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Michael Spies
Michael Spies

Michael Spies

23 カ国を旅行しました もっと詳しく🇩🇪Icking
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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Just made it to Salalah for sunset
    Beautiful stallions on the beachThis must have been the court photographer of the Sultan!Dawn on the beach at Salalah, totally alone with the waves!Dawn on Salalah beach with sound of the ocean waves

    Salalah

    2022年12月31日, オマーン ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Yesterday afternoon Margot and I separated from the group after we had driven out of the critical part of our desert trip and headed towards Salalah on the coast.
    We desperately needed to get back into our own space. All these group processes are exhausting and we were longing to just wake up alone on a beach.
    And that is what we did, This morning, 01. January 2023, we woke up on a beach to the sounds of the Indian Ocean waves in Salalah when the Muezzin started singing, and watched as the dawn got lighter and lighter and finally when the sun rose.
    WOW! HOW BEAUTIFUL IS LIFE!
    To all of you, a happy new year 2023.    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Morning glory, no sand storm and total silence.This beautiful lady got up first............and served coffee in bed! Yea!Tommys truck stuck, before a try to get out dug him even deeperQuite a mess after digging Tommy out for three hoursTrucks waiting while we walk forward to look for paths through the dunesLooking for a pathLooking for a pathTrucks waiting in the distance while we walk forward to look for a routeLooking for a pathOur last night in the desert at a hot lightly sulphurous springA Tire showing us the route out of the desert, two days drive in one day

    No.8 - It's all about psychology

    2022年12月29日, オマーン ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Today I realized to what extent Driving in the sand is about psychology and that only a part is driving skills.
    But let's go a step back.
    The day started really cool. The wild sand storm of last night had disappeared, the stress of constantly getting stuck was gone and we woke up into a beautiful calm dawn,
    and then I got coffee in bed! YEA!

    The group then assembled to discuss today's route which was planed to cross unknown territory between the two red tracks in the
    Map (see photograph). This would take between one and two days depending on how much we got stuck and whether a route could be found.
    Edi kicked off the discussion explaining that he had studied his "Gaia App" with air photographs all evening and that what we were planning was impossible and irresponsibly dangerous. To cross this region, covered in dunes blocking the path was crazy, one of our cars would tip over, we would get stuck and never get out again. His wife Elsbeth started crying and told that she hadn't slept all night. After lengthy discussion we decided to drive to the beginning of the track in question and then decide there, whether to turn back or not.
    We arrived at the point and promptly on the first hill, Tommy (mantoco),the guide, dug his truck into the sand covering both axles!!!!!
    We all dug for three hours. The decision had been taken! The question was which route to take to get out?
    Here Eddi again showed his App indicating a clear track out of the dunes back to the main road.
    The decision was taken to follow this route.
    Well, we drove the whole day, miraculously crossing three barrier dunes without anyone getting stuck. Clearly driving skills and courage had greatly improved. Drivers were no longer hesitating, which leads to slowing down and digging-in.
    In the late afternoon after 70kms and 6 hours of driving we found ourselves confronted with a dead end. A really high dune was blocking our path with no way over. The only way was back the way we came which would mean three days!    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    The day started calm and wind still!
    Drink that energy drink before heading off into the sand chaosThat track was actually supposed to go straight!Weaving between the sand driftslooking for a way to get throughA whole series of dunes blocking our path. Here, there was no way roundStuck, big style!Also stuckWorking their way throughDeep sand, eating up our wheels!Stuck!A lot of digging to be done here in a powder dry sand a fine as flourYessss! made it!And back on the path, after three hours of digging. The wind is getting stronger and strongerBea, getting outAndi working g his way without getting stuck

    No.7: Today, hard-core sand driving!

    2022年12月28日, オマーン ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    What a crazy day!
    Like yesterday, it started gently at sun rise, cool and without wind.
    Then the sun came and with it a wind that gathered force during the day until a fully fledged sand storm had developed that hid the sun, delivering sand into every corner of our vehicles and bodies. A night mare!

    It was also a day crossing a desert section where sand drifts and small dunes hd covered the track resulting in us having to find a route through the dune fields of dry fine sand and every one getting stuck at least once.
    We spent most of the day digging!    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Early morning in the Wadi
    Oh my god, Andi's rear tires are both flat and worse still, off their rimsThis old guy is phenomenal!We take the heavy wheels off and try to get them back onto the rims through explosion!A huge camel herd on our way outLooking for a place for the night. Unfortunately, a lot of wind blowing sand everywhereThe wind is calming down, and the Sun is settingQuite night without windFollowed by sunrise through our open back door

    No.6: a day with big challenges

    2022年12月27日, オマーン ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    This morning, a huge shock! In the early morning hours, Andi's 10-ton truck suddenly dropped 20 cm's. Waking all. Who later stood around marvelling at this catastrophy. A system used for letting air out of and for pumping up the tires while you are driving (necessary for driving in sand) had leaked, and at some stage, the tires had jumped off their rims. ON BOTH SIDES, IN DEEP LOOSE SAND!
    So, in the next 6 hours, miles away from the next garage, we dug under the truck to position a hydraulic jack, took off the huge, heavy wheels, and used a method of creating an axplosion inside the tire using inflamable break-cleaner to get the tires back onto the air-tight rims. No one except Dietmar had neither seen nor used this method that can go terribly wrong because you are playing with highly inflammable liquids.
    (The video shows a dramatic try, which didn't work. Later on, we succeeded).    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Hangover from that zero percent Martini
    Endless tracks, sand and dustAnd then, in the middle of nowhere, a bath tub with three menThen four men and a ladyAnd then the whole family!What a great feeling to get rid of that salty crustAnd on we goAttention! Camels crossingThe first camel lady of our tripI can eat you up in one gulp I can!Hmmm! I don't know whether that carrot can get me to not eat you upWell, this is my sisterAnd here my third sisterNight time in our first Wadi (a River in the desert)

    No.5: how crazy is this, a bath tub!

    2022年12月26日, オマーン ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    What a crazy day today!
    Driving in the middle of the desert, and suddenly in front of us, is this huge white bath tub, and believe it or not, it is filled with clear cold water.
    Within seconds, Tommy was in, me racing behind him, followed by 74 year old Eddy! Then followed Conny. That was the moment where all shame disappeared and the whole family piled in, except one who took the last picture.
    The place was a watering place for camels, who hold tight, drink up to 150 litres in one go! The old concrete trough had a huge crack, and the Nomads had grouchy half a water tank into the dessert. The crazy thing was that it was full of clear water, slightly salty, slightly sulphurous, but the best water I have ever seen !!!!!!

    Later on in the day, Margot and I bumped into three camel ladies and, in a wave of enthusiasm, pulled out all the vegetables from our cool-box. They ate one carrot, the rest was sniffed at, and then left lying. What a choosy bunch!!!
    Tonight, we spent our first night in a Wadi, which is a river flowing from a spring and then disappearing again. A beautiful evening among palm trees with birds waking us in the morning.    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    A film of Andi driving through a difficult spotSand, sand, sand. As fine as baking powderExhausted during lunch bread in the shade of the car.Simply endless!Climbing a dune, leaving g the cars tiny, belowThis evening we were up here alone! No chatting, just the wind blowing over the du es

    Fourth night, now driving for real

    2022年12月25日, オマーン ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Today, following the beautiful evening yesterday, we needed our sand skills for real. Over and over again, the track had been covered by sand drifts requiring us to drive around, frequently through soft sand.
    But we all got through without one vehicle getting stuck. We are learning to read the sand!
    But the tension, concentration, and adrenalin during such driving is extreme, leaving you exhausted at the end of the day.    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Morning glory!Sand training, short impressionChef Cook preparing an amazing Christmas Dinner with minimal ingredientsChristmas Dinner in the middle of nowhereTo celebrate the evening, a zero percent Martini. WOW what a drink! Got totally drunk on imaginatioThe highlight of the evening, a Thai silk paper balloon sent into the sky

    Christmas eve & sand training

    2022年12月24日, オマーン ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Today is Christmas eve, normally cold and snowy, for us it will be a gruelling day training how to drive in sand (you need to only remember two things: reduce your tyre pressure by more than half and never stop. If you do stop, the chances are high that you will spend at least an hour digging your car out of the sand where it has dug its way in. And if that doesn't work, your sand tracks might help. If this doesn't work, then start praying!
    We went through all the various phases, including praying. This worked because suddenly, the whole team appeared to help get us out, and the teamwork did it. Margot then graduated with distinction in sand driving when she drove a really difficult route and only got stuck once. (I can't say this for myself)

    In the evening, as the day passed away, we celebrated Christmas around a campfire with music in the background as the moon and stars rose in the clear clear quite night.
    To crown it, Dietmar had brought a Thai silk-paper balloon with him to carry our wishes into the dark black sky.
    Wow! What a mind-blowing christmas!    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Which way to go?
    Short stop to discuss the directionVery bright, very dry, very straight!.Our second evening, with the whole team climbing the dune for sun setThe endless desert, as far as the eye can see.Our cars, tiny in the distanceGod's workshop when he was creating the world.Any and Elke, such a loving couple!Not so bed either, these two!

    Rub'Al Kahli, "the great emptiness"

    2022年12月23日, オマーン ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    "The great emptiness," which is brimming full of beauty!
    At the time of writing this, we have been in the desert for 5 days driving along the Oman border, crossing huge ancient flat lakes that haven't seen water for thousands of years, and have passed through regions where huge dune landscapes have entered these regions and are slowly wandering through them, and we have seen desert tracks, 100's km long and very straight!
    What amazed us most was that there are actually plants growing in the middle of nowhere where the ground couldn't have been more dry and more salty. These plants hardly have roots but have the amazing ability to absorb the dew that develops early in the mornings. And these plants were just flowering!
    Solar radiation is incredibly strong, making it almost impossible to drive without sun glasses. Winter temperatures are at 32 degrees! (In contrast to summer temps of 54 degrees!)
    The only time of day that is bearable is up to 2 hours after sunrise and before sunset. Most of the night is warm, and you sleep naked without a blanket until about 3am in the morning where temperatures drop to 10 degrees.

    I just don't know how Nomads, soldiers, or oil workers are able to live in this extreme climate!!!

    Today we saw our first real dune landscapes with dunes up to 200 meters, which we climbed to watch the beautiful sunset to then run down the steep slopes and enjoy dinner in front of our van while the most incredible star sky unfolded above.
    WOW! What an experience, what a privilege, what a gift!    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Our first night in the dessert
    1This oil well-head will be our christmas tree.

    Christmas in the sand, no internet!

    2022年12月22日, オマーン ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Today we will cross the border into Oman and follow a desert track for 7 days. Away from everything including mobile network.
    Margot and I want to wish all who are following this blog a wonderful christmas.

    A few days ago I heard that my dear Father is also following my blog. Every day his wife reads the newest entries to him in the old age home where he lives and discusses the content
    This fills me with joy, it is like a daily communication with him and motivates me to continue posting.
    Happy christmas to all!    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    The most important thing when driving into the sand dessert, wash your car!
    Well! No camel jumped out from behind the dune to attack usStraight, straight, and more straightBut before we could even consider what to do, a truck stopped and pulled us out.

    Christmas will be in the desert!

    2022年12月20日, サウジアラビア ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We are now heading toward the Oman border and will then be heading off into the sand dessert for 5 days
    I hope not longer!!!!
    There will be no Internet!!!
    Should we not report back, then please come and look for our bones!!!
    They should be bleached white by the time you find us.
    So what does one do before heading into the dessert? One washes ones car, which is what we did last night.
    Then we filled all water tanks and bottles to the brim, filled up the reserve diesel canisters, and off we went.
    This is where it gets exciting!
    And promptly, we get stuck in the sand directly next to the road. While we were thinking about what to do, a truck stopped and pulled us out.
    Hmmmm! A bit humbling!    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    On passport Island after exiting Saudi
    Endless causeway leading to BahrainOn Passport Island 3 hours later after crossing into Bahrain. The difference was burocracy!Two splendid Dhows repaired for the king, forgotten since 11 yearsHand sawn planks nailed with iron nailsThe Dhow carpenters toolsMr Dhow man's modern saw for cutting planksFlamingos in front of private residencesGlittery sky scrapers celebrating off shore banking paradicesA beautiful fish dinner and after three months a first bottle of wine

    Bahrain, and a bottle of wine!

    2022年12月16日, バーレーン ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Bahrain was a bit of a disappointment offering much more than glittery skyscrapers at night and otherwise being dusty and without much charm and natural beauty.
    But it had one highlight, alcohol is allowed and so we had a beautiful fish dinner and a real, unforged, authentic bottle of wine from Australia.
    Downside, it was the most expensive dinner we have ever had! But when you are desperate, what else to do?    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Entering into Saudia Arabia the society changes dramatically, most women are totally covered
    Groups of women pickniking together. No men in sight!Women swimming in Burkini... women are with womenI was not allowed to join, but here they are preparing some food for margot to bring to me1Margot was asked to bring this food to me.These are the masculine children of the group sitting separately from the womenWhen they came to to curiously investigate our car, I was only allowed to greet from a distance.

    Crossing into Saudi Arabia

    2022年12月15日, サウジアラビア ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We have entered Saudi Arabia.
    The most striking element is the women who, to a dominating percentage are covered with an Abaya cloak, Hijab headscarf, and Niquaab face veil, which only leaves a small slit to see through and has a piece of cloth covering their mouth which has to be lifted up for eating. When the women have their face open, and I as a man come in their vicinity, they quickly cover their faces.
    So the only way for contact, is between Margot and them with me staying away.
    What was strange is that they all wanted to take Photos with Margot, but many did not want her to photograph them.
    Those women who are not covered are usually Pakistani. And that brings me to another aspect, everything that has remotely got to do with work, is carried out by non-Saudis. These are dominatingly Pakistani, Indian, African, or Egyptian, and make up the majority of visible society.
    When driving through the streets, one has the feeling of being in India.

    This is a country going through dramatic change.
    In 2015 Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (age 93) became king of Saudi Arabia and promptly elected his son Mohammed bin salman (29 years), as his successor and has put him into a rocket ship career through numerous state positions giving him.more and more power.
    The result has been a loosening the rules of clothing and society, opening the country for tourism and sending 250 thousand young Saudis to study abroad (at state cost) .
    While clothing habits are changing very slowly, mastering the english language is evident with a high percentage (also women) speaking really good English.    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Kuwait city
    Traditional DhowConcrete, glass and trafficIncredible eleganceFish market, fish from Kuwait and the whole world, in every size and weight20kms of promenade along the seaWhile searching for the culture center I ended up in the King's Palace, "security" did not agreeSheik Abdullah Al Salem culture centerSheik Abdullah Al Salem culture centerA galaxy, in the culture center. This must be what God looks like, endlessOur location the last night in Kuwait, not bad!And this guy came shortly afterwards to play loud "blues" music for the whole beach out of his xarCool blues in the morning, not bad when you are up for it.

    Kuwait city, skyline & 30km of promenade

    2022年12月10日, クウェート ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    3 days of Kuwait city, getting our washing done and eating in a restaurant with wonderful food, what a pleasure!
    Among other, I wanted to visit the Sheik Abdullah Al Salem culture center, an incredibly large modern museum for history, the sciences and art.
    I started off walking on one end of the city thinking that this would be a walk of a few kilometers. It ended up being nearly 30 km along a never ending promenade along the sea with me mistakenly ending up in the kings palace and swiftly being whisked away by security. The following day I visited this incredible museum for the whole day and just managed two of the 8 buildings. What an incredible museum day.
    The next morning this "cool cat" cruised up to where we stayed next to the sea in hi huge convertible, fed a packet of seeds to the birds and pleasured us with the coolest of blues music from his huge car speakers. Kuwaitis have a lot of money and nothing to do, so they either race up and down the boulevard in their ferrarris or they listen to cool musik. I definitely prefer the second.
    What a crazy morning.    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Sunset in the dessert near the border to Kuwait
    And opposite the sun, the full moon risesFalconers with their birds at the border to Kuwait. They were returning from a hunting tripArrived at a beach in Kuwait, dreaming of a day of peace and quite. We got totally the opposite!Crazy Kuwaitis racing their huge pick-ups on the beachBetween racing Pick-ups, 1 million dollar Arabic stallions galloping.In the middle of it all, family picknic while a quad races byFamilies, quads, cars and racesNot a city at night but 1000s of kuwaitis camping in the desert with generators and allHey! The water is on the wrong side of the car. 2am and getting on to high tideThese guys walking among the tentsFor those Arabs who don't like the tent idea, how about a 20 meter long camping vehicleOr is 30 meters length better? With air conditioning of course!Another family camp ( kraal)

    First night in Kuwait

    2022年12月8日, イラク ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Dreaming of hanging off a few days at the beach, we headed off to North of Kuwait city.
    It was armageddon!
    Huge tuned pick-ups having drag races on the beach, practising full power while pulling the wheel around. In the midst of this, families picnicking, kids playing while million dollar Arab stallions galloped. To top it all, racing quads practising wheelies between the picknickers.
    We were flabbergasted!

    We had parked on the beach and asked around if the tide would vote up. No problem was the answer that came from several families.
    SO WE WENT TO BED AND WOKE UP AT 2am TO FIND OURSELVES SURROUNDED BY WATER! Luckily only 30 cm!
    With 4 wheel drive we slowly edged our way out.    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    A lot of cables, all leading to heaven!
    RED, Very advantageous, when trying to identify your wife among 1000 black hoodsA Pilgrim group walking to the shrine chanting prayersPilgrim group led by an Imam, all chanting and prayingPilgrims heading towards the shrineHuge corridor leading to the shrine of HussainCenter Court with praying shiitesImam reading aloud from the KoranImage of Hussain, the same that followed us every 50m since BasraA Pilgrim group singing together, led by 2 cheer leaders with microphoneHundreds of "tuc tucs" transporting pilgrims to-and-froOlder pilgrims are transported like this

    Kerballa-shrine of Hussain

    2022年12月6日, イラク ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Karballa is the shrine of Hussain Ibn Ali, the son of the Ali from Nadschaf and grandson of Allah. He is known as the "Prince of martyrs" , he is the epitomy of courage and heroism, and example for all.
    After his father had been murdered in Damascus and Yazid had unrightly seized leadership of the Muslim world, Hussain who was the logical successor and very pious, rode from Mecca to Damascus to negotiate with Yazid, taking only his family and friends with him. On the way, his group of 72 was intercepted by an army of 4000 calvary. A battle to the death ensued with Hussain, the last man standing, his body full of arrows had his head cut off. This place is Kerbala
    Hussain is the Che Guevara of the Muslim world and is probably one reason why martyrdom is so attractive (my opinion)
    Pilgrims walk thousands of km to come here, reenacting the battle of Kerbala on the way and imitating the suffering of Hussain.
    The irony was, however, that the atmosphere at the shrine was totally different to that of Ali in Nadschaf. It was more like a "christmas market" in germany. Families mixed with pious believers, chatting, singing, laughing. Even in the court yard next to the shrine amidst those praying, I saw men talking, arguing and laughing together.
    It had nothing of the fanatism of Nadschaf.    もっと詳しく

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Atop a hill above Razarza lake
    Fishermen's hut at the lakePlastic everywhereWarm Sunset, and then immediate cold of the dessertEat on the hill and then throw the packaging over the edge

    Razarza lake, a break among rubbish

    2022年12月5日, イラク ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    After Nadschaf we wanted to chill a day at Razarza lake on the outskirts of Karballa, the Tomb of Hussain.
    Arriving on its shores in the middle of the desert, it was again the endless plastic rubbish that dominated the picture, followed shortly afterwards by thousands of flies, and then at sunset, by millions of midgets, so small that they slipped through our mosquito netting.
    A dream of a place!!!!!    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    The Babylon lion has subjugated the enemy
    Babylon entrance gate, 4500 years oldReconstructed walls in BabylonThe rest of Babylon, many, many bricks for 200.000 inhabitantsView onto the castle that Saddam Hussein built for himself in BabylonHusseins castle,Nice view over the EuphratesBut hate graffiti all over the wallsRich kid celebrating her 27th.birthday in a fast car, while the country suffersA joyful students group.The air we have been breathing for the last 7 daysHere you buy live chickens, sold like this everywhereKitchen for the poor. One of the rules of Islam, "give to the poor"Big scale tea for the poorTea, the national drinkHussain dacorating the back window of a Tuc-Tuc

    Ob the way to Babylon and Saddam Hussein

    2022年12月4日, イラク ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Babylon, the cradle of civilisation built by the king Nebukazdezzar, is today a reconstructed town wall and a lot of old bricks and so didn't impress me too much, instead it was the huge castle on an artificial hill that Saddam Hussein had built himself at this location. Saddam, the dictator and permanent aggressor, obviously saw himself as the modern Nebukadezzar. Looking at this huge deserted building full of graffiti somehow dropped me into deep sadness for this country. Saddam eradicated minorities who bothered him, killed all opposition and then started a terrible war against Iran, followed by his invasion of Kuwait which literally levelled Kuwait, then when forced to withdraw he set fire to hundreds of oil well-heads causing one of the greatest nature catastrophes ever, and requiring months to put out the fires, and then provoked the total bombing and eradication of his country, which is still destroyed today despite being one of the greatest oil producers in the world.
    What a great story!
    Later, at the Kuwait border, I spoke with a policeman who was 13 years old at the time, his description of the period of burning wells was horrifying. For three years, Kuwait did not see the sun which was covered by black smoke.    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Entering Nadschaf, a chaos of traffic and polluted air
    Busses carrying pilgrims came and went till late at nightSelling drinks for pilgrimsMountains of rubbish and "hostels" for pilgrimsWhere pilgrims stay when they arrive by foot from Iran or futherThe most beautiful "pilgrims" aroundConveyor belt to transport us up the hill to the shrineCorridors leading to the building of the shrineCoffins (with content) going through security checkChaos of believersThe women sectorInside the court yard of the shrine with thousands prayingThousands praying (on right)Hundreds pushing into the shrine itselfWomen climbing over each other while screaming and crying (report from margot)Hundreds of women pushing into the shrine

    Nadschaf, the tomb of Imam Ali

    2022年12月4日, イラク ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Nadschaf, together with Karbala, is the greatest destination for pilgrims of the Shia faith (like Santiago di compostella in the Christian world). Here, Imam Ali, the son in law of Allah, who was stabbed to death in front of a moshee to prevent him from taking up the succession from Allah, is buried. It was his death that triggered the schism in the Muslim faith between Sunnites and Shiites.
    His shrine is visited by millions each year, coming from Iran, and far away locations such Pakistan.
    We visited in the evening during prayer time. (Women separated from men) and had to go through nomerous check points when driving into town and then again three body checks when entering the holy area. (They are terrified of a repeat of what happened in Shiraz).
    It was an experience I will never forget. Thousands of people praying with an Imam singing from the loud speakers while another with deep voice kept on repeating "ALLAH".
    As I entered the shrine, hundreds of believers, in a religious trance, screaming and shouting, shoving their way into a small space to kiss and touch his tomb with their prayer chains.
    Besides feeling panic rising in me, it was also the unstoppable religious energy in the space that made you realise that whoever harnesses this energy for a cause can not be stopped by any number of machine guns (as was the case when Khomeni started the Iranian revolution)
    To feel this energy is terrifying. Margot , who experienced the women side of the tomb, reported the same.
    In the middle of all this coffin bearers carried coffins (with content) around the shrine shouting "no god, except allah" (see video)
    Apparently, the graveyard of Nadchaf is the largest and most expensive in the Arab world because everyone wants to be buried close to Ali. The grave yard occupies 1/3 of the city's surface.    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    The Ziggurat of Ur, dating back to 2124 BC!!!!
    Temple Foundation, with clay bricks held together with bitumen!Bitumen used 4200 years ago!!!!These bricks are 4200 years old!Pop star having his next record cover photographed

    UR, the cradle of civilisation

    2022年12月3日, イラク ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    UR was a large city and capital of the Sumarians next to the Euphrates 4200 years ago with numerous temples, palaces built in the third UR dynasty. It had two harbours connected to the Persian gulf, which today is hundreds of km away. Apparently, Abraham was born in UR.
    The citiy's existence ended abruptly when a huge flood from the euphrates covered it in 4 meters of silt still visible today. In the "epics of Gilgamesh" this flood as the flood of Noah.
    What was amazing, is that they knew bitumen and used it to build large buildings such as the Ziggurat which was a temple to the moon god Nannar. Unfortunately the realy interesting things found in royal graves are in London and Baghdad.    もっと詳しく

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Baking Nan, Indian style
    Margot learning how to bake Nan110 Kilovolt transformer held by two wires to stop it falling, a good electrician at work hereSunriseSunrise quietDive into the craziness of evening shoppingAaaah, Falafel!

    Reflections and Impressions

    2022年12月3日, イラク ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    When we entered IRAN, Margot and I were shocked by what we saw, the old cars, the apparent poverty and simpleness of life which we attributed to 40 years of sanctions and an inflation of 40% per year for many years. Allthough, I have to add, the roads were more -or-less ok with many new highways and a lot of construction work.
    We were fascinated by the friendliness and joy of the people. Most women smiled and when they saw Margot driving greeted her with cheers. Men were fascinated and wanted Photos with her. Most women were open and seemed confident. Many spoke english and in the cities many drove cars. The cities were more or less well organized.
    The initial shock of having all communication channels blocked and only very slow intermittent internet while we were constantly being shadowed and followed by secret police slowly changed. We were controlled every day, sometimes, several times, but the police were always extremely friendly, well groomed and usually spoke english, and it became more and more apparent that although they had the task of making sure we were not journalists and were not checking out strategic targets, they were actually worried about our safety and well being. On one occasion, they even brought food and drinks for the whole group!

     IRAK seems totally the opposite.
    The rubbish and dust here are extreme, making Iran seem clean!
    The cities and infrastructure are in a desolate state, with people looking suspicious and seldom reflecting any joy.
    Women are hardly visible in society, and when we see one, she pulls up her Chador over her mouth and looks away.
    Not one woman is driving!
    Military check points are every few kilometers with our passports being taken away by the police or soldiers who then phone around for ages to find out what they should do with them. 2 hours is not seldom. This process is exhausting! Rough commands are shouted at us in arabic and doesn't really give us a relaxed feeling!
    No one speaks english!!
    But then, is this surprising? This country has literally been at war for the last 40 years, with Saddam Hussein being the key driver!
    (Irak/ran 1980-88, Kuwait 1990, first Gulf war 1991, Massive uprising in Irak 1992 brutally smothered by Saddam Hussein, 1998-2003 second gulf war which literally flattened the country.
    Before all this, one group was constantly massacring the other every few years while Saddam"s secret service radically got rid of all opposition. After Saddam was gone, it was Al-Qaida and ISIS, all of Sunni faith, who occupied half of the country, massacring everything that had a different religion.
    Reading Iraks history is like a horror story and extremely depressing.    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Water buffalo, the way they should beWhat is left of the wetlandsDrained wetlands

    The wetlands of Mesopotamia

    2022年12月3日, イラク ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Until the 80's the area between the two rivers consisted of thousands of km2 of wetlands, an ecosystem with channels criss-crossing and 2million inhabitants specialised on living here.
    One of the crazy projects of Saddam Hussein was to drain these wetlands to get rid of these people who were causing trouble and to create large-scale agriculture. However, without the yearly floods bring fresh water water and soil , the soil was too salty and nothing grew. The result today, is an endless desert with dust storms and shrubs here-and-there.
    An ecological tragedy!
    10% of the surface have been declared as national park but the water levels are no longer there.    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Shia Pilgrim walking to Kerbala
    Everywhere images of HussainEverywhere FlagsA Pilgrim walking alone with his bag and flag in a deep state of meditationThe last Ashura in September 2022

    Pilgrimage to Kerbala

    2022年12月1日, イラク ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Islam has a huge schism between the Shiia and the Sunni which is at the core of all fighting within Islam. Like the Jews, who are waiting for jesus, the Moslems are waiting for Mahdi to return to earth. The Shia believe this is a descendant of Allah, the Sunni believe this can be any prophet. This difference has caused wars over centuries.
    In Ad 680 Imam Hussain rode to Kerbala to negotiate this point with tje Sunnis and was murdered together with his followers. This is celebrated on "Ashura" by the Shias who do a pilgrimage to kerbala in the thousands.
    This last pilgrimage was in September and everywhere we are seeing the traces of this. Along the roads pictures of Hussain, flags in various colours sometimes with Hussain's face on them, along the road small hostels consisting of a toilet and a floor to sleep on, and everywhere plastic drinking bottles.
    We had the honour of seeing one Pilgrim walking alone, but found some pictures of the last Pilgrimage in the Web.    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください

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