Doha, Qatar

February 1st, 2008 | By Lee | 8 Comments »

Doha is the type of place where if you revisit it in 10 years you wouldn’t even recognize it. They are building so much here it’s ridiculous. They are even bidding on the 2016 Olympics and have signs all over Doha for it. Today is Friday but in Qatar it’s like a Sunday so nothing is going on and nothing is open. The idea of the weekend being Thursday and Friday is tough to come to grips with but regardless, downtown Doha is like a ghost town. Aside from walking along the beautiful Corniche with panoramic views of the new skyscrapers, the only thing to do here is go to the mall because that’s what all the people here do. I really hate malls.
(more…)

Bahrain and the New Gulf

January 30th, 2008 | By Lee | 3 Comments »

Flying into Bahrain this morning I was really taken aback once again by just how big and developing this island country is just like Kuwait. From above you can see cranes as far as the eye can see and you can see them constructing very tall amazingly designed buildings and islands. Literally island communities for people to live on right in the Persian Gulf. When you arrive at the airport and all around Manama all you see is ads for the new developments. It is astounding really. Everyone has heard that Dubai is doing this with the countries of the world but it is all of the Gulf States. The region is literally pouring trillions into it’s 22nd century infrastructure and tourist attractions now. You should see some of these plans they have drawn up and already selling to investors. The Gulf is getting ready for the next century right now because they know that within a century their oil reserves will be all dried up. How’s that for foresight?
(more…)

Kuwait

January 30th, 2008 | By Lee | 1 Comment »

I was pretty psyched to leave the terrible weather of Syria behind this morning to head to the 70 degree temperature of Kuwait. Flying into Kuwait was really cool because you are just flying over the Arabian Desert which looks like a huge muddy ocean. There are oil fields dotting the sand in Iraq and Kuwait and again it’s really cool to see it from above; just how vast and huge they really are. Landing in Kuwait was like landing in a really nice fast food laden mall. There are spotless stores, plus immaculate Burger Kings, McDonalds, etc. as far as the eye can see. As I drove into Kuwait City to find my hotel, I couldn’t help but notice how nice the city was.
(more…)

Aleppo, Syria

January 29th, 2008 | By Lee | 2 Comments »

After a long drive in the pouring rain Assam and I finally arrived in Aleppo in the north of Syria to check out the old and new city of Aleppo. The low cloud cover and torrential rains seriously limited the accessability to the city as the souq was basically flooded and extremely muddy. The little Suzuki trucks and the donkeys didn’t seem to mind as they plowed through the puddles and splashed everyone and everything in their way. To be fair, it reminded me of the souq in Marrakech, Morocco which was amazing to be in but the rain and the freezing cold and wind made it difficult to enjoy. It didn’t take me too long to get fed up with the old city so I headed over to the new city.
(more…)

Damascus, Syria

January 28th, 2008 | By Lee | 4 Comments »

The name Damascus just sounds cool and it just has an aura of ancient and interesting in the sound of the word. That is exactly how I feel about Damascus, it has proven to be one of the most vibrant and interesting cities I have been to and I have to say that my $8 dinner last night was one of the best I have ever had-anywhere! Global politics the way they are and the location of Syria have scared many people from visiting this ancient land but from what I have seen so far-those people are missing out.
(more…)

Beirut, Lebanon

January 28th, 2008 | By Lee | 6 Comments »

I arrived in Beirut last night after a weekend in London for my friends 30th birthday. As I stepped off the plane I could sense there was something strange going on. As I collected my bag and headed for the taxi stand, there was a clear military presence at the airport. I got into my cab and the driver who barely spoke any English mentioned there was trouble in Beirut but I couldn’t understand what he was trying to say. The streets were basically empty except for numerous military vehicles and armed checkpoints, it looked as though they had declared martial law-I was a bit unsettled.
(more…)

Current Events in Lebanon

January 16th, 2008 | By Lee | 4 Comments »

After the deadly bombing yesterday outside of Beirut, Lebanon I am increasingly aware of the security situation in Beirut and am pondering what I am going to do as I am scheduled to visit Beirut and Damascus, Syria in 2 weeks. I am always aware of the events of any country or region that I am going to visit but when they are clearly specifically targeting Americans, it makes me a little nervous of course. I will be monitoring the situation over the next week or so and make a decision. The security situation may also alter my transportation plans between Beirut and Damascus as I was planning on going overland via bus but I may re-evaluate that option and fly instead if I still go.
(more…)

Jordan and Petra

November 15th, 2007 | By Lee | 4 Comments »

People give the Middle East a bad rap. Perhaps for good reason at times, but not everywhere in this holy region is a mess. One such place is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Jordan is home to some of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world. It is home to the Kings Highway, the most scenic highway stretch you can imagine winding in and out of majestic mountains. It also shares the Dead Sea with Israel and across the sea are a lot less tourists to muddy your swim. Additionally, Amman, Jordan’s bustling capital, is a melting pot of culture and curiosity. However, nothing can match the ancient Nabathaen city of Petra for sheer wonder. Jordan has it all and I will document this wonderful country along my trip from Jerusalem to Petra and the Gulf of Aqaba.
(more…)

Baku, Azerbaijan

August 17th, 2007 | By Lee | 1 Comment »

I finally arrived here in Baku, very early this morning. Flying in here, I had that great feeling of “This is really cool”. I had that same feeling flying into other new mysterious places like Sri Lanka, Western Sahara and Easter Island. Baku has not disappointed, it is a very cool and an extremely pleasant city.
(more…)

New 7 Wonders Profile-Pyramids, Egypt

May 9th, 2007 | By Lee | 12 Comments »

Man fears Time, yet Time fears the Pyramids - Ancient Arab Proverb

The amazing Pyramids of Egypt, among the largest constructions ever built, constitute one of the most potent and enduring symbols of the mysterious Ancient Egyptian civilization. They are the only surviving member of the original and ancient seven wonders of the world. It is generally accepted by most archaeologists that they were constructed as burial monuments associated with royal solar and stellar cults, and most were built during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. Basically, what this means to everyone reading this is that the Pyramids are really cool and they will make you feel miniscule in the grand scheme of the history of the world.
(more…)