Oman – Gem of the Arabian Peninsula
Oman, the gem of the Arabian Peninsula, is full of surprises and contrasts. Its natural scenery includes endless windswept sand dunes whipped up by jagged mountain ranges that cut into the clear blue [MORE...]
Middle East
Petra – Jordan’s Ancient Rock City
“The ‘Rose City’ is a honeycomb of hand-hewn caves, temples, and tombs carved from blushing pink sandstone in the high desert of Jordan some 2,000 years ago” (National Geographic Magazine). [MORE...]
In Conversation with Yemen-born Abdulaziz Alkazhi
Globerovers Magazine talks with Yemen-born Abdulaziz Alkazhi (26) who currently lives in Melbourne, Australia. Aziz, as he is known, grew up in the small town of Al-Mahwit, 110 km west-by-north (WbN) of Sana’a, Yemen’s capital. He was just 14 years old and working in a small shop in Al-Mahwit when I first met him. In early 2018 Aziz found me on the Internet and we talked about his life. This is his story... [MORE...]
Aleppo before the current Syrian Civil War (Photo Essay)
The current Syrian Civil War has been devastating to much of Syria, and in particular to the city of Aleppo. The ancient Al-Madina Souq (Aleppo’s Great Bazaar), has suffered terribly. Bombs from above and from inside – fires and looting, this bazaar will never be the same again. We look back to the good old days when times were happier and the souk and its people were flourishing. Al-Madina Souq (Aleppo’s Great Bazaar), Aleppo, SYRIA Al-Madina Souq (Aleppo’s Great Bazaar), Aleppo, SYRIA Al-Madina Souq (Aleppo’s Great Bazaar), Aleppo, SYRIA Al-Madina Souq [MORE...]
3 Beloved Spices of IRAN (by Rana Zia Ebrahimi)
Rana Zia Ebrahimi from Kerman Province, southern Iran, talks about three beloved spices of Iran - Saffron, Cumin, and Sumac. Spices are part of everyday life in Iran and Iranian cooks almost never go food shopping without stocking up on some fresh spices. Variety is really the key as most of the authentic Persian dishes call for very different spices. [MORE...]
Yemen: Where time stands still…
Yemen, officially known as the Republic of Yemen, is located on the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, south of Saudi Arabia and west of the Sultanate of Oman. Being the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula it has a long coastline and claims ownership over more than 200 islands. While large parts of Yemen are desert or semi-desert, some mountain peaks rise up to 3,700 m (12,100 ft) above sea level. Yemen has long existed at a crossroads of cultures with a history dating back to as early as 5,000 B.C. The collection of ancient castles, fortresses and many [MORE...]
10 Best ancient ruins of the MIDDLE EAST
There are many reasons to travel all over the Middle East (and arguably many reasons not to travel to the Middle East at all), though one of the strongest arguments in favour of travel is to explore the many ancient ruins. With a long history, the Middle East boasts some of the most incredible remnants of ancient civilisations. However, with war constantly raging at various burning points, one can only wonder how long these ruins will still be standing. Among the best ruins are those in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, and Turkey. Palmyra, the ancient city in Syria, recently suffered damage [MORE...]
Iran (central region)
Flying high over southern Iran Journey through this fascinating country with a civilisation dating back thousands of years. Visit ancient lost cities, mosques, temples, shrines, caravanserais, fortresses, castles, bazaars as well as some of the greatest desert and mountain scenery in the world. The central region of Iran offers enough to keep visitors very occupied for a few weeks. Tehran is quite a nice city to explore. Take a train south to Kashan to see very old luxurious traditional Persian houses, ancient bazaars, and the incredible Masjed-e Āghā Bozorg mosque and camel stew with [MORE...]
Iran (northern region)
The northwestern region of Iran is more mountainous and known for its quaint mountain villages, which in winter are covered in thick snow. Stretching up to Iraq to the west, and Turkey and Azerbaijan in the northwest, this region also offers access to the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. Tabriz is a nice city with quite a few attractions. Not far from Tabriz is the troglodytic village of Kandovan and halfway down to Tehran, not far from the Caspian Sea is the mountain village of Masuleh. [MORE...]
Iran (southern region)
The southern region of Iran is rich in historic architecture, ruins of ancient civilizations, fortresses and citadels, deserts with salt flats and oases, nomadic people, and great food. The cities of Shiraz and Kerman have interesting mosques, bazaars, and great restaurants. [MORE...]