Monthly Archives: October 2024

Tourists from the Raleigh-Durham area continue to discover the picturesque natural landscapes, cultural diversity, sparkling beaches, and sprawling game preserves of South Africa.  Located at the intersection of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the country occupies the southernmost tip of Africa.  South Africa draws most of its overseas visitors from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and France.

The Republic of South Africa was previously a Dutch and British colony before gaining independence from the United Kingdom in the early 20^th Century.  Almost 80 percent of its 60 million inhabitants identify as Black Africans, while nearly 10 percent are white.  The nation has 12 official languages, reflecting a multi-ethnic society with numerous cultures and religions.  The most popular sports are association football (soccer), rugby, and cricket. 

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 Portland area is more than three times the size 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.”

Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa and sixth largest in the world, continues to grow in popularity as a tourist and business destination for residents of Savannah and Coastal Georgia.  Known as the “Giant of Africa” -- every fifth African is Nigerian and its former capital, Lagos, is the largest city on the continent -- Nigeria is a regional powerhouse that dominates West Africa.

While the U.S. State Department advises travelers to reconsider visiting Nigeria due to risks of crime and terrorism, the warnings are largely confined to certain areas of the country.  “After they have spent a day or two in Nigeria, most visitors are surprised to see that the country is so much more than its reputation for scam artists and kidnappings,” Lonely Planet reported (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/things-to-know-before-traveling-to-nigeria). “Shake off that image.  The moment you step out of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) – the default port of entry for most international visitors – you’ll immediately sense that you’re entering a world of wonder and contrasts.”

Residents of Charlotte and North Carolina’s Piedmont region 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.

Brazil’s popularity as a retirement destination for foreigners has grown as the government continues to fine-tune its retirement visa program.  Sandy beaches, lush tropical jungles, friendly people, and low prices make South America’s largest country an attractive destination for tourists and retirees from Nashville and the Middle Tennessee region.

The Federative Republic of Brazil’s culture is shaped by a blend of European, African, and indigenous influences.  The former Portuguese colony is known for shimmering beaches, Amazon rainforests, rugged mountains, and oceanic islands.  Brazil is the only predominantly Portuguese-speaking nation in the Americas.  However, English speakers are rarely found outside the major cities, so language barriers can present a challenge.  High crime in urban areas, poor infrastructure, and political uncertainty also remain persistent problems.

Algeria remains a mysterious and unexplored country for most residents of the Kansas City area, as well as for business leaders across the state of Missouri and Kansas seeking commercial opportunities overseas.

Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and several other North African countries, Algeria’s tropical and subtropical climates encompass fertile land in its northern region and the Sahara Desert to the south.  The second largest country in Africa, Algeria is the continent’s fourth largest tourist destination.  The country also offers numerous business opportunities, particularly in the oil and gas, power, infrastructure, IT, and defense sectors (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/algeria-market-opportunities).

The volcanic hills, jungles, lakes, and rivers of Uganda – home to mountain gorillas, tree-climbing lions, and exotic flora and fauna – continue to draw visitors to the East African nation.  Dubbed the “Pearl of Africa” more than a century ago by Winston Churchill, its natural beauty and vibrant culture make Uganda a unique destination for travelers from the Indianapolis area.   

The landlocked Republic of Uganda is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Tanzania.  The former Buganda kingdom and British protectorate became an independent nation in 1962.  Since then, Uganda suffered through decades of political conflict and oppression, particularly during the brutal reign of Ida Amin in the 1970s.  Social unrest continues: the U.S. State department recommends that Americans “reconsider travel to Uganda due to crime, terrorism, and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.”

The Republic of Guinea is not a common destination for residents of the New Orleans area, but it does provide unique experiences for adventurous travelers and those seeking new commercial opportunities in international trade. “Tarnished by the Ebola crisis and long-term political instability, it is a country most people stay away from,” the World Travel Guide noted  (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/guinea/). “But for travelers who like being far, far from the beaten path, Guinea has many enticements.”

Located on West Africa’s Atlantic coast, Guinea beckons travelers with thundering waterfalls, virgin rainforests, remote hills, and tropical beaches.  It contains five ecoregions: the Guinean montane forests, Western Guinean lowland forests, Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, West Sudanian savanna, and Guinean mangroves.  However, travel outside major cities and tourist resorts can be difficult due to undeveloped transportation infrastructure -- and dangerous due to high levels of crime and corruption.  The impoverished country also faces frequent medical crises, as detailed by the CDC at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/guinea.

The Republic of Angola – a former Portuguese colony that endured decades of civil strife during the Twentieth Century – has experienced a renaissance over the past 20 years. “Safe and welcoming, this friendly nation transports that laid-back, community-oriented lifestyle of southern Portugal to continental Africa – and travelers are once again discovering its charm,” the World Travel Guide noted (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/angola).

With 1,000 miles of Atlantic coastline, the southwest African nation beckons travelers with tropical beaches, virgin rainforests, vast plains, savannahs, wetlands, and hardwood forests.  The gleaming skyscrapers of the capital city, Luanda, provide a dramatic counterpoint to the traditional villages that dominate a sprawling country that is nearly five times the size of Oregon.  

The ancient Kingdom of Kongo comprises most of Angola’s land.  After centuries of Portuguese rule, Angola gained independence in 1975.  However, civil wars that began in the early 1960s lasted until 2002.  Since then, Angola has enjoyed stability as a constitutional republic.  The republic enjoys one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, mainly due to petroleum, diamonds, and other natural resources.  Despite these advantages, most of the country’s 33 million residents live in poverty and the crime rate remains high.  The most common language is Portuguese, but indigenous African languages are also spoke here, including Umbundu, Kikongo, and Kimbundu.  In fact, Angola is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking nation in the world, trailing only Brazil.

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 Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley metropolitan 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.