Welcome to the New Silk Roads
Research on the Roads of Many Wonders
Archeological Sites, Education and Resources, Arts, Culture, Research Bibliographies, Botany (traditional medicines), Gemstones, Geography, History, Languages, Law, Maps, Religious Studies, Silk Road Research Centers & Institutes, Famous Travelers & More
Updated March 16, 2020
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There are those who are taking the COVID-19 pandemic rather casually, figuring it's not going to get them.
This disease mainly targets older people with preexisting conditions like hypertension, heart, and kidney issues but it can get anyone. It's going to be extremely tough on those who don't have insurance. It could just fade during the summer. SARS only lasted two years. One can be optimistic. On the other hand it's not a bad idea to plan for the worst, and take precautions. Meditation, Exercise, Herbs Nature, Science and COVID-19
There is no cure for COVID-19. But, there are some simple things that can help strengthen the human immune system according to scientific research.
I'm working on another article now. It's about how sunshine kills viruses. 
The Silk Road Kung Fu Friendship Tour is currently "on hold." Hopefully we'll get rolling again in the near future. The travel restrictions on Wuhan are being lifted today (March 25th). Yes, Insha'Allah, there is light at the end of the tunnel for most people.
So far I've traveled 16,000+ kilometers on the ground along the north, central and south Silk Roads, in addition to thousands more kilometers along the Maritime Silk Roads visiting and photographing the big cities, people, ancient ruins, museums and other wonders. The Silk Roads always were the Heart of the World, and still represent the best investment opportunities this world has to offer.
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Daily updates
Except for China, the Novel Coronavirus has not yet hit most of the Silk Road countries very hard. Still, it's a good idea to keep up with the news and know what's going on.
For daily updates on the country-by-country spread of the novel coronavirus along with some other statistics, see:
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Writer G. Brundage at Bell Tower in Xian, Official starting point of the ancient Silk Roads photo taken July 15, 2015
In Ankara Turkey, far left is Professor Yilmoz Selim Erdol_center is Professor Gregory McMahon, on right traveler G. Brundage
Two years later in Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey
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Tashkent Left to right friend and translator Mirzahid Mirdjalalov, writer G. Brundage, Farrukh Usmanov Director of Academy of Art of Uz and Master Chief Archeologist Sheyko Konstanteen Alexan at the Uzbekistan International Caravanserai of Culture, January 2016
Hititte Collection at Museum of Anatolian Civilization, Istanbul
Hecang Fortress Gansu, once upon a time the northern frontier gate to China's Silk Road 4/27/2017
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Also see www.silkroadresearchcenter.org sister site: www.silkroadvirtualuniversity.org
What's the difference between these two sites?
The virtual university is mostly a doorway to educational opportunities, the research center is mostly involved in research.
So, I'll be doing ongoing research and presenting it on www.silkroadresearchcenter.org on a regular basis.
What's the difference between these two sites?
The virtual university is mostly a doorway to educational opportunities, the research center is mostly involved in research.
So, I'll be doing ongoing research and presenting it on www.silkroadresearchcenter.org on a regular basis.
Some of the areas I'd like to explore:
In sum, there's a lot of work a Silk Road Research Center can do.
- To what extent are the Silk Road Research Centers around the world cooperating with each other?
- Which Silk Road sites in each country are most in need of stabilization, excavation, restoration and protection now?
- Is it possible to massively expand archeological work all along the Silk Roads? Though UNESCO seemed to taking the lead on this in the past, the UN now is overwhelmed with other crises... Is it possible some other external funding could be obtained? What national and international organizations can take a lead in these efforts?
- To what extent can the Tourist Development organizations in the Silk Road countries work better together to promote and facilitate Silk Road Tourism?
- Given that half of the world's ancient treasures are sitting in European and American museum basements collecting dust, what kinds of budgets are they dealing with, and can better access be accelerated? Is there a lobby group to encourage better accounting and access to the stolen treasures of the Silk Road countries?
- Conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and other Silk Road areas are not going away. Is it possible conflict resolution skills training can be added to the curriculum at all levels of education throughout the region? Is it possible "back door" negotiations can take place to get foreign proxy armies out and away from these international conflicts?
- Water, food, medicine, and education are sorely lacking in less economically developed areas along the Silk Road. Is it possible a Land Silk Road research group could evolve to prioritize needs and resources, aided by the governments of these countries?
- What can all people along the Silk Road do to improve the image of this vast and ancient region?
In sum, there's a lot of work a Silk Road Research Center can do.