by Calvin Sun | Aug 8, 2011 | North Korea, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Travel Warnings
Thank you, U.S. State Department, for issuing this warning for me. In any case, I’ll be in North Korea within the next 12 hours! The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against entering North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK), without...
by Calvin Sun | Aug 6, 2011 | Let me tell you a Story..., Myanmar, Mythbusters, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Travel Warnings, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
I had to wait until I got out of Myanmar to post this without getting prematurely deported or thrown in jail. I got a small rush writing this while still in the country, but I didn’t want to take my chances before leaving Myanmar for good (as if posting this in...
by Calvin Sun | Jul 21, 2011 | Introspection, Let me tell you a Story..., Sri Lanka, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Travel Warnings, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
He seemed stern at first. Upright posture, concentrating on the world around him without giving too much away. He is a special forces commando from the Sri Lankan military. “We’re not allowed to talk about what we do, not even to our wives.” I...
by Calvin Sun | Jul 19, 2011 | Crisis, India, Let me tell you a Story..., Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Travel Warnings
Madurai at night. Back on the road: literally hit the ground running. Before beginning, we treat ourselves to free access to Amex Platinum’s Lounge Stephanie, having no interest in seeing Madurai, stayed behind Mumbai an extra few hours...
by Calvin Sun | Jul 15, 2011 | India, Introspection, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, The Nightlife, Travel Warnings
Mumbai: just the way I left it. It’s been a day since 3 bombs killed 20+ people in 3 heavily populated areas of the center city, and Mumbaikars carry on as usual. The only noticeable signs of the attacks are the tan-clothes police officers stationed every...
by Calvin Sun | Jul 14, 2011 | India, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Travel Warnings
Yesterday’s bombings in Mumbai. 7/13/11. It’s all over the news in India. A series of bombs went off in 3 separate areas of the city last night during rush hour, 2 of which were in popular areas that foreigners (including myself) regularly would travel...
by Calvin Sun | Jul 5, 2011 | India, Pakistan, Public Transportation, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Travel Warnings, What Dreams May Come
I guess not everything is that peachy in the region at the moment. At least Pakistan isn’t blaming India. Before I write about Kashmir’s Ladakh region, I have to pull the same stunt when I wrote about Varanasi and use the same video that I did then...
by Calvin Sun | Jul 3, 2011 | India, Introspection, Lessons Learned, Mythbusters, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Travel Warnings
“In the last 3 days it seems like we’ve been the only international tourists in Srinagar.” “That’s because your media always paints the wrong picture of Kashmir.” He was right. Although Srinagar boasts more security...
by Calvin Sun | Jun 22, 2011 | Jordan, Lessons Learned, Let me tell you a Story..., Mo' Money Mo' Problems, Mythbusters, Serendipitous!, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Syria, Travel Warnings, United Arab Emirates
Syria: Not gonna happen. They’re not gonna let visa-less Americans through the border, and they won’t be issuing any new visas at the embassy for a few weeks. I tried. I failed. Wop Wop. Maybe next time. I ended up stopping by a protest, however, while on...
by Calvin Sun | Jun 16, 2011 | Lebanon, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Travel Warnings
Guess what’s been issued as I’m about to embark on my journey into Lebanon today: The Department of State continues to urge U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon due to current safety and security concerns. U.S. citizens living and working in...
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