Arabian Nights - Dubai

While Dubai is known for its tall buildings and fancy cars it also has a national park just outside of town called Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.  There are only a few tour companies which take you out into the middle of the desert.  I'd definitely recommend it if you have a late afternoon and evening free.

There are many activities you can do:

Ride through the sand dunes and view Oman from a distance!

See Desert Oryx -which are really cool and the national animal of UAE

See a falcon show (and hold one too!)

Ride a camel
...and while you are at it, you might as well drink some camel's milk (and it's not too bad)

and then get a henna tattoo so you can ask a gazillion questions to the nice lady (note the tattoo isn't so pretty when they are wearing off however)

And then, listen and watch traditional dancing after they have tuned the drums over the fire.

Now, if that isn't your cup of camel's milk you can always do the traditional abra boat ride or go to the gold market.  

My vote, hit the desert!

If you want to see additional pictures I've taken please visit my photo album at TrekkingTrego Public Gallery. All pictures are available for purchase.

Ghana 2019: Improving Educational Opportunities with EPI

I am a board member of Empower Playgrounds and as such I have the opportunity to go to Ghana.  While I could talk about the the lush green jungle, the crazy markets with people carrying all sorts of even crazy things on their heads, or the poor roads with no signs I, instead, want to talk about what an amazing experience it was to go support the improvement of education and thus life opportunities for children in rural Ghana.

While I was in places such as Adorkope to Zipponuinui and everything in between I could see first hand how life is without electricity and the real struggles to survive.  And yet, these kids want to learn and are happy.

I'll admit it was a very National Geographic moment to be the first white person one of the villages had ever seen or met. Kids loved me, babies did not!

The kids taught me ampe, let me dance with them (okay, they danced...I did some white person attempt), and laughed with them.

We inspected Merry Go Round installations and had the community help.

We handed out additional lanterns (one school had 15 additional students come after only 5 weeks of having their merry go round installed!).

We trained teachers.

We surveyed students to see how we can best support their education and are performing analysis and research into STEM education.

And, we spoke to almost 100 young girls and their parents training them on Days For Girls kits and then delivering kits.  These young women want to learn and now have a greater chance of success, and they are excited about it.

While there is still much to do I was grateful to have the experience to see first hand the immediate positive impact of these projects we are working in rural Ghana.  If you would like to know more about Empower Playgrounds Inc and their various projects please visit:  http://www.empowerplaygrounds.org/

If you want to see additional pictures I've taken please visit my photo album at TrekkingTrego Public Gallery. All pictures are available for purchase.

Turkey - Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople

I loved my 2 weeks in 3 major areas [Istanbul (5 days), Kusadasi (4 days), and Cappadocia (5 days)] while walking over 100 miles in Turkey.  There so much you could say about how Turkey is a fusion of old and new or Christian and Islam history but instead I’ll summarize Turkey in three words and a few pictures:  Ruins, Religion, and Hills. 

Ruins:  From Hittite, Ottoman, and Romans to Turkish ruins Constantinople and now Istanbul has been the crossroads of the world for a really long time!

Religion:  Its an interesting blend of Christian and Islamic influences.

Hills:  I didn't realize that the number of steps I took on level ground can probably be listed on one hand...there are a ton of stairs and hills to climb, but all worth it!

Hagia Sophia is HUGE and magnificent.

World's largest tulip carpet (that's what they say anyway).

Inside the Hagia Sophia, they say the Statue of Liberty would fit in inside.  That's a dome!

Mosaic covered up by Muslims when they took over the Hagia Sophia church. Interestingly this helped preserve them. 

 View of the Hagia Sophia from the Blue Mosque.

The Blue Mosque

Yes, there are lots of lines.  Get your museum pass so you can skip most of them (as long as you don't try to use your metro card accidentally - that's another story).

Grand Bazaar.  Shopping at its oldest form.

Spices!  I think they are sanitary?

Don't miss the Cisterns.  

Stronghold along the Bosphorous.

Topkapi Harem - definitely worth the extra cost.

Suleymaniye Mosque.  Iconic mosque sitting on top of one of the many hills.

Dolmabahce Palace - has the world's largest chandelier in it!

Galata Tower - a great view towards Old Town.  According to Evliya Çelebi, Ottoman historian and traveller, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi flew as an early aviator using artificial wings from the tower to Üsküdar. The Sultan at the time initially taught of rewarding him, then changed his mind and sent him to exile in Algeria. Doh!

Okay, this isn't Turkey...its Samos Greece just a short ferry ride away.  Take a day to go see it!

Look at how cute this little old lady is.

Remember how I said there were lots of stairs?  That's a short run of stairs.

Afrodisias Hippodome was incredible - I ran like Chariots of Fire, or at least thought about it!

The Temple of Afrodite - one of the coolest places to visit as so few others go.

Laodikia is being reconstructed but has some nice ruins.

Pamukkale was amazing...just get there early to avoid the crazy crowds!

While this looks like soft white cotton and they say it doesn't hurt your feet to walk barefoot know that they lie!  The pain is worth it however.  

Google has this marked wrong (its 1 mile north) but the Akkoy Yukari Mosque is incredible.  Definitely take the time to go out of your way to see the inside of this camii.

That's some serious tile work! If you can, check out the old mosque next door with original wood murals.

 Ephesus crowning jewel is the Library of Celsius.  Make sure to start at the top of the hill and walk down - its more scenic and easier.
  

Cappadocia is filled with crazy cool rock structures.  This is a hike through Pigeon Valley.

People lived in this region since 2500BC and as recent as 1950!  Take the time to crawl around the many ruins.  There's no OSHA here!

Whirling Dervish ceremony was enlightening on a religious practice I didn't know much about.  Although I sadly still can't figure out how they don't get dizzy.  I got dizzy just watching them.

A balloon ride over Cappadocia is breathtaking.

Zelve allows you to view history up close and person.  

The Fairy Chimney's are similar to the Toadstools in Southern Utah.

Goreme Open Air Museum has neat old Christian churches.

Ilhara Valley walk includes seeing old Christian ruins as well as some natural beauty which looks a lot like the Snake River Valley.

If you want to see additional pictures I've taken please visit my photo album at TrekkingTrego Public Gallery. All pictures are available for purchase.