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“Samarra” Happy To Be Here!

“Samarra” Happy To Be Here!

by Calvin Sun | Mar 13, 2022 | Iraq, March 2022: Central Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

  For our third and final day in Iraq, we embarked on our journey to Samarra, capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and the only remaining Islamic capital retaining its original architecture, plans and relics. Before leaving we were treated to the royal treatment when...
What Are You Babylon About Again?

What Are You Babylon About Again?

by Calvin Sun | Mar 12, 2022 | Iraq, March 2022: Central Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

  After a morning paying our respects in the holy city of Karbala, we enjoyed a private chicken and lamb lunch at a rest stop in Hillah before another 30 minutes’ drive to Babylon. Upon arrival we first posed in front of the only remaining (and...
Not Cutting Out the Karb-ala!

Not Cutting Out the Karb-ala!

by Calvin Sun | Mar 12, 2022 | Iraq, March 2022: Central Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

  For our second morning in Iraq, we drove an hour onwards to Karbala, the “mecca” for Shi’ite Muslims where tens of millions of Shi’ite Muslims visit twice a year to commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali.     As we...
I Told You I’ll Be Right “Bagh”-dad!

I Told You I’ll Be Right “Bagh”-dad!

by Calvin Sun | Mar 11, 2022 | Getting that VISA, How Did You Do That?, Iraq, March 2022: Central Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Serendipitous!, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

 Less than 4 years ago I was invited on a whim to join my friend Rik Brinks for a beer in Kurdistan Iraq. So I went without a moment’s notice, not realizing how easy it was to get in with a visa on arrival.  There I ran into not only Rik, but also...
The New Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge at New Istanbul Airport

The New Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge at New Istanbul Airport

by Calvin Sun | Feb 7, 2022 | Belgium, December 2025 Annex: Niger, Flying Fancy, Layovers, Serendipitous!, Türkiye (Turkey)

  I like full circles. So 10 and a half years ago I took this photo:     This week I’m back:     And unlike 28 hours in its airport, I decided to spend 28 hours outside of it to see how my feelings of Istanbul may have changed. Nothing...
Refa-Mali-arizing Ourselves with Bamako

Refa-Mali-arizing Ourselves with Bamako

by Calvin Sun | Feb 2, 2022 | Camping, Fail, February 2022: Mali, Mali, Serendipitous!, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

    After breakfast in Segou, we made an early start back to the capital of Bamako. Mali is one of the few places I know of that requires a negative PCR test for COVID-19 to leave the country (within 72 hours of departure). So in preparation for our...
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