tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39416621627377374702024-03-17T20:09:15.824-06:00Going Places with JIn Pursuit of Adventure, New Experiences and Interesting PlacesJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.comBlogger291125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-63700705419768273072024-03-17T16:54:00.001-06:002024-03-17T20:08:44.604-06:00Chill Birthday Vibes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Birthday to me! for the past 14 years I have been celebrating my birthday in different countries but this year I am staying put. The initial plan had actually been to take a big trip during my birthday but circumstances had me postponing the trip to April so watch this space for an epic post birthday trip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the meantime, take a walk down memory lane with me as I share my birthday adventures over the years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2010</b> - Portugal (first solo trip, I was so scared and I remember trembling on my ride to the hostel from the airport. Who knew that this was the beginning of amazing adventures over the years).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14RSrNgX6QsrYJpcK9uIAoMK4Nr4q3hkZ8Zp560hp7XR6gaXNFHkiRltdsu0PfP1KV2RV2tw0ZAXiTZe233oHGIrvS65c2H6ooQ7SB7QKnx72xC5trF8ViH2nWvsfy06WQiG5KU2HOLD9mL5UbKOuZ04XIn83J-pcgWSo0rgvoThMw9vvVvomGcoXv9g/s1080/20240315_002656.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1080" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14RSrNgX6QsrYJpcK9uIAoMK4Nr4q3hkZ8Zp560hp7XR6gaXNFHkiRltdsu0PfP1KV2RV2tw0ZAXiTZe233oHGIrvS65c2H6ooQ7SB7QKnx72xC5trF8ViH2nWvsfy06WQiG5KU2HOLD9mL5UbKOuZ04XIn83J-pcgWSo0rgvoThMw9vvVvomGcoXv9g/w640-h412/20240315_002656.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2011</b> - Israel (had a great time in Jerusalem but Tel Aviv rubbed me off the wrong way. Taxi drivers kept stopping by my side asking for my price, initially I couldn't understand what they meant till it finally dawned on me, yikes!)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwt7BEZTRKfr0LafS_KO2QqKxkhlMErO3quuPbp3o7cXn5d_V1ogyC4ztbGiAD7t_ajwWj6zng_J0DJerrP1-Rjg4xSbn0J9ZTH7wjrnO3yl6ycAJ8eYxA9ymXQIGhwDmVK0X50qTedKKYFFQfhhuGCVXRJrQC-HmPCdvy0gBTX6gay2ctnnbxogU-cHA/s1472/20240315_002738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="1070" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwt7BEZTRKfr0LafS_KO2QqKxkhlMErO3quuPbp3o7cXn5d_V1ogyC4ztbGiAD7t_ajwWj6zng_J0DJerrP1-Rjg4xSbn0J9ZTH7wjrnO3yl6ycAJ8eYxA9ymXQIGhwDmVK0X50qTedKKYFFQfhhuGCVXRJrQC-HmPCdvy0gBTX6gay2ctnnbxogU-cHA/w466-h640/20240315_002738.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2012</b> - Peru (this trip opened my eyes to what South America had to offer and I wanted to see more. Visiting Machu Picchu was an unforgettable experience).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_YF7cvH4VSdo3Ds1RFR9xdkZ2-XiIM62Jz6-1pg4kU2FWaANh01-C9tW_V_WV0kHSv0gZKhnfk_Tx5L6U9hyg4rKCB9j43nPmCREgX0syIQGE1ZB12zWPM4JTdCKKu8fRzA11ymhfJHx8OuZ7CHs1VI9E52mZfqqMwMKFo4ekgRttoyInOc71ZWrb2Q/s1450/20240315_002833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_YF7cvH4VSdo3Ds1RFR9xdkZ2-XiIM62Jz6-1pg4kU2FWaANh01-C9tW_V_WV0kHSv0gZKhnfk_Tx5L6U9hyg4rKCB9j43nPmCREgX0syIQGE1ZB12zWPM4JTdCKKu8fRzA11ymhfJHx8OuZ7CHs1VI9E52mZfqqMwMKFo4ekgRttoyInOc71ZWrb2Q/w466-h640/20240315_002833.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2013</b> - Colombia (this trip planted the seed of long term travel through South America, I met several solo female travelers who had been traveling for several months through South America and they inspired me to want to do the same).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6eZJrdtPAV5yexDF3eLXge_2AikAE6JynvD7RqoFkfPRPvBp1JuxBukjQJN5UDEJq6s4elRW0rPhqAc6vZJbdBISHXkf9wxN83cN711y9ypP3hXnLeU6_v9-sMtE1bTZu8i9JAUNWzn6f0p2Go3wa1WfCiKGsjL4qVXEtDwkrI5ySLDSbA_NdMGneuE/s1080/20240316_235830.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6eZJrdtPAV5yexDF3eLXge_2AikAE6JynvD7RqoFkfPRPvBp1JuxBukjQJN5UDEJq6s4elRW0rPhqAc6vZJbdBISHXkf9wxN83cN711y9ypP3hXnLeU6_v9-sMtE1bTZu8i9JAUNWzn6f0p2Go3wa1WfCiKGsjL4qVXEtDwkrI5ySLDSbA_NdMGneuE/w640-h480/20240316_235830.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhEdPFJFZ1dMLdsIYq_At6dCSXBf4Le2TZcTTnJ8Uj0TKZ-nbp6jmsVvl3N9XdVIKcJrDl_JCmM7kEfj0PHAUCpv48TPCBsrynFWF9vVrv9m2a_opuzObjk-CKzHPjw2aw7TRaJjjAiENmas6TTfV5BoyB21vNBVQPipXwnMDZH8gbTet-UNVSr7p6Z8/s1080/20240317_002024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1080" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhEdPFJFZ1dMLdsIYq_At6dCSXBf4Le2TZcTTnJ8Uj0TKZ-nbp6jmsVvl3N9XdVIKcJrDl_JCmM7kEfj0PHAUCpv48TPCBsrynFWF9vVrv9m2a_opuzObjk-CKzHPjw2aw7TRaJjjAiENmas6TTfV5BoyB21vNBVQPipXwnMDZH8gbTet-UNVSr7p6Z8/w640-h484/20240317_002024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2014</b> - Panama (honestly, Panama wasn't on my radar but it was conveniently located on my way to Colombia to start my long term travel through South America after having quit my job. Venezuela my first choice wasn't safe so I settled for Panama, I still had a good time so no complaints).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieUCAXlavucbOoH_v5iPWxzp3doW5mroW4xVNYavNGPWstyUSy-5VP6NnvGR3DspLdlId5XrL3AGAqQv_ptGwkWQW2_EUz7DS8D6tfaNt1BwKT4S2Y34A5OfnL4_MYIZPaC8C8VW5oMicndvmUjYjozd6WlwUpkxU_hlhVhiPxoMs8wFj_QGT0AYdjn0/s1078/20240317_000742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1078" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieUCAXlavucbOoH_v5iPWxzp3doW5mroW4xVNYavNGPWstyUSy-5VP6NnvGR3DspLdlId5XrL3AGAqQv_ptGwkWQW2_EUz7DS8D6tfaNt1BwKT4S2Y34A5OfnL4_MYIZPaC8C8VW5oMicndvmUjYjozd6WlwUpkxU_hlhVhiPxoMs8wFj_QGT0AYdjn0/w640-h450/20240317_000742.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2015</b> - Galapagos (I was living in Ecuador at the time so it made sense to visit Galapagos, I had a good time as usual and when I came back from that trip, my then boyfriend proposed and we got married a few months later).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1aONGlB9OsAzW-4EsFax2A8MOoGFk21RnAVLp9T1i19Wf9PjGt5APSR33DfXp38AUU6WaafvX7yIhWIVg2dhYHwdoVAUjX5ono_I0F9n4X7Yl8AS4AgWffXAng-4R_Og0LZGx4P9ugkVL10fYh5L2nk-yCEboVLUHzMJDRfP8H288hTrF9FBw3HxKkA/s1080/20240317_000632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1080" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1aONGlB9OsAzW-4EsFax2A8MOoGFk21RnAVLp9T1i19Wf9PjGt5APSR33DfXp38AUU6WaafvX7yIhWIVg2dhYHwdoVAUjX5ono_I0F9n4X7Yl8AS4AgWffXAng-4R_Og0LZGx4P9ugkVL10fYh5L2nk-yCEboVLUHzMJDRfP8H288hTrF9FBw3HxKkA/w640-h472/20240317_000632.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2016</b> - Mexico (I stayed with a local family and they showed me such a good time. Had all the delicious Mexican food imaginable, had food poisoning later but that's a story for another day. Mexico City won my heart and I could totally see myself living there.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IuXXAVglpQH2rPdxepy3uQXOFAepQGTiaPSzeRK4v4nHKnswxsq_KSA5k19_T0z72VYhfOXrsN_3494mBdMWF2X9O5bXYFXzfMRCRaG9ActCMuGPBY8WxWW3ShMTjIyebcqHfwp3Nv9j_wmGRP22Q-eJAe67VzXtHYqsBiP_slFVEW8RMCYTfoumDMg/s1168/20240315_003001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IuXXAVglpQH2rPdxepy3uQXOFAepQGTiaPSzeRK4v4nHKnswxsq_KSA5k19_T0z72VYhfOXrsN_3494mBdMWF2X9O5bXYFXzfMRCRaG9ActCMuGPBY8WxWW3ShMTjIyebcqHfwp3Nv9j_wmGRP22Q-eJAe67VzXtHYqsBiP_slFVEW8RMCYTfoumDMg/w580-h640/20240315_003001.jpg" width="580" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2017</b> - Guatemala (this country was such a pleasant surprise! it exceeded my expectations)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfNzX9XvR3T3BaB70YSl58MSATCDnXhqicOLd2I-v5tktq6tFzz3G20O18V5iYTpvC_7OlMRR-yXhWMLRGTiiaB781TXnwVbxIVcorPscoX1TgDMCTLTZgT4Oz53l5RN3YGeLnEBiQiO49pSGVo_UICFcKnTMLcOd9sNEPsfc_op-nUvYGTXoApZIz58/s1080/20240315_003153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfNzX9XvR3T3BaB70YSl58MSATCDnXhqicOLd2I-v5tktq6tFzz3G20O18V5iYTpvC_7OlMRR-yXhWMLRGTiiaB781TXnwVbxIVcorPscoX1TgDMCTLTZgT4Oz53l5RN3YGeLnEBiQiO49pSGVo_UICFcKnTMLcOd9sNEPsfc_op-nUvYGTXoApZIz58/w640-h480/20240315_003153.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>2018</b> - Cuba (for the longest time I had romanticized this country and was so excited to visit. I met great people that I am still in contact with but seeing the hardships that regular citizens go through, quickly slapped me into reality and got me off the bubble I was in).<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1W-0cEuvbYQ6LXd5FXoJRAa9thpFLQCQfO1TlGaNJoInlYnfVJs9WR7w9vdSf9LBk9GtfHi4GSE37wzJzqSIrx9j-n75CIm-ssg-hr-1lmQX0gcQARmWXcVMRajEPTQklla2ao7oZ-A2ZY4ddeGaXwC6krjBwLau-PcdYwSdbF2S5_dxfNZnWPDVilo/s1437/20240315_003222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1078" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1W-0cEuvbYQ6LXd5FXoJRAa9thpFLQCQfO1TlGaNJoInlYnfVJs9WR7w9vdSf9LBk9GtfHi4GSE37wzJzqSIrx9j-n75CIm-ssg-hr-1lmQX0gcQARmWXcVMRajEPTQklla2ao7oZ-A2ZY4ddeGaXwC6krjBwLau-PcdYwSdbF2S5_dxfNZnWPDVilo/w480-h640/20240315_003222.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2019</b> - Jordan ( I had read about Jordanian hospitality and got fascinated to learn more about the country. I was warmly received and met good people along the way. Can't forget the sweet taxi driver who took it upon himself to show me around during his free time. We actually became buddies and are still in touch).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAZKOwyQ2ptBJV2yQD8b7YMun2MIC7dELIv5DBo_RpBUZXL6HZ79jqGCi7CCUJWrRV2Igc7RRNa8osooKtuYfumtPhVWdfcD3rwy3PGckznOktLM3m73vc0ldLoqWSb1vH40pRaj2wTk__cvPsG7Fu_4mKY-FQryYd-k0y25FoU1FgDQ_Dktnj3g8yKo/s1920/FB_IMG_1710651347325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAZKOwyQ2ptBJV2yQD8b7YMun2MIC7dELIv5DBo_RpBUZXL6HZ79jqGCi7CCUJWrRV2Igc7RRNa8osooKtuYfumtPhVWdfcD3rwy3PGckznOktLM3m73vc0ldLoqWSb1vH40pRaj2wTk__cvPsG7Fu_4mKY-FQryYd-k0y25FoU1FgDQ_Dktnj3g8yKo/w360-h640/FB_IMG_1710651347325.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2020</b> - Japan (who can forget this year, went to Japan just as news of the pandemic was spreading. I am so glad that I didn't cancel the trip because it was amazing and I loved Japan. Lockdown started just as my plane landed back in the US).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdoZfJ_jUtcBmb5vwiKu0shyPUb6YpKYkpehx1z876Pbi8JwLXKBDbzM4l2vr3Fkq8R2azDF3XEj6ox8wtPgwqNczj6mupw5igdhjL-RpezjCqL7WTTq-ujTW1ZdiNScsbUaSE6LB0GB7HRwkjdA9Qms3xb1_j_5v5RWKzLuaVHo_P-Ll_Gl56aSubUY/s1080/20240315_000555.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="1080" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdoZfJ_jUtcBmb5vwiKu0shyPUb6YpKYkpehx1z876Pbi8JwLXKBDbzM4l2vr3Fkq8R2azDF3XEj6ox8wtPgwqNczj6mupw5igdhjL-RpezjCqL7WTTq-ujTW1ZdiNScsbUaSE6LB0GB7HRwkjdA9Qms3xb1_j_5v5RWKzLuaVHo_P-Ll_Gl56aSubUY/w640-h366/20240315_000555.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2021 </b>- Puerto Rico (many countries still had tight rules concerning covid so options were limited, figured it was about time I visited Puerto Rico since I had always wanted to visit and it presented an easier option at the time).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hyZ7l9AQl2f81Z6YeUkA2L1NoeQZ8hVW5kdPzJI-25LrjAIeupqHU6q7DaWxQjwCGxkWD3e77Y9Sg20iUrIgSs0NzGv1dYOgw28TH9gE5xfPIJkBuBqQhQK4zmhJqSLBdktf_xfZAha61Y6pCVT7oXNozCPnPTkzzKohyzM-YpB1L_BSjqqOEsuJwzs/s1440/20240315_000632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hyZ7l9AQl2f81Z6YeUkA2L1NoeQZ8hVW5kdPzJI-25LrjAIeupqHU6q7DaWxQjwCGxkWD3e77Y9Sg20iUrIgSs0NzGv1dYOgw28TH9gE5xfPIJkBuBqQhQK4zmhJqSLBdktf_xfZAha61Y6pCVT7oXNozCPnPTkzzKohyzM-YpB1L_BSjqqOEsuJwzs/w480-h640/20240315_000632.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2022</b> - Lebanon (my fascination with the Middle East led me to this country, such a beautiful country despite the economic hardships being faced by majority of the citizens. Great food too!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyPMu90BHEm-7AxZJvf8EdiG4cgyLisUqjQ7NyUPy-1oMzNdiDfVAoCPA0LYeFaRExCFaM5ltdX6QqZz7jkATeZZFLvpJYF5WjDydXB9z0kEgfH7pK__ln6TmwkdDbJju9eJq5yzg58CdcuhtAQeVy2lmZPzTNCfXFCxjt4lhcqmgLaVp1vMrGQclNcI/s1440/20240315_000714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyPMu90BHEm-7AxZJvf8EdiG4cgyLisUqjQ7NyUPy-1oMzNdiDfVAoCPA0LYeFaRExCFaM5ltdX6QqZz7jkATeZZFLvpJYF5WjDydXB9z0kEgfH7pK__ln6TmwkdDbJju9eJq5yzg58CdcuhtAQeVy2lmZPzTNCfXFCxjt4lhcqmgLaVp1vMrGQclNcI/w480-h640/20240315_000714.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2023</b> - India (while I appreciate the historic and cultural sites that I visited, this is one country that I wouldn't want to re-visit, I will just eave it at that).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbKC9gT8IWPCTkDNM3sT0IX0VnEqlkGpCt4dlSBWWqJk8qw1kY_r4CflgFbdp3mltg-thfC8dvycTGV0Irw2bucoyQU8mcXdaXjz1DEU_AM5VDviP3fHXVHvbSmflf_xdkPhzW0Fofblhh_nvbHJBKg_UgN4UNKAzA2ICwOfN6LyQqSe-juSDme4HMTY/s1078/20240317_001358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1078" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbKC9gT8IWPCTkDNM3sT0IX0VnEqlkGpCt4dlSBWWqJk8qw1kY_r4CflgFbdp3mltg-thfC8dvycTGV0Irw2bucoyQU8mcXdaXjz1DEU_AM5VDviP3fHXVHvbSmflf_xdkPhzW0Fofblhh_nvbHJBKg_UgN4UNKAzA2ICwOfN6LyQqSe-juSDme4HMTY/w640-h480/20240317_001358.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! it's been quite a ride and I am grateful for all the experiences that I have had over the years, the good and the bad. I really don't take it for granted and as long as I am able to, I will continue with my adventures. As I mentioned before, watch this space for my next adventure, it's going to be epic! in the meantime, let me enjoy my birthday cake next to my husband as we binge watch movies on Netflix (it's the simple things folks).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /> <p></p></div>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-90432687011731950742023-11-26T09:20:00.008-06:002023-11-26T09:21:49.516-06:00Oman Day Six - Muscat<p>Today being my last day in this wonderful country, I just wanted to take it easy going around Muscat for the last time as I bid the city goodbye. Here are a few photos that I took along the way...</p><p>Enjoying a morning walk by the beach before the sun REALLY comes out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4V9qcuobc6rOYjMWxtrDiVp5WK8Tfc_geMXj__Hqz2hfrAm62UHGl-a8-lOqslt0DYMHmJaolb85G00FtbC8P8IWYtCoqvPNe13pdXFhw0YKWlyuFb66ZNnlVqg-gDZxTf9A_cCwqlWJlbPl1QPcsGItFqdM0OF2EsWSZ_tMXjwsFv5zRlkArLSJFhE/s4032/20231126_122417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4V9qcuobc6rOYjMWxtrDiVp5WK8Tfc_geMXj__Hqz2hfrAm62UHGl-a8-lOqslt0DYMHmJaolb85G00FtbC8P8IWYtCoqvPNe13pdXFhw0YKWlyuFb66ZNnlVqg-gDZxTf9A_cCwqlWJlbPl1QPcsGItFqdM0OF2EsWSZ_tMXjwsFv5zRlkArLSJFhE/w480-h640/20231126_122417.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTxRjIkymc-SiRpq7pGvzYeXecvEmYEsK0hFa8Exmiv-sITHR_dbxGIwjuxPGVLIJOeB6ayyRK123V75zhh8XXDI1XnO6gp6jb-Z0gohNiyfUzCTq2h_nk7HJcY-ucwJdpUjK2ZtSWf0AFXLr4-wQCysjij8oGQ5VOqAuGeP1hbwxc1mqB2F7uhGNsCI/s4032/20231126_122525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTxRjIkymc-SiRpq7pGvzYeXecvEmYEsK0hFa8Exmiv-sITHR_dbxGIwjuxPGVLIJOeB6ayyRK123V75zhh8XXDI1XnO6gp6jb-Z0gohNiyfUzCTq2h_nk7HJcY-ucwJdpUjK2ZtSWf0AFXLr4-wQCysjij8oGQ5VOqAuGeP1hbwxc1mqB2F7uhGNsCI/w480-h640/20231126_122525.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spicy Karak tea with traditional Omani bread filled with cheese and honey became my breakfast staple.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ6nnevxeDLy45UUG_Ux4zGZshyuuZ2uKO2WXO6NnhPRvUeNJC-V4SSynQO_KRcRXet3aBC5ZQQxeygEF78j0maBr_8__E1AV6iiDQor-LZD0vQZGk1b4QQjSijMrCZ-zvJl4KV1TixAdSlb_ULcHi4hoes7UobiA6ovoLaOYVS5B0uvh7Bz0DDzyzOs/s3024/20231126_150954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3024" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ6nnevxeDLy45UUG_Ux4zGZshyuuZ2uKO2WXO6NnhPRvUeNJC-V4SSynQO_KRcRXet3aBC5ZQQxeygEF78j0maBr_8__E1AV6iiDQor-LZD0vQZGk1b4QQjSijMrCZ-zvJl4KV1TixAdSlb_ULcHi4hoes7UobiA6ovoLaOYVS5B0uvh7Bz0DDzyzOs/w640-h580/20231126_150954.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Enjoying some sweet Omani halwa (a type of confectionary). This show called Al Diwaniya sells halwa and they always have samples laid out for anyone to stop in and taste with no obligation to buy. There are many stores that do this, be it with dates or other sweets.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IZRZjgQBgouZDAzyn8aWQ1eDm-zPgeNJBaXjIRoWMFjCsYZyW8AbpFk0Ul2Oq6AgVf7Z5fhDiddvQOYD113WqtIXo-1mUCNRqJAuHqP9LYXnpjBumbIJIh0YyzcCTkQIyq4Mnr_waHY_Hm3PHTKLt439L1LrQGqyOvGXSgiUTf9hckB28KuZWLRI8zg/s4032/20231126_102655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IZRZjgQBgouZDAzyn8aWQ1eDm-zPgeNJBaXjIRoWMFjCsYZyW8AbpFk0Ul2Oq6AgVf7Z5fhDiddvQOYD113WqtIXo-1mUCNRqJAuHqP9LYXnpjBumbIJIh0YyzcCTkQIyq4Mnr_waHY_Hm3PHTKLt439L1LrQGqyOvGXSgiUTf9hckB28KuZWLRI8zg/w480-h640/20231126_102655.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHh9mix1GWysmJ9hGEddddT2BL0GjFiaLXbRJNn8z5IhJg5BBx2gFhUZDyfs-ScQ6fBr7IiDx7V6PLChYrUtCg6Tsb4lWykXk3PKBJtS_qDnXVtkmrWwIxkQKgGr_ft-Z_35t7MtD7SqT2I72whAi2GRjaOEfar5X5Bj7_4m7Ppa7jAzHTQlhleCq4FA/s4032/20231126_110511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHh9mix1GWysmJ9hGEddddT2BL0GjFiaLXbRJNn8z5IhJg5BBx2gFhUZDyfs-ScQ6fBr7IiDx7V6PLChYrUtCg6Tsb4lWykXk3PKBJtS_qDnXVtkmrWwIxkQKgGr_ft-Z_35t7MtD7SqT2I72whAi2GRjaOEfar5X5Bj7_4m7Ppa7jAzHTQlhleCq4FA/w480-h640/20231126_110511.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Went up Muttrah Fort to enjoy an aerial view of Muscat. It wasn't fun climbing the stairs up with the sun beating up on me, but the views were worth it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYSVPu374dUPuAjtoBh2EP6veWEzzKLGgR6pd9JfV6y4b7UVO_5e5UtJ7mtztwuCQ30XckQYxEQ0ug-CfxGp2DWZWpA8Aznw_Qj0880tyAwb5lToVmr3CHyLLwe2wPNIL8A0-WEV6gR9RAca-SwUW1WJEo-juldhG0RnF-CMRGWN6X7rvFjyBk9gewT0/s4032/20231126_122645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYSVPu374dUPuAjtoBh2EP6veWEzzKLGgR6pd9JfV6y4b7UVO_5e5UtJ7mtztwuCQ30XckQYxEQ0ug-CfxGp2DWZWpA8Aznw_Qj0880tyAwb5lToVmr3CHyLLwe2wPNIL8A0-WEV6gR9RAca-SwUW1WJEo-juldhG0RnF-CMRGWN6X7rvFjyBk9gewT0/w480-h640/20231126_122645.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uV0sOSsAYtjn8toFn8bWv-KpfL6_rt6CoCO60Z-CEonyyWjFSCgx6LXjGPqgeNtCkIgdwq-3gDtkWjXTyUYSYWMqohcqj0HzwxopG7GkvJMJGVE6KXwusSR-hhql0tiV7nzAVnjza-eSEqwTFGz2qQ1DDpgOTgPA2QQTW-QXYOV6nxLP9AKxgkqHlH8/s4032/20231126_122725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uV0sOSsAYtjn8toFn8bWv-KpfL6_rt6CoCO60Z-CEonyyWjFSCgx6LXjGPqgeNtCkIgdwq-3gDtkWjXTyUYSYWMqohcqj0HzwxopG7GkvJMJGVE6KXwusSR-hhql0tiV7nzAVnjza-eSEqwTFGz2qQ1DDpgOTgPA2QQTW-QXYOV6nxLP9AKxgkqHlH8/w480-h640/20231126_122725.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpn3gG0bUwLPkce72n1BIGgxhp2NS_QOUGy86fCv1rxdbhYSq1Xu5i0HP1QbMRm7xHdUNxLU6aWr629mOPgkk423YylUucOO51rkqO2zjPhlQ7FjXu989ZQruBPFIt3rqBW0JB1Mb2H01RFw-QhId7bmU50nTJQhi9k-yQs89uuy36Rx092rYSJsjhF50/s4032/20231126_122817.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpn3gG0bUwLPkce72n1BIGgxhp2NS_QOUGy86fCv1rxdbhYSq1Xu5i0HP1QbMRm7xHdUNxLU6aWr629mOPgkk423YylUucOO51rkqO2zjPhlQ7FjXu989ZQruBPFIt3rqBW0JB1Mb2H01RFw-QhId7bmU50nTJQhi9k-yQs89uuy36Rx092rYSJsjhF50/w480-h640/20231126_122817.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAPIcFYRA3_erhe2m05-w-Ahoq7cgw70VNUUSnmR65omirTSo0HCwS9dL8DXlNnvpSfqaALQtrWm3XeAwcMBhD0GygzhAoNcnOjq27Yj2b8WOXqMl8IVALVdpBGbKi3W0XRjvIIVGZIXbApKsh0WCdE6yf5wYr2ZBnrk_vuqMOPACjzs6XcXy4R1Xyf4/s4032/20231126_122913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAPIcFYRA3_erhe2m05-w-Ahoq7cgw70VNUUSnmR65omirTSo0HCwS9dL8DXlNnvpSfqaALQtrWm3XeAwcMBhD0GygzhAoNcnOjq27Yj2b8WOXqMl8IVALVdpBGbKi3W0XRjvIIVGZIXbApKsh0WCdE6yf5wYr2ZBnrk_vuqMOPACjzs6XcXy4R1Xyf4/w480-h640/20231126_122913.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Behind me to my left hand side is the Sultan's personal watch. It is huge if you see it in person.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzCE5dnK28oPDaNBH7MegBInrlhCPBNEeFZ-hrkYNkTnU92GZ-LjVmPpR758NqfagZiJkazBN7TGDuZ2iK85G6kOajEX1uxldZZ_zsOFxg6IKDQJRjjtObEdYBggd4N2_nRaCD903E_qFJqWvKCeA71DlLN03JzgQpqD7tXGASsMU3e2zi6o0BeJXnyY/s4032/20231126_112153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzCE5dnK28oPDaNBH7MegBInrlhCPBNEeFZ-hrkYNkTnU92GZ-LjVmPpR758NqfagZiJkazBN7TGDuZ2iK85G6kOajEX1uxldZZ_zsOFxg6IKDQJRjjtObEdYBggd4N2_nRaCD903E_qFJqWvKCeA71DlLN03JzgQpqD7tXGASsMU3e2zi6o0BeJXnyY/w480-h640/20231126_112153.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I think this couple was on a date, couldn't resist capturing such a sweet moment between the two.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIvFqkOe1oO9E9bWsAWrujoAmiti8hjRDkAUoEvqOc9L9UqHp7X1wQ3222G1hFMRTAjpcply7SBLqZI9AuvaIHW1MBx_qOhXIsIXwINGg-SPKn0AzdGt4YB2stFFT-nGLhA2HGzOabPJ59KOB1gPd1nTX-rd1KOWa-MY91U0w_JRsUlvRlaYza2Uzrso/s4032/20231126_111554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIvFqkOe1oO9E9bWsAWrujoAmiti8hjRDkAUoEvqOc9L9UqHp7X1wQ3222G1hFMRTAjpcply7SBLqZI9AuvaIHW1MBx_qOhXIsIXwINGg-SPKn0AzdGt4YB2stFFT-nGLhA2HGzOabPJ59KOB1gPd1nTX-rd1KOWa-MY91U0w_JRsUlvRlaYza2Uzrso/w480-h640/20231126_111554.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! it was such a nice and fun filled trip. Glad that I got to experience Oman and its wonderful people, until the next adventure........peace!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PS: I have a cold and feel lousy, hence the lucklaster post.</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-28072328983919099082023-11-25T08:46:00.002-06:002023-11-25T09:06:30.334-06:00Oman Day Five - Jebel Akhdar<p>Jebel Akhdar also known as the green mountain, is one of the highest points in Oman as it rises more than 2,000 meters above sea level. It is definitely a place worth visiting as it offers beautiful mountain views, agricultural terraces and wadis, plus if you love hiking then you would certainly get the perfect opportunity to do it here.</p><p>Jebel Akhdar is located about 2 hours away by car from Muscat and can be combined with a tour to Nizwa (Oman's former capital). Since I had already visited Nizwa, my main focus today was on the mountain. One important thing to note prior to visiting Akhdar, is that a 4 wheel drive is required to ascend the paved road up the mountain. If you show up with a different car you will actually not be allowed entry, there is a security check point that ensures entry of allowable cars. The infrastructure is well developed so a drive up the mountain is very comfortable.</p><p>I could feel my ears getting plugged and it felt so much cooler the higher we went (I hired a driver to drive me to the mountain). Once we got to the top, the first stop was at Diana's Point, turns out princess Diana had enjoyed this spot with her then husband, King Charles during a royal visit to Oman in 1986. The view from this spot is beautiful as it gives you an aerial view of the agricultural Terraces and villages below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GyYprBXh3hp-hIcAkel16EY2dwM4Q8SSMaNke4jswhuSNuASiESaEhajx7ZHewn-yXhM5mLSFo9bAhnQIBL_AsP6w43PLSVhIG1p5E035nSKsDjPmx3SWEj3LQ3s_0CA65VJPZCWSbJmGu8Xd-7JD5Chg6lT1se2GxAOf-Q4hZl9VRR1vsBUNMlVOEo/s4032/20231125_125512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GyYprBXh3hp-hIcAkel16EY2dwM4Q8SSMaNke4jswhuSNuASiESaEhajx7ZHewn-yXhM5mLSFo9bAhnQIBL_AsP6w43PLSVhIG1p5E035nSKsDjPmx3SWEj3LQ3s_0CA65VJPZCWSbJmGu8Xd-7JD5Chg6lT1se2GxAOf-Q4hZl9VRR1vsBUNMlVOEo/w480-h640/20231125_125512.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm35a8S3LJnAOtLIKDEq_wuWNKr9K3JXRj7yZVlGknJusb_k6BYWUBty8mB7_s9QyZHpZpPHx_9HllwtpHa6AwMKJUNhR1OogOeIKlW_qGReYmHmFJ33wOf6s9TiaHZG47lIiBifIX6wGSswRRVKB11veZCImWp2n27sBV_XHsB2vgsM2Ql7vBNtN3LF0/s4032/20231125_125706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm35a8S3LJnAOtLIKDEq_wuWNKr9K3JXRj7yZVlGknJusb_k6BYWUBty8mB7_s9QyZHpZpPHx_9HllwtpHa6AwMKJUNhR1OogOeIKlW_qGReYmHmFJ33wOf6s9TiaHZG47lIiBifIX6wGSswRRVKB11veZCImWp2n27sBV_XHsB2vgsM2Ql7vBNtN3LF0/w480-h640/20231125_125706.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbE_I_8RG16wGabQUcKj6AugPCPzeYTkbZ1cuVof1VxlezbcxHPyTr8AhAq8_z72B0w1YGqZmUniMBwDc7XxqERo17-tEjuYxf7462duOF-rThF3-H9idaWb0-LCXSafH4kvroobR5z_aVINzWmCph-ZjLQ7WrfL5m8mhuydCPAQq9-Z8-spYQaPOJ6s/s4032/20231125_125908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbE_I_8RG16wGabQUcKj6AugPCPzeYTkbZ1cuVof1VxlezbcxHPyTr8AhAq8_z72B0w1YGqZmUniMBwDc7XxqERo17-tEjuYxf7462duOF-rThF3-H9idaWb0-LCXSafH4kvroobR5z_aVINzWmCph-ZjLQ7WrfL5m8mhuydCPAQq9-Z8-spYQaPOJ6s/w480-h640/20231125_125908.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZCHu0D_TvBQWLfb9kK3xHWqPPjyHg-nwa8D6U4e3FbDk2MaPFs0qgVCQwcDeyI_IYdNAFu6RVoOwC_V56MA3gMTxREt3UpuT8Gqdza22AR-7q8sx4TCifH0sicjnrRBnp1UZYnl6M0gPvM_ugedrGdiFWhcZ2HaIMxBTyEe-_YOAuy2j6AkORnxQVyw/s3264/20231125_160036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZCHu0D_TvBQWLfb9kK3xHWqPPjyHg-nwa8D6U4e3FbDk2MaPFs0qgVCQwcDeyI_IYdNAFu6RVoOwC_V56MA3gMTxREt3UpuT8Gqdza22AR-7q8sx4TCifH0sicjnrRBnp1UZYnl6M0gPvM_ugedrGdiFWhcZ2HaIMxBTyEe-_YOAuy2j6AkORnxQVyw/w480-h640/20231125_160036.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My driver drove me to another spot to begin my solo hike in the surrounding area and below are the photos I took along the way. I really need to invest in a tripod, I had to balance my phone on rocks to get a photo of myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1M1tp72P9xqXfsBHil5Z-LDGWn45eeePYJ5kMEo2KvRFQCgLqbfDtJ9R9_iFH65UmJj4cpAvm9UMCxINynseVCCPugfhzMtlncsj_PHR1YtnJpy-nCJQLo7TM4TWrPnT4CuI2bxmfKWs1ldHeSzJPIpaRF0GnecFNTdM8s11vxV3PvLKyMXloD8O5Jo/s3264/20231125_132727.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1M1tp72P9xqXfsBHil5Z-LDGWn45eeePYJ5kMEo2KvRFQCgLqbfDtJ9R9_iFH65UmJj4cpAvm9UMCxINynseVCCPugfhzMtlncsj_PHR1YtnJpy-nCJQLo7TM4TWrPnT4CuI2bxmfKWs1ldHeSzJPIpaRF0GnecFNTdM8s11vxV3PvLKyMXloD8O5Jo/w480-h640/20231125_132727.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjGP-GwnA5qksZlDOQcxartZnED4x1pq9h6toNVE1lY5giRHmRzR0m_O7M4LmqRf6MQzqbQTFk-2V9joxoSwESbeHNJoqExjSZYQfOGAwNT9tcroHJn1SBfB5DnyUaq0c02McU0XhQ9btm2cCvH1A83JTzDJ4zKCvfJYyF_CbhoROsiMboLRLymfD2Ts/s3264/20231125_132654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjGP-GwnA5qksZlDOQcxartZnED4x1pq9h6toNVE1lY5giRHmRzR0m_O7M4LmqRf6MQzqbQTFk-2V9joxoSwESbeHNJoqExjSZYQfOGAwNT9tcroHJn1SBfB5DnyUaq0c02McU0XhQ9btm2cCvH1A83JTzDJ4zKCvfJYyF_CbhoROsiMboLRLymfD2Ts/w480-h640/20231125_132654.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eSnxzQZ_QACFn4rrwEq8iM7Qlw35x8ZU7jhNfh9K0MT9LSd6QJ-CzuThrFoJLpFxQt8Z0ctuYfPDfzP47DinlTWgFRxTsnpjmZ5g-NPAFL5SkM7RiLkm62KkKiVzi2U8cjwk6Zdc9nWwcczIVEHGRbSIeBQvAZlvfpnl1VLRG9W_qghyphenhyphenn5Pple7UTSw/s4032/20231125_130302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eSnxzQZ_QACFn4rrwEq8iM7Qlw35x8ZU7jhNfh9K0MT9LSd6QJ-CzuThrFoJLpFxQt8Z0ctuYfPDfzP47DinlTWgFRxTsnpjmZ5g-NPAFL5SkM7RiLkm62KkKiVzi2U8cjwk6Zdc9nWwcczIVEHGRbSIeBQvAZlvfpnl1VLRG9W_qghyphenhyphenn5Pple7UTSw/w480-h640/20231125_130302.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See the yellow, white and red stripes? they really came in handy as they are meant to guide you ensuring that you are following the right walking path. My driver had dropped me off and instructed me to follow the walking path while paying attention to these stripes so that I didn't get lost. I have a bad sense of direction so it really helped having these stripes guiding me along the way. PS: the terrain looks rugged but the hike is actually easy to maneuver and not hard.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1PFD0KtYd6XDJFOJKXVmKb4FcKdTeqFNhP_1XLKADJQ75nlQ9JlApw-UJk6BAvdFIhSYAZI30Yc-jQHvJftTLhfGmqYfSy_9GalC4uvteNHTwcF5xdAftRRBt4hQMViEnMtCLOjop9O5eQ0Yfl8Bw5nk1z3RS3QYIIBu9lsEv9omi-hxPh464fzLiAI/s4032/20231125_130247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1PFD0KtYd6XDJFOJKXVmKb4FcKdTeqFNhP_1XLKADJQ75nlQ9JlApw-UJk6BAvdFIhSYAZI30Yc-jQHvJftTLhfGmqYfSy_9GalC4uvteNHTwcF5xdAftRRBt4hQMViEnMtCLOjop9O5eQ0Yfl8Bw5nk1z3RS3QYIIBu9lsEv9omi-hxPh464fzLiAI/w480-h640/20231125_130247.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGKIqmMzW0eBM8a1tf0RuNRhHGbTDumU7XrOAHh83uK6qgbf8EZUBQpiyLzpsgxb-bvxV5_s7epRWK6OyV5gZtOE_oaQeZeJmzKjiLQJKVSc4FRqfYNu1SPCcCVWY1YsSjfZdhkoa9m9DJff34SjSpHInXoSnIsH-LS68JJjA-Wjhi2_A97hBujKJ93A/s4032/20231125_132858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGKIqmMzW0eBM8a1tf0RuNRhHGbTDumU7XrOAHh83uK6qgbf8EZUBQpiyLzpsgxb-bvxV5_s7epRWK6OyV5gZtOE_oaQeZeJmzKjiLQJKVSc4FRqfYNu1SPCcCVWY1YsSjfZdhkoa9m9DJff34SjSpHInXoSnIsH-LS68JJjA-Wjhi2_A97hBujKJ93A/w480-h640/20231125_132858.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QIItMUDe2vxP5EqRGLQzDzg4WpNFSgH7IGzPgMN-a29GveQV8v6rd_sLiSD7yZ5q5u9BoaC6pcHfCq2UICXQLkFnqczn6ixG-tCVqE1_E86leXw4ZkCi8Z6VJE2JpzJk7cIVDBOstRJQGZKP4aN2JViUSvqcB2ZcLeWX-rF-pPd_BK4E-biqYq7rBdY/s4032/20231125_133328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QIItMUDe2vxP5EqRGLQzDzg4WpNFSgH7IGzPgMN-a29GveQV8v6rd_sLiSD7yZ5q5u9BoaC6pcHfCq2UICXQLkFnqczn6ixG-tCVqE1_E86leXw4ZkCi8Z6VJE2JpzJk7cIVDBOstRJQGZKP4aN2JViUSvqcB2ZcLeWX-rF-pPd_BK4E-biqYq7rBdY/w640-h480/20231125_133328.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bonus stop on the way to Jebel Akhdar was Jabreen Castle built in the 17th century. The castle was an important center of learning for astrology, medicine and Islamic law. I honestly didn't pay too much attention on this stop especially after having visited Nizwa Fort, I just didn't feel like it wowed me but I go t to take cute photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0Rs8mJMEWslUwEfalKZVmRDE9yL-Bd0BMnCZHf6StlMXBr2-obQKP7AjwIpL4KxGzjp1c9_SyzyYHs6QMG4_SHwict3No9F6_YXSWyfDnNsu4FnAs0nq_VKpQ46_XPtKWU6fQu4Njq61d4W4czG1_6S50_43rxk1ayzT24EpV_dC6KpFKAtAsyLTnJk/s4032/20231125_113928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0Rs8mJMEWslUwEfalKZVmRDE9yL-Bd0BMnCZHf6StlMXBr2-obQKP7AjwIpL4KxGzjp1c9_SyzyYHs6QMG4_SHwict3No9F6_YXSWyfDnNsu4FnAs0nq_VKpQ46_XPtKWU6fQu4Njq61d4W4czG1_6S50_43rxk1ayzT24EpV_dC6KpFKAtAsyLTnJk/w480-h640/20231125_113928.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7GeFMiCmrM55-uL3VJMxzRrqlF7FRhNpQWCtW4sFcaRkErO01ALsITVkXEoSy31G_sjX50SqUqP-GCwz-1uPTdJsgrYjdr1cAxw6E-verMPd1ICPg88ZnQg03wbLUjh_EdBCiHN9WGex8ViAe91sX1BYrkr_WeNd5kd5VwW03KEaLKQeB5Z82gD28lU/s4032/20231125_114504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7GeFMiCmrM55-uL3VJMxzRrqlF7FRhNpQWCtW4sFcaRkErO01ALsITVkXEoSy31G_sjX50SqUqP-GCwz-1uPTdJsgrYjdr1cAxw6E-verMPd1ICPg88ZnQg03wbLUjh_EdBCiHN9WGex8ViAe91sX1BYrkr_WeNd5kd5VwW03KEaLKQeB5Z82gD28lU/w480-h640/20231125_114504.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeukyfuVvnPNoEaF6qypObULOlw1qKaVUbkwQzhyphenhyphenRdzsgMwmEcGUEIUW_G_N5R_c9t2MrO4lFAdYHmgi4S30AmPbZcR5i5ymvFSiYHNGjb1QfF-7mUHU2boNWifMmn2pEFZ1TgtkZJugRnlWSkkk8b-skH5bE8bzn6yyN8zUQp-0PjVMTISmUkh80p90/s4032/20231125_114316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeukyfuVvnPNoEaF6qypObULOlw1qKaVUbkwQzhyphenhyphenRdzsgMwmEcGUEIUW_G_N5R_c9t2MrO4lFAdYHmgi4S30AmPbZcR5i5ymvFSiYHNGjb1QfF-7mUHU2boNWifMmn2pEFZ1TgtkZJugRnlWSkkk8b-skH5bE8bzn6yyN8zUQp-0PjVMTISmUkh80p90/w480-h640/20231125_114316.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's it folks! I think I am finally burning out from all the none stop activities that I have enjoyed over the past few days and my energy is really low. I almost didn't write this post but the way my dedication is set up.......I just had to do it. It may not be the most exciting post but at least you can enjoy the photos, right? tomorrow is my last day in Oman and I plan to take it easy by visiting some spots in Muscat that I never got an opportunity to visit. I better call it a night and give my body some much needed rest.</div></div><p><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-39782453753380235952023-11-24T17:16:00.010-06:002023-11-24T17:28:40.890-06:00Oman Day Four, Nizwa<p>Today's adventure took me to Nizwa which is one of Oman's oldest cities and was once the capital in the 6th and 7th century. It was the center of trade, religion, education & the arts and its strategic location at the crossroads of various important routes, linked the interior of the country to a larger part of the country.</p><p>The city is now the second largest tourist destination in Oman that's not to be missed and it's only an hour and a half drive away from Muscat. Some of the city's highlights are as follows:</p><p><b>Traditional Goat Market -</b> I happened to go on the best day, Friday when the city has its old age traditional goat market early in the morning. How I can best describe the goat market is, an auction of livestock where a large crowd gathers in a circle as the livestock is paraded and it's price is shouted out as buyers bid on it until the final best price is called out. It really is quite the experience that's not to be missed while visiting Nizwa. The event starts as early as 6 am so it's best to plan accordingly. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY7tCvJrxStPZ_blbbOWENQ2SDd_aR2eLgd24JCfG9X9S-lafyuvtfeetACqmwb9yjRpsQevQ-FM4ttV10Rmz1SySLy97D60qTB7cvz86KpOHv66OPffZqboh_KRdcmdBAbUvkx3wX5AACPpG-zO4Wq8Boe_m7Z0wPBAPc67L5-QXETok-EpgZAJoOfI/s4032/20231124_133951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY7tCvJrxStPZ_blbbOWENQ2SDd_aR2eLgd24JCfG9X9S-lafyuvtfeetACqmwb9yjRpsQevQ-FM4ttV10Rmz1SySLy97D60qTB7cvz86KpOHv66OPffZqboh_KRdcmdBAbUvkx3wX5AACPpG-zO4Wq8Boe_m7Z0wPBAPc67L5-QXETok-EpgZAJoOfI/w480-h640/20231124_133951.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMUlQ4kce22wXOmxkIzI6Ysp-uyDu7f5s1uQISLZz-R8GEO8DAPMxPtG-OU0o6JR6NmFgp5xXz2-Ho5oKhT0SVuigzQGRyQU6URWWfBDEsowbInfnDRAh7_hiRhjQW7t3pgRJvv7W5xweFrxkiIOyjmXyLWZpJr3ASaUZRlZyN8qhiJAbzR2p8IWsjmU/s4032/20231124_134040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMUlQ4kce22wXOmxkIzI6Ysp-uyDu7f5s1uQISLZz-R8GEO8DAPMxPtG-OU0o6JR6NmFgp5xXz2-Ho5oKhT0SVuigzQGRyQU6URWWfBDEsowbInfnDRAh7_hiRhjQW7t3pgRJvv7W5xweFrxkiIOyjmXyLWZpJr3ASaUZRlZyN8qhiJAbzR2p8IWsjmU/w480-h640/20231124_134040.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesvHLXtJCLIUW3KwjpqUZ_uTmtmMSow1tfvHmeB9XcbvlOVL5hcHbb9j3a68azwNvv8HEkeFEnd4j3ZKmzoYR82KEtJb7qz5ngjzrhFZT9Z5yrSkXdYs1Xs0FdKcffyV-xqvNC34AHCxCJCJBOd-r-1aui0gWss5SBSt4Ucux9bw0cUO6CNLvA150p74/s4032/20231124_110503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesvHLXtJCLIUW3KwjpqUZ_uTmtmMSow1tfvHmeB9XcbvlOVL5hcHbb9j3a68azwNvv8HEkeFEnd4j3ZKmzoYR82KEtJb7qz5ngjzrhFZT9Z5yrSkXdYs1Xs0FdKcffyV-xqvNC34AHCxCJCJBOd-r-1aui0gWss5SBSt4Ucux9bw0cUO6CNLvA150p74/w480-h640/20231124_110503.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl7O3xcCgCHALhb501hx_rw9f7d5RUQYzFOcO2BW80gBOMJDrmUSnwJzXzKnOQ_qr7F-wtQZjIhuet-NZLHcrSr1lrdOXxZNJ1hz025lIj1xUnrn7bDZqUj9BOW2f03ZHpSZbNzgUiUHiAWYTeKxOyREmK8Qr8bTr_1WeCzor0ajByFz1uaow04JgQws/s4032/20231124_110557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl7O3xcCgCHALhb501hx_rw9f7d5RUQYzFOcO2BW80gBOMJDrmUSnwJzXzKnOQ_qr7F-wtQZjIhuet-NZLHcrSr1lrdOXxZNJ1hz025lIj1xUnrn7bDZqUj9BOW2f03ZHpSZbNzgUiUHiAWYTeKxOyREmK8Qr8bTr_1WeCzor0ajByFz1uaow04JgQws/w480-h640/20231124_110557.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4pmWmvCx34diSNTJvg_uZkB4NYVHXTAsu9NSpl8OS6-4NC7BeVwhFe2UwoFA8d8BRbKNm7ysegL6qwvOObGiL4YG9AeIllUXGn6hXyW1qIjm_F7Q_Y8BB-yeW5KE0TcWVM6uyobT_bLUq9-UGNfRPLQnedrJznG2uXF_PLeZ4XMB6sPX0J0tvvk2lbg/s4032/20231124_110918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4pmWmvCx34diSNTJvg_uZkB4NYVHXTAsu9NSpl8OS6-4NC7BeVwhFe2UwoFA8d8BRbKNm7ysegL6qwvOObGiL4YG9AeIllUXGn6hXyW1qIjm_F7Q_Y8BB-yeW5KE0TcWVM6uyobT_bLUq9-UGNfRPLQnedrJznG2uXF_PLeZ4XMB6sPX0J0tvvk2lbg/w480-h640/20231124_110918.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YSq44FM6nYopwJ-BpAzrcsGM3zGvMfh4vPENpjnELoynRkgONsV0DNuJZuCthCxprPFR9VkW1aEjXEndPctLYu17QjO4gwMvsYAI65RoxXD_5uPp5_qYqTpm1-Tt3fYdhYQRCpFQl5-e6UHOTybg9sn66bcSPIRQ-fmuMWR4Uib1FlcBGWTjOJVu3ec/s4032/20231124_111619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YSq44FM6nYopwJ-BpAzrcsGM3zGvMfh4vPENpjnELoynRkgONsV0DNuJZuCthCxprPFR9VkW1aEjXEndPctLYu17QjO4gwMvsYAI65RoxXD_5uPp5_qYqTpm1-Tt3fYdhYQRCpFQl5-e6UHOTybg9sn66bcSPIRQ-fmuMWR4Uib1FlcBGWTjOJVu3ec/w480-h640/20231124_111619.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Nizwa Souq - </b>One of the oldest market in Oman where you can buy food, household items and jewelry, among many other items.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBv4UUhykYOPSGiY8hyKFk4NzTtuPXE7GzxIMYrhiSgfd-egXb1v8KzcQtHZrDX89oka9Jj2yPEGYvWJvO2wNg6DIOh6nPRm4ZIx2Ea6Nzx5bhKINQdh52giE4M-uAK_vQvGDgmNKACbSzZ4wuWTpUQQrv59GAb3Nu9yfWunH9gcA6TSDmBCeU7_MatB4/s4032/20231124_222310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBv4UUhykYOPSGiY8hyKFk4NzTtuPXE7GzxIMYrhiSgfd-egXb1v8KzcQtHZrDX89oka9Jj2yPEGYvWJvO2wNg6DIOh6nPRm4ZIx2Ea6Nzx5bhKINQdh52giE4M-uAK_vQvGDgmNKACbSzZ4wuWTpUQQrv59GAb3Nu9yfWunH9gcA6TSDmBCeU7_MatB4/w480-h640/20231124_222310.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>Nizwa Fort -</b> Built in the 17th century, it is one of the most popular forts to visit in Oman and was once the administrative seat of authority for the presiding Imams. Imams at the time assumed the role of leaders, like present day Sultans. At the fort you get a good opportunity to learn about the history of Nizwa and the way of life of the inhabitants at the time, entry is 5 Omani Rial which is $48 rounded up. Point to note, the fort has been heavily restored and looks good as new but you can see the before and after photos in one of the display rooms inside the fort to get an idea of how it originally looked.</div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yOoBvuGNhlut5-StCMT3T-RP1r2W_9NKso-rV_bl1eIaZrX_xsIAhaAdCo9wGrBlBsRtZyRxhevNJCoV1BXH60x_GQcbQiIQ8Gr8THL73kWKXHrvfQDCere-SbVI0ZhBwlIyL_k2a9o3J0dZi_Fg9J_lpBg17F1WLDSxPGlF6BCCbz0ZC02Z4HSxMTM/s4032/20231124_223326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yOoBvuGNhlut5-StCMT3T-RP1r2W_9NKso-rV_bl1eIaZrX_xsIAhaAdCo9wGrBlBsRtZyRxhevNJCoV1BXH60x_GQcbQiIQ8Gr8THL73kWKXHrvfQDCere-SbVI0ZhBwlIyL_k2a9o3J0dZi_Fg9J_lpBg17F1WLDSxPGlF6BCCbz0ZC02Z4HSxMTM/w480-h640/20231124_223326.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From the top of the fort you can get good aerial views of Nizwa city.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyQmq6ri4fHySYh6ffaPkbxSNKpXULz-Q6CB3lrNvhFnHCeA9Fy7cAIUiuYeUU7oIrmua4Jvj9esEqbZNl56fwhRqeZPhpw6Lvq3MD55Odv2PTqbGUquuzrLmioCl97igx11V6oxr7DU5RPonTPag2npzVSmycMBw_BVS40XymJE2nQul6_JC8TYPc7k/s4032/20231124_221249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyQmq6ri4fHySYh6ffaPkbxSNKpXULz-Q6CB3lrNvhFnHCeA9Fy7cAIUiuYeUU7oIrmua4Jvj9esEqbZNl56fwhRqeZPhpw6Lvq3MD55Odv2PTqbGUquuzrLmioCl97igx11V6oxr7DU5RPonTPag2npzVSmycMBw_BVS40XymJE2nQul6_JC8TYPc7k/w480-h640/20231124_221249.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s4XpFBg3Fq1VgoTxUIc45Kkjg4v4VKxiMjBtdGjBIfYKRlgVsZtYec2sX0vcm4hHURD6OhDtdsDRL5rCMZCsnL0DrcX3ZKW63fbiOVlSELLbW6AzEQk0Ck05vNRTDsro9nN2VekYAigkC_HhHWGGaCI639QGG-yw65hCWCEZe4j508mN1O0MP9RiWaQ/s4032/20231124_221701.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s4XpFBg3Fq1VgoTxUIc45Kkjg4v4VKxiMjBtdGjBIfYKRlgVsZtYec2sX0vcm4hHURD6OhDtdsDRL5rCMZCsnL0DrcX3ZKW63fbiOVlSELLbW6AzEQk0Ck05vNRTDsro9nN2VekYAigkC_HhHWGGaCI639QGG-yw65hCWCEZe4j508mN1O0MP9RiWaQ/w640-h480/20231124_221701.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsyHlHSkNOAFb89gD5BSAyCFjzefo3RtK-PCAOMGJRLtheZ76OoRSlXX6lHYQF3jRpLOIg1MsrKT-CkJORYYGM-BgCyGIo0416FZBe92R2PbSTmVUIzbizvsmqQ7yClAVKyKES2PlqrRsJvgv6O-iPFA20v-Mj3k6G9QtwX-ncNr1pmKc1aWVHhgAAAI/s4032/20231124_221719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsyHlHSkNOAFb89gD5BSAyCFjzefo3RtK-PCAOMGJRLtheZ76OoRSlXX6lHYQF3jRpLOIg1MsrKT-CkJORYYGM-BgCyGIo0416FZBe92R2PbSTmVUIzbizvsmqQ7yClAVKyKES2PlqrRsJvgv6O-iPFA20v-Mj3k6G9QtwX-ncNr1pmKc1aWVHhgAAAI/w640-h480/20231124_221719.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! I really enjoyed my visit to Nizwa and love how vibrant it is compared to Muscat which in my opinion is really quiet from what I have observed so far. I have 2 more days left in Oman and as my stay in this country is winding down, I have a couple more adventures to get into so watch out for the next update.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div></div>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-59109835969955153702023-11-23T09:26:00.010-06:002023-11-25T20:28:37.682-06:00Oman Day Three - Wadi Shab & Bimmah Sinkhole<p>It feels like I have been in Oman for a long time but it's only been 3 days, I think I feel this way because I have done and seen so much within the short period of time that I have been here. Today I took a tour with a private guide that came highly recommended and our first stop was at Wadi Shab which is the most popular Wadi in Oman that's an hour and a half away from Muscat by car. </p><p>To get to the pools of Wadi Shab you have to take a short boat ride then hike for about 45 minutes to an hour depending on your fitness level and pace. The only challenging aspect of the hike is navigating the very slippery rocks along the way, that's why comfortable shoes with good grip come in handy. The surrounding areas are so beautiful, making the hike worth the while.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnISKagdf0zu6629AbEyyH5lOBhcZRassAwj8QtcWmfyt-MNqBpGmpZ2sbkcJyH8S44fT8N5_guj6BbvvIgvMRzjeH_OjkB8TVt6Mfgz47_WTYUuoUi4pKf_39TdW2UNDx-de4fLij5hq35pQDfQ5ILQnPd4ucUQmQUWi4hfYNsq3bZ1DbE6qhIAONeso/s4032/20231123_135629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnISKagdf0zu6629AbEyyH5lOBhcZRassAwj8QtcWmfyt-MNqBpGmpZ2sbkcJyH8S44fT8N5_guj6BbvvIgvMRzjeH_OjkB8TVt6Mfgz47_WTYUuoUi4pKf_39TdW2UNDx-de4fLij5hq35pQDfQ5ILQnPd4ucUQmQUWi4hfYNsq3bZ1DbE6qhIAONeso/w480-h640/20231123_135629.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq9BROGJlTY7N-crtdopKOmf-oDRUCSGi6VglyZVHuqRRXDTPnFZI08U-rf-PfWraxD3kFc_BXRob-5hCGGMNBmG35yj1AREAPtR-6cC1KAqO5SznH665VaNCEjZJNubTQBa-aDgKmTvu34WESlDl6lZizLPCG068-qrfvKiW9zFi5DVzZgI9QUCgB30/s4032/20231123_135808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3exedY0UGkDZOn67ggeJfShgD5TdwTJxW3q_AxlkDHj-Uzt1CERa70lQaU5UhHv95HMY2G2ilp3xOpg5fGIe7Jb4u4wK3lIbXKeEHyb7rWS5-DiGMR0V__ZjEn199TsAllfa1tJdvAXZLcvK3f4JXO4l_3rGZjbMHM14lIKaCHj72z3Sm2xE2eGVmSUE/s4032/20231123_141449.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3exedY0UGkDZOn67ggeJfShgD5TdwTJxW3q_AxlkDHj-Uzt1CERa70lQaU5UhHv95HMY2G2ilp3xOpg5fGIe7Jb4u4wK3lIbXKeEHyb7rWS5-DiGMR0V__ZjEn199TsAllfa1tJdvAXZLcvK3f4JXO4l_3rGZjbMHM14lIKaCHj72z3Sm2xE2eGVmSUE/w480-h640/20231123_141449.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK3se_J0kNOxIclkgJLdzbjHwhLkgqXzGiZu1uLdQdowg2txG4KuCr_dUcDuYJW0jS5kN5pkdaQwR7qjEEw-WG5F8CKyQ9BYj-nuh82kpj8xayoLLUtFj5gYsBzdaEWMFDaFjfTtPwB-iFVXyFl05IE-ZNVbkbZKjqClgPxjGC4Nxr5O9eXDusuukBLE/s4032/20231123_141623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally got to the pool after an hour of hiking and it was so worth it even though I did not swim.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiIF9IvdBdSAN4ticqOuL-9gvbnzQVn82rGsU0LeHph2dOWzRanGR2STZD7GWgVLx8Dx99KLxn1fiwUjouqyGzZTvfxAw3tB4TtC51Nq_e8_0XKIPd7LZYZ7tFoAm7IWJFkNyBda9ypSbNEB_7D3nUz8lTJ1svnpnUmD9rlVTw2HUakJmXsZIbrwR5LM/s4032/20231123_144404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiIF9IvdBdSAN4ticqOuL-9gvbnzQVn82rGsU0LeHph2dOWzRanGR2STZD7GWgVLx8Dx99KLxn1fiwUjouqyGzZTvfxAw3tB4TtC51Nq_e8_0XKIPd7LZYZ7tFoAm7IWJFkNyBda9ypSbNEB_7D3nUz8lTJ1svnpnUmD9rlVTw2HUakJmXsZIbrwR5LM/w640-h480/20231123_144404.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After getting my fill of Wadi Shab, my guide Nasser took me to another nearby Wadi called Tiwi. This wadi isn't similar to Wadi Shab but it's unique in the way the greenery compliments the surrounding dry terrain. I don't know how else to describe it but it is beautiful in it's own unique way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOFuh40BJfQlt5FqIvBhyC00xugHogoptjMQRRkYW92QINMjalizzWsKgsOIE4hdpgYucyDXxygQpnR8yd7AzGTH0CIWRV52uR0uqtqbb2nBFeZulLBgoNi7cXdOPAPCJgWWDxW5VE_MD3Fr4jXM2cP_yXbHm0PR0xtXKH_yBpeAsY05gdLFAN5j4OOU/s4032/20231123_144607.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOFuh40BJfQlt5FqIvBhyC00xugHogoptjMQRRkYW92QINMjalizzWsKgsOIE4hdpgYucyDXxygQpnR8yd7AzGTH0CIWRV52uR0uqtqbb2nBFeZulLBgoNi7cXdOPAPCJgWWDxW5VE_MD3Fr4jXM2cP_yXbHm0PR0xtXKH_yBpeAsY05gdLFAN5j4OOU/w480-h640/20231123_144607.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72vVlTTQ51yumok1VT8BZgN3e0Ss2Xn7zlIYV_aKdU54WUSXsSMbL1l2d2B-EWn5NoiZhiEALiL4Uz9yHqsnM7Z-h6E9VSHAIQ37sln2lAvP6diGses_J9vTeeb4H6hNZ8RFHb80KPV2wNNjt8uIQZ_yV49jL3XOQhXNwonLXxQOEpWjKRHXGCZCRcZc/s4032/20231123_144653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72vVlTTQ51yumok1VT8BZgN3e0Ss2Xn7zlIYV_aKdU54WUSXsSMbL1l2d2B-EWn5NoiZhiEALiL4Uz9yHqsnM7Z-h6E9VSHAIQ37sln2lAvP6diGses_J9vTeeb4H6hNZ8RFHb80KPV2wNNjt8uIQZ_yV49jL3XOQhXNwonLXxQOEpWjKRHXGCZCRcZc/w480-h640/20231123_144653.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7l0uawWwrq-XYOjXROHspk0MQGdIpCOknJCX4fiKpnmndbS23xXOQrEd0rTK-GKkhXav7S8TMV5mOrBAVeldqHX1KEIzOo3tJkWbdyswmIy_ElwSnA5ULQ1O9pu18Irz_Ea_lPMKUgDLfNUdNPze3xzBbtZVQey_id9sXz0fNs1MH9I54Nn7Qs1-jsTo/s4032/20231123_144850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7l0uawWwrq-XYOjXROHspk0MQGdIpCOknJCX4fiKpnmndbS23xXOQrEd0rTK-GKkhXav7S8TMV5mOrBAVeldqHX1KEIzOo3tJkWbdyswmIy_ElwSnA5ULQ1O9pu18Irz_Ea_lPMKUgDLfNUdNPze3xzBbtZVQey_id9sXz0fNs1MH9I54Nn7Qs1-jsTo/w480-h640/20231123_144850.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGzvbymaLvA_OhW5A5Iye-9Y8a2p9ee07yxbWf45ZDlFEeXO9gcBIP9BO2P0kqgqyvMsKkm97inqOHj0bECcP4EuHoNuyUwTeAI7a9CIHlZQlPi1irCqHXGY9KtUyPpbJYbZyr7DCBDamIAd2FLQdaLRYQtyB2mijzkKznUzPFVuxAzDMSUZiTniFZPk/s4032/20231123_145316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGzvbymaLvA_OhW5A5Iye-9Y8a2p9ee07yxbWf45ZDlFEeXO9gcBIP9BO2P0kqgqyvMsKkm97inqOHj0bECcP4EuHoNuyUwTeAI7a9CIHlZQlPi1irCqHXGY9KtUyPpbJYbZyr7DCBDamIAd2FLQdaLRYQtyB2mijzkKznUzPFVuxAzDMSUZiTniFZPk/w480-h640/20231123_145316.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZwPFqe7LlJAp5CJ2aDjPVJQqWmN8NS1HTphaPEIDXFUQ_ZVyN78qZ0PB4URl1jiGAnZDr7r3-vK7TYOywAQ9rbX9pADzMMEWoTTmLvEVQRSC3pX07OoLQ6dM-ZqagfspnwmoOfdxUhePPT7-jUePY92DrZDwMFcMvuHI93wgC6-LGLPJsGUp3q68Vf0/s4032/20231123_145220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZwPFqe7LlJAp5CJ2aDjPVJQqWmN8NS1HTphaPEIDXFUQ_ZVyN78qZ0PB4URl1jiGAnZDr7r3-vK7TYOywAQ9rbX9pADzMMEWoTTmLvEVQRSC3pX07OoLQ6dM-ZqagfspnwmoOfdxUhePPT7-jUePY92DrZDwMFcMvuHI93wgC6-LGLPJsGUp3q68Vf0/w480-h640/20231123_145220.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy61yo6YbqUkLa7n2PDEhCrNQur344C1GdcJw7ixp6XoGvu73EsDpnI_pqf_423c7ACTgpWS_QK69bUUm2gvoezIB2cNQ_SiuuVFtNY-nZp6L7exVE05dO5OCcfot4EZdXoYASNiY9_l1tg1cIGVNdBrQzjkjhYbHEyYjbU7YRm0NtZDA4BJGbHz05Zk/s4032/20231123_145344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy61yo6YbqUkLa7n2PDEhCrNQur344C1GdcJw7ixp6XoGvu73EsDpnI_pqf_423c7ACTgpWS_QK69bUUm2gvoezIB2cNQ_SiuuVFtNY-nZp6L7exVE05dO5OCcfot4EZdXoYASNiY9_l1tg1cIGVNdBrQzjkjhYbHEyYjbU7YRm0NtZDA4BJGbHz05Zk/w480-h640/20231123_145344.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijo-WuSF_aqX2n8nKrHKN-WTOY5E8ADYhyphenhyphenJeAr8rjQJqxX_-1y33GXNU-XzLdhrvOojicjeP2FnJHXCZMnnnB8QUw6SXzS3NzsaRgbG2df1bLtWOyn9fQEWe7Iwn1ZLzpwR1PCZHDll0bEcXgZRVxj9QxxPDnbih4pJHhNVYGX3pPkhstnBXEcskCdJWs/s4032/20231123_145516.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijo-WuSF_aqX2n8nKrHKN-WTOY5E8ADYhyphenhyphenJeAr8rjQJqxX_-1y33GXNU-XzLdhrvOojicjeP2FnJHXCZMnnnB8QUw6SXzS3NzsaRgbG2df1bLtWOyn9fQEWe7Iwn1ZLzpwR1PCZHDll0bEcXgZRVxj9QxxPDnbih4pJHhNVYGX3pPkhstnBXEcskCdJWs/w480-h640/20231123_145516.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After visiting both wadis we took a lunch break then headed to our final stop, Bimmah Sinkhole which is considered one of the most beautiful natural pools in the world. If you fancy a swim you can easily access the water by going down the steps. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplyUWpSntIIZIDcP-oKThbWhWBHDuIZCtjb608pl88qdh0-FLc-Duu8FTtWXAIcNCjpDzdpHuXhw7Jx5EGNEPiP9MpsjEYs3nsE0GuPGuEewPGM7hyaSIyxBLwal8Bkw_vC9SyHQrQQEP7jAoD9AplO3nA1b-7PYbE3O2S0Cl5Y9lpVZ2gZeCfKJrBAQ/s4032/20231123_150127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplyUWpSntIIZIDcP-oKThbWhWBHDuIZCtjb608pl88qdh0-FLc-Duu8FTtWXAIcNCjpDzdpHuXhw7Jx5EGNEPiP9MpsjEYs3nsE0GuPGuEewPGM7hyaSIyxBLwal8Bkw_vC9SyHQrQQEP7jAoD9AplO3nA1b-7PYbE3O2S0Cl5Y9lpVZ2gZeCfKJrBAQ/w640-h480/20231123_150127.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrGwlHUCoN9LZNQ6y1z6tgZUVexspOAHly75EqKjD5MMPXCNnOHQ5mjnsIAt5O779O-bsDj7QDmF7Jp6CWtpUYZxNVFdiEzx1_6mTJkV8B_gjiNlPM7S7pDM7BNrLB3_b3ZHOURDUJ0omoqdgirvoBIU9oCc-HvmVtN34A04O836qc45X_NndSip8Ths/s4032/20231123_154042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrGwlHUCoN9LZNQ6y1z6tgZUVexspOAHly75EqKjD5MMPXCNnOHQ5mjnsIAt5O779O-bsDj7QDmF7Jp6CWtpUYZxNVFdiEzx1_6mTJkV8B_gjiNlPM7S7pDM7BNrLB3_b3ZHOURDUJ0omoqdgirvoBIU9oCc-HvmVtN34A04O836qc45X_NndSip8Ths/w480-h640/20231123_154042.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgclTbXbQrK0N8asICjjA403JEBuv9-LKaeLZlDbIDRnKD86HCOFpiChTM7kCfurlmjxBiq6GTT7BNPqJyuE1DY6QFnZQ0Ads34ulnfmWc5dK3CU9sB5mzJc0BAfDSB_2bl7uqm5XQ3_HJY6Wu9FYRF7SN71xs1oloQhK3IytTwJsts2T-i0yHqbHk-E/s4032/20231123_153916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgclTbXbQrK0N8asICjjA403JEBuv9-LKaeLZlDbIDRnKD86HCOFpiChTM7kCfurlmjxBiq6GTT7BNPqJyuE1DY6QFnZQ0Ads34ulnfmWc5dK3CU9sB5mzJc0BAfDSB_2bl7uqm5XQ3_HJY6Wu9FYRF7SN71xs1oloQhK3IytTwJsts2T-i0yHqbHk-E/w480-h640/20231123_153916.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although this wasn't part of the plan, we made a bonus stop at Qurum beach in Muscat. There were many families seated together enjoying a meal or watching their kids swim and the ambience was family friendly and chill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlrviTfVEDzmHQSOquDSz1PGF9RNLc_QKXKTdsfsACdBdt9MKYfbpFBGVg3Rq5wVmlhT39nfgILofMMFB9sWwbePCzua9YE1ymJYCPZ93x85HXNBl7d98fT24ec591AN2adzWYgIOFdFBTySQK8s-yVcTN9ArmxfGxVWrYTYHjWI2elMysls9qCqZTUE/s4032/20231123_172114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlrviTfVEDzmHQSOquDSz1PGF9RNLc_QKXKTdsfsACdBdt9MKYfbpFBGVg3Rq5wVmlhT39nfgILofMMFB9sWwbePCzua9YE1ymJYCPZ93x85HXNBl7d98fT24ec591AN2adzWYgIOFdFBTySQK8s-yVcTN9ArmxfGxVWrYTYHjWI2elMysls9qCqZTUE/w640-h480/20231123_172114.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78usYufOWsgfgzMRyRD3I79j19jFKTJeKV5GJJVmBKOFBmrAp3KGdBLMha-F8zraEcBRb7I0syTTmV_P72y293wPuXlaoVSCF7NJQ9HkcbLTRfK1_WHoZzp7JwZ4FV81cRAYgzw-uDNkFZxR0ZeyNaXtGfQe33tFa7Mxq5zdHGm-lSQ99OCegC5vSdj0/s4032/20231123_172152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78usYufOWsgfgzMRyRD3I79j19jFKTJeKV5GJJVmBKOFBmrAp3KGdBLMha-F8zraEcBRb7I0syTTmV_P72y293wPuXlaoVSCF7NJQ9HkcbLTRfK1_WHoZzp7JwZ4FV81cRAYgzw-uDNkFZxR0ZeyNaXtGfQe33tFa7Mxq5zdHGm-lSQ99OCegC5vSdj0/w640-h480/20231123_172152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! a good day was had. I didn't go into too much detail on the places I visited today because I am very tired and ready to call it a night. Tomorrow I have a very early start so I better go to sleep now because I will need a lot of energy to keep going as I have been. Watch out for the next adventure!</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-84443721189493520832023-11-22T16:57:00.006-06:002023-11-22T17:03:40.133-06:00Oman Day Two - Wahiba Desert & Wadi Bani Khalid<p>Day 2 in Oman found me on a tour to Wahiba Desert & Wadi Bani Khalid. Wahiba is located in the eastern part of Muscat and is about a couple of hours away by car, thus making it a good choice for a day tour from the city. It is a popular desert so there are many companies that offer tours and I went with <a href="https://omagid.com" target="_blank">GidOman</a>, a tour company that I came across online. They had a special going on so their price was much lower than the rest of the companies I looked at, plus they had really good reviews which sealed the deal for me.</p><p>The first stop once we got to Wahiba was at a local Bedouin home where we got to enjoy some dates and coffee as we learned about their way of life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhAf461hQpN3sQ6vf9UoN9j-qnEqGDKeA7Z1OQrd4nBfkAz1eF8diLUkfs8c_ioI-LcWlalaQSuhQPOuF08wsXUi2SRshp-0F5iLhv83ykbIsEgvCTgm8cGOciISvGKJa57bZKo3mIMxtRMiFikcTvEpltJQ5hUO1DLMqP6FYdoDDzv-tc5QeBIMU-II/s4032/20231122_191342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhAf461hQpN3sQ6vf9UoN9j-qnEqGDKeA7Z1OQrd4nBfkAz1eF8diLUkfs8c_ioI-LcWlalaQSuhQPOuF08wsXUi2SRshp-0F5iLhv83ykbIsEgvCTgm8cGOciISvGKJa57bZKo3mIMxtRMiFikcTvEpltJQ5hUO1DLMqP6FYdoDDzv-tc5QeBIMU-II/w640-h480/20231122_191342.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdOGHL0-LFvwC26zhHu7bgo7iRA7gYPIPveJcuEJPfVG87UHi_mWE6U7AxBDLI9QRiN9W1d2975LMBKGIrYsXoMRqoViikHqPk-sZsgmp61KY42ZNw0xXSb2t0n-k10zYYqJcBaTit4kB43sIL_qXl6QkpE1ENg3Q2CYlZsCwA71oH6ioLEQwBV3d6u0/s4032/20231122_155030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdOGHL0-LFvwC26zhHu7bgo7iRA7gYPIPveJcuEJPfVG87UHi_mWE6U7AxBDLI9QRiN9W1d2975LMBKGIrYsXoMRqoViikHqPk-sZsgmp61KY42ZNw0xXSb2t0n-k10zYYqJcBaTit4kB43sIL_qXl6QkpE1ENg3Q2CYlZsCwA71oH6ioLEQwBV3d6u0/w640-h480/20231122_155030.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Next we went dune bashing which is essentially driving over sand dunes at various speeds. It wasn't my favorite part of the tour because I was scared as hell as our driver accelerated over the dunes and it felt like we would topple over, glad I experienced it but I would probably not do it again. The sand dunes were beautiful so at least I got to appreciate that.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXue0frkuViLc_RjdPLsxcvVl_O6gGOsfD07i7dv58bQXHWrolAViWCAvA3aXrkibJRGQ2RsZY7Tulcf2oxCkE7isGupQhGQe9KR375O1qSJ9njh1KgPzssD2GfWm1bpsrQjXRvPAMxJlc9dDpkUynHVDSkFYCxXGJ786xoMl5ZV-YgnaTAT7YkzYJf0/s4032/20231122_154607.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXue0frkuViLc_RjdPLsxcvVl_O6gGOsfD07i7dv58bQXHWrolAViWCAvA3aXrkibJRGQ2RsZY7Tulcf2oxCkE7isGupQhGQe9KR375O1qSJ9njh1KgPzssD2GfWm1bpsrQjXRvPAMxJlc9dDpkUynHVDSkFYCxXGJ786xoMl5ZV-YgnaTAT7YkzYJf0/w640-h480/20231122_154607.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ92wCcGadNJasHUYXma5-tubo47iRGWODiP4oHFzT-rMcInRJiYWkKrqk8qKz54dkIdIQTesN986vIHQ_KJdOq9DLdsKqXWxhVwo29TIlpeIkrRZIwXFOCKOAVOUxgK5lOlDnTEzenzwIW6bY78W1OVxVtn1Wg_FWpu0WfpIBivrXk1Cgh6QBPwdAjEg/s4032/20231122_154828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ92wCcGadNJasHUYXma5-tubo47iRGWODiP4oHFzT-rMcInRJiYWkKrqk8qKz54dkIdIQTesN986vIHQ_KJdOq9DLdsKqXWxhVwo29TIlpeIkrRZIwXFOCKOAVOUxgK5lOlDnTEzenzwIW6bY78W1OVxVtn1Wg_FWpu0WfpIBivrXk1Cgh6QBPwdAjEg/w640-h480/20231122_154828.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw0tyRbREEQ1RzGpPzPUICzBpKE0Ch8JIUAeUh0w7YHQPmOqg-RrEzVQJ6o5XytxcakMqS4ohRUngnjthpM1XlWadlsLnLCH92xPa2sOsySDh6_XsC-HVOhzu2nemPPLk78Hl-2Sd6Yw_-sZbyD-rfh4iZkmVVEUOIMpHx_Y7gq2GYY5b-3NvwliyMMs/s4032/20231122_154914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw0tyRbREEQ1RzGpPzPUICzBpKE0Ch8JIUAeUh0w7YHQPmOqg-RrEzVQJ6o5XytxcakMqS4ohRUngnjthpM1XlWadlsLnLCH92xPa2sOsySDh6_XsC-HVOhzu2nemPPLk78Hl-2Sd6Yw_-sZbyD-rfh4iZkmVVEUOIMpHx_Y7gq2GYY5b-3NvwliyMMs/w480-h640/20231122_154914.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iPnZMFyWdYj8k6wb_uVSMZz1ejpksa_XGAmce514WE08qsXWvmtIVmLHPqvESpK0JazMRETLWsI4gjiSh47YLYPKW8iCKJHcK02LNPygYyJxPdaSgE59BcwcZGDzWohkG8z0Qra9t4mikmLF6LPaYzuklkD2fW58zYH_mzMgw0bXLbxIi0OED6qKW2Y/s4032/20231122_154927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iPnZMFyWdYj8k6wb_uVSMZz1ejpksa_XGAmce514WE08qsXWvmtIVmLHPqvESpK0JazMRETLWsI4gjiSh47YLYPKW8iCKJHcK02LNPygYyJxPdaSgE59BcwcZGDzWohkG8z0Qra9t4mikmLF6LPaYzuklkD2fW58zYH_mzMgw0bXLbxIi0OED6qKW2Y/w480-h640/20231122_154927.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4FN0RlnOkeY7400dYEYZV2WHGqNL2k-TbrP2T62-5W2w0UeUyt_owddbiV55eZY6eaSiICvPEmmjEfmynRuBUVEKFE7nxDjZt7LA2IRHjM-cIZs0qpNJCDqCbHpjqpiA2yFr3N22lbiuG-X6BBW7uJ0FOb60yf1LTHk1GLIyS8rVl-00LrJEwqYSf2Y/s4032/20231122_155110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4FN0RlnOkeY7400dYEYZV2WHGqNL2k-TbrP2T62-5W2w0UeUyt_owddbiV55eZY6eaSiICvPEmmjEfmynRuBUVEKFE7nxDjZt7LA2IRHjM-cIZs0qpNJCDqCbHpjqpiA2yFr3N22lbiuG-X6BBW7uJ0FOb60yf1LTHk1GLIyS8rVl-00LrJEwqYSf2Y/w480-h640/20231122_155110.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After we had out fill of the desert, it was time to head on over to Wadi Bani Khalid which was a 45 minute drive from the desert. A Wadi is a valley and some of these valleys are filled with water making them ideal spots for swimming. This specific Wadi is one of the most well known ones in the country and since it is not too far from Muscat, many locals and tourists alike visit it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljYJrKEghr7bGMVEgqgLXz5WuLbhZ34s2ik_IaiY9qy3L6NTXCo5zQ1Ddu6VQBTitMT0Oj0Vh2_F1ASpIz32Pgr_7j92p0S5085yPNBtm3VDFxGa_y07Z3GKuLuuMnAf_uem8cTHM5Ioe2owbuktlpuIWvingxnyNWAb8TuZ2fWf4kOHtcF63tpEKgps/s4032/20231122_191834.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljYJrKEghr7bGMVEgqgLXz5WuLbhZ34s2ik_IaiY9qy3L6NTXCo5zQ1Ddu6VQBTitMT0Oj0Vh2_F1ASpIz32Pgr_7j92p0S5085yPNBtm3VDFxGa_y07Z3GKuLuuMnAf_uem8cTHM5Ioe2owbuktlpuIWvingxnyNWAb8TuZ2fWf4kOHtcF63tpEKgps/w480-h640/20231122_191834.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KQ-0mgz1M3r3jKN5tG_6Lz3wDCgOsGgP8_oai6HPnCk5r8VGt7lQfjLvkMdQa3up96B6AAh8yRGJSecv4j1erP6kyIXGVpVXXa_ABErUfG74tm_mvfTd4nHxriZ7gg8ZmHFkQdHSOUZ1T_ZYS9hz7npFXa3ZzJGG1JdpzvhhUng5elN_PYXYElEY0tI/s4032/20231122_191852.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KQ-0mgz1M3r3jKN5tG_6Lz3wDCgOsGgP8_oai6HPnCk5r8VGt7lQfjLvkMdQa3up96B6AAh8yRGJSecv4j1erP6kyIXGVpVXXa_ABErUfG74tm_mvfTd4nHxriZ7gg8ZmHFkQdHSOUZ1T_ZYS9hz7npFXa3ZzJGG1JdpzvhhUng5elN_PYXYElEY0tI/w480-h640/20231122_191852.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfRNk4K7o_uDxTN9_LhS6fSUvSCUdL_2XOPAO0VaLUUktrwjr1wUPnANzL_F-ne7fbEl1sCjmnej7ZVgAhcksgk08j1EMiN_MTH6n-0ftHzirJtNheRXX_WRNYSjeJr5HDAolPrGVRN8NUeIjjFpxvxD_YeMD9ixKLzMmDWQeUPre2PAh64OYMuzuTYU/s4032/20231122_155613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfRNk4K7o_uDxTN9_LhS6fSUvSCUdL_2XOPAO0VaLUUktrwjr1wUPnANzL_F-ne7fbEl1sCjmnej7ZVgAhcksgk08j1EMiN_MTH6n-0ftHzirJtNheRXX_WRNYSjeJr5HDAolPrGVRN8NUeIjjFpxvxD_YeMD9ixKLzMmDWQeUPre2PAh64OYMuzuTYU/w480-h640/20231122_155613.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj34TQI3vtMUyvYQTFqj2F2RYeotFxt6hhajlJQQgoTK5qutoRscZBMm41Tup_IRSXUcR3n7_Pg33lGF3WBWeG2DkK_dxkHku90_kA7W4AYvk-uLa-DQPWwLgk9Dyi8isj8ih4a4P-tmneBXPv12taNdgYy7EZZk9k5zTmN-wrKw7q_DU7Tp7S-MK0Tvc/s4032/20231122_155438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj34TQI3vtMUyvYQTFqj2F2RYeotFxt6hhajlJQQgoTK5qutoRscZBMm41Tup_IRSXUcR3n7_Pg33lGF3WBWeG2DkK_dxkHku90_kA7W4AYvk-uLa-DQPWwLgk9Dyi8isj8ih4a4P-tmneBXPv12taNdgYy7EZZk9k5zTmN-wrKw7q_DU7Tp7S-MK0Tvc/w480-h640/20231122_155438.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXcCO7y-8fE-_VSmpNW6fzhqYDPmOXhJJlHYNIl_RAxLtQLC7LF1-bvQI_rCt1ND_V5J_kk2YOcYWReqGcWbpq8hM4u4iR_bmAXE5Ww5-4keOAA7vJGBciKkeNJk3DPWY1WH4T7WmhLtjiQAibFS15QbMDjuGn19JTD0rTGwE2nwyeNCa5K-AzJ6P4xY/s4032/20231122_155751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXcCO7y-8fE-_VSmpNW6fzhqYDPmOXhJJlHYNIl_RAxLtQLC7LF1-bvQI_rCt1ND_V5J_kk2YOcYWReqGcWbpq8hM4u4iR_bmAXE5Ww5-4keOAA7vJGBciKkeNJk3DPWY1WH4T7WmhLtjiQAibFS15QbMDjuGn19JTD0rTGwE2nwyeNCa5K-AzJ6P4xY/w480-h640/20231122_155751.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dSi1uJgxxEILWdVDRPlzXzKihFLMhlm3N9AotvhT60e89aMIvEcOh2Blo0F_5e5JPQ9iLvPhqqt3ASTlgqPLzgarlGL_7VMdyLXBm2dEZYbxBvkvgtkSWY4z61eN4y3YKvC38x2n1SyPAs-DXx9vIsLhyHWL3cPbdX-1fmP74_4UgNfxafUWSeq12qA/s4032/20231122_155819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dSi1uJgxxEILWdVDRPlzXzKihFLMhlm3N9AotvhT60e89aMIvEcOh2Blo0F_5e5JPQ9iLvPhqqt3ASTlgqPLzgarlGL_7VMdyLXBm2dEZYbxBvkvgtkSWY4z61eN4y3YKvC38x2n1SyPAs-DXx9vIsLhyHWL3cPbdX-1fmP74_4UgNfxafUWSeq12qA/w640-h480/20231122_155819.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj964QXROytLOi-__5FieSYLHQm1QXYVHwkfJTWjRQxcfWRQ8tcms7M7SLl0LlFbQJlOiOAt3Ddt2Ce3KgZYpGMT1MZKbz4BLPlCrcL6J7SRXMykFGXMNrK9bBMr9v_Cr_PsFf23a7SBIP5phxn9k2yBeIa8QLoWYaJaro4a9JA4nChhJHfgu-mrWAutVA/s4032/20231122_155855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj964QXROytLOi-__5FieSYLHQm1QXYVHwkfJTWjRQxcfWRQ8tcms7M7SLl0LlFbQJlOiOAt3Ddt2Ce3KgZYpGMT1MZKbz4BLPlCrcL6J7SRXMykFGXMNrK9bBMr9v_Cr_PsFf23a7SBIP5phxn9k2yBeIa8QLoWYaJaro4a9JA4nChhJHfgu-mrWAutVA/w640-h480/20231122_155855.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! it was a day well spent, I got an overdose of some much needed vitamin D and once I got back to my hotel room I was ready to call it a night. Tomorrow, another adventure awaits!</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-70007526574289304412023-11-21T13:46:00.004-06:002023-11-22T10:50:21.347-06:00Oman Day One - Muscat<p>I landed in Muscat the capital city of Oman a few hours ago and me being me, I hit the ground running by touring some of the popular highlights of the city before jet lag humbles me and knocks me out. Oman is located in the Middle East and shares borders with Yemen, Saudi Arabia and The UAE. You hardly ever hear about Oman in the news so a lot of people don't know anything about the country, at least that is the impression I have judging by the common question I kept being asked when I mentioned that I was visiting Oman, "Where is that? how do you even spell that?" </p><p>I hope writing about my adventures in this country during my week long stay will be informational and better yet, inspire any reader of this blog to visit. Now let me give you a quick run down of what I have been up to for the past few hours. </p><p><b>Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque</b> - This is the largest mosque in Oman and took 6 years of construction to complete. The mosque has a blend of Arab, Middle Eastern and Omani architectural design and it was once famed as having the largest chandelier and carpet in the world, before the Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE swooped in and claimed this fame. The Sultan Qaboos mosque is one of the only mosques in Oman that allows visitors of all religions inside the prayer halls.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiS2CNaa8yYnQpCUeeMNdL6E7kcJYWP6mS3fYkVWY2zvTEfgZYFWKZA_F-zlfFqZEh_O6bbuMn5n8YT4v0Gk88GzBSE8QxmMRGJwdL7qyuypWzDOffn_rw8bIF8r9bBmtTbEWNv9_STXPr3UzBaDvh6KmEemMWsCqVBtUR6ZcA0HsOarJy2ycGAYu9vg/s4032/20231121_140701.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiS2CNaa8yYnQpCUeeMNdL6E7kcJYWP6mS3fYkVWY2zvTEfgZYFWKZA_F-zlfFqZEh_O6bbuMn5n8YT4v0Gk88GzBSE8QxmMRGJwdL7qyuypWzDOffn_rw8bIF8r9bBmtTbEWNv9_STXPr3UzBaDvh6KmEemMWsCqVBtUR6ZcA0HsOarJy2ycGAYu9vg/w480-h640/20231121_140701.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTVRSr-RauZL8CxKDcTw_XxFs9DytfxcPTfoWdDg6YtY2g2sj0jPDpXRCbOS9w0kg6e94w5rZNuTkwFIVTftH40icK_PotJwHgIOo2M7W4IVkr1BZixFQcoAfIOdlC61PBg-z9pHGYDgXnSwD9pKpRUMsebyiSwetyV7W617pjEeW-pMjSTaL-Qwz4og/s4032/20231121_154159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTVRSr-RauZL8CxKDcTw_XxFs9DytfxcPTfoWdDg6YtY2g2sj0jPDpXRCbOS9w0kg6e94w5rZNuTkwFIVTftH40icK_PotJwHgIOo2M7W4IVkr1BZixFQcoAfIOdlC61PBg-z9pHGYDgXnSwD9pKpRUMsebyiSwetyV7W617pjEeW-pMjSTaL-Qwz4og/w480-h640/20231121_154159.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUtfW-NNkHUO2emS_k2j67l7ysICBlAs_fQmeVKKAbtilb8oJ3aPAfZuTwFr5fvXlE5qB4Vku8uKHEbljv-QXoA4s8IzrQu-KZJxhpFTaI7szhCWFchWjccJMitJnY5GsN5-ZAbF5IfXjTsK3aXaTpj-LZW3hauVZjLzYmhyphenhyphenItGU6xftJeOXD-CzLwu4/s4032/20231121_154531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUtfW-NNkHUO2emS_k2j67l7ysICBlAs_fQmeVKKAbtilb8oJ3aPAfZuTwFr5fvXlE5qB4Vku8uKHEbljv-QXoA4s8IzrQu-KZJxhpFTaI7szhCWFchWjccJMitJnY5GsN5-ZAbF5IfXjTsK3aXaTpj-LZW3hauVZjLzYmhyphenhyphenItGU6xftJeOXD-CzLwu4/w480-h640/20231121_154531.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Al Alam Palace</b> - This is the official ceremonial palace of the Sultan of Oman and public entry into the palace is not allowed unless you are a visiting dignitary.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vB3_CLyCJcyLmlhBsEzTrIaj8Wlx9GxQClSQ38kH0Kb3JvI2fLzyLmzxyUj8hEjCx-MQAtU0o5I3zuUDxh_1-RCeIyvhd69t71x1dSohHsPLK7Imk-5hmEJCGepUhHgK7A-tbLtIeePEXbHbex5yUrrkkabM1EAWWUNoqFHHN_SgIeY0D4c7ryseGUU/s4032/20231121_154806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vB3_CLyCJcyLmlhBsEzTrIaj8Wlx9GxQClSQ38kH0Kb3JvI2fLzyLmzxyUj8hEjCx-MQAtU0o5I3zuUDxh_1-RCeIyvhd69t71x1dSohHsPLK7Imk-5hmEJCGepUhHgK7A-tbLtIeePEXbHbex5yUrrkkabM1EAWWUNoqFHHN_SgIeY0D4c7ryseGUU/w480-h640/20231121_154806.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y4TTkfNK-x5fNxziYdHTLui0R-SD2Jyeay4KrtqL92vtjr-iFsZ3B2i_DT_HvUUkiBVl5xmrqjKvbXdYTfwvV11sO31Jb90oj-qJyolKts0t-ssnuhREJeNbC7z3prLJt9cBjCHNhbgslDf2jEki9EmDg5ITHvcVMFaIPY6YNY5FU5pN8dIdnfodvkc/s4032/20231121_155024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y4TTkfNK-x5fNxziYdHTLui0R-SD2Jyeay4KrtqL92vtjr-iFsZ3B2i_DT_HvUUkiBVl5xmrqjKvbXdYTfwvV11sO31Jb90oj-qJyolKts0t-ssnuhREJeNbC7z3prLJt9cBjCHNhbgslDf2jEki9EmDg5ITHvcVMFaIPY6YNY5FU5pN8dIdnfodvkc/w480-h640/20231121_155024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>Mutrah Souq </b>- This is one of the oldest market place in Oman where you can find a variety of goods for sale, heck! you can even buy Luis Vuitton bags and all the big designer brands, authenticity is definitely not guaranteed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh415tXvnVmcd-NICDVrpvUWkAnGmVGA0Kd21NfdP2-6ptYBWx08eC-jEc8MKb2NlG0jnFpTQ6MnUU6rwWPNdZSQzblIajBOeuaAesYrKr1I8A3xRzajIHsuVrGyGjp6U_aUP4V2DAlXVPdbW1gqXb7byDxOz6ngXdBLzhx1YOey8_gD3m0uiYyNR4lggs/s4032/20231121_155241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh415tXvnVmcd-NICDVrpvUWkAnGmVGA0Kd21NfdP2-6ptYBWx08eC-jEc8MKb2NlG0jnFpTQ6MnUU6rwWPNdZSQzblIajBOeuaAesYrKr1I8A3xRzajIHsuVrGyGjp6U_aUP4V2DAlXVPdbW1gqXb7byDxOz6ngXdBLzhx1YOey8_gD3m0uiYyNR4lggs/w480-h640/20231121_155241.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaphTT3lX0mxCDyqR4yBp_USynRcOWkSgGd85ja76wbUnyZUs1SZUlKhttNbbprD4Vr1QqvAtJoPjjoRXv1GYxViMZ5jnuewDKLSYWl3CCuM9UtKxWIDoYCIY1P0QvBQ3ktYtopiLJAR1g23BBjbiBZeMwQ9RGFaSvkFh78Vnqhu8qdxoykIbBnJ4GgY/s4032/20231121_155735.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaphTT3lX0mxCDyqR4yBp_USynRcOWkSgGd85ja76wbUnyZUs1SZUlKhttNbbprD4Vr1QqvAtJoPjjoRXv1GYxViMZ5jnuewDKLSYWl3CCuM9UtKxWIDoYCIY1P0QvBQ3ktYtopiLJAR1g23BBjbiBZeMwQ9RGFaSvkFh78Vnqhu8qdxoykIbBnJ4GgY/w480-h640/20231121_155735.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonK7T35Rh6WWVPOwZhAHfVFfFZzGRLNnj7051JsF0_36qDPhBGUBYR7OCAl6yg4aUeleIinHzh8VjW-RLs6Rc593KlgcsZLOsAf_UBPaMzVfC-Oz4zt5hcprt13WnNXGcet6agqhuhy7aYKExcN7BpL6WUuojls0gPX3JELTPKnSIo44_FxrXVF8F1UA/s4032/20231121_155445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonK7T35Rh6WWVPOwZhAHfVFfFZzGRLNnj7051JsF0_36qDPhBGUBYR7OCAl6yg4aUeleIinHzh8VjW-RLs6Rc593KlgcsZLOsAf_UBPaMzVfC-Oz4zt5hcprt13WnNXGcet6agqhuhy7aYKExcN7BpL6WUuojls0gPX3JELTPKnSIo44_FxrXVF8F1UA/w480-h640/20231121_155445.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>The Royal Opera House</b> - This is the leading arts and culture organization in Oman with a vision of serving as the center of excellence in global cultural engagement. World renowned concerts are held here and I got the chance to peak inside, the stage is huge! I can only imagine how amazing the performances are.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGg9FbTAdxYvvOXj1JOVGU4iVk75R9NzWi78EVFQ1JTK86MMsYnaBsyj2p1v0U87W7iGF0RsLhgJCXbptbriOWee7LORioM8AYwqGsv_fhxGktFEfARHh4sLTRLSKrZMmh9GDz_7wGtljg30B5IfawrV1DdZao0ukoYl4hvDphVKTKLW7a4RKW_ZpIOY/s4032/20231121_140258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGg9FbTAdxYvvOXj1JOVGU4iVk75R9NzWi78EVFQ1JTK86MMsYnaBsyj2p1v0U87W7iGF0RsLhgJCXbptbriOWee7LORioM8AYwqGsv_fhxGktFEfARHh4sLTRLSKrZMmh9GDz_7wGtljg30B5IfawrV1DdZao0ukoYl4hvDphVKTKLW7a4RKW_ZpIOY/w480-h640/20231121_140258.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyW2RhPXX2r0jAYcIlLmZ27ESbxDqnCFMnKJirs_RbxAtWY4YbTy6zEXUgo0DAnCN2xLKHqqIzIKmciLtmQQpWvakCC65zRpMYq1kAoAb8lNsO2xAX49KsgHqniqh-wIgn9G8obeidg6m3IktpPt_dL8sv9n9U71t7tXjkdCibbiOukx2ulkojwV0Re4M/s4032/20231121_163454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyW2RhPXX2r0jAYcIlLmZ27ESbxDqnCFMnKJirs_RbxAtWY4YbTy6zEXUgo0DAnCN2xLKHqqIzIKmciLtmQQpWvakCC65zRpMYq1kAoAb8lNsO2xAX49KsgHqniqh-wIgn9G8obeidg6m3IktpPt_dL8sv9n9U71t7tXjkdCibbiOukx2ulkojwV0Re4M/w480-h640/20231121_163454.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">That's it folks! it was an active day, just the way I like it and now it's time to succumb to jet lag and rest up as tomorrow I continue on with yet another exciting adventure.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Random Thoughts of The Day</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Muscat has to be one of the most chill cities that I have ever visited, maybe my opinion will change later during my trip but so far I have observed it to be so quiet and not bustling with activities or people. I was told that most people come out in the evening and at night since it is cooler. I will confirm this later.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With half a day, you can see pretty much most of Muscat city's highlights. It is easier to do this with the help of a car as the public transportation system is not really catered to tourism.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The roads in the city are in perfect condition and the drivers are not aggressive so it's not intimidating to drive here. Ooh! and Oman being an oil producer, expect gasoline prices to be pretty cheap!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Oman's population is in the 5 million range and about half of it comprises of foreign workers who provide cheap labor. You will see many of these foreign workers in Muscat working in restaurants, shops, hotels etc. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-55779193207059889722023-03-20T10:46:00.002-06:002023-09-29T10:29:10.733-06:00Day 6 - New Delhi, India<p>Today was my last day in India, instead of taking another overnight train from Varanasi to Delhi, I decided to fly because I was not about to spend another 10 hours in a train while I could alternatively spend slightly over an hour on a flight. I arrived in Deli at night which gave me a good opportunity to sleep and rest up before embarking on a few last adventures in the city. Remember I had already seen a few sites in Delhi on the first day of my trip so what was remaining were a few more sites before officially wrapping up the trip. </p><p>The first stop was at the India Gate which was built to commemorate the thousands of Indian soldiers that died during World War I. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_CgOd65Jue2M6Dy06CWXvcrM_D8VVTs0FkiNZ6T5oygDzTF0HsghZsS3ZlsV3L4bjf9lCUS4XeM7M4poTIYIRvboRqtWAmgdatMKX_qIqJwD_Ycm9FgAN3Az_KgXI0PUaGWW_UpaKml2dlp3bbfDX4N9YNMJ7UtHD3ylVTlTZDeFQmpKMasjTKDw/s3888/20230320_134631.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="2682" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_CgOd65Jue2M6Dy06CWXvcrM_D8VVTs0FkiNZ6T5oygDzTF0HsghZsS3ZlsV3L4bjf9lCUS4XeM7M4poTIYIRvboRqtWAmgdatMKX_qIqJwD_Ycm9FgAN3Az_KgXI0PUaGWW_UpaKml2dlp3bbfDX4N9YNMJ7UtHD3ylVTlTZDeFQmpKMasjTKDw/w442-h640/20230320_134631.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Second stop was Humayun's Tomb built in 1570. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, it was the first garden-tomb in India and was heavily influenced by Persian architecture. This tomb actually inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFVN8sA932T73FuJa0eVJYlHGMDMmSivLfRHNh4EH6QSCM4QdvN3xa52-WxQrL6Rz9IBAwO86eqhiP7wybQxAMF726W7bI0aN4k362900oJUZU59iBRlDIUyvg57tdArV_VOaFAfRjAbcvLRqnzVvpT6Cs-NBftBqQoBZJRVynw_LLtyTDcKuOhth/s4032/20230320_141227.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFVN8sA932T73FuJa0eVJYlHGMDMmSivLfRHNh4EH6QSCM4QdvN3xa52-WxQrL6Rz9IBAwO86eqhiP7wybQxAMF726W7bI0aN4k362900oJUZU59iBRlDIUyvg57tdArV_VOaFAfRjAbcvLRqnzVvpT6Cs-NBftBqQoBZJRVynw_LLtyTDcKuOhth/w480-h640/20230320_141227.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Isa Khan's garden tomb, it precedes the adjacent Humayun's tomb by two decades. It is the culmination of an architectural style used for royal tombs in Delhi during the Sayyid and Lodi dynasties from the early 15th to 16th centuries. How pretty are the colors at the top? can you imagine how they must have looked like in the past? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEZ1jFnRDVIzRt6jnRNFZho99mMgRGjKwMR8Wd4R3hO4CZzFb04dTFqHG08M1-WPzr6lapISlosqg5kCRFHqagF2VbbIoGqmYmQTPyKEacSs8XB2jqp_0YdDUK0HPz-X7tf-dgI-3Ekqk9zZ3pZMtA3yp1OqNEUUHg-wZfifTxVlv1106Umzxhg--/s4032/20230320_135234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEZ1jFnRDVIzRt6jnRNFZho99mMgRGjKwMR8Wd4R3hO4CZzFb04dTFqHG08M1-WPzr6lapISlosqg5kCRFHqagF2VbbIoGqmYmQTPyKEacSs8XB2jqp_0YdDUK0HPz-X7tf-dgI-3Ekqk9zZ3pZMtA3yp1OqNEUUHg-wZfifTxVlv1106Umzxhg--/w640-h480/20230320_135234.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-7V4fkz_GZYy340q9UlUSMKBGqKhYGXJkotR8-FzdoycN3FAmLzHPirGSIKPhcas5o78RKXfnjDoTigCZq5HX6DpOQknT1U0SlplXi4Mu4YEF4arytHVSJt1H3lGcZwK2NYOkN3qV0cftoGY-fETf0mRIL00c6YGADa5Mla0SG43vZAydCA025H2/s3024/20230320_134908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-7V4fkz_GZYy340q9UlUSMKBGqKhYGXJkotR8-FzdoycN3FAmLzHPirGSIKPhcas5o78RKXfnjDoTigCZq5HX6DpOQknT1U0SlplXi4Mu4YEF4arytHVSJt1H3lGcZwK2NYOkN3qV0cftoGY-fETf0mRIL00c6YGADa5Mla0SG43vZAydCA025H2/w640-h640/20230320_134908.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other places I was meant to check out were the presidential palace and the Lotus temple. Both were closed to the public unfortunately. There wasn't much else to do so I had my last meal in Delhi before heading back to the hotel to get ready for my trip back.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJ0ApZLWAPn6ogZWlivu3VJgKdkwP4CkJM4us1D9LQZa0pqThVDIDdyNRWIN7FcXYdxYRzFsFiwryXfrUmxY74DSl2xFvOyJAWGdpfsmb582JMXqhcKe0-BTVYYJKADq6VOfXT5GwvwBU4zkQ5M4Z2ZgvPWN-gwni-IezC8xPBz6s1yr-toOyCh5_/s3368/20230320_161353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3368" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJ0ApZLWAPn6ogZWlivu3VJgKdkwP4CkJM4us1D9LQZa0pqThVDIDdyNRWIN7FcXYdxYRzFsFiwryXfrUmxY74DSl2xFvOyJAWGdpfsmb582JMXqhcKe0-BTVYYJKADq6VOfXT5GwvwBU4zkQ5M4Z2ZgvPWN-gwni-IezC8xPBz6s1yr-toOyCh5_/w574-h640/20230320_161353.jpg" width="574" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvblTAeuKOgkWA3ZDbwCkEvw_HnebOuMtaN0BbIatlpfE_fjo54jPaEnwqYGa0FwncI50VaX6QT_FjGCjJ2KL6F30mA_dcgxcJu1xRY3rMgRpjCXFI-Ky03My8rtRAFwJmFYfG9nFBhbG4sv25nl7mjzK9UAhwiaA9wGrLi6DtJahF9KNUf0XqimC/s4032/20230320_161407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvblTAeuKOgkWA3ZDbwCkEvw_HnebOuMtaN0BbIatlpfE_fjo54jPaEnwqYGa0FwncI50VaX6QT_FjGCjJ2KL6F30mA_dcgxcJu1xRY3rMgRpjCXFI-Ky03My8rtRAFwJmFYfG9nFBhbG4sv25nl7mjzK9UAhwiaA9wGrLi6DtJahF9KNUf0XqimC/w480-h640/20230320_161407.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! I am rushing through this post because my taxi driver is almost here to take me to the airport. All I can say though is that this trip taught me about gratitude, India has a lot of challenges and even though I had a guide, I still felt those challenges. Initially I was ready to be done with this trip but after I looked at the unique experiences I had in the country, my perspective changed and I appreciated what this trip exposed me to. It's been quite an adventure and now it's back to reality! Until the next adventures.............Adios!</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-52135526071638813612023-03-19T20:45:00.006-06:002023-09-04T14:41:32.073-06:00Day 5 - Varanasi, India<p>I left Agra for Varanasi via an overnight train which was quite the adventure! thank goodness I slept for most of the 12 hour trip and never once did I have to use the toilet. I arrived in Varanasi early in the morning feeling well rested and ready to hit the ground running. Varanasi or Benaras, is one of the oldest living cities in the world. It's located in northern India and on the banks of the Ganges river which is considered sacred and holly by Hindus. </p><p>Hindus also believe that if one dies in Varanasi then they will attain salvation and freedom from the circle of life and rebirth. This gives you an idea of how important this city is to Hindus, it is the ultimate pilgrimage city for them and many wish to die here, Heck! I would too, if I shared the same beliefs. I mentioned that I was ready to hit the ground running upon my arrival, so that's exactly what I did. I met with my tour guide and driver and off we went to check out the first point of interest, starting with Sarnath.</p><p>Sarnath - this is an archeological site situated north of Varanasi. This place is very important to buddhists because this is where Buddha delivered his first sermon. Buddhists from all over the world make pilgrimages to this site. I got to learn about the history of Buddha and Buddhism as my guide and I walked around the site then checked out a nearby museum that had recovered relics from the site, it was very interesting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4Z5V4yD8Yehb3DW8no4OHoT3PCbaUs8mV4cEqPlM641WzOIY7RdWcqE1V7TycnIbioxIm0_tE05YIoEv6R6-yNzrQHEmbeErdi7GpPGrbxrfLO6HmNHvNRsXXpg2WRGGwAVEfIxddNxIBTxjCzgun7-4S-1vLt8iat-enByLW9ZK29U8LVBwiYzb/s4032/20230318_172014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4Z5V4yD8Yehb3DW8no4OHoT3PCbaUs8mV4cEqPlM641WzOIY7RdWcqE1V7TycnIbioxIm0_tE05YIoEv6R6-yNzrQHEmbeErdi7GpPGrbxrfLO6HmNHvNRsXXpg2WRGGwAVEfIxddNxIBTxjCzgun7-4S-1vLt8iat-enByLW9ZK29U8LVBwiYzb/w640-h480/20230318_172014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnrJ7E3J9YfYeLJHWsUH4ngqQBhqavIPyAdxLTv1cuAthaNWBVhFA4-Amemnc3mzxssL7pu-vT3ri8kQL0-NisLal10hjkbKuWfJYYpWSOl102IzIw-GMwFgINhkYaqdlMIECYQu729kHhhzkqNSUHDgELy1yYg_QWuwHzTAdH4TvpkpKvaWAComO/s4032/20230318_172203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnrJ7E3J9YfYeLJHWsUH4ngqQBhqavIPyAdxLTv1cuAthaNWBVhFA4-Amemnc3mzxssL7pu-vT3ri8kQL0-NisLal10hjkbKuWfJYYpWSOl102IzIw-GMwFgINhkYaqdlMIECYQu729kHhhzkqNSUHDgELy1yYg_QWuwHzTAdH4TvpkpKvaWAComO/w640-h480/20230318_172203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqYUUZ7ja-k4x4b8uzjL3HWsH4cwO-oKzyu0b89GzJTJ7sfvsEkIs4U6Sy18WTosBMPcPLbK2at8uxoCflDErFfZiCjfjvjnOeUtl8AGzg_DkQM0xPYR1Kg2lNd3hGU6mx2LE2EkNMz6xeQSFczKGPyPEUTyMF8ZF62S-eERYORZ3EuCs99Ht9jey/s4032/20230318_172505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqYUUZ7ja-k4x4b8uzjL3HWsH4cwO-oKzyu0b89GzJTJ7sfvsEkIs4U6Sy18WTosBMPcPLbK2at8uxoCflDErFfZiCjfjvjnOeUtl8AGzg_DkQM0xPYR1Kg2lNd3hGU6mx2LE2EkNMz6xeQSFczKGPyPEUTyMF8ZF62S-eERYORZ3EuCs99Ht9jey/w640-h480/20230318_172505.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wat Thai Temple - this is one of the most popular Buddhist temples in Sarnath and the main highlight of this temple is the 80 feet statue of Buddha in standing position. The project to complete this statue took 14 years, construction started in 1997 and the statue was unveiled in 2011.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Lvt5y3cd8Py-pAEFShTIZXt2YHr1Irt_JQOM3VJ24keOq6x_LcTK1Lu5MPsr37NJsb9yWWFjrlAz6f6fbuRh_LDMWf5B3Dx3mePImY3RH9mIy9mzeKobMqJTllXOCpkzIa6dEA6XLgobq3-bdrpn7Ul-M-nnf0j8a9ma1yg0mBNdJkbK16Wj5KHj/s4032/20230318_183458.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Lvt5y3cd8Py-pAEFShTIZXt2YHr1Irt_JQOM3VJ24keOq6x_LcTK1Lu5MPsr37NJsb9yWWFjrlAz6f6fbuRh_LDMWf5B3Dx3mePImY3RH9mIy9mzeKobMqJTllXOCpkzIa6dEA6XLgobq3-bdrpn7Ul-M-nnf0j8a9ma1yg0mBNdJkbK16Wj5KHj/w480-h640/20230318_183458.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgYR8TFaS6qnpWnUDXm0nCYErCUJZSr81X8wkEUuGhkGlC6ZU9_ULpznaLWjhFrzfVN9jKwJp6E8MFt01RZyesgMhxbtg4EXs-rSleJocI06if169c_5Qm3sZ_XDhWDUZ3ikPkNl30jycig_8fB1KVwRoo5y_Wj5PdTg06KH6kCGakrIh76vNzKlZ/s3464/20230319_121241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3464" data-original-width="1948" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgYR8TFaS6qnpWnUDXm0nCYErCUJZSr81X8wkEUuGhkGlC6ZU9_ULpznaLWjhFrzfVN9jKwJp6E8MFt01RZyesgMhxbtg4EXs-rSleJocI06if169c_5Qm3sZ_XDhWDUZ3ikPkNl30jycig_8fB1KVwRoo5y_Wj5PdTg06KH6kCGakrIh76vNzKlZ/w360-h640/20230319_121241.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ganga Aarti - this is a prayerful ceremony held every evening at Dashashwamedh ghat (steps leading to the river Ganges). It get's really crowded as you can see from the photos below. It was a fascinating ceremony to watch and something highly recommended to check out while in Varanasi, just be prepared for the crowds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAixxAjtvEgaqQgkueg6PRkUEJWxlaKGm_8aYxfsnTAOyHCt1y6Kdkw7hX0ax7qXM7-Ck9rkGt3BeZGGme4CbaTl8vZDwdtmRLh6SZsM0TQtztYvebNnYwKu9IQJPuQHMY60XxINUDVnPs_zLhu-FH0x6cuvBNPlmPOfcghrzW6pj6xzNwu3lkuL8/s4032/20230318_183005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAixxAjtvEgaqQgkueg6PRkUEJWxlaKGm_8aYxfsnTAOyHCt1y6Kdkw7hX0ax7qXM7-Ck9rkGt3BeZGGme4CbaTl8vZDwdtmRLh6SZsM0TQtztYvebNnYwKu9IQJPuQHMY60XxINUDVnPs_zLhu-FH0x6cuvBNPlmPOfcghrzW6pj6xzNwu3lkuL8/w640-h480/20230318_183005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The different Hindu gods displayed on a building as were heading toward the ghat.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2loa8WwBWrQVAI_iAaOdx_Zmv7dx7e5LcUh7V8U37Ixy2QI_B8YTXZQgwuvXmm29E1hRTXShLsLxHki00Qd15zbJvEx1Xaxcv_d9Ogps5mRwwadyP0cC44tB1vV5YTiX_i_zc9Y-lni1BIWwOKKGzF3aLF1fkmbwdcT11Hcv5ttZk6JyC4TZVin7h/s4032/20230318_183120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2loa8WwBWrQVAI_iAaOdx_Zmv7dx7e5LcUh7V8U37Ixy2QI_B8YTXZQgwuvXmm29E1hRTXShLsLxHki00Qd15zbJvEx1Xaxcv_d9Ogps5mRwwadyP0cC44tB1vV5YTiX_i_zc9Y-lni1BIWwOKKGzF3aLF1fkmbwdcT11Hcv5ttZk6JyC4TZVin7h/w640-h480/20230318_183120.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">People heading to the evening ceremony</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnrXGS1vBdRdxEBPaQhqoY2KiiBEK_ynR33aFXPWDw1ys_CHYo8lS0hm4DwwWtLZkQlw4yMPbhMFockVVJJxtSc-uQgiAwpeCgq8-zWz4bpE0xSosC3QygcoNBJAJb2j_U6AL8pqxlCwhOjq49Qgu661i2V1zIqSdykFPUUghAyZBqZFTpzmtYfQN/s4032/20230318_183219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnrXGS1vBdRdxEBPaQhqoY2KiiBEK_ynR33aFXPWDw1ys_CHYo8lS0hm4DwwWtLZkQlw4yMPbhMFockVVJJxtSc-uQgiAwpeCgq8-zWz4bpE0xSosC3QygcoNBJAJb2j_U6AL8pqxlCwhOjq49Qgu661i2V1zIqSdykFPUUghAyZBqZFTpzmtYfQN/w640-h480/20230318_183219.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HxS0saEMjNwNj0_UsOJBNSZsqq8XNS_FlZEm6pe6aAS-DKZAGysl_HdrKwnZb_TwzDLsHSFJYZTkf1O_on0QYSMXz0nq9SsgAhbN8xLioaqd9sn-WUI3O496Bdfhn1z1-4GpHDRjk5HpVRdFcOVLNItbrf_xOWov12LuC-SdGYvLCSS6jUxROGEa/s4032/20230318_183320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HxS0saEMjNwNj0_UsOJBNSZsqq8XNS_FlZEm6pe6aAS-DKZAGysl_HdrKwnZb_TwzDLsHSFJYZTkf1O_on0QYSMXz0nq9SsgAhbN8xLioaqd9sn-WUI3O496Bdfhn1z1-4GpHDRjk5HpVRdFcOVLNItbrf_xOWov12LuC-SdGYvLCSS6jUxROGEa/w480-h640/20230318_183320.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately it started raining heavily so we had to leave the ceremony early but at least I had observed a big portion of it. The next morning which was my last day in the city, we headed back to Dashashwamedh ghat at around 6 am and the place was buzzing with activity already. I got to see people bathing in the Ganges, went on a boat ride along the river as my guide told me more about Hindu rituals and beliefs then checked out some temples. I am summarizing everything because it's a lot of information that I am just too tired to get into it, but I hope you enjoy the photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL4elwtb35aGkrAkGOvGIO-APZCWw2dPt8Z1UIkPMSQ9DgyHk8rI6-hWcOlrP9IMNGOlrot7q4YocH394QlWfllQuTjgQc0xqFtPWVh6oMHhRFay3EsNCH35wQsbYAhC4yhjPEa8F2ItCI_v26o09wRm9LPhu45FV21CZO7E7r1Sa1l6BYCV7C5PI/s4032/20230319_075601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL4elwtb35aGkrAkGOvGIO-APZCWw2dPt8Z1UIkPMSQ9DgyHk8rI6-hWcOlrP9IMNGOlrot7q4YocH394QlWfllQuTjgQc0xqFtPWVh6oMHhRFay3EsNCH35wQsbYAhC4yhjPEa8F2ItCI_v26o09wRm9LPhu45FV21CZO7E7r1Sa1l6BYCV7C5PI/w640-h480/20230319_075601.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ig2sd28w0J10iMJ3BFh0ftoqvqWu2SxhxHol5eHXxO9EDMcr9pQRMMvhdyeqfrODb0yJEgd0VFR551nxJodsbZUm7v9EtuZaOHYEhOOWHP967aTKeaS4tQTZZ84rHppn-VQc4iYiX0KnXxKLGAC3WV5yoz3Q6JXWgTr8Ni08-m1yLamEs3-47C9_/s4032/20230319_075234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ig2sd28w0J10iMJ3BFh0ftoqvqWu2SxhxHol5eHXxO9EDMcr9pQRMMvhdyeqfrODb0yJEgd0VFR551nxJodsbZUm7v9EtuZaOHYEhOOWHP967aTKeaS4tQTZZ84rHppn-VQc4iYiX0KnXxKLGAC3WV5yoz3Q6JXWgTr8Ni08-m1yLamEs3-47C9_/w480-h640/20230319_075234.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Interesting story about Kumiko house below. Years ago, I believe in the 70s, a Japanese lady visited Varanasi and fell in love with one of the boat men at the Ganges. They got married and she moved to India to be with him, she built this guest house which I was told is pretty popular with Japanese tourists that visit Varanasi.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlsFy0jr4qNKCCkFh879Voj16I5deuvn1NWHS79egkJX-PG3OA6n_V5avkmRjf7PRCZQPrOUako2PupMOyymqiw0abMJ6OFCYHX0ICawiszDDHjedVmPzwPHiCVGyA8HMA47L_ICGCAwiIMBWrL6yxUegFmFkVN1G-OFKRNagx5aWJkWJy557NTvj/s4032/20230319_075420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlsFy0jr4qNKCCkFh879Voj16I5deuvn1NWHS79egkJX-PG3OA6n_V5avkmRjf7PRCZQPrOUako2PupMOyymqiw0abMJ6OFCYHX0ICawiszDDHjedVmPzwPHiCVGyA8HMA47L_ICGCAwiIMBWrL6yxUegFmFkVN1G-OFKRNagx5aWJkWJy557NTvj/w480-h640/20230319_075420.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the Ganges you will see many floating flower arrangements, I was told that these are offerings and what you do is light a small candle in the middle of the flower arrangement, say one wish that you would like to come true then put the offering in the river. I made my wish then put the flower offering in the river</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PS: reason why I was wearing sunglasses when clearly it was an overcast day is because I got a horrible ear infection and the left side of my face was swollen including my eye, thank goodness for my braids which managed to hide how swollen my face really was.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6J-9hfDGVZzaqkxUofZKhQ9tsa2C7izXAuFrhD7Zgxn4_WzXltI3zBqYpPYz_yY2PTYI_RJPzy7-53YaPf0kcII0EsUVcs7sL9RERXbjfxe2bkvkgHoPSvfalEQzjxKJCec45DrYqCdlge-tcltZEQ1IHJo23iWd1IdDp_hRAaU4JtWBeP0TPgRZp/s4032/20230319_075736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6J-9hfDGVZzaqkxUofZKhQ9tsa2C7izXAuFrhD7Zgxn4_WzXltI3zBqYpPYz_yY2PTYI_RJPzy7-53YaPf0kcII0EsUVcs7sL9RERXbjfxe2bkvkgHoPSvfalEQzjxKJCec45DrYqCdlge-tcltZEQ1IHJo23iWd1IdDp_hRAaU4JtWBeP0TPgRZp/w640-h480/20230319_075736.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5b_6nbhN2ILpqwzGS809KwEHyJz7VWr9GG60ucGyGWo_GqNmbvMe3WbwyNMGt2lWiJDjsHRbU325R9cPm91FZZ896kXKpplBLGxb6NVFeD9Mq22ksdcOdixkkqh00RlaaT2XX2XlZucDnGUo8dB4O8LZ3TMWg2roTUxkfbblKMmrylh3-uyO7CHE5/s4032/20230319_075531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5b_6nbhN2ILpqwzGS809KwEHyJz7VWr9GG60ucGyGWo_GqNmbvMe3WbwyNMGt2lWiJDjsHRbU325R9cPm91FZZ896kXKpplBLGxb6NVFeD9Mq22ksdcOdixkkqh00RlaaT2XX2XlZucDnGUo8dB4O8LZ3TMWg2roTUxkfbblKMmrylh3-uyO7CHE5/w480-h640/20230319_075531.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1RbaAbqxQCfaxMIKiBG_7We3PxU9A2UjcWtDtBeWHIxfUCtnGw7GNmGin5bTFmyBLGEVb_D4QR_FAktH9sFM3uypd3faiLdbXxlfzLXD3lHxsI4ECLu1aN2dDsMD8dCTbsWyvrUADkROg4kbfXLzDpPjEd0TWtANWwfP97MVdcedEnCwVVP93Wbe/s4032/20230319_075819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1RbaAbqxQCfaxMIKiBG_7We3PxU9A2UjcWtDtBeWHIxfUCtnGw7GNmGin5bTFmyBLGEVb_D4QR_FAktH9sFM3uypd3faiLdbXxlfzLXD3lHxsI4ECLu1aN2dDsMD8dCTbsWyvrUADkROg4kbfXLzDpPjEd0TWtANWwfP97MVdcedEnCwVVP93Wbe/w640-h480/20230319_075819.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Checked out a couple of temples</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cvUi7Woo3mI7fpfx_OJo371SW1m0Yoa-_vZkDzdTieApbq6gx25twHE3HXcpijf3DGgd9GNuSEjo6pizitJl7WnNA7fLKIR_kpSWUWTF6E3dX55QzA-8kiVivFLaIphGjr552HsSdMypH9f-BXEHEMsLI-6-FIgPAvbiJWDqZF6pU8p491ECATZY/s4032/20230319_084208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cvUi7Woo3mI7fpfx_OJo371SW1m0Yoa-_vZkDzdTieApbq6gx25twHE3HXcpijf3DGgd9GNuSEjo6pizitJl7WnNA7fLKIR_kpSWUWTF6E3dX55QzA-8kiVivFLaIphGjr552HsSdMypH9f-BXEHEMsLI-6-FIgPAvbiJWDqZF6pU8p491ECATZY/w640-h480/20230319_084208.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s3NObp-WXHdfzpBwD3wpuBgMzM-KeYRrte0sSZhGb7PM4aDYIO5ebRJp7DrKuA2gMd8Re1-gn4pDycuBFslrLO8rl_-7d-3kwg87H7pzwhZSWjsRjNVJsMOsQzxOQp0CwQ0JNlfZUOx0xkRd13-8_RgGcRPD5l6maMgxJDufBuXz2Wq463WEYMXy/s4032/20230319_084502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s3NObp-WXHdfzpBwD3wpuBgMzM-KeYRrte0sSZhGb7PM4aDYIO5ebRJp7DrKuA2gMd8Re1-gn4pDycuBFslrLO8rl_-7d-3kwg87H7pzwhZSWjsRjNVJsMOsQzxOQp0CwQ0JNlfZUOx0xkRd13-8_RgGcRPD5l6maMgxJDufBuXz2Wq463WEYMXy/w640-h480/20230319_084502.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In front of the statue of Patanjali, according to sources he systemized and codified the existing yoga practices, he was a sage who authored the Yoga Sutras, a classic yoga text dating back 200 BC - 200 CE.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHgq2HNVF9kV2Wwe57WjLegHHl-4lPy3BlUtEkA9GF7tVG8z_Nw-wvXBMO5u8JBHjx--abB-acHUOkE2joz5Xxu7mpT_2gmcd6PlRYwwWFIkEIflc0ZFCWGYVP5W47O8t8lHBnhC_I6uYT92QzIY7EEYStTjO6idVTBJhP-2hS_kI4SwJCMyDsIp5/s3527/20230319_151751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3527" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHgq2HNVF9kV2Wwe57WjLegHHl-4lPy3BlUtEkA9GF7tVG8z_Nw-wvXBMO5u8JBHjx--abB-acHUOkE2joz5Xxu7mpT_2gmcd6PlRYwwWFIkEIflc0ZFCWGYVP5W47O8t8lHBnhC_I6uYT92QzIY7EEYStTjO6idVTBJhP-2hS_kI4SwJCMyDsIp5/w548-h640/20230319_151751.jpg" width="548" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! I saw what I needed to see in Varanasi and it was time to head back to Delhi. I was supposed to take another overnight train but decided to take a local flight which would only last slightly over an hour. I wasn't about to spend hours on the train again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Random Thoughts of the Day:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>I love Indian food but for some reason my appetite just hasn't been present during this trip, maybe it's because I am moving around a lot plus I am also cautious about what I eat because I don't want to end up with a running stomach.<div><br /></div><div>As much as I love seeing vibrant cities with people walking along the streets, the crowded streets of the parts of India that I have visited, are on another level. The crowds, the noise, the shoving, it's a lot! never have I missed a quiet park where you can just sit and decompress while still enjoying the outdoors.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been getting stares everywhere I go and I don't think anyone can beat Indians with a stare back. I tried to out stare several people but it hasn't worked so far, it's like some of these folks are in a trance or something. Someone will literally stand in front of me and just stare, it's so bizarre and I have never seen anything quite like it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I came across a woman holding a child while begging on the street in Varanasi, my guide told me that a lot of these women are professional beggars. They have kids every 3 or so years then use the kids to garner sympathy while begging on streets. This is literally like a job for them, he said this happens all over India and they drug the kids a little bit so that they don't cry while the mother is walking around begging. Poor kids! </div><div><br /></div><div>Considering all the pollution that goes into the Ganges river, I was wondering about the safety of people bathing in it. My guide insisted that the minerals in the water do not allow for infections and some people even drink that water. Yikes! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-74807273259703268792023-03-18T01:15:00.003-06:002023-09-29T10:33:22.921-06:00Day 4 - Agra, India<p>Today is my birthday and even though I woke up with an ear infection that had started swelling up, I was determined to make the best out of the day. Yesterday the focus was mainly on the Taj Mahal and today the aim was to see other sites of interest before leaving Agra for the next city.</p><p>The first stop was Agra Fort which is a historical fort that served as the residence of the rulers of the Mughal Dynasty, until 1638 when the capital was moved from Agra to Delhi. It is also known as the Red Fort due to the red sandstone used to build it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2fM_CZEMJFN-M93kO2gK9B2G364T6niJ4Zfv3reh2VAdTWg-O6Rg1S7aJW8CcwxldcUeXTC41NIg5kk9bo6ZQsxHOLCNUxZsGDUCf9rFHimUfK6QrZXbYXWJqecZa2pb8sAKK2goxn6IGQxxoNMHluKlYJ-mcXPkw6Jty3LhiTgB7cxHpV0cktsk/s4032/20230317_125603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2fM_CZEMJFN-M93kO2gK9B2G364T6niJ4Zfv3reh2VAdTWg-O6Rg1S7aJW8CcwxldcUeXTC41NIg5kk9bo6ZQsxHOLCNUxZsGDUCf9rFHimUfK6QrZXbYXWJqecZa2pb8sAKK2goxn6IGQxxoNMHluKlYJ-mcXPkw6Jty3LhiTgB7cxHpV0cktsk/w640-h480/20230317_125603.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5WkIXLd5La0JghFRaToRVsw4_U3UyxOIExpa3d3Wn6V0XODGdI3tR915T0ZXOAyNfOPfk-Jcq2nTTYA164kW7MX_PytuO4PN2N-NpMHMFD4XzvTIfcid3YhIL7Pzjl6BmYD80yDwxu_gud129yXr34E6OkSbZrApZK6WoGoXDNF7m5hyb4EuZcyh/s4032/20230317_125044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5WkIXLd5La0JghFRaToRVsw4_U3UyxOIExpa3d3Wn6V0XODGdI3tR915T0ZXOAyNfOPfk-Jcq2nTTYA164kW7MX_PytuO4PN2N-NpMHMFD4XzvTIfcid3YhIL7Pzjl6BmYD80yDwxu_gud129yXr34E6OkSbZrApZK6WoGoXDNF7m5hyb4EuZcyh/w480-h640/20230317_125044.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Next stop was The tomb of Itmad Ud, this tomb was built by his daughter queen Jahan, as a tribute to him after his death. She was a mughal queen. The tomb was built in 1625 and has many features that were incorporated in the later construction of the Taj Mahal. It is actually referred to as "baby Taj." The artwork in this tomb is beautiful! I personally found this tomb to be more beautiful than the Taj Mahal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY4lyBOsZcDPT0EyiwzWRFyNAw_hH4KzBBM48aaO7fhyMx5WMWO6RudhduUtfC2hYX4atUe4bdEFGzVcXAZXGrrB82IyojhlbzT1shYkru5yUVhR9ERBVEGgU88S7tRUg9pYberJEFmeksegCSqQo0rQTck_NK6FcatO2aY83SYo9Ae9g3m5MkZB1/s2441/20230317_172105.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="2441" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY4lyBOsZcDPT0EyiwzWRFyNAw_hH4KzBBM48aaO7fhyMx5WMWO6RudhduUtfC2hYX4atUe4bdEFGzVcXAZXGrrB82IyojhlbzT1shYkru5yUVhR9ERBVEGgU88S7tRUg9pYberJEFmeksegCSqQo0rQTck_NK6FcatO2aY83SYo9Ae9g3m5MkZB1/w640-h420/20230317_172105.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWTKj28gOTaDcnf64l3UMDZD284vLlv-az884TnuwOTUu-Uf7TAdKhN6xhzvwIDq1Bw0RMZ24PimSxmx2KRbUYlskWn4vmVK56XzPG7_Yt6-YhJqhTqUFkT28jzOwW8K13mUe48_G57F0plfrNSffI4QYpeRSrPssw6v3N1Iy5o4_51Nf2hCnkKem/s3024/20230318_021509.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2911" data-original-width="3024" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWTKj28gOTaDcnf64l3UMDZD284vLlv-az884TnuwOTUu-Uf7TAdKhN6xhzvwIDq1Bw0RMZ24PimSxmx2KRbUYlskWn4vmVK56XzPG7_Yt6-YhJqhTqUFkT28jzOwW8K13mUe48_G57F0plfrNSffI4QYpeRSrPssw6v3N1Iy5o4_51Nf2hCnkKem/w640-h616/20230318_021509.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRu9sxvLnK6Xc6-haFUoEN_gGGu-744cvmJ7IZsc_6PTaFR2eONWOe6gcjxs7umgKzLKj18EwQ25oIgnUHb9Ilc3uQD8UZeTRbQyw64mB6TU4LTaqXWKBfkMK62bB7FQ9HPcRKtUKWFtyJO9205YrzmLLUbdM6pzR6JaKsJQWRd8Mmph7e768C6Uo/s3897/20230317_180015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3897" data-original-width="2982" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRu9sxvLnK6Xc6-haFUoEN_gGGu-744cvmJ7IZsc_6PTaFR2eONWOe6gcjxs7umgKzLKj18EwQ25oIgnUHb9Ilc3uQD8UZeTRbQyw64mB6TU4LTaqXWKBfkMK62bB7FQ9HPcRKtUKWFtyJO9205YrzmLLUbdM6pzR6JaKsJQWRd8Mmph7e768C6Uo/w490-h640/20230317_180015.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxl_ShAl4CLYO1aTmHpmfrl14WSiMWIfJcCnCgpTiYWF0GDRqjvB0-bayPWnKFjISuScYOrbvme08zueOKvejNUqeeFcEZkEXffpcU7UP5VhnO2VoJ2NbVD4DTyYnoWZxpocO6uSmsL2WegytQ_X1C4O14r2N4o9ceSugWEImzfRqe5vkh9wQEDm7/s4032/20230317_125854.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxl_ShAl4CLYO1aTmHpmfrl14WSiMWIfJcCnCgpTiYWF0GDRqjvB0-bayPWnKFjISuScYOrbvme08zueOKvejNUqeeFcEZkEXffpcU7UP5VhnO2VoJ2NbVD4DTyYnoWZxpocO6uSmsL2WegytQ_X1C4O14r2N4o9ceSugWEImzfRqe5vkh9wQEDm7/w480-h640/20230317_125854.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">That's it folks! After checking out these two sites, it was time to head to the train station to take an overnight train to the next city, but not before getting one last tuk-tuk ride. I can't say it was the best birthday just because there were so many unplanned occurrences that threw things off. I am not complaining though because either way, I still had the privilege of experiencing something unique.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2atXFaO1OQ0BgfUYC8lSufmekREX1FMHOqzDyA9uPdE7enCRuz6bfzZMjborof0aocIsyA-umAasI91zLhuaFdoSHCFxVHjWJ7YDGPkOt8iRDtpWur0Kc8ZOWC1XMQksAElc2nZHMusvu2HbBVnfyNxNp6BCmU_T6_sj3PJb_Wlu20MKsAS48shi/s4032/20230317_124913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2atXFaO1OQ0BgfUYC8lSufmekREX1FMHOqzDyA9uPdE7enCRuz6bfzZMjborof0aocIsyA-umAasI91zLhuaFdoSHCFxVHjWJ7YDGPkOt8iRDtpWur0Kc8ZOWC1XMQksAElc2nZHMusvu2HbBVnfyNxNp6BCmU_T6_sj3PJb_Wlu20MKsAS48shi/w640-h480/20230317_124913.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-73801199342992530762023-03-16T09:37:00.002-06:002023-03-19T20:47:49.839-06:00Day 3 - Agra, India<p>The main reason I wanted to visit India was to check out the Taj Majal, one of the seven wonders of the world. I mean, mention India and one of the top things that come to mind is the Taj Mahal right? So today I finally got my wish and visited the famous Taj Mahal.</p><p>Taj Mahal is located in Agra which is a 5 hour drive from Jaipur, where I was staying. We (my driver and I) arrived in the late afternoon and after settling into my hotel, it was time to set off to a new adventure.</p><p>The Taj Mahal is the most photographed monument in the world, it was built in the 17th century by Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal is an ode to the emperor's eternal love for his wife. It took a whooping 20,000 skilled workers from across the country working day and night for 22 years to complete this amazing work of art. </p><p>It was really crowded when I got to the Taj Mahal but honestly, that didn't take anything away from the experience. It truly is an amazing masterpiece that is worth checking out. I had a guide explaining all the intricacies that went into creating this masterpiece and this helped me appreciate it even more. Without further ado, check out the photos I managed to capture, they are in no particular order.....enjoy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GQ59Z3EE7ckikYrnktkYHsIFcQSPOKaoDvgoj_bJg9OxmE5Ho6TRB9SNBbH7TtN5KjxNsisH4PEsEALjM9wnNi3npC8VFNGD9BDqPZ2oSJMtLnw5vYwsCYD7LWn9sAYF1Jtcl2MHWtR5LaVXeCIpa8Mp8o2bnGnhoDkDVZ_7MGFb7CQK36X0yz5O/s4032/20230316_165725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GQ59Z3EE7ckikYrnktkYHsIFcQSPOKaoDvgoj_bJg9OxmE5Ho6TRB9SNBbH7TtN5KjxNsisH4PEsEALjM9wnNi3npC8VFNGD9BDqPZ2oSJMtLnw5vYwsCYD7LWn9sAYF1Jtcl2MHWtR5LaVXeCIpa8Mp8o2bnGnhoDkDVZ_7MGFb7CQK36X0yz5O/w640-h480/20230316_165725.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfhvMFjukOie4xtzvfpu80r6sFSOre3mNTmXIMIBepo4mnn6nw13imodf2aY_zVXsQSNvb3Bem7cdsTtZXhFqVlMeS3ePQ5wk5LpEUuvvPVTWA9YLzLfJ0P0HayDMgCMr3kvJxoY8PlBgu6jhuZ6I2aylThPITNHiM61lX1G2LwcHXd9fk-dg_Cv9/s4032/20230316_162119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfhvMFjukOie4xtzvfpu80r6sFSOre3mNTmXIMIBepo4mnn6nw13imodf2aY_zVXsQSNvb3Bem7cdsTtZXhFqVlMeS3ePQ5wk5LpEUuvvPVTWA9YLzLfJ0P0HayDMgCMr3kvJxoY8PlBgu6jhuZ6I2aylThPITNHiM61lX1G2LwcHXd9fk-dg_Cv9/w480-h640/20230316_162119.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Got sucked into a mini photo shoot, long story....</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyX6hm5tvvvHPsrMZU_AH2SZo1LFs9D4f67HUMuuHJ7hyCsVql4BiWUDcHz9oQ_dzaA8kYYkL8OSriL2K78IiWfu1LpnR4LsNSsvO2kc9Iuyo5JWIS6JgFu_clrOhkUBSQpIqyuBg6EL22duldgOQL9EBJfRs7s4y0gwGKV3YKRLXnZ44feQzteRV/s4359/20230316_185242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2887" data-original-width="4359" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyX6hm5tvvvHPsrMZU_AH2SZo1LFs9D4f67HUMuuHJ7hyCsVql4BiWUDcHz9oQ_dzaA8kYYkL8OSriL2K78IiWfu1LpnR4LsNSsvO2kc9Iuyo5JWIS6JgFu_clrOhkUBSQpIqyuBg6EL22duldgOQL9EBJfRs7s4y0gwGKV3YKRLXnZ44feQzteRV/w640-h424/20230316_185242.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ptj4s3TLFmoiWPWtb9xvPA6B2zDba2-8yPMkhfrWwJaKx1JJE9nbGGbeYEZTGoWbcmjKEHeJv1L2MIBLKw05ceMSrizUGObFKUUpz8sYUrWIVZMLztXIekNUyimTEC5F41l_w5Mol38Iu9rqs6WIRwHdFspUOC8BJtRze1YrSSi6pgH1R77mkcpW/s2886/20230316_185604.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="2886" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ptj4s3TLFmoiWPWtb9xvPA6B2zDba2-8yPMkhfrWwJaKx1JJE9nbGGbeYEZTGoWbcmjKEHeJv1L2MIBLKw05ceMSrizUGObFKUUpz8sYUrWIVZMLztXIekNUyimTEC5F41l_w5Mol38Iu9rqs6WIRwHdFspUOC8BJtRze1YrSSi6pgH1R77mkcpW/w640-h514/20230316_185604.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf75d_PTvhoygpDjCikRJmw0LqUcf8kVid0r_pwv6RbBNBlmhHSEfJnJKY6kWDVVIh8xvkqk59WNWgV95mFlNuRssmYMYSep9iAKirJQYJ6DqT6KjT6Oq24ZXhJsWhJFLi2o5CRlz2Aifjv2hFf6tCOX6wzHhZVM4PkhZ3yohbp_bKBBGEwfm_h3lM/s4358/20230316_185635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2886" data-original-width="4358" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf75d_PTvhoygpDjCikRJmw0LqUcf8kVid0r_pwv6RbBNBlmhHSEfJnJKY6kWDVVIh8xvkqk59WNWgV95mFlNuRssmYMYSep9iAKirJQYJ6DqT6KjT6Oq24ZXhJsWhJFLi2o5CRlz2Aifjv2hFf6tCOX6wzHhZVM4PkhZ3yohbp_bKBBGEwfm_h3lM/w640-h424/20230316_185635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTYgc3hTXV1bRuo1aCRWN6kDcYKip07tTfcUyVwlNfi3Y4CY64hAzP1jYq8WIeWz7JPkHmgRkJ0zSuQTISdZDN7MwCerW_vwhOPVKUleigR6B17meLWeCadFv0CwigAfNd5o5o_oIWO7_v3iopS656BZkhJ8aPOzKzpf9e0q_2xjcmr7IqVG9Hw8Z/s4032/20230316_192554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTYgc3hTXV1bRuo1aCRWN6kDcYKip07tTfcUyVwlNfi3Y4CY64hAzP1jYq8WIeWz7JPkHmgRkJ0zSuQTISdZDN7MwCerW_vwhOPVKUleigR6B17meLWeCadFv0CwigAfNd5o5o_oIWO7_v3iopS656BZkhJ8aPOzKzpf9e0q_2xjcmr7IqVG9Hw8Z/w640-h480/20230316_192554.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Below you can see the incorporation of the concept of a Persian garden, beautiful!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00u8n8urqOarngS61z5YsRyQDnRgYO7COJSKcWGGQn2j0H-iBkDbKpXqWcDnmLzuSja9zD1hBicCjQr1bF6qhUXl6HPQTqjxQlvdHqyfgOUzCBoiLJ61D7IPbBBEK49UtXD4ARfxyC9fJVDCOXPU5S23UZa2tHr_oKdpwx2ysuUGIrhrUgaHSGCV4/s4032/20230316_192712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00u8n8urqOarngS61z5YsRyQDnRgYO7COJSKcWGGQn2j0H-iBkDbKpXqWcDnmLzuSja9zD1hBicCjQr1bF6qhUXl6HPQTqjxQlvdHqyfgOUzCBoiLJ61D7IPbBBEK49UtXD4ARfxyC9fJVDCOXPU5S23UZa2tHr_oKdpwx2ysuUGIrhrUgaHSGCV4/w480-h640/20230316_192712.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZuM8fF5iATdeGlwMASueYF2fSiwkvfOKk0XHR3k8MoKpdxmgB9R8rubtQrdljCDm4W78u7GRjYILuAHqHJA8GobUtifyEixUedo1C0-I3dRH7qjBNPValXmIEWY5VBxvrJQJLwP98On4oFDKEQHKF2yYEwq1Wo80sJVzrYEI1aZD1xHx7Q7rRUz2/s4032/20230316_192917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZuM8fF5iATdeGlwMASueYF2fSiwkvfOKk0XHR3k8MoKpdxmgB9R8rubtQrdljCDm4W78u7GRjYILuAHqHJA8GobUtifyEixUedo1C0-I3dRH7qjBNPValXmIEWY5VBxvrJQJLwP98On4oFDKEQHKF2yYEwq1Wo80sJVzrYEI1aZD1xHx7Q7rRUz2/w480-h640/20230316_192917.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSNAIMYthE7PtnwzKg9_mUyWmuAl-_89iIWog9hnhh4LCEbNEfo67WXwXH1WgWAtvuXsy6fm_1FgUYyx1whT46fnxjg5w81mNY7Bz9dSYYk-MjMwCHBIwRFuU5NlKvCCohKOAsUVjb3jwhigX9UGhV0qF79eynxchDRbUtoaUcO8SgKuchrD0fe1H/s4032/20230316_193003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSNAIMYthE7PtnwzKg9_mUyWmuAl-_89iIWog9hnhh4LCEbNEfo67WXwXH1WgWAtvuXsy6fm_1FgUYyx1whT46fnxjg5w81mNY7Bz9dSYYk-MjMwCHBIwRFuU5NlKvCCohKOAsUVjb3jwhigX9UGhV0qF79eynxchDRbUtoaUcO8SgKuchrD0fe1H/w480-h640/20230316_193003.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-qUHQpoMm2KisbCQFblVAAssrasXhoCNZSUg0h0m0AOIL1Joyho02w-ucycIk48XOSgkEztG0BUGOfZzbTGExptY6DIi2pJ-e44uhH6oKvPIv7u9GxP_mO7im8-WxAa-1mh2S8qk7zXOxakPN-niAH8h0xFItRR6rkvaYT_5EVgSomsldtRI_goQ/s4032/20230316_193129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-qUHQpoMm2KisbCQFblVAAssrasXhoCNZSUg0h0m0AOIL1Joyho02w-ucycIk48XOSgkEztG0BUGOfZzbTGExptY6DIi2pJ-e44uhH6oKvPIv7u9GxP_mO7im8-WxAa-1mh2S8qk7zXOxakPN-niAH8h0xFItRR6rkvaYT_5EVgSomsldtRI_goQ/w480-h640/20230316_193129.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! It was time well spent and I am so glad that I got to check out one of the seven wonders of the world. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Random Thoughts of The Day:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The one thing I have noticed so far during this trip is that almost everyone that is being nice to you expects a tip. Not gonna lie, it's exhausting! I have nothing against tipping, it's just the way it's done here, it even makes you cautious of being friendly toward someone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the Taj Mahal you will find many photographers asking to take photos for you at a small fee. Just be firm on how many photos you want taken and how much you are willing to pay. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While shopping in the local markets, be firm on what you want and maintain a straight serious face. The sales people can be pushy and annoying, trying to get you to buy more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Honestly I am so glad that I am using a tour company during this trip to India because I can see how overwhelming it would be to do it solo. It's not impossible but I chose convenience over everything.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-46179566433528636092023-03-15T12:37:00.010-06:002023-09-28T22:20:18.890-06:00Day 2 - Jaipur, India<p>Today was a full busy day, just how I like it! Left Delhi for Jaipur which is the capital of India's Rajasthani state, very early in the morning in order to beat traffic, the trip between the two cities is a 5 hour drive so you can imagine how much longer it would be if traffic was an issue. The drive actually turned out to be just fine and it went by faster than I expected! well, sleeping for most part of the journey did play a role in giving the impression that the trip was shorter than 5 hours.</p><p>I had read about how chaotic and overwhelming India can be so since my visit is only a week long, I figured why not book a tour with a travel agent so that they can figure out all the logistics instead of me trying to navigate by myself with such limited time. Sometimes it just works better that way and you are able to really utilize the limited time you have got. The tour package did include a private driver so that's who drove me to Jaipur.</p><p>Jaipur is the first planned city in India and was established in 1876, it is also known as the pink city because when the prince of Wales visited the city, the leader at the time decided to paint the whole city pink because the color symbolizes hospitality, I believe prior to that the city was white and once it got painted pink, the color remained as is till the present day. Since I only have a day in Jaipur, my itinerary was packed with all the different highlights of the city. After linking up with my guide, no time was wasted in checking out the different tourist sites, this the order of how my day went:</p><p><b>Amber Fort</b> - One of the best preserved forts that served as the royal capital for seven years before the city of Jaipur was built.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVXtVJ3Zn1bhAggiLSpFTch3QqF-mzHcozezgMU4AqFSxWj-zUJ0kk4yEDCwPRAcgoCzeFzrW9jYzs_n0JsY1Gsgc-egwtJrijOo9XSSnJxl1m7hEWhl5-Uv1aMvqSZReQ_2nroFecfWBY6eKSR96fFyyD-mCZaYvjxW2NohDMPmuUT6o0oU59kWG/s4032/20230315_134625.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVXtVJ3Zn1bhAggiLSpFTch3QqF-mzHcozezgMU4AqFSxWj-zUJ0kk4yEDCwPRAcgoCzeFzrW9jYzs_n0JsY1Gsgc-egwtJrijOo9XSSnJxl1m7hEWhl5-Uv1aMvqSZReQ_2nroFecfWBY6eKSR96fFyyD-mCZaYvjxW2NohDMPmuUT6o0oU59kWG/w480-h640/20230315_134625.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDfTaCTdTOls3iy175avDEnAkx2nsHFe5IW4LJGkkGXgo0mkdmbuF4i0ufYk_uau6bysqI7t9xUInVL590clw5KFIXh90LtQCDQNTTH2yHNtCQWEDnimcvyUc1YwX9dhTbF-om2Y1x5GcBo36Y1j-oBMJsslnw61ckeQTS-XK9bNKQdsgPR70KM72/s3536/20230315_142544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3536" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDfTaCTdTOls3iy175avDEnAkx2nsHFe5IW4LJGkkGXgo0mkdmbuF4i0ufYk_uau6bysqI7t9xUInVL590clw5KFIXh90LtQCDQNTTH2yHNtCQWEDnimcvyUc1YwX9dhTbF-om2Y1x5GcBo36Y1j-oBMJsslnw61ckeQTS-XK9bNKQdsgPR70KM72/w548-h640/20230315_142544.jpg" width="548" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxuAvJXBXgSSfURFjQBuoIgIhJwS1OhANdDKpMNkroWNEBBoeUXmQBt_ZJj6w0mZUk7lmPacthoqthRtPdYAWeTwXorzDtzVqOohfxMh2zuCp-0uRwzW7pMSOPDQL2ybE68W3-1t_3NBWYZO_gW7XhJagIxspUrbS0Y8acVmgmgbc1Umps0xJksCd/s4032/20230315_133344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxuAvJXBXgSSfURFjQBuoIgIhJwS1OhANdDKpMNkroWNEBBoeUXmQBt_ZJj6w0mZUk7lmPacthoqthRtPdYAWeTwXorzDtzVqOohfxMh2zuCp-0uRwzW7pMSOPDQL2ybE68W3-1t_3NBWYZO_gW7XhJagIxspUrbS0Y8acVmgmgbc1Umps0xJksCd/w480-h640/20230315_133344.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_A0s5Y--bYQa82YYWoDYhkOYl4N8dsRe7VIRsF1Du2rLBhew0UxrZwijz2gVJ8xMNvs6vA3Lv7Ier6wwQ0cRaLQ2tzmZ4yPTTjWFKMoYr-ZNFq2sCE72LKmR4UW0oJ7f6ZxKunHbVdMdskHoE2crD7gRmQA159jmlB1uJTP4_J8yG_neyWvPqY-x/s4032/20230315_133617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_A0s5Y--bYQa82YYWoDYhkOYl4N8dsRe7VIRsF1Du2rLBhew0UxrZwijz2gVJ8xMNvs6vA3Lv7Ier6wwQ0cRaLQ2tzmZ4yPTTjWFKMoYr-ZNFq2sCE72LKmR4UW0oJ7f6ZxKunHbVdMdskHoE2crD7gRmQA159jmlB1uJTP4_J8yG_neyWvPqY-x/w480-h640/20230315_133617.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnabha872ShGm5sR2xAdWbWEfDzrcvpyn8US398tFHisxt6LAKsjw8Skd6xjlCKTofAjJwk3vX7UP-yjKJSm7h28O36OZK_C-d9_1p9m9010y9aJ9g4St3h5D2sgzCyozJtrDAttjzYNDr7RJzQ9bgsRSzHRCwFh03K1ZPgbLlfWCy1CA_cO9yknsT/s4032/20230315_142633.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnabha872ShGm5sR2xAdWbWEfDzrcvpyn8US398tFHisxt6LAKsjw8Skd6xjlCKTofAjJwk3vX7UP-yjKJSm7h28O36OZK_C-d9_1p9m9010y9aJ9g4St3h5D2sgzCyozJtrDAttjzYNDr7RJzQ9bgsRSzHRCwFh03K1ZPgbLlfWCy1CA_cO9yknsT/w480-h640/20230315_142633.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><b>Jal Mahal (Palace of Water)</b> - Located in the middle of a man made lake, Man Sagar. The initial intention for building this palace was to have it a hunting lodge for the king and his entourage. Unfortunately it is not open to tourists but there are plans by the govt. to grant access to the public. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QP_8cFmy_LguMGUTS3GaK6OYFqELhpY-qPKclzsCkkyMwqhL2PEJVqm6Owvvxj2hS0aPXnnsq0d5SgXwOG9bewdJIxjWKPGTbq7vyDua-GwYIFGal6kdhMXNNSlJImYSZGizaKMYvcQrCRCYnQd1V2P-j7xaE1aYtrBPZhRglHYCjyuGH7_nSR8H/s4032/20230315_140246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QP_8cFmy_LguMGUTS3GaK6OYFqELhpY-qPKclzsCkkyMwqhL2PEJVqm6Owvvxj2hS0aPXnnsq0d5SgXwOG9bewdJIxjWKPGTbq7vyDua-GwYIFGal6kdhMXNNSlJImYSZGizaKMYvcQrCRCYnQd1V2P-j7xaE1aYtrBPZhRglHYCjyuGH7_nSR8H/w640-h480/20230315_140246.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcN621wZ0epULgMJ4nOC7vz5pAB0NpWryDMCufO2NFo8UVTa6TTft77f81-JtqHh5TcPGYKlmxYiuh1ild2nBRdANlxYGi-f1rTRG-5YIljp_Bn0qU2FLMLvjwORQJGwyCelw5TdL-0erpIDsO0PGVCcM54IrlCkDWKdWJowyxBCu8CQ0f5pqUUVt/s4032/20230315_140324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcN621wZ0epULgMJ4nOC7vz5pAB0NpWryDMCufO2NFo8UVTa6TTft77f81-JtqHh5TcPGYKlmxYiuh1ild2nBRdANlxYGi-f1rTRG-5YIljp_Bn0qU2FLMLvjwORQJGwyCelw5TdL-0erpIDsO0PGVCcM54IrlCkDWKdWJowyxBCu8CQ0f5pqUUVt/w480-h640/20230315_140324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><b>Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) - </b>A five story building that happens to be the tallest in the world, built without foundation. It remains upright because of it's curve. The building's shape and curved windows allow breeze to blow through the palace, keeping it cool. It was an extension of the Royal City Palace and since Royal ladies were not allowed to be seen by strangers or the general public, the windows were designed in such a way that they could see what was going on in the streets below without anyone seeing their faces.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4grP0fG1nFDxGMCuDhiCH3Z6gghrBycIMRvwX3gs3NvyiWSDknJr8E5geMkkCUCLxFKzif_PJiP4cFJvCxdZ9Jwa_3BEpnH1vnj6IW2_-3KntDouNp-b_-wkk2TEqDXfKx9EBl5QnAhUubIvXazYbwugXKG1qHElvGhOVmLMJzFyHdI9fDTAy68YM/s4032/20230315_184828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4grP0fG1nFDxGMCuDhiCH3Z6gghrBycIMRvwX3gs3NvyiWSDknJr8E5geMkkCUCLxFKzif_PJiP4cFJvCxdZ9Jwa_3BEpnH1vnj6IW2_-3KntDouNp-b_-wkk2TEqDXfKx9EBl5QnAhUubIvXazYbwugXKG1qHElvGhOVmLMJzFyHdI9fDTAy68YM/w480-h640/20230315_184828.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawVAgIoLpaxrOWPha5XLN-6ARlEVXLIwnVQvaRJxZNujukG6FDZanyemiUiM-BKzRtiRDRuE8HfjhH0eOB4o3PkQRX7T6vbiVZSqSXjMKOfD3lOPh6VNAkVXG3Qwxzqq4cyaqumWJju_vjsaWLX65Ywv8xcskVlU_3dMDCus4tMpISBNRqlJY4Cjm/s4032/20230315_162332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawVAgIoLpaxrOWPha5XLN-6ARlEVXLIwnVQvaRJxZNujukG6FDZanyemiUiM-BKzRtiRDRuE8HfjhH0eOB4o3PkQRX7T6vbiVZSqSXjMKOfD3lOPh6VNAkVXG3Qwxzqq4cyaqumWJju_vjsaWLX65Ywv8xcskVlU_3dMDCus4tMpISBNRqlJY4Cjm/w480-h640/20230315_162332.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHWI2CAhVBwf3sWUGHwMeGUGJRvyREkvZ-mnC3HAAmk-wORMdKoZEHvgwizGtln3m6Otp6W3KI2CfwPsENb8EcedKM5pU128JdFSUyzPclNkDKSLR47Tw5ZwlvENWwDQUrm-W1lvjYwsrblx1KCkcMCbnm9my8mfc5tlkx5CpgAv3gAkbKMAzLGSn/s4020/20230315_190419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4020" data-original-width="2388" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHWI2CAhVBwf3sWUGHwMeGUGJRvyREkvZ-mnC3HAAmk-wORMdKoZEHvgwizGtln3m6Otp6W3KI2CfwPsENb8EcedKM5pU128JdFSUyzPclNkDKSLR47Tw5ZwlvENWwDQUrm-W1lvjYwsrblx1KCkcMCbnm9my8mfc5tlkx5CpgAv3gAkbKMAzLGSn/w380-h640/20230315_190419.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><p><b>City Palace -</b> This palace was built between 1729 and 1732 AD served as the Maharaja's(great king) dwelling place. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86_T4-RV0H7s6CjfeM1nxmErR0S9mC9aj4cmwYSjKhmj6LFfFBe0_GWls7RmwA82rQWi5t6By_SHke2Te-Rn_apDiPSoqGIDQjTNr9IcUmt4vQhDAnGMXp75wvfUpmpx0LyKvOgSe9MtGq7I0Wud9jcdUsjIGUXScXj3YSzXww3B1j7p6kKZdDYDQ/s4032/20230315_182352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86_T4-RV0H7s6CjfeM1nxmErR0S9mC9aj4cmwYSjKhmj6LFfFBe0_GWls7RmwA82rQWi5t6By_SHke2Te-Rn_apDiPSoqGIDQjTNr9IcUmt4vQhDAnGMXp75wvfUpmpx0LyKvOgSe9MtGq7I0Wud9jcdUsjIGUXScXj3YSzXww3B1j7p6kKZdDYDQ/w480-h640/20230315_182352.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRp39uJrcSS61k2vV5LQ81K8UyNsytdeuqebgo0ctI6Hj33HQAxxBOQn4LCqOrSQC3w6Jb5xUKGLX9wO-htV6iECtSdrEDnmNYomrooKb9Jtvwv4927FJ3U6zUDOUsl3AACmmjaVW-yun86IymZj7BPBadhWz5AmV95b8P-Ka9QUKzOx-JcFE37B6/w480-h640/20230315_181317.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4AUYI-cPfMaMxW9rXGzKPAC0c-IH-TgH0ZhAm2Qgmr8HRhdapxrhJwV-DTnQ0wyVfCiil7ubgh69GHY8GLTvCs12jn12bJLod0hlYEd9cDVphKt2LBJQ2BEKmzvX-comRJZo7gYZ2kC__RWjX_-XDG13SqyxBSS-oEuYjGdeEamSn1Dfk-8zlmKB/s4032/20230315_181403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4AUYI-cPfMaMxW9rXGzKPAC0c-IH-TgH0ZhAm2Qgmr8HRhdapxrhJwV-DTnQ0wyVfCiil7ubgh69GHY8GLTvCs12jn12bJLod0hlYEd9cDVphKt2LBJQ2BEKmzvX-comRJZo7gYZ2kC__RWjX_-XDG13SqyxBSS-oEuYjGdeEamSn1Dfk-8zlmKB/w480-h640/20230315_181403.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIlT3xI7iU6uHp8uOf44QAQXPoPDpGruwGHaR_McfYek9wWH1nJ2FpYN-whjCoAzraVZNyxGvcRstzeqBT6Kryv9TQVJ80Sk8QB0bSuW1n5s6fJW-p8BCa4Wm22pGK02qCxKVtBleKDewH2CPy2evvzw2w42anST_q6mCyBvBXh-Xt3hoopU5yjCf/s4032/20230315_181611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIlT3xI7iU6uHp8uOf44QAQXPoPDpGruwGHaR_McfYek9wWH1nJ2FpYN-whjCoAzraVZNyxGvcRstzeqBT6Kryv9TQVJ80Sk8QB0bSuW1n5s6fJW-p8BCa4Wm22pGK02qCxKVtBleKDewH2CPy2evvzw2w42anST_q6mCyBvBXh-Xt3hoopU5yjCf/w480-h640/20230315_181611.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pDKXqIbmjhBkpaE1F5tI_LY-FUupTDWb9QpLTsipPZUZIsQYMQqW8w7kUNa03iKlYKNTSPwU-6aPD_9T1WZFEqJ68vaMzVLi2UKiZRBaBr0E4a62ku9QnurhwylpBviwHKZemsS-PSKXPRy6uyue3Jpf2FA-cj7P5v35ZiQjhi3B0vYAwHoMcOri/s4032/20230315_171037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pDKXqIbmjhBkpaE1F5tI_LY-FUupTDWb9QpLTsipPZUZIsQYMQqW8w7kUNa03iKlYKNTSPwU-6aPD_9T1WZFEqJ68vaMzVLi2UKiZRBaBr0E4a62ku9QnurhwylpBviwHKZemsS-PSKXPRy6uyue3Jpf2FA-cj7P5v35ZiQjhi3B0vYAwHoMcOri/w480-h640/20230315_171037.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That's it folks! I got to see a couple of other tourist sites but didn't take photos because by then, I was so tired and ready to check into my hotel and crash. Tomorrow I am heading to Agra to check out the Taj Mahal so do check back for updates.</p><p><b>Random Thoughts of the Day:</b></p><p>I have noticed that there is not one single woman working in the hotels, restaurants and even airport. I asked my driver Abdul about this and he said that most women either stay at home or work in offices.</p><p>It's amazing to see Persian influences at some of the sites I visited today. I actually had a sense of deja vu at times as I would come across some design or painting resembling what I had seen in Iran during my last trip.</p><p>I was chatting with Abdul my driver and he mentioned that his daughter is getting married next year and that him and his wife have already chosen the man for her. His daughter has only seen his photos but trusts her parents' choice and is fine with it. Abdul himself had an arranged marriage. It was interesting listening to his point of view on arranged marriages and his support of this age old practice. </p><p>A lot actually goes into these arranged marriages and astrologers are even used to determine if both partners are compatible. </p><p>Speaking of astrologers, Jaipur is also well known for astrology so I decided to visit one and hear what he had to say. Both Abdul and my guide Babu highly recommended him. The guy told me some pretty interesting things that made me ponder, he was actually pretty good and straight forward with his reading and did not charge me anything. </p><p><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-42816975792519484712023-03-14T09:09:00.005-06:002023-09-29T10:36:10.061-06:00Day 1 - New Delhi, India<p>This year I decided to celebrate my birthday in India. To be honest with you, India was never in my radar but it came to mind as I was trying to decide on where to go for my next birthday. I wanted to experience something different and out of my "comfort zone" whatever that is. As the trip neared I started having second thoughts wondering if I had made the right choice but in the end I figured I might as well roll with it and see what the country has to offer, that's how I found myself in New Delhi, the capital of India.</p><p>I arrived very early in the morning after two long flights and as soon as I got to my hotel, I was knocked out once my head touched the pillow. Thankfully I was able to sleep off my jet lag so by the time my tour guide was showing up at the hotel I was refreshed and ready to explore.</p><p>First stop was at the largest mosque in India, Jama Masjid. After Hinduism, Islam is the second largest religion practiced by about 25% of the country's population. The percentage as I have come to learn, varies depending on who you are talking to but Islam is indeed practiced by a large population in India. The mosque wasn't as impressive as I would have thought but then again, after visiting Iran and being blown away by the beauty of the mosques there, I think it would take a lot to impress me, either way I was glad to be able to check out the mosque, every experience counts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl-odwvz6FZJ-6Qd2EfmNegfAM4-46bjMNs5RYrDEQcfs5If9G-9uRmg3PLx9L7mlG7y0Hs0d-tJFufUi5c_SB2BLfo1d2tVAjVXAcUgoDjI35hw8v4WGahfZD0zkIA5SFhaLy4lHfJrKBX-9BYcPov7vMTyqKKvpakLtjL1bk1e_CgTXWuqPbgft/s4032/20230314_145018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl-odwvz6FZJ-6Qd2EfmNegfAM4-46bjMNs5RYrDEQcfs5If9G-9uRmg3PLx9L7mlG7y0Hs0d-tJFufUi5c_SB2BLfo1d2tVAjVXAcUgoDjI35hw8v4WGahfZD0zkIA5SFhaLy4lHfJrKBX-9BYcPov7vMTyqKKvpakLtjL1bk1e_CgTXWuqPbgft/w640-h480/20230314_145018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>After the mosque we headed to the largest spice market in Asia where you can find any if not all the spices that you can think off. The variety of spices is impressive! and my tour guide was telling me that famous chefs from different parts of the world visit the market to buy spices that they can't find anywhere else. I think the market is worth checking out, just be prepared to sneeze a lot due to the different spices and their potency. I did get some spices which I can't wait to use.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_5M0nqzPLcwgkt8dAPYyk_mdofNp4FcErWlaz_S5Nd0yRuSJ-qlR2W5KYHP3tYOUkAvzjMjppT8eEmUZaUZNt6ngptZADfZ2TVy0w6OecoknNzzd-yf1oUyv0A2kl66uj8GRmGkT5_BVtEqg0rokj20_n1pW-_aEIDafXN-2sspyRcOwyjyP6VMR/s4032/20230314_143523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_5M0nqzPLcwgkt8dAPYyk_mdofNp4FcErWlaz_S5Nd0yRuSJ-qlR2W5KYHP3tYOUkAvzjMjppT8eEmUZaUZNt6ngptZADfZ2TVy0w6OecoknNzzd-yf1oUyv0A2kl66uj8GRmGkT5_BVtEqg0rokj20_n1pW-_aEIDafXN-2sspyRcOwyjyP6VMR/w480-h640/20230314_143523.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C7ROnUybxqZ1ml0EapKb-pIyzVK0cs58Mc-VCDQr1XMB9135RK_BC1cDtJmLi9a62xfHHI5fi9CJ5JfPNMzI7qGQkDSMnQGJ3xKKrm-MCZ4WW7gISZ4u-7yT7x9anc7C5ufe73qNoX_RS-9CoeF_7LoLqYJ9Pe9rwynP7oZTqjvcISYUDclOATuH/s4032/20230314_143554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C7ROnUybxqZ1ml0EapKb-pIyzVK0cs58Mc-VCDQr1XMB9135RK_BC1cDtJmLi9a62xfHHI5fi9CJ5JfPNMzI7qGQkDSMnQGJ3xKKrm-MCZ4WW7gISZ4u-7yT7x9anc7C5ufe73qNoX_RS-9CoeF_7LoLqYJ9Pe9rwynP7oZTqjvcISYUDclOATuH/w480-h640/20230314_143554.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzWojHn6vE3AQueeZV6bDuiaQuEj6QbkCD_527kcZexc2YvMJrx25JqrIWC6OVVzgVTDvfAkQyM_HeqysqOEspuWjE8-azywz9gjqo_kEdrnAuRkUixV3ekwN3F5nDWSomrFqA7nPwPyeHy1yamfKTQX_qYMRxWe_QGjL3JvH0qCkH692a45q_M7k/s4032/20230314_143126.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzWojHn6vE3AQueeZV6bDuiaQuEj6QbkCD_527kcZexc2YvMJrx25JqrIWC6OVVzgVTDvfAkQyM_HeqysqOEspuWjE8-azywz9gjqo_kEdrnAuRkUixV3ekwN3F5nDWSomrFqA7nPwPyeHy1yamfKTQX_qYMRxWe_QGjL3JvH0qCkH692a45q_M7k/w480-h640/20230314_143126.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Next stop was the Raj Ghat which is a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. The area is very peaceful and quiet which was a good relief after coming from the chaotic spice market. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietZgFrNKC3iuytTpMk__zRNML_xEAn0rJIGcZjHyZsTkTEOkRdkK7EDqKYi9v2kT9iFkooADIrH0UEYUSPaBvxuAhaFj6iC_swYuFISQWhFceI9xShQaRkymNm9St-fl9FYtLrsGSLo9Ubct8aSKP_LJDD_JxX3G-XNi3q4jxJU_d9D208bT8OhAe/s4032/20230314_145554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietZgFrNKC3iuytTpMk__zRNML_xEAn0rJIGcZjHyZsTkTEOkRdkK7EDqKYi9v2kT9iFkooADIrH0UEYUSPaBvxuAhaFj6iC_swYuFISQWhFceI9xShQaRkymNm9St-fl9FYtLrsGSLo9Ubct8aSKP_LJDD_JxX3G-XNi3q4jxJU_d9D208bT8OhAe/w480-h640/20230314_145554.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Next stop was the Qutub Minar which is India's tallest minaret. It was built in 1199 and the 5 stories that make up the tower were built over the course of 4 centuries by different rulers. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdUlguqegCdhprRmpcVgMV7NuQJEdSOD37e5mH5a1STxbTBMr-rGzYgzbF2PEXQmqdKZZb3G1BoxQeKnOxW6EJJ73RR8oFIka3dhXHl7tH5rk3iHmcRc0sjOsZhiyi1oNDXY_VVHr5Py2I0exEp5e7ytCmWYSAEHvn5E8QXEBq3f87nn5u7D-RBNZ/s4032/20230314_151546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdUlguqegCdhprRmpcVgMV7NuQJEdSOD37e5mH5a1STxbTBMr-rGzYgzbF2PEXQmqdKZZb3G1BoxQeKnOxW6EJJ73RR8oFIka3dhXHl7tH5rk3iHmcRc0sjOsZhiyi1oNDXY_VVHr5Py2I0exEp5e7ytCmWYSAEHvn5E8QXEBq3f87nn5u7D-RBNZ/w480-h640/20230314_151546.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That's it! folks, first day went well and I have another tour in Delhi to cover areas that I missed since we couldn't do everything all at once. Till then, I bid adieu.</p><p><b>Random Thoughts of the Day:</b></p><p>Deli is chaotic and noisy, with 20 million inhabitants I think that's to be expected of any city with that many people.</p><p>There is no shortage of creepy dudes all around. At the mosque I had to stop taking photos with my guide because I noticed all these shameless guys taking videos and photos of me, it was so uncomfortable. My guide actually had to shout at them to stop following us and taking photos and videos. </p><p>I am dreading the infamous Deli belly, I just hope I don't get it. Drinking only bottled water, I even brush my teeth with bottled water even though I have been told I don't have to.</p><p>Jet lag is kicking my butt so I better go to bed now because I have an early morning tomorrow.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-33067387229701622552022-12-17T21:58:00.002-06:002022-12-19T14:20:35.359-06:00Iran, Final Thoughts<p>Prior to visiting Iran, I had read so much about the country and watched numerous documentaries, so I had an idea of what to expect. I will gladly say that my trip to Iran exceeded my expectations and honestly, this was one of my best trips ever! </p><p>Iran is such a rich country, rich in natural resources, culture and history. Best of all, the people are some of the friendliest and warmest that I have ever encountered. Being a foreigner, I stood out in all the places that I visited, and I was welcomed so warmly everywhere I went. I can't count the number of times people stopped me just to chat, take photos with me or to say thank you for visiting the country. Heck! even the flight attendant in my flight out of the country stopped by my seat to ask where I was from before proceeding to thank me for visiting Iran.</p><p>Visiting Iran and living in Iran are two different things of course and talking to locals gave me a good idea of how life is like for the citizens of the country, it is not easy. As a visitor, I would say Iran is a country that should be on anyone's bucket list. This country is so beautiful, and not once did I feel unsafe, the country is huge! we are talking almost three times the size of France, and very diverse geographically so there is something for everyone in terms of what interests them. I was blown away by the differences in all the cities I visited, and it was very interesting seeing what each city has to offer to visitors.</p><p>Politics is a big thing in Iran especially now with what is going on with the current protests, talking to locals about what is driving the protests one can't help but root for the people of this beautiful country. I will not go into politics in this blog but all I can say is, don't judge a country's people by what you watch in the news. Unfortunately during my visit I had no access to fast internet or social media due to what is going on in the country currently, so my blog entries were made after I had left the country. This unfortunately made it hard to convey the same emotions I had while in the country experiencing things in real time.</p><p>Would I visit the country again? DEFINITELY! I only scratched the surface with this trip and would love to explore more. I met a lot of locals whose livelihood depend on tourism and given the current state of the country, tourism has been affected which has hurt many people. That is why I encourage anyone thinking about visiting Iran, to do it. Of course do your research and keep abreast of what is going on in the news, before making your decision. While my trip never got affected by protests which were in designated areas and at designated times away from tourists sites, who knows how things will unfold so it's good to be in the know.</p><p>That's it folks! I had a wonderful time in Iran, met incredible people and created unforgettable memories. Till my next trip in March, adios! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_OaV1Ti4cam12MBPexFf-raTkDFNmlDaIUWdwTWQ6LSbTJWdE8k9td-gPILgz8kuW5XRZXkSULkkriMT01q72JWN1dJu6flUlbK_VDS3x3MWf2gx4Fh7dFfQ0qwUdEcjDnJzj1F_1ztULtP7av8aLZsONQDIFgeWzGz2GLVvSbo5medUR_xCOAbn/s4032/20221116_235436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_OaV1Ti4cam12MBPexFf-raTkDFNmlDaIUWdwTWQ6LSbTJWdE8k9td-gPILgz8kuW5XRZXkSULkkriMT01q72JWN1dJu6flUlbK_VDS3x3MWf2gx4Fh7dFfQ0qwUdEcjDnJzj1F_1ztULtP7av8aLZsONQDIFgeWzGz2GLVvSbo5medUR_xCOAbn/w640-h480/20221116_235436.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MYtn9PY8RKDIhZp3F3zaqZJXO3OcOwhToIgIZOkWgWGffsfgCK0w1HzSUIJ8hUAzzHrwPPMTEzwiOtsM1ujWCTGLUmk-epzmbhRJmsxGLRDYOUrcX-sz16bdhOAEB1ZPU3s6STLUbSIQ2FfqANP4miJyNMyrafIDZMLgXrtt9OF6tLtRK-PP_ejO/s4032/20221111_163558.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MYtn9PY8RKDIhZp3F3zaqZJXO3OcOwhToIgIZOkWgWGffsfgCK0w1HzSUIJ8hUAzzHrwPPMTEzwiOtsM1ujWCTGLUmk-epzmbhRJmsxGLRDYOUrcX-sz16bdhOAEB1ZPU3s6STLUbSIQ2FfqANP4miJyNMyrafIDZMLgXrtt9OF6tLtRK-PP_ejO/w480-h640/20221111_163558.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAGFSNb-AM29lJ91A7L2hMaNAoDnzsHKTtzu-iXOpaYBeZfzVNFEoWXtvYpxDlbNaXyDj6T0mZ2xMvXWJmQeMp2PJzHi3IjrXTXpX4Fsmv2GSTwenFcKoQv4Qk1Ed11CnAvzlqkV6m7kEe7FAMOcwbQCKXOxc_ZVDiUtYDj9gOS8IViglTlWQdCie/s4032/20221109_141052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAGFSNb-AM29lJ91A7L2hMaNAoDnzsHKTtzu-iXOpaYBeZfzVNFEoWXtvYpxDlbNaXyDj6T0mZ2xMvXWJmQeMp2PJzHi3IjrXTXpX4Fsmv2GSTwenFcKoQv4Qk1Ed11CnAvzlqkV6m7kEe7FAMOcwbQCKXOxc_ZVDiUtYDj9gOS8IViglTlWQdCie/w480-h640/20221109_141052.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEBbJipYNvZvp0TMciGf6Jb4gf2GfH0Yjen0Ch9wabbs2Rg8GBQqsSdyhN_xEm1vSXeu_aRZ46FW-n5l7Biy1HTT2FOT1Szmm_ap2sSmwpFXJz_TFApQOyXV9cfCQY-mLj6Ywd7ozn2H7RTTrY2vyTCJpXI78_GEB6CLjvYoeDVMo83Hj1QZGdrwG/s4032/20221111_001751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEBbJipYNvZvp0TMciGf6Jb4gf2GfH0Yjen0Ch9wabbs2Rg8GBQqsSdyhN_xEm1vSXeu_aRZ46FW-n5l7Biy1HTT2FOT1Szmm_ap2sSmwpFXJz_TFApQOyXV9cfCQY-mLj6Ywd7ozn2H7RTTrY2vyTCJpXI78_GEB6CLjvYoeDVMo83Hj1QZGdrwG/w480-h640/20221111_001751.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0D9s_Mn2JaVMrl748_fJZuwRGjQgjqjpLkTRNVT6J-H4Ms3RLOxvzqkHwYISKeIoqkcpW5qIoUq4ebhIM_aH90WIItX4ADvZQyviFmg-mTu4O5TZGo_ApQ5HYPL2Ulq8Jli4i2Eb4OVaaaiU7bB6Lc8eepidEFXCJGqiB0TL9tCjHfmIo0yxu6uM/s4032/20221111_111306.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0D9s_Mn2JaVMrl748_fJZuwRGjQgjqjpLkTRNVT6J-H4Ms3RLOxvzqkHwYISKeIoqkcpW5qIoUq4ebhIM_aH90WIItX4ADvZQyviFmg-mTu4O5TZGo_ApQ5HYPL2Ulq8Jli4i2Eb4OVaaaiU7bB6Lc8eepidEFXCJGqiB0TL9tCjHfmIo0yxu6uM/w480-h640/20221111_111306.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYELpfWetXgLkMZuDcAxXkIO4l_phqCvP34bbiPxieAAI8pzb7RzdhK8Mh0bt0t3g6gZ01UKq5W0vHZbER29aKe7s-X3sst7XPnDzfwHFU_fVfXScBjZSAnLXhbQ29P24UEYvciPMBMI0ZwO_B1UorJ6aG2L94J6QWi5jIJfJDziGciYpj0ICYgh9g/s4032/20221110_223604.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYELpfWetXgLkMZuDcAxXkIO4l_phqCvP34bbiPxieAAI8pzb7RzdhK8Mh0bt0t3g6gZ01UKq5W0vHZbER29aKe7s-X3sst7XPnDzfwHFU_fVfXScBjZSAnLXhbQ29P24UEYvciPMBMI0ZwO_B1UorJ6aG2L94J6QWi5jIJfJDziGciYpj0ICYgh9g/w480-h640/20221110_223604.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-4935046080555640752022-12-17T20:39:00.003-06:002022-12-17T20:39:26.274-06:00Shiraz, Iran<p>Shiraz is a city in south- central Iran that is considered the cultural capital of the country. It is well known for it's beautiful Persian gardens, poetry and is one of the top tourist cities in Iran. There is so much that can be said about Shiraz but I will keep it short by saying, it is a beautiful vibrant city that is not to be missed during a trip to Iran. </p><p>This was the last city I visited before going back to Tehran and leaving the country, by the time I visited Shiraz I had seen so much beauty in all the cities I had visited prior and didn't think there would be anything else left to impress me, how wrong I was! I enjoyed the city thoroughly and without further ado, here are some of the highlights that I got to enjoy.</p><p>Nasir al-Mulk Mosque - also known as the pink mosque due to the extensive use of rose colored tiles. It was built between 1876 and 1888, the reason why it stands out is the use of stain glass that's not commonly used in mosques. It's such a beautiful mosque and the details in the artwork is very impressive! women have to wear a chador (full body covering) in order to enter and as like in many other mosques, these chadors are provided at the door for free and returned upon exit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmFLlV_wYP-VnW8fAq3btu2l8wXA7-AG4msOMA_HlwAhK50uu5bZLbPBKvCeUQOKP8wgw5MtChedjLvoIp8Y8dBrONpC8SC5vPwQuAxpvExzq7DAW5HVPpjqFgw8di3dSig21Q9KR3DE1h7EquXV4il3t4i1HxbAmVmFofP4AXbjwEmuq6pBWJUF2/s4032/20221116_180025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmFLlV_wYP-VnW8fAq3btu2l8wXA7-AG4msOMA_HlwAhK50uu5bZLbPBKvCeUQOKP8wgw5MtChedjLvoIp8Y8dBrONpC8SC5vPwQuAxpvExzq7DAW5HVPpjqFgw8di3dSig21Q9KR3DE1h7EquXV4il3t4i1HxbAmVmFofP4AXbjwEmuq6pBWJUF2/w480-h640/20221116_180025.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbG5RLygLqzQunLvXrEtBBvzlCg0k6GNkLnkfYGFGa9AoAjX660UAqeIEScN2Am3IhUm6IOoutp8-Y6KKEie3_02QGPR4Ss0L7bmkGssTl7B2FnTCPQlsDgjtFLfjAhGc81EbcGpJFxCx2TD9Lg0OP62v_9pgoCisgO-WeW2Ib6p4CS8d__hw5K09C/s4032/20221116_095919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbG5RLygLqzQunLvXrEtBBvzlCg0k6GNkLnkfYGFGa9AoAjX660UAqeIEScN2Am3IhUm6IOoutp8-Y6KKEie3_02QGPR4Ss0L7bmkGssTl7B2FnTCPQlsDgjtFLfjAhGc81EbcGpJFxCx2TD9Lg0OP62v_9pgoCisgO-WeW2Ib6p4CS8d__hw5K09C/w480-h640/20221116_095919.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYLDn4fz571uXSD1cUGOQtXK_oeD1DM66FtpKi-C0dv5uJ2cspePd7KjjkdC-m0emuYMy_oV49J3fIMS-gqNxSyqy8PcJSaW4pJHNjN9o_PiOnW2S0aHS73ppO83WKyOFGG70KRK3sidgthmj3TMr0GYMlsm3FzfnsSKM7bP__SjrYafIBB1pNUSp/s4032/20221116_180545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYLDn4fz571uXSD1cUGOQtXK_oeD1DM66FtpKi-C0dv5uJ2cspePd7KjjkdC-m0emuYMy_oV49J3fIMS-gqNxSyqy8PcJSaW4pJHNjN9o_PiOnW2S0aHS73ppO83WKyOFGG70KRK3sidgthmj3TMr0GYMlsm3FzfnsSKM7bP__SjrYafIBB1pNUSp/w480-h640/20221116_180545.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uuw13d1YA0HmTWDagtCdhQVaYeq1Vx6uIixdjI33xqmRQx-o9MOz7-SrpBtR5MoWfb6BBPJlBYAb1mD1dSqJ_h5Q_D5ppcyDBfCxKeed2MuFnIUqQ77ZHIORq_AHWw0PNKANPQQZ3OKT4Tbt4oTVdgFvf4Q0Dml8odivO20h7kKIZ7pBk_yBDcXg/s4032/20221116_180352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uuw13d1YA0HmTWDagtCdhQVaYeq1Vx6uIixdjI33xqmRQx-o9MOz7-SrpBtR5MoWfb6BBPJlBYAb1mD1dSqJ_h5Q_D5ppcyDBfCxKeed2MuFnIUqQ77ZHIORq_AHWw0PNKANPQQZ3OKT4Tbt4oTVdgFvf4Q0Dml8odivO20h7kKIZ7pBk_yBDcXg/w480-h640/20221116_180352.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcfRfkYak8L-cjXe9YMkNuhjAHOS6b7t_p3S-TzF7r0EuabTQXh5DiDacVBikMzErTGf-3W9wozd7h_XtcslxcGVwvLNeRoA2hUCxNPGyGM7311mG02By1ONm14wjnGwdwuVB2NaDESBQHey2sb05AKUQ-oczy_WL08Hw6vL2-K8X98sR73GZtMjw/s4032/20221116_180227.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcfRfkYak8L-cjXe9YMkNuhjAHOS6b7t_p3S-TzF7r0EuabTQXh5DiDacVBikMzErTGf-3W9wozd7h_XtcslxcGVwvLNeRoA2hUCxNPGyGM7311mG02By1ONm14wjnGwdwuVB2NaDESBQHey2sb05AKUQ-oczy_WL08Hw6vL2-K8X98sR73GZtMjw/w480-h640/20221116_180227.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomb of Hafez - this is a memorial structure erected in memory of the great 14th century Persian poet, Hafez. His poems are among the most translated in the present day and his poetry is regarded as the pinnacle of Persian literature by Iranians.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1EObmYzGGoP7IvCR0RzOyfFWGh_6M0LHecrMMHPWS-MfxwfqoJAUhLv5pbonqwPrgQ_ZaFRREBTZyFR1oYBDpV9Ci1oa6VQuagCMg5Le8z6Dgi7LyAGtT6pkTNHDkgnx-Qm3j2PG_VKRuQL3cKJYRuCJ8H1bS_-S_OKKZ7E1vls0dC5DotYSY0u3/s4032/20221115_160840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1EObmYzGGoP7IvCR0RzOyfFWGh_6M0LHecrMMHPWS-MfxwfqoJAUhLv5pbonqwPrgQ_ZaFRREBTZyFR1oYBDpV9Ci1oa6VQuagCMg5Le8z6Dgi7LyAGtT6pkTNHDkgnx-Qm3j2PG_VKRuQL3cKJYRuCJ8H1bS_-S_OKKZ7E1vls0dC5DotYSY0u3/w480-h640/20221115_160840.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKoOKoOo9l4UqG1UzgJMWgMs3fhm-BQqqJNdqLLt17pdSptfhzE7zJdjQepK-WqCMKBfdz9RiDNwXcG2zMAc9uZzv5w7KKc0L1CbaR-8ZIQjfl5DtvZ9lejVLvap01daF5ZxMzClEMRuajijeA9OhBrL7qPqQYui5b9Z1XxZXGX3RIVDsITt_zKlH/s4032/20221115_115705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKoOKoOo9l4UqG1UzgJMWgMs3fhm-BQqqJNdqLLt17pdSptfhzE7zJdjQepK-WqCMKBfdz9RiDNwXcG2zMAc9uZzv5w7KKc0L1CbaR-8ZIQjfl5DtvZ9lejVLvap01daF5ZxMzClEMRuajijeA9OhBrL7qPqQYui5b9Z1XxZXGX3RIVDsITt_zKlH/w480-h640/20221115_115705.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpv6VAc6fJeU5HkIjldfV9iVPrIdlgyR0TE5-5B5xMDl95apXDm52iUti7Rsie7CfJIMBHo67RjfYkkFTTy5GaZWmy6xyN8yH7Ox8_kWSBU42M_k0YHCL7QNDU0vww7kn63O7JmecZV-HFYSaAgmOSklhLu6HIZgPFfoPpDG5cIx1hh0rlfLGuLqn/s4032/20221115_115504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpv6VAc6fJeU5HkIjldfV9iVPrIdlgyR0TE5-5B5xMDl95apXDm52iUti7Rsie7CfJIMBHo67RjfYkkFTTy5GaZWmy6xyN8yH7Ox8_kWSBU42M_k0YHCL7QNDU0vww7kn63O7JmecZV-HFYSaAgmOSklhLu6HIZgPFfoPpDG5cIx1hh0rlfLGuLqn/w480-h640/20221115_115504.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomb of Saadi - a memorial structure built in honor of another great Persian poet, Saadi. Before Hafez there was Saadi who lived a century before him (13th century). He was another great Persian poet and prose writer who is considered one of the greatest figures in Persian literature.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv-A7UBwWhaDktJkOOP4E05bwgt7vwWlyFrJP8oPRTBbqfv1q55SrTEFIfiFffzy7eNV5lElFq5aTC74H_MDruI-CAEsm-X757tepOcTnNwT7v6Dz22NubLHw10JwxaNcCtkTod0_2DC_SUDzGeH5q-1Ja4CCmbZ2gA8Sn17mfajlq56iG3dj4hNR/s4032/20221116_174640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv-A7UBwWhaDktJkOOP4E05bwgt7vwWlyFrJP8oPRTBbqfv1q55SrTEFIfiFffzy7eNV5lElFq5aTC74H_MDruI-CAEsm-X757tepOcTnNwT7v6Dz22NubLHw10JwxaNcCtkTod0_2DC_SUDzGeH5q-1Ja4CCmbZ2gA8Sn17mfajlq56iG3dj4hNR/w480-h640/20221116_174640.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Eram Garden - a magnificent example of a Persian Garden that was used by local rulers and monacrhs before being gifted to the University of Shiraz in 1963, by the government. It is open to the public and worth checking out while in Shiraz, it is pretty huge and a good place to relax or walk around surrounded by nature.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOTa7ldDbq-0BJPfMXk_iMwOHbPEkWJnseadafqyru3o9xyjIysmKF8WVAVkI3x7r_C8xVAN6pA3f9MZ0m617zpnv5uEAOWmR7YX0-V4Xj1rJHvf4GNt2pk9eHhSpqed-g93LM85oREh8SVqbtjqrYgNzkJYC138wjVzWP9mcpCBlqE8onr3oK7oH/s4032/20221115_162233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOTa7ldDbq-0BJPfMXk_iMwOHbPEkWJnseadafqyru3o9xyjIysmKF8WVAVkI3x7r_C8xVAN6pA3f9MZ0m617zpnv5uEAOWmR7YX0-V4Xj1rJHvf4GNt2pk9eHhSpqed-g93LM85oREh8SVqbtjqrYgNzkJYC138wjVzWP9mcpCBlqE8onr3oK7oH/w640-h480/20221115_162233.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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I really did have a good time in Shiraz and the highlights I covered above are just a few of the many that I got to experience. </div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGu6RRh5gr5fH0dt2zlLJyVTak1-p8N8LTOvxaWxDtlpcsOdW5lWjK5-aENfX60M2WO201R-2gxD0t3eQqF8zE1lae80AlZn3T9h0dhi_K1lKffsWIHMQNiX1XPM7iEfLrm-Bh4gWd8uXiguFUEqmedyqy6Ow9kPOq2u8aIfM1kS1VYZ4cryWt5bHn/s4032/20221116_140938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGu6RRh5gr5fH0dt2zlLJyVTak1-p8N8LTOvxaWxDtlpcsOdW5lWjK5-aENfX60M2WO201R-2gxD0t3eQqF8zE1lae80AlZn3T9h0dhi_K1lKffsWIHMQNiX1XPM7iEfLrm-Bh4gWd8uXiguFUEqmedyqy6Ow9kPOq2u8aIfM1kS1VYZ4cryWt5bHn/w640-h480/20221116_140938.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-43229056840330151172022-12-10T23:04:00.000-06:002022-12-10T23:04:38.553-06:00Pasargadae & Persepolis <p>Pasargadae was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great (559-530 BC), founder of the first Persian empire which was the largest empire in the world at the time. A prominent figure in history who was even admired by Alexander the Great and is still revered by Iranians in the present day. Prior to visiting Iran, I had watched numerous videos on the history of the country and was so fascinated by this great leader so of course I had to include visiting his tomb in my itinerary.</p><p>Cyrus' tomb is located in Pasargadae and is preserved as an archaeological site. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxm2s3yXidd1zsnkdfF3tZyFkOrunAplkkyoMt4qeV4bWTm6uaS5ABcAXCIM4Rgp_4u1572JRXNU9ME20LJw_ka-hLBCfzFzuCPtEw3a43OcTw1t_z8-VBdB_fp_92n6lfVeTS8mO-UnKskfI_8gsVX1O9LT3iGdYRGczm2oBYKWezldSNssszHeA/s4032/20221114_144243.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxm2s3yXidd1zsnkdfF3tZyFkOrunAplkkyoMt4qeV4bWTm6uaS5ABcAXCIM4Rgp_4u1572JRXNU9ME20LJw_ka-hLBCfzFzuCPtEw3a43OcTw1t_z8-VBdB_fp_92n6lfVeTS8mO-UnKskfI_8gsVX1O9LT3iGdYRGczm2oBYKWezldSNssszHeA/w640-h480/20221114_144243.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Qd1Ci6mY3qZcCo9qEtUlkZ8vtnxPxqVOHPBtJQgdmqsZCrF6Rn5sb0-x3vUfLzIxuUll8jYVHso8CTtvJeaalmNafBdESCQF6RVSsn3pxy2cGOeGr4f8vNJsAm2nyIyXfv-OFjUxMOkYElE419Er0cdrt0oos3IDVGBr_e81UDjDFGHBa4CqYECU/s4032/20221114_144924.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Qd1Ci6mY3qZcCo9qEtUlkZ8vtnxPxqVOHPBtJQgdmqsZCrF6Rn5sb0-x3vUfLzIxuUll8jYVHso8CTtvJeaalmNafBdESCQF6RVSsn3pxy2cGOeGr4f8vNJsAm2nyIyXfv-OFjUxMOkYElE419Er0cdrt0oos3IDVGBr_e81UDjDFGHBa4CqYECU/w640-h480/20221114_144924.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP9jMgp7RZqQtItp_9VVE62o9s2bbrniHd1cXbw4R5WVX2g_X3W0CSnk7ZCQ8C4S3ZG7C6Vnkr607ZTFfAMwBwfzg8jWm4zsUOvV4H38Vgsp-iH4rqxOrIbu3l2-80dwv4-1pfTe0QzQUGVfDnYXy1C_Qw0HbH2h4ChB51ZcCYXDJ2DBTI0s_Ugm4/s4032/20221115_044525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP9jMgp7RZqQtItp_9VVE62o9s2bbrniHd1cXbw4R5WVX2g_X3W0CSnk7ZCQ8C4S3ZG7C6Vnkr607ZTFfAMwBwfzg8jWm4zsUOvV4H38Vgsp-iH4rqxOrIbu3l2-80dwv4-1pfTe0QzQUGVfDnYXy1C_Qw0HbH2h4ChB51ZcCYXDJ2DBTI0s_Ugm4/w480-h640/20221115_044525.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next stop after the tomb of Cyrus was another ancient archeological site which is the royal necropolis of the Achaemenid dynasty. At this site I got to see the tombs of 4 Achaemenid kings: Darius the Great, his son Xerxes I, Artaxerxes and Darius II. It just felt so surreal visiting the tombs of people that I have read about in history books. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Rhfw-20OLoKH43HKgF2pvdUMMF093Zb5zSDLlws5A2gXi5HE6cId5veXFRQ54kKrik0YiUsnZA4fiU27DWDyxsB8yONos4mr_wv1V7nTqH2PoMO9l8LvxlOxPwO_lVPmeqO3P4HxYJ3awSSxHCO4ieGuZJ9-tm2Dj9SWAbrdZWHaOJLfnaxtXLJR/s4032/20221116_090009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Rhfw-20OLoKH43HKgF2pvdUMMF093Zb5zSDLlws5A2gXi5HE6cId5veXFRQ54kKrik0YiUsnZA4fiU27DWDyxsB8yONos4mr_wv1V7nTqH2PoMO9l8LvxlOxPwO_lVPmeqO3P4HxYJ3awSSxHCO4ieGuZJ9-tm2Dj9SWAbrdZWHaOJLfnaxtXLJR/w640-h480/20221116_090009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLqJDAUxeB5-l9JmL2Cqcizy4WUMfTp30Db3epoR8qmh_v4x0yaTkfPzZZyTomZi874W-qfn4qYPnb_akYgWys2wLXlwKkdiR1giMDzCfTo6RoMc9CL7WTmWSrIenbVYgZGSbVJ93ER-Qwp2agrHpQ3jqe_huL2lLiZaTvt4E1KUXFCihWwL3O6KH/s4032/20221116_090057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLqJDAUxeB5-l9JmL2Cqcizy4WUMfTp30Db3epoR8qmh_v4x0yaTkfPzZZyTomZi874W-qfn4qYPnb_akYgWys2wLXlwKkdiR1giMDzCfTo6RoMc9CL7WTmWSrIenbVYgZGSbVJ93ER-Qwp2agrHpQ3jqe_huL2lLiZaTvt4E1KUXFCihWwL3O6KH/w480-h640/20221116_090057.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqx_QjKvhJheE8p0yET2fMMgtdH_nagzvnOjqoVj_TUO5Z8CUmnQDea8QzyTJhx4ASYHxbHarB1QbMwrvkSM_jbFbFZUfBL_WRgmAnZWrMdr2vjHoH_-v4ktvQXz-7Nao7pW-3wInRFUIqkKepAYTwlR99jTt8zk0DixZ_h5cXtml1MLnhsCMN1My/s4032/20221116_090037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqx_QjKvhJheE8p0yET2fMMgtdH_nagzvnOjqoVj_TUO5Z8CUmnQDea8QzyTJhx4ASYHxbHarB1QbMwrvkSM_jbFbFZUfBL_WRgmAnZWrMdr2vjHoH_-v4ktvQXz-7Nao7pW-3wInRFUIqkKepAYTwlR99jTt8zk0DixZ_h5cXtml1MLnhsCMN1My/w480-h640/20221116_090037.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last stop was Persepolis which was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid empire from the reign of Darius I (522-486 BC) who had moved the capital from Pasargadae. The city was located in a remote area hence keeping it safe from any outsiders until it was plundered by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. From the ruins one can only imagine how grandiose the city must have been, the details are very impressive as the best workers from all over were used to build it. There is record that all the workers were paid to build the city which did not use slave labor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVN_9SPXeRMQSct4G2xBXZxaCEWKIYnR33q66ibs0d0kSVQvRMkniBy7xfTR5lvGC4JR5N9WW8Tp0wzBA_Y6lsaTEqXLsSHIClkn4TUIwPjUSCn1rmZj_e1Ej3JEa4Tpn2MT5UNBnCPikR04GklGtztA_g9wHBdQIAKk3w92ngykS4Uz0FEtnHZM0/s1440/FB_IMG_1670717232981.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVN_9SPXeRMQSct4G2xBXZxaCEWKIYnR33q66ibs0d0kSVQvRMkniBy7xfTR5lvGC4JR5N9WW8Tp0wzBA_Y6lsaTEqXLsSHIClkn4TUIwPjUSCn1rmZj_e1Ej3JEa4Tpn2MT5UNBnCPikR04GklGtztA_g9wHBdQIAKk3w92ngykS4Uz0FEtnHZM0/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1670717232981.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywbp2y37HmLBvyzjn7DFfefP_GGfTXETADsxB4H8fz7gIbr137SdjIRxTZvgX7PZC1kqihd-zVTyeY0VbVrpRni28pFfX4-7Vz2Mbrsvb-cpkUWzfemmpmXGTXZmI6_AdgdtD14biAaeh0MGGrVup9iyMSVmwMd-CgPcCfycGJfNUyq62Fu6cKujJ/s1440/FB_IMG_1670717225620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywbp2y37HmLBvyzjn7DFfefP_GGfTXETADsxB4H8fz7gIbr137SdjIRxTZvgX7PZC1kqihd-zVTyeY0VbVrpRni28pFfX4-7Vz2Mbrsvb-cpkUWzfemmpmXGTXZmI6_AdgdtD14biAaeh0MGGrVup9iyMSVmwMd-CgPcCfycGJfNUyq62Fu6cKujJ/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1670717225620.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnTQSPlifWtojfzm8t6-zVRCsqJkgKGBqp7tqHkj1xvJAfCqUlUo8ZvCrZPvP4_AXycJ0N32Na2YyMqwJQCeuolu4CdHsuUfC4XPBiI4M0gi8XJBpeS6AFkDgaJYDmBwbIO4HICR6oGghHwgznoYieoAbK3LzFEUUw_BajL93mbxjDWEV0s4Ggbjf/s1440/FB_IMG_1670717238892.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnTQSPlifWtojfzm8t6-zVRCsqJkgKGBqp7tqHkj1xvJAfCqUlUo8ZvCrZPvP4_AXycJ0N32Na2YyMqwJQCeuolu4CdHsuUfC4XPBiI4M0gi8XJBpeS6AFkDgaJYDmBwbIO4HICR6oGghHwgznoYieoAbK3LzFEUUw_BajL93mbxjDWEV0s4Ggbjf/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1670717238892.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRlu91_mjSMEaiEiNfWQ8WTAxggdrBJR78x8ZQRpfYk394-qjU6KK5FiCxFanhTKF0AMFYoBSQp9fNxeXsUB3Ryi8zcs2ohf7UBqIZaPk68quAjiOXXhVP65PgHajvdfRFMwcYf-vVxlp0wJG28fTlmz83YNqwjlKSi122YSmp-a18s4EqYA-mMmq/s1440/FB_IMG_1670717260834.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRlu91_mjSMEaiEiNfWQ8WTAxggdrBJR78x8ZQRpfYk394-qjU6KK5FiCxFanhTKF0AMFYoBSQp9fNxeXsUB3Ryi8zcs2ohf7UBqIZaPk68quAjiOXXhVP65PgHajvdfRFMwcYf-vVxlp0wJG28fTlmz83YNqwjlKSi122YSmp-a18s4EqYA-mMmq/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1670717260834.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6PtSikg1oo36rS6l_kIQGvNt6SqLSP-cZQNAZ155Jk9n_nJW4-HEMu38PP-L1wfjoAkHHdLMB8ffmFNl8z0XKE3LbF2Pyb-ULa0-7dITEbvLaUjl__ebgTUSoAvsFfb-jp2QOAzFvpmkZirYOapqwPeUdr31yQ3sMvkKTgjhjSTARq5KFtC24xGD/s1440/FB_IMG_1670717273674.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6PtSikg1oo36rS6l_kIQGvNt6SqLSP-cZQNAZ155Jk9n_nJW4-HEMu38PP-L1wfjoAkHHdLMB8ffmFNl8z0XKE3LbF2Pyb-ULa0-7dITEbvLaUjl__ebgTUSoAvsFfb-jp2QOAzFvpmkZirYOapqwPeUdr31yQ3sMvkKTgjhjSTARq5KFtC24xGD/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1670717273674.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! it was amazing experiencing these sites and learning the history behind them. Nothing beats witnessing places that you have only read about or watched documentaries on, sometimes I feel like pinching myself because I have truly seen and experienced amazing things in my life.</div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-75736593306959826732022-12-05T14:16:00.001-06:002022-12-05T14:17:27.976-06:00Yazd, Iran<p>The historical city of Yazd is located in the middle of Iran and is a perfect example of how it has adapted to its desert surroundings by the use of limited resources for survival. It is actually the first city in Iran to be listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is definitely worth a visit. I was in the city for a couple of days and here are some of the highlights that I got to enjoy:</p><p>Walking around the city and enjoying the sites of its adobe structures and desert architecture</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc68j-D6uEDqLKKv5_BJ7NflMKrzEmuoiXk1KU3m61J6XfW6lCEGhgANysO8eFcwL8gqhxkQ0AkH03xBvx9gKS5ReKQNSXuDCBb7nR3bVYWmYi8bPkj3IDV5k1jzQZQv3tDZmjuGX7uoZU_a8vfDNJRfOxP6uT9j4UcL_nfw6kJHA4vhK175yGR97/s4032/20221113_183132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc68j-D6uEDqLKKv5_BJ7NflMKrzEmuoiXk1KU3m61J6XfW6lCEGhgANysO8eFcwL8gqhxkQ0AkH03xBvx9gKS5ReKQNSXuDCBb7nR3bVYWmYi8bPkj3IDV5k1jzQZQv3tDZmjuGX7uoZU_a8vfDNJRfOxP6uT9j4UcL_nfw6kJHA4vhK175yGR97/w640-h480/20221113_183132.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZTJfPXSVQz6A2V2tJydOtiShO4raMKpRX1eYu0bGgziPS3qSvHdvihoWBYtBYAONbnstkacUUCP9gWCitPvhLONs2crREz6k77DQiJrEubN4Sk2vJoCGzRj3nCiC17EaKJ09M22UI6JpQXZYiHoW4ICKkoZp58EquEWPv-UvRnxRcppvdU_Ak0Pf/s4032/20221113_183104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZTJfPXSVQz6A2V2tJydOtiShO4raMKpRX1eYu0bGgziPS3qSvHdvihoWBYtBYAONbnstkacUUCP9gWCitPvhLONs2crREz6k77DQiJrEubN4Sk2vJoCGzRj3nCiC17EaKJ09M22UI6JpQXZYiHoW4ICKkoZp58EquEWPv-UvRnxRcppvdU_Ak0Pf/w480-h640/20221113_183104.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0-hmjsS-i0mcO2JXxGwkmpAlac5xAGVNlihkYmGv6sqiWzIkt2lJVfCiKEEqPJjPgUaQSdl_fDYhZuta-NxOt47ETzJLwamsa41EMt0TauUmrJ4wwNjXUx7pe6vPwvwtuLzirrITZVIfDWCt6F_cLRED9AFwaUN-pUcIZjUkguaPhQ0AAgKEk7NS/s4032/20221113_153538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0-hmjsS-i0mcO2JXxGwkmpAlac5xAGVNlihkYmGv6sqiWzIkt2lJVfCiKEEqPJjPgUaQSdl_fDYhZuta-NxOt47ETzJLwamsa41EMt0TauUmrJ4wwNjXUx7pe6vPwvwtuLzirrITZVIfDWCt6F_cLRED9AFwaUN-pUcIZjUkguaPhQ0AAgKEk7NS/w480-h640/20221113_153538.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5W0mZbFe8v6zpgeErocPPlo5uIe_7lIe3oMV7l-1kV-KpKiOsySRVkQZiuLV46K4vxi_YgXooLwcS9jv-0JuEq3klv45Hl_6fNXghQxPItd2TZR0_7V3ll3uW_5L1zn5qzH5xb27_7rreUoOMgMnRizL-E09AiWFuubunlAVox79ManOXNbId4fsy/s4032/20221113_152618.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5W0mZbFe8v6zpgeErocPPlo5uIe_7lIe3oMV7l-1kV-KpKiOsySRVkQZiuLV46K4vxi_YgXooLwcS9jv-0JuEq3klv45Hl_6fNXghQxPItd2TZR0_7V3ll3uW_5L1zn5qzH5xb27_7rreUoOMgMnRizL-E09AiWFuubunlAVox79ManOXNbId4fsy/w480-h640/20221113_152618.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuoULK_Qt4TZ6uyVLuUrwy4jqwnj49bNB7sm8SvZFC8vYPcEEZcEMMUlFzU9ibRT-bo5iluAN1oS5zZqnNKGjYSbPy9a-bH0eZcg2DGuxv3nmCTu-itPffuJQs2Nw14TwRI-AXF8hr64hUOwJav1dgXv81dVdWIuI0sWnEpC722NnF61RwadP8MIM/s4032/20221113_121717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuoULK_Qt4TZ6uyVLuUrwy4jqwnj49bNB7sm8SvZFC8vYPcEEZcEMMUlFzU9ibRT-bo5iluAN1oS5zZqnNKGjYSbPy9a-bH0eZcg2DGuxv3nmCTu-itPffuJQs2Nw14TwRI-AXF8hr64hUOwJav1dgXv81dVdWIuI0sWnEpC722NnF61RwadP8MIM/w480-h640/20221113_121717.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0bw3xo86EbXzF9VQbKRHMU-QzdAV7hzRRQEdGKJXcV2w69STpd4C30S5bafzlymZO3K1Q7EzL67y8zFOS4Io87ncrh2TlszqO9Q0cA1GNJgRRacY077h3xbO5GP2kEeWepB2mgie40biJHmvOQ2mqymLmXHldYC3ku-S3Qc3nYv4-puCbP_SfSHR/s4032/20221113_153628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0bw3xo86EbXzF9VQbKRHMU-QzdAV7hzRRQEdGKJXcV2w69STpd4C30S5bafzlymZO3K1Q7EzL67y8zFOS4Io87ncrh2TlszqO9Q0cA1GNJgRRacY077h3xbO5GP2kEeWepB2mgie40biJHmvOQ2mqymLmXHldYC3ku-S3Qc3nYv4-puCbP_SfSHR/w480-h640/20221113_153628.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See the vertical structure behind me with sticks sticking out? those are traditional wind catchers that act as air conditioning during the hot season. Of course, now most people use electric air conditioning but before modern times, these wind catchers acted as air conditioners. They work really well, and you can actually feel the cool breeze when you are inside a building that has a wind catcher. I was told that the sticks sticking out are used to climb up and fix the wind catcher if it needs repairs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99U4h4THdtccbjPA112_cCRWVYOI5Gu_ohkZx8H1igIEYh8ejY9RUD36NqiUWvLbLuqk7lQw2adwamofgPBKVrfEgJL9DmuILoFvYG8ggNffDO794pKtsr7RNsTbxLlKHEJ_fUaNZb0YDHvB2lSLyLCbaoCw3cIV7S9RaWDtq3OLl7sbvIcoQFiPH/s4032/20221113_153450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99U4h4THdtccbjPA112_cCRWVYOI5Gu_ohkZx8H1igIEYh8ejY9RUD36NqiUWvLbLuqk7lQw2adwamofgPBKVrfEgJL9DmuILoFvYG8ggNffDO794pKtsr7RNsTbxLlKHEJ_fUaNZb0YDHvB2lSLyLCbaoCw3cIV7S9RaWDtq3OLl7sbvIcoQFiPH/w480-h640/20221113_153450.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuoULK_Qt4TZ6uyVLuUrwy4jqwnj49bNB7sm8SvZFC8vYPcEEZcEMMUlFzU9ibRT-bo5iluAN1oS5zZqnNKGjYSbPy9a-bH0eZcg2DGuxv3nmCTu-itPffuJQs2Nw14TwRI-AXF8hr64hUOwJav1dgXv81dVdWIuI0sWnEpC722NnF61RwadP8MIM/s4032/20221113_121717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuoULK_Qt4TZ6uyVLuUrwy4jqwnj49bNB7sm8SvZFC8vYPcEEZcEMMUlFzU9ibRT-bo5iluAN1oS5zZqnNKGjYSbPy9a-bH0eZcg2DGuxv3nmCTu-itPffuJQs2Nw14TwRI-AXF8hr64hUOwJav1dgXv81dVdWIuI0sWnEpC722NnF61RwadP8MIM/w480-h640/20221113_121717.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkKkz4YkLE8HFxAdZGABaB01cU0oJLBHvqdhdB4BGxcUepXHzPbllbrUoYgkpB06Wqla2EYVAJDfqdswNQcTOjp0eO4iAxeZGcSi_DS0US4wp0CMIvXENHECxq_QN0zsqCKea68F-VMqZ3nyQ7r8J_7TQ1tWE-PgbOFJ-regQfL0Jw2x4VSXooVgr/s4032/20221113_145643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkKkz4YkLE8HFxAdZGABaB01cU0oJLBHvqdhdB4BGxcUepXHzPbllbrUoYgkpB06Wqla2EYVAJDfqdswNQcTOjp0eO4iAxeZGcSi_DS0US4wp0CMIvXENHECxq_QN0zsqCKea68F-VMqZ3nyQ7r8J_7TQ1tWE-PgbOFJ-regQfL0Jw2x4VSXooVgr/w480-h640/20221113_145643.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jBhhdpAesAlVZduzcUg6I1F0kbNPFh8PRf_SAK2afDaigNYSP5tZhkZlLgupokatuQ9w252SId5lOEzcS07w0msjVm8E2wK4tbh3FfS5iMUG0u-R-jjMxdzv_hnjIwSYeOIyJPiLKM9NmOZYiABLQK3E9GGe_ELn1MRL2CdFdpJsri_lx4nNvGKK/s4032/20221113_145533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jBhhdpAesAlVZduzcUg6I1F0kbNPFh8PRf_SAK2afDaigNYSP5tZhkZlLgupokatuQ9w252SId5lOEzcS07w0msjVm8E2wK4tbh3FfS5iMUG0u-R-jjMxdzv_hnjIwSYeOIyJPiLKM9NmOZYiABLQK3E9GGe_ELn1MRL2CdFdpJsri_lx4nNvGKK/w480-h640/20221113_145533.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a traditional door with two knocks. Each knock elicits a different sound meant for the person inside to know if there is a man or a woman knocking. If it's a man knocking and there is a woman inside, they can cover up before opening the door. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1fdCuplt3blitNfhUr-fTk7lR9U3bdoOEbQVhFo7UwLBySgbf9YEqyf4kPrGIRklXpeXlx_PRhA6FQNxWn1ZUEtlQ5TDf5ENWNcapgVMt08P1PbcEZioMOYtSsXp27CjF221bGUr9lILoqARTqtlWwnZJJB_wTeftPhLDxmw_ikk3fs6q7XLR0jn/s4032/20221113_142624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1fdCuplt3blitNfhUr-fTk7lR9U3bdoOEbQVhFo7UwLBySgbf9YEqyf4kPrGIRklXpeXlx_PRhA6FQNxWn1ZUEtlQ5TDf5ENWNcapgVMt08P1PbcEZioMOYtSsXp27CjF221bGUr9lILoqARTqtlWwnZJJB_wTeftPhLDxmw_ikk3fs6q7XLR0jn/w480-h640/20221113_142624.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWw0zjJxTGgwvBwBYa3cO3l1ah7dIgtH84jbKSRhQKwnt8ksjNEVKXMCOJgEarfJMMrK_DnbUgjuykvLIKJ1fulIAL6diaXy1qF_WCT1ybmVWKlPjefB9XqhLGTM4YD9xCQwRTC3Xy2Qd5ycN8VOOv4tlCs2PcxvgVuDXDGd6MbtAqmT8-EDE6YoW/s4032/20221113_123818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWw0zjJxTGgwvBwBYa3cO3l1ah7dIgtH84jbKSRhQKwnt8ksjNEVKXMCOJgEarfJMMrK_DnbUgjuykvLIKJ1fulIAL6diaXy1qF_WCT1ybmVWKlPjefB9XqhLGTM4YD9xCQwRTC3Xy2Qd5ycN8VOOv4tlCs2PcxvgVuDXDGd6MbtAqmT8-EDE6YoW/w480-h640/20221113_123818.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This a traditional qanat which an underground aqueduct used to transport water from a source water to the surface. According to sources, this system originated in Persia (Iran) in 3,000 BC. Fascinating indeed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdx813yMdVicIr03pP8cay3tTADoijP07vixYa56j3paw8vXlAyA4B_wsQ6o-g0-wZjGY8mBTIo01xkPjS07ZiBIsCG0phG-EtBQQAhtQRdKH8-iGC-m5K-CinoM4i_fcw3fyFS_taMIpNt1rfZjJhwKfdR0r1cWarswdNmMUxVLaluVH09P-3H_0/s4032/20221113_114427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdx813yMdVicIr03pP8cay3tTADoijP07vixYa56j3paw8vXlAyA4B_wsQ6o-g0-wZjGY8mBTIo01xkPjS07ZiBIsCG0phG-EtBQQAhtQRdKH8-iGC-m5K-CinoM4i_fcw3fyFS_taMIpNt1rfZjJhwKfdR0r1cWarswdNmMUxVLaluVH09P-3H_0/w480-h640/20221113_114427.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Zourkhaneh - An ancient Persian sport that was part of soldiers' training. It combines martial arts, calisthenics, strength training and musicians It's recognized by UNESCO as being the world's longest running sport. It fuses elements of Pre-Islamic Persian culture, Sufism and Shia Islam. The clubs being held by the men are not as light as they appear, each club weighs between 22 - 66 pounds.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1Eyry0CNsbhxS5Ub4mFEk7a1sG26AIjreF2N31AeJYY62_NWgMRlak9S_Pn-umr6g-pGDlAj_pmSYeufCbuaU8gjsEdsA23PcSLPDuU7Yup_mtYs_ESuXI40DddTB6FHGQuWjTgn15u6vRZKg2s4OKOjUVQkDljoO3enwdYum-DihUvMlK-1ltyw/s4032/20221113_181529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1Eyry0CNsbhxS5Ub4mFEk7a1sG26AIjreF2N31AeJYY62_NWgMRlak9S_Pn-umr6g-pGDlAj_pmSYeufCbuaU8gjsEdsA23PcSLPDuU7Yup_mtYs_ESuXI40DddTB6FHGQuWjTgn15u6vRZKg2s4OKOjUVQkDljoO3enwdYum-DihUvMlK-1ltyw/w480-h640/20221113_181529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohV6bYly88ZFIMVVCCmb5hi6FV0pingLlRWWOydycfpbvWcxF_yGwb2oHBzhAbPTzsGglCfWEG9gC7es6zNkHeAVo3355xWq1jLh4IQR3qmWE1kPqpz3d5EWg_bAAvDzP61CEZHNP1XnG8bnFKHCpzhDX7qRTwPQcaW5V9cU-wF9Wig-nzEv8LBQ0/s4032/20221113_181512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohV6bYly88ZFIMVVCCmb5hi6FV0pingLlRWWOydycfpbvWcxF_yGwb2oHBzhAbPTzsGglCfWEG9gC7es6zNkHeAVo3355xWq1jLh4IQR3qmWE1kPqpz3d5EWg_bAAvDzP61CEZHNP1XnG8bnFKHCpzhDX7qRTwPQcaW5V9cU-wF9Wig-nzEv8LBQ0/w480-h640/20221113_181512.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jameh Mosque of Yazd is the main congregational mosque of the city. According to sources, the original building dates back to the Sassanid period (224 - 651 AD)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7t_ImrL2oystyWXmErd9mwMWtcbNQBFAmb2jWHovRCT_KQM6bPaAIqimtI-2tZ862AkExhq1vkS5gfytoAWZ51S7PDlOpMx-dESrBWSoowN3juCKw3pIFhY47SCGVJSOYBwJTlZJ3tRpF2FeZ3ZG0D6b4nxr6LKxV9LuJ-D0q_NADK36HxGR-MxT-/s4032/20221113_145717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7t_ImrL2oystyWXmErd9mwMWtcbNQBFAmb2jWHovRCT_KQM6bPaAIqimtI-2tZ862AkExhq1vkS5gfytoAWZ51S7PDlOpMx-dESrBWSoowN3juCKw3pIFhY47SCGVJSOYBwJTlZJ3tRpF2FeZ3ZG0D6b4nxr6LKxV9LuJ-D0q_NADK36HxGR-MxT-/w640-h480/20221113_145717.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HDPyBUjUIM9vRbdtSnGhLUxbR4VNfjD4unKuJvx1PgXswwLfxqLiLMgJLPRCtpsdFoDw_Lu57LWoq68wIAVMY-i_twUf7fcpA7CwuvF7MeDcCI9A8y8KmHUMvRJcuxax9g6NCMzJsFnoe2LBXx4PpoUpW7E29MjLfKwCBdcNJ3_scuhd2ABmdMqY/s4032/20221113_152314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HDPyBUjUIM9vRbdtSnGhLUxbR4VNfjD4unKuJvx1PgXswwLfxqLiLMgJLPRCtpsdFoDw_Lu57LWoq68wIAVMY-i_twUf7fcpA7CwuvF7MeDcCI9A8y8KmHUMvRJcuxax9g6NCMzJsFnoe2LBXx4PpoUpW7E29MjLfKwCBdcNJ3_scuhd2ABmdMqY/w480-h640/20221113_152314.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Women must wear a full body covering (chador) before entering the mosque. Chadors are provided at the entrance and once you leave, you can take them off and place them in a designated bin from which I think they are re-used after being cleaned.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDMHXXezU13M4gmOdBgDe7nJgaHtMwRZDfSZmaQmmDVUBWZKSDzM_RZqWobfOMJjqMeflvzJisPXnrIZ3Q4z9BwWoZyi6zluaEuxSdY9FgJ4dj4RYPim40ivnfXi8lElBEB2cnFEKJZ45MgBkHt13NI_t6yA8oihf54-Sz1kqQxVtYH-7fLaIxcJO/s4032/20221113_152058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDMHXXezU13M4gmOdBgDe7nJgaHtMwRZDfSZmaQmmDVUBWZKSDzM_RZqWobfOMJjqMeflvzJisPXnrIZ3Q4z9BwWoZyi6zluaEuxSdY9FgJ4dj4RYPim40ivnfXi8lElBEB2cnFEKJZ45MgBkHt13NI_t6yA8oihf54-Sz1kqQxVtYH-7fLaIxcJO/w480-h640/20221113_152058.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1IhNkG-J_t2lcYLOIC6m8805uBJcWr2GRG4d8lz8lTeyEb62zTeDXmxqBifspBIz-ZDhiJ38hSsY8sAjlPGcM-V1vNXvSbOzdS43wbYgz9AYO0wYs0itfEZqvNelsy44ngK65h0CmnPP95rBOkAPvWoBztp3ieWQ7HAYbamhPSbL3nxWqm4m0Kgp/s4032/20221113_151856.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1IhNkG-J_t2lcYLOIC6m8805uBJcWr2GRG4d8lz8lTeyEb62zTeDXmxqBifspBIz-ZDhiJ38hSsY8sAjlPGcM-V1vNXvSbOzdS43wbYgz9AYO0wYs0itfEZqvNelsy44ngK65h0CmnPP95rBOkAPvWoBztp3ieWQ7HAYbamhPSbL3nxWqm4m0Kgp/w480-h640/20221113_151856.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF989rL4gKd0vlivfytRyaCgJNYROo_mGtu-QuPCILqrC3E3_49o7dLxpdgUh_BK02HobSI08HwMyK_dh3LMZ3w70_99BUn8rF03geTCurgeXzmt5jM9MTdRK69qqZGqJTXsT6Hl8RO5n2eC73YWWqXuI8sNLYMfyXdBijMPs2jq7qEEpqK0oOZASU/s4032/20221113_150257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF989rL4gKd0vlivfytRyaCgJNYROo_mGtu-QuPCILqrC3E3_49o7dLxpdgUh_BK02HobSI08HwMyK_dh3LMZ3w70_99BUn8rF03geTCurgeXzmt5jM9MTdRK69qqZGqJTXsT6Hl8RO5n2eC73YWWqXuI8sNLYMfyXdBijMPs2jq7qEEpqK0oOZASU/w480-h640/20221113_150257.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfkOhSFZwBLmyK3MOLvMNSliro21RC2tT-m-jT7N9Jq5BXdrdDyt-7HBbnzyGHeBuUTEFR3U1IzdhjqLJqkXSB7O2810VWu8N2-z0kBSRZh0l2r5ST_KQ7V5pG9bcRtvLEBorSCF_BTdYgMKqcyTl6la2Ni1UbMURpKfwA376JgLAW0lMVOwDx7CO/s4032/20221113_150214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfkOhSFZwBLmyK3MOLvMNSliro21RC2tT-m-jT7N9Jq5BXdrdDyt-7HBbnzyGHeBuUTEFR3U1IzdhjqLJqkXSB7O2810VWu8N2-z0kBSRZh0l2r5ST_KQ7V5pG9bcRtvLEBorSCF_BTdYgMKqcyTl6la2Ni1UbMURpKfwA376JgLAW0lMVOwDx7CO/w480-h640/20221113_150214.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0_-LIlSnU5B8X3QT8kw4yBeBYX9kqhCokAzQPnEXPOV4wDG0buaKv6y6S1lhGSAxUv6de2KEeEdUtSdSkIG275kBniM0OoEyNoxlxxobza7vBPhhAKgR0X4v0VeOclh0YX4RhkSkg2EpqWOyQMSUxRcvmdpwCB3ZFmWVA0Q2G-K1n5LmtvFCdqwA/s4032/20221113_150045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0_-LIlSnU5B8X3QT8kw4yBeBYX9kqhCokAzQPnEXPOV4wDG0buaKv6y6S1lhGSAxUv6de2KEeEdUtSdSkIG275kBniM0OoEyNoxlxxobza7vBPhhAKgR0X4v0VeOclh0YX4RhkSkg2EpqWOyQMSUxRcvmdpwCB3ZFmWVA0Q2G-K1n5LmtvFCdqwA/w480-h640/20221113_150045.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Zoroastrian Fire Temple - Zoroastrism is an ancient Persin religion that originated more than 4,000 years ago. It's one of the oldest religions that's still being practiced today, and it's the world's first monotheistic faith. This religion was practiced by 3 Persian dynasties until the Muslim conquest of Persia in the 7th century A.D.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Muslim conquest made it hard for Zoroastrians to practice their religion, so some ended up migrating to India. In the present day, there is a small minority that practices this religion in Iran and India.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBfTcmxNItf2TTnI2hcmQBDDz-_ZSsqQuK9Qz4h52xd7BWJfA8yM7hP0PN2fxaUeAsRaKEIwT4iSRYdVFFE9xnPOks-_DEZj7hN4qiEAatFxciSbi5jjXcBI4sVyl7fDvwTB7f_uUEaZiiovIpTPKMin28YQt_g1TONY0j32O3sZSF4jivc7GU4cc/s4032/20221113_113621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBfTcmxNItf2TTnI2hcmQBDDz-_ZSsqQuK9Qz4h52xd7BWJfA8yM7hP0PN2fxaUeAsRaKEIwT4iSRYdVFFE9xnPOks-_DEZj7hN4qiEAatFxciSbi5jjXcBI4sVyl7fDvwTB7f_uUEaZiiovIpTPKMin28YQt_g1TONY0j32O3sZSF4jivc7GU4cc/w640-h480/20221113_113621.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Zoroastrians believe that fire represents God's light and wisdom, this fire is always lit and never allowed to burn out.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jWj7DWWK5NjF3TEh3z8mreJE9nwKMIBGt8s0YqK2-kF9kNxNmvx_e5Lj9RbR8YYmwiBmJE-JTRfgXgavmavm-n0wHc9y9o3UVUSoihnQdoSN-OlhgQBLb6-TRPqtu6R6Tz7h819qrxbRCm8nOjBGj-LGWh8RoBdbNQI6r0MOfKgWV-mf_fMzVP-y/s4032/20221113_152952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jWj7DWWK5NjF3TEh3z8mreJE9nwKMIBGt8s0YqK2-kF9kNxNmvx_e5Lj9RbR8YYmwiBmJE-JTRfgXgavmavm-n0wHc9y9o3UVUSoihnQdoSN-OlhgQBLb6-TRPqtu6R6Tz7h819qrxbRCm8nOjBGj-LGWh8RoBdbNQI6r0MOfKgWV-mf_fMzVP-y/w480-h640/20221113_152952.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tower of Silence - This is where Zoroastrians disposed of their dead. Instead of burying the bodies, they would take them up this tower so that the sun would disintegrate them, and birds would eat the flesh off the bones. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They did not bury their dead because they believe burying the dead pollutes nature so the body being in direct contact with the soil was seen as contaminating it. This practice has since been stopped and now they bury their dead in concrete so that the body doesn't touch the soil. It is actually an interesting religion, and I was fascinated learning about some of their beliefs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhK9MhYXs3rBo_yXym2HEKsF4AeaYN2EJgnYOvNI1lO5vyOKH6GY61Wm8lWgqs828l938acXXd-KgABc-viYD85Fqff8ujReJmnpBpeeSq4Xvb7OKW0wQQUC2XACW4cWf-cBBvgND0CW5MuOA7jhQ9BmiEqXY6EkmeYrg7pFEWtNo_YbcTt0GrHlR/s4032/20221113_113750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhK9MhYXs3rBo_yXym2HEKsF4AeaYN2EJgnYOvNI1lO5vyOKH6GY61Wm8lWgqs828l938acXXd-KgABc-viYD85Fqff8ujReJmnpBpeeSq4Xvb7OKW0wQQUC2XACW4cWf-cBBvgND0CW5MuOA7jhQ9BmiEqXY6EkmeYrg7pFEWtNo_YbcTt0GrHlR/w640-h480/20221113_113750.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-q1DF9uzRlP7VOfZgre0sgVeeft6z0Zmy6xDgpv2W4GV6dVmtLMtWwoZE1Cm3Ng3n4Sln-P9UDnd2kDAcbIZ2xN61htmLgBkWqbMdCCeWz7R0nn2XZcv6INdQxlAzsa3TkeLqBILLauyOaLi82fM76OTrw65WWn67_qFyBVfeBuOHX0dO2DPVZSVB/s4032/20221113_113051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-q1DF9uzRlP7VOfZgre0sgVeeft6z0Zmy6xDgpv2W4GV6dVmtLMtWwoZE1Cm3Ng3n4Sln-P9UDnd2kDAcbIZ2xN61htmLgBkWqbMdCCeWz7R0nn2XZcv6INdQxlAzsa3TkeLqBILLauyOaLi82fM76OTrw65WWn67_qFyBVfeBuOHX0dO2DPVZSVB/w480-h640/20221113_113051.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIh4LhGiWn57QwVKaQvaqvVcblwhbggZy-PUEE14UiRnl483bAqnB7-LEOBDlWPl1cYDeAphvgbycl9WHGHDQj_beU2t60Km5AbQSpC0nQGyBB3h9KY-q5abKiKQR58ND6AXvCn21fiCTrTMZ8G1gr6GVlcAnundYZoUCkPT1NTm96_qASWRwnsCd/s4032/20221113_112914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIh4LhGiWn57QwVKaQvaqvVcblwhbggZy-PUEE14UiRnl483bAqnB7-LEOBDlWPl1cYDeAphvgbycl9WHGHDQj_beU2t60Km5AbQSpC0nQGyBB3h9KY-q5abKiKQR58ND6AXvCn21fiCTrTMZ8G1gr6GVlcAnundYZoUCkPT1NTm96_qASWRwnsCd/w480-h640/20221113_112914.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmwfpQRK862TuEoincNlf5XuTf94erqIeIAX4Dx0QLzvOsdeOuH5UDn5Lx1K04hDdfd2FKrqBO33J6-wckFHn71VgPsNEqhlr2DUv5AtV-Pal2u1RwfBjD1gIlsLxpKN6qryP-92K_rtK1U01GHDt43l1K9uAMPUgJ2wftOy_pDL2CqBUc_jTVH-U/s4032/20221113_182735.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmwfpQRK862TuEoincNlf5XuTf94erqIeIAX4Dx0QLzvOsdeOuH5UDn5Lx1K04hDdfd2FKrqBO33J6-wckFHn71VgPsNEqhlr2DUv5AtV-Pal2u1RwfBjD1gIlsLxpKN6qryP-92K_rtK1U01GHDt43l1K9uAMPUgJ2wftOy_pDL2CqBUc_jTVH-U/w480-h640/20221113_182735.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXVGPOUMkiVZq3YtcNnCdWjoMfQZBgY7VXt28bxIxR9Veiy2knlY4N191vdapmOuaaIhhoCDJo1xIruT4fvV-OTg21b61TE_bVFQWJc_azm37v8ltowQlqgl-egV_PMNCEL6lUoBjXqKdKdFUEZ4EObiJt6kQbQpxejFOpXG9avv7LUQOmPMNPGp5/s4032/20221113_114214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXVGPOUMkiVZq3YtcNnCdWjoMfQZBgY7VXt28bxIxR9Veiy2knlY4N191vdapmOuaaIhhoCDJo1xIruT4fvV-OTg21b61TE_bVFQWJc_azm37v8ltowQlqgl-egV_PMNCEL6lUoBjXqKdKdFUEZ4EObiJt6kQbQpxejFOpXG9avv7LUQOmPMNPGp5/w480-h640/20221113_114214.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That's it folks! Yazd is really a fascinating city to visit and it's impressive seeing how historical settlements in the city adapted well to their environment and used ingenuity for survival. On to the next adventure!</p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-41294592933538310792022-12-01T15:39:00.001-06:002022-12-01T15:39:10.424-06:00Isfahan, Iran<p>Isfahan turned out to be my favorite city in Iran during my visit, I found it so pretty with its numerous tree lined boulevards that made for pleasant walks around the city. Isfahan is one of the top tourist destinations in Iran and it was actually one of the largest and most important cities in central Asia. The city has a long history which I will not get into, but I will highlight the main things I got to check out.</p><p>Naqsh-e Jahan Square - Also known as Shah or Imam square was built between 1598 and 1629 under the directive of Shah Abbas who decided to move the Persian Empire's capital to Isfahan. The square was designed in order to create an area where national events could be held. According to sources, the Shah's strategy was to centralize the power structure of Iran, so the main idea of the project was to reflect all the components of power. The mosque in the square represents the power of the clergy, the imperial bazaar represents the power of the merchants, and the palace represents the power of the king.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgar8aLITszcXJ76OS0E33iQzkbNe7cxP9pSHyoDCB92pH2k7V1F6OC9EzwywN5yDCxzqqlA1bGqycFfvXMwF7mXXmc6Ch7iHQ_ZQ6Ur8aeBOZtuKxfppadWIHArXvnP-Oals7MRM1C01h_ABeyyDcDYp3HiRq0D18F0IIyP3PlNsDzlCvxDUN4uqBs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgar8aLITszcXJ76OS0E33iQzkbNe7cxP9pSHyoDCB92pH2k7V1F6OC9EzwywN5yDCxzqqlA1bGqycFfvXMwF7mXXmc6Ch7iHQ_ZQ6Ur8aeBOZtuKxfppadWIHArXvnP-Oals7MRM1C01h_ABeyyDcDYp3HiRq0D18F0IIyP3PlNsDzlCvxDUN4uqBs=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3SsLwRJ3Inqd818WWS4uX56I2EzDaEpsVNN0R0f1S-ZHcVhaq9qZmtam_eG7d176Mt6yp91TISg1P-pmO0K4x3d4pVsxTC9rOp4SL6zj55B4ZECotplCCf8ZudbT3rvS34jAGfuV2WHpHvE6qmHhRPedaab83AlQxNlvLxaMr-clW1W8IP3hhH3k/w480-h640/20221111_173201.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QQ-rNjiCKoV2NSq8U3EIG3lc70Bv56eeQhK23vVWVPq769MyNdYpq940hzEoEhrUHLkfVaTdpG-6L5GS9ncfGXD6m0P_VFNu_3SQmDywfOAVWw4u67c0--UnN4rgBSESgg1_pYfi3RzT52gEdkzNjVe4Wv6rm1VlVkZUDUaUAnr0veHv5TwfoB8s/s4032/20221110_222301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QQ-rNjiCKoV2NSq8U3EIG3lc70Bv56eeQhK23vVWVPq769MyNdYpq940hzEoEhrUHLkfVaTdpG-6L5GS9ncfGXD6m0P_VFNu_3SQmDywfOAVWw4u67c0--UnN4rgBSESgg1_pYfi3RzT52gEdkzNjVe4Wv6rm1VlVkZUDUaUAnr0veHv5TwfoB8s/w480-h640/20221110_222301.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGJTBEw50Yj5UaF97vO0jzD9_A4NNQEf4DdytHqwL7qvI7w7mLvJBH8mouzHLh4OpVqT5qk3fRgi35mB5jvqJ2IhTzU8-AEt4GI1NRIdg8LHHsB4SmT_bfSRdzepWMAMquYAlCwp8gY3lj_IXWQNPvxwXSDKtbjxemTWf3XMfJ6jvV2kWFwqXCCcb/s4032/20221111_002321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGJTBEw50Yj5UaF97vO0jzD9_A4NNQEf4DdytHqwL7qvI7w7mLvJBH8mouzHLh4OpVqT5qk3fRgi35mB5jvqJ2IhTzU8-AEt4GI1NRIdg8LHHsB4SmT_bfSRdzepWMAMquYAlCwp8gY3lj_IXWQNPvxwXSDKtbjxemTWf3XMfJ6jvV2kWFwqXCCcb/w480-h640/20221111_002321.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxaEsIE42r47NI5u-HgmKgG1Lt9DoWnHOKpWVDX-vLNZBtrH9zNwE6a13t0ApHDNyE_WFhaCuLU3-Su0QUYjNRNh074iXYRYBpnDptIJI10l7YwaxTP2vlbRS6ALNy6A3-uQeT1EfVW__Jp6Yg3YXdwHdBnHCMGn-AZj_3k_IY_a_QfhwBH7jecgq/s4032/20221111_172721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxaEsIE42r47NI5u-HgmKgG1Lt9DoWnHOKpWVDX-vLNZBtrH9zNwE6a13t0ApHDNyE_WFhaCuLU3-Su0QUYjNRNh074iXYRYBpnDptIJI10l7YwaxTP2vlbRS6ALNy6A3-uQeT1EfVW__Jp6Yg3YXdwHdBnHCMGn-AZj_3k_IY_a_QfhwBH7jecgq/w480-h640/20221111_172721.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3SsLwRJ3Inqd818WWS4uX56I2EzDaEpsVNN0R0f1S-ZHcVhaq9qZmtam_eG7d176Mt6yp91TISg1P-pmO0K4x3d4pVsxTC9rOp4SL6zj55B4ZECotplCCf8ZudbT3rvS34jAGfuV2WHpHvE6qmHhRPedaab83AlQxNlvLxaMr-clW1W8IP3hhH3k/s4032/20221111_173201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3SsLwRJ3Inqd818WWS4uX56I2EzDaEpsVNN0R0f1S-ZHcVhaq9qZmtam_eG7d176Mt6yp91TISg1P-pmO0K4x3d4pVsxTC9rOp4SL6zj55B4ZECotplCCf8ZudbT3rvS34jAGfuV2WHpHvE6qmHhRPedaab83AlQxNlvLxaMr-clW1W8IP3hhH3k/w480-h640/20221111_173201.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNzbw8o4Dp-3gbHHjPwX4IY5KQmwrvV5DFQAGkBmESI32twgAYvXl4m71o56JhZ4xq6F9NDMGCEtUXoke673Wq1NCp0vBqnfxKD0J62t3u_51BDL6_06QrmY_AJfG0p9Ct6ElexSpangSCxeT80q00EALAokqL42g10pp4Zhw8w04xTpMXiIKz0H2/s4032/20221110_223259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNzbw8o4Dp-3gbHHjPwX4IY5KQmwrvV5DFQAGkBmESI32twgAYvXl4m71o56JhZ4xq6F9NDMGCEtUXoke673Wq1NCp0vBqnfxKD0J62t3u_51BDL6_06QrmY_AJfG0p9Ct6ElexSpangSCxeT80q00EALAokqL42g10pp4Zhw8w04xTpMXiIKz0H2/w480-h640/20221110_223259.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Khaju Bridge - Historical bridge built is 1650 by Shah Abbas during the Safavid period. The bridge serves as a social meeting place and at night you can find people hanging out or listening to music from street performers, it is a perfect example of Persian Architecture.</div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQqf9a7GianUSKUlxtiAPcYyhZGOChlgmAG4r1brQSiP6OhuUvoHHmz7bQz836OBL5L4kgypgWrMVuKO_qTBBah97XRL9e1qRF4KYXTPHiGmt-scWpBr1qsiu895oMOZTtfyz-Vv6LZTrBCUxelvUJM4j7c-3SitmWxY8MX0vAmfCawAmriZTT_zY/s4032/20221111_002632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQqf9a7GianUSKUlxtiAPcYyhZGOChlgmAG4r1brQSiP6OhuUvoHHmz7bQz836OBL5L4kgypgWrMVuKO_qTBBah97XRL9e1qRF4KYXTPHiGmt-scWpBr1qsiu895oMOZTtfyz-Vv6LZTrBCUxelvUJM4j7c-3SitmWxY8MX0vAmfCawAmriZTT_zY/w640-h480/20221111_002632.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3vQfQA0hy1iVV4NBamsSkZimDXdR4uwKzmCWwCz-kc6p1RUkSMMgdXOjFoKOfv9ihBiOfnjD6lf9n6d-qx-zJkLBkoQ0D2VmNobRU-ViTX1aa0I-co9F14tm-DYAeWZxX_sUcL93yY471ez-sV3kZFf0-o07eeI6FkiODzEHvPZ4A4E4uhtksuX7/s4032/20221111_155939.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3vQfQA0hy1iVV4NBamsSkZimDXdR4uwKzmCWwCz-kc6p1RUkSMMgdXOjFoKOfv9ihBiOfnjD6lf9n6d-qx-zJkLBkoQ0D2VmNobRU-ViTX1aa0I-co9F14tm-DYAeWZxX_sUcL93yY471ez-sV3kZFf0-o07eeI6FkiODzEHvPZ4A4E4uhtksuX7/w480-h640/20221111_155939.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Vank Cathedral - An Armenian church located in a beautiful neighborhood known as Jolfa. The church was built in 1606 and its architecture is a combination of Persian and Armenian influence. It is worth a visit and there is a museum adjacent to it where you can learn the history of Armenians in Iran.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeEIrq8B4veEl4IOU0BTG9DqPZpWgPFY-Fn2R-DeN6ea9V-ZKuGDUFtEOpyHutLVthgpNE2nY3m3udjop4NL_5hiAliBvyy6xRg3ocsbYUmt5UrRXnnWv2FcCmorgVeZK2WKtdqFB-lmJ-X6fXVMcwR-ga5dkaA0b-ItcJ6R3GwgVzTmVAZ2gyKF_/s4032/20221111_002914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeEIrq8B4veEl4IOU0BTG9DqPZpWgPFY-Fn2R-DeN6ea9V-ZKuGDUFtEOpyHutLVthgpNE2nY3m3udjop4NL_5hiAliBvyy6xRg3ocsbYUmt5UrRXnnWv2FcCmorgVeZK2WKtdqFB-lmJ-X6fXVMcwR-ga5dkaA0b-ItcJ6R3GwgVzTmVAZ2gyKF_/w480-h640/20221111_002914.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepioBaHNYvtMK7OvnFVrrnLk2_JgZagfPZEMpwCPHAGHfLjz0HeYvd-hstedJL8Io6Kp1_5gvWjPjtzj3XcVXzxomki0fr22_8x1DTMDPsXn-8-jmPXK8-K9WejOzWIB34AvIqbrFBvamhVl4R1bPUc3EsDPIB4rsVcvxrFIr7QXlxuGqtAgdJkTJ/s4032/20221111_002948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepioBaHNYvtMK7OvnFVrrnLk2_JgZagfPZEMpwCPHAGHfLjz0HeYvd-hstedJL8Io6Kp1_5gvWjPjtzj3XcVXzxomki0fr22_8x1DTMDPsXn-8-jmPXK8-K9WejOzWIB34AvIqbrFBvamhVl4R1bPUc3EsDPIB4rsVcvxrFIr7QXlxuGqtAgdJkTJ/w480-h640/20221111_002948.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jolfa Neighborhood - One of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Isfahan and is home to Armenians who live in the city. During the Safavid period (1501 - 1736), Shah Abbas ordered thousands of Armenians to move to Jolfa because they were very good in the silk trade and the Shah believed that their knowledge would benefit Iran. The neighborhood has a hip vibe to it and worth checking out, unfortunately it was raining so I couldn't take as many photos as I would have liked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCeRPbKbJHXawZ0EXt9yQ0hm1bxJMH8gThBvjJ0J7AxIXwXXPDbzMb5fkn8memhvzmwH0BCKB-qMulVxwC0tmlg_5kiZNwJfTkc0m7W-7rAivUXTOn0oR-qZKU_9A06hCiOPA78waNGLV3-x-J0cBifR4a34MCGbHCY-JpOnWpYvnIR_LLMv2VyYR/s4032/20221111_174143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCeRPbKbJHXawZ0EXt9yQ0hm1bxJMH8gThBvjJ0J7AxIXwXXPDbzMb5fkn8memhvzmwH0BCKB-qMulVxwC0tmlg_5kiZNwJfTkc0m7W-7rAivUXTOn0oR-qZKU_9A06hCiOPA78waNGLV3-x-J0cBifR4a34MCGbHCY-JpOnWpYvnIR_LLMv2VyYR/w480-h640/20221111_174143.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwNUxzpxpdTsgvgOsrCAeutN-12qj49C2ZLSZcM_cwy9iZa3yqIYJcrd3D4_zyb-45CRL_pLfr48KnAtnchoFrEQDRAgx1f8pUBOaL4t8ZL3VUu0R5jhrIf5kZY4DrPAXqslYXEE4DZzamXCKmXo4kUJVZZSMsm7502wrF7h4QparwFsqCgmztO3o/s4032/20221111_174052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwNUxzpxpdTsgvgOsrCAeutN-12qj49C2ZLSZcM_cwy9iZa3yqIYJcrd3D4_zyb-45CRL_pLfr48KnAtnchoFrEQDRAgx1f8pUBOaL4t8ZL3VUu0R5jhrIf5kZY4DrPAXqslYXEE4DZzamXCKmXo4kUJVZZSMsm7502wrF7h4QparwFsqCgmztO3o/w480-h640/20221111_174052.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabAvEmfDYOT4VAWGYwma8EoPzLRj9xVoPwj4GydxO4--PkxOU1KhQCkWSflb3UIVF6kEnGZj8w2IiURu3yufijikYtgn5sxEVQibAyZD4DLB0SVTYoGJ5gFKJasJxzqRmJ_GmqT4VfhI2X2IylBEtPR0CE91l5vT-3GXgii-kL_iHf8sfltkdW6Ep/s4032/20221111_173944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabAvEmfDYOT4VAWGYwma8EoPzLRj9xVoPwj4GydxO4--PkxOU1KhQCkWSflb3UIVF6kEnGZj8w2IiURu3yufijikYtgn5sxEVQibAyZD4DLB0SVTYoGJ5gFKJasJxzqRmJ_GmqT4VfhI2X2IylBEtPR0CE91l5vT-3GXgii-kL_iHf8sfltkdW6Ep/w480-h640/20221111_173944.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2fQ86nkkXYuCjJticE9SPYeMPk9-UDxHawOZF_LP6nCU5pC3OTBBEfZk2dY43UdBnwEWxt7ajrFmN-67KuDg9zr0kCV6BSttokYblbFq04ZFZlHy9NJnwW1_X34p5WsfCjIhw4k0CwM_Uhzics4-S1WPyeaxhd_EqWMec3b3DOiez272Zp_UWzZQ/s4032/20221111_173452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2fQ86nkkXYuCjJticE9SPYeMPk9-UDxHawOZF_LP6nCU5pC3OTBBEfZk2dY43UdBnwEWxt7ajrFmN-67KuDg9zr0kCV6BSttokYblbFq04ZFZlHy9NJnwW1_X34p5WsfCjIhw4k0CwM_Uhzics4-S1WPyeaxhd_EqWMec3b3DOiez272Zp_UWzZQ/w480-h640/20221111_173452.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, here are some random photos I took during my walks around the city. I like cities where nature is incorporated in the planning, that's why I was so in love with the numerous tree lined streets that I saw in Isfahan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4rwskVsQORFeIX9KQt5SgmIgrkwyJum4DT_8b8n6GrrzKjJjb3j1ko16ZHx_3ptUPjjAhhywMNGgUJ19fF3eMRR_8dtDG7hMd6yUSWO5Q3kbujR8LIJXo_EmC3kWCO0Rg8SMF-nUjsL3zxQ_pg8Ww5-Zr40vpsb1nXlSY9YxHqm5c6brt4-6SEdX/s4032/20221110_201030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4rwskVsQORFeIX9KQt5SgmIgrkwyJum4DT_8b8n6GrrzKjJjb3j1ko16ZHx_3ptUPjjAhhywMNGgUJ19fF3eMRR_8dtDG7hMd6yUSWO5Q3kbujR8LIJXo_EmC3kWCO0Rg8SMF-nUjsL3zxQ_pg8Ww5-Zr40vpsb1nXlSY9YxHqm5c6brt4-6SEdX/w480-h640/20221110_201030.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xs13pdsnDtUCvr4FviS2KecLq34o6T5jE0GZsHxVNhzVxWhyAOvQr1J3J-piB5AynZu1_y9RZEv7YSTmmWm9HoFNcZBolMtPckUdGLDIf0l_aS1RjZTiW8MZTn3rh49svyRbn04oPjXZ1IRT-LbM_bPyVUnIEplaFssNus5MtITwQu3SA5A6VYcR/s4032/20221110_201049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xs13pdsnDtUCvr4FviS2KecLq34o6T5jE0GZsHxVNhzVxWhyAOvQr1J3J-piB5AynZu1_y9RZEv7YSTmmWm9HoFNcZBolMtPckUdGLDIf0l_aS1RjZTiW8MZTn3rh49svyRbn04oPjXZ1IRT-LbM_bPyVUnIEplaFssNus5MtITwQu3SA5A6VYcR/w480-h640/20221110_201049.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How cute is this ATM?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbtSzU-5Num_swfBR7mW2nj-pnEelP3ejwEXSIzIjOx3Lnx5paj1Jq1ukwu1utgQh-aI7Ou8pv2tnoZPe95VlAzn8w2_pgFwoXKnVjhvOmNVRw9Jf7tImaUsgeZcyET_C7Sfxy_6orIPU_fZw8IAbzA6DShb1mserOGaQMvGrDN9i-SbDBKrmYzUP/s4032/20221111_114847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbtSzU-5Num_swfBR7mW2nj-pnEelP3ejwEXSIzIjOx3Lnx5paj1Jq1ukwu1utgQh-aI7Ou8pv2tnoZPe95VlAzn8w2_pgFwoXKnVjhvOmNVRw9Jf7tImaUsgeZcyET_C7Sfxy_6orIPU_fZw8IAbzA6DShb1mserOGaQMvGrDN9i-SbDBKrmYzUP/w480-h640/20221111_114847.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YbF7NNEgqTCqQqUA6qCarw3z0Njoeit3mxG_onDgzpd8z0ynGDE9XIPqRxfRlgZGtzYUdtsafOQZ-TNfPJ_QbxA-H6SKCFQp4t_7APT2ZQhSjTUF1lYXObCF4CF2nYLXRmmzSy9FBPlgTL5VI1dWZofZdc3go2r9HIAymzeYtnW23DWn9tH52I4k/s4032/20221111_141051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YbF7NNEgqTCqQqUA6qCarw3z0Njoeit3mxG_onDgzpd8z0ynGDE9XIPqRxfRlgZGtzYUdtsafOQZ-TNfPJ_QbxA-H6SKCFQp4t_7APT2ZQhSjTUF1lYXObCF4CF2nYLXRmmzSy9FBPlgTL5VI1dWZofZdc3go2r9HIAymzeYtnW23DWn9tH52I4k/w480-h640/20221111_141051.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIg4myxHUtHTo2YrfkYY8J2JJXALRVUL-Nd55rIObN9zZmREoTwVNvHyyNfuhNImBFM6GvFdG4kLSz66SNtaEs-6yHCW54XMzVclvDFUPyokMf93TSBsCYT8X2P09yJuqmQkpizGMykmrCI54UYkjc6gdIwKNY1ocT_wwvUp5MPQdOTWiwUneZiJ8-/s4032/20221111_142542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIg4myxHUtHTo2YrfkYY8J2JJXALRVUL-Nd55rIObN9zZmREoTwVNvHyyNfuhNImBFM6GvFdG4kLSz66SNtaEs-6yHCW54XMzVclvDFUPyokMf93TSBsCYT8X2P09yJuqmQkpizGMykmrCI54UYkjc6gdIwKNY1ocT_wwvUp5MPQdOTWiwUneZiJ8-/w480-h640/20221111_142542.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFBIGGDZTcET6JqSr8W22kC93nvEwAB2-2lcj_lPZ_WxzJKVnxwJwd2Af6_AHczExWjmSODBqcOe-c7qgdpKTgiCecigvQ03hYg0P4kSfr9tJ-dHTchu9DG8x4XgU3YQTrlzTUbSG_6k0J1zEV-e9stuFBaOR0n51WpRWe3_sM9U4Ibm68VLNoMXR/s4032/20221111_163436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFBIGGDZTcET6JqSr8W22kC93nvEwAB2-2lcj_lPZ_WxzJKVnxwJwd2Af6_AHczExWjmSODBqcOe-c7qgdpKTgiCecigvQ03hYg0P4kSfr9tJ-dHTchu9DG8x4XgU3YQTrlzTUbSG_6k0J1zEV-e9stuFBaOR0n51WpRWe3_sM9U4Ibm68VLNoMXR/w480-h640/20221111_163436.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsDy_IdwNdsDXdhbI0xe6rOwTvsgJBvAUiINfU0Qf-FwWnl1rlBcwdHdA4aAPnvmy7Bu3Vl6h4zYYcVKIytj2MEg2fyXmnSeQw9N8ZWBDKeZSuxbHHwOzYXqXU2nhp1h6022b4ARaTg3206anpwC9QcaAHvVtQT2GcxX12AZc5Qaxu1CuTRfpVPr6/s4032/20221111_174917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsDy_IdwNdsDXdhbI0xe6rOwTvsgJBvAUiINfU0Qf-FwWnl1rlBcwdHdA4aAPnvmy7Bu3Vl6h4zYYcVKIytj2MEg2fyXmnSeQw9N8ZWBDKeZSuxbHHwOzYXqXU2nhp1h6022b4ARaTg3206anpwC9QcaAHvVtQT2GcxX12AZc5Qaxu1CuTRfpVPr6/w480-h640/20221111_174917.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-DbqNHhW_lMkS0M-chuD-GdvoGM_4yuGF57U3BOWPpaYbtkP8MBLv9mfh4h7DG18UeKNKxnTpA0SABno7XfuclOjRHtKTx7aZ9TTnWh792H0dsYhrHVL9K2WZ9reEjesffT6kr_o4cxMCYO5agdnG-Tyjndq50j50YduCZtvH6_tDZ-scTBcOChf/s4032/20221111_175006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-DbqNHhW_lMkS0M-chuD-GdvoGM_4yuGF57U3BOWPpaYbtkP8MBLv9mfh4h7DG18UeKNKxnTpA0SABno7XfuclOjRHtKTx7aZ9TTnWh792H0dsYhrHVL9K2WZ9reEjesffT6kr_o4cxMCYO5agdnG-Tyjndq50j50YduCZtvH6_tDZ-scTBcOChf/w480-h640/20221111_175006.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! although the weather got rainy in Isfahan, I am glad that I was still able to walk around the city and get a feel of it. It really is a pretty city, and I can only imagine how much prettier it looks when the sun is out in its full glory, and everything appears bright. After an enjoyable two days in Isfahan, it was time to move on to the next city.</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-18599944366735439242022-11-29T20:34:00.000-06:002022-11-29T20:34:09.771-06:00Kashan, Iran<p>After leaving Tehran, the next stop was supposed to be Qom but there was a change in plans so I ended up in the city of Kashan. A city said to have been a favorite of Shah Abbas who was a king in the 16th century responsible for a lot of Iran's one architecture. The following were the main sites I got to check out.</p><p>Fin Garden - A historical Persian garden that's a popular attraction in Kashan, it's actually a UNESCO heritage site. The concept of a Persian garden dates back to the time of Cyrus the Great (around 6th century BCE) and the idea was to mold the perfect example of paradise on earth. Persian gardens have influenced other garden layouts in different parts of the world such as India and Spain.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIQwPMh2MtTN6ZWmB7FFTo4h4Qv-WIuoJA2KeT2nX7HI1tFMVyEUls0vX0xfooaHntAjngbWdsRkwMKsLu1_SL0tFPVie5b5zEAg95cbkpB8Qv3gzd4bR_6wEMtlNQmO7rX57vvceL2DKQHFY3DPYrUfypzRaXMAVOWWMnI3-D6f0fSu64QjvbZ14/s4032/20221109_172756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIQwPMh2MtTN6ZWmB7FFTo4h4Qv-WIuoJA2KeT2nX7HI1tFMVyEUls0vX0xfooaHntAjngbWdsRkwMKsLu1_SL0tFPVie5b5zEAg95cbkpB8Qv3gzd4bR_6wEMtlNQmO7rX57vvceL2DKQHFY3DPYrUfypzRaXMAVOWWMnI3-D6f0fSu64QjvbZ14/w480-h640/20221109_172756.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f9bgt4GxZRJ3EoeHHuExcXcTFt1eiGYz5PMLynA1QUueA8sB4PE1W3C9N6AbwXZbYhyQNDlewBbfNTZbBs2JRuLHfuqoNej5uFMgqRqp6bhtcV8oT-Ax8JqZYQ73lDfhep481OHy4NtRrMwIVs1qIUOrKO-VoPcstcnaf0hMhksiUyIFB47McW9v/s4032/20221109_141153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f9bgt4GxZRJ3EoeHHuExcXcTFt1eiGYz5PMLynA1QUueA8sB4PE1W3C9N6AbwXZbYhyQNDlewBbfNTZbBs2JRuLHfuqoNej5uFMgqRqp6bhtcV8oT-Ax8JqZYQ73lDfhep481OHy4NtRrMwIVs1qIUOrKO-VoPcstcnaf0hMhksiUyIFB47McW9v/w480-h640/20221109_141153.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp8GkTL-JGJSEdqqJbl9YEZsBkL4--rFkQlztpgMCRnAfINiLS3eRdmdZsnYoc14TCLjphRDHWgA_ljr96fe-aO_78-Ec4yeXotvuzJYayXLDBJUBj5zrGddBaWBMUOezF85GSDf3i8atoo6BEB3X-gmsX99CbBa-UGF9RV6pgKHjmokjExh4vXjF/s4032/20221109_173042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp8GkTL-JGJSEdqqJbl9YEZsBkL4--rFkQlztpgMCRnAfINiLS3eRdmdZsnYoc14TCLjphRDHWgA_ljr96fe-aO_78-Ec4yeXotvuzJYayXLDBJUBj5zrGddBaWBMUOezF85GSDf3i8atoo6BEB3X-gmsX99CbBa-UGF9RV6pgKHjmokjExh4vXjF/w480-h640/20221109_173042.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdFNzWMbsdxKghMLawUHqa2rrIvcIblhDYqrMlw_FpdN_adbpDy7vMHLZVTXOR9zliyh7bHajbozlyKcm2SW-YRKcuaAaY2t3B9tit0GyRQGE1w6a-FCOvanCP2HIAuy44NvuFxBYdQxPzZ1Dc1oDesxe8zGuoAmVsjvLJ7ASOEN40cjIhiYuTmX3/s4032/20221109_173433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdFNzWMbsdxKghMLawUHqa2rrIvcIblhDYqrMlw_FpdN_adbpDy7vMHLZVTXOR9zliyh7bHajbozlyKcm2SW-YRKcuaAaY2t3B9tit0GyRQGE1w6a-FCOvanCP2HIAuy44NvuFxBYdQxPzZ1Dc1oDesxe8zGuoAmVsjvLJ7ASOEN40cjIhiYuTmX3/w480-h640/20221109_173433.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tabatabaei House - A perfect example of a historical house in Kashan, this house was built around 1880 and it belonged to one of the most affluent families in Kashan. The house is open for public viewing for a small fee and it is definitely worth checking out, the details are very impressive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePJ3Of25IzOCoPYGhCjV3OTfDRLmoZ6mgEnhB7rsErP95kdvRwwte6hOaKbIsj2maGR_KI5FyB7FD0VdX3Aivv0L3ZML7WAKqHz4d1KlWEelAemYqePeuSG_Q_VPxwb_06vuOOuIwZiaPXyvCFppzFocXaTgKPyiBhF-gGylrNpkwThBvwZDvtfTZ/s4032/20221109_172516.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePJ3Of25IzOCoPYGhCjV3OTfDRLmoZ6mgEnhB7rsErP95kdvRwwte6hOaKbIsj2maGR_KI5FyB7FD0VdX3Aivv0L3ZML7WAKqHz4d1KlWEelAemYqePeuSG_Q_VPxwb_06vuOOuIwZiaPXyvCFppzFocXaTgKPyiBhF-gGylrNpkwThBvwZDvtfTZ/w640-h480/20221109_172516.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0ylnIoSF6kz_5xsFnEjQxux8LkfNTolA5-S_GY_lU3ZulBl-Vr6Yo_0TlmV_Eyt6wH-03HjSNL2PVfuEim4ckRbu76TURGPyAkcmQnqjSKjErzh5Xj9X0AVanuPHxGKikjZNWrbmsOmfujqh-VP-GmSOd2V-p5hulHLRp3TPZejrNB-mr1vOj9LM/s4032/20221109_171343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0ylnIoSF6kz_5xsFnEjQxux8LkfNTolA5-S_GY_lU3ZulBl-Vr6Yo_0TlmV_Eyt6wH-03HjSNL2PVfuEim4ckRbu76TURGPyAkcmQnqjSKjErzh5Xj9X0AVanuPHxGKikjZNWrbmsOmfujqh-VP-GmSOd2V-p5hulHLRp3TPZejrNB-mr1vOj9LM/w640-h480/20221109_171343.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLh4BFt_z5H9nDTraMWSFMHi3JMEnvPxQfrjnydIU7hwLMd5rfqf14AieBNI-SkuhxSAUDd_Bo_0VMW1d4lYUwvkxdCbKguYveyAMAwi2PBBTzg046CzQPGufdX6rU6zoRMsSaVr8pMSPxYzrDYnb_zRPgz3c3sKkO_toy8-SrLhhMO0B87gDl7L-z/s4032/20221109_171550.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLh4BFt_z5H9nDTraMWSFMHi3JMEnvPxQfrjnydIU7hwLMd5rfqf14AieBNI-SkuhxSAUDd_Bo_0VMW1d4lYUwvkxdCbKguYveyAMAwi2PBBTzg046CzQPGufdX6rU6zoRMsSaVr8pMSPxYzrDYnb_zRPgz3c3sKkO_toy8-SrLhhMO0B87gDl7L-z/w480-h640/20221109_171550.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtBQLsH_9MhRxwQTNPlv3jgbLPco1_MszLE3kCCmYGfoK34pVnHUYwZfyWYX-4PNEdfYALVDvZ6uPQmR4jMQxEwAbiTPAUnMs6NGoJc4ON1FMn3cz6oYpaGz_F34qQ2ALzJuchc0TB9XlEqWU0L8u4EGs7933FhWJCn_1TWsyowiJSWUtsQEcLSOl/s4032/20221109_171750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtBQLsH_9MhRxwQTNPlv3jgbLPco1_MszLE3kCCmYGfoK34pVnHUYwZfyWYX-4PNEdfYALVDvZ6uPQmR4jMQxEwAbiTPAUnMs6NGoJc4ON1FMn3cz6oYpaGz_F34qQ2ALzJuchc0TB9XlEqWU0L8u4EGs7933FhWJCn_1TWsyowiJSWUtsQEcLSOl/w480-h640/20221109_171750.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Borujerdis House - Another historical house in Kashan with an interesting story. This house was built in 1857 by a merchant who fell in love with a girl from a rich family, the girl happened to be Mr. Tabatabaei's daughter, remember the first house I mentioned above? yup! she belonged to that family. The rmerchant built this house in order to impress the girl he was in love with, he did end up marrying her and it took 18 good years to complete this house. The house is beautiful, these photos don't really do it justice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uKblf6NtAdEy7Um2GhNk7e67BPl_-lYuOeJ3j2YQ0ujJqJ1USEdsSJ9hFg2AzVGKfnd2xWUJShnIoNH7cyBjIfeg1Xe-tquoko_styEOKpbo30OVeu66zFEPhuoHr47T1fiql1WUWBnqFO_j_3xeTlvYw4Hh0_SybZ02lU3Y4a308Gi6gkSJVh_v/s4032/20221109_170943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uKblf6NtAdEy7Um2GhNk7e67BPl_-lYuOeJ3j2YQ0ujJqJ1USEdsSJ9hFg2AzVGKfnd2xWUJShnIoNH7cyBjIfeg1Xe-tquoko_styEOKpbo30OVeu66zFEPhuoHr47T1fiql1WUWBnqFO_j_3xeTlvYw4Hh0_SybZ02lU3Y4a308Gi6gkSJVh_v/w640-h480/20221109_170943.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog3EJDJ9YJWcVQbrCjG1Z9ocMulC-plv1s3Wi7di_Bat8jPU3hE90E7xI1G-B-NCcctu_csO8FdfiuJgbP-5ypsX9s5ERu-8zVqWgwQj3xNlfnx0D3D6HYURsiiiXa56IGboaBM1UD2AB04WwlQzYeVYd6Q8QoMEQxJHePaAFBWqA4sZdvzyvW-1d/s5699/20221109_170231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="5699" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog3EJDJ9YJWcVQbrCjG1Z9ocMulC-plv1s3Wi7di_Bat8jPU3hE90E7xI1G-B-NCcctu_csO8FdfiuJgbP-5ypsX9s5ERu-8zVqWgwQj3xNlfnx0D3D6HYURsiiiXa56IGboaBM1UD2AB04WwlQzYeVYd6Q8QoMEQxJHePaAFBWqA4sZdvzyvW-1d/w640-h248/20221109_170231.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g1XOimIMnLHReFA7-3x7rR3gR-vUo54B-LIEYRdDepbujEbwCKcwPchnAsdjBXAsqgJHC3VchEu0PYDX6xCo7ZHK0BW24wKFo4VUOAbos6Lzym181UakxWnQ6M90KEVp_i6lN7z_km2wwabSD3QIu-FdfUamjWCpbsUXjcZHXx6uNrp6VvZrcupq/s4032/20221109_170724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g1XOimIMnLHReFA7-3x7rR3gR-vUo54B-LIEYRdDepbujEbwCKcwPchnAsdjBXAsqgJHC3VchEu0PYDX6xCo7ZHK0BW24wKFo4VUOAbos6Lzym181UakxWnQ6M90KEVp_i6lN7z_km2wwabSD3QIu-FdfUamjWCpbsUXjcZHXx6uNrp6VvZrcupq/w480-h640/20221109_170724.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0M5BwCkuP0GY7jQpFLQoXk1SrIV3ackIWOncD1-DpjQo3hwRZ__ipJ1-whqJWX2SkBsKR8wLcZ_VUjXULbfrrcGFUZR__g1QodTSS9-E-mf58LvrGXoVWwjG6MtpyJHxkvnrEhK9sN9wtEF6OngMPbbX5RmjOh4pLNVcRhyXSf4x3yg5RWe43ozN/s5173/20221109_164833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5173" data-original-width="2433" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0M5BwCkuP0GY7jQpFLQoXk1SrIV3ackIWOncD1-DpjQo3hwRZ__ipJ1-whqJWX2SkBsKR8wLcZ_VUjXULbfrrcGFUZR__g1QodTSS9-E-mf58LvrGXoVWwjG6MtpyJHxkvnrEhK9sN9wtEF6OngMPbbX5RmjOh4pLNVcRhyXSf4x3yg5RWe43ozN/w302-h640/20221109_164833.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse - A traditional bathhouse that not only served as a place to cleanse one's body, but also socialize and discuss current events. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau_l1XNJs-ZA6HLhyvW9Ul7ce6P22IUidFNi8aSl6D6xn7WFuxAUUGg1JHztkmJWobaWKMa272Ad2JKOejAu8I4TgKg4EggrsUGRyTZLMBCnqVFBbcsp-KACsd_y5wDtE4rOAW5z0DANiMkgvVvuFPH-ojbKUMCyG_fWrHRnKaKs8tQIjjEdGNUIE/s4032/20221109_164612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau_l1XNJs-ZA6HLhyvW9Ul7ce6P22IUidFNi8aSl6D6xn7WFuxAUUGg1JHztkmJWobaWKMa272Ad2JKOejAu8I4TgKg4EggrsUGRyTZLMBCnqVFBbcsp-KACsd_y5wDtE4rOAW5z0DANiMkgvVvuFPH-ojbKUMCyG_fWrHRnKaKs8tQIjjEdGNUIE/w480-h640/20221109_164612.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIGsAsTQw4j7t3cXylV7hzhkCv2nLIgu5fw8zTxoCmpVPCLfv_lTonvKygW1bRVS7DxYYPo0NjtDuuN7wNNuHY0XDnheFkM9uMJSwr9xUYC5s-C1ZN0vD0TQAbme-5nq0pEL27bKuSUclc1vMnDIS-L9pDkcMmP5wwv-kOSrXE5IEnyKrU-9yX_x-/s4032/20221109_164751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIGsAsTQw4j7t3cXylV7hzhkCv2nLIgu5fw8zTxoCmpVPCLfv_lTonvKygW1bRVS7DxYYPo0NjtDuuN7wNNuHY0XDnheFkM9uMJSwr9xUYC5s-C1ZN0vD0TQAbme-5nq0pEL27bKuSUclc1vMnDIS-L9pDkcMmP5wwv-kOSrXE5IEnyKrU-9yX_x-/w480-h640/20221109_164751.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>At the rooftop of the bathhouse, the glasses you see on the domes were meant to let in light but no one can see through them, ensuring privacy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsZ7-RI96RuIhFsLJ9FG72oBFkBm5Cj340u_HAVUH1FvpCjJAfk4p7EdGOdkTxcx3ZY4qDbnNeoTeodyHw-JOdesn0DbOQRq3pFKVIqVT5kQqABknANU11VHgLoEN1SsPIP8gMvByXc_RUBfmhj2P0pezy7GJ6gWGNq_AICh1a6c5oM8l9tA8hEuO/s4032/20221109_164138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsZ7-RI96RuIhFsLJ9FG72oBFkBm5Cj340u_HAVUH1FvpCjJAfk4p7EdGOdkTxcx3ZY4qDbnNeoTeodyHw-JOdesn0DbOQRq3pFKVIqVT5kQqABknANU11VHgLoEN1SsPIP8gMvByXc_RUBfmhj2P0pezy7GJ6gWGNq_AICh1a6c5oM8l9tA8hEuO/w640-h480/20221109_164138.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Just look at these beautiful arches, loved them!<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVU32o1Xc6o0yqRrW5H_2xgcmxewJqT_m_lcRNxNxa0mPvTm-HH2I7sljhqy-FxiKfoV92xzcTWQCse4XHMJs6ECHX42JzJ7eI_HMBWmNH1aidR_qIUplZAy3ZPyUvszJQF4ibyXhvQBCon_Z7c8e8wHLwfD_OvT46vrUj93tDRbWPkFQCoLHLo6M7/s4032/20221109_171130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVU32o1Xc6o0yqRrW5H_2xgcmxewJqT_m_lcRNxNxa0mPvTm-HH2I7sljhqy-FxiKfoV92xzcTWQCse4XHMJs6ECHX42JzJ7eI_HMBWmNH1aidR_qIUplZAy3ZPyUvszJQF4ibyXhvQBCon_Z7c8e8wHLwfD_OvT46vrUj93tDRbWPkFQCoLHLo6M7/w480-h640/20221109_171130.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_ekgLuMU6OdXi803mbwAUykWwQsPi9tBMEQkLGWqUb4wd1IHMKPhKSBsXKKNjFxIKUULZfDhQ5JURaLX9oHMNF5toTrawKNGGqavy8Zbz4dPpzqMngS2RtKPlCCE3sLnHr6Eqo6lFwr0OhRBogl5re7eg6solAMJ4BXGP0TAuOMLotpLwUyAWXMn/s4032/20221109_171307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_ekgLuMU6OdXi803mbwAUykWwQsPi9tBMEQkLGWqUb4wd1IHMKPhKSBsXKKNjFxIKUULZfDhQ5JURaLX9oHMNF5toTrawKNGGqavy8Zbz4dPpzqMngS2RtKPlCCE3sLnHr6Eqo6lFwr0OhRBogl5re7eg6solAMJ4BXGP0TAuOMLotpLwUyAWXMn/w480-h640/20221109_171307.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! although I spent only a day in Kashan, I had a good time appreciating some of the city's highlights. The following day, I was on my way to another city for a new adventure.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-25395450846158964742022-11-28T12:18:00.006-06:002023-09-04T15:00:08.076-06:00Tehran, Iran<p>My arrival into Tehran was pretty uneventful and at the airport, everything went smooth with immigration. After checking my passport and electronic Visa, I was warmly welcomed into the country this definitely set the tone of my visit. I arrived at 5:00 am in Tehran and after settling in and meeting my tour guide, I was ready to hit the ground running.</p><p>Tehran is the capital of Iran and is the largest city in the country with a population of almost 10 million people. That being said, just like any other large city in the world, it is busy and bustling with life.</p><p>On day one I visited the Niavaran Palace Complex which was the residence of the last king of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC3dVh0T0psMZt_pFjYNpeLtkCICtgjQqghknHlagMiufx8SV8x-VGjQtQc1U0NRceKXthYAHS0jl8caDFNe9zvdvF7gYZqQN5eUL3cQK_rdXShoX3WvRb43X4PDijtsf8IRRAi6OX3IN9pCgYJr-PUyUEE_zvJbDG2OLobjAJuGCSYh1bsbCvDkrE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC3dVh0T0psMZt_pFjYNpeLtkCICtgjQqghknHlagMiufx8SV8x-VGjQtQc1U0NRceKXthYAHS0jl8caDFNe9zvdvF7gYZqQN5eUL3cQK_rdXShoX3WvRb43X4PDijtsf8IRRAi6OX3IN9pCgYJr-PUyUEE_zvJbDG2OLobjAJuGCSYh1bsbCvDkrE=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiupcE5U1zE-ukuve4moOcRRq5rXOymofooUQmTL1EJMWvG84WLqYtMjfNc984vmR8X3ohKUgfVrOyKcLXbTWopspcFO21FxneJMpXdZVcrjRfzI7e3wbv-EpU5_7K9-CfMkZOKQqMhtT6uh2aPi0KlEi3Hv6qUFO8j9foLJKI8trwZawI79X8h4sjM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiupcE5U1zE-ukuve4moOcRRq5rXOymofooUQmTL1EJMWvG84WLqYtMjfNc984vmR8X3ohKUgfVrOyKcLXbTWopspcFO21FxneJMpXdZVcrjRfzI7e3wbv-EpU5_7K9-CfMkZOKQqMhtT6uh2aPi0KlEi3Hv6qUFO8j9foLJKI8trwZawI79X8h4sjM=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Took a good walk around the city just soaking in the vibe and sites.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOm7R67hejd7bTWj3W9ArUJTRC7e2T4vA0Jb1RlvjYskP8HrzLuLbxzATGT2aJxB_NNxNRLdEKe-3xxyxtGz2IrQhIhyMDTAljjIAIclZmipEuTthLrOI6pAW_A2QPSNv5_lbZnsDYcQF8ISLxzaEsQR4onoSTJDyaWUwnCsxvLVAQ7BiBdmB_h07N" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOm7R67hejd7bTWj3W9ArUJTRC7e2T4vA0Jb1RlvjYskP8HrzLuLbxzATGT2aJxB_NNxNRLdEKe-3xxyxtGz2IrQhIhyMDTAljjIAIclZmipEuTthLrOI6pAW_A2QPSNv5_lbZnsDYcQF8ISLxzaEsQR4onoSTJDyaWUwnCsxvLVAQ7BiBdmB_h07N=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCo0yXJ8BWM1fQyeunsICrSB9qUAXHiJckVGJz_-HLWVp1GJyPdOeViehEHEMkw9w8SHazMUx3nqHZe_t-ZvzrDDEsHEk-dP6unnXSRslAuTz5OPBak3ylisBaaf4lGTSXTEoAg4SlbJF4tZJhy4NbKCuidnWI5K-qOqOPSuUgXHKzMNNP67gaZTnx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCo0yXJ8BWM1fQyeunsICrSB9qUAXHiJckVGJz_-HLWVp1GJyPdOeViehEHEMkw9w8SHazMUx3nqHZe_t-ZvzrDDEsHEk-dP6unnXSRslAuTz5OPBak3ylisBaaf4lGTSXTEoAg4SlbJF4tZJhy4NbKCuidnWI5K-qOqOPSuUgXHKzMNNP67gaZTnx=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKXQ0xQJP1BIG3Oc2b7M0ChzFGiUWzgzAujc-PNAOtvhmHZMsFrEyy2CsxNHwOMfSx0sSgPJW1sN-YIBbjEtY-iadpV3IxaS29xxo3o4rSbA-yhT_1X6dkcawREStE_0fUqitPePcEZ_gJVU2jGven2bkUSfBvVBizGSHnDe6yz6or1ejiCnMnQBLd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKXQ0xQJP1BIG3Oc2b7M0ChzFGiUWzgzAujc-PNAOtvhmHZMsFrEyy2CsxNHwOMfSx0sSgPJW1sN-YIBbjEtY-iadpV3IxaS29xxo3o4rSbA-yhT_1X6dkcawREStE_0fUqitPePcEZ_gJVU2jGven2bkUSfBvVBizGSHnDe6yz6or1ejiCnMnQBLd=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinhXVM2Zg5zYLykuZxiep7ugM87qn7CSjeZyeZMaLG7Q7J7qRjDasmwlVOychVN5vywAlxg_QHIEdKd9S2_P0l0AooOdec2YegJol5TwivTpEpPVw_6WU23E2hUejPAxRQvZaxyH1-YKZxsVwp4lGO9DCvT0kWAD-YeJbAJ3BHsv-QYIxM1hslRXNy" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinhXVM2Zg5zYLykuZxiep7ugM87qn7CSjeZyeZMaLG7Q7J7qRjDasmwlVOychVN5vywAlxg_QHIEdKd9S2_P0l0AooOdec2YegJol5TwivTpEpPVw_6WU23E2hUejPAxRQvZaxyH1-YKZxsVwp4lGO9DCvT0kWAD-YeJbAJ3BHsv-QYIxM1hslRXNy=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Visited the former US Embassy, which is now a museum. This is where Iranian activists in 1979 broke into and captured the Americans working there. They were held hostage for 14 months before being released.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5GYellK8r3Cu99toWNuBIamJjho3H7EJeHnKHQ1msc8zbr57OWtrWPlTQ1tWU6GC6qreyD6-dlPIyOSh4LHtv7qcBh_EEJssrt6G2vZPf7sQLYkRCKkQM736D9aB8HrAqaKInT5SLfnm1Mtm-meeJzKZ-j_3iyIOB_s4Iqx3Tmr2lD5I1xn0DK6SX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5GYellK8r3Cu99toWNuBIamJjho3H7EJeHnKHQ1msc8zbr57OWtrWPlTQ1tWU6GC6qreyD6-dlPIyOSh4LHtv7qcBh_EEJssrt6G2vZPf7sQLYkRCKkQM736D9aB8HrAqaKInT5SLfnm1Mtm-meeJzKZ-j_3iyIOB_s4Iqx3Tmr2lD5I1xn0DK6SX=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /></div>I really had a good first day and got such a good vibe in general, After a few hours jet lag started creeping in so I retired back to my Iranian host's house in Tehran. I was treated to a nice welcome dinner and I got to meet their family, everyone was so lovely and I had a great evening before jetlag got the best of me.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_3sH1CnuNYeoRqeGZECFKaJIzF5qH_9S8GKFZz8BLMKPJwZ1XyQA6xUSBvEbVyUHBBKdDjbR81wDXNZS6vRILEnL021JIoAAZHmNVlv5gnZ53-dkU74yl7YxIkjpoiH_ptQtVOGTK5Mofpa965Dve7cu6qj-3gd9BWu14CJTng9e9zCa44AHIGBZ/s3264/20221107_230826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_3sH1CnuNYeoRqeGZECFKaJIzF5qH_9S8GKFZz8BLMKPJwZ1XyQA6xUSBvEbVyUHBBKdDjbR81wDXNZS6vRILEnL021JIoAAZHmNVlv5gnZ53-dkU74yl7YxIkjpoiH_ptQtVOGTK5Mofpa965Dve7cu6qj-3gd9BWu14CJTng9e9zCa44AHIGBZ/w640-h480/20221107_230826.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On my second day in Tehran I did more exploring by visiting The Grand Bazaar</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid8TuIr3HBhVagf-dyOr5MiIoCMKfN1z6lID71eyAjz-9aqowmb8tGLWhSvbXYek_KSrGktLS911MhWviasOtKncEgzRJN3ydlLbulSNsFfB4k5GZ3Wrdtimp7NB_3wFNa4JztzuLP6TnRUP4hN5r5FcL4MPdn1KXcs4Fyr90vhT7nvit8ToipvtBH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid8TuIr3HBhVagf-dyOr5MiIoCMKfN1z6lID71eyAjz-9aqowmb8tGLWhSvbXYek_KSrGktLS911MhWviasOtKncEgzRJN3ydlLbulSNsFfB4k5GZ3Wrdtimp7NB_3wFNa4JztzuLP6TnRUP4hN5r5FcL4MPdn1KXcs4Fyr90vhT7nvit8ToipvtBH=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97pdUBRuR2heQXn0o2CCn7nvPVieztMlEAx6S0cK-OwqqqByeawyqKBLFXmv5xrf8Vl5ykSgyIU0MiZDryxZd3dfRi98977r0Ar5hEuYaRz-F-zIT_XuaOZmF4JH7YDRIzaI82ihM2Q3sSidWflc9d32q8A5hlR1BAL7MJ2CyDdWO9puKK4XzRV3S/s4032/20221107_231107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97pdUBRuR2heQXn0o2CCn7nvPVieztMlEAx6S0cK-OwqqqByeawyqKBLFXmv5xrf8Vl5ykSgyIU0MiZDryxZd3dfRi98977r0Ar5hEuYaRz-F-zIT_XuaOZmF4JH7YDRIzaI82ihM2Q3sSidWflc9d32q8A5hlR1BAL7MJ2CyDdWO9puKK4XzRV3S/w640-h480/20221107_231107.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV3_sHeqsp4j_B5puIz4xTUygmglmj2F4HCK751anS6XijZwzGpQGTrlEHezQE7quYq-cfNOrsx1dq4sMtdLcPsoOLMkT-N3SMf5-Uel06q_3k1sZs4VuhqQSzUAuw_E-VDx-dMptUfHVr74udYAYm23vJKBR1GrB3pArnsGdsRhAlbkLH59i6lPQz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV3_sHeqsp4j_B5puIz4xTUygmglmj2F4HCK751anS6XijZwzGpQGTrlEHezQE7quYq-cfNOrsx1dq4sMtdLcPsoOLMkT-N3SMf5-Uel06q_3k1sZs4VuhqQSzUAuw_E-VDx-dMptUfHVr74udYAYm23vJKBR1GrB3pArnsGdsRhAlbkLH59i6lPQz=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiybr3nb32A6HBF7auouef7Wr35VoPGYo818D9tQAN69DxwYLcn2PWZ1rUJZcSgTjE3YDzfj39lTSXYHL-7Dyjrva_Q_x-kPn5MlaUFaFjsiNApUi3gwcmZtKJdt__vRcCQjItd4ATPWu8ATdrz8l3erws6JNVKdeZ3eO63NyFlOgOy6UbC8Tm3wLAB" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiybr3nb32A6HBF7auouef7Wr35VoPGYo818D9tQAN69DxwYLcn2PWZ1rUJZcSgTjE3YDzfj39lTSXYHL-7Dyjrva_Q_x-kPn5MlaUFaFjsiNApUi3gwcmZtKJdt__vRcCQjItd4ATPWu8ATdrz8l3erws6JNVKdeZ3eO63NyFlOgOy6UbC8Tm3wLAB=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While at the Grand Bazaar I got to visit the smallest tea house in the world. It's been passed down the family and is actually a pretty popular spot to visit in the bazaar. I didn't know which flavor to choose so I just asked the owner to make me his best tea and it did not disappoint. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW8VVHoi6tItYOJdC2miBRxCJ6ijwXRSyakRCw9N1t7RRa8brxacEp5H0HhXZu4M0drm_pOMP21Qj2quIxhuMzoQTB-VGp2fiHMMMnvPobP1WpW3a7ti1pRbaLpX6xr7TLFpdqqzonjEePlh0I5sJLE5anBPHsQlhnWSPUSVi3lC_d2aHbnUR89e2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW8VVHoi6tItYOJdC2miBRxCJ6ijwXRSyakRCw9N1t7RRa8brxacEp5H0HhXZu4M0drm_pOMP21Qj2quIxhuMzoQTB-VGp2fiHMMMnvPobP1WpW3a7ti1pRbaLpX6xr7TLFpdqqzonjEePlh0I5sJLE5anBPHsQlhnWSPUSVi3lC_d2aHbnUR89e2A=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Checked out the beautiful and very colorful Golestan Palace, built in the 16th century it is one of the oldest historic monuments in Tehran. Definitely worth a visit!<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFztlNYdO-jzS8GcDwvSL-yT32DUlh8z4cjwQuTM3rGeBgsSoMPOuzxiXTn5JT47BNISs3sgCSQRzii-8rxohJFEizfXWLSgcNnm9Sp1ZNRz7EUtcswGpzhyd0CGTMmRln0Of0w7TahHJc8JW_GKrx703rDtko2ERgNandfW7YD274hdzZwz16Mti/s4032/20221108_135807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFztlNYdO-jzS8GcDwvSL-yT32DUlh8z4cjwQuTM3rGeBgsSoMPOuzxiXTn5JT47BNISs3sgCSQRzii-8rxohJFEizfXWLSgcNnm9Sp1ZNRz7EUtcswGpzhyd0CGTMmRln0Of0w7TahHJc8JW_GKrx703rDtko2ERgNandfW7YD274hdzZwz16Mti/w480-h640/20221108_135807.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYpR6mRzfctXbHNpy2TefaL44CjrhzQtRWdzg_8EUhVhiySoZPzMSnse-BYTqluzxZN8IajfLpQZuOJo-lFZWoQaXrSfyaEiDi8FXVl4iOGNvheDFejo-I_w4bDiREI3y2F-Y9eKOVfvzFg49UNbPIBpQ9fTJUrzwSTIavoOyIZrv4mOzBmIIlQGQ/s4032/20221108_135939.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYpR6mRzfctXbHNpy2TefaL44CjrhzQtRWdzg_8EUhVhiySoZPzMSnse-BYTqluzxZN8IajfLpQZuOJo-lFZWoQaXrSfyaEiDi8FXVl4iOGNvheDFejo-I_w4bDiREI3y2F-Y9eKOVfvzFg49UNbPIBpQ9fTJUrzwSTIavoOyIZrv4mOzBmIIlQGQ/w480-h640/20221108_135939.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJyEZN6Vq-VXB0Z10DeYEF3bmd_5r-FBZYsMHNVKb5NCYL3ML_2UaQjYaqMgu8GI7D_R3KqnQvhZ9X_H8lZjdbiDWXjtJRzhskWTW0rm0TLyj12kkEKwCXs0bOeVVCLgpFHO4-_CeToCheVI0YQppR9AmoliibdxyD7yHE7MAcBgtbx2RU2LeMAVl/s4032/20221108_153912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJyEZN6Vq-VXB0Z10DeYEF3bmd_5r-FBZYsMHNVKb5NCYL3ML_2UaQjYaqMgu8GI7D_R3KqnQvhZ9X_H8lZjdbiDWXjtJRzhskWTW0rm0TLyj12kkEKwCXs0bOeVVCLgpFHO4-_CeToCheVI0YQppR9AmoliibdxyD7yHE7MAcBgtbx2RU2LeMAVl/w480-h640/20221108_153912.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx7QCQqBkXcSt9rBfFe2t7QAap8OzeLVtJ4MCAnP7u8VdVc7DX-4e8aDGLtp832yzwAkF9UIIA_a8VCr3L-RE5Tog8fHF_UzvroEy4JGKv5Qtc0c3gDgCU-uIdlQVi_gKpnMBbTtw7aogcXxf-Mrb0rGr_-cOiyvaXhXLscOhcIthdNgx47-GhTPa/s4032/20221112_173909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx7QCQqBkXcSt9rBfFe2t7QAap8OzeLVtJ4MCAnP7u8VdVc7DX-4e8aDGLtp832yzwAkF9UIIA_a8VCr3L-RE5Tog8fHF_UzvroEy4JGKv5Qtc0c3gDgCU-uIdlQVi_gKpnMBbTtw7aogcXxf-Mrb0rGr_-cOiyvaXhXLscOhcIthdNgx47-GhTPa/w480-h640/20221112_173909.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My final site before leaving Tehran was the Azadi Tower, formerly known as Shahyad Tower. It was built in 1971 to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the Persian monarchy. During and after the revolution in 1979 which ousted the king, the tower become a symbol of freedom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCCX82VwQqdtLnfVkI7I6fQBcQUsaKrzZxShFnNzorX_Sv6ZMKkEoIR8hYli_pXFtyYluyy3NAkPvIRNMq0rYBcPLz5QsETKGDrVrmIl2SUvi8KxryuPtm6MXIpBD2rlKZLFEynsAkJcdKKsIlwOXm3u55cg6K9TnHpicZ_4oeNgqf7n5Qdx45wXR/s1080/20221128_121645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCCX82VwQqdtLnfVkI7I6fQBcQUsaKrzZxShFnNzorX_Sv6ZMKkEoIR8hYli_pXFtyYluyy3NAkPvIRNMq0rYBcPLz5QsETKGDrVrmIl2SUvi8KxryuPtm6MXIpBD2rlKZLFEynsAkJcdKKsIlwOXm3u55cg6K9TnHpicZ_4oeNgqf7n5Qdx45wXR/w640-h640/20221128_121645.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! my stay in Tehran was really good, and I was excited to continue my adventures to the next city. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-47207595059482750192022-11-21T06:11:00.005-06:002023-09-04T15:06:10.398-06:00Iran Trip Planning<p>Going to Iran with an American passport isn't as straightforward as other destinations, due to the strained relationship between the two countries. I do have a Kenyan passport and it would have been much easier using it, unfortunately it is expired and for this trip, I wouldn't have had enough time to renew and get it back on time.</p><p>After looking up entry requirements into Iran for Americans, I took the following steps:</p><p>Find a tour company - after extensive research I narrowed down my choices to 3 companies that I gravitated toward: Irana Tour, TAP Persia and Key2persia. After chatting with agents from all 3, I selected Irana Tour, the rest were good too but the agent from Irana Tour was really personable which made it easy for me to select my choice.</p><p>Plan on an itinerary - Iran is a huge country, we are talking almost 3 times the size of France or slightly smaller than Alaska which is the biggest state in the US. With this size and being a first time visitor, Irana Tour came in handy as the agent helped me come up with the perfect itinerary based on my interests. I settled on a 10 day classic route of Iran that most first time visitors take in order to get a good introduction to the country's highlights.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpi9V_Vty0pzwrULhM0T0xJpp6VDAYDwM1IihB3WN0mpk-nVOya-6tvW4qFaVmcT5el_DAoA1LLjZKVrwSUY1QkCdWlCIDClmz0rYgnrbAQC8P2KWxBa41mwuIUl5CiIDHaRYvucWi_9rP8OhDzOix5rSmuCbBU9C-BcxTJJGdUa9bH3Z3dGKz-Zv/s1160/20220904_152910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1078" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpi9V_Vty0pzwrULhM0T0xJpp6VDAYDwM1IihB3WN0mpk-nVOya-6tvW4qFaVmcT5el_DAoA1LLjZKVrwSUY1QkCdWlCIDClmz0rYgnrbAQC8P2KWxBa41mwuIUl5CiIDHaRYvucWi_9rP8OhDzOix5rSmuCbBU9C-BcxTJJGdUa9bH3Z3dGKz-Zv/w594-h640/20220904_152910.jpg" width="594" /></a></div><p>Apply for a Visa - the benefit of using a tour company is the fact that they handle the whole visa application for you. You have to time the application of the visa so that you don't apply to early or too late plus some time has to be allocated between when you apply and when your application gets approved. Based on my travel dates, it was best to apply 3 months prior to my travel.</p><p>Fill out required paperwork - the tour company sent me a list of what I needed in order for them to apply for the visa on my behalf. I had to fill out an application form, provide my resume/CV (this is to check if you work for the govt) and a passport size photo. All these I emailed to the tour company, after everything had been submitted, it was now time to wait for the visa approval.</p><p>Visa Grant Notice - I honestly can't remember how long it took before I got notice of my visa approval but once I got it, I could now buy the ticket for my flight to Iran. It is advised not to buy a ticket until your visa is approved. </p><p>Electronic visa - after getting the visa Grant notice, the next step is to get an electronic visa. This means that you have to forward the grant notice letter to the closest Iranian embassy near where you live. Since the there is no Iranian embassy in the US, I sent mine to the Pakistani embassy that has the Interest Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran, this section handles all Iranian affairs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Wn_zRqHLsdjWQyp43z0Hy04iV-IWgHFleTBdfOWJSVF6XUucXzvwuBCvbCi6DkenvLXcMr0OMpY7EXOvR8MmeGQjhbWz11ZywJE4-CsOFLZhPzumt9Y6hZpo3BMkOnv2RRsmoNFHeXGX2IrCt42JoteBwkdAsUV8NrPpO30_ho4URmjuTj_bFPzP/s1548/20221121_125357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Wn_zRqHLsdjWQyp43z0Hy04iV-IWgHFleTBdfOWJSVF6XUucXzvwuBCvbCi6DkenvLXcMr0OMpY7EXOvR8MmeGQjhbWz11ZywJE4-CsOFLZhPzumt9Y6hZpo3BMkOnv2RRsmoNFHeXGX2IrCt42JoteBwkdAsUV8NrPpO30_ho4URmjuTj_bFPzP/w446-h640/20221121_125357.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><p>I went to their website and filled out the necessary form which I printed and mailed them together with a copy of the page on my passport (please don't send your actual passport, they just need a copy of it since they stopped stamping American passports) that has my personal information, a copy of my visa Grant notice and the visa application fee (I chose the expedited service which I think cost $120).</p><p>I was expecting my electronic visa to be mailed out to me but turns out that they can email it to you. Check your spam folder folks because I was waiting for like 3 weeks to see something in the mail but all along they had sent out the electronic visa to my email account. I was freaking out as my travel date neared, until my travel agent looked into it and told me that my visa had already been issued and to perhaps check my spam folder.</p><p>With my electronic visa on hand at last, all I had to do was wait for my departure date to begin a great adventure.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-44267781845467274362022-11-19T15:22:00.003-06:002022-11-21T06:15:47.811-06:00Dream Trip<p>Years back I came across a page on social media titled, "Humans of Tehran," I was captivated by the stories of the people featured on that page and that's when my fascination with Iran begun.</p><p>I remember mentioning in passing to a friend that I would love to visit Iran but at the time it just seemed like such an out of reach feat. Prior to the pandemic I had started looking into traveling to Iran but the requirements just seemed overwhelming to me and I gave up. I didn't feel like dealing with the hustle.</p><p>After my trip to Lebanon in March of this year, I made up my mind to travel to Iran come what may. This time I was ready to be patient and follow through with all the requirements. I did some research and once I identified the classic route that most first time visitors take in order to get a good introduction to the country, I was ready to start planning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Aq5DnnTI0hSskf6pFAYqbEncWabREbUViYVCks4XXaPO9fPHUwKwm4-KQpWRscslaLQy8U9FasBIJLzpvunSlfBLHmOr5QYk0FiJxG_wcdz-KOeSwC8I-MYHnsVPBBUvUBcdr0PUGpa8M5T3mIZ7u2zdmwmHVkOniZq6_lQWOX-x_HLU2GxZZfrd/s1080/20221121_131359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1080" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Aq5DnnTI0hSskf6pFAYqbEncWabREbUViYVCks4XXaPO9fPHUwKwm4-KQpWRscslaLQy8U9FasBIJLzpvunSlfBLHmOr5QYk0FiJxG_wcdz-KOeSwC8I-MYHnsVPBBUvUBcdr0PUGpa8M5T3mIZ7u2zdmwmHVkOniZq6_lQWOX-x_HLU2GxZZfrd/w640-h622/20221121_131359.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-34050348861399877172022-03-18T15:03:00.003-06:002022-04-10T19:03:30.153-06:00Baalbek, Anjar & Other Fun Adventures In LebanonAlas! my last day in Lebanon, part of me feels like I have been here for a lot longer than I actually have, while the other part feels like days flew by way too fast! either way, I have had fun during this trip so no complaints at all aside from the fact that I have to go back to reality after a fun filled vacation. Anyway, let's focus on the fun part of the day for now. Karim my tour guide picked me up in the morning and as usual, we stopped by a cafe to get some local Lebanese dish. Everyday that I have taken a tour with him he has made it a point to get me some new local dish to try depending on the area that we visit, I have been loving it! <div><br /></div><div>After a filling breakfast of Sfeeha Baalbakiyeh that you see below (the stuffed meat is lamb), we continued our trip to Baalbek.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmp2p60qXB30g69pxe41kAibByGoCkXWjHPrXVxVQh3Md_t6gYPDKFo-01POg_y60wYtgn_MvrzrPS6C3zGrW5WVyMypeRSLFpDf4RoqhnoV8leXjbTAUgce_vayx2C-CdJzQHZY8RtktxxSyQIKZ8FANQidgzBF4y5Mfexee91GQ7I-8PZbqHgppX=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmp2p60qXB30g69pxe41kAibByGoCkXWjHPrXVxVQh3Md_t6gYPDKFo-01POg_y60wYtgn_MvrzrPS6C3zGrW5WVyMypeRSLFpDf4RoqhnoV8leXjbTAUgce_vayx2C-CdJzQHZY8RtktxxSyQIKZ8FANQidgzBF4y5Mfexee91GQ7I-8PZbqHgppX=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Our first stop in Baalbek was to check out a limestone quarry where a team of Lebanese and German archaeologists uncovered the largest stone block curved by man. The site actually went into decay and people used to dump garbage there but this one local guy made it a mission to have the site cleaned up and it's now become a tourist attraction. He actually used his own resources to have the site cleaned up and there are plenty of newspaper articles written about his efforts. he has these articles hang up at his souvenir shop which is right next to the quarry. By the way, the large stone block is nicknamed "The Stone of The Pregnant Woman" because apparently when women with infertility issues touch it and say a few prayers, they end up pregnant.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5NM4BcKLV0W1OmtURgLUPXZq9GR1GKsFFDsAnniw6o5YPsutSmxAhr21q005cQ-y4stbLwVI_LF48Qz0qSLgVikD2kbZHwanY_5Aj02kl8YdbPM5e-GjRdRh4WjnA6MOKGOX0bO4suPY3T07mk67IHKpGxsIgWEwHpuYIkzRDkvLlme1y_CDiZpMs=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5NM4BcKLV0W1OmtURgLUPXZq9GR1GKsFFDsAnniw6o5YPsutSmxAhr21q005cQ-y4stbLwVI_LF48Qz0qSLgVikD2kbZHwanY_5Aj02kl8YdbPM5e-GjRdRh4WjnA6MOKGOX0bO4suPY3T07mk67IHKpGxsIgWEwHpuYIkzRDkvLlme1y_CDiZpMs=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSZsIBbpKE2M0UMCasIW_wAWR-39YwgEU0xoO5Ci9aMrv2wGR5Y5se_td0aMorhMuuSYd9WLNtJYbfx_9xwUtMDKlM796t4Q3URutoCIk3ZA4xoI0JEfoMUaUF1J265Lg3T4Ogg45zdvjeeBA9MxUEWSEjVv6lWZLC1TbGGhUhe9rkMoWIUqnyGz-l=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSZsIBbpKE2M0UMCasIW_wAWR-39YwgEU0xoO5Ci9aMrv2wGR5Y5se_td0aMorhMuuSYd9WLNtJYbfx_9xwUtMDKlM796t4Q3URutoCIk3ZA4xoI0JEfoMUaUF1J265Lg3T4Ogg45zdvjeeBA9MxUEWSEjVv6lWZLC1TbGGhUhe9rkMoWIUqnyGz-l=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAqvyuISSb3_Wxn26Dehw_83A4F19GytxRO1JVgvhCeSCFE6V6jHPZw52qY8tNmzO11-Rgcw7s9nAFRTpvbHmJGtH1uXUu67vZj2s1sh4h-G3vpjt3gtmOHoeqQ0daoMnaytmwv8YmWt4JTmfgKe9oEyYQbejaTWzIuSwSkTd4S8Bb3WjKuUqr-Pra=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAqvyuISSb3_Wxn26Dehw_83A4F19GytxRO1JVgvhCeSCFE6V6jHPZw52qY8tNmzO11-Rgcw7s9nAFRTpvbHmJGtH1uXUu67vZj2s1sh4h-G3vpjt3gtmOHoeqQ0daoMnaytmwv8YmWt4JTmfgKe9oEyYQbejaTWzIuSwSkTd4S8Bb3WjKuUqr-Pra=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Next up were the famous ancient ruins of Baalbek. The site of the ruins is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and it was once an important place for pilgrims to worship the sky god Baal, a Phoenician god. The city Baalbek was founded by the Phoenicians then when it was conquered by Alexander the Great, it was renamed Heliopolis meaning City of the Sun. There is a long history associated with Baalbek and it's definitely worth a read.........just not in this blog because I wouldn't do it justice. It is such an impressive site and is actually considered as the best preserved ancient site in the Middle East.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy1fAMfW8bPS7Sp3IFf80aHCfYXZKYm9T0rIuzXGbRcYeYblbtgx8G9yekb5Ze9sJv8iXDeyoDr9VSsmL_LdU7cbADqClMRElH7OOpazyN4WTByJBoLCKZZM0wISigLjQtYQXqINvbHJyT1JoqhWuwVe4xmlCkIULaMdyNrcbf2GwYIzukqN6WSlc-=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy1fAMfW8bPS7Sp3IFf80aHCfYXZKYm9T0rIuzXGbRcYeYblbtgx8G9yekb5Ze9sJv8iXDeyoDr9VSsmL_LdU7cbADqClMRElH7OOpazyN4WTByJBoLCKZZM0wISigLjQtYQXqINvbHJyT1JoqhWuwVe4xmlCkIULaMdyNrcbf2GwYIzukqN6WSlc-=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn2NoXcHymQHdyqk_ewuAVkagL1-0ztP8AF0ZfupbAERB01pzNaQp4QFHGsm0nBiKSCNFSmBuuxa4B0ymF5_S63ZmkswUFrLOzZExl9qe0tST31bkrc2Poi8o0P3F2zvX6-soAR5ErnPzVDM_CyxgTuuTL012NfZFx5DGOdGZHH22jFpSuwztGZ4ZF=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyz6Qrr0-Vw8cSFJh8NpLaYYuayaDHbfaz2slDAcKyxQgWLucsg5TXGTeXQvqDMm1inxIguin3HxbgHyGKhv1UMdpg3KvG9A9co0luTBvyKf2u1-ofngp8Tez9YDP4kTuMTa8TS0CJaQ_GpwhOVvEiHH9Ek3ERGTX0Pe9cdNqDbw97jn4gFoHIJJi9=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqOkA0LA55kkHMi8rie_eldIOGiEzPOLBMvHYYUwOVwvItaWtbqKVqZ0YvKGHaUZBKBylBliesm5OtMiKIG2DyzT2fSullrnKKnRLS-euBDEjnG3BYyhQqqPWlKClxM1o1b7VFPBrAm6M65AjhQFrX2TGEmPdQFRfQ8FJAEfC73oSg_gXi_ox8BYUT=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqOkA0LA55kkHMi8rie_eldIOGiEzPOLBMvHYYUwOVwvItaWtbqKVqZ0YvKGHaUZBKBylBliesm5OtMiKIG2DyzT2fSullrnKKnRLS-euBDEjnG3BYyhQqqPWlKClxM1o1b7VFPBrAm6M65AjhQFrX2TGEmPdQFRfQ8FJAEfC73oSg_gXi_ox8BYUT=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiefGfz0g9iA-X1c1KWq4sRV4reZ0aG0yIaFdbC6M7A53cLrlAZkh5TwfmP_coif9wbtOwJtao9YpA_FUmct-TD4Oh3j3eYoNbrYRnHifErPWjV797Bar_R2FI7TPuZg3dMB1I3Bmg5e6T-CkPwh1zRzOczHdgtN9F8ykRfxrfkJecQsnNB4BfYnN2j=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIs3fFc7a4tD0Hu9PZH50ANcbXT8OScW-XhK8fgX0pJ_Vx86I-1b_mgrf_5qnPiC67N_Q-MV6ylm3gLARF-6BlBZMkby5ROLdQTZMr05BBKqaS6EhQHXnPGLLMh9uLf4v_azKQ3vEjfw7n9A5y3IQsyLEVhHKvxMaa2QN9RV-_2VXSOCihNReRWx5o=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIs3fFc7a4tD0Hu9PZH50ANcbXT8OScW-XhK8fgX0pJ_Vx86I-1b_mgrf_5qnPiC67N_Q-MV6ylm3gLARF-6BlBZMkby5ROLdQTZMr05BBKqaS6EhQHXnPGLLMh9uLf4v_azKQ3vEjfw7n9A5y3IQsyLEVhHKvxMaa2QN9RV-_2VXSOCihNReRWx5o=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We spent some time at the site as Karim my tour guide went through the history of Baalbek, tourism has been really down in Lebanon so the site was practically empty and we took our time exploring without having to deal with large crowds. After we were done, we headed to check out the other ancient ruins of Anjar.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anjar was founded by the Ummayads (the first muslim dynasty established in Damascus) and it was a commercial centre which was strategically situated between the north-south and east-west trade routes of the Arabian peninsula. The city ended up being abandoned after about 30 years and while the ruins are not as impressive as Baalbek's, I think it's still worth checking out.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJzWfyR_Na2iTYTcZq-J90MTUlyFtixre6tVoT1LLIreGzZW9b_b9sGY528sb-Cg_IuI25t8gnWgblXJ9YNKSfuMLi5YHYetuGMCACWeQHC76zlx2tiDCPBHhW9A5JbxLsD7zZ-1aIT3wv43DiZRKAuRm3FdzrAO8et2UOqWdeOkz-Pd10b3QjpFP_=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJzWfyR_Na2iTYTcZq-J90MTUlyFtixre6tVoT1LLIreGzZW9b_b9sGY528sb-Cg_IuI25t8gnWgblXJ9YNKSfuMLi5YHYetuGMCACWeQHC76zlx2tiDCPBHhW9A5JbxLsD7zZ-1aIT3wv43DiZRKAuRm3FdzrAO8et2UOqWdeOkz-Pd10b3QjpFP_=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Lastly we stopped by a winery to try some Lebanese wine, I actually did not know that the country is among the oldest sites of wine production. I opted for a smaller family winery where the experience would be more personal, and I am so glad that I made the right choice because by the time I was leaving the place the owner and I were hugging, laughing, taking pictures and complimenting each other's good vibes. If anyone that reads this blog ever visits Lebanon please check out <a href="http://www.chateaurayak.com" target="_blank">Chateau Rayak</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC47Ke8BmNha6MKJqxPUv-aSZHQ8a2H4TcDPgRQ22IVPlPBqRUTpETLKFXbFyGv0DqWJYJA077uWaKUIfv6S6yJms7obFmr_JZduNDx2tMdvYJeLa6VC9ehyHRMcJ1DlLW7wdxDYqZXUxwvb095Ghs8xqigKh8rRXqwmNo2JevvxbE7im7Qh96vYt3=s3135" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3135" data-original-width="3021" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC47Ke8BmNha6MKJqxPUv-aSZHQ8a2H4TcDPgRQ22IVPlPBqRUTpETLKFXbFyGv0DqWJYJA077uWaKUIfv6S6yJms7obFmr_JZduNDx2tMdvYJeLa6VC9ehyHRMcJ1DlLW7wdxDYqZXUxwvb095Ghs8xqigKh8rRXqwmNo2JevvxbE7im7Qh96vYt3=w616-h640" width="616" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzRuHuckAykKM1BWqdVDTIhCl7I45t2fqgULOtwAG9ya2NcQqP_yAhqKgxVM7T_aNeNjcYZ35zLlRxzxfH9fr9aNaG1wT21sFnsXljGdsk6kuqvgjqZ0Egi0mU4hWFASCzLjo9vKnIIwGj8DCwgerSWkJ9ckDPT7TO14FUqDCktghYcZ1RYWZtmrjn=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzRuHuckAykKM1BWqdVDTIhCl7I45t2fqgULOtwAG9ya2NcQqP_yAhqKgxVM7T_aNeNjcYZ35zLlRxzxfH9fr9aNaG1wT21sFnsXljGdsk6kuqvgjqZ0Egi0mU4hWFASCzLjo9vKnIIwGj8DCwgerSWkJ9ckDPT7TO14FUqDCktghYcZ1RYWZtmrjn=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRG2Ythlfk3KKYZD5h4QFW5Wvv2W9CQOv7psdebcnu1AOz9byKTWhcKVzS-12QCQR0eIxKvbybvrj7F7Gv7NUoawQH9GsPcmbbnGH4Z8FAqOIEGSxhSaFyzJAX9gWlRVl2pMT2RcssUh1r3omxIcCvB67URpOwHehP9yddj2fLEB9CVFjF1z7TqIjz=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRG2Ythlfk3KKYZD5h4QFW5Wvv2W9CQOv7psdebcnu1AOz9byKTWhcKVzS-12QCQR0eIxKvbybvrj7F7Gv7NUoawQH9GsPcmbbnGH4Z8FAqOIEGSxhSaFyzJAX9gWlRVl2pMT2RcssUh1r3omxIcCvB67URpOwHehP9yddj2fLEB9CVFjF1z7TqIjz=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1pD42ZJic41YuWie4NeGvQD40nrZlNvVBBI05NDUOwxlPEvxQi6Int6DgrEQxijEO7EWzlrNgxIgZZKldrHDZT_JdObKDyq4vNgLUkaiOMkCxGqv8-SICkic9J0U2i2Bh_JjZN8srpTuLLf6m-RmGi9eLYKGngd9N__in7MqOQdnf-XDANuao6vyY=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1pD42ZJic41YuWie4NeGvQD40nrZlNvVBBI05NDUOwxlPEvxQi6Int6DgrEQxijEO7EWzlrNgxIgZZKldrHDZT_JdObKDyq4vNgLUkaiOMkCxGqv8-SICkic9J0U2i2Bh_JjZN8srpTuLLf6m-RmGi9eLYKGngd9N__in7MqOQdnf-XDANuao6vyY=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGvNjIYNK8xBvgIUCr1xJVp6cGxZpx9Ydmed6htwBqxiQSbYrOjT0tvLMPAky9Wfp0RLdHrlMGBQNB9HUJO8tacfYFsbSfgWx0cpLzn-JsmiJ3EhmzL2h-6VcUK8s2BnA9EwKh4ofyr6fCkLy1VeR7lnfvoccHesF1t1izVLSJihiNCwfTAjxD9dOR=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGvNjIYNK8xBvgIUCr1xJVp6cGxZpx9Ydmed6htwBqxiQSbYrOjT0tvLMPAky9Wfp0RLdHrlMGBQNB9HUJO8tacfYFsbSfgWx0cpLzn-JsmiJ3EhmzL2h-6VcUK8s2BnA9EwKh4ofyr6fCkLy1VeR7lnfvoccHesF1t1izVLSJihiNCwfTAjxD9dOR=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQmXlOBbDTpbqvpk_xUPim1k6JHiGg0RzBTnPdzEXNodxFiEuqBlHZqSi1fAPGOEQRKX2TJgvxAHAaJ5Pj8yK63vq51w2ebZgIuoJYcSNODh2na5BC-9Wt6EPGhKjri-kqJNa7mzfMp9S_DazTLaIejAlklHfQf-g8fDH_KYaWKksIoLrvWaqW_NtU=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQmXlOBbDTpbqvpk_xUPim1k6JHiGg0RzBTnPdzEXNodxFiEuqBlHZqSi1fAPGOEQRKX2TJgvxAHAaJ5Pj8yK63vq51w2ebZgIuoJYcSNODh2na5BC-9Wt6EPGhKjri-kqJNa7mzfMp9S_DazTLaIejAlklHfQf-g8fDH_KYaWKksIoLrvWaqW_NtU=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>That's it folks! I have had such a good time here in Lebanon and I am going through a phase where I am so fascinated by the Middle East so expect more updates on my next trip within the region. Nothing has been booked or planned as of yet but I have several countries within the region on my radar so once that travel bug bites again, I will be booking the next flight to whichever country that I end up picking.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Random Thoughts of The Day:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Bread is a big staple of most meals here and I love it! it just compliments every meal. If by now you haven't realized, I LOVE the food here.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was joking with my husband that I will get out of Lebanon with a second husband as I have managed to gather quite a number of admirers here. I find it very flattering and hey! it's good to be reminded that I still got it so I am not complaining plus the attention has all been respectful.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been listening to quite a bit of Arabic music and I think the language sounds so beautiful, Karim was telling me that second to Chinese, Arabic is the hardest language to learn. </div><div><br /></div><div>I find that hanging out with locals always opens many more doors than say hanging out by yourself or within a group of tourists. That's why I always try to immerse myself in the local culture of where I am visiting and go out of my way to befriend locals, it's so enriching and you end up learning so much and appreciating the culture even more.</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing I will not miss about Lebanon though are the blackouts, if you stay in a hotel then they have generators that ensure electricity is on 24/7 but since I am staying at an Airbnb, I am experiencing what the typical Lebanese goes through on a daily basis and it's not fun but I wouldn't trade my Airbnb stay for anything.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-81596694356040893192022-03-17T12:47:00.000-06:002022-03-17T12:47:52.589-06:00 A Year Older in Lebanon<p>Happy Birthday to me!!! if there is anything that this trip to Lebanon has taught me, is to roll with the punches. I am usually really good with sticking to my planned itinerary and ensuring that everything I want to check out has been explored but this time around, circumstances beyond my control totally shifted my plans. The places I wanted to check out were closed due to bad weather so there was nothing I could do about it. My Airbnb host with whom I have managed to bond with, invited me to meet her friends and hang out so that we could have a relaxing day driving around the mountains and checking out cool places. </p><p>I took her up on her offer and had the best time ever! her friends were super cool and we got on so well that they want us to hang out again before I leave. I actually got a request to extend my trip but I can't because bills have to be paid and money made so I have to go back to work........unless I win the lottery. I was impressed by how chill I was about my plans not going as expected, I took everything in stride and actually had a good time. Normally I would be so upset but I put things into perspective and realized that within the few days that I have been here, I have seen and experienced quite a lot and I have had a pretty good time despite the challenges that are going on in Lebanon. The new friends I have made have had a positive impact and showed me so much generosity and I can honestly say that I couldn't have asked for a better birthday. Here is to turning a year older gracefully, rolling with the punches and making meaningful connections with other people. Ooh! and enjoying some of the most delicious Lebanese dishes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRrXlws1OmSAT6hePS_khp4hYXc664HI36vzQehfUfKkswDW0gA13fS38lzuetfrkgdMINfSXst7KqSIOVz2Wkmy3ze_Iw59rOgl19LAMOh3SllzoF843bBIle1lKJmWHds40kl6PuzwxR2rmR0FbG3XtyLDSdWpBtAbtPJm2x_oFqw-lxM8fmAlS1=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRrXlws1OmSAT6hePS_khp4hYXc664HI36vzQehfUfKkswDW0gA13fS38lzuetfrkgdMINfSXst7KqSIOVz2Wkmy3ze_Iw59rOgl19LAMOh3SllzoF843bBIle1lKJmWHds40kl6PuzwxR2rmR0FbG3XtyLDSdWpBtAbtPJm2x_oFqw-lxM8fmAlS1=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941662162737737470.post-214969169091588252022-03-15T15:58:00.002-06:002022-03-15T15:59:41.248-06:00Exploring Beirut, Beiteddine & Tyre<p>Today the plan was to explore the southern part of Lebanon but before heading down south, Karim my tour guide decided to show me some sites in Beirut. We drove around downtown town then he took me to check out the following places:</p><p><b>Zaitunay Bay:</b> Located at the Beirut Marina, the place has a boardwalk filled with restaurants, cafes and shops and is considered the city's most prestigious coastlines.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEy-MEzx-kaS9BQGejTL68-Ta_2EFs4HB7x_rQwLYZq5eWIXLk9rOH_0NR06-MzgLne_wB1VZnTPk4EoTuKe7pb8oAjFscZmzQhVvFdsVmXCFBLFObwwv7dHrNOuiRwAP3tKXBebvVIjwrGV4V9fVKEOpTuwywoclcZPcjlGaoUn3r2Y1PsJxhKBMn=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEy-MEzx-kaS9BQGejTL68-Ta_2EFs4HB7x_rQwLYZq5eWIXLk9rOH_0NR06-MzgLne_wB1VZnTPk4EoTuKe7pb8oAjFscZmzQhVvFdsVmXCFBLFObwwv7dHrNOuiRwAP3tKXBebvVIjwrGV4V9fVKEOpTuwywoclcZPcjlGaoUn3r2Y1PsJxhKBMn=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><p><b>Pigeon Rocks: </b>These rocks are 60 meters (197 ft) high and were formed in the prehistoric era by geological movements. The rocks are a polar landmark in the city and If you want to get close to them you can pay a small fee to get on a boat and pass by them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0MGwuNa5UJegwmosOtlcG1khZjrn9zlDSP-fOF7apMiUZVl3mSqYbMWJK4438cpTZdhbN46333zg3v0-zA74cFNaqL7cdrgqw4KT6rGgJFkOqzj3weICExGE_rkAGbWAIu1ZutgzifmJoX_nbklp7O5PBnxId2ViqlQ0f-OYbQfmSTOxD8be8LOXk=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0MGwuNa5UJegwmosOtlcG1khZjrn9zlDSP-fOF7apMiUZVl3mSqYbMWJK4438cpTZdhbN46333zg3v0-zA74cFNaqL7cdrgqw4KT6rGgJFkOqzj3weICExGE_rkAGbWAIu1ZutgzifmJoX_nbklp7O5PBnxId2ViqlQ0f-OYbQfmSTOxD8be8LOXk=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiN5w04BS1UAyHw4dKfx92cxPIBhu9ljlT-1WhFVDGtKb5JFc0m2kLZtGcaFX5ufHJF3p8O_Ff2ABBfXklkYmU7A4T9X658raMwVWAyDWxZLCxK2AML7zvRT2dFZYO9LMyZnq4oN7Qkl5OA4iTxf4pR6EUwJNCAUo_5yLJzCWEcrNTxqi7gnM23Lumo=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiN5w04BS1UAyHw4dKfx92cxPIBhu9ljlT-1WhFVDGtKb5JFc0m2kLZtGcaFX5ufHJF3p8O_Ff2ABBfXklkYmU7A4T9X658raMwVWAyDWxZLCxK2AML7zvRT2dFZYO9LMyZnq4oN7Qkl5OA4iTxf4pR6EUwJNCAUo_5yLJzCWEcrNTxqi7gnM23Lumo=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLOzwS9S-5eqHs41TMTeI4ZLGnIb3yiMYb3Mq7M88ms26-suJtBGeLPx1KLt4osq19Qmn_1QS-mPC8Rvx3mRA6ZK7_LBEKDofn66IvA5Od4y370UJhpd-VdAdgTs5bsy_c5j9fDPEt7DFo0cwzO5OyOU_m1Mda9NAWtuoVCmNYj3Dv9pixbax_jD3C=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLOzwS9S-5eqHs41TMTeI4ZLGnIb3yiMYb3Mq7M88ms26-suJtBGeLPx1KLt4osq19Qmn_1QS-mPC8Rvx3mRA6ZK7_LBEKDofn66IvA5Od4y370UJhpd-VdAdgTs5bsy_c5j9fDPEt7DFo0cwzO5OyOU_m1Mda9NAWtuoVCmNYj3Dv9pixbax_jD3C=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPUM5xzyzT7Up6W8xx4pZuZgILxfzANdHAlyCMC-Yz622TlFJB311foaucY221muDPtoOut7YJ1jiEeJzTGp8SaHH_ArPc-EncTJscBtLapo0eFqyJju9928r-WjU9BqjxCPF20uSwHT6O5XS83h74npNAn3P2Wjbc7Wy6a2vrx0NFAoL3ARpTVHBf=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPUM5xzyzT7Up6W8xx4pZuZgILxfzANdHAlyCMC-Yz622TlFJB311foaucY221muDPtoOut7YJ1jiEeJzTGp8SaHH_ArPc-EncTJscBtLapo0eFqyJju9928r-WjU9BqjxCPF20uSwHT6O5XS83h74npNAn3P2Wjbc7Wy6a2vrx0NFAoL3ARpTVHBf=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisM4vdiwlwOh5PqrskuedO4OmNHinUbc2tBUxwMPKMQGf1st9CtIBC-yQjg1Or9KZdsGMlO-wSPRen3fMLMd5gNdxkMXc8lSLRS3JQHPf8lMlsDYo6pjsBKT_nNrB6g9TiZRG8WS9Toxo_3isQHEIeOUQPkyW5bGNSFmaPizu1tM3ioKSHGG5Gr13G=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisM4vdiwlwOh5PqrskuedO4OmNHinUbc2tBUxwMPKMQGf1st9CtIBC-yQjg1Or9KZdsGMlO-wSPRen3fMLMd5gNdxkMXc8lSLRS3JQHPf8lMlsDYo6pjsBKT_nNrB6g9TiZRG8WS9Toxo_3isQHEIeOUQPkyW5bGNSFmaPizu1tM3ioKSHGG5Gr13G=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1F2MuZHPi2YIFkDH043AJ-HOa2CCom_AgFGAFuq17T7NuDCEA8rlxJOOkTYULbYcfM7gX6WjupuyZnWvBjntWJbnAjh4rnrlwfXlvb_YvvmUwEmIbIYrVeKkOnT8icphQZqZf5KBNgL-R4KmXrhOlQ_nStd6wXeOH9JfuqkRBhgPLVO75XgjJcPSa=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1F2MuZHPi2YIFkDH043AJ-HOa2CCom_AgFGAFuq17T7NuDCEA8rlxJOOkTYULbYcfM7gX6WjupuyZnWvBjntWJbnAjh4rnrlwfXlvb_YvvmUwEmIbIYrVeKkOnT8icphQZqZf5KBNgL-R4KmXrhOlQ_nStd6wXeOH9JfuqkRBhgPLVO75XgjJcPSa=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>I Love Beirut:</b> What is a trip to Beirut without passing by this landmark to take an instagram worthy photograph? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW0YaGYHkopeXZ52qMdpaYhYSwaRjVOv2_5R8Nj3BWUcbO_qbZEOUwQS_0AQA5V-oc87Fkkx9KXxyzgDZw0ABBvMZoaEAXzkYnWEl8fhtSt8dihsP5cmUSH7Puvp3LlxVBK3jQvpVI0cVNSEclaX-ISzKzjrsjQB3JOJaEdiUJRGtOAnVfNcWq4oEl=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW0YaGYHkopeXZ52qMdpaYhYSwaRjVOv2_5R8Nj3BWUcbO_qbZEOUwQS_0AQA5V-oc87Fkkx9KXxyzgDZw0ABBvMZoaEAXzkYnWEl8fhtSt8dihsP5cmUSH7Puvp3LlxVBK3jQvpVI0cVNSEclaX-ISzKzjrsjQB3JOJaEdiUJRGtOAnVfNcWq4oEl=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7K_ykn9R4gRTDB1j8aGiQYJLIwiBQbP8zLq4itlpWFjFBj-aSh6aVGLaO5UvZ-siJsVoMC5FKousQsKoX_bndC-o3eL0wlkixz52XfJWcV7Nj8yYbOeADPXub-F-iCv_esXP_swXe5-h5CgfBUsZJqDh_Qipa8fZL4Y30B1VeUE-hssZpdf7zP0Ad=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7K_ykn9R4gRTDB1j8aGiQYJLIwiBQbP8zLq4itlpWFjFBj-aSh6aVGLaO5UvZ-siJsVoMC5FKousQsKoX_bndC-o3eL0wlkixz52XfJWcV7Nj8yYbOeADPXub-F-iCv_esXP_swXe5-h5CgfBUsZJqDh_Qipa8fZL4Y30B1VeUE-hssZpdf7zP0Ad=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p>After we were done with downtown, we headed to Beiteddine Palace which was built in the 1800s by the Ottomans, construction was completed in 1818. The palace was used by the Ottomans then later the French as a government building. These days it serves as the president's summer residence. It was snowing and cold but I still manage to get a few photos.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZD4kuI1ydqsEtHe_CW04g8meEFtsH4YekxWyt6vw0LzvnhY2l21EVwEs9AAia2letfbnyT5_aa5KERWP7ImbRRMp4JSCzb2HTFBWX2ANuAV5pV6juURzzD00ifBZZd5YGeUBQc-mGc0awmP2_MKuz0kW8kYUOwu-hz3H9_P1sLJ3sgdF8gyI996r1=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZD4kuI1ydqsEtHe_CW04g8meEFtsH4YekxWyt6vw0LzvnhY2l21EVwEs9AAia2letfbnyT5_aa5KERWP7ImbRRMp4JSCzb2HTFBWX2ANuAV5pV6juURzzD00ifBZZd5YGeUBQc-mGc0awmP2_MKuz0kW8kYUOwu-hz3H9_P1sLJ3sgdF8gyI996r1=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhurP_3tkS5BFNm3T7IZdm0EST27xiaXXswe-In7XYAKaNgQut1o4AWU_LOPW-DLSSujks2DY4-DHbhrEHOOPGYwPsMOX9KeCLvsgJwZCqlL82veiQIQoboE78PMbbxNlQgdaZdiCc_NWPLYqeM3Vl8YjBiyA5PakkI62sLyBJypBT_lzsU2ENBrC35=s3242" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3242" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhurP_3tkS5BFNm3T7IZdm0EST27xiaXXswe-In7XYAKaNgQut1o4AWU_LOPW-DLSSujks2DY4-DHbhrEHOOPGYwPsMOX9KeCLvsgJwZCqlL82veiQIQoboE78PMbbxNlQgdaZdiCc_NWPLYqeM3Vl8YjBiyA5PakkI62sLyBJypBT_lzsU2ENBrC35=w596-h640" width="596" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOITsYT5Rztd9LshFHC-FvoQBlwPVQPvZ_g4rF6OwesQCIdYRwiybucTD3ukXE3_dXv4u3bppD6SIL_3W1BNeCy-QEYKiZSLZmSRnCQEqYyR6BQBMYjqSChYaVY4dsLAaF4kG4CXjY2zh9xPfS-CfdUmpmldJTUhrCoNQoIlMC083q-hbkrxFqU3ml=s3158" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3158" data-original-width="3010" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOITsYT5Rztd9LshFHC-FvoQBlwPVQPvZ_g4rF6OwesQCIdYRwiybucTD3ukXE3_dXv4u3bppD6SIL_3W1BNeCy-QEYKiZSLZmSRnCQEqYyR6BQBMYjqSChYaVY4dsLAaF4kG4CXjY2zh9xPfS-CfdUmpmldJTUhrCoNQoIlMC083q-hbkrxFqU3ml=w610-h640" width="610" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkDl2TcRhbRUfMW7JJTHA7kKmyPlF3h6Dr8rTpB-hJJ5ZcZWpnKnsmtzoUdyzrwk_FCnasmt8P6kH2TUzixZwtAw-vRwQIlCAUlxQFZY9yF5RX_GVDP8g-mlW6n16GZkoivI9GjHd170UTBkVO5jVgxBuNlt2AaS52EMoNIQR3WlAsPIYGv2D8WxoD=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkDl2TcRhbRUfMW7JJTHA7kKmyPlF3h6Dr8rTpB-hJJ5ZcZWpnKnsmtzoUdyzrwk_FCnasmt8P6kH2TUzixZwtAw-vRwQIlCAUlxQFZY9yF5RX_GVDP8g-mlW6n16GZkoivI9GjHd170UTBkVO5jVgxBuNlt2AaS52EMoNIQR3WlAsPIYGv2D8WxoD=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiiO3H7dbZAy3QLsLzX84BVLrB2PNb1fI1fHpoyBJhQ8qGcFfhCgy7JwP7rR7DQhR7ylAXq5Zodc0070elDuZ78wJGLFZAV0UPW3-mkHo0qk2H164rrLwg2X7tRXjheloHbQeLtL9LV7Q7WqvatJ2lX_aRZgvqzxpSqC2Y4VxtR99gn1Om7lNgW1zj=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiiO3H7dbZAy3QLsLzX84BVLrB2PNb1fI1fHpoyBJhQ8qGcFfhCgy7JwP7rR7DQhR7ylAXq5Zodc0070elDuZ78wJGLFZAV0UPW3-mkHo0qk2H164rrLwg2X7tRXjheloHbQeLtL9LV7Q7WqvatJ2lX_aRZgvqzxpSqC2Y4VxtR99gn1Om7lNgW1zj=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p>Next stop was Tyre which is located in southern Lebanon and is one of the oldest cities in the world that has continuously been inhabited. It was one of the most important cities of the Phoenicians and the color purple is believed to have originated from here. The Phoenicians used snails from the ocean to make the dye for color purple which came to be associated with royalty. In this city you can find Roman ruins that have been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. The ruins are quite impressive especially after learning what the sites were used for historically.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSQOKu0DqXnVO-XQpHQZQnkGC2givG75FnQK0ErMkiF2IToMXn-uFGRRq0LxYsVN0hFaubS-6mdrPCMO-NewYFWcn-wiZ9y8JWw_83XvIMi_HJPzmZYGfVutdE2FvjEZXOFGeDFv35hAWBDj_DoO44ATQoT6YB9tFrK-VNa4r3NG6h11GTtHdWUm0D=s3024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2563" data-original-width="3024" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSQOKu0DqXnVO-XQpHQZQnkGC2givG75FnQK0ErMkiF2IToMXn-uFGRRq0LxYsVN0hFaubS-6mdrPCMO-NewYFWcn-wiZ9y8JWw_83XvIMi_HJPzmZYGfVutdE2FvjEZXOFGeDFv35hAWBDj_DoO44ATQoT6YB9tFrK-VNa4r3NG6h11GTtHdWUm0D=w640-h542" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhFitDz4ks7dfgz0QhIgATjxyfT-jMp0MQiqBEz8BfUuUl5QtMvms4xZgobtK-WrTw3YXZ9noe7AqzuAiLKzNV1Kte7IjL2decVqE3orLa368rYUu6ePME65hCABssvYWPB9SRujZ6dA2w5WZit7Qa5yHK3RGEvoYlP-V1Keb2u-klWyF0wy0_q8RF=s3067" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3067" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhFitDz4ks7dfgz0QhIgATjxyfT-jMp0MQiqBEz8BfUuUl5QtMvms4xZgobtK-WrTw3YXZ9noe7AqzuAiLKzNV1Kte7IjL2decVqE3orLa368rYUu6ePME65hCABssvYWPB9SRujZ6dA2w5WZit7Qa5yHK3RGEvoYlP-V1Keb2u-klWyF0wy0_q8RF=w632-h640" width="632" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl-AlTwLwHI6XK9DLWeTREUyq1T0uXVuB_RcmpmGPDwmmc0Me554kx-FkufgVPV3vd6v-sKz1H6hsDX9M3onIpAQTaoo7UfWy8ZwbhFoBWjJ6g8v_zyuDb2qBBTLQvsyCx8UoutrjsIp_4joPpKEkqpyPMANisrh4XNLQ5Rogh9F7aNb8Xt4xwXEaX=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl-AlTwLwHI6XK9DLWeTREUyq1T0uXVuB_RcmpmGPDwmmc0Me554kx-FkufgVPV3vd6v-sKz1H6hsDX9M3onIpAQTaoo7UfWy8ZwbhFoBWjJ6g8v_zyuDb2qBBTLQvsyCx8UoutrjsIp_4joPpKEkqpyPMANisrh4XNLQ5Rogh9F7aNb8Xt4xwXEaX=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLPu_5jbzgmv5ZRWlwtrQLUYOJ7rddFCF_Di1kO_kW0zJ-ETGH1QrIJbEOa_CwQJ2e7_xGt4ltQdQe71Kdz7NPG6dD0lMBKH4UApN2NJQmt2n2ogKWTf3wkt6Fn3ZOEg8ZNqPQpu-EkyWEQQTcINktc52kS6whkS42Jel2HmexQrbSzmD2UcsnHVRB=s3405" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3405" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLPu_5jbzgmv5ZRWlwtrQLUYOJ7rddFCF_Di1kO_kW0zJ-ETGH1QrIJbEOa_CwQJ2e7_xGt4ltQdQe71Kdz7NPG6dD0lMBKH4UApN2NJQmt2n2ogKWTf3wkt6Fn3ZOEg8ZNqPQpu-EkyWEQQTcINktc52kS6whkS42Jel2HmexQrbSzmD2UcsnHVRB=w568-h640" width="568" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhayVmvFoLDq_MDcNeEZUkpJ4BsaU3FuCvmfzwQwtAqL8AykX1cw2Yi1tc3zSb1SLVkqPRuO9xU3OdXpB9RSDY4iL8eV-3k4nC9HU8FVkT4MgiuVf4iNJPvURLQ_OHidO2JjtyOKlaFLv44Xm3EpJvZwsSgE8o-9svc5CynXOM1n3bSNoFRme5VaM7L=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhayVmvFoLDq_MDcNeEZUkpJ4BsaU3FuCvmfzwQwtAqL8AykX1cw2Yi1tc3zSb1SLVkqPRuO9xU3OdXpB9RSDY4iL8eV-3k4nC9HU8FVkT4MgiuVf4iNJPvURLQ_OHidO2JjtyOKlaFLv44Xm3EpJvZwsSgE8o-9svc5CynXOM1n3bSNoFRme5VaM7L=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPRPortIttnkJTxNvLyj3Cs39p3pvwZEuOx7okcYTTjpCjj6LeOuVxPRjsh2n4lDjjSQAEXlesVCmrNH-Tiv-Mh0RxGJBxurcQ-nsAjIZ_a2KGTDhuz02wrPqi1b1bEEx4fdsiRCVuWstzvgePIC10UpqRF3oxCd1c6c8tj4_5vxBz6pSXysgm-FSR=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPRPortIttnkJTxNvLyj3Cs39p3pvwZEuOx7okcYTTjpCjj6LeOuVxPRjsh2n4lDjjSQAEXlesVCmrNH-Tiv-Mh0RxGJBxurcQ-nsAjIZ_a2KGTDhuz02wrPqi1b1bEEx4fdsiRCVuWstzvgePIC10UpqRF3oxCd1c6c8tj4_5vxBz6pSXysgm-FSR=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tyre is a coastal town by the Mediterranean sea so of course there is a pretty coastline to enjoy, the color of the water is so pretty and the soft sound of the waves just adds to the ambience.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid5PooCMvj6rdVmtMeVGIVPEKweI1bivf2aRPzm3XU8dRVhiV9M2J-qXaTILMpyfnHcIZCDmJtU1I624b2ifcxlET2ekG_i-XBTMyY1R1YYWqLOOpFspX-O3bJcBqxza5wC3UyDLCsF3WgoHJDeH6MYGFx_Awya8HmK0jMyAKUh19IeC2TYJwxSTlt=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid5PooCMvj6rdVmtMeVGIVPEKweI1bivf2aRPzm3XU8dRVhiV9M2J-qXaTILMpyfnHcIZCDmJtU1I624b2ifcxlET2ekG_i-XBTMyY1R1YYWqLOOpFspX-O3bJcBqxza5wC3UyDLCsF3WgoHJDeH6MYGFx_Awya8HmK0jMyAKUh19IeC2TYJwxSTlt=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid5PooCMvj6rdVmtMeVGIVPEKweI1bivf2aRPzm3XU8dRVhiV9M2J-qXaTILMpyfnHcIZCDmJtU1I624b2ifcxlET2ekG_i-XBTMyY1R1YYWqLOOpFspX-O3bJcBqxza5wC3UyDLCsF3WgoHJDeH6MYGFx_Awya8HmK0jMyAKUh19IeC2TYJwxSTlt=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid5PooCMvj6rdVmtMeVGIVPEKweI1bivf2aRPzm3XU8dRVhiV9M2J-qXaTILMpyfnHcIZCDmJtU1I624b2ifcxlET2ekG_i-XBTMyY1R1YYWqLOOpFspX-O3bJcBqxza5wC3UyDLCsF3WgoHJDeH6MYGFx_Awya8HmK0jMyAKUh19IeC2TYJwxSTlt=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyML8RpuAiYM1_QDOfjfXNs-yvuHZ-PsQBtxClQHlL8cqpaqVBZciavXcDenaBSDIDn6IjW4DisMkDVBtmnk9iAhs86sz7s5vLMpaS6Btd7T-YXMyybyD8OMLUg5y_VMsE7puwJqWa3BitxgsB3xMYzKe_v7vGROeDadA1DUgWsmyKc1nSsKXe_apX=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyML8RpuAiYM1_QDOfjfXNs-yvuHZ-PsQBtxClQHlL8cqpaqVBZciavXcDenaBSDIDn6IjW4DisMkDVBtmnk9iAhs86sz7s5vLMpaS6Btd7T-YXMyybyD8OMLUg5y_VMsE7puwJqWa3BitxgsB3xMYzKe_v7vGROeDadA1DUgWsmyKc1nSsKXe_apX=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tyre seems pretty chill although I heard during summer it comes alive with people visiting from all over</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6xNQv1PtkAwPCZwnZ20uVFHDIFDeMnW1p59f4pomT1-ZCmc4msbus23H61oXX32XvTbBCZX0BTo-SPp8dOQbAhjwr4rCZHmKFFutebxz4EOwUwk8LSlfqQqKAwJDWg6KxaDLelBIs-3UIh55SHwQrVGvRQKc8R9rh7vr1j7ONenw0NPWkQPrjTb4K=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6xNQv1PtkAwPCZwnZ20uVFHDIFDeMnW1p59f4pomT1-ZCmc4msbus23H61oXX32XvTbBCZX0BTo-SPp8dOQbAhjwr4rCZHmKFFutebxz4EOwUwk8LSlfqQqKAwJDWg6KxaDLelBIs-3UIh55SHwQrVGvRQKc8R9rh7vr1j7ONenw0NPWkQPrjTb4K=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it folks! it was a long fun day and I got to see a lot! My posts are just summaries of places I have visited in Lebanon, I don't have the energy to go into details because by the time I get back to my Airbnb I am usually so tired. I do hope though that the summaries are giving you an idea of how beautiful Lebanon is despite the messed up situation that they are currently enduring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Random Thoughts of The Day:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you visit Lebanon now, expect daily power blackouts, most places have generators which kick in once power goes off but it's not easy on the locals here. Taking a nice hot shower requires planning, I have to let my Airbnb host know in advance what time I plan to shower so that she can turn off certain appliances in order to heat the water. Usually it takes about an hour before the water is hot enough to shower with. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to my guide Karim, I have indulged in all kinds of Lebanese delicacies, I am all up for trying new things so I don't mind at all. Lebanese food is DELICIOUS!!!! if you haven't had a taste of it, you don't know what you are missing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's so weird carrying large sums of currency even though they don't carry much value. That's what inflation has done to the Lebanese Lira, it's been so devalued.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Despite all the issues that Lebanon is going through, it truly is a beautiful country with lot's of history and I would encourage anyone to visit if they have the chance to do so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09174365841296148881noreply@blogger.com0