Hey all...I though you might be interested in the the Weekend Edition Sunday piece A 'Lonely Planet' Tour of the Axis of Evil The audio is about six minutes long.
Most Americans making their summer vacation plans don't have Iraq, Iran or North Korea on their destination lists. But Tony Wheeler, founder of the Lonely Planet travel guides, has visited the so-called "axis of evil" and a few other countries of ill-repute. He speaks with Liane Hansen about his latest guidebook, Bad Lands: A Tourist on the Axis of Evil.
I'm gonna put the book on my Amazon wish list...
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NPR: A 'Lonely Planet' Tour of the Axis of Evil
Stoo
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Anne-Sophie
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Go, Tony!!!
Skimaxpower
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Musical chairs! HA!!
Mr. Chris D
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Thanks for this. I plan on visiting one of the Axis of Evil countries next year (Iran).
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Stoo
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quote:Originally posted by Mr. Chris D:
Thanks for this. I plan on visiting one of the Axis of Evil countries next year (Iran).
I must say, his tales made me more interested in visiting Iran. So much so that I've been scoping out the logistics (and wondering if it would be easier to wait the six years for a Swiss passport).
Many American folks would object to this talk, of visiting a country whose leadership is so hostile to the US...but, having lived in SoCal long enough I feel comfortable abstracting all the political baggage from a visit. (People get passionate about Iran, Burma, Vietnam, Turkey/Armenia, and Canada.) Burma I have discussed 18 months ago and you can follow that there...the others? Make a new thread.
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Texas Otter
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I just got done reading the book. It was good and very interesting.
In some sections it read like a guide book. We were talking about going to Cuba this fall and now we are rethinking it because of what he said (at least the city we were thinking about flying into)
In some sections it read like a guide book. We were talking about going to Cuba this fall and now we are rethinking it because of what he said (at least the city we were thinking about flying into)
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Mr. Chris D
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Hey Stoo, take a look at these photos of Iran. I can't look at the pictures long because they make me want to go even more 
Yes, it would be easier to wait until you have a Swiss passport. If you have a US passport you must hire a government appointed guide for $40 a day plus all his cost (food, travel, etc). Granted, $40 a day for a guide is pretty f'ing cheap, but would get expensive fast if you wanted to stay 2 weeks or longer.
I'm going to apply for a 3 month student visa and see if I can get around this guide business
. However, I may end up waiting till both Bush and Ahmadinejad are out of office...
Yes, it would be easier to wait until you have a Swiss passport. If you have a US passport you must hire a government appointed guide for $40 a day plus all his cost (food, travel, etc). Granted, $40 a day for a guide is pretty f'ing cheap, but would get expensive fast if you wanted to stay 2 weeks or longer.
I'm going to apply for a 3 month student visa and see if I can get around this guide business
. However, I may end up waiting till both Bush and Ahmadinejad are out of office...------------------------------
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...we won't get fooled again.
Insert Stereotype Here
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...we won't get fooled again.
Insert Stereotype Here
annie
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btw for all you bay area folks wheeler is doing a book tour and will be in our neighborhood soon. i'm going to check him out in sf. he'll be in berkeley (cody's) on june 13th and in sf on the 14th (get lost travel books).
Continental Op
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quote:Originally posted by Mr. Chris D:
However, I may end up waiting till both Bush and Ahmadinejad are out of office...
Unfortunately, neither resignation would have any effect on current tensions or visa restrictions. :/
I find it entertaining that Saudi Arabia was included on the author's "Axis of Evil" list. I'd have put it on a list too. A shame no U.S. administration has.
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this is interesting because at one time Mrs Wheeler openly criticized Robert Young Pelton (author of Worlds Most Dangerous Places) for encouraging people to travel to "dangerous places".
RYP on the Wheelers
RYP on the Wheelers
www.myspace.com/cannonballmike
Continental Op
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quote:Originally posted by mikeheenan:RYP on the Wheelers
Thanks for the post. Pelton has detractors of his own, but some of his comments about the Wheelers and LP's modus operandi are spot on.
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mikeheenan
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Yeah I just found it interesting that the Wheelers trashed him for going to "deadly places" and now here they are doing the same thing trying to cash in and make a buck.
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jv
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Interesting spat between RYP and Wheeler, though I suppose Wheeler's millions put him sort of above it all. LP does seem to be trying to recapture some lost street cred, but I'm not sure if any of the Wheelers' projects are tied into that. This project (and some other recent ones) seem more like indulgences, rewards for all the years of work. Good for them.
I did like this quote from RYP, though:
"Its Myanmar, only limp wristed hippies and angry cat ladies call it Burma."
Haven't read his book, but given his posts on that thread, it must be entertaining. He doesn't miss a chance to speak his mind.
Speaking of Wheeler and NPR, I heard him this weekend on that quiz show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." I guess he's doing the rounds ...
I did like this quote from RYP, though:
"Its Myanmar, only limp wristed hippies and angry cat ladies call it Burma."
Haven't read his book, but given his posts on that thread, it must be entertaining. He doesn't miss a chance to speak his mind.
Speaking of Wheeler and NPR, I heard him this weekend on that quiz show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." I guess he's doing the rounds ...
skobb
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quote:Originally posted by jv:
Interesting spat between RYP and Wheeler, though I suppose Wheeler's millions put him sort of above it all. LP does seem to be trying to recapture some lost street cred, but I'm not sure if any of the Wheelers' projects are tied into that. This project (and some other recent ones) seem more like indulgences, rewards for all the years of work. Good for them.
I did like this quote from RYP, though:
"Its Myanmar, only limp wristed hippies and angry cat ladies call it Burma."
Haven't read his book, but given his posts on that thread, it must be entertaining. He doesn't miss a chance to speak his mind.
Speaking of Wheeler and NPR, I heard him this weekend on that quiz show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." I guess he's doing the rounds ...
Oddly enough, the U.S. government calls it Burma (and Rangoon, etc.) It has taken me a while to switch back to that terminology. I think Myanmar is the better choice, but I think the idea behind the USG position is that the name was changed by a government that isn't really recognized. I'm not positive though.
I've got mixed feelings on the RYP books. I guess if you're going to decide to travel to Kashmir you might as well have some sort of guide. Being in some of these dangerous places and seeing what life is really like could help you to spread the news around the world, but on the other hand you could be just as likely to get killed simply because you've seen Rambo too many times and thought it'd be fun to be in the middle of a fire-fight.
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