Kelebek's Guestbook
Comments
Date: 23rd March 2010
Travel Tips
Hi, love your blog on the festival. Wanting to do the trip with my family in 2012. Do not want to sign up for a tour. Any tips you could give us?
From Blog: Festival Au Desert and Timbuctu -- There and Back Again
Travel Tips
Hi, love your blog on the festival. Wanting to do the trip with my family in 2012. Do not want to sign up for a tour. Any tips you could give us?
From Blog: Festival Au Desert and Timbuctu -- There and Back Again
Date: 4th September 2008
Excellent review
Well written article. It is hard to find non bias reviews for yoga retreats that include both a wealth of information and pictures describing the event. Well done.
From Blog: Yoga and Drumming: "Embracing the Rhythm of Life" on St. John
Excellent review
Well written article. It is hard to find non bias reviews for yoga retreats that include both a wealth of information and pictures describing the event. Well done.
From Blog: Yoga and Drumming: "Embracing the Rhythm of Life" on St. John
Date: 2nd September 2008
Hi Jacquie - Thanks for your words...I wonder too if the curse remains because the ghosts while once the source of income for West Africa REMAIN the source to this day....they are constantly being dug up over and over again. I'm curious about your screenplay? Jess
From Blog: The Beaches of Ouidah, Benin -- Paradise Lost
Hi Jacquie - Thanks for your words...I wonder too if the curse remains because the ghosts while once the source of income for West Africa REMAIN the source to this day....they are constantly being dug up over and over again. I'm curious about your screenplay? Jess
From Blog: The Beaches of Ouidah, Benin -- Paradise Lost
Date: 2nd September 2008
Healing Dialog in Benin
Hello Lisa - Thanks for sharing your reaction as well...it is truly a powerful place and as a person very in tune/touch with energetic fields I often wonder if the horror of Ouidah's past is able to linger because it is constantly being revisited. Your idea of a healing dialog/gathering is VERY intriguing. I know a few wonderful folks who might be interested in that....
From Blog: The Beaches of Ouidah, Benin -- Paradise Lost
Healing Dialog in Benin
Hello Lisa - Thanks for sharing your reaction as well...it is truly a powerful place and as a person very in tune/touch with energetic fields I often wonder if the horror of Ouidah's past is able to linger because it is constantly being revisited. Your idea of a healing dialog/gathering is VERY intriguing. I know a few wonderful folks who might be interested in that....
From Blog: The Beaches of Ouidah, Benin -- Paradise Lost
Date: 15th August 2008
Thanks for sharing
I am an African American woman who just returned from Benin a month ago. I too experienced the historic emotional stew that is Ouidah, Benin. I remember being at the monument (door of no return), looking out into the ocean and wondering how a white person from America or Europe would decipher this experience. I appreciate the honesty of your story. It takes courage to face the truth of the past, but it takes more courage to tell the truth, as you - a white person - saw, felt, and experienced Ouidah. Wonder what would happen if about 1,000 African Americans and 1,000 White American all came to the Door of No Return at the same time, looked out into the ocean, and then started a healing dialog? Wow!
From Blog: The Beaches of Ouidah, Benin -- Paradise Lost
Thanks for sharing
I am an African American woman who just returned from Benin a month ago. I too experienced the historic emotional stew that is Ouidah, Benin. I remember being at the monument (door of no return), looking out into the ocean and wondering how a white person from America or Europe would decipher this experience. I appreciate the honesty of your story. It takes courage to face the truth of the past, but it takes more courage to tell the truth, as you - a white person - saw, felt, and experienced Ouidah. Wonder what would happen if about 1,000 African Americans and 1,000 White American all came to the Door of No Return at the same time, looked out into the ocean, and then started a healing dialog? Wow!
From Blog: The Beaches of Ouidah, Benin -- Paradise Lost
Date: 10th August 2008
Lovely Bones
Beautiful entry, you really capture the heartbreak and thrill of leaving a beloved place.
From Blog: A Home in the Sky
Lovely Bones
Beautiful entry, you really capture the heartbreak and thrill of leaving a beloved place.
From Blog: A Home in the Sky
Date: 20th July 2008
Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much for sharing. I am black American and I came across your article because I'm doing research for a screenplay. Betrayed by their own community, bartered for useless trinkets it's no wonder you felt the sorrow of those poor souls. I always wondered if the continent, esp. West Africa isn't cursed because of this very thing-that's one of my themes. The shame is theirs, not yours, nor mine (I felt so gulity when visited there ). If you are interested there is a wonderful book A Biography of the Continent Africa, by John Reader; it's an easy read, that goes deeper into details about this very thing. Any way thanks so much for sharing and keep blogging. J.M. WOLFE
From Blog: The Beaches of Ouidah, Benin -- Paradise Lost
Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much for sharing. I am black American and I came across your article because I'm doing research for a screenplay. Betrayed by their own community, bartered for useless trinkets it's no wonder you felt the sorrow of those poor souls. I always wondered if the continent, esp. West Africa isn't cursed because of this very thing-that's one of my themes. The shame is theirs, not yours, nor mine (I felt so gulity when visited there ). If you are interested there is a wonderful book A Biography of the Continent Africa, by John Reader; it's an easy read, that goes deeper into details about this very thing. Any way thanks so much for sharing and keep blogging. J.M. WOLFE
From Blog: The Beaches of Ouidah, Benin -- Paradise Lost
Date: 16th June 2008
also, a note about your note on stereotypes -- all of the generalizations I made were actually my experience in ghana. not fabricated or exaggerated, simply my experience. I'd love to hear about experiences you may have had in Ghana or West Africa that differ from those I wrote about -- it will surely help me to expand my understanding! thanks :)
From Blog: The African Version of Delta
also, a note about your note on stereotypes -- all of the generalizations I made were actually my experience in ghana. not fabricated or exaggerated, simply my experience. I'd love to hear about experiences you may have had in Ghana or West Africa that differ from those I wrote about -- it will surely help me to expand my understanding! thanks :)
From Blog: The African Version of Delta
Date: 16th June 2008
hmmm, I'm not sure what you mean. Traveler's troubles bring out the worst in people? How so? I'm curious how you reached that conclusion from this blog. Thanks for your input!
From Blog: The African Version of Delta
hmmm, I'm not sure what you mean. Traveler's troubles bring out the worst in people? How so? I'm curious how you reached that conclusion from this blog. Thanks for your input!
From Blog: The African Version of Delta
Date: 14th June 2008
wow
i am kind of disappointed. i understand that waiting in line n people grabbing ur arm n stuff is annoying especially when u are away from home, but this blog is chocked full of stereotypes. i guess traveler's troubles bring out the worse in some people.
From Blog: The African Version of Delta
wow
i am kind of disappointed. i understand that waiting in line n people grabbing ur arm n stuff is annoying especially when u are away from home, but this blog is chocked full of stereotypes. i guess traveler's troubles bring out the worse in some people.
From Blog: The African Version of Delta
Date: 9th April 2008
the google oracle
i love how i can pinpoint your site by typing "kelebek jess orion travel" into google search. i love this entry! i love you!
From Blog: Turkey -- Chickens, Fairy Chimneys, Sailing, Farms, Belly Dancing
the google oracle
i love how i can pinpoint your site by typing "kelebek jess orion travel" into google search. i love this entry! i love you!
From Blog: Turkey -- Chickens, Fairy Chimneys, Sailing, Farms, Belly Dancing
Date: 18th January 2008
Video from 2008 Festival
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/video/2008/jan/17/desert2008
From Blog: Festival Au Desert and Timbuctu -- There and Back Again
Video from 2008 Festival
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/video/2008/jan/17/desert2008
From Blog: Festival Au Desert and Timbuctu -- There and Back Again
Date: 31st December 2007
Ghana?
Jealousy has not often been so prominent when reading someone's blog entry. This country, or rather anything on the continent of Africa, is on my long long list of "places I want to go before I kick it." I hope you have an amazing time there, and I wish I was able to hop on that same bus with you accompanied by my small backpack, a small notebook and my huge camera :P Hugs from Holland, Bram
From Blog: Vegan in Africa? say what crazy lady?
Ghana?
Jealousy has not often been so prominent when reading someone's blog entry. This country, or rather anything on the continent of Africa, is on my long long list of "places I want to go before I kick it." I hope you have an amazing time there, and I wish I was able to hop on that same bus with you accompanied by my small backpack, a small notebook and my huge camera :P Hugs from Holland, Bram
From Blog: Vegan in Africa? say what crazy lady?
Date: 29th December 2007
ha ha, im a vegan and going to ghana in a few weeks with assorted veggies, looks like fun so!
From Blog: Vegan in Africa? say what crazy lady?
ha ha, im a vegan and going to ghana in a few weeks with assorted veggies, looks like fun so!
From Blog: Vegan in Africa? say what crazy lady?
Date: 28th December 2007
so good
my bruised rib was aching from laughter. So good. Learning which battle to fight and which hill to die on is a lifelong lesson. You have chosen wisely young grasshoppper. Eggs are yummy and were essentially my lifeblood there. It will get harder and harder to get nutrition the farther north you go (read: poorer and less arable land) and you will fin yourself developing a warm cuddly reltionship with eggs. Oh yeah, and friend dough. I had the best fried dough balls in Tamale. They put coconut in it i think. Anyways, everything you said was right on point. So real. I'm loving it. You're with Orion now, no? Give him a big smacker for me. And enjoy the festival au desert. I look forward to hearing more of your exploits soon. Bisous ma cherie. Orion
From Blog: Vegan in Africa? say what crazy lady?
so good
my bruised rib was aching from laughter. So good. Learning which battle to fight and which hill to die on is a lifelong lesson. You have chosen wisely young grasshoppper. Eggs are yummy and were essentially my lifeblood there. It will get harder and harder to get nutrition the farther north you go (read: poorer and less arable land) and you will fin yourself developing a warm cuddly reltionship with eggs. Oh yeah, and friend dough. I had the best fried dough balls in Tamale. They put coconut in it i think. Anyways, everything you said was right on point. So real. I'm loving it. You're with Orion now, no? Give him a big smacker for me. And enjoy the festival au desert. I look forward to hearing more of your exploits soon. Bisous ma cherie. Orion
From Blog: Vegan in Africa? say what crazy lady?
Date: 10th November 2007
the exception is both gypsies and kurds. I had a turkish 'friend' in france who used to go around in his rural village and go kurd-bashing. Or trying to avoid getting bashed on by kurds. No matter where you go...
From Blog: Turkey -- Chickens, Fairy Chimneys, Sailing, Farms, Belly Dancing
the exception is both gypsies and kurds. I had a turkish 'friend' in france who used to go around in his rural village and go kurd-bashing. Or trying to avoid getting bashed on by kurds. No matter where you go...
From Blog: Turkey -- Chickens, Fairy Chimneys, Sailing, Farms, Belly Dancing
Date: 10th November 2007
the hand!!!
Oh man, I remeber this moment so well. But i opted for the second option. When in Rome, do as the romans. It was a huge step. It was completely crossing the cultural barrier. It was against everything that I was ever taught was sanitary, but...if you talk to anyone who had made the switch, they will swear by it. It actually makes your tuckus cleaner! After all, what did they do before toliet paper. The key to it is having soap and hand sanitizer handy. But I swear, once you get into it, you'll be hooked. PS Africa is the same. BYO...TP. The northern countries use alot more of their hand. You see all these people walking around with little plastic tea pots. They use it to wash before prayer and too, well, clean their derriers.
From Blog: The Curse of the Toilet Paper Gypsy
the hand!!!
Oh man, I remeber this moment so well. But i opted for the second option. When in Rome, do as the romans. It was a huge step. It was completely crossing the cultural barrier. It was against everything that I was ever taught was sanitary, but...if you talk to anyone who had made the switch, they will swear by it. It actually makes your tuckus cleaner! After all, what did they do before toliet paper. The key to it is having soap and hand sanitizer handy. But I swear, once you get into it, you'll be hooked. PS Africa is the same. BYO...TP. The northern countries use alot more of their hand. You see all these people walking around with little plastic tea pots. They use it to wash before prayer and too, well, clean their derriers.
From Blog: The Curse of the Toilet Paper Gypsy
Date: 7th November 2007
Beyond our borders
I had a similar experience when I visited Israel a few years back. Everyone wondered if it was dangerous or if I had been in danger from the political turmoil. I felt safer on Tel Aviv city streets than I do in parts of San Francisco. Nice post.
From Blog: Turkey -- Chickens, Fairy Chimneys, Sailing, Farms, Belly Dancing
Beyond our borders
I had a similar experience when I visited Israel a few years back. Everyone wondered if it was dangerous or if I had been in danger from the political turmoil. I felt safer on Tel Aviv city streets than I do in parts of San Francisco. Nice post.
From Blog: Turkey -- Chickens, Fairy Chimneys, Sailing, Farms, Belly Dancing
Kelebek
Jessica Weiss
Festival Au Desert
Hi there - I opted not to sign up for a tour either - it's expensive and you are provided little more than a tent and meals cooked for you. You can bring your own tent and buy food at the restaurants set up there (couscous and goat) or cook your own over a fire. You'll need to hire a driver to take you up to Timbuctu - best to do this from Bamako or possibly Mopti. Make sure you're able to communicate with him well. Spend a night in Timbuktu and take off early the next morning for Essakane. The drive from Essakane up there can be kind of rough, so be prepared to do a bit of buckin'bronco type driving! The roads are essentially sand dunes for the last 70 km. Once you're there, you can buy a ticket at the door and look for a spot to pitch your tent underneath some of the trees. Also, a tip on the music - the main stage has some interesting blends of West African and European music, but the sound is usually poor. I'd recommend listening out on the dunes for music coming from around fires...here you'll find Tuaregs who are usually happy to have you join and share a beer while they strum on their guitars. Don't miss the camel races either. It's an AMAZING experience....truly one of my life's greatest adventures.
From Blog: Festival Au Desert and Timbuctu -- There and Back Again