All Posts Tagged Tag: ‘monuments’
Ashgabat – the surreal capital of Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is a totally weird police state – not unkindly – dubbed “The North Korea of Central Asia”, and it comes complete with an intense-dead-leader-cult: Turkmenbashi is everywhere. Ashgabat – Turkmenistan’s capital – is a exhibition of gloriously absurd monuments and opulent, modern-Islamic architecture built of shiny-white marble with golden domes and gold trimming …
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Samarkand – part 1: the Registan – Uzbekistan
When it comes to legendary places – like Timbuktu, Shangri-la or Xanadu – Samarkand ranks right up there: the mysterious Silk Road city of the great, medieval Islamic warrior and empire builder, Timur …
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Medieval towers of Svaneti – Mestia, Georgia
The defensive stone towers of Svaneti were built between the 9th – 13th centuries and today around 175 remain scattered across the valleys.
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Tomb of Confucius – Qufu, China
“Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself” – a few – of many – words of wisdom by the Great Chinese Philosopher – Confucius; or Kǒng Fūzǐ = Master Kong: 551 BC – 479 BC.
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Petra – Jordan
Back in 1989 and aged 23, I simply walked into the entrance of Petra, Jordan; paid my fee, and wandered in with sleeping bag under arm. Despite a sign saying no overnight stays, no camping – no one stopped me.
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Weekend in Samarra – Iraq
This mosque – or at least the visible Al-Malwiyah spiral minaret, or tower where the calls to pray are sang from – dates back to when the Islamic world was way-more advanced than Europe, around 960 A.D.
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Moai of Easter Island
I had intended 3 days as a stop-over on-route to Chile, but the place proved too magical and extended it to 10 days, touring the island – drinking tequila and beer, staying – and partying with an indigeous, crazed, Rasta-hippy family … truly, mystical, man!
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Panama Canal – Panama
The Panama Canal was completed in 1913 at a cost of – you don’t really care, do you?
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