Middle East

At the very top of my list of places to go are certain countries in the Middle East. I've always been interested in going places most don't care for, and ever since reading the lonelyplanet book Bad Lands by Tony Wheeler, the interest was, as odd as it is, heightened. There's just something about the ancient history and completely different culture that I have always been curious about. These are my top 3!

1) Turkey: perfect contrast of bustling metropolis, beautiful beaches, empire history, and most of all, the caves of Cappadocia.

2) Jordan: Petra! Who wouldn't want to ride camels through an ancient kingdom?

3) Israel: beautiful scenery, unreal nightlife, and amazing people! Not to mention all that "stuff" that went on in the past ;) I had two teachers in junior high who took six months traveling through Israel after university. They said it was the most frightening and amazing experience of their lives, and if any of us had any interest in it or ever had the chance to do the same, we should definitely do it! One day...



Tourism is developing more and more in these places. Not only are they seen as hot destinations for beaches and sun, but the public's general interest in visiting countries that were once "forbidden" is now growing. There is less fear than before, and more desire for doing something different. Decreased prices in flights and hotels are a result of more airlines flying to these destinations, resulting in more opportunity to visit these amazing places!

Elyse :)