The rapid-fire invasion of Iraq and then Kurdistan by ISIS, as the Islamic State was calling itself at the time, stunned the world. For several hours, it even presented an existential crisis for Kurdistan itself as the momentum of the invasion by ISIS brought them to within mere kilometers of Erbil – with little standing …
Even in a country with a wealth of beautiful landscapes, the Valle de Cocora still stands out. The broad, emerald green valley stretches east of the village of Salento into the lower reaches of Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados where it is framed by sharp peaks. Everywhere you’ll see wax palm, the largest palm in …
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 …
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 …
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 …
If you ever make it to Omdurman, Sudan (across the river from Khartoum) be sure to check out the Omdurman camel market. Or, you can just read this site… Most of the animals are brought in (on foot – like the old days of the American cowboy) from Darfur and South Sudan since these areas …
Baalbek has long enjoyed a reputation as home to some of the finest Roman ruins anywhere in the world. However, even without the Roman ruins, it would still be an interesting town… To reach Baalbek, one passes through the hot, dry Bekaa, not so much a valley as a high-altitude plain, with its Hezbollah flags …
Viewed from a distance, Port-au-Prince seems a pleasant and mellow Caribbean port city: Once one is out on the streets though, the fact that all is not well in Port-au-Prince soon becomes apparent. And the January 12, 2010 earthquake only served to push Haiti closer to the top of the Failed States Index… Destruction, dysfunction …
Zululand is an interesting place with quite a history…
Chernobyl Reactor # 4 shortly after the meltdown: Part 1: Chernobyl and Reactor # 4 Until the late 1990s it would have been impossible for me to come here. The whole area was sealed off. Now though, the United Nations is encouraging “ecotourism” to the former Chernobyl disaster zone in order to help the area …
There aren’t a lot of roads in Somalia. Those that do exist mostly pass through rough countryside, interspersed with the occasional village and frequent checkpoint. Upon arriving at a checkpoint, if you don’t have an armed guard with you, a bribe will be required and all of your passport details will be carefully taken down …
Down this innocuous looking street pictured below, in a quiet industrial area of Peshawar, Pakistan, lies a cutting-edge operation, global in nature and acutely reflective of the latest trends in world politics… This is an operation with far more influence in the world than its relatively small size or remote location would suggest. And an … Continue reading
Balkh is now primarily a mass of ruins, but it was once one of the premier cities of the world. Seriously, look up the history of Balkh if you are not familiar with it. It was an incredible city. You probably won’t need to rush to see Balkh if you wish to see it before … Continue reading
Dearest readers, I depart in a few hours for the frontiers of Pakistan and Afghanistan with a brief visit to Dubai on my return journey. Unfortunately, I view it as highly unlikely that I will be able to update my blog during my time in the Middle East. So, I do hope you will indulge … Continue reading
*** This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to an actual person or place are entirely coincidental *** Jim eased the red Corvette into his normal parking space behind the Oregon House Post Office. As usual, he was late for work that morning, but also as usual he didn’t care. Revving the engine before … Continue reading
Cipro anti-dysentery medicine – check Immodium AD – check Passport with visas – check Sunglasses – check Camera with extra batteries and memory card – check Confirmation of registration with U.S. State Department – check Water filter/purifier – check Deodorant – check Cargo pants – check Jeans – check Fleece – check 15 pairs of … Continue reading
El Pais Grande del Sur Not feeling satiated by our recent visit through Big Sur, Brandon and I headed back for some deeper penetration. This time we had a specific destination in mind -Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Which is not to say that we didn’t find plenty of places to stop on the way … Continue reading
*** Update*** OK – I have been advised that Mushroom Rock (identified as Mushroom Hole in the article below) was actually written up in National Geographic Adventure Magazine. This surprised me greatly and makes my original opening sentence (below) a little less accurate, apparently. I have posted the commentary found in National Geographic Adventure Magazine … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 