To The Frontlines Against ISIS
Jun 5, 2016 | 2:44 am
#76
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SIN
Programs: Singapore Airlines Krisflyer
Posts: 200
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.
Jun 5, 2016 | 3:05 am
#77
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,300
. North Korea is definitely on my list! Next country is a little more conventional though, Georgia.. Yes, I did quite alot of background research, both before and after, which helped to understand the conflict as well as contributing to the photo’s I was taking.. Definitely no EK F for me, I’m not even sure I like champagne.. Yes, it was definitely a step up from anything I had ever done before.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.
. Yes, ISIS seems to be a magnet for some of the world’s undesirables at the moment, and really makes you feel sorry for the poor people of Syria who are suffering the consequences for this. Hopefully some sort of peace and stability returns soon.Thank you, offerendum
.. Yes, picking through the detritus of ISIS life was quite a surreal experience. Quite different to the rants and atrocities that they like to show.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.
. You were very lucky to have visited before the civil war. I can only hope too that life for the Syrian people returns to more peaceful times soon.. It was an amazing journey to a place that has seen so much oppression, conflict and horror but has incredible resolve to fight and build on their own new found independence.Thank you, NA-Flyer
.. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was. I’ve seen a few video’s with A-10’s supporting the Kurdish forces in Syria. I think A-10’s were originally designed to take out Soviet tanks if they rumbled into West Germany, so seems fitting if they are being used to take out ISIS T-55 tanks now.. Yes, with the support of the US and other allies, true peace in Rojava is definitely on the horizon. . It was a real privilege to be able to visit this part of the world, and capture the amazingly strong but friendly people.. Yes, this journey will definitely take up a chapter or two of a book from all my travels!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.
. Yes the horrible conflict that has befallen Syria has definitely irreparably changed it. Hopefully with time though, peace returns and some of this damage can be reversed.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
. Yes, it was great to see the more normal aspects of life in Northern Syria, people in markets and in their homes etc., and not just the stuff you see on CNN etc.. Yes, hopefully through these photos people can understand the sacrifices that the Syrian people have made and the extreme forces that are against them.. Yes, more conventional travel after this will be a little harder for me to get excited about for a while for me too. . It was quite a learning experience for me too. 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!
. Yes, it was good to focus on the whole story, and not just a few headlines. From the bustling bazaar in Qamishli to the aftermath at Kobani to the liberated city of Al Shaddadah.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.
. Yes, it was good to see the human side that is often missing from the horrific headlines. From filling up a car with smuggled fuel to getting some falafel at a local caf.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?
. Yes, it was surprising for me too how well organized ISIS was. Al-Qaeda is mainly focused on terror whereas ISIS wants to control and govern too.They didn’t actually stamp my passport
. I’ve been to several countries since and no issues so far too.. It took me a while to understand the various factions, but hopefully have it sorted now. Quite a complicated conflict and perhaps why peace has been a little harder to reach.Ha ha
!! Not yet, but I figured I am already on their radar with my Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Iran trips
. 
. I haven’t seen any suspicious men in black with wearing dark sunglasses and an earpiece yet.Thanks, Bretteee
. Yes, definitely recommend going, to the Iraqi part at least.. Next country is a little more relaxed and less stress.. It took a while to compile but this was a very educating and rewarding report to write for me too.. Yes, hopefully it gives a good overall view of the lives in Northern Syria at the moment.. Yes, I was in a totally different frame of mind than if I was somewhere a little more normal. An amazing journey though and one that I am very grateful to have experienced.. It was a trip I definitely will never forget.. I had to do quite a bit of research for this, but it was rewarding and very interesting to do.. Not sure if I am that brave, but a little too adventurous though maybe?. We asked if it was ok to take photo’s and it was fine. The map was at the beginning of the presentation and is hence ~18 months old/obselete. There are now a lot less red (ISIS) dots and the blue dots (Peshmerga) have advanced further.. Yes, airline food can be tasty but Kurdish cheese and honey in the Qamishli bazaar was a real treat too.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
. I have some options for a wider audience but it was primarily a personal trip for me. The KRG has recently tightened up on the Semalka border crossing though after pressure from Turkey.. Yes, there was so much destruction yet so much else to see and take in. . It is a pleasure to share with everyone here.. The relationship between the Syrian-Kurds and the US definitely seems to be getting stronger, and hopefully an alliance that will remain very much long-term.. You were very lucky to visit when you did. Hopefully some kind of peace returns soon.
Jun 5, 2016 | 5:52 am
#78
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Concierge Key, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diam
Posts: 547
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.
Jun 5, 2016 | 10:44 am
#81
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA, TPA
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVPG, FB Gold
Posts: 287
Jun 5, 2016 | 10:48 am
#82
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Free Republic of Florida
Programs: AF FB Gold, CX Silver, UA Prem Silver, AA Gold, Fans of MO Pearl, ALL Platinum
Posts: 597
DanielW, thanks for sharing an insightful, thoughtful and brilliant TR. Appreciate the time and effort that you put into this.
Jun 5, 2016 | 11:45 am
#83
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. HHonors, Radisson, Accor, Scandic and Marriott. ClubONE
Posts: 5,957
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 Koban 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.
Jun 5, 2016 | 2:51 pm
#87
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 90
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!!!!
Jun 5, 2016 | 3:01 pm
#89
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: GLA... where else?!
Programs: BA VS
Posts: 477
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.