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Let's say I'm back (pg. 2)
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| malek |
| quote: | Originally posted by Epicurus
So let's see...you went to Syria, got tempted to eat shawarma from the local street vendor next to your house, got poisoned and spent the rest of your vacation in the bathroom. Welcome to the Arab world. ing Brilliant. |
actually i wasn't sick from those... they were pretty good too :p :D very very greasy hehe. ( i have pics )
I think it was because of ice cubes found in alcohol beverages that I tempted myself to drink (NYE)... so its partly my fault. Or maybe it was the taboule, or the fatoush, or the kebe nayeh... |
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| malek |
| quote: | Originally posted by fastmp3
économiquement et socialement c'est comment ? is it THAT bad ? |
socialement, je sais pas quoi dire, je ferais pas de these ici sur TA. faudra etre plus precis dans la question.
Mais economiquement, c'est au point mort. Je me rapelle que l'activite sur la meilleure rue (salhiey) de la capitale etait morte dans les jours avant le jour de l'an. Le monde on pas beaucoup d'argent et c'est assez cher si tu n'est pas un touriste comme moi qui se paie les gros repas de roi dans les restos 4 etoiles hehehe (40$ pour 4 personnes tres bien nourris :p ) |
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| Epicurus |
| quote: | Originally posted by malek
actually i wasn't sick from those... they were pretty good too :p :D very very greasy hehe. ( i have pics )
I think it was because of ice cubes found in alcohol beverages that I tempted myself to drink (NYE)... so its partly my fault. Or maybe it was the taboule, or the fatoush, or the kebe nayeh... |
hahahaha...kebbe nayeh en Syrie...Malek, trop drole :p. J'bouffe meme pas la kebbe nayeh de ma mere faite dans notre cuisine...
| quote: | Originally posted by malek
Mais economiquement, c'est au point mort. Je me rapelle que l'activite sur la meilleure rue (salhiey) de la capitale etait morte dans les jours avant le jour de l'an. Le monde on pas beaucoup d'argent et c'est assez cher si tu n'est pas un touriste comme moi qui se paie les gros repas de roi dans les restos 4 etoiles hehehe (40$ pour 4 personnes tres bien nourris ) |
It's sad that a country like Syria, with SOOO much economic potential, considering its natural and human ressources, rich history, geographical location and so forth is repressed by the ruling family (yes, might as well make the Asaads monarchs) and not allowed to fully reach its potential. Every year I go to Syria, and to a lesser extent Lebanon, it's a stark reminder that we need MAJOR reform, and I mean ing major reform to address the outstanding issues of our countries, especially when it comes to issues of democracy and freedom, or lack thereof. We're at the very least 200 years behind the boat, with no pressing prospect of change. Arab leaders, without exception, should be lynched, or at the very least shot in the face at close range, but I digress... |
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| malek |
| quote: | Originally posted by Epicurus
hahahaha...kebbe nayeh en Syrie...Malek, trop drole :p. J'bouffe meme pas la kebbe nayeh de ma mere faite dans notre cuisine...
It's sad that a country like Syria, with SOOO much economic potential, considering its natural and human ressources, rich history, geographical location and so forth is repressed by the ruling family (yes, might as well make the Asaads monarchs) and not allowed to fully reach its potential. Every year I go to Syria, and to a lesser extent Lebanon, it's a stark reminder that we need MAJOR reform, and I mean ing major reform to address the outstanding issues of our countries, especially when it comes to issues of democracy and freedom, or lack thereof. We're at the very least 200 years behind the boat, with no pressing prospect of change. Arab leaders, without exception, should be lynched, or at the very least shot in the face at close range, but I digress... |
Either the people of Syria revolt and throw those bastards away, or Bush should invade Syria asap ;)
that ing family is ruling the country like a mafia!! Guys!!! You people that never left Canada And/or Europe! Can you imagine a whole country ruled and controled by a mafia family? Where the "taxes" and "fees" they collect is for there sole benefit?!?!
Can you imagine that if you import a car, let say a 20000$ car, there's a 250% duty tax! on the car! bringing the car's price to over 50000$ Who's keeping the extra 30k?!? guess who!!:whip: :whip: |
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| Epicurus |
| quote: | Originally posted by malek
Either the people of Syria revolt and throw those bastards away, or Bush should invade Syria asap ;)
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The problem is that the people of Syria, and the people of every other Arab state, are caught between a rock and a hard place. If they revolt, they get crushed by the ruling family/party, like Hama in Syria in 1983, or the Shia in Iraq in 1991. On the other hand, if some external foreign power does the dirty work for them, like the US, they end up establishing a puppet regime subservient to their own vested interests, stunting local development and diverting national ressources into their own pockets. Pick your poison.
| quote: | Originally posted by malek
that ing family is ruling the country like a mafia!! Guys!!! You people that never left Canada And/or Europe! Can you imagine a whole country ruled and controled by a mafia family? Where the "taxes" and "fees" they collect is for there sole benefit?!?!
Can you imagine that if you import a car, let say a 20000$ car, there's a 250% duty tax! on the car! bringing the car's price to over 50000$ Who's keeping the extra 30k?!? guess who!!:whip: :whip:
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I have so many horror stories I wouldn't know where to begin. Fawzi has some pretty interesting ones also, although I won't share them here on TA. Anyway... |
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| RazerYokes |
nice thread. btw, i enjoy reading a majority of your posts epicurus
question to malek or anyone : Based on "if they don't know you, there will be absolutely no respect for you whatsover, unless they have some intrest in you (show owner, garcon, etc)."; As a backpacker, should I go to arab countries or not ? Will I get myself in bad situations pretty fast ? |
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| Epicurus |
| quote: | Originally posted by RazerYokes
nice thread. btw, i enjoy reading a majority of your posts epicurus
question to malek or anyone : Based on "if they don't know you, there will be absolutely no respect for you whatsover, unless they have some intrest in you (show owner, garcon, etc)."; As a backpacker, should I go to arab countries or not ? Will I get myself in bad situations pretty fast ? |
Thanks Razor. As for backpacking across the Arab world, I think it would be a GREAT idea, as long as you're adventurous, willing to take risks, don't mind being swindled from time to time, and enjoy Arabic food.
I have to disagree with Malek regarding people showing absolutely no respect to you if they're not interested in you. From my extensive personal experience, and from my having lived there for quite some time, Arab people in general are extremely warm and welcoming, especially to strangers and foreigners that they have no interest in. Although be forwarned, those that DO have an interest in you will want to milk you and your money for what it's worth. THOSE are the people you usually want to stay away from. I don't know who Malek ran into to form his opinion, but I think it's the complete opposite. For brownie points, make sure to stress the fact that you're Canadian and that you don't like the US...they'll love you :D |
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| fastmp3 |
| backpacking in morocco is very safe , lots and lots of tourists do that in here with no problem. of course you're gonna get bothered by merchands just like anyone else but nothing bad :) |
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| malek |
| quote: | Originally posted by RazerYokes
nice thread. btw, i enjoy reading a majority of your posts epicurus
question to malek or anyone : Based on "if they don't know you, there will be absolutely no respect for you whatsover, unless they have some intrest in you (show owner, garcon, etc)."; As a backpacker, should I go to arab countries or not ? Will I get myself in bad situations pretty fast ? |
backpacking in Syria, hmmmmm i don't know, hundreds of kilometers wheres nothing but rock and sand and no clean water... you'll have to study the map very well!
The good thing is that there's so many old and ancient things all over Syria... if you're into that kind of things. But, you'll have to get used to the fact that most of these things aren't taken care of and are left by themselves with no protection or restauration.
Also, if you're blond, hide it so it doesn't attract unwanted attention ( I saw many tourists with their heads covering their blond hair ).
Don't even think about going there during the summer, its absolutely too damn hot to think about touring. We're talking 40C easily. With very little or no water, contaminated at best. |
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| malek |
Oh and you were talking about a trip thru the arab world...
hehehe I don't know about that, but going from country to country is a horrendeous experience...
I went to Lebanon from Syria with a car, and we passed 3 check on the Syrian border (checking papers, car, etc), and 3 other checks on the Lebanese border. So 6 checks to get in, and 6 others to get back!
And also, your passeport shouldn't have an "israeli" stamp in it because you'll be basically ed :D |
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| DJ Charlie |
| quote: | Originally posted by malek
...
I went to Lebanon from Syria with a car, and we passed 3 check on the Syrian border (checking papers, car, etc), and 3 other checks on the Lebanese border. So 6 checks to get in, and 6 others to get back!
And also, your passeport shouldn't have an "israeli" stamp in it because you'll be basically ed :D |
Damn... I remember when I was a kid... my dad and I went to Lebanon and we were going to Syria to see someone. I don't remember passing all those checkpoints. But one think I remember, lol I had a firework gun (fusil a pétard) a toy... and just before the check point my dad and my uncle were hidding the toy, scared that the guards takes it for a real and start killing us. lol I was freaking out man. lol
and about the israeli stamp, when my sister went to Lebanon not long ago, she had to write down on a paper that she will not cross the israel border when before getting to Lebanon. crazy stuff |
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| Epicurus |
| quote: | Originally posted by malek
Oh and you were talking about a trip thru the arab world...
hehehe I don't know about that, but going from country to country is a horrendeous experience...
I went to Lebanon from Syria with a car, and we passed 3 check on the Syrian border (checking papers, car, etc), and 3 other checks on the Lebanese border. So 6 checks to get in, and 6 others to get back!
And also, your passeport shouldn't have an "israeli" stamp in it because you'll be basically ed :D |
Bahhhhhh...stop being so negative...you've obviously been traumatized from your one trip to the Arab world...hahahaha :p
Anyway, part of backpacking in the Arab world is to experience daily life for people in that region. That includes checkpoints, getting hassled, being frisked, asked questions and so forth. Is it unpleasant? Perhaps. But it's life there...and I for one would want to get a genuine experience. Sure, this isn't Europe where there's great public transportation, well kept historical sites and so forth, but who cares?! It's a completely different experience, and one that should be enjoyed as is, hassles and all.
As for Israel, personally, if you like to take risks, and I mean major risks, do it...and do the occupied territories also. I'm sure you'll witness things that will change your life around and affect you deeply from so many different perspectives. Of course, do that after you've done most of the Arab countries (i.e. all of them except Egypt and Jordan since they have treaties with Israel) because like Malek said, if you don't, you're ed.
Finally, doing this trip, like I said, is only for those willing to take risks, willing to deal with , and still willing to enjoy it. I would personally recommend you do it with at least one other person, otherwise you might not be able to get out of that aformentioned ...and if you can do it with an Arab speaking person, that's even better. So good luck ;) |
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