#westernasia

[quickwitter]

The Road to Yemen is paved with... Dromedary Camels in Oman Camelus dromedarius Oman's Southern Border 1995 #dromedary #camels #roadtoyemen #highway #freeway #omanborder #salahlala #oman #1995 #wanderingcamels #camelusdromedarius #sahara #desert #travel #travelphotography #©lauraquick #photojourney #westernasia #asia #originalphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/B0gaI04HCgW/?igshid=15i6yjcozc6lu

[gentlemensherald]

Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ph. Julie Whre

[biglisbonnews]

Is Cyprus ready for change? In late November, the presidential campaign in the Republic of Cyprus hadn’t officially started—but at the headquarters of the fintech startup ecommbx, in central Nicosia, the battle for voters was already underway. At a Q&A with the company’s employees, the guest of honor was Nikos Christodoulides, a former diplomat…Read more... https://qz.com/cyprus-presidential-election-2023-1850065653

[merickf]

Greetings from Lebanon #selfie #photo #lebanon #westernasia #beruit #adventure #travel #asia #europe #merickstravel #beyou #middleeast #joy #friendship #mazar #lebanon🇱🇧 #saintsoflebanon #jamaican #usa #jamaicaninasia #jamaicaineurope (at Mazar Saint Charbel-Annaya) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1oClSag3xF/?igshid=la42mnh6frv9

[16eiljol1-blog]

Week 4!

Assalam wa alaikom! Our names are Alei, Megan, and Robert, and we are the writers for this week's blog.

To conclude our program we spent this last week exploring Jordan outside of Amman. Excursions to the Dead Sea, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Petra showed us a new and exciting perspective on the country. To start the week, we went to Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea. Mount Nebo, a revered site in all three Abrahamic religions, is the site at which Moses received revelation from God. To be in such a sacred place, with an incredible view of the Holy Land was a spiritual and indescribable experience. From Mount Nebo, we set out towards the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. Upon arriving to the "beach" by the Dead Sea, we were left wondering why it was empty. We soon found out. There is no pain like getting that water in your eyes. It burns like the fire of ten thousand suns. We made our way back to the hotel quickly, and enjoyed the bliss of a chlorine pool until nightfall, at which point we returned to Amman. 

A few days later we began our Southern Excursion by heading to Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the world. No words can truly capture the magnificence and scale of the Treasury at Petra. We trekked up 800 steps to see the entirety of Petra - a view that was just ineffable. After leaving a stone stack as our imprint, we headed back on horses to leave for Wadi Rum. 

Wadi Rum was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. We began our tour riding on the back of Jeepneys through the desert, seeing the natural formations and feeling the wind pushing our hair past our necks. Leaning against the car as we rushed past natives on camels was a moment that felt so surreal and fulfilling. We ran up a mountain of sand (which admittedly, simply seemed tedious and futile at first) but once we sat at the top, feeling the sand seep through our toes and seeing how far up we had climbed - it was completely worth it. Then we got back on the Jeepneys to see the view from atop the rocks. Watching the sun fall from the sky and set behind the rocks as we all enjoyed it in silence is a moment I will always remember.

After a night of upbeat dancing and enjoying delicious mansef, we all laid underneath the sky. It was probably the brightest sky I've ever seen; it was also my first time seeing a shooting star and seeing the Milky Way! The sight was just indescribable; it's a view unique to Wadi Rum, and something that everyone should see at least once. Eventually we fell asleep underneath the stars, and woke up early the next day for camel rides around the desert camp! It was my first time riding a camel, and call me biased - but I definitely think riding camels are way cooler than riding horses! I also named my camel Mustafa, but then I realized he was a she (lol). 

Either way, being able to see Wadi Rum while riding the camels was a moment in which I realized just how incredible Jordan is - from their places to their people, to things as minuscule as talking to a person in Arabic on the street. It reminded me how truly lucky I am to be here, surrounded by wonderful people who are as passionate about traveling and experiencing new things as well. As Jordan's only coastal city, Aqaba is a unique contrast to the typical Jordanian city. After spending a few hours in a beach hotel, we left for a cruise in the Gulf of Aqaba. After eating lunch we hopped in the water to go snorkeling. Finally, we concluded our boat ride by watching the sunset with a view of four different countries (Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Israel). We ate dinner in the city and then returned to the hotel for more rest and relaxation.

[chezswann]

2.lowartlife.wasn’t interested in the personality of brion gysin

“любой, кому удается выбраться из тисков своей собственной культуры в иную, возвращается назад уже в ином свете...”

обсуждали с с.: прижиться в магрибе или на среднем востоке могут только совсем безумные чужаки. безумные, но адекватные. это не те восторженные дурачки,которые едут в индию\японию\куда там. cреди песка и каменных городов соприкосновение с реальным и сказочным мира слишком жесткое. возможно, границы первого и второго иногда теряются, или двоятся, а безумцу - что ему? - жонглирует состояниями. где-то в западной азии начинается и тянется в северную африку перепутанных разноцветных нитей размотанный клубок - для меня. соединяются и расходятся культуры, которые были рождены для вечной жизни. 

почему-то отлично представляю брайона гайсина попивающим мятный чай в танжере. 8 лет в танжере - как сон.  сон за секунду до беспорядков. берроуз про него говорил: это единственный человек, которого я уважаю. если уж берроуз уважал, значит уважать не рекомендуется. гайсин одет в белую джеллабу. в нем все наверчено, как слои ткани на людях сахары. вот он в сорбонне, а вот - элюар снимает со стен картинной галереи все, что было проделано. вот курсы японской каллиграфии (курсы японского языка для цру) - а вот увлечение арабской каллиграфией. оригинальность и маргинальность. работа портовым сварщиком. в большом сосредоточении исследует историю рабства, пытаясь докопаться до мельчайшего (править долгой спокойной ночью).  в голове наиграют master musicians of joujouka - беспокойно-спокойная музыка. наигрывают как надрывают. 

“бери свои собственные слова или, как утверждают, "очень личные слова" любого из живущих или мертвых. ты вскоре поймешь, что слова не принадлежат никому. у слов своя собственная жизненная сила и ты, или кто-то другой, может заставить их потоком низвергнуться в действие...”

[onursemihduman]

#tehran #iran #persian #mezopotamia #westernasia #middleeast #sands #montain #desert #folk #livefolk (Tehran, Iran)