It's Saturday and apparently the boqt to Gao leaves today and not Sunday. Just as well, since Timbuktu is a tourist trap where they try to wring every sinlge last CFA out of you. Hopefully Gao will be more laid back.
So, next post from...??? Gao? Mopti? Ouagadougou?
September 27, 2008 8:58 Mali local time
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3 comments:
Mark, you are a prolific writer; it took me *many months* to get caught up on your blog, particularly because I was traveling myself from May-July. But, here I am... I finally finished reading every post after many weeks of reading 2-3 of them each day!
Your blog reads like a good novel, so thanks for posting. I enjoy the blow-by-blow accounts with the locals, the hardships of getting from one place to another, the cost of things, etc.
Your writings also give me a greater appreciation of the life at home in the U.S. Sometimes when I'd travel abroad I'd disdain the loud "ugly Americans" be embarrassed for my country, but after reading your blog, I appreciate that most Americans are comparatively very friendly and considerate -- in a genuine way too, not because they want your money!
Next year I am planning on going to France for the Marathon du Medoc (a marathon people run while drinking wine :)), Provence and to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc. I may also try to hit Northern Africa too so am taking mental notes from your blog. Stuff like how to deal with the incessant stream of locals trying to sell you stuff, or how to bribe. :)
Anyhow, good luck over there and keep up the good work. Stay safe and don't let the harassers get you down.
-Felix
felixwong.com
P.S. Thought you'd be buoyed to know that lately, Obama has been gaining momentum in the polls and the McCain/Palin ship has been starting to sink. Just 6 weeks to go...
Hey Mark,
Sounds like you are having the adventure of a life time. I agree with Filix you are prolific. You should write a book.
All good here Joanna and I are settling in, unpacking boxes and setting up house.
Hope your trip continues to be an adventure.
Cheers,
Dan & Joanna
Thanks for the kind words Felix, Joanna, and Dan. I'm also thinking that I might turn the West Africa section into a book with some heavy editting and revision. This part of the trip is turning out to be much more eventful than I had even dreamed it could be. I used to joke with Elena before I came over, that I should go to Thailand and laze on the beach sipping drinks with little umbrellas and getting daily one dollar massages. And then pretend I went to Africa and just make up plausible sounding stuff to post. But even with an active imagination, there's no way I could have come up with anything remotely as interesting to what is actually happening.
Thanks for reading. I hope it helps anyone coming to Africa be a much savvier traveler. :-)
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