More travel porn...

While we're on the subject, 50 travel writers/journalists remember their best trips, and they should know what they're talking about. http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/nov/28/50-ultimate-travel-experiences-sites

Travel porn from the Maldives

If you're looking forward to the winter and think that Sweden in the winter is quite a swell place really, have a look at these photos. I rest my case... http://beautifulplacestovisit.com/islands/maldives/

EU helping Libya to stop immigrants

The EU is providing Libya with 50 million Euros in order to stop the illegal immigration into the EU from Libya, which is an important transit-country from immigrants. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101006/local/libya-eu-reach-milestone-agreement-to-stem-migration

This is disturbing in many ways. First, that Libya is blackmailing EU in order to stop the migrants. Secondly, and more important, that the EU is closing its borders for people that desperately needs our assistance. Third, giving people smugglers/ traffickers an ability to make even more money out of the desperate migrants and finally, EU is then responsible for migrants ending up in makeshift refugee camps in Libya under terrible conditions. See article from Humans Right Watch: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2006/09/12/libya-migrants-abused-europe-turns-blind-eye

China handing out aid to the EU

China has promised to buy bonds in order to stabilize the Greek economy. China holds unpresedented political and financial clout, to the extent that they are bailing out both the US and the EU. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6069926,00.html

There are two sides of the coin though. What will happen is that the value of the Euro to the Yuan will increase even further, making it even cheaper to buy Chinese goods, hence disrupting manufacturing in Europe even further. The value of the yuan is already artificially low since the Chinese government wants it that way - remember they're the factory of the World.

Camino del Rey - extreme tourism

Here's the youtube clip that I showed earlier from the Camino del Rey, the world's most dangerous hike, and a good example of how tourists push the boundaries. The more extreme and more remote the better. There's a very strong hierarchy among backpackers for instance, the more remote, the less you spent, the more native you've gone the better. Explorer tourists and adventure tourists are most often the ones the discover new and un-chartered tourist destinations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmDhRvvs5Xw

To travel is very important for more and more people. Especially for a majority of people in highly economically developed countries, but even so in emerging economies such as China and India. When you get to the stage of not merely surviving and getting food and clothes you want to broaden your perspectives. I agree with Robert Louis Stevenson who said "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."

The best travel author, according to me is Bruce Chatwin. Especially his book on Australia (Drömspår).

Amazing travel link...

Forbes writes the most amazing travel pieces found on the net, very remote and luxurious http://search.forbes.com/search/sectionSearch?section=Travel But if you want to look at beautiful pictures and dream away, then Forbes is difficult to beat.

Usama Bin Laden going green...

I'm starting to change my views on the fellow, I knew he was an Arsenal supporter, and now this! Makes me wonder if his views on global warming is changing his everyday life. Molotov-cocktails from recycled bottles, filling up his Jeep with ethanol, solar panels instead of diesel generators in his cave. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/29/osama-bin-laden-climate-change