I am a lover of all things culturally authentic and when I travel always purposefully immerse myself as deeply as I can into the midst of where the local action is. However, I’ve also had the privilege of staying in four and five star hotels in my life and, let me tell you, while they [...]

I first started hearing the planes at about 1:00 p.m. Israel time yesterday, so loud that I figured they were fighter jets which so often pass through the skies here. A look out the window, though, showed me not large grey warcraft but a couple of yellow planes so small I thought they must be [...]

As many parts of the Middle East rock in the midst of seismic political shifts, most of this region remains at quietly at peace, unchanged and unchanging, lives marching forward as usual, dreams and plans intact, traditions untouched. One of the aspects that touches me most about the Middle East, particularly the Persian Gulf countries, [...]

In Nuweiba, Egypt people wake up when they want. This not-too-pleasant surprise my first morning in this Sinai village segued into an unforgettable journey into town for coffee with a light-haired man with very few teeth wearing jeans twice his size and claiming to be a Christian Iraqi. Anmar the Iraqi supplied me with coffee, [...]

Tonight, finally, I am going to climb Mount Sinai, a long-held dream. I’m Christian, so this mountain means something to me, as the probable spot where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. I also love to exercise, and this is going to be an unforgetable, one-of-a-kind workout. With a small group I will depart [...]

Re-entering the Arab world a few days ago after leaving it and spending three months in Israel happily reopened my eyes to sights to which I’d left behind. The time I’ve spent here in the small rural community of Nuweiba, Egypt, also allowed me to witness some incredible new sights. A camel eating out of [...]

It’s rather shocking, to myself anyway, that after spending several months in Israel I’d never traveled to Tel Aviv. It became obvious a couple of weeks ago that a trip to this extremely popular, very busy city on the Mediterranean was necessary. And when travel is necessary, it’s necessary. So I hopped on a bus [...]

One Middle Eastern destination I haven’t yet touched is Turkey. I will definitely be traveling to Istanbul one day soon, though. This guest post gives me and you some important tips for enjoying this exotic city once we arrive. Travellers and tourists are flocking to experience the sense of energy and innovation that surges through [...]