articles and news galore

Portuguese traveller João Leitão has posted some very detailed info about his recent trip to Iraqi Kurdistan, including info on various places I've never been to.

A blog post on Suli (at The Talibatan) with details of the study and research program of the American University of Iraq- Sulaimani, which incidentally, looks like a great uni.

Tourism slowly returns to Iraq, says America's ABC News.

The Times reported on the chairman of the Iraqi tourist board inviting tourists from the West to visit Iraq.

The Turkish Foreign Minister recently visited Erbil, promising that Turkey would open a consulate there. A large delegation of business leaders accompanied him. Iraqi Kurdish leaders and academics also attended a conference in Istanbul on Turkish/KRG links.

Iraqi politician/twitterer Barham Salih was recently made Prime Minister of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). Meanwhile the opposition leader, Nawshirwan Mustafa (leader of the Gorran [Change] list) believes the new government will fail to achieve anything.

Bahrain is planning on investing big money in Kurdistan.

And a general article about visiting the 'stans' of the world.

An American in Araby - blog

You should check this one out. Short musings over travel in various places around Iraq.

On Kurdistan, see what Nate has to say about

Travelling to Dohuk, and the crazy ride there, shopping in Suli, and a sobering trip to Halabja.

This is probably one of the best blogs I've seen which covers current political and economic issues about present-day Iraqi Kurdistan.

new Kstan blog

Some sweet blog posts from Nomad Out of Time, who visited Iraqi Kurdistan last week. Great photos and observations:

Irbil - the Citadel

Under Kurdish Skies

FYI I highly recommend the whole of his blog with great stuff for linguistics nerds and anyone with an interest in Islamic history/culture/art, Middle Eastern culture, or a love for Istanbul.

Kurdistan blogs

Have a look at this excellent blog, Sahmaran, written by a doctor working in Kurdistan. Lots of quality photos and semi-regular updates.

Another good Kurdistan blog is Transnational Middle-East Observer, by Wladimir van Wilgenburg, a Dutch journalist interning with a Kurdish newspaper. Up to date and well worth following.

For those of you who speak Finnish, read an article on travelling in Kurdistan published in Voima magazine (in 2007) by Usva Auer, who also helped with some tips for this blog.

A February 2007 trip (just weeks after my own) is blogged here. Includes Zakho, Dohuk, Amady and Erbil, with a number of good photos.

Description of a July 2007 trip is found on a Boots-n-All message board here.