Travelling to the Middle East

Hey pumpkins, have any of you ever travelled to the Middle East?
Would you share some pics with us?


Here are some pics of Doha, Qatar. I went there in June. It's like a veeery little Dubai... but still growing. The heat is ridiculous. What I miss is hearing the call to prayer from the Mosques... you could hear it coming from imprecise placea and it made the experience so... exotic... and very arabic. Also the women with long black abayas and deep eyes are so fashinating!
The quality sucks because had to take there with my old phone.

 

I haven't traveled there yet, but I'd sure like to one day. Those pictures look inviting.

 

Those pictures are deceiving. Lots of violence and racism.

Stay in America where you are much more safe.

 

LA, they are not deceiving. Qatar is one of the safest place in the world, mostly because you're going to die or get your hands cut off if you mess up lol. Also, they kinda pay Al Qaeda so they don't get terrorism... yep... I always wondered why Bin Laden always sent his videos to Al Jazeera (Qatari channel) - they have deals. Now, what's really dangerous is the traffic, you're gonna die if you don't pay attention, kinds like southern italy, but there are worse places, i think.
About racism, let's say that in general rich arabs (Talking about Saudi, Emirates, Qatari and Bahrain) think everybody else is inferior. I didn't have the chance to talk to any of them. I so wished to talk to some women but I didn't want to try and disturb them lol. All people in bars/restaurant were asian/arab from other countries because rich arabs don't work. They were beyond nice, best service I ever had. Arabs don't treat asians well; Asians are stating to develop associacions/corporations for their rights etc. It made me so miserable seeing them work under the sun in those conditions... alone and with no family. It's kind of the same situation us italians had when we emigrated to Germany or France but that was in the '60-'70es and now we're in 2012. They told me that 1 worker commits suicide every day in Doha.
Yes, that sucks.
Other arab countries such as Egypt etc are way different though... I went to a place with black gold...and everything looks like gold. It's ridiculous.

I don't think that "staying in america" is too safe lol, I wouldnit want to go to SCHOOL there, or to a batman movie and also other cultures are so so so fascinating!

 

Don't mind my comment, it is strictly for Mikey and his "safety".

As Mikey said, "You might as well just stay in the U.S. because it's no different overseas. If anything, it's worse. "

*proceeds to dig up internet link because the internet is always true and indicative of current events.*

 

and for the record, Welcome back Arwen.

 

thanks honey :smt054 i go back and forth... i don't know anybody in this place no more... besides you and some others :smt039

 

Very cool. I don't have much desire to venture there, but the history of the region is fascinating.

 

No I have not since the region is too restictive. There are a very few liberal Middle Eastern nations. Some according to Arwen banned belly dancing. That sucked. Meanwhile,the very rich folks in that region are hypocritical to the max.

 

very cool pics, fascinating culture

 

Honestly, for the first vacation out of Europe, Qatar would have never been my first choice lol. If I had to pick some arabic countries I would chose Egypt or Syria or Jordan (peace be on those magical and antique lands.... <3).

I went to Qatar only because my ex works there.

 

oooh, and Palestine too.... I think I lived in Palestine in a past life

 

Fascinating! I would love to visit the middle east, have always loved traveling! I've only been to European countries, but love to experience different cultures.

 

it's so different!!!

 

Nice pictures, Arwen. Glad you had a nice time.

The first place I went, on my first trip overseas, was Dubai...and I hated it. I liked seeing the historical areas, but it was just a big city that was hot as hell, the men looked at us (foreign females) funny, the only animal (apart from camels) I saw was a scrappy looking cat and I didn't see a single dog anywhere (I think that's cultural) and there wasn't anything for me to do, apart from shop...which I'm not a fan of (although the ski field in the shopping centre was pretty damn awesome! LOL). I don't think I have any pictures on my computer of that trip, though. I used a film camera and haven't scanned any in (to my memory).
I always say I'd only ever go back for a one day stop over and that was just so I can visit the most amazing shop in the entire universe...Memoirs. OMG, that store was such an experience. :smt007
But based on my time in Dubai, I'd never travel to the other areas of the UAE.

 

Arwen,Palestine is not fun unless you like going through a lot of Israeli checkpoints.

 

Beautiful pics, Arwen! :smt023

I visited Israel in 2000 and stayed for 2 1/2 weeks. It was an amazing experience and such a beautiful country. I would go back there in a heartbeat.

My only regret: not visiting Petra in Jordan whilst I was there. I was with 2 female friends and we were told it probably wouldn't be safe for us to go without males companions, so we didn't.

 

If you have pics on you computer please share from this trip. Would love to see in the travel thread. Sounds like a great experience.

 

I don't have them on my computer yet, but I'm hoping to soon.