BALI

BALI

ΤΟ ΝΗΣΙ ΤΩΝ ΘΕΩΝ

BALI IS AN INDONESIAN ISLAND, ONE OF ABOUT 17.000 ISLANDS THAT FORM THE INDONESIAN ARCHIPELAGOS, WITH JAKARTA AS THE CAPITAL. THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IS MUSLIMS WITH A SMALL MINORITY OF HINDUISM. THE SMALL HINDU MINORITY OF THE COUNTRY IS LIVING IN THE ISLAND OF BALI WHILE THE BIG MAJORITY OF ISLAMISM IS LIVING IN THE REST OF THE INHABITED ISLANDS.

THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF BALI IS THE LARGEST TOURIST DESTINATION OF THE COUNTRY AND IS ALL ABOUT TEMPLES, SUN AND SEA. IT IS KNOWN FOR ITS ART, DANCE, MUSIC, SCULPTURE, PAINTING AND METALWORKING. ENJOY FRESH FISH (WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF SPICES!) AND TRADITIONAL DANCE AND MUSIC.

SIGHTSEEING AND PLACES OF INTEREST

NUSA DUA IS AN EXCLUSIVELY TOURIST AREA WITH LUXURY RESORTS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.

KUDA IS THE CAPITAL WITH A VERY LONG, WHITE BEACH AND WITH MANY RESTAURANTS, DISCOS AND ALL KIND OF LITTLE SHOPS. SCROLL THROUGH THE NARROW STREETS AND ALLEYS OF THE CAPITAL AND EXPLORE THE REAL BALI! ANOTHER OPTION IS TO VISIT THE MUSEUM.

JIMBARAN BEACH IS A FAMOUS BEACH WITH MANY RESTAURANTS WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY FRESH FISH AND BALINESE DANCE AND MUSIC.IT IS VERY NEAR THE CAPITAL KUDA AND IT HAS  A VERY LONG WHITE SAND BEACH ON WHICH ALL THE RESTAURANTS PLACE THEIR TABLES SO YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR MEAL LOOKING THE OCEAN! VERY ROMANTIC!

KLUNGKUNG IS A SMALL CITY WITH A VERY BEAUTIFUL OLD COURT OF JUSTICE. VERY VERY BEAUTIFUL!

BALI IS FAMOUS FOR ALL KINDS OF HANDICRAFTS AND TEXTILE ART WORK. UBUD AREA IS AN AREA OF MANY VILLAGES, EACH OF THEM FAMOUS FOR ONE ART: IN THE VILLAGE OF MAS YOU WILL FIND THE BEST WOOD CARVING OF THE ISLAND, IN BATUBULAN GREAT STONE SCULPTURE. CELUK IS THE CENTER OF GOLD AND SILVER SMITH. IN BATUAN YOU CAN SEE THE WELL KNOWN PAINTERS AND THEIRR COLLECTIONS. IN TOHPATI YOU WILL LEARN THE TRADITIONAL HAND WEAVING ART OF”BATIK”. IT IS AMAZING OF HOW MANY HOURS YOU NEED TO MAKE ONE PEACE OF BATIK: DESIGN ON A WHITE MATERIAL, COVER WITH WAX, DYEING WITH COLOUR, TAKING OFF THE WAX AND FINALLY WASHING AND DRYING.ALL OF THESE HANDMADE!!!!

BUTI JAMBUL THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL AREA WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY MANY RICE TERRACES AND THE CRATER LAKE BATUR.     

         

IN THE SAME AREA IS THE SERI BATU SPICE AND COFFEE GARDEN WITH ALL KINDS OF SPICES AND A RICH VEGETATION.YOU WILL EXPERIENCE HERE ALL THE DIFFERENT FLAVOURS OF BALINESE COFFEE AND ALSO YOU WILL LEARN HOW THE LOCALS ARE BREDING THEIR COFFEE!

PURA BESAKIH “THE MOTHER TEMPLE” IS THE BIGGEST AND OLDEST HINDU TEMPLE IN INDONESIA (11^th CENTURY).

VISIT THE BEAUTIFUL ROYAL TAMAN AYUN TEMPLE.

TANAH LOT IS LOCATED ON A HUGE ROCK SURROUNDED BY INDIAN OCEAN AND RIGHT NEXT TO IT IS ULUWATU.THE TEMPLE STANDS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN AND IT WAS CARVED FROM CORAL LIME STONE IN THE 16^TH CENTURY.HERE YOU CAN ENJOY THE BEST SUNSET IN THE ISLAND,VERY VERY ROMANTIC AND IDEAL PLACE TO GET MARRIED!

PURA GOA GAJAH “THE ELEPHANT CAVE TEMPLE” OF THE 11^TH CENTURY IS USED BOTH BY HINDU AND BY BUDDHIST.

ALAS KEDATON MONKEY FOREST THE TEMPLE IS SURROUNDED BY MONKEYS OF ALL SIZES WHO JUMP TO YOU AND WANT TO PLAY BUT MOSTLY WHAT THEY WANT IS FOOD!

WHILE IN BALI ENJOY THE TRADITIONAL DANCES OF BARONG THAT RESEMBLES TO A THEATRE ACT, LEGONG WHICH IS ALWAYS DANCED BY ELEGANT WOMEN WITH ELEGANT MOVEMENTS AND KECAK THE MOST UNIQUE BALINESE DANCE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE DANCE OF FIRE BECAUSE IT IS DANCED AROUND A FIRE! IT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY ANY ORCHESTRA BUT ONLY BY A CHOIR OF 70 MEN!

JOGJAKARTA

IS THE CAPITAL OF INDONESIA IN THE ISLAND OF JAVA. IT IS LOCALLY CALLED JOGJA.HERE YOU CAN VISIT THE BIGGEST BUDDHIST TEMPLE, WHICH IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD BOROBUDUR TEMPLE.VERY IMPRESSIVE!

PRAMBANAN TEMPLE IS A HINDU TEMPLE UNFORTUNATELY LARGELY DESTROYED BY A RECENT EARTHQUAKE.

ALSO YOU CAN GO TO KRATON PALACE, KOTA GEDE PALACE AND PAWON MENDUT TEMPLE WHILE IN JOGJA.

ENJOY THE UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE OF BALI

AND REMEMBER….TRAVELING GIVES US LIVE!.....

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CUBA

CUBA

THE ISLAND OF TOBACCO AND SUGAR

THIS CARIBBEAN PARADISE IS UNIQUE!!! COLORFUL SCENERY, SEMI DESERT TO TROPICAL FORESTS, UNDERGROUND CAVES, A RICH SEA ECOSYSTEM, A SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE WITH TWO SEASONS: THE RAINY SEASON (MAY – OCTOBER) AND THE DRY SEASON (NOVEMBER – APRIL). THE WHITE SAND CRYSTAL CLEAR BEACHES, THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE MANY CAYS, THE CITIES AND AREAS DECLARED BY UNESCO AS WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE, THE EXCELLENT FOOD. ALL OF THESE MAKE IT A GREAT ISLAND, BUT WHAT MAKES IT A UNIQUE ISLAND, IS THE CUBAN PEOPLE. ALWAYS FRIENDLY AND FULL OF LIFE, WITHIN THEIR MUSIC AND DANCE! EVEN IN SAD TIMES THEY COPE ALL OF THEIR DIFFICULTIES WITH THE COMPANY OF MUSIC AND DANCE! THEY HAVE IT IN THEIR BLOOD…

IN 1492 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS REPORTED THE EXISTENCE OF WHAT HE CALLED “THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LAND THAT HUMAN EYES HAVE EVER SEEN”. HE LANDED IN HOLGUIN, SOUTH – EAST OF THE ISLAND.
IN 1514 SPANISH SETTLEMENTS CAME IN CUBA AND BY 1526 MOST OF THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS HAD BEEN KILLED. SLAVES FROM AFRICA WHERE BROUGHT BY FORCE AND SLAVERY REMAINED UNTIL THE LATE YEARS OF THE 19^TH CENTURY. CUBA ALSO EXPERIENCED A PERIOD OF PIRATE ATTACKS DURING THE 18^TH CENTURY. IN THE 20^TH
CENTURY THE ISLAND WHERE UNDER THE HANDS OF THE US FOR 57 YEARS. IN 1953 FIDEL CASTRO AND HIS FRIENDS BEGAN A REVOLUTION THAT LED TO A TRIUMPH ON JANUARY 1^ST 1959.
CUBA’S COASTLINE IS ABOUT 3535 MILES LONG WITH MANY BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, MARINE TERRACES, CLIFFS, LIMESTONE ROCKS, MANGROVE FORESTS AND SWAMPS.

HABANA FOR MORE THAN 400 YEARS HAS BEEN THE CAPITAL OF CUBA. THE CITY HAS MANY PARKS AND NEARLY NINE MILES OF EXCELLENT BEACHES ALONG ITS LONG COASTLINE. BUT ITS GREATEST PART IS OLD HABANA WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED A WORLD HERITAGE BY UNESCO IN 1982. SQUARES SURROUNDED BY MAJESTIC BUILDINGS, CASTLES LIKE THE REAL FUERZA CASTLE, THE TRES REYES DEL MORRO CASTLE, AND THE SAN CARLOS DE LA CABANA FORTRESS. THE MALECON DRIVE IS ONE OF CUBA’S SYMBOLS AS IT APPEARS IN ALL OF THE PICTURES. IS A LONG DRIVE BY ATLANTIC OCEAN THAT HIGH WINDS (THAT ALWAYS BLOW ON THAT PART OF THE CITY)  CREATE HUGE WAVES, THRASHING INTO THE SEAWALL AND…HEAR THEY COME…OVER THE STREET GETTING THE PASSING CARS AND PEDESTRIANS ALL WET! FLORIDITA RESTAURANT IS CLOSELY LINKED TO ERNEST HEMINGWAY AS IT WAS HIS FAVORED RESTAURANT. AND DON’T FORGET THE CHE ERNESTO GUEVARA’S MUSEUM. IS A MUST VISIT WHILE IN HABANA.

VARADERO IN THE NORTH OF THE ISLAND, IS A BEACH HOLIDAY PARADISE, WITH ALMOST 13.5 MILES OF BEACH.  IT IS CONSIDER TO BE ONE OF THE WORLD’S FAMOUS BEACHES. NEARBY IS THE CAYO PIEDRAS DEL NORDE UNDERWATER PARK.

CAYO LARGO AT THE EASTERN END OF LOS CANARREOS ARCHIPELAGO HAS IDEAL BEACHES WITH AN INTENSIVE BLUE COLOR AND FINE WHITE SAND. THERE IS AN AIRPORT SO THE TRANSPORT TO THE AREA IS EASY.

PINAR DEL RIO PROVINCE IS BLESSED BY NATURE. THE BEST TOBACCO IN THE WORLD IS GROWN IN THIS PROVINCE SO BE SURE TO VISIT A CIGAR FACTORY AND SEE HOW HABANO CIGARS ARE MADE. IN THIS REGION YOU WILL ALSO FIND THE PREHISTORIC WALL THAT IS A WONDERFUL, HUGE, COLORFUL PAINTING IN A BIG ROCK. A BIG INDIAN CAVE IS ALSO HERE THAT LEADS INTO A BEAUTIFUL LAKE.

RIO CANIMAR IS LOCATED BETWEEN MATANZAS AND VARADERO. IT IS A PROTECTED AREA OF NATURAL BEAUTY. ENJOY A BOAT RIDE ALONG THE RIVER BANKS WITH RICH FAUNA AND BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT.

IN MATANZAS YOU WILL EXPERIENCE AN EXCELLENT UNDERGROUND WALK IF YOU VISIT CUEVAS DE BELLAMAR WITH STALACTITES AND STALAGMITES.

CIENFUEGOS WAS BUILD BY FRENCH IMMIGRANTS ABOUT 150 YEARS AGO. IT IS KNOWN AS “THE PEARL OF THE SOUTH” AND AS “THE PRETTY CITY BY THE SEA”. ENJOY THE MATI PARK, THE TERRY THEATER, PURISIMA CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL, PROVINCIAL MUSEUM, THE TOWN HALL, SAN LORENZO SCHOOL, FERRER PALACE, THE MALECON SEAWALL DRIVE AND THE PRADO PROMENADE WITH ELEGANT HOUSES.



TRINIDAD, “THE MUSEUM CITY OF THE CARIBBEAN” IS DECLARED AS WORLD HERITAGE BY UNESCO AND IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1514. VISIT THE MAIN SQUARE THAT IS SURROUNDED BY VERY OLD BUILDINGS, NOW OPERATING AS MUSEUMS AND THE TOWER OF SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS CHURCH. THE COBBLE STONE STREETS AND THE HORSE-DROWN CARRIAGES GIVE THE CITY A ROMANTIC AURA.

 

JARDINES DEL REY ARCHIPELAGO IS A LONG ISLAND SYSTEM OF MORE THAN 25000 ISLANDS AND ISLETS. A LONG CORAL REEF CLOSE TO THE CAYS PROTECTS THE ARCHIPELAGOS AND PROVIDES EXCELLENT SCUBA DIVING. COCO CAY AND GUILLERMO CAY ARE TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISLANDS IN THE ARCHIPELAGOS. COCO CAY HAS OVER 13.5 MILES OF CREAMY, WHITE SAND BEACHES AND GREENISH-BLUE WATERS WHILE GUILLERMO IS MUCH SMALLER WITH BIG SAND DUNES AT PILAR BEACH.  

SANTA LUCIA BEACH AND CAMAGUEY IS A WIDE BEACH OF 13 MILES WITH FINE GOLDEN-WHITE SAND AND TURQUOISE WATERS. THE WATERS ARE ALWAYS CALM HERE BECAUSE OF THE PROTECTIVE CORAL REEF THAT IS REAL CLOSE TO THE COST. IS THE LONGEST REEF IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THERE ARE MANY SUNKEN SHIPS IN THE AREA, SOME FROM THE 19^TH CENTURY. ROSEATE FLAMINGOS CAN ALSO BEEN SEEN AT EL REAL LAKE.

HOLGUIN HAS UNSPOILED NATURE AND RICH CULTURE WITH PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST. IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS “THE CITY OF PARKS”. THE NARANJA BAY NATURAL PARK HAS INCREDIBLE BLUE SEA AND MANGROVE FORESTS. THERE’S AN AQUARIUM WITH DOLPHINS AND SEA LIONS THAT YOU CAN SWIM WITH THEM IF YOU WANT TO! THE FAMOUS BEACH ESMERALDA IS ALSO IN HOLGUIN. ENJOY THE HILL OF THE CROSS, THE MARQUETA SQUARE, THE MUNICIPAL MUSEUM KNOWN AS PERIQUERA. VISIT THE NEARBY LOOK-OUT POINT WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE MAYABE VALLEY. HOLGUIN IS ONE OF THE AREAS OF CUBA THAT IS SERVED BY AN AIRPORT, SO THE TRANSPORTATION WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM.

IN SANTA CLARA IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND THE ERNESTO GUEVARA’S MONUMENT. IS A HUGE MONUMENT DEDICATED TO THE VERY BELOVED BY THE CUBANS, ARGENTINEAN FIGHTER FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE ISLAND, CHE GUEVARA.



SANTIAGO DE CUBA IS THE 2^ND MOST IMPORTANT CITY IN CUBA. IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1515 AND IT HAS A PARTICULAR RICH HISTORY. IT WAS ALSO THE CAPITAL OF THE ISLAND FOR A SHORT TIME. VISIT THE SAN PEDRO DE LA ROCA DEL MORRO CASTLE WHICH IS A PART OF THE WORLD HERITAGE, EL VOBRE BASILICA, CUBA’S PATRON SAINT, THE 26^TH OF JULY MUSEUM, THE SIBONEY FARM AND THE RUINS OF AN OLD FRENCH COFFEE PLANTATION. ABOUT 31 MILES AT THE CITY’S LIMITS IS BACONAO PARK WITH MANY BEACHES AND LAKES AND THERE ARE THE GRAN PIEDRA MOUNTAINS IF YOU PREFER THE MOUNTAINOUS LANDSCAPES.

THE CUBAN CURRENCY IS PESO AND IS NOT TO BE BROUGHT INTO OR TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. YOU CAN CHANCE MONEY FROM THE BANKS AND AT THE AIRPORT.

 HAVE FUN AND A UNIQUE VACATION IN PEACE AND SAFETY

IN A LAND THAT…

LIVING IS A PARTY…

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DUBAI

DUBAI

A DESERT THAT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A PARADISE

A LUXURIOUS PARADISE!

DUBAI WAS JUST A SMALL TRADING PORT AND FISHING VILLAGE. THE INHABITANTS WERE PRACTICING THE PEARLING INDUSTRY AS WELL. IT WAS A GATEWAY BETWEEN EAST AND WEST. 

DURING THE YEARS DUBAI HAS DEVELOPED INTO A MODERN ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL WITH BIG SKYSCRAPERS, HUGE SHOPPING MALLS, LUXURIOUS HOTELS AND RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.

DUBAI HAS A LOT TO OFFER FOR EVERYONE…

AL BASTAKIYA IS THE ORIGINAL OLD CENTRE OF DUBAI. IT HAS NARROW LANES AND HOUSES WITH TALL CHIMNEY-LIKE STRUCTURES, CALLED “WIND TOWERS”.

IN THE AREA, YOU WILL FIND THE DUBAI MUSEUM, WHICH IS HOUSED IN AL FAHIDI FORT. LIFE-SIZE FIGURES AND SOUND EFFECTS DISPLAY EVERYDAY LIFE IN OLD DUBAI. 

A VISIT IN THE MUSEUM IS A MUST TO GET TO KNOW DUBAI’S COLORFUL PAST.

A WALK ALONG THE EDGE OF THE CREEK IN THE BASTAKIYA DISTRICT WILL TAKE YOU TO A NUMBER OF OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS. IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO ENJOY ARABIC FOOD WHILE WATCHING THE RIVER TRAFFIC.

A VERY ROMANTIC WAY TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL AREA OF THE CREEK IS A DINNER CRUISE BY THE CREEK, ON A DHOW. (DHOW IS THE TRADITIONAL ARABIAN SHIP).

YOU CAN ALSO TAKE A TRIP DOWN THE CREEK ON AN ABRA (TRADITIONAL WATER TAXI). (IT’S VERY-VERY CHEAP)

A VISIT TO THE CULTURE VILLAGE, WHICH FEATURES MUSEUMS, EXHIBITION HALLS, ART AND CRAFT GALLERIES, WILL ALSO GIVE YOU THE CHANCE TO KNOW DUBAI OF THE PAST.

SOME OF THE PARKS OF DUBAI WHERE YOU CAN SPEND A LOT OF FUN TIME ARE:

WILD WAFI WATERPARK IS A 12-ACRE WATER PARK, WHERE THE FUN NEVER ENDS!

CREEKSIDE PARK BOTANICAL GARDENS, FISHING PIERS, JOGGING TRACKS, BARBECUE SITES, CHILDREN’S PLAYING GROUNDS, RESTAURANTS AND AN AMPHITHEATRE .

THERE IS A CABLE CAR THAT YOU CAN GET, TO ENJOY THE PARK.

JUMEIRAH BEACH PARK IS A BIG AREA BY THE BEACH, IN THE GULF OF DUBAI. WHITE SAND, PALM TREES AND CLEAR WATERS ARE WHAT YOU WILL ENJOY IN THIS PARK.

DUBAI GOLF CITY IS A VERY BIG AREA WITH RESTAURANTS BY THE WATER AND OF COURSE A HUGE GOLF GROUND. VERY BEAUTIFUL AT NIGHT TIME, WHERE THE LIGHTS OF THE CITY ARE MIRRORED IN THE WATER!

DUBAI MARINA IS HUGE! AND IT IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION (2010).

LUXURIOUS HOTELS, CAFÉS, RESTAURANTS AND PLAYGROUNDS.

A CRUISE WITH A DHOW IN DUBAI MARINA IS ALSO A VERY BEAUTIFUL WAY TO SEE THE AREA.

DUBAI IS THE COUNTRY OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT. EVERY NOW AND THEN, A BRAND NEW BUILDING IS READY FOR PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO ENJOY.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS ARE:

THE PALM ISLANDS: THE PALM JEBEL ALI, THE PALM DEIRA AND THE PALM JUMEIRAH, WHICH IS ALREADY FINISHED AND INHABITED!

THE WORLD, WHICH COMPRISES OF 300 ISLANDS!

THE UNIVERSE, WHICH WILL BE CORAL-SHAPED ISLANDS, TO BE USED AS RESIDENTIAL AREAS. (15-20 YEARS TO BE COMPLETE!)  

BURJ DUBAI IS THE TALLEST TOWER IN THE WORLD!

DUBAI TOWERS ARE TWO TWIN BUILDINGS THAT ARE ALWAYS RECOGNIZABLE IN THE DUBAI SKY.

THE DUBAI HOTELS SCREAM TO EACH OTHER OF WHICH ONE IS THE BIGGEST AND THE MOST LUXURIOUS!...

SO….DO NOT MISS A VISIT TO:

BURJ AL ARAB HOTEL: LUXURY, LUXURY, LUXURY AND ALL OF THAT IN THE SEA!!! YES IN THE SEA! (IS THE HOTEL OF THE PICTURE ABOVE). YOU NEED TO HAVE A RESERVATION FOR ONE OF THE HOTEL’S RESTAURANTS, OTHERWISE YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET IN! RESERVATIONS WELL IN ADVANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS FULL! IT IS A BIT PRICY BUT BELIEVE ME, IT WORTH’S IT!

JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL: RIGHT OPPOSITE THE BURJ AL ARAB, BY THE SEA OF THE AREA JUMEIRA. VERY IMPRESSIVE!

AL QASR HOTEL: WHAT CAN I SAY…..WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH!...

A HUGE ARABIC STYLE COMPLEX OF LUXURIOUS ROOMS, RESTAURANTS, CAFES AND A SOUK (SOUK MADINAT).  ALL OF THAT SURROUNDED BY A HUGE ARTIFICIAL LAKE, SO CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT YOU WON’T BELIEVE IS MAN-MADE!

AND THE “ABRAS” PASSING THROUGH THE CANALS OF THIS LAKE, SO THAT YOU CAN CATCH ONE AND HAVE A MINI CRUISE BY GOING TO THE DEFERENT AREAS OF THE COMPLEX!

IT’S MAGIC!…YOU CAN SPEND HOURS AND HOURS PAMPERING YOURSELF IN AL QASR!

MINA A’ SALAM HOTEL IS LOCATED IN THE SAME LAKE AS AL QASR, AND IS AS BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL AS AL QASR.

ATLANTIS HOTEL, THE PALM IT IS LOCATED IN THE PALM JUMEIRAH AND IS THE TWIN OF THE ATLANTIS HOTEL OF NASSAU, BAHAMAS IN THE CARIBBEAN. HUGE AND LUXURIOUS. TROPICAL GARDENS, BEAUTIFUL BRIDGES, LAKES, AQUARIUM AND SO MANY OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS TO ENJOY…

THE LIST OF THE HOTELS OF DUBAI ARE ENDLESS…AND IT IS GETTING BIGGER BY THE MINUTE!... I JUST MENTION A FEW, BUT YOU CAN FIND MANY-MANY OTHERS AS WELL.

BARE IN MIND THAT MOST OF THE HOTELS HAVE RESTRICTED AREAS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE PRIVACY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.

BUT THERE ARE MANY GROUNDS OF THE HOTELS THAT YOU CAN ENJOY BY YOUR VISIT. AFTER ALL, DUBAI IS TO VISIT AND MARVEL THE EXTREME ARCHITECTURE OF THE HOTELS AND OTHER BUILDINGS.

DUBAI IS UNDOUBTEDLY A SHOPPER’S PARADISE! WITH SO MANY SHOPPING MALLS, MODERN ONES AND TRADITIONAL ONES. WITH THE “SOUKS”, BETTER KNOWN AS “BAZAARS”. AND THE PRICES; OF THE WORLDS BEST! YOU CAN GET A HUGE RANGE OF ELECTRONICS, FASHION WEAR, TEXTILES, PERFUMES, GOLD JEWELLERY, LEATHER GOODS, SILVER AND BRASS ITEMS, PERSIAN CARPETS AND MANY MANY MORE…IT IS A SHOPPER’S PARADISE!

ENJOY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING, OR EVEN BETTER, ALL OF THEM!

SPICE SOUK THE AIR IS HEAVY IN THE TINY LANES AND ALLEYWAYS OF THE SOUK. THAT IS OF THE AROMAS OF THE SPICES, DRIED FRUITS, PERFUMES AND ARABIC COFFEE.

THIS SOUK IS AN ENJOYMENT FOR THE EYES BECAUSE IT IS FULL OF COLORS!

GOLD SOUK IS UNDOUBTEDLY DUBAI’S MOST FAMOUS SOUK. IS WHERE YOU CAN GET VERY HAPPY BY BUYING GOLD!  THE PRICES ARE AMONG THE LOWEST IN THE WORLD!!!! AND DO NOT FORGET THE BARGAIN IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD IS A CUSTOM. YOU CAN GET REALLY GOOD PRICE BY BARGAINING!

AL KARAMA IS A SHOPPING AREA WITH TWO CENTRAL STREETS LINED WITH LOTS OF SMALL SHOPS WITH REASONABLY PRICES ON CLOTHING AND “ALMOST GENUINE” DESIGNER FASHION.

WAFI CITY WITH PYRAMID-SHAPED ROOFS IS ONE OF THE MOST ELEGANT SHOPPING COMPLEXES IN DUBAI, HAVING THE ARABIC ELEMENT IN ITS DESIGN.

MADINAT SOUK SHOPPING IN OPEN-FRONTED SHOPS IN A BAZAAR-LIKE ATMOSPHERE AND DINING IN TERRACED RESTAURANTS AND BARS OVERLOOK WATERWAYS AND WIND TOWERS.(LOCATED IN AL QASR HOTEL).

MALL OF THE EMIRATES HAS 350 SHOPS AND THE KEMPINSKI HOTEL WITH THE WORLD’S THIRD-LARGEST INDOOR SKI SLOPE!

DUBAI MALL IS A SHOPPERS PARADISE WITH MORE THAN 1200 SHOPS, 160 FOOD OUTLETS AND AN AQUARIUM, HOME TO 33,000 SPICES OF FISHES.

OUTSIDE OF THE MALL, THERE IS A VAST AREA OF BUILDINGS INCLUDING HOTELS, SOUKS AND APARTMENTS. ALL OF THAT ARE BUILD IN THE CANALS OF A LAKE (AGAIN ARTIFICIAL! DO NOT FORGET THAT DUBAI IS A DESERT!). IN THIS LAKE THERE IS A “SINGING FOUNTAIN” SHOW, ABOUT EVERY 20 MINUTES. IT IS SOMETHING YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS!...

THE BURJ DUBAI, WORLDS TALLEST BUILDING IS LOCATED IN THIS AREA AS WELL.

EVERY FEBRUARY, THEY HAVE THE “DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL”. IS THE BEST TIME FOR SOMEONE TO SHOP, AS THE ARE PUTTING UP MANY SPECIAL OFFERS. BUT IT IS VERY CROWDED AND THE HOTELS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE DUE TO HIGH DEMAND.

FOOD: FROM STREET-SIDE CAFES TO FIVE STAR DINING YOU CAN FIND A MIX OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL TASTES. FISH IS AT ITS BEST BECAUSE IS FRESH FROM THE GULF SEA. SHISHA PIPE (ARGYLE) IS VERY POPULAR IN LOCAL CAFÉS AND RESTAURANTS.

TOURS THAT YOU CAN ENJOY WHILE YOU ARE IN DUBAI:

EAST COAST TOUR: VISIT FUJAIRAH, ONE OF THE 7 EMIRATES (ABU DHABI-THE CAPITAL, AJMAN, FUJAIRAH, RAS AL KHAIMAH, SHARJAH, AND UM AL QUWAIN).

IN THIS TOUR YOU WILL SEE HAJAR MOUNTAINS, THE DIBBA VILLAGE, THE INDIAN OCEAN, FUJAIRAH’S OLD FORT’S RUINS AND AL BADIYAH MOSQUE WHICH IS THE OLDEST MOSQUE IN THE EMIRATES.

DESERT SAFARI :FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE DESERT RALLY, SAND SKIING, HENNA PAINTING AND TATTOOS, CAMEL RIDING, DUNE DINNER AT SUNSET WITH ARABIC MUSIC, ARABIC DANCE AND ARABIC BARBECUE. ALL OF THAT UNDER THE STARS…VERY ROMANTIC!

DUBAI CITY TOUR: THERE IS A DOUBLE –DECKER, BRITISH-STYLE BUS TOUR, THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE MOST INTERESTING PARTS OF THE CITY.

YOU CAN-HOP-ON AND OFF WHICH IS VERY CONVENIENT.

DUBAI IS AVERY HOT COUNTRY, SO BRING WITH YOU SUMMER CLOTHS, (COTTON ONES ARE THE COOLEST) BUT DO NOT FORGET THAT IT IS AN ARABIC COUNTRY THAT YOU ARE VISITING AND MANY EUROPEAN STYLE CLOTHING ARE CONSIDERED “NOT APPROPRIATE”! BUT THEN AGAIN, DUBAI IS A VERY MODERN COUNTRY AS WELL! JUST DON’T OVERDO IT WITH THE CLOTHES OTHERWISE YOU WILL GET VERY STRANGE LOOKS FROM THE LOCALS. THEY ARE VERY POLITE BUT THEY STARE…

ENJOY YOUR VISIT IN DUBAI

AND COME BACK IN A FEW YEARS

IT WILL BE DIFFERENT!...



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PHOTOGRAPHY BY DESPINA.



MALAYSIA

MALAYSIA

TRULY ASIA

MALAYS, CHINESE, INDIANS AND MANY OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS HAVE LIVED TOGETHER IN MALAYSIA FOR GENERATIONS. THIS MOSAIC OF CULTURES, HAD CREATED A TRULY MALAYSIAN ONE! EVERYTHING, FROM ITS PEOPLE TO ITS ARCHITECTURE, REFLECTS A COLORFUL HERITAGE AND CULTURE. THIS LAND OF DIVERSITY HAS BEEN A PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL “SPICE ROUTE”, MANY HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, WHEN TRADERS FROM INDIA AND CHINA ESTABLISHED TRADING PORTS IN THE AREA.

ITS ORIGIN IS IN THE MALAY KINGDOM, WHICH FROM THE 18^TH CENTURY, BECAME SUBJECT TO THE BRITISH EMPIRE. STILL VIVID IS THE EVIDENCE OF THE BRITISH COLONIZATION IN MANY BUILDINGS AND IN MANY AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.

ONE OF MALAYSIA’S KEY ATTRACTIONS IS ITS CONTRASTS. BIG SKYSCRAPERS LOOKING DOWN UPON WOODEN HOUSES ON STILTS AND FIVE-STAR HOTELS SITUATED JUST A FEW METERS AWAY FROM ANCIENT REEFS!

SO HAVE FUN IN MALAYSIA

THE TRULY ASIA COUNTRY!

KUALA LUMPUR IS THE CAPITAL, A BIG METROPOLIS WITH THE TALLEST SKYSCRAPERS IN ASIA, INCLUDING THE HIGHEST TOWERS OF THE WORLD, THE PETRONAS TOWERS. (AFTER THE BUILDING OF THE BURJ AL DUBAI IN DUBAI, THE PETRONAS HAVE LOST THEIR TITLE AS THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD).

THE CONFLUENCE OF THE RIVERS KLANG AND GOMBAK IS THE BIRTH AREA OF THE CITY, THE SPOT WHERE THE FIRST SETTLERS BUILT THEIR SHACKS. MANY HISTORIC TEMPLES AND MOSQUES ARE STILL STANDING IN THEIR ORIGINAL SPOTS, WITH MASJID JAME MOSQUE THE OLDEST ONE, FROM 1908.

THE DATARAN MERDEKA AND THE PETALING STREET NIGHT MARKET ARE TWO AREAS WHERE THE CITY’S PAST IS EVIDENCE IN THE COLONIAL BUILDINGS AND IN THE MIDNIGHT LAMPS OF THE STREETS.
THE DATARAN MERDEKA WAS ONCE THE CRICKET CENTRE OF THE BRITISH COLONY. ON ONE CORNER OF THE MAIN SQUARE IS THE SELANGOR CLUB, ONCE THE SOCIAL CENTRE OF THE BRITISH RESIDENTS. NEARBY IS ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL, A NEO-GOTHIC CHURCH MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS OLD. ON AUGUST 31 OF 1957 THE MALAYAN FLAG FLUE FREELY IN THE DATARAN MERDEKA, SIGNALING THE COUNTRY’S INDEPENDENCE. THERE IS A 100 METER FLAGPOLE IN THE SAME SPOT.

THE SULTAN ABDUL SAMAD BUILDING IS AN IMPRESSIVE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE WITH GLEAMING COPPER DOMES AND A 130 METER CLOCK TOWER.  IT WAS BUILT IN 1897 AS THE CENTRE OF THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION AND TODAY IT HOUSES THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT AND INFOKRAF, WHICH IS A CENTRE FOR MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS.

THE LAKE GARDENS (TAMAN TASIK PERDANA) DATES BACK TO THE 1880s AND IS THE CITY’S MOST POPULAR PARK. IT IS A VERY BIG PARK WITH AN ARTIFICIAL LAKE, MANY TREES, FLOWERS, JOGGING TRACKS AND A CHILDERS PLAYGROUND. MANY MUSICAL AND CULTURAL PERFORMANCES ARE BEING HELD IN THE PARK. IN THE LAKE GARDENS ARE LOCATED MANY ATTRACTIONS OF THE CITY SUCH AS THE BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM WITH A HISTORICAL GALLERY, A CULTURAL GALLERY, A MUSICAL GALLERY, A NATURAL HISTORY GALLERY AND A NATIONAL SPORTS GALLERY.

THE CARCOSA SERI NEGARA IS TWO 19^TH CENTURY COLONIAL MANSIONS ON A HILLTOP OVERLOOKING THE LAKE GARDENS. IT WAS THE RESIDENCE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNOR AND THE HIGH COMMISSIONERS TODAY IS AN EXCLUSIVE HOTEL!

THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE IS ALSO OVERLOOKING THE LAKE GARDENS AND VISITORS ARE ALLOWED TO VISIT PARTS OF THE BUILDING BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT WITH THE AUTHORITIES.

THE ISTANA NEGARA IS THE RESIDENCE OF THE KING. IT IS LOCATED ON A HILL AT JALAN ISTANA AREA AND IT IS SURROUNDED BY GREEN LAWNS, PONDS AND TREES. ON CEREMONIES AND OTHER SPECIAL OCCASIONS THE PALACE IS LIT-UP AND IT LOOKS VERY PRETTY.

THE CENTRE OF THE CHINATOWN IS PETALING STREET, WHICH MAINTAINS MUCH OF ITS TRADITIONAL ATMOSPHERE. AT NIGHT, VENDORS SPREAD THEIR MERCHANDISE OUT ON THE STREET, MAKING THE NIGHT MARKET AS VIVID AND AS LIVELY AS CAN BE.

THE CENTRAL MARKET WITH IT’S ART DECO STRUCTURE, IS A CENTRE OF MALAYSIAN CULTURE, ARTS AND CRAFTS. MANY PERFORMANCES, DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE BEING HELD HERE INCLUDING BATIK PAINTING, FORTUNE TELLING, PUPPET SHOWS, GLASS BLOWING AND MANY OTHERS.

THE NATIONAL ZOO AND AQUARIUM IS ABOUT 13 KLM FROM THE CITY AND IT EXHIBITS MANY ANIMALS, BIRDS AND A BIG COLLECTION OF MARINE SPECIES.

THE KUALA LUMPUR RAILWAY STATION AND THE MALAYAN RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING ARE OF MOORISH STYLE AND FINE EXAMPLES OF THE BRITISH COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE.

THE PETRONAS TOWERS IS THE SYMBOL OF THE CITY AND UNTIL RECENTLY WAS THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD! IT IS REALLY A VERY IMPRESSIVE SKYSCRAPER, SHOWING THE AMAZING GROWTH OF THE COUNTRY OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES! THE PETRONAS ARE ACTUALLY TWO IDENTICAL TOWERS JOINED WITH A HIGH RISE BRIDGE. GREAT VIEW FROM ITS HIGH LEVEL FLOORS!

THE ORCHID GARDENS EXHIBIT MORE THAN 800 SPECIES OF THIS BEAUTIFUL FLOWER, WHICH ARE ON SALE HERE ONLY ON WEEKENDS FROM 10am TO 6pm.

THE BUTTERFLY PARK EXHIBITS MORE THAN 6000 BUTTERFLIES OF MORE THAN 120 SPECIES IN A RAINFOREST ATMOSPHERE. THERE IS A NURSERY AND A BREEDING AREA FOR THE BUTTERFLIES IN THE PARK.


THE KUALA LUMPUR BIRD PARK IS THE LARGEST IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA WITH THOUSANDS OF BIRDS.

MALACCA  

                                 

THE CITY WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT OF WOOD AND TRADITIONAL MALAY HOUSES STILL HANG OVER THE WATER ALONG THE SHORES OF THE MALACCA RIVER, WHERE THE SCENE HAS CHANGED LITTLE! UNFORTUNATELY NONE OF THE GLOW OF ITS GLORIOUS PAST, OF THE COLONIAL ERA, IS LEFT. THE PORTUGUESE, THAT CAPTURED AND OCCUPIED THE CITY IN 1511 FOR OVER A CENTURY, INFLUENCED THE ARCHITECTURE A LOT. THEY TAXED BUILDINGS RELATIVE TO THEIR WIDTH, A POLICY THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE THIN FACADES, THE NUMEROUS STORIES AND THE BACKWARDS EXTENSIONS. AN ARCHITECTURE WE FIND IN AMSTERDAM AND GENERALLY IN THE NETHERLANDS AND ALL OF THE NETHERLAND AND PORTUGUESE COLONIES. IT IS A VERY PLEASANT CITY TO VISIT.

HOT AND HUMID IS THE WEATHER CONDITIONS OF MALAYSIA… THERE IS RAIN THROUGH THE YEAR BUT THE WETTEST MONTHS ARE MARCH, APRIL, SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER. SO IT IS ADVISABLE TO AVOID A VISIT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, WHEN THE HUMIDITY IS AT ITS HIGHEST!

ENJOY YOUR TRIP IN THIS TRULY ASIA COUNTRY

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