When I said I was going to Azerbaijan, most people just looked at me with a blank look in their face. I was lucky to find someone who even knew it was a country. But there is so much in Azerbaijan and in Baku as well from history, to food, to culture. So I wanted to put together a list of the top things to do in Baku, Azerbaijan. Maiden Tower One … [Read more...]
Photo Essay: Brutalist Architecture in Belgrade Serbia
I have always been fascinated by Brutalist Architecture. I don’t know what it is. Maybe the combination of form, function, and ideology that created something both ugly and beautiful. What is Brutalist Architecture? I know when I mention the term “brutalist architecture” it makes a lot of people wince at the idea. Like, what is that? The term … [Read more...]
The Best Things to Do in Nis Serbia
Even though Nis is the third largest city in Serbia, it is one of the more overlooked ones to visit. People often find themselves in Belgrade and Novi Sad and some of the other surround areas and don’t venture far enough to visit this beautiful city. My friend had been living in Belgrade for a while now and had yet to see Nis herself. So we made … [Read more...]
Museum of Aviation – Belgrade, Serbia
I’m a bit of a plane geek. Or rather an aerospace geek. It all started back when I was a kid wanting to be an astronaut or a military pilot. Sadly my eyesight was too poor for such a job possibility but it didn’t stop my constant love for the technology. I tend to try to visit these museums whenever I find myself in various parts of the … [Read more...]
Hotel Review: Hotel Lepenski Vir – Serbia
Have you got your accommodations for tonight? – Alexander Asked No not yet, we are thinking maybe to check out the hotel in town. – I replied Well there is only one hotel in town – he answered That makes sense, it is a very small town – I replied It does however have 500 rooms Wait…what? We sat there talking with Alexander … [Read more...]
First impressions: Serbia
There is something about Serbia. I really can’t put my finger on it but sadly most of my knowledge and understanding of the country comes from the 90s, during the wars in the Balkans. I was young then and my memory of it these days is hazy but watching the news you learned that the Serbians were the aggressors in the war. The enemies. We may not … [Read more...]
Driving in Saudi Arabia – Abha
Visiting Saudi Arabia is a pretty tough place. Well its not really that different honestly from home. Sure there are restrictions on certain things like the lack of movie theaters and closings of businesses during prayer times, but overall life moves as it does in other parts of the world as well. One of the toughest things in Saudi though is that … [Read more...]
Old City of Jeddah Saudi Arabia (UNESCO WHS)
I have always liked Jeddah, a port city on the Red Sea in present day Saudi Arabia. Jeddah has been a city welcoming pilgrims, travelers, and business people for centuries across various empires that have come through this area. Famously Jeddah is the entry point for most of the pilgrims who come for the Hajj (as well as Umrah) and for it the city … [Read more...]
Photo Essay: The old town of Al-Ula – Saudi Arabia
Al-Ula, the beautiful oasis in North Eastern Saudi Arabia has a long and storied history. People have been living in this region for centuries…well actually millennia. It makes sense as it is the reason we are here, to see the ancient city of Mada’in Saleh and of course the surrounding regions too. What you don’t realize is that there is so much … [Read more...]
Into Madain Saleh (مدائن صالح) – Saudi Arabia
I’ve been wanting to visit Madain Saleh (مدائن صالح) for years. Ever since I heard there was another beautiful Nabataean place outside of Petra. The photos of Mada’in Saleh reminded me a lot of my time in Petra…but without all the tourists and infrastructure. Perhaps Petra before the fame and notoriety of being one of the “New World Wonders”. … [Read more...]
Travels in the Eastern Province: Hofuf – Saudi Arabia
- It was one of my first weekends in Saudi Arabia, finally getting here after a disastrous attempts at getting visas that required me at one point to even replace my passport. The folks had already been here for several months, mostly just traveling to Bahrain and sitting around the hotel pool. They were antsy to go and seemingly since I was … [Read more...]
Travel Information: Baku Azerbaijan
Where is Baku Located? Baku, the largest city in Azerbaijan is located on the banks of the Caspian Sea in the eastern tip of Azerbaijan. Baku is the capital and commercial hub of Azerbaijan with a population of over 2 million people. The city itself covers 830 sq. miles (2100 sq. km) and actually sits below sea level at –92ft (-28m). The GPS … [Read more...]
