Category: Travel
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Of Palaces, Prophecies and Star-Crossed Lovers
My head is too full of stories. Where to begin? This is Kathmandu, you see. A place where goddesses meet kings; a place of legend and gossips; a place for conspiring and for trading scandals. For centuries, this country of Nepal has been ruled by two noble families, the Shahs and the Ranas, who have…
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The Flight to Kathmandu
‘So you are off to Kathmandu,’ a friend said. ‘That’s a magical place, isn’t it? Right up in the Himalayas? You really are a lucky guy. And you say it is work – well, I reckon you must have the best job in the world!’ Yes, he was right on both counts – about Kathmandu…
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The Concours: Beautiful and Beastly Machines
‘This place is like Heaven,’ my older son said. Now, he is not usually given to that kind of enthusiasm and extravagance, so I took special note. Myself, I wouldn’t call the place Heaven – but it would rank close by. OK – we are talking about Schuhmacher’s 4×4 down Langata Road. Rainald Schuhmacher is…
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Cross-Cultural Communication
It is a late Saturday afternoon and I am sitting on the balcony of my room in the Speke Hotel, reading a book and watching some of the Kampala world go by. Last week I was telling you about how Kampala is very much expectant, waiting to host the Queen; for in November she will…
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Ugandans wait for the Queen
All the way from Entebbe Airport to Kampala there are billboards asking ‘Are you ready for CHOGM?’ and there are pictures of prominent Ugandan professionals and sportsman saying ‘We are ready for CHOGM’. So, first, what does this ugly acronym mean? CHOGM is the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Second, why are the Ugandans so…
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What Is The Real Africa?
‘Please remember, you have come to Zambia, the Real Africa!’ That is how President Levy Mwanawasa concluded his welcome message to the thirteen Presidents who had assembled in Lusaka for the 27th Summit of SADC. I was still around. Not hobnobbing with the Presidents, you’ll understand, but going about my own business of meetings with…
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If Sat-Nav Comes To Kenya
‘Attention!’ the voice intruded. ‘Your route has been changed.’ I was driving south along the A1 expressway in the UK, driving from my birthplace, Boston in the East Midlands, to Heathrow to the west of London – to catch my flight home to Kenya. (Editor, this time please note that I am talking about Boston…
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Letter from Lusaka
Godo, the driver, was waiting for me at the airport. ‘So how is Lusaka?’ I started to chat, as we drove towards the city. ‘Lusaka is fine,’ Godo said. ‘Is this your first visit?’ ‘No, it’s the fourth time I’ve been here – the first time was about twenty years ago.’ ‘Oh, you will see…
Going Places Africa 