Adventures in Asia: Bangkok, Thailand

My final layover on my trek around the globe is Bangkok, whence I will fly to Vancouver and then Edmonton. So, since January 10 I will have flown from Canada to Europe to East Africa to the Indian Ocean to the Middle East to Southeast Asia and back to Canada--literally right around the world.

Adventures in Asia: Doha, Qatar

From the Muscat airport, Diana and I departed in opposite directions, she heading west, me east. We'll both get to Edmonton this weekend, but she via Dubai and Toronto and me via Doha, Bangkok, and Vancouver. So, I had an overnight layover in Qatar.

Adventures in Asia: Back to Muscat, Oman

Today is our final day in Oman. We left our resort at 9:00 and made our way back to Muscat, with a few stops along the way: at Sur, Qahlat, Wadi Shab, and the Bimmah sinkhole.

Adventures in Asia: Ras al Jinz, Oman

We arrived at our resort at Ras al Jinz around 16:00.

Adventures in Asia: Sur, Oman

Our road trip continued after Wadi Bani Khalid and we reached the coastal city of Sur.

Adventures in Asia: Wadi Bani Khalid, Oman

A night in the desert is lovely but for many people, ourselves included, after several hours one has had enough of the sand! We left Sharqiya Sands and less than an hour later we were at Wadi Bani Khalid. The lovely pools were quite a contrast to the dry sand dunes!

Adventures in Asia: Sharqiya Sands, Oman

On Wednesday we drove from Nizwa to the Sharqiya Sands desert.

Adventures in Asia: Bahla, Oman

We visited Al Hoota cave after coming down from Jebel Shams and then continued to reach Bahla Fort just before sunset.

Adventures in Asia: Jebel Shams, Oman

After Tanuf we drove up to Oman's highest mountain, Jebel Shams, to do a little hike. 

Adventures in Asia: Tanuf, Oman

We headed out of Nizwa today on a little road trip with castle ruins at Tanuf being our first stop.

Adventures in Asia: Nizwa, Oman

We carried on from Bahrain yesterday and arrived in Muscat, Oman late. We rented a car and spent the night in Muscat and then drove up to Nizwa this morning.

Adventures in Asia: Bahrain

We are on our way from Iraq to Oman, but managed a stopover in Bahrain along the way.

Adventures in Asia: Kufa, Iraq

The Great Mosque in Kufa dates from the 670s, so is one of the oldest in the world.

Adventures in Asia: Imam Ali Shrine, Najaf, Iraq

I have never seen as much gold as I saw today at the Imam Ali shrine.

Adventures in Asia: Najaf Cemetery, Iraq

The cemetery in Najaf is the largest in the world.

Adventures in Asia: Karbala, Iraq

After lunch we went to the holy city of Karbala.

Adventures in Asia: Babylon, Iraq

We spent last night in Najaf and this morning we drove to Babylon. 

Adventures in Asia: Ur, Iraq

Our final tour stop of today was the ancient city of Ur.

Adventures in Asia: Mesopotamian Marshes, Iraq

Our next stop today was a home In the Mesopotamian marshes.

Adventures in Asia: Al Qurnah, Iraq

From Basra we drove this morning to Al Qurnah, where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers meet.

Adventures in Asia: Basra, Iraq

From Kuwait this morning we took a taxi to the border, crossed into Iraq and met a guide, Karrar, who will be taking us around for the next four days. We spent today in Basra.

Adventures in Asia: Kuwait

Diana and I flew across the Arabian Gulf this morning to Kuwait.

Adventures in Asia: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

From Mauritius I flew an Emirates Airbus 380 to Dubai, arriving late Saturday.

Adventures in Africa: Mauritius

My island hopping across the Indian Ocean continued Thursday when I flew to Mauritius. 

Adventures in Africa: Reunion

Air Austral took me from Mayotte to Reunion on Wednesday. 

Adventures in Africa: Mayotte

I flew from Comoros to Mayotte yesterday. 

Adventures in Africa: Comoros

From Ethiopia yesterday I flew to Comoros. Originally my plan involved flying to Comoros from Dar es Salaam but that flight got canceled so I had to change plans and use Ethiopian. This meant arriving a bit later (13:50) than my original plan, and I am leaving today to Mayotte around noon, so I have less than 24 hours in Comoros. In planning this I struggled to find affordable accommodation and options to see anything I wanted to. For example, after a lot of work I did find someone who agreed to rent me a car at the airport for 50 euro, but that fell through. I got a quote from Comoros's main tour operator, Adores Comoros, for airport pickup and a half day tour of the north of Grande Comore island, but that came to what felt exorbitant at 190 euro. In the end, I booked at room in Moroni (the capital) for 50 euro, and organized an airport transfer through them from 20 euro. My driver was not a total gem, but he did his best to assertively get me through passport control (complete chaos), and then proposed take me on a small tour. We negotiated 75 euro for the airport transfer for yesterday and today and the tour. A lot of money, still, but I was losing daylight and decided to go for it. In the end, I am happy I did.

Adventures in Africa: Stopover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Today I benefited from a stop over in Addis Ababa courtesy of Ethiopian Airlines.

Adventures in Africa: Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

 Yesterday I took a short (and early) flight from Arusha to Zanzibar.

Adventures in Africa: Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

Since I finished on Kilimanjaro early, I had a chance to visit Tarangire National Park today.

Adventures in Africa: Descending Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

I descended from Kibo Huts to Marangu Gate today and back to Moshi.

Adventures in Africa: Summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

It was crazy difficult, but I reached Uhuru Peak on Mt Kilimanjaro just before 18:00 today.

Adventures in Africa: Horombo Huts, Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Today I began climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. 

Adventures in Africa: Descending Mt Meru, Tanzania

Today I descended from Saddle Hut on Mt Meru and made it to Moshi.

Adventures in Africa: Summit of Mt Meru, Tanzania

I reached the Mt Meru summit today at 17:20.

Adventures in Africa: Mariakamba Hut, Mt Meru, Tanzania

Today I hiked up to Mariakamba Hut at 2500 m on Mt Meru.