Angolan Stamps: Telling the Story of the Nation

More than just gummed paper used to confirm postal payment, Angola's postage stamps tell a story about the nation's politics, nation, and culture.  During the 140 years since the first Angolan stamp appeared, the message that the subsequent Angolan governments have wanted to send through the stamps has changed through the transition from monarchy through to empire, to a focus on the heroes, diversity and beauty of an independent and resurging Angolan nation.

The first Angolan stamps were issued in July 1870 displaying a crown, when Angola was a colony of Portugal, which was still a monarchy.   After the fall of the monarchy in 1910, most Angolan stamps showed the head of reigining king, starting with Luis, then Carlos and then Manoel II.

The subsequent political tranistion to independence in 1975, produced stamps that showed the leaders of the revolution and depictions of the struggle for freedom during the civil war.

Rising from a need to satisfy stamp collectors, an increasing number of Angolan stamp issues from the 1990s onward were aimed at supplying specialist collectors.  Some of these stamps showed the unusual birds, moths, butterflies and animals of the nation as well as the celebration of the national arts and crafts that are unique to the land.  (Adapted from the Sonangol 2009 Universo magazine)

Golf in Angola?

Yes, there is 18 hole golf course located about 15 km south from Luanda (the only one in the country). Far from being a indicator of broad national progress, this course is managed by one of the oil exploration companies and used mainly by expatriate employees of all industries.  Even with a small, emerging middle and upper Angolan social class who are exploring this sport, this luxury is beyond the interest and economic capabilities of 95% of all Angolans.

The course is still very basic and located amid Luanda's dry and hot climate.  This dictates that most of the putting greens are packed dirt. The club house is very simple, a 20 foot shipping container.

Course rates are affordable, comparatively speaking; the green fee is 2000 Kz  (USD$22) and caddy fee 1500 Kz (USD$15)!

Breathtaking Lakes - pictures from all around the world!

There are many marvels of nature Mother Earth has in store for us. Let's take a look at some of the most beautiful lake landscapes - maybe you'll get inspired by those spectacular views and include those lakes in you future journeys?

Grinnell Lake by James Neeley

The Eden of that Dim Lake by Ben Heine

Yamdrok Tso (Turquoise) Lake, Tibet by Katarina 2353

Reflection in Saif-ul-Malook Lake by meansmuchtome

Mirror Lake… no, Kinney Lake! by Claude@Munich

The Baikal Lake

Lake Baikal, Russia

 Rush Lake (4700m) - Highest in Pakistan by windinhishair

Twin Lakes by tropicaLiving

 Wast Water by Ennor

Lake Michigan

 Black Lake, Pass of Dunloe by kaysare

 Sparks Lake, Oregon by David Gn Photography

 Mono Lake by janetfo747

And now - some facts about lakes on our planet Earth:

• The majority of lakes on Earth are fresh water, and most lie in the Northern Hemisphere at higher latitudes. 
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• More than 60 percent of the world's lakes are in Canada.
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• Finland is known as The Land of the Thousand Lakes, (actually there are 187,888 lakes in Finland, of which 60,000 are large).
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• the U.S. state of Minnesota is known as The Land of Ten Thousand Lakes.
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• The license plates of the Canadian province of Manitoba used to claim 100,000 lakes as one-upmanship on Minnesota, whose license plates boast of its 10,000 lakes.
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• Many lakes are artificial and are constructed for hydro-electric power generation, recreationalindustrial use, agricultural use or domestic water supply purposes. 
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• Large lakes contribute to the area of standing water with 122 large lakes of 1,000 square kilometres  or more representing about 29 percent of the total global area of standing inland water. 

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake

http://www.flickr.com

Working together towards our common goals

In a world such as ours it is essential to work together in order to achieve goals. If attempted alone it is not possible. Since West Africa Discovery started we have made a big effort to develop partnerships to help develop Responsible Tourism in the West African region. We are extremely grateful to our current partners in the field who have made a lot of effort already to spread the word of Sustainable Tourism in their respective countries, and to have gathered important information which has helped us grow in the past five months.

This week was a milestone! After filling out various application forms and having waited for board meetings to decide our fate, we have finally been accepted as a member of the International Coalition for Responsible Tourism, a Paris based ‘umbrella’ which has gathered together experts & professionals of the tourism industry, more than 80 NGO’s & associations in 35 countries, and a committee composed of experts each specialising in one of the three axes of sustainable development (economic & fair-trade, social & culture, ecology & biodiversity).

The main aim of the International Coalition is to inform, to raise awareness, to convince and to mobilise the main actors in the tourism field (professionals, governments, national & international NGO's) to the interest of the concept of Responsible Tourism.

As a member, we have been given a mission…

• To promote West African Responsible Tourism to the European market
• To promote World Day for Responsible Tourism in June by organising a local event during that particular day
• To inform, raise awareness and make tourism development authorities (Ministries, local or regional authorities, professionals, etc.) in West Africa understand the importance of getting engaged in a more responsible tourism through lobbying and defense speeches and actions
• To raise travellers’ awareness of Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Development

This is exactly what we have set out to do when we started West Africa Discovery. Convenient hey?

So, we are looking forward to the 2nd June 2010, as we will be organising an event to raise awareness and promote the Responsible Tourism concept around West Africa. Watch this space! In the meantime, to learn more about Responsible Tourism, West Africa and what we do at West Africa Discovery, visit our website here.

We also list a selection of unique and unforgettable responsible and sustainable tours, accommodations and volunteer projects, offering the opportunity to discover the wonders of West Africa.