Michelle and Craig’s thoughts:
On our first day in Tanzania we knew that this place was special. We arrived at Dar Es Salaam early on Nov 1st. We then took a plane to Kilimanjaro in the afternoon. As we sat in the airport we watched the staff’s interactions. Everyone had a big beautiful smile, no matter what job they had or who they were interacting with. They were friendly, pleasant and welcoming. This warmth and courtesy has been seen with all the Tanzanians we have met. It’s hard not to smile ourselves because we’re so happy to be here.
After being immersed in the desert in Jordan and Egypt, the lush greenery we encountered in Arusha was wonderful. Our first day we met our guide James. We chose Roy Safaris Ltd. for our safari tour. It was recommended to us by our friends, Lee and Beno. We were very happy that we were given the same guide because they had great reviews about him. James is really nice, respectful and very informative.
We booked a nine day safari tour visiting Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park. With a 4 x 4 truck, James drove around each park as we stuck our head out of the top of the truck taking pictures and videos. Sometimes the animals were far and we took pictures using our zoom lens and other times the animals were right beside the truck completely ignoring us. Surprisingly enough, the animals totally ignore the trucks that drive through the area. There are strict rules when in the area and feeding the animals is a huge violation; thus, they don’t come up to the trucks for food.
The attitude for the animals seems to be business as usual. They hunt, kill and eat right in front of you. We’ve seen cheetahs and lions eat their prey and vultures, jackals and hyenas eating what’s left from a kill. Pretty awesome, especially seeing the cheetah eat the gazelle! We saw thousands of wildebeests migrating towards the rain. It was so fascinating! We’ve seen giraffes, monkeys, zebras, elephants, hyenas and other animals drink water beside us. There once was an amazing frenzy of zebras clamouring together in the river to drink and cool down It was of the most riveting sight to see. The cutest sight was seeing the young animals of the baboons, warthogs, elephants, zebras, hippos, lions, and rhinos. A great urge to take them home as pets was always the discussion. The funniest sight was watching the hippos get up from the water and start pooping and wiping their butts with their tails at the same time with lightening speed! We were always caught off guard and laughing when they did their performance, such that we were never ready with the video camera to film the dirty deed.
The lodges that we stayed in were located in the park; thus when going to dinner, we had to call security to escort us to the dining area because of the animals (lions, leopards, etc.) roaming around. One morning, we woke up to see zebras and a waterbuck outside our back window. We heard from the security men that there were a number of zebras that morning drinking water from the pool. Too bad we missed that!
We learned so much from James about the life and behaviour of the animals. It was fun trying to spot the animals before the others! We were getting pretty good at it. The safari was an experience we will never forget. Being in their habitat and watching them was an honour.
Love,
Michelle and Craig
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Better Beyond Cairo
Michelle and Craig’s thoughts:
Happy Halloween!!!
We are now at the end of our Egypt trip and it is time to reflect on our adventure in this country. Since leaving Cairo, the trip has been more relaxing. It started in the small village of Abu Simbel, where there were very few vendors and touts to harass us, and visiting the sites at a quiet time was a bonus. Then we went to Aswan and stayed at the Pyramisa Isis Island hotel which was a fantastic getaway from the hustle and bustle in the city. We had two days of relaxation by the pool and no early wake ups in order to visit a site (it’s always better to see the outdoor sites in the early morning or mid-afternoon to escape the heat and beating sun or try to). We always made sure we had down time in our trips to recover from baking in the sun all day. Being on the island was a wonderful treat and the people on the island were very nice and welcoming. When we wanted to do a little adventure in the city, we hopped on the complimentary hotel shuttle boat back to the main land. The ride itself on the Nile river was also a nice journey.
In Aswan, we visited the Aswan and High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae.
After two days of being lazy, we started our Nile Cruise excursion. We booked a 4days/3nights Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor. We stopped at Kom Ombo and Edfu along the way. Our boat was called M/S Nile Dolphin, a 5 star deluxe cruise. It was a lovely boat and the staff were very attentive. The food from breakfast to dinner was scrumptious! No weight loss here!!! We had two guides during this time. We had Ali on the first two days and then Maria on the last days. They were very nice and informative.
As we sat in the sun deck and watched the scenery float by, we couldn’t help but imagine us being Pharaohs or Queens watching the lush vegetation with the harsh desert as its background and having servants asking if we needed anything. Yeah, dream on! Cruising on the Nile was magical and it was exciting to experience the sense of living history.
Our first stop along the Nile was Kom Ombo where we visited the Temple of Kom Ombo. The temple is dedicated to two gods- the falcon god, Horus and the crocodile god, Sobek. This is where we started to understand the meanings of the hieroglyphics, other than the ones from the guide books. The stories on the walls were amazing. We took plenty of pictures of the hieroglyphics!!
The next stop was Edfu where we visited the Temple of Horus. It is the largest and best preserved Ptolemaic temple in Egypt. The great thing about this visit was that we did it in the evening. The atmosphere was mystical. Spotlights on imposing structures and columns gave it a different life than the other temples we saw. It was breathtaking. Totally enjoyed the site!
The following morning we were in Luxor. Maria toured us around the Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon. The Valley of Kings is a burial ground for the pharaohs in the limestone hills. This is where Tutankhamun’s tomb was found. The paintings in the chambers and tombs were stunning. We were very grateful for Maria in explaining the symbolic meanings of the paintings. It is amazing to see the great lengths they used to assist the pharaohs in the afterlife. Unfortunately, since last November, photography in the area is not allowed. This was because, as in Cairo, the guards were demanding money to take pictures in the tombs. Maria said that there were so many complaints of the harassment that they imposed a no-photo ban in the area. It’s too bad that they can’t control the harassment, especially from a country that relies on tourism.
Hatshepsut Temple is huge and mind-boggling. Imbedded in the hills, it was very impressive.
In Luxor, we visited the Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. As all the temples we saw, they were both amazing to visit.
Oops, can’t write now because we have to rush off to the airport!!! Off to Tanzania!
Love,
Michelle and Craig
Happy Halloween!!!
We are now at the end of our Egypt trip and it is time to reflect on our adventure in this country. Since leaving Cairo, the trip has been more relaxing. It started in the small village of Abu Simbel, where there were very few vendors and touts to harass us, and visiting the sites at a quiet time was a bonus. Then we went to Aswan and stayed at the Pyramisa Isis Island hotel which was a fantastic getaway from the hustle and bustle in the city. We had two days of relaxation by the pool and no early wake ups in order to visit a site (it’s always better to see the outdoor sites in the early morning or mid-afternoon to escape the heat and beating sun or try to). We always made sure we had down time in our trips to recover from baking in the sun all day. Being on the island was a wonderful treat and the people on the island were very nice and welcoming. When we wanted to do a little adventure in the city, we hopped on the complimentary hotel shuttle boat back to the main land. The ride itself on the Nile river was also a nice journey.
In Aswan, we visited the Aswan and High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae.
After two days of being lazy, we started our Nile Cruise excursion. We booked a 4days/3nights Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor. We stopped at Kom Ombo and Edfu along the way. Our boat was called M/S Nile Dolphin, a 5 star deluxe cruise. It was a lovely boat and the staff were very attentive. The food from breakfast to dinner was scrumptious! No weight loss here!!! We had two guides during this time. We had Ali on the first two days and then Maria on the last days. They were very nice and informative.
As we sat in the sun deck and watched the scenery float by, we couldn’t help but imagine us being Pharaohs or Queens watching the lush vegetation with the harsh desert as its background and having servants asking if we needed anything. Yeah, dream on! Cruising on the Nile was magical and it was exciting to experience the sense of living history.
Our first stop along the Nile was Kom Ombo where we visited the Temple of Kom Ombo. The temple is dedicated to two gods- the falcon god, Horus and the crocodile god, Sobek. This is where we started to understand the meanings of the hieroglyphics, other than the ones from the guide books. The stories on the walls were amazing. We took plenty of pictures of the hieroglyphics!!
The next stop was Edfu where we visited the Temple of Horus. It is the largest and best preserved Ptolemaic temple in Egypt. The great thing about this visit was that we did it in the evening. The atmosphere was mystical. Spotlights on imposing structures and columns gave it a different life than the other temples we saw. It was breathtaking. Totally enjoyed the site!
The following morning we were in Luxor. Maria toured us around the Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon. The Valley of Kings is a burial ground for the pharaohs in the limestone hills. This is where Tutankhamun’s tomb was found. The paintings in the chambers and tombs were stunning. We were very grateful for Maria in explaining the symbolic meanings of the paintings. It is amazing to see the great lengths they used to assist the pharaohs in the afterlife. Unfortunately, since last November, photography in the area is not allowed. This was because, as in Cairo, the guards were demanding money to take pictures in the tombs. Maria said that there were so many complaints of the harassment that they imposed a no-photo ban in the area. It’s too bad that they can’t control the harassment, especially from a country that relies on tourism.
Hatshepsut Temple is huge and mind-boggling. Imbedded in the hills, it was very impressive.
In Luxor, we visited the Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. As all the temples we saw, they were both amazing to visit.
Oops, can’t write now because we have to rush off to the airport!!! Off to Tanzania!
Love,
Michelle and Craig
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Adventures in the Desert
Craig and Michelle’s thoughts:
On Oct 9th we went to the Wadi Rum Desert. It was made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. The landscape is vast and consists of a majestic desert with towering mountains. A beautiful mix of red and yellow smooth sand dunes are the bases of some of the rugged cliffs. We booked a 6 hour tour and overnight stay with the Sunset Camp Company. We chose them because it was recommended by the Lonely Planet guide book and they were easy to access by e-mail. The excursion consisted of being driven around in a 4 x 4 truck to various sites in the desert. After the exercise we had in Petra, the drive was a treat.
At the end of the tour we went to the Sunset Camp to have dinner and stay overnight. There we met a Holland group and a young woman from France. We had some interesting and funny conversations. It’s nice to listen to other peoples’ travel experiences. Also at the camp were an elderly Spanish couple, a young Israeli couple and a group from France. Before dinner, we all watched the beautiful sunset. Afterwards, we ate in a large Bedouin tent and had a delicious meal. At night you could see hundreds of stars and in the late evening the moon was so bright that you didn’t need a flashlight. The accommodations were large tents that can sleep 4-5 people. We had our own tent and they supplied the pillows, mattresses and blankets. It was very comfortable. Surprisingly, they had built showers and western flushed toilets at the camp. Quite a luxury in the desert. We had a wonderful experience at Wadi Rum.
Afterwards, we went to Aqaba. It is a city by the Red Sea. Across the sea we could see Israel and Egypt. Saudi Arabia is just a stone throw away on the left. For two days we just went snorkelling. On the first day we swam with a fairly large sea turtle!! It was amazing!! On the second day we snorkelled at the Royal Dive area and it had some beautiful fish and coral. We’re glad we brought our own snorkelling gear because the conditions of the rentals weren’t great.
On Oct 14th, we arrived in Cairo, Egypt. On our first outing we went to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. It contains a huge number of pieces from every period of ancient Egyptian history. The highlight is the artefacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb. It was amazing to see the photographs of the excavation and the layout of the tomb, and then see the collection around you. He had so many items in his tomb that his exhibit takes up half the second floor of the museum. The creepy section were the royal tombs. Each mummy is in their own glass case where the humidity and temperature is regulated. The mummies’ bodies were wrapped in the cloths they were buried in; however their skulls, hands and feet were exposed. All of them had their arms crossed over their chest which meant they were from royalty. Some of the mummies still had their hair, teeth and even their finger and toe nails.
On our second outing, we saw the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara. These monumental structures are too amazing to describe. We just stood there just staring at the huge pyramids, trying to absorb what we were seeing. We would look at each other with huge smiles, then look at the pyramids just shaking our heads. What a magical place!! Unfortunately, the pyramids are at the edge of the city and the pollution in Cairo is terrible. When flying in you can see the thick brown smog over the city. So when you take pictures of the pyramids, there is a haze surrounding the structures. It’s difficult to see the blue sky. Seeing the Sphinx was also very exciting. Hope you like the pics!
Egypt has wonderful sites and monuments to visit and sometimes we can’t believe we’re actually here to see them. The only problem about Egypt is the harassment you get once you leave your hotel or when you visit a site. In Turkey, when asked if we needed their service and we say no, they left us alone. But in Egypt, they won’t leave your face even when you are polite to them. They are hustling for a commission by using trickery or various scams. Some are also looking for a tip or baksheek. They start out being your friend and try to assist you, then they demand money, and we mean demand! They are very aggressive! Sometimes when entering a site, you have to tip the person guarding the area. When you tip, they demand for more money and they’re not nice about it. We were aware of this behaviour before we arrived, but it’s still hard to have to deal with all the time. It also doesn’t matter if you’re in a tour group or not, the harassment effects everyone.
We went to Abu Simbel, Egypt and visited the Sun Temple of Abu Simbel and the Temple of Hathor. We stayed overnight at Abu Simbel which is rare for most tourists. Most tours drive in from Aswan early in the morning to see the sites. We chose to see the temples in the afternoon because it’s a quite time to see the area. In fact, in the beginning, we were the only ones in the Temples. It was like we were having a private tour. Really cool!! By the time we left, there were only two tour buses at the site. The temples were breathtaking. They were built to honour Ramses II and Nefertari. The carvings and the reliefs inside were amazing. It was so well preserved. There was the threat of the temples of being engulfed by Lake Nasser, so UNESCO relocated the site. The visitor centre have displays and pictures of how they did the whole process. Though there are only the two temples, we took two hours to admire them. Well worth the visit to Abu Simbel. Enjoy the pictures!
Love,
Michelle and Craig
On Oct 9th we went to the Wadi Rum Desert. It was made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. The landscape is vast and consists of a majestic desert with towering mountains. A beautiful mix of red and yellow smooth sand dunes are the bases of some of the rugged cliffs. We booked a 6 hour tour and overnight stay with the Sunset Camp Company. We chose them because it was recommended by the Lonely Planet guide book and they were easy to access by e-mail. The excursion consisted of being driven around in a 4 x 4 truck to various sites in the desert. After the exercise we had in Petra, the drive was a treat.
At the end of the tour we went to the Sunset Camp to have dinner and stay overnight. There we met a Holland group and a young woman from France. We had some interesting and funny conversations. It’s nice to listen to other peoples’ travel experiences. Also at the camp were an elderly Spanish couple, a young Israeli couple and a group from France. Before dinner, we all watched the beautiful sunset. Afterwards, we ate in a large Bedouin tent and had a delicious meal. At night you could see hundreds of stars and in the late evening the moon was so bright that you didn’t need a flashlight. The accommodations were large tents that can sleep 4-5 people. We had our own tent and they supplied the pillows, mattresses and blankets. It was very comfortable. Surprisingly, they had built showers and western flushed toilets at the camp. Quite a luxury in the desert. We had a wonderful experience at Wadi Rum.
Afterwards, we went to Aqaba. It is a city by the Red Sea. Across the sea we could see Israel and Egypt. Saudi Arabia is just a stone throw away on the left. For two days we just went snorkelling. On the first day we swam with a fairly large sea turtle!! It was amazing!! On the second day we snorkelled at the Royal Dive area and it had some beautiful fish and coral. We’re glad we brought our own snorkelling gear because the conditions of the rentals weren’t great.
On Oct 14th, we arrived in Cairo, Egypt. On our first outing we went to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. It contains a huge number of pieces from every period of ancient Egyptian history. The highlight is the artefacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb. It was amazing to see the photographs of the excavation and the layout of the tomb, and then see the collection around you. He had so many items in his tomb that his exhibit takes up half the second floor of the museum. The creepy section were the royal tombs. Each mummy is in their own glass case where the humidity and temperature is regulated. The mummies’ bodies were wrapped in the cloths they were buried in; however their skulls, hands and feet were exposed. All of them had their arms crossed over their chest which meant they were from royalty. Some of the mummies still had their hair, teeth and even their finger and toe nails.
On our second outing, we saw the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara. These monumental structures are too amazing to describe. We just stood there just staring at the huge pyramids, trying to absorb what we were seeing. We would look at each other with huge smiles, then look at the pyramids just shaking our heads. What a magical place!! Unfortunately, the pyramids are at the edge of the city and the pollution in Cairo is terrible. When flying in you can see the thick brown smog over the city. So when you take pictures of the pyramids, there is a haze surrounding the structures. It’s difficult to see the blue sky. Seeing the Sphinx was also very exciting. Hope you like the pics!
Egypt has wonderful sites and monuments to visit and sometimes we can’t believe we’re actually here to see them. The only problem about Egypt is the harassment you get once you leave your hotel or when you visit a site. In Turkey, when asked if we needed their service and we say no, they left us alone. But in Egypt, they won’t leave your face even when you are polite to them. They are hustling for a commission by using trickery or various scams. Some are also looking for a tip or baksheek. They start out being your friend and try to assist you, then they demand money, and we mean demand! They are very aggressive! Sometimes when entering a site, you have to tip the person guarding the area. When you tip, they demand for more money and they’re not nice about it. We were aware of this behaviour before we arrived, but it’s still hard to have to deal with all the time. It also doesn’t matter if you’re in a tour group or not, the harassment effects everyone.
We went to Abu Simbel, Egypt and visited the Sun Temple of Abu Simbel and the Temple of Hathor. We stayed overnight at Abu Simbel which is rare for most tourists. Most tours drive in from Aswan early in the morning to see the sites. We chose to see the temples in the afternoon because it’s a quite time to see the area. In fact, in the beginning, we were the only ones in the Temples. It was like we were having a private tour. Really cool!! By the time we left, there were only two tour buses at the site. The temples were breathtaking. They were built to honour Ramses II and Nefertari. The carvings and the reliefs inside were amazing. It was so well preserved. There was the threat of the temples of being engulfed by Lake Nasser, so UNESCO relocated the site. The visitor centre have displays and pictures of how they did the whole process. Though there are only the two temples, we took two hours to admire them. Well worth the visit to Abu Simbel. Enjoy the pictures!
Love,
Michelle and Craig
Monday, October 12, 2009
Random Travel Info
Craig and Michelle’s thoughts:
As we wait for the bus to take us to a snorkelling site, we thought we might enter interesting tidbits for ourselves.
We wish we could take pictures of the people because they tell the story of this country. But out of respect, we must ask permission and we are reluctant to ask because we don’t want to impose or make a spectacle of them.
Our accommodations have been a variety; from staying on a boat to a Bedouin tent in the desert to a suite in a luxury hotel. Something different all the time.
In Jordan:
When walking around the cities/towns/villages, a taxi is always honking their horn, asking if you need their transport. You just have to tune them out, but when you do need them, get ready to bargain. Of all the taxis we’ve used, only two have used the meter. With the assistance of the guide book and the people in the hotel, we can get a rough estimate of the cost to get somewhere. For us, the price of a taxi is always better than joining a tour group or hiring a driver from the hotel.
When travelling between cities, we use the minibuses. You can’t be in a hurry to get somewhere because the minibuses don’t leave until it’s full. At one point we waited 45minutes before the minibus left from Amman to Petra. Also, we had to ask around at the bus station because the signs on the buses are all in Arabic. For extra money, we are taking a larger bus to get from Aqaba to Amman. They have a schedule and they assign us our seats. It costs $14 Can each for this 5 hour drive.
When travelling we get excited when we see signs showing the direction of the borders of Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Israel. We were at the border of the West Bank at one point. When on the highway, there are random road side security checks. We have to bring our passports with us all the time. It's pretty intimidating to see the huge machine guns mounted on trucks - these are rare.
We are fortunate that the heat is bearable. We wouldn’t want to be here when the temperatures are at the 40s. Egypt, here we come!
Love,
Craig and Michelle
As we wait for the bus to take us to a snorkelling site, we thought we might enter interesting tidbits for ourselves.
We wish we could take pictures of the people because they tell the story of this country. But out of respect, we must ask permission and we are reluctant to ask because we don’t want to impose or make a spectacle of them.
Our accommodations have been a variety; from staying on a boat to a Bedouin tent in the desert to a suite in a luxury hotel. Something different all the time.
In Jordan:
When walking around the cities/towns/villages, a taxi is always honking their horn, asking if you need their transport. You just have to tune them out, but when you do need them, get ready to bargain. Of all the taxis we’ve used, only two have used the meter. With the assistance of the guide book and the people in the hotel, we can get a rough estimate of the cost to get somewhere. For us, the price of a taxi is always better than joining a tour group or hiring a driver from the hotel.
When travelling between cities, we use the minibuses. You can’t be in a hurry to get somewhere because the minibuses don’t leave until it’s full. At one point we waited 45minutes before the minibus left from Amman to Petra. Also, we had to ask around at the bus station because the signs on the buses are all in Arabic. For extra money, we are taking a larger bus to get from Aqaba to Amman. They have a schedule and they assign us our seats. It costs $14 Can each for this 5 hour drive.
When travelling we get excited when we see signs showing the direction of the borders of Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Israel. We were at the border of the West Bank at one point. When on the highway, there are random road side security checks. We have to bring our passports with us all the time. It's pretty intimidating to see the huge machine guns mounted on trucks - these are rare.
We are fortunate that the heat is bearable. We wouldn’t want to be here when the temperatures are at the 40s. Egypt, here we come!
Love,
Craig and Michelle
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Michelle’s thoughts:
First, we would like to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We hope everyone is doing well!
Our adventure continues...
I believe the Petra visit was the highlight of our trip in Jordan. As we walked along the 1.3km Siq, the excitement built as we got closer to the famous Treasury. I could feel Craig’s excitement because sometimes I could hear him hum the Indiana Jone’s theme song and his level got louder and louder as we walked. The Siq is impressive as we walked through the canyon because at some points we felt we were being crowded in between two blocks. You must see the pictures.
The Treasury is incredible and breathtaking. We just stood there admiring the sculpted entrance that was carved out of a solid sandstone. The details highlight the craftsmanship of the people who built it. Another emotional moment.
Petra is a huge area. We did two days of seven hour hikes to see most of the area. We climbed up two steep and taxing mountains to see the High Place of Sacrifice and the Monastery. It took over an hour to climb the first site and almost two hours for the Monastery. There is the option of taking a donkey ride up for a high price, so most people climb up. At some points the path is so narrow and at the edge of a cliff, that there is a risk of falling off an unruly donkey. Also, there is the concern for the donkey's health and the way they are being treated, that we and most people decided not to ride on them.
With the relentless heat and sun and the unlevelled steps and footings, the climb wasn’t easy. We had many water breaks as we slowly hiked up. I really felt sorry for the older people who looked like they were going to pass-out. However, they held the determined look on their faces that they were going to do it on their own. I wanted to give them a reward for reaching the top. They were inspiring.
At the top of both mountains, they had wonderful views of the valley. Also, the Monastery is just as impressive as the Treasury. See our pictures. Both mountains were worth the climb. The hikes around Petra was very rewarding. I highly recommend others to visit this magical place.
Note, there are two enteries for Oct 11!
Love,
Michelle
First, we would like to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We hope everyone is doing well!
Our adventure continues...
I believe the Petra visit was the highlight of our trip in Jordan. As we walked along the 1.3km Siq, the excitement built as we got closer to the famous Treasury. I could feel Craig’s excitement because sometimes I could hear him hum the Indiana Jone’s theme song and his level got louder and louder as we walked. The Siq is impressive as we walked through the canyon because at some points we felt we were being crowded in between two blocks. You must see the pictures.
The Treasury is incredible and breathtaking. We just stood there admiring the sculpted entrance that was carved out of a solid sandstone. The details highlight the craftsmanship of the people who built it. Another emotional moment.
Petra is a huge area. We did two days of seven hour hikes to see most of the area. We climbed up two steep and taxing mountains to see the High Place of Sacrifice and the Monastery. It took over an hour to climb the first site and almost two hours for the Monastery. There is the option of taking a donkey ride up for a high price, so most people climb up. At some points the path is so narrow and at the edge of a cliff, that there is a risk of falling off an unruly donkey. Also, there is the concern for the donkey's health and the way they are being treated, that we and most people decided not to ride on them.
With the relentless heat and sun and the unlevelled steps and footings, the climb wasn’t easy. We had many water breaks as we slowly hiked up. I really felt sorry for the older people who looked like they were going to pass-out. However, they held the determined look on their faces that they were going to do it on their own. I wanted to give them a reward for reaching the top. They were inspiring.
At the top of both mountains, they had wonderful views of the valley. Also, the Monastery is just as impressive as the Treasury. See our pictures. Both mountains were worth the climb. The hikes around Petra was very rewarding. I highly recommend others to visit this magical place.
Note, there are two enteries for Oct 11!
Love,
Michelle
Welcome to Jordan!
Michelle’s thoughts:
We arrived in Amman, Jordan on Oct 2nd. The scenery is very different than Istanbul, where in Amman everything is mainly a series of beige blocks and very little greenery. The city blends into the stone mountains surrounding the city. It’s very exciting to be in my first Arab country. The Arabic writing is mind-boggling and seeing some of the women covered totally in their black full body chador and hejab veil, that you can’t see their faces (even their eyes), is still a strange sight to see. However, Amman is a modern Arab city with trendy cafes and bars, elegant art galleries, western style mega malls, and most women wear western clothes, though many wear a headscarf. It’s a city embracing an international and culturally diverse vision of the future.
The people we have encountered are very friendly. They really like Canadian visitors. They say we are the nicest tourists with the big smiles! Our taxi driver was very proud that his son married a Canadian. It was funny to listen to his stories of how beautiful Canada is when he and his wife visited in the summer. They had visited Banff and Lake Louise and he excitedly showed us, on his cell phone, the bear cub they saw at the edge of a mountain. We asked if he was scared, and he replied that people should not be afraid of the cub, but for the mother bear. We just laughed!
We took a day trip to Jerash. It is one of the best examples in the Middle East of a Roman provincial city. It is wonderfully preserved with its amazing Oval Plaza, theatres and temples. Like the other ruins we visited, we try to imagine the life 2000 years ago; the centre bustling with shops and merchants, children running around the painted statues and buildings clad in marble, and the men on chariots riding through the colonnaded street. It was a pleasant site to visit because it wasn’t as crowded as Ephesus.
We also visited the Dead Sea. The lowest point on earth. The water is six times saltier than the ocean, such that you can enjoy a bizarre buoyancy of floating in the Dead Sea. Craig was barely submerged in the water, when his feet was knocked from under him and he was floating on his back! The concentration is high because of the high evaporation rate which has, over the years, led to a build-up of salts.
Of course, knowing we will never be there again, we did the touristy thing and got lathered with a mudpack from the Dead Sea. It naturally contains various minerals, which are apparently excellent for one’s health and used to polish our pores! We looked funny in our Super Hero black suits, but I must say our skin was sooo smooth afterwards! Beware when you paddle in the water, you’ll probably discover cuts you never knew you had!!
Love,
Michelle
We arrived in Amman, Jordan on Oct 2nd. The scenery is very different than Istanbul, where in Amman everything is mainly a series of beige blocks and very little greenery. The city blends into the stone mountains surrounding the city. It’s very exciting to be in my first Arab country. The Arabic writing is mind-boggling and seeing some of the women covered totally in their black full body chador and hejab veil, that you can’t see their faces (even their eyes), is still a strange sight to see. However, Amman is a modern Arab city with trendy cafes and bars, elegant art galleries, western style mega malls, and most women wear western clothes, though many wear a headscarf. It’s a city embracing an international and culturally diverse vision of the future.
The people we have encountered are very friendly. They really like Canadian visitors. They say we are the nicest tourists with the big smiles! Our taxi driver was very proud that his son married a Canadian. It was funny to listen to his stories of how beautiful Canada is when he and his wife visited in the summer. They had visited Banff and Lake Louise and he excitedly showed us, on his cell phone, the bear cub they saw at the edge of a mountain. We asked if he was scared, and he replied that people should not be afraid of the cub, but for the mother bear. We just laughed!
We took a day trip to Jerash. It is one of the best examples in the Middle East of a Roman provincial city. It is wonderfully preserved with its amazing Oval Plaza, theatres and temples. Like the other ruins we visited, we try to imagine the life 2000 years ago; the centre bustling with shops and merchants, children running around the painted statues and buildings clad in marble, and the men on chariots riding through the colonnaded street. It was a pleasant site to visit because it wasn’t as crowded as Ephesus.
We also visited the Dead Sea. The lowest point on earth. The water is six times saltier than the ocean, such that you can enjoy a bizarre buoyancy of floating in the Dead Sea. Craig was barely submerged in the water, when his feet was knocked from under him and he was floating on his back! The concentration is high because of the high evaporation rate which has, over the years, led to a build-up of salts.
Of course, knowing we will never be there again, we did the touristy thing and got lathered with a mudpack from the Dead Sea. It naturally contains various minerals, which are apparently excellent for one’s health and used to polish our pores! We looked funny in our Super Hero black suits, but I must say our skin was sooo smooth afterwards! Beware when you paddle in the water, you’ll probably discover cuts you never knew you had!!
Love,
Michelle
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Happy Anniversary!
Craig and Michelle's thoughts:
Happy Anniversary! 11 years of adventures! It only gets better!!
Having a great time in Jordan!
Happy Anniversary! 11 years of adventures! It only gets better!!
Having a great time in Jordan!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Another World - Cappadocia!
Michelle’s thoughts:
We are back in Istanbul for four days. We had originally planned to do a 8 day cruise from Fethiye, but it was suggested to just do 4 days (which I am glad we did); thus, the extra days in Istanbul. We arrived on Saturday from Cappadocia. If there was one area that I would stay in Turkey, it would be in Cappadocia. I simply fell in love with the place. The terrain is so different from anything I’ve ever seen before, it‘s like being on another planet.
There were great hiking trails that consisted of climbs on unique rock formations, entering hidden tunnels and creeping under brush. All this lined with grapes and apples in abundance for eating. The valleys were breathtaking. There were times when Craig and I were full of emotion and in awe of our surroundings.
Along with hiking, we went on a Hot Air Balloon ride one morning and I think the whole time I was just giddy! There were 24 of us in the huge basket. 6 in each compartment. I was very lucky and I was able to be in the compartment with the pilot during the trip. I even got to control the flames for the balloon!! It was so exhilarating! At one point we were in the clouds! So awesome!! I highly recommend a Hot Air Balloon ride to see the fantastic views of Cappadocia.
On our first day we rented four-wheelers to see the valleys with a guide. It was a great way to get an understanding of the area and see where we wanted to hike on later dates.
Craig and I also rented a scooter from Silk Road and we drove around the area to see the sites away from our town, Goreme. I think the drive was just as wonderful as the sites we saw. As we drove by the small villages and farms, everyone waved back as I had a big smile and waved while sitting behind Craig on the scooter. It was so much fun! When we asked for directions, everyone wanted to help! The Turkish people are so friendly and warm!! We love them!
One of the sites we saw was the Underground city. Hundreds of tunnels and tunnels of rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, churches, animal shelters, etc. were dug in multiple levels under ground. It was freaky and a little unnerving to go from one room to the next through these long low height tunnels and some of the rooms are dark and have low ceilings. It’s not good for those who are claustrophobic because if there a lot of tourists, you can be stuck in a tunnel for a bit! We were lucky because Craig and I entered when most tour groups were having their buffet lunches, so we had the city mostly to ourselves. There were only two tour groups when we visited. Even then, sometimes we ran to get to the next level. We weren’t sure how long this city was and after a couple of levels, you felt you needed to see the sun. When we left, there were buses full of tourists coming. Craig and I looked at each other then and we shivered thinking about all these people in the tunnels! Whew, that was close!
We also visited an underground city that the tourists don’t go to. It was recommended by the guys in Silk Road where we rented the scooter. It’s in the small village of Miza and we had a private tour with Ishrid. We like doing stuff that’s off the beaten path. I am glad we went because it was a relaxing visit in the underground and we had a great conversation with a local guy.
When you see our pictures, you’ll see these formations called Fairy Chimneys. Lots and lots of them!! I won’t tell you what I really call them! Aren’t they really cool?!
Also, I would like to say thank you to Peter, Maneesha, Neil and Josie for putting up with us in Cappadocia!! We had wonderful meals with them and of course, had great laughs! You guys are the greatest!
Next month- Jordan!!!
Love,
Michelle
We are back in Istanbul for four days. We had originally planned to do a 8 day cruise from Fethiye, but it was suggested to just do 4 days (which I am glad we did); thus, the extra days in Istanbul. We arrived on Saturday from Cappadocia. If there was one area that I would stay in Turkey, it would be in Cappadocia. I simply fell in love with the place. The terrain is so different from anything I’ve ever seen before, it‘s like being on another planet.
There were great hiking trails that consisted of climbs on unique rock formations, entering hidden tunnels and creeping under brush. All this lined with grapes and apples in abundance for eating. The valleys were breathtaking. There were times when Craig and I were full of emotion and in awe of our surroundings.
Along with hiking, we went on a Hot Air Balloon ride one morning and I think the whole time I was just giddy! There were 24 of us in the huge basket. 6 in each compartment. I was very lucky and I was able to be in the compartment with the pilot during the trip. I even got to control the flames for the balloon!! It was so exhilarating! At one point we were in the clouds! So awesome!! I highly recommend a Hot Air Balloon ride to see the fantastic views of Cappadocia.
On our first day we rented four-wheelers to see the valleys with a guide. It was a great way to get an understanding of the area and see where we wanted to hike on later dates.
Craig and I also rented a scooter from Silk Road and we drove around the area to see the sites away from our town, Goreme. I think the drive was just as wonderful as the sites we saw. As we drove by the small villages and farms, everyone waved back as I had a big smile and waved while sitting behind Craig on the scooter. It was so much fun! When we asked for directions, everyone wanted to help! The Turkish people are so friendly and warm!! We love them!
One of the sites we saw was the Underground city. Hundreds of tunnels and tunnels of rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, churches, animal shelters, etc. were dug in multiple levels under ground. It was freaky and a little unnerving to go from one room to the next through these long low height tunnels and some of the rooms are dark and have low ceilings. It’s not good for those who are claustrophobic because if there a lot of tourists, you can be stuck in a tunnel for a bit! We were lucky because Craig and I entered when most tour groups were having their buffet lunches, so we had the city mostly to ourselves. There were only two tour groups when we visited. Even then, sometimes we ran to get to the next level. We weren’t sure how long this city was and after a couple of levels, you felt you needed to see the sun. When we left, there were buses full of tourists coming. Craig and I looked at each other then and we shivered thinking about all these people in the tunnels! Whew, that was close!
We also visited an underground city that the tourists don’t go to. It was recommended by the guys in Silk Road where we rented the scooter. It’s in the small village of Miza and we had a private tour with Ishrid. We like doing stuff that’s off the beaten path. I am glad we went because it was a relaxing visit in the underground and we had a great conversation with a local guy.
When you see our pictures, you’ll see these formations called Fairy Chimneys. Lots and lots of them!! I won’t tell you what I really call them! Aren’t they really cool?!
Also, I would like to say thank you to Peter, Maneesha, Neil and Josie for putting up with us in Cappadocia!! We had wonderful meals with them and of course, had great laughs! You guys are the greatest!
Next month- Jordan!!!
Love,
Michelle
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Beyond Istanbul
Craig’s thoughts:
Finally!!! A Blog update.
It’s not that there are problems finding internet access, it’s because we have been busy, busy, busy. Too busy to update for the fine people back in Canada.
We have only been in Turkey for two weeks, but it feels like it’s been an amazing month. Our days have been full of adventures which has kept us focused on the moment. “Yeah, your having a great time, so what have you been doing”? Glad you asked.
Before I write about our activities since the last blog, I just wanted to say that our first Turkish experience came when we first checked into our hotel and met a friendly couple from the U.K. They offered us some Turkish Delight. How appropriate.
List of activities since the last update:
Sept 14 : visit Ephesus and Serince
Sept 15: a relaxing day trip to the beach in Samos, Greece
Sept 16: visit Aphrodisias and Pamukkale
Sept 17-20: the Blue Cruise on the Mediterranean from Fethiye to Olympus
Sept 21: Fly to Cappadocia and visit the valleys on four-wheelers
Michelle’s thoughts:
Alright, I guess I didn’t write as soon as I wanted to. Currently, I am in my room in a cave. Not just any cave, but the Flintstone’s Cave Pension. Some of the accommodations in Cappadocia are embedded in the mountains. This is a must place to visit if you’re going to Turkey! Okay, where do I start. Under Craig’s thoughts, he listed the activities over the last week. I will just go over my thoughts about each experience.
Ephesus: it’s a ruined city that is equally impressive as the ruins in Greece. It took us over three hours to visit the site because we took our time admiring everything. I was glad we weren’t part of a tour group because most went through it in an hour, not appreciating the site, but just quickly taking pictures. I am sure some of them would have liked to stay a lot longer. When I was walking through the area I was imagining what would it be like living there long ago.
Samos, Greece: Samos is an island about an hour and a half from Turkey. Samos was a nice break from seeing mosques, historical ruins and museums. We just needed a small break. We wanted to rent a scooter to travel to the beach, but we needed a motorcycle licence; but all was not lost because you only needed an International Drivers licence to drive a four- wheeler. It was so much fun driving along the coast of the island and the views were spectacular! The beach was not sandy, but more of a pebble beach. The clientele was mostly older Europeans who were so dark and wrinkly from worshiping the sun. Craig and I used both a beach umbrella and a tree for protection!!
Aphrodisias: this was a shrine as early as 5800BC. At one point it was owned by the Romans and then survived during the Byzantine era. Craig and I thought that this ruined city was more impressive than Ephesus. It also helped that Craig and I had a private tour of the area with a guide before any other tourists appeared. John was an excellent guide. He was an older gentleman born in Macedonia, lived in Germany for awhile before staying in Turkey. He hopes that all the Canadians reading this will come to Turkey to help with tourism.
Pamukkale: This place have these awesome white travertine terraces next to the Hierapolis. You have to see the pictures to believe this phenomenon. For it’s protection, you are now only allowed to walk on a section of the terraces. The water that runs through it is a pleasant temperature of 39 degrees Celsius. I thought I was in another planet walking through the area. It was soooo freaky! Another freaky thing about the area was that there were hundreds of young Russian girls coming out of the tour buses only wearing their bikinis. I have never seen so many bikini clad women walking around and there wasn’t even a beach. They were even walking around at the ruined city of Hierapolis in these skimpy outfits!! There is a small pool called the Cleopatra pool, but that’s where the older and Non-European tourists would be seen. I can’t even describe the poses they were doing when taking pictures. It was hilarious! Craig and I, with another young Canadian couple went into the Cleopatra pool. It was a different pool because the bottom had some ruins you had to climb over. Awesome!
Blue Cruise: We took a cruise on a gulet ( a small yacht) along the Mediterranean. There were 14 people on this cruise. Catalonian couple: Carles and Astrid; Another Canadian couple from Vancouver: Neil and Josie; American newlywed: Peter and Maneesha; UK students: Ruth, Yvonne and Rusmus; Vancouver, B.C. girl: Kim; a Korean travel agent: Sin Jin; and an American College Student: Soo Jin. Our group was amazing and we all got along quite well. We had so many funny conversations. If there was a group to go cruising with, these guys were perfect. We stopped at the Butterfly island and hiked/rock-climbed to a waterfall. We did other stops along the way, but mostly we just did some swimming. I think one of the highlights for me was when the Cook surprised me with a birthday cake!! Everyone on the boat, but me, knew he was making a cake. After dinner, the boat crew turned off the lights and a cake with sparkle candles was presented while everyone else sang Happy Birthday! I almost cried. It was so touching! The funny thing was when Rusmus announced that he had the same birth date as me; so the cook brought out more candles and we sang Happy Birthday again!
Well until next time!
Love, Michelle
Finally!!! A Blog update.
It’s not that there are problems finding internet access, it’s because we have been busy, busy, busy. Too busy to update for the fine people back in Canada.
We have only been in Turkey for two weeks, but it feels like it’s been an amazing month. Our days have been full of adventures which has kept us focused on the moment. “Yeah, your having a great time, so what have you been doing”? Glad you asked.
Before I write about our activities since the last blog, I just wanted to say that our first Turkish experience came when we first checked into our hotel and met a friendly couple from the U.K. They offered us some Turkish Delight. How appropriate.
List of activities since the last update:
Sept 14 : visit Ephesus and Serince
Sept 15: a relaxing day trip to the beach in Samos, Greece
Sept 16: visit Aphrodisias and Pamukkale
Sept 17-20: the Blue Cruise on the Mediterranean from Fethiye to Olympus
Sept 21: Fly to Cappadocia and visit the valleys on four-wheelers
Michelle’s thoughts:
Alright, I guess I didn’t write as soon as I wanted to. Currently, I am in my room in a cave. Not just any cave, but the Flintstone’s Cave Pension. Some of the accommodations in Cappadocia are embedded in the mountains. This is a must place to visit if you’re going to Turkey! Okay, where do I start. Under Craig’s thoughts, he listed the activities over the last week. I will just go over my thoughts about each experience.
Ephesus: it’s a ruined city that is equally impressive as the ruins in Greece. It took us over three hours to visit the site because we took our time admiring everything. I was glad we weren’t part of a tour group because most went through it in an hour, not appreciating the site, but just quickly taking pictures. I am sure some of them would have liked to stay a lot longer. When I was walking through the area I was imagining what would it be like living there long ago.
Samos, Greece: Samos is an island about an hour and a half from Turkey. Samos was a nice break from seeing mosques, historical ruins and museums. We just needed a small break. We wanted to rent a scooter to travel to the beach, but we needed a motorcycle licence; but all was not lost because you only needed an International Drivers licence to drive a four- wheeler. It was so much fun driving along the coast of the island and the views were spectacular! The beach was not sandy, but more of a pebble beach. The clientele was mostly older Europeans who were so dark and wrinkly from worshiping the sun. Craig and I used both a beach umbrella and a tree for protection!!
Aphrodisias: this was a shrine as early as 5800BC. At one point it was owned by the Romans and then survived during the Byzantine era. Craig and I thought that this ruined city was more impressive than Ephesus. It also helped that Craig and I had a private tour of the area with a guide before any other tourists appeared. John was an excellent guide. He was an older gentleman born in Macedonia, lived in Germany for awhile before staying in Turkey. He hopes that all the Canadians reading this will come to Turkey to help with tourism.
Pamukkale: This place have these awesome white travertine terraces next to the Hierapolis. You have to see the pictures to believe this phenomenon. For it’s protection, you are now only allowed to walk on a section of the terraces. The water that runs through it is a pleasant temperature of 39 degrees Celsius. I thought I was in another planet walking through the area. It was soooo freaky! Another freaky thing about the area was that there were hundreds of young Russian girls coming out of the tour buses only wearing their bikinis. I have never seen so many bikini clad women walking around and there wasn’t even a beach. They were even walking around at the ruined city of Hierapolis in these skimpy outfits!! There is a small pool called the Cleopatra pool, but that’s where the older and Non-European tourists would be seen. I can’t even describe the poses they were doing when taking pictures. It was hilarious! Craig and I, with another young Canadian couple went into the Cleopatra pool. It was a different pool because the bottom had some ruins you had to climb over. Awesome!
Blue Cruise: We took a cruise on a gulet ( a small yacht) along the Mediterranean. There were 14 people on this cruise. Catalonian couple: Carles and Astrid; Another Canadian couple from Vancouver: Neil and Josie; American newlywed: Peter and Maneesha; UK students: Ruth, Yvonne and Rusmus; Vancouver, B.C. girl: Kim; a Korean travel agent: Sin Jin; and an American College Student: Soo Jin. Our group was amazing and we all got along quite well. We had so many funny conversations. If there was a group to go cruising with, these guys were perfect. We stopped at the Butterfly island and hiked/rock-climbed to a waterfall. We did other stops along the way, but mostly we just did some swimming. I think one of the highlights for me was when the Cook surprised me with a birthday cake!! Everyone on the boat, but me, knew he was making a cake. After dinner, the boat crew turned off the lights and a cake with sparkle candles was presented while everyone else sang Happy Birthday! I almost cried. It was so touching! The funny thing was when Rusmus announced that he had the same birth date as me; so the cook brought out more candles and we sang Happy Birthday again!
Well until next time!
Love, Michelle
Monday, September 14, 2009
Happy 40th Birthday!
Craig's thoughts:
Happy Birthday to my Love! Happy Birthday to my Bunny!
You don't look like you're 40! Happy Birthday to my Honey!
Michelle's thoughts:
Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me!!
Enough said...
Happy Birthday to my Love! Happy Birthday to my Bunny!
You don't look like you're 40! Happy Birthday to my Honey!
Michelle's thoughts:
Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me!!
Enough said...
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Istanbul Highlights
Michelle’s thoughts:
It’s Sunday, Sept. 13th and yes, I seem to have skipped a lot of days since the last entry into the blog. Well, I thought that though I wanted to do this blog, I didn’t want to spend my entire trip sitting in my room or at the main foyer of the hotel (some places had weak WiFi connections) typing away on our new netbook. In the past, I was pretty pathetic in journal entries trying to write what I did four days ago! Nothings changed!
Okay, day 1, we arrived in Istanbul, Turkey in the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 8th and checked into our hotel, Seven Hills. The hotel is very nice with an Ottoman theme and the people who work there are very friendly. The hotel is in an ideal location. We are walking distance to the major sites: 2minutes from Haghia Sophia, 5minutes to the Blue Mosque, 5 minutes to the Topkapi Palace and 10 minutes from the Grand Bazaar. We were also close to the tram, so going elsewhere is pretty easy. The roof top of our hotel had a beautiful view of both the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia. This first night we watched a crazy display of lightening while we had a wonderful fish dinner at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant.
Day 2, Craig and I decided to take it easy and just walk around the city. We wanted to get familiar with our surroundings and check out places we wanted to see and places to eat. The old city was busy with tourists (most of them were seniors). It was amazing to see the number of huge white tour buses that continually drove by where ever we went. Although the streets are narrow, those bus drivers sure know how to squeeze through those alleys. Driving in Istanbul is not for everyone! We also went to the Grand Bazaar. It’s a fascinating place and something that must be experienced.
Day 3, we visited the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia. Thanks Saffiyya for the scarf!!
I also have to mention that it is currently the month of Ramadan. As you know, Muslims do not eat or drink between dawn and dusk during Ramadan. Fortunately, the restaurants, especially in the old town, remain open for the tourists. You wouldn’t even know that it was Ramadan now with all the cafes being busy. However, it is in the evening when the city comes to life! Most of the tourists have hopped on their respective buses and have been driven to their hotels or designated restaurants to be entertained and the locals now come out enjoying dinner and festivities with their families. Between the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia is the Sultanahmet Square. Along the streets of Atmeydani Sok, surrounding the square, are vendors selling food or Turkish handicrafts. At the centre, families have a feast at the picnic tables and listen to bands play or watch a fire breathing act. Also in the evening, some of the restaurants in the city even have a tradition of giving away food for free during Ramadan. I was worried about being here during Ramadan, but I think it’s now the best time to go!!!
Day 4, we cruised up the Bosphorus using the Turkish Maritime Line. This is taken at the Eminonu piers. We got off at the Saiyer pier, recommended to us by a nice UK couple we met at our hotel. We then took a local bus back down along the Bosphorus. Each way was a wonderful journey. The cruise was very relaxing and there were beautiful sites along the river. I just have to say that we knew which pier we had to take in Eminonu, because the night before we went to Eminonu and we asked a gentleman working there. But what was so great was that even though we asked only one gentleman, others came by to help, especially with the English-Turkish language barrier! We seem to experience this assistance every where. The Turkish people have been so kind and helpful! It also helps when you smile, use the translation glossary in your guides and laugh!
Day 5, we visited the Topkapi Palace.
Day 6, we flew to Ismir and took a cab to Selcuk. We checked into the Nazar Hotel. It is a budget family-run place. It is very clean and has a swimming pool!!!! We met with Lily. She will be our driver to Ephesus tomorrow. She also has a carpet store that we will be visiting after our site seeing. Craig and I won’t be buying any carpets, especially if we don’t even have a house!
Whew, I caught up! Until tomorrow (well, maybe not)!
Love,
Michelle
It’s Sunday, Sept. 13th and yes, I seem to have skipped a lot of days since the last entry into the blog. Well, I thought that though I wanted to do this blog, I didn’t want to spend my entire trip sitting in my room or at the main foyer of the hotel (some places had weak WiFi connections) typing away on our new netbook. In the past, I was pretty pathetic in journal entries trying to write what I did four days ago! Nothings changed!
Okay, day 1, we arrived in Istanbul, Turkey in the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 8th and checked into our hotel, Seven Hills. The hotel is very nice with an Ottoman theme and the people who work there are very friendly. The hotel is in an ideal location. We are walking distance to the major sites: 2minutes from Haghia Sophia, 5minutes to the Blue Mosque, 5 minutes to the Topkapi Palace and 10 minutes from the Grand Bazaar. We were also close to the tram, so going elsewhere is pretty easy. The roof top of our hotel had a beautiful view of both the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia. This first night we watched a crazy display of lightening while we had a wonderful fish dinner at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant.
Day 2, Craig and I decided to take it easy and just walk around the city. We wanted to get familiar with our surroundings and check out places we wanted to see and places to eat. The old city was busy with tourists (most of them were seniors). It was amazing to see the number of huge white tour buses that continually drove by where ever we went. Although the streets are narrow, those bus drivers sure know how to squeeze through those alleys. Driving in Istanbul is not for everyone! We also went to the Grand Bazaar. It’s a fascinating place and something that must be experienced.
Day 3, we visited the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia. Thanks Saffiyya for the scarf!!
I also have to mention that it is currently the month of Ramadan. As you know, Muslims do not eat or drink between dawn and dusk during Ramadan. Fortunately, the restaurants, especially in the old town, remain open for the tourists. You wouldn’t even know that it was Ramadan now with all the cafes being busy. However, it is in the evening when the city comes to life! Most of the tourists have hopped on their respective buses and have been driven to their hotels or designated restaurants to be entertained and the locals now come out enjoying dinner and festivities with their families. Between the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia is the Sultanahmet Square. Along the streets of Atmeydani Sok, surrounding the square, are vendors selling food or Turkish handicrafts. At the centre, families have a feast at the picnic tables and listen to bands play or watch a fire breathing act. Also in the evening, some of the restaurants in the city even have a tradition of giving away food for free during Ramadan. I was worried about being here during Ramadan, but I think it’s now the best time to go!!!
Day 4, we cruised up the Bosphorus using the Turkish Maritime Line. This is taken at the Eminonu piers. We got off at the Saiyer pier, recommended to us by a nice UK couple we met at our hotel. We then took a local bus back down along the Bosphorus. Each way was a wonderful journey. The cruise was very relaxing and there were beautiful sites along the river. I just have to say that we knew which pier we had to take in Eminonu, because the night before we went to Eminonu and we asked a gentleman working there. But what was so great was that even though we asked only one gentleman, others came by to help, especially with the English-Turkish language barrier! We seem to experience this assistance every where. The Turkish people have been so kind and helpful! It also helps when you smile, use the translation glossary in your guides and laugh!
Day 5, we visited the Topkapi Palace.
Day 6, we flew to Ismir and took a cab to Selcuk. We checked into the Nazar Hotel. It is a budget family-run place. It is very clean and has a swimming pool!!!! We met with Lily. She will be our driver to Ephesus tomorrow. She also has a carpet store that we will be visiting after our site seeing. Craig and I won’t be buying any carpets, especially if we don’t even have a house!
Whew, I caught up! Until tomorrow (well, maybe not)!
Love,
Michelle
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Preparing for Hunter's World Trip
Craig's thoughts:
I feel disorientated, my life has maintained a constant rhythm of work, paycheque, weekend, work etc... Now I’m moving towards something unfamiliar, something with unknown benefits but a dream never the less. There is growing pressure from others as they say “good for you - go for it”, “we will live through you”. I’m not sure they know what we have given up to live this dream, I’m not sure I know what I have given up to live this dream.
Packing & moving: We are packing and storing stuff everyday. Why do we have so much stuff? Why the hell would anyone move? Michelle and I are doing it on our own. That’s the way we like it. We don’t like to bother anyone while pursuing this adventure (it doesn’t feel like an adventure at the moment). People have asked “You must be excited”, well no, we’ve been too damn busy. Yes, we have our airline tickets but we have no time to celebrate.
Doubt: Last day of packing and doubt is creeping in. How the hell did I get here? I’m fully committed now, no turning back. Michelle is amazing, she is excited, she looks more like a kid going to Disney Land rather than someone that quit her job and sold the house of her dreams.
I’ll be alright so long as I have her.
Michelle's thoughts:
Sold the house- check! Resign- check! Take all my stuff out of my work locker; stuff that’s been there since I was a student- check! Sort out the junk from my locker in the living room floor- check! Entertain wedding guests days before the closing of the house- check! Attend wedding and other family functions- check! Pack the stuff in the house -check! Send stuff to storage and Karen’s gorgeous house-check! Finally, pack for the trip-check! I know I forgot something!! Oh yes, buy tickets to Turkey- check!
It’s been a crazy month, but it’s been worth it. Craig and I have talked about quitting our jobs and travelling around the world for a year since forever! I am so ecstatic about this journey, it blows my mind just thinking about it!!!
Kind of weird doing this blog. We usually just write into a journal, but we thought that this journey deserved a unique way for Craig and I to document what we will experience. We hope our family and friends will enjoy reading our blog, but it is really for us to remember what we did, where we went, who we met, when we did things. There will be entries about the best way to get somewhere, where was a good place to eat and stay, and other tidbits that may bore others, but is important to us.
I hope people enjoy reading our experiences as much as we enjoyed living them!!!
Love,
Michelle
I feel disorientated, my life has maintained a constant rhythm of work, paycheque, weekend, work etc... Now I’m moving towards something unfamiliar, something with unknown benefits but a dream never the less. There is growing pressure from others as they say “good for you - go for it”, “we will live through you”. I’m not sure they know what we have given up to live this dream, I’m not sure I know what I have given up to live this dream.
Packing & moving: We are packing and storing stuff everyday. Why do we have so much stuff? Why the hell would anyone move? Michelle and I are doing it on our own. That’s the way we like it. We don’t like to bother anyone while pursuing this adventure (it doesn’t feel like an adventure at the moment). People have asked “You must be excited”, well no, we’ve been too damn busy. Yes, we have our airline tickets but we have no time to celebrate.
Doubt: Last day of packing and doubt is creeping in. How the hell did I get here? I’m fully committed now, no turning back. Michelle is amazing, she is excited, she looks more like a kid going to Disney Land rather than someone that quit her job and sold the house of her dreams.
I’ll be alright so long as I have her.
Michelle's thoughts:
Sold the house- check! Resign- check! Take all my stuff out of my work locker; stuff that’s been there since I was a student- check! Sort out the junk from my locker in the living room floor- check! Entertain wedding guests days before the closing of the house- check! Attend wedding and other family functions- check! Pack the stuff in the house -check! Send stuff to storage and Karen’s gorgeous house-check! Finally, pack for the trip-check! I know I forgot something!! Oh yes, buy tickets to Turkey- check!
It’s been a crazy month, but it’s been worth it. Craig and I have talked about quitting our jobs and travelling around the world for a year since forever! I am so ecstatic about this journey, it blows my mind just thinking about it!!!
Kind of weird doing this blog. We usually just write into a journal, but we thought that this journey deserved a unique way for Craig and I to document what we will experience. We hope our family and friends will enjoy reading our blog, but it is really for us to remember what we did, where we went, who we met, when we did things. There will be entries about the best way to get somewhere, where was a good place to eat and stay, and other tidbits that may bore others, but is important to us.
I hope people enjoy reading our experiences as much as we enjoyed living them!!!
Love,
Michelle
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