THE ARK

                                      A Unique Experience

     In Kenya I spent an interesting night in the Ark, a unique structure in the forest. An elevated deck overlooking a salt lick and watering hole provided  great viewing of animals as they came to drink from the pond and to lick the salt.

     A long elevated trestle over the forest floor provided the  only way to reach the Ark where one entered directly into reception. Taking my time walking over the trestle I saw many birds and one very large buffalo, who had actually survived a hyena bite/ gouging on its underside. One would not want to tangle with him!

     The lounge and dining rooms on the ground level  looked out on a stone barrier through very thick non-breakable windows. No need to worry about a big water buffalo barging in while you ate dinner!

    On the observation deck it was mandatory to keep all speech to no more than a whisper. All the sleeping rooms were on the  second and third levels and each room was equipped with a buzzer.  All night long the buzzers went off when animals wandered into the watering hole. Two rings meant large animals, rhino, elephant, or buffalo were present. Three rings indicated big cats had arrived.

    I  slept in my clothes---well actually I laid down on the bed in my clothes with a blanket on top of me. When buzzers sounded everyone grabbed a jacket or blanket and quietly and quickly headed to the observation deck. It was up and down all night with virtually no sleep, but it was fun and a thrill to see the animals!

     I saw rhino and beautiful female lions on that unusual night. The next morning after breakfast we again walked over the trestle to our waiting van. Driving off, suddenly a gorgeous spotted leopard crossed right in front of  the van on his way home to rest after a night’s hunt. What a bonus to see the naturally elusive animal!

TURKISH BATH VISIT

                                            Turkish Bath Experience

     Sometimes when one is in a place there are just some things one must do. This was true for  me on  my first visit to Budapest, Hungary, when a Turkish Bath visit was in that category.

     One afternoon a young  English speaking gal from a local travel agency volunteered to accompany 4-5 of us to the Szechenyi Baths. Riding the subway, we exited at City Park in the heart of Budapest.

     We also thought about a massage, but when we were quoted a price triple the going rate we decided to pass. We were grateful for our interpreter as no one spoke  any English and no one was a bit helpful---a left over from the Communist era. All signs were in Hungarian, no surprise but no sub titles anywhere either at that time.

     With our guide’s help we paid the entrance fee and proceeded to the locker area. Once in bathing suits we headed outside to the pools where we found  several pools of different sizes and temperatures. We all agreed on a time and meeting place so the guide could go off and do her own thing, as could we.

     I entered several pools and in a large pool swam following a circular  whirlpool around a center island. Passing one pool, that was about waist deep, we watched people standing around a floating chessboard. Here, people go to the baths for the day like we go to the beach.

     Inside an enclosed bathhouse were 2-3 smaller pools with much hotter water. There was a faint sulfa aroma and a slight yellow tinge to the water in the hottest pool. Unable to read the signs, I just hoped we wouldn’t unknowingly wander into a male only area.  We didn’t!

     When leaving we had to exit through a turnstile where a rather sour-looking man wanted the plastic tokens returned we had received when paying and which I promptly put in a pants pocket. But now a couple of hours later  I couldn’t remember what I had done with it. I was the last to exit, so my friends watched on the other side as I frantically searched each pocket of my cargo pants and finally found the elusive token hidden in a lower pocket corner. I had visions of it having fallen out of my pocket in the locker. Happy to have the token in my hand I passed it to the fellow who never as much as gave me a nod, but provoked clapping hands from my friends once I was on the outside!

     What would have happened if that had been so or if I had totally lost it; would I still be captive and stay there forever?