Tag: Lebanon

  • 10 days in Lebanon (day 5) Beqaa Valley to Baalbek Roman Ruins

    10 days in Lebanon (day 5) Beqaa Valley to Baalbek Roman Ruins

    June 16, 2018 Beqaa – Bekaa

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    ladies just wanna have fun 🙂

    Wow! This is the 5th day, imagine waking up early morning everyday, thinking what to wear ? hahaha True!

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    Believe me…I see you’re smiling, with my madame malou huh! Wearing same clothes for two consecutive day is a NO! Period! Funny, I was told that Lebanese women are very fashionable, like to wear high heels etc. So , I packed a reasonable clothes, kind of middle, not too formal, not too rugged , a wedge shoes and a rubber shoes. Oh! I’m glad I also packed a jogging pants, just in case 🙂 If I knew beforehand, we will be hiking and walking everyday, I will bring a more appropriate clothing and foot wear.

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    Beqaa is fertile valley in the eastern region, located about 30 km east of Beirut. It is situated between Mt. Lebanon to the west and Anti -Lebanon mountains to the east. DSC_6888

    The water that flows came from the Valley. It’s a beautiful place with lots of trees. And as we drive forward, in a middle of nowhere, a spectacular view of a man-made lake (not sure actually) awaits us. Awesome view, my photos were taken while I am inside the bus.

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    The elongated plateau is known for its warm and dry summer and on winter the mountains were covered by snow.

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    During Lebanese civil war, cannabis cultivation was a major source of income, but it seems, it continues until now. Fields were planted with figs, apples and cannabis as well.

     

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    We went down and took photos, and of course ladies, we had a fun-filled photo shoot 🙂

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    June 16, 2018 – Baalbek Roman Ruins

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    Ba’albek or Baalbek is an ancient Phoenician city in Anti – Lebanon foothills east of Beqaa Valley. ( the name “Baalbek” means Lord Baal of Beqaa Valley). It’s fascinating to note that Baalbek inhabited as early as 9000BCE. Alexander the great conquered Baalbek  and renamed it as “Heliopolis” City of the sun.

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    normal houses can be seen around the roman ruins

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    I know, in my high school year, hmmm pardon me, I only remembered some words in my History book like Ottoman empire, Alexander the Great, Heliopolis City 🙂 Not in my wildest dream that one day, I will be standing at the ruins of Ancient Roman Empire. I wonder how these massive tons of stones were moved ,placed and arranged.

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    look at me 🙂 nope look at the stones, so huge! how they were able to moved it? Fascinating.. right?

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    Another wonder of all wonder is the giant stone called “Stone of the Pregnant Woman”

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    Stone of the South -is a Roman Monolith

    Pregnant stone? does it deliver stone? hahaha nope! There were many stories behind the given name. One says, the monolith is named after a pregnant woman who tricked the people into believing that she knew how to moved the huge stone, if only they would feed her until she gave birth. While other say, the name reflects the belief that any woman who touches the stone will increase the chance of getting pregnant.

    Ladies, whatever the story is, Baalbek should be in your bucket list!

    Cheers,

    Jamilamimi@beautybeyondfifty

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  • 10 days in Lebanon (day 2/2) en route to Jeita – just for fun

    10 days in Lebanon (day 2/2) en route to Jeita – just for fun

    June 13, 2018

    En route to the magical Jeita grotto 18 Km north of Lebanon, the road leading to the caverns is carved into the mountains and surrounded with trees. There lived a family enchanted by the cool swept of the air and the smell of  nature.

    The ALjeji family 🙂

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    A family of four

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    a daughter and a son

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    a happy servant

    but one day,when the son was away, the wife and the daughter got mad and would like to leave the mountain, but the father refused.

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    I’ll shoot if you say no!

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    axe if  she doesn’t succeed 🙂

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    but the father triumphed. the wife and daughter agreed to stay.

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    and they lived happily ever after 🙂

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    the end… just for fun, the story is not real. 🙂

    Photography @ Jeita

    Cheers,

    Jamilamimi@beautybeyondfifty

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  • 10 days in Lebanon (day 2/1) Dog river to Jeita cave to Jounieh

    10 days in Lebanon (day 2/1) Dog river to Jeita cave to Jounieh

    June 13, 2018 – Dog River

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    Nahr al -Kalb (Dog River) runs 31 km from a spring coming from Jeita to the Mediterranean sea.

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    There are about 20 commemorative inscriptions (stelae) on the rocks at the mouth of the river. It sum up the history of Lebanon, from high antiquity to the present. It includes Egyptian inscriptions,Assyrian and Babylonians inscriptions,Classical antiquity inscription, Islamic inscription, Colonial and Lebanese inscriptions.

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    June 13,2018 – Jeita Cave

    From Dog River , we headed forward to Jeita Cave. Camera and Cellphones were not permitted inside. This is the most amazing cave I ever seen. So clean, has an access tunnel and walkway for tourist to have safe passage without disturbing the natural landscape.There’s also cableway to transport tourist to the Jeita grotto and a small train on the ground to exit the area. The Cave is divided into two level, the upper level which has the walkway access of around 750 meters. The actual length of the cave is around 2, 130 meters. It has the longest stalactite in the world measuring 8.2 meters long. Gigantic! The Lower level can be access only by electric boat for a distance of 500 meters.

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    Unique Statue outside the Jeita grotto.

    The Guardian of Time Statue

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    The Phoenician garden at Jeita.

    June 13, 2018 – Jounieh

    After the awesome trip to Jeita, we headed to Jounieh looking for the best shawerma 🙂 I was hungry and my friend kept on driving, I told him, this shawerma must be worth the trip, indeed it was! And not only the shawerma but the scenery along the shore was fantastic. Jounieh is a costal city about 16 km north of Beirut.

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    Cheers,

    jamilamimi@beautybeyondfifty

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