Around the planet

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Around the planet Pelancong
1
It’s Australia, but could be San Diego
1 November 2025, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 102 °F
Except for the kangaroos. Tall, white English speaking people, orderly traffic and the beach boardwalk like Pacific Beach in San Diego. And burger, fries and Corona. Same city skyline, But cricket instead of baseball. And an interesting immigration policy. People told me if you want to live in Australia you must first work on a farm for six months. But an English woman told me the English are exempted from that rule. I needed to go to Australia to get a flight to South America. For me the online visa almost didn’t come through in time.Baca selengkapnya
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Pelancong Home away from home.
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Around the planet Pelancong
I’ve been to Santiago before—on TV
2 November 2025, Chili ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
When I was a student in Spain we watched on TV as the elected government of Chile was violently overthrown by the military. I remember the scenes of students who were rounded up to cut their long hair. But that was nothing compared to what was to come.

I visited the Museum of Memories that highlights the terror and torture. Books and songs were banned. Sound familiar? The schools became part of patriotic indoctrination.

The museum highlighted past abuses in most of the countries I had visited. Timor Leste, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal…and what’s going on today with the children in Gaza and Ukraine.

And now decades later with democracy, the usual campaign slogans: Defend the police, Stop communism. The name of their Justice Department is Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.

Every city seems to have a hill to climb…typically with Christ at the top. And in Santiago it comes with a beautiful view of the Andes that tower over the city.

First time in Santiago, but I feel like I’ve been here before in history and novels and movies…and TV.Baca selengkapnya
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Around the planet Pelancong
Paraguay, the missing country
10 November 2025, Paraguay ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F
As the sun starts to set on this epic journey, I visit my last Peace Corps country. I had previously visited most countries in South America, but not Paraguay. This landlocked country is often skipped. It has one of the largest and longest lasting Peace Corps programs with volunteers in many fields.

I visited Lucy Aquino, Executive Director of World Wildlife Fund Paraguay. Last summer our National Peace Corps Association awarded her the Global Citizen Award. She usually has at least one Peace Corps Volunteer working with her organization.

I met with young volunteers and I always ask how they heard about the Peace Corps. Two of them heard about it through movie references (Dirty Dancing and Mr and Mrs Smith) and then looked it up.

I also had to check out the natural wonders: Saltos waterfalls and what was the world’s biggest dam half in Paraguay and half in Brazil with the border in the middle. It provides 100% of Paraguay’s electricity.

I went to the Paraguay/Brazil/Argentina border and crossed the river to Argentina. The kindness of strangers abounds. I met a former tour guide who has a house on each side of the border and he set me up with a ride to the massive Iguazú Falls. There’s a one kilometer walkway across the river above the falls. I wonder how many conquistadors going down the fairly calm river found out about the falls too late.Baca selengkapnya
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Around the planet Pelancong
Things change quickly…in 47 years
12 November 2025, Honduras ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
I left Honduras and the Peace Corps 47 years ago. One thing that hasn’t changed in Tegucigalpa is the Basilica, except that it was on the outskirts of the capital then and the nearby barrio did not have water or electricity. And now this time I’m staying in a nice high rise condo.

I visited two of the poorest barrios today and it reminded me of my time in the Peace Corps. What’s changed for the children is the amount of violence that, sadly, has been normal for them. But social workers reach out to them with love and support. Now they even talk openly about taboo issues like child sexual abuse.

Another change is from the military dictatorship of my time to democratic elections. They elect a new president this month . But they face many of the same political problems as the US, including some trying to create chaos by casting doubt on the validity of the elections. You know, if we lose it’s fraud, but if we win, well, that’s okay.

One non-partisan group stands out: the Association for a More Just Society. They hold the government to account with solid facts, such as the fact that one out of four teachers getting a salary was not working. Although the number of days school is required to be open was 200, the average was 120. By publicizing these well researched facts the government was pressured to change. A group of student volunteers comes to the office one day a week to survey parents on how many days their school was open to keep the authorities’ feet to the fire.

I met other young people working at this association towards a better Honduras. They are enthusiastic and very smart. This bodes well for the future of Honduras. The Peace Corps withdrew from Honduras 13 years ago and it’s time to come back.Baca selengkapnya
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End of journey: God as my cameraman
17 November 2025, Amerika Serikat ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
I have this fantasy of a cameraman following me around as I go through life. I can turn to him on the side at any moment (just like on certain TV shows) and comment on what is going on. He listens with great interest and caring. What would I say to him at the end of this trip?

1) That the world is full of kind, generous and caring people. The driver who gives me a ride and then won’t accept payment , the couple in the village who show me around and make sure I am settled in, the Peace Corps staff who facilitate my visit on very short notice, the young Peace Corps Volunteers who let me hang out as one of them, the people who share their life story, the Russian speaking host who has long conversations with me through Google Translate, the international solo travelers who share their travel adventures, the families who invite me to dinner in their homes, the school officials who offer elaborate welcoming ceremonies and the people who work earnestly for the betterment of their community and country with love.

2) That I can remain calm no matter what happens. I read “Surrender” by Michael Singer before the trip. The scheduled bus ride is canceled. The apartment you reserved was sold a year ago. The country you’re headed to is undergoing a revolution. The visa isn’t approved yet for the next country. Oh well, let’s make a Plan B. Every day is a new adventure.

3) Traveling solo can really make a difference by immersing yourself in the local environment and meeting people. I had the benefit of meeting up with Peace Corps people and thereby being introduced to the locals along the way. I actually enjoyed my rare time alone. I joined the Peace Corps and arrived in Honduras exactly 50 years ago. It was very fitting to end my trip there in a very changed country, but still with some of the warmest and friendliest people in the world.

We actually live in a small world. We can make things better. We are all in this together. That’s what I would say to The Great Cameraman.Baca selengkapnya
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Find Penguins and the biggest hits
17 November 2025, Amerika Serikat ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
So where are you supposed to Find Penguins? Well, none on this trip, but I did see penguins in South Africa in 2023.

Trivia from Around the Planet:
Most surprising country: Kazakhstan with its prosperity and advances

Least surprising: Chile, I like it and I feel like I’ve been here before

Most chaotic city: Kathmandu, Nepal, narrow streets, no sidewalks in front of shops, chaotic traffic

Best history: Petra, Jordan

Hottest place: Dubai

Most beautiful: Iguazú and Himalayas

Least impressed: Bali, Indonesia. Crowded on the streets, too many vendors and the beach nothing special

Quietest city: London

Most embarrassing moment: Being separated from new “friends” and placed at a fancy dinner table all by myself at the winery, Moldova

Biggest mistake: Taking equivalent of $700 from ATM when I wanted $70 in Albania

Where I was the tallest: Nepal

Where I didn’t stand out as a foreigner: Kazakhstan and Australia

Friendliest people: Honduras and almost everywhere else

Don’t leave home without it: iPhone for directions, translations, exchange rate, everything, constantly feeling my pocket to make sure it’s there

Most difficult visa: Australia

Biggest airport: Istanbul, I walked 6 miles one day going through airport and passed through here three different times

Best hosts: Albania, Georgia, Moldova, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia,Timor Leste, Paraguay, Honduras, Jordan

Most elaborate welcoming ceremonies: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Timor Leste

Friendliest dogs: Georgia, community dogs

Biggest Peace Corps program: Paraguay

Smallest Peace Corps program: Indonesia

Best monkeys: Sri Lanka

Saddest moments: saying goodbye to new people at the end of the day or the end of the week

Most avoided: Horse sausage and kangaroo meat

Most impressive Peace Corps Volunteers: Too many to count

Safest for pedestrians: Moldova, the otherwise aggressive drivers will stop if you just approach the curb

Least safe for pedestrians: Amman, Jordan. Some places it was almost impossible to cross the street.

Hardest ride: A long bus ride in Albania on a sweltering hot day with no A/C and closed windows

Most comfortable: Bus in Paraguay with comfortable recliners

Most work: Keeping track in a different language each week of how to say Hello and Thank You.

Second most work: Keeping track of exchange rates (In Indonesia, for example, 16,500 rupiah to US$1)

Most difficult question: Why did US elect Trump the second time?

Easiest question: Where are you from? (California gets much more positive response than US)

Most frequent question: Do you like our country? (I do, but is there any other possible response?)

Easiest to give money to: Frail old ladies who sit by the church door. What would Jesus do?

Best opening line: Do you speak English?Baca selengkapnya
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Akhir trip
17 November 2025

It’s Australia, but could be San Diego

I’ve been to Santiago before—on TV

Paraguay, the missing country

Things change quickly…in 47 years

End of journey: God as my cameraman

Find Penguins and the biggest hits