• Master
    29 Jul 2012, 8:25 a.m.

    Fantastic travelogue and pictures Bill. Seeing your animal closeups I just had to share a few shots I took in Uganda in February.
    Ever since seeing the movie "Gorillas in the Mist" with Sigourney Weaver, which tells the story of Dian Fossey and her fight to preserve the threatened mountain gorillas who are only to be found in the mountains of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda, it has been my wife's dream to visit these amazing creatures. Well in February we made her dreams come true - and they were just like the Galapagos animals - not afraid of people at all.
    Here are just a few tastes of what we experienced and how close we could get to them, or rather how close they got to us as we were not allowed to walk any closer to them than 7 meters (22 feet) - fortunately no one could tell the gorillas not to get closer to us :o)

    The silverback - the "chief" of the family was the first one we saw:
    i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/Uganda%202012/IMG_7574.jpg
    He sat down next to us and sat there eating for almost 20 minutes:
    i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/Uganda%202012/IMG_7732.jpg
    We tracked 2 females in the family and just see how close they got to Anita (my wife) and our guide:
    i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/Uganda%202012/IMG_7798.jpg
    i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/Uganda%202012/IMG_7800.jpg
    i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/Uganda%202012/IMG_7577.jpg
    i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/Uganda%202012/IMG_7801.jpg
    Here one of them was just as close to me and I am actually just shooting a couple of pictures with the camera on my hip, without looking as I did not have time to bring the camera up (and we were told not to do any rapid movements when the gorillas were close to us):
    i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/Uganda%202012/IMG_7829.jpg
    i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/Uganda%202012/IMG_7828.jpg
    And lastly, the money shot - like you Bill we took a lot of pictures during the 11 days we were there (the gorilla safari was only 2 days), but out of the 2200 pictures this one just stands out - we still cannot believe how close we got to these majestic animals. Life can be really rewarding sometimes!
    i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/Uganda%202012/IMG_7625.jpg

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 9:47 a.m.

    superb pics Skule - what an up-close experience. I want to do it !!!

    You guys lead such exciting lives compared to my dull and urban one. The only wild life I saw these couple of days is this new RG steel 20120 chrono pilot that I believe just came in, lol.

    i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l497/vanhalen812/2012%20Collection%20-%20SIHH/IMG-20120729-02534.jpg
    i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l497/vanhalen812/2012%20Collection%20-%20SIHH/IMG-20120729-02535.jpg

  • Connoisseur
    29 Jul 2012, 10:20 a.m.

    Beautiful picture's, thank you for sharing Bill.

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 11:29 a.m.

    Bill, Shing, Skule:

    @ Bill - Exceptional travelogue. Showed them to the wife. She is a certified/licensed (marine) State and Federal "Endangered Species" rescue/rehaber. She has mentioned numerous times how much enjoyment a trip to the Galapagos Islands would be and after viewing your wonderful pic's, this might have moved a trip to Switzerland into 2nd place. Your journey has inspired her to search the web for travel information. Thanks again Bill for allowing us to tag along.

    @ Skule - After your posting, showed them to the wife. Different location, same as above !!

    @ Shing - Please tell me if possible what model is that (looks like) white dial pilot in the lower left corner ?

    Andy

  • 29 Jul 2012, 11:41 a.m.

    @bill @skule
    Great report!
    Next year I'm going to mount everest.
    For now the training has started.I hope to show as good pixcs as you both did.
    Cheers
    Bas Dekkers

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 11:46 a.m.

    Hi Andy, it's the older DFB doppel. seems stock of it is drifting into the boutiques again.

    i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l497/vanhalen812/2012%20Collection%20-%20SIHH/IMG-20120729-02533.jpg

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 11:58 a.m.

    @ SHING, you know that I really - really like that wild one on the left hand side! Now, only if it was available in a steel or white gold version!

    I think the ardoise dial on the Spitfire Chrono, is a winner over the RG version you post here.

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, noon

    Bas, the debate begins! What watch will travel to the summit with you?

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 12:15 p.m.

    we must BELIEVE Mark, and it will happen :)

    meantime, a cousin of the above says high, after spending some time with Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle last night...

    i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l497/vanhalen812/3761%20Da%20Vinci%20Digital%20Date%2001%20Platinum%2007%20RG/IMG-20120728-02511.jpg

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 12:26 p.m.

    @ Skule,
    Amazing photos! Since living in Africa I've been seeing up close lots of animals, particularly from grassland (savannah) but never gorillas!
    i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/Jeronimocg/CIMG1813.jpg
    i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/Jeronimocg/CIMG1811.jpg
    i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/Jeronimocg/CIMG5919.jpg
    i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/Jeronimocg/CIMG1818.jpg

    I am so impressed... Must've been the most incredible experience, thank you very much for sharing!

    @ Shing
    Those IWCs look pretty wild to me...! And you leave in one of the most exciting and beautiful places in the world, and get to see all the new models first hand! I am soooo jealous...!

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 12:35 p.m.

    Bill, Skule, Jeronimo - amazing photos!! Thank you!

    Few photos from my trip to Nairobi. Amazing to see so much "wild" animals just next to office buildings:

    i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss67/rc30/IMG_3317.jpg
    i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss67/rc30/IMG_3321.jpg
    i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss67/rc30/IMG_3329.jpg

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 1:10 p.m.

    Hi Roman,

    And thank you! Your photos with the buildings on the background are jaw-dropping!!!

    Cheers!

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 2:38 p.m.

    @ Bill
    See what you have done. Everyone has been inspired to dig through their files to find their best wildlife shots.
    LOL

    i69.photobucket.com/albums/i49/lndblr/5992ebc4.jpg

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 2:48 p.m.

    Bill, thanks for sharing. The boobie are great and the giant turtle has always been one of my favorite animals. Would be great to see it in person. This is definitely one of the places to visit for me.

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 3:34 p.m.

    Bill, amazing... many thanks for sharing! Best of luck ticking off the rest on your list.

    Regards,
    Thang

  • Connoisseur
    29 Jul 2012, 3:46 p.m.

    Thanks guys, I saw some of the best wild animal photos in this thread

  • Master
    29 Jul 2012, 10:55 p.m.

    Bill -

    Great post! What a fantastic trip - thanks for sharing.

    Maybe IWC should do another AT Galapagos edition - and use the colors of the "Blue and Red Footed Boobies" feet. Those are great colors - would look great.

  • Master
    30 Jul 2012, 12:24 p.m.

    Great great report Bill, thanks a lot and enjoy the rest!

    Regards,

    Bob

  • Connoisseur
    30 Jul 2012, 3 p.m.

    Thanks for the answer!