I have already prepared a post on how to spend a day in Faraya but I will save it till next week and share this post on the ATV road trip adventure Mark had during the last weekend.
It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time but never had time to plan it. If I am not mistaken, you can also plan a trip from Faraya to the Cedars during winter using a skidoo.
Here are few excerpts from the post. You can read it the full post [Here].
This trip will take the whole day so there’s no need to plan anything before or after it. Just have a proper breakfast because it’s a long ride and get a jacket.
This past long weekend I spent it in Lebanon and among the activities I did the most fun was an ATV road trip adventure. I didn’t really know what to expect, I had just previously heard off a friend that you can take an ATV trip with a guide from the popular ski area Faraya, all the way to the Cedars (a few mountains away) and back. The trip ended up being just unbelievably fun.
Depending on where you stay in Lebanon, getting to Faraya will take you anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour with no traffic. Faraya is a popular destination in the winter since a lot of ski resorts are based there, but in the summer, it’s a popular destination for outdoor activities like offroading, mountain biking, camping and ATV exploration. I had booked a bunch of ATVs for me and my friends before arriving to Lebanon and because we wanted to start the day early we got to the starting location in Faraya at around 9:30AM. From there we got geared up, given basic safety tips and the chance to try out the ATVs before heading out on our trip.
The trip is 80% off road with the rest of the time being tiny tarmac roads. It was an incredibly fun journey full of beautiful scenery and general seclusion with no people for miles and miles away. The route heading out was different than the route coming back so that way we didn’t get to experience the same scenery twice. We weren’t expecting the weather to be cold so we didn’t get jackets but our guide recommended we got some since we would be going up to the highest peak in Lebanon (around 2,750 meters high). Luckily we found a small store near the starting point that rented out ski jackets and good thing we got them because with the jackets on we were still freezing our asses off in some stages of the trip.
This was an incredibly fun adventure and one I really can’t wait to go on again. Since we were four people the cost for the trip was $225 per person (guide included). If you’re less than four it’s $250 and if you’re more than four you could probably negotiate a better price. You could also share an ATV with someone else since it can hold two people and that way split the amount. But I have to say it was EXTREMELY worth $225. Make sure if you do take this trip to expect to end up covered in dust and dirt. Also bring a jacket with you as well. We rented the ATVs with the guide from a place called Red Runner. Their phone number is +9613178666. Have fun!
Deghre Messengers is a fast, clean and Eco-friendly delivery service for a greener Beirut. It’s a very ambitious idea for a city like Beirut but I truly hope it works out.
Calling all cyclists! Deghri Messengers is recruiting!
Are you a motivated person and an energetic character? Do you want to be part of a business that will change the face of Beirut? Have you got what it takes to work as part of a close-knit team of bike messengers?
Then join our cooperative, earn a living by riding your bicycle all day, benefit from generous working conditions, and enjoy being part of the change.
To apply, please send your CV and a short cover letter explaining why you want to be a bike messenger to deghri@outlook.com.
“It is still hard to describe how it feels to have won the Indy 500,” Kanaan said. “It is something that I have always wanted to have that I have worked so hard for over the years. It was very special.” [Source]
Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian driver of Lebanese Descent. I am not a big fan of Indy 500 races but I remember seeing Kanaan’s name since ever. His best results so far were second spot in 2004 and twice third spot. He was also the driver that had led the most laps without winning before the race, with 221 laps.
I wonder if it’s too much to ask Interior Minister Marwan Charbel to fine those reckless and crazy van and mini-bus drivers. I think this matter is more important than figuring out who tore down the poster on Ghost’s night club entrance door no?
Check out this leaked video and the numerous remarks Raja Njeim, a member of the Association for the Preservation of Lebanese Heritage, gives about the Fouad Boutros Road.
There’s still a lot of ambiguity surrounding this project and whether it’s good or bad for Achrafieh, knowing that it was given the green light.
If what this man is saying is true, not only this project is harmful to Mar Mikhail and Achrafieh’s residents, but it will create a bigger problem and is practically useless.
I think it’s time Marcel Ghanem and Kalam Ennas dedicate an episode to debating the Fouad Boutros project and clarify this issue once and for all.
Updated map of the Fouad Boutros project with added trees on both sides. via BeirutReport
I know for sure that this is the first and last time I am getting married but I hope it won’t be the last time I drive a Porsche too. Hopefully in the near future, I would have purchased a Cayenne or a 911 not rented it for few days or a special event.
For the time being, getting married is definitely an event that overcomes the joy of driving a Porsche or anything else I dreamt of, at least for me personally, and I hope everyone finds this special person in their life.
By the time this post comes out, I would be probably half way through my wedding ceremony having a blast with my family, friends and loved ones. See you all in a couple of weeks time.
Fun Fact: The road on the left is a dead-end. I don’t know who’s the genius who built it but if they had continued it, cars would have ended up in the Mediterranean sea.
The truck spilled almost over 20 liters in the minute I was behind him and kept switching lanes. Is it so hard to stick to the right lane and drive slowly? Why are they in a hurry?
I think the ISF and Army should consider adding a hotline on the back of their vehicles to report misconduct or reckless driving.
I thought this was some sort of joke at first but then I searched for Deghre Messengers and found an [official Facebook Page] and a [YouTube video].
Deghre Messengers is a fast, clean and Eco-friendly delivery service for a greener Beirut. I think that’s a great idea and I wish Matt all the luck in his project!
This idea reminded me of the movie “Premium Rush“. Hopefully few years from now, we’ll have a Beirut version of that movie inspired by Matt’s initiative.
Cycling has become more than a hobby for a Cheltenham man living in Lebanon. Matt Saunders, 25, who grew up in Cold Aston, near Bourton-on-the-Water, has put plans in place to start his own courier business in Beirut, the capital city in Lebanon.
“There really are too many cars on the streets here, and this results in noise, smog and hour-long traffic jams.
“I thought I saw a big gap in the market for fast, environmentally friendly delivery, and drawing on my experience as a courier, decided to move to Beirut, mobilise my contacts, and try it out.”
Since he started his venture last month, he has taken on three cyclists.
His business will be called Deghri Messengers.
Deghri is the Lebanese colloquial Arabic for straight on and right away.
The couriers are in training and are getting ready to work full time when it launches in September.” [Source]
If you happen to be going towards Beirut and stop on the right side of the Jounieh Highway (Between EDL Zouk Power Plant and Nahr el Kalb), watch out for these randomly open holes as they could seriously screw up your car.
Just when I started having hope when I saw a policeman wearing a helmet (see below), I spotted an ISF bus not only going the wrong way yesterday but driving recklessly (and stupidly by creating more traffic). Of course other cars followed him instead of staying in line.
I’m wondering if the Interior Minister and concerned parties are allocating enough time to teach these officers the law because they obviously don’t have a clue or just don’t give a damn, and I am not sure which is worse.
I found at least 10 of those “Only Player – No Parking” signs in front of a commercial center in Jounieh. I didn’t know a hair salon needed that many parking lots.
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