by seektravelinfo » Wed Dec 07, 2005 1:40 am
I was in Iraq last June, with Foulplay and his friend David. Not exactly as a backpacker ..... as I traveled with a little red suitcase and got shit for that let me tell you ..... but I'd be damned before I'd be a "backpacker",
Anyway,
We crossed at the Turkish border into Zaxo for a night, then on to Dohuk. Quiet place, interesting, but no time to explore. I'd like to go back, but not in the summer (too hot) and next time I'll travel with Kurds .... the people there were good folks, rather guarded (understandable), some beautiful scenery surrounding Dohuk, an amusement park and a wal-mart type store selling treadmills, which I found to be most curious indeed. The Yezedi are in that area, a religious order I'd be interested in observing a ritual of, and there's a good mix of mosques and churches.
There is danger, but not at this moment what you could put your finger on, but these days it seems that more will be coming from Turkey, as the Kurdish situation is becoming quite restless. I wouldn't be surprised if there was not a presence of Turkish secret police and such.
My advice to you would be : don't travel alone. If you wish, PM me and I'll give you contact info. for a friend in Van and a friend in Diyarbakir who might be willing to help you out, at the least in terms of advice.
"I wish the women would hurry up and take over." (Leonard Cohen)