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Heavy rains in El Salvador caused floods and mudslides on Nov. 7-8 that killed over 150 people, left thousands homeless, washed away roads, damaged or destroyed 24 bridges and knocked out power. Departments most affected were San Salvador, San Vicente, La Libertad, La Paz and Cuscatlán.
Torrential rainfalls from Sept. 30 to Oct. 9 led to the worst floods in 100 years in the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka regions of India, killing at least 300 people, leaving over 675,000 homeless, sending as many as two million to shelters and ruining crops over a vast area.
While some parts of India are suffering drought, in other areas the monsoons are producing more rain in fewer days, leading to overflowing rivers.
In the southern province of Maguindanao, Philippines, on Nov. 23, a convoy of supporters and family members of a political clan was attacked by about 100 gunmen (including police officers) of, allegedly, a rival party. Fifty-seven people, more than half of them journalists, were brutally slaughtered. Four people at the end of the convoy escaped.
On Nov. 27, the Nevsky Express, a luxury train running between Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, was derailed by the explosion of a 15-pound bomb made of TNT. At least 26 people died and about 100 were injured, including six foreigners. The train is popular with businessmen, government personnel and tourists.
A smaller, second bomb targeting investigators of the wreck was detonated the next day, injuring one person.
10 days/9 nights. Highlights: in Buenos Aires, city tour, La Boca, La Recoleta/Timbo Fishing Lodge in Santa Fe/four days of fishing the San Javierito River aboard skiffs; golden dorado of 10-15 pounds are typical. Land and internal air, $3,795.
iExplore (Chicago, IL; 800/439-7567).
19 days/18 nights, May 3-21, 2010. Highlights: Lima/La Punta/palace of Puruchuco/Tupac Amaru, site of mummy find/Inca ruins of Vilcashuamán/narrow-gauge train trip to Huancayo/dugout canoe up Amazon to Campa Indian territory/walk a section of the “Inca Road.” $3,700 from Los Angeles. Single supp., $500.
Lifebound Tours (Fallbrook, CA; 760/742-3455).
9-day/8-night textile and folk art tour in Oaxaca, MEXICO, Oct. 15-23, 2010. Highlights: hands-on workshop in all phases of creating and using dyes and preparing wool; take home all “recipes”/Zapotec ruins in Mitla/market day in Zaachila/craft villages. Land only, $1,895.
Tia Stephanie Tours (Ann Arbor, MI; 734/769-7839).
11-day/10-night tour includes participation in Gorongosa Park restoration. Highlights: snorkel off coast of Tofo; possible wildlife includes manta rays, whale sharks, humpback whales/La Veranda nature reserve in Nampula/UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mozambique Island. Land only, from $5,500.
Reefs to Rockies (Denver, CO; 303/860-6045).
18 days/17 nights. Highlights: New Delhi/“Putting the river to sleep” ceremony on the Ganges in Varanasi/Khajuraho monuments/Agra’s Taj Mahal/Jantar Mantar Observatory in Jaipur/Kerala houseboat cruise/Mumbai. Land and internal air, from $8,390. Single supp., from $2,074.
Tauck World Discovery (Norwalk, CT; 800/788-7885).
22-day/19-night tour of IRAN, Sept. 18-Oct. 9, 2010. Highlights: museums, bazaar in Tehran/Sasanian Era stone reliefs at Tagh-e-Bostan/Persepolis/Pasargadae/Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan//Lake Urmia. $5,995 from New York (JFK). Single supp., $900.
Spiekermann Travel (Eastpointe, MI; 800/645-3233).