Tropic of Capricorn @SANParksKNP @SANParks #SA #PhotoYatra #TheLifesWayCaptures

Hi Friends, 

I never knew that there is a Tropic of Capricorn milestone inside the Kruger National Park as I never traveled so far up to the Mopani Rest Camp earlier in my life and trips to the national park. This comes after you go from Mopani Rest Camp towards Letaba Rest Camp on the main road. 

As you all know, Tropic of Capricorn is the parallel latitude south of the equator. It is at this latitude that the sun's rays strike the earth vertically on only one day of the year at noon on or about 21 December.

Fortunately, I was there on the 26th December so the sun was shining so brightly and the temperature was to the tune of 44-degree celsius. It was so difficult to even open the car window as the warm air would take away all the airconditioning of the car. 

This also marks the beginning of summer in the Southern hemisphere and the beginning of winters in the Northern hemisphere. This latitude of the south is called The tropic of Capricorn because the sun enters the constellation of Capricorn at the Southern Hemisphere's summer solstice. 

The Kruger Park has made that you can come out of the car at this point and take some photos but at your own risk and also they made a line of bricks on the road to mark the Tropic of Capricorn. 

When you travel, you learn a lot as you come across somethings you read about in your school geography lessons and when you come across that facts in real life, it wows you. 

How are you liking this series of Kruger National Park? There is so much to show in Kruger National Park that my mind is working on the titles all day long to post the same and the selection of photos is also taking time all clicked using Nikon D7000 camera. 

Sawubona!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to send your products, launch event invites, and services to be consumed. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay. Follow me on www.instagram.com/thelifesway for all travel-related photo posts. Namaste!

Giant Plated Lizard Came to Meet #Mopani @SANParksKNP #PhotoYatra #TheLifesWayCaptures

Hi Friends,

Starting with the journey to Kruger National Park in various posts will definitely give you the wide availability of wildlife in South Africa. We camped at Mopani Rest Camp which is one of the best camps in the upper region of the park. 

At the end of our second day traveling from camp to camp, we had a braai in the evening and when I wake up in the morning and came outside to the kitchen area, I found this huge Giant Plated Lizard feasting on the leftovers of food from the dustbin. 

I was so scared to see it so up close that I stood still and was not carrying any camera at that time. I just took the time to check it out with my eyes and didn't make any noise. 

When my friend came from the bathroom I told him about this thing and then went and fetched the Nikon D7000 camera to take these pictures. Even then I didn't want to go so close to this big reptile also called at Giant Plated Lizard. 

There was a whole family of these lizards who was making rounds near all the chalets as the maintenance staff was clearing the dustbins in the morning. They were feasting on the chicken bones and the leftover meats. 

I don't know about you but if this lizard comes running after me, I would run like anything and yell at the top of my voice to help. This is something crazy I saw at the Kruger National Park, South Africa. 

The lizard has no intention to attack and went away shyly into the bushes and covered herself with the leaves and just like a dog makes its hole in the ground, she made it underneath a stone till the time she could totally relax and hide away from the naked eyes of human beings. 

Sawubona!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to send your products, launch event invites, and services to be consumed. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay. Follow me on www.instagram.com/thelifesway for all travel-related photo posts. Namaste!

Crocodile Stood Still #DinosaurPark #Sudwala #SA #PhotoYatra #TheLifesWayCaptures

Hi Friends, 

Crocodiles are one of my favorites wildlife animals due to its capacity to stay calm till the time of the attack and they can still themselves like made of rock or something fooling other animals and even human beings. 

Recently, we went to Sudwala Caves which is one of the oldest caves in South Africa which has not been uncovered fully and it is believed that the stalagmites and stalactites inside are thousands of years old. 

Next to the caves, there is a Dinosaur Park which has all the kinds of dinosaurs in their full avatar made up for kids to learn and enjoy. This park has a separate ticket and it gives you a walking tour to see all the animals in an artificial jungle setup. 

Though there is not much for adults they definitely need to go as there are some crocodiles at one end of the park which is far in a deep hole. 

But at the start or the end of the park depending on how you start the tour - clockwise or anticlockwise, there is this small wall which has these two big crocodiles which look like artificials and kids can easily climb the wall. 

My daughter and her friend were totally fooled and they thought it to be not real or alive but then I showed them the breathing mouth which was pulsating and it was so dangerous. 

All the photos are taken by Aashish Rai using Canon EOS 77D camera. 

Sawubona!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to send your products, launch event invites, and services to be consumed. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay. Follow me on www.instagram.com/thelifesway for all travel-related photo posts. Namaste!

Wall Art in Northcliff Ridge Eco Park #Joburg #SA #PhotoYatra #TheLifesWayCaptures

Hi Friends, 

Wall art or graffiti forms part of many countries and really makes for the decor of many parks and cities. 

We have a great Northcliff Ridge Eco Park in Johannesburg, South Africa which is on the top of a hill and the view is amazing. 

The place looks great when it's raining in the city and I have been there which will be covered in a separate post. People come there for a morning walk and the amazing picnic spot it is on a clear day. 

So great are these artists who take some time to make these walls great. There are many places where the government pays to these artists to decorate the walls. 

It looks so great to look at these walls but I am unable to understand what's written in these walls of Eco Park. 

The Northcliff is one of the highest points in Johannesburg and you can see the whole city from there. All the photos are taken using the Samsung Note 8 smartphone in auto mode by Aashish Rai. 

Sawubona!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to send your products, launch event invites, and services to be consumed. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay. Follow me on www.instagram.com/thelifesway for all travel-related photo posts. Namaste!

Lotus in the Pond @Walkersons Hotel #Dullstroom #SA #PhotoYatra #TheLifesWayCaptures

Hi Friends, 

Last few days I have been thinking about my life and it didn't give me enough courage to come and open the laptop as I was totally uninterested and demotivated to do anything. 

But when I thought about myself a little longer, I found that I have qualities which even if no one can see now but the process of improvement is going on and the qualities are improving. 

I am like a Lotus which despite being surrounded by dust and mud and water flourishes and gets directly to the garlands of the Almighty Lord. 

I am like a Lotus which despite being surrounded by people who have no big dreams flourishes by his own hard work and no support from anyone. 

I am like a Lotus which not only grows using the resources available to him but also gives back his beauty, fragrance and stems to the community. 

I will help not only blossom myself fully but also the people around me. My touch and friendship will grow them too. 

One day will come when I will meet nature and the five elements and then my legacy will grow and make this pond a view to cherish. 

All photos are taken by Aashish Rai using Canon 77D at Walkersons Resort during a Day visit to Dullstroom which is around 265 km far from Johannesburg, South Africa. Whilst day entry is free, this only allows people access to the hotel building and surrounding gardens, horse riding & pre-booked spa treatments. Day visitors are NOT permitted to roam around the estate for walks, fishing, or photography. The hotel is situated on a private estate and as such has to follow the rules of the Homeowners Association. Guests who are booked into the hotel / self-catering houses on the estate have full access to all areas and facilities but this is restricted for day visitors.

Sawubona!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to send your products, launch event invites, and services to be consumed. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay. Follow me on www.instagram.com/thelifesway for all travel-related photo posts. Namaste!