Drinking From The Ganges

I checked my countries travel website, travel blogs and asked fellow travelers, but I never got a concise answer……..’can I get a visa for Syria at the border’?  The US travel website said no, but…..had an exception to the ‘rule’, travel blogs were inconclusive & fellow travelers already had a visa or were going to obtain one prior to arriving to the border.  I decided I couldn’t be bothered with obtaining one beforehand due to the time it takes to locate an embassy and the documents necessary to get the visa and the money to pay for the visa (apparently if you get a visa from the embassy it cost a minimum 100.00).  I had heard and read horror stories regarding the amount of time people may have to wait at the border for a visa upon arrival.  I read on a travel blog that the wait could be anywhere from four  to twelve hours and did not guarantee a visa.  According to one person I spoke with, he said I should get to the border between 8-10am, because if I don’t have a visa the border patrol has to fax the documents to Damascus for ‘approval’.  And if I arrive after ten, the border patrol in Damascus will be on ’siesta’.  This is two of MANY stories I received when I inquired about going to the border of Syria without a visa……see my confusion! [read on]

Selcuk (Ephesus), Turkey

Once I finished my three day tour of Istanbul I took an over night bus to Selcuk, Turkey.  Selcuk is located ten hours southwest of Istanbul.  The main purpose for my visit to Selcuk was to see Ephesus (ruins built around the 10th century BC).  The ruins are very well preserved, but the highlight of the ruins is “Library of Celsus”.  The Library stands about 55 feet wide by 36 feet long…it really is a sight to behold…as it is one of few Roman ruins I have seen that is still in decent condition.  Ephesus and the museum are the only attractions in Selcuk….as a result, I decided to move on the next morning to visit Pamukkale (pronounced pah-MOOK-kah-leh, which means ‘cotton castle’ in Turkish), Turkey, which is three hours east of Selcuk.

Pamukkale, Turkey

Pamukkale, Turkey is a very, very small town (population about 2500, not including the bus loads of daily tourists), but with two big attractions.  The first attraction is The Travertine pools made from calcium carbonate.  These pools were created by the warm mineral water, which cooled and deposited calcium.  From afar the cliffs of the pools look like snow covered mountains.  There are about eight Travertine pools that still have water in them…..but, apparently there is a shortage of water being supplied to these pools, which might be attributed to the town of Pamukkale re-filling the pools in nearby hotels.  So, if you do plan to visit Pamukkale to view the pools….you may want to do it in the near future, as there may be no water left in them.  The walk through the Travetine pools is a painful process, because they require all visitors to remove their shoes, so not to destroy the cliffs made of calcium.  Once you make it to the top of the hill, you have the option to go swimming in one of the larger pools or visit Hierapolis (ruins located above the travertines).   

Olympos, Turkey

Once I finished visiting Pamukkale I headed south to the village of Olympos.  Olympos lays on the Mediterranean Sea and takes about twelve hours to reach from Pamukkale.  I took an overnight bus to reach the city of Antalya and from Antalya I had to transfer to a micro bus, which took me to the top of Mt. Olympos (which takes about a hour and a half) and from Mt. Olympos I had to transfer AGAIN to a ‘local’ microbus which took me to the town of Olympos……… Most (if not all) people who visit Olympos stay in a ’Treehouses’ while visiting and generally it is ‘all-inclusive’, meaning there is a set price, which includes your breakfast, dinner, and accommodations (bunk-bed).  [read on]

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1.  I'm in a country that spans two continents. 2. "They Might Be Giants" sang a song about the largest city. 3.  This country is surrounded by four seas, Marmara, Black Sea, Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. 4.  The capital is Ankara 5.  The "Whirling Dervishes" ... [Continue reading this entry]

Oh, Royal Jordan! Aqaba, Jordan I took a 'private' ferry from Nuweiba, Egypt to Aqaba, Jordan.  I was advised by several people that the public ferry crossing to Jordon can take up to ten hours!  Not entirely sure why the public ferry takes ... [Continue reading this entry]

Mt. Sinai Mt. Sinai lays on the Sinai Peninsula, in the Asian part of Egypt, boarding Israel, Jordon and Saudi Arabia. Mt. Sinai rises to 2285m.  There are 3750 step of 'repentance' that lead to the top of the mountain, which were apparently laid by ... [Continue reading this entry]

Aswan, Egypt

I took an overnight train from Cairo, Egypt to Aswan, Egypt.....which takes about twelve hours (Egyptian time:).  Aswan lays on the Nile river.....the Nile is the largest river in the world (the Mississippi river being the second largest).  The ... [Continue reading this entry]