Last year I trekked into the Moroccan Sahara desert on a very trusty camel named Aszu. In the evening, my guide, Jusef, a sixth grade educated Berber nomad, surprisingly fluent in six languages, fixed me a tantalizing chicken tangine. All that it lacked was a glass of wine, unfortunately verboten for Muslims just days before Ramadan. At night we slept under the incredible desert night skies. Never before had I seen so many stars, stretching from one horizon to the other – the stars so bright and numerous, it was difficult to make out the constellations. That was Morocco, a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, smells, and experiences. From Morocco I traveled on through much of Europe, Russia, Mongolia, China, and finally concluding my trip in Japan. This year's trip will take me to Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, Central Asia, India, Nepal, Southwest China, and Indochina. At times I hope to report back on my experiences and observations, perhaps posting a few pictures and videos that may be of interest. I've posted below a few pictures and videos from some past trips. For my blog on my travels through East Europe check out my blog at http://tallinntovarna.blogspot.com.

I’ve been asking myself lately, is there a theme to all this? Maybe not, but one thing I can say that piques my interest, is the dangerous nexus between religion and politics that engulfs the world today. In Morocco, where the King is both the head of Mosque and State, a Muslim, during Ramadan, can end up in jail for doing nothing more than drinking a glass of water under the scorching daytime heat – his crime, the thirsty Muslim broke the fast. Imams in Morocco claim that such an abhorrent act defies the teachings of God, infringes on the religious liberties of practicing Muslims, and is deserving of serious sanction. Of course, such a violation of an individual’s personal freedom could never happen in America. Or could it? As I write this, the U.S. Catholic Bishops are ferociously attacking President Obama’s Affordable Care Act for requiring institutions to provide birth control under their insurance policies. Like the Imams, the Bishops consider it not just an affront, but an existential threat, to their religious liberties. A poor woman, without the means to support a family, let alone a brutally raped woman, should not expect any sympathy from these Catholic institutions, as they, like their Muslim brothers, are scripturally bound to impose their beliefs on others. Does it matter that no one is telling Muslims that they cannot fast or Catholics that they cannot abstain from sex?

Now that I think of it, I’d like to dedicate this blog to Americans United, a terrific nonpartisan educational organization dedicated to preserving the principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom. Before I move on though, I’d like to share with you this political satire piece I wrote a few months ago when Senator Rick Santorum had a chance of being the Republican nominee. It pretty much sums up my take on what a large segment of the American population would like to see should their wildest dreams come true. Finally, I begin this blog with three postings from last year’s trip just to give you an idea of who I am and what you may or may not come to expect as I embark on this year's trip. If you have something nice to say, I'd love to hear from you.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Varanasi, India

Varanasi Street Scene
Everyone takes advantage of the tourists: entrance fees are doubled for tourists, cabs, tuk tuks, and rickshaw drivers charge whatever they feel I'm a sucker to pay, a slow wifi connection at a hotel can cost me $17 per night, beggars and little children on government dole to lazy to go to school or find work pull on my emotional strings, obsequious washroom, shoe rack, and hotel attendants line up to take their share, take a picture and I plop down another $5. No toilet paper in the restrooms. “Delhi belly?” Use your finger. That’s the Indian way, they say. On the streets total chaos: vehicles of every description, people, beggars, bodies (sleeping?), filth, mud, trash, manure, monkeys, and cows — people urinating — honk, honk, we’re coming through. This is crazy. No, it’s dangerous. Which side of the road are we driving on anyway? Somehow it’s worth it. I would come back. The Taj Mahal and the majestic forts, palaces, mausoleums, temples, and mosques of the “golden triangle” leave me in awe. Exotic curries, tandoori, rices, naan, and puri delight my palate. The mass and diversity of humanity bewitch me — Muslim women in black “niqabs” mingle easily with the Hindu crowds: women in colorful saris and religious markings, Sikhs in turbans, and ascetics in their golden robes. The mysteries of a 3800 year old religion impervious to imposing its beliefs on others — maybe a role model for the rest of the world? 
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