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Jan 13, 2020 | 7:16 pm

#49

ChiefNWA

Join Date: Jun 2009

Location: TPA

Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold

Posts: 1,266

Quote:

Originally Posted by threecap

Thanks for the recap and photos - looks like a beautiful place and a great trip.

Thanks, it is indeed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by offerendum

Fascinating Report^

Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LondonElite

What a fantastic TR! I'm surprised by the vibrant colour of the countryside and the appearance of normality in the area. Your photography is outstanding.

Thanks! Erbil certainly felt like a normal and secure city.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadwarrier

Absolutely incredible!!
Your timing was so spot on with the latest issues in the region, but then again, that is the joy of travelling. One cannot predict from one day to the next what is going to happen. Looking forward to the next instalment of your adventures.

Thanks, you're right about that. I was pretty close to pulling out when Trump announced the Syria withdrawal (3 days before I departed) because I was worried the conflict would spill into Iraqi Kurdistan. Anything can happen, you just gotta monitor the situation as it unfolds

Quote:

Originally Posted by GodAtum

Shame no-one can visit anymore due to whats happening atm.

Shame indeed. There's nothing stopping people, but I'd probably give it some time for things to settle down a bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustGo

WOW!
Thanks.

Wow indeed, it was a great trip! Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by allset2travel

Quite an amazing adventure to the land that is not on my bucket list. Certainly get a new impression of Erbil from your report. Thank you. Safe travel.

Thanks! It's not somewhere I had on my bucket list for the longest time, but sometimes it's the places you'd least expect that outshine your expectations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamphs

Fantastic report! I've toyed with a trip to this part of the world. Your report certainly convinces me that I should more strongly consider it.

Thanks, I certainly would, though maybe give it a few weeks for tensions to hopefully die down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by T8191

Somewhere I would never consider going in a million years, for numerous reasons.

However, this excellent TR has given me an insight that differs so much from what one might call “Public perception”, and for that I’m very grateful. I need to up the game with my TRs, clearly!!

Thanks. I dealt with the "public perception" with friends and family when I was planning it. Needless to say, they were quite shocked when they didn't see mounds of rubble and ISIS flags all over the place (minus the one in the museum of course) in the pictures. That's the result of the media coverage of the region we have in the US.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1P

As others have said, amazing, fascinating, extraordinary TR, Chief ! You are certainly not lacking in courage. I kept wondering what happened at all the mosques that you "couldn't get into". Were you violently ejected? How did you handle communicating in Kurdish? Or does everyone speak English too?

Thanks, but Kurdistan is a little 'beginner' I feel. I started getting some quotes on guides/drivers for some more 'courageous' locations for this year. < If anyone reading this has any contacts in Kabul, PM me! >

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