Monthly Archives: September 2024

Bhutan, the world’s most mountainous country, covers some 15,000 square miles in the Eastern Himalayas.  Bordered by India and China's Tibet Autonomous Region, landlocked Bhutan is 98.8% mountains and more than 70% forested.  Officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, the country is known locally as Drukyul.  Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a king serving as head of state and a prime minister leading the government.  Bhutan is home to some 778,000 residents, ranking it 165^th among the world’s 234 countries and dependent territories (By comparison, the population of the metropolitan Albuquerque—America’s 61^st largest city—has 150,000 more residents than the entire nation of Bhutan).

Bhutan and Tibet were among the first countries where Buddhism spread from India in the Seventh Century AD.  Vajrayana Buddhism, Bhutan’s state religion, is led by the Zhabdrung Rinpoche, a spiritual leader similar to Tibet’s Dalai Lama.  The “land of the thunder dragon” is “a place where people can find peace and do business, experience living traditions, and discover wilderness teeming with life,” according to the official Bhutan Travel website (https://bhutan.travel). “In a world that is always on the go, Bhutan provides sanctuary.  Here, you can find earthly pleasures: archery and age-old crafts, dishes of home-made cheese and fearsomely hot chilies, breathtaking treks and restorative hot-stone baths.” Prayer flags are strung across gorges and dot every hillside, Bhutan Travel continued. “From storied cities to soaring mountains, the door to the kingdom is open once again to old and new friends.”

Equatorial Guinea, one of the smallest countries in Africa (both by land area and population), is also the only Spanish-speaking nation on the continent.  To put it in context with the United States, Equatorial Guinea’s population of 1.7 million people is well less that half the size of Seattle’s population.  This Central African country consists of five islands in the Gulf of Guinea near the equator plus a mainland region bordered by Cameroon and Gabon.  Although one of the wealthiest nations in Africa, most of its people live in poverty while the elites live in opulence. “This is the land of primates with painted faces, soft clouds of butterflies, and insects so colorful they belong in the realm of fiction,” Lonely Planet noted (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/equatorial-guinea). “Yes, Equatorial Guinea has something of a reputation, with a history of failed coups, allegations of corruption, and buckets of oil, but there is plenty to bring you to this country's beautiful black-and-white shores.”

Officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the country was known as Spanish Guinea before gaining independence in 1968.  Spanish, French, and Portuguese are the country’s official languages, but several local dialects are also common.  Dictator Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled since 1979, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the world. “Exercise increased caution in Equatorial Guinea due to crime and health,” the U.S. State Department cautions. “While not common, crime - such as robbery - remains a concern throughout Equatorial Guinea. Police and military checkpoints are common throughout the country.” (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/equatorial-guinea-travel-advisory.html).

Residents of the Metro Philadelphia who want to experience the biodiversity of the Amazonia rain forests and businesspeople seeking access to natural resources are the top visitors to Suriname.  Once known as Surinam, the nation just north of the equator borders Brazil, French Guinea, Guyana, and the Atlantic Ocean.

“South America's smallest country, Suriname is a warm, dense convergence of rivers that thumps with the lively rhythm of ethnic diversity,” Lonely Planet reported (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/the-guianas/suriname). “From Paramaribo, the country's effervescent Dutch-colonial capital, to the fathomless jungles of the interior, you'll get a genuine welcome to the country – whether from the descendants of escaped African slaves, Dutch and British colonialists, Indian, Indonesian, and Chinese indentured laborers, or indigenous Amerindians.”

During the 19^th and 20^th centuries, the region was a Dutch plantation colony that primarily produced sugar.  Dutch Guinea became a country under the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954, and then gained independence in 1975 as the Republic of Suriname.  Still, the legacy of Dutch rule remains strong in Suriname’s society and culture.  It is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the Americas, as most of its 600,000 residents are descendants of African and Asian slaves brought to the area by Dutch settlers.  Suriname is the only country outside of Europe where Dutch is the official and primarily-used language.

Libya, the North African nation plagued by civil war and political unrest for more than a decade, has recently begun promoting foreign investment and tourism as it struggles towards political and social stability.  In early 2024, the Libyan government launched a strategic initiative to boost business development to help it achieve long-term economic stability.  Despite some progress, armed conflicts between rebels and tourists continue to plague the country, making this an unlikely travel destination for most people living in Portland. “Do not travel to Libya due to crime, terrorism, unexploded landmines, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict,” the U.S. State Department warns on its website. “Crime levels in Libya remain high, including the threat of kidnapping for ransom.  U.S. citizens have been targets of these crimes.” (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/libya-travel-advisory.html

Bordered by Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Algeria, Tunisia, and the Mediterranean Sea, Libya has a population of almost seven million people (which is nearly three times the size of the Portland metropolitan area).  The vast majority of those people are Islamic Arabs who live along the coastline.  It is the fourth-largest African country and is largely covered by the Libyan Desert.  The regions known as Libya have been inhabited since ancient times, ruled by the Greek, Roman, Spanish, and Ottoman empires before becoming an Italian colony in the early Twentieth Century.  The State of Libya became an independent country in 1951.  The 2011 Libyan Civil War that overthrew dictator Muammar Gaddafi began a decade of armed conflict that largely ended in a 2020 ceasefire.  However, parts of the country remain until rebel control.

The small East African nation of Djibouti is an uncommon leisure travel destination for residents of Dallas.  The smallest and least-populated nation in Africa (population 1.1 million) is known mainly for its strategic military and geopolitical importance.  However, the multi-ethnic and multi-lingual country has welcomed foreign travelers for centuries with its warm hospitality and diverse natural features.

“Nestled in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti is a little piece of heaven for nature and history lovers, food enthusiasts, and anyone intrigued by the ethnic composition of this tiny land inhabited since the Neolithic Age.,” according to a profile on the Culture Trip website (https://theculturetrip.com/africa/djibouti/articles/12-reasons-why-you-should-visit-djibouti-at-least-once-in-your-lifetime ). “Djibouti is home to three ethnic groups that live side by side in harmony and peace.  Somali, Afar and Arabs have been coexisting together here since the Ifat Sultanate that dates back to the 12th century.”

Tanzania remains a popular destination for Cincinnati area tourists seeking a variety of unique adventures.  From the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro to African bush safaris and the tropical islands of the Zanzibar archipelago, “the green land” promises numerous one-of-a-kind natural experiences.

The United Republic of Tanzania, located in eastern Africa on the Indian Ocean, was formed in 1964 by the union of two former British colonies: Tanganyika and Zanzibar.  The country’s population of more than 65 million people blends more than 120 ethnic groups, creating a unique Swahili culture composed of African, Arab, European, and Asian influences.  More than 100 languages are spoken in Tanzania.  Most locals speak Swahili, but English is still used in secondary and higher education, foreign trade, and high court proceedings.

While Uzbekistan is likely off the radar for most Detroit area residents who are considering international travel, the country is considered the most popular tourist destination in Central Asia and is famous for its cultural sites, architectural treasures, and outdoor activities.  Many of its cities were important stops on the Great Silk Road, the vast caravan trade routes that linked Eastern and Western civilizations from 200 B.C. through the Middle Ages.  Recently, the World Tourism Organization opened its Silk Road Office in Samarkand in coordination with international efforts to promote Silk Road tourism throughout the region.  The city was selected as the 2023 World Tourism Capital by the UN World Tourism Organization. 

The Republic of Uzbekistan was formed in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, ending more than 100 years of Russian rule.  Landlocked Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia with more than 34.5 million people.  Uzbeks make up 80% of a population that also includes Russians and Tartars.  Muslims make up 95% of its citizens, while the Uzbek and Russian languages are the most commonly spoken.

The Central African nation of Cameroon is gradually drawing more visitors from Denver with its vast geological, climate, and cultural diversity.  Often referred to as “Africa in miniature”, the Republic of Cameroon boasts 27 million citizens, 240 tribes, and three main ethnic groups (Bantus, Semi-Bantus and Sudanese).  Hundreds of African dialects are also present, although French and English are spoken by the vast majority of Cameroonians (70% and 30%, respectively).

Bordered by Chad, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon provides everything you expect to find on the African continent. “Natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannahs,” the presidential website (https://www.prc.cm/en/cameroon/50-country-information) states. “The country is well known for its native styles of music, particularly makossa and bikutsi, and for its successful national football team.”

In the 15^th Century, Portuguese sailors named the area Rio dos Camaroes (Shrimp River), which later became Cameroon in English.  The area became a German colony in 1884, but France and England divided the territory following World War I.  During the era of African independence, the French and British portions became independent countries in the early 1960s and merged in 1961, eventually becoming the Republic of Cameroon in 1984.

Thailand’s popularity as a retirement destination for foreigners has been boosted by the recent addition of a 10-year long-term retirement visa.  Warm weather, majestic mountains, sandy beaches, lush tropical jungles, vibrant marketplaces, spicy food, state-of-the-art healthcare, and low prices make this exotic Southeast Asian kingdom an attractive destination for retirees in Orlando and the Central Florida region who are ready for the next chapter of their lives. 

More than 70 million people live in Thailand, including three million foreigners -- with retirees making up a significant percentage of those expats.  The U.S. State Department estimates that some 30,000 American expats live in Thailand (including retirees).  A U.S.-Thailand tax treaty that avoids double taxation exempts Social Security and other U.S. pension payments from Thai taxation.  Discounts on already-low prices for seniors on public transportation, museums, and some tourist destinations add to the appeal for those living on fixed incomes.

Sri Lanka remains a popular destination for residents of Nashville seeking cultural experiences and spectacular natural beauty.  The pear-shaped island nation in the Indian Ocean offers amazing beaches, ancient cities, safari wildlife tours, and modern amenities in a unique South Asian environment.   

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was previously known as Ceylon before 1948, when it was under British rule.  The country’s population of some 22 million includes members of several Asian ethnic groups, primarily the Sinhalese (75%), Tamils, Moors, and Malays.  The two official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.  However, English remains the “link language” that is used for education and commercial purposes.  Buddhism is the official religion of Sri Lanka and has the largest number of practitioners, while Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity are also represented.  Buddhism and Hinduism are also the main influences on Sri Lankan culture, although echoes of the British, Portuguese and Dutch colonial eras still linger.  Despite the lengthy flight time from Nashville and other North American cities to South Asia, citizens of the United States and Canada rank among the top 10 nationalities visiting Sri Lanka.