Malian Memories

Hi folks. A little reminiscing today if that's okay with you. Around this time of year, five years ago now I made it to Mali where I had a fantastic time in an amazing place.

I visited the Dogon Country and the mosque at Djenne. But I was recently sent a couple of articles from the Melbourne newspaper 'The Age'. It seems just five years after I left Mali is now a haven for Al-Quaeda and its affiliates!

Dogon Country

What can I say about something like that? I met some good people there and had the time of my life. I slept under the stars on rooftops and took a boat at the confluence of the Bani and Niger rivers. Two Irish gals I met traveled with me and my mate Paul until Mopti where they went up river to Timbuctou and we went downstream (lol - by BUS) to Segou and Bamako. Today, Timbuctou is off limits! It is no longer controlled by the Malian government and is a stronghold for the Al-Quaeda affiliate AQIM.

There is a strong chance this region may soon be a new front of the 'War on Terror'. From the sounds of the article, dated October 22nd 2012, the lives of those in Timbuctou and beyond are dire at the moment, in a land that experiences frequent drought and lack of food and water. Kidnappings are rife in this area of foreigners, over 50 million Euros has been collected in ransom over the last few years.

Bani river, Mopti

 I've been to places that people worried about. My parents asked me to strike Russia off my itinerary the first time I went solo-traveling the night I was leaving, despite the time money and effort put into getting a visa! I was told I was a lunatic for heading to Kazakhstan by a friend last year, half the countries I go to raise eyebrows.

Djenne, in the distance the mosque

However. I always check the situation before I go. I would not head to Mali today. I would not head to Pakistan today. There are so many places out there worth visiting, why go somewhere when things aren't right in the country? They'll improve. For all I know, even the south of Mali might be perfectly safe.
Challenge yourself when you travel, but don't be fill-hardy.

Having said all that .... I only say I wouldn't go there having already been there!


More on Mali in my book -
Chapter on Mali:
http://www.amazon.com/Dhaka-Dakar-Across-Chapter-ebook/dp/B009R1KVRA/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1352633161&sr=8-7&keywords=dhaka+to+dakar

Across Africa:

http://www.amazon.com/Dhaka-Dakar-Book-Across-ebook/dp/B00A3S7UM0/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1352633211&sr=8-7&keywords=dhaka+to+dakar+across+africa

Sri Lanka and Halloween

Howdy folks it's post time.
Last week I was suffering a cold that hasn't left me yet but I did manage to have a good week regardless. On Wednesday it was Halloween. I was asked to prepare a lesson asking me to explain Halloween and I realised I have no idea what the deal is there. But I followed through and basically it was one of the best days I've had teaching at a Japanese school. There was treat or treating (it's very hard to explain that trick or treat are two things you choose from) and I got to meet every student in Junior High School at my special needs school which was great.
There were games like bobbing apples and wrapping people to look like Mummies. What more could you ask for on a school day?
Had a good week of classes generally and then on Friday night I hit the karaoke place and before I knew it it was Saturday.

December is suddenly next month! What the?
Just before Christmas I am heading out to Singapore and Batam Island Indonesia for six days followed by eight days in Sri Lanka. Yes I am pretty stoked about that as by that time probably we will be surrounded by snow by then! A bit of warmth wouldn't go amiss at the moment! So lots to prepare for and some proper travel-related blogs to put up.
Meanwhile I will try and complete all the work on 'Dhaka to Dakar'. Already out on Kindle chapter by chapter, my next goal is to get the last two volumes up as entire pieces, and the first as individual chapters.

Speaking of chapters, I refer you all to the big one, the Burkina Faso chapter. Yeah this is where I detail my struggle with malaria. I was blogging by this time in 2006 but a lot of this stuff didn't make the blog. It's a rare insight into the mind of a man with a tropical disease. lol! See you next time punks!

http://www.amazon.com/Dhaka-Dakar-Chapter-Burkina-ebook/dp/B009QL4D66/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1352031037&sr=8-8&keywords=dhaka+to+dakar