Saudi Arabia used to be one of the most difficult countries to secure a tourist visa. Several years ago on a flight from Bangkok to Vietnam I remember reading an article mentioning that policies regarding travel to the country would be changing in the coming years. I made a mental note to keep an eye open for that. I was able to visit last year, spending the majority of my time in Dammam. Traveling to Saudi Arabia can be an exhilarating … [Read more...]
A Visit to Interesting Places, Northern Iraq
From Erbil, we make the tiny mountain community of Lalish in a little more than an hour including being waived through several police checkpoints. Arriving at Lalish a guard stationed on the road leading to the community told us we needed to remove our shoes for the duration of our visit. No sooner than we had done so, a gentleman passing by asked if we would like to join him for lunch. Lunch was held inside a large room surrounded by men sitting … [Read more...]
Abu Dhabi, Too Good to be True?
I discovered Jannah Burj Al Sarab online, a property advertising itself as a 5-star hotel for the price of $39/night plus taxes (total price was $45/night). Always a sucker for deals, I immediately booked. After staying a night here I can say this was one of the better hotel deals I've gotten anywhere on my travels. Taxis and various beautiful cars were lined up waiting on the driveway next to the lobby (always a good sign of luxury), the room … [Read more...]
Holiday in Erbil, Iraq
Despite my visit in early June, the temperatures were already sweltering during the day hovering around 39 degrees. Not one for sitting around inside or using taxis, I spent most of my several days here wandering the city on foot, trying to stay hydrated. I have yet to meet any international tourists and I'm ok with that. The markets are chaotic and on the weekends (Friday and Saturday's) are particular busy. Everyone seems to have their own … [Read more...]
Saudi Sojourn: Adventures in the Desert Kingdom
The temperatures have been warm during my stay in Dammam, ranging from 108 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit during the hottest parts of the day. I've been wandering around the city on foot for the past several days. My experience in extreme heat in the past has paid off, alternating between consuming copious quantities of water alternating between fruity and other sweet drinks. To compound things, several days offered up a stiff breeze (and that's … [Read more...]
A Completely Miscalculated Flight
I had booked my flight from Erbil (or so I thought) a few weeks ago. When it came time to sadly leave Iraq, I departed my guesthouse in Erbil and arrived at the airport. The first security check involved lines of cars stacked up as three cars in each lane were checked by guards at one time. Passengers opened all of their doors and trunks, dogs were involved, sniffing the tires and inside of each car and each person in each vehicle was subjected … [Read more...]
Arriving Into Iran and the Tests of Traveling
I left for the Tbilisi International Airport in the country of Georgia at 10pm. I arrived at my final destination, Shiraz, Iran some 20 hours later - the next day. If you look on the map this is about a 3 to 3.5 hour flight. As it were, the airport in Tbilisi is under construction; a new runway is being built so all day flights have been moved to the night. I spent all night in the beautiful fairly new Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, … [Read more...]
Greetings from the Jordanian Desert
This was part of an epic mid summer trek from Dana Biosphere Reserve to Petra - via Little Petra. RUNNING OUT OF WATER In temperatures approaching 40 degrees (104 degrees Fahrenheit) - perhaps higher in the shadeless rock strewn environment, we started day one of our trek under the searing heat of the mid day sun (to be sure, not the wisest move). After an hour of our estimated 6-hour trek I had already consumed 1/2 of my water allotment. … [Read more...]
Springtime in Shiraz Is …
... the smell of citrus blossoms - the fragrance that follows you as you pass numerous orange trees planted as urban vegetation on city streets. It is the smell of running water on hot sidewalks as a young man washes his motorcycle. And the mulberries - I am reminded they are among my favorite fruits - yet I rarely get to gorge in this capacity. They are beginning to ripen, their sweetness runs all over one's fingers - their flavor only leaves me … [Read more...]
Layers of History, Jerusalem
We spent several days here exploring as there is something significant to see around seemingly every step; today was entirely spent in the confines of the walled old city. Tensions felt high at times as there were some recent isolated incidents of violence - enough to plummet tourism 70% in the last few weeks according to one shop owner we talked with. As a corollary to this, lines that would normally form around major attractions were completely … [Read more...]