Libya has an amazing history. I saw some of the most beautiful Roman ruins imaginable. Leptis Magna was the summer resort of Cleopatra and the Roman nobility. Much of the city is still intact and untouched by tourists. I also spent time in Benghazi, where many World War II battles took place. Lots of tanks and artillery left by Rommel (the Desert Fox) remain to this day because the dry climate does not induce much rust. We as Americans don't realize how important those battles were. He who has the oil, wins the war. (Not much different today, is it?)

The stamp: Syria

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE We asked readers of Budget Travel.com to show off a little and send us photos of their exotic passport stamps. Here's a slide show of our favorites, plus the stories behind them. (Note: Photos have been edited to black out some information, such as visa numbers and names.) • Launch the slide show

The backstory: Jean Christiansen of Flower Mound, Tex. traveled to Syria in February 2005.

The first-person account: I met my daughter and some of her friends, who were all living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and working at the U.S. embassy there. I flew into Damascus from Qatar and my passport was stamped at the airport. We spent a few days in Damascus at the souks, the mosques, and the shops on Straight Street--the street where Saul was allegedly converted and changed his name to Paul. We also hired a car and driver and went to Palmyra and Crac des Chevaliers. We drove right near the borders of Lebanon and Iraq, but did not attempt to cross.

The stamp: Sri Lanka

The backstory: Jean Christiansen went to Sri Lanka in August 2003, with her daughter and some friends.

The first-person account: We flew into Colombo, where my passport was stamped, and then toured Sri Lanka for a week. We visited Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya. We stayed in local places (not chain hotels), and had wonderful food. Our guide was great, but his name sounded like "Dummy," and we had a hard time calling him that!

The stamp: Burma

The backstory: Jean Christiansen has been to Myanmar (formerly Burma) many times, but this stamp is from her trip in February 2006.

The first-person account: At that time I was living in Texas, but I went back to visit friends in Thailand and Myanmar. I spent several days with a friend in Yangon (Rangoon), and several days at Lake Inle, which is one of my favorite places in the world. As the sun went down, I hired a boat and took pictures of the fishmen--the famous leg rowers.

The stamp: Nepal

The backstory: Jean Christiansen has made several trips into Nepal. This stamp is from her trip in August 2003.