Category Middle East
Jordan’s Jewels – Part 2 (Petra)
A look back on my 2006 tour of Jordan. We set off bright and early for what promised to be the highlight of our trip – we were not to be disappointed. We planned to spend two nights in the Crowne Plaza just outside the Nabatean site, in the lap of semi luxury thanks to […]
Jordan’s Jewels – Part 1
Unbelievably this was nearly 20-years ago. This was how I described the start of our independent tour to the wonderful Kingdom of Jordan. Our taxi driver met us at Amman Airport with a sign saying ‘Welcome Big Ears and Wilbur.’ My little joke went down very well, even though we had arrived bleary eyed in […]
Syria Before The Conflict Part 7, The People
There seems to be the real prospect of regime change in Syria. What the future holds nobody knows but we pray that this is a new beginning for a freer, more just society. This is what I wrote previously about the Syrian people that I met in 2009. Now I have come to the end […]
In The Lebanon – Part Two
We had arranged a taxi to take us on a grand tour to see the oldest cedar trees (the symbol of the country) in Lebanon, onto the ancient port city of Byblos (both the Bible and the word for ‘books’ in many languages are derived from the city’s name) and finally on to the northern […]
In The Lebanon – Part One
My heart bleeds once more for the innocent people facing such terror. Here’s the account of my visit to the truly wonderful country in May 2000. Whilst growing up, Lebanon was synonymous with the civil war which divided Beirut into East & West sections, Druze militia, Hezbollah and kidnappings. The Human League famously sang, “who […]
Tuesday Train – Aleppo in Syria
In 2009 I travelled to Aleppo by train, bus & taxi from Istanbul. An epic journey to what became my favourite city that sadly has suffered so much in the intervening years. Whilst there we took a train to Latakia on the Mediterranean coast. A strategic port, it became a base for the Russian navy […]
Monday Morning Blues – The Great Mosque, Aleppo, Syria.
Our hearts & prayers go out to the victims of the devastating earthquake in Syria & Turkey. The affected region in Syria has suffered so much for over a decade and now this. Heartbreaking.
Syria Before The Conflict Part 7, The People
Now I have come to the end of my posts on my 2009 tour of Syria it is time to consider the people who I came across. I have purposely concentrated on the Syria that I saw on the trip – fantastic history, fabulous architecture and wonderful people. As I now often reflect on what […]
Syria Before The Conflict Part Six, Damascus
The capital was to be our last port of call on our magical Syrian tour. The bus from Palmyra was packed, so we took the only available seats right at the back on the left hand side. Before long a soldier was leaning on Hamish’s shoulder fast asleep! We stopped half way for a foodstop. […]
Syria Before The Conflict Part Five, Saladin’s Castle & Memory Tricks
Are you ever convinced of something only to find that the memory has played tricks on you? Well this happened to me whilst chronicling my 2009 Syria trip. I have just discovered some notes I scribbled along the way and have found two long held beliefs to be incorrect. First of all we visited in […]
