Well this was my final week in Lebanon and it was certainly busy ! Returning back from Switzerland, Lebanon no longer seemed as cold! It was amazing stepping off the MEA flight from Geneva and smelling the ocean spray from the Mediterranean! So we hired a car again, and made our way up to the Cedars in north Lebanon. The traffic on the way up to the ski slopes was a nightmare as there was only a narrow road for cars to come both ways. It was like everyone was freaking out because they hadn't seen snow before and didnt know how to drive! Once we arrived to the Cedars pists, there where only two runs open, which was unfortunate, but okay, as we had our skiing fix from Switzerland. We then explored the local shops ... read more

Well my brother has arrived in Beirut, and we've been keeping more then busy! During his first week in Lebanon, we spent the majority of our time within Beirut city. The weather was unusually glorious, warm and sunny, didn't rain once!! The first week Daniel arrived, arrived i took him around Beirut. We walked from Mar Miekl to Hamrah, which , as Daniel noted, is the 'real' Beirut where everyone mix's , Lebanese Muslims and Christians, unlike my area which is all christian lebanese, french and expatriate! Tuesday was spent in Ashrafieh, ABC mall, where he couldn't believe how affluent the Lebanese the area are!! (and the price of coffee) It really is amazing! Wednesday it rained terribly, we went to visit the Museum! Daniel enjoyed it, but there was a power out and he was ... read more

I have to start with this article i read from October/November issue of Time Out Beirut... In each edition theres a "Tribe of Beirut" section, commenting on the social groups within Beirut, this one targets "Westerns in Beirut" Some background info is needed, it talks about "Fiskeans"... Robert fisk is an English Journalist who has been living in Beirut for years, he was one of the few journalists who lived in west Beirut during the civil war, i read his book "Pity the Nation" and skimmed his "Great war for civilizations" So the article reads.... Tribe of Beirut - Fiskeans! - Westerns looking for a Middle Eastern Adventure, otherwise known as "fiskeans', members of this tribe have abandoned their home country to experience life 'behind borderlines', without realising theres a Dunkin Donuts in Lebanon. Desperate for ... read more

Iskandariyya is how you pronounce it in Arabic!! Has a nice ring!! The bus ride here was un eventful. I was conned into drinking what i thought was complementary tea offered by the bus personal. Before i was about to get off i was informed i had to pay the equivalent of the 3 hour bus trip for tea and some packaged croissants ! So much for hospitality! (what am i complaining about it was only 4 dollars!) It took me a while to find suitable accommodation in Alexandria (cheap and clean, ha, wishful thinking) I didnt have anything pre booked, so all the 'single' beds were taken. Im not really sure if this was the case or they simply want you to take a double room, but i finally found a wonderful, cheap place in ... read more

I got a lift out of Wadi Rum camp site by the lovely German couple who were been driving around Jordan with a hire car, they where also headed to Aqaba and offered to give me a lift into town! (YES FREE RIDE!) Once in Aqaba i must admit i became a quasi backpacker, and checked into a "mid range hotel" that had the luxury of a double bed, air-conditioning, breakfast, my own toilet and wait for it... a TELEVISION! YES it even had a satellite movie channel and was picking up Israeli stations from the other side of the strait! After all the walking around Petra and the desert i was in much need of rest and relaxation. Comparing the beaches in Australia to the 'beach' in Aqaba, infact the whole strait actually, really didn't ... read more