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We had some Iranian friends who'd migrated here and they said that Iran was generally a safe place to visit, I don't think most Iranians would have a problem with foreigners, except possibly Americans or people they perceived were a threat to their Muslim culture.
I was recently on a bus from Bangkok to Vientiane, Laos.
Next to me, an IRAQI guy was talking to a PAKISTANI guy. They had to speak in English. I just listened, I didn't want them to ask me where I was from - I'm from the USA.
Anyways, the Pakistani guy started asking the Iraqi guy about Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi guy was saying that he preferred life under Saddam, as Saddam was strongly against Iran.
He didn't comment once about America, the US, or anything else....but it seemed like Iran really bothered him quite a bit.
Just found it interesting, in an eavesdropping kind of way.
I was recently on a bus from Bangkok to Vientiane, Laos.
Next to me, an IRAQI guy was talking to a PAKISTANI guy. They had to speak in English. I just listened, I didn't want them to ask me where I was from - I'm from the USA.
Anyways, the Pakistani guy started asking the Iraqi guy about Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi guy was saying that he preferred life under Saddam, as Saddam was strongly against Iran.
He didn't comment once about America, the US, or anything else....but it seemed like Iran really bothered him quite a bit.
Just found it interesting, in an eavesdropping kind of way.
It depends who you ask. A lot of Chaldeans (who are Christian) liked Hussein for obvious reasons. It's a story repeated everywhere across the ME, Christians prefer to be ruled by a nationalist (like Hussein) from a minority Muslim sect (in the case of Hussein whose a sunni while Iraq is mostly shiite or Assad whose shiite while Syria is mostly sunni).
I only did Beirut but I had a lot of fun there. I'm young(23) and the people didn't care that I was American and they love to party. Good food and beautiful women, too.
Just hope they don't **** off Israel while you are there. I'm sure airstrikes while on vacation are not fun.
I only did Beirut but I had a lot of fun there. I'm young(23) and the people didn't care that I was American and they love to party. Good food and beautiful women, too.
Just hope they don't **** off Israel while you are there. I'm sure airstrikes while on vacation are not fun.
Yeah, that's one of the things that puts me off visiting Beirut! That, and the high prices!
But, the amazing architecture and fantastic nightlife, as well as the beaches...all seem like great reasons to go!
I heard that there are more Lebanese-Brazilians than Lebanese in Lebanon, and many of those Lebanese-Brazilians often visit Lebanon to just party and bring a bit of Brazil back to their home country with them! Sounds great!
I've been to Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Israel. Also lived in Turkey (14 months) and Lebanon (3 months).
My favorite is Turkey, most likely because I had the most time to actually experience the culture by living there off and on. Istanbul to this day is a city I truly love and is an adopted "home" so to speak.
Least favorite was Saudi, mainly because my time was spent exclusively in Riyadh, and that is about as boring of a city as I personally have been to. No offense, but it shuts down early and there are far too many restrictions. It was work related though, so maybe I did not give it a fair shot.
Otherwise the others I love as well, if anyone has an opportunity to spend time in the Middle East they should, visiting and living there dispels many of the stereotypes that are unfortunately spread throughout the media.
The place that is next on my bucket list in Libya. From what I have read and heard from others it is a fascinating culture and country.
I lived in Jordan for two years, and my wife and I drove our own car through Saudi, Kuwait, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Lebanon. Absolutely no problems anywhere. Driving through Saudi, we were invited into the homes of people we met. Everyone was friendly and hospitable everywhere. Never harassed by anyone, nobody tried to rip us off, even for car repairs in a little town in Iran. People thought it was an honor to escort or help you, and would be insulted if offered a tip. Felt perfectly safe everywhere. Had to be escorted by truckers (who shared their supper with us) on overnight drive through the desert Jordan into Saudi, as there was no road then. Nobody is sitting there waiting for you to behead you or stone you to death.
I lived in Jordan for two years, and my wife and I drove our own car through Saudi, Kuwait, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Lebanon. Absolutely no problems anywhere. Driving through Saudi, we were invited into the homes of people we met. Everyone was friendly and hospitable everywhere. Never harassed by anyone, nobody tried to rip us off, even for car repairs in a little town in Iran. People thought it was an honor to escort or help you, and would be insulted if offered a tip. Felt perfectly safe everywhere. Had to be escorted by truckers (who shared their supper with us) on overnight drive through the desert Jordan into Saudi, as there was no road then. Nobody is sitting there waiting for you to behead you or stone you to death.
This is a great post. As I mentioned I have not personally experienced every culture in the Middle East, but the ones I have, they have struck me as being very hospitable to visitors or guests in their country. I am talking about give you the shirt off their back hospitable.
I am not American, but I live in the US and when I am asked "where I am from?" I answer Boston, so they assume I am American and there have been no issues at all, they even go out of their way to make you feel comfortable.
I remember once I was traveling on the Train from Istanbul to Ankara and the Conductor was constantly assuring me they "love people from the US". I personally didn't need all that, it got annoying after a while, but It shows how much the perception is from reality.
It's a pity Mecca is out of bounds for non-Muslims, but I totally understand why. They probably don't want tourists gawking at it as some sort of 'cultural experience', especially during the Hajj. If I were the Saudi royal family I would just designate a 'no go zone' or just put in place the restriction during the pilgrimage. But I guess it's their kingdom (literally), their rules. I wouldn't be surprised if some tourists would go there just to see the spectacle of poor folk being beheaded in the town square.
that is really too bad as it would be at the top of my list to see. maybe they should build a "simulated" Mecca like New York New York in Vegas that looks like the real thing so the infidels can have a look and take a picture to say they were there. not sure what souvenirs would be appropriate to sell there, maybe some sandals or a lamp would be cool.
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