Author Archives: admin

The Peak of the Balkans Trail: Europe’s last true wilderness By Peter Elia4th January 2023 BBC  Stretching 192km, the Peak of the Balkans Trail bridges three previously war-torn nations and crosses through some of the continent’s least-explored landscapes. H Hiking … Continue reading →

All around the world, covid surveillance is faltering That, rather than the surge of cases in China, is the main reason for worry Jan 4th 2023 ECONOMIST  January 5th is the third anniversary of the day that researchers at the Wuhan … Continue reading →

MY TRAVELS 2022 The year started oddly. I was in Pakistan and wanted to go to Bangladesh but they had a 14-day quarantine, so I went to Trinidad & Tobago. That is how so much of where I go is … Continue reading →

Day 13 Tue Jan 3 I was up early and got a taxi to the Addis airport to get my flight to Jinka in the Lower Omo Valley, a World Heritage Site. As I was waiting for the taxi, the … Continue reading →

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THERE ARE EXTRATERRESTRIALS? From: “The Meaning of Human Existence” by Edward O. Wilson WHY MICROBES RULE the GALAXY Beyond the Solar System there is life of some kind. It exists, experts agree, on a t … Continue reading →

A wave of covid-19 reveals flaws in China’s health system It is better than it used to be, but still needs reform Dec 19th 2022 ECONOMIST  Within the next month, China’s medical institutions will face their “darkest hour”. This warning by … Continue reading →

Hydrogen hype is rising again—will this time be different? Investors have been excited, and disappointed, before Nov 14th 2022 ECONOMIST  By Vijay Vaitheeswaran: Global energy and climate innovation editor, The Economist, New York Guzzlers of fizzy drinks in Brisbane could be … Continue reading →

The Taliban and Isis are in a battle for control Economist Dec 3, 2022 An insurgency has once again started in Afghanistan – and this time, the Taliban is the target. Since the Americans left Kabul last year, high-profile Taliban … Continue reading →

Egypt Central & Red Sea Dec 11-14Observations on Egypt 1. People. Accusing of being predatory with a bad rep, my impression of Egypts is very positive. Like most Muslim countries, the people are very nice and always try to help … Continue reading →

Eritrea Jan 16-20, 2023 Described as the North Korea of Africa, it has been ruled by the same dated autocrat for over 30 years. Involved in a civil war from 1960 to 1991 and another with Ethiopia that just ended … Continue reading →