Ten Arab places to visit as protests maroon region!

If by some insane chance I want to visit the Arab world in these turbulent times, many Europeans and Americans do because a holiday is a must for them, I would brave it and go to Cairo where history is still being itched after the fall of president Husni Mubarak. Al Tahrir Square, the icon of the millions who camped there to throw the former regime out, might just raise a touch of curiosity for the intrepid tourists, particularly since they tell me, Egyptians have become much more friendly after the removal of their tyrant who happened to be chummy with the West.

Of course the country is a touristic wonderland but this is the first place I would see if I was to go there. I suppose as well the pyramids would continue to be a must and that goes for Luxor’s Valley of the Kings which are sure to change the palates and taste-buds of many, away from that nasty word, politics.

Then it would be straight to wonderful, historical, antiquity-driven Damascus where I would just concentrate on the religious artifacts, Roman ruins, markets and delicious food. They see nothing beats the Syrians in the Arab world. So now would be the time to try and enjoy. Nothing much is happening here by way of political protests, so it's up to the tourist to dig his heals in the auspicious surroundings and try some of the top-notch ice cream, mind you it might be a little bit cold at this time of year, hot Sahlab, would be good though.

Of course I may think twice now about going to Syria because the country has suddenly lit up--mass demos in different cities calling for reforms. I dare see this is in itself a seen that tourists may want to watch, but its better to steer well away, wait at least to see how things develop.

There is something about Beirut that can’t but stand as a must-see place for everyone. No, visitors don’t need to see the rest of Lebanon, they could if they want to, but Beirut has became a link between West and East. Not quite resembling, the French Riviera, it has a place of culture and modern living. Mark Twin, the famous American writer came here in the 19th century and today, it’s a myriad to great many intellectuals. Robert Fisk, the well-known journalist writing for the London-based Independent newspaper, went there in the late 1970s and never left the place. Beirut continues to be relatively safe.

Next stop should be to the wonderful, amazing, mesmerizing, auspicious (and people here might start saying bias, bias!) the Rose Red city of Petra, the quintessential marvel literally in the middle of nowhere. However, because of the distance people might want stop in Amman, either in one of its top palatial Five-Star hotels, or in one of its dinky hideouts in the middle of the city. Jordan possesses layers of civilizations, so this would be a good place to camp for a while.

If you are tired of the sea and the waterfront, you may like to skip Aqaba and the Mars-like deserts of Wadi Rum, and fly straight to Dubai where the glamour of modernity awaits you. Dubai has within the last 10 to 15 years become a “hot” destination for literally everyone, including Indians, Europeans, Americans and Russians, and not-so-much Arabs.

It might be to do with the architecture and designs, its skyscrapers, top hotels, and extensive malls. A German friend of mine tells me there is something special about Dubai that is intriguing , feeling probably you are in the most globalized city in the world. If you are in that area you might like to go to Abu Dhabi that is completely and unblinkingly green in the middle of the desert. They have plenty of desalinated water to bloom vast stretches.

Its late president sheikh Zaid insisted on turning the desert green, planting turf, trees, vegetables and much more. When I went there many of the trees where as tall as multi-storey buildings like I saw back in England, Germany and Belgium. The date palm tree was particularly significant, as up to 50,000 palms existed in the United Arab Emirates at the time of his death in late 2004.

After that, the places to visit would have been to the different cities of Yemen who I am told are majestic in their historical beauty. You may like to wait till things cool down and the hot heads relax for many there are calling for the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh who has ruled the country since what seems eternity! Mind you that goes for a lot of Arab leaders. This same German friend who appears to have fallen in love with the Arab world, truly, one day said to me in Amman, Aden is enigmatically beautiful with its deep-rooted and indigenous architecture.

A man who taught music in a convent in Egypt in the 1970s and early 1980s but who couldn’t get away, he told me his girl students used to laugh when he used to say he was taking his family on holiday to Yemen! Yemen, the girls giggled "we thought you were going to see Switzerland.

The last and final stop in a schematic tour of the region wound appropriately conclude with a visit to Tunisia, that beady little country which started the ball moving for regime change and political reform in the Arab world. Having under gone its own revolution and toppled its dictator, it now seems to be sedating into normality, with skipping Libya of course, whose leader Moammar Gaddafi is having problems trying to stay in his seat. Bon Voyage!