Got into Beirut to visit Shatila, a Palestinian camp famous for the massacre that happened in 1982. I wanted to see how the Palestinian youth in the camp were going about their lives… for my film of course.
Met up with these two Palestinian dudes, Basem Asaad (left) and Ghassan Saleh (right), who are volunteers at the camps Youth Relief Centre and residents of the camp themselves. I wasn’t able to grab any still pictures because I was recording video the whole time. The place is rough. The centre’s director, Mahmoud Abbas, said to me, “You don’t see any stray dogs in Shatila because even the dogs can’t stand it here.”. But enough about Shatila. You’ll find out more about that in my film.
For now, I want to talk about my experience travelling in Lebanon. When I first got into the country, I was a bit shocked to see the military everywhere. There were security checkpoints everywhere I went! But it is understandable seeing that the whole country is in a very volatile situation right now. It’s just that I wasn’t used to it.
Beirut is a very modern city and you could even mistake it for a city in Western Europe. But because of the situation, this once vibrant city is now empty except for military personnel. Most shops and restaurants are closed and it’s almost deserted. Some of the buildings were also pretty wartorn (as you can see in the pictures above).
No one is allowed to photograph the military and security checkpoints. I did ask for permission, and one of the military dude said, “No photo! Find me a Malaysian wife! The girls are beautiful in your country! Lebanese girls aren’t pretty!”. He must be blind… and you would agree with me if you see the Lebanese chick I flirted with in my previous post!
Of course, I did manage to sneak a few shots. Then I got arrogant. I was leaving Lebanon for Jordan in a service taxi when it stopped a few kilometres from the border for breakfast. There was a military checkpoint and I casually took out my camera and snapped few pictures from inside the restaurant. Then I continued with my drink.
After a few minutes, five soldiers with rifles marched over, screamed at me in Arabic and dragged me out! Tiu ni amah chow hai! I kept repeating “Tourist! Tourist!” but they just dragged me out and grabbed my camera. They brought me to their fat leader dude who spoke English. I told him I was a tourist and he laughed and just told me to delete the pictures. I was trembling like Mohammed Ali!!! All the other soldiers were laughing their heads off!! Then one of them came up to me and said, “You… hair like Michael Jackson!” Then they all came up to me and started stroking my hair! Weird I tell you! But at least they let me go! Phew! I wasn’t looking forward to spending time in Lebanon’s Abu Ghraib!
And that was my Lebanese adventure (eat your heart out Famous Five and Secret Seven!)! Next and FINAL stop… Amman, Jordan! (Actually, I’m already here!)
