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 …
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 …
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 …
Giza Necropolis The famous Egyptian pyramids are in Giza, a city about 40 minutes west of Cairo by car. In Giza Necropolis (cemetery), there are 9 pyramids and the biggest and the most famous one is the one for King Khufu, with a height of 146 meters. The pyramids are big and tall enough …
Kushari Kushari or Koshari is one of the traditional Egyptian dishes, made of lentils, macaroni, and rice, accompanied by tomato sauce, vinegar, chickpeas, and fried onions. The two metal jars in the background contain spicy sauce and vinegar, which are optional, yet still critical in my opinion. The rumor has it that the food was …
Last moment in Jordan Finally the moment to leave Jordan has arrived. I’m taking an overnight ferry from Aqaba, Jordan to Nuweiba, Egypt. As usual, I overstayed in this country, by a couple of days. It was because I met some good people whom I wanted to know better, there was unexpected rain, and I …
Dead Sea In the distance, the Dead Sea seemed barren. There is almost no vegetation around it, nor is a sandy beach. But the moment you go into the water, you become a child with a cool new toy. The floating experience is cool and literally effortless. And you keep drifting with the wind. It …
On one of my last days in Cyprus, I had to pleasure to be invited for a dinner with these experienced travelers from France and Chile. More than the attention-grabbing title, ‘cross cross-continental hitchhikers’, I was curious about their unique life stories such as what led you to start this, and what keeps you going. …