African Lion Safari ♪♪♪

What would be more amazing than going on an African Safari adventure!? Now this post has nothing to do with the African Lion Safari in Hamilton, Ontario, however when I first started typing, it was their song that first came to mind.

Game drive in Zambia in Luangwa National Park

You know, I've traveled around North, Central and South America, spent 6 months in France and traveling all around Europe and even still, my wanderlust does not rest. Its safe to say that my traveling plans are on the top of my bucket list, with both Africa and Asia tied at number 1! On this blog, I'd like to feature a friend of mine, Cheyanne Greig-Andrews, and her 42 day African adventure. 

Malawi- Walk through the village with the Chief visiting schools

Cheyanne booked her "Kenya to Cape Town via Vic Falls Overland Camping Tour" through African Budget Safaris online and went on her tour with Africa Travel Co based in Cape Town. African Budget Safari prides itself on their amazing low budget tours, as they are committed to the renaissance of Africa, her wildlife and her people. They aim to provide hassle free holidays while offering a greater understanding of what makes Africa the number one adventure destination.

Nairobi- David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (They take abandoned elephants
and care for them until they are able to be reintroduced into the wild.
Visit their website for more information and foster an elephant just
like Cheyanne does.

This tour allows for a maximum tour group size of 29 travelers, which if you think about it, will allow you to make 28 NEW FRIENDS! It departs from Nairobi and ends Cape Town. As a comprehensive budget safari, this tour goes through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabawe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania. This tour offers camping tents as main accommodation, with a full-time guide and cook always with your group. The tour visits top wildlife parks, scenic places and beautiful beaches along the way for an inclusive price of $2,300 (approximately $55/day).

Top destinations visited include:

* Cape Town 

* Namib Desert

* Etosha National Park 

* Victoria Falls 

* AND MORE

Cape Town- top of Lions Head

If these pictures don't make you want to book a flight to Africa, I don't know what will. According to Cheyanne, she had the time of her life and I've been jealous of her ever since. An African adventure is on the top of my bucket list and it's something I may even complete this summer, fingers crossed. 

If you'd like more information on this tour, Cheyanne's experience or my African adventure plans, feel free to visit the links above or follow my social media links to get in contact with me. You can also reach Chayanne on Facebook.

Cheers ;)

All pictures belong to Cheyanne Greig-Andrews and cannot be used without permission.

Become an activist or advocate of something you BELIEVE in

Before I started writing this post, I Google'd the online definitions of both advocate and activist. It is evident that they are depicted completely opposite of each other and one is seen as being a positive movement while the other one is negative.

As seen in the images section of Google, an advocate is someone who uses their voice in a process of dialogue, exchange of ideas and negotiation of a topic, whereas activism is depicted as the more radical and extreme process of forcing dialogue and negotiation. Whichever one you choose to do or associate with, just make sure it's for a good cause!

The purpose of my post today is to motivate you to become either an advocate or an activist of something you truly believe in and of something in need of serious change. Whether you decide to use your voice, your position, your money or your social media expertise is completely up to you.

In my opinion, both activists and advocates are needed for this world to change. I can't really say I've been one or the other, but rather a little bit of both. You might recall going to Sea World as a kid, and being completely amazed by Tilikum and the other performing whales. You were probably so amazed that the thought of becoming a whale trainer crossed your mind once or twice.

Unlike many, I went to Sea World for the first time when I was 16 years old, and even then I was completely oblivious to what was really happening. Just like you, I had not been educated on the horrendous history Sea World and Tilikum had, nor had I had both the pleasure and disturbing experience of watching Black Fish. 

It has been a couple of years since I became both an activist and an advocate for marine animals in captivity. I have yet to do it on a national level; however I do what I can with what I have such as using social media and word-of-mouth as well as avoiding social outings to places like Marine Land.

Both advocacy and activism are tools to create some sort of social change. You don't need to be Angelina Jolie or Emma Watson to help change the world. Being a student, recent graduate or entry-level employee should not prevent you from fighting towards change. But just like me, you have to work with what you got.

 If you'd like more information on volunteering, donating or even talking about any of these causes, shoot me a message. Fighting for social change should be on everyone's bucket list. After all, it is our world and only we can change it. 

Need ideas? Visit these sites.

http://generationon.org/teens/make-your-mark/65-ways-make-difference

http://www.wellsofhope.com/

http://www.worldvision.ca/

http://www.communitycarestca.ca/

http://www.freethechildren.com/

http://www.torontozoo.com/supportthezoo/adoptananimal.asp

http://wwf.panda.org/how_you_can_help/support_wwf/adopt_an_animal/

https://theorcaproject.wordpress.com/how-to-help/

The art of "Paying It Forward"

"Be the change you want to see in the world" 

- Gandhi

The world can sometimes seem like an unfriendly, cruel place, yet we all want happiness, safety, health, and prosperity for ourselves and those who we love and surround us. We often ask ourselves, how one ordinary person, such as you and I, make a positive difference in this world.

It's pretty simple really. One way, is to practice "paying it forward". We have all seen the movie in which the young boy in the seventh grade puts into action a plan that will change the world for the better. 

The boy created a program called "Pay It Forward", based on networking of good deeds. It consists of the recipient of a favour doing a favour for three other people, and asking those three people to continue the pattern.
With the help of tons of research, here are some tips on how to ensure you're paying it forward. 

1. Be attentive wherever you are, for opportunities to help someone. 

Perhaps an elderly neighbour needs help shoveling snow or fixing something that's broken.

2. Do something nice for someone you don't know.

Although it's great to do nice things for those you love, it takes a lot more work and courage to do something nice for a stranger. Consider paying for someone else's coffee, holding the door for the person behind you or helping carry someone's groceries to their car. Helping a stranger rather than a relative will ensure they cannot repay the favour and therefore are more inclined to pay it forward. 

3. Spread the word. 

With the believe there is hope for humanity, a person's first instinct will be to thank you and possibly, repay you. Let them know what you're doing and that you'd like them to now "pay it forward". Explain to them what it is you're doing and ask them to do something nice for three other people, as well as ask those people to keep the pattern going. 

If you feel as if it's taking too long to explain or perhaps it's too confusing, try finding some "Pay It Forward" cards on Google and print some to hand out. This may even cause a more mysterious effect on those you help. 

4. Pay it forward.  

Whenever you notice that somebody has done something nice for you, make a mental note to pay it forward to three other people. We often take nice people for granted and random acts of kindness can go unnoticed. 

Click on these links for ideas on how to "Pay It Forward"

• https://www.pinterest.com/champion12345/pay-it-forward-gift-ideas/

• http://payitforwardday.com/about/how-does-it-work/

• http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/05/25/60-selfless-ways-to-pay-it-forward/

• http://www.buzzfeed.com/mackenziekruvant/simple-ways-to-pay-it-forward-on-a-daily-basis#.sdzmdwgbo

"A life lived for others, is the only life worth living" 

- Albert Einstein