Blogs from Middle East - page 856

I LOVE SYRIA,LET ME TELL YOU, I HAD WONDERFUL TIME IN ALEPPO LAST YEAR WITH MY WIFE AND FRIENDS FROM ENGLAND EVERYTHING IS GREAT ABOUT SYRIA,IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD THE ONLY THING THAT NEARLY RUINED OUR HOLIDAY AND WE NEARLY DIED WHEN WE JUST REALISED THAT THE SWEATS WE BOUGHT TO TAKE BACK HOME WERE ROTTEN AND POISONED,I SENT THEN BACK WITH A PERSON FROM THE HOTEL TO THE SHOP WERE WE GOT THEM THAT WAS AYMAN MAHROUSE AL- KHALDIYE DON'T BE MISTAKEN WITH THE OTHER MAHROUSE SHOPS,THEY BELONG TO OTHER PEOPLE I ASKED HIM TO TELL THE OWNER TO FIND OUT WHAT WENT WRONG ONLY TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE AS THEY SEND A LOT OF GOOD ABROAD AND SOME PEOPLE COULD GET SICK,YOU ARE NOT GOING ... read more

Es ist Freitag, der 29. August 2008, Tag 5 unserer Expedition jenseits des osmanischen Reiches. Heute haben wir einen Tag in Istanbul verbracht und uns die Stadt angeschaut. Keine Ahnung, was wir alles gesehen haben, aber es war ganz hübsch und der Eintritt sau teuer. 10 Euro, nur um eine alte Moschee anzugucken, die vor über 70 Jahren zum Museum ungewandelt wurde und im Endeffekt ein leer stehendes, 1500 Jahre altes Gemäuer ist. Das war die Hagia Sophia. Eines der größten und ältesten Konstruktionen dieser Art. Von der Höhe her größer als das jetzige Tropical Island. Dann haben wir uns noch die blaue Moschee von Außen angeschaut (Die „freiwillige Spende“ am Ende war uns zu hoch, obwohl man dafür ne Quittung bekommen hätte) und uns, nach einer kleinen Parkbesichtung mit einem angrenzenden militärischen Sperrgebiet, entschieden mit ... read more

We have been spending some time in Damascus taking a closer look at some of Syria’s history. On the outskirts of the city, just off the road to the bus station, stands a memorial to a very sensitive event known here as the 6 October War, but more commonly known globally as the Yom Kippur War. In 1968 Syria lost control of the Golan Heights during the six day war with Israel. On 6 October 1973 Syria’s armed forces were deemed strong enough by the president to try to recapture their territory. A bloody battle ensued and many soldiers on both sides gave their lives. It is not our place in this blog to comment on the rights or wrongs of actions in this region, past or present, so we are just going to tell you ... read more

When I initially did some research on Turkey and learned about places I wanted to visit, Gaziantep (Antep) was at the top of my list. Well off the tourist trail, and paradise if you have a sweet tooth. It has been dubbed the baklava capital of the world, perhaps because it has over 180 pastry shops dotted around the city that produce tonnes of baklava, which is then sent throughout the country - even to the President! I just had to see what all the fuss was about! So as part of my plan I wanted to meet a local who knew where to get the best baklava, kebaps and other culinary delights that this city had to offer. That's when Onal, a fellow Couchsurfer, came into the picture. When I read that eating was one ... read more

Arrived in Dubai early this morning - was a very long 8 and a half hour flight with a vomiting child sitting behind us (it is amazing how much vomit can come out of one child). The Dubai airport was a little stressful for us not knowing where to go to get visas as Hong Kong airport told us to pick them up at the Dubai airport upon arrival. After mentioning to some airport security man that we were Australian we didn't need to get a visa and caught a taxi to our hotel which was literally in the desert in the middle of nowhere! Pigged out on another fried breakfast but had a go at turkey bacon as no pork allowed in Dubai - tasted like the real stuff. After a nice long shower and ... read more