7 Places to Visit in the Middle East

Written by Slayton Jacob

A lot of us only see the Middle East as a place filled with religious and social conflicts. But then again, we fail to realize that it is also home to breathtaking gifts of nature and rich cultures. We should be reminded that not every part of the Middle East is a danger to tourists. If getting Turkish visa for the whole family on your recent trip was no problem, you are expected to have the same experience for countries like United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, and Israel.

Istanbul TURKEY

Read further if you want to know more about the 7 places that are considered treasures of the Middle East and discover why visiting them is a must regardless if you are seeking for a unique adventure or a relaxing getaway.

Petra, JORDAN

Jordan boasts a lot of wonderful cities and many agree that the best among them is Petra. This place will make those who are passionate about history and ancient civilizations drool. Almost every corner of this city has exquisite sculpted temples and other signs of an old era that has long been forgotten but recently caught the attention of many. Petra is one of the most beautiful ancient cities in the world and those who already experienced it will surely recommend everyone to witness the sunset and sunrise there since the sceneries will blow anyone’s mind away.

15 Things You Should be Aware while Travelling

I must admit I mess up at times in countries least expected. And I learned a lesson from my mistakes. You'll never know, there might be a time that you are coming back to a country the second time around. In this case, at least, you should have done your assignment. And this time, you must know what to do. 

You can do things like; touching fabrics in HK stores. I did that. Because I did not know that touching their wares is a 'crime'. No English. No touch. No business. Just leave! They don't want your money....

Never, never, ever forget to validate your railway tickets in Berlin. That is another 'crime' that you will be getting into. As the 'officer' who held me and my family off the subway train said in a form of a question, "Do you know that, not validating your ticket is a 'criminal' offense? Can you guess what my answer was? Your guess is as good as mine.

I have warned you many times about Cairo. And will continue warning you that an Egyptian pound is worth a fortune to most "business-minded" locals. If you are travelling by train from Cairo to Alexandria and you seem to forget which of the trains you should be taking, behold! - do not ask anyone going around near the trains posing as a dispatcher because if you do ask, which I did, you will pay a price for sure. Not a pound, not two - it's 10 Egyptian pounds. You don't want that to happen, do you? So, get on the train and ask other passengers. Most of them will give you an honest and friendly answer...for free. And, that is one of the things I am going to do on my next visit to Egypt. 

Does things like these happen to you while travelling? Tell us, let's learn from your experience.

Jessica Hill of Oregon USA

36. Featured Traveller 

Jessica Hill

Writer : Teacher : Student : Traveller 

(Oregon, USA)

                               

“Believe there is good in the world.” 

― Buddha

Welcome Miss Adventure. Yes, Jessica is an adventurer. Teaching English in Asian countries is one of the ways she has explored the differences in customs, traditions, and mannerisms around her. 

Jessica hails from Oregon, USA, but is currently living in Fort Collins in Colorado, USA. She's been in and out of the country to teach English in countries where she can stay longer and be a part of the community. She would recommend it to those with a little sense of adventure and a laid back attitude. "There'll be no regrets", she says.

Though the entire world is on her bucket list, Jessica has already explored countries, like Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Switzerland, Croatia, Italy, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, China, Hong Kong and Korea. There isn't anywhere that doesn't interest her, at least a little, and she has Peru, Argentina, Iceland, Cuba, Nepal and Tibet on top of her wish list.

Jessica is inspired by anything new and different from her own norm, but what keeps her motivation running is the special encounters with locals that prove how many good people there are in this world, over and over again.

Now, let us hear from Jessica what she has to say. For I am sure, her story will be an inspiration to her fellow travellers and the readers, in general.

* * * * *

My travel story? Well, MissAdventure Travel started when…

You know, I have no idea when it all started. Was it the trips to Disneyland and Disneyworld my parents took us on as kids? Was it my first backpacking adventure, across Europe, or the study abroad one to follow? Was it my first solo experience, to teach abroad in Thailand? Surely, all have played their part, and I’d argue each has taught me something new to love about travel.

It’s no secret to anyone who follows my blog that I’m a wee bit obsessed. Travel is my lifeline, my drug. Even though I’m currently holed up in lovely Fort Collins, Colorado, USA while I work toward another bucket list item – a M.A. degree in English/Creative Nonfiction – I dream of escape daily. I’m new to Colorado, however, so even my weekend escapades to snowshoe or hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, or to snowboard Steamboat Springs keep me exploring new lands, meeting new people.

I won’t lie though. As much as I love exploring my own backyard, it’s international travel that fuels my inspiration. Seeing new lands so very different from my own, meeting locals with extreme religious devotions, who speak different languages, who have everything or who have nothing, who let me see a glimpse of their lives…these are the experiences I crave.

Ireland: Some West Coast Highlights

Written by Kate Power

If you’ve always imagined Ireland as a mythical place with rolling hills and rugged mountains, a new tour route called the Wild Atlantic Way will prove it. It’s a long distance drive that stretches right down the west coast of Ireland. Over 1500 miles from Malin Head in County Donegal in the North to Kinsale in County Cork in the South, taking in cliffs and beaches, ancient sites, modern sports, the heartiest food and the best pint of Guinness. Here are a couple of our picks along the coast for holidays in Ireland. 

Dungloe, County Donegal

Steeped in absolute natural beauty, Dungloe in County Donegal is pretty close to heaven on earth. The intensely rugged coastline is totally unspoilt. Walk the soft sands of Cloughglass Beach and soak up the view over the wild Atlantic Ocean. Visit Mount Errigal only 30 minutes’ drive from Dungloe and a great choice for hiking and walking fans.

County Donegal : Photo Credit: mjmkeating

Clifden, County Galway

Head down the coast via Sligo before you hit County Galway. It’s good for foodies, for nature lovers or aspiring musicians. There is something for everyone in Galway. Take in the Galway Food Festival or the Clarinbridge Oyster Fest. One of our favourite things to do is a visit to the beautiful Aran Islands, just off the coast. This isn’t the island hopping you might be used to. Grab a rental bike and soak up gorgeous views, amazing historic sites and lots of fun on the ‘Islands of Saints and Scholars.’ Head into Galway City where you will find the perfect pint of Guinness in a traditional pub like Tigh Neachtains. Galway City is home to some of the best live traditional music too and Tigh Coili or Monroe’s have lively trad nights most days of the week.

Join Me for a Taste of Punjabi Culture

Written by Angel de la Flor

A trip to India was one of the craziest experiences I have had in any country. I was one of the delegates from several countries to participate in the International Youth Peace Festival (IYPF). One of the organizers approached me to become a part of the cultural fashion show. I went with other five representatives from China, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan and experienced the unique way of the Punjabi culture.

I was dressed in a traditional Indian wedding attire as a woman participant in my own mock wedding ceremony. I was so fascinated with the traditional Punjabi wedding dress, Lehenga, and all parts of being dressed up.  How can I forget the students who did the magic of making me look like a real Indian bride. To complete the preparation, one of them painted Mehndi on my palm, a ceremonial art decorated to a bride’s hands, arms and feet. These young women really did an awesome job.