Author Archives: admin

Tassili n’Ajjer (“Plateau of the Rivers”) has one of the most important groupings of prehistoric cave art in the world. A national park with an area of over 72,000 km2. It is in the Sahara on a vast plateau in … Continue reading →

This is Central Asia’s cradle of culture for more than 2 millennia, the home of an arsenal of architecture and ancient cities, all deeply infused with the bloody, fascinating history of the Silk Road. In terms of sites alone, Uzbekistan … Continue reading →

Mexico is my favourite country outside of North America. Possibly, one’s favourite country is the one you know the best. In my first year of travel in 2006/07, I drove all of the  Baja and in my second year in … Continue reading →

Sicily has the most spectacular churches in the world. The wonderful mosaics and marble work never get tiring.  ARAB- NORMAN PALERMO and the CATHEDRAL CHURCHES OF CEFALÚ and MONREALE. This includes nine churches and civic buildings in Palermo and the area, … Continue reading →

ST PETERSBURG (pop. 4.8 million) History. Peter built the Peter and Paul Fortress in 1703 founding the city. The capital was moved from Moscow. Artisans and architects came from all over Europe, so that by 1725, when Peter died, the city … Continue reading →

These were some special temples in India KALIGHAT KALI TEMPLE Kolkata. Dec 2012. Regarded as one of the holiest of the 51 Shakti Peeths on Earth, the Kalighat Kali Temple is a must-visit place in Kolkata due to its history … Continue reading →

LEPTIS MAGNA (“Great City”), Libya. 130 km from Tripoli, it was originally a Phoenician trading port from about 700 BC and prospered for nearly 1000 years before Vandal invasions and sandstorms brought its downfall. In its heyday during the reign … Continue reading →

It was a 5 1/2-hour flight from Santiago, Chile to Easter Island (called Rapa Nui “Navel of the World” by its inhabitants and Isla de Pascua by Chileans). Discovered by a Dutch ship in 1722 on Easter Sunday and visited … Continue reading →

This is a big area with spectacular eroded landscapes. Originally a salt flat, the area was uplifted by seismic activity. Two weeks before we arrived, there was a record rainstorm and the dry brown hills were transformed into a fairyland … Continue reading →

When in the Yucatan, I saw 19 Mayan sites. All are different, each with its charm. Power struggles? Drought? Overpopulation? Whatever happened to the Maya remains a mystery—with clues hidden in the jungle. At its height, during the Late Classic … Continue reading →