NO WINE IN THE INN LEFT

CANNING VIETNAM
 

Image akphilanthropy.com



"One day you will ask me which is more important? My life or yours? I will say mine and you will walk away not knowing that you are my life."

Khalil Gibran.

A pledge to this little one.
Such are the realities.
Vietnam is a country with eventful history, a capital replete with many ancient architectural works complete with 600 pagodas and temples including Hanoi's famous One Pillar Pagoda built in 1049, so one thing automatically comes to mind.

This is a country of a people, who have taken such pride in preserving rich, rich history, but find it of complete inconsequence to snatch the very essence of another's.

Continent Africa's wildlife is under serious siege from an Asia determined to make Tiger Brew Wine using lion bones. 

Seriously this is no joke.

Asia's traditional medicine market was supplied by Asian species, but Oriental concoctions are now reliant on skeletons, literally the skeletons of our lions in substitute of tiger bones having dispatched off all their tigers. Official records show that South Africa exported 418 lion carcasses to Vietnam and Laos from 2009 to 2010.  Although the official trade from South Africa is legal, it is not illogical that such trade shall stimulate an illegal market for lion bones from other African range states to satisfy the market.

And the very sad fact is this. The Asian market prefers the wild animal variety for apparently being more potent compared to captive-raised animals. So despite a thought process espoused by SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association that Africa as a whole should support the farming of lions, an action that would then eradicate canned lion hunting for the export of the same lion body parts to Asia, that same, same Asian market wants the wild variety. So, nothing really changes. But all this is a complete no brainer. From canned hunting, another very obscene practise where mostly hand-reared or semi-tame lions are placed for purposes of hunting in a confined space with no escape, to the actual edible consumption of body parts, Africa's species must be protected.



Image safarisonline.co.uk

Basically if one has gobbled up their 'supply' its just too very bad. In Africa the only ones that should be doing the gobbling-up are the lions, whilst we watch them in luxurious style, complete with fine dining, as they cook up a storm during the Wildebeest migration.

Into The Wilds Of Karen And Rest For The Weary

Rest Stops: Quick Guide
Travelling via Langata Road the main feeder leading into the wilds of Langata and Karen, locations still teeming with wildlife in and outside the Nairobi National Park, has become a nightmare.

With major construction work starting from the Kenya Wildlife Service main gate through to the world famous Bomas of Kenya, trying to make any destination in under 2 hours is all but impossible.
Say good bye to a day trip to this area.
Say hello though to a great over-nighter, the perfect spot to start off local Karengata safari.
Nestled in a private alcove is a property that offers elegant charm and hospitality for the tiredly hot and bothered. Under 8 minutes away from David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, 2 minutes from Bomas, is a rather delectable old house built in the 1950's, known as Murangi House. Recently refurbished yet maintaining some of its period features, the charming 6 bedroom, home-away-from-home, enjoys lots of history. Mrs. Dorothy Hughes East Africa's first Kenyan woman architect, famous for other projects such as Rift Valley Sports Club, Princess Elizabeth Hospital, takes credit here too. This year the property where it is located Forest Edge Gardens has been nominated for both Best Residential Infrastructure Development in Africa and Best Architectural Design in Africa categories, Africa Real Estate and Housing Finance Academy Awards.

On the madness and badness up to Karen, required reading material for the road trip up, it has to be "Love, Life and Elephants -An African Love Story" by Dame Daphne Sheldrick.  The Trust which incorporates an Elephant Nursery, overseen by Sheldrick, offers love, supreme care  and hope for orphaned baby elephants. In her autobiography of a book, the good Dame offers insight into her life and loves.
murangihomes.comhttp://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/html/anafricanlovestory.html

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