SAN FRANCISCO, May 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Matador Network has released a new documentary today titled Iraq: Is it Really That Bad? Filmmaker Reinier van Oorsouw takes a road trip through multiple regions in Iraq, uncovering whether the country's reputation matches reality. The film's release marks the 22nd anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq on March 19, 2003. From the vibrant streets of Erbil in Kurdistan to Baghdad's bustling culture, van … [Read more...]
A Visit to Interesting Places, Northern Iraq
From Erbil, we make the tiny mountain community of Lalish in a little more than an hour including being waived through several police checkpoints. Arriving at Lalish a guard stationed on the road leading to the community told us we needed to remove our shoes for the duration of our visit. No sooner than we had done so, a gentleman passing by asked if we would like to join him for lunch. Lunch was held inside a large room surrounded by men sitting … [Read more...]
Holiday in Erbil, Iraq
Despite my visit in early June, the temperatures were already sweltering during the day hovering around 39 degrees. Not one for sitting around inside or using taxis, I spent most of my several days here wandering the city on foot, trying to stay hydrated. I have yet to meet any international tourists and I'm ok with that. The markets are chaotic and on the weekends (Friday and Saturday's) are particular busy. Everyone seems to have their own … [Read more...]
Saudi Sojourn: Adventures in the Desert Kingdom
The temperatures have been warm during my stay in Dammam, ranging from 108 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit during the hottest parts of the day. I've been wandering around the city on foot for the past several days. My experience in extreme heat in the past has paid off, alternating between consuming copious quantities of water alternating between fruity and other sweet drinks. To compound things, several days offered up a stiff breeze (and that's … [Read more...]
A Completely Miscalculated Flight
I had booked my flight from Erbil (or so I thought) a few weeks ago. When it came time to sadly leave Iraq, I departed my guesthouse in Erbil and arrived at the airport. The first security check involved lines of cars stacked up as three cars in each lane were checked by guards at one time. Passengers opened all of their doors and trunks, dogs were involved, sniffing the tires and inside of each car and each person in each vehicle was subjected … [Read more...]
The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence
This is the true story of rescue, perseverance and the remarkable communication between elephants and man. Lawrence Anthony (died in 2012) along with his wife Francoise owned a 5,000 acre reserve in Zululand, South Africa when they received word that a herd of troubled elephants would be killed unless someone could provide them a home. Scrambling to fence the preserve in time for their arrival, they barely finished their work just in time. But … [Read more...]
A House in the Skye by Amanda Lindhout & Sara Corbett
Once Amanda got a taste of wanderlust she was hooked as inevitably happens to travelers and explorers. She began working as a waitress, saving her tips so she could travel the world. And she did, to far reaching places such as Latin America and Southeast Asia. But she wanted more, more adventure, more experiences more exploration. So she began to travel to countries in the midst of wars including Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria. As others … [Read more...]
British and American passports slide down global rankings as 2019 index is published
British and American passport holders may be concerned to hear that the value of their passports has slipped down the global rankings, with both citizenships sliding a number of places in the 2019 Nomad Passport Index. According to the annual research carried out by the leading offshore consulting firm Nomad Capitalist, Luxembourg citizens have the best passport in the world for the second year running. Its citizens are able to travel to 186 … [Read more...]
How To Enter The US Through The Visa Waiver Program
The visa system in the US is much more complicated than what many expect. Even if tourists from all around the world talk about the difficulties they had, it is still not common to see travelers know much about the available options. The good news is there are various possibilities available for everyone that wants to enter the country. One of them is the Visa Waiver Program, which is really popular for both tourists and businessmen … [Read more...]
Isn’t it Iranic?
The taproot of the tree of civilization, Iran. While the USA is an entity less than a quarter a millennium young, Iran’s recorded history bows back 5000 years. At its height, about 500 B.C., Persia controlled more than 2.9 million square miles of land spanning three continents, east into India, south to Egypt, westward to Greece. It reigned over roughly 44% of the world’s population, making it the largest world power ever by population … [Read more...]