• Cleanest Cities: Green
• Most Polluted Cities: Red

In early September, the Blacksmith Institute published their annual survey of the World’s Most Polluted Places. I really like this type of survey and enjoy reading their conclusions. However, personally I also like being able to contrast this type of information with the other end of the spectrum, so I also looked up Forbes most recent publishing of the World’s Cleanest Cities.

As you may have suspected, the most polluted cities are found in the developing world, with emerging markets such as China, India, and Russia, being the main culprits (each contributing 2 cities to the list). As for the cleanest cities in the world, those were all found in the United States, Canada, Europe, and one from Japan.

Obviously, the results of both of these surveys are debatable, and are largely influenced by researchers opinions. However, as I compare those cities on the cleanest list with those on the most polluted list, I find it really amazing to see all that we are capable of as humans–both good and bad.

To see a place like Calgary, the fastest growing city in Canada and fossil fuels center, as the number one cleanest city in the world is really inspiring. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, cities like Linfen, China, where over 3 million people can’t even put their laundry out to dry as it will be covered in coal and soot from abysmal air pollution, shows us that we still have a long way to go (Time).

World’s Cleanest Cities:		World’s Most Polluted Cities:
1. Calgary, Canada		1. Linfen, China
2. Honolulu, United States		2. Tianying, China
3. Helsinki, Finland		3. Sukinda, India
4. Ottawa, Canada		4. Vapi, India
5. Minneapolis, United States		5. La Oroya, Peru
6. Oslo, Norway		6. Dzerzhinsk, Russia
7. Stockholm, Sweden		7. Norilsk, Russia
8. Zurich, Switzerland		8. Chernobyl, Ukraine
9. Katsuyama, Japan		9. Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
10. Berne, Switzerland		10. Kabwe, Zambia

Photos:

• World’s Cleanest Cities: Forbes.com
• World’s Most Polluted Cities: Times.com

Karachi, Pakistan: Edge of Space (flickr)

If you travel through developing regions of the globe, it’s likely you will gain a lot of experience in long distance bus and train travel. Sometimes these trips are fine–aboard comfortable buses and trains and across short distances. However, more often than not these trips can feel more like 15+ hour nightmares than an interesting journey through a strange new land.

Personally, I’ve been aboard enough cramped, sweaty, bone jarring, noisy, 15+ hour, buses and trains to know that special measures should be taken when traveling in this manner. However, it’s definitely a different kind of experience, and one that brings you closer to life as a local–a good thing.

Bus and train travel are also great ways to minimize expenses as a traveler, especially across international borders. For example, I recently took a buses from Quito, Ecuador to Lima, Peru. The trip was VERY long (around 36 hours), but cost me only $50–flying would have cost around $350-$400. Additionally I got to see tons of interesting things that I would have missed completely from the air.

Below are some common tips I use when traveling long distance by bus or train:

1. Pop a pill:

Obviously you don’t want to abuse this one, but taking a sleeping pill can transform a 15 hour nightmare into little more than a dream. I usually take one ibuprofen (which acts as a muscle relaxant) and one mild sedative (to sleep). I’m not the type of person that can sleep anywhere or under any conditions, so a pill really does wonders for me being able to sleep through the ride.

2. Choose your seat wisely:

If you buy your ticket in advance from the ticket office, it’s usually possible to choose your seat–DO THIS! Ask the person at the ticket counter to show you the seating arrangement (usually they have this if you ask), and pick a seat in a spacious area of the bus or train. If you are traveling by bus, the front seats are usually the best picks as they have more leg room and are less susceptible to poor shock absorption in the back of the bus. If traveling by train, it will depend on the train, but usually you can find an area that offers a little more room for passengers.

3. Cover your ears:

It seems there are always crying babies and loud snorers on buses and trains when I travel. In these situations, earplugs or headphones are a lifesaver. 15 hours of screaming babies will really wear on your nerves, so be prepared, and have some way of blocking out unwanted noise.

4. Travel at night:

Some people will disagree with me on this one, but I prefer traveling at night. Daytime bus and train travel does have it’s perks–pretty views and light for reading or other activities. However, in my experience, daytime is when more families tend to travel. This means lots of whining children, potty breaks, and other nuisances. Nighttime travel, on the other hand is mainly populated by single travelers, who keep quiet, go to sleep, and want to get there just as quickly as you do. Night buses also tend to make FAR fewer stops than day buses.

5. Choose your bus company wisely:

This tip is more pertinent to bus travel, as usually there is only one option for train travel. If traveling by bus, be careful when choosing the company you travel with. More than likely there are a number of different bus companies that travel to your final destination, so don’t just buy a ticket with the first one you see (or the first one that finds you). Ask other travelers or locals for recommendations, and find a reputable company, with comfortable buses, and the most direct services possible. If you don’t you could very well find yourself on a 40 year old bus, with hard metal seats, that stops every 15 minutes (often for no good reason at all). I have even found myself on buses where the driver pounded beers the whole way–so be careful and find a reputable company.

What are your opinions and tips on long distance bus and train travel?

davidfg (flickr)

At first glance travel writing seems like the perfect job. Travel around the world, write about it, and have someone else pay for it all. However, if you dig a little deeper you’ll likely find that travel writing isn’t as great as it may sound. Sure, the travel aspect is amazing, but the intense competition, arrogant editors, and unsteady/nonexistent paychecks are not.

Well, what if I told you there was a way you could travel anywhere in the world, and at least supplement your expenses by writing about anything you want. Your writing just has to be decent and about a moderately unique topic, and you are pretty much guaranteed to get paid. Want to hear more?

Associated Content and its implications for the budget traveler:

The opportunity I’m talking about is writing for Associated Content.com. If you are already a freelance writer you have probably already heard about Associated Content from other sources around the web. However, if you are just a simple budget traveler, looking for an easy and mobile way to make a little money on the road to supplement your travels, Associated Content is probably new to you.

Associated Content is a large informational website that purchases all of if it’s content from freelance writers. All you need to do is sign-up, fill out a simple profile, and you can start submitting content.

You can write about anything that you want, and minimum article length is only 400 words. Once you’ve written a 400+ word article about a topic that is of interest to you, you simply submit it to the Associated Content editors for review. Make sure you submit your article for “upfront payment review”–as this is the option that will pay you upfront for your article–and wait for your work to be reviewed and a payment to be offered.

In my research it seems the average payment offered by Associated Content is around $5 per article. A week ago I submitted two articles for upfront payment, just to try things out, and received about $4 for each.

Obviously $4-$5 per article isn’t very much. If you’re trying to make a name for yourself as a writer, Associated Content should probably only be used as a last resort (to put food on the table). It’s very unlikely you will make a name for yourself by writing for Associated Content.

However, if you are simply looking for a way to make some mobile income on the road, Associated Content is a pretty incredible opportunity, I wish I had heard about earlier. Once you get used to pumping out content, you’ll probably find that you can write a decent 400 word article in about 30 minutes (maybe less). Say you write 4 articles a day for a total of 1600 words and a total time commitment of about 2 hours. If you average $5 per article, your 4 daily articles will pay you around $20/day. Now if this was my job back in the States, I would be in trouble if I was only making $20/day. However, what if you are traveling through Southeast Asia–where you can live quite comfortably on $20-$30/day. Here, your 2 hours of work for Associated Content could pay for all or most of your daily travel expenses. This means the crunch on your savings will be far less, and you can extend your travels for much longer.

You also have the option of writing a lot more for Associated Content. Need an extra hundred bucks for a stay at a beautiful Thai beach resort. Just pump out an extra 20 articles and you’ve got it. Associated content has no maximum or minimum submission guidelines, so you are free to write for them as much or as little as you like.

As I said above the site seems pretty willing to pay for and publish any decent article. As I said, I have submitted two articles to the site, both of which were reviewed, accepted, and paid for (about $4 each) in a little over a week. The articles I wrote are really nothing special, they are short 400 word posts, that I basically put as little time into as possible. You can see my two articles through the following links:

• Ecuador:A Budget Traveler’s Paradise
• The Secret to a Cheap Vacation: Choosing the Right Destination

Associated Content also accepts audio, video, and photo submissions. Overall I think this site could be very helpful to the budget traveler, whether you use it to fund all of your travels, or just to make a few extra bucks on occasion–it’s definitely worth checking out: Associated Content.

That’s why I recommend carrying one of the most versatile products ever created. A product that has even been called a runner up to Forbes’ list of the 20 Most Important Tools Ever, listed just behind notables such as the lathe and the scythe. A product that if mastered, will complete the first step in a rewarding and highly revered journey to the title of “MacGyver Traveler”.

This important product is none other than: Duct Tape.

Check out the following 14 tips for using duct tape in your travels:

1. Use it to stay warm:

Duct tape can be used as an insulator, water proofer, or wind proofer. Wrap your clothes in it for added insulation, to stay dry, or protect against strong winds. Skiers and dog sledders often put duct tape on their faces to block stinging winds and prevent frostbite.

2. Bandage wounds:

Place a piece of toilet paper on your wounds then cover them in duct tape as a makeshift bandage. Can be used on small cuts, or wrapped applying pressure to stop the bleeding and protect large wounds.

3. Suture:

Deep cut but no hospital around for stitches? Clean the cut the cut well, then use duct tape to close it tightly. Obviously you have to be very careful that the cut is kept clean, and should monitor it carefully to avoid infection. But when better treatment is unavailable, duct tape can be quite effective.

4. Prevent blisters:

We travelers tend to do A LOT of walking. If you feel a blister coming on, simply cover the area with duct tape and continue on your journey. Or if you are prone to blisters on a certain area of your feet, just cover those areas from the beginning and avoid developing blisters at all.

5. Remove warts:

This tip has become popular after a few recent studies have proved its effectiveness (though some still question the studies). Traveling through developing countries, in unsanitary conditions, it is not uncommon to pick up a wart or two along the way. Simply cover the wart the wart with duct tape for 6 days at a time. Remove the tape every 6 days, clean the area, and rub the wart down with something rough. Let the are breath over night, without tape, then recover the next day for another 6 day period. Continue this process until the wart is gone (Duct Tape Guys).

6. Create a Splint:

Jam your finger, or need to immobilize an arm or leg. Simply tape the injured limb to a stick, pole, or other body part.

7. Use as a brace:

Twisted ankles and knees are not uncommon amongst travelers and backpackers. If you don’t have an ace bandage or a proper brace, you can wrap the injured joint in duct tape. It’s a good idea to wrap over clothing, so you don’t rip out all your body hair when the tape is removed. Also, make sure you remove the brace occasionally to keep the area clean, and that it isn’t too tight so as to prevent proper blood flow.

8. Waterproof footwear:

Unexpected hike through muddy or wet conditions. Wrap your shoes in duct tape to keep your feet dry and your shoes relatively clean.

9. Protect your ankles:

What about an unexpected hike through the wilderness, and all you have are low top shoes. Wrap your ankles starting from the tops of your shoes (make sure you tie them well first), for protection against thorns, ticks, poison ivy, chiggers, other insects/parasites, or even little rocks and pebbles from getting in your shoes.

10. Hide things:

Use duct tape to hide your passport and money under the bed, desk, table, or anywhere else in a less than secure hostel. Or if you are traveling with large sums of money or your passport, try taping them to your body to avoid pickpockets or robberies.

11. Wrap bags as a theft deterrent:

If you do a lot of traveling in planes, trains, and buses, you might consider wrapping your bags in duct tape (in a way that tape must be removed to unzip the bag), as a way of deterring curious baggage handlers or transportation officials from going through your things.

12. Waterproof or windproof:

Fix a tear in your tent, raincoat, or wind breaker with a simple strip of duct tape. Tape can also be used to cover clothing or items that do not offer any protection against the elements.

13. Flypaper:

If you’re spending a lot of time in tropical areas, flys and other bugs are sure to be a problem. Leave strips of duct tape around your hostel room to catch unwanted insects.

14. Make string or rope:

By simply folding duct tape vertically (connecting the sticky side), you can effectively create a string substitute. Use this string on its own, or reinforce it with other duct tape strings to create a stronger rope substitute. This one application extends the uses of duct tape immensely.

Photos: Duct Tape Guys

Earlier this week marked the anniversary of Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s death in Bolivia, on October 9th, 1967. Recent years have seen elevated interest in the Argentine rebel, in an ideological sense as well as in pop culture. People around the world seem to connect with the romantic Guevara image for everything from high gas prices to failed democracy. Guevara seems to represent many different things to many different people, but in essence is a symbol of rebellion and defiance.

The Che Effect:

The Economist recently did a piece on the “Che effect” in which they explain “Why the Che myth is bad for the left”.

It’s an interesting article, which after studying and living in Latin American countries for the past 7 years or so, I tend to agree with. The Guevara image is a romantic one, and I fully understand it’s appeal. However, when put into policy it does little more than polarize citizens through populist claims.

My current country of residence, Ecuador, is a good example of this. The new president Rafael Correa is working in the name of some “greater good” to rewrite the constitution, dissolve the majority of congress, and give his position of president more power over the country. He does this with vast support from the general population who hold a romanticized notion of Che Guevera-esque revolution, and believe these types of reforms are more important than working within the system in the promotion of traditional leftist policies for improved education, labor conditions, and healthcare.

Origins of the Word Che:

So which came first the interjection or the rebel? After traveling through Argentina many foreigners misunderstand the widespread use of the word “Che” as a sort of tribute to the fallen icon, Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

However in reality the word “Che” has been a common colloquial interjection among Argentineans since before Guevara was even born. The word itself can be used as an expression of surprise or a slang term similar to “man”, “dude”, or “mate” in English. For example, “What’s up man?” could effectively be translated to “Que tal che?” in an Argentine setting.

So how did Guevara come to be known as “Che”? When Ernesto Guevara was traveling across Latin America during his 20’s, he made many new friends throughout the region. Though all shared the same native language of Spanish, Guevara’s use of the expression “che” was unique to Argentina. Therefore, many of his new friends had never heard the expression before and consequently nicknamed him “che” in playful jest for his habitual use of the word. The nickname spread and Ernesto Guevara quickly became known and will forever be known as the “Che”.

To be honest, I have long felt that the “modern backpacker” really needs some type of hybrid bag. Neither the trekker’s backpack (commonly used by “backpackers”) nor standard luggage (duffels, rollers, suitcases) are designed to meet the needs of the “modern backpacker”. What we really need is a bag that is convenient to carry through urban environments without drawing a lot of attention (like a roller, or duffel bag), as well as one that can be strapped onto your back when the terrain turns rough and you still have several kilometers to go.

To my knowledge this type of bag had not yet been invented, until I read Steve Madsen’s response to yesterday’s post, in which he recommended what I would call the perfect solution to the backpacker’s baggage dilemma:

Rick Steves’ Classic Back Door Bag

The name gave me a chuckle, but the bag seems VERY well designed, and provides a wonderful hybrid solution for the modern “backpacking” traveler.

• Carry-on Friendly: A huge plus for travelers that do a lot of flying. Speeds everything up, and the airline can’t lose your bag if it’s on the plane with you.
• Unassuming and cheap: Unlike those North Face monstrosities that are made in every neon color known to man, and say “The North Face” on practically every side, this bag looks cheap and unassuming. As a traveler, it’s already plenty obvious that you’re from out of town, so it’s nice to have a bag that doesn’t scream it for you. In addition to looking cheap, it actually is relatively inexpensive for luggage: $79.95.
• Hybrid: Can be carried like a suitcase through urban environments, or as a backpack across rugged terrain.
• Durable and Strong: Unlike most backpacks, that can easily be cut open by a crafty thief (ruining your expensive pack and stealing your things), the strength and durability of the Classic Back Door Bag seems more comparable to a roller. It’s made of high-density polyester, which still has it’s vulnerabilities, but is a hell of a lot stronger than the average backpack.

Check out some photos of Rick Steves’ Classic Back Door Bag below, or click here for more information from the Rick Steves’ site.

samipii (flickr)

A couple months back I wrote a post entitled What backpacking IS, and IS NOT. One of the points I made in the post was, “backpacking IS NOT an activity that even requires a backpack”.

This point received some criticism from readers, however is one that I still fully support.

I don’t mean to say that you should not carry a backpack while “backpacking”. In some cases a backpack is the best choice. However, it makes a lot more sense to analyze your personal needs as a traveler, and choose your baggage accordingly, as opposed to assuming, “Well, I’m going ‘backpacking’ through Asia, better buy a backpack”.

Below are some of the downsides to traveling with a backpack that many travelers may overlook:

1. Much harder to blend in:

When was the last time you saw a native Nigerian walk out of the local bus station with a 40lb North Face strapped to their back? Locals don’t travel with huge backpacks, they use standard everyday luggage: duffel bags, rolling bags, or suitcases. Just look at the girl in the picture above, is there any question that she’s from out of town? That’s not to say you won’t still stand out with standard baggage, but at least it won’t be because of your luggage.

2. Limited mobility in urban environments:

I think many people choose to travel with the backpack because they think it improves mobility, however in urban environments a large backpack is actually a detriment to mobility. Have you every tried to make your way onto a crowded subway with a large backpack strapped to you? The pack probably hit at least a dozen people in the head, made it very difficult for you to get on and off the train, and pissed off at least half the people in the process. A standard suitcase or handbag, on the other hand, is much easier to maneuver and control. You can easily move it to your front, left, right, rear, even up over other passengers heads making it far superior to the backpack when comparing urban mobility.

3. Can simply be a pain in the ass:

You run to catch the last train back to Phuket, and on the way step in a huge puddle. You make the train, but your shoes and socks are now soaked from the puddle. You then spend the next 45 minutes taking everything out of your backpack in the middle of the train trying to find clean socks, which of course are at the very bottom of the top-down packing bag. You then try to stow your pack in an overhead compartment, though it’s awkward shape prevents it from fitting. The whole ordeal takes over an hour, and draws tons of attention to you (which can pose a security risk). However, had you been traveling with a normal piece of luggage, you likely would have found your socks in under 5 minutes, stowed your bag in one, and been happily asleep in no time.

4. Often unnecessary:

If I’m going on a 12 week trek through the Amazon jungle or the Himalayas, sure I’d be inclined to use a backpack as my primary bag. This is what the large “backpack” was designed for, a way to carry a large amount of equipment for 6-10 hours everyday, during a multi-day trek through the wilderness. However if I’m traveling like most “backpackers”, through civilization, cities and small towns, by airplane, bus, and train, I would personally prefer the convenience of a standard piece of luggage. I also take a day backpack for short excursions, but my primary bag is just an unassuming duffel bag. The duffel bag would surely get uncomfortable if I had to carry across a 12 mile hike, but for travel through civilization, it’s far more convenient.

What do you think of the backpack? A necessary piece of equipment for the “backpacking” traveler, or nothing more than a cliché?

Cajun Jambalaya: Benjamin Harrison (flickr)

A great way to save money on the road is by cooking for yourself in hostel kitchens. However, cooking for yourself as a world traveler can often be a challenge in itself. Not every town in the world has an American-style super market where you can pick up all your favorite foods and ingredients from back home. Instead you’ll likely have to make due with what is locally available, which sometimes isn’t much. For example, a food staple throughout much of Africa is goat. But how the hell do you prepare goat? Good question!

If you really like cooking, or are an aspiring iron chef, this can be a unique and fun challenge. However, if you are more like me, and just want to put some food on the table as quickly and painlessly as possible, I recommend learning a few “one recipe fits all” food preparation strategies.

A “one recipe fits all” is basically a simple recipe that you can alter to fit any food availability situation. My personal favorite “one recipe fits all” is Cajun Jambalaya.

Cajun Jambalaya is a great recipe to carry with you on the road, because it is extremely flexible. It can be made with virtually any type of meat, as the Cajuns have traditionally prepared it with everything from crawfish to alligator meat. The only real requirements are that you include onions, celery, and green peppers (though even these are flexible), a cajun spice mix (which I recommend you just bring from home - can be used on all sorts of undesirable food to mask the flavor), and rice (available pretty much anywhere).

Some other advantages to Cajun Jambalaya is that it’s cooked in just one pot, and that you can easily make as much or as little as you like. Ingredients are extremely flexible, and in most cases you just throw in whatever you have. The cajun spice mix does a great job homogenizing the flavor of the overall dish, so even if you’re cooking with goat meat it still tastes like normal jambalaya.

Below is a simple and flexible recipe for Cajun Jambalaya that can be used pretty much anywhere in the world:

Ingredients:

• Meat(s) (whatever you’ve got! can be excluded if vegetarian)
• Onions, celery, green peppers (these are called the trinity. use them if you can, if not just do your best)
• Other Vegetables (whatever’s available, toss it in!)
• Cajun spice mix (see below for details)
• Cooking Oil
• Chicken stock or vegetable stock (water can be used if stock is unavailable, though some flavor is lost)

Cajun Spice Mix: (I recommend mixing this up and bringing it from home or from a big city, as spices can sometimes be difficult to find in rural areas. Can be used on virtually anything, and is legal to take through customs)

• 2 parts salt
• 2 parts garlic powder
• 1 part black pepper
• 1 part cayenne pepper
• 1 part curry powder
• 1 part onion powder

Heat cooking oil in a large pot and add meat(s). Cook until brown. Add onions, celery, and green peppers, and sautee until brown. Add any other vegetables as well as cajun spice mix and continue to sautee until everything is cooked and brown. Add rice and chicken/vegetable stock (or water if stock is unavailable). Cook without stirring until rice has been cooked. Most of the stock/water should be absorbed into the rice so that the final dish is wet, but not soupy.

What’s your favorite “one recipe fits all”?

Cajun Jambalaya Links:

• Wikipedia - Jambalaya: Description and history on this unique dish
• Food Network - Jambalaya: Emeril Laggasse’s jambalaya recipe
• Real Cajun Recipes: How to cook Jambalaya for 120

For anyone that may have missed it, you can check out the transcript here: http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-travel-chat-100807-transcript?page=1

There were a lot of budget travel topics covered, including two interesting topics I would like to highlight here. The following questions and responses come from yesterday’s Online Travel Chat session with the LA Times Travel Deal Detectives. I have include my own comments at the end:

I’ll be heading to Belize on Thursday, what is the best way to search for inexpensive local tours?

Sara Benson, Travel Deal Detective: I haven’t been to Belize, but in many other Latin American countries (Andrew, you can chime in on this, I know) the best way to find local tours is to ask after arrival at local guesthouses, restaurants, even shops where you find a friendly atmosphere and sincere locals. Always shop around for the best price. Also, ask yourself: do I really need to take a tour, or can I do it myself just as easily?

Andrew Nystrom, Web Travel Editor: Great advice, Sara. Chris, depending on how much time you have for vacation, I’d avise holding off on booking any tours until you can talk to some locals and ask for advice.

My Comments:

I thought this was great advice. With a country like Belize, or really any other developing or small country around the world, it is certainly optimal to hold off on booking tours until you actually arrive in-country. You will find dozens more options and lower prices than if you simply try to book through a travel agent or internet site from abroad. Get recommendations from other travelers, and always try to book locally for the best prices and a more genuine experience.

• International Tour Agencies vs. Local Tour Agencies
• The 5 Fundamentals of Budget Travel in the Developing World

I was wondering if there is a time of the year to go to Europe for the best value? I would love to go but have a budget.

Andrew Nystrom, Web Travel Editor: Sounds like there’s a consensus here in our physical chat room at winter is, in many ways, the best time to visit Europe. I’ll let Jane expand…

Jane Engle, Staff Writer: Hi, cbtrav: Good call. You’ve picked the cheapest season to go to Europe. And since so much fun stuff is indoors–food, concerts, museums and more–weather isn’t big factor. As for when to buy: I’d buy now, if I saw a good fare. From L.A., that’s anything less than about $800 off-season.

Jen Leo, Travel Deal Blogger: I spent part of the winter in Europe about 3.5 years ago and loved the difference. I spent two weeks in Belgium (Waterloo) and traveled around. I particularly enjoyed the holiday fairs

Jen Leo, Travel Deal Blogger: Mediapile and Chris, I read the EuroCheapoBlog to stay on top of all Europe deals and to gather resources: http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/

My Comments

I think a lot of people write-off travel in Europe during the winter months, assuming that it’s just too cold to do anything. That’s why I really liked Jane Engle’s point that when you think about it, a large portion of the attractions in Europe are indoors. Museums, concerts, historical sites, and soaking up the culture in a local cafe, bar, or pub. There are far less tourists, airfares drop, and many hotels and hostels lower their prices. All of these factors make Europe a very appealing destination for wintertime travelers.

My one recommendation would be to try to travel in the “snowy” months as opposed to the “cold rainy” months. European sites look amazing under a fresh coat of snow, but they can be miserable during a cold dreary rain.

• Winter International Airfare Deals: How much does the price actually drop?

Again, to read the full transcript, please check out the following link:
http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-travel-chat-100807-transcript?page=1

* Cishore (flickr)

Part of being a responsible traveler is knowing what’s going on in the world around us. We’ve all heard about the recent protests in Burma, but what is it actually all about. What are the historical precedents, and what has led the country, it’s government, and it’s people to this point?

I am certainly not an expert on Burma, but I have spent some time attempting to better inform myself on the country’s current plight. I have put together a brief summary of the Burma’s modern history, which describes the current situation of the country, and what it’s people are protesting and fighting for. Read on for more information regarding the Burmese struggle:

1948 / Burma becomes an independent nation:

On January 4th, 1948, the Union of Burma (as it was then called) gained independence from the British Empire. The country formed an independent and democratic republic, that even supplied the United Nations with it’s first “non-Western” Secretary General, Pantanaw U Thant.

1962 / The end of democracy and the beginning of military rule:

In 1962, General Ne Win led a successful military coup of the democratic government, and assumed power transforming Burma into a military dictatorship. He led the country down the “Burmese Way to Socialism”, an isolationist path focused on self-sufficiency and the nationalization of practically all private industry.

Nationalized companies are managed or rather mismanaged by military personnel, who slowly run them into the ground creating mass inflation, and leading the country to the brink of economic collapse by the late 1980’s.

1988 / More mismanagement, and the first strike back:

Economic troubles were exacerbated in 1987 by a highly questionable move made by Burma’s leader General Ne Win. Ne Win decided, “he wanted only 45 and 90 kyat notes in circulation. This was because they were divisible by nine, which he considered a lucky number” (BBC News).

He decided to cancel all other monetary notes, and consequently stamped out many Burmese’ life savings overnight.

The economic crisis spurred protests by Burmese students, who were then joined by other citizens and the highly revered Burmese monks, all of whom were fed up with the incompetent and seemingly quack policies of the Burmese military regime. They protested for the dismantling of the military government, and the embracing of democracy.

Protests continued until the 18th of September when, as anticipated, the government decided they had had enough, and broke up rallies by firing on a crowd of protesters and carrying away others - never to be seen or heard from again.

The BBC reports that human rights groups estimate at least 3,000 people were killed in the government led attacks on protesters.

1989-2007 / False reform and widespread poverty:

Following the 1988 protests, Burma’s military government attempted to appease protesters by opening up the economy to market forces. However, the reform was far from genuine as government officials limited actual change by shrouding privatized industry with bureaucratic red tape and by transferring the most important industrial sectors (food production/distribution) to military run companies.

Despite the hollowness of these economic reforms, protest settled down and the country passed quietly through the next decade and a half. However, while the rest of Southeast Asia was experiencing historical economic growth, Burma’s leaders seemed incapable of lifting the country out of poverty. While the government seems content spending roughly half it’s budget on the armed forces, UN reports show that government spending on healthcare and education are among the lowest in the world. 31.8% of children under 5 are malnourished and the average income is under $300 per year - 70% of which goes toward the purchase of food.

Unphased by growing poverty, and increased costs of food staples such as rice, eggs, and cooking oil (up 30-40% by the end of 2006 - BBC News), the Burmese military regime continued to make highly questionable policy decisions. The country, rich with natural resources, has recently profited from rising oil prices and has received an influx of cash. However, the government seems unconcerned with reducing poverty or investing in the country’s infrastructure, and instead spends government funds purchasing nuclear reactors from Russia, and embarking on a high priced relocation of their nations capital to an inaccessible region of the jungle. The countries current head of state, General Than Shwe (who leads an extremely lavish lifestyle - See video of his daughters extravagant wedding), is even believed to take national policy advice from astrologers (who suggested he move the country’s capital out into the jungle).

August 15, 2007-present day / Dramatic raise in fuel prices, and the second strike back:

On August 15, 2007, in another questionable policy decision, the Burmese military government implemented a dramatic increase in fuel prices, and did so without any notice or warning. Petrol and diesel fuel doubled in price, while compressed gas increased by 500%. The tremendous price raise resulted in increased costs for public transportation and trickle-down price increases for food staples.

Again, frustrated by the government’s blatant disregard for public welfare, demonstrators took to the streets. The government took quick recognition of rising public unrest, and attempted to quiet protesters before the movement could build momentum. They used force and arrests to break up rallies across the country, until September 5th when at least 3 Burmese monks were injured as the military attempted to break up a rally in Pakokku. In Burma, where roughly 90% of the population is Buddhist, seeing three monks injured during peaceful protest was extremely upsetting. The monks gave the government until September 17th, 2007 to apologize for their brash actions.

September 17th came and went without any apology or admission by the Burmese government. This resulted in mass protests by monks across the nation. A highly revered and respected population among the general Burmese citizenry, the monks quickly gained support from the general citizenry who are tired of living under what they consider to be an oppressive and incompetent government.

All of this now leads us to today. The Burmese monks and citizens continue to protest for democracy, while the government continues to strike back, cutting internet and other communication links with the outside world and using arrests and violence to intimidate protesters.

Further Reading:

• NY Times: More Than Just a Fighting Force, Myanmar’s Military Is the Nation’s Driving Force
• BBC News: Should it be Burma or Myanmar?
• BBC News: Where the World Stands on Burma
• Brave New Traveler: Tales From the Road: Focus on Burma

Sources:

• BBC News: Q & A: Protests in Burma
• BBC News: The Hardship that Sparked Burma’s Unrest
• BBC News: Burma’s 1988 Protests
• BBC News: Burma’s Hardline Generals