MyWestworld

Balkan Surprise

Posted on 19. Feb, 2009 by Kerry Banks.

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There are countries in the world that never enter the average North American’s mind unless they happen to surface in the news because of some political upheaval, outbreak of violence or a natural tragedy. Slovenia and Croatia are two of those places. Some may recall that these young republics were caught up in the series of ethnic [...]

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Island of Mystery

Posted on 19. Feb, 2009 by Kerry Banks.

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On Easter Day in 1722, a Dutch expedition under the command of Jacob Roggeveen sighted a low, flat Pacific Island, found it inhabited and went ashore. The sailors were amazed by the statues they found there, hundreds of huge heads made from volcanic stone. The equally amazed islanders brought the Dutch sailors bananas and chickens. [...]

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Meeting the Hmong

Posted on 06. Feb, 2009 by Kerry Banks.

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The black-haired tribesman in the tasselled skullcap was intent on selling me his wooden crossbow. “Special deal for you. Only 600 baht,” he announced, brandishing the weapon in my face. When I failed to display the expected enthusiasm, he increased the advertising pressure. “Kill squirrel! Kill bird! Kill anything!” It was certainly not your ordinary sales pitch, [...]

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Down in Vallarta

Posted on 12. Nov, 2008 by Kerry Banks.

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Hollywood star power created Puerto Vallarata as a tourist destination. The transformation of the sleepy fishing village of 2,000 souls began on November 11, 1954, when Mexicana de Aviación airline inaugurated its Guadalajara-Puerto Vallarta flight. One of the first visitors was American movie director John Huston, who built a home here in the small cove of Las Caletas where he lived until [...]