Raj Palace, a hotel in Jaipur, India, outshines any available adjectives. Stunning. Luxurious. Elegant. Memorable. Tranquil. Historical. Regal. Those are all accurate, but hardly sufficient., because…
Author: Joel M. Hoffman
100 Hong Kong Dollars and the History and Future of Hong Kong
Modern Hong Kong was born of a drug-induced marriage between two parents who quickly divorced for truly irreconcilable differences, and her story, represented in this bill, reflects perhaps the world’s most important clash of ideas: central control versus individual freedom.
India’s Ordered Chaos (or, It’s a Jungle Up There)
A more open-minded look suggests that understanding India — comprised of nearly 1.5 billion people and built on nearly 7,000 years of history — demands more than a casual glance…
100 Dirham in Morocco and the Surprising Result of Bribing a Policeman
“The police shouldn’t ask you for money,” my Moroccan guide answered. But the real surprise was what he said next.
The Mischievous Monkeys of Morocco
Drive a couple hours from the fascinating city of Fes and you’ll get to the Middle Atlas Mountains. There in the foothills lie such historic cities as Sefrou and Bhalil, and, in the mountains themselves, “Africa’s Little Switzerland,” Ifrane. And Barbary macaque monkeys. All over the place. These adorable if aggressive creatures, Africa’s only super-Saharan…
The Workers in Morocco (Or: Where do things come from?)
To wander the streets of Morocco is to see where things come from: Behind everyday items lie generations of talent and experience, and hours of hard work.
My Police Escort (But Why?)
Our tour through the historical city of Sefrou included a police escort: along the main road, into the Jewish cemetery, through the medina (old city) — everywhere. But why? We were two unassuming tourists, accompanied by a licensed local guide and a professional driver, the same configuration as everywhere else we visited. And while police…
Light, Shadow, and Color. And a Mule.
I would have noticed the light streaming through the hatched roof in the colorful wool-dyeing section of the Fes medina even without the mule. With the equine, the scene seems surrealistic, almost absurd. But only to me, not to the locals. Traveling is like that: not only discovering new things, but discovering which things are…
The Alleyways of the Medina in Fes, Morocco
The medina in Fes, Morocco is best known for its numerous craft workers and its bustling thoroughfares. But I’m drawn to the alleyways, where a private, intimate, more authentic side of Fes blossoms and…
Camel Meat in Morocco
This camel head hanging from a wall in the food section of the medina (old city) in Fes, Morocco caught my eye. How could it not? I don’t eat camel. In fact, I would never eat camel. Yet right across the way is the Cafe Clock which serves camel burgers (and, fortunately for me, other…
