TRAVELER

"and bland". I have to agree

"and bland". I have to agree with Mideast Buff.

You did not capture the diversity of the cultures in either countries. Did you know that Ummayd Mosque hold the tomb of John the Baptist???

Qasiyoun mountain is majestic in Syria and not one picture.

It seems to me that your summer excursions to ME are designed to reinforce your childhood indoctrinations by your father...sad that you can't use your own mind to look at things differently.

//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist

More about Syria:

//riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

Pouya e Aziz,

Thanks for the clarification, my issue was not with your "description of the photo essay" It is clear from your description that like myself, you also like or maybe even love the region called "the greater Middle East/Near East/Central Asia." The title "In its own way" to me, sounds as though "Syria or Turkey" or maybe the entire region is not equal to, or just as beautiful as Iran or other regions of the world. Therefore my title suggestion: "simply beautiful" without using any hint of comparison. Again just my thoughts, not intended to trash your wonderful photo essay.
Pouya Jaan, I love your pictures and look forward to seeing your pics on Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt.

Movafagh Bashi va Kamyab,

Thanks for the pictures.

Thanks for the pictures. I've been trying to go to Syria, but unfortunatelly airline tickets from Europe to Syria are really expensive. Unlike Turkey, they don't have low cost airlines. Actaully the most afordable way is to go to Turkey then take a bus to HALAB. Its actually more affordable to visit Uzbekistan (Samarghand) using russian or eastern block airlines.

That said, I hope you are not planning to become an Al-Aghadieh member...   Ha Ha! I'm just joking! Ali Shariati appears to have been a person who promoted Martyrdom, which I cannot accept.

//www.irannostalgia.com

irannostalgia.com

Bland and boring

Pooya
I think your pictures are quite bland and boring.
there's hardly a personal touch to any of them.

these cities are so full of dramatic beauty and intriguing contrasts, that east-meets-west feel and the air of live-and-let-live, the vibrant night life and the omnipresence of religion without it really being a nuisance

the well-pronounced difference between Levantine Arabs and Gulf or African Arabs

I dont think you have able been to capture any of that in your pictures either.

Amazing photos. Would have

Amazing photos. Would have also loved to see pics of Ibn Arabi's tomb which is in Damascus.

To: AnonymousMardRendi

I just re-read the description of the photo essay and the comments and nobody is comparing anything to Iran. I don't know what sparked your comment.

I didn't choose the title, but I like it. There's nothing nationalistic about anything in the photo essay or in the description, hence this line: "Like anywhere else in the world, the Middle East is beautiful in its own way."

Just BEAUTIFUL, plain and simple

I am sorry to say it but the title of this photo essay "Beautiful in its own way" stinks of Iranian nationalist delusions.... :-(
News Flash: In addition to Iran, there are many many more other nations and places in the Middle East and the region that are just as beautiful if not more beautiful than Iran. Why are so many Iranian facists so small minded that they have to compare everywhere to Iran. Syria and Turkey are only just two amazing, rich, old and wonderful places in our region and in the world. Morrocco, Tunisia, Lybia, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and ... are all simply amazing places also.

When each of us can like other lands as much as we like Iran, then Iranians will truly be Beautiful. In other words when nationalist Iranians can look at Saudi Arabia without making negative comments and can appreciate the simple, haunting beauty of that desert nation, then there is hope for Iranians...

Zendeh Baad Ensaniyat, doosti, solh, eshgh e be hammihan(khodi), eshghe be hamsayeh(Ashna)va eshghe be biganeh (Gharibeh)...

Eradatmand,

تعجب نکنید

تعجب نکنید که چرا مثلا در دمشق هم مقبره امام حسین است و یا زینب کبرا در دو جا خوابیده!

جالبتر آنکه در خود لندن هم انگلیسها قرار است یک مقبره برای حسین و زینب درست کنند، چون طبیعتا میبینند که پول خوبی توش هست.

این روزها بازار امامزاده ها بمراتب گرمتر از موزه و گالری هاست و در عمق جهل دینی، دولتها پول خوبی دز میاورند. یادم است وقتی بچه بودیم و مثلا ننه بزرگمان میرفت کربلا و یا نجف، منتش را سر ما میگذاشتند و طوری رفتار میکردند که ما موطف بودیم در بازگشت ایشان از سفر عیش و نوش به ننه بزرک و همراهان زواّر ایشان تقریبا به چشم یک نیمچه امام نگاه کنیم

حالا یک چند سالی صبر کنید و این نسل امروز هم که به فلان گاو رفت، آنوقت رادیو بی بی سی کم کم شهادت و خبر میدهد که مثلا در فلان دهکده در سیستان شخصی امام خمینی را دیده و بلافاصله بعد از پخش این خبر شیعه ها میریزند و یک مقبره هم برای آن مردک در آنجا درست میکنند. ..

great pics and info.

I had no idea that shariatis grave was in Damascus. i was there in 2006
and i totally missed it. I think you mostly went to Shia religious sites of Damascus which is ok but  i think you should have put some pictures of Bab Touma and the "old city" , if someone doesn't know, they will think Damascus is something like Qom but its not. great job on  defending Iranian backgamman honor in Istanbul, I am sure it wasn’t an easy task.

Imam Hussain's Tomb?

Dear Abdullah, it is not known for certain, but there are tombs in both Damascus and Cairo for Imam Hussain's head. His body is buried in Karbala.

Nazy jaan, I'm glad you like the photo essay.

Imam Hussain's Tomb in Damascus!

I think the caption of photo # 8 is wrong. Imam Hussain's shrine is in Karbala, Iraq. His siter, Hazrat Zeinab's Shrine is in Damascus.

Dear Pouya:

Wow, your trip sounds like a lot of fun! You are fortunate to be able to see so much of what most of us can only read about in the news and in books. I think Istanbul is probably the most beautiful city of the world in that elements of natural landscape and history create an unmatched visual effect all around it, as evident in your Photo #1.

Thanks for sharing your pictures and your travels with us. I look forward to seeing the next set! Be safe and take care, Pouya.