Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Vice TV produces Voodoo and Vaccines in Benin, Africa]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/27/vice-tv-produces-voodoo-and-vaccines-in-benin-africa/http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/27/vice-tv-produces-voodoo-and-vaccines-in-benin-africa/http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/27/vice-tv-produces-voodoo-and-vaccines-in-benin-africa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Vice TV got our attention a year or so back because of their work producing the best destination and culture videos out in the community. These were the guys that were making guides to North Korea and covering Mongolian yak racing. These guys were the film makers and the story tellers that we aspired to.

Their work has paid off. Among numerous partnerships and work that they've got coming down the pipeline, you can now see many Vice videos over at CNN, and the group has cemented a place in the community as leaders in quality, edgy film making.

Vice's most recent production in collaboration with one.org looks at the challenges and rewards of working with vaccinations in Benin, Africa. It's a sobering look into the culture of West Africa, and the documentary is a great piece. Take a look at it below.


Vice TV produces Voodoo and Vaccines in Benin, Africa originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>africabeninvaccinationsvicevice tvViceTvMon, 27 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ethiopia tops list of African nations improving quality of life]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/04/ethiopia-tops-list-of-african-nations-improving-quality-of-life/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/04/ethiopia-tops-list-of-african-nations-improving-quality-of-life/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/04/ethiopia-tops-list-of-african-nations-improving-quality-of-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ethiopia suffers from a bad image thanks to the war and famine of the 1980s. As my series on travel in Ethiopia showed, however, this is a land of friendly people, beautiful nature, and fascinating historic sites. Infrastructure is slowly improving and the Ethiopians are making serious efforts to boost education, access to clean drinking water, and other improvements to the quality of life.

These efforts have been recognized in the UN's 2010 Human Development Report. It ranked Ethiopia as number 11 in the world for improving human development since 1970, the highest ranking in Africa. The report was prepared by the United Nations Development Programme and measures progress in health, education, income, gender equality, and other areas. Researchers then formulate a "human development index" (HDI) for 135 countries.

Other high-ranking African nations include Botswana (14th), Benin (18th) and Burkina Faso (21st). All of these countries and some others have done especially well in the past ten years. Only looking at the past decade, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Uganda all come out in the global top ten.

One of the biggest areas of improvement was in education. Literacy has almost tripled in Sub-Saharan Africa in the past 40 years to 65 percent. Also, life expectancy is up and infant mortality is down.

Sadly, not all the news is good. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe were the only three countries in the world where quality of life actually went down.

Good news for Ethiopia is good news to travelers too. While the country is still an adventure travel destination, it's not as rugged as many people think. I spent two months there and my wife spent three weeks, and in all that time we never got sick. Chalk one up for good sanitation and clean water! Also, Ethiopia scores well of gender equality, which meant that, unlike some countries we've been to, my wife didn't get harassed by obnoxious guys. Good education meant we met lots of people who spoke English and wanted to improve it by chatting with us. Improved infrastructure meant there were more paved roads along our route than there were ten years ago.

When it comes to improvements in a country's Human Development Index everybody benefits, even people who don't live there!

Gallery: Roadtrip: Ethiopia

The church of Debre LibanosWorshipping in front of traditional church paintingsThe women's side of the churchEthiopian stained glass at Debre LibanosThe tomb of the saint

Ethiopia tops list of African nations improving quality of life originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure travelAdventureTravelBurkina FasoBurkinaFasodeveloping worldDevelopingWorlddevelopmentHuman Development IndexHumanDevelopmentIndexliteracyliteracy ratesliteracy-programsLiteracyRatesquality of lifeQualityOfLifeSub Sahara Africasub Saharan AfricaSubSaharaAfricaSubSaharanAfricaUNunited nationsUnitedNationsThu, 04 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Peace Corps volunteer murdered in Benin]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/21/peace-corps-volunteer-murdered-in-benin/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/21/peace-corps-volunteer-murdered-in-benin/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/21/peace-corps-volunteer-murdered-in-benin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"Did you hear that a Peace Corps volunteer was killed last week?" one of my friends asked me when we were at a restaurant with a group of returned Peace Corps volunteers. I hadn't heard, and she didn't have any information, only that the incident happened in some country in Africa and that the victim was a woman. The news was startling, particularly since I hadn't heard or read anything about it.

After a bit of sleuthing, I've gathered some details. The information about what happened is sketchy, and the death is under investigation.

The volunteer, Kate Puzey was a 24-year-old living in Benin, West Africa. Last week on Thursday morning, friends found her dead outside of her house in the village of Badjoude where she was posted as an English teacher. It is believed that she was murdered, although, I haven't found more details than what's in this article at Finding Dulcinea. The official news is that she died sometime the night before she was found.

Continue reading Peace Corps volunteer murdered in Benin

Peace Corps volunteer murdered in Benin originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AfricaBeninkilledmurderPeace CorpsPeace Corps VolunteersPeaceCorpsPeaceCorpsVolunteerstragedyvolunteerismWest AfricaWestAfricaSat, 21 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel Read: 100 Places Every Woman Should Go]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/30/travel-read-100-places-every-woman-should-go/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/30/travel-read-100-places-every-woman-should-go/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/30/travel-read-100-places-every-woman-should-go/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I never knew there could be a book so thoughtful and inspiring for women as this one. Stephanie Elizondo Griest's second travel book, which lists far more than just 100 Places Every Woman Should Go, is truly an encyclopedia for women travelers. It's the kind of book that could never have existed fifty years ago, but is so refreshing that free-spirited, female travelers should feel grateful that it exists now, and fully prepared for that next trip into the wide, wonderful world.

Griest's great book is packed with helpful historical information, inspiring stories, and travel tips. It's broken up into nine sections -- my favorite being the first: "Powerful Women and Their Places in History." There's so much worth digesting in each locale described. For instance, I had no idea that the word "lesbian" came from the birthplace of Sappho (Lesbos, Greece). Griest fills each description with great travel tips that often include specific street addresses for particularly noteworthy sights.

Continue reading Travel Read: 100 Places Every Woman Should Go

Travel Read: 100 Places Every Woman Should Go originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>book reviewBookReviewbooksgrieststephanie elizondo griestStephanieElizondoGriesttravel booktravel readTue, 30 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Face to Face with West Africa's Wildlife]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/10/getting-up-close-with-west-africas-wildlife/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/10/getting-up-close-with-west-africas-wildlife/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/10/getting-up-close-with-west-africas-wildlife/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Penjari Biosphere is a wildlife preserve in a remote corner of the West African nation of Benin. Like many such wildlife areas, it struggles with poachers and environmental problems, but tourism, in the form of photo safaris like the one in the video, is an important source of income for the area.

Even the most jaded tourist, wary of tourist traps and non-authentic experiences, would find a safari like the one in the video exciting. The fact that getting up-close and personal with wild animals is an attractive proposition is nothing new to the African tourism industry, but fully capitalizing on the tourist potential while protecting the wildlife for future tourism is the challenge. But, there are now economic reasons for creating a sustainable tourist model. The more interest in wildlife tourism grows, the more demand there will be for sustainability.

This video was taken in early morning, when the Penjari's animals all head for the nearest watering hole. Check out the menacing elephant about a minute-and-a-half in.
Video courtesy of Boing Boing

Face to Face with West Africa's Wildlife originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>africaafricanBeninelephantsgame parkGameParkon safariOnSafariplacessafarivideowildlifeFri, 10 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[More Independence Days to Celebrate]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/01/more-independence-days-to-celebrate/http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/01/more-independence-days-to-celebrate/http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/01/more-independence-days-to-celebrate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

August is another Independence Day bonanza. The shifts of power didn't happen all at once, but 1960 was a big year. If you're in any of these countries expect a holiday. Maybe there will be fireworks or a parade or a speech or two.

  • August 1 - Benin gained independence from France
  • August 3-- Niger gained its independence from France
  • August 5 --Burkina Faso also gained independence from France.
  • August 11--Guess which country Chad gained independence from? That's right, France.
  • August 13--Central African Republic also gained independence from--you guessed it--France.
  • August 14- Pakistan from the U.K. in 1947.
  • August 15- India from the U.K. in 1947.
  • August 17- Gabon. Can you guess the country and year? If you said France and 1960, ***ding ding ding ! [Did you hear the you win bells?]
  • August 19- Afganistan from the U.K. in 1919. Wow, that's early.
  • August 24- Ukraine in 1991.
  • August 25- Uruguay from Brazil in 1825.
  • August 27- Moldova from U.S.S.R. in 1991
  • August 31- Kyrgystan from the U.S.S.R in 1991 and Trinidad and Tobago from the U.K. in 1962.

*The information is from the International Calendar published by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Madison, Wisconsin. They put this calendar together every year and other Peace Corps groups sell it as a fundraiser.

More Independence Days to Celebrate originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Independence DayIndependenceDayWed, 01 Aug 2007 14:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Mega, as in the Biggest Ever, African Adventure Trip]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/02/28/mega-as-in-the-biggest-ever-african-adventure-trip/http://www.gadling.com/2007/02/28/mega-as-in-the-biggest-ever-african-adventure-trip/http://www.gadling.com/2007/02/28/mega-as-in-the-biggest-ever-african-adventure-trip/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Suppose you have time-lots of it. Let's say you have 44 weeks. Perhaps you'd like to go overland from Morocco to South Africa by way of Egypt. Here's a travel adventure that will take you through 10 game parks, various cultural and historical landmarks, and enough thrills like rafting and tandem sky diving that you'll have stories to tell for years. Countries not typical as tourist hot spots are included in the mix. Angola, for example, has only allowed tourists in since 2004.

In Angola you'll see Portuguese influenced architecture and gorgeous beaches besides the 3rd largest statue of Jesus in the world. The other countries in this multi-stop, pack-in-variety approach are: Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, DRCongo Zaire, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Egypt.

The highlights of this tour calledTrans Africa. Europe--CapeTown-Nairobi-Istanbul read like a cross between an outdoor wilderness experience, a cultural bonanza and a journey through an African history book. Read the itinerary and you might find yourself chomping to take this trip on. I sure am. R&R opportunities and the chance to luxuriate are built in. Africa Travel Center also offers shorter version African adventures where only parts of this trip are included.

* photo taken in Benguela, Angola by zokete.

Mega, as in the Biggest Ever, African Adventure Trip originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure travelAdventureTravelAfrican Travel centerAfricanTravelCenterlong tripsLongTripsWed, 28 Feb 2007 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Inside Africa Vol. 1 & 2]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/08/21/inside-africa-vol-1-and-2/http://www.gadling.com/2006/08/21/inside-africa-vol-1-and-2/http://www.gadling.com/2006/08/21/inside-africa-vol-1-and-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Inside Africa Inside Africa
TASCHEN books are some of my favorite to collect. If I had hundreds of dollars to blow I could easily do so on their website, but for now I'll have to place some of these titles on my Christmas wish list or refrain from doing so much running to and fro' to buy a few more. Of the more recent releases I'd like to take a peek at the Inside Africa titles. The two volume set puts the diversity of African living in the reader's face. I'll be one of the first to admit (and this is very sad because I have so many African friends), but when I think of dwellings found in various African places I don't think modern for the majority. I see mud, clay, and earthy homes with wells and without running hot water. SO WRONG. While a good portion of countries may have tribes and villages with housing of this nature there are tons of luxury lodges, artist studios, minimalist houses, and so-forth. These two sets claim to have a good mixture of both and more, but with the eye-popping ink and paper stock TASCHEN uses I'm sure anyone flipping through the book would want to stay in a clay hut. Deidi von Schaewen is the photographer and it took a period of four years and fifteen countries to make it these Inside Africa volumes happen.

Countries featured include Egypt, Kenya, Botswana, Morocco, Réunion, Seychelles, Tanzania, Tunisia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, Nigeria, and Senegal to list only a few.

Inside Africa Vol. 1 & 2 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architectureartbooksdesigninteriorsTaschenMon, 21 Aug 2006 23:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Africa Travel: Benin]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/02/03/africa-travel-benin/http://www.gadling.com/2006/02/03/africa-travel-benin/http://www.gadling.com/2006/02/03/africa-travel-benin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

GanvieVillageInstead of trying to force feed every cool monument or savannah to see in every African country this month I'm going to point out one interesting thing to do, see, or experience in each. That should save some amount of hard-decision making when you're finally ready to plan your trip to the continent at the end of the month. Starting with Benin, a west African country bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo known for delicious cuisine and stilted homes a trip to Ganvie village is a must-see. It is estimated that some 20,000 people live in 3,000 fragile stilt houses on the water. Boats are the best method of transportation and it is one of the most accessible attractions to Cotonou. their lifestyle and ability to reside on the water in such make-shift homes is beyond me. For additional travel and hotel information see Travel Notes and LP Worldguide. A short story and some photos from Benin can be found at Travel Adventures.

Africa Travel: Benin originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2006 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 03 Feb 2006 16:11:00 EST