#Stopovers to Africa

[sayruq]

The skies of Gaza fill with shifting shapes on an early spring morning. At first they are barely visible, only specks soaring above central Gaza’s wetlands. Mandy Sirdah quickly raises her binoculars. “Storks!” she shouts excitedly. Close by, Lara Sirdah, her identical twin sister wearing matching clothes, grabs her long-focus camera and points it to the sky. “So many! So beautiful!” she cries out with joy as she snaps photos of hundreds of white storks flying in circles above her. Every spring, millions of birds set out from their wintering grounds in Africa and make their way north to Europe and Asia. At the intersection of three continents, the Middle East is an important stopover and one of the world’s busiest corridors for bird migration. Many of these birds fly over Gaza, an overcrowded coastal enclave often described as an “open-air prison.” The birds soar above more than two million people, most of them refugees whose families were forced to leave their villages in 1948 with the establishment of the State of Israel and have been unable to return. Concentrated in refugee camps, Palestinians in Gazahave also been confined by Israeli policies of military closure over many decades and a brutal air, sea and land blockade imposed since 2007. “Our movement is very restricted,” says Lara, who feels cut off from the rest of the world. “We wish we were birds so we could move freely.” Over the past years, birdwatching trips to the Strip’s wetlands, groves and fields have offered the twins a rare opportunity to escape the feeling of confinement. With their heads raised to the sky, they search for birds and dream of flight

[reasonsforhope]

"The Seychelles has become a major tourist destination for beachgoing and scuba diving, but it’s not only humans that are beginning to flock to this island.

In what marine biologists have described as a “phenomenal finding,” a survey of whales around the territorial waters of this archipelagic nation revealed the presence of blue whales—over a dozen.

It’s the first time they’ve been seen in these warm seas since 1966, and it’s a wonderful milestone in a long and increasingly successful recovery for the world’s largest animal.

The Seychelles are located in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, and they were historically a stopover point for Soviet whalers en route to Antarctica. The years 1963 to 1966 were particularly difficult for whales here, and many were taken before the International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling put an end to the practice of hunting baleen whales in 1973.

Since 1966, no dedicated investigation of whales in the Seychelles had been made until 2020, when a partnership of four universities conducted an acoustic survey over the period of two years.

They made five different sightings of groups of up to 10 animals.

“This was a phenomenal finding,” Jeremy Kiszka, a co-author of the paper from Florida International University, wrote in The Conversation. “We were prepared to not see any blue whales due to the high level of hunting that occurred fairly recently and absolutely no information was available since the last blue whale was killed in the region in 1964.” ...

The team behind the survey sent images taken of the whales’ dorsal sides to a database to see if any of them had been recorded before, and amid the reel, not a single one was a match with any other photographed whale.

This, the team suggests, means they have probably never been seen before, which for a species that big might seem strange, but along with there being only 5,000 to 15,000 on Earth, they migrate vast distances while diving deep, making recording their movements incredibly challenging.

The survey identified 23 whale species in total using hydroponic mics over 2 years with peak activity coming between December and April. This is a fascinating finding that suggests something about the seas around the Seychelles makes for excellent whale habitat."

-via Good News Network, April 30, 2024

[tumkaafiho]

"In the early morning hours of May 15, the cargo vessel Borkum stopped off the Spanish coast, lingering in the waters a short distance from Cartagena. At the port, protesters waved Palestinian flags and called on authorities to inspect the ship based on suspicions that it carried weapons bound for Israel.

Leftist members of the European Parliament sent a letter to Spanish President Pedro Sánchez requesting that the ship be prevented from docking. “Allowing a ship loaded with weapons destined for Israel is to allow the transit of arms to a country currently under investigation for genocide against the Palestinian people,” the group of nine MEPs warned.

Before the Spanish government could take a stand, the Borkum cancelled its planned stopover and continued to the Slovenian port of Koper. “We were right,” Inigo Errejon, the spokesperson for the hard-left Sumar party wrote on X, arguing that the Borkum’s decision to skip Cartagena confirmed the suspicions.

But missed in the debate over whether the ship ought to be allowed to dock in Spain were the unlikely origins of the Borkum’s cargo.

According to documents seen by Al Jazeera, the ship contained explosives loaded in India and was en route to Israel’s port of Ashdod, some 30km (18 miles) from the Gaza Strip. Marine tracking sites show it departed Chennai in southeast India on April 2 and circumnavigated Africa to avoid transiting through the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthis have been attacking vessels in reprisal for Israel’s war.

The identification codes specified in the documentation, obtained unofficially by the Solidarity Network Against the Palestinian Occupation (RESCOP), suggest the Borkum contained 20 tonnes of rocket engines, 12.5 tonnes of rockets with explosive charges, 1,500kg (3,300 pounds) of explosive substances and 740kg (1,630 pounds) of charges and propellants for cannons.

A paragraph on confidentiality specified that all employees, consultants or other relevant parties were mandated that “under no circumstances” were they to name IMI Systems or Israel. IMI Systems, a defence firm, was bought by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, in 2018."

[sussex-newswire]

"When Meghan [the Duchess of Sussex] made an unexpected appearance at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles 2024 Gala, she didn’t walk the green carpet with her usual plus-one, husband Prince Harry.

"Instead, it was close friend Kelly McKee Zajfen who was by her side at the Oct. 5 event as Harry remained in Africa after a brief stopover in the U.K. McKee Zajfen took to Instagram over the weekend to pay tribute to her friend the Duchess of Sussex, 43, writing that she was 'beyond grateful to share in this beautiful evening with one of my closest friends,' McKee Zajfen wrote.

"The Alliance of Moms co-founder praised Meghan’s support for CHLA, calling her commitment to the cause 'truly inspiring' and adding, 'I’m so grateful to have you by my side.'

...

"Meghan and Harry supported McKee Zajfen as recently as last month, attending the George Zajfen Tennis Tournament in Los Angeles, an event honoring McKee Zajfen’s late son and benefiting the Alliance for Children’s Rights. The tournament took place on Sept. 14, the day before Harry’s milestone 40th birthday.

"'Harry and Meghan, you have been such a guiding light for our family not just in the way you have shown up in friendship but how you have shown up through the incredible work The Archewell Foundation does everyday,' McKee Zajfen wrote on Instagram on Sept. 15. 'I’m in awe of your commitment to community and to friendship.'

...

"In April, the Duchess of Sussex appeared alongside McKee Zajfen and Abigail Spencer in matching white t-shirts with red text that read 'Love Like a Mother.' The trio paired their tees with blue jeans and, alongside a photo of them, McKee Zajfen wrote on Instagram, 'When we speak about the people in our lives who lift us up when you need it with undeniable force of pure love, I think of these two. You inspire me. You pick me up when I need it.'

"McKee Zajfen is co-founder of Alliance of Moms, which supports pregnant and parenting teens who are in the foster care system in Los Angeles to help families pave a positive future. The organization further supports the work of Alliance for Children’s Rights, a nonprofit offering free legal services and advocacy for caregivers, adoptive parents, kids and teens in L.A.’s foster care system.

"McKee Zajfen has previously called Meghan, whom she lovingly refers to as 'Meg,' someone who is 'nurturing and warm and open,' adding that she is an 'incredible friend and mother.'

"'I’m truly in awe of you,' McKee Zajfen wrote, adding that Meghan is 'always the first to say yes and support those you love. You are a fierce advocate for those who are in need.'"

[effervescentdragon]

my friends dad died a week ago, one day before would be exactly two and a half years since my dad's death. i only found out tonight because my mom is back in our hometown and he was her colleague. they lived through a war together and were good friends. he was a smoker and a joker and a really good man, and his middle son, who is much like him, and i have been friends since high school. he came to see me after 8 years, made a stopover in the city i live in just so he could see me since life kept us apart. he dragged me out of a bar when i almost fought some france fans when they played morrocco in the world cup. he walked through meter high snow with me one january first because i was anxious and didnt want to be home. he taught me how to say i love you in turkish. he bought me a ten pack of my fave cigarettes when they discontinued them and kept them until he saw me again. he called me from south africa to show me the sunset. he bought a motorbike and let me sing this really cringy song about it to him in the middle of our capital city. he took me out for coffee when he fasted for ramadan just because he wanted to be with me and didn't want to inconvenience me with a walk mid-july. he bought me a bear-fighting taser & pepper spray because it reminded him of me. he sent me a silly charles leclerc edit to some turkish song today morning on insta that i didnt see till tonight and havent yet opened, because he always sends them to me to make me laugh.

i dont know how to call him tomorrow and give him my condolences without breaking down.

i dont think he will mind if i break down. he was one of the first ones to call when my dad died. i just wish i could do more. i wish i could hold him like he held me.

[figureinthedistance]

Birding – an outdoor pursuit involving a camera or binoculars – would seem a high-risk activity in the West Bank. Yet enthusiasm for the hobby has been growing in the occupied territories in recent years.

For Shuaibi, it offers solace amid the violence. His ambition, he says, is to organise an exhibition to show the biodiversity of Palestine.

“I want to show the world this is not just a country of war. It’s not just death, bombings and killings. There are people who are interested in wildlife, even when nothing is available to them,” he says. “There is life here. And we love life.”

Positioned between Africa, Europe and Asia, this region is a bottleneck and an important stopover for hundreds of migratory species travelling between their wintering grounds and breeding sites.

@igneousbody

[zvaigzdelasas]

Thoughts on Gibraltar, geopolitically?

fits into UK geopolitical strategy pretty much exactly how Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Permanent UK Sovereign Military Bases on Cyprus - since 1960. Note that Nassar nationalized the Suez Canal company in 1956 & the Turkish-led partition of Cyprus was in 1974) fit in...

for potential contestation of territorial access in case of a major geopolitical flare-up, as a Signals Intelligence base to monitor major arteries of global shipping & naval movement, as well as a stopover base for further military force deployments (Levantine region & broader West Asia for Akrotiri & Dhekelia, North/West Africa & the broader Mediterranean Fleet for Gibraltar).

[mywifeleftme]

316: Toto Bissainthe // Chante Haïti

Chante Haïti Toto Bissainthe 1977, Arion

“These songs are mostly slave songs taken from the Vodou cult. They speak of the quotidian, of the suffering of exile, and the desire of Africa, not as a geographical place but as a mythical land of freedom. They express their resistance and their refusal: resistance to the colonizer, refusal of his politics, of his religion, of his culture, of his language.”

So begins Toto Bissainthe’s statement on the rear of Chante Haïti, her 1977 collaboration with a small combo of Antillean folk and French jazz musicians: vocalists Marie-Claude Benoît and Mariann Mathéus; percussionists Akonio Dolo and Mino Cinélu (Miles Davis, Weather Report, Gong); Patrice Cinélu on acoustic guitar; and Beb Guérin on the double bass. The songs indeed fuse the Vodou ritual of her native Haiti with the European avant garde sounds of her adopted milieu of Paris, where she had moved to pursue acting and found herself a de facto exile due to the political situation back home. Bissainthe had become a prominent figure in the French theatre, performing in new plays by Beckett and Genet and co-founding Les Griots, France’s first Black theatre company; by the late ‘70s, she was an acclaimed recording artist to boot. Her accomplishments made her a prominent figure in the Haitian diaspora and her activist streak is apparent throughout Chante Haïti, explicitly linking the grief and yearning for liberation in these traditional ceremonials with the country’s contemporary struggles.

Like many songs on the album, the Creole words of opener “Soley danmbalab” mourn the people's estrangement from Mother Africa, a crossing which can neither be reversed or repeated. It begins like a field recording, Bissainthe’s soulful, Miriam Makeba-esque voice set to a chorus of rattles and bells and gurgling masculine whispers. As the song develops, her melody wends like a stream through the dense jungle of percussion, dissonant bass, and counterpoint chanting. Eventually, Mino Cinélu’s arrangement becomes more free, the male chorus imploring the Oungan (a male Vodou priest) to intercede with the creator on the people’s behalf as the tune breaks down into an increasingly abstract bass and drum interplay, while the three female singers exchange birdlike vocal improvisations.

“Ibo Ogoun (Variations)” is even wilder, evoking a trance ritual, the spirits speaking in many tongues through the celebrants as they seek to summon Ogun, God of Iron and War, to lead the battle of liberation. One of the male percussionists times his tanbou beat so that it hits just as he sings certain notes, creating the illusion that he voice has suddenly lurched down an octave for a moment, almost like a DJ freaking a vocal sample. Bissainthe, Mathéus, and Benoît match the intense drumming with some crazy syncopations, sometimes talking, sometimes hissing and whispering, sometimes wailing and ululating.

Most of the album takes on a more meditative tact, anchored by Guérin’s plangent double bass. On the smoky “Papadanbalab,” an entreaty to the serpent creator Damballa to bear witness to the penury of his people, Bissainthe sways over a slinky jazz bass line, Patrice Cinélu adding mellow acoustic fusion licks. The song seems like a brief stopover in a Parisian club. But even the less overtly intense tracks pack plenty of musical interest. “Lamize pa dous” has this hypnotic rhythm that sounds exactly like a micro house beat—in fact, the first thing it made me think of was Ricardo Villalobos’ Alcachofa, or Animal Collective at their campfire ravingest. The song is about the moment of surrender to death, the winnowing of time represented by water encroaching on all sides, the realization too late that “we spend our lives trying to fill the sea with stones.”

Listening to a record like this, especially in light of Bissainthe’s note on the back excoriating the colonialist ethnographer who reduces Haitian folklore to “excitement and violence,” requires at least a smidgen of awareness from the white listener that Chante Haïti is not intended for them. The traditions it engages with are of deep spiritual significance to many Haitians, both in the ‘70s and today. But for those inside and outside the culture who are willing to approach it with respect, Chante Haïti is a fascinating fusion of Antillean and European musics, and a peek into a profound and secret history.

316/365

[smgsecretsanta]

A gift from @legenspeople to @axo-fucking-lotls!!!

Text under the cut

Hey guys!

I know, it feels like a ‘déjà vu’, but this time, it’s a genuine request to be reunited after so long. We’re all wary of Josh, but none of you would doubt your old friend Chris! (I know I had my fair share of pranks, but come on…) So, to reunite after more than a year (!!!) I decided to plan a weekend at the beach! I rent a beach house (with Josh money, I have not become rich since the last time you guys saw me) so we can take advantage of the big waves and the sun!

We hope to see all of you there!

Chris and Josh

----

Sam had received the email of their next reunion while she was in Peru. After the events at the Washington’s mountains, she had decided to leave America to travel around the globe. Australia, Laos, South Africa, Egypt, Greece… she had bought an airplane ticket as soon as the police released them, and she had not been home since – except for a few stopovers to avoid losing her citizenship. After the events, she would have done anything to be far from the mountains and her traumatized friend group – the only news she had gotten from them was through the few phone calls she had shared with Chris during the year.

She had met many different people, saw many nice cities, but also slept in the most disgusting or surprising places to avoid wasting money on an overpriced hotel room or apartment. She never stayed for longer than one season to work in a touristic shop or to rent skiing equipment, depending on whether it was the cold or hot season.

Sam stopped traveling five months ago in Peru. She was starting to feel exhausted, plus she felt great there. She had two roommates who rapidly became close friends and a job she enjoyed most of the time. She was constantly wondering when she would come back to the United States, and the email had been the sign she had been waiting for.

It had hurt to leave her new friends, but Sam knew she needed to come back eventually. And when she had stepped out of the airplane, she felt better than she had for a long time. She thought that she would feel like a stranger in her own country, but she had been wrong.

Sam was currently on the bus, which was driving toward the address Chris had given to all of them. She was relieved when she saw that the place was not as secluded as the Washington lodge had been – it was still a private beach, but a small town was next door if they needed it.

The bus arrived at the stop, and she got out of it, along with a few other people. They all went a different way from hers. They all walked toward the middle of the town while she went away from it.

It was a nice walk to the beach house. Once she arrived, she was surprised at how big it was. She knew it was Josh’s parents who were paying, but after they blew up their ski lodge, she had expected them to be more reluctant to pay something big.

Sam was about to knock on the door when she saw the paper Chris put in the window.

“To anyone showing up late, we are at the beach!”

Sam searched for a minute the way to the beach and found it behind the house. The young woman started advancing toward her destination, but she was soon stopped by a familiar voice behind her.

“Sam! You made it!”

Sam turned around to face Jess who was running toward her. They jumped into each other’s arms in a long hug. Jess smiled.

“I’m so glad you could come! It would have felt incomplete without you… oh! What do you think of my new swimsuit?”

She stepped away from the hug and gave Sam a spin to show her friend her swimsuit. Sam was glad that Jess was comfortable enough in her body to show her skin again. The first summer after the event, according to what Chris told her, Jess had refused to do anything because she was embarrassed of the scars she had from that terrible night. It had taken a long time for her to not feel insecure about the marks.

She was happy now. It made Sam’s heart feel lighter.

“So? What do you think? Pretty cute, right?”

Sam, who had not paid attention to her clothes, took a quick look at her in the light purple bathing suit before nodding.

“Fits you well.”

“Aw, thank you! Now come on, we need to join the others.”

Jess grabbed her friend’s hand and pulled her in the direction of the beach. They quickly felt the sand underneath their feet and saw their group further ahead. As soon as she saw them, Ashley waved.

“Hey Sam, it’s nice to see you.”

“It’s nice to see you too.”

Chris got out of the water and ran toward them wearing a wetsuit. Before he could get too close, Sam stopped him.

“You are not getting a hug while you are completely wet.”

Chris pouted.

“What! But I thought you missed me!”

“Hardly. Also, what’s with the wetsuit?”

“Tried to catch some waves.”

“Really?”

“Yep, and it was a complete disaster.” Said Emily. “I have it on videos if you want to see.”

Matt laughed as he recalled the show he got to see earlier. Sam felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to see Mike.

“Hey, Mickey! What’s good?”

He showed the bucket filled with ice and beer in his hands. He put it on the ground and grabbed two, passing one to Sam.

“Nothing is better than a beer under the sun.”

Sam took the offered alcohol. She looked over Mike’s shoulder to see Josh, who stood there, awkwardly. When he saw that she took notice of him, he approached slowly. His eyes were jumping from a spot to another.

“Hey, Sam… listen, I’m sorry about what happened last time. I goofed up big time, ha ha… hum, so yeah, just wanted to say that.”

The scars all over his face were healing well. Chris had said Josh had been distant and exhausted when they managed to get him out of the mine. He had looked completely out of himself, scaring Chris and the others, but she knew that, since then, he got the medical and psychological help he needed, and now he looked like their old friend again. She was thankful that Chris had kept her updated on his progress.

Of course, she had been angry at him for the prank, but she was one of the first to forgive him. Sam knew he did not mean to harm them, and that he had a rough time after Hannah and Beth’s death. It still felt good to hear Josh say it.

Sam opened her arms. Josh hesitated before hugging her tightly. He buried his face in her shoulder, and she could feel him tremble.

“It’s all alright. Let’s just have fun now. And Mike brought beer, so let’s get wasted.”

The group cheered behind her, and she could hear the bottles opening. Josh snorted. He let go of her, his eyes slightly red.

“Yeah! Let’s get this party started!”

Sam enjoyed the sun while lying on the beach and sipping her beer. She talked with Emily – who showed her the comic show that was Chris trying to surf – while observing her friends.

Matt and Jess were making a sandcastle, chatting like two architects on a mission. They had thought of bringing shovels and buckets and were making good use of them. Their castle was enormous, yet simple. It was funny seeing them put buckets of sand over buckets of sand. Every time their bodies were obviously tensing from the possibility of it destroying the entire structure of their work.

Although Chris had given up on surfing, he and Josh were in the water, trying their best to jump over the waves as they crashed their way. They were laughing loudly. Ashley was cheering them on with the bare minimum of enthusiasm each time one of the boys were turning to her to ask her to watch them. Sitting next to her, Mike was booing them while drinking his beer.

Sam realized how much she had missed them. One year had been too much, and now after almost two years without even being anywhere close to any of them – or anything she felt close to – she realized how hard it had been. It had felt good to distance herself from everything, but she was glad to be back.

When it was starting to be too cold to stay in bathing suits, the group went to the lake house to change. When they were in better clothes, Sam proposed to hike around the beach. It did not take long to convince Emily to agree, and soon they were all outside again.

Matt and Emily were walking in the front, swaying their hands in between them. Behind them, Jess was taking pictures of the sunset and showing them to Ashley. Mike and Josh were talking and laughing loudly in the back, which often made Emily snap and tell them to shut up. They kept talking like she never said anything, which made Chris laugh.

“They’re lucky Matt won’t let go of her hand, or else she would have jumped at their throat.” He said into Sam's ear.

She snickered at the thought.

In front of them, Ashley turned her head to them. She sent a shy wave and smiled toward Chris before looking in front of her again. Chris responded in the same way with the same awkward shyness.

“So, maybe I missed something, but I thought you two were officially a thing now?”

“Oh, well…”

Josh wrapped his arms around both of them.

“They are ‘taking it slow’.”

“Oh, I see.”

Chris scoffed. “Hey, it’s not a bad thing!”

Josh raised his hands in surrender. “You do what you do bro.”

“You two go at your own pace.” Said Sam with a gentle punch at Chris’ shoulder. “I’m happy for you.”

“And what about you?” Added Josh with a smirk. “Met anyone interesting on your trip?”

“I met a lot of interesting people on my trip. But, if you mean ‘did you meet a romantic partner’, which you definitely do, the answer is: no.”

“Ah! I’m also still single, by the way.”

“Like if she would have guessed otherwise.” Said Mike, joining the conversation.

Sam and Chris both snorted. Josh and Mike started arguing, and Sam tuned them out while Chris rolled his eyes with a laugh.

The rest of the walk was peaceful – if Sam ignored the boys who were still talking. They had been outside long enough to see the sunset. The bright colours reflecting on the water were beautiful. Jess insisted on a group photo to capture the moment. Everyone gathered around Jess and said ‘cheese’ before the ‘click’ of the camera.

Chris, Josh, and Ashley were eager to see the picture. Sam waited until they looked before looking at it herself.

Jessica was smiling in the foreground, holding her phone slightly tilted so everyone could fit in the picture. Right behind her, there was Mike, smiling over her shoulder, and Emily with her arm intertwined with hers. Sam and Ashley were on the right of the trio. The two girls were smiling, obviously trying to hold back a laugh and an eye roll at the three boys behind them. Chris, Matt, and Josh were in the middle of a jump when the photo was taken. Their mouths were open in a scream, and they had thrown their arms in the air to make it as goofy as it could.

Sam snorted before giving the phone back to Jess.

“I knew it was too much to ask for a serious picture.”

They walked back to the lodge when Josh told them he brought a few board games to pick from. Chris and Jess were trying to guess which one he brought, but he refused to tell them if they guessed right or wrong.

Once they were back inside, Josh ran to his room to reappear with a miming game. They were all excited to play and made two teams. On one side, Ashley, Chris, Mike and Josh, and on the other, Sam, Matt, Jess and Emily.

It all started well. Chris started by miming a wolf, a mermaid and then a firefighter. He was great, even though he made Ashley and Josh laugh too hard by exaggerating every one of his moves. They lost precious time since Mike kept telling them to be serious if they wanted to win instead of guessing on his own. Emily managed to make her group guess natation, a lion, a fish, and a photographer. She gained applause from her allies and boos from her enemies, which both delighted her.

It soon turned out to be a nightmare when it was Ashley’s turn to mime. She had made a movement with her hand to begin the impression and, without thinking twice, Josh screamed "ERECTION” which left his two partners laughing while Ashley was just awkwardly frozen in the middle of the living room.

Josh kept guessing different things related to sex, making Chris hyperventilate from how hard he was laughing. Mike tried to keep his mind in the game, but he snapped at the sixth time Josh made a guess. They ended up arguing, forgetting the purpose of the game. It’s not like it mattered, because Ashley had stopped trying to mime anything, sitting on the couch with her face hidden in her hands.

When their time was over, they all turned to Ashley, who weakly said:

“It was an elephant, guys…”

This sad revelation made Sam and her group laugh at the others' misery.

Matt’s turn went as normal as it could have, although he wasn’t good at this. He took too long to choose how to mime, and only managed to make his team win one point. After him, Mike barely read his paper before making an impression. Unlike Matt though, it was impossible to guess what he was miming. After this turn of useless guessing, he gave up his miming and said it had been an impression of a lumberjack. His group exploded with confusion, pointing out that nothing in his movements had resembled a lumberjack.

Mike's poor performance did one thing good for his team; when Jess went next, she kept laughing every time she looked at him from the corner of her eyes. She still managed to make her team guess an actor and a moving van.

Josh’s performance, without surprising anyone, was filled with unnecessary sexual innuendos. His team still succeeded in guessing the action of moping and a police officer.

Sam’s impressions went without trouble. She had picked up what they could agree were the easy ones: eating, dancing, a giraffe, and a queen. Josh and Mike were insisting that it was cheating, but when Emily proposed they took away the last points, they were disappointed to know they still lost by two points.

To celebrate their victory, Matt brought back shooters that they drank while cheering their amazing performance.

The rest of the night was spent listening to music and talking. Sam had taken the time to catch up with the others and she told them some of her traveling stories.

Jess and Mike went to their room around one A.M., and Matt and Emily were soon to leave too. Chris and Ashley were slow dancing to a waltz Josh had put on for them. Sam was sitting on the couch, trying not to laugh at Josh who started twerking next to the unaware couple.

“I missed you guys.” Said Sam, too drunk to contain the thought that kept coming back since she first saw Jess in the morning.

“We missed you too.” Said Ashley, smiling sweetly at her.

“Aww… bring it in!”

Before she could process it, Josh was effectively crushing her in a hug after practically falling on the couch.

“Yeah! Group hug!”

Ashley and Chris joined them, and although she could barely breathe, Sam felt great with her friends around her. The alcohol made her drowsy and she was almost sure that Ashley was going to fall asleep too if they stayed in this position a minute longer.

“We should go to bed.”

“It’s not even late...”

“Shush, Josh, I’m with Sam on this one.” Said Ashley, not doing anything to move from the couch.

Chris was the first one to get up. He pulled on Josh’s hand to get him up. Josh made some hissing cat sounds in protestation, but Chris still managed to get him on his feet. Sam helped Ashley to get up and they walked toward the empty rooms upstairs.

“So, where is your next destination?” She asked. “The Ivory Coast? Brazil? Japan?”

Sam took a second to think. She shrugged. “I don’t know. I might stay here for a little while.”

Ashley managed to look up and smile through her tiredness. “That’s nice. If you’re looking for a place to stay, I have a spare room in my apartment. I live close to Josh and Chris, and the others come often visit us.”

A crash rang behind the two women. They turned to see their two friends sprawled on the floor, laughing and blaming each other for their fall. Sam and Ashley shared a look.

“I understand if you don’t want to see them regularly.” Said Ashley with an exasperated look.

Sam smiled. “I think I’ll take your spare room.”

[mumanddadgoglobal]

Cruising past a Prada shop darling on our buggy ride through Dubai International.

A gold shop in the Airport that was 20 times the size of what you can see.

We flew with Emirates airline to get to Vienna, because they have a flight direct to Vienna from their hub in Dubai.  For this reason, we had a four hour stopover at Dubai airport, which gave us a chance to experience the league of nations traipsing through the 38km of shops and air terminal ‘gates’.

Due to its location close to the equator, Emirates is able to hoover up people from north and south, Africa, India, the Middle East, Europe and of course Australia.  The massive airport terminal was filled with a cross section of humanity – or at least those who can afford to fly overseas.  There was an old Arab, who looked like he had parked his camel outside; families big rollie bags from India; more sandaled Arabs, with wives following behind; fat businessmen from India; a lone nun in a habit of Arab white; skinny men from India; overloaded Aussies; busy mothers from India; a couple of tidy lesbians with matching: buzzcuts, yellow sneakers and yellow wheelie bags; old shuffling women from India; colourfully clad tall Africans; young single men from India; and a Chinaman or two.

Dubai is an entrepot, though not in the normal sense: a port where goods are brought for import then export, such as Singapore or Hong Kong.  Instead, it is a city where millionaires are brought to avoid taxes, and store wealth that may be suspect or otherwise subject to sanctions.  According to the Economist magazine Dubai was forecast to add 4,000 millionaires in 2022, as criminals and Russians (not necessarily analogous) moved to secure their wealth, and Indians moved for lower taxes.  This is understandable, since there are no questions asked about whence the money came and there is no taxes on income and capital gains, as it inevitably arrives.

The lack of time and absence of inclination, meant that we did not venture out to experience this Gucci entrepot of the desert.  But the fly in got me sufficiently curious to read up on how rapidly this city has expanded.  In 1950, it had 20,000 people rising to 3.6 million today.  90% of the population are expatriates, so not citizens, most of whom are the help from India and Pakistan.

In some respects, the free-for-all method of expanding this city has created opportunity and employment for people from poorer countries, that enables them to send money home.  But this laissez-faire approach to growing a metropolis has a dark side.  It is home to a lot of shady money owned by shady people.  It is also the home of no choice for at least 20,000 Nigerian women who have been trafficked into the city, had their passports and phones taken, and then enslaved as prostitutes to minister to the needs of shady people that no taxes and no questions attract.

I wonder if they have a community library.

[a-solitary-sea-rover-backup]

The Flyer Dutchman

A documentary about the winning boat Flyer in the 1977-78 Whitbread Round the World Race.

(Cape Town stopover footage always feels quietly uncomfortable in old Whitbread vids and in this case even more so because it IS a bunch of white Dutch guys going on safari in South Africa in the 1970s...)

[chicinsilk]

US Vogue February 1, 1970

Marisa Berenson wears a white Persian lambskin coat with large floral red tapestry puff sleeves, matching dirndl puff. By Maximilian; white Swakara Persian lamb from South West Africa. Choker: Stopover at Henri Bendel, Latinas waders. Hairstyle by Suga. Makeup: Keeping the lips and cheeks peachy pink are Frances Denney's new Crystal Glazer Lip Stain - Cognac and Luster Gloss Blush in a cool shade called Peach Frost.

Marisa Berenson porte un manteau d'agneau de Perse blanc à grandes manches bouffantes de tapisserie rouge fleurie, bouffée de dirndl assortie. Par Maximilian ; agneau persan Swakara blanc d'Afrique du Sud-Ouest. Tour de cou : Escale chez Henri Bendel, cuissardes Latinas. Coiffure par Suga. Maquillage : Gardant les lèvres et les joues dans le rose pêche sont la nouvelle tache à lèvres Crystal Glazer de Frances Denney - Cognac et le fard à joues Lustre Gloss dans une teinte fraîche appelée Peach Frost.

Photo Irving Penn vogue archive

[beardedmrbean]

Hundreds of sub-Saharan Africans are heading back to their homelands amid a spike in vigilante violence — including the stabbing of African migrants. After their ordeal, they say they are relieved to be back home.

Mariama Bangoura has just returned to her home country of Guinea from Tunisia after fleeing xenophobic attacks.

"They sent us out of our houses it is deplorable. At 10 p.m. they would knock on your door and send you outside of your room. We can't buy bread in the shops and in the markets, they chase us away," she told DW.

Despite appearing tired and haggard, Bangoura said she was happy and "proud to be back at home."

She is one of several migrants from sub-Saharan Africa who had to flee Tunisia amid rising tensions sparked by comments made in a speech by Tunisian President Kais Saied.

What did the president say?

Saied said that migrants were behind most crime in Tunisia and ordered officials to take "urgent measures" to tackle irregular migration.

His remarks fueled a spate of sackings, evictions and attacks against African migrants in Tunisia.

Rights groups were quick to condemn his comments.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said it had documented human rights violations including arbitrary arrests and detentions, assaults, evictions and dismissals in the weeks following Saied's remarks.

Amnesty International (AI) said it had interviewed 20 people in Tunisia, including five asylum seekers and 15 undocumented migrants from Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea and Ivory Coast.

All 20 interviewees said they had been attacked by mobs and, in at least three cases, police officers were present but failed to intervene, the rights organization said.

The African Union (AU) described Saied's comment as "racist hate speech" and postponed a planned conference which had been penciled in for Tunis this month.

Tunisia defends crackdown

The Tunisian leader said his crackdown on illegal migrants was aimed at fighting human trafficking but opposition parties claimed it was designed to distract people from Tunisia's economic woes.

Migrants have described the actions of the Tunisian authorities as offensive and inappropriate.

Ibrahima Diallo, a Guinean who fled Tunisia, told DW he witnessed attacks perpetrated by Tunisians on Black people.

"When the president gave a racial hate speech against Black migrants, the population started interfering and attacking Blacks, mostly women. They grab their telephones from them, beat them," Diallo said. "I witnessed many attacks."

Unexpected repatriation 

Guinea was the first sub-Saharan country to start repatriating its nationals from Tunisia following the clampdown on migrants.

Guinea's Foreign Minister Morysanda Kouyate accompanied the first planeload of Guinean returnees.

One of the passengers, Mohamed Cisse, described his gratitude to the Guinean government. 

"Really, they have helped us, we were in a distress. This is a big relief," Cisse said. 

The embassies of Ivory Coast and Mali provided emergency accommodation for dozens of their citizens evicted from their homes, including young children.

The first flight from Tunis landed in Mali last weekend with 135 Malians on board. Among them was Korotoumi Diakite.

''We had enough problems with both the police and the population," he explained. "Students were attacked for no reason. We're getting arrested for just being Black."

Another Malian, Mahamadou Diarisso — who had been based in Tunisia since 2021 — said it was a stopover as he hoped to reach Italy.

He told DW that he was also affected by the violent attacks on Black migrants and had to leave his apartment. 

"I slept on the street in Tunis for two weeks before we were repatriated," he said.

Among those fleeing the country are dozens of fee-paying or scholarship students who were enrolled in Tunisian universities and in the country legally.

Africa cannot be divided

Guinea's junta leader, Mamady Doumbouya, described what is happening in Tunisia as unacceptable and not normal.

"In the name of the people of Guinea, I am expressing our position, our vision on the situation in Tunisia, for us it is unacceptable and not normal in 2023," Doumbouya said.

"We are pan-Africanists, and we stand by it. Africa is not a continent that can be divided," he added.

As the wave of migrants returning to their homelands grows, Doumbouya and Guinean officials have promised to help them resettle.

"I want to tell you that our brothers that are still there ... we will search for you," said the leader. Addressing those who returned he said, "Finally you are now home — and there is no place like home," he said.

[outerbarksgroup]

Unveiling the Hidden Gems of Rwanda! By Safaris and Travel Africa

Rwanda isn’t just a stopover; it’s a journey worth taking. From awe-inspiring mountain gorillas and majestic volcanoes to its lively cityscapes and unique wildlife, this is a destination that captivates at every turn.

📍 With three national parks and endless cultural richness, there’s no limit to what you can explore. Rwanda’s warmth and resilience are reflected in its people, making your visit as enriching as it is adventurous.

Join us for a luxury experience that stays with you long after your journey ends. Our dedicated team is excited to welcome you and show you the heart of Rwanda!

��� DM us to plan your unforgettable Rwanda safari!

[valiantsafariss]

5 Day African Gorilla Tour in Uganda

 African Gorilla Tour in Uganda

The 5 Day African Gorilla Tour in Uganda is an exclusive gorilla trekking safari in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP. This African Jungle holiday will drive you across the most beautiful African landscapes, take you on a boat safari, drive you through the African savanna to catch Uganda’s wildest drama in Lake Mburo National Park and later hike the steep slopes on the misty mountain jungles on Africa’s oldest montane forest.

Overview

Uganda is the pearl of Africa! And indeed there is no better place to spend a holiday than here. A lot of fascinating natural resources, culture and the most hospital people in the world.

On this 5 day African Gorilla Tour in Uganda safari, you will engage in Africna savanna game drives, Boat cruise and Gorilla trekking adventure.

This is an opportunity for you to see the mountain gorillas if you have limited time to go on a safari, with stunning scenery and view of the local communities.

Safari Highlights

You’ll be visiting Uganda, in East Africa

Main places to visit in Uganda will be Lake Mburo & Bwindi Impenetrable NPs

You’ll take a game drive in lake Mburo and a boat trip

Track mountain gorillas and spend one hour with in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival

Arrive Entebbe international airport, you will meet and greet with your African Gorilla Tour in Uganda guide or driver who will then transfer to your hotel for overnight. 

Day 2 – Entebbe to Lake Mburo National Park (4-5 hrs)

You’ll be picked from your hotel by your private African Gorilla Tour guide and driven westwards to Lake Mburo National Park with a stopover en-route at the equator arriving in time for lunch at the lodge. 

After checking in, your guide will drive you to Lake Mburo Rwonyo peninsular for an afternoon boat cruise.

Lake Mburo NP is the smallest of Uganda’s protected savannah parks with lots of metamorphic rocks and a home to over 350 species of birdlife, zebras and buffaloes are the faces of the game in this African savanna plains.

Elands, Oribi Waterbucks, Hippos, Reedbucks, Topi and a Leopard can also be spotted on a lucky day. After a boat cruise time allowing you will go for an evening game drive in the park.

MEAL PLAN: B, L, D

Day 3 – Lake Mburo Park to Bwindi Gorilla Park

A short savanna game drive early in the morning before starting the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park with lunch en-route. 

The African Gorilla Tour road drive will take you along a tarmac route and then a reasonable distance on a murram road some parts of the road are bumpy and while on the drive you will enjoy a true massage of the African wilderness roads.

After check in at the lodge you will have a well earned rest contemplating on the gorilla trekking experience the following morning.

MEAL PLAN: B, L, D.

Day 4 – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in south-western Uganda edge at the edge of the great east African Rift Valley.

It is a home to over 400 species of mountain gorillas about half of the world’s population. Many of these are habituated in families that are daily visited by tourists. The forest is also a home to over 350 species of birds and 400 flora species.

The D-day African Gorilla Tour adventure starts at 8am after a briefing at the park headquarters, you will trek through the dense steep forest searching for the gorillas depending on where they were seen making nests the previous evening.

The African jungle trekking can last 2-7 hours depending on how soon you find the Gorillas, this is influenced by the location they stayed overnight. Trekking can be a tasking adventure, but coming to a facial closeup with these close relatives to human is a reward worthy to earn

MEAL PLAN: B, L, D.

Day 5 – Bwindi Gorilla Park to Entebbe and Departure

Morning drive back to Entebbe: this part of the African Gorilla Tour drive will take you through beautiful sceneries, plantations and homes always visible en-route.

This is a long drive with about 8 hours driving time, but rich with a lot to see enroute as you drive in the countryside, a hot lunch stopover en-route arriving Entebbe late afternoon in time to check in for your flight back home

MEAL PLAN: B, L.

End of African Gorilla Tour Safari

We believe you have enjoyed your holiday in the most hospitable country, the Pearl of Africa!

Extension Options

Flight from Kihihi to Entebbe

The drive from Bwindi to Entebbe is a long one, do you dislike staying in the vehicle on the road for many hours? Transfer to Kihihi Airstrip for a local light weight flight to Entebbe international airport and connect with your international flight back home.

Inclusions

Accommodation at lodges and hotels mentioned in the itinerary or equivalent based on availability

Meals as indicated in the itinerary, (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner)

Transfers in a 4×4 Safari Vehicle with services of an experienced English speaking Driver-guide

1x Gorilla trekking per person

Park entrance fees

Game drives

Boat ride on Lake Mburo

1 liter of mineral drinking water per person per day in the vehicle.

Exclusions

Meals in Entebbe on the arrival day

Drinks

Visas 

International Air ticket

Insurance

Tips and gratuities

Laundry

Optional Activities/Flights

Personal Expenditures and any other services not mentioned in the itinerary.

Accommodation

Papyrus Guest House

Boma Guest House

Lake Victoria Serena Resort

Leopard Rest Camp

Rwakobo Rock Lodge

Mihingo Lodge

Bwindi Community Camp

Buhoma Haven Lodge

Gorilla Forest Camp

Request a quote for a safari trip

[ejesgistnews]

Vice President Kashim Shettima Cancels Commonwealth Summit Trip following Aircraft Incident in New York. Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has cancelled his journey to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa after a foreign object reportedly struck his aircraft during a stopover at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. A statement from the Presidency on Thursday evening revealed that Vice President Shettima, who had initially embarked on the trip to represent Nigeria, aborted the journey following the incident. Read Also: Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate Today: Black Market and CBN Rates | October 25, 2024 "A foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York,” the statement noted, without elaborating further on the nature or severity of the incident. In response to this development, President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned a high-level ministerial delegation, headed by Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal, to stand in for Nigeria at the summit. Pay Attention To: BREAKING: No Deadline On Circulation Of Old N200, N500, N1000 Notes – CBN The delegation will join King Charles of England and other leaders from 56 Commonwealth member states in Apia, Samoa, where the summit’s theme, One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth, will guide discussions on resilience and cooperation across Commonwealth nations. "Vice President Shettima and Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar have already left New York and are en route to Nigeria,” Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed. This recent cancellation marks the second time this year that Vice President Shettima has had to withdraw from an international assignment midway. In May, he was scheduled to attend the US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas, but returned home after a technical fault arose with his aircraft. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit is an important biennial meeting where leaders from Commonwealth countries converge to deliberate on pressing global and regional issues.   Nigeria’s representation at the summit highlights its role and interest in shaping resilient policies and partnerships within the Commonwealth bloc. Stay informed with Ejes Gist News – Your Source for Credible News in Nigeria Now.