USA | Thursday, 1 Oct 2009 | Views [250] | Comments [1]
Today, I arrived back in Portland safe and sound. I'll upload a few pictures and post journal entries from my last few days in Turkey soon. Thanks to everyone for sending me messages during my trip, especially the encouraging ones throughout the ... Read more >
TURKEY | Sunday, 20 Sep 2009 | Views [559]
Today I made my way across the Bosphorus to tour the local attractions. First on the list was the Tokapi Palace. It was closed until 1 pm because of Muslim holiday so I walked over to the Blue Mosque instead. It was quite beautiful and ornate as most ... Read more >
TURKEY | Saturday, 19 Sep 2009 | Views [328]
Today I arrived in Istanbul. Although I was tired from the trip, after checking into my room and showering, I couldn't wait to hit the streets of Taxim and feel the buzz of the city. While I enjoyed being in Tanzania, it sure was good to be back in ... Read more >
TANZANIA | Wednesday, 16 Sep 2009 | Views [440] | Comments [3]
Today is the last day of the game drive. I've been quite lucky so far as I have seen so many animals, all but the Rhino. We left the lodge in the Serengeti around 8 for the grueling and bumpy 5 hour drive to the crater. To break up the trip, ... Read more >
TANZANIA | Tuesday, 15 Sep 2009 | Views [251]
Today, we began the long trek through the Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti National Park for the second day of the game drive. We traveled on a bumpy dirt road along the rim of the Crater, which is very lush and thick with vines, trees and tall grasses.... Read more >
TANZANIA | Monday, 14 Sep 2009 | Views [347]
Today was the first day of a 3-day game drive in Tanzania. The guide picked me up at the lodge in Moshi and then we traveled west to Lake Manyara park. While Raymond (guide) was arranging the park passes at the gate, I visited the conservation office ... Read more >
USA | Sunday, 13 Sep 2009 | Views [487] | Comments [6]
I don't even know where to begin. The week of the climb was amazing, grueling, and physically and mentally challenging beyond anything I could have imagined. The first day, the guide, porters and cook picked me up at the lodge in Moshi and we drove ... Read more >
USA | Sunday, 13 Sep 2009 | Views [245]
So I'm a bit behind in journaling, but haven't had access to an internet cafe and don't have the patience to type entries with the iPhone. Sorry:-( On September 5, my Irish friend, Esther and I went snorkeling off the coast of Zanzibar Island. It ... Read more >
USA | Saturday, 5 Sep 2009 | Views [465] | Comments [6]
Ahhh...Zanzibar Island. Today we drove to the spice farms outside Stonetown. The farms were incorporated into the villages, so we were walking through these little shanty towns to get to the fields to see the crops. In each village, the kids were trying ... Read more >
TANZANIA | Friday, 4 Sep 2009 | Views [306]
This evening, I finally arrived in Tanzania. My new friend Abuu was there to greet me with a wide smile. He had arranged a car to take me to the hostel. I was very grateful not to have to deal with ground transport after a very long day in the air. ... Read more >
USA | Saturday, 22 Aug 2009 | Views [926]
Beneath the blossoms with a pot of wine, No friends at hand, so I poured alone; I raised my cup to invite the moon, Turned to my shadow, and we became three. Now the moon had never learned about drinking, And my shadow had merely followed my form, ... Read more >
USA | Monday, 3 Aug 2009 | Views [316]
The Siren Dear, O homeland, and dear, O sweet land of mine, Dear, yea, very dear, ... Read more >
USA | Sunday, 2 Aug 2009 | Views [264]
Today is August 1, exactly 31 days until my departure to Tanzania. Last Sunday at 2 a.m., I received a phone call from my new Tanzanian friend, Abuu Hasaan. He lives in Dar es Salaam and has kindly offered to collect me (whatever is left after 23 hours ... Read more >
