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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[Azawad: Africa's Newest Nation?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/12/azawad-africas-newest-nation/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/12/azawad-africas-newest-nation/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/12/azawad-africas-newest-nation/#commentsFiled under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Festivals and Events, Africa, Mali, News

Azawad, Mali

A Tuareg rebel group in Mali has declared the northern two-thirds of the country as a separate state.

The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) has kicked out government troops and declared the independent nation of Azawad. The region is marked out in green in this map courtesy Wikimedia Commons. The remaining part of Mali is in dark gray just below it.

The Tuaregs are a distinct desert culture living in several African nations. They have complained of being treated as second-class citizens by the Malian government and took advantage of a military coup in the capital last week to take over the Tuareg region.

So far no nation or international body has recognized Azawad as an independent state. There are a lot of politics behind this, beyond the fact that Azawad is home to at least four rebel groups, at least one of which rejects the declaration of independence. Since the coup leaders in the south plan to retake the north, it's an open question whether Azawad will exist next month or next year.

This begs the question: when is a country really a country? I was once asked in an interview how many countries I'd been to. I answered, "29-31 depending on your definition." I have been to 29 countries that are recognized by most or all of the world. I say "most of the world" because I've been to Israel, which is obviously a country even though it isn't recognized by 32 other nations.

Gallery: Azawad

Flag used by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad as the

Map of the conflict in Mali, with Azawad outlined in red.

Areas where significant numbers of Tuaregs live.

Tuareg woman

Tuaregs with their camels

Continue reading Azawad: Africa's Newest Nation?

Azawad: Africa's Newest Nation? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureadventure traveladventure travelersadventure travelsadventure vacationAdventure VacationsAdventureTravelAdventureTravelersAdventureTravelsAdventureVacationAdventureVacationsAfricaAfrica newsAfrica tourismAfrica travelAfricaNewsAfricaTourismAfricaTravelAzawadcurrent eventsCurrentEventsMaliMali newsMali tourismMali travelMaliNewsMaliTourismMaliTravelnationhoodnewsSaharasahara desertSaharaDesertTimbuktuTuaregTuareg independenceTuareg newsTuaregIndependenceTuaregNewstuaregsThu, 12 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Tomato launches Epic Tomato, an ambitious new adventure offshoot]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/26/black-tomato-launches-epic-tomato-an-ambitious-new-adventure-of/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/26/black-tomato-launches-epic-tomato-an-ambitious-new-adventure-of/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/26/black-tomato-launches-epic-tomato-an-ambitious-new-adventure-of/#commentsFiled under: Africa, Asia, North America, South America, Antarctica, Mali, Namibia, Uganda, China, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Iceland, Norway, Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Bolivia, Chile, Guyana, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean

For years Black Tomato has delighted old travel hands with its inventive, bespoke itineraries to various corners of the globe. The company is especially good at showcasing beautiful destinations not yet well-known to most travelers beyond the surrounding region. Among others, Belgrade, the Carpathian foothills, the Kuronian Spit, and Bhutan have all been embraced by the company.

This morning, Black Tomato launched Epic Tomato, which showcases a selection of hardcore adventure experiences to very hard-to-reach places. These adventures are scheduled for lengths of between four to 21 days, and are grouped into five categories: Polar, Desert, Jungle, Mountain, and River. They are all led by serious expert guides, some with SAS (British special service) military backgrounds.

Bolivia's Apolobamba mountain range, Mali's Dogon region, the Star Mountains of Papua New Guinea (see above), the Mosquito Coast of Honduras, and East Greenland are just a few of the destinations reached by Epic Tomato tours.

Epic Tomato's frankly epic experiences don't come cheap. At the bottom end of the scale, three adventures come in at £5995 ($9660): 14 days in Papua New Guinea's East New Britain and Duke of York Islands; a 21-day trek in Tibet and Nepal; and eight days in Chilean Patagonia. At the very high end: 12 days on Canada's Ellesmere Island for £67,495 ($108,720).

Black Tomato launches Epic Tomato, an ambitious new adventure offshoot originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antarcticablack tomatoBlackTomatocanadaChilechilean patagoniaChileanPatagoniaellesmere islandEllesmereIslandepic tomatoEpicTomatolondonNepalpapua new guineaPapuaNewGuineatibetSat, 26 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[It's time travel writers stopped stereotyping Africa]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/21/its-time-travel-writers-stopped-stereotyping-africa/http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/21/its-time-travel-writers-stopped-stereotyping-africa/http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/21/its-time-travel-writers-stopped-stereotyping-africa/#commentsFiled under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Africa, Mali, Somalia, Tanzania, Ecotourism, Budget Travel

Africa, africa

Pop quiz: where was this photo taken?

OK, the title of this post kind of gives it away, but if I hadn't written Africa, would you have guessed? It was taken in Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. This isn't the view of Africa you generally get from the news or travel publications--a modern city with high rises and new cars. A city that could be pretty much anywhere. That image doesn't sell.

And that's the problem.

An editorial by Munir Daya for the Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen recently criticized Western media coverage of Africa, saying it only concentrated on wars, AIDS, corruption, and poverty. Daya forgot to mention white people getting their land stolen. If black people get their land stolen, you won't hear a peep from the New York Times or the Guardian. If rich white ranchers get their land stolen, well, that's international news. And look how many more articles there are about the war in Somalia than the peace in Somaliland.

Daya was objecting to an in-flight magazine article about Dar es Salaam that gave only superficial coverage of what the city has to offer and was peppered with statements such as, "Dar es Salaam's busy streets are bustling with goats, chickens, dust-shrouded safari cars, suit-clad office workers and traders in colourful traditional dress."

Daya actually lives in the city and says you won't find many goats and chickens on the streets. But that wouldn't make good copy, would it?

Travel writing has an inherent bias in favor of the unfamiliar, the dangerous. Some travel writers emphasize the hazards of their journey in order to make themselves look cool, or focus on the traditional and leave out the modern. Lonely Planet Magazine last year did a feature on Mali and talked about the city of Bamako, saying, "Though it is the fastest-growing city in Africa, Bamako seems a sleepy sort of place, lost in a time warp." On the opposite page was a photo of a street clogged with motorcycle traffic. If Bamako is in a sleepy time warp, where did the motorcycles come from?

I'm not just picking on Lonely Planet; this is a persistant and widespread problem in travel writing and journalism. Writers, and readers, are more interested in guns than concerts, slums rather than classrooms, and huts rather than skyscrapers. In most travel writing, the coverage is simply incomplete. In its worst extremes, it's a form of racism. Africa's problems need to be covered, but not to the exclusion of its successes.

As Daya says, "there is more to Africa than famine and genocide." There are universities, scientific institutes, music, fine cuisine, economic development, and, yes, skyscrapers.

And if you think Dar es Salaam is the exception rather than the rule, check out Skyscrapercity.com's gallery of African skyscrapers.

Gallery: The Third World?

A bicycle race in the Ethiopian countryside

An artist's studio in Addis Ababa

A double-decker cafe made from a converted Routemaster

A relaxing cafe in Addis Ababa

Sweets for sale in the Oslo Cafe, Addis Ababa

It's time travel writers stopped stereotyping Africa originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureadventure activitiesadventure traveladventure vacationadventure-outdoorsadventure-travelAdventureActivitiesadventuresAdventureTravelAdventureVacationarchitectureBamakobiasbiasedbiased journalismBiasedJournalismcolonialismdar es salaamDarEsSalaamdeveloping nationdeveloping nationsDevelopingNationDevelopingNationsdevelopmentjournalismjournalistjournalistsMalimodernizationop-edOp-Edsopinionopinion-columnopinion-pieceOpinionPieceopinionsracismracism in americaRacismInAmericasafariSafarisSkyscraperskyscrapersSomaliaSomalilandstereotypestereotypesstereotypingTanzaniatravel writertravel writerstravel writingTravelWriterTravelWritersTravelWritingwritingFri, 21 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Round the World in 80 Sounds: Blues, Bamako & beats in Mali]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/06/round-the-world-in-80-sounds-blues-bamako-and-beats-in-mali/http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/06/round-the-world-in-80-sounds-blues-bamako-and-beats-in-mali/http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/06/round-the-world-in-80-sounds-blues-bamako-and-beats-in-mali/#commentsFiled under: Arts and Culture, Africa, Mali

Welcome back to Gadling's new series on music around the world, Round the World in 80 Sounds. Blues. Rock 'n Roll. Two distinctly American styles of music, right? That's only half true, actually. In fact, some might say you also need to head to the West African nation of Mali to find the answer. For many years, travelers had little reason to investigate this barren desert country, home to the ancient complex of Timbuktu. But these day's Mali's stock as one of the world's most influential musical destinations is on the rise, thanks to the growing fame of its talented musicians and increasingly popular musical festivals.

Mali's recent ascent to musical stardom isn't by accident. The country's borders have long been traversed by various African, European, Islamic and even Cuban (?!) cultural influences. It has created a country that moves to the rhythm of any number of different drummers. From traditional Malian Mande Music to the proto-blues of legendary Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure, to the bouncy joyous pop of international stars Amadou & Mariam, Mali music has been earning new fans and gaining attention worldwide. Enough attention, in fact, that Mali hosts its own internationally renowned music festival each year in the tiny town of Essakane.

Wondering which Mali musicians are worth your time? Want to visit one of the world's most remarkable African music festivals? Stick around as Round the World in 80 Sounds takes a closer look at the influential music of Mali. Keep reading below for our favorite Mali artists and festivals.

Continue reading Round the World in 80 Sounds: Blues, Bamako & beats in Mali

Round the World in 80 Sounds: Blues, Bamako & beats in Mali originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 06 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ali farka toureAliFarkaToureamadou mariamAmadouMariambamakobluesbluesmencoldplayconcertdelta bluesDeltaBluesdimanche a bamakoDimancheABamakoessakanefeel like going homeFeelLikeGoingHomefestival in the desertFestivalInTheDeserthusband and wifeHusbandAndWifejohn lee hookerJohnLeeHookerlollapaloozamanu chaoManuChaomusicoumou sangareOumouSangarerobert johnsonRobertJohnsonrock and rollrock n rollRockAndRollRockNRollroundtheworldin80soundssavanetimbuktuvieux farka toureVieuxFarkaToureviva la vidaVivaLaVidaThu, 06 May 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stonehenge, Machu Picchu top 'most threatened' wonders list]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/15/stone-henge-machu-picchu-top-most-threatened-wonders-list/http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/15/stone-henge-machu-picchu-top-most-threatened-wonders-list/http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/15/stone-henge-machu-picchu-top-most-threatened-wonders-list/#commentsFiled under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Mali, China, India, United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, Peru, Ecotourism

U.K. travel magazine Wanderlust has released their second annual list of the world's most threatened wonders, with eight very popular attractions earning this dubious distinction for 2010.

Perhaps the two most eye catching destinations on the list are Stone Henge in the U.K. and Machu Picchu in Peru. The magazine actually describes Stonehenge as a "national disgrace" and rips the stone monument for being so detached from the rest of the ancient ruins in the area that loses some of the historical context. In the case of Machu Picchu, it seems the lost city of the Inca is a victim of its own popularity, with large crowds and over zealous tourists blamed for the sad state of affairs there.

The other destinations to make this year's list include Wadi Rum, Jordan; Yangshuo, China; Tulum, Mexico; Jaisalmer, India; Timbuktu, Mali and the Bay of Fires, Tasmania. Each has their own unique issues to deal with ranging from too much tourist traffic, a lack of security and governmental struggles over access to the places.

Fortunately, Wanderlust doesn't just point fingers, but also suggests some ways to solve the issues facing these popular attractions. For example, in the case of Stone Henge, they endorse a plan that has been put fourth to build an underground tunnel that wold link the stone monoliths to other nearby sites that are part of the same ancient compound. And as for Machu Picchu, they put the onus on the tour operators to ensure that their groups tread lightly and leave little trace of their passing on the fragile mountain environment and the centuries old citadel itself.

This list does a good job of drawing attention to the fact that many of these locations are suffering from being too popular. Perhaps good discussions about these issues will help make us all more aware of the problems and help preserve these sites for future travelers to enjoy as well.

Continue reading Stonehenge, Machu Picchu top 'most threatened' wonders list

Stonehenge, Machu Picchu top 'most threatened' wonders list originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelbay of firesBayOfFiresecotourismmachu picchuMachuPicchustone hengeStoneHengetasmaniawanderlustwanderlust magazineWanderlustMagazineFri, 15 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Preserving the literary treasures of Timbuktu]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/01/preserving-the-literary-treasures-of-timbuktu/http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/01/preserving-the-literary-treasures-of-timbuktu/http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/01/preserving-the-literary-treasures-of-timbuktu/#commentsFiled under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Africa, Mali

Mali has been getting a bad rap lately with the kidnapping of a French aid worker and travel warnings about the dangers of terrorism, all thanks to Al-Qaeda's local band of nutcases. But like everywhere else there are more good people than bad in Mali and they've been working hard to preserve a unique literary heritage in the famous city of Timbuktu.

Timbuktu is often thought of as a remote place, but it stands at an important point for the trade routes between West and North Africa. In the Middle Ages it was the center of a powerful empire and home to one of the first universities in the world. Students from all over the Muslim world came hear to learn about science, mathematics, geography, religion, philosophy, and more. Today the leading families of Timbuktu preserve the legacy of that golden age of learning--more than 100,000 handwritten manuscripts dating back as far as the 12th century. They cover a wide range of topics. The one pictured here is a treatise on astronomy.

Now these manuscripts will be available to the public thanks to the Ahmed Baba Institute, a state-of-the-art library built to preserve the crumbling documents and display them to the public. Several exhibitions are planned that will add historical context to one of the world's more popular adventure destinations. The collection of manuscripts will be a lengthy process. Nobody knows just how many families in Timbuktu and other part of Mali have treasures squirreled away, so the institute should be seeing a lot of growth and changes in the coming years.

An interesting video about the project can be seen here.

Preserving the literary treasures of Timbuktu originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arabicbooksIslamlibrarieslibrarymanuscriptmanuscriptsmanuscriptumrare booksRareBookstimbuktuTue, 01 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gunmen kidnap another Westerner in Mali]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/27/gunmen-kidnap-another-westerner-in-mali/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/27/gunmen-kidnap-another-westerner-in-mali/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/27/gunmen-kidnap-another-westerner-in-mali/#commentsFiled under: Africa, Mali, News

Just days after the UK issued a heightened travel alert for Mali, gunmen have kidnapped a French national in the North African country.

Pierre Kamatte, a 61 year-old malaria researcher, was working in the northeastern town of Menaka when he was kidnapped outside his hotel on Wednesday.

There has been no official confirmation, but both the French and Malian governments suspect Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb, shown here in an image taken from one of their propaganda videos. This organization claims ties to Al-Qaeda and operates across several countries in North Africa. It has conducted numerous kidnappings of foreigners and locals in the past few years and killed a British national earlier in the year.

Mali is home to the popular adventure destination of Timbuktu and music festivals such as the Festival in the Desert and stands to lose much-needed hard currency if foreigners stay away. It looks like now the hard currency will come in the form of military aid from the United States, which has pledged millions of dollars in equipment to help Mali fight the terrorists.

Gunmen kidnap another Westerner in Mali originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kidnapkidnappedkidnapperkidnapperskidnappingterrorismterroristterrorist attacksTerroristAttacksterroristsFri, 27 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The ultimate road trip: 12,500 miles across Africa on a motorcycle]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/25/the-ultimate-road-trip-12-500-miles-across-africa-on-a-motorcyc/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/25/the-ultimate-road-trip-12-500-miles-across-africa-on-a-motorcyc/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/25/the-ultimate-road-trip-12-500-miles-across-africa-on-a-motorcyc/#commentsFiled under: Africa, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Spain, Budget Travel

Thomas Tomczyk is serious about motorcycles. He's done three motorcycle trips across India, from the steamy southern tip all the way up to the frozen highlands of Ladakh. Now he's starting his childhood dream--an epic trip 12,500 miles (20,000 km) across Africa.

His zigzag tour will take in 22 African nations including South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, the Saharawi Republic, and Morocco. . .

. . .before he ends up skinny, exhausted, and happy at my house in Spain, where my wife will fatten him up with her excellent paella.

Full disclosure: Thomas is a friend of mine. We covered the massive Hindu pilgrimage of Kumbh Mela together in 2001 and barely managed not to get trampled to death by hordes of naked holy men. But even if I didn't know him, this trip is so thoroughly cool I would have reported on it anyway.

Thomas isn't just going on vacation; he'll be visiting innovative grassroots projects that are making life better for the average African. Through his website Africa Heart Beat he'll be telling us about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, such as creating a job center for landmine victims in Mozambique, an AIDS theater group in Botswana, and a Muslim-Christian vocational center in Mali that's bringing the two communities together.

"The idea of crossing Africa came to me when I was 10," Thomas says.

Continue reading The ultimate road trip: 12,500 miles across Africa on a motorcycle

The ultimate road trip: 12,500 miles across Africa on a motorcycle originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelblogbloggersbloggingblogscharitiescharitydevelopmentmotorcyclemotorcyclesngosroad triproadtripsustainable developmentSustainableDevelopmentWed, 25 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Terror warning for northern Mali, Timbuktu]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/24/terror-warning-for-northern-mali-timbuktu/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/24/terror-warning-for-northern-mali-timbuktu/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/24/terror-warning-for-northern-mali-timbuktu/#commentsFiled under: Africa, Mali, News

Timbuktu and northern Mali have long been attractive to adventure travelers, but now the United Kingdom is warning Westerners not to go there for fear of terror attacks.

The travel advisory, which you can read here, states that the provinces north of the River Niger, including Timbuktu, are the operating grounds for the terror group Al Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Magreb. On January 22 of this year they kidnapped a group of Western tourists near the Mali-Niger border and later murdered a British national. The advisory also warns that two popular festivals, The Festival in the Desert and Sahara Nights, are in the danger zone and should be avoided.

This is such a shame, as Timbuktu, shown here, is a World Heritage Site and the Festival in the Desert is one of Africa's best music gatherings. Mali is a poor nation and people need the hard currency that tourism brings. It seems that once again the actions of a few criminals are ruining it for the decent folk.

Have you been to Mali? Did you feel safe? Tell us about your experiences in the comments section.

Terror warning for northern Mali, Timbuktu originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure travelAdventureTravelal qaedaal qaidaAlQaedaAlQaidaterrorterrorismterroristterrorist attacksTerroristAttacksterroriststimbuktutravel warningsTravelWarningsTue, 24 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Still traveling on $5-a-day budget, but switch dollars for euros]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/14/still-traveling-on-5-a-day-budget-but-switch-dollars-for-euros/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/14/still-traveling-on-5-a-day-budget-but-switch-dollars-for-euros/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/14/still-traveling-on-5-a-day-budget-but-switch-dollars-for-euros/#commentsFiled under: Arts and Culture, Blogs, Stories, Mali, Budget Travel, Travel Deals

Back in September of 2005, Adrienne wrote about Leon Logothetis, the ultimate frugal traveler who travels on $5 a day and the kindness of strangers for his show Amazing Adventures of a Nobody. Three and a half years later, he's still at it, but he traded the $5 dollars for 5 euros for his journey from Paris to Moscow.

In this New York Times Q & A article, Logothetis, talks about his experiences and offers tips.

If reading that it's possible to travel on just $5 a day gets you feeling excited and ready to sling on a backpack, consider Logothetis's answer to what you can do on such a modest amount.

"Nothing."

At least you can't without help. Logothetis recounts how he has been given places to stay, been fed and offered rides. He's found Americans particularly generous.

One tip he has for anyone who is relying on others is to not be upset if someone says "no."

Reading about Leon's experiences reminded me of my trip to Mali with a Peace Corps friend. We had very little money and wanted to budget most of our cash for the journey to Timbuktu. One night in Mopti, we slept at a guest house on a sheet covered mattress out on the balcony. Even that cost $1.50 or so, and that was years ago. I remember shining my flashlight of the bathroom, just big enough for the toilet, in order to get the roaches to scurry away. There was a certain thrill from seeing just how little we could spend and how much frugality we could stand. It was kind of fun in a sick sort of way.

The new season of Amazing Adventures of a Nobody airs on Fox Reality Channel starting on January 25.

Still traveling on $5-a-day budget, but switch dollars for euros originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amazing Adventures of a NobodyAmazingAdventuresOfANobodybudget-travelFox RealityFoxRealityfrugal travelFrugalTravelLeon LogothetisLeonLogothetisNew York TimesNewYorkTimesreality showsRealityShowsTimbuktuWed, 14 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[From London to Timbuktu in a Flying Car]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/13/from-london-to-timbuktu-in-a-flying-car/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/13/from-london-to-timbuktu-in-a-flying-car/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/13/from-london-to-timbuktu-in-a-flying-car/#commentsFiled under: Africa, Europe, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, France, Spain, Transportation

British adventurer Neil Laughton will begin a unique odyssey tomorrow. The former special forces officer will depart from London on his way to Timbuktu, located in the African country of Mali, and while a journey like this one is interesting in and of itself, it is Laughton's mode of transportation that really sets it apart.

Laughton will be traveling in a specially designed dune buggy dubbed the Skycar, which is a cross between an off-road vehicle and a paraglider. Utalizing a giant parachute and a large fan mounted on the back of the car, the driver is able to take flight, transitioning from the ground to the air in just three minutes. While in flight mode, it typically cruises between 2000 and 3000 feet, but can reach altitudes as high as 15,000 feet. All the while running on biofuel, making this an environmentally friendly endevour.

Continue reading From London to Timbuktu in a Flying Car

From London to Timbuktu in a Flying Car originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>francelondonmauritiusmoroccosaharasahara desertSaharaDesertspaintimbuktuTue, 13 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Day in Africa: Lives of six ordinary Africans ]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/10/one-day-in-africa-lives-of-six-ordinary-africans/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/10/one-day-in-africa-lives-of-six-ordinary-africans/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/10/one-day-in-africa-lives-of-six-ordinary-africans/#commentsFiled under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Stories, Africa, Burkina, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Video, Across Northern Europe with Brook Silva-Braga

When I watched the trailer of One Day in Africa, the latest documentary of Brook Silva-Braga, the resonance of village and city life in most African countries was immediately evident. It's a resonance that often doesn't make headline news. It resides in the pattern of each day that starts before the sun comes up when Africans, in particular women, get busy.

The shot of women pounding grain comes to mind. When I lived in a Gambian village for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer, the thwack of a wooden pestle against a mortar as it removed husks from grain was like a heartbeat.

What Silva-Braga shows about African life is that it has rhythm and cadence and is not totally embroiled with AIDS and poverty. There is another theme to explore, one that involves the complex melding of African traditions with the modern world.

Sure AIDS, poverty and violence do exist, but they are not what Brook Silva-Braga set out to show in his second film project. His first film, A Map for Saturday, was a documentary about around the world travel--his and others. That film included every continent except Africa.

One Day in Africa is a companion project in a way, but the focus is different. In this latest project, Silva-Braga got up close and personal with his subjects-- six Africans, both men and women, whose stories are typical of the stories of others who live in this vast continent. [For the trailer, keep reading.]

Continue reading One Day in Africa: Lives of six ordinary Africans

One Day in Africa: Lives of six ordinary Africans originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brook silva-bragaBrookSilva-bragaculturedocumentariesfilmmakerfilmmakingSat, 10 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Uncovering the history of African pop music]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/26/uncovering-the-history-of-african-pop-music/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/26/uncovering-the-history-of-african-pop-music/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/26/uncovering-the-history-of-african-pop-music/#commentsFiled under: Arts and Culture, Africa, Mali, Nigeria, Zambia, Video

We love music here at Gadling, and we're always on the lookout for great new sounds to accompany our travels. Earlier this summer, Aaron posted an interesting feature on Asian music, a frequently overlooked source for some hidden pop gems. But for anyone who's hungry for some fresh sounds, there's no greater treasure trove of amazing pop music than the continent of Africa.

When one thinks of Africa, it's unfortunate that the first associations that come to mind are often famine, civil strife and abject poverty. However, the many regions of Africa are home to rich musical traditions. In addition to their homegrown musical styles, 20th Century African musicians played a pivotal role in the development of Western pop, creating a rich cross-pollination with musical styles ranging from the Blues to Psychedelic Rock to Funk. From the Proto-Blues Gnawa music of Northern Africa, to Funk and Disco-laden rock of 1970's Nigeria, to the jazzy Mbalax of Senegal, African pop offers us an unmatched depth and breadth of choices for even the most casual listener.

Over the last few years, I've stumbled upon some hidden gems that have ignited an obsessive search into the annals of African pop. I've unearthed a few of my favorites here - it's by no means a comprehensive listing, but any music fan will surely want to give these albums a listen. Click below for Gadling's top African pop music picks and make sure to leave us some of your own favorites in the comments.

Continue reading Uncovering the history of African pop music

Uncovering the history of African pop music originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>african musicAfricanMusicali farka toureAliFarkaToureamado mariamAmadoMariamamadou mariamAmadouMariambamakoblueschrissy zebby temboChrissyZebbyTembofnifunklagosnigeria 70Nigeria70psychedelic rockPsychedelicRockWed, 26 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Running the Sahara]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/15/running-the-sahara/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/15/running-the-sahara/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/15/running-the-sahara/#commentsFiled under: Activism, Hiking, Festivals and Events, Podcasts, Africa, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal

How's this for ballsy (I filed this one under "hiking", tho that seems to be an understatement). A couple of guys decide to do their part to help the world, in this case to bring better water conditions to Africa and Africans, and look for what would seem an impossible goal. One that would capture the attention of the world, or at least of the good folks at National Geographic, who can then help them get noticed.

Well, Kevin Lin, Ray Zahab, and Charlie Engle set out late last year to run...that's right to RUN across the entire expanse, west to east, of the Sahara Desert. Never mind that they had a big film crew with them and gobs of support, that is still a massive and jaw-dropping undertaking.

Charlie, Ray and Kevin touched the Red Sea, back in February, bringing the epic trip to an end. It lasted 111 days and took them through 6 countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, and Egypt. By their own GPS log, they covered over 4,300 miles. Yow.

Of course, all these guys are hard core mega-endurance types. Engle himself, the team leader is said to be one of the best ultra distance marathon runners in the world today, And as you might expect (and as I mentioned above) there will be a film on the effort (Narrated by Matt Damon), and the Web site had got gobs of lovely info including pictures, bios and an overview of the effort. What would Lawrence of Arabia have said?

Running the Sahara originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:43:00 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: Climbing, Arts and Culture, Hiking, Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

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[Like the Blues? Check Out the Music of Mali]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/04/03/like-the-blues-check-out-the-music-of-mali/http://www.gadling.com/2006/04/03/like-the-blues-check-out-the-music-of-mali/http://www.gadling.com/2006/04/03/like-the-blues-check-out-the-music-of-mali/#commentsFiled under: History, Blogs, Mali

The New York Times is currently featuring a fascinating article about the music of Mali, a small country in Africa. Author Joshua Hammer toured various towns in Mali, from tiny nightspots to wedding receptions, learning about the history of the music of Mali. Interestingly, some say Mali is the birthplace of American blues:

Lobi Traoré [a local Mali musician] is not the first musician to cite parallels between the music of the Mississippi Delta and that of the Niger River. The late Ali Farka Touré, a Sorhai who grew up on the banks of the Niger south of Timbuktu, once said that the American blues were born along his bend in the river. Robert Plant found similarities between the assouf music of the Tuaregs and American blues when he played at the Festival of the Desert near Timbuktu in 2003, one of several multiple-day outdoor concerts that draw thousands to Mali each year.

It's a great article. And if, perchance, you find yourself called by the siren song of the music of Mali, the article also features tips on where to stay, and how to find this beautiful music. A trip to Mali not in your financial plans? Never fear: you can always pick up a CD by Toumani Diabete (shown in the picture above), who won a Grammy this year for Best Traditional World Music Album, or, in the alternative, check out these ten albums of contemporary Malian music, courtesy of the Times.

Like the Blues? Check Out the Music of Mali originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Africa Travel: Mali]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/02/18/africa-travel-mali/http://www.gadling.com/2006/02/18/africa-travel-mali/http://www.gadling.com/2006/02/18/africa-travel-mali/#commentsFiled under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, Africa, Mali

Mali

Being a big fan of cliff dwellings, caves, and houses made from the Earth's finer materials like clay and mud I decided to highlight Mali's Dogon country. It was long ago when I first read about the people and their pink sandstone villages nestled high above the lands in beautiful complex architecture. The Cliffs of Bandiagara made UNESCO's World Heritage list back in 1989 for being one of West Africa's most impressive sites mixed with cultural finds from the people who inhabit the land and the area's natural beauty. Safari's are most certainly not the reason one travels to this particular African country, but for first-hand experiences with the Dogon Mali should rank very high on your list.

Africa Travel: Mali originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 18 Feb 2006 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sat, 18 Feb 2006 19:43:00 EST