Ecotourism, Green Travel, Eco Friendly Tips, Adventure Travel, Nature/Wildlife Conservation & Preservation of Indigenous Cultures web magazine.

PIC OF THE DAY: Dragonflies On Water Lily, Atlanta Botanical Garden

Published March 3, 2012 |

By Bret Love

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates.

dragonflies on water lily Atlanta Botanical Garden PIC OF THE DAY: Dragonflies On Water Lily, Atlanta Botanical Garden

Dragonflies on Water Lily at Atlanta Botanical Garden

I’ve always been fascinated by dragonflies, ever since I was a small boy. Now, as a family, we love spending time in a hidden cove on Lake Allatoona, where dragonflies flit around by the dozens, frequently landing on us for extended periods of time. When Mary and I were in our early days of courting, I took her to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, where we spotted this attractive pair of dragonflies doing their thing on top of a gorgeous water lily. I was thankful I’d brought my Macro lens with me, allowing me to zoom in on the rich yellow of the flower’s center as well as the dragonfly’s periwinkle body. I really love the colors on this one… –Bret Love

Posted in Photos/Videos, Pic of the Day |

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK- Day 3 Photo Gallery

Published March 2, 2012 |

By Bret Love

Alpine Snowcoach in Yellowstone National Park

The next day found us venturing deeper into the heart of Yellowstone National Park, venturing south from Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel towards the opposite end of the park. The road is closed to regular traffic from November to mid-April, but Off The Beaten Path hires Alpine snowcoaches outfitted for traveling over snow and ice. Riding in the odd-looking snowcoaches was one of my daughter’s favorite parts of the trip, and I loved the dual sunroof, which allowed us to pop out of the top and snap photos without ever leaving the vehicle.

Baby Bison in Yellowstone National Park

That feature came in handy almost immediately, as we FINALLY encountered a bison herd close enough to the road to get incredible close-ups. I took at least 50-60 shots in a span of 2-3 minutes, most of them focused on this young bison grazing at the center of the herd. According to our guide, Eve Wills, baby bison are usually born in the late spring, meaning this adorable little fella was probably around 9-10 months old. It was cool how the herd kept a protective circle around him, even though we saw no predators in the area.

Roaring Mountain

It took about 5 seconds after getting out of the snowcoach to understand how Roaring Mountain got its name. Formed of rhyolite, a volcanic rock that contains 70-75% silica, the mountain sits just 1-2 miles above the boiling magma of the Yellowstone Caldera, and is covered in fumaroles (vents or cracks in the ground from which steam escapes). When water– or, in this case, snow– seeps down through the cracks and gets heated up, it essentially boils, and the sound of the escaping steam was like a giant volcanic teapot.

Green Cyanidium Runoff from Roaring Mountain

As cool as Roaring Mountain was, I was even more fascinated by the runoff, which took on a vivid green hue due to the presence of Cyanidium caldarium, an acid-loving algae. Basically, the Hydrogen sulfide gas from the magma dissolves in the water, the acidic water rises back up to the surface and dissolves the rhyolite rock, then gradually cools as it flows away from the mountain. Once it does, the algae has a field day, and the stream looks a lot like the Savannah River on St. Patrick’s Day!

Snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Day 3 Photo Gallery

The Snowmobile Gang Rides Again

There were no cars, but snowmobilers were almost everywhere. I couldn’t get over how much their guided packs looked like snow-bound motorcycle gangs, and I every time I saw them I thought of Sons Of Anarchy.

Canyon Visitor Education Center

For the third day in a row it snowed most of the morning, so we were delighted when we reached the Canyon Visitor Education Center, allowing us to grab a bite to eat and warm ourselves by the fire. They also had some great displays of animal furs and skins, and a great video on the wildlife of Yellowstone. This photo gives you a pretty good idea of just how much snow we were dealing with.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Day 3 Photo Gallery

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The attraction known as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone had an entirely different look during our Winter Wonders Tour than what we’d seen in postcards. For one thing, the upper falls looked almost completely frozen, with crazy shapes formed in the ice from the waterfall’s mist. The ice around the falls also took on the blue-green hue of glacial ice, which complemented the colors of the snow-capped evergreens perfectly.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone2 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Day 3 Photo Gallery

Another View of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

From this angle, you get a better idea of the canyon’s scope, which measures approximately 24 miles long, between 800 feet (244m) and 1,200 feet (366m) deep and between one quarter of a mile (.45 km) and three quarters of a mile (1.2 km) wide. You can also see more of the vivid colors for which it is known, which are a result of hydrothermal alteration of the iron compounds in the canyon’s rhyolite rock. In short, the canyon is gradually rusting.

Alex at Grand Canyon of Yellowstone YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Day 3 Photo Gallery

Alex Posing With Baby Snowman

We don’t normally post a lot of snapshots on our GGT photo galleries, but this one was too cute not to share. Several times during our trip, while I was shooting photos, my daughter would amuse herself by making little baby snowmen (I believe she named them all “Snowy”). I was so busy working that I didn’t notice this one until after I took the photo, but in retrospect I love that she chose to pose beside her new friend.

Lower Falls YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Day 3 Photo Gallery

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone's Lower Falls

I never get tired of photos of waterfalls, and I like this one in particular because of the vignette framing provided by the evergreens, as well as the blue-green tinge of the ice created by the falls’ frozen mist.

Red Fox in Hayden Valley

In our most exciting wildlife sighting of the day, our other snowcoach driver radioed back that they’d spotted a red fox walking in the vast open plains of Hayden Valley. We got there just in time to watch the bushy-tailed beauty running and pouncing in the snow in a hunt for rodents. It wasn’t our first time seeing a fox in the wild– Alex and I saw one in the north Georgia mountains about 5 years ago– but the pristine setting, the striking sight of the red coat against the white backdrop, and that incredibly fluffy tail made seeing him a highlight of the trip.

Hayden Valley Yellowstone National Park1 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Day 3 Photo Gallery

The Sun Emerges Over Hayden Valley

We were equally excited when, for the very first time since we arrived in Yellowstone, the sun emerged fully to illuminate the peaks of the mountains in the distance. Living in Atlanta, we tend to take the sun for granted in winter (and occasionally curse it in the heat of summer), but 3 days of freezing cold made us appreciate its warmth on our skin. It’s amazing how rejuvenating a little Vitamin D can be.

Trumpeter Swans

Ecotourism operator Off The Beaten Path uses the trumpeter swan in its company logo, so it seemed somehow appropriate that we spotted a whole flock of them swimming in the river as we made our way to the hotel for the second half of our Yellowstone National Park adventure.

Old Faithful Snow Lodge YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Day 3 Photo Gallery

The Lobby of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge

We were too pooped to ponder by the time we finally arrived at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, a relatively new resort opened in 1999. But the beautiful lobby was a warm, welcome sight, with its exposed wooden beams, historical decorative accents and popular open hearth fireplace. It also proved a great location from which to explore Yellowstone’s famous Geyser Basin… –by Bret Love; photos by Bret & Alexandra Love

Day 1 Photo Gallery: Mammoth Hot Springs

Day 2 Photo Gallery: Lamar Valley

Posted in Featured, North America, Photo Galleries |

2 Comments

GLOBAL CUISINE: Meatless Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers

Published March 1, 2012 |

By Bret Love

quinoa and chickpea stuffed peppers GLOBAL CUISINE: Meatless Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers

As part of our ongoing bid to stay healthy and add variety to our diet, we’ve recently decided to try Meatless Mondays, cooking vegetarian cuisine one day a week. Bret was actually a vegetarian for a few years back in the ’90s, but has since discovered that he is much happier as an omnivore. Still, we both love sweet peppers and Mediterranean cuisine, so this recipe (which Mary adapted to our tastes from an old Weight Watchers recipe) suited our needs perfectly. Try it the next time you want a delicious, flavorful meatless meal.

INGREDIENTS: 1 tsp olive oil • 1 small onion, diced • ½ tsp kosher salt • 1 tsp minced garlic • 1 tsp oregano • 14 ½ oz canned diced tomatoes, undrained • 1 cup cooked quinoa • 1 cup water • 4 medium sweet red peppers • 10 medium olives, kalamta, chopped • 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed • 6 oz. baby spinach, chopped • 3/4 total cup feta (use 1/2 cup, reserve 1/4 aside for topping)

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. • Use a foil-lined baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. • Heat oil in medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. • When hot, add onion and kosher salt stirring occasionally until onion softens (5-7 min). • Add garlic & spinach to pan and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. • Add tomatoes and their liquid, oregano, quinoa, water and salt to taste to pan and stir well to combine. • Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. • Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until quinoa is tender (15 min). • Slice the top off each pepper and remove core, ribs, and seeds. • Make a thin slice across the bottom of each pepper so it sits flat. • Place on prepared baking sheet. • Mash chickpeas into a chunky paste. • When quinoa is done cooking, stir in the olives and chickpeas. • Spoon about 1 cup of the quinoa mixture into each pepper and bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes. • Remove from oven and sprinkle each with reserve feta cheese. • Return to oven and cook until feta is slightly melted.

Posted in Cuisine, Global Culture |

GO GREEN TIP #67: Save Green On Gas!

Published March 1, 2012 |

By Bret Love

save gas GO GREEN TIP #67: Save Green On Gas!

Yesterday we made our monthly visit to Costco (where fuel is usually 10¢ a gallon cheaper than it is at normal gas stations), and decided to go ahead and fill Mary’s car up even though we still had 1/4 of a tank left. Even at their deeply discounted price, the cost around 13 gallons of gas was over $50! Compared to other states, Georgia’s gas prices are actually surprisingly low, but even here they’re expected to rise to $4.50/gallon this summer!

In our current economic times, everyone is looking for ways to save money, but it seems that there are a lot of misconceptions out there about fuel economy. Fortunately, the American government has a website called FuelEconomy.gov, which offers a great overview of the various facts and myths about conserving gas:

• Using Premium Fuel Improves Fuel Economy- Totally false. If you believe this, I know some BP executives who have a story about the Gulf oil spill not impacting wildlife to sell you.

• Vehicles Must Be Warmed Up In Cold Months Before Being Driven- Also not true. The only reason to warm your car up is so you’ll be warm and the windows will defrost. If you really want to conserve energy, use a jacket for the former and a pitcher of hot water on the latter.

• It Takes More Gas To Start A Car Than To Let It Idle- This is one of the biggest misconceptions about fuel economy. Idling uses 1/4 to 1/2 a gallon of gas in an hour, costing a couple of cents per minute. So if you’re stuck in stop-and-go traffic, it’s probably not worth it to stop and restart your car, but if you’re going to be idling for more than a few minutes you probably want to shut it off.

• Aftermarket Additives Can Improve Fuel Economy- There are tons of “miracle products” that make bold claims about improving gas mileage, but both Consumer Reports and the Federal Trade Commission have refuted such claims. The only thing these products do is lighten the load on your wallet.

• Tips That Can Actually Save You Money On Gas- Drive sensibly (aggressive driving lowers gas mileage by 33%), maintain a steady speed via cruise control, remove excess weight (an extra 100 pounds in your trunk reduces your mpg by 2%), use overdrive gears, keep your engine properly tuned, keep tires properly inflated, use your car’s recommended grade of motor oil, and consider upgrading to a hybrid vehicle such as a Prius. If we had a fleet of 50 mpg cars on the road today, we’d save more oil annually than there is in the entire Gulf of Mexico! –Bret Love

Posted in Eco Tips, go green |

1 Comment

PIC OF THE DAY: Sunset In Kruger National Park, South Africa

Published February 29, 2012 |

By Bret Love

Sunset in Kruger National Park South Africa

It was the night of my first full day in Londolozi, a private game reserve inside South Africa‘s Kruger National Park. The day had been full of memorable sights, from a group of young male lions taking an afternoon catnap to a female leopard stalking a lone wildebeest as the sun disappeared below the horizon. The resulting sky was so beautiful, so perfect, I found myself overwhelmed at the emotion of finally realizing my ecotourism vacation dream of of a wildlife safari on the African continent. It’s been over a decade now, but not a day goes by that I don’t yearn to go back… –Bret Love

Posted in Africa, Photos/Videos, Pic of the Day |

2 Comments

ECO NEWS: Six New Snake-like Amphibian Species Discovered in India

Published February 28, 2012 |

By Bret Love

new species burrowing caecilian adult with eggs 48944 600x450 ECO NEWS: Six New Snake like Amphibian Species Discovered in India

A team of scientists from the University of Delhi, the U.K. National History Museum, and Belgium’s Vrije University has spent more than 2,000 hours over the last 5 years digging in northeastern India beneath tropical undergrowth. Their tireless shoveling has led to the discovery of a suspected six new species, three of which have already been confirmed.

The elusive animals are part of a group of limbless amphibians who split off from their other relatives over 140 million years ago in Africa, of the “caecillian” species. These tiny snakelike amphibians are “very difficult to see above the soil because of their burrowing nature and cryptic appearance”, said S.D. Biju of the University of Delhi.

new species burrowing caecilian eggs 48947 600x450 ECO NEWS: Six New Snake like Amphibian Species Discovered in India

Little is known of the species being called Chikila Fulleri, an extension of the African local tribal name for caecillians. What is known is that females are extremely protective of their young. Mothers guard their eggs for nearly 95 days without eating anything. The team noted that this protective feature is rarely seen from other amphibians. Young caecillians have been known to feast off the flesh of their mother’s skin after hatching, which doesn’t seem very fair after three months of such high-level maternal care.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees scientists will be able to learn more about the species in the future. Their native habitats in India have been in serious jeopardy due to slash and burn agriculture. If the enormity of the agricultural malpractices in the region can affect an animal as rare and tiny as the Fulleri, desperate measures must be taken to protect habitats in the area. Biju’s hope is that this family of new species “may be a flagship animal for conservation in the region.” –Raffi Simel (photos by S.D. Biju)

Posted in Asia, Eco News |

INTERVIEW: Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Nelson Mandela, Graceland & 50 Years As South Africa’s Cultural Ambassadors

Published February 27, 2012 |

By Bret Love

lbm L INTERVIEW: Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Nelson Mandela, Graceland & 50 Years As South Africas Cultural Ambassadors

Very few musical artists become cultural ambassadors for their homeland to the extent that Ladysmith Black Mambazo has for South Africa. Originally formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960, the KwaZulu Natal-based group (which sings in the vocal styles known as isicathamiya and mbube) has been performing in its current incarnation since 1964. But it was their work with Paul Simon on his classic world music album Graceland in 1986 that turned the a capella icons into international stars.

Now, the group is celebrating several historic landmarks. 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment, which ultimately led to the end of Apartheid, Mandela’s Nobel Peace Prize win and his inauguration as President of South Africa (LBM performed at both ceremonies at Mandela’s request). There will be a new Graceland boxed set (including the original album, bonus tracks, and a director’s cut of Under African Skies, a documentary film that premiered at Sundance) coming out this spring as part of a year-long celebration of the album’s 25th anniversary. Lastly, the band is celebrating a Grammy nomination for 2011′s Songs From A Zulu Farm and the impending release of a new album, Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Friends, featuring collaborations with artists ranging from Simon and Dolly Parton to Josh Groban and Taj Mahal.

We recently spoke with Albert Mazibuko, Shabalala’s cousin and a Ladysmith Black Mambazo member since 1969, about the group’s past, present and future.

2011314 171945 INTERVIEW: Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Nelson Mandela, Graceland & 50 Years As South Africas Cultural Ambassadors

You’ve been with Ladysmith Black Mambazo for over 40 years now. What is it that keeps you passionate about performing after 4 decades?

Meeting the people every night. It never gets old for us to travel and sing for audiences, and to see them react so positively to our shows. When we meet them, they tell us how special the night was. We seem to touch people in a very spiritual way. They know our country’s story, our history, and seem to feel close to us. We love this!

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment. As a South African, how do you feel about the way your country has changed in that time?

Well, it’s been a long struggle. When we gained our freedom in the early 1990s, many people thought everything would change and all would be better. But it’s been a slow change. The impact that apartheid had on the black population wasn’t, and isn’t, something that could go away overnight. Deep scars have affected many generations. The lack of education and care for the people has left millions in deep need of help. But the change is happening. We can see this every day. We know it will be better tomorrow.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo has become South Africa’s foremost cultural ambassadors. What makes South African culture so unique?

There certainly is a strong connection between our country and the outside world because of what we went through, and because of Nelson Mandela and what he did. I think working with Paul Simon on the Graceland CD– bringing all that beautiful music to the world– brought a strong connection between our people and the rest of the world.

ladysmith black mambazo with paul simon INTERVIEW: Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Nelson Mandela, Graceland & 50 Years As South Africas Cultural Ambassadors

There’s a 25th anniversary edition of Graceland set to come out soon. What are your favorite memories from working with Paul Simon?

We always remember our first trip to Abbey Road Studios, where we met with him and began recording. It was a very special time.

How did your career change after the success of Graceland?

We met the world and the world embraced us. It began a 25-year run of touring, recording, Grammy Awards, and so many wonderful moments. It allowed us to represent our country all over the world. We love meeting people and telling them about South Africa. We always tell them to visit, that we need their support. We love to share the beauty of South Africa with people.

One of your most famous performances came at President Mandela’s inauguration in 1994, at the end of the apartheid era. Can you talk about your feelings on that special day?

My goodness, that was so special! It was probably the most special day in our lives. Mandela became President of the country after being in prison, after our people had no freedom for so long. Then, we are asked to sing at the event. Amazing! It made us feel human, like this was our world now to make of it what we can. Ladysmith Black Mambazo was given a role– a mission– to represent this new country. It was, and is, something we take very seriously.

4351 INTERVIEW: Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Nelson Mandela, Graceland & 50 Years As South Africas Cultural Ambassadors

The band has changed members a few times over the past 40 years, with Joseph’s sons now forming the core of the group. How has that changed the sound?

Actually, the band has been very stable over the past 20 years. During the 1960s and 1970s there were many changes, but by 1980 we were very stable. Joseph Shabalala, our leader, found the voices he wanted. This became the “Graceland” group, which sang and toured with Paul Simon. In 1991-1993 we lost three members to death and retirement, and Joseph brought in three of his sons. In 1999 another son joined. So, since 1993 it’s been very stable. When those changes happened, it gave us a good energy. The sons were ready to bring what they had to the stage. Mambazo will continue on through them and their children. It’s a group that could continue on for many years.

You’ve collaborated with different people over the years, from Dolly Parton to Josh Groban. Why is it important for LBM to work with artists from other countries and musical genres?

We love to share our music and when we join others, especially from different styles and countries, it allows new and interesting sounds to happen. We love trying new things. We think the sound of our voices brings a beautiful flavor to many genres. Of course it’s wonderful to reach new audiences. So many people have discovered us through working with these other artists. Josh Groban fans are some of our strongest supporters. It’s been a beautiful experience meeting new fans this way.

Your new album features quite a few of those collaborations from over the years. Are there any particular artists that you personally felt a strong connection with?

Yes, there is a new CD that has many songs we have sung with other people since 1986. It brings back so many great memories for us. We’ll always have a strong connection to Paul Simon and those songs.

LadysmithBlackMambazo2 INTERVIEW: Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Nelson Mandela, Graceland & 50 Years As South Africas Cultural Ambassadors

I’ve read about the LBM Foundation Joseph founded. Can you tell me a little bit about the foundation’s mission and its work with South Africa’s Zulu children?

We want to give back to the young people in our country, especially from where we lived in Ladysmith, South Africa. It’s important to help the young generation become better than the last. We raise money to bring the social activities like singing and dancing so they know who they are and where their history is. We feel it’s very important to keep your cultural identity to help make you a better stronger person.

People have been speculating about Joseph’s retirement for years. Have you discussed when the time will come to hand the group over to the next generation?

Several years ago someone asked him what will happen when he retires and he said that he will let his sons take over the group. But he loves to be out singing for the people still. We love having him leading us. I really don’t think he will retire anytime soon. He has said he will only retire when it’s time to leave this world. I believe that.

What is your dream for the group’s future?

To continue to create new music for people to enjoy, and to continue to travel the world and spread a message of Peace, Love and Harmony. What could be better than that?! –Bret Love