by phil | Oct 25, 2010 | Mali, W. Africa
Almost a month into my stay in Mali and I have not couchsurfed a single night. This is mostly because I’m staying at the incredibly well-run Sleeping Camel Hostel for $8 a night and it has been too hard to leave. It is easy to recognize the gold standard in...
by phil | Oct 22, 2010 | Mali, Stories, W. Africa
These items will be expanded in upcoming posts – Overland Bamako to Mopti – Mopti to village of Niafunke in overloaded-somehow-still-seaworthy pinasse on Niger River – Hanging out in Niafunke, meeting the rest of Ali Farka Toure’s family,...
by phil | Oct 20, 2010 | Mali, Stories, W. Africa
This post is automated. I scheduled a few before I left Bamako. While you read this I may be looking at the world’s largest mud mosque. More likely, I am sweating it out in a bush taxi, resting my feet on a goat, listening to Sekouba Traore. The paperwork for my...
by phil | Oct 15, 2010 | Mali, Stories, W. Africa
When two Malians meet for the first time, they greet and introduce themselves. Then they insult each other. In this way, Mali has avoided Civil War for centuries. The insults are based on family names and they are mostly hilarious. When a Keita meets a Coulibaly, the...
by phil | Oct 11, 2010 | Mali, Music, Stories, W. Africa
In Africa you rarely know how and when things will happen. You may plan to take a trip, but the boat is not running. Maybe it sunk. Maybe it’s broken. You may think you are going to leave by 10AM, but the car is not filled with passengers. Maybe it’s full,...
by phil | Oct 8, 2010 | Mali, Stories, Tips, W. Africa
Middle of the day a week ago, I start to feel feverish and fatigued. I considered what I had eaten in the past 24 hours. Had I poisoned my guts for the first time in Mali? Did I have a cold? Did I have the African cold? The African cold is malaria and even with...
