by Matthew Allison | Nov 10, 2010 | Asia, Middle East
Exploring Lebanon Through the Eyes of Locals November 2010: As part of a longer two-week journey that included Libya—where I explored Roman ruins under Muammar Gaddafi’s rule—and Sudan, where I camped among the Nubian pyramids, I spent three unforgettable days in...
by Matthew Allison | Nov 30, 2007 | Middle East
Yemen: Venturing into Old Arabia Discovering a Forgotten Land – November 2007 Yemen rarely made headlines for positive reasons. Whenever it appeared in the news, it was typically due to suicide bombings or ongoing conflicts. Even during its prolonged civil war, few in...
by Matthew Allison | Nov 22, 2006 | Asia, Middle East
Iran 2006: Seeking Truth Beyond the Headlines November 2006: In 2006, not long after my visit to North Korea, I set my sights on Iran—a country branded as part of the “Axis of Evil” by President George W. Bush and often demonized by Western media. But I...
by Matthew Allison | Mar 31, 2005 | Middle East
Damascus, Palmyra and Bosra A Glimpse of Syria Before It Changed Forever March 2005: As part of a larger Middle East journey, my friend and I spent three days in Syria, determined to see as much as possible in our limited time. Even then, we sensed that visiting as...
by Matthew Allison | Mar 8, 2005 | Asia, Middle East
Chasing Legends: My Journey to Petra and Beyond March 2005: Jordan had been calling to me for years—its ancient ruins, biblical history, and vast mystical deserts igniting my imagination. But above all, one place stood at the heart of my wanderlust: Petra. Like many,...
by Matthew Allison | Mar 6, 2005 | Middle East
Walking Through History: Three Days in Jerusalem March 2005: As part of a larger 10-day journey with a friend—one that took us through Jordan, Syria, and even Amsterdam—I spent three days in Jerusalem, Israel. From the moment I arrived, I was acutely aware that I had...
