Syria 2-1 Richard Full Time

Trip Start Sep 27, 2010

137

Trip End Ongoing

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Where I stayed

Farah Hotel Amman
Read my review - 5/5 stars

Didn't hang around

(Amman hotels)

What I did

Got thrown out of Syria

Flag of Syria Dar‘ā, Daraa, Syria
Saturday, April 30, 2011

Well all that raving about my Syrian visa looks very silly now does it not? The border is closed, all hell is breaking loose and for everyone who says 'better off not there' only I think about 3 people know why I want nothing more than to be there at this time. I could technically fly, but throwing �200 at something I have already spent �250 getting has a feel of throwing bad money after good and besides, there is absolutely no guarantee that I will not be turned away at the airport the same as I was turned away at the border.

Technically I got in, though this could be debated, a military checkpoint literally yards from the immigration building found my camera and laptop and, not wanting to be parted from these I was turned around along with anyone else deemed to be members of the press. I am, of course, not one of these but there are some things that you just cannot argue, and when someone you want to disagree with has a massive gun and several friends with their own massive guns there is little you can do but take it on the chin.

So, no Syria for me, which means no Turkey and no Iran. It is fair to say that a lot has been messed up because of this, I just wish I could have got in sooner, a week would have done it, but I was not to know and things happen for a reason and all that. So, rather than sit here and debate how to swim into Damascus or something equally improbable, I have made some new decisions. Firstly, I visit Jerusalem and Palestine, something that I have wanted to do for years and is now just around two hours away. Without Syria and Iran hanging around my neck I am not too fussed about any of the hassle that comes with travelling to Israel any more either and although I will try my best not to get my passport stamped (who knows, I may end up in Indonesia or Venezuela!) it will not be the be all and end all of my trip. After that, and here it gets very exciting. I am flying to Nepal to trek to Everest Base Camp on my own which I am planning on taking a month or so. A month alone in the mountains, looking at epic scenery every day? Sounds like it is time to upload a few more Lord of the Rings film soundtracks to the old ipod. Bring it on!