Blogs from Middle East - page 1090

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Middle East » Iraq February 5th 2007

Hello Friends, It has been an eventful month. Promoted I was promoted to Sergeant (SGT) on Jan 1. That's a big step in the Army. That's when you go from being a soldier to a leader of soldiers. In the Army, SGT is considered a non-commissioned officer (NCO). When you become an NCO, your status changes to reflect the leadership position that you probably already fill. Typically, a SGT is responsible for four enlisted soldiers, which mya not seem like much; but with all the stuff we do both in the field and back on the FOB, keeping track of four guys can be a handfull. Wounded While pulling security on a mission this month, we took enemy small arms and machine gun fire. I obviously can't tell you all the details, but I was shot ... read more
Me "Riding" a Cement Mixer
Snooping
Snooping 2

Middle East » Oman » Dakhliya » Nizwa February 4th 2007

Day 4: We had a bit of a lie in before heading off on a tour in our own car. We went to another town called Nizwa we stopped at the big mosque on route in Mascat. It was very beautiful inside, the dome was coloured and the Mihrab was very impressive. We continued on our journey arriving in Nizwa around an hour later at the souk for some shopping where I bought some postcards. The ‘old’ souk was made out of mud and palm leaves and was much nicer than the newer bit, There were several sections, fruit and veg, spices, tourist stuff and fish. We then looked at Nizwa Fort an old Fort which had great views from the top. After further driving we arrived in Barhla, a town famous for pottery and looked ... read more
Nizwa Market
Nizwa Fort
View from Nizwa Fort

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai February 4th 2007

I had written a most descriptive entry yesterday and it disappeared into the ether as I was tring to publish it...I'll try again. I left off blogging when I was preparing to go to Cirque de Soleil .WOW what a show those people put on. The strength ,agility ,control and focus of the performers was amazing. I had never been to one of their performances before and Now I understand why peoople wax eloquent about them . The show was Quilam and there were about 45 performers involved...each more accomplished than the next. The show was more than 2 hours long and I think the 2nd half was even better than the first...It is the first time they have played in the UAE and they were here for the shopping festival. Judging from the crowds they ... read more

Middle East » Israel » Jerusalem District » Jerusalem February 3rd 2007

Today after church, which is the longest hour and half of my life, we went into the old city to hang out until 4pm when the bus came and picked us back up. We got Flaffel at the best place in the Christian quarter. I dont know what kind of special stuff they lace their flaffel with, but they are so stinkin good. After that we went to trade some more money with Shaaban and had tea with him. It was really good tea, with mint in it and everything. I dont know where they make the tea but these guys walk around the street with these carrying trays for tea and deliever it to different shops throughout the old city. so Shaaban sent out for tea and we waited around his shop and then sat ... read more
open graves
ewwwwww

Middle East » Turkey » Southeastern Anatolia February 3rd 2007

We woke the next day, feeling somewhat seedy after no having showered for about 5 days. Our mission was to get cleansed at a Hammam- a Turkish bath house. Firstly we took a merry stroll around the city of Sanilurfa. The town has seen many people of religious significance both Muslim and Christian pass through its ancient streets. It is claimed to be the birthplace of Abraham and apparently Jeasus dropped in at some stage. Dominating the town is a massive citadel perched high on a hill overlooking the city. When we were there its grey walls that ran about 300m acrross the hill were covered with a fresh layer of snow. A novelty for me thats for sure. Below the citadel in the bustling bazaar district (opened for business around 1560) you can buy all ... read more
Sanilurfa
Rosey red cheeks and all
Sacred carp

Middle East » Oman » Muscat February 3rd 2007

Day 3: During the night it was hot. Mummy put the fan on at about midnight, and then I counted the hours down til we had to get up. Not a good night sleep at all. The fan was noisy and I couldn’t get comfortable! We got up and had an early breakfast (7am) and then headed to the dive centre for a morning of diving. The donkey took our cylinders to the boat, we carried our bags jumped on and headed out to sea. Our first dive was a wreck called the Mounassia twin propellors were at approx 30m with shoals of snappers and other fish surrounding them. The wreck was a British Navy boat built in 1979 sunk in 2003 for divers. The coral life is starting to attach, lots of nudibrancs clung to ... read more
Moray on the wreck
Moray eel
Mummy - she's ok

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai February 3rd 2007

Hey not much been happening since last time I spoke, went out for the first time here last night and had a pretty big night. Went to a club called 'Peppermint' last night, it was pretty good too, good music, good crowd but very expensive to drink (about $13 a drink) and almost $40 just to get in, but it was worth it. I was booked to leave tomorrow midday but staying an extra day now so that I'm not arriving into London stuffed from the big weekend I just had, plus I'm dredding going from a hot place to a clold one, everyday I look at the London temp and damn it's not to warm. I have already started applying for jobs in London already. I sent off a few applications for bar work and ... read more

Middle East » Oman » Muscat February 2nd 2007

Day 2: I woke with a start having been poked by my mummy (who surprise, surprise was starving again) she was gagging for a cuppa so went for tea whist I dressed. I was very very sleepy still and felt a bit home sick as forgot were I was at first. I opened the door and walked along the beach to breakfast having pancakes and fruit soon helped revive me. We headed out to the old market and did lots of shopping and haggling (the Omani Rial is more expensive than the pound!), at curry with chippatis (yum yum) and then wondered back through the streets to our taxi. We rested, then went to the dive centre and sorted our stuff out. We headed out for a lovely first dive, nice and shallow to start with ... read more
The Market
That's a moray
Mummy diving

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai February 1st 2007

Well Dubai is a pretty amazing place to visit, the food is great, they have a variety of pretty much anything australia would have, the people seem to be ok and the shopping is awsome! I went to the 'Emirates mall' today which is supposed to be the biggest mall in the world, and yep I'd proberly agree with it to. The style of cloths here is unreal to, after having a look around the shops makes me hate everything I brought and wished I had of just waited till I got here before I brought anything back home and in Bangkok. The prices of stuff here vary from Oz, like food is about the same price as home, the cloths are maybe half the price which is good and taxis are pretty cheap to. Also ... read more
Just some buildings
Burj Al Arab Hotel
Palm Island from above

Middle East » Turkey » Central Anatolia » Ankara February 1st 2007

Tekrar selammmm Eveeeet.... pek çoğunuzun bildiği üzere yaklaşık 5 ay aradan sonra ilk defa Ankara'ya geldim, 10 günlüğüne. Şimdiden görüşemediklerimden özür diliyorum. O kadar insanı görmeme rağmen göremediğim de bi o kadar war. Her neyse, Uzun bi aradan sonra Türkiye'ye, özellikle de Ankara'ya gelmek ilaç gibi geldi. (halen benim gibi gurbette olan arkadaşlara tawsiye ederim) ancak biraz sarsıcı olabiliyo, insanın pek dönesi gelmiyo:)) çok sık gitmemek lazım. Malumunuz bu 10 gün, yiyip içip gezmekle geçti... detaylara girmeye gerek ama sonuç: Ankara'da 3 kilo aldım, 3-4 aylık rakı ve nargile ihtiyacımı depoladım vs. Muhtemelen sadece 5 ay uzakta kalmamdan dolayı, Ankara hiç değişmemiş gibi geldi. Yani klasik gurbetçi tribi yaşamadım, "way be buralar noolmuş" gibi... Aaaa, tabi ki İ.Melih Gökçek alt we üst geçit çalışmaları hariç. Cinnah-Tunalı-Bahçeli arası hiç 50 dakika sürmemiş... read more




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