does anyone know if there will be any beef if I walk to Egypt from Eilat Israel?
I am djing in Israel in April and since I'm there I would like to travel and spend a few days in Cairo as well as Jordan and the city of Beirut Lebanon
if they see the Israeli stamp on my US passport am I make the beast with two backsed?
anyone travel around the middle east?
Haven't been to Beirut in awhile. The last time I was there 241 of my co-workers were killed.
Why not ask the Egyptian Embassy?
this is just an opinion of a small mountain village kid with no worldly experiance
but
maybe let the world opinion about americans get a little better before walking across a hornets nest on foot
Quote from: howie on January 22, 2009, 09:49:32 PM
Why not ask the Egyptian Embassy?
I already got my answer just wondering if anyone here has traveled the middle east.
Quote from: Mother on January 22, 2009, 09:49:59 PM
this is just an opinion of a small mountain village kid with no worldly experiance
but
maybe let the world opinion about americans get a little better before walking across a hornets nest on foot
most likely I will just stay in Eilat but figured since I'm there I should try and see Beirut and Cairo... should be amazing
I worked in Turkey last year and visited Israel while on a break. I didn't have much time and I did not go out of Israel, but I understand that there is no problem going across to Egypt or Jordan. I don't know about Lebanon. Problem is you will get all kinds of advice and the situation changes daily and the only way to find out for sure is to just go. I work a lot in different countries and I always go where I'm interested in going and never had much of a problem. In fact I have had some truly great experiences with local people, just the opposite of a problem. But my local co-workers are almost always unanimously aghast that I go places. Keep in mind that many tourists coming here are advised not to and are afraid to go to NYC - that sort of puts things in perspective.
My guess is that some of the militant anti-Americanism will have been defused with Obama's election. I found Israel itself interesting enough and I tried to talk to as many people as possible, both Israelis and resident Arabs, to try and get a feeling for what life is like there. A week was just not enough.
Quote from: Langanobob on January 22, 2009, 11:06:55 PM
I worked in Turkey last year and visited Israel while on a break. I didn't have much time and I did not go out of Israel, but I understand that there is no problem going across to Egypt or Jordan. I don't know about Lebanon. Problem is you will get all kinds of advice and the situation changes daily and the only way to find out for sure is to just go. I work a lot in different countries and I always go where I'm interested in going and never had much of a problem. In fact I have had some truly great experiences with local people, just the opposite of a problem. But my local co-workers are almost always unanimously aghast that I go places. Keep in mind that many tourists coming here are advised not to and are afraid to go to NYC - that sort of puts things in perspective.
My guess is that some of the militant anti-Americanism will have been defused with Obama's election. I found Israel itself interesting enough and I tried to talk to as many people as possible, both Israelis and resident Arabs, to try and get a feeling for what life is like there. A week was just not enough.
thank you very much for your input,
I plan on staying for 20 days, traveling Israel, going to tel aviv, eliat ,batyam, the dead sea ,Jerusalem
since im there i'm hoping to at least get in to see Cairo..
if the timing goes well, I'd love to do Turkey and Lebanon , make an adventure out of it
I will take many pics and hopefully not land in some foreign prison lol
I'm so psyched for this trip! [wine] [beer]
The Middle East is not a place you want to just "bum around". Jordan is safe, Egypt less so (pesky Muslim Brotherhood), and if you go to Lebanon, we'll probably be seeing you on television soon after, surrounded by a couple of hooded gentleman with large knives. Hizballah controls much of Lebanon, and operate freely in Beirut. You seem like a pretty "high vis" guy, and your US passport complete with Israeli entrance stamp would garner you a lot of inhospitable attention. Also, stay away from the West Bank (not that the boarder is likely to be opened anyway; it goes without saying that the Strip will be closed). Stick to Israel and Jordan if you like, and if you can, the U.A.E. (Dubai, Qatar, etc.). Turkey's a nice way to get the Middle East experience without the complications.
You seem like a nice guy, but even us South Africans have shit with all the countrries mentioned except Israel, don`t go stirring the pot :o
Supposedly North Lebanon is OK. Someone I know is half Lebanese and goes back to see family in the north by the water.
You should probably be fine, just pay attention to the State department travel advisories and make sure someone knows your itinerary just in case.
I'm jealous. I want to see Cairo as well.
Last time I was there (either 2000 or 2001) You could go between Israel and Egypt ok. If fact, you HAD to walk across the border vehicles weren't allowed to travel across the border. Not sure about the rest
Cairo and the surrounding area is VERY worth your time
JM
Go for it [thumbsup]
You should be able to hit Cairo. I would not press my luck going to Lebanon.
Quote from: howie on January 23, 2009, 04:51:29 AM
Supposedly North Lebanon is OK. Someone I know is half Lebanese and goes back to see family in the north by the water.
Don't you think that him being able to fit in with the home country helped?
Quoteand if you can, the U.A.E. (Dubai, Qatar, etc.).
Unless something has changed, I don't think you can get into the UAE with Israeli stamps in your passport. I could be thinking of Bahrain, though.
Quote from: duccarlos on January 23, 2009, 07:29:50 AM
You should be able to hit Cairo. I would not press my luck going to Lebanon.
from what I understand its all about timing, a friend of mine did the trip and it was no problem, he did have the US embassy on speed dial lol
again my main focus is staying in Israel but since im there it would be a shame not to be able to see the other countries.
from what im being told by americans and israelis that there is no problem to go into egypt,trying to find out about Beirut .
i will plan on taking a ton of pics to put up here in may..
Quote from: CowboyBeebop on January 23, 2009, 02:01:11 AM
The Middle East is not a place you want to just "bum around". Jordan is safe, Egypt less so (pesky Muslim Brotherhood), and if you go to Lebanon, we'll probably be seeing you on television soon after, surrounded by a couple of hooded gentleman with large knives. Hizballah controls much of Lebanon, and operate freely in Beirut. You seem like a pretty "high vis" guy, and your US passport complete with Israeli entrance stamp would garner you a lot of inhospitable attention. Also, stay away from the West Bank (not that the boarder is likely to be opened anyway; it goes without saying that the Strip will be closed). Stick to Israel and Jordan if you like, and if you can, the U.A.E. (Dubai, Qatar, etc.). Turkey's a nice way to get the Middle East experience without the complications.
cool thank you for the advice..
I guess its all about timing, i'll probably just hit egypt then.
I'd love to go to Dubai thats something I'd like to do later
Quote from: That Nice Guy Beck! on January 23, 2009, 09:45:30 AM
...trying to find out about Beirut .
Why do you want to go to Beirut? Last I heard, it's a war-torn shithole (and that was from people who grew up there).
Quote from: Sinister on January 23, 2009, 12:24:49 PM
Why do you want to go to Beirut? Last I heard, it's a war-torn shithole (and that was from people who grew up there).
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/travel/20090111_DESTINATIONS.html (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/travel/20090111_DESTINATIONS.html)
Quote from: That Nice Guy Beck! on January 23, 2009, 01:17:26 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/travel/20090111_DESTINATIONS.html (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/travel/20090111_DESTINATIONS.html)
Given the source of that recommendation, I'd take it with a grain of salt. That must be also be an old article, as the "detante" mentioned in it was broken last week when Hezballah tried to open a second front in the Gaza operation by lobbing rockets at Israel. Then, of course, there is moral issue of spending money in a country that openly advocates terrorism against the West, and the fact that some (large) percentage of said money spent will certainly end up in Hezballah's coffers. There is a current State Department travel advisory for all of Lebanon:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3072.html (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3072.html)
The problem with Lebanon is that its run by a non-State actor (Hezballah); the legitimate government of Lebanon actually has very little influence. That makes it particularly difficult for traditional nation-states to render assistance to their citizens who run into trouble. Instead of negotiating with a rational actor, you're negotiating with an irrational organization which isn't suseptible to traditional negotiation tools. The travel advisory makes mention of this (it basically says, if you get into trouble, there isn't a whole lot we can do for you).
I wouldn't go there without personal security, provided by Western operators under the employment of a Western company.
my dad travels to saudi arabi and the UAE all the time. his advice is "get the stamp on a separate piece of paper and keep that in your passport."
most of the muslim countries don't like seeing a stamp from israel and won't let you in if they don't feel like it. and going back into israel with a stamp from a muslim country is from what i hear "rather difficult"
it sounds like you have already done some research, so make sure you get the word directly from that countries delegation.
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 23, 2009, 04:55:29 PM
my dad travels to saudi arabi and the UAE all the time. his advice is "get the stamp on a separate piece of paper and keep that in your passport."
Interesting. They let you do that?
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 23, 2009, 04:55:29 PM
my dad travels to saudi arabi and the UAE all the time. his advice is "get the stamp on a separate piece of paper and keep that in your passport."
yea can you do that ??
Quote from: CowboyBeebop on January 23, 2009, 04:34:42 PM
Given the source of that recommendation, I'd take it with a grain of salt. That must be also be an old article, as the "detante" mentioned in it was broken last week when Hezballah tried to open a second front in the Gaza operation by lobbing rockets at Israel. Then, of course, there is moral issue of spending money in a country that openly advocates terrorism against the West, and the fact that some (large) percentage of said money spent will certainly end up in Hezballah's coffers. There is a current State Department travel advisory for all of Lebanon:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3072.html (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3072.html)
The problem with Lebanon is that its run by a non-State actor (Hezballah); the legitimate government of Lebanon actually has very little influence. That makes it particularly difficult for traditional nation-states to render assistance to their citizens who run into trouble. Instead of negotiating with a rational actor, you're negotiating with an irrational organization which isn't suseptible to traditional negotiation tools. The travel advisory makes mention of this (it basically says, if you get into trouble, there isn't a whole lot we can do for you).
I wouldn't go there without personal security, provided by Western operators under the employment of a Western company.
the article was from last week jn 11 2009 as stated on the top corner
cant be that bad man, I mean yea you gotta be on your toes but if Israelis can go im sure me as an American citizen should not have any beef?
Quote from: That Nice Guy Beck! on January 23, 2009, 06:39:28 PM
the article was from last week jn 11 2009 as stated on the top corner
cant be that bad man, I mean yea you gotta be on your toes but if Israelis can go im sure me as an American citizen should not have any beef?
Sure. You'll be fine. Nice knowing you.
Quote from: That Nice Guy Beck! on January 23, 2009, 06:36:44 PM
yea can you do that ??
Israel will give you an insert w/ their stamp so you can remove it from the passport.
Quote from: kopfjager on January 23, 2009, 09:14:49 PM
Israel will give you an insert w/ their stamp so you can remove it from the passport.
good info thanks, most likely I will only go to Egypt and come back
Once you have experienced Cairo, you will probably come back quicker than you expected.
Well let us know how it goes. & don't go into Lebanon. I have been wondering about the Israel stamp in the passport thing for some time now ever since that we did that Medivac from Jordan to Greece, and all the guys on the plane were bummed because they couldn't go into Israel. Seems their CO didn't want them to have the stamp.
Rule no. 1, Make sure the Uzi is loaded and stored properly when crossing international borders.
Rule no. 2, Look as unassuming as an American can in the Mid-East.
Rule no. 3, Always, and I mean always carry with you as much currency the nation you intend on invading has in circulation at the time of your occupation.
Rule no. 4. Familiarize yourself with the sound of rockets, machine fire and mortars going off overhead.
Rule no. 5, Here's the most important, make sure you have the phone number of the U. S. Military's local search and recovery unit programmed into your satellite phone.
Source: The Travel Channel.
Happy travelling!
Quote from: RED on January 24, 2009, 07:39:27 AM
Rule no. 1, Make sure the Uzi is loaded and stored properly when crossing international borders.
Rule no. 2, Look as unassuming as an American can in the Mid-East.
Rule no. 3, Always, and I mean always carry with you as much currency the nation you intend on invading has in circulation at the time of your occupation.
Rule no. 4. Familiarize yourself with the sound of rockets, machine fire and mortars going off overhead.
Rule no. 5, Here's the most important, make sure you have the phone number of the U. S. Military's local search and recovery unit programmed into your satellite phone.
Source: The Travel Channel.
Happy travelling!
sick cant wait thanks bro, should be an experience of a lifetime.
Quote from: MendoDave on January 24, 2009, 02:41:29 AM
Well let us know how it goes. & don't go into Lebanon. I have been wondering about the Israel stamp in the passport thing for some time now ever since that we did that Medivac from Jordan to Greece, and all the guys on the plane were bummed because they couldn't go into Israel. Seems their CO didn't want them to have the stamp.
thanks man, I wll
Quote from: Capo on January 24, 2009, 12:57:15 AM
Once you have experienced Cairo, you will probably come back quicker than you expected.
really? why do you say this?
Quote from: That Nice Guy Beck! on January 24, 2009, 09:04:14 AM
really? why do you say this?
It's a densly populated shithole, but I leave you to make up your own mind.
Quote from: Capo on January 24, 2009, 09:07:20 AM
It's a densly populated shithole, but I leave you to make up your own mind.
many feel that of india and many dont.
You can fly from Israel to Egypt or Jordan, but forget Lebanon.
I would not "walk" to Egypt as that entails crossing Gaza and the Sinai Desert.
Jordan has a handful of crossings, but you'll probably make it 4-5 miles inside Jordan before being garrotted.
Having spent about a decade in Israel (as an American), you have two strikes against you (1 being American and 2 coming from Israel). The third strike will just be being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Best bet is to fly to Turkey from Israel. Turks are not Arabs and they like the Israeli tourist money (plenty of Israelis go to Turkey) and round trip flights are cheap.
Quote from: ducatizzzz on January 24, 2009, 10:09:34 AM
You can fly from Israel to Egypt or Jordan, but forget Lebanon.
I would not "walk" to Egypt as that entails crossing Gaza and the Sinai Desert.
Jordan has a handful of crossings, but you'll probably make it 4-5 miles inside Jordan before being garrotted.
Having spent about a decade in Israel (as an American), you have two strikes against you (1 being American and 2 coming from Israel). The third strike will just be being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Best bet is to fly to Turkey from Israel. Turks are not Arabs and they like the Israeli tourist money (plenty of Israelis go to Turkey) and round trip flights are cheap.
interesting thanks for the info, again most likely im going to do just the Egypt trip and thats that, gotta see the pyramids!
I wanted to see the other areas but I dont wanna be killed or on tv getting my head chopped off lol
Quote from: That Nice Guy Beck! on January 24, 2009, 10:18:05 AM
interesting thanks for the info, again most likely im going to do just the Egypt trip and thats that, gotta see the pyramids!
I wanted to see the other areas but I dont wanna be killed or on tv getting my head chopped off lol
Check around you can find agencies selling trips to Giza. We went in 93, which was after the so-called intifada died down. Don't go during September which is "Islamic-kill-the-infidel" month (i am not kidding) and when you go, try to go with a group that has a local tourist agency.
I found many Egyptians to be very engaging and warm and a lot of the tourist agencies there are run by secular Egyptians with ties to the government so they have a vested interest in keeping the tourist dollars rolling.
Sharm el Sheikh is also a decent destination coming from Israel.
No place is perfect tho. Watch your ass. Carry a copy of the Koran with you ( I am not kidding ) and know a few passages. It might save your ass.
Quote from: ducatizzzz on January 24, 2009, 02:46:03 PM
Check around you can find agencies selling trips to Giza. We went in 93, which was after the so-called intifada died down. Don't go during September which is "Islamic-kill-the-infidel" month (i am not kidding) and when you go, try to go with a group that has a local tourist agency.
I found many Egyptians to be very engaging and warm and a lot of the tourist agencies there are run by secular Egyptians with ties to the government so they have a vested interest in keeping the tourist dollars rolling.
Sharm el Sheikh is also a decent destination coming from Israel.
No place is perfect tho. Watch your ass. Carry a copy of the Koran with you ( I am not kidding ) and know a few passages. It might save your ass.
carry a copy of the koran in eygpt, my girls telling me to wear a cross in israel... oh boy.
again thank you for the advice
Quote from: That Nice Guy Beck! on January 24, 2009, 04:14:05 PM
carry a copy of the koran in eygpt, my girls telling me to wear a cross in israel... oh boy.
again thank you for the advice
sounds too complicated... why not just pretend you're canadian (http://aaronorear.blogspot.com/2006/12/american-in-canucks-clothing.html)? ;D
Quote from: That Nice Guy Beck! on January 24, 2009, 04:14:05 PM
carry a copy of the koran in eygpt, my girls telling me to wear a cross in israel... oh boy.
again thank you for the advice
nah, don't wear a cross in Israel. the only people who'll get close enough to notice will think you're a missionary, which is an illegal activity in Israel.
Watch out for these guys, they can be difficult to reason with
(http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm143/Tarugo996/rascals.jpg)
This is starting to cross the political line kids.
Just sayin.
Where? Just so I know for next time...
Quote from: rgramjet on January 24, 2009, 06:31:19 PM
Where? Just so I know for next time...
You asking that is insulting....
Capo...
take 24.
I just spoke to my Israeli coworker. You will have no issue in Egypt. I've always wanted to go to Turkey, so if you decide to go, please let me know how it goes. Like anywhere, be safe.
QuoteI've always wanted to go to Turkey, so if you decide to go, please let me know how it goes.
Carlos, I spent 4 months working in Turkey last year. Bought a Yamaha YBR 125 and put 6,000 miles on it during breaks and weekends. Very interesting and very diversified country. Incredible history - I'm used to seeing Nevada ghost towns from maybe 100 years ago and seeing Julius Caesar's name carved in marble from really a long time ago got my attention. Like big cities anywhere, Istanbul can chew you up and spit you out before you even realize you aren't having a good time anymore. The countryside and smaller villages are very different and my strongest memories are of the genuine kindness and hospitality of the average Turk. Occasionally when I'd stop at a roadside restaurant for lunch they would refuse payment, saying "You are our guest here".
I didn't spend a lot of time at the coastal resorts but they are great places to relax. Again, amazing contrasts with traditional Muslim women who probably consider it a sin if you see their ankles just a short distance from topless European women at the beach. Outside of the cities, finding a bar for a beer is not easy. And when you do find one, the customers are all men as all women seem to go home by sunset. Very boring for those accustomed to western life.
The coastal resorts, big cities, ancient ruins and the country villages were all very interesting and all very different. Also interesting contrasts with traditional Turkish life and the changes due to the program to be accepted by the EU. More than anything else I enjoyed meeting average people and getting a sense of Turkish life. English is not spoken much outside of the big cities but almost all Turks seemed to enjoy going to great lengths to communicate regardless of language difficulties. They did have issues with US foreign policy but very clearly differentiated between the actions of the US government and the US people. I got stopped at a few roadside police checkpoints but the police were very professional and I had no safety or security concerns at all.
I have relatives in Ukraine and took a week long side trip there, but Turkey felt like home when I got back and I wanted to kiss the ground.
Turkey is definitely a place I will end up visiting. It does sound like I will be sent to Israel for work for at least a week. I don't generally enjoy visiting places without my wife, but I do have friends that will show me around. It also sounds like I will be attending a friend's wedding in India next year with the wife.
Turkey isn't as safe as it used to be. The muslim hardliners are gaining more control, currently.
had to end up going a bit later because of my businesses
so I booked my trip on us air , got a great deal on the flight, leave july 13th to aug 3rd
I booked a motorcycle tour!
im going to jordan via boat to gamble [beer]
we'll be staying in bat yam, tel aviv and elialt
possicbly gonna hit up egypt as well,
def going to check out ducati in tel aviv!!
http://www.ducati-israel.co.il//index.asp?lang=1 (http://www.ducati-israel.co.il//index.asp?lang=1)
very cool [thumbsup]
Might check with Dept. of State, before you head to Egypt, they're getting a little wacky lately.
Quote from: Sinister on April 30, 2009, 09:10:07 PM
Might check with Dept. of State, before you head to Egypt, they're getting a little wacky lately.
I hear pork chops are dirt cheap CLICKY (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20090430/NEWS01/904300304/-1/NEWSFRONT2)
Quote from: Ducatiloo on April 30, 2009, 09:43:35 PM
I hear pork chops are dirt cheap CLICKY (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20090430/NEWS01/904300304/-1/NEWSFRONT2)
Well, yeah, there's that. Then there's this: http://www.aina.org/news/20090430182144.htm (http://www.aina.org/news/20090430182144.htm)
Quote from: Sinister on April 30, 2009, 09:10:07 PM
Might check with Dept. of State, before you head to Egypt, they're getting a little wacky lately.
no egypt, just jordan and israel
Quote from: Ducatiloo on April 30, 2009, 09:43:35 PM
I hear pork chops are dirt cheap CLICKY (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20090430/NEWS01/904300304/-1/NEWSFRONT2)
whoa
Quote from: That Nice Guy Beck! on May 01, 2009, 08:26:20 AM
no egypt, just jordan and israel
Are you going to Petra?
I have a friend here that is from Jordan, his family still lives there.
Want me to get some contact information for you?
Quote from: cyrus buelton on May 01, 2009, 08:34:17 AM
Are you going to Petra?
I have a friend here that is from Jordan, his family still lives there.
Want me to get some contact information for you?
yea my friends just got back from petra and said it was amazing, sure the more info the better thank you for teh offer [beer]