Remembering the local environment The English have a saying that “Every cloud has a silver lining” or as the Arabs say “A
harmful event may turn out to have advantage”. The recent financial problems,
particularly in the UK and US, combined with the increase in petrol prices may hit
tourism world-wide.(02)
|
On the road to Mecca One of the remarkable features of Mecca (and the holy Ka’aba) is that it represents a direction and a definite end which all Muslims face in their prayers. It is also, a direction and end for their entire life. A Muslim will work all his life trying to reach Mecca. He may have the means and his wish may be granted if his health permits. He may not manage to go on pilgrimage due to insufficient means or ill health. But even when he fails he will always have the prayer in his heart that Allah may give him the opportunity, and if not, the reward of one who has been to Mecca.(02)
|
Tourism of Open Museums It is a strange title for an article just as strange,
arousing astonishment and questions.
Before reading this article, I ask the reader to
take a pen and a paper to record everything
that goes through his head about this title.(06)
|
Live it, love it East Asian with Western flavour, Hong Kong is a harmonious combination of over 260 islands and
two provinces next to south China. The new is modern par excellence, and the old attests to the
authenticity, and originality of Chinese culture.(08-14)
|
On Ten Bucks A Day (Or Else!) Being broke in Budapest does have an upside. For openers, it definitely makes your
choices much less complicated, and allows plenty of time to stop and smell the goulash.(16-20)
|
The efforts of the private and public sector in the Indian province of Kerala combined to make
a success of the travel mart held between September 20th – 23rd. Private hotel
accommodation was organised for more than 800 buyers and journalists, half of them from
outside India. The aim was to promote tourism to Kerala from inside and outside India.(22)
|
Pakistan’s oldest archaeological site Taxila, a unique archaelogical site, listed by UNESCO as a world heritage, is located just
thirty kilometers to the west of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. Takshakas ruled Taxila
in the Bronze Age as evidenced by some finds from this site. They called it ‘Takshasila’
which in Sanskrit implies” State of King Taksha”. Taxila was also known as “The city of
cut stones” and occupied a holy place in Buddhism. On account of its antiquity, Taxilla has
been mentioned in many languages with slight phonetic differences. It was known as
‘Taxila’ to the Greeks.(24-30)
|
A magnificent queen and a real beauty Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Cordoba – there are many beautiful women in Spain but there is only
one queen – or so an old saying tells us. Which Spanish city is the most beautiful will probably
continue to be a point of discussion for the next 100 years. But only Madrid is responsible for
forming the specific character of modern Spain. Since its nomination as the capital city in the year
1556 no other city has been able to threaten its supremacy.(32-36)
|
An Upper Class Fishing Village Where Heritage Is Everything At the end of June, Leigh-on-Sea in Essex (South-East England) did what it does best: it
showcased its heritage with a folk festival. The festival was first held in June 1992 as part
of National Music Day. In Leigh its success prompted a repeat performance during the
past seventeen years with each incarnation bigger, better and brighter than the last.(38-40)
|
A Land Blessed By Allah The name “Kerala” is an Islamic Arabic name, “Khair-Allah,” chosen by Arab and Muslim
traders in the region more than a thousand years ago, due to its mild climate, clean air,
the abundance of rain, springs and diverse vegetation, which covers all parts of the state.(42-44)
|
Natural Splendours And Magnificent Markets There are a lot of reasons to travel. I visited Oman in late January partly as it has simply
fascinated me for some years, partly as I knew little about it, but also to dive some of its coral
covered islands which had been damaged by an earlier cyclone and reported as now recovering.
January also avoided the hottest months.(46-56)
|
A destination that’s hard to beat For a country proud of its Roman epithet, Arabia Felix (Fortunate Arabia), in recent times
Yemen has struggled to find its winning streak with centuries of Arab civilisations all too often
ignored by those in search of a snappy headline. However, the complexity of real life cannot
be condensed into media sound-bites without context being lost and truth being obscured -
Yemen is no exception. Despite ancient associations with Arabic language characterising the
country as ‘dictionary land’, right now Yemen is a definitive example for seeing once being
worth more than a thousand words of news reporting.(58-66)
|
An annual carnival of joy What distinguishes Islam from other religions is the many festivals celebrated by its followers.
They vary according to doctrines, nationalities and ethnic groups.
The main reason, it seems, is the deep respect of faithful Muslims for their history and religious
heritage, and the dispersal of the graves of Ahl Al-Bayt (descendants and relatives of the
Prophet), imams and saints in various Muslim countries. These tombs have become eternal
symbols and emblems of the regions in which they are situated. The determination of Muslims
to follow the lives of their prophet, imams and saints, and the commemoration of their memory,
created and accumulated great spiritual wealth, so that virtually every month there is a religious
or historical commemoration, happy or sad.(68-74)
|
The Roman Conquest Re-visited Stellan Lind is enabling legions of tourists to learn about Roman Legions in a setting that
truly highlights the dramatic impact the Roman Empire had on lands far from the land that
Roman generals, centurions and other officers set forth from.(76)
|
