Friday, April 12, 2013

K is for Kenya. Giraffes and magic moments.

Magic Moments -- if you are lucky, very lucky during your travels to "far away places with strange sounding names," you will have a magic moment that you will never forget.

Today, I am sharing my sister Claudine's magic moment near Nairobi, Kenya, when coming up the hill toward their lodging, a herd of Giraffes ran through the compound.  Her recent trip was short, only one week, but in that week she saw many animals, but this was her magic moment which she sent me via one of those small cameras.  Claudine says she will never forget this sight.


                          

                                  Near Lake Naivasha, Kenya


Giraffes are the world's tallest land animal.  They have two gaits;  walking and galloping.  Walking by moving the legs on one side of the body at the same time, then doing the same on the other side.  When galloping, the hind legs move around the front legs before the latter moves forward; the tail curls up and the forward and backward movement of its head and neck maintains the giraffes balance while galloping.  You can see this when you watch the movie.

Do you have a magic travel moment?

14 comments:

  1. I think that's why I like to travel so much. So many magic moments that we remember forever.

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  2. Travelling and visiting new places is the best thing! I can't think of a specific magic moment at this time but will keep thinking and get back toy, I must have one.

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    1. Thanks, Rowena, for stopping by. Sometimes there are so many images. . . .

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  3. How neat! I just went to the Olympic Peninsula last week and while I was taking photos of the sunrise over the water, some sea lions were swimming by. It was so fun, just being by myself in the quiet of the morning, watching them pop their heads out of the water.

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  4. It is magic. We need to experience the natural world more than we do. Thank you for writing.

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  5. They definitely have to work hard to make those gangly legs do their job!

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  6. Gangly but graceful at the same time. (A "G" word, but it's too late.)

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  7. My magical travel moment actually involved a Giraffe! I was licked by a giraffe as a child and I've NEVER forgotten it!!

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    1. I think their tongues are black. . .were you frightened?

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    2. Their tongues are black - and long. Snake-like. We have videos of feeding them in a giraffe sanctuary. One woman in our group was afraid to feed them. Lisa - you must have been frightened as a child. I'm such an animal lover I got passed the appearance of the tongue - the animals themselves seem so gentle.

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  8. Hi from a fellow A-Z traveler! Great photo of the Inside Passage.

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  9. Thanks, Bob. I hopped over to your blog this morning. Nice to meet you.

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  10. Hi LoW ... I loved my African experiences of which there are many .. the wild creatures are just superb ... Claudine was lucky to experience the herd of giraffe on their pilgrimage ..

    Wonderful - thanks Hilary

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