A long and inspiring night of musical festivities at the Festival au desert that had lasted well into the wee hours was followed by a way too early wake-up call in the cold morning. We were all excited but pretty much tired and destroyed. A cup of NescafĂ© was supposed to get us going and make us ready for a whole day long drive taking us from the festival site near Timbuktu, crossing the great Niger river on an overcrowded river ferry that everybody was trying to catch, navigating 4 hours of bumpy dirt track passionately referred to as “la piste” and saving the day for the passengers and driver of a broken Toyota 4×4. And then we have finally managed to hit our destination – all important roadside town of SĂ©varĂ©. Read the rest of this entry
RTS: No place to stay, part I
24 October 2011 – 11:13
The long day was coming to a slow and long anticipated end. Sun was setting down over the arid plains full of dry earth and rare trees or bushes. We were closing in on Douentza, a not so inviting but necessary little junction town on a road between Timbuktu and Mopti. The sight of low rock bulges and hills had me sensing that the end of bumpy and shaky ride is coming soon. And also the sun was glowing with the last rays producing that golden light. Which made me wanna take photos. Right there and then. And since we were driving there were only two options left – either shoot trough smeared front window or lean out trough the side window.
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Waiting for volcano
14 August 2011 – 22:15
Do you recall eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull – one of the great frenzies and news stories of last year? Gazillions of stranded passengers due to a single volcano choosing to lose its temper? One of those stories that happen on the telly and you say to yourself you are glad not to be part of? Well, only this time it was different. This time I paid my dues and took part in delays and misinformation surrounding this particular volcanic ash eruption. Read the rest of this entry
Joal & Fadiouth, Sénégal
8 June 2011 – 22:02
Continuing my Senegalese trip along the Petite Côte I was heading for a twin village of Joal & Fadiouth. Picked to be my final destination on the Senegalese coast before making my way back to Dakar and catching a return flight towards Bamako. Hesitating between Joal & Fadiouth or Siné-Saloum Delta I had to make a pick which was facilitated mostly by the pictures on the internet and the simple fact of Siné-Saloum Delta being further away. With time running trough my fingers like a sand it was an easy pick.
La Petite Côte, Sénégal
12 April 2011 – 12:32
If you are looking for holiday destination in West Africa look no further. SĂ©nĂ©gal’s Petite CĂ´te is your spot. It is probably the most developed and tourist ready part of West Africa. With accommodation ranging from simple huts and home-stay all the way to (too) big tourist resorts. From village tranquillity to cities bustling with life. For my part I opted for something in between. Read the rest of this entry
An apology, sort of, I guess…
10 March 2011 – 13:49
Ermmm, I don’t know how to put this. An apology is needed I guess. To you my readers. See while I was travelling many things happened to me and some of those I’ve shared with you. Some stayed in my head waiting to see the light of this diary. Some I thought I would not share for various reasons. And some that were in the making, drafts so to speak, but never made it to you. Which is a shame. Read the rest of this entry
Photos from Festival sur le Niger 2010
14 May 2010 – 13:07
It was my first time attending the other big Malian music festival, the Festival sur le Niger in Ségou and it certainly did not disappoint. Granted it can not have the allure of Festival au Désert with its friendly Tuareg people, magic desert dunes for a backdrop and a back to the roots feeling, but it can well hold its own ground. Not least with concerts by Astan Kida, Atongo Zimba, Baaba Maal, Habib Koïté, Nahawa Doumbia, Salif Keita, Sekouba Bambino Diabaté, Tinariwen and many others. And now, finally, photos from all those concerts are ready… Read the rest of this entry
