Ends of the Earth
Kyli Walls from Bloomington, Indiana visited the Plaza this past summer. We featured her photo (second one down on post) here on allDAY.
She "had a blast" and posted the following video about her experience.
From Kerry Sanders, NBC News correspondent Sharon Matola is one of those rare breeds who not only loves what she does, but she sucks you right into her exciting world. When a jaguar licks your face and doesn’t tear it off, how can you not feel an adrenaline rush? (More on that in a moment.)
Jorge Pujol/NBC News
Kerry Sanders gets a jaguar kiss
Matola’s journey is an amazing path of twists and turns, from Baltimore upbringing, to circus lion tamer, to assistant filmmaker to pioneer.CONTINUED >>
From Ann Curry, NBC News Ann Curry checked in today to give a status report on her trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – and offered some photos to help illustrate her journey. “Climbing the hardest route up Kilimanjaro during the rainy season has been a real challenge for our news team,” she admitted.
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From Meredith Vieira, TODAY anchor Sunday morning we flew to Sydney. One look at the harbor here and you understand why so many people fall in love with this place. I took a long run along the river, passing by the spectacular Sydney Opera House (where Australian Idol is having its final showdown this week!) and the botanical gardens. Then it was off to interview Robert Dane, the inventor of a boat called the
Solar Sailor. Robert was a doctor, but his passion since childhood has been sailing. He is also a true environmentalist who worried about what was happening to his beautiful harbor as a result of pollution. He told me something I had never been aware of before: the shipping industry is responsible for a tremendous amount of the carbon emissions in the world, twice as many as the aviation industry. Robert had long been thinking about ways to make a greener vessel. Then he found true inspiration. I won't tell you where it came from; for that you'll have to
watch the piece . All I will say is that sometimes the smallest creatures can provide the biggest ideas. Robert figured out how to combine solar, wind and battery power to create a hybrid boat that uses far less fuel (meaning less pollutants) than standard vessels. He says his technology can easily be adapted to be used on even the biggest ships and tankers. We sailed through the harbor taking in the beauty around us. What struck me about Robert was his passion and determination to make this world a better place. As he put it, "it's a no brainer." We ended the evening with a lovely dinner at a restaurant overlooking the ocean.
As I write this it is Monday morning in Australia (Sunday afternoon in New York). My voice is starting to go, probably the result of jet lag and talking so much. Just finished two pots of tea with honey and am headed out for a brief walk in the sunshine before beginning to prepare for the live show (which will occur from 11pm to 2am Australia time). Call it my attempt at using some solar energy to get my act in gear!
To find TODAY's complete Ends of the Earth coverage, click here.
NBC News
From Kerry Sanders, NBC News correspondent
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From Meredith Vieira, TODAY anchor We made it to Melbourne, Australia after some 22 hours of flying. Lots of water and sleep aboard Qantas, one of the nicest airlines I've ever experienced. There's something about a pilot with an Australian accent that instills confidence in even a white-knuckled flyer like myself.
We took off Thursday night from JFK and landed in Australia Saturday morning. Then after a quick pit stop at the hotel we all loaded into a van and drove an hour and a half to Prince Philip Island. Among other things, it is home to the Little Penguin sanctuary. The Little Penguin is so called because he is a little guy, smaller than the black and white penguins we all know. Those tuxedoed characters come from Antarctica, whereas the Little Penguins are warm water birds. Every night for thousands of years they have washed onto the beach here and waddled up to their burrows, often dodging foxes and birds of prey.
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From Ann Curry, NBC News Arusha, Tanzania "I am a Masai," Jonas Eliau tells us.
Belinda reading at a table
It is because of one dry well that 13-year-old Belinda Amon might have to stop going to school. CONTINUED >>
From Peter Alexander, TODAY correspondent Note: This blog has been updated to include a new slide show . It was originally published on Friday, Sept. 26. See more photos here . CONTINUED >>
From Ann Curry, NBC News
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Arusha, Tanzania We can see her silhouette, rising above the clouds under a full moon in the darkness. And she is gorgeous in her solitary pose, as the world's largest free standing mountain, one of its seven summits. And she waits for us.
Looking up at her, we are a humbled NBC News team, driving in a lurching safari truck from Kilimanjaro International Airport, brimming with excitement.
Our mission is to report on Kilimanjaro's vanishing glaciers, expected to disappear completely as soon as 2020. And if we are successful, we will reach millions of Americans with the story in an unprecedented way.
Our crew is talking nonstop about technical challenge we face in going live over five days from as many as four places on this 19,000-foot mountain. So many things could go wrong. But Bobby, Peter, Julian, Jen and Ray are jazzed, and listening to these talents, it is easy to be calm. If it can be done, they will do it.
What worries me more is whether we are up for the physical challenge. Just a third of those who try reach the top of Kilimanjaro. Eighty percent suffer altitude sickness, 10 percent the point where their lives are threatened.
We are taking the hardest route, known as the Western Breach, because it will get us closest to the ice. We will be careful, take our time, and take care of each other.
And so an adventure begins.
Watch
the video of Ann preparing for her hike, and read her
blog report about the how the melting snows of Kilimanjaro are affecting the local people.
TODAY's Ends of the Earth series begins Monday, Nov. 17. Find out more here.
Ends of the Earth series, which begins Nov. 17, Ann Curry went down to one of the lowest points on Earth for an expedition with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. WATCH WEB-ONLY VIDEO HERE
