I remember that when I visited Byblos, in the Jbeil district of Lebanon, in the summer of 2011, I felt like a true beholder of history. Historians agree that it’s the second oldest continuously-inhabited city on earth, runner-up only to the Palestinian city of Jericho. I sat at Feniqia restaurant in the heart of the old Phoenician city, eating shanklish cheese and tabbouleh and imagining life in that very spot, if time were to rewind 7,000 years.

Since about 5,000 BCE, people have been walking the streets of this city. Bartering turned into buying and selling; hunting and gathering was first conducted out in nature, but in the present day, it all goes down in the local souk. Undoubtedly, homemakers hunt for the freshest red peppers to use for muhammara (see our recipe here) and gather the heartiest chickpeas for making hummus, a recipe that has been perfected over generations.

Through successful trade with Egypt, Byblos grew from a small village to a wealthy city. Today still it thrives, by way of a modern phenomenon called tourism, attracting travelers like me looking for a journey back in time.

Byblos was named the 2016 Arab Tourism Capital by the Arab Council of Tourism. Green Prophet was here to salute Erbil and Sharjah as the Arab Tourism Capitals of 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Although thousands of tourists visit Lebanon every year, with Byblos as the top of their to-see lists, municipal leaders say they expect an increase in tourism by up to 30 percent, in the foreseeable future. There are plans to inaugurate five-star international hotel chains and, well, keep up the good work with the Lebanese cooking.

Archaeologically, Byblos is fascinating. It is home to Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Greek and Roman ruins, including a Church of St. John the Baptist and a restored 12^th century Crusader castle.

The Byblos International Festival is an annual summer music festival and the biggest public event in Lebanon. Musicians and singers from all over the world, including but not limited to the Middle East, fill the air with everything from classical sounds to pop tunes. For the last few years, the municipality has projected a brief 3D animation movie showing historical highlights of Byblos on tower walls in the fishermen’s harbor.

Efforts for environmental sustainability are also at work. The air in Byblos is cleaner than it has been in a while. With aims to make Byblos more pedestrian-friendly, local leaders recently closed part of the old city to vehicles after 4pm on weekdays and noon on weekends. With decreased air pollution and less noise, visitors will be breathing fresh air in this very old city.

I’d recommend a few days in Byblos, although it could easily be made into a day trip from Beirut. I think spending more than 24 hours there only makes sense, for you’ll be stepping far, far back in time and there’s a lot of ground to cover!

What will the Arab Tourism Capital of 2017 be? Comment below with your guesses.

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Green-fingered activists will be flocking to Jordan to attend the tenth International Permaculture Conference this September

The bustling city of Amman and sweeping red sands of Wadi Rum in Jordan will be hosting the International Permaculture conference this month. The theme of the event is ‘Plan Jordan – Water’ which is rather apt considering that desertification and water scarcity is an issue which the entire Middle East is struggling with.

As well as a professional two-week course on Permaculture, there will be a conference open to the public and a 3-day event for Permaculture specialists to deal with the theme of the conference. Tours will be running from the 23^rd of September visiting sites such as Petra and the Jordan Valley Permaculture Project.

Permaculture is defined at “the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive systems that have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems.” It basically looks at growing in a holisitic framework which promotes sustainability, the conservation of resources and biodiversity.

Permaculture also includes these principles in home design, construction, energy conservation and generation whilst encouraging a close relationship between people and nature. The International Permaculture Conference and Convergence event is a biennial event and has been hosted in countries such as Brazil, Nepal, Australia, the US and Africa.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPqvhHZXZz0[/youtube]

Kicking off the month-long events is a two-week International Permaculture Design Certificate course taught by a team of Permaculture educators and practitioners. The course will look at application of Permaculture principles to a wide variety of landscapes and climates and is running from the 3^rd to the 15^th of September.

Next up will be the 1-day conference held in Amman on the 17^th of September which is open to all and will be streamed live on the internet according to the website. The 3-day convergence of Permaculture graduates will take place in Wadi Rum from the 19^th to the 23^rd and will be followed by tours and Permaculture site visits. Events are being co-ordinated by Nadia Lawton – for more information see the website IPCON 10, Jordan.

: Image via Giam/Flickr.

For more on Permaculture in the Middle East see:

Permaculture Tour In Israel

Bustan Qaraaqa: Permaculture and Empowerment For Palestinians

Marda Permaculture Farm Plants Sustainable Seeds In Palestine

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Physical passion is the ‘fire’ element of sustainable relationships, and is dependent on a healthy dose of ‘earth, air and water’ according to a noted eco-sexpert.

Wendy Strgar is in the business of creating sustainable relationships, and her ecology of love philosophy is both green and desirable. Like the water we drink for survival, love is essential to our wellbeing. Maintaining a vibrant and authentic bond with another human being requires specific skills to flourish; emotional tools that we can learn and are as simple to understand as earth, water, air and fire.

The following is adapted from her book, Love That Works, A Guide to Enduring Intimacy, and discusses the parallels of these four basic components of Mother Earth to the inner landscapes of our personal connections. Her message is relevant wherever your call home, including the Middle East, where developing better relationship skills underpins our ability to coexist.

“The [Earth] of our relationships rests in our thoughts. This is the foundation of your relationship.”

Our thoughts are incredibly powerful: They can keep us connected or drive us apart. When was the last time you monitored the emotional quality of your thinking about your partner? Giving people the benefit of the doubt, giving up the need to be right, and looking for what is lovable in your partner will help you choose thoughts that sustain a loving atmosphere.

“The Water of our relationships happens in the ebb and tide of togetherness. This is how we show up for each other and keep our promises.”

Showing up for someone isn’t about creating quality time and special date nights, although these are nice ways to have together time. Adding safety to your relationship has more to do with making different choices about the little things. For example, instead of reading the paper after work, offer to help with dinner. Sharing the details of a life together speaks volumes about priorities. “Your needs matter to me” is an essential message to pass to your beloved.

“The Air of relationships flows with our ability to communicate. What we say and whether we feel heard is the basic currency that enriches or bankrupts our relationships.”

Communication takes the form of words and actions. Not being able to self-disclose or share important life events literally takes the air out of love. The goal of communicating is to connect. Sometimes that may mean engaging in a conversation that isn’t interesting to you, or learning to listen more attentively.  This can also be about how you pay attention sitting side by side. Be sensitive to each other, and don’t take missteps personally. Men and women have different ways of expressing and listening to each other, and sometimes have to work to learn to communicate well.

“The Fire of relationships is ignited through physical touch. Cultivating a passionate, tender and safe place to explore sexuality with the one we love is the height of intimacy.”

Many believe that if the physical intimacy in their relationship improved, so would the rest of their love. Usually, the reverse is true. A great sexual relationship and ongoing passion is the result of our thoughts, communications and ability to show up outside the bedroom.

Intimate lives that are nourished from the ground up, so to speak, offer partners a place to truly open up, discover their own passion, and be generous with their sexuality.

Consider each aspect of your relationship – your thoughts about it, being present for your partner, communicating together and sharing pleasure – and ask yourself: where can I improve? Where would you like to see more from your partner? By paying attention to these ‘elements’ in your relationship, you can create a more sustainable, secure and passionate bond.

More eco-sexuality news:
GM Foods Shrinking Sexual Health in a Womb Near You
Birth Rate in Middle East Bad News for Planet
Eco-Sexy Nutrition for Women, From Horny Goat Weed to Vitamin C

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