Middle East Travel Blogs

Looking back, this is by far one of the most special trips I have ever made. Almost every day we felt as if we were experiencing something unique. The hospitality of the people inviting us for tea or a chat on an almost daily basis is definitely what made this region so special, but also the rich h…

People i met here, who contributed to and improved my trip: Julia (Russia), Vali and Mehran (Iran)   Iran is a country that strikes fear into many people, with America branding them as a nation that belongs to the 'axis of evil'. Been an Islamic State certainly doesn't improve its image in t…

Its been a while but ive been waiting for this moment for a year. i left iraq behind and now i get to come home. i will eventually see all my loved ones and family but i have more army stuff to do later in the coming weeks. july hopefully i can kick back and relax. so as i wait for my flight back t…

I was right, the flight back from sydney to Abu dhabi where i had a stopover was terrible. Well the flight went well but the place was so small and I couldn't sleep at all. It was terrible. I start walking and met a guy who was almost 30 years old and we talked alot, so the flight went faster. I …

And we’re off.  A good start as I arranged for an unusual flight plan to reach Amman and team up with Mark (rendezvousing with me from Dubai).  There was a direct flight from JFK to Amman departing 11:30P Wednesday night, but to get there in time I bought a ticket to LaGuardia and c…

During our early morning cab-ride to the airport, the lady on the radio reported the the temperature would be around 41ºC (106ºF) today. Whoa! Dang! That's hot! Good day to be leaving I guess. So we are off to Amman, Jordan (relatively cool, I think!) with a three-hour layover in Bahrain. See you…

The next day, Cathy and I got up early to walk to Jaffa.  When we got back, we took a walk through some of the parks of Tel Aviv and also through the main shopping area.  It really felt like Europe, or even the US, but it was a neat experience all the same.  We were shocked to see ev…

even though my body was really tired from the timezone, i still couldnt get sleep, not helping that i was too small for the reclined chairs hahahha and the constant pa in the middle of night echoing around the airport.i wasnt lucky this time like my first flight that i found a free pillow and all. …

Losing nine hours during the flight deposited me in Dubai around 9:30PM Saturday night.  I was a little taken aback by the lack of instructions/signage informing where exactly to go, but eventually stood in the appropriate line and shared an engaging chat with a guy from Britain who was ove…

This small country, the smallest in the Middle East, has an area of only 10,452 km² but carries a civilization & history of 4,000 years.   Historical Facts:   1)      Lebanon is the modern name of what was called Phoenicia. It is not an Arab country. 2)…

Very early in the morning it is time to get up and get ready to leave for Syria. It'll be a long day of driving and boarder crossing hence an early start is needed :( I don't feel really well rested after a maximum of two hours of sleep. But I don't have any signs of a hangover - when I try to …

[ Owing to the loss of my camera the photos in this entry have been donated with exceptional kindness by Cameron & Nicole.  I thank you both. ] Time to move on people.  Three and a half weeks in Egypt, my visa speeding towards its conclusion and myself desperately in need of a change…

The time that the bus supposed to take off at 8.30 dragged till 10. I didn’t have any clue what was the problem. The seats were more than half empty. Earlier that morning I saw some western travelers boarded the other bus that departed on time. Soon after half an hour journey something was wrong…

The trip from Abu Dhabi to Oman was a birthday present from April to me and we set off late morning. Abu Dhabi to Al Khamir in Oman is a 5 hour drive. Driving north, the desert sands alongside the motorway are orange peach coloured. Groups of camels stroll, grazing on the rare green desert plants. …

Now this is what traveling is about! A land truly like no other. A nation so fully regulated you cant even Google the word ‘kiss’, yet with the right contacts, can pretty much do anything you want. Fantastic food, friendly people, exotic women, hijab-raising driving habits. Jump onto the flying carpet!