I knew there were a number of separatist movements in India before we arrived. However, it wasn’t until after we’d been there that I realized how intense some of these conflicts are and simply how many of them there are. One estimate we were given indicated that there are over 300 different separatist movements in … Continue reading
I was exploring some of the back alleys of Tbilisi when I stumbled across this church: I could see that it looked abandoned and so I slipped in past a boarded up section where I was shocked to discover that the entire church had been absolutely gutted by fire – and fairly recently too. The … Continue reading
The following is straight from the notebook I had with me at the time and, I believe, helps give a feel for what it is like walking around Herat: …Wandering around Herat shafts of sunlight penetrate serpentine alleys lined by canvas-covered wooden stalls; the harsh light illuminates the faces of the merchants and their bountiful … Continue reading
After following the Georgian Military Highway to the Russian border, my Italian interpreter and I felt like stretching our legs a little after so much driving. I stopped at a crude dirt track leading up into the mountains of the Caucasus and we decided to hike up the road to see where it went. On … Continue reading
Perhaps not surprisingly to those that know me, I found the military dimension to Arunachal Pradesh interesting. Tensions between India and China run high in this area… Currently, India administers all of Arunachal Pradesh. However, the Chinese lay claim to the majority of Arunachal Pradesh as they believe it to be an extension of the … Continue reading
An evening exploration of the streets of Damascus… “…no recorded event has occurred in the world but Damascus was in existence to receive news of it. Go back as far as you will into the vague past, there was always a Damascus… She has looked upon the dry bones of a thousand empires and will … Continue reading
As my Italian and I discovered the hard way after being turned back from a number of roadblocks, one must have permission from the Lebanese government to visit certain regions in the south of Lebanon. After some confusion with soldiers that did not speak English, we were informed that official permission can only be obtained … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 