Archive for April, 2007
Spontaneous travel
Have you ever had a desire for a last minute, spontaneous trip? Scott Kraft has, and over a few long weekends he’s managed to travel to Machu Picchu in Peru and Iguazu Falls in Argentina. He had a similar urge to see the Taj Mahal on a quick trip, but India is not so easy to get to. Still, [...]
Richard Gere and public affection in India don’t mix
Well, just when reports indicate that public affection is becoming more common in India, now there is word that an arrest warrant has been issued for the actor Richard Gere because of a public kiss. Really. Seems that Gere went a bit overboard during a charity event and planted some kisses on the cheek of the Indian [...]
Culture and democracy in Bhutan
It’s easy in the West for us to assume the democracy is a natural state of government, or at least something that people in every country long for. That’s why I was intrigued by an article about Bhutan in the International Herald Tribune. It seems that the king of Bhutan has decided his Himalayan country is ready [...]
Differing ideals of beauty
As one travels around the world, it becomes obvious that different cultures have varying ideals of beauty. A recent Associated Press article touches on this subject, focusing on the West African nation of Mauritania, where some families force feed their daughters because obesity is considered a sign of beauty and wealth.
Mey Mint struggles to carry her [...]
Italy’s stunning Amalfi coast
Italy’s Amalfi coast is a stunning series of cliffside villages. When Nicole Cotroneo recently decided to spend a week there, she chose to rent a villa in the small town of Praiano. She did get more exercise than she bargained for, since the town has a vertical landscape connected by staircases, but she also felt more a [...]
Indian weddings
Indian weddings are often lavish affairs involving large extended families. When these take place in North America, they can be an interesting blend of cultures and of contemporary and traditional elements. The Arizona Daily Star yesterday ran an interesting, in-depth article on such a wedding that involved families in both Arizona and India.
Flowing silk, georgette and [...]
The enchantment of Fez, Morocco
There is a nice travel story in the NY Times about Fez, Morocco. It describes this 1,200-year-old city as the soul of the country.
… this mazelike city of minarets, shrouded figures and forgotten passages can seem impossible to decipher – yet tinged with a deep enchantment.
“It’s a mysterious place,” said Abdelfettah Seffar, a craftsman and [...]
Turkish kebabs in Germany
What do Turkish kebab sandwiches have to do with German culture or the German economy? Plenty, these days, according to this story in the Los Angeles Times, which recounts how Germany is trying to create a system for kebab chefs to be integrated into the workforce. If the labor angle is uninteresting, you might still enjoy the [...]
Encountering Portugal
If you have a hankering for wine and a trip to Europe, but Italy and France aren’t options, perhaps you should consider Portugal. The NY Times travel section recently ran a story on Oporto, Portugal, the home of port wine and with a city center that’s been declared a Unesco World Heritage site.
But what that word [...]
Tranquility in Kerala, India
Where does one go for tranquility in India? Some would say it’s not possible, but John Flinn found Kerala, on the country’s southwestern coast, to be an idyllic spot. He wrote about it for the San Francisco Chronicle.
Traders still come for the spices — when the wind is right a hint of nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom [...]
Baseball goes international
It’s opening day for baseball season in the United States. Every newspaper just did some form of a preseason preview and a few of them used the occasion to discuss the internationalization of baseball, particularly with more Japanese players now joining a large contingent of Latin Americans on team rosters.
The Hartfourd Courant looked at the history [...]
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Bob Riel is a writer and a traveler. Go here to read more about Bob, his work and the Travels in the Riel World blog.
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