Confessions of a would-be Egyptian revolutionary
April 2012 – Returning to Egypt for the first time since the revolution, an expat desktop rebel discovers the inspirational, the troubling and the simply bizarre.
Travelling without political baggage
February 2012 – Israelis and Palestinians travelling together without their political baggage can help pave the way to the mutual respect eventual peace requires.
January 2012 – Even though the downfall of Egypt’s modern “pharaoh” has scared tourists away, Luxor, the seat of Egypt’s ancient rulers is still well worth visiting.
December 2011 – The Holy Land is where Christmas began. But with the relative decline of Christianity there, does the yuletide still retain its spirit?
Defining Egyptian democracy: “Not like America and not like Iran”
December 2011 – Provincial Egyptians believe that moderate Islamists can construct an Egyptian model of democracy that respects their traditions and identity.
October 2011 – Although alcohol is ‘haraam’, Muslim societies have rarely managed to stay on the wagon, and vital parts of their culture have developed under the influence.
Walking on the moon in Ramallah
September 2011 – As an Israeli and a Jew, Ramallah once seemed to be as distant as outer space. So joining the crowds celebrating the Palestinian UN bid was like a small step for a man but a giant leap for my mind.
September 2011 – As a rare Egyptian in Jerusalem, I have felt something akin to being a B-list celebrity.
August 2011 – Who said camping has to be hard ground, twisted sleeping bags and Knorr’s instant pasta dishes? Here’s a recipe for gourmet camping in Burgundy.
Jerusalem: the city where peace lost its way
June 2011 – Although it is called the ‘House of Peace’, Jerusalem’s reality is that of conflict and dwindling hope. But can this divided city ever live up to its name?
February 2011 – Egyptians’ lavish burial spaces offer comfort to relatives – while 1.5 million less fortunate Cairenes live among the dead.
Baksheesh and social tipping points
January 2011 – Egypt’s ‘baksheesh’ culture helps poor people get by and maintains relative social peace, but it encourages subservience.
Deserts, desolation and development
October 2010 – Amid the sweltering heat and omnipresent dust, Andrew Eatwell discovers Sudan’s hospitable and friendly face – and its rapidly developing capital.
More to Sudan than meets the West’s eye
September 2010 – Despite its reputation for war and violence, there is more to Sudan than meets the West’s eye.
August 2010 – Malta’s complex heritage is living proof that cultures mash more than civilisations clash.
July 2010 – Egypt’s pavillion at the Shanghai Expo 2010 misses the mark of modernity and dwells excessively on the country’s ancient past.
February 2010 – Island retreats are like rich ice cream… lovely until you become lactose intolerant. One place has all the creamy pleasure and none of the hype.
January 2010 – Visiting friends and relatives is a thriving tourism sector. But is visiting the dead a growing, if somewhat, morbid niche market?
January 2010 – Like shrimps on the barbie and hard yakka*, the great outdoors is one of the binding contracts of being Australian. Except it really isn’t.
August 2009 – “Croatia, the Mediterranean as it once was,” the ad says. I didn’t realise that meant rude.
May 2009 – Travelling to poor countries may be incredibly rewarding, but it poses some uncomfortable ethical dilemmas.
October 2008 - With the separatist movement committed to non-violence, now is a good time to visit Kashmir.
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