I provided an introduction to the mountains of Chechnya in a previous post, but with this post, we’re getting into the most restricted area where a lot of heavy activity went down in the recent Chechen Wars (and still does now). I’m referring to the region of Chechnya that borders Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge… The eight-mile-long … Continue reading
That Christmas chocolate you’re gorging on didn’t come from Oompa-Loompas operating magical machines inside Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory… Instead, companies like Nestle and Cadbury produce their chocolate from cocoa beans sourced from plantations in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia or the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is an appropriate place to visit a … Continue reading
Given that Salah Abdeslam, the final fugitive from the recent attacks in Paris, is hiding out somewhere in Brussels and undisclosed, but “precise” intelligence suggests extremely imminent Paris-style terrorist attacks, Brussels is presently locked down… Shops are closed. Soldiers and paramilitary police are patrolling the streets. Public transportation is shut down. People are being told … Continue reading
I’ve been profiling some of the cities and towns of Yemen for you, dear readers… However, you know that I also strive to show, as much as possible, what a place is really like aside from just the highlights. And it should not be shocking to hear that there is a lot more to Yemen … Continue reading
This scene in Yemen caught my eye because we had been traveling through the desert for quite some time without seeing a single other human being when suddenly we were in blanketing smoke with figures moving through it like ghosts – appearing and disappearing in the swirling smoke. The effect was enhanced by the tremendous … Continue reading
Do you see the spot below where the mountains on the left and the right plunge down into a narrow flat area? This is the gateway to the mountains of Chechnya and the road enters through here… It is known as the Gate of Wolves for the fierce fighters in Chechnya’s mountains. Many Russians (and … Continue reading
Ahh, we’re back in Yemen… In Hodeida. The fish market in Hodeida is, perhaps not shockingly, right along the waterfront and it is impossible to miss. We passed by during our first night in Hodeida and even though that is supposedly the quiet(er) time for the fish market, there was still a remarkable amount of … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 