Travel

I have had an aggressive travel schedule in 2011.  Something along the lines of 30 something countries across 5 continents.  I have traveled to almost every country in the western hemisphere minus most countries in Central America and have officially been the first day trader and blogger to South Sudan!  I did get arrested and detained in South Sudan but the point is I made it! There are a few things that I need to change to both enjoy my travels more and also get some business done.  This travel blog  has simply blown up way bigger than I thought it would so I have to focus on both travel and business.

New Cell Phone

It’s time to upgrade and its going to be tough this time to choose between what’s out there.  When I purchased my first smart phone it was nothing but blackberry.  Now the Iphone cult has been released and the family friendly Android is out as well. I have resisted getting a new phone simply because I like to have backups and moving everything over to a new phone and getting backups of everything would be a mess.  Going to put out a post to talk about the positives and negatives to try and decide between the two!

Traveling in Two’s

Many people have commented on how I always travels with two of everything; two cell phones, two cameras, two cables of everything, pretty much everything that’s important and expensive I carry two of.  Things can get expensive with this strategy but traveling through Eastern Africa it really paid off.  I broke one cell phone and a camera as well and having two of everything saved me big time.  I plan on staying with this strategy because its bound to happen again.

Scottevest

New Gear

My luggage has completely fallen apart because Africa has chewed it to pieces.  Not only has my luggage fell apart but almost every shirt that I own has holes in it.  Africa was definitely tough including Madagascar being one of the toughest places I have ever traveled to.  I need to purchase a bigger book bag (not backpack, book bag) to fit my growing list of goodies that I carry with me on small trips.  One of the things that I plan on purchasing is a Scottevest so I can travel through the airport easier.

Caribbean holidays are rising in popularity, thanks to cruises and resorts which appeal to international travellers. With tropical climates, stunning beaches and friendly local residents, it should come as no surprise that Caribbean holidays are so enjoyable. The Caribbean Sea is actually home to hundreds of different islands, some large and populated and others small and deserted. When planning your next holiday in advance or if you’re looking at last minute holiday deals, consider one of these 7 Caribbean islands, each of which would make a wonderful location for an upcoming holiday:

Cuba: With a rich past and plenty of fascinating architecture, Cuba is one of the top Caribbean destinations. Start your trip in the capital city of Havana, which is home to the Capitol Building, the Museum of the Revolution, the Havana Club Rum Factory and the impressive fortress, Castillo de la Real Fuerza. Cuba is also home to several beach towns, which are casual, relaxed and beautiful, such as Varadero and Baracoa.

Jamaica: With a varying terrain and pristine beaches, this Caribbean island is a top choice for many travellers. Outdoor activities are plentiful, with hiking, horseback riding and camping all being popular pastimes. Along the beach, swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving are all exciting ways to pass the time. Don’t miss the most delicious local foods of Jamaica, including ackee and saltfish, jerk chicken and of course a drink made with the locally produced rum.

Barbados: Known as the little Britain in the Caribbean Sea, Barbados has a strong connection with the United Kingdom and is a top destination for British travellers. While many visitors head to the beach resorts, the capital of Bridgetown is an exciting and vibrant city worth a visit. Spend some time in the capital touring the Barbados Museum, Parliament and St. Mary’s Church. Don’t miss a chance to stroll through the old Careenage, which is now home to wonderful boutique shops and local restaurants. Southern Barbados is full of resorts, and pristine beaches for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving.

Aruba: Just 15 miles from the Venezuelan coast is the island nation of Aruba, which has been connected for years with Holland. With a warm temperature year round, refreshing breezes and beautiful flat beaches, Aruba is a great stop on any Caribbean journey. While the capital of Oranjestad has plenty of upscale dining and shopping, the main attractions in Aruba are based in and around the beach resorts. The most popular beaches on the island are the Druif Beach, Manchebo Beach, Palm Beach and Baby Beach. Each is surrounded by hotels and resorts. Exciting water based activities include sailing, snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing and kayaking. Visitors can even climb aboard a submarine to get an up close view of the underwater marine life in the sea.

Click here for great deals on Caribbean getaways and hotel rooms in the Caribbean at Virgin Holidays.

Seeing the sunset at the avenue of the baobabs one of the best things that I saw on my trip to Madagascar.  After coming back from a treacherous 6 hour drive from the stone forest the calmness and serene view of the sunset in-between the trees was fantastic.  Getting a view of the sunset is quite easy to do being that it is only an hour away from the big coastal city of Morondova.  This picture above is one of the reasons why I had to visit Madagascar..  This unique place to visit is also a UNESCO World Heritage site for you buffs that love to visit UNESCO sites.

Click here for more pictures of Madagascar & check out the top 5 section for more things to in Madagascar & around the world.

Those that know me personally are surely thinking what did I get myself into now?  This of course, was not started by me, I can assure you of that.  Muslim culture is known to be very conservative and any public displays of affection are strictly prohibited.  Male & Female contact should be kept to a minimum, actually, zero.  Even when people swim at the beach, women are fully clothed and there are men that swim with t-shirts on.  They are very conservative, get it?

Whenever I am traveling, I always like to try and fit into the local culture, that is until there is no way of fitting in (practically any place in Africa).  I was traveling from the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, where the extra warm pores in my skin were getting (gladly) accustomed to the tolerable warm days and lovely crisp cool nights.  As I traveled closer and closer to Somaliland my pores were grasping for air, it was getting very warm.

Faces of Somaliland: The Cute Carrying a Goat.. NOT RANDOM.

I decided to wear shorts the first day that I arrived in Somaliland and boy was that a mistake.  In addition to the locals not appreciating my very fine, on sale, Old Navy cargo shorts, they didn’t appreciate my David Beckham pony tail either.  I am man enough to admit that David Beckham is my man crush, what’s yours?  If you said you don’t have one then you are obviously still in the “I’m afraid of my manliness” closet.

After I broke off from the white boy wolf pack I decided to try and find the Ethiopian embassy to get a visa back into the country.  As I walked in front of the presidential palace that’s when it happened, a ninja chick grabbed my arm and started saying something in Arabic.

Ninja Chick: Women that cover themselves w/ full Burkas where you can only see their eyes

Ninja Chick & Her Cell Phone

Don’t call me racist, they clearly wear ninja attire! Now I know how to speak Arabic, that’s my embellished way of saying I know how to say basic expressions, and this women was not saying just basic expressions.  Did I mentioned that she grabbed my hand in the process?

I think any women or man would be able to identify the slow, sensual, caress, of another human being.  Even dudes, dudes like to touch other dudes, get over it.  The ninja chick grabbed my hand while she was wearing her ninja attire as both her and her friend turned around and looked me head to toe.  We call that checking someone out where I am from.

Yep You're Right... ZERO RESEMBLANCE

I’m not going to be cocky and say that I was at my best that day because clearly, walking in the sandy streets of Hargeisa (the capital) had turned my skin into sand paper and my hair into finely combed dust.  At the same time I don’t think someone would grab your hand to tell you that you are wearing phenomenally awesome cargo shorts from Old Navy.

Sorry Ambercrombie & Fitch, I clearly prefer to pay $80 less for a pair of shorts.

 This is one of the reasons why you should never judge Somaliland by its cover.  If a ninja chick is hitting on a dusty foreigner, what does that tell you about what goes on behind closed doors?  They clearly offer tea and crumpets that’s what,  Somaliland is the British Somalia you know.

I was surprised and I’ll be honest, I walked with a pep in my step the next day.  I mean I just got hit on by a ninja chick!  Then it happened again, another ninja chick grabbed my arm and the third situation was a little bizarre.  I was being toured around the city by a Somali women that is from Liverpool, pronounced Liva-poo of course.

Clearly a Stank Face

She took me to see the MIG and the sunset at one of the best viewpoints in the city.  Shortly after, we entered the market to buy Somali spices so I could take home and make Somali tea, the stuff is seriously that good.  As we walked to the car I was thinking about what an interesting place Somaliland is. I reached for the door handle and I suddenly felt that funny feeling when someone was watching you.

I turned around and sure enough, full on Stank Face.  Okay it wasn’t a stank face, it was more a face of confusion.  She was a half ninja chick or probably a ninja chick that decided to take off her ninja attire to show me her confusion face.  I was obviously surprised, I backed up and put my back against the car and said words that aren’t appropriate for this website.

My tour guide started to talk with the ninja stalker and she translated the fact that she fancies me, fancy being the weird way the British describe when someone likes you.  The ninja stalker simply didn’t know how to describe it, she obviously should have grabbed my hand like the other two.

So there you have it, if you’re western women acting like a ninja chick you know exactly how to hit on a Muslim.  If you are a western man you obviously will have to wait until a ninja chick grabs your hand. If no one grabs your hand then you are clearly not attractive to ninja chicks, life isn’t fair, get over it.

I really liked Somaliland, especially when I started to dive deeper into the culture like flirting with women in a full Burka and Veil, twice.  They started it, I promise.  In the present day, Somaliland resembles most Muslim countries; men have the latest beard fashion designs, women enjoy being covered head to toe in clothing in the middle of a semi desert, and they love foreigners that come in and wear shirts with pony tails.  I know this for a fact since I dared to try this the first day I arrived.

Somalilanders love foreigners and tourists

And as far from what you see on the street, they love to have a good time.  If you haven’t heard about the openness of Somali culture and how they smuggled me into Somaliland, you should read the story to really understand how the people of Somaliland are willing to help anyone, especially foreigners.  While some people may think it’s because they are yearning to be accepted and recognized in the world, I would beg to differ, it’s just part of their culture.

I even received great hospitality from Somalilanders in Ethiopian city of Jijiga, the last major city before you arrive at the border.

Somaliland License

Somaliland is viewed as a country that is dangerous and is also a strict Muslim society.  As I dropped of my passport for my South Sudan Visa this morning, I couldn’t help but think that I travel to these countries to try and shed them of their bad image.  Half of the people that live in Somaliland seem to be security personnel, everyone else seems to work for the government.

The infinite amount of security checkpoints is more of a feeling of safety if you ask me, it is very similar to the safety situation in Johannesburg.  Not once was I asked for my passport or where I was going.

All Muslims should be like Somalilanders, while I haven’t been to many other Muslim countries to compare, the people of Somaliland love life.  They are curious, gracious, very giving, and love to have fun.  They won’t admit to that nor will they show it on the street so let’s keep that secret between you and I.  I was asked countless times on the street where I am from which I promptly replied “Earth” due to my identity crisis.

Meet Mr. Awesome.. & his Awesome Red Somali Beard

I can’t remember the countless times I was approached by a local when we were randomly walking around the city looking for one of the dozens of government offices.  We were asked where we going and then asked to be given a ride to our location.  VIP service in Somaliland.

There is also a hidden culture that lies beneath the Burka’s, Veil’s and exquisite Somali Tea.  There are parties that are held in house compounds and outside of city limits in the country, a bit like a bon fire party.  We all know what makes a great party but Alcohol is illegal in Somaliland (**Cough**).  I got to experience a little side of Somaliland life that most people don’t get to see and I’m grateful for it.

I can’t wait to return to Somaliland in 10 years when things are more developed.  Should be fascinating.