READY
I am ready to leave. I feel like I am in a box, and cannot get out. I read the news on Iraq daily. Or watch CNN... My friend calls it the Communist News Network. I can relate. I think they are nuts. All the news is bad, and that is normal. They just cannot every say that anything good is happening. I think reporters are high on my list of people I do not trust.
Worst: Car Salesman
2. Reporters.
3. Taxi Drivers.
4. Real Estates Sales persons.
5. Attorneys.
6. Guides for tours.
- posted by Andy @ 6:56 AM

 
HOSTELS IN TURKEY
Hello,
I placed on my site about 6 months ago link to book hostels around the world. It is pretty cool. I can book a hostel for 2-10 dollar in Istanbul, Turkey and when I get off the plane I already have a room. The first day is the most expensive day of my travels. I do not know the currency, I do not know the prices, I do not know the Hostels or Hotels. I am confused and tired. I am excited to use this myself. I can fly into very expensive cities like London cheaper now. Not worried if I will be sleeping in the airport.
http://reservations.bookhostels.com/hobotraveler.com/
- posted by Andy @ 2:33 AM

 
AIRPLANE TICKET TO ISTANBUL
I am too anxious. I want to leave. I will buy a ticket directly to Instabul in the next day. It will cost 740 dollars USA from Fort Wayne, Indiana to Istanbul.
- posted by Andy @ 1:19 AM

 
INTERNET IN IRAQ
I received and email from a person that just left Iraq. He said,
"Hi there. i do believe that there is an internet "cafe" of sorts near the Palace
Hotel. I would ask them at the front desk if that is where you stay in Baghdad. In
Kirkuk, Erbil, and Sulaymaniya there are plenty of internet cafes. You just have to
ask around. Baghdad is the toughest place to find internet, but if you're
persistent, you should be able to find it."

This is nice to hear. He worked for a NGO (Non Governmental Agency) that was doing humanitarian work in Iraq. I think that there are a lot of hippie types going in there right now... That is a gut feeling.
Andy
- posted by Andy @ 1:18 AM

 
NEWSLETTER SENT
I send out a weekly newsletter. I am sending it today.
Read it online:
http://www.hobotraveler.com/newsletterhobo114.php
- posted by Andy @ 4:06 AM

 
Athens:
I probably will go to Athens, Greece first. Lay on the beach, travel to Istanbul Turkey.
discovered that Prague is about 1000 miles from Istanbul. Athens is 350 miles.
My trip is about the middle east, and not eastern Europe.

- posted by Andy @ 3:47 AM

 
HOT WEATHER
I just found out the temperatures in Baghdad, Iraq.
HOT...!
Around 110 degrees Farenheit.
Iraq Weather... HOT

- posted by Andy @ 3:45 AM

 
PRAGUE
I have decided 95 percent to fly first to Prague, Czech Republic and not Germany. Hopefully I will soon remember how to spell "Czech". I have lots of trouble with that word. Prague is a gateway to Europe. It is supposed to be very cheap and lots of backpackers. I want to do some research for further Europe trips to see if I can buy a car or van there to travel around Europe. Otherwise I would travel straight to Turkey. I still might. I do not have a ticket yet. I debate a lot in my head on this trip. There are some good reasons to go to Prague, but in a way I am thinking only of the Greek Islands, and Iraq. Those are the places that draws my attention.
Map From Prague to Turkey


- posted by Andy @ 4:49 AM

 
AIRLINE TICKETS
I have been scouting around for plane ticket from Fort Wayne to Frankfurt, or maybe Prague. My normal way is to get on Travelocity.com and search the fares for lowest available and my dates are open option. Than I call up a travel agent and book a ticket.

I also have a friend in Colorado that knows all the cheapest flights. He worked for an air courier organization and I would consider him a cheap flight expert. Nonetheless after I get on Travelocity.com, I know the price I am looking for.
- posted by Andy @ 5:39 AM

 
SUMMER IN IRAQ
I was reading 2 guidebooks I have on Iraq. It may be the end of summer or the dead of summer when I arrive in Iraq. This could be a problem. But I hope not. Most of the news reports I have read, or guidebooks written about very hot countries have been over zealous in their opinions of how hot a place is...
- posted by Andy @ 4:52 AM

 
EMAILS OF SOLDIERS
I would appreciate if you sent me Email address's of soldiers stations in Iraq. Please tell me where they are from?
Send to: soldier AT hobotraveler.com
You need to remove the spaces and make the @ sign. This stops spammers from spidering and harvesting the email.
Thanks Andy
- posted by Andy @ 4:49 AM

 
Hello,
A person in the Thorntree forum did say,
"Very little first hand information seems to be available. Get a good suntan, grow a beard , dress like a local, talk with money to a truck driver and go and take your chances. "

I think this could be good advice. The Lonely Planet Thorntree can a pain in the butt. Lots of people hang around in the forum and make smart remarks that do not help anyone, and I believe they really just talk as an authority, but in reality they may just read a lot. I complained about the one person to the moderator, and he or she disappeared. Nice.
Andy
- posted by Andy @ 1:58 PM

 
Hello,
Trying to track down if the Iraq-Turkey border is open.
I have done some further calls in the USA. There is a person: Mr Carpenter that works for the State Department that is informative and the only person so far that talks with any specific knowledge. His telephone number is 202-647-7642. His position or title is called the Iraq Desk Office. This guy is the only one that answers the telephone, and can sort of answer question, or will answer questions.

He said the border between Iraq and Turkey is open. There was some media reports that were not correct. But if you go to the border with the proper papers you can cross. The proper papers are outline in the consular sheets:

QUOTE FROM CONSULAR SHEETS
"U.S. passports are not valid for travel to, in or through Iraq, unless they are validated by the Department of State, with the limited exceptions for 1) American professional reporters and journalists on assignment in Iraq, 2) certain persons providing humanitarian and other critical services in support of the Iraqi people, or U.S. Government personnel and contractors on official assignment in Iraq, and 3) U.S. citizens residing in Iraq since February 1, 1991. For further information, please contact the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services, U.S. Department of State, 2401 E St., NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20522-0907, Attn: Office of Passport Policy and Advisory Services, telephone 202-663-2662, fax 202-663-2654"

Andy
- posted by Andy @ 1:55 PM

 
Hello,
Three was a post in the Lonely Planet Thorntree yesterday that causes some concern.

What is situation at Turkey / Iraq Border? (I posted and here is a reply)
"6.
Only the land border with Jordan is regularly open for crossings. An overland trip from Amman to Baghdad can take over 12 hours, provided there are no problems at the borders. The summer heat can render such trips unbearable. The land border with Syria is only open to returning Iraqis, humanitarian organizations, and diplomatic delegations. The Turkish and Iranian borders are officially closed."
LINK TO THIS COMMENT:

What is situation at Turkey / Iraq Border?

I was commenting about the difference between general and specific information. This is very general. It could be correct or incorrect. I will follow up on this information. I have seen very few borders that were closed in tribal or developing countries. There is normally a lot of trade going on between borders and people must cross.
I remember a television report of anger for truck drivers that hauled oil between Iraq and Turkey. When the war started it was causing a lot of problems, or more or less costing them lots of money.

This post has no references to why or who, or when. etc.


- posted by Andy @ 4:04 AM

 
NEWLETTER
I got my newsletter 95 percent done. It is a send when I get around to it newsletter, or normally a weekly newsletter. It would be good to read this because I will soon have lots of travel photos that will only be referenced in the newsletter.

Here is a link. JohnnyJet.com puts me into his newsletter as a columnist. Sounds important, but I think he was lacking for a better title. I am going to try for the next 7 months to send this to Johnny on monday and send the actual newsletter on tuesday. But here is the link now. If you like it, than better to subscribe. It is managed by topica.com and easy to subscibe and unsubscribe.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/newsletterhobo113.php
- posted by Andy @ 10:21 AM

 
HAIRCUTS?
I am debating in my head. I am a blond, blue eyed person and this is a black hair, brown eye world I will enter. I will draw a lot of attention. Normally this is good, because people are curious, and nice. In the Muslim area of Thailand though the men are real macho and they look at an long hair as feminine. I may just get a real short haircut. It ia pretty long now. I suppose that is the best idea. If I get a haircut a couple of weeks before I leave, than I will last for 6 months at least.

I know for sure I will have enough extra pounds on my body.... hehehe. I will not starve. I have gained about 30 pounds since returning to the USA, and need to get back to countries where I walk all the time to lose this extra baggage. Too many cars in the USA, and no necessary reasons to walk.
- posted by Andy @ 4:40 AM

 
READING THE NEWSPAPER
I have decided I need to read the newspaper more, and watch television less. I believe that the written news articles are more detailed and closer to the truth. I received a few replies on the Lonely Planet Thorntree, but nothing real informative or specific. I find that most general ideas are not of great value. But when a person give specifics than the advice is more trustworthy.
- posted by Andy @ 2:09 PM

 
Hello,
I went to the lonelyplanet.com forum. It is called the Thorntree.
http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=18

I browsed around, and posted a few comments or questions. I like the Thorntree. It is good for pre-trip advice. It is very difficult to follow when actually on the road. I may be able to wring out some useful advice. Lots of people hang around inside there and sort of make smart ass comments, this is annoying, and not needed. I think that Frommers still has a forum, I will try to visit it.
I was told that in the past Frommers and Fodors had a guidebook to Iraq. I so far have not found any remnants of these books, but I will keep searching. Anyone that has helpful advice on Iraq can write me at .... blogger....AT hobotraveler.com
Take out the -at- and make correct.
Thanks Andy
Most people enter through Jordan and are working for the NGO (Non Government Organizations) a.k.a - Humanitarian stuff.
- posted by Andy @ 3:24 PM

 
Hello,
I am collecting information to insure safety for my trip to Iraq. I receive travel warnings from the USA government.
http://travel.state.gov/iraq_warning.html
http://travel.state.gov/iraq.html

A person can subscribe to updates of new embassy or consular sheets. This is information or opinions of what the USA goverment would recommend on the status of a specific country. To receive information by email go to this link:
http://www.state.gov/www/listservs_cms.html

Good map of Iraq:
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/iraq.pdf
- posted by Andy @ 5:05 AM

 
Hello,
I made multiple calls here in the USA to the state department and other goverment offices. They do not give me clear answers on what I need to enter Iraq. I was given a press pass by Wowo a Fort Wayne, Indiana AM radio station.

http://www.hobotraveler.com/
- posted by Andy @ 5:19 AM