Iraqi Kurdistan: Exploring the land of the biggest stateless nation in the world
Greetings from Iraqi Kurdistan! My today’s reportage will be dedicated to this fascinating region with the incredible and agonizing history of its people and numerous cultural and architectural treasures. The Kurds are known to be the largest ethnic group without a state of their own. About 25-35 million Kurds live in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria,…
Iran Part 2: Vast Desserts – Famous Salt Lakes and a Myriad of Mosques
In my today’s article, I’m going to continue telling you about my unforgettable trip to Iran. Check out the first part here. So the road was taking my Iranian guide Ali and me to Isfahan, the city in central Iran, mostly known for its grand Persian architecture. It takes around 3-4 hours to get there…
Iran Part 1: Becoming a Zoroastrian
I have long been dreaming about making this journey! Ever since my childhood, ancient Persia has inspired romantic ideas in our heads: a cartoon about Aladin, geography and history lessons at school, a popular game of the mid-nineties called the Prince of Persia and so on. Unfortunately, in today’s world, Iran is considered the country…
Uncertain Times In Yemen: A Civil War, Pandemic And An Alien Island
Have you ever experienced a civil war and pandemic simultaneously? Probably not. But I have. When all was said and done, I was forcibly evacuated from the country. But I survived and managed to enjoy beautiful — and alien — island life along the way. Here is how I pulled it off… Where did things…
The Novelty Of Being A Tourist In Saudi Arabia
Do you want to see a beheading? I can’t promise one. But in this Arabian adventure, we’re heading to a beheading square. It’s not in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, nor is it in Mecca. But it is located in the gateway to Mecca — a place known for playing host to pilgrims that…
Nomad Cruising To The Fjords Of Arabia
Did you know Oman has fjords? For that matter, do you know anything about Oman? Most people probably know Oman is a country located on the Arabian Peninsula. Most people probably aren’t aware that Oman was once a powerful empire that stretched all the way to Zanzibar, an island off the east coast of Africa…
Reviving Tourism in Syria: Beach Life and My 15 Minutes of Palmyra Fame
Note: This is part 2 of 2 on my September 2019 trip around Syria. Read part 1 here. Having followed my journey on the road to Damascus from Lebanon and then around Syria and into the soon-to-be dating Mecca of Aleppo, it is now time to explore the gems of Syria that lie outside its…
Reviving Tourism In Syria: Out On The Town In Damascus And Aleppo
Note: This is part 1 of 2 on my September 2019 trip around Syria. At last a country you have all been waiting for. For a while now, I’ve been well on my to visiting every country in the world, so it was only a matter of time before I stepped foot in Syria. An…