April 2, 2023
Earlier this year my friends Rosalind and Robert Alperstein visited Cuba. They each wote about their trip. They provided photos and a video of the highlights.
My friend Howie Sorkin also visited Cuba and sent me photos. Howie made a special effort to visit the Jewish community.
I have also attched a link to an essay by John Kiriakou
Jan
Jomtien Beach
Thailand
March 16, 2023
In The Border: A Journey Around Russia, Erika Fatland outlines the history and current disputes in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia.
In addition to the capital cities Baku, Yerevan and Tbilisi, Erika visits the disputed areas of Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. The disputes seem intractable while local populations try to survive.
During more stable times my own visit to the Caucasus was filled with beautiful scenery, and generous people.
Bangkok
Thailand
March 10, 2023
Hello
Even an experienced traveler like author Erika Fatland becomes exasperated with the inflexible restrictions in North Korea.
In Kazakhstan she was totally blocked from visiting the Russian-controlled Cosmodrome.
Erika loses her patience with the traffic in Ulaan Baatar. She is much happier in the wide-open spaces of the Gobi and the mountain regions of central Mongolia.
As a native Norwegian, the frigid temperatures of ice- bound Harbin, China must have been no problem at all.
Ms. Fatland reminds us of sage travel advice: “When visiting Asia you need two personal characteristics: “Patience and a Sense of Humor.”
Jan
