By Maria Carmel P. Geverola
Photos by Olaf Goerke
“Boda-boda, Madam China,” a driver of a bicycle-for-hire calls out. Kenyans have difficulty determining my nationality. They say I’m Chinese, Japanese or Korean. Filipinos are not on their top list when it comes to guessing Asian races.
I met the boda-boda driver in Kakamega in western Kenya, about a six- to nine-hour drive from the capital Nairobi.
The chosen route and road condition (number and size of potholes as well as bumps) determine how long the trip takes.
Boda-boda, whether a bicycle or motorbike, is a cheap way of going around town. The term is slang for “border to border” which started when bicycles transported passengers into no man’s land in Kenya and Uganda.
Kenya shares boundaries with Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia.
The main attraction in Kakamega is its forest national reserve. It is the only tropical rainforest in Kenya that survived human encroachment and is worth exploring.
Birdcalls fill the air while walking under the canopy of giant trees. About 350 species of birds have been spotted in the forest.
With my not-so perfect vision, I opted to look out for primates.
A piercing shriek or sudden rustling of leaves are signs for Olive Baboons. They call out to each other, as a warning, when they see their human cousins in the forest.
Continue reading ‘Madam China goes to Kenya’
Text and photos by Albert Alvarez
Two main things come to mind when I think of Salzburg, namely, Mozart and the movie, Sound of Music. It is a wonder that we have come to associate these two musical giants with such a small and quaint city.
The name Salzburg literally means “Salt Castle”, and originates from the barges that carried salt along the river of Salzach. Continue reading ‘Musical history in Salzburg’
Text and photos by Albert Alvarez
Lyon, known in English as Lyons, is the third largest city in France, next to Paris and Marseilles. This famous city has also known to be the French capital of gastronomy and plays an important role in French cinema.
Lyon’s beauty can also be attributed to the two rivers that surround it, the Rhône and Saône. This is accentuated by two large hills, one to the west and one to the north of the historic city center. Continue reading ‘A savory trip to Lyon’
By Nelia G. Neri
Fifty years ago, doctors Jess and Patsy (Lugod) Lim exchanged marrital vows at the Lourdes Church in Quezon City. They retraced their steps a month ago for their golden anniversary.
Continue reading ‘Celebration time’
Sarah Jane A. Nengasca peers into a spirit tuned in to others.
She’s been doing community extension services since high school, not only in the nearby communities, but reaching even far-off places in the province.
Continue reading ‘Ray of difference’
By Cathy Perez
It may have been the relaxing sound of flowing water from the Toujiang River, or the age-old edifices reminiscent of the Ming and Qing dynasties, or because of its people – friendly and simple – with its laid-back lifestyle, that convinced me that Feng Huang would be a place I would love to visit again and again.
Continue reading ‘Feng Huang’
By Ritchie Landis Doner Quijano
The vibrant art scene/community in Cebu is populated by individuals of various persuasions, trends, directions and inclinations in their chosen art.
I have recently noticed that a few artists I know have become extremely individualistic, preferring not to be part of anything whether a group or any artistic activity like exhibits. Continue reading ‘4 for Art’
Grace C. Guiang associates Chinese New Year, observed on Feb. 7 this year, with a celebrated rejection.
In preschool, our teachers taught us the alphabet and numbers in English and Filipino.
Continue reading ‘Reversal of fortune’
IT’S the place where BMW and Oktoberfest come from, but how much more do we know about a beautiful place like Bavaria? Known as Bayern in German, it is the largest of the 16 states, or bundesländer, in Germany. It lays to the south and shares borders with Austria, Czech Republic and Switzerland through Lake Constance.
Continue reading ‘No place like Bavaria’
