On the 9th of april 2004 I received a message from Hani - your licence OD5/S51GL is ready Miro.

However, weeks ago I received an email from the Syrian ministry of tourism, that I could get my visa at their embassy in Amman. I went there, but the answer was realy disappointing. No visa for me except, if I have a Jordanian residency for one year, or go back and take it in the Budapest - HA land. Now, I am not so sure any more, if their left hand knows what the right is doing? In any case I was forced to take an airplane from Amman to Beirut.

There I received a VIP treatment at the international airport, where I was out within 5 minutes. Ali and Hani already waited for me with my OD5 licence. I didn't even go to collect it. Are those boys my friends? You can bet they are!

Just a short drive to Manara district in the capital city and a comment, or two if I may. If you are not experienced driver do not even try to rent a car. Why? You'll see when you'll be there. So, do accept a friendly advice and take a taxi. But, if you have a lot of experience then you just focus 100% more, then anywhere else in Europe and you'll be just fine.

There are several electrical short cuts around the country daily and if you need to recharge your battery, do not get upset as I was, because the voltage is also too low and sometimes you just can't recharge. Just say thanks to the IAF, who bombed their power-plants years ago.

So, I checked at the hotel and we were on our way to the beautifuly renovated Beirut downtown. A fantastic job was done there, you can not see any scars of the long lasting civil war, so you can believe that advertisement on the CNN - come and rediscover Lebanon.

We picked up Mutaeeb HZ1MF for dinner, however without Ali, because he had another obligation.

On the way back I had a chat with Labib OD5IU on the phone. So, my thoughts were after 5 years on the radio I'll see him ...
I got the VX-5 and I just started to talk on the repeater. The result was immediate.
Next day OD5UB & UE, with UT came for an eyeball to Hani's place (his 3,5 years old Tamara is very very clever girl!). That was real nice, not so nice were very bad conditions during the day time. I made 17 qso's in 2 days - this is for me normally a 5 minute job. Thanks to RW6AM for the first and OE3GSA for the last qso I had as OD5/S51GL.

When we started to chat, a phone rang and shocking news reached us, OD5IU is a silent key. At first I thought that is a very bad joke, but then I realized it's for real.

Labib my friend, may your soul rest in peace!

I was also at the RAL meeting, there he was remembered with a minute of silence.


I have meet some members, but I need to mention Rizkallah OD5RI, he's a good qsl manager.

Next day I started to explore Beirut and after Ali & I went to Aref OD5CN, where I made some qso's from his shack and meet his wife and daughter in Monsef. A real surprise was when OD5UT called me on 20m, since he returned back to the capital city.

Early next morning I looked around Jbail and after went straight to the Trablous, where a small pile up erupt on the local repeater. OD5SK & SX were out of the country, but I did meet with Ahmed OD5RZ in his house with OZ, UG, UI, UK and WA.
Next day a research of old medina was on my list and at the evening we went with OD5WA & UG to the Mohammad OD5OZ place; but after I made some qso's from Wassim shack and a brief visit to the port fortress.

After a pleasant evening we said GN to each other and some of us were on the way to see OD5UR & UU. It was already midnight, but I gave my word, so we went to see Mohammed and Abdullah.

In the next morning surprise again, I thought I was on my own to continue my trip.
Wrong!
OD5OZ, RZ and Haetam showed up in Trablous from Akkar and they accompanied me to Ehden, Bcharre and the cedar forest. After we went to Sir Dennye, where I accepted the invitation to spend the night in the Ahmed's house. On the way to Akkar we briefly visited Moustafa OD5UG.
Then a call reached me on VHF, that Dani S59O is asking for me. So, I had a chat with him and after an HF pile up for about 2 hours.

Time for GB has come so I moved back to Beirut richer for some nice memories, several hundred contacts and some new friends.

I just made a few phone calls, when a driver with a car came to pick me and brought me to the OD5LN. So, Naim on this way thank you for the kindness at the 'Jebel', house of your parents and your own. I hope Rouba will not be so surprised, if she sees me ever again over there...

At the evening I was already visiting Gaby OD5NJ and his kids. Specialy that nice little Nelly-Maria, who jumped on me and didn't want to let me go ...
After I saw Puzant and his girl friend. Through a chat with him my opinion about the comments for OD5NH on dxc is a bit different as you may read there, but that's up to each and everyone to decide for her/himslef.

Next day Baseem OD5UB arrived and we went to Saida, Sour where we meet Sami OD5UH. Will remember, what have you said and your offer is still in the background of my mind. May be one day habibi, you never know ...

At night we arrived to Kfar Houne and so I meet Gretta OD5UL. Next day we admired 40m tall waterfalls at Jezzine and the beautiful palace of Beit ed Dine in the Druze heartland. But time passed, so another good bye to a new friend was on the list, like it or not.

Some things need to be done, so I rented a car for Jeita, Afqa grotto and also to see Aanjar and Baalbek.
I had a good dinner in Zahle, little stop in Chtaura. And here I was back in the Beirut after a couple of days, to participate at the Sufi prayer ceremony in zawya and to say GB to Ali and Hani.

On the airplane to Istanbul my thoughts were will I ever see A71EM, YI1DZ, or 7Z1IS?
I missed Diya just for a few weeks; he came to Amman, when I was already in Lebanon. I do hope to shake hand and have an eyeball, so one day I could say another personal friend of mine with the help of amateur radio.

Thanks for anyone who managed to contact me, so I could put 589 qso's in my log.

Now, would you like to see some pictures of OD5 HAM operators?

At the end also my gratitiude to Elia OD5VV and DAFK for their support!

To all wonderful people, GL and 88's from S love nia.