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Where the Laws Favour You
Whether you’re an expat or someone seeking stronger asset protection, it all comes down to laws. Little problems can lead to massive bumps in the road, adversely affecting your assets and wealth. That’s why you need to go where the laws favour you.
The UAE, for instance, has no taxes. Ukraine makes it fairly easy for foreigners to start businesses there—and with its unique geographical position bridging Russia, Europe, and the rest of Asia, it’s a lucrative marketplace.
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The idea of being able to mint millions is immediately titillating—but without relevant knowledge of offshore banking and economics, can you really break through the glass ceiling?
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Sticking to retirement funds or your savings is a viable option—but it’s a buzzkill when you realize that there are so many more ways of ensuring you live your twilight years in the best of health with the most money.
Building and diversifying your portfolio is crucial if you’re a serious investor—but why restrict yourself to just one country and one scheme or two? Why not check out the liquidity and vitality of gold, foreign currencies, international real estate, tropical fruit agriculture, Australian mining, African startups, and more?
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JACK WHEELER’S PREVIOUS GLIMPSES
THE HIDDEN NORTH FACE OF KANCHENJUNGA
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – GUINNESS AT THE NORTH POLE
THE ISLANDS OF SERENITY
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – THE MONSTER OF SEFAR
THE PORTUGUESE RIVIERA
LOOKING INTO A BABY LEOPARD’S EYES
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – WITH MBUTI PYGMIES IN THE CONGO
THE BLUE CITY OF CHEFCHAOUEN
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – THE BLACK MANED LION OF ANGOLA
THE EUROPE THAT’S STILL THERE
HAWAII IN EUROPE
FLASHBACK FRIDAY RETRACING HANNIBAL OVER THE ALPS WITH ELEPHANTS
THE REGISTAN OF SAMARKAND
MONGOL NOMADS ARE OBLIVIOUS TO US
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – CLIMBING THE MATTERHORN AT AGE 14
FLASHBACK FRIDAY JOHNNY AND THE TSANTSA
SPITUK GOMPA
SCOUNDREL’S VIEW OF MOUNT EVEREST
FLASHBACK FRIDAY SLEEPING IN AN IGLOO
WHAT WOULD HE THINK OF US?
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – ON THE MATTERHORN SUMMIT AGAIN WITH MY SON
INSIDE GIBRALTAR
HORSESHOE BEND
ELEPHANTS IN THE SAHARA
THE ISLAND OF SARK
BADAB-E-SURT
FLASHBACK FRIDAY THE TIGER’S NEST OF BHUTA
THE PILLARS OF HERCULES
THE TO SUA SWIMMING HOLE OF SAMO
FLASHBACK FRIDAY THE REMOTEST CHURC
FLASHBACK FRIDAY JOHNNY AND THE TSANTSA
As you can see, that fantasy came true. I still can’t believe how relaxed I was in the studio photo. That’s because Carson had a magical ability to put a guest like me, no professional performer, at ease. The cameras and lights, the audience, millions watching on TV all went away. It was just me talking to this friendly fellow with no one around. An amazing experience. Some dreams can really happen! (photo ©Jack Wheeler)
SPITUK GOMPA
We’re in Indian Tibet here, a region called Ladakh where Tibetan culture flourishes freely. Wheeler Expeditions first explored Indian Tibet – including running the remote Zanskar River tributary of the Upper Indus, one the world’s most thrilling whitewater experiences – in 1992. We’ll explore it once more in the summer of 2022. (Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
SCOUNDREL’S VIEW OF MOUNT EVEREST
You have to make different trek up the Ngozumpa glacier (longest in the Himalayas) in the Gokyo valley, where above the fifth Gokyo lake at 16,400 feet you get to call yourself a “scoundrel” for seeing what Everest trekkers don’t.
High on the Northeast Ridge on the left horizon is the last place Mallory and Irvine were seen heading for the summit in 1924, and then disappeared. Hillary and Tenzing summited in 1953 via the Southeast Ridge over the right horizon. Everest Base Camp in Nepal is at the foot of the big snowy buttress below the West Ridge. Called the West Shoulder, it blocks any view of Everest from Base Camp.
On our Himalaya Helicopter Expeditions, we get an abundance of spectacular views of Everest, up close and personal – Scoundrel’s View is only one of many. (photo ©Jack Wheeler)
FLASHBACK FRIDAY SLEEPING IN AN IGLOO
So the villagers happily complied, showing him how they built one, carving out blocks of wind-blown snow, shaping and placing them in an inward-sloped spiral with one block on top, and packing snow as mortar between the blocks. When it was bedtime – still daylight with 24-hour sunshine by April – they lined the inside with caribou skins, which shed like crazy with hairs everywhere but sure are warm. Snuggled into our arctic down sleeping bags, we slept like stones.
It was an experience both of us will never forget. Never pass up an opportunity to have an adventure with your kids they’ll always remember. ( Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
WHAT WOULD HE THINK OF US?
Having spent time in his village not long ago, I’m confident he would simply shake his head in bewilderment and say, “Please just let us live our lives in our forest, that’s all we want.”
True indigenous tribes who keep to their traditional way of life are so rare now in the Amazon or anywhere else where they once flourished. Each one is a precious living cultural heritage of humanity. It is such a privilege when they share their way of life with you. They deserve to have their wish granted, as my tribesman friend would express it. (photo ©Jack Wheeler)
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – CLIMBING THE MATTERHORN AT AGE 14
This was my formative great adventure that set me on my life path. For over forty years that path has been providing friends and clients with great adventures for their own lives. (photo ©Jack Wheeler)
MONGOL NOMADS ARE OBLIVIOUS TO US
Spending time with people such as these gives you an invaluably broader perspective of life on our planet. Our concerns, the issues that dominate our headline news, suddenly seem more parochial and far less important. An evening drinking kumiss (Mongol beer, fermented mare’s milk) in their yurts, telling stories, laughing at jokes – you realize how easy it is to relate to them through the core humanity we all have in our souls.
Exploring Mongolia in this way is a priceless adventure. We’ll be there again in the summer of 2022. photo ©Jack Wheeler)
THE REGISTAN OF SAMARKAND
It was centuries old when Alexander conquered it in 329 BC. For a thousand years as Central Asia’s great entrepot on the Silk Road between China and the Mediterranean, it was a cosmopolitan center for Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Nestorian Christianity. Incorporated into the Islamic world in the 700s, sacked by Genghiz Khan in 1220, rebuilt by the time Marco Polo in 1272 described it as “a large and splendid city,” Tamerlane made it his capital in 1370.
Colonized by Czar Alexander II in the 1860s within the Russian Imperial Empire, and by the Soviets in the 1920s within the Uzbek SSR, Samarkand is flourishing today in independent Uzbekistan. There is so much to learn and contemplate upon when you are here. You can be when we explore all Five Stans of Central Asia this coming September. (photo ©Jack Wheeler)
FLASHBACK FRIDAY RETRACING HANNIBAL OVER THE ALPS WITH ELEPHANTS
Unrecognized as Hannibal’s Pass in 1979, it is still a roadless trail today crossed only on foot or mountain bike. But since our expedition, there are now signs proclaiming it La Route d’Hannibal, and even a life-size statue of an elephant at the French village of Bramans where the track over the pass begins.
The photo you see is us climbing high above Bramans (I’m the one in front with the red backpack). It took us five days to carefully guide our elephants (from an Italian circus) over Clapier and down to the Italian village of Susa. First time in 2,197 years and never repeated 42 years since.
Hannibal’s crossing the Alps with elephants is one of the most epic events of world history. To retrace it yourself with elephants is to make that famous history a part of your life in the most uniquely powerful way. (photo ©Jack Wheeler)
HAWAII IN EUROPE
Everything grows here, cedar forest to giant tropical tree ferns, fruit from citrus to tropical, plants from corn to taro. Flowers are riotously everywhere. The sea swarms with fish being on the main Atlantic migration route for whales and dolphins. The islands are immaculately cared for by Azoreans, no pollution, air sparkling clear, weather in the 60s in winter, 70s in summer, so peaceful they are virtually crime-free.
Azoreans love drinking parties, cheerful festivals, and bright colors – with their charming homes painted the color of key lime pie, raspberry mousse, or oceanic blue. They love liberty so much they’ve had this motto emblazoned on their coat of arms for centuries: “Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos”—” Rather die free than live in peaceful subjugation.”
This is one of our planet’s truly magical places. We’ll be spending a few days here at the end of June as an optional add-on to our Portugal Exploration June 17-26. Hope you’ll be with us. (photo ©Jack Wheeler)
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – THE BLACK MANED LION OF ANGOLA
The UNITA fellows had me pose with him the next morning – obviously with no rifle as I was not hunting. It was to memorialize a tragic ending to a magnificent animal. (Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
THE EUROPE THAT’S STILL THERE
While Portugal is a First World country with all the modernity you could ask for, it is unique not only for the charm of its history, preservation of its culture, and post-card picturesqueness, but the sweetness of its people. They are simply nice in a way that’s so captivating. Their traditional family values are part of their nature. The country resonates with peacefulness, an at ease serenity. It’s the Europe that’s still there.
You can be captivated yourself by joining our WX Exploration of Portugal next month, June 17-26. (Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
THE BLUE CITY OF CHEFCHAOUEN
Berbers – “Amazigh” (Unconquered) in their language, are the original people of Morocco having lived there for over 12,000 years. They are directly related to the reindeer-herding Lapps of Lapland in northern Scandinavia (they share the same mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U5b1b). Both are descended from the same stock of Cro-Magnon Ice Age hunters in Western Europe that split in two 15,000 years ago – one moving far north, the other south crossing the Gibraltar Strait to Africa.
One more reason why Morocco is so magical. Would you like to experience the Magic of Morocco with us next year? (photo ©Jack Wheeler)
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – WITH MBUTI PYGMIES IN THE CONGO
It was on my first visit to Africa that I was able to spend time with them. They live in scattered bands of a few dozen each, always on the move in search of game, sleeping in small makeshift huts of branches and leaves, and far away from villages of Bantus who always try to enslave them.
Their music is hypnotic. To the beat of drums of hollowed-out logs, they sing with a polyphonic complexity that is extraordinary. I’ll never forget the performance they gave for me. Alas, no tape recorder – much less videocam back then!
LOOKING INTO A BABY LEOPARD’S EYES
I’ve been traveling to Africa for 50 years now – since 1971 – and have been to every country on the continent, so I know how unique a South Luangwa safari is. If you have a dream of experiencing an African safari once in your life, you might consider here. I can hardly wait to come here again this coming July. Care to join me, to look into a baby leopard’s eyes yourself?
THE PORTUGUESE RIVIERA
The Portuguese people are among the kindest in Europe, while Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world. Of all the planet’s First World countries, it’s hard to find one more friendly, calm, and welcoming than here.
Who’s the pretty girl? Lucky me – she’s my wife Rebel, mother of our two grown sons, my business partner, and my best friend. We’ve had a home here for many years. Rebel loves Portugal so much she taught herself to be fluent in Portuguese.
If you’d like a personal experience of the best of Portugal, Wheeler Expeditions can arrange it for you this coming June.
FLASHBACK FRIDAY - THE MONSTER OF SEFAR
There are no roads – you must climb up here with pack mules carrying your supplies. No one lives up here, it’s uninhabited. You’ll be among spectacularly gigantic rock formations with over 300 huge natural rock arches, so geologically unique it seems unworldly. In the center of Tassili n’Ajjer known as the Tadrart is a vastly deep gorge, like a knife sliced open the mountain. Clamber down to the bottom and you will discover a forest of 2,000 year-old Saharan cypress trees – yes, a forest in the Sahara, remnants of when the Sahara was green millennia ago.
My son Jackson and I explored here in 2003. We’ll be here again next January. Let me know if this is an adventure you’d like to have.
THE ISLANDS OF SERENITY
Warmed by the Gulf Stream, in the summer it’s so strewn with wildflowers the roads are known as “buttercup highways.” At every turn along them you’re stunned by the incredible scenery. The capital of Torshavn is so laid back the Prime Minister’s Office – the Løgmansskristovan – is a wood cabin with a green grass sod roof. Great beer from the Faroes’ two breweries is always flowing in the pubs, where the Faroese islanders welcome you like an old friend.
You can easily fly here from Edinburgh, London, Copenhagen, or Reykjavik, Iceland . A few days here will do wonders for your soul.
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – GUINNESS AT THE NORTH POLE
On a Wheeler Expedition to the top of the world, we landed our ski-equipped Twin Otter on a configuration of Arctic Ocean sea-ice called an “old frozen-over lead” precisely at 90N. My clients got out, we took the fuel drums out, rear door off, took off again with me, the pilot and co-pilot. I had pilot Rocky Parsons go up to 8,000 feet for a mile of freefall, directed him to the spot – tiny black dots of our people on the ice – told him when to cut the engines, and I was out the door.
OMG what a rush, falling straight down on the very top of our planet, a world of ice below – meadows of rubble ice, rivers of open water called leads snaking through the ice, lakes of water called polynyas, pressure ridges of turquoise ice, terminal velocity, back flips, somersaults, fun in the sky. Altimeter shows 2,500 feet, time to go – pull out the hand deploy, see the canopy furl out in full, grab the hand toggles, spin around for more fun, line it up to come in next to everyone, stand-up landing, Guinness Book. Totally cool.
THE HIDDEN NORTH FACE OF KANCHENJUNGA
You can be awed by such a picture, but to actually physically be here, to witness this magnificence personally so that it is forever a part of your life, is to feel a depth of awe that has to be experienced to be understood. Kanchenjunga is part of the Himalayas, on the border of Nepal and Sikkim, once an independent kingdom now absorbed into India. We fly right up the North Face, and into the Amphitheatre of the Southwest Face as well.
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – ON THE MATTERHORN SUMMIT AGAIN WITH MY SON
He made it, my guide didn’t think I could, so after summiting, Brandon came back down to get me. We climbed the last 500 feet together. Thus here we both are on the summit of the world’s most famous mountain. There are no words to come close to expressing what this means to each of us. (photo ©Jack Wheeler)
INSIDE GIBRALTAR
Gibraltar has been a British territory since 1713 when Spain ceded it in the Treaty of Utrecht. Thus also high up inside the Rock are the Great Siege Tunnels the British dug then lined with cannon emplacements to defeat Spain’s attempt to seize Gibraltar in the 1780s. Walking through the tunnels, you peer below looking down where the Spaniards and their French allies were vainly dug in – and where there is now an airplane runway stretching across the isthmus.
That’s just a glimpse of what to discover visiting Gibraltar, as there’s so much more! (photo ©Jack Wheeler)
HORSESHOE BEND
Close by are the Vermillion Cliffs, and the simply psychedelic Antelope Canyon. Just a bit further is the Grand Escalante Staircase, a little bit further Zion and Bryce Canyons and Monument Valley. And of course, right next door is something called The Grand Canyon.
There are people who have explored this region for years and will tell you there’s so much they’ve yet to see. You can explore the world over – what I’ve done my whole life – and yet there is so much of Creation to be soul-thrilled by just in this one region of northern Arizona and southern Utah – and I haven’t mentioned Moab which is a total mind-blow all by itself.
Take a break from all the worries of the world to come to here. Pick a place that will thrill your soul for a few days. That’s what’s needed now. (Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
ELEPHANTS IN THE SAHARA
The Milankovitch astronomical cycles that drive Earth’s climate produced a West African monsoon that greened the Sahara back then. When the cycles shifted ending the monsoon, the Sahara turned dry desert as it remains today. They will shift again, with the return of the monsoon turning the Sahara green once more in about 10,000 years from now.
However, there’s an uninhabited high plateau in the remotest region of the Sahara where remnants of a Saharan forest still exist. It’s a geological wonderland with a profusion of prehistoric rock art like you see above. We’ll be there next January if you want to see it for yourself. (Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
THE ISLAND OF SARK
It’s an ancient office with a tradition of many centuries. When I was there in 2010, it was held by Reginald Guille, a very friendly fellow as all Sarkese are. We rode our bikes around the island, even along La Coupée, the connecting path along the razor sharp high isthmus connecting two parts of the island – it’s pictured above.
There are gorgeous pocket beaches here, and beautiful natural swimming pools. Flower gardens are everywhere, the island could not be safer, cleaner, calmer, and more exquisitely charming. A few days here will do wonders for you. (Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
BADAB-E-SURT
Iran is an enormous country – almost the size of Alaska, four times the size of California – filled with wonders, natural and cultural. We were welcomed in every part of the country in our exploration of it in 2014. While the current political climate does not allow that today, the day will come before long when we will return. (Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
FLASHBACK FRIDAY THE TIGER’S NEST OF BHUTAN
Bhutan is arguably the most fabulously exotic country on earth, still adhering to the ancient traditions of Ningma (Red Hat) Tibetan culture. It is quite a steep hike to the Tiger’s Nest but certainly worth it. We’ll be conducting an in-depth exploration of Bhutan next year. (Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
THE PILLARS OF HERCULES
The legend for the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans was that Hercules pushed the two pillars apart to join the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. We think today of Hercules as a comic-book bodybuilder, while the truth is opposite. The entire ancient Mediterranean world very seriously worshipped him. For the Phoenicians, he was Melqart, King of the Earth. For the Greeks, he was Heracles, Divine Protector of Mankind. He was the same for the Romans, who pronounced his name as Hercules.
The Phoenician trading port of Abyla has a history of 3,000 years, from Phoenician to Carthaginian to Roman to Byzantine to Christian Visigoths to Islamic Berbers to Portuguese – and since 1668 to Spain, which continues to govern it today as the Spanish Autonomous City of Ceuta on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco.
Ceuta is a charming European city with beautiful beaches, open air cafés with great sangria, very relaxed and pleasant. It is here you find the statue of Hercules separating his Pillars commemorating the legend pictured above. Easy to get to with high-speed ferries from Algeciras near Gibraltar, Ceuta is definitely worth your while to experience. (Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
THE TO SUA SWIMMING HOLE OF SAMOA
On a hilltop rising above Valima is the gravesite of “Tusitala” – Stevenson’s Samoan name, meaning “Telling of Tales.” Engraved on the side of his tomb is his famous epitaph he wrote himself:
Under the wide and starry sky
Dig the grave and let me lie:
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you ‘grave for me:
Here he lies where he long’d to be;
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.
Should you be lucky enough to come here, you’ll fall in love with Samoa as did Tusitala. ( Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
FLASHBACK FRIDAY THE REMOTEST CHURCH
In the late 1800’s, French Catholic missionaries made their way far, far up the Mekong from the French colony of Laos to befriend the Nu and Lisu tribespeople up here. They responded by building this beautiful wooden church that has been lovingly cared for by the local parishioners ever since.
I led an expedition traversing all three of the great trenches twenty years ago (2001). We were welcomed so warmly by the devout villagers. It’s hard to get more remote than this, yet they have retained their faith for at least four generations now. You can imagine how powerful and experience it was to be with them.( Photo ©Jack Wheeler)