Author: Michael Cook

The drive from Lake Nakuru to Mt. Kenya followed the equator. As we ascended through the mountains, we passed coffee plantations and fields of tea leaves. The many switchbacks continually crossed between the northern and southern hemispheres as indicated by the frequent signs along the side of the road. At one point, we stopped for […]

Our first morning at Mbweha Camp was the perfect way to start a day. We awoke early, well-rested and eager for a full day of viewing wildlife. Walking through the chilly dawn air, we found a simple breakfast of fresh bread and delicious Kenyan coffee awaiting us. Eating in the open air lounge, we savored […]

Our safari began in earnest on the morning of our first full day in Kenya. We were driven to an elephant orphanage in Nairobi where baby elephants who have lost their parents are raised before being released back into the wild. Most of the elephants had become orphans due to poachers, a serious problem throughout […]

It has been far too long since I have posted a journal update. My standard excuse has been that since returning to a normal job that there is less noteworthy stories to share, but that is not strictly accurate. There have been plenty of small adventures and even the simple task of navigating through life […]

At last count, I believe that I’ve visited 37 countries. By comparison, I’ve only traveled to 36 of the 50 U.S. states. One of the states that I had yet to visit was Arizona, which only lies a few hours east of my current residence in Los Angeles. That situation was remedied this past weekend […]

One of my favorite things about visiting Ohio is all of the boastful signs making outlandish claims promoting their signature product. During recent visits I have seen the world’s longest bar, passed on both the world’s best bagel and world’s best falafel, and drove by the world’s fastest roller-coaster. However, what most interested me was […]

One of the great benefits of living in California is the diversity of destinations within driving distance. Driving to work, I can often see snow-capped mountains ahead and the glistening Santa Monica Bay in the rearview mirror. There are mountains, beaches, deserts, cities, and forests all within a couple of hours drive. This past weekend […]

I’ve never had a real pet. A few goldfish lasted several weeks, but that was as close as I came. My mom and I are allergic to both cats and dogs, so that was one substantial obstacle. Plus, growing up, my family travelled a lot, so having a pet never made much sense. When I […]