Stories about Travel from February, 2012
Slovakia: Chuck Norris Bridge
In the situation when the U.S. action film star Chuck Norris leads in the public vote for the name of the bridge across the Morava River into Austria [en], blogger Ondrej Horváth recommends [sk] asking Mr. Norris before making the final decision, because otherwise it is possible that the bridge...
Cuba, USA: Blogger Perspectives on the Embargo's 50th Anniversary (Part 1)
The United States' economic embargo against Cuba has been in existence for 50 years. To mark the occasion, Global Voices interviews two bloggers about the blockade and what it has (or hasn't) accomplished. This is Part 1, in which Cuban diaspora blogger Alberto de la Cruz shares his views.
Lebanon: Questions to Expats
Lebanese blogger Liliane asked Lebanese expatriates some questions about their stories of how and why they left their country. Check the questions at her post and the answers in the comments.
Cuba: Bejerano Against Corruption
“Eliot Ness and his group in Chicago…[have] a female version in Cuba”: Iván's File Cabinet blogs about the country's “Iron Lady”.
Sierra Leone: Postcards From Freetown: Then and Now
Babak uses old postcards from Freetown, Sierra Leone to compare what was then to what is now: “The series of “Once Salone: Freeown’s then and now” is a photography project that sent him sometimes to the most unlikely places to identify the locations.”
Morocco: “Stop French Made TGV Rail Project”
StopTGV.com is a web campaign launched by a number of Moroccan NGOs. It calls for the cancellation of the controversial French-made Tangier-Casablanca TGV rail link due to start operating by December 2015 and which is worth an estimated 20 billion dirhams (US$2.4 billion). The campaign calls on the authorities to...
Southeast Asia’s Three-Wheeled Vehicles
Tuktuk, Beca, Kuliglig, Trishaw, Pedicab, Becak, Tricycle. These are the famous three-wheeled vehicles in the Southeast Asian region. They can be seen in the streets of urban centers but governments are trying to ban these ubiquitous pedicabs and motorized rickshaws in major throughfares.
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival Fun!
Afrobella wishes everyone a fun Carnival!
Sri Lanka: Promoting Reconciliation and Hope to Young People
Reconciliation is a much discussed buzzword across Sri Lanka. While there has been much talk about how to do it, a group called Sri Lanka Unites is actually doing something. They are uniting the youth of all ethnic and religious groups across Sri Lanka and promoting hope and reconciliation to them.
China: New Monetization Model for Sina Weibo
Jin Ge from China Bubble Watch introduces a new monetization model for Sina Weibo.
Costa Rica: Videos from the Past
A video by geographer Homer Dávila is making nostalgia grow on Facebook as people are reminded of the light traffic that used to be the norm between the capital city of San José, Costa Rica and neighboring city of Alajuela.
Video: Showcasing the Beautiful Landscapes of Chile and Patagonia
A moving short film by Gnarly Bay Productions follows a couple travelling through Chile and Patagonia, showing the beautiful landscapes found in this corner of South America.
Colombia: Through the Eyes of Expat Bloggers
Colombia's official travel website has called on some 30 foreigners to share their Colombian living and travel adventures to the world through blogging. The official site will launch on February 20, but some of the participants offer a glimpse of the project on their personal blogs.
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival Culture?
“What it has become and where it is going?”: The TnT River looks at the history – and the future – of Trinidad Carnival.
Cuba: Different Pope, Different People
Generation Y adds her perspective to the issue of the upcoming papal visit: “At the end of the nineties Karol Wojtyla lit up our hearts – including those of agnostics like myself – saying the word ‘freedom’ more than a dozens times in the Plaza of the Revolution. But now...
Macedonia: British MEP Tweets His Emergency Landing at Skopje Airport
A drama in the air over the Skopje airport received an immediate reflection via Twitter, after a successful emergency landing. Filip Stojanovski reports.
Hong Kong, China: Cross-border Self-drive Tour Instigates Fear and Anger
Tension between Hong Kong and mainland China has mushroomed in recent months. While small conflicts, such as a train scuffle, have ignited fury, the recent introduction of a cross-border self-drive tour scheme, signed by the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments without public consultation, has instigated a new round of social...
South Korea: American Missionary Sue North Korea for Sexual Torture
Robert Park, a Korean-American missionary and human rights activist who went to North Korea on 2009, sued North Korea for sexual torture. Park crossed into the country in protest of North Korea's human rights atrocity. However, as Marmot's Hole blogger wrote, the new has drawn some cynical reactions.
Trinidad & Tobago: Seeing Siparia
MEP Publishers visits Siparia, a vibrant community that has had a fascinating part to play in the island's history.
Cuba: Bloggers Say Pope Should Postpone Trip
Cuban bloggers have been making their feelings known about the impending papal visit to Cuba, their main concern being that the Vatican is putting its stamp of approval on the Castro government despite regular reports of human rights violations coming out of the island.
Hungary: Goodbye, Malév!
Malév, Hungary's state airline since 1946, ceased operation on February 3, 2012, due to bankruptcy. Marietta Le reports on the reactions in the blogosphere, explaining what Malév meant for the people.
