The Global Scavenger Hunt

Today was a travel day. Joy. We woke up and ate breakfast at the hotel, with an indoor courtyard. I learned Dad loves indoor courtyards; he kept raving about how cool this was and how much he wanted that. Anyway after the yummy breakfast, we took our first mode of transportation: a taxi. I know that was a total build up then faceplant. We took the taxi to the train station. We got on the first class cart, so fancy, and got comfortable. We were six people so we took up the whole cart. Yay no sitting next to strangers; I'm not mean, just shy. Anyway, the train was actually pretty comfortable to take a nap on. Unfortunately, I drooled on my shirt and since I hate wearing wet clothes, I had to change shirts, which isn't horrible just not the best. After the train to Tangier,  we took a taxi to the ferry station, where we took a ferry to Algeciar (I think that's how you spell that). The ferry was super crowded and you had to be really pushy. I was not a big fan of that; to cla...

Today we woke up at 5 am! So it was an early morning. We had to get up early so we could catch the driver that’s taking us to ballooning. So I’ve noticed that a lot of times in Morocco, the path or route to activities really give off a horror movie/murder vibe. The car ride was in the dark along a bumpy road that was in the farming fields and stuff. And not other cars or anything was around. To sum it up, very murdery. We got there around 6 and sat down in the tent and ate some breakfast while we waited for the balloons to get ready. They started blowing up the balloons, which were huge, but then the wind changed and it was a very strong change so everybody was scrambling to stop the balloons from being pulled away and avoid be smushed by the balloons. Unfortunately, due to the wind change we waited for about 45 minutes for them to blow up the balloons then make them upright. Once it was all blown up and stuff, we got in. The basket was split into four sections for two people and a l...

Today we slept till 8:30! Well I did, Dad was awake at 8:00. It felt so good to be able to sleep in, even if the air conditioning in the room was no so hot. Well it was hot but not in the good way. At breakfast they had madeleines. And anyone who knows me well knows I try to bake madeleines, because I love them. Anyway, breakfast was hot in a good way. The meeting was a big one with the teams. It’s the big scavenge leg now. We’re going to four countries! Morocco, Gibraltar, Spain and end in Portugal. I know muy picante. After the meeting and a few hours of planning with Ali and Micheal (another team we’re traveling with) and Margo, we finally had a decently solidish plan. For today, we decided to go get a hamman with Ali, Micheal, Eric and Kathryn. We took a tuk tuk there, but the tuk tuk drivers and us didn’t know where to go. So first we got dropped off at this super nice hamman place with adorable puppies and a nice owner from San Francisco. Unfortunately, that was the wrong place s...

Second and sadly last day in Athens Greece. So we decided to make the most of it and did a lot today. First we went to the Temple of Zeus, the Acropolis and Athena Parthenon. Dream come true! When I was walking up to the Acropolis, I couldn’t stop thinking about Percy Jackson: Blood of Olympus; where they woke Gaea in the Acropolis and returned the Athena Parthenon to Camp Half-Blood. I know, I’m such a nerd, but Percy Jackson nerds are the best kind. Anyway, we finally got up there and it was super crowded and sadly we couldn’t actually enter the Athena Parthenon, because it was under construction and stuff. Although I think even if it wasn’t under construction, we would wouldn’t be allowed in. So sad. After we saw the awesome view and walked around a little, we started heading down but were blocked off by a dude aggressively blowing a whistle and yelling. At first Dad and I thought he was some crazy loud tour guide (like if Sydney was a tour guide), but saw he was actually cleari...

Today we landed in..... ATHENS, GREECE!!! I have officially completed my one childhood dream (is it technically a childhood dream if you're still a child?) of coming to Greece. Been on my bucket list since I read the Percy Jackson series. The first time. First thing we did was go to the Temple of Poseidon! My favorite god. The temple was high up on a cliff over looking the sea. Perfect for the god of the sea. Anyway, me being great at avoiding social interactions and people, I found a beautiful secluded area over looking the sea and the city, on the edge of the cliff. Dad kept saying "don't jump," which I would never do. I ain't stupid, mostly. The weather was perfect. Not too cold, not too hot, just right. The actual temple was stone and mostly broken, but there were super tall pillars in an L shape. Second destination was the Aegean Sea. We took a taxi to this super fancy private beach part of the Aegean Sea. Once we changed and started to get in, let me say...

Today, we decided to fulfill one of Dads childhood dreams: swimming in the Dead Sea. I woke up locked and loaded, ready to leave after breakfast. We hit the road pretty quickly. We went with two other teams, Micheal and Ali and Maria and Kim. Another person, Margo, was supposed to come but unfortunately she was sick so she had to stay in the hotel. The first car ride was about an hour, so it was a bonding road trip experience with the others. Which my dad loved. He asked them about how the couples met (both teams were a couple), because well he's Alan and he loves hearing about those kinds of stuff. I on the other hand was reading, because I'm Emory. Anyway, first stop was St Georges church. This place was okay, but not really memorable due to the fact that it was a tiny little church with the oldest map of Jordan as its only famous piece. After we left there, we drove to a mosaic place, that employs physically disabled persons and donates their profits to helping other disab...

Today, or rather last night, I got sick and threw up. Very not fun. I blame the chicken. Anyway, since I was feeling sick and gurgly and overall not good, I stayed in the hotel room and slept while Dad went to Petra. He said it was very beautiful and he had a lot of fun. I was perfectly happy to relax or as my dad put it "veg out" (originated from couch potato). So this blog post is gonna be pretty short because I didn't do much except sleep. But I'm feeling better now, as in tonight, although my stomach still feels a bit gurgly. Kids never fake being sick, because Karmas a butthead. Not that I've ever faked being sick, but I have thought about faking it and now Karma. Can't wait for the Dead Sea tomorrow, but I hope I don't get burnt by the extreme salt water; dad said its like swimming in acid. View in front of me all day View to my left all day View to my right all day

Today was a travel day to Amman, Jordan, but we still go to sleep in! I was so excited for sleeping in and going to Jordan. Dad was super excited to go because he's never been. I was super excited because its under 60 degrees there. Breakfast was relaxing and delicious with too many choices. The flight was about three hours and I got to watch Wreck it Ralph 2. Turns out it was actually pretty decent. Not as bad as the reviews, but not as good as I would have liked. Otherwise the plan ride was pretty decent. The hotel was so funky yet classy. There are a lot of mirrors and weird shaped, big vases all over the place. Almost knocked over a few. Oops. We were roomed on the 21st floor. I know everyones thinking, "that's such a low floor," me too. Anyway, the room was super snazzy and petite. Just like me. It reminds me of the hotel rooms in Japan, with super fancy furniture and stuff but in a smaller room. After we got settled in the room, we decided to go out to din...

Today we are doing our one and only scavenge day in Abu Dhabi. Since we decided to be more laid back about the rest of the trip and not turn in a score sheet, today was so much more fun. First thing we did today was...... Ferarri World! That was where we went on the fastest rollercoaster. The building was super nice and big with some turbo go karts, slides and obstacle courses. The rollercoaster was out in the back and it was huge and twirly. We stayed in line for awhile like any rollercoaster but standing in line just made my dad more nervous. Dad was freaking out more than me because he hasn't been on a rollercoaster in awhile. Anyway, we finally got on the rollercoaster and I was locked and loaded. As soon as we started it shot off at 150 miles per hour. I thought my face was flying off. It dropped within the first five seconds and so did my stomach. I kinda forgot about my stomach after that, I was too busy screaming some Pg-13 stuff. Mom don't get mad cause dad was say...

Today we went to Bangkok for a layover leg before we went to Abu Dhabi. The leg was 8 hours. I know, super short. Like me! Anyway there was only about 11 scavenges and we finished 10, like pros. First scavenge we did was talk to some locals and poll them on who they think is the most famous Thai person is. Didn’t know any of the ones they said except Blackpink. Which is a K-Pop band. I felt super cultured when I recognized them. After we finished the scavenge and got off the subway, I went on my first ever tuk tuk. This is a taxi, carriage/motorcycle. It was actually pretty cool except that it was super hot in Thailand so the wind just made you hot. Well for me, hotter. Wink wink. The tuktuk took us to the Amulet Market. It was really hot and had a lot of amulets. Hence the name. Not anything too special, in my opinion. My dad though was totally into the Buddha “see no evil” amulet he got. Cause he’s super youthful and into dabbing (he tried dabbing the other day, big oof). Anyway, af...

Today as the last day for scavenges in Myanmar. We had the whole day mapped and planned and were ready to roll out by 6:30. Like a boss. First we went to Shwedagon Pagoda. The scavenge was to go at dawn or dusk, so we chose dawn. When we were there we had to find a pagoda in that pagoda and some big bell. One problem, we couldn't find anything because it was all Burmese. No surprise there since we're in Myanmar but its still poop on a stick. So that scavenge took longer than expected but luckily a tour guide had come up to me, randomly, and offered his help since he could speak english. Although, when Dad told him we were chinese he kept trying to incorporate mandarin in his english sentences. I guess, he was trying to be nice or something. After we finally found everything, we went to visit some pagodas and the national museum, which was not the best. It was very dim, even for me. Don't worry Mom, I didn't read anything in there. Anyway, after that we went to the T...