“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” – John A. Shedd

My bags are packed. I wait for the overnight sleeping bus to arrive. Soon I leave on a 22 hour bus trip to Saigon. Then, by plane to Bangkok. From Bangkok I will fly to Kuwait. My final destination is in the always turbulent Middle East!

The ruins of the world’s oldest civilizations are found here. It's the "Holy Land" to several religions. Here, where I hope to walk, main religions of the world believe God and man formed their relationship.

This region of the world is like a gigantic open-air museum of history. It's Biblical. It's historical. It's politically contentious.

I don't think I can write about one aspect without including the other. They are are so intertwined. Much of the politically-charged atmosphere is over religious claims. Often more than one religion claims one of the histoical sites as their own. 

Religious wars have been fought since the beginning of time, and maybe nowhere more than in this part of the world.

Many people of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Armenian faiths, among others, claim this region as the holy grounds of their faith. 

Many make religious pilgrimages here. When doing a religious pilgrimage a person is only concerned with the places of importance to their religion. 

I am not making a religious pilgrimage. I would like to do that someday, maybe on another trip. Focusing on just the Christian religious sites would be a dream come true. 

This time I want to see and learn as much as possible about everything that influences the way of life here.

I will write about what I see, or hear, or experience. I don't think in a few weeks here I can understand everything about this land that has taken thousands of years to develop. But, visiting here is a starting point! 

You can take what I report and digest and research it to form your own opinions. I am sure I will do the same for a long time after I leave the area.

 I plan to see Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Syria. 

 I plan to visit one of the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World”, and walk through lands others describe as "surreal" and "other-worldly". I hope to stand in Biblical places and reflect on their meanings.

Although I have read about these ancient and historic places, I am anxious to experience them for myself, and come away with a first-hand knowledge of this complicated part of the world.

Over the next 2 months I expect to be as busy as a farmer with one hoe and two rattlesnakes. I will be experiencing customs and life-styles different from anywhere else I have traveled. 

I look forward to the new foods and customs. And, as always, I hope I can meet some friendly locals along the way in each country.

There will be so much to see - - - and to learn. New currencies and languages to navigate. It will require constant moving and traveling from place to place, often in remote areas without things like internet, electricity or hot showers.

A busy schedule, combined with spotty -- or sometimes no --internet, might not allow me to post very often. So, if you do not see many posts over the next couple of months, be patient, they will come eventually. 

I will try to post at least some -- when and if I can -- to keep you informed. But, they might not be as regular as usual. Maybe I will end up posting a quick entry with a few comments and photos now and then, until I can write a more comprehensive post later! That remains to be seen.

Eventually there will be amazing photos and riveting descriptions for you to see and read! 

I begin this journey today, August 20, 2016 and should arrive on August 23. Right now I am sitting in the lobby of the homestay in Hue, Vietnam, waiting for my ride to the bus station.

The transportation to the bus has arrived now. I grab my bags, and hit 'POST' to send this blog entry to you. Time to head out the door.

 AND I START ANOTHER AMAZING JOURNEY! ..................