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On friendship, New Year and carpe diem
Posted by Victor Mozgin on Tuesday, November 30 @ 00:00:00 CST (17497 reads)
This holiday season I didn't even post my greetings on the website. At first, I thought of this as of a new low, but in fact, it is not. I just have done something different with my time: instead of trying to come up with something funny, insightful and/or cheerful that will appeal to everyone, I decided to reach out to as many of my friends, old and new, directly. Calling, emailing, instant messaging, meeting in person - I would have even said mailing paper letters, but I didn't have to resort to that :)
Friends... Well, what can I say - there are many of you out there! It seems that I've spent my time well so far :) Friends... you're all over our little big planet, making the world a truly small and cosy place. And it is an incredible way to start a year by reconnecting with you, especially those who I haven't seen or talked to for a long, sometimes very long, time (you know who you are :) ).
So, ladies and gentlemen, mesdames et messieurs, guys and gals - thanks for being wonderful people you are! Keep it up!
And on second thought, I'd actually like to make a suggestion for your new year resolution. Better late than never, right? So, make 2009 a year when you'll do something that you always wanted, but never did. Live your life to the fullest! Heck, I can put this in many words, but I believe this awesome clip describes the idea much better (thanks to Igor for pointing me to this video):
"If your life flashes before your eyes, make sure you've got plenty to watch!"
Elephant Back Safari in Zimbabwe
Posted by Victor Mozgin on Wednesday, December 31 @ 18:00:00 CST (6842 reads)
I've got another video from my Southern Africa trip. This time, it is all abou elephants. These magnificent animals, unfortunately, are not immune to effects of human expansion. Just as many other species, they become victims of poachers, they become displaced from their natural habitats. There was even a trend in keeping young elephants as pets on farms in Africa, only to abandon them when they grow too big to handle.
But there are people who are very dedicated to protection of wildlife such as elephants. Wild Horizons Trust runs a Wildlife Sanctuary and Orphanage in Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), where abandoned and injured elephants are cared for. There are no fences, and most of the time elephants roam on their own. This is a safe haven for animals that are not able to be a part of wild herd; and if an elephant is able to re-integrate and desires to move on, then it is released completely.
In order to raise money for operation of the Sanctuary, Wild Horizons organizes so-called "Elephant Back Safaris" - you can ride an elephant for a walk around Victoria Falls National Park, with amazing views on gorges of Zambezi river. I've done that, and here are videos from the complementary DVD:
This is an intro (DVD menu), with views around Victoria Falls:
Skydiving in Swakopmund, Namibia
Posted by Victor Mozgin on Wednesday, December 31 @ 18:00:00 CST (6720 reads)
Skydiving... How to describe this experience? Stepping out into nothing but thin air, feeling time dilation when you accelerate towards earth, free falling, and then slowly gliding down under the canopy in absolute tranquility? Those who experienced it don't need words, and those who didn't won't understand. I cannot think of anything that better reflects the feeling afterwards than this quote:
"...and once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return. "
Africa, revisited
Posted by Victor Mozgin on Wednesday, December 31 @ 18:00:00 CST (6993 reads)
I have just returned from my trip to Southern Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia… Three weeks might sound like a long time, but it is over already; and as usual, I want more. I always do. There is always a next turn of the road, next river to cross, next mountain to climb, and at some point in time, you’ve got to stop and turn back. Or have you? I wonder…
And yet again, this longing for more is a good feeling. It’s better to stop on emotional high; this feeling energizes, it drives, it practically pushes you to look out for other new and exciting things in life. And there are so many places to go and things to experience! All you need is a desire to go out there, and if you really have it, then impossible is nothing.
It’s funny how many things that we normally don’t notice in our day-to-day life feel like luxuries right now. Sleeping in bed every night, without wind and chills; having a personal shower with hot water any time you want it; ability to do your laundry when it gets dirty, and not only when you can, or even ability to simply drink a glass of tap water, and not to calculate several days in advance how much bottled water you need to buy in the only shop around.
And yet, it feels like our lives are almost too…convenient. But for all this convenience, we give up something. Sure, my bed is warm and comfy, but do I see myriad of stars above my head when I go to sleep? Do I listen to the sounds around trying to figure if there is an elephant nearby? I already miss all that.
A conclusion? Now, every time I look up at the night sky, I am trying to find the Southern Cross. For some reason, I can’t… Perhaps, I am not looking in the right place?
Happy Holidays!
Posted by Victor Mozgin on Wednesday, December 31 @ 18:00:00 CST (9596 reads)
'Tis the season...again. My, how fast time flies. Hmmm, I feel old by using this statement...
I didn't post a single announcement on my site since the last winter, but not because I had nothing to say. In fact, exactly opposite is true - there were so many things happening (mostly good!), that I hardly had any time to breathe. I didn't send as many "What's up?" emails and made only a few "How are you?" phone calls. For that, I am sorry. I promise that things will improve in the new year, as I plan to catch up on some of my other personal projects (like uploading photos, of which I have a huge backlog now). I also hope to strengthen links that weakened over time. But today is not the day to reflect on the year's results, not yet. I am going on vacation right now, that's when I expect to post more information.
Today is the day to enjoy the holidays, to give and receive congratulations and gifts. As far as congratulations go, I'd like to join the chorus and I want to wish you happiness and joy! Have a wonderful New Year, you deserve it!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Posted by Victor Mozgin on Wednesday, December 31 @ 18:00:00 CST (5659 reads)
It is this time of year, again... Is it the end, is it the beginning, or is it just an irrelevant point in time that is arbitrary chosen to give us a reference in a multitude of possibilities? You decide. For me, this is the time to reflect on what has happened in my life, where do I want to go and what does it take to get me there. I don't really understand what I just said. If I'll have the opportunity, I'll post my musings on this subject during the winter holidays.
Now, I didn't forget about a traditional gift for you. As usual, it's rather immaterial; and this time the inspiration is Oriental. The year of 2007 falls mostly on a year of the Pig, according to Chinese Zodiac. Can you combine "pig" and "Zen" in the same sentence? Too easy? Well then, flex your mind and contemplate over this koan (originally by Timothy J. Weber):
The Zen Pig Farmer went out to slop the hogs one day. He poured the slop into the trough, and the pigs came quickly and started eating. He stood and watched. After a bit, one pig looked up at him. Licking slop from its chin, it said, "You know, every day you come here and bring us our food. All we do is lie around and eat; yet you see to all our needs. Why do you do this?"
The Zen Pig Farmer stroked his beard slowly and said, "They call me The Zen Pig Farmer because of what I do." The pig went back to eating.
A little later the pig looked up again. It said, "Did you ever consider that maybe you are called The Zen Pig Farmer because you are a pig farmer and I am the Zen Pig?"
How to throw a good [holiday] party?
Posted by Victor Mozgin on Wednesday, December 31 @ 18:00:00 CST (14935 reads)
And so we enter the holiday season, a time for friends, and family, and giving, and, more importantly, holiday parties. But what is a good party? And how do you organize one?
The following advice is given by Dave Barry (I have no permissions to reprint it, but I do it anyway)...
Confluence visit photos
Posted by Victor Mozgin on Wednesday, December 31 @ 18:00:00 CST (5847 reads)
As promised, photos from my last field trip are uploaded. Even not counting two new visited confluences, September's long weekend was pretty good, to say the least. Alas, the fun season is almost over - until the snow falls, that is. Can't be that long... or can it?
Confluences conquest
Posted by Victor Mozgin on Wednesday, December 31 @ 18:00:00 CST (6904 reads)
I know, I know, I've been neglecting site updates for far too long. But no more! Let's start with good news: on 02-03 of September, Artem Frolov and I reached 2 previosly unvisited confluences! Here you can read our reports: 49°N 83°W and 50°N 85°W.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Posted by Victor Mozgin on Wednesday, December 31 @ 18:00:00 CST (9718 reads)
I have two weeks of blissful holiday, which I am going to spend visiting my parents and school/university friends. And for all of you, here is a little holiday present: an ancient Cherokee legend. An elder was teaching his grandchildren about life and he said to them: "A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One wolf represent fear, hate, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, superiority, lies and pride. The other wolf stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. This same fight is going on inside of you and every other human."
The children thought about the elder's words and then one child asked: "Grandfather, which wolf will win?" The elder simply replied:
...
"The one I feed."
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On friendship, New Year and carpe diem
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