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Dear Sunette and JV
I saw the insert on Pasella on the tigers and I was determined to go. I have watched JV's DVD which I bought in Alaska a few times before, not knowing he was here in SA!
And Nico being the loving and most understanding person in the
world, agreed to pay for everything and drop by the ranch before
heading home again.
We arrived in Phillippolis on a beautiful winters day, at these
romantic cottages and left our things to go to the ranch. It was
quite easy to find and after a brief introduction to the tigers,
we played with 3 of the cutest baby cubs! They were so soft and
cuddly and STRONG! It felt so awesome to touch them and play
with them. Then in the winter afternoon, we got onto the back of
the landrover to drive into the wild and explore the land
for tigers. We were lucky to find Seatao and Julie in close
proximity. And we had the amazing experience to see them in a
'mating mood' as Jules was in estrus.
JV had warned us beforehand that the tigers could 'mark' the
vehicle, but we did not bargain that it would happen! And in a
moment of being mesmerized and taking video clips and photos, we
got soaked by this musky scent! Some might think how disgusting,
but JV said that was a blessing. Little did I know what kind....
After we spend some time with the tigers, we set off in the
sunset and it was getting cold. The ride in the bakkie was so
rough at times, that we had to hold on for dear life, but we
could not stop giggling and laughing about our excursion and how
fun it was. The next moment, Nico gets up in the middle of our
drive back to the house and goes on one knee in the back of the
bakkie. I thought he lost his balance, because of the rough
ride! And then he asked me to do him the honor and promise him
that I would marry him because he loves me! I was so shocked
that I just giggled non-stop. I never expected it!!!! And I said
yes!
Nico said that he could not think of a more romantic time and
setting than the tiger ranch, and I agree!!!!! What a wonderful
story to tell my children one day. We would not have had it any
other way.
And so we thank you and JV for your hospitality and for what you
have done for nature conservation. We wish we could do more to
help, but we promise to promote you and the ranch and to
fight in any way we can for the future of the tigers.
We wish you all the best and hope that you will prosper!
Love
Nico Smit and Chrisone van Wyk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
