THE KURDS OF EAST TURKEY HAVE BEGUN TO WELCOME TRAVELLERS INTO THEIR MIDST. BUT ONLY THOSE DEDICATED ENOUGH TO SEEK THEM OUT!

For many years the Kurdish region of East Turkey has been a no-go area for travelers. While many dangers still exist for the unwary, some brave souls are seeking out remote Kurdish villages to get a better understanding of the people and their situation.

The latest story at Polo’s Bastards is from one such adventurer. Lee Ridley recounts his recent adventure to the famous region of Mount Ararat, the legendary resting place of Noah’s Ark and home to many Kurdish villages. Staying with the villagers he is able to quiz them on many things from their changing traditions to the war in Iraq. “The war in Iraq means little to the Jelali as their lifestyle results in very effective isolation from outside influence. However, they're very aware of the hostilities and feel nothing but anger towards Bush and Blair, firmly believing that the Americans and the English have their own agenda in the Gulf, which has little to do with the interests of the local populace.”

With hostilities increasing around the world since the September 11 attacks, many travelers are venturing to regions of political turmoil to discover for themselves the reality of life in these places. Polo’s Bastards, a website devoted to such journeys is gaining an online following as the place to find information on those areas less travelled.

“People are looking for information without spin,” says Rob Wood, publisher of Polo’s Bastards. “We try to deliver that, but with a healthy dose of adventure too.”

More stories on travel to tumultuous regions and the developing world can be found at http://www.polosbastards.com/