1 May 2017 In Lebanon, do go down South. The beauty of traveling in Lebanon comes down to her size. Easy to navigate yet packed with a blend of cultures and sights, Lebanon was easy to plan. Beirut was the base and day trips to various cities in the country were conveniently pleasant. Unlike the North (Tripoli) where there was fierce fighting between Muslim groups or the East (Baalbeck) where it was affected by the Syrian War spillover, the South of the country remained peaceful. WRONG! WRONG conclusion because the South is equal in violence, unrest and instability. South Lebanon was the place for a 15 year conflict between the Israel- backed Christian proxy militias SLA and Lebanese Muslim guerrillas known as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. This conflict was also known as the security zone conflict. Like so many other civil wars in Lebanon, the reasons are complicating with deep historical roots. Come…
Lebanon
Lebanon- Land of Milk and Honey
Lebanon: Jeita Caves,the other Tripoli and Byblos
30 April 2017 Our second day in Lebanon started in Jeitta Grotto, which contains two limestone caves spanning some 9 kms. The lower cave was discovered in mid-1800 by an American and the upper cave was only found in 1958 after exploration showed a cave on top of a cave. The lower cave contains an underwater river and lake. Thank goodness Li Chin and I did not go in winter or else we wouldn’t get a chance to see it (water level rises and will submerge the cave). In the upper cave, one can find the world’s largest known stalactite along with columns, mushrooms, ponds and stalagmites. The mushroom is the most impressive along with one which grows sideways. “This one (stalagmite) is strange since they normally don’t grow sideways,” said the guide, “Perhaps it is the wind. I’d go with Mother Nature and her magic.” Yes, we can credit…
Lebanon: UNESCO Anjar and Baalbeck
29 April 2017 I joined Li Chin on this Lebanon-Jordan adventure. For the first day, we headed off to Anjar, a refugee camp for charity and then Baalbek. The drive from Beirut took us past many reconstructed and renovated buildings. Beirut, the center of the country dates back 5000 years ago and with a seaport, trade exists in the capital along with an air of openness. Tension lurks in the North (Tripoli) and the South yet the capital seems every bit of what it was some 60 years ago: cosmopolitan. The first stop is Anjar, a town in the Beqaa Valley comprised of mostly Armenians. As an Umayyad palace city in the 8th century, Anjar was abandoned for some years before being resettled in 1939 by Armenian refugees. At the heart of trade back in the ancient times, Anjar was a city filled with wide avenues, mosques, bath houses, residences and…
Lebanon: Charity at Syrian Refugee Camp
29 April 2017 Li Chin is a go-getter with a passion for travelling and exploration. It is not easy to meet other great travellers who remain in touch given how easy it is for people to part ways. I hope this is only seemingly transient. Travelling is one of those “make or break” scenarios and I’m sure we will have some laughs along the way. She along with Kenneth (India/ Mongolia post) are the coolest “sister and brother traveller team” with a heart of gold. They both supported the Pakistan Master Ayub Charity and now, Li Chin and I are set to visit a Syrian Refugee Camp. Before the drive towards the camp, Li Chin stopped by a supermarket and stocked up on food. Since these Refugee camps are under the care of UNHCR and a combination of other international agencies, arrangements for visits require notifications. Well structured with close monitoring, Lebanon’s charity chapter will be…
Lebanon: About the country
29 April 2017 It was a very long flight from Shanghai to Beirut with stop overs in Abu Dhabi and Doha. Nevertheless, all was fine since I was too busy reading up on my host country: Lebanon. Although small, it is an interesting country. Due to her geographical location, it is a melting pot of various religions, culture and history. She is the remnant of what was once the “Switzerland of the East” with her capital Beirut being the “Paris of the Middle East.” (see the two photos below). Mentioned in my Kuwait entry, if it weren’t for the wars and unrest, Kuwait would never have replaced Lebanon as the banking hub. Seaport+free economic foreign exchange+solid gold backed currency+ great banking laws = potentials for Lebanon to regain her former glory- it just takes time. The visa process was surprisingly easy. For those who qualify for a visa on arrival, it’s free. Show them your passport,…