I’ve been in Port au Prince for five days now, it’s time for a change of pace. I climb into the rinky-dink turboprop to Cap Haitien, a mid-size town on the northern coast of Haiti. It’s a bumpy 30-minute flight but it sure beats the 7-hour bus drive over rough terrain and potholed roads. Usually, I always opt for ground transport because it allows me to see the country up close. Circumstances force me to choose the plane this time - to good … [Read more...]
About Abdul Rastagar
“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Hi, I’m Abdul, a father, husband, and all-around curious guy. I unwittingly became a frequent traveler as a baby and have chosen to never stop. Traveling the world, exploring diverse cultures, meeting different people and growing as a person with each new trip are at the core of my identity. I feel most refreshed when I’m randomly pointing at a menu written in a language I do not speak, having no clue what I just ordered.
I aim to use my travels and my writing to help bring our planet closer together. I left Twitter but you can still find me on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/rastagar).
Five days in Port au Prince, Haiti
“Excuse me, you’re going where??!” she gasps while simultaneously taking an irritated stride back, crossing her arms and dishing out that look that husbands the world over dread. “Um. Haiti,” I whimper back. And how can I blame her surprise? Just think of the things that come to mind when you hear the name Haiti: crime, armed violence, political instability, UN soldiers, endemic corruption, hurricanes, earthquakes, Zika virus, poverty, famine, … [Read more...]
Xi’an Belongs to the World
Chinese culture belongs not only to the Chinese but also to the whole world,” said former Chinese president Hu Jintao. If Chinese culture does indeed belong to the world, then, without a doubt, the place to explore it is Xi’An. If you’ve never heard of it before, you’re probably not alone. Oddly, one of China’s most interesting and unique cities is not particularly well known to the outside world, especially considering its historical … [Read more...]
Six Things You Didn’t Know About Beijing
“I speak and speak. But the listener retains only the words he is expecting." So cautioned Marco Polo as he left the court of the great Kublai Khan in Dadu (modern day Beijing) in the year 1295 C.E. Certainly this was a timely reminder for me as I stepped off the plane in Beijing for the first time. Over the years, I had heard lots about Beijing, most of which with a negative slant. Much to my delight, I encountered a wonderful and fascinating … [Read more...]
Between the Traditional and the Modern, there Lies Ulaanbaatar
Somewhere between the modern and the traditional, there lies Ulaanbaatar. Mongolia’s fascinating capital is a city evolving before our very eyes. Its population is rapidly trading its ancestral, nomadic ways for a more modern life while still trying to retain the uniqueness of its rich culture. Ulaanbaatar is a city in transition, moved by dynamics bigger than itself. It lies at the intersection of globalization, capitalism, the legacy of … [Read more...]
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