Blogs from Africa - page 6

Yes, for all you pedants out there, I know Montezuma is Mexican but the reference is related to the very authentic curry stir fry noodles in the Mexican buffet which did not agree with me AT ALL and rendered me horizontal for the entire day. So for everyone else, it was a lazy start to the day including breakfast and lunch before pick up for a “desert experience”. Not particularly authentic I’m told and a bit naff all round but they did get a camel ride and enjoyed the show. But I’m assured that my Mexican dalliance didn’t cost me too much in experience even if it did in body weight. Another long day back to Luxor via the same route we came. We were pleased to be leaving the resort but glad we’d made the ... read more

What does everyone want in their Christmas stocking?! An early morning wake up and the chance to spend the day with chain-smoking half naked Russians! If your answer is yes, then you’re in the right place! Santa’s exceptional navigational abilities enabled him to find us here and his delivery partially offset the offence caused by the early start. Breakfast, pick up, some grumpy Russians and before too long we were on the boat with more. Luckily they had endless ciggies to suck down. But all was not too bad as we headed seawards into the waves towards Samadai reef, or dolphin house, hoping they had not been in touch with their lazier cousins of yesterday. A bit of rocking and rolling, some ciggies and more than our fair share of man boob and we were there. ... read more

Nothing! And everything. Read on if you are curious. If not, also read on. Why not, after all. Reading is good for you. So, to start. An oasis. Terjit. It's in the north of Mauritania. Wonderful place. Quiet, peaceful (those two go together to be honest), green-ish... I mean, it's not like the Amazon transplanted in the desert of course, but it's what one expects. A few date trees, a little stream, a small village that lives of the water flowing out of the cliffs. For me, it was a place to pause for a few days. To not sit in cramped minibuses, or wait at dusty agencies for hours on end for a pick-up to fill up, to not plan my next day of travelling. I simply woke up in my tent, watched the sunrise ... read more

Everyone knows about all the ancient stuff here, lots of temples and ruins and stuff…almost like the land that time forgot. Cleverly, the Egyptians have also managed to mix it up a bit and create the land that forgot time, or at least how to tell it, or stick by it, or pay any attention to it at all! Lucky we’re in beautiful Aswan, on the banks of the Nile so we have plenty of opportunity to soak up the ambience while we’re doing our waiting. Arrived at our Nubian Farm under the cover of darkness - an eerie experience for those of us who hadn’t completely succumbed to jet lag and passed out. Our boat wove through the tall granite protrusions of the river under the light of Aga Khan’s illuminated mausoleum high on the ... read more

Mauritania is blue. That sounds strange perhaps. Most people, if they think of the country at all, or know about it for that matter, might say it is more sand coloured. It is 90% desert after all. And sand is everywhere. The desert never far away. Nouadibhou, Mauritinia’s second largest city, feels more like a conglomeration of desert villages then a city. There are a few paved roads, but most of it is rutted tracks, swathes of open sandy patches, low mud brick dwellings, goats, camels, Bedouin tents, and lots and lots of garbage. Most people would say it’s a shithole. I liked it. Mainly because it just isn’t like any other city I have been to. And the fishing port is very interesting. You aren’t allowed to take pictures for some reason, but you are ... read more