Did you know you can get tickets to live tapings of TV shows in New York City…for free? One of the best things about being in New York is getting to see live tapings of many of your favorite shows. Some of the best shows on television, from late-night to talk shows, are taped daily in New York City. But after going to some shows, everyone seems to … [Read more...]
Guide to Shakespeare in the Park Tickets – NYC by a Local
One of the best parts of summer is all the outdoor performances and one of the best things in NYC is the free Shakespeare in the Park. Most of these productions are so very good and there is always a buzz around in terms of people trying to get tickets or who have seen the current performance. However getting tickets can be a bit complicated … [Read more...]
How to Get an Equinox Discount
This is another post in my various series on living in NYC. While much of this information is useful for getting an Equinox discount regardless of gym location. This post focuses more on the New York City Market. Why an Equinox Membership? Gyms are one of those things that I find very important. I tend to go to go to the gym multiple … [Read more...]
Is Jordan Safe to Visit?
You are going to Jordan? Isn’t it dangerous? There were a lot of variations of this question when I had decided that I would be traveling to Jordan, to study, and live. Most people thought I was absolutely crazy. But was I? To be honest, I hate these types of posts, but with the amount of misinformation out there it is certainly an … [Read more...]
Cheap Broadway Ticket: Secrets From a NYC Local
NYC is expensive and as someone who lives there I know that trying to find ways to save money is paramount. And while I love to live it up in the city like anyone else I want to find the cheapest ways to save money. Broadway is expensive but I always try to find discounted tickets or other deals for Broadway. But don’t worry, I’m here to help … [Read more...]
First Time Visitor’s Guide to Petra Jordan
Having spent a long time in Jordan I get a lot of questions about Jordan travel, in particular, Petra. And of course why not? Petra Jordan is a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the “new world wonders”, and really one of the most incredible places I’ve visited. But here are a few tips to help you in planning out your trip. … [Read more...]
Visit West Quoddy Head Lighthouse – Maine
The lighthouse at the end of the world. Well..at least at the end of America. Especially as you can see islands marking Canada just over the narrows. My friend with me has the goal of going to the most extreme locations of any place such as the most northern point. In this case, West Quoddy Head lighthouse lies at the most eastern point of … [Read more...]
11 Must See Places to Visit in Oman
When people imagine Oman they really don’t know what to think. It is one of the least known corners of the gulf and yet one of the most rich in culture and history. Oman is stunning….truly and probably what you imagine Arabia to be like if you imagine Arabia of yore. From secluded beaches to towering mountains and endless sand dunes, Oman has it … [Read more...]
Free and Low Cost Museums in NYC
New York City is expensive. It is definitely not an understatement and since moving here I have been trying to find better ways to see and do things in the city. One of my favorites is all the free activities to do in the city. Even some of them are museums that are either free or “pay as you wish”. Often though the pay as you wish requires you to … [Read more...]
7 Tips for Visiting the Desert Castles – Jordan
The Desert Castles and Eastern Desert was one of my most memorable trips I had taken during my stay in Jordan. It felt very remote, very beautiful in the stark landscape of the region. When we went we had no idea what we were doing, and we had prepared as best as we could through research, instinct, and dumb luck. Hopefully these … [Read more...]
Best Places to view Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC
One of the most beautiful times to be here in DC is during the Cherry Blossom Festival. The thousands of cherry trees that dot the landscape came here as a gift of friendship from the nation of Japan in the year 1912 (2,000 cherry trees arrived earlier but were sadly destroyed due to insect infestation). There is over a hundred years of … [Read more...]
Traveling from Krakow to Auschwitz
One of the most requested questions I get is how do you travel from Krakow to Auschwitz when traveling to visit the Auschwitz Concentration Camps. In terms of getting to Auschwitz there are quite a few options on how to get there from train, to bus, personal transportation, or organized tours. For more general travel advice to Auschwitz be sure … [Read more...]
Must-Do Christmas Activities in New York City
There’s something about Christmas in New York that is just special. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas or are a scrooge, it really is a special time of year in the city. And for anyone who comes to the city, finding the best things to do during the holiday season is a must. Here’s our list of things you should look out for during the holidays … [Read more...]
Best Places to Stay in NYC for Any Budget
New York City There is certainly something about this city of over 8 million people that has brought visitors and immigrants alike to its streets. And in such an iconic and historic city there are certainly no shortages of places to stay. But I wanted to help you take some of the guess work out of finding a place to stay in the city. So I … [Read more...]
6 Out of the Ordinary Sights in Tokyo
I already talked about several different sights in Tokyo to check out. But after you visited many of the normal and well trodden sites, what do visitors to Tokyo to do? Well the world’s largest city has more to show you than just those places. Thankfully there are some interesting places to check that may be a bit out of the … [Read more...]
11 of the Most Incredible Places to Visit in Normandy France
With its beautiful country-side, rugged, coast, and storied history, Normandy is one of the best places to visit in France. Most people know it as the place of D-Day the landmark invasion during World War 2 that was a turning point in the war. However, while there is a lot to see (and should be seen) in relation to that, there is actually quite a … [Read more...]
25 Useful Travel Tips for Visiting Iceland for the First Time
Iceland is such a beautiful country and the top on so many people’s Bucket Lists. Traveling there was also one of the highlights for me, and hopefully one for you too. To make it easier for my readers I compiled 25 great travel tips for visiting Iceland that will hopefully save you time, hassle, and money. I certainly wish I knew this information … [Read more...]
Visiting David Gareja Monastery Complex – Georgia
One of the most unique sights in Georgia, David Gareja is a rock hewn monastery complex that sits on the border of Georgia and Azerbaijan. It is also one of the best day trips from Tbilisi that you could ask for. * * * * * * Location The David Gareja is a monastery complex located about 60 KM South East of Tbilisi (about 32 KM from Rustavi or … [Read more...]
To Oświęcim and Auschwitz
I got up early and wandered over to the bus station to catch our bus to Auschwitz. It was a cool September morning and we tried to get there early to catch our bus over to Auschwitz. I had been wanting to see Auschwitz for a long time. Maybe I should wonder why on holiday I would want to see such a tragic place. I have always been interested in … [Read more...]
Advice Before Visiting the Auschwitz Concentration Camps
I got several emails regarding my last posts and people were wondering about how easy it is to get to Auschwitz, things they should know etc. So here are a few tips for visiting the concentration camps for those who may find themselves in the region and interested in going. Also if you want to read more about the visit there, please free to also … [Read more...]
21 Facts About India
Some interesting facts about the country of India. More Sub-continent than country and for many reasons. Read on and feel free to contribute if you have any to add as well. … [Read more...]
6 Tips to Growing your Instagram Following
Everyone seems to be trying to grow their Instagram following. And why not, there are hundreds of millions of people on Instagram and it’s growing daily. There are people who make their entire living based off their Instagram success. You may not want to be a professional Instagrammer but you can definitely see the value of a good following for … [Read more...]
Neist Point Lighthouse – Isle of Skye
One of the most famous stops in the Isle of Skye and one of the most famous lighthouses in the United Kingdom, the Neist Point Lighthouse is worth the trip if you find yourself in the Isle of Skye. Located at the extreme western end of the the Isle of Skye, in an area called Durinish close to Glendale. The beautiful, rocky, windswept coast is one … [Read more...]
25 Free things to do in Tokyo Japan
Tokyo may be one of the most expensive cities in the world but traveling there doesn’t always have to be. There are LOTS of ways to save money from finding cheap places to eat or interesting accommodations. And there are also a lot of really fun and interesting things to do for free in Tokyo. Here’s a list of many of the things you can do that are … [Read more...]
Visiting Auschwitz II – Birkenau
This post is a continuation from part one on Auschwitz I. If you are looking for how to visit Auschwitz, check out my Tips for visiting the Auschwitz Concentration Camps Getting out of the museum we opted to try to get a bite to eat before continuing our visit to the camps. There are a few options available in the area for food, but generally … [Read more...]
12 Great Things to Do in Cape Town South Africa
Cape town is one of the most diverse and vibrant cities anywhere and certainly one of the most beautiful places I have had the pleasure to visit. Certainly, photographs don’t do this place justice (and trust me I tried…a lot). There’s a lot to do and see in this town and I worked through my travels to bring you the best things do to in … [Read more...]
10 Must-do Activities in Krakow
There’s no denying that Krakow is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland or really anywhere. Coming up with a list of must do things was easy, trying to pare it down was the hard part. But here’s our take on 10 must visit destinations in Krakow. * * * * * Market Square Market Square is the bustling heart of the UNESCO designated … [Read more...]
Reviews of the Best Travel Surge Protectors
These days people travel with more electronics than they do clothes. I know I tend to have quite a few different gadgets from phones and they all need power when I’m traveling. Having a travel surge protector or power strip would be so useful. So while we are cautious when we are home, how do we go about being equally cautious when we are … [Read more...]
Best Waterproof Travel Beard Trimmer for Men
As a man with facial hair, I always find that I need to shave and trim on a regular basis to keep it from being unkempt. Well if letting it grow wild is your style, perhaps this isn’t the post for you. But for those like me, finding the best travel beard trimmer is important. The reason I picked a waterproof beard trimmer (or water resistant) is … [Read more...]
Guide to the Best Travel Underwear
The one things I hate bad versions of when traveling are underwear and socks. I can get by with wearing the same shirt or pants over again, but ill-fitting, damp, or dirty underwear or sock20s are the worst and can make or break a trip. So when looking for good products I have a lot I need to evaluate. Here we are going to look at what’s the best … [Read more...]
Review of the Best Travel Steamers
If you are like me, you travel…a lot. And you don’t just travel for holiday, you may also travel for business. I know I travel for business a lot and clothes certainly matter when you are in a meeting in far flung locations. So being looking sharp is important, and one of the best ways to fail that is with wrinkles. So packing a garment steamer is … [Read more...]
Best Burr Coffee Grinders
You know if there is one thing I cannot live without whether I’m home or away is coffee. Yes the illustrious “wine of the arabs” that has alerted people’s minds over the centuries. Now if you are serious about your coffee as I or we are here, you know that the best way to preserve it’s freshness is to grind your own coffee. So we love to do that … [Read more...]
Hanging Village of Habala – One of the Unique Places in Arabia
When one thinks about Saudi Arabia, there are many things that come to mind. But among those, very few would state green mountains. But along the Southern Border adjacent to Yemen several areas that fit this description well. Most people (and among them many Saudis) seems to know little about this region of the country. Named Asir it is … [Read more...]
Advice for Choosing the Right Travel Backpack
What is backpacking without a backpack? Right? I think one of the things people don’t invest enough in is how to pick the right backpack. During travel, your travel backpack can make or break your enjoyment of the trip. Literally. If you are miserable carrying it, it is going to show in various aspects of your enjoyment of your time on the road. … [Read more...]
Touring the Al Fateh Mosque in Manama Bahrain
I really didn’t know what to do in Bahrain. It seemed just a simple respite from the boredom of daily work life in Saudi just over the causeway. I was surprised though when most of my coworkers wanted to visit a Mosque while in Bahrain. Really? It seemed that they didn’t really think much of religion in general senses and it was a surprise … [Read more...]
Places to visit in Northern Cyprus
As places go Northern Cyprus is still one that seems to be a mystery for a lot of people. With an interesting history, it has been off-limits for many years that often people these days don’t know how much more accessible it is. Separated in the 70s following a Military Coup the island has seen tension between the Greek and Turkish sides that … [Read more...]
Two Nights in Tangala Safari Camp – South Africa
Safari It’s one of those trips everyone dreams about. And for many, no trip to Africa would be complete without one. So when I decided to head to South Africa with members of my running group in NYC, we knew that a Safari would be the top of everyone’s list. We ended up through an exhausted search (which I’ll talk more about in another … [Read more...]
Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain – Maine
It seems almost like a pilgrimage. Lines of glowing headlines and blearily eyed folks wrapped tightly in blankets. Everyone in search of the first rays of light to illuminate the United States. Why Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain? Located within Acadia National Park, Maine, Cadillac mountain is one of the top sites to visit in the Park. With the … [Read more...]
Why you Should Hike Lion’s Head Mountain – Cape Town
Cape town It is one of the most beautiful cities…no places I have visited. It is stunning. If you’ve been you know. If you haven’t well, even though the photos are stunning it doesn’t do the place justice. So when we asked people what is one thing we need to do while in town, nearly everyone said to hike Lion’s head. The … [Read more...]
Visiting the Holiday Train show at the NY Botanical Gardens
One of the most anticipated Christmas Activities at the NY Botanical Gardens is the annual Holiday Train Show. Model Trains zip around over 175 landmarks from New York City (some still around and some demolished many years ago). Actually it is so interesting to see so many buildings that I never knew even possibly existed before (such as a large … [Read more...]
Best Ski Areas near Philadelphia
When people think of ski areas, Philadelphia doesn’t always come to mind. But Pennsylvania and other states in the mid-Atlantic and northeast do have some pretty good ski resorts to carve some trails. But if you don’t know where to go, then you probably assume nothing is available. So here is our list of the best Ski areas near Philly. * * * … [Read more...]
Neighborhood Guide: Upper West Side, New York City
The Upper West Side, NYC Possibly my favorite neighborhood in the city. And not just because it’s my current local hood. It has a lot of places to go and things to do and yet still feels a bit more lived in than some of the more popular tourist spots. But don’t let all the residential streets fool you, there is still actually quite a lot to … [Read more...]
Best Free or Affordable Romantic Places in NYC
New York City and Romance go hand in hand. But New York can be a very expensive city. But there is so much to do even for free. We scoured the city to find some of the best most romantic places in NYC that won’t break your budget. The Highline While a part situated on an old train track doesn’t sound romantic, the High line is one of … [Read more...]
Best Places to Stay in Cape Town for Any Budget
Cape town is one of the absolutely most beautiful cities I have yet to visit in the world. There is something about this place with the beach, the mountains, oceans, colorful buildings that just make it a perfect spot to stay for a few days, weeks, or more. And Finding the Best Places to Stay in Cape Town shouldn't bust one's Budget. I sometimes … [Read more...]
Gold Leaf Ice Cream – Is it Worth it?
Hey do you want to try gold on your ice cream? My friend asked me as she invited me to the interesting ice cream shop “Matcha and More” in the Chinatown area of New York City. Sure, of course I did. I mean I was a sucker for anything new and different. Matcha N’ More has an incredibly popular and Instagram ready treat with their "24k Gold” … [Read more...]
Guide to the Best Packing Cubes for Travel
Updated for 2022 * * * * * Do you consider yourself an organized person, or a disorganized one? When it comes to travel, sometimes planning and organization can go a long way in terms of improving the experience. Travel is a stressful endeavor, and packing is probably one of the most stressful parts of it. I know I often worry about having enough … [Read more...]
Five Sights to Visit in Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm is a beautiful city. I really enjoyed myself here, and I have been to a lot of places by now and that says a lot. I could definitely see myself living in Stockholm. Ok wait, I suppose I should first go visit it in the winter before I really say that. There are also a lot of things to see and do in the city, so it was tough coming up … [Read more...]
Five sights for First Time Visitors to Tokyo
As many of my coworkers are getting ready to head off to Japan for an upcoming trip, they have been asking me a lot of questions about things to do and see (mostly since i'm not going on the trip). It made me think a lot about what I would think would be some great things for people to see on their first trip. Tokyo is a massive city and can be … [Read more...]
Lassen Volcanic National Park – California
One of the Least Visited and yet most interesting parks is Lassen Volcanic National Park. The Park itself is famous for having all different types of volcanos. Cinder Cone, Cinder Cone, Shield, Composite, and Plug Dome. Types of Volcanos Cinder Cone The most thought of type of Volcano. Lava and ash is spewed from a vent and over time the … [Read more...]
Exploring the Westfjords – Iceland
One of the most beautiful but least visited parts of Iceland, the Westfjords invoke the feeling of remoteness and adventure. Iceland is probably one of the hottest destinations right now, but surprisingly while some places get a horde of tourists, many others still feel really rather remote. Of all the folks that visit Iceland per year, only a … [Read more...]
Oldest Airport in the World – College Park, MD
I’m a bit of a huge Aerospace geek. Really love the topic. It started long before I did study and some work in the field. I of course knew a lot about the history of airplanes, air travel, and even space flight. However, I didn’t know much about the oldest, continuing operating airport in the World. If you had to guess the location, where would … [Read more...]
3 Steps for Improving Your Travel Finances
It’s that time of year again. You know, tax time. And while it’s probably one of those moments that you loathe there are some good things about this time too. If gives you the chance to think about your finances and planning your financial expenditures for the new year. If you are like me, you are probably wondering how you can save for … [Read more...]
Gas Stations in Iceland
Driving seems to be the way to get around Iceland. We found the options for public transportation to be lacking, especially in further to reach destinations, so to get where we wanted to go, we knew we needed to drive. Things to should know about getting gas in Iceland. 1. Most Gas Stations are Self Service Many of the gas stations you’ll pass … [Read more...]
The Best View in Town – Old Post Office Building – Washington DC
“This one is the best, not the Washington Monument, Cathedral, or anywhere else. All the other ones are no where near as good. The Washington Monument windows are too small. The Cathedral is too far away from anywhere. This one is the best.” Call me skeptical, but I sometimes feel that people over exaggerate how great things are. Especially … [Read more...]
Visiting Europe’s Oldest City – Plovdiv Bulgaria
“It’s the most beautiful city in all of Bulgaria” Orlina stated as we were making our way to Plovdiv Bulgaria. That seemed a lot to live up to for sure and as one of her favorite places I was excited to share this with a friend. Orlina while from Bulgaria was living in Jordan at the same time as I was so it was lovely to get to visit her in her … [Read more...]
Belogradchik Bulgaria (The Rocks and Belogradchik Fortress)
Small white town. Or at least that is the meaning of the name when you look it up online. I will have to confirm that with the couple Bulgarians I do actually know. But it was a small town for sure and strangely one of the “most famous” places in Bulgaria. Which may be true given I know nothing about the place. But it was a place my Bulgarian … [Read more...]
10 Eastern European Capitals you Must Visit
Capital cities in many countries often get a bad rap. Especially those in Eastern Europe where they may not be the biggest draw in those countries for tourist to see. However, these cities often showcase some of the most interesting and beautiful parmats of the country as well as give you a look into the actual daily goings on of the countries … [Read more...]
Best Things to Do in Manama Bahrain
Bahrain, one of the most historic and often overlooked Gulf State. Bahrain (or two seas) is definitely one that seems sleepy but actually has been strategically important for centuries. The small country actually has quite a bit of history, having been settled by various peoples over its history. As with many coastal places, it has a longer … [Read more...]
How to Choose Carry-on Luggage
In the days of paid checked bags, people are more and more trying to bring everything in their carry-on luggage for air travel. However, it seems that airlines have made that more difficult too! So how do you go about finding the best carry-on luggage for your trips? Can you fit everything you need for your trip in the bag? Find out about making … [Read more...]
16 of my Best Photographs and Moments from 2016
This year seemed to just fly by. But it was one of the most interesting years I’ve had on record and one of the most photogenic. So I wanted to share 16 of my most memorable moments. Some of them are happy, some terrifying, and some perhaps sad. But here we go. * * * * * There is something about Istanbul, one of those eternal and … [Read more...]
8 Great Places to Visit in Axum Ethiopia
Axum (or Aksum) is one of the most historical places in Ethopia. Axum was a great kingdom and it left behind sound absolutely incredible relics and history. Several of the sites here also pre-date the Axumite kingdom but are certainly important to the history of both the Kingdom and Ethiopia as a whole. The city itself is really not that big and … [Read more...]
Animals in Iceland
For many people, their impression of Iceland is one of a desolate ice covered rock. But in reality there is a lot of greenery and wildlife in Iceland. While it isn’t such as places further south with a greater diversity of fauna, the animals of Iceland both include native species such as Puffins and imported species such as Sheep and Horses. … [Read more...]
Blue Nile Falls & Monasteries: Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Bahir Dar…the cute little town on the southern shores of Lake Tana. It was meant to be my first real destination in Ethiopia after having spent but only a few hours running errands in Addis Ababa Like most people I came here mostly to see the Blue Nile Falls and the Monasteries on/around the lake. Ok actually I didn’t know why I really came here, … [Read more...]
Standing on the Roof of Africa – Simien Mountains – Ethiopia
I really did not even know such a place existed in Ethiopia. It was hard for me to realize how little I actually knew about Ethiopia prior to actually visiting there. Well basically nothing other than those news stories about the droughts and famines decades ago. So when I heard about the Simiens I really did not know what to expect. Nicknamed … [Read more...]
Traveling to Ethiopia during the State of Emergency
I’ve been getting a lot of questions related to the State of Emergency and travel to Ethiopia. What’s it like? Is it safe? What’s tourism like? Now for many of you whether you know or not there has been a state of Emergency in Ethiopia for the last few months. In October of this year (2016) Ethiopia declared a state of emergency following … [Read more...]
Tips for visiting the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
Tips for being prepared for your trek through the Simien Mountains. Really a lot of these tips were garnered from the experience of doing it with little or no preparation. Sure it was possible, but honestly there were moments were I regretted being there because of the lack of preparation. Perhaps you can learn from some of my experience, … [Read more...]
Guide to the Best Dry Bags
Are you looking for a dry bag for your next trip? Then you have come to the right place. We will be investigating and analyzing various dry bags and criteria to help you find your best dry bag. We used similar means when we found our favorites as well. When should you have a dry bag? I tend to have at least one on nearly every trip! … [Read more...]
How to Fix WordPress Reporting Wrong PHP Version
I was recently installing plugins into one of my non-primary blogs on another host and saw this message. What the heck? How is it possible that my version of php could be “THAT OLD”? Well, after checking in the cpanel for the host as well as checking on my directories on my server. The version was actually much newer than the version being … [Read more...]
The Trials of Tourism in Saudi Arabia
It was early in Medina airport as I wandered among the arrivals halls. I barely slept on my 2am flight from Dammam, and slept even less following my 4am layover in Riyadh. But heck, I’m just glad I finally made it out here. Now if I could only figure out whom I was meeting. Travel in Saudi Arabia is a bit well…undeveloped. Solo … [Read more...]
That day in Istanbul
It was Saturday. The weather was chilly and cloudy, an early spring morning in Istanbul. I stood on the corner, munching on bread, trying to figure out where I wanted to explore this day. Just your average Saturday morning that you often have while traveling and wandering. It wasn’t even noteworthy to photograph; places I had been so many times … [Read more...]
Can you save with a Japan Rail Pass?
I get this question a lot from readers. Is the Japan Rail pass a good value? I mean it’s expensive and honestly, I really don’t want to spend so much on a train if I can save in other ways. Travel in Japan is expensive, it’s just a fact of the situation there. Yes, there are opportunities to use slower trains between some of the destinations but … [Read more...]
Overpriced Cabs and Crazy Old Temples in Sanliurfa, Turkey
Şanlıurfa or Urfa for short is one of those places that seems to defy logic, somewhere so old that really there don’t exist accounts of places before Urfa probably existed. It’s name has changed over the time but it is believed for instance as the birthplace of the prophet Abraham and prophet Job, and there are ruins nearby that are believed … [Read more...]
To the Border – Turkey
“Is the gate open today?” “What gate?” “The gate at the border” “What border?” The Syrian guy looked at me like I was an idiot as the mini-bus wheezed out of the station. My Arabic almost coming out as second nature given that it was the only language I could successfully speak in this area of Turkey. I realized quickly around me that everyone … [Read more...]
7 Reasons you should Visit Philadelphia
After having lived in this region on and off for many years I feel that I’m always “defending” Philadelphia from the Naysayers. Sure there were some problems back in the day, there were a lot of dangerous areas (and still are). But things have been improving a lot and have improved a lot. Philadelphia is the king of turn around stories and this … [Read more...]
2015 DC Cherry Blossom Status – March 23
I’ve been getting a lot of emails lately about the cherry blossoms here in DC. As always it is one of the most popular times of the year in the city and my favorite time of the year as well. I always look forward to the cherry blossoms not only for them heralding in spring but because they really change the city. This year things … [Read more...]
Mount Nemrut and Beyond – Turkey
There is very little to do in Adiyaman you almost wonder why any would come here. If it wasn’t for the nearby Mount Nemrut National Park very few probably would. We arrived here on the morning bus unsure of how we were going to move forward. So what is Mount Nemrut and why would you come here? Honestly before coming I really only knew it … [Read more...]
50 Great things to do in Tokyo Japan
There are easily more than 50 things to do Tokyo, so it was not hard to come up with this list. But start here and see how many you can get through. Do you have your own places you love that you would want to add? Have breakfast sushi at the Tsukiji Fish Market Watch a show at the Kabuki Theater in Ginza Get a beautiful view of the city … [Read more...]
East to Gaziantep Turkey
The flight is leaving in a few hours. Is it enough time to make it? Yeah, but we have to hurry. I have been in Istanbul for a few days now, visiting friends, stuffing my face full of delicious food, and trying not to melt in the searing summer weather, but I haven’t really ventured far outside the city yet. One of my friends here … [Read more...]
Haydarpasa Gar – Hejaz Railway Beginning – Istanbul Turkey
Sitting alone in the café in Jordan I was working hard to try to plan my holiday travels. Holiday from Holiday travels perhaps is the proper term as I was on Holiday in Jordan (although studying Arabic). After purchasing my tickets and telling friends I was going to Turkey one of my friends from my old Jordan visit told me that I must visit … [Read more...]
50 things to see and do in Istanbul
There really is no definitive list of things to do in Istanbul. Honestly Istanbul is so large and so interesting that such a list would probably be endless. But I wanted to share a few interesting experiences that a traveler might want to indulge in during their stay in the incredible world city. You’ll find millennia of history among its ruins and … [Read more...]
Visiting Rumelian Fortress – Istanbul Turkey
Where’s that? When my friend recommended we go to Rumelian Fortress I was surprised I had no idea what that place was. Even my other friend who is living in Istanbul had not heard of it either. It wasn’t until I actually saw the place did I realize I had seen it from afar. That fortress on the hill from all the boat ride along … [Read more...]
On Returns and Turkey
I enjoy going back to places I have been before, particularly those like Istanbul which are just too big to fully appreciate or understand in one trip. Heck I’m fairly certain a place like Istanbul would need more than a lifetime to do that properly. This trip around being Eid, and being off from my classes (There are two Eids celebrated … [Read more...]
Photo Essay: Wanderings in Salalah Oman
Salalah Oman is one of those places that is so beautiful and so magical yet so few people know anything about it. Surprisingly that even is the case among Arabs. Perhaps being peaceful and quiet means people generally ignore you. Additionally Oman is not as flashy as some of its neighbors to the North such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai. And honestly … [Read more...]
Thoughts on Returning to Jordan
Can you return to where you have been? Would it be at all the same? It’s been a weird year back in the states. I sorta fell into a mid-east role without any mid-east work and various worries about unemployment or even continued employment but as anything time keeps moving forward. I realized I had been losing my Arabic at an accelerated … [Read more...]
Art Exhibit – Zaatari Refugee Children – Amman Jordan
I’m always the last person to know anything that seems to go on around town. As I went into my new favorite café (Café Fann wa Chai) in Jabel Al-Webdeih I noticed they were having an art exhibit that opened tonight. The exhibit is sponsored by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and featuring artwork from Syrian refugees in the … [Read more...]
Adventures in Middle East Living: Visiting the Embassy
I didn’t take photos of the embassies so I just have a photo of Amman traffic to share. So wanted to get another story and update on life, love, and study in the Middle east. Or at least two of the previous three. Besides regular classes, I've been working on trying to get my business visa to Saudi Arabia. On advice I woke up really early to … [Read more...]
Return to Amman Jordan – Middle East Living
The lovely and ancient Roman Theater in Amman Jordan It is interesting to be finally back in the middle east and one of my now favorite places Amman Jordan. Cities of the world are known for so many things, and I try to think about the distinctive thing that I think about when I imagine Amman and perhaps it is the city of hills. If you have … [Read more...]
Photo Essay: Views of Mysore – India
As I wrote earlier I had taken a quick trip down to Mysore and Bangalore from Hyderabad with my cousins. For all of us it was our first time in Karnataka and against my better judgment we ended up taking a day tour of each of the places. Alas, however that doesn’t mean I am without photos, although probably without as many good stories. Beyond … [Read more...]
New Travels to the Middle East
So people have been asking me what’s been going on and I’ve slowly been answering it in various forms randomly in phone calls or on Social Media. But yesterday I learned that my Visa arrived which was a great surprise. I mailed it to the embassy the previously Friday and it returned on Thursday. I actually thought there was … [Read more...]
My trip to Bangalore and Mysore – or why (most) day tours are terrible
He looked at me, his nose scrunching at the idea and a look of dejection ran down his face. I could tell he was not pleased with my suggestion. “But, But, But, how will we see…everything?” – he asked. I sighed, past experience dictated it would not work out, but I knew I didn’t really had it in me to fight. Sometimes with new travelers only through … [Read more...]
Quick Trip Report: Hyderabad India
I’ve been terrible about posting India photos I know. Getting into a car accident right after coming back sorta threw the normal schedule out of alignment and for some reason I haven’t quite brought it back to normal. I haven’t even sent out my email of photos from the trip (sorry!), so hopefully at least I can try to make up some by trying to … [Read more...]
Castle Česky Krumlov – Czech Republic – UNESCO World Heritage Site
![Cesky Krumlov Castle - Czechia [Czech Republic]](https://www.beyondmydoor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Czech-07a-150x150.webp)
One of the best preserved castles and one of the loveliest to see, State Castle in Český Krumlov is a definitely must see for those who happen upon this city. The castle is hard to miss as it dominates the skyline of the small town and adds to the overall picturesque quality of this town. This 13th Century castle was the home of the poweful … [Read more...]
Firefox Plugins for Safer Browsing
I have always been interested in computer security, particularly with all the issues out there these days and how much we do online now. I recall writing a paper back in the 90s when I was much younger on information privacy and computer crime. For as much as things change so much still stays the same and we are generally not so great at … [Read more...]
Photo Essay: Prophet’s Birthday in Hyderabad India
It was a warm January over there in Hyderabad this year. We were there mostly to try to catch up with family, go shopping, and relax and enjoy the escape from the terrible “polar vortex that hounded the US”. The Prophet Muhammad's (SAWS) birthday is not something that is generally celebrated with a lot of fanfare. In many … [Read more...]
Notes from an Indian Train
It’s been 20 years… Wow 20 years…seems almost unbelievable. I really can’t believe its been that long. I had to recheck my math to verify that. But yes strangely in fact 20 years since my last train ride in India. And you would probably think so much has changed in that amount of time, but maybe not as much you would imagine. To be honest I’m … [Read more...]
Breakfast with Bedouins – Petra Jordan
It was early. The kind of early that does not align well with vacation plans, even "vacations within a vacation" as I tended to describe this trip. Only moments prior the sweet cacophony of the Adhan, a mainstay of Muslim countries, punctured the arid desert air of Wadi Musa and the surrounding valleys. With my cat like maneuvers honed … [Read more...]
Wandering in the Jungle – Andhra Pradesh
“Time spent in India has a extraordinary effect on one. ” – Tahir Shah He clearly never spent much time at an Indian bus station, or perhaps that effect might be anger, frustration, or confusion. I jest…sort of. It’s 600am and we are wandering through the crowds of the city bus terminal in Hyderabad. Buses, cars, rickshaws, carts and people of … [Read more...]
Photo Essay: Wandering through As-Salt Jordan
One of the things a lot of tourists don’t end up seeing is the absolutely beautiful city of As-Salt that sits nearby as basically a suburb of the larger Amman. What even fewer realize is that As-Salt was actually the first capital and probably one of the most beautiful cities in all of Jordan. So I wanted to share a few of the photos and … [Read more...]
Indian Visa Process: BLS International
I get a lot of emails for support on getting a Indian Visa, and a lot of notes about my difficulty from before. So I figured I would try to pull together some tips and a guide for getting the Visa to help avoid some of the issues. These steps focus on a Tourist Visa applied for in USA, since that is where I have the experience. I have … [Read more...]
First Time Travelers Guide to Tokyo Japan
I start to realize that after having been to the city several times there are many things I had to learn along the way to make the most of my stay and help prevent from getting lost or in trouble. I was also recently running off a list of things to some coworkers who are heading there recently on how to get by and maybe it would help some other … [Read more...]
Getting a Indian Visa with BLS International
-- Note-- I added in a guide to getting the visa for those looking for help. It’s been several years since my last trip to India. In 2007 I made it an important goal to get to Hyderabad India to see my grandfather who was getting up in age. And I’m blessed to have had that opportunity since it was not soon afterwards that he had passed … [Read more...]
Where to Travel in 2014
With 2014 just starting up, it’s time to start planning your year of travel. I pulled together a list of great destinations to check out in the new Year with recommendations on when to go there. I pulled these from lists of places I have visited personally to make sure the recommendation is not simply just a rehash of other … [Read more...]
Photo Essay: Visiting Ice at the Gaylord National Hotel
I had no intentions of visiting the Ice display at the Gaylord National Hotel. But one of my friends had a friend visiting and they already purchased tickets and I figured I should probably go along and what it is all about. Annually the hotel hosts an ice display that I had heard about for a few years now living in the DC area and … [Read more...]
Egypt: Saint Catherine’s Monastery et al.
The way down was fairly uneventful for us. Whiskey seemed to reprise his role in our group or perhaps his uncanny body double. But the benefit of morning hiking is that you can actually see where you go. The clot of hikers slowly flowed down the mountain steps onto the trail below and Whiskey bounded along laden with our friend upon … [Read more...]
Egypt: In the Steps of Moses
“Wow that was scary” – C said as we got out of the van into the darkness. I looked around and thought about the hike ahead, and strangely had no recollection of the journey to get here. For better or worse over years I’ve developed the ability to sleep almost anywhere. A sort of parlor trick to perhaps amuse my row mates on those cramped … [Read more...]
Into the Eastern Desert – Qasr-ain
In Arabic the word “Qasr” means palace. These were possibly palaces, although some were mere fortresses, and most were simply lodges and houses, which I guess could be seen as a palace. There were two famous examples on the outskirts of Azraq that see the most tourists (mostly from tour buses from the capital) and we opted to visit these before … [Read more...]
Weather and Wonder in Ajloun Jordan
I walked outside my apartment in the morning, fresh trash strewn on the street in front of my building. The sun was shining and it was already warming up nicely as spring was starting really show itself here in Jordan. I was feeling a bit weighed down by my coat as obviously the weather was only going to get warmer as the day rolled on. As … [Read more...]
Survival Guide for Taxis in Amman (with Language Guide)
"So how was your first day" - I asked L as he beamed a smile at me."Ahh it was great, I went downtown and it was cheap too, only cost 7JD to get there" he replied"7 JD! You got robbed! That's over twice the price" - I angrily retorted He looked quite dejected at having overpaid for something he had imagined he got a good price on. … [Read more...]
Into the Eastern Desert – The Oasis
One of these things doesn’t belong, one of these things is different. If you told me there was this huge Oasis and wetland out here in the eastern desert I would have thought it was an obvious lie. How could there be a wetland in this stark, desolate, black rock desert of Azraq. It seems to go against any normal obvious convention and … [Read more...]
Into the Eastern Desert – The Abandoned City
It is amazing how much there is to do out in the Eastern Desert even writing a lot for Part 1 and Part 2 I still had quite a bit left over for our final bit of time wandering the desert. It wasn’t 40 days but it was longer than any of us had done in the past... The Abandoned City It is amazing really what is out here in the … [Read more...]
Into the Eastern Desert – Part 2
Check out Part 1 here Timing is everything and the skies began to drop rain as we started to leave Burqu for the afternoon. I imagine that rain is perhaps a rare but welcome occurrence out here in the deserts. I don’t know how often they actually do see rain, but for my limited time in Jordan I’ve seen far more than I anticipated I would see. I … [Read more...]
Into the Eastern Desert – Part 1
We’ve been trying for weeks now, maybe even months depending on when you check the calendar, but constantly our plans to explore the eastern desert have been derailed. Lately it’s been constant illnesses but finally it seems that our attempts at herding cats may have paid off this weekend. This is generally the last chance to travel as a group … [Read more...]
Renting a Car in Amman Jordan
There are various ways to rent a car when you are traveling in Jordan. Overall, there is a right way, a wrong way, and a Jordanian way to renting a car in Amman Jordan. There is one I was used to previously, the western car company approach. All the big car companies exist here in Jordan (Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Thrifty) and it operates generally how … [Read more...]
Chasing Trains in Amman – Jordan Hejaz Railway
It was just one of those decisions. We were all meeting up in Jabel Webdeh (a lovely neighborhood in Amman) to relax and talk before one of our friends left for good to the airport. It was a surprisingly warm March day and we were certainly enjoying the weather of the area. We all said our goodbyes and started walking back towards the downtown. … [Read more...]
10 Places to Visit in Jordan (Besides the Famous 3)
Everyone Knows the Best Couple Places To Visit in Jordan. Don’t get me wrong, I love all things about Jordan. It is an amazing country to visit, and everyone you talk to wants to see Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead. They claim they’ve “done” Jordan, and when they are told they are just scratching the surface. “So what else is … [Read more...]
Business Dealings in Jordan: Car Rentals
Another Installment of Middle East Living, this time the car rental return. Company: Umm the car is dirty. You need to return it in the same condition.Me: Ok yes it is a bit dirty for sure...umm...Company: Why is it so dirty?Me: Well honestly from sand, wind, and rain...Company: Where did the sand come from?Me: Umm we live in Jordan.... But … [Read more...]
The Trials of Car Rentalship
“One Minute, One Minute” – he yelled at me in Arabic as he held on tightly to my hand. I couldn’t figure out who he was whether he was a pimp or a carnie working at the dilapidated amusement park surrounding us. Another woman (who my friend figures was a prostitute) kept yelling (in Arabic) for me to listen to him, but I didn’t really want to do … [Read more...]
Jordan: Moving Day
It’s moving day here in Jordan. I moved into this apartment here in Jubaiha after I returned from Doha to visit family. It was a place I had found online and close to the university. It was small, but cheaper than I was paying in my even tinier, dirtier dorm room. It was a strange little place with a lot of quirks. Winter I spent much of the … [Read more...]
Stories from a Car Rental Agency – Jordan
The following was the lovely conversation of trying to get a car rental reservation from one of the local car rental agencies.. Me: “We are interested in renting a car, we just want to see what cars you have, prices, availability, etc...” Them: “Yes we have cars...we have nissan sunnies...” Me: “Ok....how much are the cars?” Them: “Hold on … [Read more...]
In Search of Water
So it’s day three of wondering where my water in my apartment is, and I’m fresh in need of a shower. So in case you are curious about the story lets see where I can start. So after paying for water on Friday, my water was gone then on Saturday. After arguing with them in my broken Arabic on Sunday they plugged in a pump...which did … [Read more...]
Photo Essay: 2012 Emirates Melbourne Cup
Photos from the Famous 2012 Emirates Melbourne Cup in Melbourne Australia. I have heard about the race for years, but never had the chance to attend it. Honestly this was my first ever Horse Race! I don’t think I’m going to get into horse races perhaps, but it was interesting getting the chance to see the 152nd running of this iconic … [Read more...]
UNESCO: Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian
One of the most impressive sites along the Dalmatian coast is Diocletian’s Palace within the city of Split, Croatia. The Palace actually constitutes much of the old town of Split. Built between the 3rd and 4th century AD by the Roman emperor Diocletian near the city of Salona (the Roman capital of the province of Dalmatia). The Emperor, … [Read more...]
A Spring Ski Weekend in Zermatt – Day Two
The tough part about quick weekend trips is that the days end up being really long as you try to fit everything in. This weekend was no exception as we attempted to rise early (after a semi-ok night sleep, and loud music playing from our upstairs hostel neighbors) to get back out on the slopes and get a day’s worth of skiing in before our train to … [Read more...]
A Spring Ski Weekend in Zermatt
As I have said I’m a bit behind on the travel updates…so this is from back in April. We were going to be in the UK for a few weeks and figured that this would be a good opportunity to see if we could get some skiing in. However due to work and it being late in the ski season we were very limited on where we could go. It seemed like … [Read more...]
12 Tips for Eating Cheap While Traveling
Travel can be expensive...and one of those large costs can be the amount of money it takes to eat on the road. Eating is sometimes one of my biggest costs and one of the things I tend to splurge on while travel, I just try to "splurge smart". I splurge on the unique activities in the places if you can. And for everything else … [Read more...]
How to Improve your Photography Before Pressing the Shutter
I love photography, I just wish I was better at it! But it is a hobby thankfully and not a profession for me, but honestly, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to get better. I’m always working to try to improve my photography, and I would love to try to help people improve theirs’ if I possibly can as well. Usually, a lot of the advice out there is … [Read more...]
Top Packing Tips for the New Traveler
Lets face it, we are all new to things sometimes. I get a lot of questions and comments and complaints about travel and packing and what not, so here are a few tips to help you get started. What to Buy Backpack or Suitcase? Well that is the question always on people’s minds. Do you need a backpack if you are a backpacker? Think … [Read more...]
State of the Blossom: Washington DC
Mr. Speaker, Vice President, members of the blog community, distinguished readers, and fellow photographers. It’s spring time and that means Cherry Blossoms here in DC and many parts of the world and that means it is time for flowers. Nothing seems to light up DC more than the annual blooming of the cherry trees. I’ve been getting a … [Read more...]
Walking the High Line — New York City
In many cities, old unused train lines end up becoming big eye sores, but in New York City it gets turned into a park. The high line is an old elevated train tracks on the west side of Manhattan. What could have ended up as an unused piece of track or torn down for some other development ended up becoming a great park to wander through and hang … [Read more...]
Travel Show and Cherry Blossoms — Washington DC
As part of my quest to really start to explore the areas around where I live and to keep up with the travel bug, I decided to check out the Travel and Adventure Show this past weekend in Washington DC. The Travel and Adventure show is an annual show that showcases travel companies and destinations in several US cities (Atlanta, Dallas, … [Read more...]
Eastern Market — Washington DC
It’s funny really how often we forget to explore the areas around where we live. I used to try to make it down to Washington DC to explore when I got the chance, and now that I live in the area, I seldom actually do any exploring. I can become an expert exploring around places like Tokyo, but yet not really know local cities where … [Read more...]
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Old Bridge Area – Mostar
“The bridge is like a rainbow arch soaring up to the skies, extending from one cliff to the other. ...I, a poor and miserable slave of Allah, have passed through 16 countries, but I have never seen such a high bridge. It is thrown from rock to rock as high as the sky” – famed traveler Evliya Çelebi One of the most beautiful cities I have visited … [Read more...]
Unintentionally Funny Signs of Travel in Japan
You know there are often times some signs and postings that are just humorous to see, even if unintentionally so. Often times I wonder if it is only I who finds these funny, maybe it’s just my stupid sense of humor. Japan is an amazing place, and it has such an amazing culture. However often times there are things there that either maybe don’t … [Read more...]
Gunpowder Plot Day – Cambridge England
Remember, Remember, the fifth of NovemberGunpowder, Treason, and PlotI know of no reason why gun powder treasonShould ever be forgot. In November of 1605, a long planned plot to overthrow the king of England and replace him with a new leader was finally coming to fruition. The conspirators had planned an explosion at Parliament that would … [Read more...]
Five Fun things to do in Ottawa in the Winter
So you are heading up to Ottawa during the winter, and are wondering why didn’t I decide to do this in the spring or summer instead. Well maybe you have no choice given it’s a business trip or maybe you just want to see Canada during the winter to see what it has to offer. I had the need to be in Ottawa during the end of January and realized there … [Read more...]
Six More Weeks or Almost Spring? Adventures in Canada
It's another February 2nd and that means that across the US (and maybe world) it's Groundhog Day. So when I heard folks talking about the groundhog seeing its shadow up here in Ottawa, my interest was peaked, being a boy from Pennsylvania. Oh they said the groundhog didnt see its shadow so spring would be around the corner, and I was like wow, that … [Read more...]
Funny Stories from Travel in Japan
I’m starting to miss my time in Tokyo. I used to travel there fairly consistently at least 2 or 3 times a year over the last several years and now it has been over a year since my most recent trip. Over those many trips I have had so many moments that I have just thought were crazy, curious, or downright funny. Some of my … [Read more...]
Of Alcohol and Juice Boxes
I love Japan, for its amazing culture, long history, and even its random oddities. One such was when I discovered these lovely things while wandering through the aisles of a local convenience store. Yup if you guessed what you are seeing there, those juice box looking things are actually alcohol. While they probably aren't juice, but they are … [Read more...]
My Mishaps in Croatia – Part 3
The end of my crazy little day in Zagreb and Plitvice National Park. Just for those following along who may want to know how it ended. Check out Part 1 and Part 2 if you haven't yet. She began to explain the situation to me before realizing I didn’t understand her. I usually end up with my "go to response" of just appearing like … [Read more...]
My Mishaps in Croatia – Part 2
Sorry I had to break the posts up. I'm in England at the moment and if I don't separate them a bit I won't ever get it finished. For those who may not have followed this is a continuation of my quick trip to Croatia for a day that definitely did not go as planned. If you want to know how it began check out Part 1. OK so now … [Read more...]
My Mishaps in Croatia — Part 1
I figured that while I had a few full days in the former Yugoslavia I would take the chance and see as much as I could on my list. One of those high on my list of places for a while was to get over to Plitvice National Park in Croatia. It was going to be a bit of a hike, but I wanted to go so I figured I would spend Saturday in Croatia, … [Read more...]
How a 70 Minute Flight can Exceed a 12 hour Train Ride
So I decided to take a flight to Warsaw instead of the 12 hour overnight flight. It was nearly the same price too, which was fantastic. And for some reason I figured my 70 minute flight on LOT airlines would be shorter…oh how wrong I could be. It all started rather mundane, getting to the airport in Budapest, checking into security … [Read more...]
Vilnius: Sometimes it doesn’t Translate
Me: My bag was lost by the airline and they will be coming later today to drop off my bag. Lady at Hostel: You have a room; you can leave the bags in the room. Me: Yes I know I have a room. But there is someone coming from the airport and he is bringing my bag. It was lost on the way here. Lady: You have a room; you can leave your … [Read more...]
Welcome to Lithuania (First Impressions)
Me: So my luggage didn’t make it here to Vilnius. Baggage Desk Guy: Well according to our records, it seems you should have been on the earlier flight. Me: Well shouldn’t that mean it would have been here already? It’s midnight in Lithuania and this has not been one of my better flights. It started out well, getting to Dulles, checking … [Read more...]
Swimming with Dolphins in Akaroa
I unfortunately missed my chance while in Kaikoura to swim with the Dolphins and I thought I would have no other chance to do it. But I arrived in Christchurch I had found at my hostel that there was an opportunity to swim with the Dolphins in Akaroa I knew I didn't want to miss the opportunity. So I booked a tour with Black Cat cruises … [Read more...]
Jumping over Abel Tasman
I have wanted to go skydiving for years now. I have no idea why I didn’t do it yet, maybe I just like the idea of going more so than the action of doing it. But oddly there was just something about New Zealand that makes you want to jump out of airplanes, or bungee jump off bridges, or any other sort of random extreme sport. I wasn’t … [Read more...]
Kea Bird Encounter in New Zealand
Ahh he would probably be the first near hitchhiking bird I have ever seen. Certainly the first among any mountain parrots that I know of. He decided to really get a bit friendly with us on our way to Milford Sound. He was hopping around the car as we went to stare at the waterfall before us, and even tried to jump in at one point when … [Read more...]
Very far from home in Namadgi National Park
Back in January while in Canberra we had a bit of time to kill and wanted to go out and explore the area while had the chance. I had been looking up things to do in the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) and we decided to check out Namadgi National Park. We had no idea there was a national park even in the ACT…it’s quite amazing how big … [Read more...]
A tour through the Ghibli Museum
I've been to Tokyo more than a dozen times and never once seemed to find the time or the opportunity to make it to the Ghibli museum. That is one of the general issues of business travel specifically is that you can never really know your schedule ahead of time and getting tickets for the museum requires advanced time and date reservation as well … [Read more...]
Himono Restaurant — Shinjuku, Japan
I have been to many different types of eateries while in Tokyo, so it is always exciting when I get to try something new. When my friend asked if I wanted to go to a Himono Restaurant, I was both excited and well curious as to what that was. Himono is a style of preparing fish that consists of drying the fish and then later grilling it … [Read more...]
A Night in Golden Gai – Tokyo
I have been to Tokyo many times in the past, and I have always wanted to go to Golden Gai but never got the opportunity to. But when I was talking with my coworker about it this time, he had mentioned he might be interested in going too and being that this may be one of my last trips (although I always say that), I really knew that I needed to try … [Read more...]
Welcome to Romania
I sort of wished we had visited Romania earlier in our trip instead of near the end. Partly because there was a lot more to see, but mostly because we experienced more frustration here than in other places dealing with scams, taxi drivers, etc. … [Read more...]
An Evening in Pristina
We left the hotel after a bit of rest and it had already started to get rather dark outside. First thing we had noticed however was the power was also out in our section of the city. Not sure how large of an issue this was or if this was possibly a regular occurrence in the city. Pro Travel Tip: Always Carry a Headlamp/Flashlight. We made our … [Read more...]
Wandering the streets of Pristina, Kosovo
We washed up and rested up for a few hours prior to heading out for the day. -L- had been feeling a bit ill and the first order of business was to try to find a pharmacy to get some medication. Pristina itself was a larger city than I had expected. It seemed to be built up and in better shape than I would have imagined too. … [Read more...]
Bound for Kosovo
We finished dinner and arrived late at the bus station to await our evening bus to Kosovo. We both were just mulling around the station. I had finished up the last few of my postcards and realized there was no easy way to get them mailed back to the states since the post-office was closed. I had convinced the people working the bus station to … [Read more...]
Seasons Endings and Travel Stories
I recalled that there was an evening bus on to Montenegro from the wall of our hostel in Sarajevo. Off we went on towards the bus station on the other side of town hoping to go on towards our destination. For the uninitiated, Bosnia is broken up into two areas, the Bosnia and Herzegovina which everyone is familiar with from the … [Read more...]
Trip Report: Lassen Volcanic National Park
Living out in California has been incredible, in particular the ability visit many of the wonderful National Parks out in this area. There are over 20 National Parks in California, which makes it one of the biggest states for National Parks. However a lot of them are not very well visited , including the one I had gone to Lassen Volcanic … [Read more...]
Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul Turkey
One of the main sights I had hoped to see while I was in Turkey was the famous Whirling Dervishes. Sadly most of the Semas put on in Istanbul are little more than tourist or dinner shows, and I didn’t care to see a tourist show if at all possible. To see a real one would be much more difficult and I did not have the time to travel to more … [Read more...]
A Perfect Day at the Hamman
We arrived at the Turkish Bath (Hammam) in the early afternoon, both of us looking forward and wondering what it entailed. There are many Turkish baths in Istanbul of course but we decided to try one of the more famous ones the Cagaloglu Hamam which was recommended by many travel guides and apparently is one of the 1000 places to see before … [Read more...]
Fugu-me – Adventures in Dangerous Foods
"If they ask us to prepay....I'm out", I said to Patrick with a smirk. Patrick and I were slowly approaching one of many fugu specific restaurants here in Tokyo. I looked up at the building, a big blowfish head adorned the upper part of the building's front face and a large tank full of fish was prominently placed near the … [Read more...]
Photo Essay: Walking Tour of Central Philadelphia
I realize that I never get out enough to go take photographs in my home city of Philadelphia. So before my next trip I wanted to get some time to wander around my town, practice some photography, and spend some time with a friend as well. So here are some shots from Philadelphia for all those who may be interested. From Center … [Read more...]
Konichiwa from Hokkaido
So just to let people know that we are still alive and well! Things here are fabulous, a little tired, but relaxing quickly and I cant imagine that I haven't even started work yet so my trip has really yet to begin. So we awoke early from our hotel in Goshogawara, content that the main objective of our trip (seeing the house) was … [Read more...]
Heading North — Tokyo to Aomori
Greetings from Japan, So I'm currently sitting in a hotel room in Goshogawara in Northern Honshu... So here's the story so far. Well basically I was supposed to be out in Tokyo on Thursday for work, but one of my current coworkers (who is also on this trip) is going to be moving to Northern Honshu later this year for a couple years … [Read more...]