The Red Sea town of Eilat is the country's Miami Beach

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - There are many reasons to visit this glittering new city now nicknamed the Jewel of the Desert.

PETRA, JORDAN - The fact the archeological masterpiece known as Petra was recently named one of the seven “new” wonders of the world comes as no surprise to anyone who has witnessed this, the greatest collaboration between nature and mankind.

MAHÉ ISLAND, SEYCHELLES - While standing in a 21st-century Garden of Eden, not far from what was believed to be the original – if you believe in such things – I was being tempted to taste a small, bright red, pear-shaped apple by a beautiful Seychellois named Annette.

ASWAN, EGYPT – We dart across the gangplank and through the reception area of our Sonesta cruise ship looking for the main lounge.

Our rush is not because the ship is about to sail – the Nile cruise ships leave Aswan en route to Luxor late each night – but we don’t want to miss the nightly belly dance show.

MAHE ISLAND, SEYCHELLES - The delightful Tum introduced herself and then proceeded to kick and punch me; twist my neck; dig her knuckles deep into my shoulders ... and I loved every minute of it.

AMMAN, JORDAN – Our morning wakeup call came unexpectedly at 4:30 a.m. when we were stirred by the amplified voice of a Muslim holy man calling worshippers to first prayer at a local mosque.

CAIRO – That magical moment – right out of The English Patient - when I saw the shadow of our Qatar Airline’s flight floating across the sand dunes leading to Cairo International Airport is quickly forgotten as our Soviet-era Lada taxi comes to a full stop on the traffic-clogged streets of Egypt’s chaotic capital.