Iraqi Kurdistan located in the north of Iraq and constitutes the country's only autonomous region. This region achieved de facto independence after an uprising in 1991 and their autonomy has now been enshrined into the Iraqi federal constitution. Unlike the rest of Iraq, this land is rugged with mountains, canyons, and waterfalls, and unlike the rest of Iraq the area has seen more stability , peace and development, especially with high oil prices. Although it is in a scary part of the world it is a lovely place to visit, with friendly, honest people, cheap prices, and lots of personality.

4 m Blast proof wall surrounding governor's office

Yu vant bootz?  Yu vant kamo?  We have kamo...military gear sellers — Yu vant bootz? Yu vant kamo? We have kamo...military gear sellers

Family breaks down pomegranates for juice production

Alcohol is not forbidden but frowned upon....and very very hard to get

There are more than bazaars to buy stuff...Suleymaniyah mall

The one thing Iraqi love are American roller coasters!

Amna Sukhara, also known as the "Red Prison". A horrible place where thousands of Kurds were tortured and killed. The room with lights made with over 180,000 mirrored pieces and 5,400 lights where each piece of mirror signifies a Kurd killed by Saddam's regime and each light each Kurdish village destroyed

Syrian refugees fleeing their home. They occupy a lot of construction sites like in the photo above

Below is a famous Hamilton road through the mountains