" Happiness In The Journey..And The Destination" anees's Profile

London Rome Siena Montepulciano Monte Argentario

2008, so far, was so sllow in term of overseas trips.

Most of the first eight months of the year were spent in town, and what a wondeful town to be.

I have enjoyed more of this beautiful city, and every day, gave more reasons to love it.

Beside my trip to Saudi Arabia to visit my family, My girlfriend and I, took a trip to Italy in early July.

The 12 days tour included Rome, Siena, Montepulciano, and Monte Argentario

We first enjoyed a great company of friends of our in Rome, than we had a wonderful car-drive through Tuscany, we enjoyed the food, the sight-seeings, a horse race, and the history.

We had chance to see Sienna horse race of the second of July (The race happens twice a year, the second on Aug 16), the Palio, was a real passion for the locals as nine riders race to win the three rounds short race that would gain their neighborhood a reason to be proud off throughout the year.

Another short trip in this summer was to Vienna, Austria, where I had chance to tour the city in a hurry.

***

Back In 2007, Hong Kong was celebrating its 10th anniversary since being back to China in 1997.

A local friend of mine was optimistic about adding value to the mainland.

Dubai, July 21, 2007, Today the world has a new global landmark - Burj Dubai. At 512.1 metres (1,680 ft), Burj Dubai, is the tallest building in the world.

Burj Dubai is now taller than Taipei 101 in Taiwan, which at 508 metres* (1,667 ft) has held the tallest-building-in-the-world title since it opened in 2004.

Burj Dubai has now reached 141 storeys - more storeys than any other building in the world.

The final height and number of storeys, a topic of enthusiastic debate among media and experts alike, has not yet been revealed.

Dubai high raise buildings remind me for sure with NYC, which in my opinion the the most energetic city in the world, always look young and full of excitment about life.

There is life outside your hotel room, and you only gonna see if you leave.
Here are some pages I am building now a days

I am adding daily tips to my Hong Kong page Also take a look at My Riyadh pages
My Dammam pages , and Al Qatif

London, A City of Choices for All Ages

South bank markets

I live in here, and I have so long way to go discovering, and keep my self aware of whats going on in this inspiring city.
If you have limited time in this city, you have some hard decisions to make.
Lots of things to see in London
Back to London: In summer 2006, I visited This wonderful city again. It was the same large town I've left late 2003.
July was colder that year, at least for a person who was coming from the Middle East,
I stayed in Fitzrovia Hotal, and it was so nice one, I spent few nights where I was close to all famous sites in the central London.
I've enjoyed seeing my old friends, walking all roads, public parks, river sides, that I missed so much.
Living in London - the strengths of it are the museums, gallleries, restaurants, parks, river and cenimas if u talk about British movies, Hollywood movies, arrive late, few weeks or months in some cases.
I would say - probably shopping is good in London, lots of choices, just walk in some streets such as Oxford. there are so much else to see. such as Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Public Parks, and sure i can't forget the great museums, theatres especialy the musical plays such as Mary Poppins, Evenue Q, Wicked etc.
It is not the walls that make the city, but the people who live within them. so
Some one said once London was a city not to be visited but to be captured, and Samuel Johnson also noted "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford" some how!!!.

Dammam+Khobar and Dhahran of Saudi Arabia

Corniche, Dammam

These three cities have grown so quickly in the past 5 decades making a huge metropolitan area, attracting large number of people from all over the Kingdom who dreamt to work in oil and petrochemical firms or to establish contracting companies to benefit from the booming oil industry.

Dammam is where Eastern Province Emire or Governor base, while Khobar is where most western firm open their offices.

The two cities have long, beautiful and lively man made corniche. Large number of restaurants, shopping centers and hotels located near these two corniches.

Khobar is famous of being so close to King Fahad linking the Kingdom and Bahrain, its a nearby escape for the ultra conservative. Driving by car to Bahrain in weekends is widely common among people who live in here.
Shopping and Dinning in Dammam, Khobar and Dhahran

Shopping in these cities is fun, for details see Dammam &Khobar pages

The Half Moon and Al Azeezia Sandy Beaches were famous since the 80s when more and more Saudi families joint the middle class.

Now, the Eatern Province has tens or more of nice sandi beaches or fine corniches for you to walk, swim, ski, dive, wave riding, or just set down by it and enjoy the view.

The coastal line from Half Moon in southern of Khobar, to Jubail beatiful corniche and beaches, you have wide range of options to escape the city and its busy roads.

In most places, Female are not expected to swim in their bikini unless they go to some sites where beaches are limited to some companies employees.

Qatif, Taroot Island

Sanabis, Dokhalah Fest.

Qatif (al-QaTiif) is a historic coastal city and oasis located on the western shore of the Arabian/Persian Gulf in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, some 13km north of the port city of Dammam and southwest of major oil port Ras Tanura.
The oasis covers a large area that includes many other traditional Saudi towns and villages such as Saihat (almost touching Dammam), Safwa (closer to Jubail side), Anak (between Saihat and Qatif), and sure my hometown Tarut Island which includes Taroot village, Sanabis, Dareen, Al-Rabeia. in Qatif also you find the southern srounding villages of Um Al Hammam, Al-Khuwaildia, Al-jaroudia, Helat Muhaish, Awamia. Abu maan and AlNabya and Al Awjam.
Qatif is famous for its dates and fish.
I was born there some 35 years ago, but, even though I've been studying and working far a way from it for more 10 years "in Riyadh, Qatif is still where I call it home.
My little Island, Taroot, is located the mid of gulf with the same name, just infront of Qateef city, srounded by Dammam from south, and Ras tanora from north.
The area (Qatif and the srounding towns) is famous of its large oil proven reserves, beside that our area enjoyes a wonderful agrictultural recources , and it has a long history.
The gulf was the working place of our great grandfathers. My people memorize stories from the past about the fishing and diving for pearls.
They also have tell stories about sailors who died or lost in the sea after stormy days and nights, some have been found away by the other bank of gulf, or never return.

Nineteen Days in Switzerland

San Moritz, bty it was summer, that not real ibex

For a small country Switzerland has an awful lot of worthwhile attractions. If boasts three world heritage sites alone: Bern?s historic city center which I?ve spent 3 nights in it. The second heritage site is St Gallen?s cathedral, and abbey library. And the convent of St John in Mustair. you can see this site too about my Bern and Interlanken trip

See The World; Don't To Pass Judgment Upon It

Paris plage 2005

Paris is so active in Summer-I think it goes like that throughout the year too.
Any way since it was my first tour, I had to visit all famous sites, such as Effal tour, the louvre, Latin quarter, champs alyeese, notre dame cathedral. I also to took a tour in the river, walked by its banks, saw the event of Paris plage which turned the river banks into Prasil beach, by creating an artifcial beach close the Island, the oldest part of the French capital.
I'm sure all these are very usual for Pris vistor. still I had to see all that, and see them all over again.
I'm here share the experiences in traveling to middle east, far Asia, and few European countries.
Personal Travels:
1982, 1987, 1997, 2001, 2004: Egypt
1986, 1996: India
1991, 2003: Syria
1995, 2005: Iran
1999, 2001, 2002: Malaysia
2001, 2004: Japan
2002, 2010: Singapore
2003: Lebanon
2003, 2006, 2007: UK
2004, 2008, 2011: Italy
2004: Swiss
2004, 2005, 2008: Austria
2005, 2011, 2012: France
2006: Norway
2006, 2008: US
2007, 2010: Hong Kong
2008: London, Italy, Austria
2011, Spain
2013, Germany

As a guy from Eastern province of Saudi Arabia, I wouldn't count my tens of visit to Bahrain as travels as its close enough to drive every weekend.
I also hasn't mentioned Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar as travel destinations as they considerably close to where I live.

You can look at my Italy page and the other traveling pages they may interest you.

Funny Things Happened while traveling:

1- 1999, in my way traveling back home from KL, Malaysia, I over slept in the departure terminal, and I missed my flight. My suitcase gone to Jeddah, and I stayed behind with Passport, bank card, Mobile phone, and some cash.
I decided to go back to town, and booked for the next flight, 4 days later. I stayed in cheap hotel as I wasn't sure if my bank card will work or will let me down. So I stayed in a hotel that I have enough cash to pay for.
The card worked, and I moved to a nicer hotel.

2-In my way to Norway, my suitcase was missing in Oslo airport. The staff there said it will be arriving an hour late on the next flight from Frankfurt, but, as I had to depart to Molda, I asked them to send it to my hotel in Molda. And thank god they did, and in the same day.

Leaving The Prejudices at Home

Matt, Sahdy, and Me in Tokyo 2004

I had chance to visit Japan twice, the first was 2001, the second 2004, I had great company in both visits.
When I hear the name Japan, the first thing that pops into my mind is the singularity in the life style, cuisine, history. It has a unique manner, lovely people and its resting on a very long special history",
i had chance to visit, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Okinawa, and sure had hostay both in Okinawa and at first Fokochiyama, the country side of Kyoto,
It must be a very great chance to have 2 or 3 weeks in japan, visiting sure there are alot to see,

The autumn will be good time to visit it .. summer would be hot a bit %c

Lebanon is v Beautiful, Can't They Have Some Peace

by the sea side, Jebail-Lebanon 2003

When you visit Lebanon you will enjoy the history, sea coast, and the best treat in the entire Middle East

I fell in love with Beirut, but it wasn't the only that I loved, also Ba'albak, Jibail, Tripoly, and the two southern towns, Sayda, and Soor.

The coastal towns and lovely mountain villages are easily made from Beirut. In Jbail you can walk among the remains of several civilizations, and in Bcharre you can hike in a deep gorge or relax in a grove of graceful cedars

For The Arabic language readers, the books stores can be the most attractive points in Lebanon.

But Wait, who can forget the fabulous mediterranean cuisine.
so so so great, I loved all that.

Its not all great, quite expensive in Lebanon. The political debate, or struggle has reached in 2005-2006 a v dangerous level,, not good at all.

Intro Updated Mar 11, 2013
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Written Jan 16, 2006

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Comments (31)

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deecat Dec 11, 2011 at 7:33 AM

Another birthday comes your way with the hope that it will be a perfect one. May it be filled with sunshine, happiness, and much love.
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maztek Dec 10, 2010 at 8:12 PM

Happy Birthday....enjoy the day
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freddie18 Dec 11, 2009 at 7:36 AM

Hi Anees. Many happy returns of the day my friend. Have a joyous birthday wherever you are. Greetings from your friend in Toronto - Freddie
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JamesWtc Oct 5, 2008 at 10:19 AM

I hope to visit London again anytime soon. It's one of my favourite city and I'm not done yet. Last trip was in a haste, so I'm sure I will go there again. Any plans for the winter? Skiing in Swiss Alps?
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daryll Jul 24, 2008 at 10:57 AM

hello Anees, how have you been? should meet up again..
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GracesTrips Dec 11, 2007 at 1:36 PM

Happy Birthday, Anees! Hope you have a most enjoyable day!
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Etoile2B Dec 11, 2007 at 8:32 AM

Happy Birthday from sunny California!
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Gillybob Oct 19, 2007 at 1:21 AM

VT Meet - 24 November - Come up North and see the Manchester Christmas Markets and catch up with VT friends. Gillybob greetings.
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Audrey118 Oct 1, 2007 at 4:15 PM

how are you settling in London. I just got back from Italy - had a blast
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SJTravel Jul 31, 2007 at 10:26 PM

Thanks for visiting my page. Your pages are great. You have a lot of amazing photos. I especially like the one of Buddha.