Maree and Graydon
@stanleystravels.bsky.social
Travellers, teachers, photographers. Posts are a bit of travel, some nature pics and a splash of politics. Read Graydon's book Pedalling To Kailash!
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Amazon.com: Pedalling to Kailash: Cycling Adventures and Misadventures Across the Roof of the World eBook : Hazenberg, Graydon: Books
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Pedalling to Kailash: Cycling Adventures and Misadventures Across the Roof of the World a.co/d/h5t4wd6
If you haven't read my book about a long-ago cycling expédition across the world's highest mountain ranges to Tibet's holiest peak, please check it out!!
If you haven't read my book about a long-ago cycling expédition across the world's highest mountain ranges to Tibet's holiest peak, please check it out!!
An easy afternoon drive as far as Mazabuka. Tomorrow an early start should get us to Livingstone before lunch and then across to Kasane, Botswana by early afternoon to meet up with my sister Saakje and her partner Henkka for 12 days of safari fun. It feels good to be driving away from Lusaka!
December 19, 2025 at 6:28 PM
An easy afternoon drive as far as Mazabuka. Tomorrow an early start should get us to Livingstone before lunch and then across to Kasane, Botswana by early afternoon to meet up with my sister Saakje and her partner Henkka for 12 days of safari fun. It feels good to be driving away from Lusaka!
Feels good to be packing up and heading out of Lusaka for a few weeks of wildlife-spotting in northern Botswana. Stanley rides again!
December 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Feels good to be packing up and heading out of Lusaka for a few weeks of wildlife-spotting in northern Botswana. Stanley rides again!
Indeed.
Trump is to Canada as Putin is to Ukraine.
December 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Indeed.
The US becoming yet more hostile to foreign visitors. Why would anyone want to visit this failing state?
December 10, 2025 at 3:36 AM
The US becoming yet more hostile to foreign visitors. Why would anyone want to visit this failing state?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
It's official, then. The US regards western Europe as more of a threat than Russia, and wants to intervene in European politics to help out the far right (AfD, Reform, Vox, etc) while soft-pedalling Russian imperialist aggression. A truly evil administration.
It's official, then. The US regards western Europe as more of a threat than Russia, and wants to intervene in European politics to help out the far right (AfD, Reform, Vox, etc) while soft-pedalling Russian imperialist aggression. A truly evil administration.
New US security strategy aligns with Russia's vision, Moscow says
The Kremlin welcomes the starkly worded document, which does not cast Russia as a threat to the US.
www.bbc.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
www.bbc.com/news/article...
It's official, then. The US regards western Europe as more of a threat than Russia, and wants to intervene in European politics to help out the far right (AfD, Reform, Vox, etc) while soft-pedalling Russian imperialist aggression. A truly evil administration.
It's official, then. The US regards western Europe as more of a threat than Russia, and wants to intervene in European politics to help out the far right (AfD, Reform, Vox, etc) while soft-pedalling Russian imperialist aggression. A truly evil administration.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
More blatant illegality by Trump and his cronies. Will US fighters shoot down civilian airliners over Venezuela? Their recent record of cold-blooded murder in air strikes on boats suggest that this is definitely on the table. Another lurch down the road to full Putinism.
More blatant illegality by Trump and his cronies. Will US fighters shoot down civilian airliners over Venezuela? Their recent record of cold-blooded murder in air strikes on boats suggest that this is definitely on the table. Another lurch down the road to full Putinism.
Venezuela calls Trump airspace closure warning 'colonialist threat'
The US says it is fighting drugs smuggling, but Venezuela says Donald Trump's aim is to topple President Nicolás Maduro.
www.bbc.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:12 PM
www.bbc.com/news/article...
More blatant illegality by Trump and his cronies. Will US fighters shoot down civilian airliners over Venezuela? Their recent record of cold-blooded murder in air strikes on boats suggest that this is definitely on the table. Another lurch down the road to full Putinism.
More blatant illegality by Trump and his cronies. Will US fighters shoot down civilian airliners over Venezuela? Their recent record of cold-blooded murder in air strikes on boats suggest that this is definitely on the table. Another lurch down the road to full Putinism.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
One of the all-time great playwrights. I saw his Arcadia at the National Theatre in London, and the film versions of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Shakespeare In Love are pure genius. He made the world a better place with his works.
One of the all-time great playwrights. I saw his Arcadia at the National Theatre in London, and the film versions of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Shakespeare In Love are pure genius. He made the world a better place with his works.
Sir Tom Stoppard, playwright famed for his wit and depth, dies at 88
The King and Queen pay tribute to a "dear friend who wore his genius lightly".
www.bbc.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:07 AM
www.bbc.com/news/article...
One of the all-time great playwrights. I saw his Arcadia at the National Theatre in London, and the film versions of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Shakespeare In Love are pure genius. He made the world a better place with his works.
One of the all-time great playwrights. I saw his Arcadia at the National Theatre in London, and the film versions of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Shakespeare In Love are pure genius. He made the world a better place with his works.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Disgraceful, craven, spineless behaviour by the BBC. Anticipatory obedience to the tyrant.
Disgraceful, craven, spineless behaviour by the BBC. Anticipatory obedience to the tyrant.
Reith lecturer accuses BBC of cowardice for censoring his remarks on Trump
Dutch writer Rutger Bregman says claim that Trump was ‘most openly corrupt president in US history’ was removed
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Disgraceful, craven, spineless behaviour by the BBC. Anticipatory obedience to the tyrant.
Disgraceful, craven, spineless behaviour by the BBC. Anticipatory obedience to the tyrant.
Leopards of South Luangwa. What an amazing national park!!
November 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Leopards of South Luangwa. What an amazing national park!!
Some African Fish Eagle photos from Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. I love these majestic raptors!
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Some African Fish Eagle photos from Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. I love these majestic raptors!
Alcaraz vs Sinner is the absolute apex of attacking tennis. It's like watching 2004 Federer play against himself. Power, placement, defence, drops: these two can do it all
November 16, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Alcaraz vs Sinner is the absolute apex of attacking tennis. It's like watching 2004 Federer play against himself. Power, placement, defence, drops: these two can do it all
A leopard snoozing in a tree in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, the unofficial leopard capital of the world.
November 12, 2025 at 7:54 PM
A leopard snoozing in a tree in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, the unofficial leopard capital of the world.
A Schalow's turaco who is a regular visitor to our backyard in Lusaka. I love the rich bird life of Africa!!
November 9, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A Schalow's turaco who is a regular visitor to our backyard in Lusaka. I love the rich bird life of Africa!!
www.wtatennis.com/news/4398548...
Rybakina, when she's on (as she was yesterday) hits the ball as cleanly and as elegantly as anyone. She can hang with the power of Sabalenka and then crack a blistering winner out of nowhere. I like her quiet and unassuming style.
Rybakina, when she's on (as she was yesterday) hits the ball as cleanly and as elegantly as anyone. She can hang with the power of Sabalenka and then crack a blistering winner out of nowhere. I like her quiet and unassuming style.
The perfect ending: Rybakina tops Sabalenka to win WTA Finals crown
From the last player to qualify to the last one standing, Elena Rybakina closed her season with a straight-sets win over Aryna Sabalenka, sealing the biggest title of her career in Riyadh.
www.wtatennis.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:23 AM
www.wtatennis.com/news/4398548...
Rybakina, when she's on (as she was yesterday) hits the ball as cleanly and as elegantly as anyone. She can hang with the power of Sabalenka and then crack a blistering winner out of nowhere. I like her quiet and unassuming style.
Rybakina, when she's on (as she was yesterday) hits the ball as cleanly and as elegantly as anyone. She can hang with the power of Sabalenka and then crack a blistering winner out of nowhere. I like her quiet and unassuming style.
www.skysports.com/tennis/news/...
I watched the highlights of the Athens final, and it was a fabulous match,with Novak digging deep to win in three gruelling sets. However, I have to question the wisdom of playing a minor event the day before the start of the Tour Finals!
I watched the highlights of the Athens final, and it was a fabulous match,with Novak digging deep to win in three gruelling sets. However, I have to question the wisdom of playing a minor event the day before the start of the Tour Finals!
ATP Finals 2025: Novak Djokovic withdraws through injury with Lorenzo Musetti called up as replacement
ATP Finals 2025 take place in Turin, November 9-16, live on Sky Sports Tennis, as this years top eight mens players in the world face off; watch ATP and WTA action on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+...
www.skysports.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:13 AM
www.skysports.com/tennis/news/...
I watched the highlights of the Athens final, and it was a fabulous match,with Novak digging deep to win in three gruelling sets. However, I have to question the wisdom of playing a minor event the day before the start of the Tour Finals!
I watched the highlights of the Athens final, and it was a fabulous match,with Novak digging deep to win in three gruelling sets. However, I have to question the wisdom of playing a minor event the day before the start of the Tour Finals!
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
So Elon Musk, the world's most obscenely wealthy man, personally destroyed a government agency that saved millions of lives a year. His animus against the poorest, most vulnerable people on earth will result in millions of preventable deaths over the coming years.
So Elon Musk, the world's most obscenely wealthy man, personally destroyed a government agency that saved millions of lives a year. His animus against the poorest, most vulnerable people on earth will result in millions of preventable deaths over the coming years.
Evaluating the impact of two decades of USAID interventions and projecting the effects of defunding on mortality up to 2030: a retrospective impact evaluation and forecasting analysis
USAID funding has significantly contributed to the reduction in adult and child mortality
across low-income and middle-income countries over the past two decades. Our estimates
show that, unless the a...
www.thelancet.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:39 AM
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
So Elon Musk, the world's most obscenely wealthy man, personally destroyed a government agency that saved millions of lives a year. His animus against the poorest, most vulnerable people on earth will result in millions of preventable deaths over the coming years.
So Elon Musk, the world's most obscenely wealthy man, personally destroyed a government agency that saved millions of lives a year. His animus against the poorest, most vulnerable people on earth will result in millions of preventable deaths over the coming years.
We just found out last night that we have a lesser galago (bushbaby) mother and baby living in the rafters of our roof here in Lusaka. What amazing creatures, and such prodigious leapers!
November 6, 2025 at 8:07 PM
We just found out last night that we have a lesser galago (bushbaby) mother and baby living in the rafters of our roof here in Lusaka. What amazing creatures, and such prodigious leapers!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Another Trump Tariff Tantrum from the thin-skinned Toddler-in-Chief. What was that about the art of the deal?
Another Trump Tariff Tantrum from the thin-skinned Toddler-in-Chief. What was that about the art of the deal?
Trump cancels trade talks with Canada over anti-tariffs advert
The US president says he is axing negotiations over an advert that used Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs.
www.bbc.com
October 24, 2025 at 9:28 AM
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Another Trump Tariff Tantrum from the thin-skinned Toddler-in-Chief. What was that about the art of the deal?
Another Trump Tariff Tantrum from the thin-skinned Toddler-in-Chief. What was that about the art of the deal?
Lovely spot for a morning tea/coffee break on this morning's game drive, overlooking a small marshy lagoon in South Luangwa, after a great lion encounter (photos to follow).
October 21, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Lovely spot for a morning tea/coffee break on this morning's game drive, overlooking a small marshy lagoon in South Luangwa, after a great lion encounter (photos to follow).
Lovely morning of game driving here at South Luangwa. 17 (!?) wild dogs and a hunting leopard. It feels good to be back out in the African bush!!
October 19, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Lovely morning of game driving here at South Luangwa. 17 (!?) wild dogs and a hunting leopard. It feels good to be back out in the African bush!!
Made it to South Luangwa after a long day of driving. Falling asleep to the grunts of hippos. Looking forward to some game driving tomorrow; leopards and wild dogs await!
October 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Made it to South Luangwa after a long day of driving. Falling asleep to the grunts of hippos. Looking forward to some game driving tomorrow; leopards and wild dogs await!
Pro travel tip: if you want a good night's sleep, check to make sure your motel doesn't have peacocks wandering in the grounds...
October 18, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Pro travel tip: if you want a good night's sleep, check to make sure your motel doesn't have peacocks wandering in the grounds...
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
Hope this link works. A horrendous story here in Zambia about a catastrophic pollution spill at a copper mine, its toxic environmental aftermath and the geopolitical ructions due to the miner's ownership.
Hope this link works. A horrendous story here in Zambia about a catastrophic pollution spill at a copper mine, its toxic environmental aftermath and the geopolitical ructions due to the miner's ownership.
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 5, 2025 at 12:38 PM
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
Hope this link works. A horrendous story here in Zambia about a catastrophic pollution spill at a copper mine, its toxic environmental aftermath and the geopolitical ructions due to the miner's ownership.
Hope this link works. A horrendous story here in Zambia about a catastrophic pollution spill at a copper mine, its toxic environmental aftermath and the geopolitical ructions due to the miner's ownership.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
One of the all-time greats in primate research, conservation, animal ethics and care for the natural world is no more. A truly inspirational figure. RIP.
One of the all-time greats in primate research, conservation, animal ethics and care for the natural world is no more. A truly inspirational figure. RIP.
Dame Jane Goodall remembered as 'true hero for the planet'
Leonardo DiCaprio and Barack Obama are among those paying tribute to the leading conservationist.
www.bbc.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:31 AM
www.bbc.com/news/article...
One of the all-time greats in primate research, conservation, animal ethics and care for the natural world is no more. A truly inspirational figure. RIP.
One of the all-time greats in primate research, conservation, animal ethics and care for the natural world is no more. A truly inspirational figure. RIP.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Will the egregious throttling of free speech and the advocacy for state censorship by most MAGAts end up becoming another wedge, like the Epstein affair, that ends up splitting MAGAtry? We can only hope...
Will the egregious throttling of free speech and the advocacy for state censorship by most MAGAts end up becoming another wedge, like the Epstein affair, that ends up splitting MAGAtry? We can only hope...
‘Free speech for me, not for thee’: how Trump’s censorship blitz is splitting the right
After Charlie Kirk’s killing, the US president has unleashed an assault on free speech. Some conservatives are questioning his razor sharp U-turn
www.theguardian.com
September 28, 2025 at 8:50 AM
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Will the egregious throttling of free speech and the advocacy for state censorship by most MAGAts end up becoming another wedge, like the Epstein affair, that ends up splitting MAGAtry? We can only hope...
Will the egregious throttling of free speech and the advocacy for state censorship by most MAGAts end up becoming another wedge, like the Epstein affair, that ends up splitting MAGAtry? We can only hope...