Guest Writers
Talking to Ibra Bedus.....but mainly listening....
For New Years Eve 2010 I went to The House of Coates, who claim to have the best hamburgers in the world! Just getting there was kind of dramatic, temperatures where Siberian! And whilst sitting amongst the local people there, mainly families, listening to them, I realized how tired I am hearing my own voice, my own opinions and my quest to get this Expedition on board! And I realized that I have always enjoyed listening more than talking and having an opinion just for the sake of having one. It is by listening to others, you develop as a human being. I am not an argumentative person. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion, no matter what, so for this reason I rather write my opinions. And have others state their opinions by leaving a comment. And, right now I have developed my blog writing to a stage, where I want other peoples voices, opinions, stories and thoughts on life to be read on my site. And the reason for this is that I have about 30 000 readers every month and 6500 subscribers to my newsletter. So the potential is there for people to listen. To create thought and debate!
This place claim to have the best hamburgers in the world....my opinion...maybe!
So here we go, I have contacted an array of interesting human beings who´s paths have crossed mine throughout the years and who have, in one way or the other, inspired me and made my life much better. People who make a difference and whose voice through film, lectures and writing will make life better. Or at least more interesting and enjoyable. And I will invite people from all walks of life, within my own sphere. Am sure many within the sphere of my Arabian Project.
But, however, this is important to understand, even though I publish their thoughts on my site, it is their opinions, not mine. So, please, you readers, to balance an article, please, have opinions! Start a debate! What do you reckon, is the guest writer right or wrong?
Guest writers to honor the site is:
CuChullaine O´Reilly
1. CuChullaine O’Reilly is an equestrian explorer, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers’ Club, one of the Founders of The Long Riders’ Guild, Director of the LRG-AF, publisher of the LRG Press and author of Khyber Knights. He explored Afghanistan and Pakistan on horseback, took part in the jihad against the Soviet Union, and converted to Islam more than thirty years ago. He has since renounced all acts of warfare, especially those inspired by religiously misguided zealots. Read his article here!
Nick Gallop - survival expert
2. Nick Gallop is a young man with a mission which we all maybe should aim for. He led an uneventful life in Southern England until he discovered the world of adventurous travel and backpacking. A number of solo packbacking trips to North-Africa, the Middle East, India,Scandinavia and Southern Africa sparked Nick´s love of wild places. They also made him wonder what would happen if something went wrong while on his own in a remote location. This concern together with an interest in the natural world and the ever present quest to improve comfort while carrying less stuff sparked a deep interest in wilderness and survival skills. Since then Nick has been trained by some of UK and Europe´s best known bushcraft,wilderness skills and survival instructors. He is now passionate about passing on this skills through writing and through teaching. Read his article here!
Tricia Nellesen - Lifting the Veil of Yemen
3. Tricia Nellesen is my third guest writer, who I met at Sabris school in Sanaa, Yemen, half a year ago and she had an insight to a world which i never will get access to, the one of Yemeni women! Tricia is a reputed cultural anthropologist specializing in Yemen and the Middle East. And after working 11 years as a journalist in the U.S., she returned to graduate school for her PhD. She became interested in studying Yemen after traveling there for language training and have since her first visit, studied the Middle East for four years and Yemen for two. And whilst in Yemen, she learned of the water shortage and wanted to help the people in some way—so she stayed in order to learn more. She is currently in the U.S. writing and compiling her research. Read her article here!
Ripley Davenport - Father and adventurer
4. Ripley Davenport. Ripley “doc” Davenport, 39 years old, served in a special forces unit of the royal navy. he served in the first gulf war, bosnia, and northern ireland and in the west indies on numerous anti-drug patrols aboard the royal navy ship hms active. during his service, ripley successfully completed many courses, such as intelligence photographer, survivalist, ships diver and rescue swimmer. ripley davenport is a renowned explorer, adventurer, humanitarian, and inspirational speaker and best known for his demanding expeditions to the isolated areas of the world, notably accomplished solo and unassisted without any machine or animal but on foot by hauling or carrying all his equipment. he avoids the worn tourist paths, and eminent landmarks, favouring instead to position himself unaided in potentially hostile environments. without any film crew, ripley can continue to pioneer the filming of his genuine experiences authentically in unforgiving surroundings as his journey develops. Read here!
Kyle Anthony Foster, Arabian philosopher or philosopher on Arabia
5. Kyle Anthony Foster from Nebraska, who is currently living in Yemen, and have been doing so for the last ten years or more. He is one of the biggest personalities and characters I have come across, a true story teller, survivor, human being and adventurer of the old sorts. Everything happens to this guy! Not one boring second with him. He is married to a nice Yemeni from Mukalla and they have a lovely daughter together. He knows the ins and outs of Yemen. An important voice to listen to, these days of painting Yemen as one of the most dangerous countries in the world! Read here!
Arita Baaijens - female leader!
6. Number 6 of the honored guest writers is Arita Baaijens. She is also a biologist, author, photographer and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Twenty years ago she gave up her job as an environmentalist, bought camels and made a solo crossing across the Western Desert of Egypt. Today she has made over 25 expeditions (3-6 months at a time) with her own caravan of camels all over Egypt and the Sudan. Read here!
Paula Constant - female adventurer from Australia
7. Paula Constant is from Australia and in 2004, with no previous expedition experience, Australian Paula Constant began walking from Trafalgar Square with a backpack. Since then, she has walked over 12000 km through eight countries, including nearly 8000km through the Sahara with her own camel train. Married when she left Trafalgar Square, Paula’s husband left the expedition a year later, when the couple were just 1000km into their desert trek. Paula carried on with two Arabic, nomadic guides, and went on to gain sponsorship and go over halfway across the Sahara in a bid to make a West to East crossing of the desert when she was stopped by civil war in Niger in 2007. She is the author of two books – Slow Journey South, recounting her European walk; and Sahara, detailing the desert journey. No female adventurer has walked so far through the Sahara alone but for local guides. Read her article here!
Christian Jansson is very close to the moajs of Rapa Nui....
8. Our next guest writer, Christian Janssons tale from the earth quake in Chile is brilliant and in such a hurry that I didn´t get a photo of him. He works for Ericsson in Santiago de Chile. Read his report here!
Robert Twigger - British desert explorer
9.Robert Twigger is a writer and explorer who in 2009-2010 was the first person to walk across the great Sand Sea of the Eastern Sahara. He has a website roberttwigger.com and his latest book is Dr Ragab’s Universal Language. Read his report here!