or the year 2017, the time has been flying like nothing, good or bad, will only transpire once it has past. Finally the summer is finished in the Levant, the temperatures have dropped and the overnights are getting more pleasant by the day or night. Some trees have started to shed their leaves already, here in Germany and even in the eastern levante. The next months may show how the peace is holding, or if again, the area might descent into more war. It looks like the eastern neighbour is coming to a period where the fighting might subside, but not completely cease. This of course does not mean that the whole region will now decent into an eternal peace, it rather looks like it might disintegrate into pieces. With all the happenings in the wider region, one could believe that perpetual war is what the future might look like, on a greater or smaller scale, but I believe that peace will be a victim for a long time to come. As always, the people of the eastern levante take it day by day, what else to do they believe as in their conception there is only little control they can exercise and are used to react to events then believe they can really influence them. The day to day life goes on, people live, laugh and love, what else to do. Every moment still has it's beauty and it is worth living for that moment. Jani, we will see what the future will bring and all will be good, Inshallah.!

The first rain and thunder clouds of this autumn in Tyre

As in most years, went up to the Chouf Mountains a few time, up into the high passes and the cedars, the low valleys, enjoying the clean air and clean surroundings. Summer in the Chouf Mountains is pleasant, the humidity much lower than along the coast, the green of the trees and fields very pleasant to the eyes and the blue hour magical. This summer there seemed to be more tourists up in the mountains, maybe the relative stable situation in the region contributing to this. It seems that there are some Mediterranean cruises are doing port calls in Beirut, and frequently busses with tourists can be seen in Tyros, Saida and of course Beiteddine and Deir Al Omar in the Chouf Mountains. The other places visited are for sure, Jbeil (Byblos), Batroun and the Jeita Grotto. Up in the Chouf Mountains I can really recommend to visit the Beiteddine palace and the Mir Amin palace hotel, which has an excellent restaurant and a phantastic view over the mountains, even down to the sea. Deir Al Omar is another beautiful place that invites to walk around the small alleys, take photos and for food, I recommend the Al Midan restaurant that is located on the central square near the mosque. The grilled chicken over charcoal is phantastic. Highly recommended.

Beit Eddine Palace (Bath house)

Impressions from the Beirut to Tyre highway.

I have been writing on this for a while, and the above descend into chaos might actually happen after the events from November 4 and onwards. Everyone is sitting with suspension, awaiting further developments. The resurgence in the heat, politically and weather wise can be felt across the region. Ironically today, with the warmer temperatures, the wind has started blowing from the south-east, or the Saudi Arabian desert! May it subside and cooler sentiments settle in soon.

An evening stroll at the seaside

Autumn leaves in Germany

As previously, I mostly used the Olympus system as well as the Fuji X100s and most often my cell phone for photography. I added two lenses to the Olympus system, the 9 to 18mm and the 30mm Macro, which I find both very interesting to work with. I neither used the extreme end of the wide angle lenses, neither did I own a Macro lens before. Somehow this ignited my photography interest, at least for some while.

Upcoming travel plans are a journey to Cyprus at the beginning of December, hopefully I will be able to document some street life in the last divided capital city in the world and maybe some landscape photos from other parts of Cyprus. At the same time I am also looking into the possibility of moving residence to the island from some time next year, if, I find the right location and place at the right price. Further down the calendar, early next year, again a trip to the far east, possible with a stay in Hong Kong. Then the stage is set for departure from work, as early as end of April next year and latest by middle of August. Looking forward to that a lot, in order to hopefully be able to concentrate more on photography. I will try to post at least once more before the year 2017 ends. Bye!