Porftolio eye view of the world - B

B, Part 1
Bahamas
An archipelago of islands in the northern caribbean, uncomfortably close to Godblessamerica. Most famous for big black men running particularly fast. Err, there are presumably lots of beaches and too many american tourists, if they aren't too afraid to leave their own country.
travel advice-white swimming attire becomes see-through when wet

Bahrain
a little island off the coast of saudi arabia in the persian gulf. maybe. It has lots of expat westerners living there raking in the cash. Catherine lived there as a child and was allegedly the chess champion for her age. It's probably rubbish.
travel advice-ask catherine, if you can find her

Bangladesh
Formerly part of India, then Pakistan, known as eastern pakistan. Unfortunately situated on the ganges delta so it gets flooded all the time. Great! Unfortunately for the people, they are muslims and therefore in trub. They have recently started playing cricket, although not very well.
travel advice-pack a small silver coloured dinghy in case of light showers

Barbados
An island or perhaps more in the caribbean, may have been mentioned in that annoying beach boys song from the eighties. may not have. At least they don't have to speak spanish.
travel advice-keep an eye out for barbados slim, just coz he doesnt exist doesnt let you off

Belarus
Very eastern european country that used to be part of the USSR. Alexander Hleb comes from there and also most likely lots of people with bad haircuts. I dont know what the 'Bel' bit stands for, but I know that the 'rus' bit means something to do with russia. I doubt it means beautiful.
travel advice-find the answer to the above before you talk to alexander hleb

Belgium
A substantianal part of the 'low countries' and not because they are all short. On the northern coast of europe next to the netherlands. People often take the piss about it coz they can only name plastic bertrand and tintin as emanating from there. I got off a ferry at oostend once and then back on my coach to amsterdam. A divided country between the walloons (french speakers, not trousers) and the flemings (dutch speakers, not spitting suicidal animals). Most belgians seem to be quite friendly and chilled, but that could be terribly wrong. Belgians travel to Capetown and northern Corsica from my experience. AND GREAT BIER!
travel advice-dont get a ferry/bus from london with an american guy who shits everybody and gets punched in the face.

Belize
they speak english there! although there is slight reason for ththth alert. On the yucatan peninsula just south of the mexican border. apparently there is excellent scuba diving off the coast (as opposed to on the coast). Some bloke on a lake in malawi told me so... The truly legendary thing about belize is that it looks like belin! eviva!
travel advice-rejoice in the only thththh free zone within a gazillion miles of saliva drenching

Benin
in west africa most likely. also most likely to be pretty small and pretty poor. not that its the fault of the inhabitants. There could be goats there, big ones with beards
travel advice-get an atlas and find out where it is

Bhutan
tied up in hopeless romanticism for gringos, it is probably the country most untouched by modern vices. eg television, clay pigeon shooting and indoor microwave fist kebabing. near the himalayas in the funky area bordering indochina and the subcontinent. lots of big mountains and monks donging their bells. also may have played montserrat for the title of worlds most rubbish football nation and lost.
travel advice-take your own microwave fist kebabber and look for a door to get in.