Middle East Archives - Page 2 of 6 -

The National Museum of Alexandria (Egypt).

Alexandria National Museum Was a Disappointment

May 14, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Alexandria is an ancient city and as any tourist would expect, its National Museum should be filled with great things. But, I was disappointed. While the objects were labeled properly, the museum is dead. Like a necropolis. I think it has something to do with the kind of too much

Egypt

Saqqara Pyramids in the City of the Dead

May 13, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

The Saqqara Pyramids in the City of the Dead are the burial grounds of Memphis, Egypt’s ancient capital. This place is also known and spelled as Sakkara or Saccara. Unlike the Great Pyramids of Giza, the ones you see here are smaller but older than the former. Off-the-beaten track While tourists

Egypt

Inside the Church of St George in Cairo

May 10, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

The Church of St George in Cairo is built above an old Roman Tower. Thus, visitors have to climb a flight of stairs to reach the round church. Under the impressive dome is, of course, a great place of worship for Coptic Christians in Cairo. It is believed that the

, Middle East

Coptic Museum in Cairo has the World’s Largest Collection of Coptic Artifacts

May 8, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

The Coptic Museum in Cairo has the world’s largest collection of Coptic artifacts. I find this museum more interesting than the overcrowded Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo. But these two have one thing in common – a lack of interesting descriptions. I think when you’re visiting Cairo, you should divide your

Egypt

The Grand Al Mursi Mosque

May 5, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

The grand Al Mursi Mosque in Alexandria is devoted to a great Sufi Saint Abul Abbas al-Mursi. In fact, his body is laid here. This is a very historical mosque where both males and females can go in and worship but separately. I wasn’t planning to visit this place but

Coptic Cairo - Church of Sts Sergius and Bacchus (Egypt).

, UNESCO Sites

Jesus was a Refugee in Egypt and This is the Cave Where He Stayed

May 4, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Jesus was a refugee in Egypt and this is the cave where he stayed with Mary and Joseph. It is also believed that Joseph, the carpenter, might have worked at the Babylon Fortress nearby. When Jesus was still an infant, King Herod of Judea ordered him to kill all “firstborns.”

, Middle East

Montaza Palace Gardens – A Beautiful Refuge from the Heat

May 2, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Montaza Palace Gardens is your beautiful refuge from the heat in Alexandria. Though it can be chilly in winter, it is still an ideal place to watch the Mediterranean sunset. A walk in this huge park should be relaxing, while admiring the well-tended gardens. You’ll never run out of shades

Egypt

Mediterranean Sunset in Alexandria

May 1, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Mediterranean sunset in Alexandria is, oh boy, breathtaking. While I was in Alexandria last month, a local couchsurfer (Thanks, Abdulazziz!) brought me to Montaza Palace Gardens. This park is huge and there were only few people when we were there. Its lush green, well-manicured gardens are good for an afternoon walk

, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Photos: Inside the Red Pyramid in Cairo

April 20, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Going inside the Red Pyramid in Cairo is an experience worth doing. It might be hard for those who have fear of closed spaces but you’d never regret it. You’ll reach the bosom of the Pyramid in your own time and emerge victorious. For some people, there’s “nothing to see there” but

, Egypt

Video: This is What You’ll See Inside the Red Pyramid in Egypt

April 19, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

This is what you see inside the Red Pyramid in Egypt. It is said to be the world’s oldest true pyramids. This is located at Dahshur, 20 kilometres away from the famous trio of Pyramids in Giza. Don’t be fooled by its name though. The whole facade of the pyramid

, Middle East

Bahrain Skyline at Night

March 1, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Last weekend, a colleague and I went to Manama to renew our working visa from another Gulf country. I’ve been to Bahrain 4 times already and I stayed 3-4 nights in each visit. There’s nothing much to do in Bahrain, really. You can even explore the whole country in half

Saudi Arabia

I Wore Flip Flops Climbing Mountains in Al Ula

June 11, 2016 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Yes, that’s right. I wore flip-flops climbing mountains in Al Ula. They’re not your ordinary mountains but rocky mountains, which can be dangerous when you step on imbalanced rocks. I didn’t bring my shoes because no one told me we would climb mountains. It was supposed to be just a hike

The World's Most Beautiful Starbucks at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai.

, United Arab Emirates

The Most Beautiful Starbucks in the World

June 10, 2016 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

A friend (whom I’ve never seen in ages) and I went to Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai with one purpose – to see, try and experience what it’s like sitting in the most beautiful Starbucks in the world. Well, apparently. It’s not just gorgeous but it’s grand and magnificent! The

, Saudi Arabia

Is Al Ula the Grand Canyon of Saudi Arabia?

June 9, 2016 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Is Al Ula the Grand Canyon of Saudi Arabia? From above, it looks like one but not completely like it. The panoramic views of sandstones and rock formations are breathtakingly stunning as the sun goes down. But going up there is quite interesting – you’ll pass through a steep, zigzag

Saudi Arabia

The Mud Brick Houses of the Old Town of Al Ula

June 7, 2016 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

The old town of Al Ula is both historical and biblical. In Biblical Times, Al Ula was called “Dedan.” It is mentioned in Isaiah 21:13 as a home trade base for Arab caravans. Today, the old town of Al Ula is a ghost town. No one lives there anymore but there’s

Saudi Arabia

The Lion Tombs Carved in the Rock Mountains

June 3, 2016 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

They are called Lion Tombs carved in the rocky mountains. Don’t get it wrong – no dead lions are buried inside. The lions are literally carved on the side of one of the Al Khuraiba Tombs. These small tombs are within walking distance from a discovered old kingdom called the