Goods and Bads of Syria

Having spent some months in the Syrian Arab Republic, I believe I can sum up some of the good and bad sides of Syria.

The Good Sides of Syria

1. Untainted - still relatively isolated from the outside world. The country is still untainted with modern development. Makes an interesting visit for those who likes to explore things as it is.
2. Heritage - never did realize the many historical sites in Syria until I visited this country. Definitely a must-see for those who are into ancient civilizations and history.
3. Hospitality - Syrians are generally helpful and they go all out to assist anyone that comes along. Only problem is they can't speak English.
4. Safe - Despite widespread poverty, Syria is incredibly safe with low rates of crime.
5. Scenery - North western Syria is green and beautiful especially in winter/ spring. If you just ignore the Arabic words and rundown buildings, the scenery is exactly like Switzerland.

The Bad Sides of Syria

1. Ignorance - Syrians have been (and pretty much still is) living in a cocoon and is therefore ignorant of the outside world. Many still think that the way things are done in Syria couldn't have been better! This couldn't have been farther from the truth.
2. Food - Arabic food is not exactly rich in diversity and in Syria, you hardly come across food that is not Arabic. Taste one, taste all!
3. Disorganized - Syrians are incredibly disorganized, whether in terms of driving or government bureaucracy. They definitely bring a new meaning to the "tidak apa" attitude of Malaysian civil servants.
4. Disconnected - Telecommunication and internet couldn't be worse in this country. Not to mention many web sites including Facebook, Youtube and "politically-sensitive sites" are banned.

All in all, Syria is nice to visit and holiday in for short periods of time. For a non-Arab, I wouldn't really like to stay too long in this country.