Crocodile Feeding Time

At Antasibe Park in Madagascar, I witnessed 40 crocodiles at their weekly feeding time! Very hungry animals with powerful jaws.  A powerful and disturbing sight.   All resemblances to U.S. Presidential Debates are simply coincidental.  (Now aren't you glad that's over?)

Coming "Home" to Mauritius

Pieter Both Mountain: a unique Mauritian landscape

Just spent a delightful week in the place that was "home" for us just a few years ago---the beautiful country of Mauritius!

Saw old friends, and savored the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations of this wonderful place.  Missing only Shelly and Bailey, who were asked about at every stop!

Dinner with Patrice and Pratima Cure

Friends Christian and family

Our former infinity pool and Indian Ocean

Selfie with Meeta

Favorite Mauritian meal: Briyani

Denon and Meeta: a visit with good friends

Young Mauritian Leader Nawsheen

Friends for years:  Rashard Bundhoo

U.S. Charge d'Affaires and the Mauritius President

Inspecting a U.S. solar company installation

Trou aux Biches beach

Going SCUBA diving with Omi

Port Louis from the hotel

U.S. Envoys Visit Union of the Comoros

   

U.S. Diplomats meet Comoros Minister of Justice

Part of my diplomatic work is to communicate with the U.S. Embassies and to get to know the local issues in several African countries.  I spent a couple days this week in the Union of the Comoros, an Indian Ocean island nation of just under a million people.  Met with the Ministers of Justice and Education, and the national Human Rights Commission.  The prior week, one of my bosses and I met with the President of Comoros.  Here's an Islamic Republic that is very favorable to the U.S.  It is also a very poor country with many challenges.  The people could not have been nicer, and I am pleased to say we have a very successful new Peace Corps program teaching English there.  Have I mentioned that I love my job??

Mobile vendor sells from a wheelbarrow

Comorian gentlemen hanging out

Prepping the nets for a day of fishing

They pay attention to the U.S.!! Get a load of this boat's name!

Main Mosque in the capital, Moroni

Comoros national TV and the Human Rights Commission Chair

I did the interview all in my rusty French!

Visited a great community development program

Meeting with the Minister of Education

Madagascar's Lemurs!!

Sifaka Lemurs

 I took a break from my work in Madagascar's capital city, Antananarivo, to go to the rain forest and the Antasibe National Park.  They have a half dozen types of lemurs here---with a guide, you can discover them high in the trees, eating, jumping, playing and raising their young. For more on lemurs, CLICK HERE. Madagascar's national parks are doing a good job at conserving these endemic animals, but the problem is deforestation . . . more and more primary and secondary forests are being cut down for lumber and wood energy, so the habitats for these magnificent unique animals are disappearing rapidly.  (The photos with lemurs on me were taken at a private reserve, where the animals have been domesticated.)

Indri Indri Lemur--like a teddy bear

My guide, Edwin, was great!

The only kind of lemur shooter I want to be

Indri Indri: the largest of the lemurs

Black and white lemur