Archive for 2017
Brazil: Getting Acquainted with Rio & Heading South
Brazil: Getting Acquainted with Rio & Heading South My return trip to Rio + visiting Iguazu Falls and Porte Alegre Most Meaningful: Getting cleansed by the Iguazu waterfalls Travel Tip: Find balance between spending time with friends and travelling solo Understanding Rio After passing the first part of my trip with friends, I returned to Rio…
Read MoreBrazil: Arriving in Rio & Tiradentes
Brazil: Arriving in Rio & Tiradentes My initial arrival to Rio de Janeiro Most Meaningful: Experiencing my friend’s wedding and seeing old friends Travel Tips: Minimize your time alone at night in Rio de Janeiro In August 2016, I took my first trip to South America. Within hours of setting foot on the continent, I was kicking…
Read MoreMestizo Paraguay: Two Cities
Mesitzo Paraguay: Two Cities Asunción, the capital city of Paraguay, is actually multiple cities in one, with Old Town and New Town offering completely different experiences, and the suburbs beyond something completely different again. Most Meaningful: Discover the local experience by meeting locals and immersing yourself in the local, rather than tourist, culture. Travel Tips:…
Read MoreWhy Visit Paraguay? A Unique History
Why Visit Paraguay? A Unique History Obtaining the visa, all about the history, and Paraguay today. Most Meaningful: Paraguay’s unique history makes visiting a very different social and cultural experience to visiting the rest of South America. Travel Tips: Know your visa requirements in advance. Talking to fellow travellers ‘doing’ South America, they all said…
Read MoreChile – Beauty, Art, and Good Times
Chile Santiago and Valparaiso should be on every traveler’s list. The last country I visited on my South American tour was Chile, but unfortunately, I had to cut my time there pretty short, as a stomach problem that was bothering me since I arrived in Brazil just took me out. But I managed to pass…
Read MoreUruguay – A Relaxing Country with Great Asado
Uruguay – A Relaxing Country with Great Asado Various places, experiences and top tips for traveling Uruguay Top Travel Tips Stay at the El Galope Farm and Hostel for a more quiet time outside the city center of Colonia. Walk along the Rambla Pocitos, a promenade that stretches along Montevideo’s city centre beach. I recommend…
Read MoreDiscovering more Questions than Answers in the Congo
Discovering the Mysteries of the Congo The Congo is a mysterious place deep in history and filled with color Most Meaningful Experience: Travel to see the live Volcano Travel Tips: – Trek to see the mountain gorillas of the Virunga National Park – Hike to the volcanic peak of Mount Nyiragongo – Cruise the Congo…
Read MoreA Soul-Liberating Experience in Malawi
A Soul-Liberating Experience in Malawi Malawi is called the Warm Heart of Africa due to the Compassionate People Top tips: – Scuba dive, hike and kick back on the shores of Lake Malawi. – Tackle the challenging trek to the summit of Mount Mulanje. – Splurge on Korean food in the capital, Lilongwe Arriving in…
Read MoreArgentina: Buenos Aires and Patagonia
Argentina: Buenos Aires and Patagonia Like Brazil, Argentina was a place where I wish I had more time. Top Travel Tips There are many museums in Buenos Aires. Highly recommend the Museo de Bellas Artes La Boca For souvenirs and gifts, check out the big art market in Buenos Aires, Defensa You can travel to…
Read MoreLearning to live again in Rwanda
Learning to Live Again in Rwanda Learning how people moved on after the genocide is mind-blowing Most Meaningful Experience: Meeting Norbert and having him show the ropes in Rwanda Top Tips: – Pay your respects at the somber Ntarama Genocide Memorial – Get a three-country East Africa Tourist Visa so you can easily visit Uganda…
Read MoreDelving Deeper Into Capetown
Delving Deeper Into Capetown Take a Walk Through the Streets of Capetown Most Meaningful Experience: Understanding that water crises are just starting to emerge around the world and income inequality is a major cause of unrest. Travel tips: There is a lot more to do in Capetown than I described. Go to Robben Island and…
Read More10 Things I Realized On Re-Entry Back Home From Traveling Africa
10 Things I Realized On Re-Entry Back from Africa. Travel changes you and Africa Makes You do a 180 Most Meaningful Experience: Understanding How Little One Really Needs In Life Travel always changes you. You never return home the same person you were when you left. This was particularly striking for me when I returned…
Read MoreOverland from Livingstone to Cape Town
Traveling Overland from Livingstone to Capetown for 30 days with a Dozen Strangers Traveling in Africa solo is difficult so Overland Bus is convenient Most Meaningful Experience: Learning patience and tolerance with my crew! Most meaningful experience: – Take a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta to wildlife spot from the air – Learn about…
Read MoreUgandan Encounters: Exploring outside of Kampala
Exploring Outside of Kampala, Uganda Make sure to go to Jinja to raft the Nile Most meaningful experience: – Read “A State of Blood” by Henry Kyemba to understand the misery and massacres of Uganda under Idi Amin. – Go white-water rafting at the source of the Nile in Jinja – Eat “rolex” – a…
Read MoreRun With and Like The Kenyans
Running With the Kenyans Learn How to run, train, and eat like the marathoners Most Meaningful Experience: Understanding the regiment of the best runners Most Meaningful: Visiting the home of a Kenyan runner at 6 am before a run to see that he slept on a wooden mattress and had only had two pairs of…
Read MoreDiscovering Mugabe’s legacy in Zimbabwe
Discover Mugabe’s Legacy in Zimbabwe Working with very inspiring and innovative entrepreneurs Most Meaningful Experience: Traveling across Zimbabwe with friends and then, by bus and learning about what happened during the Mugabe Regime. Top tips: – Go trekking through the mystical Nyanga National Park (just not after dark!) – Explore the western-styled city of Bulawayo…
Read MoreA Journey of Discovery on South Africa’s East Coast, the Wild Coast
Travel the wild coast of South Africa for a journey of animals, unique safaris, and a different view. The best areas are just west of Durban on the Wild Coast Most Meaningful Experience: Learning how to Nitrox dive, fast currents, and seeing hammerhead sharks! Travel Tips: Explore the surf and dive spots along Durban’s coastline…
Read More10 things I learned by observing Ramadan as a non-Muslim
The 10 Things I Learned by Observing Ramadan As a non-Muslim, I learned a lot by obsevering Ramadan. Anyone else can too. Every year in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. While it’s commonly known as a month of fasting, with devotees abstaining from…
Read MoreLandmark Forum Addresses Relationships, Communication, Meaning of Life
Landmark Forum Addresses Relationships, Communication, Meaning of Life It’s a great way to work on old relationships and start with a fresh outlook Their relentless marketing is off putting to be honest The Landmark Forum is a 3-day communication and life help workshop that is held around the nation. The last day the main point…
Read MoreForeign Investment and Entrepreneurs in Zambia’s Startup Ecosystem
Foreign Investment and Entrepreneurs in Zambia’s Startup Ecosystem. Zambia’s open-investment policy is causing a boom in economic activity Most Meaningful Experience: Making friends at Bongohive.co.zm and working with Entrepreneurs Flying into Zambia, I was still hustling to get my presentation together. This would be the first time I’d be teaching again since my stint in…
Read MoreOverland Trip: Zambia to South Africa Trip Dossier
Overland Trip Dossier: Zambia to South Africa This is our overland trip itinerary.Victoria Falls to Cape Town 21st February – 20th March 2017 NOMAD CONVOY is a tailored networking adventure safari for entrepreneurs & digital nomads, put together for you by NomadXplore, and operated in cooperation with Nomad Adventure Tours (www.nomadtours.co.za) and Greenpop (www.greenpop.org) Partaking…
Read MoreSolo Adventure Hiking Mount Kenya
Solo Adventure Hiking Mount Kenya I’m Vineet – I met Kurt in Ghana and we’ve been trekking buddies since. He didn’t join me on this trip but I I am writing a guest post for him! I love solo travel. I think it’s the best form of travel. To go out there by yourself…
Read MoreVolunteering in Kenya
Kenya Offers Many Volunteering Opportunities. The West Side of the Country is beautiful, relaxed, and his more laid back. Most Meaningful Experience: Visiting all of these non-profits was meaningful. Kenya West Side/Volunteer Having finished my Nairobi adventure, it was now time to meet Toto and move on to my second agenda – volunteering. During my…
Read MoreNairobi: The epicenter for East African Growth and Investment.
Nairobi is the Epicenter for East African Growth and Investment Nairobi is an exciting city with a juxtaposition of growth and abject poverty but it is getting better quickly. Most Meaningful Experience: Making friends, working at iHub, and visiting Kibera On arrival in Nairobi, I let out a sigh, as the airport was much more…
Read MoreA Glimpse into the History of Johannesburg and Legacy of Mandela
A Glimpse Into the History of Johannesburg and Legacy of Nelson Mandela and Gandhi Learning about the history of South African Apartheid and somewhat experiencing it. Travel Tips: Roaming around Johannesburg while gaining an insight into its racist issues and divide. Being approached for “selfies” with my Kaiser Chiefs jersey and confronting racism as…
Read MoreTogo – Border to Border Beach Country
Togo is a Beach Country, Laid Back, and Pleasant The beach starts and ends at the borders as well as goes inland Most Meaningful Experience: Hanging out, relaxing, and just catching up on energy. Travel Tips: Soak up the nighttime atmosphere around the beach, which greets you as soon as you arrive in Togo. Try…
Read MoreMozambique: The Pearl of the Indian Ocean
Mozambique: The Pearl of the Indian Ocean Traveling up the coast to Xia-Xia and Tofo Scuba Diving and of course the Fish Market in Maputo. Most Meaningful Experience: Dinner at the fish market with new friends Mozambique Travel Tips: • Explore the Fish Market and the seafood restaurants that cluster on Avenida Marginal in Maputo •…
Read MoreVolunTourism: In Africa
Voluntourism in Africa It was the great anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela that said: “There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time & energy to help others without expecting anything in return.” When I was planning my trip to Africa, I kept thinking “what can I do?” I couldn’t just spend months…
Read MoreSouth Africa Scuba Diving: Big Game Diving, Pelagics, and Ocean Safaris
Dive with The Pelagics – sharks, whales, dolphins – in South Africa. The best areas are just west of Durban on the Wild Coast Most Meaningful Experience: Getting out of my comfort zone and diving in fast currents Tackling the strong currents on deep dives at Protea Banks (only for experienced divers) while getting up…
Read MoreSwaziland: Rich Culture and Friendly, Talkative People
Swaziland: A Country of Rich Culture and Friendly People Meeting locals and learning about the real Swaziland. Most Meaningful Experience Experiencing the “other side” of Swaziland with the Ezulwini Valley locals Top Tips: • Make some local friends – the Swazis are super friendly people and warm to visitors; they don’t like small talk –…
Read MoreThe Future of Virtual Reality as seen by Students in South Africa
The Future that is Virtual Reality Using Google Cardboard, South African kids discovered to the possibilities the world has to offer. I hope this translates into more opportunity for others. After a few days working with my team at Team4tech in South Africa, Clarence convinced of the future of VR. The applications for education and…
Read MoreBenin – Togo’s Big Brother with a Bad Attitude
Benin: Togo’s Big Brother with a Bad Attitude Benin has rich cultural history around slave trade and voodoo Most Meaningful Experience: Visiting the slave route at Abomey and Ouidah • Hang out with the locals at the Cotonou Stadium, which is the place to be for good food, buses and taxis …
Read MoreNigeria: Hustling from Yaba to Makoko
Nigeria: A Country of Hustle, Rich Culture, and Genuine People Exploring all of Lagos from Makoko to Victoria Islands Most Meaningful Experience: Going through the slums of Makoko with Funmi who is trying to enrich the poorest lives in the world. Travel Tips • Lagos is infused with energy. Wake before sunrise…
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