Anyone wintering in Kenya?

by Jerry Guo on

One of my college classmates, Alexandra, is spending her winter vacation in Kenya right now. That’s a pretty unlucky place to be at this moment, as tensions and violence has flared up after their post-Christmas presidential election. But my classmate happens to be a writer, so I guess you could say it’s the perfect place to be.

What has been surprising about Kenya’s turmoil is that it happened in Kenya. No one would bat an eye if this had happened in Somalia or Sudan. But until now, Kenya had a stellar reputation as a stalwart pillar of African stability. They have a booming tourism industry and a steady flow of Western investment.

But will the tourists and investors return once the dust settles in Kenya? For some answers and insight, check out Alexandra’s dispatches in Newsweek and Slate.

Consolidated Visa Guide for your Hard to Reach Neighbors

by Grant Martin on

Like many other travelers, I usually don’t spring for the easy-to-reach canonical tourist destinations. It’s not that I feel that I’m better than Cancun or a Royal Caribbean cruise around the Dominican Republic, it’s just that I feel like I should go to the difficult places while I still have the energy and wanderlust to get there.

Many of these places, though, have stringent visa requirements. And let’s get something straight before I continue: you need a visa for any foreign country that you visit — it’s just that most places you can get a stamp at the border or can get waved through without stamps or papers. Trust me, when your 90 day tourist visa is up you’ll still be in trouble, regardless of the country you’re in.

But to go places like China or Russia it’s necessary to apply and get a visa before you leave the country — often times several months before you leave. This can be as simple as sending your passport into your local consulate or as difficult as paying some draconian service to take your passport into the embassy, fill out the forms and charge you a hundred bucks for their “service.” Luckily, CNN has compiled a comprehensive list of countries in which you’ll need visas in advance and procedures to get them.

My advice: plan ahead and go to the consulate in advance yourself. You may have to jump through a few extra ridiculous hoops to get your visa, but that’s more time that your passport is in your hands and not in the hands of a middleman who could potentially lose the most important document that you own.

Oddball Hotels Around the Globe

by Catherine Bodry on

Tired of the boring old McMotel? Can’t stand another night in a single-bulb hostel room?

Forbes Traveler examines 10 “themed” hotels across the world. You can stay in a treehouse in Kenya. or Costa Rica. At the Pitcher Inn in Vermont, all the rooms are decorated to represent the state — down to the stars in the nighttime sky. My favorite is the whimsical Anatolian Houses (see photo), which houses guests in volcanic caves and looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Check out the slide show on msnbc.com and think about splurging on a wacky room during your next vacation. It might cost more than that rock-solid hostel bed, but the photos ought to be worth a thousand words.

Kenyan Carvers Like the Simpsons Too!

by Martha Edwards on

Crafty Tribes people in the remote village of Tabaka in Kisii, Kenya have found a way to cash in on a phenomenon thousands of miles away — British buyers have contracted them to produce traditional carvings which will be sold in craft stores across the UK. But while the methods are traditional, the carvings are of very un-traditional figures — everyone’s favourite dysfunctional family, The Simpsons! 12 different models in all will be produced, including this one of Marge.

Here’s the thing: The carvers hadn’t even heard of Homer and Co. before being asked to immortalize them in stone. But they’re sure to have a great first impression of the Simpson family — the carvings are earning them 6 times their regular asking rate. And with all the Simpson’s-mania that’s going on right now, I can see why.

Thanks to Marilyn at Intelligent Travel for the great tip!

Photo of the Day (4/6/07)

by Neil Woodburn on

Oh boy, a Butchery!

I can just imagine the quality of meat one might find inside this corrugated tin-roof meat store in Voi, Kenya along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway.

What really makes this photo, however, are the little slice-of-life details: the smiling locals, the poorly built wooden box on the back of the bike, and the tiny skull and crossbones to the left of the Butchery sign. Not sure why that’s there, but I think I’ll pass on the side of cow and just keep moving.

Congrats go out to Pirano for this great capture!