Blogs from Middle East - page 1059

Petra had always been a place in the back of our minds for many years. A famous old city in the Middle East, carved out into rocks. Cool to see one day, but nothing that would really get out of our way for… So getting there, without too many expectations, that place was really impressive! Built by the crafty Nabataeans 400 years before Christ, it’s referred to Sela in the bible and today most known from Indiana Jones III. The entrance to the city begins with walking in to a narrow canyon within huge rocks. In the old days there were big statues and arches along the whole way which is over 1.5km long, with aqueducts on both sides leading water to the city. When we well reached the city, the first sight of it ... read more

Have you ever been to the UN building's Hall of Nations in New York? I've fortunately had the opportunity to visit it for free since i'm a penniless college kid in Manhattan improving ramen recipes. But anyway, if you have gone there you may have noticed the plaque marked with the following lovely passage: بنى آدم اعضاء يك پیکرند، که در آفرينش ز يك گوهرند چو عضوى به درد آورد روزگار، دگر عضوها را نماند قرار تو که از محنت دیگران بیغمی، نشاید که نامت نهند ادمی "Of one Essence is the human race, Thusly has Creation put the Base; One Limb impacted is sufficient, For all Others to feel the Mace." This is the work of the famous Persian poet, Sa'adi. Iran's produced a number of fantastic writers who're popular amongst both Iranians and ... read more

Suprise, Sorry we are late for our first entry, we were playing in traffic. Well our journey started last tuesday May 1st, with enough tears to fill drought ravaged (haha ravaged) dams. We flew out at 7:20pm and on our way through customs Matt was kindly asked to step aside to check his rather sexy body for explosives, those of you who placed bets on this should collect now. Luckily the all clear was given and our trip was allowed to proceed. A stop in Singapore airport for about 20 mins after our 7 hour flight was enough to find the best beer garden (so far) in the world with a humidty of around nine million and passing cops with heavily armed machine guns. (Matt was again slightly nervous) Once we got back onto our ... read more

Hmmm...it seems that all of a sudden I felt the need to write some more. I've got some pix I can add to. Maybe it's because of not travelling around Turkey for about 3 months. I have needs, you know? Well, what can I say. I feel so normal here all of a sudden. That's why is time for me to go away..where? - I guess that to other place. I need to get on moving. I'm bored and boring. But before my French class starts again...let me write some random thoughts..and what happened here lately..who knows, you might need this info for a future travel..here! Looks like summer settled in: +30 degrees C! I need to get some tan fast.. - they are working on the bridge near the center park...seems a giant green..aaamm...leech. ... read more

The temperature’s crept past 90 and there’s a blanket of haze smothering Damascus. Summer’s arrived with a wallop. The days are long, weary slogs; in the morning, it feels like I’ve taken twelve rounds of body blows and a few 2x4’s across the back. Around the hotel - its courtyard draped with ivy, the birds twittering in their cages - there are bodies littered in the shade. The Japanese couple sharing my room is putting in 12-hour shifts in bed, and the room’s beginning to smell like feet and stale air. At night they spend a full 20 minutes brushing their teeth - I’ve ticked off the time on the wall clock - but whether this is heat-inspired dementia or a new hygienic craze in Harajuku, I can’t rightfully say. I spend a few afternoons ... read more