I don’t know about you but I’m the sort of person who always likes to go off exploring. If I see an open door or gate then I have to take a peek inside. I’ve seen some fascinating places by doing so and so far not got into serious trouble. I was in London a… Continue reading A little bit of the Assyrian Empire from ancient Babylon in a London garden
Tag: Middle-East
There’s something about Persian door-knockers!
One of the things I like about travel is encountering different ideas and customs. I really like noticing the differences. Even in the U.K. there are huge variations in buildings, landscapes, foods, accents and even customs. Whilst others delight in the homogenisation of things, especially in Europe, there is nothing that I dislike more. Things… Continue reading There’s something about Persian door-knockers!
Shibam – The original high-rise city
Even going into London as frequently as I do it is hard to keep track of all the new skyscrapers going up with their weird names. The Gherkin, Shard, Walkie-Talkie or as it used to be called The Death Star due to its propensity of reflecting sun into some sort of laser, melting parked cars… Continue reading Shibam – The original high-rise city
The War in Syria and what we can do to help against a 21st Century War Criminal
Todays posting isn’t going to be about some wishy-washy subject. I’m going to write about something important and something which is killing thousands of people every month, the civil uprising and war in Syria. I’m writing because it is important and we CAN do something. Up to 5000 people a month visit this blog, that… Continue reading The War in Syria and what we can do to help against a 21st Century War Criminal
In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia
Hopefully you will have read the previous post about the classic epic movie, Lawrence of Arabia, it’s not entirely necessary but it sets this post in perspective. I came to Lawrence through the film and after watching it, you do get a good idea of what he must have been like. Lawrence was also a… Continue reading In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia
This is the first section of a two part article about T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. This first part will be about the better known side of Lawrence and especially the film whilst the second part will be a more personal look at Lawrence and my journey in his footsteps. You can… Continue reading Lawrence of Arabia
Qasr Amr – pleasure palace of the Caliphs
Qasr Amr is located on the desert road to Azraq and only a short distance from Iraq. It is possibly the highlight of the chain of desert castles built in eastern Jordan. It was built by Caliph Walid I around 715AD. As the name suggests it was originally part of a castle but now all… Continue reading Qasr Amr – pleasure palace of the Caliphs
The destruction of historic Mecca by Saudi Arabia
Below is another article which I have recently written for the Muslim Academy site which is run to increase East-West understandings. If the first church of St. Paul was to be destroyed or the house of Mary, mother of Jesus, were to be razed to the ground there would be a near universal outcry; yet… Continue reading The destruction of historic Mecca by Saudi Arabia
Calligraphy: The Art of writing or why I bought a Fountain Pen
I don’t know about you but I hate pens. Not all pens but just the cheap throw-away biro type pens that we all seem to have to endure these days. The sort of pens that 20 years ago would be attached to the end of a chain at banks or medical practices. Sufficient to write… Continue reading Calligraphy: The Art of writing or why I bought a Fountain Pen
Guess who is coming for dinner
Well I recently was tagged by my friend and blogger at Tea with a Pirate whose blog I have long enjoyed as his interests match mine so precisely with travelling tales particularly from the Middle-East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia as well as being the home of the most delicately crafted Haiku’s on WordPress. My… Continue reading Guess who is coming for dinner
Stephen Liddell 