Features
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Paddling the NileThe first ever paddle down the Blue Nile from source to sea. 5,000km through wild rapids, war zones, crocodile and hippo infested waters, disease, terrorists, guns, arrests; the works... |
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Chinese AdventuresNewly married amongst the neon glow and dumpling vendors as we bumble our way trying to figure out the world's most populous nation at this exciting time in it's history... |
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The Great Canadian Bike Trek23 years old and naive, I set off in the middle of Canada's barbaric winter perched on a woolskin seat-cover peddling solo from one side of Canada to the other... |
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Welcome to MarkTanner.com where you'll read about the first ever paddle from the source of the Blue Nile to the sea, an ancient Viking treasure hunt, midwinter biking across Canada and Chinese adventures. There's tasty Sudanese recipes, a Chinese Haka Video, beatbox downloads, Nile Floods, rat trapping, a Nile River trivia quiz, photos of Wellington and lots more. Enjoy!
Chinese Year of the Dragon – The Top-6 Reasons to go Shopping
January 5, 2012 |
7 Comments
The new moon on 23 January 2012 will welcome in the Year of the Dragon and see another round of the largest human migration on the planet, billions of boiled dumplings, gargantuan fireworks and enough red decorations to plaster the Great Wall of China 87-times over.
While doomsayers have been stocking up on tinned asparagus in preparation for the world-ending catastrophe of 2012, the Chinese have been preparing for the biggest of their 12 zodiac years. The Year of the Dragon is the most auspicious year of the Chinese lunar cycle and the one that is associated with wealth and power.
China's having a baby boom in the Year of the Dragon
China’s One-Child Policy Shaping the Cars of the Future
December 6, 2011 |
2 Comments
While most of the world’s major economies splutter along, China’s blistering economic growth has the businesses everywhere salivating for a piece of China’s increasingly wealthy middle class.
Everyone peddling something from adventures down the Nile River to skin-whitening face cream are redefining their strategies to get a piece of the Chinese pie. Even Porsche chose Shanghai for their world debut of the 4-door family wagon Porsche Panamera – its biggest launch in years.
Launch of the Porsche Panamera in Shanghai
But it seems ads with backdrops of Chinese skylines are for beginners, when you see the lengths the world’s biggest auto manufacturer is going to get their cars on Chinese roads…
Art and Culture – China’s Missing Link?
November 24, 2011 |
2 Comments
With a history spanning 5,000 years, China is rich with cultural and artistic treasures – albeit not nearly as wealthy as it should be.
There’s no arts and culture killjoy quite like a Cultural Revolution. In just 10 years from 1966-1976, innumerable works of splendid art, antiques, architecture, books and paintings spanning millennia were destroyed by Red Guards. Countless Chinese artists were persecuted and people were encouraged to criticise their cultural institutions. Arts students, or any students for that matter, were shifted en masse from their universities, to raise pigs and grow grain in rural labour camps.
Chinese Propaganda from 1967 translated to "Destroy the old world; Forge the new world." The worker is destroying classical Chinese text, music on vinyl, a crucifix and buddha.
Trincomalee – Home to Sri Lanka’s best beaches
November 9, 2011 |
4 Comments
Trincomalee on Sri Lanka’s east coast is my new favourite beach. There are more dramatic bays, and seaside spots serving tastier margaritas, but something about Trincomalee’s beaches hit my sweet spot.
What makes it my favourite beach? It’s raw, rustic and the first cheap, sunny, beautiful place that I’ve been to in a long time where the locals aren’t trying to peddle their wares. Its people are wonderful, architecture charming, history fascinating and it ticks every box that I love to tick when I’m travelling…
Tamil fisherman overlooking the Indian Ocean at Trincomalee Beach
