Sweden, about the size of California, is the largest and richest Scandinavian country. It is a land of midnight sun with extensive forests, numerous lakes and inland waterways, and a visible history reaching back to the days of the Vikings.
It has the world`s highest life expectancy and one of the lowest birth rates. Its cities are clean and relatively crime-free. Tap water is potable and dairy products are pure, and travel throughout the country is easy and efficient.
The best way to see the country is by car. All of the main roads are paved and well-constructed, although most secondary roads are gravel. Outside the cities there is very little traffic, so driving is free of stress. Swedish traffic laws, especially speed limits, are strictly enforced, and police patrol in unmarked cars and regularly set radar speed traps.
Drunk driving is also strictly controlled and severely punished. As little as one glass of beer or wine can be enough to put a driver over the legal limit, and violators are subject to stiff fines, imprisonment or license suspension. Swedes take this law very seriously and foreigners should do so as well. It is best to avoid alcohol completely when driving. U.S. drivers`
licenses are valid.
Special care should be taken when driving at dawn or dusk, because moose are likely to wander onto the roads in any part of the country at these times. Train travel is pleasant and efficient, and the rail system links all major cities. Fares are relatively low. Even distant Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle, can be reached by overnight train from Stockholm.
The lake district, south and west of Stockholm, is the cradle of Swedish culture and the country`s most populated region. The district is dotted with ancient sites and offers beautiful scenery and fine fishing. It is possible to explore the region by boat all the way from Stockholm to Goteborg.
Lapland and the vast highlands region in the north offer many miles of hiking trails amidst the rolling countryside. Huts are available on an honor system for overnight accommodations, although they can get crowded during the summer. The Swedish Touring Club in Stockholm provides maps and information.
An old Swedish custom called allemansratten, which means ”all man`s rights,” permits everyone access to private property as long as they respect it. Hikers may pick mushrooms and berries, and may even camp for the night wherever they choose, within reason. This custom is consistent with the Swedish orientation toward community.
The Swedes are reserved but not unfriendly to foreigners. Don`t expect to be taken in right away-give them a little room and they will express plenty of warmth and kindness. English is spoken throughout the country.
WORLD UPDATES
Bangladesh: Islam was declared the state religion here recently, setting off widespread strikes and protests. People remain free to follow other faiths, but critics of the move oppose such state intervention and fear it will promote fanaticism.
Brazil: Brazil now ranks fourth behind the U.S., France and Uganda in the number of AIDS cases reported. Contaminated blood supplies are a major concern. Some 14 percent of the country`s AIDS sufferers reportedly contracted the disease through blood transfusions, as opposed to only 2 percent in the U.S. and Western Europe.
Burma: Growing dissatisfaction with the government`s economic policies erupted in riots in the capital of Rangoon in late June, resulting in a dusk- to-dawn curfew. Protests spread to the cities of Mandalay and Pegu, and the situation remains volatile.
China: The U.S. Embassy in Beijing issued an ”urgent notice” on June 9 warning of a possible terrorist attack aimed at Americans, and urged residents and travelers to avoid public places known to be frequented by Americans. This warning is no longer in effect.
Ecuador: Dengue fever (see Indonesia, below), a mosquito-borne disease which is endemic to the Caribbean basin, has appeared for the first time on South America`s Pacific coast. Travelers going to Guayaquil on their way to the Galapagos Islands should protect themselves against mosquito bites. The worst of the epidemic should be over by July, but the disease can be contracted at any time.
Fiji: The recent interception of a 12-ton arms cache destined for Indian dissidents indicates the country`s political problems are far from over after last year`s two coups.
Haiti: Because of continuing political unrest, avoid travel here.
Indonesia: According to a new law, travelers to Bali may stay only in licensed hotels and guest houses, and must report their whereabouts to the police every night. Locals who provide foreigners with lodging in their homes are subject to fines or imprisonment. The new restrictions are designed to curb what authorities call abuses by foreigners, specifically, the importation of guns and drugs.
Widespread outbreaks of dengue fever and dengue hemmorhagic fever have occurred recently in Jakarta, East and West Java, Bali and Lombok. The disease is spread by mosquitoes which are active during the day, and symptoms include severe muscle and joint pain, fever and headache. There is no immunization or specific treatment for this disease, but people showing symptoms should seek immediate medical care. The best prevention is protection against mosquito bites: sleep under netting, use insect repellents that contain DEET, and wear clothes that cover the arms and legs.
U.S. songwriters will be protected under Indonesian copyright law beginning Aug. 1, cutting down on pirating of cassette tapes, a big business here.
Iraq: Visas must be obtained in advance and all visitors must be sponsored. Travelers who will stay more than 15 days must register with the Iraqi residence department, and then must obtain an exit visa before leaving the country. Tight security measures on Iraqi Airways forbid the carrying of hand luggage, including briefcases and cameras, and the airline is often reluctant to endorse its tickets over to other carriers. Avoid the port city of Basrah and all border areas with Iran because of continuing hostilities. Register with the U.S. Embassy on arrival.
Morocco: The border with Algeria was reopened on June 5 for the first time in 12 years after the two countries restored diplomatic relations.
Pakistan: President Mohammed Zia ul-Hag recently decreed Islamic law the supreme law of the land. The impact this may have on travelers is uncertain, but it will surely alter the lifestyles of millions of Pakistani women, who will be under greater pressure to adhere to strict Islamic tenets.
Sudan: The threat of terrorist activity still exists in Khartoum. Keep a low profile and avoid known gathering places for foreigners. The three provinces of southern Sudan remain unsettled because of civil war. Avoid travel to Upper Nile, Bahr El-Ghazal and Equatoria Provinces. Within three days of arrival, travelers must register their place of residence with police. They must obtain police permission to change lodgings, and must re-register within 24 hours of arriving there. Visas are required, but cannot be obtained on arrival. Register with the U.S. Embassy.
Tibet: Weekly flights between the Tibetan capital of Lhasa and Kathmandu, Nepal have resumed after a break of several months because of political unrest in Tibet.
For a summary of global travel conditions, contact World Status Map, P.O. Box 466, Merrifield, Va. 22116. Because conditions can change overnight, always make your own inquiries before you visit troubled areas. In the United States contact your local U.S. Passport Agency office; abroad, check in with the nearest American embassy.
