Kurt Buzard, Author at Travel To Eat

January 13, 2019 by Kurt Buzard Leave a Comment

Big Termite Mounds in Botswana with Facts and Photos

Active Macrotermes Termite Mound in Botswana

Across the forests and prairies of Asia, and vast savannahs of Africa, live secret societies of tiny termite architects. They are masters of construction, their sophisticated green-energy designs perfectly adapted to their often hot and arid surroundings. Most homeowners are aware of the destructive power of an army of termites but the fungus termites of Southern Africa are the focus of life and regeneration on the African savannah. With the aid of fungus farms, tended deep within the nest, the termites of southern Africa transform wood and dead leaves into organic nutrients which sustain vegetation and provide shelter and food for the surrounding wildlife. The 33 pounds (15 kilograms) or so of termites in a typical mound will, in an average year, move a fourth of a metric ton (about 550 pounds) of soil and several tons of water. They are not only remarkable architects of their own living spaces but are an essential part of the ecosystem and survival of virtually all the life around them. Termites transform the ecosystem in a variety of complex ways. Termites import coarse particles into the otherwise fine soil in the vicinity of their mounds which promotes water infiltration of the soil. The mounds also show elevated levels of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. All this beneficial soil alteration appears to directly and indirectly mold the ecosystem far beyond the immediate vicinity of the mound.
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December 29, 2018 by Kurt Buzard Leave a Comment

Art and Science of Petroglyphs

Ancient Petroglyph of Bighorn Sheep. Little Petroglyph Canyon, China Lake California

The process of creating useful and visually pleasing petroglyphs is one of the more difficult art forms, related more to creating a stone statue than painting. Unlike cave paintings that are added to the rock, petroglyphs involve removing material, in particular the desert varnish or patina that covers rocks in the desert. Today this would be difficult and take time, even with our modern steel tools, back then they only had stone tools making the process long and laborious. To cut a hard stone you would need a harder stone, preferably with some kind of point to focus the energy. Aside from the technical difficulties, there is the matter of artistic depiction of various animals, experiences and ideas. To communicate even relatively simple things, given the relatively crude stone canvas, the essence of the item being depicted must be communicated unambiguously, to translate to even strangers speaking a different language. While this discussion is directed primarily at Little Petroglyph Canyon, the principles are applicable to most petroglyphs.
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December 16, 2018 by Kurt Buzard Leave a Comment

Coso Native People History

Bow and Arrow with Archer and Victim. Little Petroglyph Canyon, Coso Range next to China Lake, California

If you visit Little Petroglyph Canyon, you will inevitably ask who created these petroglyphs. The short answer is, nobody knows who made them or in fact, how old they are. The Coso people were inhabiting the Coso area when the Europeans first arrived but there were only about 150–250 Coso people in the area and they claimed to know nothing about the petroglyphs. Over the past 100 years significant effort by anthropologists and archeologists have worked on clues from the past to explain the entrance of humans into the Americas and what they did once they were there. Since it was a long time ago, many things have been washed away by time. However, looking at stone tools, pollen counts from pack rat middens, linguistics and retained native customs we have a hotly debated but reasonable idea of how things changed over time for the Coso people and humans all over the Americas. This post is an overview of this work and while it will not tell you the who and when the petroglyphs were made, it will give you context to decide for yourself. I think you will be surprised at the ultimate influence this tiny, out of the way place, had on the entire southwest.
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December 11, 2018 by Kurt Buzard Leave a Comment

Little Petroglyph Canyon Overview, China Lake, California

Coso Range at Little Petroglyph Canyon. China Lake, California

Since both the Little and Big Petroglyph Canyons are within the bounds of the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, thus limited for photography, I am including photographs of the surrounding area before delving into the petroglyphs. The southern part of the Coso range lies in the restricted Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and the northern part of the range is designated as the Coso Range Wilderness. To visit Little Petroglyph Canyon, you need to go through the Maturango Museum which is located in Ridgecrest, California. To arrange a guided tour of the Coso Rock Art District located on China Lake Naval Weapons Station, you will need to call the museum to secure a reservation, pay a small fee and go through a written security questionnaire. No photography is allowed on the fairly long trip from the front gate until you reach the parking lot for the canyon. Since I believe you cannot properly appreciate the petroglyphs without the context of the surrounding area and cultures, I have decided to do a post on the canyon itself and the surrounding area.
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November 23, 2018 by Kurt Buzard Leave a Comment

Raptor Center, Sitka Alaska

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Raptor Center, Sitka Alaska

Within walking distance from downtown Sitka (just 20 minutes from Centennial Hall), a visit to the Raptor Center is the perfect way to stretch your legs and see Alaska’s wild birds up close. Learn about the different species, see their rehabilitation in action, and enjoy a stroll along the grounds. The Alaska Raptor Center’s number one goal is to rehabilitate, then send birds back to the wild. The Center treats between 100–200 birds each year and provides a permanent home for 25 “Raptors-in-Residence,” who can no longer fly or fend for themselves. Look eagles in the eye, gape at the head rotation of a snowy owl, and check out a variety of other species such as American kestrel, peregrine falcon, great-horned owl, Swainson’s hawk, and even the tiny pygmy owl. The raptor seen above is nicknamed “Pele” the Peregrine Falcon. He is both beautiful and typical of the 25 or so permanent residents due to a wing injury.
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November 9, 2018 by Kurt Buzard Leave a Comment

Majestic Baobab Trees with Facts and Photos

Baobab Tree (Adansonia digitata) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

The baobab is an iconic and prehistoric species which predates both mankind and the splitting of the continents over 200 million years ago. Native to the African savannah where the climate is extremely dry and arid, it is a symbol of life and positivity in a landscape where little else can thrive. Over time, the Baobab has adapted to its environment. It is a succulent, which means that during the rainy season it absorbs and stores water in its vast trunk, enabling it to produce a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season when all around is dry and arid. This is how it became known as “The Tree of Life”. Adansonia digitata is named after the French botanist Michel Adanson, who undertook an 18th-century exploration of Senegal. Baobabs are widely distributed in belts across Africa. Of the nine species accepted as of April 2018, six are native to Madagascar, two are native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and one is native to Australia. One of the mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island. It was introduced in ancient times to south Asia and during the colonial era to the Caribbean. The African and Australian baobabs are almost identical despite having separated more than 100 million years ago, probably the Australian trees got there by oceanic dispersal.

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October 25, 2018 by Kurt Buzard Leave a Comment

Gardens of the Anjajavy Lodge, Madagascar

Oasis Gardens at the Anjajavy Lodge

The Oasis at the Anjajavy Lodge is a genuine Garden of Eden. It is a perfect place to relax or unwind after a busy day enjoying some of the various activities on offer at Anjajavy le lodge. Kept at a constant humidity by water sprays, the Oasis offers a refreshing environment in which to escape the heat of the day. A variety of aquatic plants, papyrus reeds, tree ferns, climbing plants and palm trees are home to humming birds, lemurs, malachite kingfishers and many other species. This is also the setting for afternoon tea with refreshing soft drinks, teas and cakes. Designed by Camille Muller, the French landscape designer, the Oasis is the result of the search for harmony within the diversity of experiences on offer in Madagascar. If you look carefully, there are a variety of rare native plants in the garden.
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October 25, 2018 by Kurt Buzard Leave a Comment

Anjajavy Lodge and Reserve, Madagascar

Anjajavy Lodge in Madagascar

The last place we stayed in Madagascar was one of the nicest of the lovely places we visited. Anjajavy Reserve and Lodge is located on a private reserve, which today is 960 hectares (2,372 acres) in size. It is in the northwest of the country, sort of near Nosey Be but a lot more exclusive and safe. Located on the West coast of Madagascar 120 km North of Majunga, Anjajavy is a remote fishing village on an extraordinary peninsula. Anjajavy le Lodge is member of Relais & Châteaux and ranks as a four stars plus establishment on European standards. It is ideal for the demanding eco-tourist with a beachfront location, great food and amenities such as massage. Anjajavy le lodge is one of Madagascar’s luxury lodges, it is the perfect place to chill and relax after visiting the rest of Madagascar.
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October 9, 2018 by Kurt Buzard Leave a Comment

Lamb Korma

Lamb Korma/Khorma

Korma or Khorma has its roots in the Mughlai cuisine of the Indian subcontinent. A characteristic Mughal dish, it can be traced back to the 16th century and to the Mughal incursions into the region. Kormas were often prepared in the Mughal court kitchens, such as the famous white korma, perhaps garnished with vark (edible leaves of silver or gold), said to have been served to Shah Jahan and his guests at the inauguration of the Taj Mahal. Classically, a korma is defined as a dish where meat or vegetables are braised with yogurt, cream or stock added. The technique covers many different styles of korma. The flavor of a korma is based on a mixture of spices, including ground coriander and cumin, combined with yogurt kept below curdling temperature and incorporated slowly and carefully with the meat juices. Traditionally, this would have been carried out in a pot set over a very low fire, with charcoal on the lid to provide all-round heat. A korma can be mildly spiced or fiery and may use lamb, goat meat, chicken, beef or game; some kormas combine meat and vegetables such as spinach and turnip. The term Shahi (Royal), used for some kormas indicates its status as a prestige dish, rather than an everyday meal, and its association with the court.
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October 5, 2018 by Kurt Buzard Leave a Comment

Bloedel Aviary and Conservatory in Vancouver

Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

When we visited Vancouver, we came across the most amazing little conservatory. The Bloedel Conservatory is essentially a large bird cage located at the peak of Vancouver in Queen Elizabeth Park. There are 120 exotic mainly tiny birds and over 500 kinds of tropical plants inside the dome. This elaborate cage for the birds and plants reveals something very ancient and primal to humans, the desire to bring the outdoors inside. In this case, these are exotic birds and plants that would not survive in the relatively harsh climate of Vancouver but even in antiquity local birds were kept by the wealthy, in particular for harems and by mariners to find land in the open sea. In medieval Europe, bird keeping was mostly for the wealthy. Kings, Queens and the Clergy would often keep parrots. The Sumerians, the oldest civilization known to have kept written records, had a word, subura, for birdcage. Do we bring birds inside our homes because we are unable to enter theirs? Do we try to tame wild nature because we fear we can never tame our own? These bits of philosophy are thanks to a beautiful essay on caged birds by Jerry Dennis, found below. For the purpose of this post, I thought we would just enjoy these birds, in one of the best settings for an aviary I have yet to see.
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