Category: PLACES

- TRAVEL DIARY4 EuropeDaily NotesFrance

Anxiety and Appreciation @ Gorges de Paganin, France, March 28, 2019

Anxiety and Appreciation Driving at night is riskier in general. For overlanders, it is especially not recommended because you are not familiar with the road conditions, you probably don’t speak the local language, and sometimes you pass areas with no cell signal, which is dangerous in case of emergency. Despite this advice, many travelers including myself often drive at night because many things just don’t go as planned. One of the frequent culprits is not wanting to leave a place so soon during the day. And...
- TRAVEL DIARY4 EuropeDaily NotesFranceMoments Together (Friends)

Highs and lows @ Carrières de Lumières, Les Baux-de-Provence, France, March 17, 2019

Highs and Lows Mostly because Spain was very comfortable for me, where there was no language barrier, entering France was both exciting and mildly anxiety-inducing. It was new country, language, and people. After several days of intense driving followed by a scene of big confusion in a supermarket where I got the attention of everyone including the security personnel, I realized I was mentally exhausted. But the next day, I had the pleasure of having a picnic with new local friends, where we spent a warm...
- TRAVEL DIARY6 Middle EastDaily NotesEgypt

Intellectual Sanctuary @ Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt, February 19, 2019

Intellectual Sanctuary   Many visit Egypt with the anticipation of seeing the relics from Ancient Egypt such as mummies of Pharaohs and the Pyramids. But Egypt has been as much Ancient Egypt as it has been Greco-Roman Egypt and Arab Egypt, to name a few. That was why Alexandria came to my attention, and as its name suggests, the city was founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. And the Ptolemaic Dynasty constructed the Library of Alexandria, which was one of the largest and most...
- TRAVEL DIARY6 Middle EastEgyptMoments Together (Friends)

With Amira @ Cairo, Egypt, February 17, 2019

With Amira I was introduced to Amira in Cairo by someone who I had never met earlier. Compared to my overseas travels about a decade ago, modern technology is helping me have more unique and rich experience. In an environment where I knew little about how things work, she was my gateway to understanding the values and custom of the Egyptians. She was like a mom to whom a baby, me, could ask anything about the world he sees – such as “what does this name...
Spain

Arrival @ Barcelona, Spain

After two months of wandering in Lebanon, Cyprus, Jordan and Egypt, I came back to Spain and to Europe. As always, the car greets me covered in dust. The next step is to have a small break to rest and reflect. The following chapter would be from here towards eastern Russia, ultimately. @ Aeropark, Barcelona, Spain, February 27, 2019 @ Barcelona, Spain
- TRAVEL DIARY6 Middle EastDaily NotesJordan

Wadi Rum @ Wadi Rum, Jordan, February 9, 2019

Wadi Rum   Wadi Rum, or the Valley of Sand, is one of the major tourist destinations in Jordan, along with Petra, and the Dead Sea. It is a sand desert but its mountainous landscapes gives it a unique sense of space. And its un-earthly looks have attracted filming of many movies from the Lawrence of Arabia to The Martian.   Even if you have an off-road vehicle, an organized tour is mandatory because you are almost unable to navigate once you are inside the Desert....
- TRAVEL DIARY6 Middle EastDaily NotesEgyptMoments Together (Friends)

Curious looks @ Citadel of Qaitbay, Alexandria, Egypt, February 19, 2019

Curious looks In Egypt, I get more curious looks than in the previous countries, including Jordan and Lebanon. Usually it’s teennage boys and girls who don’t hide their curiosity on faces, and exchange it with others in their groups. From time to time, some just come to me and take selfies with me, often without saying anything. I feel a bit awkward smiling at the camera when I know nothing about my selfie friend. At the waterfront in Alexandria, I noticed several looks at me in...