North Africa / Southwest Asia / Middle East
Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia - the Santorini of Africa. It was a cloudy day but the white and blue color popped and normally on a sunny day the water in the back ground is as blue as the Caribbean.
The beaches of N. Tunisia, in front of the resorts they are all raked and clean, just off the property they looked like this - full of trash and seaweed.
El Jem, Tunisia, the coliseum is the largest in Africa - 3rd largest in Roman empire, and rivals the Coliseum in Rome, and is more intact. Cost 12 Dinar to enter ($3 US) and I could walk around at will exploring all the areas. It could hold up to 35,000 spectators to watch the games. So impressive that this was built more than 1,800 years ago.
Monastir, Tunisia - this is the oldest Ribat (a fortified monastery or defensive structure, initially built on the fringes of conquered Muslim territories, serving both religious and military functions). This reminded me so much of a sand castle.
Carthage, a seaside suburb of Tunisia’s capital, Tunis, is known for its ancient archaeological sites. Founded by the Phoenicians in around 700 B.C., it was once the seat of the powerful Carthaginian (Punic) Empire, which fell to Rome in the 2nd century B.C. Today it retains a scattered collection of ancient baths, theaters, villas and other ruins, many with sweeping views of the Gulf of Tunis. Much of it is grown over but there are some ruins to be found closer to the sea.
The Baths of Antoninus (Baths of Carthage) were built by the Romans and are the largest Roman baths in Africa. This is what remains of one of the Roman's largest bath complexes.
Ethiopia near the border of Djibouti and Eritrea - hiking around fresh lava fields, Africa will split in half in roughly 100 million years along the Rift Valley, creating a new ocean and two separate continents.
They layers in the Simian Mountains in Ethiopia, some of the best I've seen.
Simian Mountains, Ethiopia - I passed these boys while hiking on my second day, they were tending to goats, horses, donkeys, and cattle. Our guide Abdul told me that they had likely never seen a white person, ever. We were the first travelers he has guided through here in 5 years due to COVID and the conflict/war.
Many times when I was walking through Gondar, Ethiopia and other villages children would come up and touch my arms, brush up against me, I gave a lot of fist bumps, they are more curious than anything.
Many times when I was walking through Gondar, Ethiopia and other villages children would come up and touch my arms, brush up against me, I gave a lot of fist bumps, they are more curious than anything.
Fresh fish market in the port city of Tangier, Morocco
Tangier, Morocco - this is how most people buy their spices
Morocco - Would you buy this tongue?
Near Danakil Depression, Ethiopia - this is a coffee shop in a village where I stayed.
Inside the coffee shop.
Similar to the Salt Flats in Utah, it looks like snow and eerily can feel like it at times but it is pure white salt. Sunset here is unreal. Though it is not an easy place to get to. An hour flight north of Addis Ababa, then a six-hour drive on some very unforgiving roads.
Danakil Depression in northern Ethiopia, the colors of this place are otherworldly and much more expansive than Yellowstone National Park in the USA.
Salt mountains about three minute drive from the colorful landscape above.
Danakil Depression (-462 feet elevation) The salt resembles ice and there is water beneath the hard crust, it is 25% salinity so very easy to float, yet the crust if very sturdy, easy to drive vehicles.
Typical men and women's clothing throughout N. Africa; sign for Mosque dress code in the Middle East.
Istanbul, Turkey - the Blue Mosque at night
Many Mosque towers throughout this realm have speakers on them for the call to prayer - many times during the day and night one can hear chanting being blasted throughout the city.
People washing their feet prior to entering the Blue Mosque in Istanbul (it is proper etiquette to wash ones feet prior to going into the mosque - barefoot); in other mosques I've seen people wearing socks.
The problem with a Male Prayer Room within the Male Toilets is that men are washing their feet in the bathroom sinks. Abu Dhabi International Airport
Not only do Mosque's have separate entrances and prayer rooms for men and women, the train cars in Dubai have separate Men and Women's cars on the metro; I'm just across the pink dividing line on the floor (notice how women have seats and the men's side is jam packed).
Istanbul, Turkey - men and women touching in public isn't very common in this realm but I did snap a photo of this couple holding hands crossing the road and rail tracks. About four months prior there was a bombing here and the airport bombing happened about a month after.
Abu Dhabi, UAE - my wife and I got in trouble for my arm being around her for a selfie, they wanted to see my camera to delete it - this is the selfie I took of us after.
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. - I then noticed the rules they had posted about photography.
As "American's" we were't the only one's taking shots inside the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque.
Djerbahood, Tunisia - this small village (around 3,000 people) and is an old Jewish settlement - the oldest in Africa, it is now filled with more than 250 murals, artists from around the world have contributed to the unique neighborhood artwork. Someone decided to deface this woman reading a book.
Tehran, Iran - Asadi Tower (the monument that the news often shows) a local said that an Iranian fighter pilot flew an F-16 through there. He was a part of the Anti-Revolution and was arrested and executed.
Persepolis, Iran - a lot of ancient history throughout this realm.
A once grand building in Ephesus, Turkey
Darius I, Darius II, and Artaxerses I Tombs, Near Persepolis, Iran
Not the typical landscape one things of when you imagine Iran - shot during a hike to Babak Castle.
Sudan is in the transition zone between North Africa / Southwest Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa - the north in the Saharan Desert is Sudan and is mostly Muslim; South Sudan is more Christian.
Wadi Halfa, Sudan, just south of the border of Egypt - Lake Nubia is in the background. The border of Sudan juts north along the lake and most of the lake is in Egypt and is called Lake Nasser.
The Pyramids of Meroe in Sudan
House made of sticks in the Sahara Desert - Sudan
Old train station in the Sahara Desert - Sudan
Istanbul, Turkey - so many stray cats... like most realms there are a lot of stray dogs and cats but there seemed to be an overabundant amount of cats here.
Morocco - Notice all the trash on the rooftop - their are several markets along the stairway in the background.
Ranch salad dressing as a drink, with a straw in it so you can suck it out (not mine as I don't like ranch).
Burj Khalifa - currently the tallest Building in the world - Dubai, UAE at 2,717 feet is about 1,000 feet taller than One World Trade Center in NYC.
View from the top of the Burj Khalifa: this is my friend Jesse's photo. I would have gone to the observation deck at the top but it cost 500 Dirhams ($136.24), but if I would have went before 6:00pm it would have only been 350 AED or roughly $95 dollars.
Had to go through the Dubai Mall on the way from the train station to the Burj Khalifa - it is pretty much like the Mall of America, with an aquarium, Caribou Coffee, Johnny Rockets, large rotundas, and pretty much any store you can find in the USA is in here. There is also a large ice skating rink (it was 107 degrees outside). Dubai Mall is larger than the Mall of America (Dubai Mall is 18th in the World; Mall of America is 27th in terms of size) China has the world's largest malls.
If you've been to Las Vegas and have seen the water fountain show at Bellagio, the one here in Dubai is just as spectacular... why must humans build large artificial lakes in very hot and arid climates.
Dubai, U.A.E. - Here is construction of a new place they are building up for a new resort adding land to the water. (due Dec 2-3, 2017); I took this photo Sept. 2016 so roughly 15 months there will be a beautiful resort here.
View of the construction from my hotel, this was all shallow water that is now built up to hold a large resort.
Atlantis in Dubai (there is also one in the Bahamas) all of the land for this resort was reclaimed from the sea (taken from my hotel room).
Dubai, U.A.E. - notice the bridge in the background developed on the left, undeveloped on the right - as of now it is a bridge to no where; a lot of planning is going into infrastructure to build this city.
The United Arab Emirates is a very clean and sterile country, also very expensive - a coffee (plain, black and small coffee) was around $10. I did walk around the city a bit and found some trash and areas that weren't as kept up but for the most part it is very well manicured.
Istanbul, Turkey: and most areas of North Africa and Southwest Asia are deeply rooted in history and while they may not be as clean as countries such as U.A.E. Oman, Qatar, etc... there is a charm with the older architecture, smaller cobblestone roads, and walkability of the cities.
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