I'm Desmond Langkilde, a limber 63 year young fossil, a travel writer, and a dreamer.
I have a dream that's born of passion, nurtured through countless hours, even years, of planning, budgetting, and grant funding application rejections. And still the Dream persists! Undaunted by others who consider the Dream to be fanciful, unrealistic, or just plain crazy. If your dreams are similar, then I'm in good company.
This is a long story. So sit back, grab a coffee (or your favourite tipple), and read on as I share my dream with you.
Then, at the end, make a comment. Be critical. Share your dream. How did you overcome setbacks to turn your dream into reality? After all, I'm posting this to get feedback and inspiration from the Travel Massive community (or anyone you care to share this post with).
👉 So, here's my dream; to walk the entire Africa coastline, including the continents' islands - 40 countries, 40,000km, 52 million steps.
And while walking, to tell Africas' stories. Storie...
Comments
1. Tourism development values, with impressions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Montenegro - by Balkan Green (4 minutes)
Balkan Green is aiming to uncover the true meaning of being a sustainable tourism destination and business in the Balkans.
Balkan Green is an initiative bringing together organizations from the Balkan region to form a discussion towards more sustainable tourism development.
I’d love to go horseback riding here!
2. Conservation in Zimbabwe: A Nat Hab Guide Story – Natural Habitat Adventures (5 minutes)
Head to Zimbabwe to discover how conservation travel supports local people and protects wildlife - all from the perspective of a local guide Bulisani "Buli" Mathe.
This video is created by Natural Habitat Adventures and focuses on conservation through exploration trips.
3. Truffle Hunting with Willy in Tuscany – UnTours (1 minute)
Truffle hunting is the highlight. Or is the wine? In this next video, wine aficionados gather on this UnUsual UnTour, where your independent time traveling is combined with group tastings of unique wines and experiences.
Created by UnTours – the first B-Corp certified organization in the world, paving the way for slow travel adventures in Europe.
I enjoyed this truffle hunting video. Who wouldn’t want to join this UnTour in Europe? Sounds fun & delicious.
4. Germany: Adventures in Tübingen with TravelingJules (3 minutes)
Welcome to Tübingen, Germany! 🇩🇪 Take a walk and admire the charming half-timbered houses and take a ride in a human-powered punting boat--only in Tübingen!
This video is created by Juliana Broste (@travelingjules), aka Traveling Jules, Heartland Emmy award winning travel filmmaker and host.
5. Azores Stewardship: Food & Wine – GLP Films (3 minutes)
Join us on a journey to the Azores islands off the coast of Portugal, where we'll explore the local wine and food traditions that have been passed down through the ages.
This video is created by GLP Films who are telling local stories worldwide using beautifully-crafted videos. Enjoy.
6. Horses & Carts, Sandvlei Macassar Cape Town – by African Travel Crew (6 minutes)
From coal carts to milk rounds, rubbish removal to scrap dealers, the horses and carts of Sandvlei Macassar region have always been a face of Cape Town.
The creators of this video – the African Travel Crew founded by Neil Janson - is a community of creatives, passionate about Africa and long time members of Travel Massive. Created by @neil-jansson.
My favourite!
7. Horseback Riding in Ekshärad, Sweden Our Little Farm – Nancy Brown (2 minutes)
Travel Massive member Nancy Brown (@nancydbrown) sent us a short video showing the horse back riding experience on a horse farm in Sweden.
Nancy is a freelance writer and blogger at WritingHorseback.com – a guide to horseback riding vacations for slow travelers.
Thank you for including my Equestrian video on a slow travel trip to Sweden. I also enjoyed the horse cart video. The Azores video reminded me of my horseback riding trip to Pico Island and Sao Miguel. Great film screening.
8. Project Boleega Manufacture Tourism: Indigo Dyeing and Denim Production in Fukuyama, Hiroshima – Shiitake Creative (2 minutes)
Next up, we’ll get a glimpse into how bespoke Japanese denim is made, one thread, one color at a time. Manufacture TourismⓇ (operated by Project BoleeGa) is a community-based sustainable activity to transform world-class denim into travel content while supporting local crafts and businesses.
Faced with a lack of successors and severe competition, the smaller-scale local businesses in Fukuyama were beginning to lose pride in their work. Project BoleeGa was founded to unite those businesses and recreate a bespoke experience for travelers.
The video is created by Shiitake Creative, a creative agency based in Japan.
9. Alaska to Argentina (Pan-American Highway) in a School Bus!! – Global Convoy (6 minutes)
Global Convoy – an overland adventure brand, is doing the full Pan American Highway from North Alaska down to Ushuaia in South Argentina, fully crossing both North and South America – in a school bus! Here’s a sneak peak of their months-long overland adventure.
PS: This one was my favourite. I love this video because it shows a different side to slow travel. Imagine rolling down America in a converted school bus for weeks on end, with people you hadn't met before you started. This video shows that slow travel can be adventurous and does not need to conform!
My favorite too! Less polished, more real!
Destination Video #1 — High Desert Food Trail: Artisan Offerings - Visit Central Oregon (3 minutes)
In this next video by Visit Central Oregon, we’ll go on a journey to the High Desert Food Trail – farm fresh goodies, delicious artisan baked goods, and hand crafted beers. Let’s learn more about the High Desert Food Trail.
I’m curious what member submitted this short film? I’m a new resident to Oregon and would love to experience and write about the High Desert Food Trail.
Destination Video #2 — Asterousia Mountains Biosphere Reserve (Crete, Greece) - MEET Network (1 minute)
MEET Network is a group of organisations in the Mediterranean region in Europe who work to develop a new model for ecotourism development. In this short video, they’re showing us the Asterousia Mountains Biosphere Reserve in Crete, Greece.
Destination Video #3 — Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: The ride of a lifetime – Switzerland Tourism (4 minutes)
This travel video campaign by Swiss Tourism is showing us the beauty of train travel in Switzerland. Watch two famous friends on their epic adventure through the stunning landscapes of Switzerland.
I’m taking the train from Amsterdam to Switzerland in March 2024. Looking forward to traveling in Switzerland via train.
That particular ride from Lucerne to Interlaken is absolutely stunning! (I saw it on an Untour!)
Thanks everyone for watching with us! It was great to see the stories of how various destinations and projects are protecting the traditions, environment, and putting the local communities to the front.
Feel free to share your thoughts about the videos in the comments, and share with us any other stories you found inspiring!
Thanks to all. This was awesome.
Hope to make it to Africa one day and experience the horse cart. Mine was the Swedish Farm video on slow equestrian travel. I’m based in Oregon and specialize in equestrian travel holidays.
I loved your video. I hope you make ot to Africa too. You'll love it. I love Oregon as well, how lucky you are.
Thank you for a summary of this nice event. Useful to have all videos in one place!
Loved all the stories from so many corners of this world - and that some were challenging preconceptions too, in such a positive way. Thanks for organising and hosting - and special, humble thanks from all team of www.balkan.green for having us - and our film to be chosen the audience´s favourite.
Some excellent and motivating films
Great