After reading about Iraqi Kurdistan in the Lonely Planet I am intrigued enough to go and check it out. According to the book, it is a safe, beautiful and very friendly place. But unfortunately, what I will remember of Iraqi Kurdistan is this- the next man that puts his f***ing hands on me will regret it. I have travelled enough to recognize and prevent bad situations. But I am shocked at the number of times I feel violated and taken advantage of while visiting this country. After only 6 days I book it back to Turkey feeling slightly traumatized.
The recent history of Iraqi Kurdistan is brutal. I learn about the Kurdish massacre committed by Saddam Hussein, declared an act of genocide. I visited a couple museums that depicted this gruesome tale. Leftover from the Iran-Iraq War are unexploded landmines in the mountain ranges that separate the 2 countries. The small piles of red-painted rocks along the side of the road are markers of this danger. It makes me wonder how 2 American hikers "accidentally" crossed into Iran from Iraq. It seems you would have to be crazy to go hiking without knowing terrain and without appreciating the seriousness of illegally entering Iran. As Hollywood as it may sound spies are a reality in the Middle East. In fact, one guy who stayed at my Cairo hostel was arrested and charged with being a spy in Egypt.
Sadly, my best memory of Iraqi Kurdistan is watching a young Michael J Fox in Back to the Future on satellite TV. Such a good movie- did you know the guys who shot Doc were Libyans? Arabs always get such a bad rap. Thinking of home but happily abroad,
Carrie
Erbil
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