles!! Jade’s vocals actually work fantastically with the two remaining ‘babes and I think the song will be massive… both in the charts and on my iPod!

GaGa: Yet to hear the new GaGa choon but I hear it is fabulous! Will get me ears on that a post a full single review of it ASAP, plus an Album Review for “The Fame Monster”. I hear she is going on tour in 2010 in the UK? Guess who’s going to see it? ME! Mah! Awesome. I am moist.

3: The new Britney Spears single was also played at ‘mingos and it’s fairly good. As a Britney track it is not outstanding, and it’s not as poptastic as I would normally like; but there is something very ‘Celebration’ (Madge) meets ‘Breate On Me’ (Spears) about it which I kinda love. We’ll see how that grows.

X Factor: Did anyone else nearly die laughing when they saw John and Edward’s “rock” performance this week? It wasn’t the song, it was the gothing up! Louis has clearly been at the special medication this week: does he realise he only has one act left? Other than that; everything was awful. They should all be shot. Why is there no Alexandra/Diana/Ruth/JLShite/Girlband/Austin/Laura quality people on this years show? Why is everyone shite and ugly (apart from Jamie and Lloyd)?

+: The playlist was updated in work today; we now have the new music videos for Mika’s ‘Rain’ (V. Good), Sugababes’ ‘About A Girl’ (V. Good) and Lily Allen’s ‘Who’d Have Known’ (Oh Dear). It’s not that there is anything wrong with Lily Allen’s new song at all; in fact it is a very good song and is one of the most played songs from “It’s Not Me, It’s You”- but that is the problem. ‘22′ has been on loop for the last month and I can only assume ‘Who’d Have Known’ will replace it, and on top of the 120+ iPod plays I’ve had so far, it may get a little tedious. Also, poor/safe choice of single. ‘I Could Say’ would have been a more lovely choice. But frankly, the album is almost a year old; get a new one out girlfriend!

+: I’m slightly concerned that I quite like the new Michael Jackson song… if this enjoyment progresses into love and/or downloading of the aforementioned song, someone bring an axe to my house and just destroy me.

It looks like Meezers really like to accessorize!

Some of the most popular items are the new specialty boots.

We can’t tell if people in Florida prefer the Flamingos or if people in the Wild West prefer the Longhorn, but it seems certain that people somewhere scary chose these Monster Boots (see below)!

The Flamingo Boots are most popular with both boys and girls, with well over 6,000 people acquiring them altogether. The Monster Boots, more popular with girls, came in second with about 3,000 people. Last, but certainly not least, over 2,500 people loved the Longhorn Slippers.

Which were your favorite?

While you enjoy your new boots and slippers, enjoy this new music video from Little Boots!

Self-actualization is the predominant god of our American culture. It is nothing new to humanity.  In fact, it has roots in humanity’s fall in the Garden of Eden.  The idea was made prominent in modern psychology and sociology by Abraham Maslow.  His famous quote, “What a man can be, he must be.  This need we call self-actualization” is taught in every psychology, sociology, and educational course.  It is a cornerstone idea of our contemporary world.

Kurt Goldstein (an organismic theorist) was the first to introduce the idea that every person strives to realize his or her or potential. His idea was that this overpowering urge was the master motive for every human desire.  In fact, he believed it to be the only true motive.  All other motives a person may have were simply manifestations of the desire for self-actualization. “Goldstein defined self-actualization as a driving life force that will ultimately lead to maximizing one’s abilities and determine the path of one’s life” (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_actualization).

Interestingly, Kurt Goldstein’s book was titled “The Organism: A Holistic Approach to Biology Derived from Pathological Data in Man”. Notice the part about “derived from the pathological data in man“.  Studying human pathology and deviancy certainly will give insights into the motivations of human behavior.  One has to wonder, however, if it is a good baseline with which to start.  That aside, Abraham Maslow broadened Goldstein’s idea and popularized it.  Now it is as much of our cultural ethos as religion and politics.

What started out as an identifier for human motivations has come to be considered a human right of every individual regardless of consequences or deviancy or even pathological behavior.  We are told that we will never be happy until we attain self-actualization, which has come to mean personal fulfillment and happiness at whatever cost.  I wonder what Goldstein and Maslow would think of where our popular culture has taken their ideas.  Did they even foresee the possibility of these unintended consequences to their studies?

Personal fulfillment and happiness are wonderful things in the right perspective and context. However, when they are twisted to the ends of human pathology or the spiritual fallen nature of humankind one has to wonder how bizarre it all can get.  After all, self-actualization, personal fulfillment, and happiness must assume the good nature and motivation of the human heart.  But what if that human nature is evil and the heart “deceitfully wicked”?  What then?

I cannot speak for any one else, but I know for a fact that many of the things that I have desired in my heart and thought would bring me ultimate happiness and fulfillment would have really destroyed me and my relationships.  It is only by the grace of God that I did not go there and get there or realize self-actualization.  Even those things that seemed good and honest at the time in hindsight now reveal a tragic end had I gone down that path.

Self-actualization seems to be the very thing that the serpent tempted Adam and Eve with in the garden: “Surely you will not die.  You will become like God”.  There is the promise that what they saw and desired truly would not destroy them.  Instead it would fulfill them.  They would reach their hearts’ true desire – self-actualization – to be like their Creator.  Who does not want to be like God?  That would be a good thing, right?  Not that way, it turns out.

In reaching out to consume the fruit of self-actualization they destroyed the thing they desired most – a growing knowledge of their Creator and becoming like their Creator.  The permissible attitude that says, “As long as it makes you happy is all that counts.  As long as you become a fulfilled individual is what is important.  As long as you reach the vision of who you think you can become (self-actualization) you have the right to it”.  This is the bait that appeals to our pride and feels so good to our wounded psyches.

Flamingos Ix Pu Ha', Mexico ©Weatherstone/Ron Almberg, Jr. (2009)

Unfortunately, it is easier to see and point out the deviancy in another’s choices and motivations than our own. Thus, our efforts at self-actualization are permissible where someone else’s are not according to our judgment.  But who is to make that big, final decision.  Many people would say that it is the changing mores of our culture and society.  Therefore, laws should change to reflect the social values of our times.  In other words, what’s outlawed today may be permitted tomorrow to make another group of people happy.  Thus, marijuana may be illegal today, but some day in the future it maybe legalized.  Homosexual marriage may be illegal today, but in the future may be legal.  Multiple marriage partners may be illegal today, but in the future may be legal (it already is in some countries).  Each group, however small, struggling to gain self-actualization, no matter how deviant, has the hopes that someday their behavior will be acceptable and normalized.  In the end, who has the right to refuse anyone from self-actualization?  Apparently, no one.  Not even a divine authority such as God and his Word.

Thus, relativism plays a big part of shaping attitudes toward self-actualization. If there are no absolute values or truths, then there really are no deviant or wrong behaviors.  We really cannot fault pathological human behavior no matter how slight or severe because it is all an attempt to realize what a human being truly can be.  In this world, it is like driving on a road system with no rules or no signs.  You can drive any way you like as long as you don’t kill someone else.  Just honk your horn loud enough to let everyone else around you know that you are there and where you are going.  There is no right way or wrong way to drive on life’s road.  All roads lead to the same end – happiness, fulfillment, and self-actualization.

So, it does not matter the cost or the consequences. Go ahead and get that divorce to be happy.  Go ahead and follow the natural inclinations of a deceitful and wicked heart no matter where it leads.  Go ahead and have sex with anyone as long as you and your partners are fulfilled.  Go ahead and do whatever is necessary to be self-actualized.  In the end, all that matters is that you are happy, fulfilled, and self-actualized.  After all, you are like God.  You know right from wrong and what is really good or evil for yourself.  Go ahead.  Indulge.  Take a bite of this apple.

©Weatherstone/Ron Almberg, Jr. (2009)

If soap has been leaving your skin dry and tight, it may be time for you to switch to a natural handmade soap.

Glycerine soaps is known for its skin softening properties, glycerin plays a major role as a natural humectant. Humectants are substances that attract and retain moisture. For the skin to remain supple, soft and elastic, it is essential for the skin to remain moist and hydrated.

It is an ideal choice for those with sensitive skin, delicate skin and for children too.

Each Bar soap weight – 6.8oz

♥Wedding Couple
Juicy strawberries and a bit of the bubbly propose a toast to the bride and groom.

♥Flowerprint
Deep, rich leafy florals complement a soft base of moss and clove to make a fragrant bouquet perfect for any occasion.

♥Snowman
A true winter delight! Warm musk thaws the frosty citrus blend of crisp geranium and Christmas lily notes.

♥Candy Cane
Peppermint and spearmint accented with the fresh ozonic notes blended with orange, tangerine lily, jasmine and musk.

♥Pink Pig
Pink Lemonade bathes our pretty pink pig.

♥Mustang Sally
A wild mix of bergamot, lime and sandalwood.

♥Lip
Exotic floral blend of jasmine, muguet, and casos with sparking citrus top notes all sealed with a kiss.

♥Flamingos
Classic deco colors, this bar is laced with bergamot, cedar, linden blossom and flamingos.

♥Maybe No Yes
This bar holds the answer. Sugary sweetness, just like candy.

♥Soap Spa
Made from vegetable glycerin which acts as a humectant to moisturizes the skin, this soap features green geometric chunks enhanced with Loofah for mild exfoliating. We use only the highest quality ingredients for a rich feel and luxurious lather that rinses cleanly away The subtle scents of lemon, bergamot, jasmine, geranium, and cedar wood were carefully chosen for their therapeutic and aromatic qualities.

♥Lavender
Soothing and relaxing lavender essential oil calms the soul.

♥Moon
Enjoy an exotic night with warm sensual spices and rich oakmoss. Exotic woods and patchouli create an Eastern influenced aroma.

** Some of the color may looks difference form the picture when purchase. Not to worry the design is still the same.

It was a lazy morning and I had to be awake since I big-mouthed on facebook about going to the bird park even if the world topples over . My friend kicked me before leaving for office and finally I woke up an hour later when my other roommate was leaving for airport at 7:30AM. I bid him farewell and a happy journey to home in India. I woke up and by the time I got ready and decided to skip the breakfast and head straight out – the rain happened. It was a heavy downpour and I finally made breakfast and ate it too and the rain precisely stopped by the time I was finished filling up. That’s the nature’s way of making you do stuff Parents are more direct

Anyways no-one responded to that facebook message I left late in the night to join for the trip and I head out all alone with my cam and my bag.  Going alone on a park visit and hike and stuff SUCKS. I hate it for two reasons, there is no one to share the experience and say “it was aweeesommmeee”  and secondly I never had to. With all the friends out there in college I can very easily find a partner minutes after I change the status to something that’s remotely Interesting.

Anyway, here the trip begins at 10:00 AM in the morning with ticket in hand and all thanks to the rain god for showing extreme mercy yet still holding the post by keeping the sun away for the whole day. It was a perfect day for bird watch. Cloudy and perfect light for photography and the trees will be all wet just the way I like it in the woods.

From here it will be a picture story. The pictures are in the order I visited the whole place. I particularly spent a lot of time feeding and playing with the birds at the place where they were flying all over me and believe me they bit me a lot I will upload a video of it soon.

It’s really starting to look and feel like autumn around the Zoo this week. Colorful leaves twirling down from the branches like little helicopters and crisp breezes rippling across the Wetlands.

In the wild, Season change has dramatic effects on animals— predators and herbivores alike become more serious about building up their reserves of fat and fur before the winter starts. But here at the Zoo, each animal’s climate is controlled to keep them in their optimum comfort zones year round. Of course, that doesn’t seem to stop the Bison’s winter fur from getting thicker and longer, or the Snow Leopard from gazing off wistfully at some soon-to-come snowbound landscape.

School is in session again and so the kids I have been seeing here on weekdays tend to be mostly pre-schoolers. These are kids who, perhaps for the first time, are seeing Penguins and Seals and miniature Guinea Hogs up close and personal.  It’s great to watch them point and laugh.  Over at the Gibbons’ exhibit, a group of youngsters are thoroughly entertained by one of the playful apes who grabs a page from a magazine that’s been put into their cage for enrichment, and swings briskly up to his perch where he appears to actually be “reading,” or at least enjoying the pictures.

The Giant Anteaters are outside together now most of the time and they seem to be gradually getting less formal with each other. I actually witnessed a few friendly nose-bumps as they passed each other. Pretty soon it will be too cold for them outside so they’ll be coming inside where the climate stays at the warm and comfy levels they refer.

Life for animals here at RWPZoo certainly has some definite advantages.

By Rob Mariani
RWPZoo Docent