Slightly touch and touched in Beirut, Lebanon

Lily hu

In the late afternoon of August 30, A.K. drove us all the way back to Beirut, Lebanon from Damascus, Syria.  For me, it was not the first time I entered this small and beautiful country.  One year ago I already spent three days here with my son and my friend’s family.  That wonderful experience was still in my memory and naturally I felt much relaxed and familiar there after I saw some streets and buildings.  Even though one day before we already landed in this city but for my assistant Icey, she hardly tasted anything from Beirut.  So she seemed more excited, curious and expected.  I was also Very much sure that she would enjoy here a lot.  

Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is located on a narrow part of the Mediterranean coast, with Lebanese hills behind it.  It is the finest port city on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea and the center of business, transportation, and finance in the Middle East countries.  What touched and impressed me mostly is its particularly inclusive culture, modern atmosphere and friendly people.  In addition, its exquisite architectural art, beautiful natural scenery, and historic buildings are in good harmony with the developed and modern things, this modern Arab city in my eyes are really with endless charm and mystery.  Surely it deserves our more time to dig out its beauty and experience more as far as we can.  But I even blamed myself that why I was so stupid to make such short schedule this time.  Poor us, only one night and half of the day. 

The original name of Beirut was Ashtelit, meaning was the goddess of love and beauty, which was changed to Beirut afterward.  No wonder the great hospitality of gentlemen, beauty and enchantment of women were like the wonderful smell to get this city more attractive.  Just like the seascape and its inclusive cultural heritage, I was not feeling anything about the Arab world's restraint and cultural and religious taboos in this city.

Beirut has its unique way of display its own beauty in different time and in the evening it is particularly charming, bustling and lively, especially when coinciding with the weekend.  By chance we arrived on Friday evening, and were invited to Z.H’s home.  He was one of A.K’s best friends, whom I knew long time ago but not very familiar with.  After we stepped inside of his mansion, we felt like we entered a classic and luxury furniture exhibition.  Our eyes were full of all kinds of different combination of the sofa, mixing and matching with the coffee table, the cups and plates along with the accessories.  These accessories well organized and assembled, really were shinning, rich-looking and dazzling.  I was joking with the host Mr. Z.H. that I would request him to arrange and purchase the similar sets once I started to decorate my villa in China.  A.K. said no worry and he would help me with his own style of humor.  After enjoying plenty of yummy desserts, fresh juices and coffee, we left Z.H.’S home for the restaurant.  

At around 7:30pm local time, we came to a sushi bar, which was a well decorated and busy Japanese restaurant & bar, but surprisingly it was fully booked and very crowded.  While waiting, I started to observe more instead of eating.   Here I have to say something about the Lebanese women.  Frankly speaking, I have traveled many different countries and seen a lot of beautiful women, but personally I do think that Beirut women are really very enchanting and beautiful, exquisite facial features, plump and proportioned body, very well dressed up with good making up.  Due to the open and modern atmosphere, women are attractively dressed of more fashion taste than European and American.  I tell myself that women here shall be thankful to the gentlemen who adore them and allow them fully performance of their beauty.  No wonder Beirut is well known as the goddess of love and beauty.  N.B, A.k.,O.M. Icey and I waited for more than one and an half hours to be seated.  Before that in the bar zone, I ordered a cup of white wine as I wished to have a better sleep with a bit of alcohol.  But unfortunately the effect came too fast and when our table available, I felt so so so sleepy, like thousands of years no sleeping, and my eyes were almost stick with each other.  It was said that Lebanese cuisine was the most delicious and exquisite in the entire Arab country.  I totally agree and had no any doubt about it but It was my pity that I missed this cuisine due to my sleepiness.  But Icey seemed enjoyed a lot and also she discussed some business with my clients and finalized some orders.  What a wonderful and fruitful dinner and happy for Icey.  

Next day morning around 5:00, I woke up very freshly.  I remembered that A. k booked for me a sea view room, so the first idea came to my mind was to open the curtains and enjoy the Mediterranean Sea view while lying in bed and breathing the fresh morning air from the sea.  The blue and gorgeous Mediterranean was completely open in front of me.  I could only blame myself that I failed to find better and nicer words to describe the view.  Really word less!  It was very peaceful and all eyes filled with blue sky and sea, pure clean blue.  Slowly a red glow appeared at the connecting line between the blue sky and blue sea.  Happy surprise, a gorgeous  sunrise in the sea is going to show for me!  

This sun rising was the additional gift for me during this trip and I did appreciate A.k’s considerate arrangement.  Slowly, slowly, the red and shinning morning glow emerged below the sea and raising up just like they got the calling from my heart’s eager wish.  But at that moment, the sun seemed a bit shy and not open its face completely.   Gradually, the red glow became more and more shining, bigger and rounder.  All of sudden, it jumped up to the sky completely and reflected the cloud around it to reddish and shining too.  What a great and wonderful view, especially at the final moment, too attractive and breath-holding. Unfortunately I was too dumbfounded, and forgot to take the photos.   

The silence downstairs was broken by the diligent people who came out for morning exercise.  Why not I joined with them?  I immediately changed clothes and freshed up, then rushed downstairs.  I was too much attracted by the great sea view and fresh sea air.  The local people looked very nice and gentle, some were also jogging, some were gathering together, walking and chatting, some were fishing by sitting on the rocks in the beaches.  What a casual and lively weekend!  Along the coastline, jogging and walking, taking photos, letting the wind passing my face and body, the sunshine embracing me all the way,  I ran about 4 kilometers without even realizing that it was already far away from the starting.  I also found one serious problem that I forgot to remember the hotel name and address.  Last night I was like sleepwalking back to the room.  The worse thing was my mobile phone’s data roaming was also on strike and I could not call for help or use GPS. I could only laugh at myself and try to solve without other help. It became an adventure now.   Luckily, finally I did not get lost in Beirut.  

Breakfast restaurant was at the top floor and we could take it while enjoying the great invincible sea view.  The place was small but cozy with good variety and classic Arabic style breakfast food.   It was a boutique hotel and managed by luxury brand, there were not so many guests. In fact we were the only guests and waiters were more than us.  Surely we got the best and warmest service ever.  Coffee, bread, all kinds of fruits, local authentic snacks, etc.  

In order to welcome us, S.F sacrificed his weekend holiday and came to his office.  Overtime working for us and really great gentlemen, he also brought his 14-year-old son to participate in our meeting.  The young man was a little bit shy but very diligent, running here and there to serve us coffee, bring us the sweet, cut samples. He was very carefully and humbly listening while we are discussing.  It seemed that he had good experience in working at his father’s office.  I also recalled our children at the similar age.  Mostly they were busy in homework or having the class in the spare time.  Beirut’s merchants had a long history and many of them were family business.  So it was really good and necessary for children to get some idea in their spare time.  Let them to have very vivid experience rather than explain them by words.  Seriously the developed and prosperous business atmosphere make the local people open, gentle and friendly, including their acceptance of all different kinds of strong currency, like USD, EURO, etc. They were universal and all shops can accept them.  This was not normal in most of the countries. 

Happy times always ran faster.  A.K.’s advised us many times to go to airport mini 4-5 hours in advance.  Out of my imagination, the airport was really busy and crowded.  Because it was last few days in the summer vacation and the Syrian airport didn't work, so all the passengers needed to transit from Beirut.  We waited for more than 2 hours and still not yet got the baggage security check.  We were already warned by A.K many times that we couldn't catch the plane if we did not reach 5 hours ahead.  Finally A.K asked us to ask special help from the policeman, I found one and went for special favor.  This young and good looking guy was nice and gentle and let us passed without waiting in too much long queue.  Before we left him, he said that he liked our Chinese people's small eyes.  Haha, it was interesting and funny.  We envied so much about their big eyes but they liked ours.  It was the normal and common sub-consciousness that someone liked what they missed. 

Every time I recalled Beirut, besides the gorgeous sea view of the Mediterranean Sea, what left deep mark in my mind was the buildings in Beirut, antique and modern ones were in harmony.  Some of them were also with the clear mark suffered from the war.  There were broken walls and some broken walls had been bomb hurt by artillery shells during the war, which remained there and silently telling people of the cruelty and ruthlessness of the wars.  There were also standing many modern and exquisitely designed buildings.  It was said that Lebanese designers were famous all over the world.  Its exquisite and unique architectural style was not surprising but touched me mostly was at the same time the locals and the government paid special attention and care to keep traces of their history.  Due to geographical restrictions, therefore, they kept the historical sites of thousands yeas of ancient Roman periods under the ground, and now we could still see them through the glass reserved on the ground.  Some old buildings were of different history as per different layers.  From 500 years to 100  

years, but in other words,  I do admire the old generations’ great wisdom and future concern concept.   Because it surely required very solid foundation.  If there is no such solid foundation as their base, there will be no way for future generations to add easily.  Thinking for future and doing as much as we can for our next generations are critical important rather than 

we keep very impetuous and fulfill some data as per the requirement.  

Besides the buildings, here human beings and nature were quite harmonious.   All the squares were full of pigeons.  From time to time, they flied up or drove down towards the food in groups like someone issued the command invisibly.   It provoked a burst of wind and attracted some kids to chase after happily.  Nearby there was also one Muslin mosque and Christian church sharing one wall as separation. I did not want to tell more about the religion but such phenomena was very rare in the world.  It greatly reflected their tolerance and openness.  One of my Beirut client, who was also a Muslim, but his daughter got married with a Christian.  He said because they were all different messengers of the same god, as long as someone was faithful and loyal with their own religion.

Time was short but the memory was wonderful and looking forward to getting more with good exploration in this country.