Welcome to the country of Burkina Faso and her capital city, Ouagadougou in Western Africa on Virtualtripping.com.
By Mark on January 23, 2012
Burkina Faso Hotel and Hostel Reservation by HotelWorld.co
♫ Burkina Faso National Anthem ♫
Driving around in Ougadougou
Travessia da capital de Burkina: Ouagadougou
This is a picture taken from flickr of the people of Burkina Faso.
So where is Burkina Faso and what have i learn’t about this nation, well it is also known as Burkina. This is a landlocked country in the west of Africa. This nation is surrounded by her neighbours, they are: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d’Ivoire to the southwest. Burkina Faso is quite a small country, it is in size is 274,200 square kilometres or 105,900 sq miles and there is an estimated population of more than 15,757,000. It used to be known as the Republic of Upper Volta, but it was renamed by the then President Thomas Sankara, on 4 August 1984, it mean’t “the land of upright people” in Mòoré and Dioula, which are the major native languages of the country. But the name today, for example, “Burkina” may be translated as, “men of integrity”, this from the Mòoré language, and “Faso” means “father’s house” in Dioula. The local people of the nation are known today Burkinabe.
This is a picture taken from flickr of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
This is a picture taken from flickr of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
So the history of Burkina Faso, says that this nation was populated somewhere between 14,000 and 5000 BC by what was hunter-gatherers in the country’s northwestern region. It then appears that farm settlements appeared between 3600 and 2600 BC. The central part, it in the olden years used to be principally composed of Mossi kingdoms. But it was around 1896, when these Mossi Kingdoms would become a French protectorate. It was around 1960, when Burkina Faso, finally was given independence from France, and it went through many governmental changes until arriving at its current form, a semi-presidential republic. The president being Blaise Compaoré. The capital of this nation is Ouagadougou and the country is a member of the African Union, Community of Sahel-Saharan States, La Francophonie, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Economic Community of West African States.
This is a picture taken from flickr of a dish known as Burrito Special.
This is a picture taken from flickr of two people walking the street in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Now one thing that surprised me about this country is that it is well-known for it’s cinema of Burkina Faso, this has become an important part of West African and the African film industry. It all started in 1969, when they contributed to African cinema with the establishment of the film festival FESPACO (Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévision de Ouagadougou), which was launched as a film week in that year. I was quite surprised to learn that alot of Burkina faso’s filmmakers are known internationally and that some of them have won international prizes. Also it appears that headquarters of the Federation of Panafrican Filmmakers (FEPACI) was inthe capital city of Ouagadougou. It apears that there was a decline and it had to be saved which it was in 1983. When the President Sankara helped it out, but then in 2006 the Secretariat of FEPACI was moved to South Africa, but the headquarters of the organization is still in the capital, Ouagaoudougou. Here are some of the best known directors from Burkina Faso they are: Gaston Kaboré, Idrissa Ouedraogo and Dani Kouyate. But you will find that even some of the international known filmakers like, Ouedraogo, Kabore, Yameogo, and Kouyate also produce and make popular television series, such as Bobodjiouf.
- Learn about Burkina Faso on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Capital city, Ouagaoudougou on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Cinema of Burkina Faso on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the History of Burkina Faso on Wikipedia:
- Find Burkina Faso on Google Maps:
- Find the Capital city, Ouagaoudougou on Google Maps:
Posted in Miscellaneous | Leave a Comment
Equatorial Guinea and Gabon host the 2012 African Cup of Nations, (football), on Virtualtripping.com.
By Mark on January 22, 2012
2012 Africa Cup of Nations Trailer HD
This is a picture taken from flickr of Ghana 2008: Nigeria Vrs Ivory Coast.
Welcome to a post about the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, this is a football competition which is held in the continent of Africa. This is the 28th tournement in the Africa Cup of Nations, and is the major football competition in Africa, it is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This year the tournement is being held by two countries they are: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. They won the rights to hold this tournement after defeating the countries of Nigeria, along with winning bids over Angola and Libya. There had been other bids from other countries like: Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Senegal, but they were all rejected. The Confederation of Africa, made history, they sorted out the hosts of three successive tournaments which were all chosen at the same time; Angola was chosen to host in 2010, Gabon/Equatorial Guinea were chosen as hosts for the 2012 cup and the third country to host the competition in 2013 edition, was Libya, but sadley due to the Libyan Civil War, they decided to move the tournement to South Africa. They also got Nigeria to host, just incase one of the other countries were unable to host the competition.
This is a picture taken from flickr during the 2008, Ghana tournement.
This is a picture taken from flickr of View of the Cathedral from the Port in Malabo.
- Learn about Estadio de Bata on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo on Wikipedia:
- Find Gabon on Google Maps:
- Find the Capital of Gabon, Libreville on Google Maps:
- Find Equatorial Guinea on Google Maps:
- Find the Capital of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo on Google Maps:
Posted in Africa | Leave a Comment
The Falklands Islands and her capital Stanley here on Virtualtripping.com.
By Mark on January 21, 2012
The Falkland Islands
Welcome to Stanley
This is a picture taken from flickr of Hanging Out Gentoos
This is a post about the Falklands Islands which are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, you will find these islands about 250 nautical miles (290 miles or 460 km away from the mainland coast of South America. There are basically 778 islands with the two main islands being East Falkland and West Falkland and the 776 are more smaller and lesser islands. The capital,of this country is known as Stanley, and it is on East Falkland. These islands are really a self-governing British Overseas Territory, where the United Kingdom are responsible for defending and offering foreign affairs to the Falkland Islands.
This is a picture taken from flickr of Settlement on West Point Island.
This is a picture taken from flickr of Seyhan under the Whalebone Arch.
So what have i learn’t about the Falklands, well, it has been under the re-establishment of British rule in 1833, and have always enjoyed it’s own history, but sadly for islander’s, it’s neighbour Argentina has always claimed the sovereignty of the islands. Even though the locals have rejected the claims. So back in 1982, the pressure exploded and Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. This war lasted up to two months and became known as a long undeclared Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom. So what happened, well the war was resolved, when the British, defeated the Argentine forces and they withdrew. But it was a sad and tradegic time for all involed in this war and a number of deaths came out of this, which should never have happened in the first place. But even thought the British won the war if you can same it was a win, is that currently the Falkland Islands are on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. But there has been some good news for the Falklands, is that since the war, there has been strong economic growth in both fisheries and tourism.
This is a picture taken from flickr of the Kelp Goose.
This is a picture taken from flickr of San Carlos War cemetery.
- Learn about the Falkland Islands on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Capital, Stanley on Wikipedia:
- Learn about History of the Falkland Islands on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Timeline of the history of Falkland Islands on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Falklands War on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the geography of the Falkland Islands on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Wildlife on the Falkland Islands on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Falkland Islanders on Wikipedia:
- Find the Falkland Islands on Google Maps:
- Find the Capital, Stanley on the Falkland Islands on Google Maps:
- Find the Falkland Islands and Argentina on Google Maps:
Posted in South America | Leave a Comment
Lets go to Vanuatu and her capital city Port Vila in the Pacific Ocean on Virtualtripping.com.
By Mark on January 17, 2012
Vanuatu
Vanuatu : Beaches
Blue Water Island in Vanuatu
This is a picture taken from flickr of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott (Taro).
Welcome to my post about the country of Vanuatu, it is also officially known as the Republic of Vanuatu. This is an island nation and it can be found in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some 1,750 kilometres or 1,090 miles east of northern Australia, 500 kilometres or 310 miles northeast of New Caledonia, and west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea. The first people of this country, were known as Melanesian people, but i am not sure when they first settled on the island, but what i have learn’t is that the first European people to arrive on the islands were the Spanish members who expedition was led by Fernandes de Queirós who arrived in Espiritu Santo in 1605.
This is a picture taken from flickr of Port Vila marketplace.
Then in the 1880s the countries of France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the country, and then in 1906 there was an agreement between the two nations on a framework to join and manage the archipelago as the New Hebrides through a British-French Condominium. And then around 1970′s there was a movement arose to gain independance, which finally happened in the 1980 and the nation known as Republic of Vanuatu, was created. What i have found out about Vanatu, is that the name was derived from the word vanua , which mean land or home, which occurs in several Austronesian languages, and also the tu at the end of Vanuatu means, stand. And if you put the two words together they will indicate the independent status of the new nation.
This is a picture taken from flickr of Cocos nucifera (Coconut).
There is plenty to do and see on these amazing islands and beaches are stunning, the weather is usually tropical and the food, drink and people are all excellent. You will be welcomed when you arrive on the islands of Vanuatu and you will find places to stay, eat and explore, so if you have the money, the time and the opportunity, then the islands of Vanuatu are a must for any holiday maker.
- Learn about Vanuatu on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the capital of vanuatu Port Vila on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the island of Efate on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the History of Vanuatu on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Geography of Vanuatu on Wikipedia:
- Learn about Tanna island on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Provinces of Vanuatu on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Economy of Vanuatu on Wikipedia:
- Find Vanuatu on Google Maps:
- Find the Efate island on Google Maps:
- Find the Capital, Port Vila on Google Maps:
Posted in World | Leave a Comment
Lets learn about the incredible country of Costa Rica in Central America on Virtualltripping.com.
By Mark on January 15, 2012
A Little Piece of Paradise
San Jose, Costa Rica
National Anthem of Costa Rica
This is a post about the country of Costa Rica this is a special country, because it is known for being a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, Costa Rica neighbours are, Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The name Cost Rica, actually means “Rich Coast”, also, the country, constitutionally abolished its army permanently in 1949. This is the only Latin American country which is included in the list of the world’s 22 older democracies and has consistently been among the top Latin American countries in the Human Development Index (HDI), and in 2011, it was ranked 69th in the world.
I am amazed when i read about Costa Rica, how established this country has become, i have learn’t that it was cited by the UNDP in 2010, it is one of the countries in the world that have attained much higher human development than other countries at the same income levels, which is extraordinary, but on top of that Cosat Rica, in 2011 was highlighted by UNDP that this country was doing much better than other countries within the region as being a good performer on environmental sustainability, and doing very well on human development and inequality than the median of their region. This country, has some how managed to be the only country to meet all five criteria established to measure environmental sustainability. It was also ranked in 2010 in third place around the world and first place among the Americas, in terms of the 2010 Environmental Performance Index. Finally this amazing country in 2007, the government of Costa Rica, decided they wanted to make plans to become the first carbon-neutral country by 2021. And i have learn’t that this country according to the New Economics Foundation, Costa Rica ranks first in the Happy Planet Index and is the “greenest” country in the world. There really is very little to say, other than well done, because alot of people associate the central ameica countries has more poorer and less economic, compared to North and South America, but other the time i have been writing about the central america’s, it has amazed me how well some of the countries are really doing, Wow. There is so much to do and see in this amazing country, shops, hotels, bars and pubs, swimming, adventure walks, forests, animals and so on and so on, if you really want a holiday experience and you can afford it, then this is the country to visit.
- Learn about Costa Rica on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Capital city, San José on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the History of Costa Rica on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the currency, Costa Rican colón on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Geography of Costa Rica on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Tourism in Costa Rica on Wikipedia:
- Learn about Orosí Valley on Wikipedia:
- Learn about the Costan Rica cuisine on Wikipedia:
- Find Costa Rica on Google Maps:
- Find San José on Google Maps:
- Find Central America on Google Maps:
Posted in Central America | Leave a Comment
Nick Ramsay, exploring the world from a zabuton in Japan.