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...]
Category: Travel
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]