HX Report
Irishman in the Middle East
Weekly Photo Challenge – Depth
Posted on January 30, 2015
This week’s challenge is ‘Depth‘.
The Great Wall Of China:
One bright beautiful blue-sky morning In October 2009 MB walked on the Great Wall Of China. It’s an incredibly awe-inspiring structure and sight, as it winds it’s way into the mountainous distance, deep into the northern Chinese countryside. 8,850km (or 5,500 miles) deep to be exact. MB walked on a section which is about one hour drive outside Beijing. The wall is extremely steep in many locations as it snakes the contours of the mountain slopes, and a level of aerobic fitness is required to walk a reasonable length of it. Some, or most, of the English language signage along the wall is amusing! Read More
Not Easy
Posted on January 30, 2015
In Europe people take freedom of travel for granted. Want to go to France? Of Holland? Or Germany? No problem. Go online or pop into any travel agency in your local town or city and buy a flight ticket. Jump on the plane and off you go. Arrive, flash your EU Passport briefly to the Immigration official, and head on out to the open streets. Easy peasy.
With similar language, religion and culture for the most parts, one might think that the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region is tailor made for freedom of travel and open access to work. But for historical, political, security and other reasons it’s not. Very not. Read More
Weekly Photo Challenge: Foreshadow
Posted on January 27, 2015
Auschwitz Liberation by Russian Troops – 70th Anniversary
For the day that’s in it. Reposting a short post from August 2013.
MB
Arbeit Macht Frei.
Sachenhausen (pronounced ‘Saxenhausen‘) was the nearest concentration camp to Berlin before & during WW2, based in the Nazi supporting (at that time) region of Oranienburg, approx 1 hour train journey from the city. MB visited in April 2008. Deeply disturbing to do the tour, but recommend to any who might visit Berlin. Unforgettable experience of a ‘not nice but very memorable’ kind.
View original post 111 more words
The King Is Dead
Posted on January 25, 2015
Weekly Photo Challenge – Express Yourself
Posted on January 23, 2015
For six years the Middle East has been MB’s second home.
Mention of the ME conjures up many things to many people. In the Western world maybe it conjures up negative images for the most part. Understandable MB guesses, given that most news coverage, like most news coverage the world over, focuses of the profane, the obscene, the terrible and the trouble. And of course that’s the awful truth of certain locations in the region. Read More
Arab Headgear
Posted on January 16, 2015
The male Arab headgear protects wearers from the hot sun and blowing sand & dust. The visible top garment is called the ‘Kufiya’ or ‘ghoutra’. Read More
Charlie … Not Ready to Make Nice …When History Repeats Itself … Here and There … (Reblog from Gypsy)
Posted on January 10, 2015
Reblogging the below post from blogger friend Gypsy, who writes a blog called ‘Gypsy In The ME’ (Middle East).
If like MB, you are into the twittersphere or the blogosphere or gorged yourself on the coverage from Paris in recent days then you will be well aware of the emotions. Huge anger understandably in many quarters. Like the emotions expressed in Gypsie’s post below. Which was about something different but related.
Sadly, also a good number of people who excuse, or even rejoice in, what happened, including a Syrian man MB talked to at work today. There are many like him out these parts.
But saw this quote tonight:
“I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him”
Thanks Gypsy:
http://gypsyintheme.com/blog/2015/1/9/charlie-not-ready-to-make-nice-when-history-repeats-itself-here-and-there-
Weekly Photo Challenge – Shadowed
Posted on January 9, 2015
HX Report 