By the way: next time you wanna join Glastonbury or ‘Glasto’ (or any other big event in the world), do not miss to rather use free lodging instead of paying expensive for tipi rents!

For those throwing a major event like this: be welcome to introduce and promote your event on belodged.com! Our members are curious to find out about it, especially as free peer to peer accommodation comes along…

(Link to the website of Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts)

PS: Guess who goes after me on shot #12? Yep, Neil Young!… and on pix 31? Yep again, the Boss alias Bruce Springsteen!…and on #24? you got it, it is Tom Jones, the ever rocking tiger ).

However, we liked the graphic about the story of Twitter (see below) very much and are looking forward to - one day - realizing something similar with ‘free lodging worldwide’ as well (daydreaming must be allowed ).

Different story, but not less exciting than Twitter…

…bringing people together from different cultures and social classes
…building intercultural understanding and reduce prejudices and intolerance
…just another way of traveling outside conventional tourism and hotel business

Curious? Feel free to check in belodged.com. It is about free lodging among friends - saving money is the bonus!

Or follow the twitter of the belodged.com team & friends!

Source of image: Manolith

Antigua and Barbuda is divided into 6 parishes and 2 dependencies:

Parishes
1. Saint George
2. Saint John
3. Saint Mary
4. Saint Paul
5. Saint Peter
6. Saint Philip

Dependencies
1. Barbuda
2. Redonda

The Bahamas (officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas) is an English-speaking country consisting of 2,387 rocks, 661 cays and 29 islands. The Districts of the Bahamas provide a system of local government everywhere in The Bahamas except New Providence, whose affairs are handled directly by the central government.

1. Acklins
2. Berry Islands
3. Bimini
4. Black Point (Exuma)
5. Cat Island
6. Central Abaco
7. Central Andros
8. Central Eleuthera
9. City of Freeport (Grand Bahama)
10. Crooked Island
11. East Grand Bahama
12. Exuma
13. Grand Cay (Abaco)
14. Harbour Island (Eleuthera)
15. Hope Town (Abaco)
16. Inagua
17. Long Island
18. Mangrove Cay (Andros)
19. Mayaguana
20. Moore’s Island (Abaco)
21. North Abaco
22. North Andros
23. North Eleuthera
24. Ragged Island
25. Rum Cay
26. San Salvador
27. South Abaco
28. South Andros
29. South Eleuthera
30. Spanish Wells (Eleuthera)
31. West Grand Bahama

Barbados, situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent West Indian Continental Island-nation in the western Atlantic Ocean. The country of Barbados is currently subdivided into 11 administrative sub-regions whereas St.George and St.Thomas are the only parishes not touching the sea:

1. Christ Church
2. Saint Andrew
3. Saint George
4. Saint James
5. Saint John
6. Saint Joseph
7. Saint Lucy
8. Saint Michael
9. Saint Peter
10. Saint Philip
11. Saint Thomas

Notice: Matching parish names of Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda are purely coincidental

Source: Wikipedia, June 2009

… wow - or should we rather say ‘my god’ - are we perhaps witnessing a revolution in Iran?

Although most of the demonstrating people (many of them are students and teachers) seem to be - like belodged.com members - modern, wired, vibrant and eager to engage with the outside world and for more social freedom, we recommend not to travel to Iran at the moment.

So, dear members (and all travelers and tourists), listen carefully: feel free to give any emotional support to all people involved in this ongoing political conflict, but please wait and observe the current dramatic changes from the safe distance as long as we believe that ’strikes, riots, and civil commotions’ are most likely !

Governorates of Bahrain
Bahrain is split into 5 governorates. These governorates are:
1. Capital Governorate
2. Central Governorate
3. Muharraq Governorate
4. Northern Governorate
5. Southern Governorate

Governorates of Iraq
Iraq is divided into 18 governorates (or provinces) (muhafazah):

1. Baghdād (بغداد)
2. Salāh ad-Dīn (صلاح الدين)
3. Diyālā (ديالى)
4. Wāsit (واسط)
5. Maysān (ميسان)
6. Al-Basrah (البصرة)
7. Dhī Qār (ذي قار)
8. Al-Muthannā (المثنى)
9. Al-Qādisiyyah (القادسية)
10. Bābil (بابل)
11. Al-Karbalā’ (كربلاء)
12. An-Najaf (النجف)
13. Al-Anbar (الأنبار)
14. Nīnawā (نينوى)
15. Dahūk (دهوك)
16. Arbīl (أربيل)
17. Kirkuk (or At-Ta’mim) (التاميم)
18. As-Sulaymāniyyah (السليمانية)

Governorates of Jordan
The country of Jordan is divided into 12 governorates (muhafazah):

Ajlun, Amman, Aqaba, Balqa, Irbid, Jerash, Kerak, Ma’an, Madaba, Mafraq, Tafilah, Zarqa

Governorates of the Palestinian National Authority
After the signing of the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip were divided into three areas (Area A, Area B, and Area C) and 16 governorates under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority.

Jenin Governorate
Tubas Governorate
Tulkarm Governorate
Nablus Governorate
Qalqilya Governorate
Salfit Governorate
Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate
Jericho Governorate
Jerusalem Governorate
Bethlehem Governorate
Hebron Governorate
North Gaza Governorate
Gaza Governorate
Deir el-Balah Governorate (Mid-Zone)
Khan Yunis Governorate
Rafah Governorate

Administrative divisions of Oman
Oman is divided into 5 regions (mintaqah) and four governorates (muhafazah):

Regions (mintaqah)
Ad Dakhiliyah     منطقة الداخلية     Nizwa
Al Batinah     منطقة الباطنة     Suhar
Al Wusta     المنطقة الوسطى     Haima (Hayma)
Ash Sharqiyah     المنطقة الشرقية     Sur
Ad Dhahirah     منطقة الظاهرة     Ibri

Governorates (muhafazah)
Muscat     محافظة مسقط     Seeb
Musandam
Dhofar     محافظة ظفار     Salalah
Al Buraymi     محافظة البريمي     Al Buraymi

Governorates of Saudi Arabia
Governorates (Arabic: محافظات‎; muhafazat, sing. muhafazah) are the second level of regional administration within Saudi Arabia. Each of Saudi Arabia’s 13 emirates is sub-divided into governorates…

Ḥā’il     حائل     Ha’il
Al Qaṣīm     القصيم     Buraidah
Ar Riyāḍ     الرياض     Riyadh
Hijaz Region (west)
Tabūk     تبوك     Tabuk
Al Madīnah     المدينة     Medina
Makkah     مكة     Mecca
Al Bāhah     الباحة     Al Bahah
north
Al Ḥudūd ash Shamāliyah     الحدود الشمالية     Ar’ar
Al Jawf     الجوف     Skaka (Sakaka)
south
Jīzan     جيزان     Jizan
`Asīr     عسير     Abha
Najrān     نجران     Najran
east
Ash Sharqīyah     الشرقية     Dammam

Governorates of Syria
Syria has 14 governorates, or muhafazat…

Al-Hasakah · Aleppo · Damascus · Daraa · Deir ez-Zor · Hama · Hims · Idlib · Latakia · Quneitra · Ar-Raqqah · Rif Dimashq · As-Suwayda · Tartus

Governorates of Yemen
Yemen is divided into 21 governorates (muhafazah):

‘Amran         ‘Amran
Ad Dali’         Ad Dali’
Al Bayda’         Al Bayda
Al Hudaydah         Al Hudaydah
Al Jawf         Al Jawf
Al Mahwit         Al Mahwit
Amanat Al Asimah         San’a’
Dhamar         Dhamar
Hajjah         Hajjah
Ibb         Ibb
Ma’rib         Ma’rib
Raymah
Sa’dah         Sa’dah
Sana’a         San’a’
Ta’izz         Ta’izz
‘Adan     عدن     Aden
Abyan     أبين     Zinjibar
Al Mahrah     المهرة
Hadramaut     حضرموت     Al Mukalla
Lahij     لحج     Lahij
Shabwah     شبوة     ‘Ataq

Source: From Wikipedia 2009, the free encyclopedia

Dubai is one of the seven emirates and the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai city lies directly within the Arabian Desert.

The desert, however, you must be really looking for. Much of Dubai’s real estate boom is concentrated to the west of the Dubai Creek, on the Jumeirah coastal belt. Port Rashid, Jebel Ali, Burj Al Arab, the Palm Jumeirah and theme based free zone clusters such as Internet City or Business Bay are all located in this section. Even so the eastern section of Dubai  forms the locality of Deira and is flanked by the emirate of Sharjah in the east. The Palm Deira is located north of Deira in the Persian Gulf and still under heavy construction (like elsewhere in UAE).

Lodging - lucky me - was provided very close to the Dubai Creek (local river). One of the exciting methods of getting across the Creek to Bur Dubai or Deira is through Abras, small traditional boats that ferry passengers.

Dubai, at that time, was hot and humid of over 40 °C (104 °F) and I tell you, you want no more than hanging around in air-conditioned hotel lobbies and drinking fruit juices

Of course, to live the belodged.com idea, I hooked up with 2  locals and we had some drinks (fruit juices, alcohol is not permitted in public)  together. The two guys, both very open-minded UAE nationals, had a lot to talk about the incredible expansion of the Emirates and - of course - its current challenge due to the economic crisis…

All in all it was more than a very interesting experience!

Dubai, let me keep an eye on you!

- Guatemala is divided into 22 departments (departamentos):

1. El Petén (Flores)
2. Huehuetenango (Huehuetenango)
3. El Quiché (Santa Cruz del Quiché)
4. Alta Verapaz (Cobán)
5. Izabal (Puerto Barrios)
6. San Marcos (San Marcos)
7. Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango)
8. Totonicapán (Totonicapán)
9. Baja Verapaz (Salamá)
10. El Progreso (Guastatoya)
11. Zacapa (Zacapa)
12. Sololá (Sololá)
13. Chimaltenango (Chimaltenango)
14. Sacatepéquez (Antigua Guatemala)
15. Guatemala (Guatemala-Stadt)
16. Jalapa (Jalapa)
17. Chiquimula (Chiquimula)
18. Retalhuleu (Retalhuleu)
19. Suchitepéquez (Mazatenango)
20. Escuintla (Escuintla)
21. Santa Rosa (Cuilapa)
22. Jutiapa (Jutiapa)

- Administratively, Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes:

1     Hanover (Lucea)
2     Saint Elizabeth (Black River)
3     Saint James (Montego Bay)
4     Trelawny (Falmouth)
5     Westmoreland (Savanna-la-Mar)
6     Clarendon (May Pen)
7     Manchester (Mandeville)
8     Saint Ann (Saint Ann’s Bay)
9     Saint Catherine (Spanish Town)
10     Saint Mary (Port Maria)
11     Kingston (parish) (Kingston)
12     Portland (Port Antonio)
13     Saint Andrew (Half Way Tree)
14     Saint Thomas (Morant Bay)

- Kuwait is divided into 6 governorates (muhafazah):

Al Ahmadi (Al Ahmadi)
Al Asimah (Al Kuwayt) (Al Kuwait)
Al Farwaniyah (Al Farwaniyah)
Al Jahra (Al Jahra)
Hawalli (Hawalli District)
Mubarak Al-Kabeer (Mubarak Al-Kabeer)

- Lebanon is divided into 6 governorates (muhafazah), listed with their capitals in parentheses:

1. Beirut (Beirut)
2. Mount Lebanon (Baabda)
3. North (Tripoli)
4. Beqaa (Zahleh)
5. Nabatiye (Nabatiye)
6. South (Sidon)

- Monaco is the second smallest principality in Europe, as well as the second smallest country in the world; only Vatican City is smaller. The state consists of only 1 municipality (commune). Currently the principality is subdivided into 10 wards:

1. Monaco-Ville (Old City with palace)
2. Monte Carlo/Spélugues (Bd. Des Moulins-Av. de la Madone) (the casino and resort area)
3. La Rousse/Saint Roman (Annonciade-Château Périgord) (in the northeast, incl. Le Ténao)
4. Larvotto/Bas Moulins (Larvotto-Bd Psse Grace) (eastern beach area)
5. Saint Michel (Psse Charlotte-Park Palace) (central residential area)
6. La Condamine (port area in the northwest)
7. La Colle (Plati-Pasteur-Bd Charles III) (on the western border with Cap d’Ail)
8. Les Révoires (Hector Otto-Honoré Labande) (containing the Jardin Exotique)
9. Moneghetti/ Bd de Belgique (Bd Rainier III-Bd de Belgique)
10. Fontvieille (new land reclaimed from the sea)

Source: Wikipedia 2009

Country -  City

Rank 1: Buenos Aires in Argentina
Rank 2: Vilnius in Lithuania
Rank 3: Moscow in Russia
Rank 4: Riga in Latvia
Rank 5: Zurich in Switzerland
Rank 6: Hamburg in Germany
Rank 7: London in United Kingdom
Rank 8: Mexico City in Mexico
Rank 9: St. Petersburg in Russia
Rank 10: Berlin in Germany
Rank 11: Jakarta in Indonesia
Rank 12: Istanbul in Turkey

As you can see the belodged.com community is quite well balanced over the majority of 136 countries (please note the calendar date of this post). The reason why Germany is relatively over-represented in this list is the fact that many members from the former globiwalk.com website wished to be transfered to the newer belodged.com portal. Little Switzerland on Rank 6 is quite surprising, ok, but it is less if you consider the circumstance of having the core development team living in the heart of Europe for the time being… ;o)

Rank 1 - 17.3% :  Germany
Rank 2 - 5.2%:     United States
Rank 3 - 4.1%:     Spain
Rank 4 - 3.4%:     India
Rank 5 - 3.4%:     Russia
Rank 6 - 3.2%:     Switzerland
Rank 7 - 3.1%:     France
Rank 8 - 2.9%:     Argentina
Rank 9 - 2.7%:     China
Rank 10-2.7%:     Mexico

All in all belodged.com ‘globalizes’ more and more…
So invite others to join the international free lodging community!

Paraguay consists of 17 departments (Spanish: departamentos) and 1 capital district (distrito capital).
These are, with their capitals indicated:

1. Alto Paraguay (Fuerte Olimpo)
2. Alto Paraná (Ciudad del Este)
3. Amambay (Pedro Juan Caballero)
4. Asunción Capital District (Asunción)
5. Boquerón (Filadelfia)
6. Caaguazú (Coronel Oviedo)
7. Caazapá (Caazapá)
8. Canindeyú (Salto del Guairá)
9. Central (Areguá)
10. Concepción (Concepción)
11. Cordillera (Caacupé)
12. Guairá (Villarrica)
13. Itapúa (Encarnación)
14. Misiones (San Juan Bautista)
15. Ñeembucú (Pilar)
16. Paraguarí (Paraguarí)
17. Presidente Hayes (Pozo Colorado)
18. San Pedro (San Pedro)

These departments are further divided into districts (distritos), which we will not list here anymore

—————

Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is divided into 19 regions (régions):

1. Agnéby
2. Bafing
3. Bas-Sassandra
4. Denguélé
5. Dix-Huit Montagnes
6. Fromager
7. Haut-Sassandra
8. Lacs
9. Lagunes
10. Marahoué
11. Moyen-Cavally
12. Moyen-Comoé
13. N’zi-Comoé
14. Savanes
15. Sud-Bandama
16. Sud-Comoé
17. Vallée du Bandama
18. Worodougou
19. Zanzan

The regions are further divided into 58 departments, whose listing would blast the space available here

Source: wikipedia 2009