Abu Dhabi - Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The UAE also includes Dubai, for a total of 7 emirates. Abu Dhabi is the less flashy, but richer brother to Dubai. The UAE became a unified nation upon the departure of the British, who managed the territory as a protectorate. The UAE is astonishingly wealthy, with a per [...]
There are too many hotel options in Bangkok. Too many choices. But if you want to splurge, consider staying at Lebua at State Hotel. Have a drink on the 63rd roof deck bar and restaurant. Why not? That is where the characters of Hangover II were hanging out. Otherwise you can take a dip at the [...]
What do I have in common with Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Edward Fowle? No, we are all not serial killers. But we have all gone on vacation to North Korea. The difference ends there. Miller and Fowle are in jail in North Korea, and I am back home, writing this story. North Korea aka the [...]
Why should you visit Belarus? President Alexander Lukashenko is known as the “last dictator of Europe”. He has been in power since 1994, winning four elections. He rules the country with a totalitarian-Stalinist fist. Minsk, the capital, at first appearance is a pleasant and relaxed city. This initial impression belies a darker reality. Dissent is not [...]
If there is a must see in Dubai, I believe it is the Burj Khalifa. TheBurj Khalifa is the tallest man-made structure in the world. It checks in at 829.8 m (2,722 ft). There are 164 floors and over 24,000 windows. It took 10 years to construct this beautiful monstrosity. Over 100 km (62 mi) of pipes snake [...]
Someone please wake up Belarus. I mean really shake them up, maybe a sharp slap in the face. Let them know the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. You are free! Take down your statues of Lenin. Remove the Soviet red stars. Disband your police state. Until then, realize that Belarus does not want you to visit. [...]
Somaliland, An Overview Somaliland has its own currency, military, government, and requires a Somaliland visa to enter the country. Yet, there are 193 countries in the United Nations and not one of those countries recognize Somaliland as an independent, sovereign nation. In fact, type in Somaliland into Google Map and the country does not exist. Somaliland [...]
Walking The Streets Of Hargeisa, Somaliland I will be honest; there are not a lot of traditional tourist haunts in Somaliland. A lot of it, is simply soaking in the atmosphere. There is no better place to start then strolling the dusty and cluttered streets of the capital Hargeisa. If you are staying at the Oriental [...]
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