My sister and her husband are coming at Christmas. They will be in the Emirates long enough to have a trip within a trip. Here are the places under consideration:
Nepal
Nepal is like a second home to me. The people are incredibly nice. I have made friends who have become family. The scenery is amazing.
In my favorite place - Pokhara - you can see the Annapurna range. A mountain range with 8 visible peaks all higher than ANYTHING in North America.
This picture was taken at Christmas time. It's cool but not cold by Iowa standards.
My two favorite things to do in Nepal is to paraglide and feed monkeys. This monkey is at a major Hindu temple. The people in the background are looking down at a river where there are several funeral pyres burning. While there were tourists snapping pictures standing just feet away from grieving families I could never do that so you just have to trust me.
Nepal
Pro's
It's NEPAL! I look for any excuse to come here.
The scenery is simply unmatched. The Annapurna range is stunning.
Paragliding is a blast and I have done it enough times I know the really good pilots for Miriam and George.
There is a street festival at the end of December that is a lot of fun.
The Hindu and Buddhist temples in Kathmandu are very interesting... feeding monkeys is crazy fun.
Con's
It's December. In seven trips I have experienced all of the seasons of Nepal and December is my least favorite. It's not super cold - it stays above freezing - but there is no heat at night so it is c-o-l-d.
Four day itinerary:
Arrive in Kathmandu walk to the domestic terminal to hopefully catch a flight to Pokhara.
Day 2 - see the street festival, walk down from the Peace Pagoda (a beautiful view of the city and nice walk down through the jungle to Fewa Lake). Take a jeep to Eco-village. The picture of me with the mountain in the background is taken from Eco-village. It has an amazing view of the Annapurna mountain range.
Day 3 - Go paragliding. Take a flight back to Kathmandu. Take another flight to see Everest. Walk around Thamel - the touristy area with shops.
Day 4 - Go to the Hindu temple in the morning. See the funeral pyres. Go to the Monkey temple (Buddhist). Feed monkeys. Return to hotel and fly out.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka would be the warmest destination we would be considering. The island nation is one giant tropical forest. My sister loves plants and this place is a horticulturalist's dream. Also, there is an elephant sanctuary where you can feed the elephants.
Sri Lanka
Pro's
A lush green tropical jungle that is amazing to see and drive through.
Feeding Elephants is fantastic (monkeys were also available on my trip but not nearly as many as in Nepal).
Con's
None, really.
Four day itinerary
Fly into Colombo - stay at a nice hotel called Galle Face. Go swimming and relax.
Day 2 see Colombo
Day 3 - take a car up to amazing botanic gardens and to the elephant breeding ground.
Day 4 - relax at the beach and return home.
Jordan
Jordan
Pro's
It's the shortest flight - 3 hours.
Petra - The Treasury and the small canyon you walk through to get to it - is very cool.
Floating in the Dead Sea is just something you have to experience to understand. You literally float on water.
Con's
When you return to Iowa people will not be excited to hear about Petra and floating in the Dead Sea really is a "you had to be there" experience.
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Fly into Amman and have a driver waiting to take us straight to Petra - a 4(?) hour trip.
Day 2 - See Petra, The Treasury, ancient burials... really interesting canyons.
Day 3 - Travel to Dead Sea
Day 4 - Travel to airport and fly out
Egypt
Not my picture because pics were not allowed in the Cairo museum... but seeing it up close was amazing.
Abu Simbel - this is in far southern Egypt. The giant shrine was built to scare away the Sudanese who might consider coming down the Nile to attack. A picture doesn't do it justice.
Egypt
Pro's
From the pyramids to King Tut's mask, to the pharoah's burial sites to Abu Simbel... Egypt is memorable at every stop.
Back in Iowa everyone will know and want to hear about the pyramids. Never mind that the pyramids in Mexico are cooler...
Con's
Egypt is just not a great place to visit unless in a tourist group or with an Egyptian guide. We couldn't do a tourist group because we are too limited on time.
Itinerary
To do what I would want to do in Egypt would be very hard in four days....
Day 1 - arrive and drive straight to the pyramids, see them for a few hours and head directly to the Cairo Museum to see Tut's mask. Stay overnight in Cairo.
Day 2 - depart on first available flight to Luxor. See the Karnak temple
Day 3 - Hot air balloon flight, see the burial sites
Day 4 - see more temples, fly back to Cairo and connect to the UAE
Unfortunately, I don't think we could make it to Abu Simbel on this trip.
Each of the four possibilities have pro's and con's. Which sounds best to you? If you can't decide what would you like to know to decide?
Nepal
Nepal is like a second home to me. The people are incredibly nice. I have made friends who have become family. The scenery is amazing.
My two favorite things to do in Nepal is to paraglide and feed monkeys. This monkey is at a major Hindu temple. The people in the background are looking down at a river where there are several funeral pyres burning. While there were tourists snapping pictures standing just feet away from grieving families I could never do that so you just have to trust me.
Nepal
Pro's
It's NEPAL! I look for any excuse to come here.
The scenery is simply unmatched. The Annapurna range is stunning.
Paragliding is a blast and I have done it enough times I know the really good pilots for Miriam and George.
There is a street festival at the end of December that is a lot of fun.
The Hindu and Buddhist temples in Kathmandu are very interesting... feeding monkeys is crazy fun.
Con's
It's December. In seven trips I have experienced all of the seasons of Nepal and December is my least favorite. It's not super cold - it stays above freezing - but there is no heat at night so it is c-o-l-d.
Four day itinerary:
Arrive in Kathmandu walk to the domestic terminal to hopefully catch a flight to Pokhara.
Day 2 - see the street festival, walk down from the Peace Pagoda (a beautiful view of the city and nice walk down through the jungle to Fewa Lake). Take a jeep to Eco-village. The picture of me with the mountain in the background is taken from Eco-village. It has an amazing view of the Annapurna mountain range.
Day 3 - Go paragliding. Take a flight back to Kathmandu. Take another flight to see Everest. Walk around Thamel - the touristy area with shops.
Day 4 - Go to the Hindu temple in the morning. See the funeral pyres. Go to the Monkey temple (Buddhist). Feed monkeys. Return to hotel and fly out.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Pro's
A lush green tropical jungle that is amazing to see and drive through.
Feeding Elephants is fantastic (monkeys were also available on my trip but not nearly as many as in Nepal).
Con's
None, really.
Four day itinerary
Fly into Colombo - stay at a nice hotel called Galle Face. Go swimming and relax.
Day 2 see Colombo
Day 3 - take a car up to amazing botanic gardens and to the elephant breeding ground.
Day 4 - relax at the beach and return home.
Jordan
Jordan
Pro's
It's the shortest flight - 3 hours.
Petra - The Treasury and the small canyon you walk through to get to it - is very cool.
Floating in the Dead Sea is just something you have to experience to understand. You literally float on water.
Con's
When you return to Iowa people will not be excited to hear about Petra and floating in the Dead Sea really is a "you had to be there" experience.
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Fly into Amman and have a driver waiting to take us straight to Petra - a 4(?) hour trip.
Day 2 - See Petra, The Treasury, ancient burials... really interesting canyons.
Day 3 - Travel to Dead Sea
Day 4 - Travel to airport and fly out
Egypt
Hot air balloon ride over Luxor (where the Pharaohs are buried).
Egypt
Pro's
From the pyramids to King Tut's mask, to the pharoah's burial sites to Abu Simbel... Egypt is memorable at every stop.
Back in Iowa everyone will know and want to hear about the pyramids. Never mind that the pyramids in Mexico are cooler...
Con's
Egypt is just not a great place to visit unless in a tourist group or with an Egyptian guide. We couldn't do a tourist group because we are too limited on time.
Itinerary
To do what I would want to do in Egypt would be very hard in four days....
Day 1 - arrive and drive straight to the pyramids, see them for a few hours and head directly to the Cairo Museum to see Tut's mask. Stay overnight in Cairo.
Day 2 - depart on first available flight to Luxor. See the Karnak temple
Day 3 - Hot air balloon flight, see the burial sites
Day 4 - see more temples, fly back to Cairo and connect to the UAE
Unfortunately, I don't think we could make it to Abu Simbel on this trip.
Each of the four possibilities have pro's and con's. Which sounds best to you? If you can't decide what would you like to know to decide?
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