Blogs from South, Syria, Middle East - page 15

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Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus October 2nd 2007

Gail’s birthday - she opened cards from all of us, plus one or two others brought from friends. We were then off to Palmyra where we found the ruins almost deserted. We were free to wonder around at will where we marveled at the wonderful preservation of much of the site. Pictures will explain better than words. Ian, who was suffering from a very sore big toe, did not walk with us but sought out fuel - successfully in the end. A taxi appeared with containers in its boot and we each of us put 40 litres into our cars at the cost of GB Pounds 5 each - and that was the black market price!! Having satiated ourselves with the wonderful ruins we set off for Damascus, again through vast deserts which were wonderful to ... read more
Palmyra ruins
Oftat Palmyra
Palmyra - Camels

Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus September 18th 2007

EI, tegelikult hoopis lahked inimesed ja kaunis kõrbe maastik. Küll aga võib vastupidine mulje jääda järgides rahvusvahelist meediat, mis on sellest "kurjuse telje riigist" loonud ohtliku pildi, kuhu reisimine peaks olema ilmselgelt võُimatu. Mina tunnen end öösel pimedatel Damaskuse laburünt tänavatel kaameraga ringi jalutades kõvasti turvalisemalt kui nt. Tallinnas. Liibanoni ja Süüria pealinnade vahet sõidavad juba päris bussid. Alguses tundus isegi, et on olemas mingisugune ajagraafik, kuid kuna minu buss väljus lubatust 2.5h hiljem, siis paistab, et kinni sellest niikuinii ei peeta. Kuna Liibanonis olles pidin paar korda päevas oma Iraanis käigu kohta selgitusi jagama, siis ületades piiri Süüriaga üritasin seda inglise keele oskust varjates vältida. Eesti keelt nad seal millegipärast ei osanud ja kuna meie viipe keeles rääkimine kuhugi edasi ei arenenud olid nad sunnitud peagi mi... read more

Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus August 10th 2007

The city of Damascus wakes up every day and opens its arms to touch you softly like the fabric of damask and bloom in front of you in its entire splendor like a damask rose. Walking through its streets you will soon find yourself intoxicated by the magic of this ancient city and the magic of the Middle East. T.E. Lawrence once wrote about Damascus: "The silent gardens blurred green with river mist, in whose setting shimmered the city, beautiful as ever, like a pearl in the morning sun. No wonder that they call it - The Pearl of the East..." Historically, Syria included Jordan, Israel and Lebanon as well as the area now known as Syria. Syria played an incomparable role in the history of mankind. It is often described as the Cradle of Civilizations, ... read more
Khan As'ad Pasha al-Azam
Food
Wisdom

Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus August 1st 2007

Coming from a country with fairly poor diplomatic relations with so many countries have had it's downs and downs. For one, individual travel is banned from several countries like Iran (which is supposed to be one of the most incredible places to visit according to the dozens of European travels I've met), Sudan and North Korea, or you have to pay more for a visa due to reciprocity. Another is the constant anti-American conversations I've had along my travels --I want to carry a note that says, "I didn't vote for Bush -- actually I moved out of America for the duration of his presidency!" so I don't have to defend the dummies who voted for W. So the experience at the Jordanian/Syrian border was just another friendly reminder of the world's love for America and ... read more
inside the Omayyad mosque courtyard
Sweets!
A bit thirsty, Omar?

Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus June 16th 2007

So, gestern Abend lief dann doch etwas entspannter ab, zusammen mit dem Australier hab ich noch ein Bierchen getrunken. Der Typ ist echt gut rumgekommen und hat die letzten vier Jahre im Prinzip nur mit Reisen verbracht. Krasse Sache. Ansonsten haben wir aber nicht so sehr auf einer Wellenlaenge gefunkt. Naja, war troztdem ein ganz netter Abend. Heute morgen habe ich meine frischgewaschenen Klamotten in Empfang genommen. Dafuer, dass es ein Heidengeld (7$) gekostet hat, habe ich jetzt gebuegelte Boxershorts :) Dann habe ich noch ein bisschen die Suqs unsicher gemacht. Ihr koennt euch auf obskure Souvenirs einstellen :) Ich habe hier jetzt einen obskuren Kartenleser in der Hand, bin mir aber nicht sicher, ob es wirklich funktioniert (lahmer Computer, grosse Bilder). Naja, wenn, dann gibts zu den letzten Tagen mal ein paar Bilder. xxx ... read more
Im Souq

Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus June 14th 2007

Tach! Heute hatte ich gleich 2 Begegnungen mit Taxifahrern, und beide warn zum Kotzen. In Palmyra machte ich mich nach dem Fruehstueck noch zu den Graebertuermen (riesig) auf und besuchte anschliessend das Museum (ich war der einzige Besucher, dafuer sprangen aber mindestens 10 Beschaeftigte rum...). Gegen Mittag packte ich meine 7 Sachen und nahm ein Taxi zurueck zum Bus. Nachdem sich der Taxifahrer gestern noch mit 25 Lira zufrieden gab, wollte er heute das doppelte. Naja, hat wohl eine etwas gespaltene Persoenlichkeit, der gute. In Damaskus angekommen, musste ich vom Busbahnhof wieder Taxi fahren (es gibt auch Microbusse, aber in Ermangelung von Arabisch-Kenntnissen is man da als Auslaender eher aufgeschmissen). Das Taxi hatte aber gluecklicherweise ein Meter, das am Ende der Reise 50 Lira zeigte. Dummerweise hatte ich nur einen 200er, und der Fahrer machte Anstalten ... read more

Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus May 24th 2007

If you haven’t spent too much time around a monastery, you’d be surprised by just how much noise a bunch of monks can make rolling out of bed in the morning. It’s hardly past sunrise when I first hear them outside my window, bickering away in Arabic, laughing hoarsely, and going to great lengths to ensure that the rigors of monastic life are shared by every last pilgrim in earshot. There’s a funny bit of horse-play between them - the sort of playful rough-housing I’ve grown accustomed to in the Arab world - and it’s not hard to imagine an exchange between them going something like this: MONK #1: Brother Boutros, you wouldn’t know Corinthians if it came up and slapped its balls on your neck. MONK #2: Corinthians? I got your Corinthians swingin’! It’s ... read more
Chapel detail, Mar Musa
Monastery, Mar Musa
Ersatz pilgrim, Mar Musa

Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus May 22nd 2007

We’ve been sitting and simmering in a minibus for a quarter of an hour, the driver outside smoking his L&M cigarettes and a few hoarse guys shouting out destinations (“Nebeknebeknebek!” “Halebhalebhaleb!”) while people go scurrying around the station, duffel bags and swaddled infants in tow. Within the hour I should be climbing the 343 stone steps to the hill-top monastery of Deir Mar Musa, a centuries-old sanctuary in the desert that’s famous for both its 11th-century frescoes and the free beds it offers for weary pilgrims and - let’s be honest here - budget travelers. But there’s been a hold-up, and after five minutes a thin, nervous man comes to the door and motions for me to follow. I’m sweating through my shirt and an hour behind schedule besides, but when I ask him “Shoo?” ... read more
Bus stop, Mar Musa
Path, Mar Musa
Monastery, Mar Musa

Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus May 19th 2007

In the two weeks since I left Damascus, preparations have hit full-stride for the upcoming referendum. It should prove to be a real nail-biter, with as many as .8% of Syrians expected to cast their nay votes, and President Assad riding the maniacal wave of popular support toward another seven years in office. As Sara explains, voters have two choices: “’Yes,’ I want Bashar to stay in power. ‘No,’ there is no one but Bashar.” Already the place has the air of a victory parade, with flags and banners strung from the street lights and Assad’s smiling mug plastered on every billboard. “You’d be smiling, too,” his face suggests. “The people love me. “Or else.” There’s Bashar beaming from an overpass and Bashar draped across five floors of a government ministry, his trim little moustache ... read more
Billboard, Damascus
"I believe in Syria", Damascus
Homage, Damascus

Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus May 18th 2007

Maybe Damascus Middle East » Syria » Damascus By ana_be_goodMay 18th 2007Ana Wow! is all I can say about Damascus. I love it here. My mind is already scheming on how I could come back to love here for a little bit. Apparently there are english schools here that I can work at. Is this it then? Am I meant to come live in Syria for a few months? This place is just so...kewl, for the lack of a better word. Been hanging out with too many Kiwis on this trip. These people spell awesome with a capital O. People here are just so nice. Apart from being stared at and Paula getting her ass grabbed, I had the best day. We wandered around town with a map. ... read more




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