Kevin Wanders the Middle East: 7 countries, one bag and a whole lot of sand.

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About this blog

This travelogue covers my travels through a wide swath of the Middle East, or, as I put on my travel insurance application, Western Asia.

This was inspired by the chance to visit my uncle, who's working for Saudi ARAMCO, the national oil company. And, therefore, by the chance to get inside Saudi Arabia, a country with very little (non-Hajj) tourism.

The itinerary is UAE - Oman - Bahrain - Saudi Arabia - Syria - Jordan - Palestine - Israel. The time is 48 days. I've never travelled this long, and I didn't exactly pick up a lot of Arabic in my six pre-trip classes. Exactly as frightening as travel should be.

• 1

  Sink full of dishes and a cold draft on my feet.   Calgary, Canada on Nov 28, 2007 3 pictures 0 comments
• 2

  A journey of a thousand miles begins with...   Calgary, Canada on Nov 30, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 3

  On Packing   Frankfurt, Germany on Dec 1, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 4

  Frankfurt in my heart, mustard on my bag,   Frankfurt, Germany on Dec 2, 2007 7 pictures 0 comments
• 5

  Wakeup call   Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Dec 3, 2007 7 pictures 0 comments
• 6

  I like, totally, go to the mall.   Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Dec 4, 2007 6 pictures 0 comments
• 7

  Dubai on AED 3.50 a day   Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Dec 5, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 8

  Dubai - a day off (sort of)   Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Dec 6, 2007 2 pictures 0 comments
• 9

  Bikinis and Burj   Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Dec 7, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 10

  Wild Wadi and the mall   Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Dec 7, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 11

  I've been to Abu Dhabi.   Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Dec 9, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 12

  Into the sands   Liwa Oasis, United Arab Emirates on Dec 10, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 13

  Market day in Al Ain   Al Ain, United Arab Emirates on Dec 10, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 14

  Market night in Sharjah   Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on Dec 11, 2007 6 pictures 0 comments
• 15

  Muscat Love   Muscat, Oman on Dec 12, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 16

  The soul of Oman   Barka, Oman on Dec 13, 2007 4 pictures 1 comment
• 17

  Drive to the top   Nizwa, Oman on Dec 13, 2007 7 pictures 0 comments
• 18

  Taking the coast road back.   Sur, Oman on Dec 15, 2007 13 pictures 0 comments
• 19

  Return to Muscat   Muscat, Oman on Dec 15, 2007 9 pictures 0 comments
• 20

  Bahrain by foot.   Manama, Bahrain on Dec 16, 2007 4 pictures 0 comments
• 21

  The long wait in Abha and a return to Dhahran.   Abha, Saudi Arabia on Dec 24, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 22

  "Let's go to the desert."   Dhahran, Saudi Arabia on Dec 24, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 23

  The night before Christmas, Saudi-style   Dhahran, Saudi Arabia on Dec 25, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 24

  Bahrain by car.   Manama, Bahrain on Dec 27, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 25

  Culture shocked   Damascus, Syria on Dec 27, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 26

  Feet on the ground.   Damascus, Syria on Dec 28, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 27

  Wandering lost   Damascus, Syria on Dec 29, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 28

  Laptop + bus + boring + Kenny Rogers = ?   Homs, Syria on Dec 29, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 29

  Crac addict   Qal'at al-Husn, Syria on Dec 30, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 30

  Happy birthday to me: Four days in point form.   Damascus, Syria on Jan 3, 2008 9 pictures 0 comments
• 31

  "Look on my works, Ye Mighty, and despair!"   Palmyra, Syria on Jan 3, 2008 2 pictures 0 comments
• 32

  Smugglin' Syrian Smokes   Bosra, Syria on Jan 5, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 33

  Ammanin' up.   Amman, Jordan on Jan 6, 2008 4 pictures 0 comments
• 34

  Jerash and back, with lettuce.   Jerash, Jordan on Jan 7, 2008 5 pictures 0 comments