Hi -- my name is Mike Demana, or Worldwidemike (my travel nickname). My latest trip was in February of 2009 to Mali, in West Africa. That is the Grand Mosque in Djenne behind me -- the largest mud brick building in the world. It is also the best example of the otherworldly "Sudanic" architecture that is popular in Mali. I love to go to places like this, discovering the historic and religious sites of a new country. In Mali, I also went to the historic Saharan market town of Timbuktu, as well as the gorgeous Dogon country in the south of the country. You can read about my trip there by clicking on "Mali" in the list of countries to the left of this page. Each link takes you to a travelog and photos.
One new feature that I am adding to this site is links to videos that I've taken with my digital camera. I will upload them to YouTube, then add the link on the appropriate country page. The first ones were from Peru in September of 2009. There will be a few from Mali, as well. I also plan on going back and adding some from other trips, too. Look for ones from South Africa (2006) and a recent trip to Denmark, soon. The links will be on each country's individual page. I will also list them below in the "Latest Updates" section of this front page.
As for future trips, money and time are going to be scarce commodities
for me. In addition to working full time at the airline, I am taking classes
full time to get my teaching certificate. I can retire with full flight
benefits in Spring of 2010, and am aiming to be finishing my schooling about
then. So, hopefully, come Fall of 2010, I will be employed somewhere in
central Ohio as a middle school Language Arts or Social Studies teacher.
That's the plan. That's my goal (well, in addition seeing the whole world!).
So, welcome to my website! Take your time, scroll down through the list of countries I have visited, and enjoy! Most of the country names are links to travelogs I've written about my experiences there. Just about all include pictures. For example, the photo to the right is from Easter Island, in the summer of 2005. I usually change the pictures of me on the main page with each new trip. If you're a real glutton for punishment, and want to see more of me, click here .
Anyway, I hope to keep updating this page with new and exciting places I've been. If you have any comments or questions about the places I've been (or where I'm planning to go next), feel free to e-mail me at: mikedemana@earthlink.net
Depending on how my class schedule works out in the Fall of 2009, I may be going to the Galapagos Island in Ecuador, South America. I will be doing my first "field experiences" in classrooms, so may not be able to get away, though. I have two weeks of vacation planned, though, just in case...
