Author Archives: rockieontheroad

Islamabad – Chillas – Tatu Village – Fairy Meadow – Nanga Parbot – Skirdu – Shigar

After a long (20 hours) and fairly comfortable flight I arrived in Islamabad at 3:35 in the morning. I traveled Business Class on Turkish Airlines and I have to give them a big thumbs up! The flight attendants were active … Continue reading

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On The Road Again – A Seven Month Journey Thru South Asia and Across Africa

I had planned to take this trip beginning in April of 2020 but the China Virus had other plans. So instead of enjoying my first year of official retirement trapsing across the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Burma, then trekking my … Continue reading

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Visiting the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordon (Part 1) August 14 – 15, 2019

Since I’ve been self-quarantining for weeks due to Covid-19 I thought I might try to complete some of my blogs from my 2019 Mideast and Asian tour that I failed to write while traveling.  This is the first of two blogs … Continue reading

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Time to Walk Back in Time Like an Egyptian – August 7 – 14

First thing I noticed as I left the plane and entered the non-air conditioned gateway to the terminal was that Cairo is really-hot. The second thing I noticed was that the Egyptian passport control and baggage processes were very efficient.  … Continue reading

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Bhutan – Land of the Thunder Dragon: October 9 – 13

Bhutan’s claim to fame is that it is said to be the happiest country in the world and measures its success by happiness instead of GDP.  And as crazy as it sounds the Gross National Happiness takes priority over material … Continue reading

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Lebanon Part II: August 4 -7

After visiting the old Roman Quarry in Baalbek, we drove 4-hours over the mountains and back along Lebanon’s coast to the northern port city of Tripoli.  I had been advised by both the U.S. State Department’s website and people in … Continue reading

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Lebanon Part I: August 1 – 4 On My Own (a little late lol)

I arrived in Beirut late on the evening of the 1st and caught a taxi to the Alexandre Hotel in an old Christian neighborhood in Northern Beirut and checked in for 2 nights.  Next morning, I set about getting organized.  … Continue reading

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Nepal Part II – From Loboche to Everest Basecamp and Back (10/4 – 10/9)

Day 6 After another night of tasteless rice, a cold and restless sleep in an unheated cell, and crappy breakfast we hit the trail by 6:30 am for first Gorakshep for a quick lunch and bag drop then on to … Continue reading

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Nepal 9/26 – 10/3 – Visiting the Roof of the World (Part 1)

I arrived in Kathmandu mid-day and after checking into my hotel in the Thamel (Historic) District, set about exploring my surroundings and renting/buying equipment and trail food I would need on my 13-day trek to Mount Everest Basecamp and back (130km).  … Continue reading

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Touring Turkey Part 3: Pamukkale/Hierapolis, Konya, and Cappadocia (July 27 – 29)

The first stop on this part of my tour was to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the ancient city of Hierapolis, Pamukkale Springs and the Travertine Terraces.  Pamukkale is Turkish for “cotton castle” and that is exactly what these … Continue reading

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