I completely agree with #8 & 9.
If you want to true, original Arabia, you need to go to Yemen. A truely facinating country, albeit maybe not the best choice if you've never been to the ME as it also has it's challenges, especially safety wise.
Oman is the best alternative, still very much Arabian, yet completely safe and it has a well developed infrastructure.
George @#6: "...Syria seems a bit more western (culturally speaking). Maybe it's because many things are so similar to here in Cyprus."
You know what you're setting yourself up for here George...
What about Sudan .Its so vast and diverese you can find any of the above descriptions in one single country.waar you can go for year off the beaten track without seeing the dreaded single tourist.The challenge is to find your way back to Westernisation.
syriafullbottle from damascushostel