Lens-Artists Challenge #92 – Second Time Around

ELEPHANTS WET

GENTLE BEASTS OF BOTSWANA

“No matter how deeply you come to know a place, you can keep coming back to know it more.”

Rebecca Solnit

This week we are pleased to welcome John Steiner as our guest host. Since most all of us are confined at home, his challenge about revisiting previous journeys is a great way to remind us of wonderful memories. I’ve opened with a scene from our visit to Botswana and South Africa.  Seeing elephants in their natural environment quite simply leaves one without words. We were thrilled to see most every other creature we’d imagined – leopards, cape buffalo, lions, rhinoceroses, monkeys, hippopotami, crocodiles, giraffes. wildebeests, zebras, and magnificent birds we’d never dreamed existed. There are two things we did NOT see however. The first is the annual wildebeest migration, where millions of these amazing animals travel across the Serengeti in search of lush new grasses. The second is the critically endangered silverback gorilla, primarily seen in the Virunga mountains. I would love a return to Africa for either or both of those experiences.

LAGUNA DE LOS TRES, S.A.

LAGUNA DE LOS TRES, S.A.

“Sometimes it is necessary to go back before we can move forward.”

Mary Balogh

Our visit to South America was focused primarily on the incredible natural phenomenon of Patagonia. I have a crystal clear memory of our very challenging hike to Laguna de los Tres (above) which is one of my favorite travel moments ever. While the natural beauty of these remote areas of wilderness was both incredible and thrilling, we also enjoyed some wonderful, civilized time in Buenos Aires and Santiago.  In hindsight, however, I’m sorry we didn’t continue on to Antartica which is but a stone’s throw from our adventures at the southern tips of both Chile and Argentina. 

vietnamese woman, bicycle, rice paddies

RICE FIELDS, VIETNAM

“We get a second chance at everything, including our mistakes.”

Christopher X. Shade

In Southeast Asia, we covered a lot of ground as we visited Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. We found the people to be warm and friendly, the food fantastic, and the sights amazing (and of course they were way ahead of us on the mask thing ☹️). Some of my favorite photographs captured the people of these amazing places, and my memories of the glories of Angkor Wat will be with me forever. Although the trip was already several weeks long, I wish we had taken the time to visit Myanmar which was so close by and easily reached. I don’t imagine I’ll be back in that area again any time soon but one never knows.  If so, rest assured Myanmar is at the top of my list.

Petra, rose rocks

PETRA’S GLORY

“The wonderful thing about second chances is that they exist.”

Felice Stevens

Our incredible visit to Israel and Jordan left me curious about the rest of the Middle East which I hope one day to visit. I’ve always dreamed of exploring Egypt and Turkey, both of which remain on my list of must-see locations.  

My husband and I recognize how fortunate we’ve been to experience so much of the world’s beauty. We’ve visited every continent except Antartica, and we haven’t given up on that one yet. Feel free to browse some of my previous posts about the places I’ve featured today along with many others by using the search field after the comments below. While we’re mostly homebound, enjoy a wander with me to places like China, Europe, Australia/NZ, and of course North America. 

Sincere thanks to our followers for your continued support, and to John for his terrific challenge which you can see by clicking here. Remember to link to his post and to use the Lens-Artists TAG. Our best wishes to those who celebrate for a joyful Passover or Easter despite the current circumstances. We hope you’ll join us next week as we return to our regular schedule with Ann-Christine hosting Challenge #93. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay at home – we’re counting on you!

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100 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Challenge #92 – Second Time Around”

  3. Pingback: Lens-Artists Challenge #92 – Second Time Around — Travels and Trifles – Truth Troubles

  4. Hi Tina, what a beautiful opening shot of the majestic elephants in Botswana. A few years ago, we were lucky enough to see a mother and her calf in Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa. If there’s a silver lining during this pandemic, it’s that nature is getting a break right now. Hope you’re well!

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      • We were delighted when we heard about the dolphins in Venice’s canals, but later read in National Geographic that the dolphin detail was false (or that the dolphin footage that widely circulated was actually from Sardinia).

        Still, that doesn’t negate other positives for nature (reduced air pollution, etc.).

        Enjoy the rest of your Monday. 🙂

  5. Pingback: Lens-Artist-PC-92-Second-Time-Around – WoollyMuses

  6. a fantastic post Tina!!! I always feel very fortunate to to have the opportunity to be a fly on your lens!! love the second time around..thanks

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  8. I can’t stop staring at the rocky spires in your picture of Laguna de Los Tres in southern Argentina; I’m now curious about how one reaches that location!

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  12. Thank goodness for memories, Tina. They’ll sustain us until the borders reopen. Love the elephants with the tide marks. Stay safe Tina. We’re hearing horror stories from the US.

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    • Thanks Wendy. We are fortunate to be in an area with very few cases. The trouble spots are in the bigger cities. We are definitely adhering to social distancing and mindful of keeping our hands washed and not touching our faces. Have begun wearing masks to grocery shop but otherwise fairly normal here so far. Hope you’re ok over there as well.

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  13. Wonderful as usual, Tina! You have seen so many places – Patagonia is a marvelous destination. Thank you for taking us there, I have only seen it on TV and blog photos, but if I were younger I would have tried a journey out there. Love your elephants too – such intelligent animals with deep family sense. Perfect quotes of which I will remember many.

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  17. Tina – I imagine it would be hard for you to choose just a few photos?! I was so tickled to see the ones you shared. And I smiled at your mask comment, I wondered if the lady was smiling at you beneath her mask? I’ve never been to any of those places, and probably will never travel there so it is fascinating to see the sights through your photos. I really love the elephant one – I felt sorry for the little guy – it looks like he had to cross the river under the water? 😉 Thank you for sharing your adventures!! Take care and stay safe!

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    • Many thanks Shelley. We’ve been very fortunate with our travels and I love going thru my photos for the challenges. Brings back great memories😊. It’s a beautiful World out there, hopefully we’ll get to see more of it soon. You be safe too!

      Sent from my iPhone

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  18. One day, god willing, I will see the beauty of Africa as you described, Tina. Or else, I will live my life vicariously through your lenses.

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  20. Hi Tina, Loved your memories of Africa. Our visit to Botswana and the Okavango Delta was wonderful. The most memorable Botswana highlight being the day we sighted what our guides described as over 1,000 elephants. From Greater Kruger National Park…spending 20 minutes photographing 6-8 week old lion cubs would be the highlight of our first visit.

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    • Oh Woolly, SO many highlights from our safaris in the Delta as well. I distinctly remember spotting a group of elephants as we flew over the delta in a very small plane. I was SO excited. Little did I know how many there would be and how close we would get. It’s simply the most wonderful place don’t you think?!

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  25. I’m not surprised you included Petra in your post. It looks fabulous, as well as your other sites. As you know, we were supposed to go to Petra/Israel in October….maybe we’ll be able to go in 2021?? Here’s hoping we can all travel later this year. Stay well, be well.

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  26. You certainly get around. I did my traveling when I was in the military. There wasn’t much time for sightseeing. And, let’s say not all people were warm and in a greeting mood. 🙂

    So, how are you doing?

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    • Well I used to anyway David – not so much lately! Not surprising of course that your travels had a very different feel than mine. We are doing fine here, still able to be outside and the weather’s been lovely until storms rolled in today. My brother in Colorado tells me you’re having snow all week! Can you say SPRING?!?!

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  27. Tina, you are so fortunate to have been able to travel to such wonderful places to take so many incredible photos…especially liked the water line on the elephants! Happy Easter!

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  29. I have been to Kenya and marveled at the animals in the wild. I have also been to Vietnam and Cambodia. But not the Middle East. As always beautiful photos Tina. Thank you for sharing them.

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    • My pleasure Anne. Honestly that trip was at the top of my husband’s list rather than mine. And it was happy to admit how very wrong I was about it. The trip was one of our all-time favorites. The Old City and of course Petra were simply magnificent and the history is so clearly obvious..

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  30. Beautiful images, Tina. I’m jealous of your travels! Especially Patagonia – it’s #1 on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing.

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    • Thanks so much Dianne. Patagonia would be heaven for someone like you. Their mountains are simply glorious and so uncrowded and pristine. It was honestly exhilarating both at the time and in my memory. I do hope you get there one day.

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  31. Simply beautiful. I’m feeling quite jelous and with the hope we all can go back exploring this wonderful world.

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    • I think we all feel that way, but truly these few weeks have helped us to appreciate in hindsight the wonders that we’ve seen. I too look forward to being able to travel again without fear.

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  32. Tina, the woman near the rice fields reminds me that isolation can be tempered by nature’s abundance and majesty. Hope that you are healthy and safe.
    (By the way notice how she did not cover her nose, makes using the mask useless.)

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    • LOL, I did NOT notice that Sally – how funny! Interestingly we had a box of 100 facemasks when we went to China, expecting terrible pollution. we never saw any and eventually gave them away. Now we wish we’d brought them home!

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  33. Such beautiful photos and memories. And even some admitted regrets. I have tourist remorse almost everywhere we go — didn’t have time to eat at certain places or climb some height or make it across town to see something special. Instead, though, I try to focus on how fortunate I have been to have seen what I did come to see — and then some. Hopefully, we’ll all get to do that more in the future.

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    • LOL for tourist remorse! Had we not been challenged to think about what we might have done differently you’d not have heard a whisper of a complaint from me! I’ve loved every journey we’ve ever taken and count myself incredibly lucky to have seen so many wondrous places and things!

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      • Me, too. You can’t ever see it all, but we’ve seen more than many people have. And best yet? We haven’t caught any terrible viruses, etc. on our travels. Still could, of course. But hoping we never do.

  36. Beautiful travel memories, Tina! These photos are remarkable. Fascinating photos of these elements. The image of Patagonia is magnificent.

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  38. The image of the African elephants (a bit different from Indian) was so arresting and I can only imagine the awe you must have felt on seeing them. It was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed reading of your global adventures. Some day hope to follow in your footsteps:)

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  40. Beautiful photos, Tina, and wonderful memories of these trips we took together. I’ll never forget that hike we took in Patagonia, having an elephant mock charge us in Botswana, and the gracious people of Vietnam. Maybe someday travel will be possible again. 💜

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  41. Thank you Lois. I agree – I couldn’t count the number of times we saw them and was amazed at how close they came to us. Once they walked over to our (fortunately) raised plunge pool to drink the water! They are quite simply magnificent and no, one never tires of watching them.

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  42. So many what ifs, Tina! When this is over there won’t be a wasted opportunity in sight, but my, you’ve seen some glorious things! I’m using my phone, in splendid isolation up on the roof, so can’t easily visit John’s post. I will do later. A happy and peaceful Easter to you 🤗🐰🐣💐💕

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    • Thanks so much Jo – we are all doing our best to stay connected and that’s what’s important. Thank goodness for technology in this time of seclusion! You stay well and a happy, peaceful Easter to you too.

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  43. Beautiful collection of images as usual, Tina. Thanks again for the invitation to guest host. Your photos of Africa along with those of a friend of mine who traveled there last year are an invitation to safari that I would love to RSVP. Since our Mediterranean cruise was canceled this year, we are rescheduling for a transatlantic cruise next April, but we came very close to instead making it an Antarctic cruise out of Buenos Aires. That photo titled Petra’s Glory is my favorite. Looking forward to your next challenge post.

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    • Many thanks John, both for your comment and for joining us as host with such a fun challenge. A good friend did the Antarctic cruise from BA and her images were magnificent. I hate cold but think I could overcome that just once 🙂

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