I’ve been following the #LiveLoveLebanon campaign lately, and I really respect the effort the people behind it are putting to let the tourism industry flourish again. But let’s be honest for a second, would you really recommend Lebanon as touristic destination to a foreign friend of yours?
I mean I know we’ve got some cool places, but the touristic experience Lebanon offers definitely doesn’t come anywhere near the ones offered by several countries around us like Turkey, Dubai, Cyprus and Jordan maybe.
So just in case you were saving money for a summer vacation in Lebanon, here are 8 reasons why you should go spend it somewhere else.
1. Bad infrastructure
Commuting inside the main cities is guaranteed to get you stuck in traffic for hours, and planning long trips will cost you an an arm and a leg due to our bad public transportation system. Meanwhile, other countries have metro networks to make your life much easier!
And talking about bad infrastructure, you should probably know we still suffer from power outages here.
2. Expensive beach resorts
What’s summer vacation without beach? You probably have been to other countries and are used to the fact that beach is for everyone, but that’s not valid here in Lebanon. Access to beach resorts costs $30-35 / person. And don’t you dare to order a sandwich from their local restaurant, the bill will most probably knock you out.
On the other hand, nearby destinations have gorgeous public beaches where you can get your own food and snacks!
People may now argue that public beaches DO exist here in Lebanon. But the question is, are they advertised to tourists?
3. How the hell do I get there?!
Ok, we get it, Balou’ Bala and Nahr Ibrahim among many other places are pretty cool. But how the hell can one reach them?! It is true that we have some hidden gems around the country, but well they’re just… very well hidden!
Unless you know someone here who knows his way around very well, you will most probably just stick to the main boring attractions. (e.g Zaitunay Bay, Hamra, Malls, etc…)
4. Overpriced restaurants and clubs
The trend for restaurants nowadays is claiming to use premium Angus beef to justify the inflated prices on their menus. Wait until they hear about the Kobe beef!
I truly believe we pay a lot of money here in Lebanon for mediocre service and food quality. On the contrary, and trust me on this, you get much better dining experiences in Dubai and Istanbul for less money.
5. Angry people everywhere
Most of the people here seem to be constantly frustrated or upset at something! We always have something to whine about. We whine about electricity, internet, politicians, traffic, world cup broadcasting rights, and then we take it all on each others when driving!
People elsewhere are happier because unlike us they don’t need to worry about basics like water and electricity, and therefore you don’t get depressed everytime you look at them!
6. No, you’re not scoring tonight
So you’re coming from one of the gulf region where Lebanese girls have the reputation of being so easy and you’re expecting to get laid with every chick you meet, right? NOT REALLY! Beirut is not the sin city you think it is, and it isn’t really easy to get laid around here.
If sex tourism is your thing, spare yourself the time and just book a trip to Pattaya, the mother of all sin cities!
7. Safety first
How the hell do you plan a trip to a country where explosions occur randomly?! And even if these explosions are thought to be limited to certain areas, WHY TAKE THE RISK?!
8. Organized chaos
Lebanon is nothing but a state of organized chaos. We cut off each others when waiting in line, we hate to stop on red signs, we let the valet parking people rule our streets, we block roads for no reason, and yet for god knows why we just love how things go around here!
For all of the above, just go put your money somewhere else and don’t let anyone fool you with talks about how good the nighlife here is, we indeed have an interesting nightlife scene, but it’s definitely not worth it. Lebanon is seriously so overrated as a touristic destination.
And finally, you as a Lebanese better stop wasting money on expensive restaurants, clubs and resorts, and I guarantee in a few months you will save enough money to go on a trip or two to some really cool places!!
What is the purpose of such post?! Why would u encourge your foreign friends to spend their money some where else?!
I cant see 1 positive thing to post this.
A real shame
Aren’t these 8 reasons enough to encourage my friends to go somewhere else?
And yeah, there’s nothing positive except an advise for you to not waste your money here.
You are free to encourage your friends to do whatever you want ofc but when you post it online u r not encouraging ONLY your friends, u r encourging everyone who don’t know lebanon NOT to visit us and I think there are more than 8 reasons for people to visit lebanon.
Thx for your advice but am spending my money only in lebanon and encourging everyone to do so
I agree with you Mohamed. Here is my reply to this article:
http://allobeirut.blogspot.com/2014/06/today-is-not-day-lebanon-dies.html
Am going to share this allo beirut. 🙂 thx
You are just disgusting I’m not gonna say anything else just that you are disgusting
My comment was meant for the pig Rami not to be confused with a wild boar just a standard pig
Real shame that you think this. It is the time we stopped ducking major issues. This person is stating the truth which you cannot stomach because you wish to remain in the same dark room forever. Wake up and get to know what the world is made of.
Competitive environment fo tourism is where we are now and we should be as competitive as the next country. Cyprus is full of tourists and it is only 30 minutes flight away from us. Yet we think we are great. We have empty beaches of European Tourists. They are making money and we are not. They are creating jobs and we are killing jobs.
Exactly ! This is such a stupid post.. If you hate Lebanon’s state right now, you need to acknowledge that it needs funds to improve, which it would typically receive from the tourists you are trying to convince to avoid our beautiful country. Shame on you, bashing your own home..
All right, I already tweeted, but I guess this needs a formal reply on the blog. Rami this is a truthful, very logical, well-balanced post. We are living in an abnormal country where everything is skewed and yet we pretend it is Ok and we have this silly sense of patriotism which were incapable of letting go of. There’s a difference between deluding ourselves and between blind attachment to the motherland.
Let’s face it folks, there has been an explosion today, and a German friend who was skyping with me apologized profusely for going offline all of a sudden because he had a 2 minutes power cut (a rarity there). What we consider as “normal” is not so. Explosions are not normal, bad infrastructure is not so, health hazards are not so, generators for electricity ditto, and the list goes on.
Well done Rami, at least you voiced something we all mumble.
Tarek no one denies whats mentioned, but should it be posted under a tourism head line ?
Was way better to mention our problems without encourging people not to visit our country a d not spend money there.
Because we are delusional, we have too much pride to actually admit how bad things are. And they ARE bad.
I think we need to start admitting that things are not OK in order to start fixing them. I totally agree with you. I think people should abstain from coming until the people inside the country start seeing that the name of “BEIRUT” or “LEBANON” tagged to their worthless dreams of easy wealth will not work… and that people are aware and the PEOPLE CONTROL THE MARKET… it is way beyond just going and spending your money. it is about realizing that you have a power to control the market and to use it to help the people living inside the country to afford living there … because they are the ones TAKING THE RISKS!
We should be open. Enough innuendos. We should tell all of this so that a solution is found. The more we keep it to ourselves the longer it lasts.
We do acknowledge that the situation is bad Tarek but you cannot ignore all the efforts being made. It takes time to build a country and this will not happen if all we do is complain about about it. You cannot deny that there are improvements in the infrastructure, new bridges and tunnels being built to improve circulation, in Beirut and its suburbs, parks being renovated (cf Sanayeh). You cannot deny that the civil society is making many efforts and campaign after campaign shedding lights and some majors issues.
I would also like to add that Lebanon is not as expensive as everyone claims. It is only normal that you pay high prices when you go to a fancy restaurants or a fancy club.Thinking that Europe, Dubai or Turkey are cheaper is a absolutely wrong. There are a lot of promotions being done to attract visitors – beach resorts and restaurants cutting their prices by half. You can go to the best resort (Laguava, Janna, Bambo Bay and other) by only paying $14 and not $30 as the article claims.
Also, “angry people everywhere” ?? Seriously? I don’t want to compare what cannot be compared but do you think that people who walk in European cities and just happy and smiling all the time?
14$ is still ridiculous. The problem is lack of public beaches, they’re all being privatized.
And “angry people everywhere” might be exaggerated but there’s definitely a lot of tension and anger, much of it caused by traffic, lack of infrastructure and lack of real constructive outlets. Europeans might not be walking happy and smiling all the time but there’s definitely a more pleasant atmosphere, brought on by the facility in getting around, by the opportunities provided by the state and other institutions, and by the care people put in making their environment a nicer place.
And hey, at least they can WALK, which is another important point: we lack public spaces where people can walk, cycle, sit in parks, meet and SEE each other. Instead everyone’s trapped in their car stuck in traffic, honking and cursing at each other through windshields and windows. Basic necessities aren’t provided by the state. The country is flooded with refugees. We have 2 neighboring countries, one whom we’re at war with, the other going through a civil war that’s spilling over to our country. TV is constantly invaded by politicians shouting at each other. Bombs go off frequently. Yes, “angry people”, and justifiably so.
Lebanon IS expensive. Getting around is expensive since we don’t have public transport. Electricity isn’t constantly available so you end up paying for generators. Tap water isn’t drinkable and so you have to buy water. Restaurants are expensive – of course you can eat in the cheaper ones but unlike in other countries, you don’t have strict health safety and cleanliness requirements, and your health can be at reasonable risk. And the nightlife is expensive.
As you said, progress is being made, albeit very slowly, and although this post makes me sad in that it’s telling tourists to stay from Lebanon, I find it hard to disagree.
Name me a good 2-star hotel in Beirut with good service and clean all round.
Beirut is only good for the rich. Not all tourists are rich. Some are school teachers, bus drivers, nurses, shopkeepers, plumbers, electricians, joiners, taxi drivers, milkmen.
Or do you say we don’t want those sort of people in our country? we only want billionaires who come spend their time in 6-star hotels. These people do not nourish the economy. They line the pockets of other Lebanese billionaires. And as for the simple Lebanese taxi driver, sandwich seller, restaurant waiter, shopkeeper what do you say to them to hell with you?
Jordan, baby!
Well, I miss Lebanon but not “brave” enough to risk it 🙁
Truth hurts,
but this is the truth!
I live abroad, and was always asked by my parents in law when we’ll go together to Lebanon …
i can’t invite my foreign wife family because
1- No infrastructure: There’s no infrastructure, unless you know the road you can go nowhere even if you have a car.
2- Expensive: You can’t spend the vacations the cheap way, because most beaches are very expensive (more expensive then on the french riviera).
3- Unsafe: Depending on the region you live in, some regions are now full of thugs (i was mugged last time i was in Lebanon)
4- Not Family friendly: Related to point above – can you walk on the road with a blonde blue eyed women without getting nasty comments from these thugs.
5- Unstable situation, every year there’s a new factor that adds to the instability of the country, and each time i ask, kif el wado3 they reply 3a kaf 3afrit !
…and only god knows how Lebanese people are enjoyinI didn’t had good vacation with my famili living in this country
I traveled there and came back 2 weeks later because i didn’t enjoyed this travel with my wife and family for simply 5 reasons :
1-it always take long time to arrive into the destination .
2-you can’t find a place to enjoy without your wallet
3-so hard to live without water and electricity in this hot country
4-all the beautiful views are blocked by tall apartments (you cannot even see the sea from your balcony
5-there were some explosion everywhere and always when I ask somebody what was that? They always tell me “don’t worry it’s only an explosion”.
Who could live there!?!
True.. but not smth to post on a pure lebanese blog which will decrease the tourism rate.. Unless you balance it with the positive sides of lebanon..
If this is written in an anger moment, keep it aside, until you calm down and see the positive sides of our country and write both aspects.
How boring!!!
Actually Tarek, I could not read more than the headings.
Such a situation (or set of situations) has been here since the Romans (maybe the infrastructure was better at that time). And yet, you have had all the innovations (first press in the Middle East) publications (the number 1 publishing country in the Arab world), with famous writers like Jibran who’s Prophet is the most read worldwide and Amine Maalouf who is now in the Académie française (even when they left Lebanon they spoke from it) and many others, it is also the only country that escaped the sub-prime financial crisis, and, and, and, and today we beat all records with 178 Syrian Refugees/capita.
My colleagues and I work with many Arab, British, US, and European academics who NEVER miss the opportunity to come to Lebanon for specific projects, till today.
Yes, all this is crazy as crazy a country can be, but blogs like yours should provide the platform for youth to debate few of these points and make a dent in one of them; that would be and achievement. Do I believe it is feasible? No, I know it is. Many times I had the chance to work with youth that proved it is.
Try to find ONE of these successes, and publish its story! That won’t be boring I assure you. That would be heart warming.
FYI, you only need ONE reason to come to Lebanon, and each one in this world has theirs and believe me it is more than enough.
All the best!
What are you exactly trying to achieve with a post like that? I mean what’s the point? who are you talking to? these are the possible outcomes to an “article” like that.
-a decrease in the number of tourists (highly unlikely, since Lebanese expats are already aware of these issues and non-Lebanese tourists only have one KO-criterion which is “security” and i assume they already know that security in Lebanon is bad thanks to more reliable sources “with all due respect to your blog”),
– making Lebanese people living in Lebanon and trying to make what they can with what they have more miserable than they already are, since all you are doing is reminding them of their messed up situations
– pissing off the people who are trying to make Lebanon a better country despite everything that is happening and bringing them to a state of despair.
Now being a fan of your blog, I think none of those outcomes was intended, so please explain yourself because you pissed of a lot of fans of your blog.
So your first point is “unlikely” as you say. And even if it were likely, so what? Should we lie about the situation of our country? He’s choosing to be honest with potential tourists.
The second point: they should be reminded and they should be miserable. Being dissatisfied is the first step to start making changes.
And third point, I think people who are trying to make Lebanon a better country will agree with this post, as they’re probably aware of the problems and are already trying to help.
I’m not sure what he intended with the post, but at least it’s starting discussions, which is good. Also, and I don’t know if that’s a good idea or if it was intended at all, but maybe if tourists avoid Lebanon and friends and relatives stop visiting, maybe people will start making changes?
Anyway, I don’t pretend to know better. And this post is a pretty tough pill to swallow. Let’s hope for the best for our country.
now thats the best post u came up with after all this time of not blogging. shame on you 🙂
Don’t hate the messenger.
“You are in Lebanon” is not an excuse to act like a chimpanzee. The lack of infrastructure and the poor services are a result of a set of crooks elected and backed by the people themselves.
Foreigners are not waiting for such a post to realize the mess Lebanon is in. They are too busy partying in Morocco, suntanning in Turkey, and safari-ing in Sri Lanka.
We need drastic changes for Lebanon to catch up with the rest of the world. Getting out of denial is the first step.
Rami,
You have my complete approval for raising the alarm.
I agree with you fully. There’s more tourism in the deserts now than in our lovely Lebanon, which really isn’t lovely anymore. Gone are the grand days of Hamra, and downtown, Kaslik and Achrafieh. Jounieh and Tripoli. Saida and Tyre. It’s all shisha cafe’s and valet mafias and scumbags and crooks everywhere. Everyone trying to rip you off or rob you blind. Pollutions, lack of manners, and to top it all off, our population doubled. This is not my Lebanon. It’s not ours anymore, and it’s OUR fault we gave it to these douchebags to turn it into a dump. It’s a dump. Everyone against this article is an idiot who can’t think big. You think the Lebanese tourism rests on this article? Every major embassy has forbidden its citizens from coming here. You want to blame the guy? How about blaming yourselves for shutting up about everything. How about you don’t have drinking water, while this is no longer a problem is even some African countries! How about Sri Lanka has 24 hours electricity? How about the “services and hospitality” we think we have are much better in Dubai and Qatar. How about you all fucking wake up and realize we are 20 years backwards. Shame this Lebanon is no longer ours.
still better than Jordan or Dubai
WOW! simply WOW!
After all this time of not posting anything…. really?!
I am a fan of your blog and I have it saved in my favorites, but although I agree with all your points listed in this post, I must disagree with it’s purpose.
Not out of pride but out of logic!
Matter of fact, I live in the U.S, been married to a military “yankee” who knows every single detail about the whole Middle East… Yet to this day, he will not think twice about coming to visit Lebanon.
Why ? well if we can live every day there and survive, a foreigner can come and visit for a week or two.
The positive reasons to visit Beirut outweigh the negative ones to any tourist who is interested enough in:
1. Eating our delicious food
2. Experiencing our generous hospitality
3. Attending International festivals including educational and historical ones
4. Seeing family and friends (if he or she has any there)
5. Visiting our religious spots that you can not find anywhere else in the MEA.
6. Enjoying the mild summer weather compared to the Gulf or Arab countries
7. Wearing whatever the heck he or she wants freely without judgment and pressure
8. And of course spending way less than he would have in any other Middle Eastern touristic country.
And I dare anyone to differ with these few reasons especially the last one!
After all, a tourist is not going to live the rest of his life in Lebanon …!
Hi Rana,
You seem to focus on Arab tourists from the Middle East. Yes our weather is nicer than a desert. Yes our food is better. We speak 3 languages, and are more hospitable (my personal opinion, based on my trips to the rest of the Middle East)
I do not see though why a German or Argentinian person would choose Lebanon as a destination.
Here is where I differ with you:
1. Food is really good indeed. It is getting more and more expensive though. There rest of the world has good food too.
2. Not really. During my last trip, I got fed up from cranky people, loud people, and rude people in general. (again, my personal opinion.)
3. Sure.
4. Friends and family. I would hope more people would love to come to Lebanon, not just those who have to, in order to see tante Therese.
5. Have you been to Greece? Ukraine? Italy?
6. You cannot really take credit for the weather. You could instead talk about the overpriced illegal beach resorts, and the lack of public places to enjoy the summer.
7. No judgement?? All people care about is the brand of high heels or polo shirt you are wearing. (unless of course your standards are the same as in Riyad)
8. Doing what? Enjoying a free walk and the view on the Rawcheh corniche? Oh wait, that is gone too.
What a douche !
Ramiiii,keep it up,you’re honest and people don’t accept the truth .People are delusional.You told the truth ,i told the truth so manyyy times,i got rejected more and more.Those people who accept Leb as it is now are not normal.
Those who can’t accept,make changes
Hear hear.
Many things in Beirut are as expensive as London. Yet London offers at least order, good affordable shops not Aishti or Hermes. only.
Street lights are lit
And there are may affordable restaurants that are not dirty. Or offering poison to eat. As they are checked by authorities for hygiene. etc.
Ever one here jumps the queue. And everyone here blows your horn the minute you ask the way somewhere. No one thinks to slow down or stop until you find your way. Allowing you time. Just in a hurry to get to the next red traffic lights. Why?
And don’t listen to people who tell otherwise and list their per se not convincing 8 reasons.
those people are traditional brainwashed old heads
i also noticwd this a looot,never discuss with a delusional fool ,they will embarrass thenselves and want to have the last word after i have just read their silly comments
Dear Rami,
What you are saying is very true since these are Facts (Bad Infrastructure, among the top 10 highest countries in population density + Chaos and Angry people, lack of stability & safety). And I don’t agree with those who are in denial, and say that Lebanon is the best country in the world.
Despite that, I think that Lebanon remains the best Arab country for tourism, mainly because of its diverse culture, educated people, nice weather and nature (what is remaining).
This is a Sincere article. However, if we discourage tourists from visiting Lebanon, we would be contributing in making things more difficult. Knowing, that tourism forms a significant part of the Lebanese economy, and job opportunities.
Accordingly, I think it is better to put our energies to find solutions, though it seems impossible, even if partial solutions. The accumulation of these solutions will in time, add up to make a fundamental change, hopefully that we survive to see it happen!
Beirut is not so bad but it’s getting there pretty quickly, I mean they are destroying ruins to build towers when they don’t even have the proper infrastructure to serve these and there are traffic jams everywhere? What are they thinking?
There are some natural places in Lebanon so my advice is go in Summer but explore the mountains (but don’t get lost too far). For that it’s preferable to know people there. Spend some days in Beirut but don’t waste all your vacation there. It’s all bling and glam looking but like an empty shell, and downtown is like a theme park.
That is my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We don’t live in some kind of communist utopia where everyone has to serve the state and do free propaganda for the the country.
lovely article, i agree, lebanon and lebanese r shit!!!!! they born eat and fed with hate hate and hate lol
Min allak?? Who told u that? U don’t know us, u just read this post and believe it!😒😒
That’s such a shameful post!
Regardless of the validity of the reasons you gave (which are not totally correct), why would you write an article that discourages people to visit your country? All countries around the world have bad sides but there’s no sane person in the world who would write such an article about his own country.
You are just one of these whining people that you talked about and which are only part of the population. Go to the clubs and you’ll find everyone enjoying their time.
We surely have to be aware of our problems in order to solve them but we don’t have to tell everyone about them because that’s not how it get solved. Many foreigners have visited Lebanon and fell in love with it, so who are you to tell them not to visit it.
Hell even in Paris you can find 8 reasons to discourage people to visit it, but there’s no french dude in the world who would write an article citing the bad things in it.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Man what the hell was this review for.. What you have up there not only have made your blog worthless but promoted you as a local villain.
Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country, and here my friend you are destroying hopes of rejuvenating it.
It also seems that you have no idea about the touristic product the country can offer, and I’m a well traveled dude – but you’ll have to figure it out on your own since your a smartass.
I also suggest you quit blogging and find a job where your skills can be more useful to yourself and to your country.
You really fu**ed up BIG TIME!
Well said
Hello everybody who are commenting (obviously very emotionaly) to the article!!
I’m thrilled to read after all someone courageous enough to tell the ugly truth. There are two spoken truths: one hurts & the other changes. Why not accept the reality & do the impossible to change it.
Many words must disappear from the lebanese’s dictionary to be able after two generations change the society’s mentality: bassita, boukra beyefreja Allah, sabah rabah, machina hala2, we2fet alleyyi, inchalla kheir. Even with the waste’s problem lebanese cannot agree.
May be,next time, I will write 8 reasons for you young people why leave lebanon.
I cannot, i’m 52 years old, but surely i’m not leting my kids to stay in my beloved lebanon that i’m watching regressing dangerously every year!,
Well I really do not see what is the point if you are lebanese you should be ashamed of yourseld
Sadly it is true that Lebanon still have many problems!
The majority of the people I have meet in Europe are scared to visit Lebanon when I ask them.
They prefer Italy, Spain, Greece, Croatia etc as they are secure with no sectarian tension!
I would like to add that Beirut also has no places for the Lebanese elderly to enjoy an affordable drink or a bite in a reasonable cafe or restaurant!
I would like to see the real Lebanon of 60s when it was safe and all happy and when the Lebanese and tourist felt right at home!
Originally from Lebanon, 28 years living in Europe, because Lebanon is not a stable country! Because, the Lebanese are sectarians and only see themselves belongs to a groups rather than just a Lebanese!
It is good to be honest. I hope that the Lebanese improves their country and most of all, loves each other and not be divided!
Correction: Ahmad originally from Lebanon, 28 years in Europe
People of the Lebanon, just love each other first and Lebanon will be a great country again!
Peace to all
Why we have Huzbullah protecting the south, why can’t all the Lebanese works together to protect its people. Why the Christian, Sunny and Durzi do not trust each other and works together to protect all the people of Lebanon and not just their group! No one cares and understand Lebanon and its reach history and people more than the Lebanese themselves! Do not look out on other countries they just have their interests and do not care or understand Lebanon! I have always been treated like a foreigner (nu outsider) although I have been living in Europe for nearly 3 decades, and my wife is a European! I love all the the good people regardless of their backgrounds! Many people I have meet in Europe have no clue about our culture. They just look at me or treat me in a funny or a terrorist kind of way! I am just a genuine human being.
You cannot encourage tourists to visit when Lebanon still weak and its people are divided! Unity first, first and first, stable economy for the Lebanese and safety for all, not just in Beirut or for the tourists places! Not the tourists, not the infrastructure, not the flashy shops in downtown first, these will comes automatically when the Lebanese are united and strong! Do not fall for another 100 years in the game of France and Britain ”divide and concern”!
The political mess that Britain and France created in the aftermath of WWI remains today. In order to understand the present we must know the past: http://lostislamichistory.com/how-the-british-divided-up-the-arab-world/
Thank you allowing me to share my experience and thoughts with you, I know it hurts for some to hear the truth, it hurts me profoundly too. I hope to see a better Lebanon and we can, because we are a good people.
For the people who are worried about the tourism in Lebanon, do not worry, people worldwide are well informed, they do not need or rely on this blog to decide to risk their holidays and go to Lebanon! I offered my mother in law to visit Lebanon, expenses covered by me, she has declined and said ” I have fear”. I was not able to assure her that it would be fine or safe to visit, as we all know ”anything” could go wrong in Lebanon at any time!
This blog not only concerns tourists, it concerns the Lebanese! Because tourists will not make it a better or a safer LEBANON, only the Lebanese could!The sooner the Lebanese recognise the problems the better! No more quick fixes! No more false images in your heads that Lebanon is a ”normal” place, it is not! A lot of works needs to be done in order to be a ”normal” country! I see many people educated here! Do not waste your educations and your hard work on false ideas! Use them to love your people and to make your country a better place! Not just to make yourself a better doctor or a business, man and have the best cloths, car, flat and only worry on blogs about Lebanon’s images! That does not make Lebanon a better place! Peace
If some still have a doubt about Lebanon images, you can easily google ”Alerts and Warnings on Travel Warning to Lebanon” and voilà there are plenty of them:
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/lebanon-travel-warning.html
http://www.vocativ.com/underworld/crime/places-youre-likely-get-kidnapped-vacation/
يا ابني بلادك وقلبك عطيها -.وديع ألصافي
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnhkLBzmtP8
The Lebanon I Dream Of…
This documentary intends to open the eyes of the Lebanese youth to the real problems in their society. it gathers 45 carefully selected Lebanese figures who start by showing how beautiful Lebanon is and how terribly ugly we have made it. Then it states every practical issue in their daily life: social, political, economic, ecological and humanitarian. When reaching to solutions, those who were supposed to be a solution turn out to be the real problem: The judicial system, Media and civil society. The only solutions left are education and elections. In the end they all dream of the Lebanon they would like to have and turn with a direct message to the young generation and hand them the responsibility of change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L76AERqV8jc
Love and Peace.
This the ugly truth. This country is no longer a suitable place for human and people who don’t have a fortune to spend all over. The very sad truth is that people who have an average salary can’t live in this country.. THIS COUNTRY is IS ONLY FOR RICH PEOPLE and every person who disagree the original post you’re posing from spending your fortune.. guys lets be honest and we surely all know that if you didn’t inherited a capital , fortune or money pr you didn’t won the so called “loto libanaise” YOU WILL LIVE LIKE A DOG IN THIA COUNTRY..
Yes I can talk about the nightlifes of Lebanon but we as lebanese ( i am talking to the majority who get their money from their really work and fatigue, to those who didn’t inherited something) HOW MUCH DO YOU EVEN GO PARTYING IN A FULL YEAR ?? I would say if you want to party a day you have to wait until the very next month ar least to be able to party again :)… and that’s besides the bad Internet, bad infrastructure, bad policy. ..
If MOST lebanese people are planning to get out of this shitty country how could you expect us to be telling the TOURISM to spend their time here ; D it’s logical enough for smart people. . And for the minority who are brainwashed by some propaganda about lebanon.. just shut the fuck up and keep your opinion for yourself cause I bet you are from the minority rich people.. or maybe you belongs to fake people who cares about appearances cause most lebanese people are like that they get a loan to have like the newest car while they’re bitting at home for what to eat. ..
You such a #$@$$ about the explosion is not only lebanon it’s also everywhere even in the most powerful cities like uk Russia and so many others so lebanon is not the only country. And for the traffic there are reason to have it and it”s that the syrian poeple with all my respect to them they have a war in there country so they came to lebanon and what do you think if instead of making the people move from lebanon to do something helpfull to this country to do it better and who will do s*x tourism who come to do it. Okay maybe 2 and 5 are correct it is not a good cause for the tourist avoid lebanon cz there are so many placy so wonderful like downtown faqra faraya bekaa baalbek and so many so shut up don’t be an $#@#$@#
Well, you have your lebabon and we have ours and apparently, you’re living in a shit hole 😬 if you spend your life the same way you wrote this article, just nagging about stuff and sending negative vibes to yourself and others, well of course you’ll feel like you’re in a dipshit and you’ll find a million reasons not just 8.
And about the hard to reach places, maybe the shit hole you’re living in, wasn’t hit by the search engine called Google or GPS system😯 Well, since everyone today has smartphones and you can turn on your gps service and use google maps easily, all you have to do is type the name of the place you’re going to and google guides you right to it AND with the least amount of time (it guides you to the fastest route cz it can detect where the traffic is thru satellites! Cool yea?😃)
Plus, I don’t understand how were you talking bout safety first and not coming to Lebanon and t the same time recommending Turkey as a better touristic country than ours while it’s having a shitload of explosions and terrorist acts every day in different places in the country. You’re just contradicting yourself there.
And finally😬, IF by any chance Lebanon is really not that much of the right place to go to, then it is because it has some people like you in it and honestly, people like you will not be satisfied even if those 8 reasons were solved, you obviously just like to make problems and complications in your life. Just the same way you’re advising people not to come to Lebanon, allow me to advise you to just CHILL bro and try to see what’s positive in life (even with all its problems, there is nothing on earth 100% problem free) and enjoy it instead of spending time and energy nagging about negative stuff, there are a lot of good things in life(and especially in Lebanon) just clear your mind and see it.
Everybody has their own opinion and I’ve lived in Lebanon for 12 years. I recently moved out of Lebanon but I went for a few days to visit my friends so from experience Lebanon is a nice place, just not for too long. Like once you’ve been there for enough time to actually realize that it isn’t all beaches and mountains and that there are a lot of areas full of garbage, you’ll wanna leave. But going there for vacation or even for a year, is amazing. Lebanon has a great history and it isn’t a place that you would get bored in. There is almist always something to do, and once you think you’ve done everything and that you’ll be bored, bam! there’s somethong new. Btw this isn’t written by an adult that is obsessed with his/her own country, this is written by a 13 year old trying to show people that there is good in everything. I’ve lived in Lebanon almost my whole life, it has been my home for over a decade. About Lebanese people being frustrated all the time, it might just be because they are sick and tired of people thinking they are bad people. Whoever wrote this isn’t helping make the people calmer and just making the country seem worse than it is… So #LiveLoveLebanon
Also, I personally am not the biggest fan of the country but I am smart enough to know that nothing is perfectly problem free and you are just spreading negative vibes without thinking of how you could be affecting others who’s lives are Lebanon because they love the country.
What does shame or Lebanon’s economical future have to do with this blog?
So typical Lebanese, shaming someone because he or she brings forth a reality the Lebanese have done their best to forget or ignore.
You want to live in denial then do so, the author and myself have every right in exposing a reality that is painful, uncomfortable, intolerable and it’s about time the officials take charge and no amount of shaming will result in us shutting the f*** up.
Lack of security is not an easy thing to ignore, overpriced services lacking quality is also a matter to address.
If the proud Lebanese cannot take criticism for what it is, then that very same patriot should do something to abolish the reasons behind the complaint and not silence the discontent resulting from such bad servicing.
The most disrespecting thing I have yet witnessed on this blog is that regardless of the lack of water, electricity, medical care and safety, certain participants talk of looking on the positive aspects of change in Lebanon (new roads, bridges etc…)…WTF??????
I care not about your positives when the negatives are so extreme. What will your new roads do for me when you have no proper plan for dealing with traffic.
Lebanon is a military state with blockades and security checkpoint around every corner and that speaks greatly of how security is lacking.
You want me to travell back to Lebanon in the name of patriotism, then you should accommodate criticsm and take that as grounds for improvement rather than shaming an attempt at communicating.
Here is 4 reasons why that stuff is bull crap and not true.
1. I have been there and it is totally safe
2. Everybody there is nice i have been there for a year i think i have experience.
3. It is only 3 and a half hours to get to the other side of the country.
4. It is not overpriced because 1.50 dollers there is just one dollar here so how can it be overpriced.