UNESCO World Heritage Site - Lili on the Loose

10 10, 2016

Travel Missteps: Trapped in Prayer

By Lili|October 10th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2015, Africa, Cairo, Call to Prayer, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Explorer, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Islamic Cairo, Khan el Khalili, Lamp, market, Middle East, Muslim, prayer, Souq, Star Lamp, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

I only had a few minutes before my group was going to leave. And I really really wanted a star lamp. I mean really, being in a Middle Eastern Souq/Market just screams buying a lamp. So I was determined to get one during my visit to Khan el Khalili, the large market in the heart of Islamic Cairo. But, all the other shops had lamps that were much too big. And I knew I was going to have to carry on whatever I bought. So right as I was about to leave, when I spied the perfect smallish star lamp

22 09, 2016

Antigua Ruins: Santiago Cathedral

By Lili|September 22nd, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Travel|Tags: 2013, Ancient, Antigua, Catedral de San José, Central America, church, earthquakes, Guatemala, Mayan, Mayan Encounter 2013, Roman Catholic, ruins, Santiago Cathedral, Travel Thursday, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

Catedral de San José Antigua means Ancient in Spanish. While not as old as the Mayan settlements, the city was founded in the mid 1500’s the city served as a capital of the kingdom of Guatemala. However in the 1700’s a series of earthquakes rocked the city until it was abandoned and the capital was moved to Guatemala City. It is amazing to look up and see the sky, framed by the walls. Slowly in the 20th century people started to return to the city, but rebuilding was limited. Today you can still see many of

16 09, 2016

The Glass as it were a Glittering Star

By Lili|September 16th, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Cairo, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Hieroglyphics, Islam, Lamp, Middle East, Mosque, Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Photo Friday, Qur'an, The Citadel, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site, verse, verse of light|0 Comments

The Verse of Light from the Qur'an is written very pretty, and is a good fit for looking up at the many glass lamps in the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, in Cairo, Egypt. The verse goes like this: God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is a niche wherein is a lamp— the lamp is in a glass, the glass as it were a glittering star— lit from a blessed olive tree, neither eastern nor western, whose oil almost lights up, though fire should not touch it. Light upon light. God draws parables

30 06, 2016

Hypaethral Hall of Trajan’s Kiosk

By Lili|June 30th, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Agilika Island, Aswan, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Middle East, Philae, Philae Temple, Roman Emperor, Trajan, Trajan's Kiosk, Travel Thursday, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

Trajan's Kiosk is a hypaethral temple (no roof) found at Philae in Egypt. Trajan was a Roman Emperor best known for having extended the Roman Empire to its largest area. Part of the newly acquired area was Egypt. Rome assimilated into the local culture and created hybrid architecture temples. This was one of them. It is airy and bright with beautiful different capitals on top of each column. And with a view right on the water. It was sometimes nicknamed "The Pharaoh's Bed".

28 06, 2016

Egypt Travelogue: Day 10, Part 1 – Philae Temple

By Lili|June 28th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Memories, Travelogue|Tags: 2015, Africa, Agilika Island, Aswan, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Travelogue, G Adventures, Hadrian, Middle East, Philae, Philae Temple, Roman Emperor, Trajan, Trajan's Kiosk, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

This is my travel diary of my trip to Egypt. It contains in detail my memories of what I did and saw. Saturday October 31, 2015 Egypt: Day 10, Part 1 – Philae Temple It was another early day, and the food for breakfast wasn't that great. Now I'm not a breakfast person anyway, but even their potatoes were tasteless. Then it was time to board a bus to Philae Temple. When arrived we were once again accosted by numerous sellers. And this was before we even exited the bus! After Mikel got us tickets we had to run the gambit of numerous

23 06, 2016

Coptic Crosses at Philae Temple

By Lili|June 23rd, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Agilika Island, Alter, Aswan, Coptic, Coptic Church, Coptic Cross, Cross, Crosses, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, G Adventures, Hieroglyphics, Middle East, Philae, Philae Temple, Travel Thursday, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

These crosses are a jarring contrast against the detailed hieroglyphics you see throughout Philae Temple, so its not hard to spot them. On columns and entryways they are found. They stand out more than the ancient graffiti. And even stand out more than the defaced images of Egyptian Gods, Goddesses, Pharaohs and everyday people. When I first saw these, as a fan of Ancient Egypt I was peeved. Philae Temple is so impressive, and the carvings that remain intriguing. But upon reflection these crosses shows how ancient temples found new uses in later times. They were refuges for early oppressed Christians as

16 06, 2016

Hieroglyphics and Nilometer on Elephantine Island

By Lili|June 16th, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, History, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Aswan, cartouche, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Explorer, Elephantine Island, Hieroglyphics, Middle East, Nilometer, Photo Essay, Psamtik II, Travel Thursday, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|2 Comments

Near the Nilometer on Elephantine Island in Aswan, Egypt, there are massive boulders you can see from the river with hieroglyphics inscribed with the cartouche of Psamtik II. It is really amazing to see these hieroglyphics so clearly from the water. And to withstand the test of time. The entrance to the Nilometer is an unassuming doorway with steps leading to the nile. It is one of the oldest Nilometers in Egypt and was in use until the 19th century. Every other week Travel Thursday brings you travel tips and information on the amazing sights and activities the world has to offer.

8 06, 2016

Under the Sea – World Oceans Day 2016

By Lili|June 8th, 2016|Categories: Nature & Outdoors, Travel|Tags: 2011, 2012, 2013, Bacalar Chico, Bacalar Chico National Park, Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, Belize, Caribbean, Caye Caulker, Central America, Coral, Costa Rica, Costa Rica Adventure 2012, Flounder, Isla Tortuga, Mayan Encounter 2013, ocean, Sea Grass, Sea Turtle, Sergeant Major, St. John, St. John 2011, Starfish, Sting Ray, The Little Mermaid, turtle, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site, USVI, Waterlemon Caye|0 Comments

Today is World Oceans Day. With so many news stories of rising ocean temperatures and bleached corals, now more than ever is it important to protect this important part of our ecosystem. So today I share some of my favorite snorkel photography and hope we can all help protect the oceans. Above is Waterlemon Caye, off of St. John USVI. The large school of fish you can see are Sergeant Major, my favorite fish. Here you can see more Sergeant Majors near Isla Tortuga, Costa Rica. I like this fish as it reminds of me the coloring of Flounder from the

6 06, 2016

Travel Missteps: Desperate for Some Ice Cream

By Lili|June 6th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2015, Africa, deir el bahri, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Explorer, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Hatshepsut, Hatshepsut's Temple, Ice Cream, Luxor, Middle East, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|1 Comment

One of my biggest fears of going to Egypt was that it would be horribly hot and I'd get terribly sunburnt. Thankfully, going in late October/early November was a good choice, as while the weather was still warm, it wasn't scorching...except for the one day I was on the West Bank of Luxor touring the tombs at the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's Temple at Deir el-Bahri. That day I was so full of excitement, and had planned as best as I could. Wearing light clothes and hat, with plenty of water and sunscreen, I set out. And it truly

25 04, 2016

Travel Missteps: Minutes in Pompeii

By Lili|April 25th, 2016|Categories: Photography, Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2006, All in the family Italy 2005/2006, ancient city, ancient civilization, Europe, history, in a rush, Italy, museum, Photo Essay, Pompeii, ruins, rush, tour, Trafalger, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

I love ancient history, and have poured over history books and documentaries since I was a child. So when my family planned a trip to Italy, I knew I HAD to see Pompeii. I had been fascinated with this town ever since I saw a carbonized baked bread in a school book. The fact that life changed so suddenly and this town was erased from history in mere hours was shocking. But unfortunately I found out we'd only have a short amount of time at Pompeii, likely less than 30 minutes. Since I had just completed a semester on Italian Art