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Fashion over comfort when Travelling?

By
Ahabu Phillip
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Where did this come from?

When I was travelling around Europe I only had a backpack to carry with me.

Everything in that backpack was supposed to last for six months.

Obviously, I didn’t really have the money to buy a new outfit and with time, my sense of fashion slowly deteriorated.

I started to wear what was clean and what was comfortable without giving a second thought to what I actually looked like.

The travel fashion challenge

Is that ok?

Maybe, when you’re around people that have the same issues as you: limited space in their backpack, not enough money and just a high priority on comfort.
But recently, I was given a challenge by Hotsquash to make different looks whilst travelling with a backpack with only 1 skirt. Challenge accepted!

I just came back from a trip through Eastern Europe: Dubrovnik – Mostar – Sarajevo – Budapest – Bucharest – Brasov

It was amazing!

Freezing, mind you, with snow in Sarajevo, but amazing.

Mostar

Budapest

I was skeptical but God I love this skirt.
And there is so much more room for mixing and matching when you come back home. Oh if you want to buy the skirt you can get it here.

What’s your favourite travel outfit?

Explore Capadoccia: the Kingdom of Caves

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Cappadocia Travel

Zoë Smith explores the underground dwellings and fairy chimneys of enchanting Cappadocia

This is how the Hittite tribes travelled,” my guide Ibo tells me as we saddle up our horses, a pair of lithe Barb-Arab steeds, stomping their hooves impatiently on the gravel. The Hittites, who inhabited this region of Central Anatolia from as early as 1800 BC, were so renowned for their skilled mounts that the region is named after them. “Cappadocia,” Ibo enlightens me, “means the Land of the Beautiful Horses.”

With its iconic rock spires – evocatively dubbed ‘fairy chimneys’ – set against a tableau of yawning valleys and knobbled peaks, Cappadocia is a land made for exploring on horseback.

We set out from Avanos, a town famed for its distinctive pottery works, and trail the banks of the Kızılırmak, the Red River from which the ubiquitous clay is dredged.

From here, we gallop across grassy steppes blazing with wildflowers and scramble up rocky pathways on foot, our horses clambering nimbly behind. At times we travel almost in silence, the only sound our horses’ hooves clattering over tuff ridges or brushing thickets of lavender; at others we amble through rock-hewn villages where locals shout cordialities or weave our way through throngs of tour buses.

Geological marvels

In the Devrent Valley, or ‘Imagination Valley’, we get the first taste of picture-postcard Cappadocia, a geological marvel formed by volcanic eruptions over 30 million years ago. The other-worldly terrain, shaped and sculpted through years of erosion, is a natural museum, each valley unveiling a gallery of equally spectacular rock art. Here, the peculiar rock formations bear such an uncanny resemblance to animals, that the valley has been nicknamed the ‘sculpture zoo’.

Neighbouring Paşabağ, or Monk’s valley, once sheltered hermit monks in its mushroom-capped fairy chimneys, some towering 20 metres overhead. We trot through the humourously christened ‘Love Valley’, its tuff whipped into curiously phallic peaks, and loop back to Çavusin, where the ruins of an ancient cave settlement are etched into the rock face.

Göreme’s churches are not the only reminder of Cappadocia’s renowned religious tolerance; vast numbers of early Christians sought refuge in the region, leaving behind the greatest concentration of Roman and Byzantine era churches in the country, merging with the unearthly landscape.

The Ihlara Valley, cocooned beneath the now-extinct Hasan and Melendiz volcanoes, envelops some 100 ancient churches in its folds, reached by one of the region’s most idyllic treks. I opt to hike a four-hour stretch, tracing the paths carved into the towering red rock canyon by the swollen Melendiz River– an ideal location for Christian communities to hide from Arab invasion.

Another safe haven was the nearby Derinkuyu, the largest and most visited of the region’s extraordinary underground cities, dating back to 1200 BC and accommodating communities of up to 20,000 people. One of around 40 such settlements excavated in the region brings a whole new meaning to the caveman stereotype: nine storeys burrowing to depths of 55 metres, still aired by the original ventilation shafts and connected by a tangle of narrow tunnels.

The vastness of the underground realm is mind-boggling. In one space, two long, rock-hewn tables indicate a dining room or school; in another, black charred nooks hint at a one-time kitchen. The bottom floor dungeons are accessible by a tunnel so tight I find myself bent double, crawling into the depths of the earth.

Blending ancient and modern

Despite its burgeoning tourism industry, Cappadocia retains a refreshingly mindful ethos, ensuring modern developments blend seamlessly into the age-old landscape. The result is eerily troglodyte – windows poke out of rocky outcrops, spirals of smoke curl up from squat fairy chimneys, and hotel façades are streaked with iron ore pigment.

Bedding down in a cave dwelling is the quintessential Cappadocian experience, and while the tourist hubs of Göreme and Ürgüp are littered with cave hotels, I’ve opted to stay at the majestic Gamirasu Cave Hotel. Located in the traditional Anatolian village of Ayvali, the hotel is one of a new wave championing sustainable tourism, offering unique cultural experiences.

“When you come here, you are not just visiting my village but my home,” Gamirasu’s proprietor Ibrahim enthuses, insisting I join a tour the following day.

It’s harvest time and the rooftops of Ayvali are blanketed in glistening apricots, the sweet scent following us as we wander through the market, visit a traditional wine cave and sip thick Turkish coffee at the local Kahvehane. This is no ordinary tour. A German couple make up our group of three and, accompanied by a guide, we are invited to the home of a local couple, Durmuş and Fatma, to prepare lunch – a series of mezes followed by aside, a dough-like dessert, sweetened with pekmez, boiled grape syrup.

As we layer finger-like börek pastries with soft, crumbly cheese and bake slippery aubergines swollen with spiced bulgur wheat, it’s the start of my calorific love affair with Turkish cuisine.

Bird’s-eye view

On my final morning, I brave the skies for the ultimate view of Cappadocia – watching the sunrise on a hot air balloon flight. Since the first ballooning company opened in 1991, the activity has taken off with such gusto that locals joke, “Everyone who’s anyone in Cappadocia owns a hot air balloon.”
Sunrise flights are so popular that the floating baskets have become a fixture on the dawn skyline – a bobbing congregation of coloured baubles lingering over the horizon. Groggy from the 4am wake-up call, I clamber into the giant basket, squished between a bevy of camera-clutching tourists. I, too, hold my camera aloft, but no amount of amateur photography could do justice to the sunrise.

This is Cappadocia at its most ethereal – the sky smudged with morning mist; rocky outcrops blushing under the first glaze of sun; the air sweet with the scent of thyme rising from the hillocks.

Beneath us, the expanse of fairy chimneys appears like a wave of triumphant fists punching the air, and as we land with a soft thud amid a long-neglected vegetable patch, I can’t help but raise my champagne glass with them.

A World of Tapas: Foodie Journey through Andalucia

By
Ahabu Phillip
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In March I booked some holidays and did a Spanish travel marathon going through 4 cities in 4 days. It wasn’t easy, so I had to keep my strength somehow and what better way to do that then through the most delicious foods of Andalucia: their tapas.

Also, before I left, knowing how much I love Spanish tapas, Peter (Travel Unmasked) challenged me to eat 30 tapas on my trip.

Challenge Accepted! Here is the proof:

Please make note I couldn’t fill this post with pictures of all the food. It was hard enough to get these ones crammed in.

Malaga: tapas count 12

Malaga treated me with a few really yummy tapas and in all honesty I thought I will not be able to do the challenge. After only six types at dinner I was barely breathing.

But that wasn’t going to get me anywhere near to completing the challenge so we went for another round:

Before catching the train to Seville we had lunch at El Pimpi. I know this sparked a bit of debate in the comments of the post I did about the trip, but I do think the food was great for the price, service was up to standards, staff was friendly and all tables around us were filled by Spanish. That must say something shouldn’t it? Anywho, El Pimpi got us closer with five dishes:

Seville: tapas count 1

As we got to our second city on our marathon I had almost half of the tapas under my belt – and probably two extra pounds, to be able enjoy Seville with just Sangria and a shared paella.

Granada: tapas count 7

Next followed Granada with delicious patatas bravas and meatballs marinated in spicy sauce, some pickles, olives and of course, the mandatory jamon and chorizo amongst others.

La Herradura: tapas count 18

And then we got to La Herradura, a city between Malaga and Granada where all tapas are free if you get a beer or glass of wine (3 Euros each).

Yes, all of that is free. How you can not get fat in Andalusia is beyond me. I do love Spain: great food, cheap drinks and weather to die for in March. What’s not to love?

Whereas I am still praying for the rain to stop mid May in Manchester.

But here are the last tapas that helped not only complete Peter’s 30 tapas eating challenge, but over doing it as well. I am overachiever after all 🙂

All in all, I enjoyed being an amateur foodie and explore the world of tapas through Andalucia. Maybe I’ll do this again if I manage to get rid of all the pounds I put on after this holiday.

Do you have any favorite tapas or tapas restaurants?

The Value of Traveling to Dark Places

By
Ahabu Phillip
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Cruising down the auto-route, eastbound out of Paris, one sees huge billboards advertising Disneyland. Now make no mistake about it, I and my family visited Disneyland before, although the one in Orlando, Florida, rather than the one in France.
We have also unfurled the family flag at many other such amusement parks, both in the US and in Europe. And I particularly remember a great time at the huge water park outside Madrid.
In other words, we are not a morbid family. We like to enjoy ourselves. Even so, I have found that the most memorable of our family trips were to some of the darker places on earth.
One of the luxuries of being a writer is that you can quote yourself, and in TRAGIC SHORES, A MEMOIR OF DARK TRAVEL, I wrote that “there is much to be gained where much has been lost.”
I have found this to be particularly true with regard to the experience dark places offer to family life.
Over the years, my late wife, Susan Terner, and my daughter, Justine, came to understand the value of such places, and to seek them out.
Very early in our travels, we’d come to understand that it was at Lourdes we’d most felt the frailty of health, and at Auschwitz, the cruelty of history. These lessons shared were powerful and so we sought more of them.
And so in Africa, at Elmina, we passed through the Door of No Return together, knowing that had we been a slave family, we would have long since been separated, never to set eyes upon each again.
We spoke of slavery again at the stone quarry in Siracusa, our voices echoing through Dionysius’ Ear.
Outside Krakow, we made the harrowing descent into the salt mine at Wieliczka, as always, together, in a rickety wooden elevator, clinging to each other as we were lowered into a darkness within which untold generations of human beings had worked away their lives.
Where better to realize that unprocessed salt is black in more ways than one, and to do so as a family, learning and teaching together.
Over time, the bonds that united us in darkness seemed stronger than all others. We went to prisons, to death camps, to a home for mentally disabled children in Kumasi, to fields of battle from Waterloo to Anzio, as well as places, like the Alcazar, in Toledo, Spain, where a far more intimate tragedy was endured, in this case, by a loving father and his son.
The experiences were so powerful, and in their power, so deeply shared, that after our daughter Justine grew up and made a family of her own, Susan and I continued to find our most heartfelt moments in the dark places of the earth.
We went to Hiroshima and to Nagasaki, to the suicide cliffs of Okinawa, and to the leper colony on Molokai.
We walked the ghostly streets of Oradour-sur-Glane, preserved intact since the day its entire population was murdered by German soldiers, as well as the fallen ramparts of Machecoul, home to Gilles de Rais, the world’s first recorded serial killer.
On a rainy afternoon I will never forget, we silently toured the trenches of Verdun.
And what did we learn from such places? Many things, of course. For a place to move you, to make you feel your heart breaking and your eyes grow misty, it doesn’t mean that place is depressing.
In fact, for human beings, the act of sharing – particularly a shared empathy – is never depressing. In fact, both the moments we share such feelings, and the times we remember them, are among the most precious we can know.
During my wife’s long dying, we often recalled our travels. And, yes, there were times when we spoke of Disneyland and other such places.
But more often, we recalled the darkness that had so illuminated our life together.
The prison in Dublin, with its heart-rending stories, the American Cemetery in the Ardennes, so beautiful in its dignity, the island of Melos, whose entire population the ancient Athenians had either put to the sword or shipped off to slavery to name a few.
Even now, I recall Susan’s comment as she pondered the sparse, rocky nature of its landscape:
“Where could a mother hide her child?”
Not long ago, Justine, now 37, and a world traveller on her own, told me that she intended to do with her family what Susan and I had done for ours:
“I want to travel to those dark places with my own child,” she said.
Then she looked at me a little wonderingly, as if puzzled by the thought, and added:
“Strange, but compared to places like the Alcazar, I don’t much remember Disneyland.”
Strange, yes, but neither do I.

Why Rent a Car and Rooftop Tent for your camping Safari

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admin
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Renting a car and roof tent camping is one of the new adventure experiences making big strides in the safari world. Travelers have abandoned staying in established lodges to sleeping in the tents on the roofs of their rental cars.

This is a great way to explore the country and experience its natural beauty and wildlife as you listen to the true sounds of nature and also delight at the stars and moonlight.

You may ask yourself; how do I book a rental car and a rooftop tent? It is simple, get the internet on your device which could a phone, computer, or tablet. Search for car rental companies, you will get what you are looking for.

Here are a few reasons why:

Flexibility
With your own car and roof tent, you have the flexibility to create your itinerary and travel at your own pace. You can stop and explore places that interest you, and you can stay in remote areas that may not be easily accessible by public transportation. You have your transport means and accommodation, you decide when to travel and rest. Additionally, camping gear including cooking equipment is provided, so you can prepare your meals at any time.

Cost-effective
Renting a car and roof tent can be a cost-effective way to travel in Uganda, especially if you plan to stay in rural areas where there are limited accommodation options. Instead of paying for expensive lodges or hotels, you can camp in a roof tent and save money on accommodation. Imagine covering the expenses of car hire and accommodation at only 90$ if you are hiring a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado with a rooftop tent. This is way much cheaper than if you hire a car separately and then a structured lodge.

Wildlife Viewing
A country like Uganda is home to a wide range of wildlife, including gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, and lions. With your car, you can drive through national parks and reserves and spot wildlife at your own pace. For instance, while on a game drive in the savannah parks particularly Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park, you can explore all tracks where animals are known to be breeding since you make your own schedule.

Adventure
Renting a car and rooftop tent in Uganda can be a great adventure. You’ll have the opportunity to explore off-the-beaten-path areas and experience the country in a unique way.

Safety
Safety and security are paramount in every adventure. Hiring a car and a rooftop tent provides safety to campers. In this adventure, the tent is pitched atop the vehicle free from wild animals and dangerous ground bugs.

Overall, renting a car and roof tent can be a great way to experience the country’s natural beauty, wildlife, and culture while enjoying the flexibility and adventure of independent travel.

A Holiday at Cannon Beach

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For the Thanksgiving holiday, Chris and I went to Oregon to celebrate with family and friends. While we were looking forward to spending quality time with loved ones, we were also anxious to visit the little town of Cannon Beach situated along the northern edge of Oregon’s coastline. Cannon Beach has its own thing going on and this fact becomes apparent as soon as you turn off from highway 101. Dozens of small boutique shops selling their unique and often expensive wares; short, winding roads that can be walked faster than driven; warm restaurants beckoning you inside with the smell of clam chowder, garlic bread, and grilled halibut; and a breathtaking view of the ocean. We were lucky enough to have a friend who lived in the area, so finding a parking spot wasn’t as much of an adventure as it could have been.

By the time the sun had situated itself directly overhead, we were making our way down to the beach. Wrapped in jackets, scarves, hats, and boots, we trudged through the dunes until the ocean came into view. We discovered that the tide was so far out that we could walk around the sea cliffs without even getting our feet wet. Our friend said that he hadn’t seen the tide so low in a long time and that we should take full advantage. No problem!

The low tide provided a wide sweeping beach that is rarely experienced. Dozens of purple and gold sea stars clung to the sides of the rocks feasting on muscles and limpets. Green sea anemones wrapped their tendrils around their centers to protect themselves from the elements.

Halfway through our journey we heard about a sun star that was stranded in a puddle on the beach. Hurrying to the supposed site we found a purple creature the size of a serving plate. Its 19 stiff arms slowly twirled around in a circle as it worked its way to a nearby rock. There, it latched on with the tiny suction cups under its limbs and waited for the tide to come back in.

The low tide also offered up a few perfect sand dollars, which I had never seen outside of a store (I’m sure many of these treasures found themselves in the insides of visitor’s pockets). A few plastic water bottles and soda cans were also found and we made sure those treasures were relocated to a trash can.

As the walk neared its end and we started our assent back to the house, I turned back to the ocean for one last look. As I squinted at the powerful waves and the distant rock formations that had endured wind, water, and time for centuries I thought of something John F. Kennedy once said, “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.”

6 Questions to Ask Before Buying A Backpack

By
Ahabu Phillip
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Backpack

If you’re a regular traveller, you’ll know the importance of a backpack.  A backpack is so much more versatile and convenient than a suitcase for the serious traveller.

A backpack is smaller, easier to carry, suitable for every kind of trip and it can take much more abuse on the world’s various public transport systems!

But with so many backpacks on the market, it can be confusing to know what to look for. Here’s our guide to what to look for in a great traveller backpack.

Should I Get a Big or a Small Backpack? Does Size Matter?

Many people automatically choose a big backpack for travel. While it’s important to choose a backpack that can fit in everything you need, it’s much more essential to find a backpack that suits your body size.

If it’s too big, the weight will be distributed unevenly, and this can cause back problems or even make you topple over while walking.

The way to choose the right size is to try them on, preferably with weight added, to see how it feels.

First and foremost, it must feel comfortable on your back, at the same time as having enough room for everything you need to carry.

Ideally, leave a little extra space for all the keepsakes you’ll want to bring back from your travels.

Backpack size is measured in litres. 50-55 litres should be fine for a woman, and 60-65 litres for a man, as men will generally need a little more space due to their bigger clothes and shoes.

It’s also worth remembering that a backpack that is too big or heavy won’t be allowed in the cabin of a plane, and you’ll have to check it in like a suitcase. 30-45 litres is generally acceptable as hand luggage.

What Material Should the Backpack Be?

The material should be lightweight and durable. Even if it’s not 100% waterproof, a travelling backpack should at least be water resistant, in case you get caught in a downpour.

Wet, smelly clothes aren’t what you want on your travels, after all.

Two of the most popular and practical backpack materials are rip-stop nylon and cotton canvas. Both of these are water resistant, hard wearing and light to carry.

Security

Obviously, security is a huge priority in a backpack for travellers. Here are some of the main features you should be looking for:

  • Lockable zips. Each compartment should have two zips that you can lock with a padlock, to protect your valuables from opportunistic thieves.
  • Reinforced straps. Many backpacks now have toughened straps. This makes it more difficult for a thief to cut through, while still being lightweight.
  • RFID blocking technology. This is something you really should consider due to the rise in digital theft. Digital thieves carry equipment that can read the information contained in the chips on your bank card and passport. A backpack with RFID blocking panels allows you to carry these items without the risk of your money, or even your identity, being digitally stolen.

Is Comfort Important When Buying a Backpack?

The perfect trip backpack is the one that you can carry the most comfortably, even over long distances. Ideally it should have the following features for comfort and ease of carrying:

  • Internal frame. Most backpacks these days have an internal frame, usually made of hard wearing plastic, as opposed to the old-style traveller backpacks with external metal frames. An internal frame is definitely a priority as it makes your backpack slimmer, lighter and easier to carry.
  • Lumbar support: Look for a backpack that is curved to fit into your back rather than straight, as this will prevent the pack from jarring your back as you walk. The curved part should also be padded for maximum comfort, support and breathability.
  • Hip belt. Over time as you travel, you will be increasingly glad of a hip belt on your backpack. This protects your back by preventing all the weight from being distributed across your shoulders. Make sure the hip belt is adjustable to suit your size and the weight of the pack.
  • Padded straps. The shoulder straps and hip belt should be as thickly padded as possible. This will make your backpack more comfortable over long distances, and take some of the pressure off your back and shoulders.

The Backpack Design

Backpacks come in two main styles: travelpacks and toploaders. A travelpack opens at the front like a suitcase. Toploaders, as the name suggests, open via a flap at the top and fasten with drawstrings. Ultimately, the style you choose is entirely down to your own preference.

Some other design features to consider include:

  • Separate compartments. These are a great idea as they allow you to keep your clean clothes separate from your dirty ones, and prevent your muddy shoes from coming into contact with your tech gadgets!
  • Compression/ expansion. These capabilities can come in handy if you regularly go on trips of different lengths, or if you’re likely to make a few purchases while you’re away.

Backpack Prices

You can expect to spend anywhere between £50 and £200 on a good traveller backpack. The most expensive isn’t necessarily the best; usually £100 – £150 will get you a more than adequate backpack for your needs, but if you’re lucky you might find your perfect pack a lot cheaper than that.

Mountain Warehouse actually have a sale on as most brands would this time of year so it’s worth keeping an eye out for a cheeky deal. I got mine years ago and it’s been a trusty partner.

Ready to Buy Your Backpack?

Buying a backpack is all about personal preference, but you want one to last and have many adventures with you. Don’t rush the decision. Go online and read backpack reviews. Go into shops and try on as many backpacks as you like. Ultimately, the best backpack to buy is the one that feels right for you.

Authentic Food Quest Argentina: A New, More Delicious, Travel Guide

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New, More Delicious, Travel Guide

One of the greatest aspects of being a travel magazine in this day and age is learning about and sharing some of the more thoughtful new products that are being created in the industry. Our lives have been changed by new technologies like those found in the GRAYL purification water bottle. Our luggage is lighter because of the genius engineering of Bluffworks. And now, our travels are about to get so much more tasty because of the new travel guide series, Authentic Food Quest.

The first guidebook in this new series, Authentic Food Quest Argentina: A Guide to Eat Your Way Authentically Through Argentina, was chalk-full of information. According to the authors of the guide, it’s mission was to be a scrumptious guide that took the hassle out of doing all the research about Argentine cuisine and gave travelers the tools to have their own culinary adventures. The guide promised stories of local dining adventures, recipes, travel tips on how to get the most authentic experience around the country, and more; and boy, it delivered!

This wasn’t a typical guidebook, where you flip to a region and get a brief summary with a list of addresses. By the time we had finished reading the book (which took less than a day, we were so engrossed in the content), we felt like we had tasted our way through the country alongside the authors and we couldn’t wait to go back! It was obvious that the authors, Rosemary Kimani and Claire Rouger, poured every drop of their passion, heart and energy into this guide. We had to get a hold of them and ask them how they did it. Here’s what they said:

What inspired you to create this guide?

Our mission is to inspire people to travel through food. We believe that when you travel through food, you can have deeper and more meaningful connections with the locals at the destination. Food offers us a window into the local culture, people and region/country.

Through this book, we want travelers to open up to new tastes and flavors and have a deeper connection and travel experience in Argentina. By seeking out the local dishes, visiting the farmers markets, local food stores and more, travelers will have a richer experience.

Why did you decide to focus on Argentina?

Argentina is a very popular destination and it is also the most visited country in South America. One of the biggest misconceptions about the food in Argentina is that it is limited to beef and Malbec wines. As we traveled throughout the country, we found the cuisine to be varied and distinctive.

Given the rich gastronomy and regional dishes combined with the popularity of Argentina, we decided to focus our first book on the delicious and authentic cuisines found in the country. Through this book, we would like food enthusiasts to know that Argentina has so much more to offer beyond beef and Malbec wines.

Authentic Food Quest Argentina takes readers on a culinary journey through four main regions of Argentina: Buenos Aires, Mendoza & the Wine Regions, the Andean Northwest, and Patagonia & the Lake Region. Over 50 authentic foods, desserts, beverages, and street foods are highlighted. More than 270 references of authentic restaurants, wineries, farmers markets and local food stores are provided.

What were some of your favorite moments creating this guide?

The “research phase” was what we enjoyed the most in the process. Wandering around the markets, talking to vendors and chefs, connecting with locals and learning about the traditional dishes was quite remarkable. And of course, we cannot forget eating the food.

When it came to creating the guide, learning about the self-publishing process was quite an eye opener. Neither one of us has experience in publishing, so this was a completely new arena to learn and implement. Through self-publishing, anyone can bring their story to life. The tools exist and if we can do it, anyone can.

Were there challenges you didn’t foresee in putting it together?

One really unexpected challenge we faced was hunger. Every time we sat down to write, and even though we had just eaten, we would immediately start getting hungry. We had to break multiple times during the book writing process to eat. One benefit that came out of this experience was making dishes from recipes we picked up in Argentina.

The process of putting the book together took much longer than we had anticipated. While we managed to keep to our schedule for the writing portion of the book, the formatting took more time than expected. We self-published the book and created two versions – Kindle and paperback. The formatting for each platform was unique and the book needed to be adjusted to fit the parameters. While we worked with a terrific graphic designer who was very responsive, we had not anticipated the extra steps and time.

Empanadas for everyone! – Photo courtesy of Authentic Food Quest

Was there anything you decided to leave out of the guide that you wished you’d left in?

The guide is pretty comprehensive and everything we wanted to include was captured. The only thing we would have wished to include were additional pictures of the beautiful country. We were able to include the food photos we wanted and prioritized them over landscape pictures.

Would you do anything differently the next time around?

Judging by the initial feedback we received from our readers, people really enjoyed the stories we shared about meeting top Argentina chef, Francis Mallmann, the chefs and cooks in Mendoza, our first asado and others. To build on the personal narrative, in future books we will tell more stories about the people we meet, including how we meet them and our experiences together, and of course the dishes.

Cazuelade Llama – Photo courtesy of Authentic Food Quest

Do you have a favorite story in the guide?

One of our favorite stories from the guide is about our first asado experience in the Pampas of Argentina. Here we tell the story of getting invited to an estancia (working farm) and attending a very traditional asado (barbeque). In Argentina, an asado goes way beyond the food and is really about shared moments in the company of loved ones. We share the story of the food, the traditional folklore music and the gaucho culture. We bring the Argentine culture forward through the food.

What is your information gathering process? How do you collect all that delightful data?

When it comes to discovering the local and authentic dishes of a country, we take a 4-step approach:

  1. We start by researching the authentic and traditional dishes ahead of time. We read books, journals and research online to learn about the traditional food of the country.

  2. We connect with locals prior to traveling and also when we arrive in the country.

  3. We visit local farmers markets and food stores to see the local produce and regional specialties.

  4. We interview local experts who help us understand the local specialties and their cultural significance. This is a broad group and it includes chefs, restaurant owners, market vendors, gastronomy experts and more.

Our approach combines both observations and advice from locals. What makes this work is having a healthy dose of curiosity and the ability to travel “slow.” We stay with locals on our travels and this immersive experience helps us connect deeper with the local food culture.

Rosemary Kimani and Claire Rouger in Cumana – Photo courtesy of Authentic Food Quest

What was the most important lesson you learned during this experience?

Given that neither one of us has a writing or journalistic background, we were quite apprehensive about two things – writing a book and whether our story would be well received.  After seven months (writing to publishing the paperback version) we have learned to “go beyond fear” and work towards our goal. When the initial feedback we received from our editor was positive, we were uplifted and encouraged. To bring the book to life, we engaged partners including an editor, graphic designer, book cover designer and several beta readers. So, what we learned from this experience is: in order to realize your dream, you must work towards your goal and engage partners with the expertise you don’t have.

What has been the response to the guide so far?

The response to the guide has been very positive. Readers have enjoyed the easy to follow format, the range of foods highlighted – from street foods, to traditional dishes and unique produce, as well as the markets and restaurants to sample the delicacies. In addition, what also meant a lot to us was feedback from our Argentina readers who relived their memories in our book and felt that we captured the cultural nuances accurately.

We are selling both Kindle and paperback versions of the book almost equally. Our initial idea was to launch only the Kindle version, which is convenient for travelers to download and carry. After the Kindle version came out in July, one unexpected request we received frequently was for a paperback version. This led to the creation of the paperback book, which came out in September. Despite the move to digital products, we have learned that there is still a fair amount of people who still prefer holding a copy of a book in their hands.

What is the next guide going to be about? Can we get a sneak peak at a favorite highlight?

The next book will be about the authentic dishes we discovered in Peru. Discovering the food from the Amazon was an unexpected and amazing experience. While we did not visit the Amazon rain forest, we had the chance to explore the surprising cuisine in Lima, as well as taste unique and strange fruits. We will be highlighting these dishes in our next book and inviting travelers to Peru to eat the local delicacies from the Amazon.

La Boca, Caminito – Photo courtesy of Authentic Food Quest

About the Authors:

Rosemary Kimani and Claire Rouger are co-founders of Authentic Food Quest. They aim to transform travelers experiences through the discovery and knowledge of authentic food. They believe that by traveling through food, people have more meaningful connections with the local people, food and culture.

In 2015, they traded in their corporate jobs to eat their way around the world. Starting out in South America, they traveled to Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Peru and spent 6 months discovering the authentic foods in the region.

Now authors, they recently published their first book available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble Authentic Food Quest Argentina: A Guide To Eat Your Way Authentically Through Argentina.

Their authentic food quest continues in Southeast Asia, where you can join them as they discover and highlight the authentic dishes of the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

Bisate Lodge Set to Open in Rwanda in June 2017

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Bisate Wilderness Lodge

Wilderness Safaris Bisate Lodge, situated next to Rwanda’s renowned Volcanoes National Park, is on track to open for guests on 1 June 2017. Comprising just six forest villas, Bisate Lodge will offer a luxurious base from which to enjoy an extraordinary gorilla conservation experience and a holistic exploration of this beautiful region.

Situated within the amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone, the 27-hectare Bisate site is incomparable in terms of its natural splendour, with sweeping views towards the Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno volcanoes.

It is close enough to Kinigi (the Volcanoes National Park Headquarters) to be convenient for guests’ morning gorilla treks, but far enough away so as to feel remote and even – as a result of the onsite indigenous reforestation project – part of the spectacular Park.

Featuring six luxurious forest villas, the real generosity of Bisate in the Rwandan context will be the amount of private and exclusive space that surrounds the Lodge, cosseting it in a rare natural landscape brimming with Albertine Rift biodiversity and beauty.

Each spacious forest villa will comprise a generous yet intimate combination of bedroom, reception space and bathroom, all warmed by a central fireplace and with breathtaking views out across a private deck towards Mount Bisoke.

Bookings for Bisate Lodge open on the 3rd of October 2016. All sales will be handled by Wilderness Safaris’ partner and ground handler in Rwanda, Thousand Hills Africa (previously Thousand Hills Expeditions).

“With over 12 years’ experience in tailor-making life-changing journeys in Rwanda, we are thrilled to partner with Wilderness Safaris and look forward to welcoming many guests to the luxurious new Bisate Lodge next year”, said Jacqui Sebageni, MD of Thousand Hills Africa.

How Tourism is Helping Gorillas and Communities in Rwanda

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Rwanda Gorillas

In the world of mountain gorilla conservation, every birth of a new born baby gorilla is a success. According to the 2011 gorilla census report, there are fewer than 1000 mountain gorillas left in the whole world, and half of this remaining population is found in the volcanic mountains of the Virunga range shared by Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The rest of the population is found in the impenetrable forests of Bwindi National Park located in south western Uganda. 

Rwanda has about 10 habituated gorilla groups available for tourism purposes, and many tour operators in Kigali and Kampala offer a wide variety of gorilla safaris to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, making gorilla tourism the leading foreign exchange earner for the country. More importantly, tourism is aiding in wildlife conservation as well as helping to empower local communities. Here’s how:

Kwita Izina 

Kwita Izina is an annual Rwandan ceremony that involves giving names to the newly born mountain gorillas of the region. The main objective of Kwita Izina is to assist in monitoring each individual mountain gorilla in their family groups. The ceremony also aims to bring attention both locally and internationally to the importance of protecting these gentle giants in their natural habitat.

Through this event, officials help to sensitise the local communities around Volcanoes National Park and beyond about the importance of gorilla tourism as a new hope for this endangered species.

The ceremony attracts many people from different parts of the world and on that day, all accommodation units around the gorilla park are always full. Kwita Izina 2016 recently took place at Kinigi in Musanze, and was attended by thousands of people. This year 22 gorillas were named, a huge step in helping to protect this species.

Gorilla Doctors

The Gorilla Doctors are a dedicated team of professionals tasked with looking after the well-being of the endangered mountain and eastern lowland gorillas in Rwanda and DRC respectively. It is another support team for gorilla tourism, and a new hope for Rwanda’s gorillas. The many duties of the Gorilla Doctors include:

-Monitoring the health of each gorilla and helping to detect any disease or injury.

-Providing treatment to any ill gorilla in the wild.

-Rescuing and providing veterinary care to injured and orphaned gorillas by poachers.

-Conducting post-mortem reports of deceased gorillas to find out the cause of their death and learn how to prevent it.

-Preserving biological samples (for example; blood, feces) to be used by researchers investigating primate health issues around the world.

-Offering preventative healthcare to the dedicated park employees who protect the gorillas in the forest, the local community surrounding the gorilla park and their livestock as a strategy to reduce the risk of disease transmission from humans to gorillas.

Gorilla Doctors work hand in hand with the wildlife authorities in Rwanda and Uganda and with international conservation organisations such as International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) and Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.

Employment opportunities

Gorilla tourism creates employment opportunities for local communities around the gorilla parks including ex-poachers. For instance, people are employed in the park as rangers, park guides, wardens and porters. Others are employed in the hotel sector as waiters, lodge managers, security guards or chefs.

Furthermore, the hotels and lodges near gorilla parks create a market for local agricultural products such as vegetables, bananas, milk, and cattle. This again helps to create local awareness about the importance of gorilla tourism.

Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village

This is a non-profit umbrella organization with the main objective of improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Volcanoes National Park Rwanda as a way to conserve the mountain gorillas and their natural habitat. This is done through the provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects.

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Journeys Magazine is a travel publication with In-depth features on best destinations to visit, things to see. tips and advice to help you travel around the world.
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