Batch 37 — The Great Sojourn — theNOSTOMANIAC.com

219 - Wandering the 'Bul (Istanbul, Turkey)

I defy you to visit Istanbul and not drink a shit ton of tea or smoke an assload of hookah. It’s a cultural hotbed of social interaction and almost feels like a requirement, though a pleasant one at that… until you make yourself nauseous from tobacco. Also, I’m surprised I have any teeth remaining after guzzling tea equal parts sugar and water.

If Taksim Square is Istanbul’s heart, then Istiklal Avenue is its main artery. One can find anything and everything—shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, theaters, galleries, etc. I patrolled this thoroughfare no less than 1.32 million times. With Istanbul being the cosmopolitan “East meets West nexus,” anonymity is easy to attain, even for a 6’4” goofball American….

Batch 37, Turkeyby Mr. Nos T. O'maniacNovember 7, 2023Istanbul, Taksim Square, Istiklal Avenue, Body Worlds, Plastination

218 - Medical Tourism (Istanbul, Turkey)

Acibadem Fulya, the hospital in Istanbul, was the newest addition to the network. It had only been operating for six months. Everything was brand spanking new, and it was the nicest hospital I’ve ever visited. They have a specific “check-up” department, using the English phrase “check-up” on the signage. I arrived and checked in at the reception desk. Although the clerical staff spoke very little English, they provided a liaison who’d lived in Houston, Texas for twenty-five years. All the doctors also spoke English.

First, I had blood drawn, blood pressure measurements, height, weight, etc. Next was a visit to…

Batch 37, Turkeyby Mr. Nos T. O'maniacNovember 4, 2023Acibadem FulyaIstanbul, Medical Tourism

217 - And Then There Was One…

My feelings evolved. In the ensuing years, I experienced deep regrets and emotions that often threatened to overwhelm me in an instant. I wasn’t afraid she still had feelings for me, that she still needed me. I was afraid she didn’t, and I couldn’t bear the truth.

I’d fallen down an abandoned well of despair, one I believed I’d never escape. I didn’t want to see Leslie again. I needed to see her again. My life came to a standstill, an existential limbo. I thought of her life. What are you doing right now? Who are you doing it with? Do you ever think of me? Of us? Do you still have a warm place in your heart for our time together? Such thoughts could and would send me into a downward spiral that took days to recover from…

Batch 37, South Africa, miscby Mr. Nos T. O'maniacNovember 1, 2023Love, Friendship

216 - Victoria Falls (Livingstone, Zambia)

Arrive a few weeks later and the torrent will be obscured by mist. I happen to think it was the perfect time, a compelling medium between peak thunder and relative dry-season trickle. Most prefer the dry season when the Zambian side withers and one can walk across the edge to Livingstone Island. Ideally, you’d visit twice to appreciate both perspectives, but if I had to choose, I’d go when the cascade is near full force and borderline deafening. Stupefying… that’s the word.

We forked over the dough for a boat trip to Livingston Island for a look-see and a private breakfast. (We’re worth it.) After donning rain gear, our guide brought us to the edge of madness for a peek into the abyss. Another word: awesome. My heart skipped several beats…

Batch 37, Zambiaby Mr. Nos T. O'maniacOctober 28, 2023Victoria Falls, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Livingstone

215 - Nine Lions And Some Yippee-ki-yay (Okavango Delta, Botswana)

If you stay calm, make no sudden movements, and stay seated, everything is hunkey dorey. Do something stupid like stand up, and you’re no longer a part of the solid mass. You’re singular, distinct, and could be perceived as a threat. Not a good position near lion cubs. Stories were passed around later about an unfortunate soul who stood up in a similar vehicle near a leopard, instigating a vicious attack that left the occupants alive but severely injured. No one wants to be that asshole.

At the outset, two other vehicles shared the space, but we found ourselves alone after thirty minutes. This astonished me…

Batch 37, Botswanaby Mr. Nos T. O'maniacOctober 28, 2023Okavango Delta, Botswana, Kwando Safaris, Kwara Camp

214 - Kwara Camp (Okavango Delta, Botswana)

After some research, we went with Kwando Safaris, choosing a two-night affair at their Kwara Camp. The package includes flights in and out of the Delta… because we’re that fucking important. No better way to grasp the beauty and size of the Okavango than by air. During the wet season, the view is spectacular. We were supposed to land on an airstrip ten minutes from camp, but the rains made it unserviceable, so we were forced to start an hour and a half away. This was of no import, more of a feature than a bug. The ride turned into an extra safari in an area straight out of a postcard.

Kwara Camp is inside Kwando's private concession, which means they have exclusive rights to the area (i.e. no large tourist herds)…

Batch 37, Botswanaby Mr. Nos T. O'maniacOctober 28, 2023Kwara Camp, Kwando Safaris, Okavango Delta