Saudi Arabia: Beyond the Veil

The land of the Bedouins, of vast swathes of sand and deserts, but hidden behind that dusty façade is a country waiting to be discovered. Hitherto known mostly for religious tourism, the country is slowly opening for global tourism. As you make your way through the country, you would be surprised that those stories that we heard about harsh lives in the desert have moved on progressively to modern city life. The country is endowed with incredible natural beauty, is culturally rich, and endowed with archaeological wonders that few have known till date. 

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Leap Years – the Innovative Emirate of Dubai

Dubai has become something of a global byword for rapid expansion and grand architectural scale. If you’re looking to get a glimpse into the future of city design then Dubai in the United Arab Emirates might well be one of your best bets. This is just one of a number of cities around the world of which the swift evolution gives it a futuristic feel — make two visits five years apart and you might barely recognize the place!

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Bazaar of Amman – The Mecca of all Tourists

The highlight of any visit in Amman is without any doubt the bazaar. The Souk can easily be spotted in the Downtown area of the city, near the King Hussein Grand Mosque. Downtown Amman, referred to by locals as “el-Balad”, sits in the narrow valley between Amman’s seven jabals (hills). It is thus, literally, “down” below the rest of the city. It is also the oldest part of town, where most buildings, although fairly modern, typically date from the middle part of the 20th century or before, scattered around  the city’s Roman ruins. The souk offers an authentic ambiance with typical oriental shops selling aromatic spices and Arabic delicacies, alongside cheap products from China, and an animated fruit and vegetable market.

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I like to feel the destination, not only to visit it. I will try again with Dubai

Many times, when I reach a certain place, a city, I like to walk around on the streets, sometimes aimless, to use the public means of transportation, to look at people, sometimes get into a conversion with God knows who. I don’t know, I feel the need to measure the town’s pulse, to feel that “vibe”. Obviously, it is purely subjective. It depends on the emotional state I am in that moment, on the weather, on the period of the year when I go. There are cities that you fall in love with instantly, and there are cities that you have to digest.

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Iran – Discovering the Traces of Old Persia in the Islamic Republic. Episode 13 – Reading Kama Sutra in Teheran

The last couple of days spent in Iran were spent in Teheran and they were pretty full … on one hand I wanted to buy some more carpets (and I found them next to the bazaar for a few Euros) but also to visit what was left for visiting…On top of that, we had a huge surprise in a bookstore that had books in English. read more…