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 …
Faithful readers will no doubt recall the photo submitted by Matt Downing of the well used Tennessee truck stop urinal… Matt posted the picture to his Myspace account and promptly received the following message which I have posted below along with our email correspondence: —————– Original Message —————–From: MySpace HelpDate: Nov 3, 2007 9:55 PM … Continue reading
I am extremely interested to hear of the accomplishments of others on Frenchtown Road. My personal speed record is 143 mph (achieved on a motorcycle). Is this the all-time high or have others gone faster? I believe 143 mph is probably near the upper range of what is possible, although one on a Hayabusa or … Continue reading
The other day I had a conversation with some friends about lines people had used as an excuse to stop seeing us. It was a pretty funny conversation, but I couldn’t remember all of mine. So, as I was driving back from the Bay Area tonight I had time to mentally review all of the … Continue reading
One night a policewoman pulls over a drunk driver. “Anything you say can and will be held against you,” she barks. So he looks at her and says, “Breasts.” Continue reading
During Brazil’s military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985, the government clandestinely pursued a nuclear weapons program. In 1981, Brazil and Iraq signed a nuclear cooperation agreement that led the government to ship 26.7 tons of uranium dioxide to Baghdad. In 1989, the former head of Brazil’s nuclear weapons program worked in Iraq as a consultant. … Continue reading
My roommate purchased a solid birthday present for me – actually presents plural – and so I am assuming she has done the same for Christmas. As such, I felt compelled to step up and return the favor. So, while searching for an item on her Christmas wish list, I was forced into the mall, … Continue reading
It takes an effort – of sorts – to forego consumption, sometimes it’s harder not to spend money than it is to earn it in the first place. The saver/investor is rewarded because he or she does the right thing, the honorable thing, the good thing: They give up the immediate pleasure of spending money … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 