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"The Border" Part 3. The Caucasus.
Posted March 17, 2023 by 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.
"The Border" Part Two - Asia
Posted March 10, 2023 by Jan
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
"The Border" Part One. The Ocean
Posted March 6, 2023 by Jan
Jomtien Beach
Chon Buri Province
Thailand
March 6, 2023
Hello,
The current selection of our Travel Book Club is The Border by Erika Fatland:
A Journey around all the countries that border Russia: North Korea, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Norway and The Northeast Passage.
The Book is divided into four sections: The Ocean, Asia, The Caucasus and Europe.
For The Ocean, please click on the image above for my photographs of Kirkenis and the Northern Cape of Norway, and the Svalbard archipelago at the western edge of the Northeast Passage.
Jan
Southern Africa by Bob and Roz Alperstein
Posted January 31, 2023 by Jan
January 30, 2022
My friend and classmate Bob Alperstein and his wife Roz recently traveled to Cape Town and Kruger National Park in South Africa and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
From his home in Northern New Jersey, Bob wrote to me and sent photos and videos.
Hi Jan,
I’ve tried to capture some of the wild experiences, but I am not sure if I succeeded. (He did!)
It’s difficult to adequately capture the feelings as you climb into the open Land Rover at the crack of dawn. The temps are in the 40’s and you welcome the hot water bottle and blankets. The Land Rover moves out with the wind shield down, gradually increasing speed. The wind hits you full on.