Greenville, Mich.: Hi Maliha—I want to go to Egypt for 2 weeks or so. I'm 60 years old. I don't want to book a tour. The ones I've found isn't where I want to go. I don't like boat trips on the river. I like Cairo, Egypt. Is it safe for me to travel alone? Thank you, Betty

Maliha Masood: Hello Betty! I'm not into tours either. And when I was in Cairo, I found a lot of things by serendipitous encounters which is always best in my book. You'll be fine alone. Stay in the bigger hotels in downtown Cairo. I recommend you go to the reception desk of the Nile Hilton and ask for a guide to take you around Cairo. Old City, Islamic Cairo, Museums are musts. I went with a Bedouin guide on a desert safari. You must try to see the White Desert. But with a reputable guide. Cairo on your own is easy and people are very friendly. You'll be fine. Good luck. Drop me an email and let me know how it goes...

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Manhattan, NYC: What's a great girlfriend getaway in the Middle East? We don't want to be in hostels, but we don't want luxury hotels either.

Maliha Masood: My friend and I had a blast in the Sinai. We went to a laid back town called Dahab as opposed to the bigger resorts like Sharm el Sheikh. Dahab has a relaxed feeling and there's plenty to do like snorkeling, diving, hiking, or just lounging on beach side cafes drinking tea and smoking sheesha! Sinai is very tourist friendly. Be careful of your belongings. And have fun!

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New York: We like to drink wine with our meals... are there any cities in this region with great wine bars?

Maliha Masood: All the big cities and world famous capitals of the Mideast will serve wine in restaurants. For wine bars, Beirut is the place to go. Lots of chic bars and hip lounges. Damascus is more hidden, but in the old city, there are historic homes turned into cafes where you ought to be able to find wine. Cairo and Amman will offer wine in hotel bars and bigger restaurants. And of course Istanbul is a delight, especially the area around Gallata Bridge and the shopping district near the tramway. Enjoy!

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Shelburne, Vt.: What should I bring to wear as a tourist and honored guest in Jordan in April? (I will be traveling with my husband after we finish a group tour in Egypt.)

Maliha Masood: April should be nice and mild weather. I suggest wearing long skirts with loose fitting tops or a dress. A scarf around your neck is also nice and you can always use it as a makeshift hood in case it rains! Have fun...

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