When I walk through the Middle East over the next 3 months, I'll be far more interested in people than politics.

When asked to think of the Middle East, what comes to mind? Deserts and princes; camels and fairytales? Perhaps.Ancient citadels on rocky outcrops and sleek new cities, petrodollars glinting out from the glass-walled skyscrapers? Maybe.The Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS (IS, ISIL, Da’esh)? Sadly, this is all too often most common, at least among those in who have never been to the area.