January started off in Bamako, Mali. We had a party and I did some yoga
February was some biking and sewing projects
February was also the start of our last R&R to Southern Africa (with long layovers in Istanbul) - I have a separate post for it: https://southieguys.blogspot.com/2019/06/last-r-safari.html
At the Blue Mosque in Istanbul
Cycling in Durban, South Africa
uMhlanga Rocks Beach near Durban, South Africa
On the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe.
And into March...
At the ol' watering hole in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Yes, I ate the worm.
Hanging around in Chinotimba Township, Zimbabwe.
At Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Elephant coming through.
Along the Chobe River in Botswana.
Elephants in Chobe National Park, Botswana.
Giraffe in Chobe National Park, Botswana.
Shy little guy in Chobe.
It's golden hour in Chobe.
Our ride to the Okovango Delta in Botswana.
In the Okovango Delta, Botswana
In the Okovango Delta, Botswana
View toward Table Mountain and Cape Town, South Africa.
Bo Kaap neighborhood of Cape Town, South Africa.
In the Zeist Museum of African Art, Cape Town, South Africa.
Penguins on the Cape, South Africa.
Biking around Cape Wine Country, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Babylonstoren, Cape Wine Country, South Africa
Last Cape wine tasting at Babylonstoren, South Africa.
March, April, and May were in Bamako with lots of fun characters
I see you, too.
Hanging with Gigi in Bamako.
Dancing at Stephanie's going away party.
Everyone comes out to see the Tu-Babu.
Sotroma in Bamako.
This guy!
For Memorial Day weekend we went to Rome; you can read about it here: https://southieguys.blogspot.com/2019/06/la-dolce-vita.html
Trajan's Forum and the Vittorrio Emmanuele.
Italian Flag flying on a cloudless day in Rome.
At the Trevi Fountain...
In the light of the Oculus in the Pantheon...
In Vatican City.
June was some more biking in Bamako, art shopping, and hanging around
Out along the Niger with these guys!
In the Ngolonina Artisans Market area in Bamako, Mali.
Artisan in the Ngolonina Market.
Les Amies and Dans le Bar.
July was July 4th at the Embassy and the month of our departure from Bamako.
Mark testing out the Sotroma photo booth.
Sotroma photo booth.
Happy Birthday, America!
July 4th Celebration in Bamako.
July 4th in Bamako.
BamaGrooves
Happy July 4th from Bamako!
Pack-out Day.
Mark and Cosmo on the way out.
August and early September were home leave in the U.S.: Washington, DC; Provincetown, MA; Sebago, ME; Oklahoma City, OK; and Los Angeles, CA. You can read all about it here: https://southieguys.blogspot.com/2019/10/home-leave-2019.html
Some quality enter-taint-ment in Provincetown.
Harbor Lounge in Provincetown.
PTown Golden Hour.
Maine Golden Hour.
Mark with my new Grand-Niece, Brinley.
One of the best parts of home leave in the U.S.!
In mid-September we arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A lovely welcome from my staff.
Cosmo out and about in Phnom Penh.
In October, I went to Manila, Philippines for the annual budget workshop
At the American Cemetery in Manila.
November saw Water Festival and Thanksgiving in Phnom Penh
Along the Tonley Sap for Water Festival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
View of Phnom Penh from the Sorya Sky Bar.
The guest of honor at Thanksgiving in Phnom Penh.
In December, I went to Seoul, South Korea for a quick site visit
At the Royal Palace in Seoul.
Korean BBQ and Soju.
Back in Phnom Penh, the Embassy lit up the Christmas nights
Christmas in Cambodia!
Just add snow...
It was a low-key Christmas chez Chapman-Jackson in Phnom Penh.
We had some visitors (Jamie and Clinton) and visited Siem Reap, Cambodia to end the year and Singapore for the New Year and Mark's birthday.
Monks at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.
Reclining Buddhas in a temple at the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh.
At Miss Wong's in Siem Reap.
Angkor Wat from the East Gate.
At Angkor Wat.
At Banteay Thom, Cambodia.
Phnom Kulen
At Phnom Kulen waterfall #1.
Banteay Srey, Cambodia.
In Singapore for Mark's birthday.
In Haji Lane.
In the Orchid Garden at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Back in Phnom Penh
A fine French 75 at a windy sky bar at sunset.
Dragon Dancers for Lunar New Year on the day before my birthday in Bassac Lane, Phnom Penh.
Here's to 2020!
