David's Short-Attention-Span iPhone Photo Blog

Traveling in style

2008-08-03T15:33:00.001-07:00

The busses in Turkey have stewardesses that constantly pass out water,
coffee, and snacks. They even show movies on longer rides, such as
Rambo 4.

Prisoner

2008-08-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

Sitting behind us on the bus was a prisoner being escorted by 3 armed
military police. He was handcuffed to one of them.

Air bed

2008-08-03T15:24:00.001-07:00

At night they climb up the ladder and go to bed. Nothing like
sleeping out under the stars.

Sanliurfa

2008-07-05T14:24:00.001-07:00

Abraham was supposedly born somewhere near here.

Screwy hotel numbers

2008-07-05T14:21:00.001-07:00

You're in room 403. Go up the elevator to the 6th floor.

Got soap?

2008-07-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

According to a framed newspaper article in the store, Prince Charles
gets his soap here in Mardin.

Got spice?

2008-07-05T14:17:00.001-07:00

Move up

2008-07-05T14:13:00.001-07:00

In Turkey most people live in apartments/condos. Its considered a
step up if you move from a single family home to a big apartment
building. Homes are typically associated with the (poor) village.

Satellite dishes

2008-07-05T14:10:00.001-07:00

If you have TV, which most people do, you have your own dish mounted
somewhere on the building.

Goat on Bus

2008-07-05T14:05:00.001-07:00

If there is a goat (with horns!) running loose on the mini bus, try
not to panic. If it pees on the floor just ignore it.

Friendly Neighborhood Bull

2008-07-05T14:02:00.001-07:00

If you see a bull wandering around your apartment complex, think
nothing of it.

Holy Shoe Shine

2008-07-05T14:01:00.001-07:00

When you go to Mosque, you have to take your shoes off. These guys
will polish them for you for a small fee while you're inside praying.

Bitlis: town of Men

2008-07-05T13:58:00.001-07:00

For every 100 men we saw hanging out on the street we saw one woman.
No exaggeration!

$40,000 for a house in Ahlat

2008-07-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

In a newer section of town than this, with a big yard. I'm
tempted...such a peaceful village.

Seljuk tombstones

2008-07-05T13:51:00.001-07:00

These are 6-8 feet tall. The taller they are the more important they
were.

Ahlat

2008-07-05T13:48:00.001-07:00

Aduljevas

2008-07-01T13:30:00.001-07:00

Got off the mini-bus in Aduljevas and saw this on our way to the hotel.

Tatvan Market

2008-07-01T13:28:00.001-07:00

99 miles to Iraq, Syria, and Iran

2008-07-01T13:27:00.001-07:00

We passed through various checkpoints on our way around the lake.
Behind the green sandbags was a big machine gun mounted.

Scenery around lake Van

2008-07-01T13:24:00.001-07:00

Boat ride to an island church

2008-07-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

How people get around

2008-07-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

Few people in Turkey have their own cars. Mostly they ride the mini-
bus from town to town.

Special delivery

2008-07-01T13:15:00.001-07:00

This kid was really working this thing going uphill and in traffic
with other cars.

Missing a shoe?

2008-07-01T13:13:00.001-07:00

If you look carefully you can see a single shoe on the luggage
conveyor belt at the Airport in Van, which is clear across the country
from Istanbul.

Istanbul

2008-07-01T13:09:00.001-07:00

The city is huge and spread out, kind of like LA. Population 12
million. Just here overnight but we'll be back later in the trip.

On the way to Istanbul

2008-07-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

Beats the .5 gram bag of pretzels you would get on a 2 hour American
flight.

Great Meal in Bethlehem

2008-07-01T12:58:00.001-07:00

Had a genuine Palestinian meal at a genuine Palestinian home in
Bethlehem. Mmmmmmm.

The wall in Bethlehem

2008-07-01T12:55:00.001-07:00

The wall is 8 meters high. It reminds me of the Berlin wall, which
was 4 meters high. Security to get through was tight, and high tech,
complete with palm scanner.

Jericho Lunch

2008-06-22T11:53:00.001-07:00

They give you pita, hummus, and a bunch of other stuff to throw on.
You play it by ear, trying different combinations of items, which all
seem to be good.

Grazing near Jericho

2008-06-22T11:46:00.001-07:00

There was a twelve year old Bedouin boy tending these camels.

Joy Ride

2008-06-22T11:43:00.001-07:00

In America this kid might be riding his bike down the street.

St. George's Monastery

2008-06-22T11:40:00.001-07:00

After hours of hiking in Wadi Kelt in the middle of nowhere, we came
accross this monastery, knocked on the massive front door, and the guy
showed us around, gave us water and tamarine(?) juice, and we left
refreshed.

Bedouin Hut

2008-06-22T11:34:00.001-07:00

They're still at it after thousands if years.

Capernaum Shore

2008-06-18T13:01:00.001-07:00

Probably hasn't changed much since Jesus' day.

Ampatheater at Beit She'an

2008-06-18T12:55:00.001-07:00

Thai Jesus

2008-06-18T12:53:00.001-07:00

At the Annunciation Church in Nazareth they have many mosaics
contributed from many countries.

Beit She'an B&B

2008-06-18T12:50:00.001-07:00

He came to pick is up at the hostel which was full. Gave us several
organic tomatoes and an onion. In the morning he drove us to the big
aechealogical site. Seemed to enjoy checking us in and chatting.

Ein Gedi

2008-06-18T12:47:00.001-07:00

Kind of like paradise.

Diplomatic Dinner

2008-06-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

Had dinner with several consulate and embassy workers, all about my
age. Included in the group were several communications specialists on
Condi Rice's advance team, who were here to prep for her visit.

Sea of Galilee

2008-06-18T12:41:00.001-07:00

Jesus was quite familiar with this sight.

Near the Mt. Of Beatitudes

2008-06-18T12:39:00.001-07:00

Synagogue in Capernaum

2008-06-18T12:38:00.001-07:00

Jesus taught right here at the synagogue in Capernaum. Capernaum was
Jesus' home town once he started his ministry.

View from Masada

2008-06-13T03:58:00.000-07:00

Masada hostel

2008-06-13T03:55:00.001-07:00

The accomodations were cheap, modern, clean, and uncrowded.
Completely changed my idea of youth hostels.

Masada

2008-06-13T03:49:00.000-07:00

Got up at 4am and hiked Masada. Even at that early hour there was
someone in the ticket booth ready to collect my money.

Makhane Yehuda

2008-06-10T01:58:00.001-07:00

It is almost impossible to walk inside the Jewish market because its
so crowded.

Shrine of the Book

2008-06-10T01:53:00.001-07:00

Inside the white dome you can see real sections of the Dead Sea
Scrolls. The rare Isaiah scroll was on display when I visited. It's
the only scroll they found complete, in its entirety.

There are all sorts of symbols involved in the architecture. The
white dome is shaped like the lid of the jars that the scrolls were
found in. The dome is constantly being bathed in water, symbolizing
purity, and the rebirth of the Israeli people. The white dome and the
opposing black monolith together represent good and evil.

Sculpture at Israel Museum sculpture garden

2008-06-10T01:44:00.001-07:00

Kippa

2008-06-10T01:39:00.001-07:00

For less than $2 you can get your own Kippa. Some even come with the
logos of prominent basketball teams on them. A travel guide I read
said that if you see someone wearing a sports-team-logo kippa, they
are sure to be from the United States.

Dominus Flevit gate at dusk

2008-06-10T01:32:00.000-07:00

Computer keyboards come in three languages

2008-06-10T01:29:00.001-07:00

Street signs come in three languages

2008-06-10T01:28:00.001-07:00

BYU Jerusalem Center Concert

2008-06-10T01:26:00.001-07:00

The center hosts free concerts weekly which are typically packed with
locals. Before the concert I enjoyed the view of the Old City from our
location on the Mount of Olives. This is also where church is held on
Saturdays. If the talks get too boring, the view behind the speaker
can provide some relief.

Can you name this product?

2008-06-04T00:24:00.001-07:00

I've been studying the Hebrew alphabet, and this is one of the first
things I was able to read--it says, not-surprisingly, "Corn Flakes",
spelled phoenetically.

My digs

2008-06-03T01:10:00.000-07:00

That's my spot there on the floor. So far I have slept great!

Jerusalem: City of Basketball

2008-06-03T01:06:00.000-07:00

Walking on the city wall I was surprised at the number of basketball
courts in Old City. I saw about half a dozen, and that's just what's
visible from the perimeter.

Cave next to Wailing Wall

2008-06-01T09:20:00.001-07:00

This guy was walking back and forth reciting scripture.

Wailing Wall

2008-06-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

They pray at this section of wall because it is closest to where the
Holy of Holies was in the old Temple.

Security guard

2008-06-01T09:15:00.001-07:00

Alan is buddy-buddy with nearly all the security guards on campus.
Were it not so, I would have to submit a 3-page request form to the
chief of security 72 hours in advance to receive a one-time entrance
pass.

Can you name this product?

2008-06-01T09:09:00.001-07:00

More Arab neighborhood

2008-06-01T09:08:00.003-07:00

Arab neighborhood

2008-06-01T09:08:00.001-07:00

Old City from Mount of Olives

2008-05-29T02:31:00.001-07:00

Dome of the Rock

2008-05-29T02:25:00.001-07:00

According to tradition, inside the big, domed building lies the rock
where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac. Somewhere in the immediate
vicinity is the site of Solomon's Temple.

Lions Everywhere

2008-05-29T02:19:00.001-07:00

This lion is the municipal symbol of Jerusalem. You see it
frequently, even on trash cans.

The Chef Speaks

2008-05-29T02:15:00.001-07:00

Ibrahim, who owned his own restaurant in northern Israel, tasted
Alan's culinary concoction and immediately advised him on exactly how
much lemon juice and garlic to add for optimal flavor.

Card-carrying Jerusalemite

2008-05-29T02:10:00.001-07:00

For a small fee you can get a card certifying your status as a
legitimate Jerusalemite.

Inside the dorm

2008-05-29T02:07:00.001-07:00

On the inside the dorms are clean, modern, and utilitarian.

Rocks for Flowers

2008-05-29T01:48:00.001-07:00

Israelis put rocks on gravestones instead of flowers. Rocks are
cheaper, easier to get, and last a lot longer.

Don't Worry America...

2008-05-29T01:42:00.001-07:00

Home Sweet Home

2008-05-29T01:40:00.001-07:00

I'm staying in the dorms at Hebrew University with my friend Alan who
is studying Hebrew.

My First Meal

2008-05-29T01:37:00.001-07:00

Hummus on bread with cucumbers. Good!

Israeli Flag

2008-05-29T01:34:00.001-07:00

Flags are flying everywhere in commemoration of the recent 60th
anniversary of Israel's declaration of independenence.

Frankfurt Airport

2008-05-29T01:30:00.001-07:00

The Frankfurt airport is mostly a shopping mall, with an airport built
in for easy access.

Chicago Airport

2008-05-28T03:12:00.000-07:00

In between concourses they put on a light show in neon.

Wing Over Chicago

2008-05-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

Got a window seat with no one next to me on an otherwise full flight.

Day -1: Everything Fits!

2008-05-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

One carryon for in-flight entertainment, and one checked bag. 3
seasons of The Office on my iPhone.

-3 days : The Pile Grows

2008-05-23T01:29:00.000-07:00

Whenever I find something I want to take on the trip, I throw it in
the pile. Whatever doesn't fit in the backpack isn't coming.