Amid several warnings from the manager at the hotel and other locals I decided to take my chances at the border, obtaining a visa on arrival for Syria. The official rule is that if you have an embassy in your home country then you must apply in advance for a visa and have one in… Continue reading
Month: January 2011
Scratched the Syria Plan for Today
Normally I wouldn’t update this briefly but after posting about going to Damascus and the plan changing, I figured I’d let my readers know that plan was cancelled. I may still try it but I’m going to hang out in Lebanon a little bit longer. Going to go north to Byblos tomorrow and then back… Continue reading
The Road to Damascus is Paved With Uncertainty
How all of political issues and the U.S. response directly effects my travel is more about frustration than anything else. My plan when I arrived was to stay a couple of nights in Beirut and then cross the border of Syria on the Beirut-Damascus Road. The first day I was here the road was closed… Continue reading
Arriving in Beirut
I had been keeping a close eye on the situation brewing in Lebanon for a few nights while still in Hargeisa. The news about the popular uprising in Tunisia had stolen most of the headlines but I would occasionally catch a glimpse about Lebanon’s political turmoil. I had two choices. Fly to Beirut and attempt… Continue reading
Are you a Muslim or Christian?
Islam permeates through every aspect of life in Somaliland. It is the first Muslim country I’ve been to where I’ve felt a real sense that the people believe deeply and that their belief is embedded so deeply that it seems unfathomable to entertain the idea of not being Muslim. There is the normal prayer five… Continue reading
Homeless in Dubai: The Self Inflicted Layover
If you’re following along this blog and have considered heading to Somaliland, it is likely your exit strategy might consist of the following. Since I didn’t want to backtrack to Ethiopia and deal with getting another visa, my only option was to fly out. There are limited options from both Hargeisa and Berbera. I chose… Continue reading
You’re always fine in Berbera
“Berbera, it is a tough town,” our driver said as we approached the city. Ed, the other American and I hired a driver and a soldier to escort us on the four hour journey north to the Gulf of Aden town of Berbera. Once the capital of Somaliland; Berbera is now an important port not… Continue reading
Photos are being posted to my “Joey Goes Global” Facebook page
If you’re reading my website and looking for my photographs, look no further! They’re all being posted to my Facebook page at Joey Goes Global. If you have a Facebook account and want to join just click “like” on the left-side of the page and you’ll have access. It is just easier to do it… Continue reading
Today Was Camel Day
I am not a foodie when I travel. I have long since given up the idea that I might be. I’d much rather seek out the local variation on pizza than to continue eating something that I just don’t find pleasant to my taste buds. This doesn’t mean that I won’t try things at least… Continue reading
Where are all the tourists?
Alone in Hargeisa I was aware before arriving in Somaliland that I was going to a place that was not entirely on the backpacker’s map yet. There are no official guidebooks for the region however the Lonely Planet for Ethiopia has a small section for travelers adventurous enough to make the journey. The fact that… Continue reading