Daily Special (Food and drink in Africa, pt. 5)
There are a few foods that will accompany you through large parts of the African continent: the infamous roasted chicken, fried banana and plantains; in the tropics, yams and sweet potato. And of course, Africa's version of polenta: fufu, ugali, sadza, pap... Pap might be the most fitting name for the cheap staple food that those who can afford it will have with soups, vegetables, and meat while those who can't will have it as is, with a with tomatoes.
Munching on the go (Food and drink in Africa, pt. 4)
How much is the fish? (Food and drink in Africa, pt. 3)
I remember the first meal I cooked for the truck group. For some reason, we had decided to have fish. So I went to the market in Rabat, Morocco, speaking neither Arabic nor French, having never cooked for a large
It’s dead, Jim! (Food and drink in Africa, pt. 2)
Some readers might think it's crazy to go and eat street food in Africa. They have seen the images of meat buzzing with flies in the hot African sun. Well, if it makes you feel any better: cooked meat is hard to come by on the streets; and if you find it it's been cooked until every last trace of life is gone. And by the way: the meat is usually really fresh - you can watch the butcher do his work right by the side of the road.
‘Tis the season to feast (Food and drink in Africa, pt. 1)
What are you thinking of when somebody says 'Christmas'? Christmas to me is first and foremost about food. I can easily do without presents. I'm not religious. And please leave me alone with cold and snow! But for some reason, I always start feeling Christmassy when I spend hours preparing food. So what better way of commemorating the festive season than by talking for the next few days about food (and drink) in Africa? I'll set the scene by telling you a bit about how I'll spend Christmas this year and what I did the year before.
My photos in African Diver
Today I have to brag a little: The online magazine African Diver is featuring some of my photos of Chinhoyi Caves, Zimbabwe, in their latest issue. To check it out, click here.
Four friends
It's been one year since I last saw these four friends. An unusually long year. 366 days. But that's not true. They're always here. When I look over my shoulder I see Steve. With his warm smile and his South African accent he says: "Hey Pixie." And when the moment is beautiful he is in awe right next to me: "Like angels playing on your heartstrings."
Making life at home a journey
I have been home for more than three months now. And it is hard to keep up the travelling spirit. The other day I read a quote by French author Marcel Proust:
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
Call me
Doing it the smart way I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love my smart phone. However, before the trip I had decided that Africa wasn't the right continent for a device with a touch screen and a battery that could barely survive for one day. I had also decided that getting a travel SIM would connect me to friends and family regardless of where I was. How wrong I was!
You can’t come in here
Be careful what you wish for 
The lady had tattoos in her face which made me like her right away. But I loved her when she said: 'When do you want to go? I can only give you one month.'