Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25234
From SF: 19 hours; Korean, Asiana $729 Main Adventure Activities: Surfing, hiking, ocean kayaking, scuba diving languages People: 72% Indo-Aryan, 25% Dravidian, 3% other How Far from NY: 7,300 miles From SF: 7,690 miles How Much from NY: 16 to 20 hours (depending on itinerary); Aeroflot $822, Air France $969 From SF: 23 hours; Asiana $1,079, Air France $1,119 Main Adventure Activities: Trekking, cultural explo- ration, scuba diving, yoga retreats India is a cacophony of music, bells, spices, dust, humanity, and color. Whether it's the cool Himalayan peaks of the North, Bombay's decadent celebrity scene, or the slums of Calcutta, it is a country of overwhelming contrast. For backpackers, traveling India is a test that separates the pros from the amateurs. At press time, Pakistan and India were amassing troops in the disputed Kashmir region. Both countries are nuclear powers and each blames the other for the rising tensions. From a traveler's standpoint, blue sources in the region haven't reported any travel problems apart from airport delays and increased security. Where Afghanistan is concerned, the Indian government is "on board" the American coalition against terrorism and has offered use of Indian military bases. This cooperation reflects widespread support among the Indian people. Go if you must, but take the usual precautions: Don't drink the water, go easy on the bhang and watch your backpack. Once the darling of western travelers, Indonesia is now something of a pariah even among Asian states. The fall of Suharto and years of economic tumult coupled with conflicts on java and Timor have brought instability to the archipelago. A predominantly Muslim country of 200 million people, Indonesia's feelings for the West are, at best, lukewarm. The government's inital reaction to American and British military action in Afghanistan was negative. However, Indonesia is a country of 17,000 islands; attitudes and beliefs can vary dramatically. In the capital city of jakarta there have been anti-American riots, From SF: 28 hours; Aeroflot $877, Turkish $989 Main Adventure Activities: Skiing, snowboarding, cultural exploration and hiking 9/11 was a turning point in Iran's historically strained rela- tionship with the United States. Iran loudly condemned the terrorist attacks, perhaps owing more to a disdain for the Taliban than a warm-fuzzy feeling toward the US. Whatever the motive, travelers crossing the country haven't reported any difficulty. To the contrary, their reports have been glowing. blue sources who have traveled there since American military action in Afghanistan have called it the "most friendly" country they've ever visited. For obvious reasons, avoid border areas with Iraq and Afghanistan. iraq 99999 but blue sources in the primarily Hindu and heavily touristed area of Bali have cited little to no change in safety for foreign travelers. www.tourismindonesia.com TRAVELER FACTS Population Density: 145 people per sq. mile Population: 22,675,617 Area: 156,078 sq. miles Language Spoken: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian People: Arab 75% to 80%, Kurdish 15% to 20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5% How Far from NY: 5,990 miles From SF: 7.460 miles Main Adventure Activities: Getting in Iran 999 indonesia 9989 TRAVELER FACTS Population Density: 113 people per sq. mile Population: 216,000,000 Area: 735,138 sq. miles Languages Spoken: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, and local dialects People: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26% How Far from NY: 10,000 miles From SF: 8,660 miles How Much from NY: 24 hours; China Airlines $837, Air France $1,049 60 TRAVELER FACTS Population Density: 102 people per sq . mile Population: 66,000,000 Area: 642,720 sq. miles Language Spoken: Farsi People: Persian 65%, Azari 25%, Arab 4%, Lors 2%, Turkmen 2% How Far from NY: 6,530 miles From SF: 8,200 miles There's no air service to Iraq, so to get there you'll have to have to fly to Turkey, jordan, or Syria, and take a bus to Baghdad. Hand your blue passport to the border guard, and he'll probably shake his head and pass it right back. And usually with good reason: a US passport isn't valid for travel in Iraq unless it carries a special stamp from the State Department. (Canadians can go but they need an Iraqi visa.) To get the stamp you'll have to be a journalist, a humanitar- ian aid worker, or convince the State Department that America has an interest in letting you go (try your luck; US State Department 202-663-2662). If you do get in and end up in a "situation," head to the Polish Embassy. America has no formal diplomatic relationship with Iraq, so Poland repre- sents US interests in Baghdad. At press time, there is dis- cussion that Iraq may be a future target for coalition forces. israel 9999 TRAVELER FACTS Population Density: 507 people per sq. mile Population: 8,500,000 Area: 16,734 sq. miles Languages Spoken: Hebrew, Arabic and English How Far from NY: 5,660 miles From SF: 7,400 miles