After 9 months on the road, we’ve seen some pretty amazing stuff. So the fact that we were completely stunned by Shwedagon, in my humble opinion, speaks volumes. There’s more going on at Shwedagon than mere architectural splendor, however. more»

One of the main reasons exploring the temples of Angkor is so enjoyable is the way nature has been reclaiming the area for hundreds of years. more»

The atmosphere around Boudnath Stupa is pretty unforgettable. Walking around and around the largest stupa in Nepal is a mixture of Tibetan monks and refugees, tourists, robe-wearing ex-pats with their prayer beads, and local Nepalese. more»

As the base for all treks into the Annapurnas, Pokhara is probably the second most visited city by tourists after Kathmandu. Because it was the low season the place was almost deserted. We got a deal on a decent hotel with satellite television and hot water all the time, so we decided to hang out in Pokhara for about a week and relax before heading back to Kathmandu in time for Christmas. more»

The very last leg of our trek was probably the most dangerous - a bus ride from a place called Beni back to Pokhara. Some sections of the road don’t look like they are made for large, ancient buses, but somehow our driver managed to navigate them. It’s often best not to look out the window, since you don’t really want to know what it looks like out there. more»

During our 12 day trek in the Himalayas of Nepal we saw, heard, tasted, and, er, smelled many interesting things. Here is an audio montage of some sounds we recorded along the way. more»

A quick search on backgammon provides some interesting results. backgammon is an ancient game that is played all over the Middle East. more»

After the long month of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate with a holiday called Bayram. Children go door-to-door asking for sweets, and previously fasting adults celebrate by visiting friends and families, eating and drinking in daylight, and taking the day off work. In Dogubayazit on the last day of Ramadan, the pre-Bayram market was heaving, filled with shoppers buying everything imaginable. more»

Of the main attractions of Olympos, none are quite as fascinating as the Chimera. These fires once burned so bright that ancient mariners used it as a landmark on their way around the Mediterranean. more»

Standing by water at Olympos, I realized that the waves were making a slightly unusual sound, so I recorded it. more»