Updates...

So, I guess I'm not a blogger anymore...I don't think to do it.

When I get to my 'new home', I will update on the whole of my trip! I swear! :)

My new home, for those who don't yet know, is Beirut. I am moving to Beirut on July 21!! So, plan to come visit!!!

Adventures in ....

I've obviously not been great about updating regularly. I'd like to blame lack of internet, just so I don't feel so bad! :)

Experiences with internet in the Middle East:

Istanbul: good internet, not enough time
Eceabat: night bus and tours in the day...too sleepy
Selcuk: sick sick sick :(
Capadocia: sick still, caves and night buses also don't make for good wifi
Aleppo: must plug my computer in to the network and still pay
Hama: scored a few hours of free internet at the hostel, but had to sit in a tiny booth to use it
Bcharre: didn't feel like paying for internet and enjoyed reading a book instead
Baalbek: not sure they know what internet (or cleaning soap) is
Beirut: no power for a few hours each day...
Damascus: no internet
Palmyra: tent, no electricity
Amman: spent the 2JD for internet and posted some pics
Tel Aviv: too many great restaurants and walking to be online much
Akko: spent almost 2hr watching a 40min episode of Chuck...worth it!
Haifa: borrowed someone's computer internet sometimes
Jerusalem: was out and about
Wadi Moujib: 'chalet' on the Dead Sea...lucky to have power
Wadi Mousa: painfully slow internet that most often didn't work at all
Wadi Rum: tent, only 3 hrs of electricity per day
Dahab: best internet yet...have to use it in the room where the AC is though- computer might melt otherwise!


As you can see...it is the internet that is to blame! :)

Istanbul Photos Posted to Picasa!

I've posted a few Istanbul photos to Picasa! The internet connection here in Amman is the best I've had in the past month! :)

Blogger in the Middle East

I'd like to think that I am of average or better smarts, but for some reason, I can't figure out why blogger doesn't magically appear in English for me on my computer. I am logged into Gmail...should it not know that I want it in English?

I'm also a bit peeved at Chrome for directing me to a localized version of Google when I am logged in and on record as being an English user. So, in order to get to Google in English, I must type in Google.com, then be redirected to whichever country I'm in, then ask for English....and even then, if I type my query in the bar at the top, it searches under the localized site instead of English, which it already should know I want. Maybe I just want too much! :P

Cappadocia

Camel Shaped Fairy Chimney in Cappadocia!

'Istanbul Road'

Istanbul

View from our hostel rooftop. Aya Sofia.

The Blue Mosque

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is not the glorious motherland (yes, I'm part Dutch) that I expected. It was....trashy. It was a quiet relaxing type atmosphere and could be really beautiful, but only if you overlook the piles of rubbish!

I am a fan of all the bikes and bike garages.

My travel buddy likes to see what different foods McDonald's has around the world. This is me with the bitterballen. They are eaten with mustard. I ate two and don't recommend them!

The nice pics are to come...they can use some editing, so I'll post later!

Remaining hopeful that my flight to Amsterdam will not be cancelled or delayed significantly. I have a long layover in Amsterdam, so as long as the flight isn't cancelled, I'll be fine to get to Istanbul. I just want to have enough time in Amsterdam to see the city too!

Here is a photo of the ash cloud! It is beautiful!

Backpack Test

Tonight I did a test run to make sure that everything fits into my backpack. Getting two and a half months worth of clothes/stuff into such small bags wasn't the easiest - especially since I want to look decent enough to go to nice places in Beirut, Dubai, London and Paris. I'm pleased with the results, but am still looking to cut a little space/weight. I'd like to eliminate anything "needing" to be in the red bag. :)

10 Days

In 10 days, I will be departing on an adventure to 10 countries in ~70 days (insha'Allah)! I'm super excited about this trip - more time has gone into planning this trip than any other I've done before (got the spreadsheets to prove it!). I've also decided to get travel insurance, which I pretty much never do. And I'll have a travel buddy, which I don't usually do either.

My 'pet' iguana is awaiting final verdict on his joining the adventure. The 25L backpack may say no...we'll see! He's been to 3 countries and more than half the US States already and agrees (which is what bobble heads do best) that he needs to see more of the world!

iguana at la playa in SoCal

Napa Valley, California 2010

Pictures were taken with an iPhone...

and I like taking pics of the ground!

Japan 2010

Fuji

Kyoto

Nara

Ema