June 2004

The far south of Thailand has experienced incidents of criminally and politically motivated violence, including incidents attributed to armed local separatist or extremist groups.

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Government has received recent and credible information indicating that extremists are planning further attacks against U.S. and Western interests in Saudi Arabia. Family members and nonemergency personnel have been ordered to depart from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates.

The Department of State continues to urge U.S. citizens to defer nonessential travel to Nepal. The U.S. Embassy continues to receive reports of Maoist demands to cease developmental and social welfare projects by U.S.-affiliated nongovernmental organizations from certain areas of the country. There remains a high volume of reports of Maoist threats, intimidation, harassment, robbery and extortion against foreigners on popular trekking routes, roads and in tourist areas.

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to the Central African Republic (CAR). On March 15, 2003, rebel forces that had been operating in the countryside outside Bangui took over the capital and seized power from the government of the CAR. The leader of the rebel group declared himself the President of CAR and remains in power. The security situation throughout the country remains unstable.

There has been no U.S. diplomatic or consular representation in the CAR since November 2002.

Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. There are no restrictions on length. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the U.S., Canada or Mexico.) The ITN staff will choose each month’s winner, who will receive a free one-year subscription to ITN. Entries not chosen cannot be acknowledged.

This month’s winner is LISA PETTY of Eagan, MN:

I had already taken two tours with Turtle Tours (Box 1147, Carefree, AZ 85377; phone 888/299-1439 or 480/488-3688, fax 480/488-3406, e-mail turtletours@earthlink.net) when I received the brochure which read, “Join us as a volunteer. Come on a 2-week program as a Health Care Professional or Staff Assistant for which no medical training is required. You will be a great help and get to know our tribal friends.”

A reader mailed ITN a copy of the letter below, sent to the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The cruise referred to was aboard Holland America’s m.s. “Amsterdam,” beginning Jan. 29, ’04, in Valparaiso, Chile, and concluding Feb. 19 in Rio de Janeiro.

I want you to know of recent actions by the Brazilian Consulate General in Los Angeles and how those actions communicated to my wife and me a strong contemptuous message that Brazil does not want Americans to visit Brazil.

I would like to recommend an online cruise agency that I use, iCruise.com (127 W. 25th St., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10001; phone 888/909-6242). I have booked three cruises with them and find them very efficient and reliable.

by Paula Prindle, Orient, OH

Question: What could be better than cruising through southern France?

Answer: Absolutely nothing!