Stories about Travel from September, 2010
Europe: “Mapping Stereotypes”
Via Dr Sean's Diary, “a series of maps of Europe mapping the (supposed) prejudices of various nations […] and, for some reason, also of gay men” by “Bulgarian visual artist, graphic designer and illustrator Yanko Tsvetkov.” Also, “What European Tribes Think About One Another” – at eXile.ru; a similar map...
Russia: Irkutsk-Moscow Train Travel Notes
Derek of The Kalpak travels for four and a half days on a Russian train – and arrives in Moscow.
Moldova: Gagauz Yeri Photos
Photos from Gagauz Yeri – the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia – at Moldovarious.com.
Ghana: The Complete Boredom of Ghanaian Functions
According to Graham Ghanaian functions are boring: “Having attended Ghanaian functions in both London and Ghana, the experience has been the same. Firstly, the host seats you at a table with other people but does not introduce you to anyone on the table, as we would in my culture.”
Barbados: Drug Smuggling
Bajan Global Report links to a mainstream media news item about arrests made in a multimillion pound drug ring, noting that this was the “2nd major cocaine drug haul in six weeks leaving Barbados airport.”
Russia: From Beijing to Kyiv, By Train
Derek Kedziora of The Kalpak is traveling by train from Beijing to Kyiv and is currently in Russia. Here's what he writes about his short stay in Irkutsk: “One of the first things I noticed is that people hold doors for each other here. […] Cars stop for you at...
Russia: Photos of Kolyma Highway/Road of Bones
AskYakutia.com posts 45 winter photos of “the Road of Bones (officially known as the Kolyma Highway) built by GULAG work camp inmates in the time of Stalin.”
Ukraine: Agriculture
Leigh Turner, the British Ambassador to Ukraine, posts some observations on Ukraine's agriculture.
Belarus: A Visit to Minsk
Kyiv-based Ann Merrill of Anka's Place visits Minsk and reports that, among other things, the city is very clean: “It is freakishly clean. It is refreshingly clean. “
India: An Inspiring Train Journey
“Tata Jagriti Yatra is an annual train journey that that takes 400 of India’s highly motivated youth (with some participation of international students) on an 18-day national train-journey, introducing them to unsung heroes of India,” informs Think Change India blog.
Lebanon: “The City that Never Sleeps”
“I felt safer than I had ever done in London, a city that has one CCTV for every twenty or so people, a city that stands as a beacon of Western capitalism and success. The West was wrong, I thought. This country no longer deserved a reputation of violence and...
Cambodia Tourism Magazine
The Mirror reviews the September-October 2010 copy of the Cambodia Tourism Magazine. The blogger points out some errors in the paper but also praises the relevant tourism news about Cambodia. Tourism is Cambodia's second largest foreign exchange earner.
Lebanon: Forty New Things
This is Beirut posts a list of 40 new things that she learned in Lebanon in the nine months since she moved from Miami to Beirut.
Brazil: World's Largest Graffiti Inaugurated
Brazil's President Lula da Silva inaugurated the world's largest graffiti at over 37 000 square feet in the area of Foz do Iguaçu. This area; famous for the Iguaçu falls and the triple border where Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina meet will now be home to a decorated highway honouring children and teenager's rights.
Thailand Medical Tourism Blog Contest
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a new blog contest to promote medical tourism. The decision of tourism officials to embrace social media is appreciated by many bloggers but some are questioning the strategy for this particular blog contest
Mali: Women on Bikes
Sierra Leonean blogger Vickie writes about her recent trip to Bamako, Mali: “The city was everything I expected and more but nothing could have prepared me for the women on bikes. I like to think I know it all, but how is it I didn’t know about this? Women in...
Panama: 10 Things You Have to do When Visiting Panama
Rob Rivera shares “10 Things You Have To Do While in Panama.” He goes into detail about each point, offering specific suggestions on how to fulfill each of these ten things.
Bhutan: The Real Experience
Bhutan is trying to boost tourism in 2012 and the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) has announced new hotel ratings. Penstar argues that the tourists should look for the real experience of Bhutan while choosing accommodation, not the same luxury they enjoy back home.
Ethiopia: Ethiopia's rich history, legend and culture
Justin discusses Ethiopia's rich history and culture on travel blog:”One of the first places we went was to Addis Ababa University, the site where Haile Sellasie's former palace was located. We were able to go into his former bedroom and even his bathroom. Haile Sellasie was the former emperor of...
Azerbaijan: Back Home
AZ Cookbook has returned from its native Azerbaijan and posted photographs of the visit. Naturally, given the nature of the blog, it also takes readers on a culinary as well as cultural pictorial tour of the country.
Caucasus: Expedition 206
Having already visited Georgia, Expedition 206 arrived in Armenia. The initiative, sponsored by Coca-Cola, will see three bloggers visit 206 countries in 365 days. iReport [AM] posts photographs as well as an account of the travelers meeting with 20 local bloggers and says that they will travel to Azerbaijan tomorrow....