Opinions

Iraq - Beach holidays are for losers

by Andrew Young

What's the point of travelling if you're not going to go somewhere exciting? Different? Inspiring? Perhaps even a little dangerous? My wife is continuously badgering me to go on a 'beach' holiday - you know, one of those 'sit on your bum gazing at the waves that lap the shoreline' breaks where, quite frankly, you get bored stiff in 10 minutes and come back with sun burn. Plus, we live in South Africa...we have a gazillion miles of coastline...it's not a novel thing for me!

No, indeed, my idea of a great holiday would perhaps be more aptly described as an 'adventure'. I would rather go somewhere I have never been, and that doesn't even resemble places I have been, and where I don't know the language, the culture, the art, the history, the people - somewhere like, ummm, Kurdistan. 'Where?' I hear you gasp! Northern Iraq actually. 'Iraq! Why?' - I know, I know, it's a little off piste, but I read in Time recently about the Arbil citadel, over 7000 years old, and reputedly the longest continously inhabited place on earth.

Sounds incredible! And how much more off the beaten path can you get than Iraq? Right? Well, wrong actually. Although it's only 340km from meltdown epicentre Baghdad, it may just as well be on the other side of the earth as far as tourism is concerned. Over 132 000 people visited the region last year alone, and 2010 has seen dramatic improvements to Arbil airport and already Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines are flying there three and four times weekly respectively.

This surge in interest certainly doesn't exonerate you from going there - or other places like it. Seek adventure, and you're bound to find it. Avoid it at all costs, and you're likely to die lonely and dissatisfied. At least, that's what I think. Not sure my wife would agree, but I am sure she'll enjoy the beaches in Iraq...oh wait, there aren't any!

Been to Arbil? Going there? Let us know - email andrew@goyourownway.info