Abduls place in the Perintian Islands off the east coast of Malaysia. We stayed here a week.

Mong noi, a small village a few hours north of Luang prabang in Laos. This pic is taken from where we ate our dinner every evening.

This is from inside the famous Angkor Wat, close to Siem Riep in Cambodia.

In the far east for a month,so there wont be much stuff from me here. But if you know of anything I should not miss in Thailand, laos, Cambodia or Malaysia let me know.

Coyne says the following:

“Religious believers must move away from the notion of a dictator God, a Newtonian God who made the universe as a watch that ticks along regularly.”

He proposes to describe God’s relationship with the universe as that of a parent with a child, with God nurturing, preserving and enriching its individual character. “God should be seen more as a parent or as one who speaks encouraging and sustaining words.”

He stresses that the theory of Intelligent Design diminishes God into “an engineer who designs systems rather than a lover.”

“God in his infinite freedom continuously creates a world which reflects that freedom at all levels of the evolutionary process to greater and greater complexity,” he said. “God lets the world be what it will be in its continuous evolution. He does not intervene, but rather allows, participates, loves.”

Richard Dawkins has a great talk with coyne which is posted on youtube. I recommend watching seven parts of this youtube series.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po0ZMfkSNxc
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjjDDhE8R5k
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyyySnUqCug
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eEmnhmAwPM
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl1xmkVOyRw
Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwDTBW8oxug
Part 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qPHIS3n7Lw

I saw a documentary about Amos Oz tonight. You can watch it here.

He says the following towards the end of the movie;

“we live now in a world where people work harder than they should be working in order to make more money than they really need, in order to buy things they don’t really want in order to impress people they don’t really like. this will lead to a certain reaction, and this reaction will brings back some kind of voluntary collectivist spirit.”

Amos Oz

Read more about this remarkable writer here, and read an interview with newsweek here.

Life in Africa

A recent article in the Economist writes that matters might not be getting better in Africa, than claimed and hoped for. Here is one claim from the article.

“the regional figure for government effectiveness has deteriorated some 17%, as has regulatory quality and the control of corruption. Africa’s performance as regards rule of law has barely changed since 1996.”

I lived a number of years in Cape Town, South Africa. During this time I also visited many of the neighboring countries like Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Malawi to name a few.

Last year I went back to my former home, Cape town for a 6 month visit. I spent some of that stay, visiting some of the projects I formerly was a part of. The visit took me back to khayelitsha, the biggest township outside Cape Town. As always, the contrast between the luxury, a big part of Cape Town represents comes to life driving down the freeway from the Airport, and into the city center. This drive also reminded me of the contrasts between Khayelitsha, and Malawi. A contrast between two “inhuman ways to live life”.

A Norwegian in Malawi

The contrast between rich and poor, is apparent in a place like Cape Town. But the contrast is also apparent between the poor in Cape Town and the poor in Malawi. I remember stepping of the plane in Lilongwe, northern Malawi, seeing poverty, death, sickness all around. It was in stark contrast to how life should be; vibrant and alive.

The question I bear with me to this day is this, what can I actually do here? I am a rich white male, from one of the wealthiest countries in the world. I represent resources, and possibilities that certainly should inspire me to do something. Bringing Malawi with me home is certainly not an option. How could my friends in Malawi and myself share anything?

Hope?

I soon found out we had a lot in common, and there was lots to share. Hope is one such thing. Any human being, in or outside Malawi, or any other developing African nation, can contribute to change.

Several sources develop this idea well, the Boston globe is one example, they write,

“The number of democratically elected governments has risen sharply in the past decade, and the number of violent conflicts has dropped.”

Some ways that have helped me be involved in projects, or lives of specific people are the following.

Going there, visiting Malawi for instance, has been eyeopening for me. My travels have taught me what the gap looks like. It has taught me, this is not what life should look like. It has taught me that the world is a big “boarder free” landscape, given to all of us. Not to me in Norway, or Thabo in Malawi. We share humanity and should together pursue making this place a better place for us all.

Friendships and interactions with foreigners in Sweden and Norway have also been important in understanding this. It has given me contact and opportunities to interact and take part in projects and life in more than 70 nations.

I am still learning what it means to be a part of helping the world “one person at a time”, or like Obama recently said in a speach in England, “we can not solve the world problems on our own”. I don’t completely like the taste of the word “help” always, but I realize I often need the help myself. The sharing of life is not a utopia, despite people doing things we find strange, unlawful or unacceptable.

What are your thoughts, do I have any business whatsoever putting my feet in Malawi again? And how can we make Africa a better place?

Munich Airport

Top ten 2008

Media (like Norwegian aftenposten or, Swedish dagens industri) all over the world have commented on the fact that “skytrax” once again have voted the top 10 best airports in the world.

This year the list was as follows:

1. Hong Kong 2. Singapore Changi 3. Seoul Incheon

4. Kuala Lumpur KLIA 5. Munich 6. Kansai

7. Copenhagen 8. Zürich 9. Helsingfors 10. Cape Town

I have been to 8 of the 10 and cannot understand how an airport like Cape town international even made the top 30. Its quite small, and certainly far from the standards of others on the list. Bad internet connection, a small amount of eating and shopping options, not great check in and info structures. I first thought it was a spelling mistake with the newer and far better Johannesburg airport in South Africa, which I now realize it is not. How Cape town is going to handle the Fifa 2010 world cup is a mystery to me.

Seoul Incheon

Hong kong not the best

Hong Kong is close to being a worthy winner. I have traveled through the airport several times, but what would takes it off the top in my books, is the fact that its too big and impersonal. Its super modern and people are super friendly but everything nearly turns static because of the perfectness. That is also where the Kuala lumpur and the Singapore airports miss their mark.

Airports like Munich or Copenhagen are more in my taste, traveling through them both last month was an enjoyable experience, the staff were friendly and both airports have great atmosphere (esp Copenhagen). I would even like to put Schiphol in Amsterdam on the top 10, and a couple American airports.

The best one is…

So what is my favorite? Well it is actually Oslo, Gardemoen, Norway. I know I am a bit bias, being Norwegian, but it is a magnificent building with a complimentary great atmosphere. Maybe because its close to home?

What is your favorite ?

A few years back,2003 to be exact I went to the first 46664 concert in Cape Town, South Africa. The tickets were sold out, but we (we were: Hanne, Lydia, Sergey and Johanna. Johanna and I, were in the prossess of hooking up actually,which is a totally different story) were able to get a few despite the sellout.

In connection with Nelson Mandelas 90 years of life on this earth there was a followup concert in Hyde park London yesterday. In a 2003 article from the concert Cape Times: Aids: world goes to war writes a summary of the purpose behind the concert and celebration.

The world’s war against HIV/Aids has begun. And the first shots were
fired at the packed Green Point Stadium on Saturday night.

Former president Nelson Mandela and music icons – including
Bob Geldof, Bono, Brian May, Annie Lennox, Beyoncé and Anastacia -
threw their weight behind the 46664 “Give a minute of your life for
Aids” campaign, which kicked off at the city concert.

The aim of the campaign, launched just before World Aids Day is
celebrated today, is to raise awareness globally about HIV/Aids, to
raise large amounts of money and to exert political pressure on
governments to join the fight.

The story behind the number is found on 46664.com

46664 (we say four, double six, six four) was Nelson Mandela’s prison number when he was imprisoned on Robben Island, off Cape Town in South Africa. He was jailed in 1964 for 27 years for leading the liberation movement against apartheid and for his impassioned stance on the rights of everyone to live in freedom. He was prisoner number 466, imprisoned in 1964. The Robben Island prisoners were never referred to by their names, but rather by their numbers and year of imprisonment – hence 46664 was Nelson Mandela’s number.

Lets celebrate life and our ability to make a change in the life of the millions who live with AIDS and HIV.

Nicholas D. Kristof of the New York times writes the following from a recent visit to the holy land.

He draws up two contrasts with the bad and ugly on one side;

“It is here in the Palestinian territories that you see the worst side of Israel: Jewish settlers stealing land from Palestinians (almost one-third of settlement land is actually privately owned by Palestinians); Palestinian women giving birth at checkpoints because Israeli soldiers won’t let them through (four documented cases last year); the diversion of water from Palestinians. (Israelis get almost five times as much water per capita as Palestinians.)”

and the beautiful, dynamic and life changing on the other;

“Yet it is also here that you see the very best side of Israel. Israeli human rights groups relentlessly stand up for Palestinians. Israeli women volunteer at checkpoints to help Palestinians through. Israeli courts periodically rule in favor of Palestinians. Israeli scholars have published research that undermines their own nation’s mythologies. Many Israeli journalists have been fair-minded toward Palestinians in a way that Arab journalists have rarely reciprocated.

All told, the most persuasive indictments of Israeli actions come from Israelis themselves. This scrupulous honesty and fairness toward Israel’s historic enemies is a triumph of humanity.”

He sums it all up with a link to the presidential race in the US taking place right now.

“In short, there are many Israels. When American presidential candidates compete this year to be “pro-Israeli,” let’s hope that they clarify that the one they support is not the oppressor that lets settlers steal land and club women but the one that is a paragon of justice, decency, fairness — and peace.”

Read the whole thing here.

St. Peter's Church

Not Long ago my Wife Johanna and myself were a few days in magnificent Rome.Preparing for a trip takes time and effort, and is part of the trip itself. It was enjoyable reading up on Rome. Books, Blogs and travel sites were all a part of the planning process.

Johanna,two pizza boys and myself

We decided to live just outside the City center in the Trastavere area. We found a wonderful place to stay, where Mother and son, Anna Maria and Mike rents out a part of their apartment. It was clean,comfy and very easy to get to from the Airport. The city center was 15 min by tram. Anna Maria was all one could desire in a host. A small, talkative Italian lady with  perfect English to compliment her very Italianishness.

The best part about living here was the sense of being alone as tourists. I actually didn’t see a single one in the area where we stayed. The prices and people were all very Italian.

Day one we settled in. We went to a resturante down the street and ate the first of many pasta and tiramisu dishes.

The Colosseum in my eyes

The second day we went to the Vatican city state. I would actually recommend pre booked tour guides for everything. But if pre booked is not the case, a good way to find one on site, is to do the Colosseum and Roman Forum day first, and be on the lookout for a good guide. This way you can use this Guide for the Vatican also. They are far easier to find at the Colosseum, than the Vatican City. you will not need to stand in the endless lines of people wanting to get in. The tour guides have there on way of getting past these lines.

The Colosseum on the inside

Day three was spent at the Colosseum and Roman forum. As I just mentioned, I would recommend getting a guide here the first day of your stay and doing the Vatican later.

Day four we met Johanna’s old classmate Lovisa, and she took as on a small backstreet tour with a Coffee shop stop and Ice cream stop. Later that day we visited the Capitol museums by the Roman Forum.

Rome is a place you stumble upon the most amazing places. Like when I asked Johanna;

“look here is a door and its open, lets go in”

Peter and Pauls last habitat on earth

Johanna ” eh nja, there’s cool things to see everywhere, lets wait”

Daniel ” ok wait a sec let me just see what it is”

Johanna ” Ill wait here for you”

1 minute later i pop my head out and said:

“Johanna, come this is where Paul and Peter sat in prison just before they got executed.”

Amazing isn’t it. This place was just by the Roman Forum by the way and worth a pop in, like everything else. (on the pic the upside down cross is the way Peter got executed and has been put in place in rememberance of his death.)

If you haven’t been top Rome, Go! We went in April just before the heat and high season kicks in. Anyways it was marvelous.

Here are a few links to help you started planning and helpful tips:

Buy  a Roman tourist pass for 20 euros. Included is free tram and bus rides your whole visit. Two museum entries which alone is worth 20 euros plus a lot more.

Lonely planet

hostels club this is what we used to book the place we stayed.

below; a short travel video of Rome

Click here to view the embedded video.