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  • After an unfortunate encounter with the Turkish Bus Nazi himself, we headed south and welcomed my birthday on the beautiful beaches of Olympos in the Antalya province of Mediterranean Turkey!

    And we had a good time in Olympos.

    After an unfortunate encounter with the Turkish Bus Nazi himself, we headed south and welcomed my birthday on the beautiful beaches of Olympos in the Antalya province of Mediterranean Turkey!

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  • Never in my life have I seen such extraterrestrial housing. Entire villages underground. Giant rocks in the likeness of penises rushing past on the left and on the right. Where ARE we?

    Cappadocia: Moonscapes, Fairy Chimneys, and Underground Cities

    Never in my life have I seen such extraterrestrial housing. Entire villages underground. Giant rocks in the likeness of penises rushing past on the left and on the right. Where ARE we?

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  • A night out in Istanbul... a really late night out. Followed by a midnight train to the middle of the country...

    Taxis, Taksim, Ferries and Trains.

    A night out in Istanbul... a really late night out. Followed by a midnight train to the middle of the country...

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  • "It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and... there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." -JRR Tolkien

    Back to Life in a Bag: Goodbye Yalova.

    "It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and... there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." -JRR Tolkien

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  • This photo was taken from the battlements of the Blarney Castle in Blarney, Ireland (about 8km from Cork). I remember the day vividly – gorgeous blue skies, and an hilarious old dude who “helped me” kiss the Blarney stone (you need to lay down on your back over the edge of the battlements in order to kiss the stone – I actually did need help, […]

    Photo of the Week: View from the Blarney Stone

    This photo was taken from the battlements of the Blarney Castle in Blarney, Ireland (about 8km from Cork). I remember the day vividly – gorgeous blue skies, and an hilarious old dude who “helped me” kiss the Blarney stone (you need to lay down on your back over the edge of the battlements in order to kiss the stone – I actually did need help, […]

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  • Last week, my students warned me about Kurban Bayram. I, of course, not being a Muslim and not having lived in a Muslim country before, had absolutely no idea what this meant.

    Spiritual Cattle Massacre? Happy Kurban Bayram!

    Last week, my students warned me about Kurban Bayram. I, of course, not being a Muslim and not having lived in a Muslim country before, had absolutely no idea what this meant.

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  • I had exactly 24 hours between lessons. I was walking around the bazaar in Yalova (as I do), when I decided, totally randomly and with zero prior thought, what the hell, I'm going to Istanbul.

    24 hours in Istanbul

    I had exactly 24 hours between lessons. I was walking around the bazaar in Yalova (as I do), when I decided, totally randomly and with zero prior thought, what the hell, I'm going to Istanbul.

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  • Somewhere near the dark blue line of Noriangjin station is one of Seoul’s massive fish markets. This 66,000 square meter facility houses over 700 shops selling fresh and dried fish and squid from 15 fishing ports around Korea. It also includes numerous restaurants, an auction floor, and an adjacent agricultural section. It will open your eyes to an aspect of Korean culture that can only […]

    Photo of the Week: Noryangjin Fish Market, South Korea

    Somewhere near the dark blue line of Noriangjin station is one of Seoul’s massive fish markets. This 66,000 square meter facility houses over 700 shops selling fresh and dried fish and squid from 15 fishing ports around Korea. It also includes numerous restaurants, an auction floor, and an adjacent agricultural section. It will open your eyes to an aspect of Korean culture that can only […]

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  • After five days of crossing Russia by rail, our train clunks to a final stop at 4 o'clock in the morning to a snowy Moscow.

    Snapshots from Moscow.

    After five days of crossing Russia by rail, our train clunks to a final stop at 4 o'clock in the morning to a snowy Moscow.

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