Dinner with Stephen

Last week I got to dine with 2 famous Stephens. The first was Stephen Frink, a legend in underwater photography world said to be among the world's most widely published marine and underwater photographer. He came to take amazing above ground pictures of animals along with 15 or so other photography enthusiasts. Once in a blue moon Stephen comes back to land and leads a once in a lifetime tour to an exotic location. This year it was Africa, a trip that was 2 years in the making. It was interesting to watch this kaleidoscope of individuals brought together from all parts of American by one common passion, photography. It was easy to follow or include myself in their conversation as long as I had Photography somewhere in my sentence. They certainly stirred and stoked my little fire for photography, someday i will be able to afford the bazookas they were carrying and take better pictures, by that time they will probably be on to something else...space photographic travels perhaps.

Then Stephen Falcke came by,(he is only one of the world's top 3 interior designers!!) Soft spoken fabulous Stephen came to rearrange our public areas and rooms with lots of color and unique artefacts. The same man who is responsible for this, this and this got to use our public areas as his little amusement park for a few hours! For someone who gets calls from the likes of Sol Kerzener, Stephen is quite humble and down to earth with a sharp eye for detail. I extremely enjoyed his stories peppered with exotic lifestyles and glitterati and he taught me how to make a "rock shandy" his version of this mocktail includes:

1 part soda
1parts sprite (or lemonade)
A couple of shakes bitters

Me thinks Stephen has a bit of a sweet tooth going!

Hell hath no fury like a lioness with cubs

I was planning on sleeping in this morning when Kazembo woke me up. "Madam, Madam!" I shot up thinking, lodge is on fire, there is a riot and I am all alone, someone's drowned. no. "A crocodile has been killed by rion and George is taking car to go there!" " I'll be right there! " I yelled back as I flew out of my bed and into my tracksuit, at the door I paused and realized I was wearing my pink sleeping shirt, a practical come hither sign for any dangerous animals that might be keen for some animal on girl action. I ripped my shirt off, put on a brown earthy one in its place, grabbed my hat and camera (praying the battery wasn't flat) and flew outside where George was revving the ancient landcruiser. Kazembo stood by the laundry table folding a sheet in slow motion longingly staring at the vehicle. "Well are you coming???" and that's all it took to get him to join our impromptu game drive. It was about 8:30 am and what had happened was the lions and their cubs had been feeding on an unfortunate impala right opposite chalet 1 (as I slept!!!) when a lazy crocodile decided to waddle up and stir some sh*t hoping to get a piece of the action. The lionesses were not having it, there are 3 of them adults and 4 young ones, the impala was hardly enough to go around as is. So while the kids were at a safe distance the other 2 must have wrestled with the crocs hind legs eventually breaking them while the larger/older female went for the jugular and ripped it open leaving the crocodile with a huge gash exposing tissue, veins, and air tubes. When we got to the scene the croc had gone comatose to preserve his energy, I thought he was doornail dead. While we went hunting for the lions who we found in the shade nearby vultures got wind of the story and immediately began to congregate. As I write they must now be in their hundreds shamelessly waiting for the croc to give up the ghost. Not wanting to be eaten alive the croc would occasionally raise his head and snarl at the vultures who were duly warned but not intimidated. They know its just a matter of time.

Close inspection of croc: beautiful animal with marble green eyes and skin that looks like a rug with well placed dull colored precious stones.