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Beirut, Baalbek, And Hezbollah

Beirut, Baalbek, And Hezbollah

by Calvin Sun | Jun 18, 2011 | Lebanon, Let me tell you a Story..., Mythbusters, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, What Dreams May Come

Beirut: A cosmopolitan city policed by carbine-armed soldiers, where Ferraris and BMWs park next to armored tanks, and where glass-paned high-end boutique shops neighbor derelict husks of concrete bombed out by a 10 year old conflict.  There are military...
Airport FUN

Airport FUN

by Stephanie Quan | Jun 18, 2011 | Crisis, Fail, Lebanon, Lessons Learned, Let me tell you a Story..., Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea

Now that I’m in Lebanon, I can tell you about entering. Upon arriving in Beirut, I was asked to fill out the visa information. Not knowing the address of the hotel, (Calvin had made the reservations and was coming in on a later flight) I left that part blank....
Blessed Are My Eyes: Hagia Sophia

Blessed Are My Eyes: Hagia Sophia

by Calvin Sun | Jun 16, 2011 | Let me tell you a Story..., Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, The Nightlife, Türkiye (Turkey), Walking Tours, What Dreams May Come

  There are very few moments in life where you stop to think, and forget to start again… We knew we only had 2 days in Istanbul, so upon our 6am arrival into the Bus Terminal (from our 12 hour overnight bus from Cappadocia) we got a little antsy as they...
Another 5AM Morning

Another 5AM Morning

by Calvin Sun | Jun 14, 2011 | Fail, Fit for Foodies, How's the weather?, Let me tell you a Story..., Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Türkiye (Turkey)

  UPDATE 4 hours later: What a fail. The rain picked up so much by the time we got to the balloons that they decided to send us home. They said they would call us in 2-3 hours if they decided to start it up again but as far as I know, nothing is happening....
From Holy Crap To Holy Cappadocia

From Holy Crap To Holy Cappadocia

by Calvin Sun | Jun 13, 2011 | Crisis, Public Transportation, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Türkiye (Turkey)

  With whatever luck I get with running into people, I’m cursed when it comes to waiting for people at the airport. Yesterday as I waited outside arrivals to pick up my travel partner Stephanie, she was waiting for me to pick her up inside at baggage...
Istanbul: Day 1

Istanbul: Day 1

by Calvin Sun | Jun 12, 2011 | Fail, Let me tell you a Story..., Serendipitous!, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Türkiye (Turkey)

Before I begin my first entry of the summer, I must mention how Monsoon Diaries’ has an unexplainable inclination for serendipity, and this time, excruciating near-misses: The MOMENT I stepped off my one-way flight from NYC to Istanbul, a friend of mine was...
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