Mali is famous for it’s music but I haven’t heard much and haven’t tried to find it. I’ve been singing my own song and I’d have to say it’not very soulful.
Having had a bout of literary diarrhoea after two weeks of paddling a pirogue down rapids and through shallow waters, I am now suffering, in the other extreme, from the travel blues. After months of fun and challenging cycling along the lesser known back roads of Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Freetown and an adventurous time on the Niger River, the most recent cycling into Mali has failed to inspire me – I’ve barely taken my camera out of the bag in a couple of weeks which is most unusual.
I shall soon be taking another break from the bike and travelling through Mali in the more traditional back-packing style as I have a friend from home coming to join me. There’s plenty to see and do further North in Mali, so I’m hoping I shall find some inspiration along the the way…. the Djenne mosque, Timbuktu, the Dogon country.
But first it’s back on the bike for a few days to get to Djenne and then Mopti.
So apologies in advance if I don’t post another update for a while. It means I’m busy exploring Mali and when I find what I’m looking for I’ll be sure to share it with you. I hope it will be worth the wait.
Hola Helen!
Its always interesting to me how we each experience the same countries differently – our travel experiences depend so much on how we are doing inside. I remember western Mali (from the Senegalese border to Bamako) was a really enjoyable period for me, even though there was nothing in the way of sights, just hanging out in the villages along the way.
Perhaps putting the bike aside will renew the enthusiasm. You have a lot of great people and places ahead! 🙂
Suerte from Bolivia,
Julian
Presumaably Wotto is with you now so Heaven help Mali as Clare pointed out!!! 😀
xxx
Lucky girl! Do you think that if one craves long enough for something, not just a particular kind of breakfast, eventually gets it?
On another subject: Three Spanish aid workers were taken hostages recently in the North. One woman has been released but the two men are still held. Please, take care.
Maria
Travelling is a fascinating way to discover and know the world, surely, much more than studying geography, history and local culture on books full of pictures.