Around the world in 80 days.

Okay, it's hasn't been 80 days--more like 60--since we left Korea. And we haven't been around the world... Just half way... But the adventure continues! Where to next? Tonight Jeremy and I catching a train to Baku, Azerbaijan (my former Peace Corps post). What is Azerbaijan known for? Oil. And pollution. Apparently the most polluted acre of earth is there and we intend to seek it out. Please pray for our descendants. Oh, and it's also known for James Bond. In fact, the map of the country in our guide book locates some oil field from the movie (it's like a Korean flash back--movie set tourism!). But we will be doing some other cool things there too like visiting the mysterious mud volcanoes, perpetual fire and gas craters and some interesting Zoroastrian temples that predate Christianity. (Btw, did you know the Magi from the Nativity story are likely to have been Zoroastrians? Interesting, eh?)

Then it's back through Georgia and on to Armenia where we suspect it'll just be lots and lots of churches and monasteries--if we can get to them. Our good friend Heather from Korea did Peace Corps there and says most are difficult to reach because they're high in the mountains and have no public transportation outlets. But we'll see. We also intend to visit the illustrious, mysterious, notorious Nagorno-Karabakh--a querulous breakaway region of Azerbaijan that claims independence yet is protected by the Armenian army and still shelled every now and then by the Azeris. Oh, and completely unrecognized as a nation by any other foreign body but Armenia. The cool thing about going here is that most people don't bother since the Azeri's won't let you cross their border if you have a Nagorno-Karabakh visa in your passport and we met a French-Canadian guy who had a hard time getting in with his Lonely Planet simply because it mentioned the region (though it never calls it an independent state.) He ended up cutting out the section so he could continue on his way. Crazy border patrol.

So yeah, that's the immediate plan.

After Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, our itinerary takes an unexpected turn... Towards Egypt!! We found ourselves in a perilous or should we say money-sucking conundrum when we tried to move ahead with plans for Uzbekistan. There aren't many cheap flights there, no ferries, transit through Turkmenistan is almost impossible, and once we get there, our only other ways out are Tajikistan and Afghanistan--both of which aren't great options. Plus, Jeremy is big on this Iran thing and heading out past the Caspian Sea means to Iran is unlikely since the Australian dollar is sinking and airfare is less than ideal. We also considered Sri Lanka but my guide book is somewhere between Kyrgyzstan and his parent's in Australia. Plus, even then he probably couldn't go back to Iran. But Egypt!!! Wow!! Deserts, camels, pyramids, tombs, museums, diving, the NILE!!! This is going to be SUPER cool!

As for photos, gosh, you know I'm trying to post them like crazy but the internet here in Georgia is operated by underfed, overworked, over aged, and on strike hamsters. I can seriously sit at a computer for an hour and get a maximum of two photos uploaded. And then you have to combat the computer viruses that automatically attach themselves to anything you stick in the USB drive. Argh! There are some truly fantastic things I want to share with you all! We just returned from Kazbegi near the Russian border, high in the Caucus mountains. It was breathtaking. We hiked up some mountain to the countries most celebrated church amid snow capped peaks, rolling meadows and the rich colors of autumn. Words will never do it justice. You will just have to see it for yourselves. Whenever I can upload photos... Let's hope Azerbaijan is better connected...