|
Somewhat of a departure from my normal travels .. a few days spent upriver in The Gambia with my long-time Mandinka friends on their typical West African farm.
My journey by bush taxi and ferries, criss-crossing the River Gambia in late 2007, to share their farming life, the harvesting of their Groundnut crop and to watch the management of the
herds of Cattle by nomadic Fula herdsmen, who were passing though the Basse Santa Su area on their long walks to find fresh pastures.
I had the chance to take some really beautiful photographs ..
in idyllic weather .. to illustrate and accompany this account of how traditional subsistence farming supports this large extended family, whose members equally care for each other ..
sharing the hard work and the simple pleasures. An example for us all of how to live together in productive harmony. |
One of West Africa's best kept natural secrets .. scenic landscapes, rivers, creeks, animist tribes and bird life, providing plenty of material to delight photographers and
ornithologists.
A pleasant journey .. with camera in hand ... around this region of Southern Sénégal, using local transport - bush taxis, buses and pirogues. Meeting old friends and making many new
ones, in traditional settings that have changed very little over hundreds of years.
Travelling by pirogue between the island villages of the magical Kalissaye Bird Reserve, onwards by road through
Bignona to the heat, humidity and unusual 'mountains' of Ziguinchor and the welcome cooling sea air of Cap Skirring.
Unusually, on this trip, having time to relax and be a 'tourist'
.. with many advantages and a few disadvantages ! |
|
|
From my base in The Gambia ..
a journey by land and air to revisit friends on Gorée Island in Sénégal, Bamako and Mopti in Mali and to discover if the legend of Timbuktu is still alive.
Then some eventful travelling through Dogon country to Burkina Faso to experience the African Film festival and visit the accompanying assembly of traders and musicians in its capital Ouagadougou.
Onwards, braving the 50+ degree C heat and sandstorms of Niger to travel to Niamey, its capital city .. experiencing both its charms and its many surprises. |
Driving hundreds of kilometres in two days .. North from Nouakchott through spectacular mountain scenery to Atar and onwards to visit Chinguetti, the 7th most holy city of Islam, in August 2006.
-
Discovering a host of unexpected delights on a trans-Saharan route which, at first, was anything other
than spectacular, but thankfully proved to be vastly different.
-
Scenic pictures of the unusual mountains of the Adrar
Plateau, the flat plains of the escarpments and the discovery of the magical village of Terjit with all its charms. Photographic and factual coverage of Chinguetti's ancient buildings and
their ongoing restoration work ... and much more. |
|
|
A ten day dash from The Gambia through Senegal and into the Mauritanian Sahara Desert, attempting to find the town of Kiffa.
Hair-raising night travel through
the desert, on the trail of both the elusive and very exclusive Kiffa Bead and the ladies who have been producing these individually handmade powder glass beads for 100 years. Pictures of the
landscapes and the treasures that were found in Mauritania. |
The sometimes traumatic tales of a three week round-trip by bush taxi and bus through The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea Conakry to the fabled town of Djenné in the Dogon area of Mali.
-
Collecting beads, ancient artefacts and a host of unique experiences.
The dialogue includes many beautiful pictures of the magical scenes, busy markets, the
varying countryside and the special people that were encountered along the way. |
|
|
Following a chance meeting at Mac's Refuge in Sévaré ( Mali ) in the Spring of 2005 .. I accepted an invitation to stay with a newly-made friend in their lovely cottage in the
middle of the Spanish island of Mallorca ( Majorca ).
A week of rest and relaxation in the warm temperatures was supplemented by exploring and taking scenic photos.
Never one for the crowded tourist resorts or raucous nightlife .. I have tried to capture the flavour of the calmer side of this island, which is set in an azure blue Mediterranean Sea. |
A tale of two adventures in the Mauritanian Sahara Desert .. taking in the delights of Dakar and St. Louis en route and seeing Mauritania's capital city of Nouakchott with new eyes, in the
company of a good friend and resident ex-pat.
-
The jewel in the crown was
discovering a landscape with incredible variety of colour and form on a fabulous trip through the desert to return to the town of Kiffa. Meeting old friends - making new ones - and
this time, being invited to witness and record the skills of the ladies who make the modern day varieties of these unique powder glass beads, the antique specimens of which are sought after worldwide. |
Amusing anecdotes, wise words of wisdom, superb wildlife pictures, video downloads, political satire, cartoons, cute and hilarious pictures and funny animations.
Chosen from the large number of items kindly sent by e-mail from family, friends and the good customers of African Trade Beads from countries all over the world. Published to bring a smile
to your face and brighten your life, regardless of your race, gender, colour or creed !
|
|
-A pictorial tour through the magnificent scenery of the far North East of Scotland in Springtime.
-
From John O'Groats, past the infamous Dounreay Nuclear Power Station, to visit tiny hamlets, nestling amongst the awesome beauty of the moors, mountains,
lochs and river valleys .. almost cut off from the rest of modern Britain. Sunny days were not plentiful, but whenever the sun did shine .. the scenery was awe inspiring. |
|
