Ha! Now this is funny. As you surely know, I love to whine and complain about things I don’t like, including banal, regurgitative, one-upsman, and/or... »
Middle East
The Around the World Dream Becomes a Reality (Soon)
Now this is exciting. We have a big new project that is going to keep us super busy (along with our paying jobs, volunteer activities, family obligations, soccer on the weekends, drinking red wine, and avoiding Facebook): Planning a year-long, around-the-world trip! Sadly, this trip is not for us, but it is for someone very... »
Middle Eastern Tourism Gets a Book-Based Boost
We are excited about two new books out focusing on Middle Eastern tourism. Just by reading the book review by Ted Swedenburg of University of Arkansas, it makes us want to run out and get them. We’ve included a few excerpts from his excellent and comprehensive review: “Waleed Hazbun’s Beaches, Ruins, Resorts: The Politics of... »
Another Casualty in the Iraq War: Babylon
Today’s Washington Post adds a new and sick twist to the Iraq war: the destruction by U.S. forces of the ancient city of Babylon. Of course, this goes way beyond tourism - this is a heinous offense and one that could have easily been avoided. Are you like us and don’t know much about Babylon? Here’s the overall picture... »
No Holding Hands on Vacation
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do” goes the old saying. See, cultural tourism goes back a long way, folks! But what if local culture doesn’t lend itself well to vacation behavior? For example, according to the Associated Press ,the city of Dubai in the small country of the United Arab Emirates has just... »
World’s Largest Pool - Just What We Needed
As Borat would say: ……… Not. Come on, Algarrobo, (one of our most favorite places in Chile, coincidentally) is this the best you can do? I mean, yeah, it looks cool, but this level of consumption is a little beyond the pale, no? Of course, this seaside Chilean resort is about to be bested by the... »
Best of BT March
At The Mindful Tourist corporate headquarters (i.e., the cardboard box under the subway bridge), we receive several travel magazines. Our current favorite is Budget Travel. While the name seems to be a bit of a misnomer (we don’t think what they report on is especially frugal), the fact is their writers do a very... »
Veterinary Medicine Cultural Tours?
Here’s a new one. The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is the first public falcon hospital in the United Arab Emirates and it is offering cultural tours for tourists. If you’re in the area, these tours must be much better than the second, third, or fourth public falcon hospitals in the UAE. Or the many... »
