Travel Letters
Bangkok to Beijing: "Royal Tailors"
Posted January 3, 2008 by adminRoyal Tailors
Bangkok, Thailand
January 3, 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
From Boca Raton , in sunny South Florida , my generous friend and once-upon-a-time mother-in-law, Helga D. sent me this New Year’s message:
"Jan, while you are freezing your ass off in China I will do the same in Antarctica. I am leaving in the middle of January for a cruise on the Explorer II."
Sinai, Cairo, Giza, Luxor: "What A Country!"
Posted June 10, 2007 by JanCairo
Arab Republic of Egypt
June 10, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
The ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba left three hours late ("we have to load the ferry"). But the ride is splendid. I have to pinch myself: To the port side are the hilly brown barren coastlines of Jordan and Saudi Arabia. To starboard is the hilly brown barren coastline of Egypt, North Africa! And, I check my map to learn that the Gulf of Aqaba is the northernmost section of The Red Sea. The Red Sea!!
Ajlun, Jerash, Aqaba: "Ali Hassan"
Posted June 2, 2007 by JanAjlun
Ajlun Governate
The H.K. of Jordan
June 2, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
I am standing on a terrace perched on a steep hillside in the north of Jordan. The view is historic.
Below and to the west and south is the fertile and green historic Jordan Valley.
Beyond the tomato farms, olive trees and apricot orchards lies the historic Jordan River. Across the river lie the Palestinian Territories, Israeli Settlements, military roads and "no-man's land."
On the Road in Rajasthan: "Horn Please!"
Posted February 24, 2007 by JanJaipur to Bikaner
Rajasthan, India
February 24, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
The phrase "Horn Please" is emblazoned in huge, colorful and artistic boldfaced letters on the rear end of every powerful, solid, steel-framed intercity truck. Or "Sound Horn" appears. Or "Blow Horn." My favorite is "Blow Horn." India is a nation of one billion horn blowers.
It is good form. Everyone is encouraged to sound his horn to alert the truck driver ahead that his rig is about to be overtaken. And, (and this is a big "and") every driver of every type of vehicle alerts everyone else of his presence and his insistence to proceed unimpeded according to some preordained universal master transport plan known only to himself.
Jaisalmer: "The Golden City"
Posted February 27, 2007 by JanJaisalmer, Rajasthan
India
February 27, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
India is blessed with ancient stone -- deep deposits of granite and marble and sandstone. For centuries, for millennia, masons, architects, artisans and artists have quarried and designed and cut and carved their local stone to build a dramatic and eternal heritage.
The glossy white marble of Agra, the sparkling pink sandstone of Jaipur, the rich red sandstone of Bikaner -- the geological riches are the pride of India and a prize for her visitors.
And now, Jaisalmer -- a golden city! Jaisalmer, the golden-yellow sandstone walls rise up from the hills to dominate and defy the golden gauntlet of the Thar Desert.