"Botswana - The Last Sanctuary" at the NG Museum

I love going to the travel event at the NG museum. They are usually interesting, the food is always delicious, and drinks are flowing. All of this at the whopping cost of $0. I am so going to miss events like this in Eugene, and really, in any other place we live in, in times to come.  

Saurabh was travelling during this event, so Kristina and I did our monthly June date at this event. Unlike the Switzerland event we went to in April, this was excellent. We got there a few minutes early and went into the champagne reception. The cheese sticks, which I remembered from the Swiss event were just as yummy and we were able to enjoy 2-3 glasses of champagne before we headed to the auditorium for the main event.

Second glass, and loving it!

So, um, yeah, I leaned on that rod and it fell. We were headed to the Grosvenor Auditorium after the Champagne Reception. A couple had a good laugh at my expense.

Once everyone was seated, they had Batswana dancers enter from the doors and dance down the aisles to the stage, where they continued to perform. They were excellent! The rest of the event proceeded in typical fashion, with people from National Geographic and Bataswana delegates speaking about the country. I have been enamoured by the Okavango Delta for a while now, so it was fun to hear more about it. During this event, they introduced Dereck and Beverly Joubert, who were there! I was so excited. I first came across their work when a few years ago the NG museum did a Lions and Leopards exhibit, and all the photos and stories in that exhibit with theirs. Their story is amazing, and they do great work. 

Waiting for the main event to start

The Batswana Dancers coming in

Batswana Dancers

Okavango Delta

After the event, we filed back into the reception area, for more drinks and food. We ate, drank, talked, stood in line to take photos against a green screen, so it looked like we were near some wild animal. The Batswana dancers performed again, on the stage there, and I spotted the Jouberts again. I had 4-5 drinks in me at this point, and with inhibition tossed away, I was able to approach them, talk to them and IT WAS AMAZING!! I have never been able to do something like this. They are the nicest people, and talked to me at length, while I, likely, completely behaved like a fan girl (and had basically abandoned Kristina for the duration. Terrible!).

Reception Area

They had this deliciously flavoured lemonade, but I can't remember what fruit it was. Fail!

Green Screen Photo. Oh! Look! SPLASH! 

Batswana Dancers Performing at the Reception

I asked if I could take a photo with them, and they agreed. But, not only did they let me take the one photo, when I checked it, Dereck said, let's take another one! AAAAAH! <3 font="">

With Beverly and Dereck Joubert!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, it was an excellent excellent evening! And I was on such a high when we left. 

This might be my last event at the NG museum before we leave, and talk about ending with a bang! :) 

DC. DC. DC. Always surprising, Always amazing!!