World Music: Some Recommendations from BikeHike Adventures

1) Amadou and Mariam, featuring Manu Chao: Dimanche A Bamako
This musical duo from Mali, known as the “blind couple of Mali” met at Mali’s Institute for the blind and were later married. Their shared passion for music led to their eventual collaboration with Manu Chao, a world Latin music star. This album is instantly infectious with its mélange of styles ranging from pop to afro-blues and African jazz. Crank up this CD and you’ll find yourself dancing around the room and bopping to the beat.



2) Lhasa de Sela: La Llorona
Lhasa was born in New York to a Mexican Father and American Mother. Her childhood was spent traveling with her family in a converted school bus. She started singing in cafes at 13, and by 19 she was singing regularly at bars in Montreal. Her distinct haunting voice led to her first album called La Llorona, which mixes together Eastern European gypsy music, traditional South American songs and Mexican sounds. The CD went on to win the Juno award for Best Global Artist in 1988. If you ever have the chance to see her live, don’t miss out! She is a great storyteller and her passionate intensity on stage is captivating to watch.

3) Ali Farka Touré: Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré was a singer and guitarist from Mali, and one of Africa’s most internationally renowned musicians. His music, sung in several different languages, is a fusion of traditional Malian music and North American blues. He has even been referred to as the African “John Lee Hooker”. In 1994 he collaborated with Ry Cooder, an American singer and guitarist, to produce the award-winning album Talking Timbuktu. This album was one of the longest-running number one albums in the history of Billboard Magazine’s World Music charts.

4) Mariza
Mariza, a two time Grammy nominated singer was raised in Portugal and began singing as a child. She is a Fado singer, a musical genre that can be traced back to the early 19th century. Fado, translated as “fate”, is a form of singing characterized by melancholic lyrics and ballads, often about the life of the poor, but can really be about anything as long as a certain structure is followed. She has released 5 albums and is recognized throughout the world for her talents and dedication to preserving Portuguese culture through the arts.

5) Putumaya World Music Compilations
If you are like me, when I first started to really get into jazz music, I found it overwhelming and didn’t know where to start. How do you know what to buy? Compilations can be a great start for getting to know what you like and dislike, without committing yourself to an entire CD of one singer or band. The Putumaya Compilations are known for their diversity and contain mostly upbeat songs of international music characterized by their company’s motto “guaranteed to make you feel good”. The compilations cover a wide range of genres, including Latin Reggae, Mississippi Blues, Turkish Groove, Women of Africa, and Samba Bossa Nova.

Happy Listening,
Meg

BikeHike Adventure's Top 10 Travel Literature Picks

There are so many exciting elements to planning an adventure vacation and one of them is getting mentally prepared for the destination you're about to encounter by reading some great travel literature. Here are a few of our staff favorites.


The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen
This book is regarded as a classic of nature, spiritual literature and travel writing. Matthiessen travels deep into the mountains in a remote region of Nepal to help zoologist George Schaller look for the elusive snow leopard. He uses this journey as a metaphor to reflect on much broader aspects on all matters of life and death.




The Clouded Leopard: Travels to Landscapes of Spirit and Desire, by Wade Davis
Collection of short essays on travel, nature, conservation, spirituality and world cultures. Davis's essays combine his expertise in storytelling, scientific research, and his travels to remote regions most only dream of visiting. He beautifully brings to light the places where people still live in harmony with the landscape around them, and how important it is to preserve world cultures in today's modernizing world.




The Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness, by Edward Abbey
This is an account of Edward Abbey's two summers spent as a ranger in Arches National Park, Utah. Through his experiences, Abbey reflects on the condition of our remaining wilderness and the importance of preserving the environment for future generations. Desert Solitaire is a passionate, funny, poetic, tragic read that gives you a glimpse into Abbey's life and the natural beauty of the Canyonlands.





A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain: Stories by Robert Olen Butler
A Collection of 15 stories that weaves together Vietnamese folklore, the lingering effects of the Vietnam War, life in Louisiana for Vietnamese Immigrants, and family bonds. This book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1993.






Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure, by Sarah MacDonald
The author, Sara MacDonald, quits her dream job in Australia and moves to India to be with her fiancé. When she arrives in New Delhi, she is overwhelmed and not entirely happy with her new life. Thus, she decides to find peace in the "only place possible - within herself." This book is a hilarious account of her spiritual journey throughout India and her various encounters with the locals.





The Great Railway Bazaar, by Paul Theroux
Theroux's account of his railway odyssey has become a modern classic of travel literature. This entertaining read recounts his adventures, both good and bad, on some of Asia's most renowned trains such as the Orient Express and the Trans-Siberian Express.







Three Cups of Tea, One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
This book recounts Mortenson's journey from his failed 1993 attempt to climb Pakistan’s K2, to his building schools in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mortenson combines his unique background with his intimate knowledge of the developing world to promote peace with books, and successfully bring education, hope and humanitarian aid to remote communities in central Asia.




The Motorcycle Diaries: A Journey Around South America, by Ernesto "Che" Guevara
As a young adult, Che set off from his home in Buenos Aires to travel throughout South America on his vintage motorcycle. His handwritten travel diaries of his experiences were found in a knapsack after his death and were published in 1968. This book captures the essence and exuberance of Che, and is a quick easy read, that gives a peek into the development of this young revolutionary.




Empires of the Indus: From Tibet to Pakistan, by Alice Albinia
This book is part travelogue and part history, and is a fascinating exploration of the physical landscapes and rich cultural backgrounds that comprise Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Tibet.








Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search For Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth Gilbert describes a woman's spiritual quest for God, truth, romance, and inner peace. The characters are brought to life through her own life experiences. She suffered from depression after experiencing a bitter divorce that left her feeling lifeless. From her desperate state of grief, she planned a one year escape to explore the art of pleasure in Italy, the art of devotion in India, and, in Indonesia, the art of balancing the two.




Road Fever, by Tim Cahill
Tim Cahill recounts his road trip that took him from Tierra del Fuego to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in a record-breaking twenty three and a half days. The account of his fast-paced journey is full of humour and adventure-packed.

Animal Encounters when Travelling

A big highlight for me when travelling is seeing the local wildlife, and preferably not in a zoo. I have included some of my memorable moments below, but be forewarned I have a bias towards monkeys!

1) Sumatran Orangutans in Bukit Lawang, Indonesia: There is nothing cooler than being able to hear the orangutans for several minutes before you can actually see them. The whooshing sound of them swinging through the trees was music to my ears. I was so giggly with anticipation to get my first glimpse of one, and I wasn’t disappointed. There is no other word for them except mesmerizing. I could watch them for years on end and not get bored.

2) Howler Monkeys in Costa Rica: I remember the first night in the jungle being woken up by the most bizarre sound I had ever heard in my life. It was bone-chilling at first, but quite comical after that! I was aware there were howler monkeys in the trees, but nothing prepares you for the first howl. I bolted upright in bed and never got back to sleep after that. Apparently they are the loudest land animal and can be heard for 3 miles/5 kms. Who needs an alarm clock when howler monkeys are in the trees directly above your jungle lodge.

3) Monitor lizards on Tioman Island, Malaysia: I remember my friend and I waking up in the morning and there were all these lizards loitering on the lawn below our balcony. I had just come from Australia and was use to seeing small cute, colourful geckos everywhere, but these lizards were mammoth (longer than I am tall, which isn’t saying much, but still…). They more resembled mini alligators. I think we waited for hours on the balcony in a panic-induced state wondering how we were going to get to the beach.

4) Moose in the Rockies: I am petrified of so many animals (bears, bison, cougar), that I usually make the person I am hiking with walk ahead of me. It allows me to feel more at ease. For some reason Moose don’t scare me though. They are so beautiful to see up close, especially with their antlers, and it makes you realize how large they really are. They have such a captivating presence that I could watch them for hours.

5) Diving in Fiji: I find the underwater world very surreal. I love the silence involved in scuba diving. Fiji was the first place I dived, and nothing has compared since. The colours and diversity of the coral and fish was incredible. I am spoiled forever. Highlights were the manta rays, moray eels and sea stars.

6) Squirrel Monkeys in Costa Rica: I was so disappointed as it was less than 24 hours until our trip was over and I still hadn’t seen a squirrel monkey. Time was running out… Fortunately, shortly after getting back to our hotel and drowning my sorrows in pretty rum drinks with umbrellas in them, we were surrounded by dozens of energetic squirrel monkeys. There were so many I didn’t know where to focus my attention. This is when you realize how useful digital cameras are! I must have taken over 100 photos of the monkeys. They were the cutest things ever, even in the middle of the night when they were swinging from the trees and running on our rooftop. It was a great way to conclude my trip.

7) Alas, some of my “memorable but not in a good way” experiences: a) Camel riding in Australia. The one in front of me kept turning around and spitting at me...yuck! b) a cheeky monkey in Ecuador that came up to me put his hands in my pockets and then proceeded to spank me on the leg since I didn’t have anything for him to eat and c) the mongoose in Hawaii that went into my backpack and stole my energy bar. It was the last of our food until dinner and we still had to hike uphill in the sweltering heat for 2 hours. Sneaky little guy!

Until next time,
Meg