Tuesday, May 27, 2014

No peace in E.Ukraine w./o Moscow's cooperation!


The new Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko, says there can be no peace in Eastern Ukraine without Moscow’s cooperation. A hundred years ago, also no peace. Check out “Klara’s Journey,” an historical novel for background and understanding of the Russian Civil War, 1918-1922 whose history still resonates.   http://amzn.to/13Sp769  ebook formats, nook, ipad, Kobo, etc  Follow me on twitter @bengfrank :  

Friday, May 23, 2014

India and Israel, Drawing closer?

Backing up what I have written previously. Considering constant diplomatic game changers today, perhaps it's in their national self-interest to draw closer. Check out my chapter on India in "The Scattered Tribe, Traveling the Diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond," (Globe Pequot Press,) Wherever books are sold. http://amzn.to/J3Z47T,also an ebook, Follow me on twitter @bengfrank :  

Cold War?


Some say that it is too soon to conclude that we are witnessing the restoration of the Cold War. Could be. But many see the recent signing of the Russo-China oil agreement and meeting as a game-changing deal. As for the Cold War: That actually began after the Bolsheviks seized power in 1917 leading to the Russian Civil War. For more background, check out “Klara’s Journey,” an historical novel. Available where books are sold.  http://amzn.to/13Sp769  ebook formats, nook, ipad, Kobo, etc  Follow me on twitter @bengfrank :  

 

 

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Jewish Community in Burma


Myanmar's tourism industry is "red-hot:" just about 300,000 people visited the country in 2010, but three years later, that number had ballooned to over 2 million tourists. Before prices catch up with you, go ride a boat on Inle Lake, explore a dark cave pagoda, and catch the sunset reflecting off Shwedagon Paya.  Also a small Jewish community in Yangon, including an historic synagogue. Check out my chapter on Burma in  “The Scattered Tribe: Traveling the Diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond,” (Globe Pequot Press). Wherever books are sold, including an e book. http://amzn.to/J3Z47T Follow me on twitter @bengfrank : 

 

 

Monday, May 12, 2014


Sorry to hear about his  (Jo Goldenberg) passing. He was a wonderful person. I met him in the 1970s in Goldenbergs, a fine Jewish institution in Paris. I wrote about him many times, in articles, French Tourist office travel brochures, and   “A Travel Guide to Jewish Europe,” (Pelican Publishing). He used to say  his meals were for the “kleine or groysse fresser.” Despite the infamous terrorist attack, he never closed the doors of the restaurant. He will be missed. 

 

Friday, May 9, 2014

Tune in "Crisis in the Ukraine" on WHUC, Hudson, NY

Tune in: “Crisis in the Ukraine” and “Klara’s Journey,” an historical novel and a story of “betrayal, drama, love.” Interview on WHUC 1230 AM and 98.5 FM, 985thecat.com, Hudson, N.Y. on Flo Hayle’s program. “Arts Alive,” ---at 7 am. Sunday, May 11. Wherever books are sold: , //amzn.to/13Sp769, Also ebook formats, nook, ipad, Kobo, etc Check out my blog at www.bengfrank.blogspot.com “I Travel the World.” Follow me on twitter @bengfrank :

Monday, May 5, 2014


The streets of central Odessa, this beautiful and historic port city on the Black Sea have been described as “tense,” especially since violence erupted last week. Saddened by this, I immediately remember my trip to Odessa and walking in the footsteps of my family which lived there during the Russian Revolution and the Civil War that followed. Those days make up much of my novel, “Klara’s Journey,”  And now this famous city, a city rich in Jewish heritage and still an active Jewish community of 30,000,again finds itself in the midst of escalating strife. For more background, check out “Klara’s Journey,” an historical novel and a story of “betrayal, high drama and love,” available wherever books are sold.  //amzn.to/13Sp769 Also an ebook.