Middle East - Anthony Ham [532]
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CLIMATE CHARTS
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Customs regulations vary from country to country, but in most cases they aren’t that different from what you’d expect in the West – a couple of hundred cigarettes and a couple of bottles of booze.
There was a time when electronics used to arouse interest when entering or leaving Egypt and Syria, but it’s becoming increasingly rare. If they do pull you up, items such as laptop computers and especially video cameras may be written into your passport to ensure that they leave the country with you and are not sold. If you’re carrying this sort of thing, it’s better not to be too obvious about it. This same principle of discretion applies to printed material that could be interpreted as being critical of the government, although customs officials at major entry/departure points rarely search the bags of tourists.
DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
Don’t believe everything you read about the Middle East. Yes, there are regions that travellers would be ill advised to visit. But alongside the sometimes disturbing hard facts is more often a vast corpus of exaggeration, stereotyping and downright misrepresentation. You should always be careful while travelling, but we’ll try and put this as simply as possible: there’s every chance that you’ll be safer in most parts of the Middle East than you would be back home.
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LATEST TRAVEL ADVICE
Lonely Planet’s website (www.lonelyplanet.com) contains information on what’s new, as well as any new safety reports, and reports from other travellers recounting their experiences while on the road.
Most governments have travel-advisory services detailing terrorism updates, potential pitfalls and areas to avoid. Some of these include:
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade ( 1300 139 281; www.smartraveller.gov.au)
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade ( 1-800-267-6788; www.voyage.gc.ca)
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (www.mft.govt.nz/travel)
UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office ( 0845 850 2829; www.fco.gov.uk)
US Department of State ( 202-647-4000; www.travel.state.gov)
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Trouble spots in the region are usually well defined, and as long as you keep track of political developments, you’re unlikely to come to any harm (see the boxed text, opposite).
Crime rates are extremely low in most countries in the Middle East – theft is rarely a problem and robbery (mugging) even less of one. Even so, take the standard precautions. Always keep valuables with you or locked in a safe – never leave them in your room or in a car or bus. Use a money belt, a pouch under your clothes, a leather wallet attached to your belt, or internal pockets in your clothing. Keep a record of your passport, credit card and travellers cheque numbers separately; it won’t cure problems, but it will make them easier to bear. We’re sorry to say this, but beware of your fellow travellers; there are more than a few backpackers who make their money go further by helping themselves to other people’s.
DISCOUNT CARDS
An International Student Identity Card (ISIC) can be useful in the Middle East. Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Syria and Turkey have various (and often considerable) student discounts for admission to museums, archaeological sites and monuments. In Syria, it slashes admissions to almost all historical sites to about a 10th of the normal foreigners’ price, while elsewhere discounts usually range from 25% to 50%. In Israel, cardholders also qualify for 10% reductions on some bus fares and 20% on rail tickets. Bear in mind that a student card issued by your own university or college may not be recognised elsewhere; it really should be an ISIC.
EMBASSIES & CONSULATES
It’s important to realise what your own embassy can and can’t do to help you if you get into trouble. Generally speaking, it won’t be much help in emergencies if the trouble you’re in is remotely your own fault. Remember that you are bound by the laws of the country you’re in. Your embassy