Inspriging to see!
Thanks for sharing!

Thanks! I shoot with a Canon 6D Mk II with the kit 24-105 f4 and my wide angle 16-35 f4. I post-process everything in Lightroom with mostly minor touchups, nothing crazy. Camera settings: I shoot everything in raw with no in-camera kind of processing, I leave that for Lightroom.

Tell her you're in Phoenix?

Thanks! You can't go wrong with a kebab and some tea!

The scenery is indeed very beautiful, something I never really expected in Iraq until I started researching the trip.

Thank you! Kurdistan is certainly in a better position than the rest of the country in terms of security, but the western media rarely portrays the two as separate.

Thank you, glad to contribute as always!

Thanks!

Thank you! I firmly believe that if Kurdistan was independent and void of the Iraq name, it would be a much larger tourist destination than it is now. The natural beauty and friendliness of the people make it very appealing.

Lol thanks. The situation was a tad better in October when I was in Iraq. I'd probably second guess the trip if I were going right now but that doesn't mean that feeling wouldn't change in the coming weeks as the situation hopefully improves.

Thanks, anytime.

Thanks, glad to share!

Thanks, that's what I was hoping to accomplish with this trip report.

Thanks! Rekan does a lot of hiking and had a ton of pictures of hiking up the mountains in the snow there and the views looked quite incredible.

Thank you!

I've got a trick for you, especially if your family and friends are a bit geographically challenged; tell them you're going to Kurdistan. They won't blink an eye lol.

Thank you!

Thanks, it is indeed.

Thank you!

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

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 ;)

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

Wow indeed, it was a great trip! Thanks

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.

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

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.

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! >

Thanks, glad you enjoyed.

Of course!

Glad to have made your day! :)

Happy to help! :)

That's how it all started with me...

I had as well, it certainly met and exceeded expectations.

I never knew for the longest time either. Sometimes it's the places you'd least expect!

If you go, post some pictures :)

Thanks, DanielW! It is indeed sad that the camps are once again full, hopefully Iraq and Kurdistan can free itself of all the conflict one day.
It was a tad unsettling especially when Rekan said they bomb the area all of the time targetting the PKK hiding in the mountains... As we were in a tent in the mountains...
I believe US citizens have always needed a visa for Mosul as it's not part of Iraqi Kurdistan, but I could be wrong. Rekan said he could easily have gotten me in if I had more time, though I'm not sure of how that would've gone over.

Of course!

Amazing. Thank you.

Incredible pics, sounds like an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing!

Well she's pretty excited to visit the new Centurion lounge in PHX, so that could work.

I wonder how good the cocktails taste at BGW?

Thanks!

Indeed it was. Thank you!