Middle East Tourist Traps

Arabic Dictionaries

by maykal

Don't bother buying an Arabic dictionary outside the Middle East as they are ridiculously expensive. In England a good dictionary costs £70 (US$100 approx), I bought the same one in Syria for about $10. They are quite bulky, so leave plenty room in your luggage to avoid excess baggage fines at the airport!!!Look out for Hans Wehr and Al-Mawrid dictionaries, as these are the best ones for translating in either direction. I used to have a Hippocrene dictionary, but words such as "automobile", "anaesthetic" and "radio" were in a section at the back entitled "New words"...although printed in 1995, it was somewhat dated and of little practical use! Avoid...

Learn Arabic to Survive in Middle East

by dsantosh

Some useful Arabic phrases: As-salaam alaykum – Peace be with you (greeting)Wa alaykum as-salaam – And with you peace (reply)Kayf halek ? How are you? (to a man)Kayf halesh? How are you? (to a woman)Al hamdu lillah, bikhair – Fine, thanks be to GodZain - good. (another response)Tammam - (and another)Tayyib - (and another)Sabah al kayr - good morningSabah ah noor - good morning (the response)Misa al kayr - good eveningMisa ah noor - good evening (the response)Ahlan wa sahlan - WelcomeMaharba - HelloMa’salamah - GoodbyeMin fadlak - PleaseShukran – Thank you Afwan – you’re welcome Naam, iwa – Yes La – No Insha'llah - God willing ( or at such time as God desires)Mafee mooshkalah - No problemWayn... - Where is ...Hammam - bathroom or toiletFunduq - hotelTeksi - taxi or taxi standMushtashfa - hospitalSouq - marketTelefon - Telephone Bikam? - How much?Yillah! - Lets go! NumbersSifr - ZeroWahid...

What you should know!

by dr.firas

As I said before:Please once you deiced to visit the Middle East, put all what you know and you heard behind your back!Media had really deformed a lot of facts about this region!I’m only asking everybody to make its own idea and facts from his own experience and from what he saw and tested by him.Tourists are always fascinated about how nice and kind and friendly the majority of people in the Middle East are.They are totally taken by the hospitality and welcoming and automatic help people shows once they meet a stranger or a tourist.Many tourists always if it is safe to go to countries in the Middle East.Once again I am here to confirm that: oh yes sir it is safe everywhere but those conflict zones.

No need to think of that much...

by maen31

No need to think of that much ,no one will think of hurting you, Syria is one of the safest places in this world.

river through mountains.

by waycool

great mosque in Esfahan

by waycool

The Pyramids at Giza in...

by Aragina

The Pyramids at Giza in Egypt.They are the wonder of the world. Specatular and immense. I stood there for ages looking at the Pyramids and wallowing in the history of the place.

o00o's Tourist Trap Tip

by o00o