What Took You So Long, comprised of Alicia Sully, Sebastian Lindstrom, and Philippa Young, began our camel milk journey in July 2010 with little idea that it would take us so far around the world and so deep into a camel milk passion. We have filmed in more than 20 countries, been on ten-day camel [...]
We’re filming from the rooftop of one of the best hotels in Liberia. only it’s completely dilapidated following its use as a strategic stronghold for the rebel army during Liberia’s most recent civil war. The hotel overlooks what is now one of the darkest areas in Monrovia, the huge slum of West Point. Within this [...]
It may be the middle of rainy season but it’s a beautiful day in Monrovia. Mama Liberia as an independent nation is 164 years old. What a woman. Happy Birthday! “Sweet Liberia. Long live forever” plays over UNMil radio. In just two months the presidential elections will decide whether international darling, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, [...]
Swaying, singing, clapping women greet us in a village just outside of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. Punctuating the welcome song makeshift hammers slam into pieces of rock breaking them into smaller pieces for use in construction work. At a distance it sounds like light rain patter; up close the sound is sharp and comes [...]
What Took You So Long is in Liberia (not filming camels!) for Foundation for Women (FFW), a microfinance organisation that assists 3,000 women across 12 of Liberia’s 15 counties. We are here to work with Phil Borges, official photographer for UNWomen, and cover a landmark conference: the All Liberian Women’s Summit on August 2nd. It’s [...]
We stay 50 metres from the sea on the coast of Liberia. It looks like a storm is rolling in off the sea. Winds rip through short palms and whip up the surface waters of the pool. But there is no storm coming and no one seems particularly worried by the dark clouds. Liberia is [...]
25th December, 2010. What did you do on Christmas Day? What day is it? Christmas day. Where am I? Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, The Desert. What I am doing? Waiting for a sheikh to arrive at a camel festival. I never thought I’d be writing these words. Today has been the best day filming; a [...]
24th December 2010. Camels: back on top… Christmas Eve for us; a camel race for everyone else. It’s difficult to think of snow and Christmas trees when faced with a line of camels against a sky that blurs with heat into the sand. Dust and noise crowd for space as hundreds of cars hoot and [...]
23rd December, 2010 - Taking us home: Al Dhafra Camel Festival We spend all of 30 seconds on the side of the road before being picked up by two young men in a huge, white 4×4. We have arrived, in the middle of the Abu Dhabi desert, for Al Dhafra Camel Festival. The boys speak schwei [...]
We talk to people about why camel milk is AWESOME every day. One of WTYSL’s favourite writers Tafline Laylin says it simply and accurately HERE and below.. One hump or two? Feisty camels might have a bad rap, but their milk is low in fat, and full of vitamin C and iron. The next thing [...]