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My tailor and his assistants making my tops, pant and skirt!
Togo is a cultural melting pot with some 40 ethnic groups in a population of five million people and an area of 57000 square kilometres. I had four most relaxing nights by the Togo Lake and Mt Klouto. Batik and wax printing is popular and I brought several pieces of cloth in Togoville and had two suits made in Kpalime. Read more
Ganvie, a world apart
Benin is probably the Gulf of Guinea’s least-known nation. Though small with an area of 113,000 square kilometres and a population of 9 million, Benin is charming and enchanting. Our truck reached most corners of Benin bringing me to the northern upland, the south and the coast. My visit to the Royal Palace of Abomey (a World Heritage Site), the Pendjari National Park, Ganvie, the Somba villages, Ouidah and Grand Popo all exceed my expectations. Read more
Pendjari National Park
Benin is probably the Gulf of Guinea’s least-known nation. Though small with an area of 113,000 square kilometres and a population of 9 million, Benin is charming and enchanting. Our truck reached most corners of Benin bringing me to the northern upland, the south and the coast. My visit to the Royal Palace of Abomey (a World Heritage Site), the Pendjari National Park, Ganvie, the Somba villages, Ouidah and Grand Popo all exceed my expectations. Read more
Frustrating motorists at petrol station
According to the original itinerary, I would spend 11 days visiting the Afi Mountains, the Yankari National Park, Jos, Abuja (the capital) and Abeokuta before crossing into the Republic of Benin. A week-long national strike ground Nigeria to a halt. Amidst uncertainty, travel warnings and fear of fuel shortage, we raced through Nigeria covering some 1000km in 5 days. Read more
My epic 69-day overland truck journey ‘and journey ‘Doula to Dakar’ with Intrepid began when I arrived at Doula airport at 3am on January 5.
I relaxed on the beach at Kribi for two days and spent two days in climbing Mt Cameroon (4095m), the highest peak in West Africa. The remaining time wasmostly spent on the road. I covered some 1000km before entering Nigeria at the crossing at Ekok.
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2012 New Year Street Party in the Rain, Istanbul, Turkey
Life is unpredictable and 2012 has indeed begun with many surprises. My original plan was to spend the New Year in Baku, Azerbaijan and fly to Doula, Cameroon via Istanbul and Casablanca on January 3. As Azerbaijan refused to let me in following my excursion to Karabakh, I had to return to Tbilisi, Georgia and bought another ticket to fly to Istanbul. Then I changed my flight to Doula to January 4 in order to allow enough time to get a tourist visa for Ghana. All in all, I had a nice time in Istanbul and a fruitful stay in Morocco where I got my visa for Ghana. Read more
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (front), Jvari Monastery (back at the mountain top), Mtskheta
After Armenia, I travelled with my group overland to beautiful Georgia. It has influences for centuries from Turkey, Russia, Persia and the Central Asia. Such heritage has reflected in its architecture and art. I had a wonderful time visiting some 15 churches and monasteries and major attractions in Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Gori, Uplistsikhe, Vardzia, Ananuri, Signagi, Telavi and Gremi. Read more
Armenia Genocide Memorial, Yerevan
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, occupying a mountainous zone on the southern flank of the Caucasus Mountains, sit on one of the earth’s greatest crossroads. After spending six days roaming about on my own in Yerevan, Southern Armenia and Karabakh, I joined my friends from Hong Kong and spent four days visiting main attractions in Armenia including many remarkable churches and monasteries at Echmiatsin,
Zvartnots, Haghpat, Geghard and Lake Sevan before crossing to Georgia. Read more
Tatev
Armenia,Georgia and Azerbaijan occupying a mountainous zone on the southern flank of the Caucasus Mountains, sit on one of the earth’s greatest crossroads. Their fate and history have been to a great extent influenced or decided by their powerful neighbours namely Turkey, Russia and Iran. I planned a 23-day trip to see three countries and spend 10 days in Armenia. The Armenians are nice, hospitable and proud of their ancient civilization. I visited a total of nine impressive churches and monasteries including the World Heritage properties at Echmiatzin, Zvartnots, Haphpat, and Geghard. I also ventured to Nagorno-Karabakh and visited the Gandzasar monastery.