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If
you land in Erbil or enter from Turkey (at the border
point between Silopi and Zakho) you can get the visa
directly at the border almost for free. If you enter
Iraq from the Arab border points, I mean the ones
not controlled by the Kurdish Peshmerga (for instance
from Jordan or Syria), you need a hard-to-be-gotten
visa in advance. It isn't clear what you need if you
pass from the Kurdish region to the Arab one (for
instance going from Erbil to Baghdad).
On the Kurdish visa is written that by 10 days you
must register at the "Residence Office",
I didn't do it and at the border they didn't seem
to be interested in it
MONEY
The
currency is the Iraqi Dinar (1$= 1300dinar). US$ seems
still to be the most convenient currency to be changed,
but also euros are well known.
HEALTH
I
had the usual vaccinations: ephatite A, B, typhus
and tetanus but I took nothing against malaria. I
hadn't any problem with the food or the drink, anyway
I never drank tap water.
GUIDE
BOOKS
Forget
having your Lonely Planet of Iraqi Kurdistan! The
only dedicated guide existing is the Iraq Bradt guide
written in 2002 and reprinted with amendments in 2003.
I've bought it and I can tell you that is useless,
unless you want some archeological info about south
iraq. So far all the best info are the ones I collected
in the net and travelling; I wrote a wiki document
so it can be updated by anyone. Don't worry, it's
for free!!! PRINT
IT!!!!
GENERAL
TIPS
The
mountains region bordering with Turkey isn't the best
for trekking since it's a relevant militarised area
Speaking
arab can turn out useful, but meanwhile, due to the
past imposed "arabisation", it's unconvenient.
So better avoid.
Kurdistan
is a moderate islamic country, but still sensitive
as concern the women: don't forget it when you take
pictures
The
Kurdish soldiers work to keep the stability in the
region, so be patient when they'll stop, question,
search you tens times per day. I never experienced
any form of estorsions, just the needding to know
who I'm and where I go.
When passing the Turkish border point
never pronunce the word "Kurdistan", but
always "Iraq". They are extremely sensitive
concerning this and surely you aren't eager to spend
the day at that sihtty border.
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