Where is it? - Ex SA Edition.

[Q.]

Canada?

[AFLflyer]

I think one of the next trips to plan for me will be a driving northern america, cananda and alaska trip. it must be amazing scenery up there. Ater some of the photos i've seen on here!! if only there were no Yanks

[devilsadvocate]

Canada?

Yep, but Canada's a big country mate!

Although this one's now pretty obvoius!

[devilsadvocate]

I think one of the next trips to plan for me will be a driving northern america, cananda and alaska trip. it must be amazing scenery up there. Ater some of the photos i've seen on here!! if only there were no Yanks

Yeah mate, Canada is spectacular. definitely drive the Icefields Parkway if you get the chance. Up there with the most beautiful drives in the world.

I'd love to have driven to Alaska and also through the Yukon.

Canada has surprisingly few Yanks. And Canadians are nothing like their Seppo neighbours. They have a great sense of humor and are totally laid back. I've heard Alaska is nothing like the rest of the states either.

I'll try to put up some more Canada pics when I get the chance. I have 000's!

[redandblack]

The Icefields Parkway is a lovely drive.

I've driven from Anchorage to Denali NP (Mt McKinley). That's great, but the best drive I've done in Alaska was from Skagway to Whitehorse - just beautiful.

Driving in America is one of the best holidays you can have.

PS: Most of my pics were slides, which I'm now converting, so I'll put up some Alaska or American ones soon.

[AFLflyer]

yep post some of your pics lads, i need some more motivation, this holiday may be a few years away, but keen as.

[Q.]

Canada?

Yep, but Canada's a big country mate!

Although this one's now pretty obvoius!

Vancouver!

[devilsadvocate]

Bang on Quichey. Your turn mate

[Q.]

This could be hard, it will be a test of global architectural and historical knowledge

[redandblack]

I'd guess somewhere in North Africa

Only kidding, I'll study it more when I can.

Just wanted to say your trip was awesome, mate.

[Q.]

Close. West Africa, but the country borders on North Africa.

It was awesome, thanks mate. The journey into and the the time spent in this small city (where the picture is taken) was a highlight of the six months and one of the most interesting 48-hours of my life.

[JAS]

I'm sure that's a massive mosque made of nothing but mud that Michael Palin visited in his series Sahara and I think those headdresses are worn by Tuareg people so I'll try Niger.

Regards
JAS

[Q.]

Massive mud mosque is correct. Tuareg - yep. But it's not Niger.

Here is a pic of the Monday market that draws sellers and buyers from all over the region (and ogling tourists, of course):

[Q.]

It's obscured by the leaves, but the third minaret is missing as it collapsed after very heavy rain. They were in the process of rebuilding that side.

[JAS]

It's obscured by the leaves, but the third minaret is missing as it collapsed after very heavy rain. They were in the process of rebuilding that side.

Could you imagine the how long our builders in the modern world would take and all the excuses etc...amazing what can be achieved with some mud, a bit of wooden scaffolding and the desire to get it done.

Now trying to remember my geography...might have seen it on a Comic Relief documentary as well so...Bakino Faso (I so know that's spelt wrong )

Regards
JAS

[Q.]

Nope, not Burkina Faso, but so very close...


The entire community of ****** takes an active role in the mosque's maintenance via a unique annual festival. This includes music and food, but has the primary objective of repairing the damage inflicted on the mosque in the past year (mostly erosion caused by the annual rains and cracks caused by changes in temperature and humidity). In the days leading up to the festival, the plaster is prepared in pits. It requires several days to cure but needs to be periodically stirred, a task usually falling to young boys who play in the mixture, thus stirring up the contents. Men climb onto the mosque's built-in scaffolding and ladders made of palm wood and smear the plaster over the face of the mosque.

Another group of men carries the plaster from the pits to the workmen on the mosque. A race is held at the beginning of the festival to see who will be the first to deliver the plaster to the mosque. Women and girls carry water to the pits before the festival and to the workmen on the mosque during it. Members of ******'s masons guild direct the work, while elderly members of the community, who have already participated in the festival many times, sit in a place of honor in the market square watching the proceedings.

[JAS]

Yeh I have so much respect for communities like that where everyone takes an active part in it not just a handful doers and a ton of onlookers...how rare is it in our world these days (despite that fact that the Health and Safety police would never let it happen )

Now just desperatly grabbing at any country I can think off in that general area

Senegal

Regards
JAS

[Q.]

That kind of communitarian attitude is the West African way of life, everybody helps everybody. Probably why it was such a friendly place to be.

Not Senegal - you've done a bit of a circle around this country now

[JAS]

That kind of communitarian attitude is the West African way of life, everybody helps everybody. Probably why it was such a friendly place to be.

Not Senegal - you've done a bit of a circle around this country now

That sort of thing was what I loved most about Jordan...the Bedouin attitude was that today you are passing their tent and they can offer you shelter and refreshment because tomorrow they might be passing your tent and be in need of your help.

I've always loved the alleged quote from Ghandi when asked by a journo what he thought of Western Civilization he said 'I think it would be a very good idea'

Having a senior moment on names of countries now and whether they're still called what I think they are. I'll let others try while I get some brekky and more caffine.

Regards
JAS

[Q.]

Hint: it's on the road to Timbuktu