Studying Portuguese in Brazil
Published April 2010 in Transitions Abroad’s Tazine
Getting immersed in vibrant Salvador da Bahia
Getting by in foreign tongues has always served me greatly in connecting with local people and their culture during my travels. It helps, of course, to have lived in Europe, where I was exposed to several foreign languages. Portuguese, however, was never one of them. So when I recently embarked on an extensive trip through Brazil, I decided to start with a full immersion experience for the first few weeks of my travels, taking Portuguese classes in a language school, combined with a home-stay at a Brazilian family.
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published March 2010 in Transitions Abroad’s Tazine
A volunteer project in the Chapada Diamantina region of Brazil
Once British trekking guide Olivia Taylor set foot in the wooded mountains of Chapada Diamantina, she was sold to the region, and never looked back. She settled in Lençóis, a small colonial mining town about 6 hours driving from Salvador de Bahia, and known for its considerable wealth and fame during the height of the diamond boom of the last century. Although it had sunk into oblivion since then, tourists started to trickle in following the founding of the Chapada National Park, Lençóis being its gateway. Recognizing a niche, Olivia opened Pousada Dos Duendes, a charming guesthouse for independent travellers of all ages.
Continue reading ‘Helping Underprivileged Children in Lencois’
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Published February 2010 by Transitions Abroad’s Tazine
The sound of silence is all you hear…
Mauritania’s desert – which covers over 80% of the total land surface – is a true eldorado for desert aficionados. In the white, ocre, and orange-coloured sand dunes that alternate with brown and black mountains, plateaus, and green palmeries, the sound of silence is mostly all you hear. Or, at moments you expect it the least, you suddenly have a fascinating encounter with a lone nomad or camel driver. After sundown, when the reddish sky has turned dark, the zillions of stars make you feel humble and in awe, night after night. And hidden amidst the dunes lie the remnants of the ancient trading and religious centres of Chinguetti and Ouadane in the north, and Oualata and Tichitt in the southeast, all four included on the World Heritage List since 1996. Although they are now a far cry from their original splendor, their libraries still house impressive collections of centuries-old manuscripts.
Continue reading ‘Along Mauritania’s Ancient Caravan Routes’
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Published February 2010 by Transitions Abroad’s Tazine
Africa’s most exciting celebration of tribal traditions and cultures
Travelling through a geographically and culturally diverse country like West Africa’s Mali, inevitably had to abound in countless memorable experiences. There was, for instance, the fabulous trek through the Dogon Valley with its amazing cliff dwellings and extremely friendly people who still largely adhere to their animist beliefs. Or the enjoyable 3-day pinasse (small flat-bottomed wooden boat) trip over the Niger from Mopti to Timbuktu, followed by an adventurous camel ride through the Sahara desert in the North.
Continue reading ‘The Annual Festival on the Niger in Segou, Mali’
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Published February 2010 by Transitions Abroad’s Tazine
Encounters with traditional Kora players in The Gambia
West Africa has an enormous diversity of peoples, each with their own customs, language, and traditions: the Bambara, the Bobo, the Mossi, the Dogon, the Fula, the Lobi, the Wolof, the Tuareg and the Mandinka, just to name a few.
The Mandinka tribes, originally descendants of the Empire of Mali, have spread across most West African countries since the days of the Empire’s first ruler Sundjata Keita, and today belong to West Africa’s largest ethno-linguistic group, the Mande. But it is only in The Gambia, Africa’s smallest country, that the Mandinka form the largest ethnic group within one particular country.
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Published Nov/Dec 2009 by intravelmag.com
How to stay in a luxury mountain resort without spending a dime.
How about a holiday in Spain, free of charge, including your own comfortable room with a superb view over the mountains or the ancient town below, hearty breakfasts and gastronomical lunches and dinners with red wine from the very same region, a lovely swimming pool, and splendid weather? And on top of that, the opportunity to get acquainted with 20 highly motivated Spanish professionals who would fill you in on “everything Spanish”, plus another 20 interesting Anglos from all walks of life and every corner of the English speaking world? “Great”, you may say, “but….. what’s the catch”? Well, it’s hard to believe, but all you really have to do is hanging out with your new friends and converse with them in your native tongue, English!
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