Category: travel

Mike Howarth – Carpe Diem

On By Rick McIn happiness, philosophy, photos, travelLeave a comment

I met Mike online to hike the Manasulu Circuit in the Himalayas last year. A super trip.

He’s now “cycling the length of South America from Ushuaia, Argentina the southernmost city in the world to Catagena, Columbia the most northerly city in South America. A journey of 18,000kms.”

Respect.

Mike Howarth

Mike:

What I wanted wasn’t material wealth, the latest gadget, the latest status symbol. I wanted adventure. I wanted to see and explore these wild and remote places I had read about in books and seen on maps, the the stuff of boyhood dreams. …

My new life is a simple life. A life pared down and distilled in to only the things I am prepared to carry, to lumber over mountain passes or carry across a desert. Each item carefully considered, selected on its relative merits of form, function and mostly importantly weight. Vanity discarded for pragmatism, there are no luxury items …

And Be There

Bahamas …

On By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

OK, if you like this kind of thing. 🙂

Bahamas

Nassau

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Nassau is the capital of The Bahamas, a member of the British Commonwealth. It is the largest city in the Bahamas …

With a climate identical to South Florida, the area usually experiences very warm, humid weather throughout the year …

Today, with a population of 260,000, Nassau contains nearly 80% of the population of the Bahamas. However, it’s still quite low-rise and laid back, with the pretty pastel pink government buildings and the looming giant cruise ships that dock daily. …

Vulcan statue

On By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

The Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world, and is the city symbol of Birmingham, Alabama, reflecting its roots in the iron and steel industry. The 56-foot (17 m) tall statue depicts the Roman god Vulcan, god of the fire and forge. …

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The statue’s naked buttocks have been source of humor for many years. A novelty song, “Moon Over Homewood,” refers to the fact that the statue “moons” the neighboring suburb of Homewood, Alabama.

Sweet Home Alabama

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, music, travelLeave a comment

I spent the Easter weekend in Birmingham, my first visit to the State. For the NCAA Gymnastics Championships.

In Birmingham they love the Governor. (boo boo boo)

Segragationist Democrat Governor George Wallace.

The don’t love judgmental Canadians.

Well, I heard Mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don’t need him around anyhow

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That’s the classic and controversial hit by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974.

“Sweet Home Alabama” was written as an answer to two songs, “Southern Man” and “Alabama” by Neil Young, which dealt with themes of racism and slavery in the American South. “We thought Neil was shooting all the ducks in order to kill one or two,” said Ronnie Van Zant at the time …

In 1976, Van Zant and the band supported Jimmy Carter for his presidential candidacy, including fundraising and an appearance at the Gator Bowl benefit concert.

At the peak of their success, three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd died in an airplane crash in 1977, putting an abrupt end to the band’s most popular incarnation.

related – Free Bird was Skynyrd’s greatest song. Perhaps the greatest live rock anthem of all time.

By the way, it turned out that Montgomery, Alabama is a great place. I have not a single complaint.

ta ta Trinidad

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, travelLeave a comment

I spent 5 nights in Port of Spain with Guy Lavoie, clinician volunteers assigned by the International Gymnastics Federation.

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Carlton Hotel. Bake & shark. Mahi Mahi. Lamb stew. 🙂

Trinidad … is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just 11 km (6.8 mi) off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. …

map Trinidad

There is a wide range of ethnicity, religion, and culture. As of the 2012 Trinidad and Tobago Census,the population was 39.5% East Indian “Indo-Trinidadian”, 29.5% African “Afro-Trinidadian”, 23% mixed and 8% Other ” Many of these groups overlap …

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Trinidad is not much of a tourist hot spot. In fact, immigration on arrival is suspicious if you tell them you are a tourist.

My favourite vistas were of the lights at night.

Trinidad lights

I was up before dawn each morning, jogging the Queen’s Park Oval.

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Many historic buildings ring the park.

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We walked the Royal Botanical Gardens.

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Thanks Ricardo Lue Shue and everyone at T&T Gymnastics for hosting us. Ricardo was my host 15yrs ago, my first trip to Trinidad. It was great catching up. 🙂

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bye bye Barbados

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, travelLeave a comment

My friend Guy Lavoie and I spent 5 days on the island, volunteers for a Gymnastics Camp.

Still jet-lagged from South Africa, I was falling asleep by about 8pm, waking about 4am to run this boardwalk.

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I saw some amazing tropical dawns. 🙂

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Though busy, we did tour the island one afternoon.

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Gorgeous.

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My sincere thanks to our hosts Darius Fields and Alison Jackson.

dinner Barbados

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Barbados … is 34 kilometres (21 mi) in length and up to 23 kilometres (14 mi) in width…

It has a population of 277,821 people, mostly of African descent. …

The origin of the name Barbados is either the Portuguese word Barbados or the Spanish equivalent los Barbados, both meaning “the bearded ones” It is unclear whether “bearded” refers to the long, hanging roots of the bearded fig-tree (Ficus citrifolia), indigenous to the island; or to the allegedly bearded Caribs once inhabiting the island …

Rihanna is from Barbados.

Namibian Dunes – Sesriem to Windhoek

On By Rick McIn food, photos, travelLeave a comment

I was sad to pack up and start the return drive to Windhoek.

Namibia photo by Rick

These tiny birds are fearless campsite scavengers.

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Hundreds live together in these monstrous nests.

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We saw crazy numbers of African wildlife.

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Bat-eared fox.

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Bat-eared Englishman. 🙂

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It was odd to return to civilization.

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I can highly recommend NICE (Namibia Institute of Culinary Education) in Windhoek.

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See our group photos in high resolution on flickr.
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Part of the 3-day dunes tour with Wild Dog Safaris, Namibian$3590 / person departing every Tuesday from Windhoek. That’s about US$330.

We were refunded US$20, reluctantly, when one of our road stops was cancelled. The ticket price was about $20 / person at the Cheetah farm.

Namibian Dunes – Solitaire

On By Rick McIn photos, travelLeave a comment

Solitaire, Namibia … features the only gasoline station, post office, bakery, and the only general dealer between the dunes at Sossusvlei and the coast at Walvis Bay, as well as to the capital Windhoek. …

The name was chosen because of two meanings. Solitaire can mean a single set diamond and Solitaire can also mean solitude or loneliness. Combined these two meanings create the definition of being unique or one-of-a-kind and a precious but solitary place. …

As the surrounding area is sparsely populated it is a common stop-over for tourists. …

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Moose, the legendary proprietor, died earlier this year. But his legacy lives on.

See our group photos in high resolution on flickr.
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Part of the 3-day dunes tour with Wild Dog Safaris, Namibian$3590 / person departing every Tuesday from Windhoek. That’s about US$330.

We were refunded US$20, reluctantly, when one of our road stops was cancelled. The ticket price was about $20 / person at the Cheetah farm.