Featured Travel Stories
North Korea Tour:
A Chilling Glimpse into the Hermit Kingdom
North Korea 2010. We were sitting in Pyongyang's May Day Stadium, the largest stadium in the world. Across the huge field on the opposite side of the stadium facing us, the background scenery for the just starting Mass Games performance was changing. This was accompanied by a low level thunder-like rolling clap. Mystified at how such a huge video like background was achieved, I asked the man sitting next to me about it. This was Herman, a Dutch man in his late 30s, who was part of our tour group, and had been to North Korea last year for the Mass Games. "How is the scenery accomplished?" I asked him. "It does not look like a gigantic movie screen.". . . . more
Traveling Myanmar: Secret Police, Colorful Cultures, Struggling People
Myanmar July 2008: "How can I get into Mr. Bush's Jail?" asked Jason, a talented and serious 29 year old University educated trail guide. I had hired Jason to lead me on a trek to some ethnic villages in the beautiful, cool hills surrounding the small central Myanmar city of Kalaw.
"Come Again" I asked. "What do you mean when you say 'Mr. Bush's Jail'"?
"The one in Guatemala", he replied.
Completely mystified for a moment or two, I realized he was referring to Guantanamo. "You mean Guantanamo Prison in Cuba, where the US locks up captured terrorists?" I asked. . . . more