Wednesday, January 31, 2007

This has been THE WORST winter for me......

4:52 PM 2 Comments

I guess I jinxed myself by saying that I hoped I didn't get sick. I've really had it people, I can't handle being sick again, it seems that this cold or virus or whatever is just sticking around and taking it's sweet time playing musical chairs with us.

If it was just my family I would seriously think something was off, but it seems to be everyone around here and even some friends of mine in other states. What is going on??? Is it too early to start campaigning for Spring to arrive????

So I'm sitting here feeling absolutely awful, I haven't even been able to make it to anyone's blog, I'm hoping tomorrow I can. Went to bed last night just fine, was all happy watching American Idol and then I wake up in the middle of the night feeling congested.....should have been the first sign but since it kinda went away, I didn't give it another thought, until 2 hours ago, it's really hit me hard, now I'm completely congested, body aches and running a high fever. Doesn't even phase me that much anymore, I'm used to it by now.

Tonight though I'm doing what my grandfather used to do, a glass of warm milk with a shot of whiskey, I'll sweat like a pig during the night, but by golly I'll be all totally over it tomorrow. Sounds good to me. Hey a mother has to do what a mother has to do, I can't go driving around like this and chase after kids, everytime they start bickering over something my head feels like it's going to explode.

It's an early night for me, going to snuggle in bed with a good book since there's NOTHING on tv to watch, if I want I can pop in my movie "Lady in the Water" just hope it's good and keeps me entertained because watching General Hospital lately leaves me reeling and wanting to slap someone upside the head....*coughElizabethWebbercough* and let me tell you, I never knew a show could get me so riled up and frustrated LOL

Anyway, just because I'm sick doesn't mean you won't get a Slow Cooking Thursday, so you might as well be ready to jump right on in with your yummy recipes. I'll have mine up early morning to give you plenty of time to join in.

BTW, I haven't had a chance to check my email, so if anyone sent anything, you'll have to be patient with me ok??? I WILL get to it sometime this week, if not tomorrow then on friday.

I'm leaving you with some new pictures of my kiddos. They insisted on taking them this morning, and with cute faces like these, how can I say no???

God Bless everyone, have a great night and I'll see you tomorrow.
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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

No Internet, and No Blogger make Sandra something something

5:32 PM 12 Comments
If you ever want a freak out, just have someone mess with your internet for a few days. That's what happened to me.

I'm sure you're wondering where I've been since Friday, and as much as I wish I could tell you that I was off on some exotic vacation, getting a tan and sipping Pina Coladas, the truth is that I was here at home....sipping coffee and keeping my eyes from twitching because I.HAD.NO.INTERNET.

My modem decided to break on friday afternoon, which is really not a BAD thing, it did force me to realize that there is a life outside the internet and blogger....who knew???? LOL

Seriously though, it was a good break, a forced one, but good nonetheless, I was able to catch up on my reading and watch some movies too.

But I have to say, the minute the little green lights came on on my modem, I jumped for joy and made a mad dash to my computer. I was like a kid in a candy shop, oooohhhhhh oooooohhhhh where do I go first, what do I do, should I blog or surf the net, check email or get more books??? Pathetic isn't it???? What we have become since the invention of the internet. LOL

Anyway, like I said, I watched some movies, one of them was "The Celestine Prophecy" which I have read the books and thoroughly enjoyed. Curt has read them too and loved the books but he wasn't too thrilled with the movie, he kept reminding me that there are parts from the book that were omitted from the movie. Oh well, I didn't have internet at the time, I could care less what was missing LOL

I'm glad some of you enjoyed the trip to Switzerland, I had fun doing it and it's great learning about new places, so I guess I'll keep that going.

I wish I could stay and chat more, but I will have to leave that for tomorrow. Curt is sick with a cold, Nicholas is sick with a cold too and feeling horrible, and I think (I'm not sure) but I think they're trying to pass it to me again.....HECK NO, keep it over there far away, I've had my share of this for a while. Only thing I'm dealing with right now is one of those pesky cold sores...I find myself not wanting to talk to anyone so they don't stare at my lip. LOL

Anyway, I will chat more tomorrow, got kids to deal with and mommy stuff to do.
Have a great tuesday and don't forget American Idol!!!
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Friday, January 26, 2007

The Greatest Places on Earth!!!

6:19 AM 13 Comments

Welcome to my first "The Greatest Places on Earth" post. This week I pretty much took us on a tour of some of the most beautiful and exotic places on earth, and then since I was doing that, I figured I would share some pictures and video of my country Mozambique and also South Africa.

You guys responded so well, that I figured I would start doing a once a week feature where I could spotlight a country or city, share some information about it and maybe some visual too.

Since I'm all for including my family and having fun with the kids, I thought that it would be a great idea to have my kids learn something while watching me on the computer. We're also going to try and make a craft from that country, during the weekend, and then maybe share those pictures with you too. If I ever mention a place where you've lived or were born and you want to give us some additional info, please feel free to do so :)

One of the countries I've ALWAYS wanted to visit, was Switzerland, so that is where we are heading this morning. Grab your cup of coffee and hold on tight....we're about to go across the ocean and all the way to Europe.

SWITZERLAND

Switzerland may be neutral but it's far from flavourless. The fusion of German, French and Italian ingredients has formed a robust national culture, and the country's alpine landscapes have enough zing to reinvigorate the most jaded traveller.

Goethe summed up Switzerland succinctly as a combination of 'the colossal and the well-ordered'. You can be sure that your trains and letters will be on time. The tidy, just-so precision of Swiss towns is tempered by the lofty splendour of the landscapes that surround them.
 Swiss folk culture includes yodelling, playing the alp horn and Swiss wrestling. We suggest you don't indulge in any of these after a night in a Swiss tavern. Do, however, take on some hearty traditional cooking - try rosti or the famed fondue.


Switzerland sits squarely in the belly of western Europe, landlocked by France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. The Alps occupy the central and southern regions of the country and the modest Jura Mountains straddle the border with France in the northeast. The Bernese Mittelland - an area of hills, rivers and winding valleys - lies between the two mountain systems and has spawned Switzerland's most populous cities. Over 60% of the country is mountainous and a quarter of it is covered in forests.

People

63.7% German, 20.4% French, 6.4% Italian, 0.5% Romansch, 9% other

Religion

41.8% Roman Catholic, 35.3% Protestant, 4.3% Muslim, 1.8% Orthodox Christian, 11.1% no religion, 5.7% other.


Scenery











Aren't those just beautiful....I tell you, Switzerland has got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Now how about a drive from Lausanne to Vevey?


To end our trip to Switzerland, I couldn't let you all go without a recipe, you know how much I love food, so I just wouldn't be ME without sharing some goodies with you right??

Pastetli


  • 450 g (1 pound) puff-paste
  • 2 tablespoons margarine or butter
  • 1 shallot, hacked
  • 1 clove of garlic, pressed
  • 800 g (1.75 pounds) small mushrooms, cut into four pieces each
  • 1 dl (3.4 fl. ounces) white wine
  • 180 g (6.3 ounces) half and half sour
  • 1 dl (3.4 fl. ounces) cream
  • 1 teaspoon curry
  • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon paprika, a small amount of nutmeg and cayenne pepper
  • salt or spices

Bake 6 large heart-shaped pies made out of the puff-paste for about 15 to 20 minutes
Heat margarine or butter in a pot
Add shallot and clove of garlic, stew
Add white wine and mushrooms, mix, cover and cook for about 5 minutes
Increase heat, cook in open pot until half of the fluid has gone
Add half and half and cream
Add curry, worcestershire sauce, paprika, nutmeg, pepper and salt
Distribute the filling into the heated pies, serve immediately

Hints: You may replace part of the mushrooms with small pieces of veal.
You may want to prepare the pies in advance, but they have to be heated in the oven before the filling gets added.
"Apfelküchlein" (deep fried apple cookie) taste great either warm or cold, with or without vanilla sauce.


  • 4 or 5 sourish apples (e.g. Boskop or Jonathan)
  • 120 g (4 ounces) white flour
  • 40 g (1.4 ounces) grind hazelnuts
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • 4 tablespoons of sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla sugar
  • 1½ dl (5 fl. ounces) of apple cider
  • Yellow of 2 eggs
  • White of 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon of oil
  • Juice of a lemon
  • Deep-frying oil
  • Some confectioner's or cinnamon sugar
  1. Add flour, hazelnuts, salt, one tablespoon of sugar and the vanilla sugar to a bowl and mix well.
  2. Add apple cider and stir.
  3. Add yellow of 2 eggs and one teaspoon of oil and mix well.
  4. Leave the dough alone for about 30 minutes.
  5. Peal the apples and remove the core.
  6. Cut the apples in rings, each about 1 cm (½ inch) thick.
  7. Add 3 tablespoons of sugar to the lemon juice, sweep the apples and leave them alone for about 30 minutes.
  8. Add a pinch of salt to the white of two eggs and stir until it is stiff, carefully mix it with the dough.
  9. Heat the oil in a frying-pan to 190°C (375°F).
  10. Dip one ring of apple at a time into the dough and fry it immediately in the oil on both sides until it is brown.
  11. Drip off the oil.
  12. Spread confectioner's or cinnamon sugar evenly over the cookies while they are still warm and serve them immediately.
  13. But they will also taste good when they are cold, especially if you serve them with some warm vanilla sauce.

With that yummy stuff I say goodbye, and see you next friday. Remember to pack light, or heck, pack whatever you want, we're not even leaving the comfort of our homes right???
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Thursday, January 25, 2007

Slow Cooking Thursday!

7:26 AM 13 Comments
I decided to update my banner, I figured with it being a new year, we needed a new one :) Please update your banners when participating ok???

Welcome to my weekly Crockpot Recipes Exchange. It's such a great way to share your favorite dishes or to learn some new ones to make for your family.
What do you think??? Do You have some great recipes to share, or perhaps you're looking for some delicious ones to give you a reason to pull out the ol' crockpot???
Time to pull out those crockpots and put them to good use. If you want to join in, just grab the banner and add your name to Mr Linky :)

I'm doing things a little different today, I decided to give you two recipes instead of one....if anyone wants to share more than one, they are welcome to do it.


BEEF IN MUSHROOM GRAVY


2 to 2-1/2 pounds boneless beef round steak
1 to 2 envelopes dry onion soup mix
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/2 cup water

Cut steak into six serving size pieces; place in a 3-qt. slow cooker.
Combine the soup mix, soup and water; pour over beef.

Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or until meat is tender. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Yielf: 6 servings



MINISTER'S DELIGHT


1 can (21 ounces) cherry or apple filling
1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Place pie filling in a 1-1/2-qt. slow cooker. Combine dry cake mix and butter(mixture will be crumbly); sprinkle over filling. Sprinkle with walnuts if desired. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours. Serve in bowls.

Yield: 10-12 servings.
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# Slow Cooking Thursday
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Tuesday, January 23, 2007

JUST HOW DID YOU GET HERE???

6:17 PM 17 Comments
Well before I tell you just how I got to this point in my life, why don't you come on in and make yourselves at home, I have coffee and I have cinnamon pancakes AND I promise to keep you entertained, for I'm about to give you a lesson, in love and life.....I think LOL

You know I've been asked that question so many times, and I figured since I'm on this mission of sharing my life and where I've been, I might as well explain just how I ended up in the USA.

Back in 1997, I had just started delving into the Internet and all the possibilities of being able to chat and interact with people from all over the world. I still remember the Mirc and Pirch chats, I would go into one and just sit and watch everybody else.....until one day, I decided to take a leap of faith and jump right in. One of the first people to talk to me was none other than my hubby. Yes you see where this is going right???

So 9 years ago, I had just started using the internet and becoming familiar with chat rooms. After lurking around for a few months, I decided to join MIRC Webchat. It was August 12, 1997.
After chatting for a few minutes with some people, I get a private message. It was Curt.
My chat handle was Koala, so his first question was "are you from australia?". LOL
I told him that I was not, that I was in South Africa, and we started chatting, we hit it off and during the next year we talked on the phone, wrote letters, emails, sent packages and photographs.
Now that may sound like your usual internet love match, BUT there was an obstacle. I was christian and Curt was a Pagan third degree priest. I told him that I was not comfortable with that and that nothing could ever happen between us while he was involved in the Wiccan/Paganism Religion.
I didn't give him an ultimatum, that wouldn't be my place to do so, but I was also not about to immerse myself into that belief.

And so it started. A whole year of questions, endless questions about the bible and why MY way was the best? Why MY God was the right one?
I felt overwhelmed, I loved him but I honestly did not know how to answer some of the questions, so before we talked everyday, I prayed to God to give me the right words to reach Curt. He obliged!!!!
I knew the right scriptures to quote, I knew the right things to say and I didn't give up. It took time and patience, but he is now a devoted Christian like I am.
One of the best examples of the power of God working in our relationship, was when Curt was deployed to Bahrain. He called me in the afternoon, and I was talking to him on the fax machine phone, which was plugged in to the power outlet.
We talked for about an hour, and when I got off the phone, my grandmother walked up to me.

Grandma: "What were you doing on the phone?"
Me: "Talking to Curt"
Grandma: "Really? Are you sure? How long have you been talking to him?"
Me: "Oh I don't know, maybe an hour? Why?"
Grandma: "Well I don't know how to tell you this but we have had a power outtage for the past hour, there's no way you could have talked to him on that phone"

I was stunned, I picked up the receiver and brought it to my ear, SILENCE!!!! The phone/fax machine was indeed dead.
Wow, to this day it gives me goosebumps to remember that. How amazing?
So exactly one year to the day we met, on August 12, 1998, Curt flew to South Africa and we got married.

One month later, I packed my bags, already pregnant with Jasmine, and moved to the States. I left my family, my house, my friends, everything behind. It was the scariest thing on earth for me, I was and still am, extremely close to my family, and leaving everything I knew behind was terrifying. BUT I did it, I held my head up high, I moved to where my husband was stationed and 2 kids and 2 dogs down the road, we are still happily married :)
I thank God everyday, for my life and my family!!!

So there you have it, now you know how I went from Johannesburg, South Africa to Idaho, USA. Isn't it just amazing how life works and the ups and downs and lefts and rights you take?

Before I go on, Barb I am so frustrated, I tried to get on your blog countless times yesterday and kept getting a 500 Error. 500???? What is up with that??? Anyway, I just want you to know that I'm going to keep trying today and hopefully get a comment in.

It wasn't just Barb either, some of the blogger sites were not working for me...anyone else have that problem yesterday? Or was it "pick on Sandra" day without me even knowing??? LOL

So since some of you showed interest in having a friday "Greatest Places on Earth" I decided to go ahead. I'm doing it as much for you all as for me, because I'm so thrilled just thinking that we can all go on a tour together, every week.....wouldn't that be awesome?
My kids are excited too, they get to learn about new places and see photos and video too, they're looking forward to where mommy is taking them.

I'm always trying to come up with a new way to spend time with the kids, a family activity that everyone will enjoy....and this is definitely a way to have them with me on the computer. We've decided that we'll get some popcorn and drinks, we'll watch the videos and learn about that country and then that weekend we will do a craft from that country. Don't worry, I'll share the pictures and if any of you decide to play along, you can share yours too, would love to see them :)

Don't forget about Slow Cooking Thursday tomorrow, can't wait to see all your recipes. As for me, I'm out of here, still trying to finish the pile of paperwork I have. BTW, my email is not working right, I can receive emails but I can't send any.....MSN is up to it's old tricks again.

Lori, for the Slow Cooker Thursday, I will have the post up tomorrow, all you do is enter your name and a link to your recipe post. The reason why you can't add your name to Mr Linky on previous posts is because he has it where the links get disabled the day after the post is up.

Anyway, ladies have a great wednesday, I'm heading out for the rest of the day, have tons of places to go and things to do.

Before I go though, I just have to say I LOVE American Idol, I laugh so hard at some of those people. What was UP with them yesterday, half of them you couldn't understand a word they were saying LOL Another one that cracks me up is Ryan Seacrest LOL The way he just sits there sometimes staring at them without saying a word.....boy do I love this show. Can't wait for tonight.

God Bless,
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Would you like a glimpse of South Africa???

8:37 AM 12 Comments

The past few days I've pretty much been on a worldwide tour, it's amazing how much you can visit through the Internet.

I've really enjoyed looking at videos and learning so much about different cultures and countries, and taking trips down memory lane with my own country Mozambique. So today, I thought I would take you on another trip.....this way to my second home country, beautiful South Africa.

Come on, what do you have to loose??? You don't even need to leave the comfort of your home, just sit tight and warm and grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea, then watch the video that I'm sharing with you. There are some pretty amazing people out there sharing their family vacation videos with the world. This is one of them and it features some of my favorite places in South Africa, including the Kruger National Park....I'm SO going there when I visit in July :)



Seriously, if you ever take a trip overseas, be sure to include South Africa, you won't regret it, it's a beautiful country and it has SO much to offer.

OK now moving on, to those of you that have blogs on Word press, I am having the HARDEST time posting comments. I went over and checked all your menus and could NOT leave a comment, I could type it out and hit submit and then it would just sit there for 10 minutes. I don't know what the deal is, but just wanted to let you all know that I had been by :)

I want you all to go check out one of my FAVORITE blogs. I've been visiting Fish Creek House Inn for months now, it's the first one I check every morning. I just love the pictures they share and OH.MY.GOODNESS the recipes are to die for. Until recently you couldn't comment on the blog but they've changed that...so you bet your behind that I've been enjoying leaving comments. Here's what the little blurb on the blog says:

The adventures of a bed and breakfast innkeeper in Montana. Explore the great outdoors, travel tips and of course recipes. Hang your hat and come on Inn!

It's always been one of my dreams to own a Bed and Breakfast so for right now I'm living vicariously through the owner of Fish Creek House LOL

I have so much paperwork to tackle today and I'm trying hard to motivate myself to do it, but so far it's just not working. I want to sit at the computer and play all day.....are moms allowed that??? Can you imagine ONE day where you don't do anything at all??? I can just picture it, the kids would be running around naked, they would be eating junk food and all the candy they could find, drinking soda, not taking a bath and my couch would be non existent because for some reason they believe that the couch pillows look better ON THE FLOOR. If I got a penny every time I picked up the pillows and returned them to their rightful place, I would be a millionaire.

My sweet friend Sarah asked me how I ended up in Mozambique and Portugal....so I thought I would share a little of the how's and why's LOL

I was born in Lourenco Marques, now known as Maputo. In 1976 when Independence of Mozambique happened many families left for other countries, a lot of them taking only what they could carry.....with all the tension and violence erupting around us, we left first for Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and then later to Portugal where we stayed for approximately 8 years, I'm sure my dad will correct me with the time lines and the dates, seeing as I was 2 years old when I left my country of Mozambique.

Below are some pictures of old Lourenco Marques...some from this wonderful site and others from google searches.



Lourenco Marques - Marginal (main road that runs along the ocean front)

Lourenco Marques 1959-1966

Anyway, when I was about 10 years old my dad got transferred to South Africa and that is where we've lived for the past 23 years. South Africa become my second home, it's the ONE place that I remember going through my childhood and then later school, being a teenager, first boyfriend, becoming an adult, working etc. So I consider myself to be lucky in that I got to experience SO many different cultures and I carry a little of them all with me. I guess instead of "I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock n roll"......I can say "I'm a little Mozambican and a little South African" of course I'm Portuguese too because Mozambique was one of Portugal's colonies. I guess I'm multi cultured, got the best of 3 worlds LOL


I think every friday I'm going to do a "Greatest Places on Earth" post....share different places, videos and pictures etc. It's something I've been thinking of doing for a while and what better place than my blog right??? This way if anyone has been to these places or was born in one, they can also come in and share their own interesting stories or memories :)

Hey, I'm all for taking a break from reality and letting my mind wander to a different place....I can just picture it, Egypt, Greece, Ireland, you name it, we'll go. If there is a specific place you would like me to mention just let me know and I'll see what I can find :)

Well my friends, I think this post has gone on long enough, I have to go tackle that huge mountain of paperwork and get some other things done around here. I will see you all tomorrow.

Tonight I'm fixing Steaks with Mushroom Cream sauce...I will have the recipe up on my food blog later today :)




GENERAL HOSPITAL
Jason tells Sam that trouble is brewing;
Spinelli looks for information on Alcazar's shipment;
Diane explains a plea deal to Alexis;
Dillon and Lulu become more suspicious of Alan and Monica;
Someone calls Shadybrook to check on Laura's condition.

AMERICAN IDOL
Week 2A: Auditions 3 The best and worst auditions, as the search for the next singing superstar continues.


DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER
Dog tries talking a fugitive into straightening out his life.



Put away laundry
File paperwork
Vacuum
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# fish creek inn # history
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Monday, January 22, 2007

Well it's Monday, BOO HOO!!!

9:18 AM 12 Comments
I honestly don't understand how time flies by.....when I was a kid I remember the days dragging on, there would be times I'd be sitting there going "man when is it dinner time?"

Anyway, I started with a funny cartoon this morning, because that's how I FEEL every time I have to clean the bathrooms LOL

I sat down and rewatched the "Greatest Places on Earth" DVD....I just can't get enough of it. It's absolutely amazing how beautiful nature is and how much is still left unexplored.....do you know that there are over 250 000 different species in Madagascar and 70% found NO WHERE else on earth???

How cool is that??? I love watching IMAX movies, they're educational and I find myself learning new things, plus the kids and hubby love watching them too, so we get to do that as a family while learning at the same time. You know you're doing something right when you're 7 year old daughter turns to you and says "do you know that there are 289 different Octopus species?".

Yep, see those blinking eyes??? That was my reaction!!! I think kids are so much more advanced nowadays, I am NOT trying to call myself dumb, but at 7 years old I had NO CLUE how many Octopus species there were, all the names of the dinosaurs....and I certainly didn't walk around telling people I want to be a Paleontologist (yes that is what Jasmine tells everyone).

So before I go on, I want to share with you a video of Mozambique. You know that is where I was born, but not everyone knows where it is or what it looks like, and yesterday while browsing around YOUTUBE, I found a TON of videos. I actually had tears in my eyes, I miss my country and all it's beauty. I truly truly hope that one day I'll be able to go back and visit.



What wonderful memories it brings back....it's wonderful and weird in a way because I see places that I remember walking through, and now I'm seeing it on video and I know I'm thousands of miles away. How things change!!!

Anyway, I have housework to do and some other errands to run. I'll make this one short.

If you're interested in seeing my menu for this week, go look over at my Food Blog.

I'll see you all tomorrow, I'm heading out :)

For dinner I'm fixing Padre Island Shells, I'll have the recipe up on my food blog later today.




GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kristina watches as Alexis is arrested;
Alexis tells Sonny she has decided on Molly's future;
Ric shocks Alexis;
Jason finds that Sonny was targeted by a sniper;
Alcazar warns Jason not to interfere;
Father Ruiz defends Sam to the hotel manager.

WIFE SWAP
A fun-loving aspiring model from New York swaps lives with a conservative woman who helps raise her granddaughters on a Texas farm.


SUPERNANNY
Jo helps two marine biologists who cannot control their 3-year-old and 18-month-old sons.



Put away laundry
File paperwork and get Tax documents ready
Dusting
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Sunday, January 21, 2007

PREPARE TO GO ON A JOURNEY!!!

9:47 AM 8 Comments
Definitely rent it! Worth the rental fee--very good movie!

I'm editing this post, so that I can participate in Motivated Mom's "Monday Morning Movie Review".

I gave it a Four Stars because I really enjoyed this documentary, the kids did too and I must say that I learnt a lot watching this :) Enjoy!!!

The Greatest Places on Earth!!!



It was one of my Netflix movies and I watched it last night.....you know there is something wonderful about sitting back and just watching a documentary sometimes. As much as I love action, drama and comedy and all sorts of fiction movies, occasionally I want to just watch something REAL and know that it wasn't made up or invented, there were no special effects added to it, which makes it amazing to see.

So IMAX, the Seven Greatest Places on Earth takes you to the mighty gush of the Amazon River; the foreboding icebergs of Greenland; the towering beauty of Iguazu Falls; the undulating sand dunes of the Namib Desert; the watery maze of the Okavango Delta; the diverse wildlife of Madagascar; and the indescribable majesty of Tibet.

I thought that with it being sunday and we're all home and warm and comfy, what would be better than to go on a journey without having to leave our homes? Consider it a Geography lesson courtesy of me and IMAX LOL


THE AMAZON RIVER

Click picture above for a video of the amazon

The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world, and the largest in terms of the size of its watershed, the number of tributaries, and the volume of water discharged into the sea. No bridge crosses the river along its entire length.


The Amazon and its tributaries flow through the countries of Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean 6, 437 kilometers (4,000 miles) from the Amazon's headwaters high in the Andes mountains of Peru. This huge watershed includes the largest tropical rainforest in the world as well as areas of dry grassland, or savannah.


THE ICEBERGS OF GREENLAND

Click picture above for a video of Greenland

Greenland is the world’s largest island and a land of extremes. Its diverse landscape is rich in culture, history and wildlife.


Greenland is the largest island in the world. Its northerly location, at the point where the Atlantic meets the Arctic Ocean, means that Greenland is surrounded principally by cold ocean currents, so the coasts are constantly being cooled. This, combined with the radiation of cold from the inland ice, gives Greenland its arctic climate.
The ice cap or inland ice covers 1,833,900 square km, equivalent to 85 percent of Greenland's total area, and extends 2,500 km (1,553 miles) from north to south and up to 1,000 km from east to west.

 At its center, the ice can be up to 3 km thick, representing 10 percent of the world's total fresh water reserves.If all the ice were to melt, the world's oceans would rise seven meters.


THE IGUAZU FALLS

Click picture above for a video of the Iguazu Falls

Taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horsehoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River, Iguazú Falls are the result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth. During the rainy season of November - March, the rate of flow of water going over the falls may reach 450,000 cubic feet (12,750 cubic m) per second.



Situated in Iguazú National Park, some 20 km. from Puerto Iguazú in the north of the province, these falls are shared by Brazil and Argentina. Iguazú river is born in Paraná state in Brazil, and after crossing 1,200 km. on a plateau where it receives several affluents, it reaches a fault forming a crack in the interleaved layers of sandstone and basalt where the river runs.


THE NAMIB DESERT


Click picture above for a video of the Namib Desert

In the Nama language, Namib means “vast”, and this is no exaggeration. At 50,000 km2, the Namib-Naukluft park is the largest conservation area in Namibia, and one of the largest in the world.

The parched Namib desert has orange dunes blown into razor-sharp ridges by the sand-shifting wind. The famous Sossusvlei sand dunes are the highest in the world at over 300 m, towering over their Arabian rivals, and just begging to be climbed barefoot.

Animals, insects and plants have adapted to live in this generally inhospitable region. Apart from infrequent rains, they rely on the sea mist that rolls far inland.


THE OKAVANGO DELTA

Click picture above for a video of the Okavango Delta, including a catfish
and a green mamba snake.

The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta on Earth. Instead of flowing into the sea, the annual flood of fresh water flows inland, spreading over 15 000km² of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels.

The countless islands that emerge from its waterways give rise to several diverse ecosystems, which in turn are home to vast numbers of game and a myriad of bird species. The crystal clear waters support many kinds of fish. The area is a birder’s paradise.

The heart of the delta can be accessed only by air. Since it is an exclusive destination, it remains wild and relatively unpopulated.


MADAGASCAR

Click picture above for a video of beautiful Madagascar

Madagascar lies in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa opposite Mozambique. The world's fourth-largest island, it is twice the size of Arizona. The country's low-lying coastal area gives way to a central plateau. The once densely wooded interior has largely been cut down.



Madagascar is home to more than 250,000 species of which 70% are found nowhere else on the globe.

There are more than 20 ethnic groups in Madagascar from the Indonesian-looking Merina in the highlands to Arabic Antaimoro on the eastern coast.


TIBET


Click picture above for a video of amazing Tibet

Tibet (Xizang), the Roof of the World, remained unknown to the world until the beginning of the 20th century. The massive, snowy land has exerted an awesome draw on travelers and adventurers ever since. Its majestic scenery, mysterious and exotic religious culture, and wonderful people, reward every tourist with an indelible life long memory!

Tibetan people are warm and hospitable. Tourists can visit local families and experience the daily life of Tibetan people. Holidays and festivals are the most important days in Tibet. Enjoying the local food and dancing with beautiful Tibetan girls are the most excellent ways to celebrate these joyful times.



Beside white snow capped mountains, verdant virgin forests, clean running rivers and tranquil beautiful lakes, the devotional pilgrim progress toward their places of worship by prostrating themselves under the sky and along the roads, making people humble and modest. Tibet, the lost paradise under the sky, is undoubtedly a place where the spirit lives!


I have to tell you, I really enjoyed revisiting these places, it's just wonderful to see such beauty in nature.

None of the pictures are mine (obviously lol) so credit goes to the great internet, online travel guides and the wonderful people that shared their personal videos on YOUTUBE.
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