(Goma, DRC)

See-through House

 It's not often I run into houses at this stage of construction-- just before the walls are filled in with artisanal mud.  Then again, perhaps this is the final design of a really avant-garde island architect.  I'm gonna go with the latter on this one.  Why hide yourself from the cool island breeze?  And the glassless windows are safer for the local birds too (and there are many, as you well know by now).

 (Nkombo Island, Rwanda)

Dad Catches a Trout on the Equator

Mt Kenya has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world.  Nestled around 10,000 feet on the northeast side there is a small cabin in complete seclusion next to Rutundu Lake.  The only thing you hear there is the wind, birds, the occasional zebra or elephant.  And the beckoning trout.

After putting on some wooly buggers (aka thin mints) and piling into the little dinghy we slowly trolled around the perimeter in expectation.  It wasn't looking good.  Uncle B, my dad and I were losing hope.  The light was fading fast and there was no sign of life in the little pond.  'Let out more line,' our guide said with a wink.  

Just as the sun began to fade behind the hillside in front of us, WHAM-O!, Dad hooked one.  It was a tense but joyous few minutes while he delicately reeled her in.  Oh the color!  Still not sure if our trout was bigger than Prince William's, but I tend to think so.  It was certainly one of the best feasts we'd ever had and as the night grew cold around us, we cozied around the fire and sunk into a dreamy food coma. 

The Perfect Island Cottage

The perfect island cottage.   With a perfect island view.  And of course there's a stone beach with an ample supply of throwing stones.   The island in March.  

 

  

Cottage by the Sea

 Just spent a few days at a cottage by the sea.  A reef right offshore with great bodysufing waves, tidal pools big enough to snorkle in, lion fish in caves, fisherman brining the catch of the day to your front porch, and an ultimate frisbee tournament to move.  (Tiwi Beach, Kenya)

A Perfect Thatched-Roof Home

 A perfect cozy home.  One of the nicest I've seen in all my travels.  Sleeping under a roof like this in the rain must be kind of like sleeping in a tent--much better than the metal roofs that seem to be so in vogue these days.  Need to learn the alphabet or numbers 1-20?  Just write it on the window cover, of course.

 The insides of these homes are serious works of art. 

A different home, to be fair, but definitely fits the theme.  True wallflowers. 

The Shack and The Lobsterboat

 Went with my family to one of my favorite places on Miles Island a couple weeks ago:  Islesford.  I was thinking of submiting the above photo to a favorite website of late, Cabin Porn.  No, it's not what you might think, but rather cabins, cottages, huts, shacks, and other small liveable nooks from around the world--many from Scandinavia.  "Inspiration for your quiet place somewhere."  I'm just not sure if this qualifies as a cabin since no one (human, at least) lives in it--maybe the treehouse in the background counts?  I'll submit and see what they say.  More pics to come from our ramble around this magical place...many thanks to our gracious hosts.