Gone Sailing

Destiny works in mysterious ways and things always happen for a reason. Or so it seems to me at this point in my life in which I find myself sailing again across the Mediterranean Sea: from Sanremo, Italy, to Soller, Mallorca, via the Cote d'Azur and Barcelona. 

I don't know yet where it'll take me, but I like it! 

More images here.

Stay tuned for more.

Hello Ethiopia! ...coming soon...

A brief — and low quality...sorry — trailer of the upcoming film I've starred in. Hello Ethiopia! is an Ethiopian film shot by independent filmmaker and producer Yohannes Feleke in and around Addis Ababa.

The films tells the story of a 30-something European NGO worker (me!) who travels to Africa to visit the projects — schools and health centres — supported by his foundation. He meets an Ethiopian taxi driver who doesn't speak English and who becomes a good friend and an improbable guide. Add to the mix a dodgy, local aid-worker, a charming and committed country doctor, misunderstandings, bandits and spicy food and you get the picture.

Coming to a cinema near you by the end of May — if you happen to be in Ethiopia.

Portraits/People

Portraits/People , a set on Flickr.

I've added a few images to my portraits/people set on Flickr.

Have a look and let me know what you think.

and Stay tuned for more.

Danakil Depression, Ethiopia - Dec 2011

Danakil Depression, Ethiopia - Dec 2011, a set on Flickr.

Two series of four pieces each. Soon to be printed, framed and hanged at the Itegue Taitu Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Interested buyers, please get in touch.

and Stay Tuned for more.

New in Design & Layout: Discover Ethiopia

Fresh off the print, a brochure I've conceptualised and designed for Adimasu Tours, a tour operator company based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The usual triptych: front (R), back (C) and inner page (L)

Map of Piazza — historic Addis Ababa — scanned, hand-made collage and hand-writing 

New in Design & Layout: A Thousand Gardens In Africa

I'm working on the design and layout of a handbook written by Tichafa 'Green Warrior' Makovere, a permaculture expert and the Ethiopia country coordinator for Slow Food.

On the cover: permaculture veggie garden at Taitu Hotel, Addis Ababa. 

A Thousand Gardens in Africa is a Slow Food initiative that promotes the creation of a thousand food gardens in schools, villages and cities of 25 African countries.

See the full set on my Flickr. The work is still very much in progress, but images of the first few pages can give an idea of what it'll look like.

Stay tuned.

Muizenberg Postcard Project

An exciting live exhibition is in process as I write this in Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa. Brought to you by the peeps at Communitree.

The exhibition will run between Thursday, November 10 and Saturday, November 12, featuring a selection of postcards created by local artists and designers inspired by all that's Muizenberg: beach, white sand, surf, community, arts, good food and genuine, sun-kissed fun.

Below are the ones I have designed.

Africa in my mind, Muizenberg in my heart  

On the walkway

The beach - photo courtesy of Joy-Anne Goodenough

On the walkway 2

Make sure to swing past if you happen to be in the area today or tomorrow.

and Stay Tuned.

Varie / Random Shots

A couple of images I took in the last weeks when I travelled south and ventured in parts of the Omo Valley.

Note "Obama" written in Amharic characters 

German minstrel

My early morning sini (coffee cup)

School children

Siblings under a leaf

More images on my Flickr here.


Stay Tuned

Briefly, Somaliland

I've gotten back to Addis Ababa early this morning, around 8am, after a six-day-long roundtrip to Somaliland. Visa run mission: accomplished.

52,000 Somaliland shillings = 10 US dollars

It took me 24 harrowing hours to get back from Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, a journey that involved an array of means of transport: 1 Coaster, 1 (highly) shared taxi, 2 minibuses and 2 buses ... I'm knackered but it was worth it.

Street scene. night. Berbera.

Shipwrecks in Berbera's port 

Shared taxi. prayer break. 

Somaliland coast. deserted beach.  

Early one morning. 

More images on my Flickr here.  

Also, I wasn't on my own this time, having found an awesome travelling companion in a young Polish/German free spirit named Magdalena. Check her own blog and pictures here. 

Stay Tuned. 

ps: in other, breaking, news, Muammar Gaddafi is reported to be dead. 

http://english.aljazeera.net/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2011/oct/20/syria-libya-middle-east-unrest-live

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8838611/Libya-Gaddafi-dies-from-wounds-suffered-in-Sirte-capture.html