Middle East - Anthony Ham [571]
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CéSAR SORIANO
Special thanks to Lonely Planet’s Kerryn Burgess for believing in the Iraq chapter and pioneer traveller Daniel Parsons, whose Backpack Iraq blog served as an inspiration. In Iraq, thanks to Zaid Sabah for translations and years of friendship over many games of PlayStation football (Viva Mexico!); travel buddy Chase Winter; fellow CouchSurfers Josh Overcast and Rachel for their locals’ insight; and all the people of Iraqi Kurdistan for their warmth and hospitality, especially my saviour Akre Peshmerga Commander Ayoub. I dedicate this chapter to my loving wife Marsha, whose love and support always guides me home.
AMELIA THOMAS
Thanks, as always, to Kerryn Burgess for her thorough, supportive and inspirational approach, to Anthony Ham for being a fabulous coordinating author, and to the whole terrific team at Lonely Planet. Special thanks, in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, to Yoran Bar, Galit Zangwill, Jet van Wijk, Maia Rushby, Abdelfattah, Sami and my good friends in Bethlehem. My gratitude once again, in Lebanon, to Pierre in Byblos, and to the many travellers who provided so many helpful hints and suggestions. And, of course, thanks to Cassidy, Tyger, Cairo, Zeyah and Gal for being such good travelling companions.
JENNY WALKER
It has been a great pleasure meeting the people of Jordan for this project and I was quickly reminded why Jordan’s such a wonderful country. Special thanks to Chris Johnson (Director, Wild Jordan) and other RSCN officials; Ruth, Jordan Jubilee; Marguerite van Geldermalsen; Tyler Norris, Executive Director; Daniel Adamson and Mahmoud Twaisi, Abraham Path Initiative; Charl, Owner of Mariam Hotel. Thanks to Kerryn Burgess and Anthony Ham for their ever-professional input. As usual, I’m forever grateful to my beloved husband, Sam Owen, who was so entirely integral to the research of my chapter that it should bear both our names.
RAFAEL WLODARSKI
Thanks goes out to the all the people who helped smooth my journey through Egypt’s dusty plains. A huge helping of thanks goes out to the people who went beyond the call of duty to make this book possible, including Michael Snarr and Khaled Ibrahim in Cairo, and Jedediah and Andrea in Dahab. A big thanks also goes to Kerryn Burgess for sending me back to Egypt, and for sharing those gruelling Dahab research days with me. Very special thanks are reserved, as always, for Suzanna.
OUR READERS
Many thanks to the travellers who used the last edition and wrote to us with helpful hints, useful advice and interesting anecdotes:
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