Following the Equator | EF's Educational Travel Blog

So you think you can dance?

Imagine 400 dancers in four countries choreographed to the same song at the same time on the same day. That's what EF Education First accomplished Saturday.

Working with Ambra Succi from Bounce Streetdance Company, a popular Swedish dance company, EF coordinated dancers in Copenhagen, Denmark; Helsinki, Finland; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm, Sweden, to simultaneously break into the same dance routine at precisely 1 p.m. December 19.

So you think you can dance like that? The flashmob performance is promoting the EF Dance Off contest, sponsored by the EF Language Travel division of EF Education First, the world leader in international education. To learn more, visit the official site at www.ef.com/dance.

To see more videos, visit the official EF Dance Off channel on YouTube.

Friday Fun Fact: Kaffeklubben Island

The North Pole—which often draws a lot of attention at this time of year—is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, covered by shifting layers of ice. The nearest land is believed to be Kaffeklubben Island (above), which lies off the northern coast of Greenland about 440 miles from the North Pole.

There is some dispute over whether Kaffeklubben truly is the northernmost point on earth because at times there are gravel banks closer to the North Pole—but they are not permanent.

Kaffeklubben Island was first visited in 1921 by Danish explorer Lauge Koch and was named after the coffee club in Copenhagen's museum of mineralogy.

Photo: Arctic Thule

Travel Tidbits: One long walk

How much does it cost to travel from Bristol, England, to Porbandar, India?

If you're Mark Boyle, the answer (hopefully) is nothing.

The catch is that Boyle is walking—yes, walking—from his British hometown to Gandhi's birthplace without any money.

The 28-year-old former businessman (pictured at left) began the 9,000-mile "pilgrimage" last Wednesday and plans to survive by relying solely on the goodwill of humanity or working for food and a place to rest.

"I've got some sunscreen, a good knife, a spoon, a bandage ... no Visa card, no travellers' cheques, no bank accounts, zero," he told BBC radio. "I won't actually touch money along the way."

Boyle, who also goes by the name Saoirse, estimates he'll cover 15 to 45 miles a day walking through France, Italy, eastern Europe, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. He guesses it will take him two and a half years to arrive in Porbandar, Gandhi's birthplace on India's west coast.

You can follow Boyle on his journey by reading his blog. And, if you happen to spot him along the way, be sure to post your sighting.

Read on for this week's installment of Travel Tidbits.