Ben

beniblanco

Ben

These pages are meant for my friends to keep up with some of the travels I make. This is a good way for us to communicate reagardless the distance between us. Whereever I am at, those closest to me will be in both heart and mind. I know that's mutual!

For me, travelblogging is also a way to look back. I want to see how my persona, values and beliefs change over time. During my travels I have connected with so many people. I feel the emptiness from the trace these wonderful people have left in my memory. Leaving is hard but not knowing when to come back is sometimes even harder for me.

Now, be my guest and take a look around my blog entries and the gallery where I have put some of my nicest photos of some places.
Someday, somehow, I'll see you around our beautiful (and enormous) world!

With love,
Benjamin

Ps. I met a traveller in Malaysia once who told me: "There's no point in showing pictures of beautiful places unless you're in them yourself!" That was his way of seeing photography for reminice and in some cases I agree with him. Therefor you will find me presented on many (maybe too many) of the pics! Bare with it :P

Ps2. Maybe some of the things I write about are not accurate on the facts or even relevant but at least I will try my best to describe impressions and give perspectives on the places and people I discover from my own point of view...

Kilimanjaro & Uhuru peak - A Mzungo's struggle in Africa (part 2)

Africa » Tanzania » North » Mount Kilimanjaro December 13th 2009

Forever united by Kilimanjaro

beniblanco

Moshi & Kilimanjaro - Day 14-21 spread the money ... in different geographical parts of Tanzania As we came back from the Safari we headed directly to Moshi town which, despite it's name (Moshi means 'Smoke' in Swahili), is a clean town located near the mountain area. Moshi would be the base for our next adventure - climbing Uhuru peak at Kilimanjaro. The main reason we didn't book our climb from Arusha is mainly that I wanted to spread the money we spend in different geographical parts of Tanzania. I learned this from Uncle Tan and explained it earlier in and I absolutely believe in this way of travelling. However, as I later learned, Kilimanjaro is a serious expedition that requires not only good preparation but also the choice of a great operator. It is ... read more

'Mambo', 'Nyumba ndogo' and 'Maasai spears' - A Mzungo's first glimpse of Africa (part 1)

Africa » Tanzania December 13th 2009

Safe

beniblanco

Short facts of Tanzania Food You can find all kind of delicious dishes with chicken (kuku), beef (ng'ombe), fish (samaki) or various vegetables accompanied by wali (rice), ugali (maize flour porridge), fried banana, fried cassava or fried potatoes. Meals are preferrably eaten by hand (left or right!) which you will ensure are clean before, during and after meal. Of course, cutlery is available for the sceptical but trust me: Nothing beats the mixed flavour of your fingers and the food. Just be careful to not eat your fingers when the food is too good. While Ugali is the most popular dish among locals my own favourites were Mbuzi Choma (literally burned goat meat) and Mishkaki (BBQ meat on skewers). Price level Normal dishes range between 1000-7000 TShilling (appox. 0,5-3 euro) and drinks from 300 (water) to ... read more

Jungle trees, spiritual trees and palm oil trees

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kinabatangan December 16th 2008

Boreno facts and predictions

beniblanco

It's taken me some time to write this blog since I've had alot of emotions to deal with after my experiences on Borneo (see the video from our safaris). My feelings are strongly related to our destruction of nature over short-term economical profits. So I had to sort my thoughts and feelings, get informed and educate myself in the matter to understand and get a better view on what exactly I had experienced. Anger and disappointment are natural feelings when you are 'privileged' to witness destruction and mad exploitment from the front seat. But I won't fall in the trap of blame and passiveness. Instead I see the need to engage and be engaged, to motivate and be motivated and to take action rather than hide behind emotions ... read more

Mabul, Sipadan and Kapalai - just before 'development'

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Mabul December 12th 2008

Tree kissing water

beniblanco

Our mission Borneo is world's third largest island and filled with authentic people, amazing culture, extra-ordinary nature and details you wouldn't find any where else. The plan was simple - dive Sipadan Island, explore the Sabah jungle and climb Mt. Kinabalu. Mabul Of course the profit goes into the the pocket of the already rich owners. The locals, who have customary rights to the land, are left with scrapes. After our night in Kuala Lumpur (details in another blog coming soon), we took the early morning flight to Tawau. We got picked up by Chok and reached Semporna after an hour of drive. I needed to withdraw come cash but the only A... read more

Westerner goes SouthWest to see Westerners

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London » Kentish Town February 6th 2008

Bens

beniblanco

Alot seems alike when travelling as a Westerner in Western countries. Transport systems, city planning, mainstream culture, housing, food (not to mention chain restaurants) and even some traits of people's social behavior can seem as familiar as home. All may seem very predictable - which is boring for some and comfortable for others. But I think it then becomes more important to keep an eye open to nuances. It struck me while sitting on the train, from Stansted to London City area, that the grass is much greener in England than in Sweden - nuance. Well, if you can even call the January mud in Sweden 'grass'. I was excited to (finally) visit and spend a weekend in one of the world most known cities, London. On the train you could find the same individualistic silence ... read more

Switzerland - again?

Europe » Switzerland » South-West » Champex Pass January 5th 2008

Keeping warm

beniblanco

There are many amazing places to discover in the world. Time is precious and certainly limited. So it's always a matter of priority to decide what to do with it. Some don't need to discover new things all the time. They are rather habitual and feel secure when things are familiar to them. Others are at the other extreme where everything but the new bores them. Most, however, might be somewhere in between those two extremes. They prefere some stability and security but they are also willing to take risks to gain new experiences. I would place myself within the last category. This trip to Switzerland started with a call over Skype. I was planning to go to a country where the sun didn't drag herself up at 8.30am only to fall quickly back to rest ... read more

Du vin, du pain y tapas!

Europe August 16th 2007

French Riviera

beniblanco

I love the feeling when heat strikes you just as you leave the dry-cooled aircraft. Also, the exciting feeling of taking the first steps on new grounds. Your curiosity is totally awaken and eyes register as much as the brain capacity allows them. Time stops! Have-to's cease! World news become boring. Only things in your immediate presence is of value. Questions like "What to see?", "Where and what to eat?" become essential and the quest to answer them is a daily never ending obligation. That is travelling - and so much more! I was invited by Philipe, a friend of , to stay at his family's house in South France. The plan was to spend our time there together with a bunch their other. Kassra and Phillipe picked me up at the airport in url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=sv&geocode=&q=toulon&ie=UTF8&ll=43.13256,5.931244&spn=0.10999,0.32135&z=12&iwloc=addr&om=1/Toulon/ur... read more

Crash! Boom! Bang!

Europe » Switzerland » South-West » Lausanne March 3rd 2007

Skiing Swiss Alps

beniblanco

It would be easy for me to let an accident in the Swiss Alps be the big happening of this blog. For example, I could tell you how it feels to fall down in the heavy snow loosing grip on the steep mountain side. I could go on describing the sound your shoulder would make when snapping and being dislocated. Or how about getting rescued on high altitude with a sledge and then flown to the nearest hospital - with a helicopter? Oh no! Although an accident would make an exciting entry I cannot let it take all attention considering all other great experiences from my visit in Switzerland. The trip was well planned! After landing in Geneva we drove to France for a weeks supply of wine and groceries. Switzerland holds hands with Sweden and ... read more

Summery of 2006

Europe » Netherlands » North Holland » Amsterdam October 30th 2006

Giv

beniblanco

The temperature is getting closer and closer to zero degrees and the process of trees getting naked will soon be over with. As I think back of this summer of 2006 I remember some highlights that I´d like to share: June * I handed in my Master's Thesis and got top grade for it * June 7th a birth took place and for the first time Giv set his eyes on the world we are managing for him! * My dearest George (AUS), Trish (CAN) and Olivia Gorajewski (POL/SWE) honored me with their presence and attended an unforgettable pool party (see ) * The day after P-Day (the reputable pool party) ... read more

Master of Georgia - Final part

Asia » Georgia June 1st 2006

Cheers for humans!

beniblanco

It was our last night and we had another amazing dinner with Georgian dishes and (of course) a bottle of vodka to clear our throats... uhumm uhumm..There was me, Johan, Tiko, Lika and her friend, Natia and Gigi - all enjoying our final night in Tbilisi. So after dinner we had a short stroll in some 'fashionable' streets of Tbilisi - where a cup of tea costs more than a regular workers daily wage. We took a taxi back to the hotel to get our suitcases. My backpack and the souvenir wine bottles that our precious hosts had presented us earlier went into the trunk of the car since they didn´t fit inside. To make the story short, I managed to forget everything when we arrived to the hotel and the taxi driver had taken off ... read more

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