Random observation: I'm always fascinated by how poverty and development can co-exist in a lot of places on earth. During conflicts between Israel and Palestine, you always see photos of the insides of Palestinian hospitals and the lack of sanitation and equipment is heartbreaking. But then this ice-cream shop has high tech equipment, high sanitation standards, and a seemingly relatively wealthy client base. And the street looks like it could be any street from any other relatively stable, developed nation in that area.

I suppose it's also all a matter of the point that the media are trying to make with the article... A travel article is going to highlight the cool parts, while an article on the horrors of war is going to focus on the disasters.