Waegook Tom

A Blog About A Globetrotting English Teacher

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Lebanon For First Timers

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When you think of the Middle East, inevitably countries like Israel, Syria and Iraq come to mind immediately. Not many people think of some of the ‘quieter’ countries like Jordan, Iran and Lebanon, depending what you class as quiet! Despite recent upheavals in the Middle East, several of the countries remain safe to travel to, with minor regional alerts, primarily when concerned with land borders. If you haven’t been to the area before, one of the best countries to cut your Middle Eastern teeth on is the country of Lebanon.

Lebanon – An Introduction

Lebanon is a beautiful and intriguing coastal Middle Eastern country, enjoying warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Despite the heat in the summer, it remains the most popular time of year to visit as between the months of June to August rain is virtually non-existence, meaning you don’t necessarily have to prepare for wet weather, but to avoid mass tourist crowds spring and autumn are ideal along with cooler weather and less humidity. Lebanon recognises both Muslim and Christian holidays so it’s best when planning your trip to keep in minds the popular holidays of Ramadan, Christmas and Easter. Lebanon has a fairly generous visa policy for many, with visas being offered on arrival and a number nationalities being able to enjoy at least one month visas, extendable up to two months. Check in advance for your individual nationality as some require a lengthy visa application process.

Beirut

The capital city of Lebanon, Beirut is a large bustling city with something to offer everyone. From the traditional markets that line backstreets to the more modern and westernised shopping malls, finding what you need in Beirut is easy. The downtown core of the city of Beirut is a huge draw for tourists, which is comprised of many open air cafes which offer locals and tourists the opportunity to just kick back, relax and people watch. Beirut is generally a beautiful place to get lost in the backstreets of the city, where many unique shops and cafes can be found, along with truly local eating options which can be lower in price than in the more tourist centres. There is a vibrant nightlife in Beirut which is enjoyable to experience if one is so inclined, but if not, there is a plethora of other restaurants, cafes and places where people of all ages seem to intermingle to enjoy the company of friends.

Further Afield

Lebanon is awash with numerous regions of stunning beauty that must be seen to be believed. Places like the Jeita Grottoes, underground caves with stunningly blue-green waters, lit up to be even more strangely serene and welcoming, is just one example of some of the natural beauty that can be seen throughout the country. The grottoes are located north east of Beirut, the grottoes are an easy day trip from the capital. The Qadisha Valley, in north Lebanon, located south east of the city of Tripoli is an impressive region comprised of deep gorges, mountains, hills and hiking trails dotted with villages, chapels and mosques and is a perfect option for travellers to Lebanon who like the outdoors.

So there you have a quick run down on Lebanon for first timers. Lebanon is such a welcoming, safe country with so much to see and do, it’s easy to see why it experiences increased tourism year after year, especially for first timers to the region.

Iran – Traveller’s Secret Paradise

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When you think of the Middle East, inevitably the thoughts of countries like Iraq and Iran come to mind, and for good reason. Being two of the largest countries in the region, it’s nearly impossible to look at a map without the two of these catching your eye, but what do you really know about the inner workings of formerly “shut off” countries like Iran? What is it like inside for foreigners? Unfortunately the West would have us believe that it’s full of less than reputable characters and it’s highly dangerous for foreigners to go wandering around in, but nothing could be further from the truth. While on an official, government level there seems to be some hotly contested ideas and ways of doing things, down in the ditches with the every day people, Iran is a traveller’s absolute dream come true.

Iran – A Country

Regardless of what you tell people, if you mention your desires to go to Iran, many people will call you “crazy” or ask if you have a death wish. This is a common thought for people who haven’t actually been to a country and just instead choose to believe only what they hear in the media. Iran is a beautiful, diverse and enormously enriching country with people who are warm-hearted, welcoming and incredibly hospitable. Travellers have reported that their trips through Iran have resulted in being invited for many a cup of tea or meal with peoples families – often people you have just met on the street that morning. Having been cut off from the outside world for so long has made a beautiful undercurrent in Iran with the people being welcoming to foreigners and genuinely curious in the world outside of their country. With so many regions to choose from though, it could be difficult for someone who is pressed for time to pick the best bits of the country, but for those who have little time, the must see places include Shiraz, Tehran and Persepolis, the old ruins of the first capital city of Iran, dating back to the 6th century BC.

Shiraz and Persepolis

For visitors to Shiraz, the ultimate must see is the Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque. Its name is derived from the majority pink tiles used in the interior décor and it is a huge draw for visitors due to the stunning rainbow light shed throughout the interior when the sun comes through its brightly coloured stained glass windows. Dating from 1876, this mosque is protected under the Nasir-ol-Molk Endowment Foundation, one of the former Qajar rulers of the area, and the man who commissioned the construction of this impressive site.

Another must see in Shiraz is the nearby ruined city of Persepolis, which was the ancient capital of Persia. Persepolis remains one of the most prominent cities of the ancient world, now ruined, that played host to many historical events over time including a sacking by Alexander the Great, during which it can be argued that he additionally razed the city in a revenge attack for a Persian partial razing of Athens. Some of the ruins today which have been dated to that time period show that they were destroyed by fire, further providing evidence to this event.

A Final Note

Due to Iran’s relatively still ‘closed off’ nature, it can be difficult for travellers of certain nationalities (such as Americans, Canadians and British) to obtain visas. Some may be able to get visas by going to Iran on an arranged tour, but there are ways around it to get a visa to travel through the country solo. It’s useful to note here that as Iran is an Islamic country, women must wear a hijab (headscarf) in their visa photo and while passing through borders or in official buildings and the like. It’s been largely reported though that outside of these areas the rules are relatively more relaxed, but it’s always a good idea to have your scarf on hand in case you are asked to put it on. In many places in the countryside and even in the cities you will see women just wearing a scarf loosely over their heads. When in doubt, do what the locals do.

So there you have a quick rundown on Iran and why it’s a travellers paradise. The added benefit too is that while it’s still difficult to get in and the country still has somewhat of a poor reputation in the larger international circuit, this makes it a real traveller’s dream come true with unexplored areas and unrivalled experiences with locals to fill a book. So if you’re looking for the ultimate in travel experiences, consider Iran. It’s the next best destination for people looking to recapture the essence of travelling.