For anyone with safety concerns related to Lebanon:
IT IS SAFE-
forget about your Embassy warnings. Forget about the news and come enjoy your time!!

DO NOT just consider Beirut:
Think about visiting others like:
Tyre ,Byblos ,Sidon, Jounieh, Tripoli, Baalback, Zahleh, Bcharee, Shouf, Bekaa etc..
they are only 2 hours away from Beirut (max).

The only way to experience Lebanon's various landscape (the mountain ranges, sea views, peaks, valleys, rivers..) and the villages culture and localities is through HIKING.
Therefore please check the links below to get introduced to the 470-km (293 miles) path that transects more than 75 towns and villages which links north of Lebanon to its south:

http://www.lebanontrail.org/
https://www.facebook.com/LebanonMountainTrailAssociation/
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/apr/26/lebanon-mountain-trail-walking-holiday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct7SUkFewlE

Check the weather before you pack:
http://www.lebanontrail.org/category.jhtm?cid=90

Know the neighborhoods of Beirut through the stories of its locals:
http://youcitizen.org/maps/beirut-map/

I was part of this great project and "produced 5 local stories for 5 different areas of Beirut (The Horsh, Chatila Camp, Badaro, Tarik Jdide, 2as2as):
1- The Horsh
2- The Public Space that Lacks a Public Space
3- Zouhair's Passion
4- Noubar: Between the Past & the Future
5- 40 years of Friendship in Tariq El Jdideh

/////// PLEASE FROM NOW ON (4/9/2015) DONT JUST SEND COPY PASTE REQUESTS:
READ THE PROFILE OF YOUR HOSTS BEFORE CONTACTING THEM
READ THEIR REFERENCES & CHECK WHEN WAS THE LAST ONE WRITTEN
HAVE A SKYPE CALL WITH THEM BEFORE MEETING UP PERSONALLY
MEET WITH THEM IN A PUBLIC SPACE & DURING THE DAY
WHY ALL THIS?!! READ THE BELOW:
http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/murderer-of-american-national-arrested/ ////////

1 month moneyless traveling in Jordan (to be honest spent less than 10 $).

6 months No-Shampoo Experiment-

2 months hitchhiking around Turkey.

1 + year of No-Shopping Experiment.

1 week moneyless hiking on the Lebanese Mountain Trail (from Ehden to Byblos with Love).

33 hours train trip from Mumbai to Kashmir.

5 days not showering in Kashmir (electricity is off, water is freezing).

16 hours on board of a train to Goa with no seat reservation (almost standing all night).

PHILOSOPHY
Changing the changes.
processing...
"Have you ever seen night going?
The midnight and its song?
The sunrise and its beauty?
We are behaving almost like blind people.
In such a beautiful world we are living
In small ponds of our own misery
Otherwise there is so much joy all around
You have just to be aware of it and to become a participant not a spectator
Participate in the night leaving
Participate in the evening coming
Participate in the stars and
Participate in the clouds
Make participation your lifestyle and the whole existence becomes such a joy, such an ecstasy
You could not have dreamt of a better universe"

DO NOT LIVE A LIFE LIVED FROM THE BACKSEAT, OBSERVED AS IT BLURRED BY. AN INDIFFERENT LIFE

Laugh so hard that even sorrow smiles at you. Live life so well that even death loves to see you live.

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.

€œI'd like to repeat the advice that I gave you before, in that I think you really should make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."

It’s my choice to be uncommon if I can I’ll seek opportunity not security I do not wish to be a kept citizen humbles And dulled by having the state look after me I want to take the calculated risk to dream And to build, to fail and to succeed I’ll refuse to live from hand to mouth I’ll prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence The thrill of fulfillment to the calm of utopia I will never cower before any master Nor bend to any friend It is my heritage to stand erect, proud And unafraid, to think and act for myself And face the world boldly and say This I have done by the help of God.

PLEASE I TAKE WRITING REVIEWS SERIOUSLY IF YOU WANT ME TO HOST YOU AND GIVE YOU MY TIME THEN YOUR DUTY IS TO GIVE ME % MINUTES OF YOUR TIME AND WRITE ME A REVIEW.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Why I'm not on Couchsurfing is the easier question!

Interests

Running
happy hours & special in- house cocktails
hiking
street food tasting & cooking after workout (especially salads!!)
netflix (new to this)
escape the room

Music, Movies, and Books

in process..

books: Gettinh Things Done,

Free Books:
- Moneyless Manifesto:
http://www.moneylessmanifesto.org/book/foreword-by-charles-eisenstein/

- New Years Resolution Gude Book:
http://alifeofproductivity.com/resolutions

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

-One Week Moneyless Hiking in the Lebanese Mountains-Walking between 10-20 Km per day. Reaching a village everyday searching for a place to stay and some food! Waking up in the morning and the repeating the process:
10-20 Km--->Village--->food--->water--->wake up

it was an ordinary working day in Mumbai offices, at noon i got a phone call inviting me to be at the train station in 3 hours. We are heading to GOA on an unreserved train tickets to video shoot a documentary for a German channel. "Escaped" work & after 16 hrs of being "illegally" on board of the train we reached GOA.
4 am with no Hotel booking. The rest is in the below video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoxq6rlEkVY

Teach, Learn, Share

Three Wise Lessons:
1- Never pass a toilet.
2- Never trust a fart.
3- Never waste an erection.

I will teach you about my country; learn with you more about it & share it with all the people out there that don't know it exists. It is a small beautiful country rested next to the Mediterranean sea after a long rich history.
Please click and learn about Lebanon.:

Lebanese Food yumyumyumyum

Beirut Night Life

14 reasons you should visit Lebanon this summer

Did you know … Early Inns: From the middle ages until the 17th century, travelers would be invited to people’s home as they made long journeys.People felt an obligation to house travelers and treated them well.
As the numbers of travelers increases with modes of mass transport,specific buildings were erected to house travelers. The first hostelries, called ordinaries, later evolved into inns, was usually consisted of two small rooms. One room had a bar and was used for eating and drinking; the other room was reserved for the landlord and his family. Travelers slept on the floors of the bar and dining room

Meeting me is alone a great lesson to be taught :P

I offer my guests optional airport pickup and drop off for $20 (or 10$ each) .. just let me know ahead of time to fit it into my schedule.

I can teach you دبكة - Lebanese folk dance- check my picture to know what am talking about ;)

Give and take recommendations

Book exchange

After you visit our "old city" and your mind is questioning where have it been gone then please come back to my profile and read this article:

http://www.beirutreport.com/2014/01/erasing-memory-in-downtown-beirut.html

I could give a little time of my little life.

Some interesting articles about Beirut:
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jan/04/insider-cultural-guide-beirut-beautiful-rowdy-intoxicated-mess

Article about the Lebanese Transportation Hubs:

http://www.living-lebanon.com/getting-around-by-bus-beirut.html

Recommended Documentaries:

Politics Wars & Refugees:
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/dispatches-chechnya-the-dirty-war/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9y3_x1vnYc&list=PL_IlIlrxhtPMvT_2MGoozO4D-EMCLcGJb&index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bigu0HWgcb8&list=PL_IlIlrxhtPMvT_2MGoozO4D-EMCLcGJb&index=2

Ancient History:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvUMuu1WrT0&index=23&list=PLrxOoaVgrHdtt4AMGvIj-hopXvD9HWzbu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtjpzneND4E&index=29&list=PLrxOoaVgrHdtt4AMGvIj-hopXvD9HWzbu

Lebanon:

Hash Farms in Lebanon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTM6siUyTzQ

Lebanon's Illegal Arms Dealer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxumsOQMxLE

Travel Recommendations:

Books:

http://www.literallydarling.com/blog/2016/06/09/twenty-books-read-traveling/

http://flavorwire.com/548580/50-gripping-books-to-read-while-traveling/5

What I Can Share with Hosts

A Guide to Hostels in Beirut
https://www.beirut.com/l/36428

Beirut:
http://saifigardens.com/room-core/showTariffs/1/1?lang=en
http://hostelbeirut.com/
https://www.talalhotel.com/#about
http://www.pension-alnazih.8m.com/
https://beytguesthouse.com/
The Grand Meshmosh Hotel
http://www.madyshostel.com/Home http://www.discoverlebanon.com/en/hotel_reservation/hostels-beirut.php
http://www.hostelworld.com/findabed.php/ChosenCity.Beirut/ChosenCountry.Lebanon
https://www.beirut.com/l/9962

For Renting Rooms & Apartments:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/609417095776645/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/beirutapartments/
http://www.beirut.com/l/40420

Baalback:

http://blogbaladi.com/the-legendary-palmyra-hotel-in-baalbeck-open-since-1874/
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/14310
https://www.hotel-online.com/press_releases/release/lonely-trio-struggle-to-keep-hotel-palmyra-alive
Events and Happenings around:

https://www.lebtivity.com/

http://www.beirut.com/

Scuba diving Centers:
https://www.facebook.com/scubaxdc2/info/?tab=page_info
https://www.facebook.com/sanctumdiving/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/AmphibiansSince1998/

For Live Updates concerning the Skiing Season:

http://www.skileb.com/

PS: Usually the season starts mid January and ends in beginning of April.

Watch out from the expensive water bottles sold in Beirut's airport and this is an article about tips to save some bucks:

http://www.beirut.com/l/46045

Recommendations:

Five Free Things You Can Do in Lebanon:
http://www.beirut.com/l/46138

10 Underrated Places You Need To Visit In Lebanon:
http://www.beirut.com/l/46489

For Planning Your Trip:
7 Days Itinerary in Lebanon: http://www.beirut.com/l/33890
http://roadtriphacks.com/

14 amazing places to visit in Lebanon that aren't Beirut, Baalbek or Byblos:
http://stepfeed.com/14-amazing-places-to-visit-in-lebanon-that-aren-t-beirut-baalbek-or-byblos-2280
https://www.beirut.com/l/51173
https://www.beirut.com/l/52638
https://www.beirut.com/l/42256
http://blogbaladi.com/where-are-the-public-and-free-beaches-in-lebanon/
10 Underrated Places You Need To Visit In Lebanon:
https://www.beirut.com/l/46489

Lebanon’s hidden beach & falls:
http://speshelb.com/around-the-world/lebanon-hidden-beach-falls/
https://www.beirut.com/l/34719

10-contemporary-art-galleries-in-beirut-you-should-visit:
\http://theculturetrip.com/middle-east/lebanon/articles/10-contemporary-art-galleries-in-beirut-you-should-visit/

Six Amazing Camping Spots Around Lebanon:
http://www.beirut.com/l/46670

Traditional Lebanese Food and drink
http://www.saidaonline.com/en/news.php?go=fullnews&newsid=39

Cool places in Beirut:

www.onomatopoeia.me

https://www.facebook.com/lappartementbeirut/

Beirut Neighberhoods:
Burg Hamoud:

http://www.hotelibanais.com/article/bourj-hammoud-beirut/

http://www.nogarlicnoonions.com/lets-get-lost-in-bourj-hammoud-a-city-of-life/

http://michcafe.blogspot.com/2010/12/beirut-walking-in-bourj-hammoud.html

Tripoli:

http://blogbaladi.com/20-things-to-do-in-tripoli-lebanon-part1/

http://blogbaladi.com/20-things-to-do-in-tripoli-lebanon-part2/

http://www.lebanontraveler.com/en/magazine/Lebanon-Traveler-10-things-to-do-in-Tripoli

If you are curious about our missing Rail way this is a small part of the story:
http://therefordesign.org/rayakrailway/files/downloads/Rayak_Railway_Booklet_AUG09.pdf

Info about ancient cities of Lebanon:

Beirut:
http://irresistible.alrifai.com/2016/05/05/beirut-the-golden-age-in-pictures/

Sidon:

http://www.sidonexcavation.com/

Street Fooding in Saida: Rosto, Shawarma and Oriental Sweets

http://www.nogarlicnoonions.com/street-fooding-in-saida-rosto-shawarma-and-oriental-sweets/

Shouf:
http://www.lebanontraveler.com/en/magazine/Lebanon-Traveler-10-things-to-do-in-chouf
http://www.living-lebanon.com/shouf-mountains.html
https://www.beirut.com/l/32136

Tyre:

Here's How To Spend An Amazing Weekend In Tyre:
http://www.beirut.com/l/49047

Druze Religion:

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/06/looking-for-love-at-a-convention/371998/

Videos About Beirut:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coIXMyWzpAU

Second Hand Shopping tips in Beirut:

Five Places to Find Cool Furniture in Beirut:

http://www.beirut.com/l/27432#image-1

WHERE TO BUY VINTAGE CLOTHES IN BEIRUT - THESE 8 ADDRESSES:

http://thekill.raghunter.com/where-to-buy-vintage-clothes-in-beirut-these-8-addresses/

A guide to buying secondhand in Beirut:

https://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Lifestyle/2013/Oct-12/234438-a-guide-to-buying-secondhand-in-beirut.ashx

Used Books in Beirut:

http://www.agendaculturel.com/Livre_Used_Books_in_Beirut
http://www.beirut.com/l/45688

Public Libraries: enjoy borrowing up to 7 items (books, magazines, DVDs…) for up to 3 weeks from all 3 libraries! - See more at: http://www.assabil.com/en/municipal.php#sthash.z1tRVxRZ.dpuf

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Belgium, Cambodia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, Iraq, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates

•