Trip Coach: December 18, 2007

Atlanta, Ga.: My best friend from college will be on a three year work contract in Doha, Qatar starting at the end of January '08. I am researching travel plans and I'd like to book a trip in the next year or so, that is between two and three weeks in length, and is at a time of year where there are a bunch of festivals or other cultural events happening. I would also like to include some short stops in neighboring countries to get the most out of this once in a lifetime opportunity. Do you have any suggestions for events to attend, best time of year to go and other places to visit that will give me a good taste of daily life in the Middle East? Thanks! Beth

Maliha Masood: For travel tips to Qatar and the Gulf, I recommend the numerous websites on culture, tourism and travel just fingertips away. If you google the terms "Dubai" and "Gulf" and travel and tourism, you'll get plenty of info on the net. Dubai has lots of festivals and expos as does Bahrain. Gulf countries are nestled close together so it's easy to go from one to another. I suggest you go in the fall or winter so it won't be so hot.

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Beverly, Mass.: How safe is it to visit Syria? I'm Interested in Aleppo, Palmyra, Crak de Chevalliers, Damascus, Hama, Homs.

Maliha Masood: Syria is very safe. I felt safer in Syria then in parts of DC and Manhattan. It's a commonly perceived to be unsafe because of political tensions but that does not always apply to the average curious traveler who is not a threat or a target. I find the Syrians to be extremely friendly and helpful. Many of my friends from the Mideast are Syrians. I fell in love with Aleppo. Didn't have any guidance apart from my trusty Lonely Planet guidebook. There are daily bus trips to Palmyra from Damascus. Hama, Homs, Crak are also easily accessible. I recommend staying in central locations and talking to locals and getting their advice. You'll feel quite welcomed. Syria is by far the most underrated and the most amazing place in the Mideast. You won't be disappointed...

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N.Y.: Part of the fun of a trip is getting to meet the locals. Are there any cultural tips or cues for single girls who want to meet single guys in the cities you've visited? Any lessons learned the hard way?

Maliha Masood: Now here's a question I love! My entire journey was about meeting locals who taught me so much about the country and culture and all their quirky personalities were windows into the world. My entire book is about characters I met and befriended and most all of them were men! Trust me. You won't be hard pressed to meet men in the Mideast especially if you're a foreigner and American. I was always walking up to strangers in the streets and asking for directions, and in the next instant, I was invited for lunch or dinner and in many cases, their homes. It's quite normal behavior in the Mideast given the hospitable culture. Best places to meet men are the same there as here. Cafes, bars, shopping areas, subways, concerts, anywhere in the public realm is fair game! Just be careful and trust your instincts. My book is packed with funny incidents about my male friends and the usual complications....

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Brooklyn, N.Y.: What's a destination in the Middle East that has a misleading reputation for tourism in the U.S. and that you'd encourage folks to visit? And, I guess, why? Thanks!

Maliha Masood: The most misleading reputation in my humble opinion is Syria. It gets a bad rep because of politics and the fact that it wasn't heavily advertised and marketed towards tourists. But Syria is a gem. It used to be a travelers secret but not anymore. Europeans have long discovered it and gradually so are Americans. I highly encourage my friends to go to see Syria for themselves. It's a fascinating hybrid of east/west, old and new. In many ways, it reminds of Cuba. Syrians have a love affair with American cars and once I saw a Chevy De Soto straight out of the 60's and the driver had gel slicked hair, sunglasses and was listening to Miles Davis! I wrote about many of these so called contradiction in my book and since I loved Syria so much, Damascus and Aleppo are two entire chapters! They're the oldest cities in the world, going back over 4000 years. Syrians are friendly but not intrusive. They leave you alone if you want and they have a subtle and wicked sense of humor. Most all my Mideast friends are Syrians. My friend from Aleppo was Kurdish and a poet. I broke his heart. And he still writes to me after 8 years. Read my book to know more!

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