Amazing Tilt-Shift Video of Swiss Landscape and Trains

Some of you, amateur world photographers, have probably heard about "tilt-shift" photography. It's a special technique, which allows you to focus only on specific parts of the picture, to emphasize its particularity. And the results, well - you can see an amazing example here:

First time I saw it, I thought: "Hey, those are toy trains!" and I bet I'm not the only one to think this way.
The truth is, this is a photo of a real train made using the "tilt-shift" technique.

This movie project is particularly interesting - it's all about beautiful Swiss countryside (villages of Sisikon and Göschenen) and its magnificent, legendary trains. If you had any doubts whether you should visit Switzerland and take a ride - I think the short movie below might be a nudge in the right direction for you. it is a project filmed by Andi Leemann and Jeri Peier (if you're interested in technicalities: they used two EOS 5D Mark II cameras, a Canon 90mm TS-E f/2.8 and a Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 combined with a 1.4x converter, woohoo!).


And now, sit back and enjoy the amazing views of Swiss Trains from an amazing perspective:

gottardo nord from fb1 visuals on Vimeo.

Hope you like it as much as I do :)

Source: http://www.geeksaresexy.net/

Rising of the Angolan Church - Video

The story of how the Angolan Church has endured and grown through many years of a brutal civil war is amazing! Check out this video below made by SIM (another mission agency working in Angola) which outlines how the evangelical church in Angola has persevered and is once again growing in this new age of transition. Enjoy!

New Gambia Responsible Tourism educational trips on West Africa Discovery

We are pleased to announce a new listing on our 'Tours' page! Introducing three sustainability and responsible tourism educational tours from the Gambia, West Africa. They are the following:



Gambia ethical lodge holiday:

Our first addition is on a four day sustainable tour in which the tourist will spend a day with Gunjur Environment Protection and Development Group (visiting Bolongfenyo community wildlife reserve, eating a local lunch and experiencing a cultural performance, as well as discovering the community owned Beekeeping Centre). There will also be possibilities to visit the Gambian Reptile educational centre, to explore Gunjur Village and to learn from the management at Footsteps eco-lodge about their sustainable structure model.



The tourist will benefit the local community by visiting local projects that create local economic growth; sharing culture and tradition and supporting sustainable solutions to poverty reduction and conserving the environment. In addition they will be staying at an eco-lodge which uses solar power and has a natural filtered pool, grey water filtration system and composting toilets to mention but a few of their initiatives.



Gambia sustainability educational tour:

Secondly, we have added an 8 day sustainability educational holiday in which the tourist will participate in a workshop in Responsible Tourism at the Institute of Travel and tourism, pay a visit to Maalis Music School and discover traditional storytelling through the means of the Kora (traditional instrument), learn about sustainable development at Sandele and Kartong, meet local suppliers and visit a community based ecotourism camp and discover local dance and taste traditional food.



Gambia green educational tour:

Last but not least, a 2 day educational tour on which the participant will experience a day with the National Environment Agency and meet with different experts, visit to a women’s garden and debate on issues regarding sand mining and industrial activities. They will also visit ASSET (Association for Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism) members including SIFO – a bee-keeping and traditional home, GiG – Gambia is Good project (including lunch) and a Paper Recycling Skills Project.



The tourist will benefit the local community in their destination by visiting their projects owned and operated by the local people. The visit contributes to creating local economic growth; sharing culture and tradition, supporting sustainable solutions to poverty reduction and conserving the environment. ASSET (Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism in The Gambia) has been successful in promoting small scale enterprises and promoting responsible tourism initiatives. ASSET aims to "bring together, advocate for, and promote a large number of small scale enterprises that are active in the tourism industry in The Gambia."



If you are interested in any of the trips listed above, or would like to enquire about West Africa, Responsible Tourism or any other matter that you feel we can answer for you, please do not hesitate to contact us (info@westafricadiscovery.co.uk).



We are actively looking for new, exciting and awe-inspiring West Africa based tours and accommodation that strive towards the fulfilment of the criteria outlined in the Cape Town, Kerala and Belize declarations on responsible tourism in destinations, and will keep you posted on any new listed projects as soon as they appear on the website.



Until then, please visit www.westafricadiscovery.com or follow us on twitter and facebook.

Why We are Returning to Angola

More than being just an informational blog, exposing the country, culture, and opportunities for ministry in Angola, we want to begin sharing our personal ministry journey; telling our story. This is especially in relation to our return to assume another ministry assignment in Angola.

Though a series of events and apparent closing doors to a perspective ministry opportunity and assignment in Central America, it became evident during this year that God had been opening doors for us to return to ministry in Africa. Having spent almost 8 years serving with MAF in Angola during the '90s, I (Mark) enjoyed many exciting years of serving the national Church, NGOs and the United Nations efforts through our aviation service. Significantly, my ministry service there during this time was all while the country was embroiled in two decade long civil war; I have some great stories and adventures dealing with dodging bullets, landmines and dealing with heightened security of living and flying in such a situation.

Having realized many years of successful service in Angola, it was apparent that God was opening other doors of ministry for me. God opened the door to use all the skills and experience that I accrued during the Angola experience to develop another burgeoning program, as I was being requested to consider. After having invested so many years in ministry in Angola and in developing the program there, I had to ponder the wisdom of the new request, the potential regret, and my willingness to step out of my comfort zone into a new and unfamiliar ministry. People asked me, "How could you leave Angola when you had invested so much of yourself there?" I felt God's reassurance that this move from Angola was the closing of a completed chapter of my ministry journey and that God was opening new doors to minister. God fulfilled His promise to challenge and stretch Jana and me in a subsequent ministry in South Africa and in a prospective new ministry in Central America.

So fast-forwarding to this present day, the request to consider another ministry opportunity back in Angola caused me to wonder how Jana and I could be used to empower and minister to Angolans now. Instead of being mainly involved in aviation services with MAF, we have been asked to direct a newly built mission hospital which is expanding and in need of managerial supervision.

Back in June, I while on a survey trip to Angola to investigate this new ministry opportunity with the CEML Hospital, it became evident that God was calling us to return. I could not help but be convicted to respond when I witnessed the extent of physical and spiritual need that still afflicts the lives of many Angolans even after the civil war has ceased. How could we not respond? Additionally, it was interesting to see the real absence of missionaries. The missionary force has not noticeable grown. Though the evangelical church in Angola has prospered and grown mostly on its own during the war years, the need of spiritual guidance and empowerment provided by missionaries is especially essential now.

These two factors mainly compelled us to return to this needy land to be involved in multiplying the effectiveness of the CEML Hospital, Angolan churches, and growing Angolan Christians who are hungry for mentoring relationships.

But all this being said there is another reason for us to return; not a real spiritual, logical, ministry, or vocational reason.  Anyone who has ever been to Africa have realized there is something about the dark continent (Africa) that really sticks with you; it is an unexplained draw, a pull within to return.  The local people call it 'Africa getting under your skin'.  It's an unexplained phenomenon that may be linked to the ruggedness of nature, the culture and country that is so different from our western perspectives.   So, there is an additional excitement and pull to return and experience this again.

African Folklore: How the Cheetach Got His Speed

African cultures have a plethora of folklore handed down from generation to generation.  Their folklore stories are very interesting and amusing as they seek to interpret about their history, the principles of life, and the traits of African animals through their own cultural world view.  I will share a few of these amusing folklore stories here.  Enjoy!

How the Cheetah Got His Speed  (A Bushman story)

Once upon a time the Creator decided to find out which of His animals could run the fastest and so He entered the cheetah in a race with the tsessebe, which is one of the swiftest of all the antelopes.  The cheetah had soft paws then, and he realized that they were not suited for real speed. So he borrowed a set of paws from an obliging wild dog.

The race started from a high baobab tree. The Creator Himself was in charge and the two contestents were told to run right across the plains to a hill on the far side. The animals lined up and then - go!  They leapt away.

The tsessebe soon took the lead and by halfway, he was so far ahead that he seemed sure to win. But suddenly, disaster! Tsessebe stumbled on a stone, and crashed to the ground; he had a broken leg.

The good natured cheetah, instead of running past and winning the race, stopped to help his opponent.

The Creator, seeing this, was so pleased by the cheetach's unselfish act that He bestowed upon the cheetah a gift; He made him the fastest animal in the land and what's more, allowed him to keep the paws of the wild dog.

From: When the Hippo was Hairy and Other tales from Africa;  Nick Greaves.

Angola 'Did You Know?'

Did you know that in another 55 days, Angola will host the African continent's premier sporting event?   Angola will host the African Cup of Nations soccer tournament, the football championship of Africa and one of the qualifying events for next year's World Cup Soccer tournament in South Africa.

The timing of Angola's hosting of this event is quite fortunate yet ironic for the country, since it is coming out of a long civil war.  With much of the country infrastructure either deteriorating or destroyed from the war, the push to improve the road, utility and building infrastructure in preparation for the games will provide a quick jumpstart for improvement. 

Over 600 million dollars will be spent on the building of four brand new stadiums in the four largest city.  The world-class quality stadiums are being built by Chinese construction companies and are quite a contrast to the surrounding mud-brick homes in the neighborhoods.

What impact will this event have on the country and people of Angola?   Firstly, it will be a great boon to put Angola on the map in Africa and expose to all the emergence of the country after war.   Secondly, the influx of tourist dollars will greatly add to the economy and the pockets of normal Angolans who become entrepreneurial sellers of tourist goods.   Lastly, in contrast, the exposure will highlight the great wealth disparity of the population.  It is estimated that probably only 10% of Angolans will be able to afford a ticket to any one of the tournament matches!    Hopely, the economic plight of the local churches will be hightlighted as well and be a point of concern for the Christian groups that will be attending the tournament's events.

Chinatown Africa

Angola's rapid reconstruction after 30 years of civil war is literally changing the face of the nation.  Evidence of this is the current presence of over 50,000 Chinese workers in the country.

China has been one of the main financiers of oil-rich Angola's rapid development since the end of the civil war ended in 2002 and  in exchange for loans and aid, estimated to total more than US$4 billion since 2004, China has been guaranteed a generous chunk of Angola's future petroleum production.  The accords also stipulate that 70 percent of the country's development projects be given to Chinese companies, which prefer to import their own workers. 

It is interesting now to see the contrast  and clash of Asian cultures with the harshness of Africa.  Current news in Angola highlights how Angolan gangs are now targeting Chinese workers with 'mafia-style' tactics.  This seems to be an Angolan opportunity to steal from the easy prey of the rich Chinese and as well a backlash against the perception of the Chinese infiltration of the Angolan economy and jobs markets. In Angola, Chinese street sellers are fast putting out of business thousands of locals and Malian sellers who have been there for generations. The fact that many Chinese tend to live in isolation with little or no contact with the local population further aggravates the resentment already present.

Check out this link to a documentary which exposes the influx and influence of China upon the Angolan nation .  "Chinatown Africa"

WTM 2009: small-scale Responsible/Sustainable Tourism projects get the upper hand

The WTM in London has traditionally been an event where the established players of the tourism industry market and sell their products and services. But at the 2009 event last week, from a small-scale start-up point of view, I felt that this event was equally about meeting new and inspiring ventures that aim to promote travel that follows the policies outlined in the Cape Town, Kerala and the newly published Belize Declarations on Responsible Tourism in destinations.

My week started on the Monday evening before the big event. Having cycled 45 minutes from Battersea to Bank, and getting lost in the process, but experiencing the wonderful night views of the Thames, I arrived in a fully packed and to say the least noisy basement bar where the Fringe Network event was in full swing. Small-scale tour operators from around the world who advocate Responsible Tourism practices were chatting away, bouncing ideas off one another and generally having a good time.

The atmosphere was positive and the Tripbod team who organised the event seemed genuinely elated and a little bit surprised about the great turnout. After a warm welcome from Sally (Tripbod) and Gopi (The Blue Yonder), representatives from Rough Guides, Intrepid and Travel to Care were on hand with motivating and inspiring speeches. This was followed by a very quick 'speed networking' session, which I abused by going through 3 whistles without changing 'date', and the scene was set for a great WTM 2009 at the ExCel event venue in London Docklands... after I managed to find my way back home on my bike.

Needless to say, I kept bumping in to my newly found 'Fringe friends' at the WTM event, and throughout the three days, thoughts, ideas, tips and business cards were exchanged. It made me realise that I am not alone in my small-scale quest for the development of Responsible Tourism, and that I am actually part of a community which is willing to help, support, encourage and inspire the members towards their common goals.

The World Responsible Tourism Day was another highlight when it comes to small to medium scale Responsible/Sustainable Tourism projects. At the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism awards, there was a big emphasis on projects which had come a long way and had made a significant positive impact in the destinations where they are operating. And the big names from the tourism industry that were present at the WRTD may have learnt a thing or two about the positive impacts that can come from managing a tourism project in a responsible way.

Another event which showed that the small-scale Responsible Tourism projects were getting much more coverage than previously was the launching of the Green Circuit, a collaboration of Indian sub-continent based tour operators which came together to promote Responsible Tourism development, by none other than the WTM chairwoman Fiona Jeffrey.

The WTM was also a good opportunity for small-scale tourism businesses to get free advice which would otherwise not be affordable when starting up. In the afternoon of Thursday 12th November, free advice clinics were carried out for those who had previously registered when receiving the WTM newsletter in the weeks before the main event.

The above examples show that in the apparent economic crisis, the small scale Responsible/Sustainable Tourism ventures can find opportunities and growth in an environment where the big cheeses of the tourism industry rule. But such a feat cannot be achieved alone. The key to success seems to be the sense of community shown between projects, the same sense of community which these projects are trying to promote through their tours.

Visit www.westafricadiscovery.com for more information.