After my lovely stay at the Enodah Lodge, I spent three nights in Yellowknife before going to Vancouver. Unfortunately, I saw no more aurora as the weather was not good and the sky was not clear. I had my first dog-sled ride and made my first glass vase using a recycled bottle. Read more
Canada (2): Yellowknife March 29 – April 1, 2012
Categories: My American trips
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Canada (1): Yellowknife March 27 – 28, 2012
Aurora Borealis (commonly known as Northern or Southern Lights) are fascinating. As I had to be in Vancouver in early April, I joined Yeeyee and her friends to go to Yellowknife to watch Northern Lights. During my 5-day stay in Yellowknife, I saw this natural wonder on the first two nights and I was captivated. Unfortunately, I did not see aurorae at their best on the first night as I was already in bed! Anyway, I had lovely time fishing for Northern pikes in an ice-hole and driving and riding a snowmobile on the Great Slave Lake and driving a dog-sled. A white snowy world with arctic scenery is totally different from my hot and dry days in West Africa! Read more
Categories: My American trips
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72-day West African trip 2012: Epilogue
It’s been five months since the completion of my 72-day West Africa overland truck trip. It is time to reflect and sum up what I think about this epic journey.My experience and memories of West Africa have clearly been defined by the remarkable and beautiful people I have met. Read more
Categories: My Africa trips
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Sensual Senegal (2): March 9 – 16, 2012
The annual Dakar Rally covering some 10,000km in around three weeks across the Sahara and West Africa ending in Dakar had first made me aware of Senegal. Our truck arrived in Dakar on March 12 ending our 8000km (estimate) overland journey through nine countries in West Africa in 68 days. I shall always remember my stay in Senegal as I got lost in the bush in the middle of the night and caught the worst cold in my life. These mishaps have not ruined my holiday and I have sweet memories of sensual Dakar, St-Louis and the Island of Goree. Read more
Categories: My Africa trips
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Groovy The Gambia 6 -9, 2012
The Gambia along the Gambia River is the smallest country on the continent with an area of 11,300 square kilometres and a population of 2 million. The entire country is almost entirely enclosed by Senegal. For bird-watchers, The Gambia is a veritable paradise. Most visitors go for the beaches and bars of the Atlantic coast. Our truck followed the main road south of the river and we spent two nights at the Tendaba Camp. My visit to the Baobolong Wetland Reserve is the highlight of my 3-day stay in the Gambia. Read more
Categories: My Africa trips
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Sensual Senegal (1): March 2- 6, 2012
The annual Dakar Rally covering some 10,000km in around three weeks across the Sahara and West Africa ending in Dakar had first made me aware of Senegal. Our truck arrived in Dakar on March 12 ending our 8000km (estimate) overland journey through nine countries in West Africa in 68 days. I shall always remember my stay in Senegal as I got lost in the bush in the middle of the night and caught the worst cold in my life. These mishaps have not ruined my holiday and I have sweet memories of sensual Dakar, St-Louis and the Island of Goree. Read more
Categories: My Africa trips
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Marvellous Mali February 23 – March 1, 2012
Mali with its legendary city of Timbuktu and Concert of the Desert has been on my wish list. I tried to arrange a trip to Mali last year without success. I am glad to finally set foot in this marvellous country. Unfortunately, as the north including Timbuktu and the Dogon country is not safe, I have hardly seen much of the real Mali. In brief, our truck covered some 1000km in Mali and I spent a day in Segou, two days in Bamako, the capital and four days on a 25-km trail in the Mandingue country which was the birthplace of the Mali Empire. Read more
Categories: My Africa trips, Trekking
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Beautiful & Fabulous Burkina Faso February 15 – 22, 2012
Burkina Faso? What and where is it? I was totally ignorant about this small landlocked country till I planned my West African trip. I consider Burkina Faso one of the most beautiful and fabulous countries on the continent. I have happy memories of my visits to the Sindou Peaks, Fabedougou Dome, Karfiguela Falls,Lake Tengrela and Bobo-Dioulasso (Bobo) in the west and Ouagadougou (Ouaga), the capital. The scenery and landscape are magnificent and the people are most friendly and beautiful. More tourists should come to this part of the world where the tourism revenue can make a difference to the local people’s life! Read more
Categories: My Africa trips
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Go Go Ghana (2) February 4 – 15, 2012
Ghana, the first African country to gain independence in 1957, is seen as a relatively stable and successful nation in the continent. I had a leisure time in Ghana travelling from the southeast to Accra, along the coast to see the Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle (both World Heritage properties),then through central Ghana to reach northern Ghana before entering Mali. I had a pleasant stay in Akosombo, Elmina, Kumasi (former capital of Ashanti Empire) and the Mole National Park. Read more
Categories: My Africa trips
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Go Go Ghana (1) February 4 – 15, 2012
Elmina Castle
Ghana, the first African country to gain independence in 1957, is seen as a relatively stable and successful nation in the continent. I had a leisure time in Ghana travelling from the southeast to Accra, along the coast to see the Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle (both World Heritage properties),then through central Ghana to reach northern Ghana before entering Mali. I had a pleasant stay in Akosombo, Elmina, Kumasi (former capital of Ashanti Empire) and the Mole National Park. Read more
Categories: My Africa trips
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