Archive for January, 2008
Women’s rights in Saudi Arabia
Well, it’s a small sign of progress, at least. It’s possible that women in Saudi Arabia will soon gain the right to drive.
Buoyed by recent advances in women’s rights, advocates for the right of women to drive in Saudi Arabia — the only country in the world that prohibits female drivers — say they believe [...]
Asian-flavored chocolate
Europe is, of course, known as the home of great chocolate. Belgium, Switzerland and France are all at or near the top of most lists of the world’s best chocolate-producing countries. On the other hand, chocolate and Asia are two words not often found in the same sentence. However, Business Week recently wrote about the growing popularity of [...]
Spirits and mystics in Indonesia
There was a fascinating article a few days ago in the NY Times, just prior to the death of former Indonesian President Suharto, which discussed the power of local beliefs in spirits and black magic. The story focused on mystical explanations as to why Suharto was clinging to life, but in the process it also illuminated [...]
Hiking the snows of Kilimanjaro
Mt Kilimanjaro. It’s a mountain adventure that is accessible to people without mountaineering skills and is one of the great dreams of many travelers. This Tanzanian peak can also lay claim to one of the world’s most famous images, the “snows of Kilimanjaro.” Neil Modie decided he wanted to climb Kilimanjaro before melting glaciers removed most or all of the snow from the mountain. [...]
Embracing diversity in Japan
Japan has long been one of the most homogenous nations in the world. Although the Japanese are often welcoming to tourists and visitors, they have not always been so enthusiastic about foreigners who settle in their country. There are signs, however, that the famous Japanese reticence toward outsiders may be receding, at least among young [...]
Men, women and an Omani classroom
Baxter Jackson went to Oman to each English and ended up learning a thing or two about the relations between males and females in that Muslim society. He wrote about his teaching experiences for Lonely Planet.
I sneak a peek at (the men) in their starched-white dishdashas (wrist-to-ankle shirt-dresses) and embroidered caps as they wait patiently for me [...]
Extravagant Afghan weddings
Sure, American weddings can be extravagant and pricey. But would you pay the equivalent of two-to-seven years’ salary for a wedding celebration? Many families in Afghanistan do just that, according to this NY Times article, which notes that guest lists often run from 600 to 2,000 people and that poor laborers who make $350 a year can [...]
Bookstore tourism
If you like to read, then you likely have a favorite local bookstore or two. But what about when you travel? As Beth Harpaz of the Associated Press asked in a recent article, “When is a bookstore worth a tourist’s time?” She went on to profile nine U.S. bookstores that were “worth traveling for.” It’s [...]
The role of tribal identity in Kenya
A few weeks ago, I had some posts (here and here) about the Kenyan elections and the influence of tribalism in that country’s politics. Now, the Washington Post has an excellent article that explores that topic in more depth and examines the role of tribal identity in shaping the political and world views of many Kenyans. A key [...]
Harvesting olives in France
It’s one thing to travel, it’s another thing to completely immerse yourself in the culture or the daily life of another country. One of the best ways to do this, of course, is to actually live and work abroad. And perhaps even by choosing to do something you might never do at home. Like, say, working in an olive [...]
Cell phones and Africa
There is an interesting article in the Christian Science Monitor about cell phone use in Africa – not only the dramatic increase in the number of cell phone users across the continent, but also some of the unique ways in which people utilize the phones as compared to the way they are used in the West. An [...]
Visiting some happy places
Last summer, a scientist at the UK’s University of Leicester made news when he produced a world map of happiness, in which 178 countries were ranked by their “subjective well-being.” Several European countries, led by Denmark and Switzerland, topped the rankings. The United States was 23rd. Burundi was on the bottom.
According to a BBC article [...]
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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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