Traveling in the Middle East

FORGET IT; its too dangerous.

Clary, an a2ker who doesn't post anymore, was quite the traveler, even wrote a guide book on Hong Kong, for one of the well reputed guidebook publishers. Anyway, you might check out her topics here on a2k. I remember her liking Damascas, but not a lot of details. Here's one: Clary's Travel Digression - http://able2know.org/topic/20684-1

I've never been to the middle east, but here is a short wish list of where I'd go if I could.
I'd give Lebanon a miss until the political climate has improved. It looks like they are headed to an all out civil war again. Which is a pity since it seems to be a beautiful country.
Jordan, Israel, Syria, Egypt (Africa) and Turkey (it's in Europe, I know.. but still).
Anyway... I hope you get the chance and I would love to hear about the trip.

I do have a bit of advice on India though. Buy a map before you go, I couldn't find one to save my life. If you have some extra schloon, hire a driver/interpreter. This can get you out of some sticky situations, give you a barrier to all the begging and unwanted attention, and you will get it. I was propositioned many, many times, despite the fact I was with my husband. And I'm no Cindy Crawford. Although most people speak english, the accent can become a problem. I didn't have a problem understanding the local accents. I'm a canadian, I've been told I have a very soft accent, people couldn't understand me!!!
Perhaps I talk too fast, regardless that was a first.

That was Damascus, heh.
Looks like that travel digression link was for the far east.

Here's Clary on India (26 pages): http://able2know.org/topic/20684-1

I'm still looking for her syria and maybe it was Qatar trips..
aha, here's the Syria one - http://able2know.org/topic/52594-1 As I remember, she starts out asking advice, but later tells all about the trip.

There's also Dagmaraka on India.. (no link right now)

Here's Dag's Indian Diaries - http://able2know.org/topic/43949-1

How about the United Arab Emirates? Bahrain? Qatar? Turkey?

Sometimes I visit the CIA World Factbook to get a sense of a country: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/region/region_mde.html

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Vietnam tours, Vietnam package tours , Sapa tours http://www.sapatours.biz

alas, perhaps spam

So, where is PQ?

Hopefully, not Yeman or Tunisia.

look at this

http://www.hostelbookers.com/article/travel-for-women/middle-east/

Look into Jordan...

Funnily enough - I just got this e-mail today from a friend of mine who is travelling in India for the first time.
I've never been to India - but now I feel I have to go - I WANT TO TRAVEL ON A SLEEPING BUS!! And I want to see the light and shadow move across the rocks. I told him he should be a travel writer - (he could paint the illustrations).