I
had an unexpected experience while traveling independently in Asia prior to
joining the Overseas Adventure Travel Heart of India trip in 2014. What started
out as a breakdown of our transportation to the airport turned into an
unexpected cultural exchange.Finding Cultural Understanding in Unexpected Places
I
had an unexpected experience while traveling independently in Asia prior to
joining the Overseas Adventure Travel Heart of India trip in 2014. What started
out as a breakdown of our transportation to the airport turned into an
unexpected cultural exchange.
Exploring the Middle East and Finding Myself off the Beaten Path…and on the Fringes
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| Nubian men playing backgammon |
Everyone goes to the Middle East to explore the
antiquities, the world class sites such as Petra, the Pyramids, the Western
Wall. I had been to Israel independently 25 years ago and promised myself a
return trip. Back then, I also took a day strip to the Saini from Eliat and saw
only a tiny bit of Egypt on a trip ot St. Catherine’s Momentary. So, I decided
to return and see Egypt in full, as well to see things I wanted to see again in
Israel, and to see what had changed in the intervening years. What I hadn’t
expected was to travel so close to the edges of other countries in the region. My total trip was a grand 45 days, from March
2, 2019 to April 17, 2019. I booked with Overseas Adventure Travel on their
relatively new offering, Egypt: The Eternal Nile ($3895), and also booked the
Alexandria post trip ($1995). I did this back- to- back with a nice secular
trip they have called Israel: The Holy Land and Timeless Cultures ($3895),
which I booked along with their Jordan pre trip ($1695). Most notably, this trip took me ot the edges
of Northern Sudan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.
Learning to Love Olive Oil in Israel
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
I
took the Overseas Adventure Travel trip, Israel: The Holy Land and Time less Cultures
as part of a 45-day sojourn in the Middle East. OAT specializes in family
visits and meeting locals as part of each itinerary. On this trip in particular,
the locals we met and the meals we had with them were not only truly authentic,
but in many cases, superior beyond measure. This was especially true of the
olive farm we visited north of Haifa and south of Galilee, at the moshav
(settlement) Zippori, or Tzippori in Hebrew (about 45 minutes outside of Haifa).
The
small private home we visited one rainy afternoon seemed to be an endless path
of plants, tress, benches and woven baskets, until we found the little house which
doubled as a café, restaurant, and olive press. Of course, olive oil was for sale
as well.
Explore Israel and the Sacred Spaces in Jerusalem
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
In Jerusalem of course, there are many synagogues both
ancient and modern. The standout in terms of antiquity, and which defines much of
the Old City today, is the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. It’s
the Western Wall of the Second Temple bit by Harrod the Great, which was built after
King Salmon’s first Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. It also serves as
the western flank of the Temple Mount. Its history is long and involved, but
you can read more about it here.
Traveling the Middle East and Meeting the Guy with the Gun
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
Yes, we needed a guy with an M16 to help us cross the street in Cairo. And security escorts would turn on their sirens and push other cars aside, just so they could be our security detail. Sometimes they looked like they needed to complete high school, but they were armed. In Alexandria, the guy with the gun (and cell phone) helped connect me with the group after a group of kids just wanted to have their photos taken and I was lagging behind a bit. I think he was more interested in his phone call, but I came to expect that Egypt wouldn't be Egypt without the guy with the gun.
Travel the World Against the Evil Eye
There are cultures on
every continent that have amulets of good luck as part of their cultures.
Pick a county and you will find a way to avoid bad luck as part of the
country's customs and history. But one country where I saw this literally
everywhere and in the most colorful of ways was Turkey, when I took the trip
Turkeys Magical Hideaways with Overseas Adventure Travel.
Explore the Artistic Sights of Vibrant Colombia
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
There is a legend in
the Andes about a beautiful princess who was whisked away by a Condor never to
return. I think that story can apply to the spirit of any traveler. You can
visit a county and be whisked away by the power and purpose of old traditions
and symbols of the country, and your life will never be the same. The Andean
people and their spirit and simple ways touched me when I took the Overseas Adventure Travel trip Colombia’s Colonial
Jewels and Coffee Triangle. On that trip, especially when I was
appreciating all the art I saw in Bogota and Medellin and connected it to the legend
of the indigenous Muisica people, I felt that in my travels I flew with the
spirit of the condor, both independently and with the group.
Colombia: A History of Violence, A Country Renewed
Colombia is a country
still recovering from a violent past, with children looking forward to a more
vibrant and better future. Nowhere was this more visible than in District 13 in
Medellin, where we visited people and saw vestiges of the drug cartel days alongside
the much newer and certainly more vibrant public transportation system of
tramways. But Colombia’s violent past can be seen everywhere. I learned all about this country, its history,
and its various cultures on the Overseas Adventure Travel trip Colombia's Colonial Jewels and Coffee Triangle.Special Moments in Morocco’s Sahara
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| Dromedary Central |
There are special moments on every trip. Times that you
never forget, and which you cannot always capture in any cameras. They are moments to just enjoy and savor, like
the people I saw in Southern India counting buckets of money. The Overseas AdventureTravel trip Morocco Sahara Odyssey is one of those trips that was filled with
these moments.
The day we left for our two days on the Sahara was as rich
in travel texture, as the variety of spices on that night’s tagine. We left our
desert castle hotel, which was really in the middle of an oasis. Even the
swimming pool there looked like it could be a mirage. As we drove through the
desert in 4-wheel drive vehicles, it was impossible to know how the drivers
could find their way to the camp. Even tire tracks and rocks get blown away by
the wind and sandstorms, and we passed one mirage after another...we kept
thinking there was water.
The day was rife with human interaction, the kind a traveler never forgets. On the way here, we visited a Berber woman and saw how she lived. She's married her first cousin thru an arranged marriage. One of her children suffers the consequences of that and is extremely mentally ill. In Morocco, they still hide mentally ill children as a disgrace to the family, even abusing them and chaining them to the room. But this is their tradition and custom, and even future generations will not change It we were told. I wanted to hug that woman and give her money above what our trip leader was giving her. It was wrenching to hear her story.
The day was rife with human interaction, the kind a traveler never forgets. On the way here, we visited a Berber woman and saw how she lived. She's married her first cousin thru an arranged marriage. One of her children suffers the consequences of that and is extremely mentally ill. In Morocco, they still hide mentally ill children as a disgrace to the family, even abusing them and chaining them to the room. But this is their tradition and custom, and even future generations will not change It we were told. I wanted to hug that woman and give her money above what our trip leader was giving her. It was wrenching to hear her story.
Explore the Cultural Crossroads of Morocco
Morocco has more cultures to explore then the average tourist is
aware of. In fact, I traveled there solo a few years ago and noticed bits of
it. But it wasn't until I took Morocco Sahara Odyssey with Overseas Adventure Travel, that I was able to truly experience the country and learn about all the
cultural influences. And to me, this was pure bliss.
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| Ritual public bathing before call ot prayer |
Cultural variances can be seen
as soon as arrival in Casablanca. Although the language there is French and
Arabic, Casablanca is clearly Spanish for "white house". In fact, the
white house from which the city derives its name is located on the coast. I saw
it when I arrived a couple of days early and had a driver and guide take me up
the coast to the once Portuguese occupied town of Al Jedda among others. The
Portuguese cannons facing the water can be seen in various parts of the country
up and down the coast.
Acclimating in the Andes
I have always had a
problem with attitude. On one solo trip, I went from sea level to 11,000 feet
without realizing It, and paid for it dearly with a blinding headache for three
days. The only cure was to get to a lower elevation every day.
Paradoxes in Central America: Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala
There are many times when we travel that
we encounter the uncomfortable. It can be a part of history that may have
affected our own lives, like the concentration camps In Germany or Poland. Or
it can be an entire county like Vietnam, where we may have lost loved ones, or
just know from living through the time. But one thing I hardly expected to encounter
was a strong and even emotional reaction to my trip to Central America, over
historic events I was hardly aware of. This is part of why we travel; to learn.
Colorful Colombian Street Art
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| Street art in Bogota |
I was expecting to see the Coffee Triangle when I
went to Colombia with Overseas Adventure Travel on their trip Colombia: Coffee Triangle and Colonial
Jewels. And I knew I was in for a few days at the Caribbean in Cartegena. But never did I expect
to see the vibrant colors of this country expressed as street art in the most delightful
ways. The presence of this art form speaks to their history, culture, and dark and
violent past, as well as current years of renewal.
The Volcanoes of Central America
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| Phtotos :Jann Segal Volcanoes at Lake Atitilan |
Volcanos are a fact of life in Central America, a
part of the world that has seen its share of natural beauty and natural
disasters. This part of the hemisphere is actually part of the Ring of Fire,
since so many volcanoes dot the landscape, and number in
the 20s in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua each, while Honduras has only
four and Belize has none. They are as powerful in their destructiveness over
time as they are in their beauty and contribution to Central America as a vital
natural resource. They are a source of beauty along the Flower Route of El
Salvador, verdant greenery to die for in Nicaragua, and their soil is a source
of rich and flavorful coffee throughout
all the countries in the region, from Nicaragua to Honduras. Ancient Mayans had
to deal with the destruction of the volcanoes, and throughout more modern
history, so have the more current residents.
Explore the Treat that is Copan, Honduras
Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones
to have an unforgettable experience. I have heard many things about Honduras
over the years. About the beauty and murders. And the contradiction that is
Central America, since Honduras can boast having a city that is the murder capital
of the world. . But when I took the Overseas Adventure Travel trip, Route of
the Maya, we spent two nights in Copan, Honduras to see the ruins at Copan. It
was a true highlight for me. And I have seen my share of ruins before.The Benches and Fences of Central America
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
On a recent trip to Central America with Overseas Adventure Travel, on their wonderful Route of the Maya adventure, I got caught
up in noticing benches – yes, benches. Why would something as simple as a bench
catch my attention, I was asked. Well, I figured that after I took enough
photos of benches, I would figure it out. And figure it out I did.
Traveling to Observe Traditions – Kites, Fireworks and Pottery in Guatemala
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
On a recent trip I took to Guatemala with OverseasAdventure Travel, their marvelous Route of
the Maya adventure, our group had the experience - and privilege - of
observing the people uphold some of their oldest and most cherished traditions;
kite making, firework making , and pottery making. And we were able to experience
this all in one day!
What’s Cooking in Central America – Exploring the Local Food
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| Photo: Stephen Shurtz |
I knew I was in for a treat in Central America when
I was flying to Managua for two weeks of independent travel before joining the
Overseas Adventure Travel tour, Route of the Maya. I should have known that I
was in for some interesting food when I was talking to a Nicaraguan woman next to
me on the plane. She
gave me some interesting food tips. Not only did she mention plantains to me
which I love anyway, but also told me that they are often served with hot cow cheese.
This turned out to be a daily routine for me at breakfast while in Nicaragua.
It looked like feta cheese, but there were no goats that I could see in Nicaragua.
Truly a unique culinary experience.
The Contradiction that is Central America
I was recently in Central America with Overseas AdventureTravel on their trip, Route of the Maya. This is a wonderful trip for anyone
wanting to explore Central America for the first time. For me however, it was
my fourth time back there, and my goal was to finish seeing the rest of the
Central American countries I had not seen. It was
a surprise to me that they felt complemented that I wanted to return. They are
a kind and gracious people, so if they were complemented in this way, I was
more than happy to oblige.
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