Saturday, July 22, 2006

On fleeing it...

… We went anyway.
Made it to the embassy hotel safely… Sleep eluded me that night, I spent it in the frigid quiet lobby (so different than the one I just left behind) with a book and the news while the concierge eyed me furtively.

Dawn found me squeezed between a scrawny Lebanese woman and an old man in the mad rush to the buses as hordes of ill-mannered Gulferns tried to run one another over for seats. On the drive to the Lebanese border, everyone settled back to either doze off or enjoy the breathtaking Biqa’3 scenery. The war was forgotten, everyone must have talked themselves into thinking this was a freakin road-trip.

The Lebanese border, however, had the effect of jarring everyone from sleep. The line of honking screeching cars stretched for miles. Everything from Hummers to rickety Toyota pickups loaded with Louis Vuitton, no less. Our bus driver collected our passports as well as a hefty … umm, monetary gift… to prompt the officials to handle our passports. He promised to be back in minutes. His minutes, however, stretched to an hour. I jumped down and joined the rest of my overheated trip-mates on the curb (a scene my cousins saw on Al-Arabiya. If they replay it—I’m the one in white sunglasses and white Rock ‘n Roll tee). Various shops peppered the street, men lounged about roaring tiresome political soliloquies. Suddenly I felt someone almost jump on me and drag me to the bus, it was the Kuwaiti woman that sat behind me: “Kas’f! Kas’f!” she screamed. (It occurred to me that perhaps a bus with a full tank of gas might not be a prudent shelter... but god, the way she dragged me, the woman must lift weights.)

A few miles behind, Israelis were peppering Al-Biqa’3 with various missiles. The rest of the Saudi buses behind us turned around. Reality seemed to dawn on the bus’ merry bunch. The busy road cleared within half an hour. Shops closed, smart alec political yappers disappeared, cars cleared the road. But there we were, driver-less, passport-less… and no, he didn’t leave the keys. The hour stretched into two, and still no driver. Two hours to three, then four… still no driver and no passports. Shit. The Kuwaiti woman stood up and declared what was on everyone’s minds: “Hatha il suwwag bag grooshna, o juwazatna, o in7ash!” (that driver stole our money, passports and ran off). Another hour passes, and we see throngs of people on foot with rice bags full of clothes. They told a tale of ditching their cars when the road was hit earlier and continuing on foot. Those who did drive had cars with smashed rear windows.

After 5 hours, our driver finally appeared having forked over another $400 to get our passports out. (Some jackass passenger had the nerve to ask for a receipt... pray tell, what would it say? Bribe?). Literally minutes after we drove off, the Lebanese-Syrian borders at Al-Masna’3, where we were for 5 hours, was hit several times.

Despite all, clearly we were the fortunate ones. My heart goes out to the friends I left behind. Sara and Abdul, the funniest/oddest couple I know… Maya and her endless chatter and energy… S., a formerly significant other whose smile, despite the long years, still has my heart tripping over a beat or two.

As for the world, from the inhumane Israeli and U.S. governments to every Arab government devoid of a fucking backbone, all I have to say is Shame on you.

| 12 CoMmEnTs| -- Posted by [[ On My Own ]]--|Permanent Link|

12 Comments:

leen,

thank you for telling your story.

By  confused arab chick, at 21 July, 2006 22:37  

welcome back.. 7amdillah 3la your salama.. and i'm happy you made it out safely.. it was a bad journey but i'm sure the ends justify the means..

By  frogman, at 22 July, 2006 03:05  

Raf:
blagh.. I'm already being dogged by my family for dragging them over there... no need to guilt me any further.
Jeez, good deeds are lost these days.

I predict the bribe has already been drunk and/or fucked. Money well spent. "Ma9a2ib qawm 3ind qawmin..." ay?


CAC:
Glad you liked it.


Frogman:
Allah yisalmak, a story for the grand kids I suppose.

By  Trevelyana, at 22 July, 2006 04:00  

Oh my.. It's like playing that war game in PS2.

Adventureous..but v. dangerous zone you were at.

It's good to hear your safe and sound back home.

Any other summer destination in mind since this one's ruined ;/

By  N.A., at 22 July, 2006 04:34  

Glad to hear you're okay.

By  illogicist, at 22 July, 2006 16:33  

My god... first of all 7ambillah 3a'salamah.
Seriously in your position i would have been so freaked!!
My heart goes out to the people still there and the people who have lost loved ones, i hope it ends soon.

By  NO MORE, at 23 July, 2006 11:36  

N.A:
Heh.. a fellow video-gamer?

I have a few destinations in mind, London then Milan... but with 15 essays and mounts of paperwork to tackle, my plans are looking more and more bleak.


Doomy lata:
A belated welcome to my blog :)
7amdilla it went well.. comparatively. I seriously miss Lebanon though.


Illogicist:
Thanks Z :)


Sweet Anger:
Allah Yisalmik.
I don't know.. I wasn't freaked because I was in slight denial... vain as I am I thought they'd just stop, yell out "just kidding folks", and the bus would turn around and deposit me right back on some sandy beach. Puny concerns..
Anyhow, welcome to my blog.

By  Trevelyana, at 24 July, 2006 03:50  

Al7amdellah 3ala salamatek!
God, I love Lebanon, specially Beirut :(

By  Euphoria, at 24 July, 2006 07:20  

7amdilla 3la salamatkom...The Kuwaiti women you met has the strangest accent :/

PS. loved the last sentence...

By  Sedna, at 24 July, 2006 08:09  

You write "As for the world, from the inhumane Israeli and U.S. governments to every Arab government devoid of a fucking backbone, all I have to say is Shame on you."

I couldnt have said it better myself.

By  أبو سنان, at 25 July, 2006 06:20  

7mdellah 3ala slamtkom.. My oh my when I hear the stories I feel so bad.. I'm stealing the pic btw..

By  Nouph, at 25 July, 2006 23:56  

I loved your last statement.
I'm so happy that you're safe and sound, despite every shitty thing you've been to in that trip.
You were one of the lucky ones...I just hope there'll be some more of those people.

By  Anonymous, at 26 July, 2006 00:45  

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