Middle East

Has anyone taken the flight from Abu Dhabi to Sydney? Was it hellish in economy or bearable? Did you have to slap the staff? A three hour flight from Damascus saw passengers piling up trays in the galley because no bastard would collect them.

Hi folks,

Unfortunately my allotted time in Iran is drawing to a close, but I need to extend for another 30 days. Due to strange time constraints (I'm in Tehran, meeting an arriving family member on the 8th and I want to snowboard until then) I really don't want to head out to the recommended visa extension locations of Tabriz, Esfahan, Yazd, Shiraz etc. Does anyone know of a more convenient location that is swift in processing and sure in approval nearby to Tehran?

LP is writing on p. 381 about pdf document of 3 pages (containing train schedules & ticket costs) which can be downloaded on www.rajatrains.com. Unfortunately I can't find it on the website. Can somebody help me?
Thanks, Beat.

Hi All

My company has offered me a role in Dubai starting this summer. I would really apprecaite any tips as to where to research cost of living, accomodation etc ...
anybody living there who could share their experiences/give me their views? I've never even been but it sounds like it could be an adventure!

This may seem like a ridiculous question, but that probably means you don't have an Indian passport.

Ok, here's the scenario. My wife is a Canadian permanent resident, but an Indian citizen. She has a flight from Mumbai to Sharjah to Muscat, so she qualifies for the 96 hour tourist visa in the UAE. She has an onward flight from Dubai to London to Toronto. If she cancels the Sharjah to Muscat flight (after arrival in Sharjah) and just hops on the plane for Canada out of Dubai, will UAE immigration…

It is AMAZING how GTI was all cynical of the middle east (and branch) and yet, he seems to spend just as much time here as before.

I guess our little world rubbed off on him over the years.

Next we will see him with a big beard and a miswik.

I am considering heading to Jordan this summer, I know, not the best time to visit the Middle East... a couple of questions:
A) How bad will the heat be in late July/early August? unmanageable?
B) Besides the ruins of Petra, are there treks to do in Jordan? what are some recommendations for places to go?
Any help would be good help, thanks in advance,
-TBRI

Christians are fleeing Lebanon to escape political and economic crises and signs that radical Islam is on the rise in the country.
In a poll to be published next month which was exclusively leaked to The Sunday Telegraph, nearly half of all Maronites, the largest Christian denomination in the country, said they were considering emigrating. Of these, more than 100,000 have submitted visa applications to foreign embassies. Their exodus could have a devastating effect on the country, robbing it of…

Thankyou to all who have helped so far.
Here are some last questions and a part of my itinery......i just want to make sure it works

9TH MAY Ok so I finish in Jerusalem.....and have to get to Eilat

I am taking the bus........(5 hours right?)

1st qn: Do i stay a night in Eilat? OR do i keep going and stay a night in Aqaba? OR do I have enough time to get to Petra in one day from Jerusalem
So it would be Jerusalem-Eilat-Aqaba-Petra (too much?)
2nd: Which one out of Eilat or Aqaba do I stay overnight…

[Also posted in Egypt forum]:

I'm going to be traveling from Uganda to Egypt in August, and will probably have around 2 weeks before I fly out of Cairo to Morocco in early Sept. I'm not formally planning anything, but trying to get a sense of what is reasonable and do-able, given the short timeframe and the hot weather.

My ideal would be to see the sites along the Nile, and then take a side trip to Petra. But, I don't want the trip to be rushing around in order to see things for the sake of seeing…