File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Hey, I'm a third generation Arab (Durka durka Mohammed jihad etcetera) and now that I've gotten done with college, I figured I'd go visit what extended family I have in Syria and Lebanon (Damascus and Beirut, so not exactly the boonies). I figured from there, I'd wing over and do a pilgrimage to Mecca, even if I'm not muslim myself.

Anyway, I've consulted all the official sources include my relatives and my appalled parents, but I felt like poking this new board and saying if there's any advice that you lot might offer.

tl;dr How do I travel middle east.
>> Anonymous
Well since you're an arab yourself you should probably be fine as long as you try to blend in and shout when everybody else shouts. I kind of envy you, the middle east is one of the most culturally rich regions in the world. I would go myself but I don't want to get snatched and beheaded ;_;
>> Anonymous
Oh, this should end well. You know how good those ragheads are about people that they perceive are insulting Muslim. Faggot, they were going to execute a woman for naming a fuckin teddy bear Mohammad, and you want to sneak into Mecca. Go for it. Darwin will be proud of you.
>> Anonymous
>>8243
Not this shit again.
>> Anonymous
>>8234

what are the initiation rites of Islam? depending on what what they are you might just have to be nominally Muslim, and if you are Arab anyway they won't take a second look. but keep your mouth shut.
>> Anonymous
I'm white and I've snuck into both the Dome of the Rock, and Mecca.
>> Anonymous
>>8259

Did you pretend to be a convert? Your escapades intrigue me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
>> Anonymous
>>8260
No. Getting into the Dome of the Rock was pretty easy (I had some friends that got me in), Mecca however was a fucking nightmare. I couldn't get into Saudi Arabia legally so I crossed the border by land from Jordan. I'd like to go back and try to get into Medina, but since its now post-9/11 I don't want to risk being murdered.

(I originally went to Mecca in the 90's.)

If you're curious about sneaking into Mecca as a non-Muslim I'd suggest you read a Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al Madinah and Mecca.
>> Anonymous
OP, I'd be wary of Lebanon if I were you. Syria is less of a concern. Mecca is in Saudi Arabia, of course, and that place is downright scary for reasons totally the opposite of Lebanon. Instead of crazy demonstrators or freedom fighters, you should be worried about the police state. I'd avoid going there for fun if I were you.

That said, register your trip with the State Dept and know the location of nearby embassy/consulate, etc.
>> Anonymous
>>8262

That's hardcore... How many people can truthfully claim that they solid snake'd their way into Mecca?
>> Anonymous
>>8276
Also, you've got to remember that if you're caught the Saudi's will kill you.
>> Anonymous
You know you'll never get to set foot on the States (save Gitmo) once you've gone to Syria.
>> Anonymous
Been in Lebanon, it's not that bad. The place is a run-down bombarded shithole because of Israel now, but people there aren't giving up. Great nightlife in Beirut considering their resources.

Syria, loliduno. You can buy young Iraqi loli refugees for a bit of raep. Other than that, I don't think there's much to do there.
>> Anonymous
Also ???? ???? ???? ????
>> Anonymous
>I'd wing over and do a pilgrimage to Mecca, even if I'm not muslim myself.

ALERT! ALERT! LOGICAL ERROR SPOTTED!
If ure not muslim, then u can't actually call your trip a pilgrimage.
>> Anonymous
>third generation arab
Does that mean that none of your great-great grandparents were Arabs? WTF?
>> Anonymous
>>8380
Moreover, you cannot get into Mecca without making the statement of faith that makes you a Muslim.
>> Anonymous
Take a shit on that giant black thing in the middle of Mecca (in b4 "oh you mean ur mom lol")
>> Anonymous
do they allow any cameras?
>> Anonymous
>>8393
You could just you know.. say it so you get in.
>> Anonymous
>>8393
yeah, I'm sure it's checked by god to make sure non-believers can't fake it. You know, one day I'm going to go there just to desecrate the place with my bacon eating atheist persona
>> Anonymous
Wow. Didn't expect this many replies.
>>8392
I accidentally left out the word "Immigrant." I guess it doesn't really apply, but basically my grandfather and grandmother moved here at the turn of the twentieth century, and I'm grandchild of those two. Sorry for the mix-up.
>>8257
As far as I understand, if I just remember not to wear a shirt with tits on it, I'll be fine.
>>8259
That makes me more hopeful.
>>8274
Well, relatives are relatives. I wouldn't hear the end of it if I skipped them. Also, I heard Beirut was a pretty cool place despite the Israeli bombardments so... And yes, I'll register with the state department. Even if it'll put me on some lists.
>>8393
I think I can do that. Hopefully my relatives will give me some PROTIPS on what to do.
>>8380
Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to abuse the language like that.
>> Anonymous
Cyprus fag here went to beirut one year before the war, you should know that its a pretty cool place, it has a european part(cristian part or whatever they call it) in the outskirts where everything is pretty much allowed(topless, boozing etc), within the city people were giving my girlfriend some nasty looks for yearing shorts but nothing more than that...
>> Anonymous
>>8411
Only real Muslims know the statement of faith. It's like being a Freemason.
>> Anonymous
>>8512

the whole "la ilaha illa'allah" thing?

I hope that's not what you're refering to cause you can find that on fucking wikipedia
>> Anonymous
>>8420
Fact: Non-Mormons have occasionally succeeded at getting into mormon temples without being found out.

Fact: protesters were on the roof of Parliament.

How? Inside job

And with a religion like Islam, which is second biggest in the world and greatly decentralized, an "inside job" shouldn't be all that difficult if you manage to LOOK and ACT like a Muslim.
>> Anonymous
>>8409
Photos of Mecca are actually quite common online if you Google for it.
>> Anonymous
I have a different problem: how to visit both Israel and Dubai. Any solutions to that?
>> Anonymous
i'm guessing Dubai first
>> Anonymous
>>8547
When you go to Israel they won't stamp your passport if you ask so you can go to muslim nations afterwards.
>> Anonymous
sage