Sunday, December 30, 2018

Thursday, December 27, 2018

I am done with the Darien Gap

I just finished a great book about a man's motorcycle journey in the mid-80s through the jungle and swamps.

I've come to the conclusion that unless they build a road between Panama and Colombia (which will never happen), I won't be crossing it by foot. It's simply too risky. Even though I figured out an easy way to do most of the Panama side by boat, the Colombian side is just too fraught with danger (criminals, paramilitaries, bugs, snakes, nature).

The Colombian side (Choco Province) was infested with FARC and the whole area was then obliterated by the government. This documentary gives you a flavor of the region, which is just starting to repopulate.


Saturday, December 22, 2018

Definitive detailed Darien Gap map (Panama side)

I created this map from maps I purchased from the Tommy Guardia National Geographic Institute in Panama City. The highlighted route is the safest* and quickest route from Yaviza (the end of the Pan-American Highway) to the village of Paya by motorized dugout canoe (piragua) (67 miles) to the Colombian border (Palo de Letras) by foot (8 miles).

*Not safe.


RIO CHUCUNAQUE

Yaviza had a population of 4,441 in 2010. This is where I ended my 2013 bus trip. It's a pretty vibrant town, composed of descendants of escaped African slaves and indigenous tribes. Go to the dock and get on a boat! It should take a whole day to get to Paya.



RIO TIURA

Once you get to El Real, you take the Rio Tiura. The next settlement is Pinogana (405 people in 2010).

All of these photos of the villages were tweeted by Panama's border police SENAFRONT.




The next settlement is Vista Alegre, a Wounaan village.





Next up, Union Choco.





Yape had a population of 187 in 2010.





Capeti had 957 residents in 2008.





Boca de Cupe had a population of 1,167 in 2010. Here is a great story about a recent visit to the town and a description of all the murders and kidnappings by Colombian rebels and paramilitaries in the area, which in turn resulted in the heavy SENAFRONT presence.




 



The final settlement before turning onto the Rio Paya is El Balsal.





RIO PAYA

Finally, Paya (639 residents in 2010). This is the end of the navigable river. From here, you have to walk to the border with Colombia.





This video gives you a pretty good idea of the scenery along the rivers, from Yaviza to Paya:


And this obelisk (Palo de Letras) marks the border.


Eating the Globe: Palestine


I'm a simple man with simple needs. My wife asked what I wanted for Christmas and I responded: "A meal at a Palestinian joint!"

The bread was by far the highlight. It came straight out of the oven, with steam inside. It was both chewy and firm.




Countries tried so far:
Africa: Algeria, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Zimbabwe
Asia: Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
Europe: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Vatican City
North America: Belize, Canada, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, St Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, USA
South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Oceania: Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga

Amy Sedaris's apartment

It's just as kooky as she is!

Monday, December 17, 2018

Darien Gap and Road of Bones in HD

It's obvious that the Darien Gap in Panama-Colombia and the Road of Bones in the Russian Far East are my two top dream destinations. With the world getting smaller and technology advancing every day, these places are not Terra Incognita anymore.

Last night, I watched a survival show where a guy with no supplies, water, or food trekked from the Pacific Ocean, through a portion of the Darien Gap, to a town south of Yaviza.

This morning, I watched a 60 Minutes piece on the coldest town in the world, right along the Road of Bones.

What a time to be alive for the armchair explorer!

Eating the Globe: St Kitts & Nevis


Yesterday, I made pelau, which is related to the Silk Road rice dish of plov/pilaf. For this Caribbean entree, the recipe called for melting brown cane sugar first and cooking the rice in half regular water and half coconut water.

I've been sick for over a week now and my taste buds are 70% ineffective, but this tasted really good! I'm going to try making it again. 

Countries tried so far:
Africa: Algeria, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Zimbabwe
Asia: Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
Europe: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Vatican City
North America: Belize, Canada, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, St Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, USA
South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Oceania: Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga

Relocating Rohingya refugees onto a deserted island


The Bangladesh government wants to move hundreds of thousands of refugees to Char Vasan/Bhasan Char, a low lying uninhabited island.


Here is an article with more information.

Tuesday, December 04, 2018

I'm going to the Indy 500!

I just bought my plane ticket. Now I just have to scrounge up a decent seat at the race. I'm looking at Penthouse level at Sections A, B, and E next to Turn 1.

Hopefully, Alonso will win.

If anyone has tips on places to visit and eat for the weekend, please share!

Saturday, December 01, 2018

Goldeneye extra AMA


This is a fun read from an extra who was a Russian soldier in Goldeneye.