Ask five pundits what countries comprise the Middle East and you’ll probably get five different answers. But, for us, the Middle East is that block of mainly Arab countries surrounded by the Eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. Here is a land as dusty as history itself, the well-spring of faiths and ancient civilisations, where mud brick huts sit cheek by jowl with towering skyscrapers and life is guided by principles and traditions as old as the bible.
The old world calls us with references to long-lost civilisations. Think friendly and welcoming Jordan, with the spectacular ancient capital of Petra hewn out of solid sandstone, and Lebanon with Beirut, now an ultra-modern city with a distinctively Mediterranean vibe and buzz. The Middle East is the epicentre of Pilgrimages, with Mecca, Jerusalem and Bethlehem attracting millions of visitors each year. Of course, Israel is a must-see, so much more than a Promised Land, its vibrancy and energy are infectious, and a float in the Dead Sea will relax and re-energise.
Alongside antiquity sits an ultra-modernity that staggers the mind. Fuelled by incredible wealth the Emirate states are reinventing themselves and are now one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Any trip to the UK or Europe should include a stopover in this region of fabulous wealth and conspicuous consumption. This is a dizzying confection of spectacular architecture, hedonistic shopping and dining and a traditional Bedouin way of life. The seven separate sheikdoms making up the UAE are all individual, and a few days in each will reward with rich experiences.
Despite preconceptions, Iran offers a fantastic holiday experience for the intrepid traveller; loaded with ancient ruins, gardens and mosques, it’s a cultural holiday just waiting to happen. And don’t forget the oil rich Saudi Arabia, a kingdom of vast shifting sands and modern metropolises and where the ancient cities of Medina, Jeddah and Mecca nurture the Islamic faith.
There are some areas of the Middle East where travel might not be advisable, so check with your Travel Counsellor for the latest travel updates.
What we love about the Middle East
Taking a long soak in the bath houses in the Great Mosque souk in Aleppo.
Camel racing in Qatar’s Al-Shahaniya 18km racetrack.
Bargaining for Indian antiques in the Mutrah Souk in Oman’s capital, Muscat.
And Iran ... Iran so Far Away
Saturday 6th September 2008
Travel Counsellor: Lela Hopkins
I recently took a trip to Iran to see for myself. After all the stuff in the papers and on TV I didn’t know what to believe. I didn’t become an instant expert, but a short squiz was certainly better than not going at all.
Surprised friends all asked the same question: Aren’t you scared? Having travelled in the USA where hand guns are legal, including two weeks unarmed in New York, this question seemed a no-brainer and the answer an obvious ‘NO’.
Flying into Tehran is like flying anywhere: same airport culture, but no alcohol.. Too many cars, people, noise, elevated roadways, exhausts and building sites. Fifteen million people make Tehran home for one in every six Iranians.
Tehran has a metro with rubber tyres and you can actually hear yourself think. Destination signs are also written in English: just as well, for the Arabic-looking Farsi scrip is totally unintelligible to this monolinguist whose one Farsi word is ‘mumnoon’ or ‘thankyou’.
Shiraz is where the story really starts.... view full story
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