2006 Africa: Namibia - Swakopmund and the Drive to

At an intersection leaving the town of Usakos headed toward Swakopmund on the South Atlantic Coast. Just to the left of the men is a small market selling crystals and stones collected from a nearby rock quarry.

The humble market stands with their vast assortment of rocks, crystals and faux gems.

An ice blue colored crystal that I purchased.

Wares for sale

A man and his child selling stones for a living in front of their shack homes in the background to the occasion tourist that drives by. I had asked the man if I could take his picture along with his child and upon buying several stones, he happily agreed. His wife, off camera, butted in very astutely and piped up: "For an extra 5 Namibia dollars! ($1)" "DEAL!" I said and handed over the money. And to be honest, it doesn't bother me one bit to pay for these pictures. I have been extremely fortunate to have been born into a wealthy society that offers me opportunities undreamed of by these rural Namibians, so if anyone doesn't need an extra dollar in his life, it's me.

What I would look like sleeping in the back of the van if I weren't awake taking my own picture. ;-}

Driving through central Namibia.

Warthog crossing. Watch out for street bacon!

Me, a warthog crossing sign and central Namibia all around.

Starting to have a little fun with the sign

All of us having having fun with the sign doing our Kudu Dance (yes, you had to be there).

Entering the small town of Usakos. If you want to know the meaning behind the sign, you'll just have to call!

German rest stop in the middle of Namibia. (Namibian Desert Farm Stall)

Peacock running across the parking lot

Me at a German bakery in the central Namibian town of Outjo (pronounced: oh-choo)

Outjo is a modern town by any world standards.

The German bakery. YUM!!!

And I got to speak German to the nice ladies behind the counter!

A rest stop in the central Namibian town of Omaruru run by a nice African-American guy who decided to relocate to Africa and set up shop. The business is both a restaurant as well as a souvenir, arts and crafts shop.

My yummy glass of afternoon tea

Driving through northern/central Namibia with roadside wildlife

Me wearing a t-shirt that says "San Francisco" in Hindi while standing along the Namibian Atlantic coastline

The South Atlantic coast along Southwestern Africa in the city of Swakopmund (pronounced: swah-kope-moont)

Sunset over the Atlantic with coastal rocks in the foreground

Me and a sand warning sign along the C34 coastal highway

Water pipe just outside Swakopmund

Me on a quad bike racing around the sand dunes just south of Swakopmund

At the sand dunes as they spill into the ocean

Safety isn't always sexy!

Our lodge accommodations in Swakopmund. Not too shabby!

Walking around Swakopmund.

Johanna getting ready to go sand boarding

Sand dunes of Namibia

Me and LOTS o' SAND

Walking up a giant sand dune is MUCH MUCH harder than it looks

Getting ready to sand board down a dune after exhausting myself walking up it!

Standing, from left to right: Bonnie, Eric, Josh and Johanna

Excellent restaurant for African cuisine in Swakopmund

The heavily post-German colonial influences of Swakopmund. What America might have looked like if the Germans had become the dominant ethnic group in North America.

Me, wandering the streets of Swakopmund.

The main strip of Swakopmund

The seaside residential complex where Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt stayed for three moths in advance of their child's birth, just south of Swakopmund.

The unit on the right is where the Jolie-Pitts stayed in Namibia. (Yes, I was star struck while in Namibia. Besides, if the Jolie-Pitts hadn't come to Namibia before my trip there, almost no-one would have known where I was going!)

The hospital in Swakopmund where Madame Jolie gave birth.

Where Angelina Jolie put Namibia on the map to the outside world with the birth of her baby.

Gotta get a picture! ;-}