Day 1 (31 December 2008) Beirut Day 2 (1 January 2009) Baalbak Day 3 (2 January 2009) Beitaddine, Sidon/Saida, Tyre
ceiling motif at Beiteddin Palace
Lebanon My Best Five
1. Beirut Downtown by night ベイルートのダウンタウンの夜 2. the Temple of Baalbak バアルバック神殿 3. Tyre ruins ティルの遺跡 4. Corniche view at Beirut ベイルートのコルニシュ(海岸沿い) 5. Saida Sea Castle and the Souq サイダの海の城
Prologue...
This traveling was made during 3 days (31 Dec – 2 Jan) New Year holiday toLebanon. Since the trip was a few days after the Gaza bombing, my company managers were worried about my going to Lebanon. But since there was information from other manager who knew Lebanon very well that the situation was OK, I could go.
On the first day, Mohamad, a Lebanese colleague who was also taken holiday at the same period, picked me up at the airport and showed me around. He also brought me to American University of Beirut (AUB) campus, the most famous private university in Lebanon where he graduated. At night, to celebrate the countdown to 2009, I went to the Downtown in Nejmeh Square where the Clock Tower was located. So many people there, and in many restaurants, people were having dinner, singing, and dancing.
The second day, Mohamad took me to the most famous tourist place and one of the wonder of the world of the Roman Empire, the Temple of Baalbak in the northeast mountain. The road on the way was snowy and slippery, that just 1 km before the ruins, Mohamad lost control of the car, and we hit something before the car stopped. The radiator was damaged. Fortunately, there was a car service shop nearby. While the car was being repaired, we took taxi and went to the ruin. The ruin was really amazing. So huge and so great. Surrounded by white snowy mountain, it made a good view.
The last day, I joined a local tour to Beitadine with the internally beautiful palace, Sidon or Saida with its Sea Castle and Souq, also to Tyre (Sour) with its Roman Hippodome (horse race track, the second largest one after Rome) and Roman bath near the sea.
Before going there, Lebanon in my image was a kind of dangerous countries destroyed by war, though I heard also that it was the most liberal country in the Middle East. However, I have found that this country is very beautiful, both the ancient ruins and the modern city. At the utmost, the people there were so friendly. Many people said “Welcome to Lebanon” to me, and even posed and smile asking me to take picture. It was true what is written in Lonely Planet, that Lebanese people consider a guest coming to Lebanon as a God’s gift. I would love to come back again to this country in the future.
MJ manfaatin libur kantor 3 hari tanggal 31 Desember – 2 Januari untuk jalan2 ke Lebanon, 3 jam terbang dari Qatar.
Di hari pertama, MJ dijemput ma temen sekerja, Mohamad, orang Lebanon yang lagi liburan taon baru juga. Mohamad mengajak MJ sekeliling Beirut, juga masuk ke universitas lulusan dia, AUB (American University of Beirut), sekolah paling top di Lebanon. Malamnya, MJ jalan2 dewe ke Downtown Beirut untuk melihat suasana malam pergantian taon. Di Nejmeh Square, tempat menara jam, berkumpul buanyak orang, pada meniup trompet, nyanyi, nari dsb.
Hari kedua, Mohamad mengajak MJ ke Baalbak, yang terkenal dengan peninggalan Kuil zaman Romawi, bisa dibilang tempat wisata nomer satu di Lebanon. Memang patut peninggalan ini disebut sebagai salah satu Wonder of the World dari zaman kuno. Skalanya besar dan banyak pilar2 yang masih utuh. Dikelilingingi oleh gunung2 putih berliput salju, membuat pemandangan yang menawan.
Di hari ketiga, MJ ikut tur local ke Beitadine dengan istana yang indah di bagian dalamnya, Saida dengan benteng laut dan souq (pasar), dan Tyre dengan peninggalan Romawi tempat pacuan kuda dan tempat pemandian di Lebanon selatan.
Imej Lebanon, sebelum dikunjungi, adalah negara yang bahaya karena sering perang, tapi setelah ditengok dalamnya, ternyata Lebanon adalah negara yang indah, baik peninggalan2 bersejarah dari zaman Romawi, maupun alamnya, juga kota modern Beirut, ditambah orang2nya yang cakep2 n ramah2.
thank you Mohamad!!!
Travel Info
Hotel Seaside Furnished Flats (where I stayed 2 nights) Location: Ain Al-Mreisse, near Corniche Price: USD 75 per night (studio room) Comment: Nice room and nice location, the manager Alex also very helpful and gave me Beirut City Map. Going up, it goes to AUB and Hamra St., where we can find many restaurant and net cafe. Going down, to the Corniche, where we can find McDonald, Hard Rock Cafe. There is also a small supermarket nearby.
Travel Agent Nakhal Tour (I joined full day tour to Beitaddine, Saida, Tyre) Price: USD 60 for the above tour Comment: Our guide Ms.Louisse was very passionate.
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