Travel to Phuket

Woke up at 6 am thanks to matt, and headed to the party beach to watch the sunrise. Meandered through the locals living quarters which were dirty and stinky. But the streets were quite nice with us being the only ones on them. Made it to the party beach to did out the sun was rising over the beach nearest our hotel. Party beach was still nice though with only a few walk-of-shamers. We then went back to our hotel, I tried and failed Togo back to sleep so we got our swim suits on, went to breakfast and then packed up our room and laid next to our pool all morning. It was fabulous we checked out if our room at 1030 and drank a couple smoothies (with rum) my pineapple mango was the best went for a couple dips in the pool. Shared a Nutella/banana pancake (crepe) and just soaked up the sun while relaxing. It was very nice end to our trip In Thailand. Matt listed himself on his dragon air standby for tomorrow from Phuket to Hong Kong. Then at 120 we showered In a cold water shower. Just enough to rinse out the chlorine and set out to the ferry with a hotel dude pushing our bags in a cart. Very easy to board the ferry. Much nicer than the ferry from krabi and we already have our ticket. I fell asleep while Matthew was looking at planes for trade. Made it to Phuket in 2 hours. Were picked up by some Thai dude saying "taxi taxi" that is one thing I forgot to mention, the locals selling stuff like massages and boats speak enough English to try and attract tourists. So you walk by and they say "massa massa massa" which means massage thrice. Or boat boat boat for you to hire a private taxi boat. I digress. Got brought your hotel for 200 baht 6$. And checked in. Pretty snazzy place. Then learned there was a festival around the corner. So we went there forehand find food for dinner. No clue what the food was. But we just started pointing and buying. Tried a sausage hotdog thing with chili sauce. Tried some soup stuff. Egg wonton. Chicken kabob. Doner kabob. Pork and rice. Some dumplings filled with vegetables. And grabbed some dessert To go. It was really cool to see and experience. It's now 730 and we picked up a couple changs to sit on our pool side balcony enjoy our dessert and our last night in Thailand have a 1pm flight to Hong Kong in the morning.

Day on phi phi island

Woke up at 8am and had a big brunch with Thai noodles and omelettes and fresh squeeZed juices. Yummmm. Then we relaxed by the pool. Booked Andreas airfare to Hong Kong. Matt is going to fly standby. As the flight had green smiley faces on the zed fare. Then matt bought some fresh blended smoothies. Then it was noon and we needed to start getting ready for our tour. It's a cloudy day with a lot of overcast. Which is probably better so we don't fry. Found the location and waited for the group. Boarded a rickety long tail boat with 20 people. Waves were a little big. Took a long time to get to monkey beach. While other boats easily made it to the beach we watches the monkeys being fed. By the time we got there they were disappeared. What a joke. Then we went to cliff jump. We didn't pay to do the cliff jump and there were two boats ahead of us so we went to snorkel. Saw aome pretty fish. But again. There were maybe 2 life jackets on the boat. So it was up to yourself to stay afloat. Then we headed to maya beach. Ran Into the blokes from the ferry. The beach was gorgeous and from the film the beach with Leonardo dicaprio. After an hour we went across the open sea, skipped the sunset point which the skies cleared up just in time to see something pretty, but we went to the cliff jump spot instead with the sun setting out of view. Disappointed. Then we circled the long tails for some glow plankton. Also a let down. I'm used to fajardo and millions upon millions of phosphorescent dinoflagellates. This place had a couple maybe everytime you shredded water. Triple disappointment. Then we headed into the home island. Alive. Didn't mention as we were crossing the choppy open sea, waves upon waves would rush into our boat. We held up our situpon and try and block the cold water. No luck. Walked back to our villa showered and headed back to the pad Thai restaurant from the night before. The dude didn't understand us when we ordered. Split our order and did regular pad Thai instead of super pad Thai. Disappointment. Story of the day. But atleast it is 80 and warm here instead of 20 and snowy :-) made it back to our villa and called it a night. Tomorrow we ferry to Phuket, for a night in old town. We've been told it's not much. Then onto Hong Kong. Then home. Hopefully. May the non-rev gods be ever in our favor!

Travel to phi phi islands

Woke up at 8 and went down to a massive buffet breakfast in the middle if this gorgeous jungle resort. Had made to order Omelets. Inatant coffee once we could catch the coffee ladie and bee infested orange juice. Then we went to try and catch a boat to poda island. Only problem, they go and then come back at 3pm and we were going to phi phi island at 130. So we laid on the beach with a couple changs and relaxed. Bought a silk bathrobe for 10$ from one of the beach vendors. Then we started our way back to the hotel. Stopped at a couple travel agents to book transport and ferry to phi phi but the bus was full. So we had to get a taxi. But first we tried to take out more cash and my debit kept declining. So despite me submitting the online form like I was told to do, and got response back, they still shut off my card. Furious. I called them and it took them 15 minutes to reopen my card. And then they noted my account for a third time. Poor matt. Then we got to our hotel 15 minutes before checkout to find they took our bags down. But we were allowed back on our room to shower quick and they called a taxi for is to the ferry dock. Our taxi driver stopped so we could use ATM quick and then dropped us off. 1500 baht (50$) for two for ferry to phi phi and Phuket. Got seats below and started chatting with some dudes that were backpacking. One from Vermont the other am Aussie. Chit chatted about travel on our hour and half ride then we were greeted by hotel representative to help our bags back to our resort. About a mile from the ferry dock. Matt had to help the dude push the cart up the hill. Then we arrived to our gorgeous hotel! We booked a deluxe villa for 100$ a night. Our resort has a pool and overlooks the quiet side of the island. We then dropped our stuff and started to explore the city. We walked amongst the locals including carts and bicycles along the narrow winding roads looking at the various fresh caught seafood and trying to solidify a snorkel tour for tomorrow. We found a three in one (cliff jumping snorkel maya beach at sunset and swimming with bioluminescent plankton) for 400 baht each. Kept looking. Found the party beach. Ran into the blokes from the ferry. Grabbed a drink on the beach at a party bar. Watched the sunset and then meandered out way back looking for dinner. Found a good local looking place and order deluxe pad Thai. It was delicious. Best pad Thai yet. And 2 changs for 480 baht 15$. Tipped them 20 baht (80 cents) which is not common here. They were very appreciative and then continued on our way. Booked our trip for tomorrow. And then made it back to our hotel and fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. One more day on phi phi. Then a night in Phuket. A night in Hong Kong. The home.

Travel to krabi

Woke up at 440am packed up our stuff and went downstairs to meet our tuk tuk to bring us to the airport, only the hotel didn't arrange for that like we planned. So the night guard drive us in his vehicle. Got to the airport and checked our bags and proceeded upstairs to the gate. Bought some egg mcmuffins and hashbrowns and coffee and then realized we had another set of security to pass through. Matt attempted to chug his coffee before our plane started boarding. We then realized we did not have seats next to each other so we sat next to each other in the upgrade seats. Which have leg room comparable to regular economy back home. Watched the end of Harry potter three and started on Harry potter 4. Landed. Grabbed our bags. Paid 18 $ fora half hour taxi ride to our hotel. Checked in, found out we couldn't get a room until 1pm (it's 930am mind you) left our bags and set out for the water. Found the beach and then went searching for food. And some beverages. Four a breakfast place. Ordered Babana and orange smoothies and Omelets. Quite tastey. Then we set out for the long tail boats. 15$ got us to railay beach and back. Enjoyed the view on our way. Sat on the beach for a couple hours before realizing it was so late in the day. Hopped back on a long tail boat made to it the hotel got our room through a windig terrace of outdoor foliage laid down and took a four hour nap. Whoops woke up half way and it was torrential downpour. Then woke up and got massages. I got a facial matt got a back and shoulder, then we grabbed dinner. Walked the beach and headed back to our room where we fell asleep at 1130! Maybe we are actually adjusted..... Tomorrow we are off to poda island then overnight on the phi phi islands!

Elephants in chaing Mai

Woke up at 3 am. Darn jet lag. Unable to fall back asleep we started planning our next few days. The all of a sudden it was 7am and our alarms were going off. Matt got coffee and started putting in his bids as I got us ready for the elephants. Our guest house provided breakfast, matt got the sticky rice and pork and I had the American breakfast (2 eggs ham sausage and toast) then our guide picked us up for the elephants at baanchang elephant park. We picked up 3 other couples and did the hour drive of twisty roads. Then we arrived. Changed into te new uniforms which were no longer denim and went to feed the elephants sugar came and bananas. We had one try and give us a neck hickey with its trunk. Then we learned about the gains and bull hook. Had a quick break then learned to mount and ride the elephants. Matt hopped on the talk one and I for the short one. Then it was time for lunch. Delicious pad Thai with tofu. We both had seconds. Pineapple for dessert. Then we went to our elephants and ride them around the jungle we did one loop twice before we took our elephants into swampy elephant poopy water.

Then were able to shower and were brought back to our hotels. Matt then started bidding. We had a Chang beer each AND I went for massage. 10$ for one hour and half foot massage and neck back shoulder massage. About an hour later matt came looking for me as he was done bidding and thought I was gone for too long then when I was done met him back at the hotel and we walked downto the night market. Bought some Thai silks carves (3$ each) and matt bought a black canvas painting for 11$ and we sat and are pad Thai made by old ladies on the street. With Chang beer each for 8$ total. Then we started our 20minute walk back. Grabbed a Nutella banana crepe for 80 cents and called it a night. 630am flight to krabi in the morning. Hopefully to spend the day at railay beach.

Arrival to Chang Mai

Woke up naturally at 2 am. Then 3 am. Then 5.6.and 7 our alarm was set for eight. Packed up our stuff and made the 840am airport shuttle for our 1035 flight. Has to get dropped off at terminal 2 for checkin. Then go downstairs exit hing kong customs then catch a train to terminal one, go to out gate area hop a shuttle bus to our remote terminal and then get to our gate. All without breakfast. So we stopped for food within our gate, ordered our food and I checked our gate "final boarding" thirty five minutes before scheduled. Freak out mode! Told the gate agent we just ordered food and he said oh take your time I'll come find you. Phew. Got our food. Boarded not last. And then sat at the gate for 45 more minutes. Oh well. Seats are very tight for us tall Americans watched Harry potter 2 and 3 and ate our really good Chinese noodles for breakfast.

Made it into chaing Mai at 1pm. Walked until we found a tuktuk unloading passengers and asked him to bring us to anoma boutique guest house within old city. 3$ for the 10 minute drive. Checked in and our house owners organized us a car for 50$ to bring us to tiger kingdom and the gold temple on the hill for sunset.

Tiger kingdom was 3800 baht (100$) for the two of us to go in all five cages with two cages with professional photographers. Smallest and biggest cages got the photographer. Waited and then let in the medium small smallest small big cages. The babies were very playful. Most the others were sleeping. Oh, it's like 80 and humid here :-)

Big ones weren't as bad as I remember even though they were walking everywhere. After the park we went up the windy road to the golden temple overlooking te city of chaing Mai. Gorgeous. Grabbed some pork balls on a stuck for a light snack. Then we started the half hour drive back to the hotel. I fell asleep in the car and woke up back at our hotel. Where we crawled into bed at 7pm and were out for the count. Tomorrow is the elephant park!

Flight to Hong Kong

Made it easily to San Fran I a Skywest flight I economy plus. And to the San Fran airport with 3 hours to spare. Looked up flights and hotel information then went and grabbed nachos at a Mexican restaurant in the international terminal. Then it was the waiting game, 60 seats open and we were 24:25 on the standby list. No first class seats open. We got separate middle seats in economy plus. More leg room. We took them hoping someone would change with us on board. The dude matt was sitting next to was some hot shot who refuses to switch a middle for a middle. But with the united app we discovered an open seat asked the gentleman in the other middle seat if he would switch and he did so we could sit next to each other. Then my fast fingers went to work. 20 minutes before take off and I was busy booking our flight to chaing Mai. Pricelined an airport hotel for 60$ less than list price, emailed the elephant dudes and paypaled them for our elephant ride all the while trying to get comfortable in our middle seats for the next 15 hours of boredom.

We watched Harry potter 1 on te iPad (united doesn't have personal entertainment like delta) then a few good men. Then Harry potter two. But I fell asleep a lot and matt kept turning off the iPad to conserve energy since the double decker 747 did not have in seat electricity plugs. Food was typical airplane food not the five course gourmet meals we got across the pond. And the we landed. Has to wait to get back to where matt threw our bags up grabbed them. Made a pit stop and easily through customs. Caught the complimentary shuttle to the marriott sky city hotel which is on the airport island. We made it into our 150$ hotel room for 14 hours of good sleep. Off to chaing Mai in the morning!

Transit to amsterdam

Woke up at 8 am. Showered packed and made it to breakfast by 830. Then we were on our way to find gasoline and the airport. Worried about how much the car rental is going to charge us with the busted side view mirror. It is amazing this was the only damage we endured. We took an A road back to Casablanca detoured trough a rundown town. Found gas to get us back to the quarter mark (where the car was when we got it) and got the car parked in the lot. We beat that thing up with all the bumpy roads dirt and Moroccan way of life. No charge the dude said and we were off to find our gate. Of course our paid flight has to be delayed again. We walked the airport to get lunch. Cash only. Which we had spent already to not bring any home with us. Grrrrrr. So we had to resort to a quiche and a bottle of water. This was after we walked the smelly tiny airport about four times while we waited for our flight. Then. We watched the rest of how I met your mother. And started shawshank redemption. Then our plane arrived we boarded. Did not get the emergency exit row we originally requested as they sent a bigger plane. Whatever, we got the row to ourselves. Kept watching our movie with our eye on a snakpak and a beer. She came through again we have no cash but hey take card. So we give her our order and the card which she cannot take because everyone in Europe has a chip. She felt bad for ius a have us a Heineken no charge. Finished shawshank and started Sahara. Landed and then made our way through customs. Luc, the first Couchsurfer I ever stayed with was going to meet us for drinks and he offered us his couch. We got on the train and met him at the station. He let us drop our bags then we got the French fries with mayo sauce and deep fried meatball gravy things. Really good. Then we went to a cafe had a couple beers and talked politics(the boys did anyway) made it back to Lucs house and looked into flights. Fell sleep on the couch with a 7am wake up to try for a united flight to Houston.

Relaxing day in el jadida

Woke up had breakfast in our room and then set out to walk to the Citroen de portegese. Made it the 2k to the medina along the beach covered in garbage. Took some cool pictures. Yesterday was the holiday to bring sheep home to your family. Today they cooked the head on the public grate barriers. In the middle of the street. Gross. We had enough of the third world country feel so we turned back to our hotel, ordered spaghetti and salad and a bottle of wine and enjoyed it next to the pool. With it being a Sunday there was absolutely nothing open. So we were at the mercy of the hotel. Went to sleep early because the next day we were driving to Casablanca to catch our flight home!

Ourzazate to el jadida

Woke up about 10am, just in time for our free breakfast. Made it down to the restaurant, closed. Asked. They said it was over at ten. But they brought is our rolls and jams. Then we were deciding what to do with the day. Ourzazate had a pretty kasbah and then head to el jadida a coastal town for some beach sun and relaxation before return to reality. Only we come to find out the pretty kasbah (Moroccan castle) was in skoura. The town about an hour back that we stopped in the palm groves. So matt did some research and on te way to Marrakech there is a kasbah on the mountains in the town of teulret. We decided to do it. We set out and made the drive to the p-road route where an oncoming car got a liiittttttle bit too close to us and took off our side view mirror. See post 21 rules to driving in morocco. But we have full coverage hopefully it won't be too much to replace. Kept going after some language barrier yelling back and forth with the dude. And wound our way up the valleys and mountain ledges of the one lane road including some pretty nerve wracking switch backs with one lane no guard rail and oncoming traffic. Psh, it was only 60 km or two hours to the kasbah. We arrived finally and paid the 20dirham each to enter the falling apart kasbah. It was pretty sweet looking on the inside. Crazy to believe it was a fortress back in the day. Afterwards Andrea haggled three hand made Moroccan rugs. The dude wanted 320$ for them and she got them for 140$. Not too shabby. No idea where they are going to go, but they look cool. And we also don't know how we are going to get then home.

Then we started our 30km ride back to the main road which continued trough the mountains. We stopped at a road side stand for kabob beef and fries and andrea got a Berber omelet. Eggs onions peppers tomatoes. Delicious. Kept going. Made it to Marrakech. Matt is pretty good at driving like a Moroccan. See the other post. We had 150 km to el jadida after stressful Marrakech. Apparently today is a national holiday where everyone bring a home a sheep to their family. So lots of traffic. Inclining a lot of people returning mainland after spending the day at the ocean. A lot of cars in a line on the two way road and many would just pass despite us being in the oncoming traffic passing lane. But. We made it. 9 hours later. Andrea found a hotel on the water for 90$ includes breakfast. Got an ocean view room with broken air con. Ordered lasagna and chicken panini and a couple Johnny walker cokes and a citron soda and called it a night. We are 2 hours from the Casablanca airport. Our plan is to relax and enjoy the ocean. May stay here one more night then drive to the airport. We have tickets booked to amsterdam Monday at 2 pm. Overnight there and fly some how across the pond. We shall see!

Andrea and matt.

21 rules to follow when driving in morocco

Rule 1. Get the full coverage insurance.

Rule 2. Driving schools don't exist here.

Rule 3. Write your will.

Rule 4. Google maps does not work here.

Rule 5. 180 km trip with speed limits of 80-100kph will take you atleast 5 hours. Refer to rule 4.

Rule 6. The only roads cared for are the A roads. They require you have cash dirhams as they are toll roads. The N roads are mostly cared for but are two lane roads-good luck passing the donkey carts, mopeds, pedal bikes, coach buses or trucks filled with livestock, agriculture or humans. The P and R roads are one lane roads. You'll be lucky if there is pavement across the entire lane, watch out for potholes, sheep, donkeys, sheer drop offs, your side view mirror, and the amount if time google says should be quintupled.

Rule 7. When approaching an oncoming vehicle at night it is best to flash your bright lights at them so they cannot see where you are.

Rule 8. The lines, dashes or any other painting on the road do not matter. Feel free to drive in between lanes, in the lane of oncoming traffic, or just stop on the middle of the road.

Rule 9. When a car is trying to pass you, make sure you move towards te middle of the road so as to make it impossible for them to pass.

Rule 10. When approaching a round about everyone has the right of way so just go.

Rule 11. Do whatever benefits you the most, you are the only one that matters.

Rule 12. Don't pay for the child safety seat, let them run around the back of your car, the front of your car or on the drivers lap. Heck stick them as a sandwich on a moped, or let them drive while you are attempting to keep the sheep also on your moped under control.

Rule 13. You don't need to turn on your lights at night, everybody else drives with their brights on if they decide to turn on their lights.

Rule 14. Go ahead and pass a car whenever you like, whether it be going up a hill, on a blind corner or when there is another car headed straight for you- just flash the brights.

Rule 15. Car capacity is a guideline. But you get more bang for your buck if you stuff it so full there are bodies on the roof, out the windows, the doors, and or the rear. Heck, just have the passengers that are out any of those hold onto another couple people. Carry cash.

Rule 16. Watch out for pedestrians, they are definitely not watching out for you. Refer to rule 11

Rule 17. There are random police stops and radar control areas. Just proudly wave and give you're "I'm a dumb tourist" smile and they will wave ya right past regardless If you were going ten over or double the speed limit.

Rule 18. Watch out for your friendly hash dealer in the north. They will tail you with their baggies out the window. Thumbs down should suffice.

Rule 19. Just because the speed limit sign says 80 doesn't mean you can get your car to 80, unless it is flying off the cliff curve as these do not have guard rails.

Rule 20. Always pay the parking attendant. Or your car will get keyed. Or it'll get keyed anyway.

Rule 21. Don't drive your car through the narrow streets of the medina. Refer to rule 4.

Sent from my iPhone

Fwd: Finally arriving to the desert

> We woke up at eleven am to out phone ringing in our four star hotel room. It was the restaurant wondering if we take our breakfast at the terrace or in our room. We decided to take it in our room as we both were getting ready for the two more hour drive to merzouga the gateway to the Moroccan Sahara. We were served omelet and breads and coffee and orange juice. We ate and went to pay our bill. Of course we just changed everything to our room as we were out of cash. 890 dirham for dinner drinks including bottle of wine breakfast and our room. That's about 95$. Well worth it. We then headed to go further south and make it on time to merzouga. We grabbed waters from a gas station and filled the car with gas. We took some stops at scenic overlooks including the palm tree oasis that went for miles and miles. It was like a giant grove of palms in the middle if the Grand Canyon. Breath taking. We made it to erfound and drive past a pizzeria. Have I mentioned I've been craving pizza since day 3? We grabbed more cash at the ATM. That's 600$ we have withdrawn for the two of us including numerous nights in hotels not too bad but still an expensive trip to Matt's standards. And went to the pizzeria. It was good and 9$ for a 14" pizza and two coke zeros.
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> This area is well know for it's fossils. So we went back to a fossil shop to learn about where and how they find the fossils and then look at the pieces that they have. It's pretty cool. They make sink basins out of them and coffee tables. Pretty unique. But we are sure they are really expensive as it was 30$ for a small fossil in rock about the size if your palm. We tipped the guy 15 dirham (even tho he said I give you tour for free, you look at my things.... You always have to tip)
> We then set out for merzouga. About 45 minutes of driving in the open area reminded me a lot if pheonix with palm trees and then we followed the directions to Ahmed's place. Go towards touza and then see the green sign and turn left down that desert road towards the mosque and ask for Ahmed. We found his house, were greeted by some other locals and Ahmed who stuck his head out if his home. We parked our car and brought our luggage into the room and ventured out to look at the dunes. Then returned to tea and peanuts and we chatted with Ahmed. It's amazing how he gets internet service that far away! But good thing he does, his family runs the camel treks and a bed and breakfast. The house is built of wet sand and hay. The walls are thick.
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> A little while later the camels were ready and were knelt down so we could just throw a leg over and up went the camel. The ride was a lot like riding a horse, except we went at a very slow pace and Ahmed walked us the entire way. It was about one hour and around a dune we went and there in the middle of the desert and surroundings of nothing was a traditional Berber camp. The tents were sticks erected and the walls were morocco and Berber rugs thrown together. The camp also had rugs laying over the sand as carpet and there were 10 rooms for guests in the circle of the camp. We hiked up the top of the sand dune and saw another Berber camp all but 50 yards away down another sand dune. Matt and I took in the surroundings as we waited for dinner and the French couple that was joining us tonight.
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> Ahmed told us stories and clarified some of the questions. There are police stops every once in awhile where they are watching your speed with radar. But the government doesn't want to punish tourists so the police supposedly will keep waving us by without a ticket. And the dudes that whistle I am supposed to ignore. The French Canadian couple is spendin g 21 days in morocco. And they loved fez. Learned some interesting pointers including that India is pretty sweet. Dinner was then served. We had the salad (a random conglomeration of veggies) then the meal potatoes carrots and chicken served in a Moroccan Dutch oven and fresh cut fruits for dessert. We then headed up to the peak of the dune to take in the peaceful Saharan night. It was too cloudy for star gazing. And the moon was half full so it was rather bright. Then we retreated to our tent and called it a night.
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> Sent from my iPhone

Fwd: Sunrise in the desert

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Gmail <ahannem01@gmail.com>
Date: October 3, 2014 at 10:18:16 PM GMT+1
To: Blogger <ahannem01.adventureofalifetime@blogger.com>
Subject: Sunrise in the desert

Woke up at 7am by Ahmed's clapping to get up the dune and see the sunrise. Absolutely breathtaking. We then headed back to camp for typical Moroccan breakfast of breads jams and jellies then packed up our things said good bye to the Berber camp and were riding our camels back to Ahmed's house to shower. Absolutely worth the multiple day drive and the trip to say we camped overnight in the Sahara.

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We had asked Ahmed about takin a quad (atv) into the desert. He said it was very expensive and he had never done it. Matt was excited about going through the dunes super fast. So we followed up and Ahmed called his buddy. 65$ for the two of us on one atv and a guide so we don't go flying over a dune. Sold. Ahmed graciously drove us to the house and translated for us. Then we were off. Went up and down some pretty intense dunes but I never fell off. Matt got our atv stuck once on the way up a super tall dune "only because the guide stopped up top and he had no where else to go" definitely worth the money. Was absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking to cruise so fast through the dunes. Ahmed waited for us. We said our goodbyes and told him we would review him on trip advisor and tell all our friends how awesome he is so when thy make a trip to Sahara desert they use him.

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We then set out on out 6 hour drive to ourzazate. En route to Marrakech the Atlantic Ocean and Casablanca. We stopped at an afriqua for lunch. Each ordered a kabob (beef in a Moroccan Dutch oven) and fries. They were tastey and continued our drive. Until andrea had some stomach issues which enabled us to stop about four or five times along the way. There are some interesting toilets here. More like holes in the ground with marks for your feet. Anyway. Staying hydrating.

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We stopped in skoura a town about 45 km from ourzazate to check wifi and look for a place to stay and things to do. Skoura is a small town with a palm tree oasis. We drove through it along the gravel road and said next! Into ourzazate to try and find a hotel and what we want to do the next few days. Pulled into ourzazate about 745pm (after leaving merzouga at noon). Found a place for dinner with wifi and started researching. The atlas filming studios are here where they film a lot of desert movies. And the kasbah is gorgeous. Decided to stay in ourzazate. The oscar hotel inside the atlas movie studio had rooms for 40$ a night. So we decided to drop in. Got an upgraded suite complete with balcony and breakfast for 54$. Boom. Plans for tomorrow, check out the kasbah and drive 6 hours to el jadida a Portuguese port town about 1 hour south of Casablanca. Hang out on the beach for a day and then start our trek back to USA.

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Sent from my iPhone

Sunrise in the desert

Woke up at 7am by Ahmed's clapping to get up the dune and see the sunrise. Absolutely breathtaking. We then headed back to camp for typical Moroccan breakfast of breads jams and jellies then packed up our things said good bye to the Berber camp and were riding our camels back to Ahmed's house to shower. Absolutely worth the multiple day drive and the trip to say we camped overnight in the Sahara.

Finally arriving to the desert

We woke up at eleven am to out phone ringing in our four star hotel room. It was the restaurant wondering if we take our breakfast at the terrace or in our room. We decided to take it in our room as we both were getting ready for the two more hour drive to merzouga the gateway to the Moroccan Sahara. We were served omelet and breads and coffee and orange juice. We ate and went to pay our bill. Of course we just changed everything to our room as we were out of cash. 890 dirham for dinner drinks including bottle of wine breakfast and our room. That's about 95$. Well worth it. We then headed to go further south and make it on time to merzouga. We grabbed waters from a gas station and filled the car with gas. We took some stops at scenic overlooks including the palm tree oasis that went for miles and miles. It was like a giant grove of palms in the middle if the Grand Canyon. Breath taking. We made it to erfound and drive past a pizzeria. Have I mentioned I've been craving pizza since day 3? We grabbed more cash at the ATM. That's 600$ we have withdrawn for the two of us including numerous nights in hotels not too bad but still an expensive trip to Matt's standards. And went to the pizzeria. It was good and 9$ for a 14" pizza and two coke zeros.

Pictures from fez/drive to desert