We jetted from Bangkok to Addis Ababa yesterday on Ethiopian Airlines. I wasn't too impressed with the two planes we were on - they were just plain old. Both times I used the restroom the broken doors swung in on me even though it said "occupied" on the outside. The video/light control console was broken on both flights and on the second flight my seat had a scant view of the video screens. But, they just joined Star Alliance in late 2011 so more … [Read more...]
Richard Bangs: Global Explorer, Author
Richard has enjoyed an enviable travel career - over the past 30 years he's explored much of the world, made a number of first river descents and founded or was an integral part of several major travel companies. Recently we had a chance to ask Richard about his travel philosophy, career accomplishments and recent projects. Q. Tell us how you became an adventure traveler and what still fuels your appetite for this type of travel? I … [Read more...]
In the Place of Many Zebras
In a hot dormitory at the Olooloitikoshi Girl's Rescue Center in Kenya, Jane inspects my arm freckles. She brushes her finger over my arm hair and traces my blue veins from the crook of my elbow to my wrist. I play, searching her arms and face for freckles. She examines my blonde hair and plucks strays from my shirt. She holds each one up to the light and giggles. I play, picking hairs from myself and placing them on her sweater, as if they … [Read more...]
IExplore Photo Contest
Check out Iexplore's photo contest. Anyone can enter and you have a chance to win an Africa safari for two in Kenya! You can vote every day for the same photo until the contest finishes on April 15. On that day, the 20 photos with the highest vote totals will be selected as finalists Help out our contributor Nick with his cool photo taken in Vietnam amazingly shot with a cheap Walmart camera! Nick is our video specialist and also runs … [Read more...]
Deadline and Last Call for 2011 Around the World Travel Adventure Competition
SANTA MONICA, CA (5 January 2011) - Outside magazine calls it, "One of the 50 Most Amazing Trips in the World," Peter Greenberg says that, "Unlike The Amazing Race, this challenge is more about your ability to connect with cultures," while NationalGeographic.com says the travel competition is, "like Survivor, The Amazing Race and the Eco-Challenge all rolled into one except with much more cultural interaction." The 7th annual Global Scavenger … [Read more...]
Sport Chalet to Collect Coats for Clothes4Souls
Customers are invited to donate their gently worn winter coats and in return Sport Chalet will give them a special offer on any new winter coat Nashville, TN - November 16, 2010 - Coming alongside their nationwide drives to collect shoes, Soles4Souls announced in early 2010 the launch of their new charitable division Clothes4Souls. Due to the success of the recent Sport Chalet shoe drives the two companies are partnering again to launch a new … [Read more...]
482 Words About Uganda
People here are very laid back and the feeling is contagious! We managed to go three days without a cup of coffee didn't seem to mind. You hear the words "Hakuna Matata" everywhere. Literally. Internet services down nationwide all day? Hakuna Matata... Flights cancelled? Hakuna Matata... Two hours in wall-to-wall rush hour traffic in Kampala? Hakuna Matata... In the Mukono District, about an hour outside of Kampala, Uganda, we … [Read more...]
A Few Words About Kenya
Our entry begins in Maralal, Kenya, a place mostly known for its wildlife. And as we made the seven hour, bumpy trek from Nairobi-half of it on unpaved roads-we saw our fair share of water buffaloes, rhinos, impala, and giraffes. But we weren't here to go on safari. We were here to meet with a group of pastoralists-livestock keepers who had agreed to meet with us and talk about the challenges they face. Although most of these people don't have … [Read more...]
Urban Farming in Kibera
Originally posted as a two part series on the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet blog. Part I: Vertical Farms: Finding Creative Ways to Grow Food in Kibera Driving through the crowded streets of Kibera, it's nearly impossible to describe how many people live in this area of about 225 hectares, the equivalent of just over half the size of Central Park in Manhattan. Everywhere you look there are people. People walking, people … [Read more...]
South Africa, Surf and Safari – 2006
Here we are more a traveler than a tourist as we set out on safari changing hotels each night. We follow the Garden Route, the premier tour route preferred by locals. I (Adventures for Solo Travelers, 770-432-8225, $1824 land) bring in a way-cool group of 45 singles which includes a fighter pilot, 2 physicians, 2 psychoanalysts (who came in handy for me), mother/daughter, father/son, the uncle of Julia Roberts and one of my favorite clients whose … [Read more...]