Al Manara Hotel Al Bayda

... s family is great. last nigt we had a birthday celebration for his sister Rana's 25 birthday. I also met his grandma, his mother's business partner and Rana's boyfriend Paul. We just finished breakfast that Paul brought in.

... of what it would of looked like, an amazing setting right next to the water. The crusader castle was quite nice and gave you some quite good views. After a bus ride back into Beirut I strolled around the downtown area of Beirut. Beirut is a really modern place with all the latest designer shops around and is really modern. They have lots of posh restaurants and you notice alot of people wearing designer clothes and smoking cigars. I have not found the Lebanese people that friendly ...

... and video recorded. Nothing was natural, and it was a club to go simply to be seen in. Chris is quite the critic for club music and let's us know instantly when the music is not up to par. The largest hit this summer in Lebanon is all the songs from Bob Sinclair, it's being played on all the radio stations and over and over again in the clubs. I like the song though, even if it's a bit too comercial.

Well another day in Halba. We'd kind of floated the idea of going to Tripoli today, but watching the morning news and calls to friends and family kind of vetoed that idea, since pretty much everything was closed (including the Macca's and KFC. Rawda's quite keen to compare the Lebanon Maccas to the Halal one on Sydney Rd, then get me to compare Lebanon Maccas to the normal variety). Rawda called their local travel agent today, who ...

... to other areas of the country, including other refugee camps. * You should ensure that you carry personal identity documentation at all times. * We strongly advise you not to travel south of the Litani River, the Bekaa Valley and Mount Lebanon due to the uncertain security environment and danger posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance. The situation could change without notice and Australians could be caught up in violence directed at others. "

... Monot until we stumbled upon a small square full of bars. It was not really that busy given it was a Friday night, but we figured we hadn't reached the main nightlife area yet and so headed to the bar with the most bustle. There, a place called 'Hole in the Wall', our ears were treated to some classic 80s rock (a great way to start any night out on the ****) complete with busty women dancing around a pole on the bar and cold beer on draught. It was just what the doctor ...

... you know all of the above, I'm sure you will LEAVE ME THE **** ALONE and stop honking. Best, Every Traveler Is this the Middle East? Only a few hours from Damascus but this certainly doesn't feel like the Middle East. The streets are lined with Fendi and Mont Blanc and all the buildings are new. The civil war of the 80s can still be seen in the few buildings that remain from that time. One in particular that looks as if it must have ...

... Byblos we made two day trips out from Beirut. The first was to Jeita Grotto (of which more later) via Nahr Al-Kalb. This is a gorge where successive armies have been forced to cross the Lycus River in perilously exposed single file. Those that made it across have carved stelae in the canyon walls in thanks. Nebuchadnezzar II, the Assyrians, Ramses II some time between 1292 and 1225 BC, Marcus Aurelius, the Desert Mountain Corps including New Zealand and Australian ...

... The views are simply just amazing on the corniche, of the Mediteranian sea. On the corniche, couples are walking, people are jogging or speed walking, familys are hanging out, kids are playing soccer, old men are playing chess, there are lot's of house boats and yachts, and vendors sell fresh bread and other goodies like corn on the cob. There are nothing but resorts lining the beach bellow, and the beach has soft white sand and the water is turquoise.

... are here." the Taxi driver said, stopping the car in a small street lined with half dismantled cars. "This is it? Really?" "Yeah, what did you expect?" "Umm, well, tents for starters" "Yeah, this is alot more... ummm... like a city" Sandra agreed The taxi driver clarified, "Nono, the palestinians have been here for 24 years! This is a small city" Sure enough, the taxi driver was right, the camp was more like a run down city. Infact the camp was one square kilometer, jammed ...