Africa
Note to self: If you are ever a passenger in a small motorboat on Kenya’s Lake Naivasha and hippos begin to charge, be sure to consider the millions of people who will be watching your video on Youtube before choosing to narrate.
Despite the almost Double Rainbow-esque observation-based narration (“We’re… Read the rest
Sitting at my desk on another gray-hued Monday, I discovered the new Afro-beat album from Chopteeth, and immediately–at first without noticing–began tapping my foot on the carpet. What’s more, the music from this recently released album actually had the effect of raising my spirits, and with that, Chopteeth Live… Read the rest became
Rainy Season Blues is the most recent recording of Lobi Traoré, a well-known and widely respected guitarist, singer and songwriter from Mali. But his newest album, Rainy Season Blues, … Read the restwhich was released at the end of this September, is also the last vestige of the man Afropop Worldwide described as
Chamber Music, produced by Six Degree Records, is very little like the 18th century compositions that seem to have defined the term ‘chamber music’ once and for all. And this Chamber Music … Read the restcertainly won’t put you to sleep. The album is the beautiful brainchild of two very different string musicians:
King Sunny Adé has been a pivotal part of African music for a long time–he’s been creating popular music since in Nigeria since the 80s. And his first international CD release in 10 years (Bábá mo Tundé) is as eclectic and inspired as ever. It’s beats are rhythmic and colorful,… Read the rest
If you’ve ever considered climbing a mountain–such as Mt. Kilimanjaro–here’s a great excuse to do so. This year, the American Foundation for Children with AIDs (AFCA) is organizing four group climbs up the mountain in order to help raise funds for its charity organization, ‘Climb Up So Kids Can Grow… Read the rest
Eight thousand miles is a long way to travel just to set up a top rope. That’s especially true when there’s a guy with a machine gun blocking your way on the approach. But here on the sandstone cliffs of the Gheralta Massif was a unique opportunity to help writer… Read the rest
This isn’t a song that most people outside of this village in Zambia have ever heard. And the man singing it isn’t famous. He plays a home-made guitar and sings with a beautiful voice that we suspect wasn’t trained by voice lessons. The song itself, titled “A Traditional Era,” is… Read the rest
This video comes from some National Geographic … Read the restcameramen who, while trying to film elephants in Africa, got caught in a sand storm–and instead of running away like most of us probably would have–they decided to keep on filming.
[Via: Outside Blog]
Big, interesting trucks are a ubiquitous sight when traveling. Do you remember your first encounter? Was it a rust-covered Russian kamaz that screamed past your taxi on a treacherous mountain road in Central Asia? Or was your first a more ponderous experience, like seeing an ancient truck coughing its way… Read the rest
Glasses have the transformative power to make the wearer look smart, dorky, or downright awesome. All superman–that rippling muscle-bound meathead from Krypton–needs to do in order to become the cowardly Clark Kent, is to don a pair of glasses. All comedian Tina Fey needs to do to complete her sexy… Read the rest
In the 1995 comedy Canadian Bacon (written and directed by filmmaker Michael Moore), Niagara Fall Sheriff Bud B. Boomer (John Candy), frustrates fans at a Canadian hockey game by refusing to sing the country’s National Anthem. But it isn’t until he takes a sip of Canadian beer and exclaims, ‘Man,… Read the rest
Wherever you travel on this grand planet of ours one thing remains the same: there are those who have authority and those who don’t. And unfortunately, as a traveler, you typically fall into the category of those who don’t.
The spirit of state-sponsored authority can be read in the faces… Read the rest
There are three dogs that spend their days with us here at Wend HQ, and each of them has a special way of reminding us of its presence. Porkchop, the eldest of the bunch, is a stubborn old land shark who likes to whimper his way into staff members’ lunch… Read the rest
