.: Independence '05 Blog :.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

ATVs stopped by Hezbollah in Jroud Zahle

I've just been told that Samir Geagea mentioned in today's press conference that some ATVs were stopped during a trip in Jroud Zahle. I've been meaning to post about this on this blog, but the personal life got in the way.

It is us that he was talking about. On Sunday 15 June 2008, I had a trip planned for my colleagues at work to go on ATV from Ouyoun el Simen to Zahleh through its deserted mountains, known as Jroud, have lunch in Zahle's Wadi Al Arayesh and come back. On our way, we were a convoy of about 10 ATVs, and in the middle of no where we were stopped by armed civil men, carrying AK47s. On the side there was a big white tent. On both sides, as far as 500 meters on each way, there was high deserted mountains. We were asked what we were doing there and where we were going. I gave the name of everyone with me, because I did not want them to stop every ATV and bother them. Luckily I gave them the right names, and all of them.
After they believed that we were only on an adventure trip and going to have lunch in Zahle, and been told never ever to pass by there again because it is a "military" region. They told us that we will not be bothered on our way back.

On our way back, we were stopped again, there was more armed men, and we can see them in far behind big rocks with their guns ready for any action. This time they wanted to search all males in the ATV convoy. The organizer of the trip insisted and persisted over and over again that we are a respected company and only here for adventure and he refused that any man amongst would be searched. After more than 20 minutes of negotiations, they told us that all males should show their IDs, and they compared it to the first list we had given them earlier that day. There was one missing name, but it was okay, because we told them that the guy stayed in Zahle. After they let us go, they were clear that this is a secure zone, a NO-ATV zone... and not to pass from there ever again.

We were just trying to have fun. That is the story.

Labels: adventure, ATV, Geagea, group, hezbollah, lebanon

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Where to go when you visit Lebanon - Site 5: Adventure

It's been really a long time since I chose a place to visit in Lebanon and told you about it. (See top right of the blog for the whole list of places to visit in Lebanon).

Well this time, it's not just one place, it is many places at the same time, the key here is not the location, but what you will be doing in this location.

For all adventure lovers out there, Lebanon is a great place to do a lot of different kind of activites, and they are so many. Getting closer to nature is possible in Lebanon, and highly recommended for the great reserves we have and the beautiful scenery you will see.

First of all, there are the classic getting-to-know mountains, such as Rappelling, Climbing, Hiking, Rope Courses (walking on ropes and stuff), caving!

If you got some good sense of direction, wind knowledge and feel like you want to get the stress out, Archery and Tyro are just the things to do! And if it is not things you want to shoot at, but people, then Paintball it is! We have many ready-locations that you can go and play paintball in! Rent your suit, your gun and your paint bullets and "FIRE IN THE HOLE".

If you feel like going from one place to another at a high speed, you can always go on ATVs, or if you feel like you want to really go back in time, horseback riding is very thrilling. And if you are feeling like working those legs, than you should just go biking! Beautiful.

I aready mentioned in a previous post "Where to go when you visit Lebanon - Site 4: Skiing", but of course it is not only skiing that you can do, you can also snowboard, snowshoe, ride a jetski... But that is only during one season (From January to March)

Feel like flying? There are trained monitors who can help you paraglide over the hills of Lebanon!

If you just want to walk your energy off, reach your limits and see what you an handle, there are many valleys you can go to, but I highly recommend taking a long walk in the valley of ANNOUBIN, which is location in the North.

The typical activity which of course is an amazing experience which I personally had the pleasure and opportunity to excercise for over 13 years is Camping. We have great locations, also made especially for installing that tent and preparing that beautiful fire camp to grill some potatoes in.

Finally, if you are a water person, we have those great rivers you can go to and go some rafting, canoeing and if it is not the rivers you want to swim in, you can go to our cost long beach from the North to the South of Lebanon and do some diving, skinautique, voilier...