Sirnak

Following my adventures in Yemen, I headed off to Syria - one third of an Axis of Evil - to continue my Arabic studies, find work here and there, and sample the realities of life in a pariah state. This is the ongoing tale of my fortunes - and misfortunes ...

This year I was determined to have a more interesting visit to the Middle East compared to last year. I also wanted to have some different experiences in Asia as well. In particular, I thought interacting with some of the distinct animals in this part ...

I went to Turkey and Syria about 6 years ago and feel I've left some unfinished exploring to be done there. Iran is another must so why not combine all three?

... and kissing goodbye (even the stoic old men).  A touching scene but not really a Kodak moment so no photos. We got in Sirnak 6 hours later pooped out and napped for a bit.  Walking around the smallish town (60,000) on the hillside, a young ...

After Savur we passed by Hasankeyf. This place is highly endangered through a gigantic Tigris dam project (Ilısu). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasankeyf (English) or http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasankeyf (German) After a ride to Siirt we ...

I'm was leaving the hotel. Another guest comes out. He's from Sligo he was and has spent a few weeks in Van occasionally taking trips up to the Kurdish villages in the mountains. We had a brief exchange. He is heading to Syria. Perhaps we'll meet up ...

Okay, so I didn't make it to Jordan in the end: a combination ill-health and ill bank-balance left me with last minute cold feet. I refused to spend my entire uni break stuck in Damascus though, so instead headed out on a bit of a whim to the extreme ...