Why the Middle East?
If you’re anything like me you have something of a fascination with the Middle East. The allure of the bazaars filled with trinkets, colorful lamps, spices, pistachio sweets and teas. The adhan call to prayer. The domes and minarets of the Mosque architecture. The sultry summer evenings. Mysterious kohl lined eyes. The forbidden. The danger. The desert. The array of colours, sights and sounds….
For me the Middle East is as close to stepping back in time as I can get. In the Middle East some things are unchanged, and coming from the West that is a huge part of its appeal. When so much of the Western world seems so alike and each city and high street a carbon copy of the next, it is refreshing to visit a place with completely different ideals to the West.
Where is the Middle East?
What even is ‘The Middle East’. Where is it? Google it and you will find different definitions, maps highlighting different countries. It really depends who you talk to. Is Egypt a part of the Middle East? What about Turkey? As for Tajikistan… The rather lazy name of the Middle East was constructed by the British, and to this day there isn’t an exact definition on what constitutes the Middle East region but it is generally considered to stretch from the Mediterranean Sea to Iran, although its a flexible term.
Within the so called ‘Middle East’, so far I have travelled to the UAE, Israel, Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. I have travelled solo and independently around all of these places and had an incredible time in each destination which has made me want to continue exploring this fascinating region.
If like me you have an urge to explore the Middle East, my advice is to pack your bags and go.
Here are my top 10 travel highlights of the Middle East…
1. Petra. An ancient city carved in pink sandstone rock. Read about it in my blog post here.
2. Sleep in the desert. Whether you go to the Wadi Rum in Jordan, the Empty Quarter in UAE or the Negev in Israel– the desert is an essential visit in the Middle East.
3. Jerusalem: Where it all started, according to the three Abrahamic religions…
4. Cappadocia: Where fairytales exist. Watch the balloons float over cave houses and rock structures.
5. Istanbul: Haggle over Turkish delight, explore the history during the day and party at night.
6. Beirut: The best nightlife in the Middle East
7. Dubai, UAE: Las Vegas meets Shanghai in the Middle East
8. The Dead Sea: Float your worries away in the salty water
9. The Separation Wall, Palestinian territory, West Bank. Feel the raw emotion at the wall dividing Palestine from Israel..
10. The Pyramids of Giza – this one is still on my bucket list.
11. … to be continued…
What are your travel highlights of the Middle East?
Where else should I explore in this fascinating region?
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