Oman - Muscat / Nizwa

We got to Muscat on Wednesday night.  Landed around 9pm but didn't leave the airport until around 11pm with darkness no gps and this tourist map which was to help us find our hotel.  Well we actually found it pretty easily thank goodness.  Our hotel was decent and had great staff which gave us lots of tips on what to see and do.

On Thursday we went straight to the Muscat Souk.  A bit disappointed since most of the goods at the souq were from India.  The prices were also quite high and the people weren't very interested in negotiating.  We saw a lot of frankenscense and myrrh which was quite interesting considering these are both in the bible .  Apparently Oman has a huge amount of this and it's actually grown here and on trees!

After the souq we drove around a bit to see the sultans palace and old town Muscat.  We then found ourselves a very traditional Omani lunch and wanted to try to eat camel but they were sold out.  We instead had this beef dish and soup that was very good!  And surprising.  Actually the food is a lot like Indian food here with all the influence from the immigration.  After that we ventured off to see the grand mosque which was amazing!  I love mosques!  They are so magical so to speak.

On Friday we woke up early and drove to nizwa.  Nizwa has this market every Friday morning from 7-9 and it's about a 2 hour drive from Muscat.  This market consists of locals selling their livestock!  They literally stand in this circle and walk around with their goats mostly and try to sell them to the other people.  There were so many people.  Kind of hard to describe in writing but it was a pretty amazing thing to witness.  We went to the souq there and it was even more over priced!  We then drove to a few villages outside of nizwa.  We went to three of them actually and the last one we went to was up on a hill which was very green and rich.  Finding this area in the desert is very special to the locals.

On Saturday we hired a driver to take us up jebel adhkar which is this very steep drive (requiring 4x4).  This mountain was again a different experience, similar to the experience the day before but we were shown the greenery in the area and drove through some small villages and walked through them.  It was a lot cooler on top of the mountain which was a bit refreshing.  After this we drove to sur

Qatar

Well Qatar was another short visit, but Doha the capital is mainly a big hustle and bustle city with loads of expats and tall commercial like Buildings.  I kind of got the feeling that it was a bit like Dubai but not that extreme.  Needless to say going to Doha for 2 days without renting a car was enough.  Walking for more then 15 minutes leaves you parched and sweaty and its winter here!  I cannot imagine coming here in the summer - I would definently melt.

We started our Doha visit by going to the souq.  We walked in and out and didn't really get lost too much and went in many shops.  Sanna was very interested in this rug that was actually made in Iran.  Turns out we both ended up buying one - here's my first souvenir!

We then walked around the entire corniche and literally along the bay.  It was a good 1 hour walk and not to mention it was over 90f!  We saw a costa coffee shop and went in to cool off with iced coffee and tea.  Inside we met this very interesting British young guy who was actually from Kuwait but studied in Mecca and was filling us in on how the media wrong portrays women from Saudi. Very interesting.....

The second day we explored more of the souq and went to the falcon souq.  Apparently these birds are quite a bit deal in this culture.  The birds are used for hunting but I get the feeling they are also to show how much money you have.  It's a masculine thing...again we were the only women in this area

The last part of our visit was going to the Islamic art museum.  Great pieces from all over the Middle East and Asia and very old aswell.  I really liked the view 

Bahrain

We're already leaving for Bahrain and it seems like we just got here!  Well we did kind of but it sure does go by fast.  I'm sitting in the airport in Bahrain awaiting our flight to Doha - Qatar.  

Bahrain didn't have much to see but I'm pretty sure we made good use of our two days here.  On Sunday we first visited the famous Al-Fetah mosque.  We had a great tour guide leader.  She answered any and all questions we had related to Muslim culture and about the Quran and all other sorts.  She was wearing a burka during the tour which was a neat experience for me to encounter getting to speak with a woman wearing one for over an hour.

After the mosque we went to the Bahrain national museum. There we saw some beautiful exhibits and artwork.  

Next we visited the souk or markets!  I was a little bit disappointed in them in comparison to other countries that also have souks.  We were in the hunt for pearl earrings and Sanna actually found some today on our second trip where we were more experience in navigating the maze.  During our trip to the pearl shop it was neat to encounter also a person trying to sell pearls to the owner.  They were negotiating a lot over this deal and we got to see about 20 pearls still in their shell!

After this madness we drove to the Bahrain and Saudi border!  We could literally see Saudi in the distance.  Funny...it was so dark and hazy could barely make it out.  Must be all the wealth, riches and oil.  As we drove back to Bahrain across the bridge it was all sunny and warm!

Last night we went to a cozy cafe and smoked hooka or shisha.  Another great experience to get to do this in a middle eastern country.  We had a few appetizers and relaxed by the Persian gulf in the evening.  

Another stop today was going to the Quran museum.  There were ancient qurans mostly in Arabic but so many replicas and meanings.  After going there and getting my free English transition from the mosque - I'm ready to get reading!  Ha

Our last stop was getting a drink at the ritz Carlton hotel after running out of things to do and not being able to take a nap! This place was people watching central!  I highly recommend if you want to
 see Muslims drinking - well it was an interesting experience to say the least.

It's happening - today is finally here!

Well South Africa trip was just a pre trip.  Today is the real deal!  I bought this ticket from Chicago to Bahrain last March.  I actually purchased a round trip ticket and was planning on going over thanksgiving holidays -- well let's just say that isn't the plan any longer.  Just going to stay put and explore the Middle East.  Feeling of crazy emotions are happening right now.  I'm relaxing in the United lounge at ohare airport.  I have premier access and am using those star alliance gold benefits that I earned last year when I was traveling a lot for work.

Goodness I really can't believe today is here.  Wow.  It sure took long enough and this is the best to start my 29th year.  This year is going to be the last of my twenties and hopefully the best since I'll be globe trotting for hopefully all of it.

More to come and I will write when we've safely arrived into Bahrain !  First stop!

Jamaica ya mon!

Yes the locals say ya mon after EVERYTHING.....annoying?

We flew to Jamaica on Saturday morning after returning to Chicago on late Thursday morning.  We had already planned this weekend trip as a part of our southwest companion pass ticket before I decided to leave my job and travel.  So no, going to Jamaica wasn't a part of the world tour but I guess you could say it kind of fit into place!  We went with no plans except to relax!  The saying is true sometimes you need a vacation from a vacation.

We stayed on Negril beach which apparently from many sources here and people we met there is the best beach and most beautiful in Jamaica.  I'm by far a beach snob, but after spending last years holidays over thanksgiving in the Caribbean and going to Grenada, Barbados, st. Kitts, st. Lucia, st. Vincent, and Antigua I'd have to disagree!  My take on Jamaica is party and party for old people and cheap accessible weed (and a lot of American tourists).  Will I return to Jamaica, maybe?  Would I go to st. Lucia or any of the above again from last years trip, most certainly!  And it's very expensive there!!

Now I sit in Chicago - we have Wednesday , Thursday and part of Friday before we embark on that one way trip to global world tour.  I'm just so excited and thankful that I have the means to do this!!

Stateside!

Well a lot has happened since my last post.  I haven't really been able to post due to lack of wifi.  

We just landed into Atlanta 7am EST and are sitting in the lounge until our flight to Chicago.  The flight was long and I slept about half of it....which is still 8 hours.  The food was yum!  As are all delta flights.  

Oh and I almost got into a flight with am immigration officer upon arrival in Atlanta.  That was fun.  Why are people so crabby at 6am!  Their day should of just started.  He swore at me.  Fun.  I wish I could feel that cool and powerful and be able to yell at us citizens all day upon entering their country.  I remember my last experience in Atlanta was poor too when I was coming back from London.  Grr

The last couple of days Sanna and I spent in some really small towns along the wild coast.  We stayed in port Alfred (best b&b experience ever) stayed outside coffee bay and then chintsa.  All were lovely and each had a small charm.  I really enjoyed the village walk through the Xhosa village where we got to go inside their home and talk to the locals.

Overall South Africa has something for everyone.  Gosh I'm really amazed at this country really.  From the poor to the rich from the wildlife to the wine, black and white people unite.  South Africa is amazing and I can't wait to come back.  

Jamaica in two days.  The journey continues.  

On our way to the wild coast!

Well since wine country land we've had some interesting adventures!

We attempted to do shark cage diving on Saturday.  It turned out to not be so well as there were no SHARKS to be seen.  I little bit disappointing but it is what it is.  The night before doing this we stayed an an airbnb which wasn't the greatest.  No more information is needed.  from the shark diving area we drove towards the Garden route to Kynsna.  We stayed there last night and had the best Oysters ever!  I also enjoyed a wonderful breakfast along the lagoon this morning.  From there we headed east and had a pit stop at a national park along the way where we did a Canopy tour or a zip line.  There were 10 of them and we were about 60 meters high!  the first one was a little bit scary with all the gear on and just flying through the trees in the forest!  what a great experience though

Now we are in Port Alfred where much to our surprise it's a little gem.  The BNB we are at is lovely and the view is amazing!!  We have 6 hours yet to drive to coffee bay or what you may call the wild coast!

We leave Wednesday :(

Don't forget to follow me!!  Instagram & Twitter @edena2004

A day in the South African wine country

A day at the vineyards

This morning we started our day attempting to go up the cable car to table mountain.  It was a beautiful morning with not cloud in the sky however due to strong winds the cable car wouldn't be working for the time being.  Shoot!  Well we weren't going to wait around to wonder when it would be fixed so we headed for the vineyard and began our South African wine tasting experience.  

The first place we visited was called Vergelegen.  Don't ask me how to pronounce this.  I tried two Sauvignon blanc, a semillon, and a Shiraz.  Good morning it's 10am we are wine tasting and we don't care.  This place had beautiful gardens so after our tastings we walked around and headed to the next place.

The next place was called Waterford estate.  Here we tried 3 wines paired nicely with 3 chocolates.  Can you say heaven?  We had a Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and dessert heatherleigh.  The first two chocolates were dark with one having salt and the last one was milk chocolate paired great with the dessert wine!  I'm totally loving the South African wine country.  

The third place we visited started out with lunch.  We needed some food after these two tastings and if I wanted to continue to be able to drive safely.  We stopped at J.C. Le Roux.  This place is known for its bubbly, (just like champagne but don't call it that because it's not from France). We had 5 tastings here and they were all paired with marshmallows.  Amazing!  We're so lucky that we get to experience this right now.

After this third tasting we were pretty tired so we checked into our guest house which is on a wine estate in Franschhoek.  It's a part of the wine country as well although we didn't visit any vineyards here.  Stellenbosch is the main city or town for the wine country and the three places we went too were located there.  

Today was actually an exhausting day even though we just ate and drank.  It was really warm and actually not the best day to drink a lot of wine.  Oh well!

Brooked the shark diving experience for Saturday.  Watch out for the great whites!!

Cape Town!

Last night around 20:00 we arrived into Cape Town.  We're staying in the heart of the central business district or pretty much downtown Cape Town.  We're staying in a hotel that I was able to use points for and when you have this hotel brands' credit card it's buy one get one!  Great deal.  So we get a nice hotel for 2 nights!

We woke up around 6 today and ventured off south for the Cape of Good Hope.  We drove along the coastal line on the west and then went over to the east until the end.  We drove through Hout Bay and stopped and met these two men - one who was selling coffee in a power generated cart and this other man who was making bacon and egg sandwiches on a electric grill.  Sanna and I both got a coffee and Sanna ordered a sandwich.  It was such a great view that these two men get to have every day.  We enjoyed this part of the trip very much!

Next we drove through the coast continuing onto Cape of Good Hope.  We stopped in Simon's Town or just a bit after in the Boulders Beach to see the Penguins.  What a neat experience!!  We learned that Penguins all really come from Antarctica.  What was so cool about this was that this was the first time in my life that I've seen them in the WILD!  I was pumped.  I had the opportunity in Australia but the timing was bad and I didn't manage to see them.

We got down to Cape of Good Hope and also Cape Point.  We didn't really realize there was a difference before we got there but basically Cape of Good Hope is the lowest point of Africa (the continent) and Cape Point is this EXCELLENT and breathtaking view.  I've posted a few pictures on Facebook and Instagram of todays events!

On the way back we stopped in Fish Hoek and had lunch.  We had a 'Gatsby' - for those who don't know what it is -- just remember one thing (it feeds an army).  We ordered this not realizing how LARGE it was and then also ordered fish and chips!  So much food

The final stop enroute back to Cape Town was Muizenberg.  It was a neat beach with colorful beach houses on it.  I think that none of them are currently being used today or maybe they were used for surfers.

Great day - and ready for some zzz's!  I've had a headache most of the day that ibuprofen won't cure.  I hope tomorrow is better!

Soweto

Soweto is a township outside of Johannesburg about 20 km.  the area is what many people many describe as very recessed or what people would typically think of Africa.  We arrived at our hostel around 11 and we decided to take a 2hr bike tour that started at 13:00.  We knew that just driving around this area was a bit dodgy so taking a bike tour would be in our best interest.  We were then meeting a friend of a friend who lives here who came by around 17:00.

Our bike tour was so interesting.  We stopped in 3 parts of the township, the lower, middle and upper classes.  It was amazing how the houses changed when you maybe walked 1 block.  The living conditions seemed very poor in some areas which was crazy to see with your own eyes.  I could not imagine living like that.  We tried some traditional beer and sat in a restaurant where locals were eating traditional food.  

We came back our our hostel and it was pouring raining.  We hung out and waited for our friend to join us for dinner and a few drinks

Swaziland

Swaziland

We arrived into Swaziland ton Saturday and it was quite a drive from Kruger park.  The landscape of Swaziland was just breathtaking.  There were so many hills and valleys and trees.  Tons of green.  It really doesn't seem like the typical Africa that probably many of you think of.  We arrived at near our hotel for the evening and the first thing we did was visit the Mantanga Nature Reserve.  There we visited a traditional Swazi village and got to see a traditional Swazi dance.  It was awesome and very interesting to see and watch.

After that we checked into our hotel and took a mini walk to a small shopping centre near our hotel.  Sanna and is discovered what we wanted to buy as souvenir.  We enjoyed dinner at our hotel that evening and of course fell asleep super early.

The second day we woke up around 4am - welcome to jet lag!  

We had breakfast at our hotel and ventured out for about 5 hours at markets and did some shopping.  We got some traditional Swazi baskets for super cheap.  They are a great souvenir.  I also got this Swazi candle which is hand made and in the shape of a rhino.  Really cool.  I guess that I'll reopen it years later and remember it - ha!  

We got back to our hotel around 1 in the afternoon and just relaxed at the restaurant and did some research for the second half of our South Africa trip in Cape Town area.  Of course passed out by 6pm.  So tired - but up again super early the next day

Today we drove all the way back to jburg.  The drive was lovely and it took us roughly around 4 hours which wasn't too bad because it was mostly freeways.  The border control between South Africa and Swazi was smooth aswell which was refreshing.

It's raining right now.  😢

More game driving at Kruger

Well the night drive at Kruger on our first night there was amazing.  We saw 8 female lions in total and two sightings.  The second sighting was amazing where 5 of them were walking literally down the road!  Check out my video on Instagram @edena2004

Day 2 morning started out great.  Right off the bat we saw loads of zebras and giraffe.  Then some amazing rhinos were crossing the road right in front of us.  In addition to all these animals we saw a hippo outside of the water!  He was really far away but it was awesome to see.  We drove around until about noon and headed back to our lodge for an afternoon break.  We went out again around 1530 until dusk and didn't see that much.  We have been falling asleep every night at 20:00 or earlier and waking up so early!

Day 3 we headed south out of the park to head to Swaziland.  We left again the earliest we could legally go which is 530.  Right out of the gate we saw very little but we think that it had to do with the rainy conditions.  We knew that it would take us about 4 hours to reach the southwest gate of the park so we just used this as an excuse to continue our game driving.  Around 7 we saw three cheetahs.  We were stoked.  There was only one other car there too so we got a front row view except that they were still really far away.  It was great to see these cats.  I've never personally seen cheetahs before in the wild.  On my past trip to Kenya, I did see a leopard but it was super far away.  Getting the opportunity to see either cheetahs or leopards or even lions for that matter is very rare. 

We ended up reaching Swaziland around 13:00.  Let me tell you I'm getting excellent experience of using a manual transmission and driving on the left side of the road.  I'm an expert now !  And with all these hills and valleys and going up and down and downshifting and just wow.  I've probably stalled about 50 times. 

Day 1 Safari at Kruger national park

Right out of the gate we saw some giraffe and zebra.  After that we didn't see any more those :(

Today we drove around for about 6 hours.  We saw (in addition to the above) elephant, lions, tons of gazelle, rhinoceros, hippo, crocodile, ostrich, tons of pumbas, turtle, and more

We checked into our lodge around 13:30 and took a nap until almost 17:00.  Felt amazing to get some good sleep but I know the number one rule for jet lag is no naps.  Oopppsss 

Tonight we are going on a night drive.  It starts at 20:00 and is 2 hours.  It's already pitch black outside and it's not even 18:30.  

Tomorrow is day 2.  We can legally drive through the park starting at 5:30 and since we had the best luck earliest today that is what we plan on doing.  Pray we see cheetah and leopard tomorrow!

XX

Landed in South Africa enroute to Kruger

This is my view right now.....

After having a 15 hour flight and more then a 22 hour journey in total, we land in jnb and then had at least a 5 hour drive ahead of us to get to Kruger park and our lodging for the night.  We get there a little after midnight and I manage to fall asleep around two.  Rise and shine it's total daylight out at 5am!

Last night I wasn't even tired.  How I wasn't I'm not sure.  I barely slept on the flight.  I'm pretty sure I heard a wart hog snorting outside of our tent.  Awesome!

Today we are going to self drive through the park.  I was already practicing with my big camera and lens this morning across the river and into the park from our porch.  

The big five are...

Lion

Leopard

Elephant

Water buffalo

Rhino

Hopefully we see them all!