I was born in Syria, lived in Kuwait, the Middle East, and Immigrated to the United States. My wife is from Jordan, and my mom is from Palestine. My sister lives in Tunisia, and my cousins in Dubai. 

I also visited Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia (before the breakup), Italy, France, Spain, and Holland.

My adopted country is America, and my home state is California, USA. 

So you can say a piece of me lives in every corner of the world and hope to visit all those corners during my lifetime and write about them.

This section is dedicated to the Middle East: From the Gulf States to the Levant to Morocco. 

Egypt

In March of 2023, my wife and I decided to embark on our long-awaited journey through Egypt. 

We have always wanted to visit this Arab country to experience its culture and history. So, we booked a two-week tour to places like Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Edfu, Aswan, Sharm El-Sheikh, and ancient monuments and temples like the Great Pyramids, Sphinx, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings.

In the following pages, I will share our impressions of this country, its people, and its past, and some advice on where to go and what to do.

This whirlwind tour of Egypt was terrific, but I realized we needed more than two weeks to experience everything Egypt offers. 

Read the full story here: Egypt, Cairo, Giza Pyramids.

Jordan

Jordan, throughout history, was a crossroad between East and West. Ancient roads through the desert connected civilizations like the Greeks, Nabataeans, and Romans, and more recent states like the Umayyads and the Ottomans.

Today, Jordan still strives to connect Western-style economy and culture to more traditional Arab and Muslim values. The result is an eclectic melding of cultures that makes this desert kingdom unique in the world. 

Another great attraction for visitors is the political stability in Jordan. The Kingdom is one of the few Arab states that remain peaceful and inviting. Another big attraction is the temperate weather. It is not as warm as the Gulf States or as cold as most of Europe. 

Epic Journey

At the age of 16, my family embarked on an epic journey from Kuwait to Spain and back. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery and historical sites, met friendly people, and encountered a few challenges along the way.

The trip, as intended, was a lot of fun – but it was also educational. I learned about different places and people, and most importantly, I realized that there is a vast world outside of my neighborhood.

This trip also ignited my wanderlust for everything new and adventurous.

So why am I writing about a trip that happened several decades ago? Two reasons: One, I came across a box of old trip photos that brought back memories. Two, I came to realize that this trip had a significant impact on my life and personality. I thought it essential to commit it to memory. Read the full story here.