KIDNAPPINGS IN COLOMBIA

World Travel Watch is a weekly report designed to help you make informed
judgments about travel. Because conditions can change overnight, always
make your own inquiries before you leave home. In the United States,
contact the State Department by phone (888-407-4747; 317-472-2328;
202-647-5225), fax (202-647-3000), or website (travel.state.gov); abroad,
check in with the nearest American embassy or consulate.

Colombia: Two tour groups were kidnapped recently near Colombia's Utria
National Park, touted as an eco-tourism destination. Twenty-six tourists on
a fishing trip were abducted a few days after a group of 12, mostly
teenagers, were taken hostage at La Fortuna, 60 miles north of the park. In
an attempt to reduce incursions of guerrillas and drug traffickers, Ecuador
is closing the Rumichaca border crossing between Tulcan, Ecuador, and
Ipiales, Colombia, at night beginning today.

Pakistan: The U.S. Consulate in Karachi, closed Aug. 5 because of security
concerns, is operating again but only by phone from a secret location. The
old phone numbers remain in service.

Indonesia: Smog season has returned to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra,
and the haze created by illegal fires has spread to Singapore, Malaysia,
and Thailand. Flights to Pekanbaru, Sumatra, were delayed by the smog. The
Indonesian government blames small slash-and- burn farmers for setting the
blazes, but worse culprits are large timber companies that use fires to
clear land that has been logged. Air quality throughout the region could
deteriorate further over the next two months until the rainy season starts.

Nepal: Maoists have called for a general strike Sept. 16. Such strikes
usually shut down all transportation, including taxis and private vehicles,
and are often enforced violently. If the locals are observing the strike,
it is wise to do so.

Nepal also has been hit by an especially severe monsoon season, with about
500 deaths and many landslides. A plane carrying 15 tourists crashed in bad
weather Aug. 22. The monsoon usually ends in September.

Portugal: For years Greece has had a reputation for dangerous roads, but
Portugal now is Western Europe's most dangerous country for driving. The
International Road Traffic and Accident Database reports that deaths per
100,000 people in Portugal have climbed to 21.9 compared to Greece's 21.1.
In Britain the number was six, with Sweden winning low honors at 5.8. This
compares with the United States at 15.2.

Habegger and O'Reilly are the editors of the Travelers' Tales book series
(www.travelerstales.com) and are based in San Francisco.