Life

Currently London

[markwalters909-blog]

Cycling the open roads on the top of Dartmoor is the dream. Last weekend Dartmoor, this weekend New Forest.

[markwalters909-blog]

Cycling the open roads on the top of Dartmoor is the dream. Last weekend Dartmoor, this weekend New Forest.

[markwalters909-blog]

Cycling the open roads on the top of Dartmoor is the dream. Last weekend Dartmoor, this weekend New Forest.

[markwalters909-blog]

Over the past five years, I've had the opportunity to chat with many individuals in #Uganda about their #hopes and #dreams; their desires to see their children receiving an #education or getting a good job when they are older, listening to stories about death and illness all because of relatively inexpensive medication and treatment, and even #parents sharing with me their desire to gain a new #skill, or simply having the opportunity to boost their income. If there is something that these parents certainly don't lack then it is definitely their #desire to improve their standard of living and provide a better future for their #family. Unfotuantly, desire can only take you so far; desire without access to opportunities doesn't improve life circumstance. "People live in #poverty not because they are lazy but because they lack the same opportunities that we've had to make a living." Over the same five years I've had access to many opportunities that I daily try not to take for granted; I am currently studying towards a #degree, I have been able to pick up numerous #jobs when I've needed them, I have access to #healthcare without the worry of increasing bills, and also even had the opportunity for luxuries including #travel to many countries around the world. Kick-Start a Career is our way at @hope_for_life_katanga to provide parents with access to opportunities that will change the course of their #life. So whether it be access to training, to develop or gain a new skill to earn from, or access to a #loan to provide the necessary capital to boost their #business, we are looking for people to join us in helping to kick-start as many careers as possible. To join us in kick starting careers in #Uganda then send me a message and I will let you know how you can get involved, otherwise head to the website and fill out our contact form. hopeforlifekatanga.com/blog #KickStartaCareer #travelling #kampala #child #charity #ngo #ong #nonprofit #microfinance #apprenticeship

[markwalters909-blog]

Definitely one of our favourite places in #India is the #matheran hill station. No vehicles allowed, so you either take a #horse or #hike around. Perfect for escaping the everyday hustle and noise of general life. #incredibleindia #mumbai (at Matheran Hill Station)

[markwalters909-blog]

#favouritemoments I recently visited all the parents in #Uganda that have received loans from @hope_for_life_katanga. It was amazing to see how the individuals had used their loan, whether it be starting a new #business, or expanding their existing business. Joslyn was already selling fruit and veg outside her home and decided that she would increase her income by using the #loan she was given to #cook and sell somosas and cassava at breakfast and lunchtime. People live in #poverty not because they are lazy but because they lack the same opportunities that we've had to make a living. Our work at @hope_for_life_katanga is to provide access to these opportunities to #families in #Uganda. Check out our website for more information on helping to give opportunities to families in #uganda. http://www.hopeforlifekatanga.com/boostalivelihood #livelihood #kampala #makingaliving #skills #charity #ngo #ong #goodfood #localfood #womenempowerment #empowerment #travel #travelling

[markwalters909-blog]

Bonus #thali on the #sleepertrain and we finally got our top bunk. #india #train #bandra #mumbai #udaipur #rajasthan (at Bandra, Mumbai)

[markwalters909-blog]

This excerpt is from a #school text #book in #india teaching children to beware of cheating beggars. A separate situation, later that day I was walking down the road when an Indian boy I was with pointed to and said, "look a police station". To which I replied, "would you like to be a #policeman when you are older". "No sir, I'm not a thief!" #travel #travelling #corrupt #police (at Dera Bassi Town)

[markwalters909-blog]

The first time in the saddle for 5 months and we choose the only day that it has rained during our time in #India. Such a fun time #mountainbiking through the mostly mudtrack villages in #punjab. One of the women we are staying with, wouldn't allow Megan to leave without a headdress on to keep warm and a plastic bag over the top to stay dry. Fun times. On the way back from our #cycle we stopped off at our local herd of Friesian cows to fill up our bottle for breakfast in the morning. #travel #travelling

[markwalters909-blog]

After a fairly bad case of the infamous 'Dehli Belly', we have been recovering with various plain foods. We had ran out of milk to mix with our banana porridge though, so I took a walk into the local village to find a shop that would sell me some milk. I found a corner shop and after some miss communication I proceeded to play charades and pretend to pull at some udders. The shop keeper said, "dood". I remember now, dood was the word for milk I was taught by children just the day before. "Dood deh doh" I replied (give me milk). He pointed towards the buffalo to which I shock my head and said cow. With no real affirmation that he knew what I meant, he gestured me to jump on his motorbike and I guess, I hoped, find some cow dood! We approached a yard with a small herd of Friesian cows and what I can only assume was his uncle (it's always an uncle). The uncle pulled one of the cows into the shed, tied him up and proceeded to milk the cow into his stainless collector, before sieving the thick excess off and pouring the remainder of the warm body fluid into a 'prepared' Fanta bottle. On departure I tried to pay for my litre of milk but he said no, dood gift. I accepted, offered my poor attempt at a denhewad (thank you) and jumped back on the motorbike. Not quite what I expected when I left but the porridge sure is tasty! #india #punjab #generous #fresh #travel #travelling (at Makandpur, Punjab, India)

[markwalters909-blog]

Yesterday we went for a camel #safari in the #Rajasthan #desert close to the border of Pakistan, when one of the #camel handlers and lead guide got a call, resulting in him #walking off(!). With the young lone guide, Megan and I carried on for another 3 or 4 kilometres before he realised that we were perhaps #lost in the desert. I could only imagine the conversation that followed by the two guides on the phone to each other... "Between the dune and the smallish bush." It was obvious that these guys knew the desert well as when we started making a fire to cook lunch, our second guide comes walking over the #dunes in the distance. #wildliving #onewildlife #camping #travel #india #trekking #incredibleindia #khuri (at Jaisalmer)

[markwalters909-blog]

#Travelling #India has been a strange experience for us. Some days have many negative experiences with locals, most of it is probably because we are white strangers in their land, which they don't see too often (so I can understand) and only a few cases that have been really negative. Every now and again though, we have had many amazing experiences; people stopping on the street to help us get a taxi and even pay for it, even another guy offering to give us a lift home but because his car was full, ended up prepaying for us to get a taxi. Today we arrived to #aurangabad station as a train heading to #mumbai pulling up. I quickly bought a couple of general class tickets, not really having time to check what I had bought or for which train, then we jumped on the train. We got on a carriage pretty confused as the ticket didn't have any English writing so, as the general carriage was full, we sat on our bags by the open door (and stinking toilets). Two minutes later a guy walks up to us and explains how the six of them have been discussing about giving up two seats because they can't let visitors sit on the floor of the train. After politely saying we are happy here and won't allow for others to stand so that we can sit, they insisted, so we sat. We ended up sharing with each other stories, cultural insights & our life history waiting for it to be translated between all the different languages. We ended up being at the centre of a crowd with many people turning on their benches or standing in the aisle to listen in. This was an unbelievably positive experience of Indian people; their kindness, hospitality (yes food was shared) and humour. We chatted for the 7 1/2 hr train ride, which was amazing but for #introvert my brain only just coped and looked forward to getting to sleep. (Refer to the previous Instagram post to see how my brain rested). Thanks to all who were so welcoming of us. #travel #travelling #travelindia #incredibleindia #amazingpeople (at Aurangabad, Maharashtra)

[markwalters909-blog]

Yesterday we went for a camel #safari in the #Rajasthan #desert close to the border of Pakistan, when one of the #camel handlers and lead guide got a call, resulting in him #walking off(!). With the young lone guide, Megan and I carried on for another 3 or 4 kilometres before he realised that we were perhaps #lost in the desert. I could only imagine the conversation that followed by the two guides on the phone to each other... "Between the dune and the smallish bush." It was obvious that these guys knew the desert well as when we started making a fire to cook lunch, our second guide comes walking over the #dunes in the distance. #wildliving #onewildlife #camping #travel #india #trekking #incredibleindia #khuri (at Jaisalmer)

[markwalters909-blog]

Confused at why #srilanka has so many massive and elaborate statues of #Buddha when (the point?) of #buddhism is not to idealise the guy as a God...? Pretty interesting rock temple though. #religion #faith #spirituality (at Dambulla Rock Temple)

[markwalters909-blog]

#camel #safari in the #desert of #Rajasthan. Galloping camels, almost falling off, eating good food, drinking chai, sleeping under the stars on the dunes, hanging out with families in rural villages, milking cows and walking barefoot on cattle manure to make a new yard for their home. #India #Rajasthan #rajasthantourism #incredibleindia #khuri #camel #safari #camping #sleepingunderthestars #nolightpollution #villagelife #coldnight #valentines #alternativevalentines #adventure #livingwild (at Jaisalmer)

[markwalters909-blog]

Such a cold night last night in #kumbhalgarh, loving the #wildcamping feel though with a camp fire, sharing some pretty epic stories with some pretty experienced travellers (all older than 50!). #travel #wildliving #travel #travelling #camping #india #rajasthan (at Kumbhalgarh)

[markwalters909-blog]

Yesterday we went for a camel #safari in the #Rajasthan #desert close to the border of Pakistan, when one of the #camel handlers and lead guide got a call, resulting in him #walking off(!). With the young lone guide, Megan and I carried on for another 3 or 4 kilometres before he realised that we were perhaps #lost in the desert. I could only imagine the conversation that followed by the two guides on the phone to each other... "Between the dune and the smallish bush." It was obvious that these guys knew the desert well as when we started making a fire to cook lunch, our second guide comes walking over the #dunes in the distance. #wildliving #onewildlife #camping #travel #india #trekking #incredibleindia #khuri (at Jaisalmer)