In writing a blog story about Morocco that I'll be posting in the near future, I included, as I have in stories to places like Srinagar, India, links to Web sites that offer travel advisory information. World travel is a rich, rewarding experience, but it carries risks, and it's wise to be informed before setting out.

I recommend reading the travel advisories posted by the governments of the U.S., the UK and Australia. Here are links to their travel warnings pages:

U.S. Department of State -
Home page: http://travel.state.gov
Warnings page: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office -
Home page: www.fco.gov.uk
Warnings page: www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590

Australian government travel advice page: www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/View/Advice/Index

It's also useful and enlightening to read newspapers from the countries you're planning to visit. Find links to newspapers worldwide at www.World-Newspapers.com and www.OnlineNewspapers.com .