Middle East

Middle East

Jerusalem

“One finger cannot lift a pebble”.

— Persian Proverb

Embark on a journey to the Middle East, a transcontinental region encompassing Western Asia and Egypt, to delve into its extensive and diverse history spanning from ancient civilizations to the present day. Understanding Middle Eastern culture involves recognizing its pivotal role as the cradle and spiritual hub of numerous world religions, including Christianity, Druze, Islam, Judaism, Manichaeism, Mandeanism, Yarsan, and Yezidi. Iran, in particular, is noted as the birthplace of the Bahá’í Faith, Manicheanism, Mithraism, and Zoroastrianism.

The Middle East boasts a mosaic of ethnic groups mirroring its religious diversity. Arabs, Azeris, Kurds, Persians, and Turks constitute the largest populations, while minorities such as Armenians, Assyrians, Circassians, Copts, Druze, Greeks, Jews, Maronites, and Somalis contribute to the region’s cultural tapestry. Among the 17 countries comprising the Middle East are Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkiye (Turkey), the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, though it’s essential to note that not all regions may be safe for travel. Explore the captivating culture of the Middle East and the region’s abundant experiences for avid travelers.

 

  • Israeli foods

    5 Must Try Foods in Israel

    The food in Israel is more than enough reason to visit the country. I probably gained 5lbs in the ten days I spent trying out the large variety of foods the country has to offer. This isn’t easy to do since Israeli food is so healthy.

  • Iran arch

    Discovering Iran by bicycle

    When I told my Dad I had plans to cycle across Iran, he freaked out. Sadly, western media depicts Iran as a dangerous place. Even the government travel advice is to avoid all travel to the country. In reality, Iran is home to some of the friendliest people I have ever met. I was welcomed into the country, and felt completely safe travelling around. In fact, I felt safer there than walking around the streets of my hometown.

  • Photo of Israel's first female prime minister Golda Meir. PublicDomain image

    TODAY IN HISTORY: Golda Meir Becomes Israel’s Prime Minister (March 7, 1969)

    On March 7, 1969, Golda Meir made history by becoming Israel’s first female Prime Minister, at a time when women in leadership positions were still a rarity worldwide.

  • Israel.al aqsa mosque.pixabay

    Walk where Jesus walked

    For Christians, few travel opportunities are as meaningful as the chance to visit Israel and follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Even those who do not consider themselves Christians can enjoy the ancient history and stories behind these moving sites.

  • Author standing at the worlds lowest point on land Dead Sea Israel scaled

    Walking Israel: An Author’s Perspective

    The reason I wrote “Walking Israel” is that the view of Israel in the media is too narrow. So many people ask whether it is safe to visit Israel. Then a week after arriving they call and say, Wow, this is such a great place, I had no idea. That’s what I wanted to write about: that great place about which people have no idea.

  • ghandi statue

    LEGACY SHOW: Touring Israel and Gandhi town hall

    This broadcast is a favorite legacy show that we produced under our old name Travel'n On and before rebranding as WORLD FOOTPRINTS. Rajmohan Gandhi grandson of Mahatma Gandhi will share his views on various topics. Travel'n On listeners will discover the beautiful country of Israel with Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner with the Israel Ministry of Tourism. Then Tonya & Ian will share the recording of a recent Town Hall meeting they facilitated for their good friend Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. Rajmohan will share his thoughts about current world events, his grandfathers legacy and his role as the new president of Initiatives of Change (IOC). Author of more than a dozen books, Rajmohan Gandhi is a historian and biographer involved in efforts for trust-building and reconciliation. He has served as a Research Professor at the College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. From 1997 to 2012, he [...]