READERS often ask: “How do you decide what to write about?” An equally applicable question should be: “How do you decide what not to write about?”In this ever more complicated world, one doesn’t know where the next hot spot will erupt. Just when you’re ready to launch into a series on one corner of the world, some unexpected disaster occurs making one think twice about suggesting anyone travel there.

It can range from an horrendous natural disaster like a tsunami, possibly a major volcanic eruption where lava is now flowing over the area you intended to recommend, or an earthquake where the access road has been split in two.

Landslides, avalanches and unexpected flash floods cut off routes in Alpine areas more often than you might imagine, leaving the visitor trapped there to seek out an alternative.

Unhappily, we’ve experienced more than our share of those, the most incredible in Switzerland where quick thinking before roads were blockaded during massive flash floods saved us from retracing our route back up over challenging Grimsel and Furka Passes.

Bermudians know all too well the effects a major hurricane can cause, damaging everything in its path.

As if natural disasters aren’t enough to cope with, today’s traveller has to be concerned about the possibility of both local violence and terrorism.

A case in point: With the Pan Am Games set for Brazil, it seemed like a good idea to suggest some standout sightseeing possibilities there. Even those not attending the Games will certainly hear enough about the country to pique their interest for a future trip — perhaps a side trip to Bahia Salvador, a city with a personality unlike any other. Certainly go up the Amazon to Santorem for the feel of frontier Brazil.

Just thinking about our riverboat experience has us reminiscing about the super-sized bowls of freshly roasted Brazil nuts we devoured with such enthusiasmK>Then came news about an eruption of gang violence so chilling that even the government got excited about its effect on tourism and called out the National Security Force of military police to end the violence. A force of 7,700 such protectors was formed by Brazil’s President in 2004.Newscasts recently reported “grisly gang violence” had taken the lives of 20 people in Rio’s business and tourist centre. That number included seven people who were burned alive on a bus when gang members set it on fire with gas bombs.

No secret was made of the fact that “death squads” existed during our trip. And there were places we visited that armed plainclothes police were detailed to accompany us for safety’s sake. But, yes, keeping that warning in mind, we will tell you about some very special Brazilian sites.

The same thing had happened on one of several trips to Thailand. When two of us opted to sightsee some famous ruins rather than join others at a hotel for lunch, we were sent off with an armed military guard.

That’s happened in a discouraging number of places from Mexico and Venezuela to Indonesia. Needless to say, it makes one nervous when that happens . . . and my immediate reaction is: “How can I risk sending a reader there — they won’t have armed guards protecting them?”

One can’t bury one’s head in the sand and pretend these things aren’t happening. Some will say: “But what are the odds . . . people travel there all the time and come back safely?”

And indeed they do. And we certainly have, doing things we wouldn’t consider today. That’s a judgment call each person has to make for himself.

Some will say lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place. Would that it were true! My great, great uncle was struck and killed by lightning on our property. And on two very chilling occasions, lightning actually came into the same second-floor room where I was standing.

One such strike destroyed a particularly beautiful porcelain electric clock next to me. That certainly gets one’s attention. Needless to say, I avoid that wing of the house with caution during any lightning storm.

Other recent headline events attract travellers’ attention — first a coup d’etat in Thailand, then eight explosions there on New Year’s Eve; next, Spanish officials stopped peace talks with ETA (the Basque terrorist group) after 26 were injured and two presumed dead at a Madrid airport bombing December 30, in a location we’re all too familiar with.

More terrorism events continue in Kusadasi and elsewhere in Turkey, with Turkish ports now included on many cruises. Repeat coups in Fiji, student riots in Athens, Archbishop Tutu publicly lamenting violence and crime in the Johannesburg area . . . and on and on. Only you can decide on the level of high adventure that’s tolerable. There are a number of countries that specialise in kidnapping . . . are you ready to find out how much your family or company is willing to pay to get you back? Of course, that’s one way to gauge your value!

The personable, attractive . . . but very naive . . . young Christian Iraqi who worked in our bank totally disregarded warnings of everyone advising against risks of accepting a translator job in Iraq. She’s gone there, in military uniform, seduced by what she considered an astronomical salary, with no thought of problems that could occuBK>Those<$> of us fascinated by Nepal’s scenery, culture and people are hopeful peace will finally settle into that remarkable country after recent promising developments.It’s the travel journalists’ job to be something of a globe watcher, very tuned into world events that affect travel. The unexpected is ever with us, but when there are obvious warning signals out there, readers need to know about them.

A recent feature in Travel Agent magazine analysed trends for 2007, polling a number of agencies about what they saw on the horizon as “Hot Destinations”.

They agree some European standouts are always on travellers’ lists. But almost universally, the answer was: “People are looking for new places to go.” And it turned out, new places they listed were ones this traveller first visited aeons ago.

The exotics, once far more inaccessible, expensive and considered very off-trail are now becoming more mainstream. As a matter of fact, we had already been working out a calendar schedule that covered a number of them.

South America is an exciting and dramatic as any place on earth. So we’ll be taking readers to Ecuador, the Galapagos and Peru, some personal favourites.

Yes, there are kidnappings along the Ecuadorian border, and the Shining Path, once so active in Peru, is not totally gone. Disputes over mineral-rich land confiscated from natives continues to be a thorny issue.

First and foremost, travellers must be certain to keep their eyes and ears open and be aware of what’s going on around them. They should listen to local news. Just because one is supposed to relax on vacation, in this day and age one cannot afford to be complacent and go brain dead.

Canada used to have a slogan proclaiming it was friendly, familiar, yet foreign and near. And it definitely is . . . so we’ll be off to Quebec Province, a destination that reveals new wonders on every trip.

From the St. Lawrence to its Laurentain wilderness, it has a bit of everything. Montreal and Quebec are one of a kind headliners and Canada’s dollar value makes them even more attractive (about $1.18 Canadian to the dollar at press time).

Work with your travel agent to pick the right destination. Then, whether it’s staying in one of Outer Mongolia’s kurds, going by train on the Siberian Railroad or sailing through the Panama Canal, the most challenging part will likely be coping with your plane flight.

A midnuary Wall Street Journal <$>feature lamented the staggering increase in lost luggage and airlines’ cavalier attitude about what has grown into a major problem. Rated worst among major airlines were US Airways, Delta and American.

But stay home and vegetate? Absolutely not! But always remember when in a truly remote fifth-world region, you are most likely spending more there in just one day than locals earn in an entire year.

No matter what your personal economic situation, just your presence, along with camera, binoculars and assorted paraphernalia, spells big money to them.

An example: Shopping in Istanbul’s famous covered bazaar, we were in the process of buying an elaborate, relatively expensive gold chain as a gift for a piece of my mother’s antique heirloom jewellery.

The jewellery merchant felt he had a hot prospect and brought out a dazzling emerald almost the size of a golf ball. My brother Jim politely said it was beautiful, but he wasn’t interested in something in that price range.

The merchant immediately responded: “Why not. You have to be very rich to afford to get here.” And he very definitely meant it.

[obox] t week:<$> Some unusual adventure travel possibilities

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