Penduka And Planeterra, Teaming Up In Namibia
Penduka And Planeterra, Teaming Up In Namibia. I have been fortunate to spend time volunteering overseas in Armenia, Thailand, and Tanzania. The lesson I learned is that I received much more than I gave. It is an overused statement, but that is because it is true. While I was volunteering and attempting to “give back”, I was making genuine relationships, learning about the local culture and language, and gaining a sense of perspective on what really matters in life. I had the opportunity to visit Penduka on the outskirts of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Penduka, which translates to “wake up” is a project supported by Planeterra Foundation, which in turn was founded by G Adventures founder, Bruce Poon Tip. Planeterra’s mission is supporting social enterprise, healthcare, conservation, and emergency response. Planeterra operates in 34 different countries supporting 53 social enterprises and benefits over 54,000 people. The numbers speak for themselves. Penduka is an enclosed compound set on a small lake. And Penduka wears a lot of hats … there is a hotel, restaurant, gift shop, and [...]
Namibia Highlights: Twenty Amazing Photos From Namibia That Will Inspire You To Travel There
Namibia is not necessarily the first country that comes to mind when you consider visiting Africa. For many travelers, countries like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Morocco are often the first to visit on this diverse continent. But, by not including Namibia you are missing one of Africa’s true gems. Through these 20 photos I am going to share with you these Namibia highlights. Namibia with a long coast on the Atlantic Ocean is located just north of South Africa. It has had a challenging past including genocide, occupation, and revolution, but today it is considered one of the safest countries in Africa. Namibia is also set up for visitors with a robust tourist infrastructure. Disclosure: I was an invited guest of G Adventures. To learn more about the trip, check out the itinerary from G Adventures. Click here! Namibia offers so much for the traveler and these twenty photos share why Namibia should be on your travel bucket list. Dune 45 Dune 45 is a star dune in the Sossusvlei area of the Namib Desert in Namibia. The vibrant orange-red, desert is [...]
Taylor Demonbreun … has traveled to 125 UN countries
Taylor is on track to break three Guinness World Records in October of 2018 Taylor is 23 years old and is from Alabama. She is on track to become the youngest person in the world to travel to every country in the world as well as the fastest. The current record holder for the youngest is James Asquith who has been on Counting Countries and for the fastest, it is Cassie De Pecol. Taylor responds to the criticism that has been directed at her from the world of social media. Some question her quest, wondering if she has truly visited some of these countries as she has traveled so quickly. Taylor spent an impactful semester studying in London while in university. During her semester she visited an additional 20 countries. She is also inspired by her 91 year old grandmother who is still an active traveler, who just recently visited Egypt. Counting Countries has been added to both Alexa and Spotify. Wherever you listen, consider subscribing and writing a review. And check out the awesome Counting Countries [...]
Jorge Sanchez … ranked first on Nomad Mania
Jorge has traveled to all 193 and so much more Jorge, a Spaniard, had an aborted trip to Africa as a 13 year old, as he traveled solo to the continent without a passport. He travels were delayed until he was 18, when he then left home for two years as he traveled Europe. The journeys continued for decades. Jorge viewed the world as a classroom. He took to the road to learn about languages, religions and philosophies. Jorge lived in a cave in India with Sadhus, in a monastery in Japan with monks, and even in a prison in Afghanistan. And check out our new sponsor - The Journey by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - take a listen and subscribe! Jorge shares with us his passion for Russia and India. He traveled slowly on the road. Jorge often took on odd jobs while he was traveling, including a job which required a pistol in a house of ill repute. I had not heard that one before on the podcast. Jorge believes the world [...]
What You Need To Know When Visiting Abkhazia and Getting A Visa
What You Need To Know When Visiting Abkhazia and Getting A Visa. The UN recognizes 193 member states. Then there is Palestine and the Vatican, which are called Observer States. That brings you to 195. There are other countries like Taiwan and Kosovo which seem like countries but due to global politics, are not part of the UN 193 club. There is a process to joining this club which includes two thirds of the members voting affirmatively. Then there is an entire cast of characters that act like countries such as Somaliland, Republic of Artsakh, Transnistria, and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. If it walks like a duck … These de facto countries have many trappings of a UN member state. Many have their own functioning governments, currency, flag, national anthem, armies, and even require a visa to enter their country. And this brings us to the Republic of Abkhazia. Abkhazia is a stretch of land the size of a combined Delaware and Rhode Island with only 250,000 inhabitants. It can be found on the Black Sea [...]
Victory Day In Sukhumi Abkhazia
Victory Day In Sukhumi Abkhazia. Maybe you have seen the images beamed to your TV sets or on the web of thousands of Russian troops and tanks parading through Red Square in Moscow every May 9th. This is Victory Day which commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. This day is recognized by Russia and many former Soviet Republics and Warsaw Pact countries. For a recent Victory Day in Moscow, over 14,000 troops, 126 military vehicles, and 78 aircraft were on display. It is a giant production showcasing Russia’s military might. As you can imagine, the military parades on display is much more modest in the other countries recognizing the day. One of the smallest commemorations can be found in Abkhazia. Abkhazia was part of Georgia until a brief war with Georgia’s giant northern neighbor, Russia, in 2008. Now, Abkhazia is a de facto state, virtually a client state of Russia. In fact, when you pass the border to present your passport, you will note the checkpoint is manned by Russian soldiers. By circumstance and serendipity, [...]
