Don Parrish's Latest Travels

As his Year in Review 2008 indicates, my friend Don Parrish continues to travel all around the globe. I've linked to some of his trip reports here in the past, so I wanted to do the same for his end-of-the-year review. It is a fascinating read: long (as he admits), but worthwhile. Included are numerous photos -- hand-picked ones from the 8,000 photos he took over the year!

I continue to be impressed by Don's travels. In fact, he reports that he is now among the top 300 travelers on planet Earth.

And I appreciate Don's writing style as well: direct, and to the point, but with the occasional bit if provocative wisdom (e.g., reporting on his travels in Western Africa, in Gambia in particular, he notes "The irony of slavery: the descendents of slaves in America are so much better off than the descendents in Africa of the black enslavers." His writing is also positive and optimistic in a way that I find refreshing, and comes with appropriate pro-American patriotism. By that I mean that Don, like me, is proud of America for its essential characteristics -- while still being critical of much both "at home" in our country and of many of our government's actions abroad.

Thanks again Don, for taking the time to share your travel experiences with us!