The Art of Travel in West Africa

i like your blog more and more. keep it up!

Andy, you put a smile on my face.

"I made an obvious good decision by saying Thanks"

Those are some cool looking kids.

has written 205 comments

You lost the "Travel writer of the Year Award" 2010 AGAIN !!!

I thought you had a chance but when you started showing good looking Africans and children with smiles and normal bellies. YOU BLEW IT ! Oh and having a good time in Haiti probable didn't help. What's next ? Christmas in Iran ?

Your doing it wrong !

link to Award

http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/surprise-andrew-mccarthy-is-an-awardwinning-writer--1649

Gadget from has written 916 comments

Thanks Chuck, it is paradoxical the only simple title for my profession is "Travel Writer," and in reality I feel insulted when grouped or compared to Travel Writers. I personally have more respect for Soap Opera writers, there is more reality involved.

Pato from has written 56 comments

There is no art of travel, no secrets to travel, it is all common sense. A person does not need to learn how to travel to travel well, they need to learn how to LIVE well. Everything else will fall into place after this. Once a traveler realizes that they live where they put their feet, everything is basic from here on out:

Would I let someone bully me into giving them money in my hometown? No.
Would I let a taxi driver or a shopkeeper in the USA rip me off? No.
Would I go walking into a dark alley with a stranger in my home country? No.
Would I pay to live in a flophouse where I come from? No.
Would I allow myself to pay more for a bus than the rest of the passengers? No.
Do I feel as if I need to work to stay healthy and active in my country? Yes.

Once you live by the same cautionary and living strategies as where you come from while traveling abroad, then there is no longer any need to consult some source or book trying to teach the art of travel.

The art of travel this and that are just catchphrases to sell something to someone who already knows what they purchase. But many people make money from selling the art of travel.

I am one of them haha.