Category Archive

Africa

How to adopt an elephant

Many years ago, when I was greedily going through every article on Offbeat Home to absorb all of the awesomeness within, I came across an article about how to adopt an elephant from Sheldrick’s Wildlife Trust. This year, I finally adopted my own orphaned elephant.

The stop-you-in-your-tracks, awesome doors and windows in Morocco

Remember when Ariel freaked out about the bathtubs in Puerto Rico? Well, I’m doing something similar with the doors of Morocco! I have not been able to take one walk through the streets of Morocco without stopping to take a photo of a door or a window…

My son, the elephant: Fostering an elephant at an orphanage in Africa

There was one Disney character that touched me so deeply, ruined me so wholly, that the effects are still in place today. I refer to Dumbo, the big-eared elephant. As an adult, I began to research the plight of elephants in captivity — in particular, those in circuses. Overwhelmed by the callousness and cruelty, and feeling powerless, I also researched ways I could help. This is how I came to foster a baby elephant.

I would SO pay $500 a night to stay at the Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya

Once again, I have gone on virtual vacation via Airbnb and have come back with an amazing find. Last time it was an upside down boat-turned-retreat, this time it’s a stately manor in Nairobi with a resident herd of giraffes!

I just found out Luke Skywalker’s Tatooine home is actually a real-life hotel and now I need to go there

I’m not sure where I’ve been for my entire life but I only recently discovered that Luke Skywalker’s home on Tatooine is actually a real life hotel that you can stay at for $10 a NIGHT. TEN DOLLARS A NIGHT to run wild in Luke’s old stomping grounds and pretend you’re looking for Sand people and Jawas, guys!

Water apples in Australia — like tiny watermelons in the trees!

I was delighted to find my favourite fruit in the wild this week. Water apples (also known as bell fruit) are familiar to me from my childhood in West Africa where I called them “pommes d’eau.” Get all the facts on this forage-able fruit within.

Shop eccentric houses through AirBNB

Husband and I have been happily hosting AirBNB guests for six months now, and it’s an amazing place to find unusual housing types you might want to try out!

Aerial landscape rugs of the US, Europe, and Africa make it easy to pretend you are a giant

Have you ever pretended you were a giant? Bring that dream to life with new rugs based on aerial landscapes from around the world.