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Joe's World Backpacking Trip Stories and pics from my travels.

Gallery: Al-Mukallah, Yemen

YEMEN | Sunday, 1 Feb 2009 | Photo Gallery


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Aden to Africa Update

YEMEN | Sunday, 1 Feb 2009 | Views [620] | Comments [1]

Yes, I'm still in Aden.  I was set to leave today, hitching on a cargo ship to the port in Djibouti but I decided to stay for a few extra days.  There is no tourist or traveler way to get to Africa you have to hitch on a container ship.  I met an american ... Read more >

Tags: aden, catamaran, djibouti, sail boat, yemen


Al-Makullah, Yemen

YEMEN | Sunday, 25 Jan 2009 | Views [498]

Another long bus journey, but this one was a bit different.  It was a nice bus, with A/C and reclining seats.  It was nearly empty, just me and about 6 Omani university students on their way back to school in Makullah.  The usual desert scenery, we followed ... Read more >

Tags: al-makullah, qat, yemen


Gallery: Salalah, Oman

OMAN | Sunday, 25 Jan 2009 | Photo Gallery


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Salalah, Oman

OMAN | Sunday, 25 Jan 2009 | Views [597]

Anyplace that has palm trees, a deserted beach, and smells of Frankinsence, I'm probably going to like.  This part of the Arabian Gulf is especially known for it's Frankinsence.  You smell it burning around every corner, throughout the markets, and when ... Read more >

Tags: frankinsence, oman, salalah


Gallery: Ibra, Oman

OMAN | Wednesday, 21 Jan 2009 | Photo Gallery


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Gallery: Muscat, Oman

OMAN | Wednesday, 21 Jan 2009 | Photo Gallery


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Hitchiking Oman

OMAN | Tuesday, 20 Jan 2009 | Views [512]

I left Colleen's place at around 0830ish on the 19th.  My first stop was Bid Bid, a town 100 Ks north of Ibra.  I managed to hitch there with only one guy.  From Bid Bid, it was small villages. I hopped in and out of various transports, all hitched to ... Read more >

Tags: hitchiking, oman, salalah


Ibra, Oman

OMAN | Tuesday, 20 Jan 2009 | Views [1013]

I got a tip from Daniel to check out Ibra.  It wasn't in my lonely planet but he said it was nice out there.  Lucky for me I found a couchsurfer, an American girl working at the University in town.  Ibra was ok, but Colleen, the girl there was great.  ... Read more >

Tags: hitchiking, ibra, oman


Muscat, Oman

OMAN | Tuesday, 20 Jan 2009 | Views [613]

I arrived by bus to Muscat from Dubai.  I couchsurfed with a German guy named Daniel.  He's a German teacher at the university in Muscat so I stayed at his place at the university.  There wasn't much going on for a college campus.  All the guys who went ... Read more >

Tags: gulf cup, muscat, oman


Dubai, UAE

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | Tuesday, 13 Jan 2009 | Views [592] | Comments [1]

Ive been looking forward to the weather here since it started getting cold in Jordan.  Its like the springtime in Arizona.  Not much to say about Dubai.  They have more money than they know what to do with.  I wish they would invest in sidewalks.  Its ... Read more >

Tags: dubai, uae


Istanbul, Turkey

TURKEY | Saturday, 10 Jan 2009 | Views [920] | Comments [1]

I'm glad I decided to go all the way up to Istanbul after going through the whole middle east.  Istanbul is where east meets west.  On top of traveling through a whole region and watching the appearance of the people, language, culture, and food slowly ... Read more >

Tags: aya sofya, blue mosque, istanbul, roman cistern, topkapu palace, turkey


Gallery: Istanbul, Turkey

TURKEY | Sunday, 4 Jan 2009 | Photo Gallery


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Update and charity info.

TURKEY | Friday, 2 Jan 2009 | Views [663] | Comments [1]

Ive been looking online at some Veteran Charities and I found one called "Homes for Our Troops."   This charities mission is to build homes and adapt them for soldiers who are severely wounded overseas and are permanently disabled.  They are ... Read more >

Tags: africa, arabian gulf, charity, update


Cyprus/Republic of Cyprus/Republic of Northern Cyprus/Turkish Occupied Territories.

CYPRUS | Monday, 29 Dec 2008 | Views [805] | Comments [1]

I didn't feel like typing a bunch of stories so I just grouped the whole country into one story.  Sorry, I'm lazy.  A little history to start off.  Turkey invaded Northern Cyprus in 1974.  They founded the Republic of Northern Cyprus.  The only country ... Read more >

Tags: cyprus, kykkos monastery, kyrenia, nicosia, troodos massif


Gallery: Cyprus

CYPRUS | Monday, 29 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery


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Cappodocia, Turkey

TURKEY | Wednesday, 17 Dec 2008 | Views [686]

I stayed in a village called Goreme in Cappodocia.  It had a population of about a thousand, and the surrounding villages had about the same.  The area of Cappodocia is known for really cool rock formations and underground tunnels and buildings carved ... Read more >

Tags: cappodocia, cave houses, goreme, turkey


Gallery: Cappodocia, Turkey

TURKEY | Monday, 15 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery


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Gallery: Konya, Turkey

TURKEY | Sunday, 14 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery


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Konya, Turkey

TURKEY | Sunday, 14 Dec 2008 | Views [638]

I made it from Aleppo to Turkey through various forms of transport.  Had to hitch for awhile after crossing the border but I made it.  Im glad I didnt take any direct buses, not that any exist anyway.  Thursday night was the last night of Eid, and ... Read more >

Tags: konya, mevlana festival, sufi, turkey


Aleppo, Syria

SYRIA | Thursday, 11 Dec 2008 | Views [652] | Comments [1]

Arriving to Aleppo during Eid wasn't the greatest idea.  Everything was closed, and it was rainy every day.  That's why I only have a few pictures.  It was finally sunny today so I went out a bit, checked out the Souqs and went up to the citadel.  Ok, ... Read more >

Tags: aleppo, call to prayer, crap weather, syria


Gallery: Aleppo, Syria

SYRIA | Thursday, 11 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery


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Crac De Cheveliers, Syria

SYRIA | Sunday, 7 Dec 2008 | Views [591] | Comments [1]

It sounds fancy but it's just some crusader castle in the west.  It dates about one thousand years or so.  T.E. Lawrence apparently said it's the most magnificent castle he's ever seen.  I think my Lonely Planet guide made that up though.  Outside of ... Read more >

Tags: camel jockey, crac de cheveliers, crusader castle, lonely planet, syria


Hama, Syria

SYRIA | Sunday, 7 Dec 2008 | Views [625]

The main draw to Hama is the "Norias" or waterwheels.  They are made of wood and date back to the Roman era.  Originally they were used to facilitate irrigation in the surrounding fields.  They're around now mainly for the aesthetic quality.... Read more >

Tags: hama, norias, syria


Damascus, Syria

SYRIA | Sunday, 7 Dec 2008 | Views [729]

Ok, I'm finally writing my Damascus thing.  Obviously, I liked it there.  Three days turned into two weeks.  It was difficult pulling myself away from there.  We went to a Sheesha bar everynight next to our hotel.  It was the type of place you shake ... Read more >

Tags: damascus, sheesha, syria


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