Afro-Turks Unite to Distinquish Their Culture

Some people still don't believe me when I say you can find Black people almost anywhere!

Check out this article about a people who call themselves "Afro-Turks" and are just as Turkish as anyone else, yet have kept unique traditions:

“We are black and we are from here. We are a part of this rich Anatolian culture and we are ready to make an effort to be noticed by the society. I believe that in this way we will be able to contribute to the tolerant culture of this beautiful land.”

I hope people are encouraged to visit regardless of what ethnicities are there. I for one would love to go to their "Dana Bayrami" festival and take it the sights, sounds, smells, and food.

(Special thanks to G. for sending this to me, and to everyone that still checks in!)

New Voyages

If this page were part of a Twitter/Myspace/Facebook-type site, I guess my status report would read, "Thinking: Where to next?" It's as simple as that.

Okay, well not that simple. Some of my most interesting voyages have NOT involved a heck of a lot of advanced planning at all. In fact, they were pretty last minute (ala "Hey! It's me. I know I haven't called or written in about 5 years, but I heard you move to Antarctica. What? I can come visit any time?....You ain't said nothin' but a word. I'm on then next flight!") So in light of my track record, I sometimes wonder what's the point of racking my brain about specifics of the next journey, when I know history shows that the "divine destination" will be revealed to me in due time.

On top of that, here I am in the midst of writing one of my next articles, on what? Travel planning! I asked a friend if that made me a hypocrite and he said, "No. That makes you spontaneous and interesting." (Don't you just love friends that make you feel less like a geek?)

Anywho, I know this line of thought all comes from the fact that everyone knows summer is a big travel time for me, so peeps have been asking me about it left and right. Well, for now I'll just say I have a lot of options (including work, volunteering, study, and "me" time), but I also have several wonderful projects in the works here at home, so this year I'll have to work around all that. Of course, it's also effecting how often I have time to blog. In the meantime, my next travel diary entry might just be from the road (or plane, cliff, boat, shack, or rain forest ; - )

Swine Flu Update: Spain Has Most Cases in Europe

I know some of you are tired of hearing about the Swine Flu (or what officials want us to start calling the "H1N1 Virus"), while others feel like the more you know, the safer you'll be. I feel a little bit of both, so I'm sharing this AP article about stats in Europe and some recent precautions governments are taking around the world. Check this out:

"Hong Kong kept 350 people under quarantine in a hotel as a precaution even though no new swine flu infections appeared in Asia, and Egypt's attempt to kill all pigs as a precaution against the disease prompted pig owners to clash with police who were helping to seize their animals for slaughter." (Source: Associated Press)

And here in the U.S. schools are being shut down even for SUSPECTED cases of the flu. Meanwhile, the White House is stating that the virus might not be is bad as we think, and may just run it's course like any other flu. (source: Associated Press)

I don't know. Let's hope this doesn't get out of hand.

The New Zealand Files: Swoop

(The following post is adapted from the “The New Zealand Files,” which recalls my experience traveling there in 2007 - North American summer, but their winter.)




Pt. 1: Hmmm....While I'm hanging out with the sheep and cows here in New Zealand, let me try this "Swoop" thing. Seems like a kinder, friendlier bungee jump....Plus I've got this cute Maori brotha to hold on to.




Pt 2: Oh, time to pull my own ripcord? Okay.....What the...?!!! Oh sh%t!!! AAAAHHHHHH!!!! (Sound of me plunging towards the ground at 80 miles per hour. That little hook you see at the top was the only thing holding me and this guy up on a crane about 40 meters above some farmland and a stream.)





Pt. 3: ....AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!.......(Why did I do this???? What will my obit say?...."She Was a Stupid Azz American Who Should Have Thought Twice")





Pt. 4: .....AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!......(Notice that I'm holding on to dude for dear life....Meanwhile, he's just chillin' in the da cut like "La dee da dee da...")






Pt. 5:.......AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!.....As I was swinging in my potato sack, I didn't have time to notice my companion's cool Maori tatoos. Dude had nice arms, too.....He looks like South Pacific Superman, while I look like some nutty chic he just rescued off a building or something.

(By the way, traditionally those type of tats, or "ta moko," were actually CARVED into the skin. If this guy went the traditional route, he's got even greater nerves of steel than I thought!)






Pt. 6.......AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!.....This goes on for about about 3 more minutes. Just when I think it's over, the cord pulls us WAAAAYYYY UP high so that I can drop down and feel the entire terrifying experience of plunging towards the earth at break-neck speed all over again. Yippeeee!!!!! (As usual, my face says it all)

The Swine Flu and You....(Travel Paranoia????)

Know before you go my people.....Here's a New York Times article that addresses some of your concerns about the Swine Flu pandemic and another article on what travelers need to know. It's interesting to note that the latter article implied that it's actually North Americans (that means Canadians, Mexicans...and yes, us too!) that are being looked at suspiciously by border officials of other countries.

I recently had brunch with a dear friend of mine and was shocked to hear that he was going to Mexico. When I express concern about his health and safety considering the outbreak of this swine flu thing, he just kinda "pish-pawed" me as if I was being a paranoid abuelita. And while I understand that some may not want to let mass hysteria dictate their comings and goings, this thing seems to really have taken the world's health experts by surprise. Shoot, when I was in Seoul, I used to think it a bit odd that some folk walked around with those little masks on. Now I'm looking for those joints wholesale! (Holla at me if you have that info. Really.)

Am I being over cautious about my friend? I don't know. It also makes me think about one of my sisters who took an international trip just a week after 9/11. I was like "Are you buggin?" Yet one of the things politicians told us New Yorkers at the time was to go out there and resume normal activity - shopping, work, school....but did that mean vacation travel, too? Under the stressful circumstances, maybe a little get away to some far off beach was exactly what some people needed. Bump the red alert security status!

At what point is one's travel concerns paranoia, or their wanderlust just plain foolhardy?

For now, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that Americans forgo all nonessential travel to Mexico (source), while the World Health Organization is not recommending a formal ban on travel to Mexico at this time (source). Decide for yourself. But if I were ya'll, I'd check both W.H.O. and Centers for Disease Control websites regularly. In fact, just because I care, I will provide the links permanently on my side bar. Don't say I never did anything for ya!

Peace.

Travel Reads for Children

I actually read this CNN.com article a few months ago and wasn't sure if it would be of interest to anyone that visits this site, since it seems that so many people who take "bold voyages" are childless and go solo. But when I had to refuse baby-sitting duty for a friend trying to plan a romantic get-away with her husband, I began to realize how frustrating it must be for parents to find ways to occupy children when they travel. I mean, I just can't imagine what it would be like to do the things I've done with a youngster in tow (on a cliffside hiking trail in Oahu..."Ok honey, mommy's gonna strap you to her back so I can jump over this fissure. Ready? One, two,...THREE!)

In any case, the article discusses a few books that a child might enjoy, which may spare them from boredom. It's funny because some of these books are of interest to me, too (and I'm far from 12 years-old).

They Won't Budge: Africans in Europe Film Series

Event: They Won't Budge: Africans in Europe Film Series

Date: May 9, 16, 30

Place: The Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture, New York City

Although I'm known for my spur of the moment travel decisions, I'm also a big advocate of doing as much research as you possible can before you go. While many people tend to consult travel guides, websites, and the perspective of fellow travelers, films (particularly those produced by, for, and about people from a specific culture or nationality) can also offer tremendous insight. Plus there are all those great visuals!

People of African descent interested in living or working in Europe may want to check out The Schomburg Center's film series They Won't Budge: Africans In Europe, a companion to their exhibition of the same name. They state that "The series will cover the African Diaspora in Europe. Screenings will be held on Saturdays starting at 4 p.m. Films will be followed by Q&As with Dr. Maboula Soumahoro, professor of Black European Studies, Barnard and Columbia. Free Admission. First come, first served. Limited seats."

May 9, 4p.m. Black Dju & Otomo

May 16, 4p.m. Waalo Fendo & Names live Nowhere

May 30, 4p.m. The Glass Ceiling & Boma-Tervuren, The Voyage

Go to Schomburg Center.org for film details and to confirm dates and times.