Hi@all,
This criticism is totally and utterly wrong! my understanding is, whether is government official or is from private employment, so long as he can have spare time that is not (in anyway) enterfering his duties and, as long as his or her employer is satisfied with his performance, i think he could be forgiven and left alone, his duties doesn't change his social life aspect. He has right to visit his friends and people he loves and of his choice....he is a social being who derves social life like everyone.
The question of calling it vacation, that's his own chosen words and his blog jargon so to speak!...whether the writer knows this or not...it doesn't change the meaning of his mission in this safari. He is there as photographer or journalist or whatever, so calling it vacation doesn't change any meaning of what he is doing thare and very few who can not understand this.
The question of tax payers money, if at all he is entittled to that, he deserves his share, that is why we people pay tax and that is one of the use of those money!! This word tax payers money, now is becoming like an epidemic, it is loosing its meaning because every body now claims to think if you use this word "tax payers money" then individual will have a certain unique feeling or moody on the word it self. The tax payers money have been there even before even our governments and its purpose will never change, if you are entittled to it you deserve your own share and, if you are not, then you fight your own life.
This tax payers money thing is now demonising individuals and some are even feeling that, if you get government salary is like you are using their money...but they are just forgetting that you are working for that money. If he is paid that money, then he deserve them because he is working and that is what he is doing for living. If you are trying to be just, why don't you think about how he is missing his family by being out of his household for such long time?
By the way, he is also paying tax.
Is just my opinion.