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 …
The Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh is a unique place. Seriously, throw out your mental picture of India because it doesn’t apply here. Old Dirang, the village I am highlighting here, is found on the road to Tawang and I feel it serves well as a representative sampling of the villages one will find on … Continue reading
“Each morning when I awake, I experience again a supreme pleasure – that of being Salvador Dali.” Continue reading
I was charmed to see that Banksy graced our London neighborhood with his presence recently. The mystery artist left behind this stencil: To their credit, the Camden city council did not paint over the Banksy stencil, but instead placed a protective plastic covering over it. Not bad for a quiet neighborhood of stately Victorian homes… … Continue reading
It’s been a hectic month, dear readers, but it has also been a very productive month. I’ll be in California for a little while before driving out to Toronto in January (which should be an interesting drive). I’ve got more stuff from India to share with you as well as some new stuff from Romania, … Continue reading
John Muir, Clarence King, Royal Robbins. The history of Sierra Nevada mountaineering and rock climbing is filled with legendary names and legendary feats. But when stories get passed around a campfire on cold nights at high elevations, one name towers above them all: Norman Clyde. Simply put, anyone who stands atop a Sierra peak is … Continue reading
For those of you that don’t know, the Maidu were a Native American tribe that once occupied an area encompassing Oregon House… Maidu communities varied with the topography. In the foothills, the Feather, American, Yuba and other smaller streams flow through deep narrow canyons. Permanent settlements were usually on the ridges that separate the parallel … Continue reading
Why is it that the winner of the Miss Universe contest always comes from Earth? Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 