Congratulations Brian - your daughter looks stunning!

Daniel, how nice for you to meet up with a forum member like that. Good to see what Thomastherhymer looks like too.

Shame the whales didn't play fair!
We went whale watching of New England in August 2006. It was freezing cold and pouring with rain, but that didn't put the whales off. It was an astounding experience, well worth getting very wet for.

Congratulations Clarky and Mrs Clarky on your silver wedding!

I couldn't log in on Friday evening. I was out most of yesterday, but when I did try it worlked fine.

I particularly like the croc chopper!
I watch OCC occasionally on Discovery when there is nothing else on. It always amazes me how they manage to produce such amazing machines in between all the cussing and fighting

DOn't worry to much a bout the law in the Netherlands. Thousands of Dutch photographers ignore that law every day, and the vast majority of Dutch people don't know about it either. Obviously if you want to photogragh one person it is polite to ask their permission, but if you see a group then go for the candid shot. If they object afterwards, delete it.
I went to an exhibition in Amsterdam this last weekend and asked the photographer about it - he had several photos with people in them, often as the subject.
He was very nonchalant about it, and said he has never asked permission yet.

COngratulations on your new camera, and welcome to the forum.
Of course you should take your camera with you!

Get a good bag for it, one that doesn't scream camera bag, and which will also hold some of your inflight needs maybe. Have a look at Crumpler bags, or the Lowepro Slingshot. Take it as hand baggage. Get some insurance on it, - it may or may not be covered by normal travel insurance, then get out there and enjoy it!

Some museums will not allow photography, some will not allow bags in - the Van Gogh for instance is quite strict on that, but has a good wardrobe area where you can leave your gear safely.

If you can get a lightweight tripod before you travel - it will get dark early but then you can photograph the Christmas lights in London and the fireworks in Amsterdam.

Have a great trip - and post some photos here when you've been!

Zaphod there are a couple of ads on the Dutch Marktplaats site:
www.marktplaats.nl.
Click on fotografie in the left hand column then type Pentax where it says wat zoekt u.
They are all from the same advertiser. If you want info from him click on e-mail deze adverteerder. I expect he understands English.

In fact if you look further there are quite a lot of ads for them there, with varying prices.


Another edit a few links to the ads for you ;
http://link.marktplaats.nl/145129104
http://link.marktplaats.nl/145303102
http://link.marktplaats.nl/145301134
http://link.marktplaats.nl/145302265

For Rwanda and Uganda - for the gorillas I assume, the K10D will be perfect with it's weatherproofing. The 300 will be good for that part of the trip as a 50-500 is too heavy to carry any distance, let alone through a rainforest and up hill at that.
Ah just looked at the site.
In the truck you will have room for a monopod maybe, but not a tripod. It sounds like a great trip! Not for me as I must have a real bed to sleep in at night, (we stayed at tented camps) but great nonetheless.

Short rains in Tanzania are November-December, long rains are March to May approximately, but given global warming they are a bit erratic.
The Widebeest are in greatest numbers in Serengeti in February, when they give birth. We were lucky enough to see the birth of a calf.
Peak times in Kenya are summer months, in Tanzania January and February.

If you are on safari a bean bag is a good idea, you can rest it on the jeep roof or window. Providing the other passengers aren't moving a bout too much even without a beanbag you can get a steady shot using the jeep bodywork. Take the bean bag empty and fill it there. The driver should turn off the engine to reduce vibration. If he doesn't ask him to. There is no room for a tripod and it would only be a nuisance to you and your fellow passengers. A monopod maybe an idea if you are in open jeeps like they use in South Africa. East Africa tends to use pop-roofed jeeps.
Don't forget some good binoculars. And don't spend your safari looking through the view finder.
Where are you going?