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Date: 25th April 2013
Thanks for your comments
Dear Dave and Merry Jo, thank you for your kind comments. If you go one blog back you will see my rather informal article on diving in Yap. When you do go, and I am jealous, please do contact bill directly about your flights. He has some great deals on United that are simply unavailable online. His personal email is bill@mantaray.com . Safe diving! Raf
From Blog: A CHAT WITH THE MANTA MAN......interview with Bill Acker.
Thanks for your comments
Dear Dave and Merry Jo, thank you for your kind comments. If you go one blog back you will see my rather informal article on diving in Yap. When you do go, and I am jealous, please do contact bill directly about your flights. He has some great deals on United that are simply unavailable online. His personal email is bill@mantaray.com . Safe diving! Raf
From Blog: A CHAT WITH THE MANTA MAN......interview with Bill Acker.
Date: 30th December 2012
Nice
Hi Raf, I found your blog after looking through some old emails. Enjoyed reading and seeing your adventures. I knew you traveled allot but I didn't realize just how much. Still trying to get to Africa and will make that happen this new year due to the loss of my dad. Enjoyed your travels... thanks for sharing. Julie
Nice
Hi Raf, I found your blog after looking through some old emails. Enjoyed reading and seeing your adventures. I knew you traveled allot but I didn't realize just how much. Still trying to get to Africa and will make that happen this new year due to the loss of my dad. Enjoyed your travels... thanks for sharing. Julie
Date: 17th July 2012
field guides for sale..
Hi Raf, still not sure where you quoted me (incorrectly) from (see below). Anyway, here's and hoping that Misali corals are back to 'normal', maybe even more diverse and stunning than before. On field guides, we can do you a job lot on the almost-sold out 2nd edition (hard cover) for USD 5/copy (but only for order over 100 copies), or for the new, fully revised and best-of-all, soft cover, third edition at USD 15/copy (for order over 20 copies). We also now have the long-awaited PCV ID sheets (set of six) with swahili names! Let me know your order. Best by email though. Regards, Matt P.S. I totally agree with the criticism of the Geographical magazine, slipping into the current flip-flop, in-flight travel brochure format, stapled spine and spineless. Have been buying them for the last ten years.
field guides for sale..
Hi Raf, still not sure where you quoted me (incorrectly) from (see below). Anyway, here's and hoping that Misali corals are back to 'normal', maybe even more diverse and stunning than before. On field guides, we can do you a job lot on the almost-sold out 2nd edition (hard cover) for USD 5/copy (but only for order over 100 copies), or for the new, fully revised and best-of-all, soft cover, third edition at USD 15/copy (for order over 20 copies). We also now have the long-awaited PCV ID sheets (set of six) with swahili names! Let me know your order. Best by email though. Regards, Matt P.S. I totally agree with the criticism of the Geographical magazine, slipping into the current flip-flop, in-flight travel brochure format, stapled spine and spineless. Have been buying them for the last ten years.
Date: 24th November 2012
Books
Matt, your book is excellent- place the website of your sale site here so that people can buy it. Regards Raf
Books
Matt, your book is excellent- place the website of your sale site here so that people can buy it. Regards Raf
Date: 16th May 2012
love your photos
amazing photography! :)
From Blog: Zanzibar, Cultural Capital of the Swahili Coast
love your photos
amazing photography! :)
From Blog: Zanzibar, Cultural Capital of the Swahili Coast
Date: 11th January 2012
salvation
who needs to get saved today on ascension island? RayConder@hotmail.com
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
salvation
who needs to get saved today on ascension island? RayConder@hotmail.com
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Date: 30th November 2011
Laos
Hey raf lucky bugger, another place on my dream list I have yet to get to. You describe it as i dream t it
From Blog: LAOS- The Land of smiles..... red tabs and collectivity
Laos
Hey raf lucky bugger, another place on my dream list I have yet to get to. You describe it as i dream t it
From Blog: LAOS- The Land of smiles..... red tabs and collectivity
Date: 8th April 2011
Pemba still stunning
Dear Matt, THank you for your comments, your conclusions regarding Pemba and Misali are regretfully mistaken. I would however be very interested in buying a job lot of east african seashores, so do please email me. Raf
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Pemba still stunning
Dear Matt, THank you for your comments, your conclusions regarding Pemba and Misali are regretfully mistaken. I would however be very interested in buying a job lot of east african seashores, so do please email me. Raf
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Date: 10th November 2010
reference to Matt Richmond's book
By chance I game across your interesting story above where you write that "In the Matt Richmond book I read that 90% of East African coral from Mafia to Kenya is dead." Please indicate where in my book (presumably A Field Guide to the Seashores of Eastern Africa..) you find those facts. I am aware that in specific locations, 90% of hard corals died during the 1997-98 El Nino, for example on the outer reef of Misali in the top 15 m, but never would I suggest that 90% of east Africa's corals are dead, far from it! Hope to hear from you. Best wishes, Matt
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
reference to Matt Richmond's book
By chance I game across your interesting story above where you write that "In the Matt Richmond book I read that 90% of East African coral from Mafia to Kenya is dead." Please indicate where in my book (presumably A Field Guide to the Seashores of Eastern Africa..) you find those facts. I am aware that in specific locations, 90% of hard corals died during the 1997-98 El Nino, for example on the outer reef of Misali in the top 15 m, but never would I suggest that 90% of east Africa's corals are dead, far from it! Hope to hear from you. Best wishes, Matt
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Date: 3rd October 2010
GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE
Dear Iain, I could not agree with you more. You are definately not the first person to complain to me about the standard of the Magazine dropping through the floor. As a fellow of the RGS, I despair when I read it. I don't enjoy it all all.I don't enjoy the layout, the content or the editorial opinion. I am also not taken by the de-saturated bland looking production of the photo essays. As a photographer I like to appreciate fellow photographers' work. In the case of Geographical I am unable to do so. The sea change came about, I suspect after the sacking of the last editor a few years back. I am reliably informed that Nick Smith was summarily dismissed by the magazine, and while he and I rarely saw eye to eye, he was a superb editor. As he said to me after the event "the RGS magazine was the love of my life". Nick's deputy editor Geordie Torr took over and has understandably placed his own style on the magazine. Like you though, I don't enjoy what he has done with the publication. In an effort to make a positive contribution to the magazine I have submit articles to the editor, but these have all been rejected. Having said that, Geordie has been assiduously polite in his rejections, giving swift responses and clear reasons why he will not publish the articles. As a writer; you could not ask for a more polite or better organised editor. As a reader though, I don't enjoy it. The editor told me that he wants hard hitting, ground breaking articles. Photos of expeditions that have never been conducted before. Solo journeys down parts of the amazon etc. But when I open the magazine it's often about school kids collecting rock samples in lulworth cove. I would have thought that the school kids would prefer to be inspired by larger expeditions? Which is all well and good, but that bring us back to the RGS being split between two groups. Those that want to get out there and find out something, and those who do not have the courage to go further afield, and therefore wish to keep everyone at home. You may accuse me of falling into the former, but I cannot say that this is the case. I consider myself an independant observer of both groups. While I am well travelled, and live in Africa (or Asia depending upon the time of year) I am a coward and do not enjoy being faced with "large waves", or long desert crossings with a single vehicle. So I think I have taken a rather long whinded route to answering your concise question. Yours Sincerely Raf
From Blog: The Royal Geographical Society
GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE
Dear Iain, I could not agree with you more. You are definately not the first person to complain to me about the standard of the Magazine dropping through the floor. As a fellow of the RGS, I despair when I read it. I don't enjoy it all all.I don't enjoy the layout, the content or the editorial opinion. I am also not taken by the de-saturated bland looking production of the photo essays. As a photographer I like to appreciate fellow photographers' work. In the case of Geographical I am unable to do so. The sea change came about, I suspect after the sacking of the last editor a few years back. I am reliably informed that Nick Smith was summarily dismissed by the magazine, and while he and I rarely saw eye to eye, he was a superb editor. As he said to me after the event "the RGS magazine was the love of my life". Nick's deputy editor Geordie Torr took over and has understandably placed his own style on the magazine. Like you though, I don't enjoy what he has done with the publication. In an effort to make a positive contribution to the magazine I have submit articles to the editor, but these have all been rejected. Having said that, Geordie has been assiduously polite in his rejections, giving swift responses and clear reasons why he will not publish the articles. As a writer; you could not ask for a more polite or better organised editor. As a reader though, I don't enjoy it. The editor told me that he wants hard hitting, ground breaking articles. Photos of expeditions that have never been conducted before. Solo journeys down parts of the amazon etc. But when I open the magazine it's often about school kids collecting rock samples in lulworth cove. I would have thought that the school kids would prefer to be inspired by larger expeditions? Which is all well and good, but that bring us back to the RGS being split between two groups. Those that want to get out there and find out something, and those who do not have the courage to go further afield, and therefore wish to keep everyone at home. You may accuse me of falling into the former, but I cannot say that this is the case. I consider myself an independant observer of both groups. While I am well travelled, and live in Africa (or Asia depending upon the time of year) I am a coward and do not enjoy being faced with "large waves", or long desert crossings with a single vehicle. So I think I have taken a rather long whinded route to answering your concise question. Yours Sincerely Raf
From Blog: The Royal Geographical Society
Date: 26th September 2010
Magazine
What has happened to Geographical magazine? It was a great publication about 2-3 years ago, but lately is really poor. Only about 80 pages, hardly any ads, bad layout, etc. Does the management know it's going down the pan?
From Blog: The Royal Geographical Society
Magazine
What has happened to Geographical magazine? It was a great publication about 2-3 years ago, but lately is really poor. Only about 80 pages, hardly any ads, bad layout, etc. Does the management know it's going down the pan?
From Blog: The Royal Geographical Society
Date: 9th September 2010
Very kind of you
Dear Murray, Raf here. You are very kind to say such things about Turkey, or indeed about my rather rambling writing style. I shall be there again at the end of this month continuing my photographic journey through the east. If you would like to contact me you are very welcome to do so on raf@kayakpemba.com Cheers Raf
From Blog: In the Shadow of Halep
Very kind of you
Dear Murray, Raf here. You are very kind to say such things about Turkey, or indeed about my rather rambling writing style. I shall be there again at the end of this month continuing my photographic journey through the east. If you would like to contact me you are very welcome to do so on raf@kayakpemba.com Cheers Raf
From Blog: In the Shadow of Halep
Date: 6th September 2010
Enjoying the trip along with you
Hi Turkishraf Have followed your most interesting travel writings now for several years. I'm not sure where I first started but no doubt it was something about Turkey as I have had this lifelong ambition to come to Turkey some time Well 30 or more years later the dream is going to become true. So when I read my email this morning and there was a message from Travelblog to say you had posted a story about Turkey I couldnt wait to read it. As usual I was fascinated with your writing and as we plan to spend a lot of our time in Eastern Turkey, it was very timely. Cant wait to see where you go to from here. Roll on Summer 2011, Turkey here we come Regards Murray
From Blog: In the Shadow of Halep
Enjoying the trip along with you
Hi Turkishraf Have followed your most interesting travel writings now for several years. I'm not sure where I first started but no doubt it was something about Turkey as I have had this lifelong ambition to come to Turkey some time Well 30 or more years later the dream is going to become true. So when I read my email this morning and there was a message from Travelblog to say you had posted a story about Turkey I couldnt wait to read it. As usual I was fascinated with your writing and as we plan to spend a lot of our time in Eastern Turkey, it was very timely. Cant wait to see where you go to from here. Roll on Summer 2011, Turkey here we come Regards Murray
From Blog: In the Shadow of Halep
nice
ilove this place more than anything ,,i was born there 44years ago ,now living in canada ,but i still love the place .home town ....
From Blog: BA 046 Bengazi and Brockweir
Date: 5th August 2010
They won't or don't edit articles
Without seeing the full script of your complaint to Wikipedia, or that of their reply, I can only guess at what Wikipedia's e-mail might have meant. Perhaps, I repeat perhaps, Wikipedia was trying to say that they don't ever themselves edit ANYONE's articles in Wikipedia, as the "rules of their game" expects any reader of their articles, who thinks that he/she has spotted an error (such as yourself in this case), to submit an editorial correction. Bon voyage, Sam
From Blog: WIKIPEDIA and THE TURKS
They won't or don't edit articles
Without seeing the full script of your complaint to Wikipedia, or that of their reply, I can only guess at what Wikipedia's e-mail might have meant. Perhaps, I repeat perhaps, Wikipedia was trying to say that they don't ever themselves edit ANYONE's articles in Wikipedia, as the "rules of their game" expects any reader of their articles, who thinks that he/she has spotted an error (such as yourself in this case), to submit an editorial correction. Bon voyage, Sam
From Blog: WIKIPEDIA and THE TURKS
Date: 28th July 2010
Happy to see this place
Hello, I was born at Mkoani in 1964, studied at N'gombeni girls school till 1979. I am now leaving in Muscat but I hope one day I will be back home. I really missed nice beaches.
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Happy to see this place
Hello, I was born at Mkoani in 1964, studied at N'gombeni girls school till 1979. I am now leaving in Muscat but I hope one day I will be back home. I really missed nice beaches.
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Date: 12th March 2010
Oz vs M.K's descendents
Search not the Darn-Daniels for those sea-mines, as any youngster could re-site them before you return. If you had been tracing my recent movements of my Blackberry, you would've discovered that the kayak training bases are next to el-Aurence's final resting-spot on the river Star. Or perhaps at Ottoman St Mary.
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Oz vs M.K's descendents
Search not the Darn-Daniels for those sea-mines, as any youngster could re-site them before you return. If you had been tracing my recent movements of my Blackberry, you would've discovered that the kayak training bases are next to el-Aurence's final resting-spot on the river Star. Or perhaps at Ottoman St Mary.
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Date: 11th March 2010
Greetings from Sulawesi
Raf & Cisca, We're so jealous!! Our Tanzania safari was the highlight of our travel years. Looking forward to more of your blog. We're on the island of Siladen, near Gangga (sp?) where you were. Diving has been perfect. Today we fly to Ujung Pandang and drive 8 hours up to Tana Toraja in the mts. After that, Bali. See you at DEMA. J/P
From Blog: ZANAIR FLIGHT to ARUSHA- An African Air Safari
Greetings from Sulawesi
Raf & Cisca, We're so jealous!! Our Tanzania safari was the highlight of our travel years. Looking forward to more of your blog. We're on the island of Siladen, near Gangga (sp?) where you were. Diving has been perfect. Today we fly to Ujung Pandang and drive 8 hours up to Tana Toraja in the mts. After that, Bali. See you at DEMA. J/P
From Blog: ZANAIR FLIGHT to ARUSHA- An African Air Safari
Date: 8th March 2010
Modifications to Australian Naval Submarines
Honorable Bey, since your visit, some time ago to an Australian submarine you were greatly critical of the fact that certain markings on engine gauges were denominated with pieces of red dynatape. You would be ,I am sure, be greatly pleased to know that your observations have been passed on to the Kellick (corporal) in charge of submarines. As as a result, you are now a subject of interest to the Australian authorities, including the Australian Feral Police, who are currently attempting to locate the vast Otterman kayak base at Constantinople. Apparently, they are puting the full resources of the Australian intelligence community behind this project, including unlimited use of Google Earth (free trial version) behind the effort. However, in an attempt to avert another Turkish military loss of face in the Australian captured territory of Galipoli; The Australian Navy has changed the offending red tape to Green. Will you please confirm that "bey" means "great fat poofter" as indicated in Lawrence or Arabia's " Seven Pillocks of Wisdom". With great respect: Gregory S. Love, Private, 2nd class, probationary, Officer commanding, Australian defense force Public relations, Photo copier no 3. xxx "
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Modifications to Australian Naval Submarines
Honorable Bey, since your visit, some time ago to an Australian submarine you were greatly critical of the fact that certain markings on engine gauges were denominated with pieces of red dynatape. You would be ,I am sure, be greatly pleased to know that your observations have been passed on to the Kellick (corporal) in charge of submarines. As as a result, you are now a subject of interest to the Australian authorities, including the Australian Feral Police, who are currently attempting to locate the vast Otterman kayak base at Constantinople. Apparently, they are puting the full resources of the Australian intelligence community behind this project, including unlimited use of Google Earth (free trial version) behind the effort. However, in an attempt to avert another Turkish military loss of face in the Australian captured territory of Galipoli; The Australian Navy has changed the offending red tape to Green. Will you please confirm that "bey" means "great fat poofter" as indicated in Lawrence or Arabia's " Seven Pillocks of Wisdom". With great respect: Gregory S. Love, Private, 2nd class, probationary, Officer commanding, Australian defense force Public relations, Photo copier no 3. xxx "
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Date: 7th March 2010
unbelievable
hello raf, we never met in person on pemba, because we normally stayed with phil and charlie during 6 years in the njao gap. I and my GF learned diving in the netherlands, made our certification in zanzibar with Xavier. We dived only on zanzibar, pemba and on mafia with de villiers. Every single dive over the last years was stunning. Last summer we went to the red-sea. even our worst dive in pemba was better then every single dive in egypt. we have seen the dynamite site in pemba as well, yust to make us aware of what can happen. Every single dive master we had, from manta reef, pemba afloat, matemwe or mafia was very aware of being good for nature. E.g: touching coral on mnemba meant swimming back to shore with divemaster Xavier. I think the article is disgusting! keep on the good work and perhaps we will meet in person next year to dive the stunning underwaterworld of pemba!
From Blog: An Attack on Diving by a miserable git
unbelievable
hello raf, we never met in person on pemba, because we normally stayed with phil and charlie during 6 years in the njao gap. I and my GF learned diving in the netherlands, made our certification in zanzibar with Xavier. We dived only on zanzibar, pemba and on mafia with de villiers. Every single dive over the last years was stunning. Last summer we went to the red-sea. even our worst dive in pemba was better then every single dive in egypt. we have seen the dynamite site in pemba as well, yust to make us aware of what can happen. Every single dive master we had, from manta reef, pemba afloat, matemwe or mafia was very aware of being good for nature. E.g: touching coral on mnemba meant swimming back to shore with divemaster Xavier. I think the article is disgusting! keep on the good work and perhaps we will meet in person next year to dive the stunning underwaterworld of pemba!
From Blog: An Attack on Diving by a miserable git
Date: 7th March 2010
Ten years!
What a wonderful place you have created. I hope to return soon, and start diving again. Best wishes to you both, Sam
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Ten years!
What a wonderful place you have created. I hope to return soon, and start diving again. Best wishes to you both, Sam
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
Date: 6th March 2010
more succes
Hallo Cis and Raf, Wish you both a lot of success in the next ten years. One thing is for sure. When you love this beautiful island, it will be for life.And you will return everytime.Thanks for finding this beautiful place and sharing it with us. Elly Zwiers- Kuypers.
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
more succes
Hallo Cis and Raf, Wish you both a lot of success in the next ten years. One thing is for sure. When you love this beautiful island, it will be for life.And you will return everytime.Thanks for finding this beautiful place and sharing it with us. Elly Zwiers- Kuypers.
From Blog: 10 years Diving in Pemba Island, oh and Merry Christmas....
D MJ Binkley
Dave & Merry Jo Binkley
What a very special blog
We have soft plans to go to Yap next year in March. We were very excited to read your experience and impressions of Yap.The interview you did with Bill is outstanding. What a great opportunity. Love your photos.
From Blog: A CHAT WITH THE MANTA MAN......interview with Bill Acker.