To The Frontlines Against ISIS
#76
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SIN
Programs: Singapore Airlines Krisflyer
Posts: 184
Thanks DanielW for another great trip report!
I visited Syria in 2009 and sometimes I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to many of the friendly Syrians whom I crossed path with back then.
I visited Syria in 2009 and sometimes I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to many of the friendly Syrians whom I crossed path with back then.
#77
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Yes, it was an intense experience. It has certainly changed my perspective on a few things in life too.
Thank you, Daniel, for these pieces of gem. It was encouraging and heartbreaking at the same time. Reminder of how priceless the peace and the life itself.
I was troubled seeing that letter written in Indonesian. Being Indonesian Muslim myself, I still can not believe and clearly comprehend what's happening to them, the twist of minds to radical faith. The French-written poem is also very sad.
For me, this tops any other TR ever being written in Flyertalk.
I was troubled seeing that letter written in Indonesian. Being Indonesian Muslim myself, I still can not believe and clearly comprehend what's happening to them, the twist of minds to radical faith. The French-written poem is also very sad.
For me, this tops any other TR ever being written in Flyertalk.
Thank you, offerendum.
Just an utterly brilliant, beautiful and touching report. With some magnificent pictures too, of course. Thanks a lot for sharing this with us! I have fond memories of a trip to Syria some 8 years ago - I really do hope for the many hospitabls people of good will in the country, things get better soon.
Thank you, NA-Flyer.
Great report and thank you mainly for showing people going about their daily lives as we all do. Most of your photos match my own memories from traveling around the ME and Central Asia, but in order to do that I have to forget about the awful atrocities that have been going on in Syria and Iraq and just see it as another place in the world, inhabited by our brothers and sisters.
I always appreciate your TRs and the wonderful photos you always take of the "everyday people" wherever you are. "Everyday" takes on a whole new meaning in this one - but it's great to see the smiles and the resolute gazes amidst all that s happening there. Truly thank you for a view into this area. Travel safely
Incredible, fantastic trip report! Thanks for sharing! Surreal world between civil war, death and normal life...good-looking people, smiles and warmth... Your trip report is much more valuable as most of the "regular" newspaper articles or TV reports. Thanks again and travel safely!
Cheers, DallasBeyond. Yes, so much intense and indescribable photos to capture. It was an amazing experience.
Truly amazing, DanielW. This is probably the first TR that I've read through in it's entirety instead of just flipping through the pics and skimming. It's one thing to look at news stories, with which one gains a sort of numbness to what is happening there, but to be able to see these towns in their entirety as well as the people who live there is a privilege. Thank you.
Also, I knew Kurdish women were fighting, but didn't realize the extent to which they were. Nice to see the equality.
Unfortunate that it took this long, but hopefully other countries do so as well.
Also, I knew Kurdish women were fighting, but didn't realize the extent to which they were. Nice to see the equality.
Unfortunate that it took this long, but hopefully other countries do so as well.
It was great to meet the famous YPJ fighters too, so brave and committed to defending and fighting for their cause.
This is by far the best TR I've read, you really should be working for national geographic! Makes you really appreciate living in a first world country where you only worry about gate lice and economy seats.
I'm quite surprised how organized ISIS is with ID cards and organizational rules and structure.
Do you get a pleasant VIP meeting every time you go to a western country now that you have a syrian stamp on your passport?
I'm quite surprised how organized ISIS is with ID cards and organizational rules and structure.
Do you get a pleasant VIP meeting every time you go to a western country now that you have a syrian stamp on your passport?
They didn’t actually stamp my passport. I’ve been to several countries since and no issues so far too.
Ha ha!! Not yet, but I figured I am already on their radar with my Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Iran trips.
Thanks, Bretteee . Yes, definitely recommend going, to the Iraqi part at least.
Amazing, sobering, enlightening trip report. Bravo, DanielW!
I'm impressed at your resourcefulness in organising this trip, and also the calibre of people that you got to talk to. You reference needing a media pass - were you there with the intention of writing a journal or publishing the photographs professionally, or was there some other reason (e.g. going as a journalist was the only way to get in)? If the former, I'd love to see the finished product
I'm impressed at your resourcefulness in organising this trip, and also the calibre of people that you got to talk to. You reference needing a media pass - were you there with the intention of writing a journal or publishing the photographs professionally, or was there some other reason (e.g. going as a journalist was the only way to get in)? If the former, I'd love to see the finished product
Thank you, chongsss. You were very lucky to visit when you did. Hopefully some kind of peace returns soon.
#78
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Concierge Key, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diam
Posts: 510
Daniel - another great trip report that makes me a little bit more educated on what is happening in a part of the world I am so detached from. Glad you are back home safely.
#81
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA, TPA
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVPG, FB Gold
Posts: 287
#83
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
My trip to Northern Syria and Iraq, walking through the bustling bazaar in Duhok, inspecting a captured ISIS UAV drone in West Kirkuk, avoiding Syrian Regime checkpoints in Qamishli, seeing first-hand the destruction of Kobanî after surviving the onslaught of over 9,000 ISIS militants, looking over into ISIS territory along the frontlines on the Euphrates river and meeting the brave YPG and YPJ fighters leading the battle against ISIS in the recently liberated Al Shaddadah.
#87
DanielW - your reports are always a must read when I see them pop up on the trip reports forum list - but this is hands down the best trip report I have ever read on FT. Your ability to convey the chaos, courage, despair, hope and humanity of this region through your words and photos is simply unparalleled. Bravo!!!!
#89
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: GLA... where else?!
Programs: BA VS
Posts: 474
Great TR! It is marvellous to see such friendship and hospitality in such a troubled part of the world. The pictures of the food remind me of my amazing trip to Lebanon in 2002. Wonderful people in that part of the world. I just wish that one day they will all be able to live in peace.