Maliha Masood: Hi! This is Maliha Masood, author of Zaatar Days, Henna Nights. I traveled mostly by myself for one year starting in Cairo, then heading to Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and finally Turkey. It was an unforgettable journey. So here I am ready to talk to you about Mideast travel and answer your questions and concerns. Let's get started in a jiffy...

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West Palm Beach, Fla.: We are scheduled to visit Egypt and Jordan Feb. 3-22. There will be 2 short cruises—Nile and Aswan—visiting major sights. Is it safe to travel there at this time? We are Jewish and heard about the attack on Christians in Egypt.

Maliha Masood: For the most part, I'd say it's fairly safe, though there are no absolute guarantees about safety no matter where you travel. The attack you are referring to happened a while ago. And right now, the Egyptian economy is desperate for tourist dollars. Upper Egypt is very welcoming and tourists are the norm rather than the exception. If you exercise the normal precautions, you ought to be just fine. Happy Travels!

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Cincinnati, Ohio: I will be going to Egypt in March, 2009, and would like to see Petra as an extension of that trip. Any advice on tour companies that make Petra a really great experience?

Maliha Masood: Once you're in Petra, Jordan, you'll run into many tour companies. It's a small town and you won't find much problem in getting help, asked or otherwise. My advice is to stick with a local guide and pay per day. The ticket entrance is steep and there are so many people walking about Petra that you won't really be alone. Again, guides will solicit you freely and often aggressively. Go with your instincts and have fun! Petra is stunning.

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New York City, N.Y.: I'm planning a 2-4 week trip to Egypt in March 2008. A NYC tour company has a good package deal that includes most meals, excluding dinner. My husband doesn't eat meat, so I'm concerned about chicken and poultry which he craves. What can you tell me about the poultry and fish in Egypt and what can you recommend for a vegetarian? Also, do you recommend bottled water?

Maliha Masood: It should be fine to eat fish or chicken in Egypt. For fellow vegetarians, I recommend "kushari" a rice and bean dish or the local "fuul" a fava bean dip. Most always you should be able to get hummus, baba ghanouj and when in doubt, eat bread! Yes, I highly suggest you drink bottled water.

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Miami, Fla.: We are of Arabic descent and have heard that it is very unsafe and sad to travel into the middle east right now. A friend went there and said that it was very difficult even staying with her family due to the stresses there. What is your honest opinion? Pat