Travel pictures
In 2023 we went to Iraqi Kurdistan, a truly beautiful place. Iraq has a dodgy reputation among many people. Ridden by years of war and civil war, haunted by terrorist attacks and generally considered unsafe. However, the partly independent north of Kurdistan, achieving extended freedom, has been a haven characterised by peace and prosperity. We flew in to the regional capital of Erbil, from where our local fixer Karwan Wahed took over. This was a decision not to be regretted. We started driving north visiting the old monasteries of Mar Mattai and Raban Hurmizd with a long history and breathtaking views. We went on to Lalish, a temple recognized as the holiest site for the Yazidi community. It houses the tomb of Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, a pivotal figure in Yazidism, making it a significant religious and cultural center for Yazidis. Yazidism is a pantheist religion beyond Islam as well as Christianity and quite sympathetic. Thus followers were heavily molested by ISIS during the recent conflicts. Now the place seemed at peace. The next day we saw Erbil Casle, an impressive fortress with a museum of carpets and folklore. It also told the tragic story of all the Kurds being massacred and all the villages destroyed during the long reign of Saddam Hussein. The rest of the day was devoted to Kurdistan’s beautiful nature. Beyond the city of Shaqlawa we went through impressive Rawanduz Canyons, the city of Shinglbana and by the engineering marvel Hamilton Road we saw Bekhal and Gala Ali waterfalls. Along the way we saw symbols of Kurdish nationhood and resistance, telling the story of the proud people that has refused to be cowed. We ended the date back in Erbil, visiting the big mosque and having splendid local food.
