MUSEUM OF KHALIL GIBRAHN

Khalil Gibrahn - poet and artist (1883-1931)

He is known as one of Lebanon's famous poets, a philosopher, essayist and  novelist mystic and painter  whose work was influenced by the bible and Nietzsche and William  Blake's works.
Khalil was born in Bcharr'e on 6th January 1883 having received his education in Beirut he and his family emigrated to the USA where he lived in Boston and returned to Beirut in 1898. Gibrahn continued his studies where he learnt classical arabic. in 1903 he moved back to Boston and published his first essays and work and where he met his wife Mary Haskell who became his partner for all the rest of his life. Khalil developed his visual art skills in 1909 when he lived in Paris where he studied under August Rodin. He went to new York and continued his work in literary essays and short stories. while in New York  he began painting pieces of work influenced by william blake his most popular written works in 1923 were The Prophet which became an international best seller.
Gibrahn died in 1931 and his body was returned to Lebanon where he now remains in a casket at the khalil Gibrahn museum located in Bcharr'e which is housed inside a monastery building where some of his personal possessions are also kept.
The collection of his possessions which are housed in the monastery building are his paintings drawings and some of his manuscripts, his coffin is inside the Monastery chapel which is carved in the stone building.

Khalil GIbrhan

burial site

some of his paintings in the monastery

memorial in lebanon

sign to museum

 Gibrahn's bedroom

manuscripts

memorial in USA

front to monastery

.

Memorial in in Washington USA

LEBANONS' PRIME MINISTERS

LEBANONS PRIME MINISTERS  SINCE 1926 AND AFTER

1926-1945 the Greater Lebanon

1. Auguste Adib Pacha (1883-1945)
term of office 31 st May 1926-5 - May 1927  party (independent)

2. Bechara khoury (1890-1964)
term of office 5th may-10 August 1928 party (constitutional party)

3.Habib Pacha  Es-Saad (1867-1942)
term of office 10 August 1928-9 May 1929 party (independent)

4. Bechara khoury (1890-1964)

term of office 9th May-11 October 1929  party (constitutional party)

5. E'mile E'dde' (1886-1949)
term of office 11 October 1929-25 March 1930 party (Lebanese National Bloc)

6.Auguste Adib Pacha (1883-1945)
term of office 25 March 1930- 9 March 1932 party (independent)

7.Charles  Debbas (1885-1935)
term of office 9 March 1932-29 January 1934 party (independent)

8. Abdallah Beyhum (1879-1962)

term of office 29 January 1934-30 January 1936 party  (independent)

9.Ayoub Tabet (1884-1951)

term of office 30 January 1936-5 January 1937 party (independent)

10.Khayreddine Ahdab (1894-1941)

term of office 5 january 1937-18 March 1938 party (independent)

11. Khaled Chebab (1886-1978)

term of office  18 March 1948 -24 October 1938 party  (independent)

12. Abdallah Yafi (1901-1986)

term of office  24 October 1938-21 September 1939 party (independent)

13.Abdallah Beyhum (1879-1962)

term of office 21 September 1939- 4 April 1941 party (independent)

14. Alfred Georges Naccache (1887-1978) 

term of office  7 April 1941-26 November 1941 party (Kataeb Party)

15. Ahmad Daouk (not known)

term of office  1 December 1941-26 July 1942 party  (independent)

16.Sami Solh (1887-1968)

term of office 26 July 1942-22 March 1943 party (independent)

17. Ayoub Tabet (1884-1951)

term of office 22 March 1943-21 July 1943 (independent)

18. Petro Trad (1876-1947)

term of office  1 August 1943-25 September 1943 (independent)

PRIME MINISTERS OF THE LEBANESE REPUBLIC 1943- PRESENT

19. Riad Solh  (1894- 1951)

    term of office 25 september 1943-10 January 1945 party  (Independence Movement)

20.Abdul Hamid Karami  (1890–1950)
term of office 10 January 1945-20 August 1945 (independent)

21.Sami Solh (1887-1968)
term of office 23 August 1945- 22 May 1946 (independent)

22. Saadi Munla (unknown)
term of office 22 May 1946

23. Riad Solh (1894-1951)
term of office 14 December 1946-4 February 1951 (Independence Movement)

24. Hussein Oweini (1900–1971)
term of office 14 February 1951-7 April 1951 (independent)

25.Abdallah Yafi (1901–1986)
term of office 7 April 1951-11 February 1952 (independent)

26. Sami Solh (1887-1968)
term of office 11 February 1952-9 September 1952 (independent)

27. Nazem Akkari (unknown)
term of office 10 September 1952-14 September 1952 (independent)

28. Saeb Salam (1905–2000)
term of office 14 September 1952-18 September 1952 (independent)

29. Abdallah Yafi (1901–1986)
term of ofice 24 September 1952-30 September 1952 (independent)

30.Khaled Chehab (1886–1978)
term of office 1 October 1952-1 May 1953 (independent)

31. Saeb Salam (1905–2000)
term of office 1 May 1953-16 August 1953 (independent)

32.  Abdallah Yafi (1901–1986)
term of office 16 August 1953-16 September 1954 (independent)

33.Sami Solh (1887-1968)
term of office 16 September 1954-19 September 1955 (independent)

34.Rashid Karami (1921–1987)
term of office 19 September 1955-20 March 1956 (independent)

35. Abdallah Yafi (1901–1986)
term of office 20 March 1956-18 November 1956 (independent)

36.Sami Solh (1887-1968)
term of office 18 November 1956-20 September 1958 (independent)

37. Khalil Hibri (1904–?)
term of office 20 September 1958-24 September 1958 (independent)

38. Rashid Karami (1921–1987)
term of office 24 September 1958-14 May 1960 (independent)

39. Ahmad Daouk (not known)
term of office 14 May 1960-1 August 1960 (independent)

40. Saeb Salam (1905–2000)
term of office 2 August 1960-31 October 1961 (independent)

41.Rashid Karami (1921–1987)
term of office 31 October 1961-31 October 1961 (independent)

42. Hussein Oweini (1900–1971)
term of office 20 February 1964-25 July 1965 (independent)

43. Rashid Karami (1921–1987)
term of office 25 July 1965-25 July 1965 (independent)

44. Abdallah Yafi (1901–1986)
term of office 8 February 1968-15 January 1969 (independent)

45. Rashid Karami (1921–1987)
term of office 15 January 1969-13 October 1970 (independent)

46.  Saeb Salam (1905–2000)
term of office 13 October 1970-25 April 1973

47.Amin Hafez (1926–2009)
term of office 25 April 1973-21 June 1973 (independent)

48. Takieddine Solh (1908–1988)
term of office 21 June 1973-31 October 1974 (independent)
49.Rachid Solh (1926–2014)
term of office 31 October 1974-24 May 1975 (independent)

50.Nureddine Rifai (1899–?)
term of office 24 May 1975-27 May 1975 ( military)

51. Rashid Karami (1921–1987)
term of office 1 July 1975-8 December 1976 (national salvation front)

52. Selim Hoss (b. 1929)

term of office 8 December 1976-20 July 1980 (independent)

53. Takieddine Solh (1908–1988)
term of office 20 July 1980-25 October 1980 (independent)

54. Shafik Dib Wazzan (1925–1999)
term of office 25 October 1980-30 April 1984 (independent)

55. Rashid Karami (1921–1987)
term of office 30 April 1984-1 June 1987 (national salvation front)

56.Selim Hoss (b. 1929)
term of office 2 June 1987-14 October 1990 (independent)

57. Michel Aoun (b. 1935)
term of office 22 September 1988-13 October 1990 ( military)

58.Selim Hoss (b. 1929)
term of office 14 October 1990-24 December 1990 (independent)

59. Omar Karami (1934–2015)
term of office 24 December 1990-13 May 1992 (independent)

60. Rachid Solh (1926–2014)
term of office 13 May 1992-31 October 1992 (independent)

61. Rafic Hariri (1944–2005)
term of office 31 October 1992-6 December 1998 (future movement)

62. Selim Hoss (b. 1929)

term of office 6 December 1998-23 October 2000 (independent)

63. Rafic Hariri (1944–2005)
term of office 23 October 2000-21 October 2004 (future movement)

64. Omar Karami (1934–2015)

term of office 21 October 2004 -19 April 2005 (independent)

65. Najib Mikati (b. 1955)
term of office 19 April 2005-19 July 2005 (Glory movement)

66.Fouad Siniora (b. 1943)
term of office 19 July 2005-9 November 2009 Future Movement
(March 14 alliance)

67.Saad Hariri (b. 1970)
term of office 9 November 2009-13 June 2011 Future Movement (March 14 alliance)

68. Najib Mikati (b. 1955)

term of office 13 June 2011-15 February 2014 (Glory movement)

69.Tammam Salam (b. 1945)
term of office 15 February 2014-Incumbent (independent)

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Festivals and events in lebanon 2015

AL Bustan international festival of music and the arts
Date still to be confirmed
February - March 2015
Musical festival which runs for five weeks in February and March through various locations in Beirut
the festival also promotes music from all around the world including orchestral music concerts, choral music puppets opera and dance.

Location Emile Bustani Auditorium
Address: Beirut, lebanon
Web address: http://www.albustanfestival.com/
Category: music

Emile Bustani Auditorium

Beiteddine fortress

Baalbek Ruins

Byblos festival

Byblos festival
Date to be confirmed
July 2015 throughout all of July
The event celebrates  a music festival from the end of June and  July featuring a diverse set of styles of music and both local and international stars from around the world.

Location: different locations in Byblos
Address: Byblos, Lebanon
event cost: different ticket prices
Web address:  http://www.byblosfestival.org/
category: music


Baalbek International festival
Date to be confirmed
7 July 
The international festival has grown to become one of the most popular festivals in the middleast
the types of music include jazz an performances from international stars and homegrown artists and musicians

Location: Baalbek ruins
Address: Baalbek, Lebanon
Event cost : different ticket ticket prices
Web address: http://www.baalbek.org.lb/
category: music

Tyre festival
Date to be confirmed
7 July 
The event is held every year in July the Tyre festival is a celebration of lebanese culture and artistic influences set up in various places  from musical performances to poetry readings and lectures.

Location: different places around the city
Address: Lebanon , Lebanon
Event cost: different ticket prices
Web address: http://www.tyrefestival.com/indexflash.html
Category: Art and literature

Beiteddine Arts festival
Date to be confirmed
8 July
July 2015-August 2015

the festival is held at the historical 19th century castle it was first established in 1997 and is held throughout June July and August.
The events features musical dramatical and artistic performances
Location: Beiteddine fortress
Address: Beiteddine, Lebanon
Event cost: different ticket prices
web address: http://beiteddine.org/
category: Art and literature

Byblos festival (as above)
Date to be confirmed
9 July
July 2015 

WILDLIFE

Wildlife in Lebanon

animals

There is a huge variety of birds in lebanon as lebanon is considered a resting place for many species to settle while they migrate from europe africa or asia.
 135 species of birds  have been observed off the lebanese coast while  at the palm island reserve over 300 have been seen.
many species of birds make their nesting homes on the islands which include the mistle thrush  tern broadbilled sandpiper osprey and many types of finch.
other migratory places for birds are the bekka valley which is a extremely important place for millions of birds to rest before they migrate such types  include storks  which are known to  pass through every April. Storks, Hoopoes, Red rumped swallows, buzzards, golden eagles and kestrels mainly pass through this region of lebanon.

Hunting and pollution is a major problem for lebanon's wildlife but fortunately due to conservation efforts species such as wolves wild boar ibexes and gazelles have returned but they remain an endangered species.These creatures have been sighted in the chouf region along with  Porcupines, wild cats and Badgers.
with the palm island reserve marine life has increased for such species such as the sea turtle enabling them to nest and settle on the island recently.



plants

Lebanons most famous species of plant is the cedar tree that can now only be sighted in a few mountain top regions such as bcharr'e and Barouk in the chouf mountains.
Unfortunately the cedar tree has become extinct in most places due to deforestation forcing the government to prohibit anyone from cutting down any cedar trees.
 Lebanon is considered the most popular country to have a diverse range of plants and trees out of all of the middleast.
Pine incuding  Aleppo pine,together with  juniper, oak, beech and cypress have grown on the mountains.
wild flowers including the indigenous Lebanon violet  grow on the hills and mountains in Lebanon in spring.

National parks and reserves

The Chouf Cedar Reserve

Lebanons largest nature reserve which covers 50,000 hectares 5% of the country's whole region.
The reserve is considered the ever 1996 as the most productive and managed reserve in all of the country.
types of plants and endangered species are found at this reserve.
The reserve contains resting places for migratory birds.

Horsh Ehden Forest Nature Reserve

The reserve is located 35km from Tripoli and 100km Beirut in the northern stretch of mt Lebanon 3km from the summer resort of Ehden.
it provides a habitat for indigenous trees and plants as well as for rare birds and butterflies and lebanon's ancient forests

Palm Island Reserve
the following areas incorporated are the palm island sanani island and Ramkine island the reserve lies  5 km off the coastal city of Tripoli.
It is a place for marine wildlife such as sea turtles and mediterranean monk seals as well as birds.

Aamiq Marsh
Another reserve that supports wildlife

LEBANON'S ORIGINS

The small region known as Lebanon is connected to both Israel and Syria. Israel being down the bottom and syria up the top.
Lebanon before it was given the name lebanon seven thousand years ago was known as phoenicia named after the phoenicians a semetic tribe known as the caananites an ancient civilization centred in the north of canaan present in Israel lebanon and syria. These tribes were popular for their skills in trading they were situated from the west coastal region also known as the fertile crescent which was a combination of western asia the nile valley and nile delta northeast africa and asia minor also known as Anotolia the  region joined between the black sea situated in the north and the mediteranian sea in the south.
The word semetic referred to  many languages native to west asia this whole region being now referred to as the middle east.
without having multi languages the phoenicians as well as other traders would be unable to sucessfully  trade and market their products around the continent and the region.
Phoenicians were popular between 1550-539BC for working with metal goods and other trades.
Their rise in wealth came between the 7th and 8th century with trade in ceramics and pottery.
the phoenician were known for creating the phoenician alphabet also known as the phonetic alphabet which was adopted by the Greeks during the 8th century.
throughout history lebanon became part of many empires among the Egyptian, empire Persian Assyrian, Hellenistic, Roman, Armenian, Eastern Roman, Arab which were a combination Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid. then seljuk mamluk.
Lebanon began a massive change due to the rise and fall of these empires that brought along many religions such as christianity with the rise of the roman empire during the crusades that brought along the greek orthodox and maronite however during the 7th century with the rise of the ottoman empire which brought the rise of islam.
Many years later lebanon became a french republic under the french during the french revolution.
in 1943 lebanon became independant of the french after the french occupied Germany.
many years later a civil war broke out due to sectarian divisions in 1975.

TRAVELLING

Travelling to Lebanon

Safety and security

Before travelling to lebanon to ensure your safety due to ongoing terrorist attacks which occur in the country check the smart traveller at the following website www.smartraveller.gov.au
reason being is because most tourist commercial public areas are sometimes targeted by political assasinations and car bombings and retaliation attacks this is the reason why lebanon has a highly visible armed security presence throughout the region which means travellers must carry documents which identify themselves and obey instructions of security personel everywhere they travel.

Money
lebanons currency is the lebanese lira (LL) known as the lebanese pound
these notes are mainly 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 but you are more likely to need anything less under 1000L.
some coins are also in ciculation such as the LL250 and LL500.
us dollars are also accepted almost everywhere and they are both virtually interchangeable.

Changing money

The banks will exchange british pounds and us dollars  there are also atms throughout the region that dispense us dollars and lebanese pounds and credit cards are also accepted in some areas.

Destination facts about lebanon
population :4,400,000
area: 10452 sqkm
(4,036 sqmi)
Languages:L Arabic French English
Religion 60% muslim
35% christian

Government: republic
president:  Tammam Saeb-Salam

The markets in lebanon

Best buys
Beirut has the largest selection of shops in the country with cutting edge designer outlets at the Rue Verdun and the Dunes shopping center mall.

Buyers beware

There are fraudsters that claim to sell antiquities in popular tourist places such as fake roman golden coins and other fake artifacts.
it is also illegal to export antiquities from overseas.

TOP SHOPS

Beirut                                             

shopping markets                  

Artisans du Liban et d'Orient
the corniche, Ain al-Mreisse
PH 998 811
  This store sells highly quality oriental souveniers from around the middleast such as phoenician figures, ceramics satin slippers and other artifacts.

Al-Badia
78 Rue Makdissi, Hamra
ph 746 430
sells embroidered traditional dresses cushion covers shawls carves made by Palestinian women

Art Deco
79 Rue Trabaud, achrafiye
Ph 338 785
 furniture and small portable and decorative gifts

CD-Theque
ave elias sarkis achrafiye
321 485
books on middleeastern culture photography visual culture as well as cds dvds and video from the region

Tripoli

Khan al- Khayyatin
known as a crusader hospital   but now a  a 14th century tailor shop lined with workshops.

Souq as -Sayyaghi   
Sells golden jewellery such as bracelets anklets earrings and other gems.

Souq an - Nahhassin
Sells souveniers you can also see metal workers making things with their hands like they did centuries ago.

Khan As- saboun
 A soap industry which took off  in the 18th century and is highly popular in creating scented soaps
the place is now occupied with five shops which still make soaps the way they did many years ago.

LEBANESE HISTORICAL SITES

There are many historical sites in lebanon that are in the north ansd south of the region

here are the names of the sites  in the north and south

byblos 
was actually a caananite city called gubal or gebal also translated jbeil the city was known as the port for trading and marketing goods for the phoenicians the name jbeil derived from gbl meant  'well' or 'origin' or 'district'.
the region was inscribed as a world heritage site in 1984.
The name byblos is derived from the word bible.

castle of the crusaders

Roman pillars

Temple of obelisks on the phoenician port city gebal

Annjar
was considered a world heritage site in 1984 and was a advertised site centre for levantine trading ports the site is  1,300 years old and is lebanon's most recent archaeological sites.
it was discovered in the beginning of the 8th century by a muslim political leader caliphal-walid ibn abdel malek.
the cities avenues are lined with mosques palaces baths store houses and residences.
the name means the 'source of gerrah'.

Battle ruin sites of the crusades

Ruins of the Umaayad city

Umaayad city lebanese tourist site

baalbek
also known as heliopolis was a small village inhabited by the phoenicians which was later ruled by the romans during the roman empire in 64 bc. The romans built the city and named the temples under their pagan gods.
the sites are colossal and are one of the most popular tourist sites in the north of lebanon.

Temple of jupiter

The Palace of jupiter

Baalbek city gates

Baalbek bekka valley -great north court

Tyre also known as sour  by the phoenicians is located in the south of lebanon. the name means 'rock'.
tyre in the past was popular for it's purple dye also known as tyrian purple, 'tyrian red', 'royal purple', 'imperial purple' or 'imperial dye.'
many civillizations from the phoenicians , greeks romans crusaders ottoman turks. ruled the city and till today their are still remains of roman artifacts from the time of the roman era.

Ruins of the temple of Echmoun in sidon

Sidon sea castle

sidon sea castle tourist attraction

mount lebanon  known as the 'cedars of lebanon' near the quadisha valley.
 is a place where christian monastacism grew  it was a place that sheltered many christians throughout the centuries during the times of persecution in the 7th century by the ottoman empire.
Such mystics such as jacobites(syrian orthodox), melchites (greek orthodox) nestorians armenians ethiopians and the maronites, are religious group who occupy the region till this day have remained in the mountainous regions till this day .
The place was also a place for muslim mystics and sufis who practised meditation in the mountain areas.

The cedars of lebanon (mount lebanon)

Mount lebanon in winter

The Chouf region covered with cedars and snow
                        Mount Lebanon