Tag Archives | baalbeck

Five Tourists Lip Synced Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You While Touring Lebanon

I just bumped into this video on YouTube showing five tourists who documented their journey around Lebanon in an unusual way. They compiled several segments of themselves lip syncing and dancing to the tunes of Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You.

The best thing about the video is that it was shot using a smartphone with no pretentious acting or moves all while showing some nice places around the country, so not much energy was put into it but the resulting video was still pretty cool to watch.

Among the places that show are Raouche, Jbeil, Batroun, Saida Castle, Saida Old Souk, Harissa, and Baalbeck. I believe if this goes viral then it can easily become one of the best promotional videos for Lebanon!

0

Lebanon’s Pablo Escobar is Making Rounds on TV Stations

nouh zaiter

Noah Zaiter, the infamous drug lord living in Bekaa, has for some reason started to make rounds on Lebanese TV stations the same way you see some singers moving from one show to another over a short period of time. A  few days ago he was interviewed by one of Tele Liban’s comic shows, and he’s also set to appear on Aljadeed next week with the super dramatic Tammam Bleik.

The guy can seriously be compared to Colombia’s Pablo Escobar as he claims to be helping the poor people out of the drug money he earns. I’m not sure though about the messages he’s trying to deliver through his appearances now…!

What puzzles me the most however  is that TV stations can easily reach Noah Zaiter for interviews while the Lebanese authorities will probably never be able to arrest him.

0

The sorry state of Lebanon

The below video sums up pretty much the current situation in Lebanon. Slowly but surely, gunmen all over the country seem to gain more control on the ground, while the army is appearing weak and helpless.

Back when I wrote that the army should be firmer when dealing with these militias, everyone and their mothers started attacking me and called me ignorant, and I admitted back then that calling for bombing Ersal was too extreme from me. So I really want to know what do these people suggest to stop such groups from hijacking entire towns and areas whenever they please!

2

More of the storm photos from all around Lebanon

The Daily Star has some nice photos from almost all around Lebanon showing how the snow blanketed most of the Lebanese villages yesterday, in addition to photos of how bad the situation is in Hay El Sellom after Al-Ghadir flooded the whole area.

Aley

Aley

Baalbeck

Baalbeck

Bhamdoun

Bhamdoun

Dahr El Baidar

Dahr El Baydar 1

Dahr El Baydar

Damaged sea road in Dbayeh

Dbayeh

Hasroun

Hasroun

Hay El Sellom

Hay el sellom 1

Hay el sellom 2

Hay el sellom 3

Hay el sellom

Jezzine (Yep, nothing can take away our arguileh, not even a snowstorm)

Jezzine

Saida

Saida

For more photos you can check the Daily Star galleries here, here, and here. And for more about the flood in Hay El Sellom you can also check the below news report by Al Jadeed.

0

24 hours to kill in Beirut

Check out this cool find posted by Tarek from Beirut/NTSC a couple of days ago.

I stumbled upon the movie “In Beirut sind die Nächte lang” or “24 hours to kill”… A German movie shot in 1965 in Beirut. Here’s the synopsis:

“When engine trouble forces an airliner into a 24 hour layover in Beirut, the plane’s pilot finds himself in the crosshairs of crime thanks to his duplicitous purser. Lex Barker assays the hero pilot role with ease, while Mickey Rooney thoroughly enjoys his turn as the seemingly hapless criminal. Walter Slezak rounds out the caper as a deadly smuggler.”

Pity embedding the original trailer is forbidden…. But watching it is a must! You can find it HERE (above are some of the snapshots taken from that trailer)… Basically, it’s the usual mishmash of the epitomized image of Beirut: Lust, intrigue, modernist architecture, Phoenicia Hotel (and yes, there is a scene where the pool which gives way to the bar is seen!), Nadia Jamal (the belly dance), the nightclubs and get this – at the time private helicopters could land right next to Baalbeck ruins with no “yellow t-shirts” in sight…

I also heard a while ago about another movie called “Embassy” that was shot in Lebanon back in 1973, but unfortunately failed to find any trailer or footage related to it on the internet.

1

Lebanon 2012 summer festivals

The programs of Baalbeck, Beiteddine, and Byblos festivals has been announced over the last few day, and it looks like Byblos has the most interesting one so far. Below are the three programs as announced.

Beiteddine:

  • Caracalla Dance Theatre on June 28th, 29th & 30th
  • Sylvie Guillem & Russel Maliphant on July 7th
  • A night of Tarab, Muwashahat & Qudud on July 12th
  • The Cranberries on July 14th 2012
  • The Dizzy Gillespie on July 17th
  • La Bohème on July 26th 2012

More information here: Beiteddine.org

Byblos:

  • Slash on June 25th
  • Julien Clerc on July 4thB.B. King on July 5th
  • Ute Lemper on July 11th
  • Kadim Al Sahir on July 14th
  • Snow Patrol on July 17th
  • Tinariwen on July 25th

More information here: ByblosFestival.org

Baalbeck:

  • Chico and the Gypsies on June 29th
  • Zucchero – Chocabeck World Tour 2012 on July 5th
  • Saber Rabai on July 7th
  • Jessy Normal on July 13th
  • Mashrou’ Leila on July 15th

More information here: Baalbeck.org.lb

4

Lebanon snow scenes

The Daily Star posted some very nice photos showing the aftermath of the recent snowstorm across many villages in Lebanon. Make sure you check them out here and here.


Baalbeck


Sawfar


Jabal El-Sheikh

All these white scenes make you crave lunch by the chimney at one of the restaurants in the mountains. Montagnou? Erzel? Any recommendations?

1

Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes