Category Archives: Uncategorized

2011 THE STRANGE and EVIL WORLD of EQUATORIAL GUINEA It is hard not to be impressed when you arrive in the newly rich nation of Equatorial Guinea, especially when you are invited as a guest of the president. There is just … Continue reading →

WHY GO? Failed coups, danger money, bushmeat and buckets of oil – you could say Equatorial Guinea has something of a reputation. It has beautiful black-and-white shores, primates with painted faces, clouds of butterflies and colourful insects. Though the country … Continue reading →

WHY GO? Nigeria is a pulsating powerhouse: as the most populous nation on the continent, it dominates the region economically and culturally. Lagos is bursting at the seams: with burgeoning technology and telecommunications industries, posh restaurants and clubs, and an … Continue reading →

WHY GO? The birthplace of voodoo and a pivotal platform of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, Benin is steeped in a rich and complex history still very much in evidence across the country. A visit to this small, … Continue reading →

WHY GO? For those fond of travelling off the beaten track, Togo will prove a rewarding destination. It offers a great diversity of landscapes, from the lakes and palm-fringed beaches along the Atlantic coastline to the rolling forested hills in … Continue reading →

AFRICA – MOROCCO to CAPE TOWN Nov 13-April 22, 2017. For my 2016/2017 travel season, I am traveling overland from Morocco to Cape Town, South Africa. This is a trip I first heard about from a young English fellow in … Continue reading →

WHY GO? Hailed as West Africa’s golden child, Ghana deserves its place in the sun. One of Africa’s great success stories, the country is reaping the benefits of a stable democracy in the form of fast-paced development. And it shows: … Continue reading →

A hopeful Aga saga. In the poorest bit of the former Soviet Union they look to a leader of yore Aug 20th 2016 Economist The region of Badakhshan, which covers most of the eastern half of Tajikistan but hosts barely … Continue reading →

From Russia with love. Remittances are a good thing, except when they stop Jan 16th 2016 Economist Debt crises, capital flight and corruption are all familiar problems for poor countries trying to finance their development. A bulwark, say some, is … Continue reading →

Desert wines. How to grow grapes where the ground is a griddle May 14th 2016 Economist Daniel Kish once speared fish for a living. Now he makes wine in Israel’s Negev desert. Sipping on Shoshanna, a spicy blend of petite … Continue reading →