A Wandering Sole

My 12 Hour Romp in Cairo

// December 30th, 2010 // 18 Comments » // Egypt

Note: I was in Cairo for an overnight layover back in March. I wrote this shortly after and never posted it. Oops. Better late than never?

Leaving Rome
It was a long day. After spending half a day in Rome’s airport I was off to Cairo. My overnight layover of 15 hours was just too long to want to spend at the airport, so I sucked it up and stayed in town. I had toured Egypt two years ago on my first backpacking trip. The sites are lovely, and I had a great time, but I despised Cairo. Polluted and dirty, combined with an insane amount of traffic and touts, I was not exactly looking forward to it. Upon arrival, I bought my visa from the bank and exchanged 15 Euros for 102 Egyptian pounds (EP). On my first trip, I took a taxi from the airport into town for 70 Egyptian pounds (or about $10 USD). Half asleep the night before this flight, I Googled public transport from the Cairo airport to the city center and, always up for an adventure, decided to give it a whirl. Why not? The website said that I could take air-conditioned Bus 356 from Terminal 1 and get off at Ramses Station for just 2 EP! I scrawled a quick map in my sketchbook, noting 3 roads, Ramses Station, and my hotel. (more…)

Holiday Traditions? Bourbon Please.

// December 27th, 2010 // 17 Comments » // America

I love the holidays. I love overbearing family, tacky decorations, Christmas music, and baking. Someone recently asked about my family’s traditions. And truth be told, they’re not that much different from everyone else’s. However, my parents moved to rural Kentucky and the Bourbon Capital of the World four years ago, and since then we’ve adapted a new holiday tradition: Visiting Bourbon Distilleries. I’ve toured Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Maker’s Mark, and most recently, Wild Turkey. The Walker clan headed out to Wild Turkey just a couple of days before Christmas this year and in typical Walker fashion…

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Montage Monday: Seals in Kalk Bay

// December 20th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Photo of the Week, South Africa

During my time in South Africa, I made a second visit to Kalk Bay, a coastal fishing village just thirty minutes from Cape Town. The harbor drew me back for the photo-op  and for more time to check out all of the brightly painted boats. An unexpected surprise, the seals playing in the harbor further idealized this quaint, beautiful town.

Sukhothai: Thailand’s Ancient Capital

// December 17th, 2010 // 13 Comments » // Thailand

After saying goodbye to our friends in Chiang Mai, we headed south. I was en route to a volunteer project in Sangkhlaburi and Lauren was off to the beaches of southern Thailand. We decided we had time to make one stop and it came down to Ayuthaya or Sukhothai, both former capitals of Thailand. As much as I wanted to see the infamous face in the tree at Ayuthaya, we decided after reading online reviews that Sukhothai would be better. From Chiang Mai we took the bus down to Phitsanulok and stayed at a friendly little guest house there. (more…)

Montage Monday: Smallest Post Office in the USA

// December 13th, 2010 // 9 Comments » // America

Welcome to Ochopee Post Office, the smallest post office in the United States. Located in Everglades National Park in southern Florida, it is literally just a little stand and serves three counties in the area.

Monk Blessings at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai

// December 11th, 2010 // 6 Comments » // Thailand

In southeast Asia, there are lots of temples. Okay, that’s an understatement- there are a zillion temples! And as much as one can get ‘templed out’ at some point, I’m pretty resilient when it comes to exploring temples and ruins. Chiang Mai is home to one of the holiest Buddhist temples in northern Thailand: Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. Fifteen kilometers outside of Chiang Mai, it is located on top of the mountain Doi Suthep. This location provides magnificent views of Chiang Mai (unless you go on a foggy day like I did). (more…)