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Thoughts on Palestine
While Jerusalem was awe-inspiring and beautiful, Palestine hit me like a slap in the face. I had originally hoped to visit the West Bank in order to become exposed to the two faces of Israel and gain a deeper understanding of the conflict that has torn apart the Middle East. Yet, I came back from my day trip with more unanswered questions than before and a nauseating sense of responsibility for the one-sided policies of the American government. We began our journey in Bethlehem by driving along the wall that separates…
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The Holy Land
As the birthplace of Christianity, Promised Land of Judaism and important religious center of Islam, Israel is a country teeming with passionate religiosity and an eclectic mix of people. Its capital city, Jerusalem, is no doubt one of the most fascinating and overwhelming cities I have been to in my life. It is a place where one can see Hasidic Jews walking by the birthplace of the Virgin Mary as the Muslim call to prayer wails in the background. Yet, while Jerusalem is a cosmopolitan city with vast historical significance…
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Three Day Lebanon Itinerary for Beirut and Beyond
Though it is the smallest country in continental Asia, Lebanon packs a lot of punch. The country is home to snow-capped mountains, cedar forests, lush green valleys and a beautiful coastline. It claims the oldest continually inhabited city in the world (though Damascus shares the claim), hosts a multitude of Roman ruins and boasts nightlife comparable to that of many cities in Western Europe. One might think that, with such a wealth of attractions, the small Middle Eastern country would be a magnet for travelers the world over. But Lebanon…
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Day Trip to Wadi Shab and its Surroundings
If there is a paradise, I imagine it to look like Wadi Shab. A rocky canyon home to swimming holes that range from aquamarine to emerald, Wadi Shab is simultaneously an undiscovered gem and one of the top things to see in Oman. Wadi Shab’s scenery is breathtaking and certainly worth every penny that we reluctantly relinquished in order to hire our driver and personal guide for the day. Tour of Wadi Shab and its Surroundings from Sur The natural highlights of Oman are growing in popularity, they are difficult…
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Travel to Oman: The Jewel of Arabia
Before traveling to Oman, I knew next to nothing about the country. Sure, I could locate it on a map, name the capital and recognize it as part of the Arab world, but I had no idea what a hidden gem that I would find on the easternmost tip of the Arabian Peninsula. If Oman were located somewhere outside the Middle East, I have no doubt that it would draw significant numbers of tourists to its beautiful deserts, wadis and coastline. Yet geographical positioning matters. Despite the fact that Oman…
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Three Day Dubai Itinerary
Dubai is bold, audacious and dazzling. A city of superlatives and contrasts, this once-sleepy village in the United Arab Emirates defies stereotypes, pushes boundaries and redefines geography. It is the type of place where tradition and modernity –while seemingly at odds–live side by side. Dubai is a city that sprung from the desert sands. Over the span of a lifetime, it has become one of the Middle East’s most diverse and dazzling megacities. In a society so seemingly rooted in the past, I found it mind-boggling to witness the UAE’s…
