In July of 1993, along with producer Yuriko Gamo, I set out the the Russian Far East to create a documentary on business opportunities in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Our transport was provided by Alaska Airlines – to show off their new routes across the Bering Strait. Only 2 years before one would have had to fly around the world ,via Moscow to get to those same destinations, which were , for the most part,closed to foreigners. Over the next few days ,ArcticTropic will portray this adventure to one o the true “Ends of the Earth.’
ArcticTropic may venture to Angola this coming October, on the way to the ATTA Conference in Windhoek,Namibia. Though the 30 year war ended several years ago, toursim in any form is almost non-existent. These photos are courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.
Luanda, the capital, is about 7 hours across the South Atlantic from Ṣo Paulo via TAAG Airlines. There are also direct flights from Lisbon,Johannesburg and Windhoek Рby air Angola is not difficult to get to. Visas, however,must be applied for several weeks in advance.
The difficult part begins once you are on the ground. Transportation is very difficult with few paved roads. Hotels in Luanda are amongst the most expensive in the world – yet of very poor quality.
ArcticTropic is open to having fellow ATTA delegates join us for this exploratory visit. Please
Contact us if interested.
ArcticTropic has just Acquired the GoPro Hero 3 Camera with 1080p 60 fps quality. it will greatly improve our video presentations from upcoming expeditions. Above video was taken in the Florida Everglades,west of Miami, for testing purposes – editing on FinalCut Pro.
Venezuela will be in the news a lot over the foreseeable future, as the geopolitical power player decides its’ new direction. Caracas is only 2 hours from Miami. There used to be 15 very cheap flights every day, but with political tensions, the flights became few and expensive. ArcticTropic last visited there in late 2003,several years before the site launched. Above is the aerial approach to the Littoral – the incredible Caribbean coastline.
Even the common people have an ocean view.
We stayed at the Circulo Militar – a military hotel on an officer’s base. Upon entry I saw Comrade Hugo himself !
A 45 minute flight from CCS to Margarita Island brings one to the cheapest island in the Caribbean. One resort is $ 50 a day – including a nice room, beach,tennis,windsurfing,unlimited food ( lots of meat and fish ) and unlimited Venezuelan Rum and Beer.
A lonely lighthouse on the empty island.
Margarita Island has a total desert climate, so it has the most sunshine in the Caribbean – 350 days a year.
An ArcticTropic friend, Siham Sharples, who lives in Dubai, recently travelled by auto with her family to nearby Musandam, Oman. Musandam is at the northern tip of the country,where the Straits of Hormuz join the Persian Gulf.
Fortress towns dot the countryside.
The Khasab Castle is built upon an old Portuguese fortress from the 1700s.
Coastal highways afford beautiful views. At this time of year the weather is dry and mild, about 22C ( 73 F), while in the summer it is ferociously hot, up to 50C ( 122 F ).
Beautiful old fishing boats,known as Dhows, ply the waters of the Straits between Oman and Iran.
Snorkeling and diving look like excellent possibilities.
The 1969 mile ( 3169 KM ) border between The United States and Mexico is the world’s busiest. These photos were taken on both ends- California/Baja California Norte and Texas/Tamaulipas-Nuevo Leon in 2002- before anti-immigrant hysteria took hold – creating the failed attempts to make the border the world’s most fortified.
Texas ( North ,upper photo) and Tamulipas , on the Rio Grande from the air.
The Sierra Madres north of Monterrey.
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
World’s busiest trade corridor – $ 1 billion a day – Laredo.
Foot traffic – Laredo.
I-8 Yuma, Arizona.
Looking into Calexico,California from Mexicali, Baja California del Norte.
There is no better way to explore the glorious metropolis of Istanbul than with a citizen of the city. ArcticTropic was very fortunate to be hosted by Nezih ÇavuÅŸoÄŸlu – a renowned artist in Turkey and increasingly throughout Europe. He descends from an old Ottoman family and was educated in Switzerland and the United States.
On the day I arrived Nezih sent his driver to pick me up at my hotel. As it turned out, his work was being auctioned that evening at Istanbul’s top gallery.
Sold !
More works by The Artist.
Fame !
The next day I arrived at Nezih’s beautiful apartment overlooking the Bosporus, with a view from Europe to Asia. His work graced the walls. From there we left for a cruise up and down the Bosporus – featured earlier on ArcticTropic Blog.
With Artist Nezih Çavuşoğlu before Yachting in the Bosporus.
With his wife Gulsen.
Istanbul by night is incredible. We feasted in the top restaurants.
Partied in the most exclusive clubs.
Then aperitifs at other artists houses.
ArcticTropic thanks our gracious host Nezih,who showed Istanbul in an incredible way that no one else could.
DId you know that the ArcticTropic World Map has Google Street View ? Simply drag the little man to anyplace highlighted in Blue and you will be right there ! Eventually most of Earth’s land masses will be covered.
