I don't have any origins in the Middle East or South Asia, and the only countries I've been to in these regions are Tunisia, Turkey, Jordan, UAE and Sri Lanka. But I do have 2 books in mind that I can strongly recommend if you want to learn more about Middle Eastern culture and history.
Arabian Sands (by Wilfred Thesiger) - is about the author's travels through the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula in the 1940s, and captures the Bedouin lifestyle in a fascinating way.
The Road to Oxiana (by Robert Byron) - is about the author's travels through Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Persia and Afghanistan in 1933 and 1934. His journey ended in Peshawar, India (now part of Pakistan).