Ask A Foreigner

NumberNineDream · 06-04-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibber

Thanks for all the info! It all sounds pretty great. I think I should be absolutely fine in Borj Hammoud, Canada is more adamant that Turkey acknowledge the Armenian genocide than almost any other country (which is why I have to pay three times as much as any other country for a visa in Turkey, haha). Plus there's no way in hell I'd be mistaken for Turkish looking at me

Well don't worry, Turkish looking is just the normal looking way. All I'm saying, don't go flapping some Turkish flag on there.

Quote:

I'm really interested in the Cedars, but I'm gonna be there in November, so kind of an awkward time. Not quite winter, so no skiing, but hopefully it'll still be possible to do some hiking in some areas?

Oh, I know a great place. The Valley of Qadisha. It's just beautiful, and that is usually the ultimate place for a good hike. Plus in November you won't get cooked by the cruel summer sun.

You can also hike in all the mountains, as Lebanon is just a land composed of two mountains and a Valley. I'd recommend you go to The Black Peak, the highest peak in Lebanon, at d 3080m. It might be truly chilly, but I think that's the only good thing after the suffocating summers of the Middle East.

Sadly, this place is related to a very bad memory of mine. When my brother accidentally pushed me in the lake at the top of the mountain, when pointing stupidly on some boring fishes.

Another place would be, well kind of everywhere. Lebanese people don't do much hiking, so all these "touristic places" are left to the brave energetic Europeans. Which are quite a few. So I'm sure, all these places won't be busy.

Some people go to the South for the sole intention of hiking the Mount Hermon, seems like one of the best places. -But I can't speak of experience about it.

So are the Barouk preservations btw. I remember the last time we went there, we hiked on the top till we were able to view the whole Valley of Bekaa. I guess you're able to do so on the black peak too, or just on any peak really.

Quote:

Also, any other more modern, urban cities other than Beirut that might be interesting? Of course I'll be visiting all the major historical sites, but I'd also like to spend a couple days just wandering around a city that's not usually considered a "tourist attraction."

Ummm, all the places I named are not quite the touristic places. If you want to spend some days just strolling along the streets, Kaslik, jounieh and Hamra are the best places for you. In other places, it's either too souk-ish, or very close to the highway.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 06-04-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

You consider that cold? That's my favorite kind of temperature.

Yes absolutely, I get cold really easily though. Often it feels colder than it actually is due to wind chill!

jibber · 06-05-2010, 02:25 PM

NumberNineDream those all look incredible, can't wait to get there! And after the next few months at work I'll definitely need a holiday. But I do get a lovely holiday here in a couple weeks:

The lovely Turkish/Bulgarian border crossing, very exciting! 5 hour bus ride each way, spend the morning on the bus, then an hour or so of loading up on duty free imported alcohol, and then 5 hours back home. such a relaxing holiday :p

NumberNineDream · 06-05-2010, 02:39 PM

^ You know how to have a good time

gunnels · 06-06-2010, 07:16 PM

I have a question for tore, the monkey, and anybody living in Nordic European countries.

Is it true that tertiary education is free to both citizens and foreigners in many Scandinavian countries? If so, is how difficult are the entrance exams? Are there courses offered in English?

crash_override · 06-06-2010, 07:52 PM

Are there other countries besides the US that don't give a **** about the World Cup?

Urban Hat€monger ? · 06-06-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crash_override

Are there other countries besides the US that don't give a **** about the World Cup?

Scotland

Burning Down · 06-06-2010, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crash_override

Are there other countries besides the US that don't give a **** about the World Cup?

Canada. Seriously, the only people here who care deeply about it are die-hard soccer fans (of which there aren't many) and European ex-pats. Now hockey on the other hand...

NumberNineDream · 06-06-2010, 08:49 PM

^Yeah. My brother was living a nightmare, trying to watch the Champion's league there.
As for hockey, on his flight back, the pilot was informing the passengers of the Hockey scores every 10 minutes. It weirdly made his day.
I get loving Hockey, never got Baseball though.

As for football, people are very psyched in here. Every car holds 2 flags, the teams this car is rooting for.
Tourists must feel very homey around here, seeing the flags of their country covering cars, and complete buildings.

katrine · 06-07-2010, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnels

I have a question for tore, the monkey, and anybody living in Nordic European countries.

Is it true that tertiary education is free to both citizens and foreigners in many Scandinavian countries? If so, is how difficult are the entrance exams? Are there courses offered in English?

I'm from denmark so i can sort of answer this.
it's has always annoyed me a little when people say that our health care and our education is free because it most certainly isn't - every thing is paid for through our taxes. but yes it's "free" to go to a university in denmark, but i'm sure that only counts for citizens because we pay the money back through tax.
i looked it up and this is what a site called the education guide (Programmes in English) says:

Quote:

In Denmark, a large number of study programmes are taught in English with all examinations being conducted in English.
These programmes are open to foreign students who wish to get an education in Denmark. The programmes in English are taught at various levels and are of varying lengths.
As a foreign student in Denmark you will have to pay tuition fees. The fees vary depending on the type of programme and the educational institution.
For more general information about studying in Denmark, please go to Study in Denmark.
If you need to talk to a study advisor, get more information at Study Guidance in Denmark.

i dont know anything about the exams (and if you even have to take exams to gain entrance to a school) but i'm sure you can find something about it here: studyindenmark.dk

are you thinking about moving to scandinavia?

06-05-2010, 02:25 PM	#353 (permalink)
jibber Freeskier Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Istanbul was Constantinople now it's Istanbul not Constantinople... Posts: 1,536	NumberNineDream those all look incredible, can't wait to get there! And after the next few months at work I'll definitely need a holiday. But I do get a lovely holiday here in a couple weeks: The lovely Turkish/Bulgarian border crossing, very exciting! 5 hour bus ride each way, spend the morning on the bus, then an hour or so of loading up on duty free imported alcohol, and then 5 hours back home. such a relaxing holiday :p __________________ What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do -- especially in other people's minds. When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don't have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road. William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways Your toughest competitor lives in your head. Some days his name is fear, or pain, or gravity. Stomp his ass. HOOKED ON THE WHITE POWDER

06-05-2010, 02:39 PM	#354 (permalink)
NumberNineDream Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The land of the largest wine glass (aka Lebanon) Posts: 2,200	^ You know how to have a good time __________________ Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Welcome to the Black Lodge

06-06-2010, 08:49 PM	#359 (permalink)
NumberNineDream Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The land of the largest wine glass (aka Lebanon) Posts: 2,200	^Yeah. My brother was living a nightmare, trying to watch the Champion's league there. As for hockey, on his flight back, the pilot was informing the passengers of the Hockey scores every 10 minutes. It weirdly made his day. I get loving Hockey, never got Baseball though. As for football, people are very psyched in here. Every car holds 2 flags, the teams this car is rooting for. Tourists must feel very homey around here, seeing the flags of their country covering cars, and complete buildings. __________________ Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Welcome to the Black Lodge