Algerian Saharan Oasis Walled Cities of M’zab Valley
Algeria has really been lost as a tourist destination. In my experience, Algerian embassy really wasn’t big on outsiders. While it has been off the radar to tourists, it’s really quite incredible with treasures so preserved. From the ancient UNESCO sites in Algiers, to the imperial french colonial buildings. ...
A Day as a Tourist in Afghanistan
When I started planning my trip across Central Asia, I always had the idea that it would be fascinating to visit one of the most talked about places on the planet. A place where tourists really don’t get. In 12th century Spice Route Afghanistan was an important stop to...
Travel in Tunisia: Tunis, Carthage, and Sidi Bou Said
I recently had the opportunity to explore a fascinating in the country of Tunisia. Despite the news from the outside looking in, the other way around from those who are local have a very different perspective on the events these past few years. Tunisia is being reborn with new...
O Little Town of Bethlehem: Touring Palestinian Territories
With all this talk about air raids in Palestine and rockets in Israel makes you think it must be pure chaos. It’s far from the truth. The people I’ve met are use to the rockets coming from Gaza into southern Israel and haven’t been really concerned until as of...
Petra Jordan Prehistoric Nabataean Caravan-city and Wonder of the World (4 of 7)
The Treasury in Petra, Jordan When I left Microsoft in 2008, I was planning a major trip. It was my first trip to the middle east, I was to speak in Dubai and Istanbul. I reached out to my technical blog audience at the time and asked the question…...
Doha Qatar: Pearl of the Persian Gulf
It was on a trip to Dubai where I was planning a trip to Tehran, and I found an 8 hour layover in Qatar. I had heard very little of this little Pearl in the Persian Gulf. Qatar Airways had all sorts of cool destinations and for a decent...
Rock the Kasbah, Marrakesh Morocco
Let’s go back in time… to a more simple time, with rich flavor, and a close knit community. Imagine the farmers near your home growing your food, you go to the market and find things that are both grown locally, but with no chemicals, and any meat you eat...
Cappadocia Turkey: Underground Cities and Cave Churches
When I first learned about Cappadocia, I was up late watching a late night Sci Fi show on Ancient Alien God theory. The spokey of underground cities where 20,000 people could live in caves. The spoke cave cities of 13 levels deep and how for thousands of years these...