Have you ever visited or would you ever consider visiting a Middle Eastern country?

Sure, might go to some of the countries someday. Lebanon, looks like it would be a nice spot.

Well I was born and have lived in Tunisia which even though it is in North Africa is often considered part of the Middle east, I have also lived in Djibouti which is another predominately muslim country and just across the sea from Iran. Tunisia was grand at the time Djibouti was more rocky and I have a few horror stories about the country

Jezzabelle wrote: »

I personally would have no interest in going. Just for an example, Dubai. I know people who have gone there on honeymoon. It is frowned upon to hold hands in public, the locals will stop and stare at you in the street with disapproving filthy looks if you do so. You cannot go out to a shopping mall unless you are covered up (in the blistering heat!) without the same reaction. You go to certain restaurants and the waiters will not acknowledge you if you are a woman - it is common for the man to order for the woman and so they will address them instead. Ok its a different culture but I just think generally they no respect for women and so it is not somewhere I would want to visit.

Jezzabelle wrote: »

I personally, have no interest whatsoever in visiting a country that has little or no respect for the rights of women and see them as second class citizens. Whether that "only" applies to local women or not, I do not care.

The likes of Dubai seems to give off the image of being a cosmopolitan and liberal country just because they have / had tonnes of money due to their hefty oil reserve. Scratch beneath the surface and you will find a different story - their backward and primitive laws are one frightening example. I know they attract a huge amount of foreign workers who live and work in the country perfectly happily for years. However, if they step outside the boundaries, they may see a very different side to things.

Wow, what an ignorant narrow minded view of the world. You really need to get out and visit these countries and not rely on hearsay or what you read in the papers.

Pauleta wrote: »

No and wouldnt even go to them for a stop over unless it was an emergency.

Why not?

Jezzabelle wrote: »

They treat their tourists very well you say?. What about this then?

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/03/15/british-tourist-jailed-for-kissing-in-dubai/

Oh and this.

http://www.examiner.ie/world/woman-arrested-in-dubai-after-reporting-rape-109324.html

There was an incident last year or the year before, in Tipp town on Paddy's day, where an American tourist was set upon for no reason, and badly beaten by a load of scumbags. Horrible incident, and well covered in America, yet the victim quite rightly pointed out, that it would be idiotic to tar all Irish people as violent thugs because of the incident.

A young Italian student by the name of Guido Nasi was assaulted with a bottle in a Dublin park, and paralysed for life. He is confined to a wheelchair, and needs round the lock care for life. He often visits Ireland though, and quite rightly doesn't condemn Ireland as entirely inhabited by vicious scumbags.

In Galway recently, a Swiss schoolgirl was raped and murdered by a local...

You get the picture. To deliberately seek out negative incidents of other countries, and then use those to tar those places, and the inhabitans as violent or backward, or whatever, is astoundingly ignorant, and frankly indicative of a person who doesn't travel enough in the first place.

And I can guarantee you that what I said above is 100% accurate. Several different friends of mine have been and reported the exact same things.

Now this smells of BS of the highest order. real grade A sh!te there. "Several different" friends of yours were raped in Dubai, and arrested when they made complaints? Several of them were prosecuted for kissing on the local beach? That's some circle you hang out with. Or do you consider everyone you read about in the papers to be your friends?!:rolleyes:

I've travelled through Syria, Jordan and Egypt. I didn't particularly like the latter, mostly because it seemed that everyone in Cairo was out to grab a buck from the tourists. I don't blame them for that, but it lessened the experience somewhat. Syria and Jordan were amazing though, and I was blown away by the relaxed and friendly attitude of the locals. I got lost in Damascus one day, and when I asked directions, two locals insisted that they give me a lift back to my campsite, even though it was miles from where they were going. Their generosity and openess would put many of those who like to assume that all Muslims are the same to shame. I shudder to think of what their beloved leader is subjecting them to as I type.

Einhard wrote: »

But that's not what they're into. I hear that Americans are all fat, lazy, ignorant, gun-toting rednecks. Must be true eh? Sometimes though, you kinda have to make up your own mind rather than creduluously swallowing everything that you hear (or what other people want you to hear).

One can unfortunately encounter bad luck in any country. Surely the point is that in certain countries the odds are higher than others? For some potential visitors, the local conditions/regime etc might be interpreted as abhorrent and a deterrent.

I would never visit any country which condones/facilitates 'honour killings'.

irishconvert wrote: »

Wow, what an ignorant narrow minded view of the world. You really need to get out and visit these countries and not rely on hearsay or what you read in the papers.

Sorry it is not my view of "the world". It is my view of one place - which is Dubai. If you actually read what I said, I only ever refer to one place - Dubai.

As for listening to hearsay - ok fair enough but I have heard this account of Dubai from several different friends who otherwise spoke very highly of Dubai as a matter of fact. I just do not understand why people would want to spend a honeymoon (what is meant to be a romantic carefree break) somewhere that you are given strange disapproving looks for holding hands or for not covering your shoulders. Are you trying to tell me this does not happen?. Ok I am using "hearsay" but I do believe that it is true.

Next, I am also not to believe what I read in the papers either?. So those two stories in the links I posted did not happen I suppose no??. They were reported from several very credible news sources but hey don't believe it then its all lies:rolleyes:.

Oh I am very well travelled thank you very much. I have no interest however in visiting such places at the moment. That is the title of the thread after all, and I gave my opinion.

Jezzabelle wrote: »

I personally would have no interest in going. Just for an example, Dubai. I know people who have gone there on honeymoon. It is frowned upon to hold hands in public, the locals will stop and stare at you in the street with disapproving filthy looks if you do so. You cannot go out to a shopping mall unless you are covered up (in the blistering heat!) without the same reaction. You go to certain restaurants and the waiters will not acknowledge you if you are a woman - it is common for the man to order for the woman and so they will address them instead. Ok its a different culture but I just think generally they no respect for women and so it is not somewhere I would want to visit.

None of this is true.

I was in Dubai and Oman years and years ago before all the major construction began. Fantastic place.
Lovely people, so friendly and kind. None of the crap that people are going on about on here.

Jezzabelle wrote: »

Sorry it is not my view of "the world". It is my view of one place - which is Dubai. If you actually read what I said, I only ever refer to one place - Dubai.

The thread is about the whole Middle East, not Dubai. So are you saying there are other countries in the Middle East you would travel to? If so, which ones?

Jezzabelle wrote: »

As for listening to hearsay - ok fair enough but I have heard this account of Dubai from several different friends who otherwise spoke very highly of Dubai as a matter of fact. I just do not understand why people would want to spend a honeymoon (what is meant to be a romantic carefree break) somewhere that you are given strange disapproving looks for holding hands or for not covering your shoulders. Are you trying to tell me this does not happen?. Ok I am using "hearsay" but I do believe that it is true.

As a matter of fact, I spend some of my honeymoon there. I didn't encounter any of what you say. My wife wore normal western clothes and got none of these disapproving looks you speak of. We held hands with no problems. As for waiters treating women badly, all of the waiters we encountered were very friendly to both of us and gave us a higher standard of service and treatment then we get in Ireland. Another thing, if you actually go to Dubai yourself you will find you almost have no interaction with Arabs, most of the workers are from India.

Jezzabelle wrote: »

Next, I am also not to believe what I read in the papers either?. So those two stories in the links I posted did not happen I suppose no??. They were reported from several very credible news sources but hey don't believe it then its all lies:rolleyes:.

Roll your eyes all you want, it doesn't mean two cherry picked horror stories reflect on the whole of Dubai. As other posters pointed out, you can find many stories of horrible attacks on tourists in Ireland.

Jezzabelle wrote: »

Oh I am very well travelled thank you very much. I have no interest however in visiting such places at the moment. That is the title of the thread after all, and I gave my opinion.

Well I'm sorry for you that your ignorance and closed mindedness will cause you to miss out on some great destinations and experiences.