Gadling

Lost temple discovered at Ur, Iraq

Sean McLachlan — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: History, Learning, Iraq, Middle East

A team of Iraqi and Italian archaeologists have discovered a temple at the ancient city of Ur in Iraq.

This is the first foreign team to excavate in Iraq for 20 years and they hit pay dirt in the form of a 4,500 year-old temple and associated graveyard. Little information has been released about the find but it promises to herald a new era in the study of one of the world's most important archaeological sites.

Ur was one of the most powerful Sumerian city-states and dates its beginnings back to at least 6000 BC. It reached its height in the third millennium BC, the same period as the newly discovered temple. At its height, Ur was a center of trade and featured many monumental buildings such as its famous Great Ziggurat, shown here in this Wikimedia Commons image. The Sumerians developed writing, an elaborate bureaucracy, and the beginnings of science.

While the Italians are the first archaeologists to return to Iraq after the Gulf War, another Italian team and an American team will soon be conducting their own excavations. In the meantime, Iraqi archaeologists have been valiantly struggling to preserve their nation's heritage in the face of war, looting, political turmoil, and lack of funding. Iraq is an archaeological wonderland and has some of the most impressive ancient sites in the world. It's the Holy Grail of adventure travel and a trickle of hardy travelers are making their way there. There's even a tour company offering trips to Iraq.

Lost temple discovered at Ur, Iraq originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Biblical city of Nineveh under threat in Iraq

Sean McLachlan — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Iraq, Middle East

One of the greatest cities of the ancient world may soon be lost.

Three thousand years ago, the city of Nineveh in Iraq had a population of 100,000 and was the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. It was home to magnificent palaces and temples and is mentioned in the Old Testament.

Now it's crumbling away, reports Popular Archaeology magazine. Located near the city of Mosul on the Tigris River, it was hit hard by looting during the war, and is still inadequately protected and maintained. Mosul's suburbs are expanding close to the site, weathering is taking its toll, and illegal digging for artifacts continues. Many of these stolen treasures end up on the international antiquities market. The Global Heritage Fund lists Nineveh as one of the world's most threatened ancient sites.

Of course, Coalition forces and the Iraqi government have a lot more pressing problems than archaeological preservation, but they ignore it at their peril. Preserving Iraq's past will help secure Iraq's future. Once the country becomes stable (whenever that happens) places like Nineveh will be a huge tourist draw. In fact, at least one company already offers tours to Iraq that focus on the country's rich ancient history.

Despite these pioneering tours, it will be a many years before Iraq will be a mainstream tour destination. In the meantime, you can see many fine bas-reliefs from the palaces of Nineveh at the British Museum in London.

[Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons. Note that it was taken in 1990, before suffering two decades of war.]

Biblical city of Nineveh under threat in Iraq originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Is Iraq really safe to visit?

Aaron Hotfelder — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: History, Blogs, Iraq, Budget Travel, Travel Health, Middle East, Women's Travel, Travel Security

If you ever visit Iraq, it's probably best to tell your parents about the trip after you return. That's what my friend Jennifer Martin did, and she says it saved her parents from lots of (mostly) needless worry.

Jennifer has just returned from a week-long tour of Kurdistan, a semi-autonomous, surprisingly safe region of northern Iraq. (Venture further afield than Kurdistan and you're asking for trouble.) While most people would balk at visiting an area of the world virtually synonymous with war, Jennifer did some research about Kurdistan's security situation and decided to go for it, a decision which guarantees her an automatic victory in just about any travel-related pissing match.

I recently asked her a couple questions about visiting northern Iraq-- whether it's really safe to visit, what are some of the region's highlights, and how locals reacted upon meeting her. Here's what she had to say...

1. Most people would never dream of visiting Iraq because of concerns about their safety. How did you decide to visit the region of Kurdistan and, perhaps more importantly, how did you know it would be safe?

Continue reading Is Iraq really safe to visit?

Is Iraq really safe to visit? originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ten most corrupt countries of the world

Tom Johansmeyer — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Burundi, Chad, Guinea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Iraq, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

You spend every holiday weekend annoyed that you can't talk your way out of a speeding ticket. If only there were some way out of that predicament ... aside from taking your lead foot off the gas, right? You may be out of luck on the New Jersey Turnpike, but there are plenty of places in the world where money talks, according to a new study by Transparency International. So, if you tend to disregard local laws and customs, you may want to pick one of the 10 countries below for your next vacation.

WARNING: You may need to bring a bit of fire power for some of these destinations.

1. Somalia: Is this even a country? It has no real government to speak of, not to mention a history of piracy, mob violence, warlord brutality and kidnapping. So, chew a little khat to take the edge off.

The Good News: You can't really break any laws where there aren't any.

2. Myanmar: Okay, the human rights issue here is pretty severe, and the military regime is known for being among the most repressive and abusive in the world. So, don't complain about the thread-count in your hotel.

The Good News: There's plenty of wildlife to enjoy as a result of slow economic growth. A bleak financial outlook is good for the environment!

Gallery: Corruption: The world's 10 worst countries

Continue reading Ten most corrupt countries of the world

Ten most corrupt countries of the world originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

12 historic sites in danger of disappearing

Kraig Becker — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Learning, Africa, Asia, Europe, Kenya, Bangladesh, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey, Ukraine, Guatemala, Haiti, Ecotourism, News, Middle East, Central America

The Global Heritage Fund has released a new report that lists 200 World Heritage Sites around the globe that are in danger from a variety of threats, turning the spotlight on 12 in particular that could disappear altogether due to a lack of funds, neglect, and mismanagement.

The 12 sites listed in the report include Palestine's Hisham's Palace, Turkey's Ani, and Iraq's Nineveh. Hisham's Palace, the remains of a royal winter retreat built in 747 AD and the ancient city of Nineveh are both under threat from encroaching urban development, while Ani, an 11th century city on Turkey's border with Armenia, finds many of it's ancient structures literally falling apart on their foundations.

Other Heritage Sites that make the list of "most threatened" include Mahansrhangarh, the oldest archeological site in all of Bangladesh and Mirador in Guatemala, which is a pre-Columbian Mayan ruin which sits in a remote jungle location. Haiti's Sans Souci Palace suffered damage during the recent earthquakes that hit the country, while the Maluti Temples in India suffer from years of neglect. Kenya's Lamu Village, Famagusta, located in Cyprus, Pakistan's Taxila, Intramuros and Fort Santiago in the Philippines, and Chersonesos in the Ukraine round out the list.

The GHF's report recommends that the countries in which these historic sites are located invest in restoring and preserving the ancient places. While those repairs could cost millions of dollars to complete, the sites could potentially generate that income back through tourist dollars, although UNESCO representatives say that caution should be taken when going down that road, as sustainable tourism is not always an easy thing to accomplish and there are a lot of factors to consider before proceeding.

One thing that everyone agrees on however is that these amazing sites need to be preserved for future generations to visit and explore. Just how that will be accomplished remains to be seen.

[Photo credit: Christian Koehn via WikiMedia]

12 historic sites in danger of disappearing originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Baghdad route for French airline

Tom Johansmeyer — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Iraq, France, Airlines, Middle East

Where are you going for Christmas? Forget New England charm or warm islands where you can skip the traditional holiday and sun yourself without regret. Now, you can take the sort of vacation that will be the envy of all your friends: Baghdad. Your options were once limited, but now there's one more airline taking passengers into Baghdad International Airport - from a convenient spot.

Aigle Azur, a French airline, is going to start flights from Paris to Baghdad twice a week, starting later this month. The inaugural flight's wheels will leave the ground on October 30, 2010, on an Airbus-319. Flights are set to leave from Charles de Gaulle airport, and if you're the type who likes to plan ahead, tickets will be available soon.

Aigle Azur fills a gap in the market, as Air France no longer serves Iraq.

Gallery: On the ground in Iraq

Gallery: Al-Faw, Saddam's Palace

New Baghdad route for French airline originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 17 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

638 Iraqi relics found in closet

Tom Johansmeyer — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Iraq, Middle East

The Iraqi National Museum found 638 artifacts that had been missing for two years. Once returned by the U.S. government, the relics were turned over to the office of the prime minster in Iraq, which is where they were found, according to an announcement over the weekend. They were in a closet in the prime minister's office.

Following the removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003, approximately 15,000 relics fell victim to looting.

According to Qahtan al-Jibouri, the minister of tourism and antiquities for Iraq, "We found these artifacts in one of the storerooms of the prime minister's office along with some kitchen appliances."

[photo by Brian Sayler via Flickr]

638 Iraqi relics found in closet originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Iraqi Airways shuts down after dispute with Kuwait over aircraft theft

Scott Carmichael — Wed, 26 May 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Iraq, Kuwait, Middle East

State owned Iraqi airlines has been forced to declare bankruptcy. The airline had been around for decades, and when they tried to restart operations with regular Baghdad-London operations, they ran into a nasty reminder of their past.

Upon landing at London's Gatwick airport, the airline was confronted by lawyers representing the state of Kuwait. Apparently, the Iraqi's had helped themselves to aircraft and aircraft parts during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

With a bill of over $1.2 billion, Iraqi airlines had no other option than to declare bankruptcy.

Because Iraqi airlines chartered its planes from other air carriers, the Kuwaiti authorities were not able to confiscate them. In the coming days, the airline will cease all flights. The Iraqi government calls the claims by Kuwait "harassment", but they don't seem to be denying the claims of theft from 20 years ago.

(Image: Getty Images/AFP)

Iraqi Airways shuts down after dispute with Kuwait over aircraft theft originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 26 May 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Iraqi Airways begins, ends service from Baghdad to London

Grant Martin — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Iraq, Airlines, News

One of the biggest milestones for a developing country is to have regular commercial traffic in and out of its main airports. It's even better if part of that traffic is on the nation's flagship, state-owned carrier -- a matter of pride, so to speak. So there's little doubt that the managers running Iraqi Airways were under a serious amount of pressure to get the airline rolling.

In hindsight, they may have moved too fast. Iraqi Airway's first flight into London, England ended in disaster this past week when their chartered airplane and their leading man's papers were detained upon arrival. Behind the seizure? An outstanding suit from Kuwait Airways claiming that the Iraqi government plundered several of their aircraft during the original gulf war. With the Iraqi Airways equipment outside of the middle east, Kuwaiti officials had the authority to seize collateral.

Now, both aircraft and bigwig are stuck in the UK until the entire issue gets sorted out -- and Iraqi Airways' service between Baghdad and London is indefinitely on hold. Perhaps next time they'll pay their bills.

Iraqi Airways begins, ends service from Baghdad to London originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 01 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The top 8 tourist destinations of tomorrow

Grant Martin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Panama, Colombia

The rapidly changing landscape of today's globalized economy means that countries are developing at breakneck pace. Yesterday's war zones are turning into tomorrow's tourist destinations at the blink of an eye, while today's utopias (see: Dubai) are disintegrating just as fast.

Need more convincing? Check out Hans Rosling's lecture on the rise of Asia over at TED.

Here at Gadling we have our own humble opinions on the next hotsposts for tourist traffic, not the from the socioeconomic perspective, but rather from that of a road hardened traveler. Take a look below:

Sarajevo
The memory of the Yugoslav Wars is too fresh for many of us to think of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a tourist destination, but in the ten years since the conflict, the country and its capital city, Sarajevo have made enormous strides. Long gone are the days of ethnic conflict, strife and war crimes -- 2009's Sarajevo is a charming, cosmopolitan city surrounded by hills, cafés and culture.

***

Iran
At first glance Iran doesn't look very inviting, what with an authoritarian government intent on building nukes and quashing dissent. But look past the politics and you'll find a hospitable country with excellent cuisine, rugged scenery, and a fascinating history. Add in a reliable bus system and you can have a relaxing vacation with people who love to meet foreigners. The only danger we faced in Iran was the very real possibility of being fed to death.

***

Continue reading The top 8 tourist destinations of tomorrow

The top 8 tourist destinations of tomorrow originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Coming attractions: Iraq

Sean McLachlan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Iraq, Middle East

Could Iraq be the next big adventure travel destination? One hardy tour company and their clients are saying, "Why not?"

There's no shortage of things to see. Just as Ethiopia is the cradle of humanity, Iraq is the cradle of civilization. Cities like Ur and Babylon had palaces and libraries when my European ancestors were painting themselves blue and dancing around stone circles. Besides Iraq's obvious historical interest, visitors can enjoy the novelty of being in a country that we so often see on the news but so few of us have experienced in real life.

OK, but. . .

Yes, Iraq's a rough place. The U.S. State Department strongly advises against going there. It's not like Iran or Colombia, where you can simply get a visa, fly in, and wander around freely and safely. Iraq is definitely an organized tour sort of country. An organized tour with armed guards.

I spoke with Geoff Hann, owner of Hinterland Travel, a UK company that offers one of the only ways to go to Iraq without a gun or a government contract in your hand. He's been leading tours to the country since 1970, with a few breaks during the recent wars. He led a Post Iraq War tour in October 2003 but then the security situation deteriorated and he wasn't able to get back until November 2008. This year he's run four tours and has more planned for next year.

"Individual Tourism is not yet allowed due to security issues so we have group departures and the visas are arranged accordingly through the Ministry of Tourism," Hann said.

Hinterland Travel's tours encompass a lot of the country. Their shortest tour is nine days and covers sights in Baghdad, Samarra, Erbil, Nimrud, Ctesiphon (shown here), Babylon, Najaf, and more. The tour costs 1,600 pounds ($2,600) and includes all in-country expenses such as hotels, transport, security, and an English-speaking guide. Some tours even visit one of Saddam's old palaces.

Hann warns travelers to be flexible because the situation in the country is very fluid and the itinerary can and probably will change. He says the locals are very friendly and welcoming to international visitors. I've never been to Iraq, but I've experienced warm hospitality in Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Iran, so there's no reason to think the average Iraqi would be any different.

Yes, but what about security?

Continue reading Coming attractions: Iraq

Coming attractions: Iraq originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Anthropologists told to get out of the wars

Tom Johansmeyer — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Learning, Asia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Middle East

When anthropologists travel to foreign lands, it's generally for an academic endeavor, intended to enrich the world as a whole. There's a group in this community, however, with a much different mission ... and they're about to be out of work. Army anthropologists tasked to gather intelligence on the counterinsurgency in Afghanistan and Iraq have been told to call it quits.

A new report by the American Anthropological Association's ethics commission, entitled "Final Report on the Army's Human Terrain System Proof of Concept Program," says that anthropologists can't participate in this project any longer. It has involved embedding five-person social scientist teams with soldiers and has been going on since 2005. Three Human Terrain System research team members have been killed during this period.

The deaths, though, aren't the reason why the association is calling for an end to the program. Rather, it believes that the research violates the "do no harm" ethics of the anthropology field, because there is a "significant likelihood that HTS data will in some way be used as part of military intelligence."

The House Armed Services Committee is planning to hold hearings on the HTS program next year, in order to see how effective it's been. Only six of the 49 social scientists involved in the program are anthropologists.

Anthropologists told to get out of the wars originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Google to immortalize Iraqi museum

Tom Johansmeyer — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Iraq, Middle East

Google is taking Iraq's national museum global. Company CEO, Eric Schmidt, said Tuesday that Google is going to document what's in the museum and will share photographs of the war-torn countries museum holdings with the world. The museum, which reopened this year, was torn apart after Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled in April 2003.

At a ceremony with Iraqi officials, Schmidt said, "The history of the beginning of - literally - civilization is made right here and is preserved here in this museum." He continued, "I can think of no better use of our time and our resources than to make the images and ideas from your civilization, from the very beginnings of time, available to billions of people worldwide."

Already, Google has shot around 14,000 photos of the museum and its contents. They'll be up on the web for all to see early next year. As artifacts from the museum's vaults and from others across Iraq become available, they will be brought into the program. Some of these items date back to the Stone Age, as well as the Babylonian, Assyrian and Islamic periods.

[Photo thanks to Brian Sayler]

Google to immortalize Iraqi museum originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gadlinks for Friday 8.7.09

Brenda Yun — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Gear, North America, Iran, Iraq, United States, News, Middle East

This has been quite a week! I don't know about you guys, but I'm eager for the weekend to begin. Here are some green-themed Gadlinks (to honor our green travel theme this month).

I always have a hard time choosing the best travel shoes. This article helps to sort out the different kinds of footwear to bring with you on your travels. [via GoGreenTravelGreen]
While you may think you have to pay more to travel green, these five eco-friendly lodges are both cheap and green as the grass. [via Treehugger]
If you've been following the news on the arrest of the American hikers in Iran, this article is a helpful and informative speculation of what could become of them. [via Peter Greenberg]
What's a "clean break"? According to Rough Guide green travel writer Richard Hammond, it's a green vacation that will soon be the new eco-conscious alternative to backpacking. This article gives us some really interesting clean breaks in such far-off places as Lebanon, Estonia, and Rwanda. [via GreenTraveller]

'Til Monday, have a great weekend!

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Friday 8.7.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Locked Up Abroad returns tonight with new episodes

Jeremy Kressmann — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Iraq, Video, Middle East

Everyone's favorite extreme travel TV series, Locked Up Abroad, is kicking off another round of new episodes starting tonight at 10pm. The new episodes start off with Locked Up Abroad: Iraq, which follows the story of two foreign journalists kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents in 2004.

Canadian war reporter Scott Taylor and his friend, Turkish journalist Zeynep Tugrul find themselves deep inside post-war Iraq in 2004, on the search for breaking news. After a contact shares a tip on an impending battle between the Americans and insurgents in the Northern Iraqi city of Tall Afar, Taylor and Tugrul head for the action. Yet shortly after the pair enter the city, they seek assistance from apparently-friendly local Iraqi fighters, only to be taken hostage as suspected spies. Scott and Zeynep spend the next five days blindfolded, interrogated and held at gunpoint, fearfully awaiting the life or death ending of their captivity. After four days, Zeynep is finally released, but Scott must stay and face down a final gut-wrenching game of "knife or life," a series of life or death questions that will determine his fate.

Much like previous seasons of Locked Up Abroad, this summer's newest installment of harrowing tales remain true to form. They are not so much cautionary tales of "travel gone wrong" as a series documenting individuals who must make do or die decisions. Like in seasons past, Locked Up Abroad focuses on travelers who have covered wars, smuggled drugs or knowingly broken the law. While many of us would find such choices appalling, the series triumphs by not passing judgment on the protagonists despite their flaws, letting them narrate the tale through their own eyes and eventually condemn their own bad decisions as plans go horribly wrong.

It is this objective style of storytelling and thrilling dramatizations that make Locked Up Abroad great television. Check it out tonight, if you dare.

Locked Up Abroad returns tonight with new episodes originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gadling + BootsnAll - Picks of the Week (5.15.09)

Jeremy Kressmann — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, India, Iraq, Russian Federation, Thailand, Italy, United States

Welcome back to Gadling's weekly "Picks of the Week" feature, brought to you by our friends at travel website BootsnAll. How does it work? We input thousands of travel variables into the Gadling mainframe computer, and out comes five of the best and most interesting travel stories from BootsnAll this past week, ready for your reading pleasure. Got your 5.25" floppy disk ready? Alright, here's what we found:

The Venice of the... - Venice Italy is arguably one of Italy's, if not the world's, most popular tourism destinations. So popular in fact, that it's spawned a fair share of "imitators." As Roger Wade points out, pretty much any city that has a canal or waterway is laying claim to the nickname, including spots in Iraq, Russia and India. Check out his list of "Fake Venices Around the World."
Life and Death in New Orleans - New Orleans is renowned for its spooky above-ground tombs, a feature of the city obviated by its elevation below sea level. Jessica Spiegel takes a photographic tour of New Orleans' many atmospheric burial grounds. Don't be afraid - the images are downright beautiful.
Drunken Culture - go on, admit it. You like to have an alcoholic beverage now and then. Lucy Corne is in on your secret - and knows how to help you make the most of it. She's compiled a list of 10 places where you can drink and pretend like you're soaking up all kinds of local culture. It's OK...we promise to tell everyone that you went to Dublin to see the Book of Kells. No really, go see that too after you finish your Guinness.
Staying Healthy - when you're out traveling, having fun and throwing caution to the wind, it's suprisingly easy to forget to take care of your body like you might at home. Never fear, Eileen Smith has six cautionary reminders to make sure you spend your trip having fun and not in the hospital.
Thailand English - ever considered teaching English abroad? It can be a highly rewarding experience, but also one not without its challenges. Chabli Bravo spent the past seven months teaching English in Thailand and has a few suggestions to make the experience as good as possible. Even if you want to teach English elsewhere, it's a post that's certainly worth a look.

Well folks, looks like we're out of room for this week. We're just going to have to save all the other great links for next time around. Tune in again next Friday for more Gadling and BootsnAll Picks of the Week.

Gadling + BootsnAll - Picks of the Week (5.15.09) originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 15 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Five Destinations for the "Super-Adventurous"

Kraig Becker — Thu, 07 May 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Asia, Europe, South America, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, Middle East

The Wall Street Journal has put together a list of five travel destinations that they deem are for the "super-adventurous" amongst us. They label these places as scary, saying that most travelers wouldn't venture anywhere near them, but for the adventure traveler who has been everywhere and seen everything, they recommend these locales.

The two scariest places on the list are Iraq and Afghanistan, thanks to the fact there are ongoing wars in both places. Iraq has just officially reopened for tourist traffic for the first time since 2003, with small tours visiting some of the historical sites throughout the country. Afghanistan, on the other hand, has generally remained open these past few years, although certain places remain safer than others. That country is lauded for its historical landmarks as well, although the more remote regions get a nod for scenic beauty too.

Gallery: On the ground in Iraq

Gallery: Afghanistan

Continue reading Five Destinations for the "Super-Adventurous"

Five Destinations for the "Super-Adventurous" originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 07 May 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Internet search results show soldiers are thinking of home

Tom Johansmeyer — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Iraq, Internet Tools, Consumer Activism, Middle East

Life in Iraq isn't necessarily what you think. While there are tough conditions for those outside the gates, life on the large camps that shares some startling similarities with major U.S. military installations at home. On Camp Anaconda, for example, you can visit a library, shove some fast food fare into your mouth and burn your quads at the gym. Of course, the occasional mortar does get through the defense systems ... these communities do sit right in the middle of a war, after all.

Among the amenities now available at major camps in Iraq is internet access, and Google Insights shows the interesting search objectives of the 140,000 military personnel and civilian contractors serving over there.

Most searches are linked with special occasions, such as holidays and personal celebrations (e.g., birthdays and anniversaries). "Christmas gifts," "gift shop," and "Valentine's gifts" are among the top search terms for Americans serving in Iraq, according to a recent study. A "regional interest" index calculated by Google Insights pegs these search terms at 100 (based on a maximum value of 100) or English speakers in Iraq, compared to 80 for the United States and 58 for Great Britain.

It's pretty clear that the internet helps our troops act on concerns they have about what is happening at home (no surprises there). Thanks to fairly plentiful online access, they have an easier time of participating in the normal activities that we take for granted, such as buying birthday presents.

For people stationed on the larger posts (such as Camp Anaconda), it's possible to gain satellite internet access in the barracks, though this option can be expensive. Free internet access is offered through Military Welfare and Recreation (MWR) centers on these installations.

Gallery: On the ground in Iraq

Gallery: Christmas in Iraq, 2008

Internet search results show soldiers are thinking of home originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Satisfy your lust in Baghdad (finally!)

Tom Johansmeyer — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Iraq, Nightlife, News, Middle East

According to the NY Times, Baghdad is getting safer, and people are looking to have a good time (though, this does stand in stark contrast to the suicide bombing I reported a few weeks ago). So, if you find yourself in Iraq's capital, stop by a nightclub, order a drink and nail a prostitute. For the best results, go to Saddoun Street, where you'll have plenty of choices.

Or, you can dash off to Abu Nawas Park for a sexual liaison in one of its many hiding places. Fortunately, the bang you get won't attract the U.S. Army's attention!

After your romp, hit a café to toke a hookah and gamble on dice and dominos. If you win back what you spent on the prostitute ... well, it's like she really wasn't a prostitute after all!

But, be careful.

Gambling is illegal ... whether it's dice, dominoes or cockfighting. Prostitution is, too. Fortunately, the police have had their hands full with the truly dangerous, so they aren't going to go "Serpico" on hookers and booze. In fact, prostitutes are a figurative step from being deputized, as they're the cops' best sources.

To get in on the carnality, the sticker price is around $100, but you'll probably spend at least that in drinks just to broach the issue.

Needless to say, the Iraqis are certainly having more fun than the Americans. Locals can pay for the real thing, while U.S. military personnel and civilian contractors can't even bring their own substitutes for prostitutes. Damned shame.

Of course, vice doesn't just bring fun and excitement ... not even to a place like Baghdad. There have been reports of inappropriate (i.e., criminal) behavior, even under the loose enforcement of these laws. Human trafficking and drug abuse are among the problems being discovered in Iraq, proving that turmoil is constant ... it just changes its face.

Gallery: On the ground in Iraq

[Photos by Brian Sayler]

Satisfy your lust in Baghdad (finally!) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ransacked museum reopened in Iraq

Jamie Rhein — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Iraq, News

For anyone who wonders about the importance of the arts and historical places to a culture, head to Warsaw, Poland. Warsaw, after WWII looked a bit like Swiss cheese. An massive effort on the part of the country was made to rebuild or restore some of the important buildings' as a way to signal that Polish resolve and strength had survived. When I visited there, restoration was still taking place in the historic district.

In Iraq, there is a similar effort going on as shown by the reopening of the National Museum in Bagdad that fell to looting and damage during the American invasion. When an invasion happens, an unprotected museum doesn't fare well. "Hey, look folks, there's a whole lot of antiquities and great art for the taking! Yeeehaw!"

Basically, that's what happened. Priceless artifacts by the thousands were taken on out of there like no body's business. Some were recovered at the border. Maybe a few folks came to their senses with theft remorse and returned them. At any rate, there is enough in the museum to have it reopen which it recently did, although some say it's too soon for the items, some dating back 3,000 years, to be seen by the public.

The Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki disagreed with those who said no, are you nuts? He believes that the museum's reopening, if only for those with special permission to see it--and only on special days is a symbol that "'We have stopped this black wind, and we have resumed the process of reconstruction.'"

I'm wondering if he has ever been to Warsaw? He could probably relate. The New York Times article gives impressions of those who worked at the museum. They're with their prime minister. (al-Maliki's quote is from the article.)

Ransacked museum reopened in Iraq originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments