UNDER-RATED DESTINATION: SRI LANKA

I am often asked: what is the most under-rated destination that you have been to. My reply would be Sri Lanka with its stellar combination of World Heritage sites, wildlife, history, rich culture, terrific hotels, friendly people and a friendlier currency.

NOTHING BEATS QUEENSLAND!

I was in Queensland, Australia after many, many years and it was truly a wonderful experience filled with new friends, good wine and food and exciting travel.

IN THE MOST POPULOUS LAND IN THE PLANET!

Everyone’s talking about China...There is great interest in China as a travel destination .

UNDER-RATED DESTINATION: SRI LANKA

I am often asked: what is the most under-rated destination that you have been to. My reply would be Sri Lanka with its stellar combination of World Heritage sites, wildlife, history, rich culture, terrific hotels, friendly people and a friendlier currency.

NOTHING BEATS QUEENSLAND!

I was in Queensland, Australia after many, many years and it was truly a wonderful experience filled with new friends, good wine and food and exciting travel.

Of Flash mobs and Antwerp...

There’s so much talk about flash mobs and viral videos now- the best flash mob to date was the one I saw on 'You tube' some time ago, set in Antwerp Station.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

MALDIVES BEYOND THE RESORTS



Everyone is familiar with images of cerulean seas and swish resorts of the Maldives with rooms on stilts where alcohol flows and honeymooners basking on white sandy beaches. But these are some images of Maldives beyond the resorts.


I took a trip to some local islands and walked through the streets...I saw a football field in every island, a modern mosque with a loudspeaker playing prayers through the day.


 Many houses have been traditionally built out of coral, though that is now changing. Each house had a joli- a rope seat in a wooden or metal frame. Bread fruit and almond trees lined the spotless sandy streets, swept by women every day.




Women tended to fires, made bread and fish broth; children played under the shade of trees.




I saw this tiny girl deeply immersed in her book!


Bright flags of political parties hung in garlands. Every village had a small boat building yard, a local store and a small school. Some islands even had souvenir stores for tourists who visited them.






This was such a vastly different world, compared to the tourist brochure Maldives!


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Unique Rock Church, Helsinki




 One of the most unique modern churches that I have visited is the incredible

Temppeliaukio Church also called the Rock Church in Helsinki, Finland.



This church was built by brothers Timo and Tuomo and opened in 1969.

The Church was built out of a solid rock outcrop.



The Church has an extraordinary, ethereal, dome made of gleaming copper wire, and concrete beams with glass in an amazing design.




 The rough walls of raw rock gleaming in the light of the flickering candles, the unadorned altar, the birch wood benches and the golden sunbeams streaming in like a thousand dancing elves entranced me.


The church is a favoured place for concerts because of its excellent acoustics due to the rough, rock surfaces.



This unique church has no bells- just recorded chimes played on loudspeakersJ
 Usually,English-language worship services are conducted every Sunday at 2pm.




Saturday, March 2, 2013

Change of Guard


When I was in Athens recently, I loved watching the Change of Guards at Syntagma Square. All over the world there are ceremonies for Change of Guards but I found this one to be quite different, even quirky!


The perfectly choreographed Change of Guards takes place ever hour before the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Palace.


The handsome Guards are called ‘Evzones’ and are special elite soldiers who are meant to guard the Presidential Palace and the Tomb and are chosen based on their height (they are all above 6” 1’ and have to be motionless for hours!). They have to be disciplined, be able to take public attention for hours without reacting.. and be immune to weather conditions! Phew!


The piece de resistance is the costumes that the Evzones wear:  a kilt- like flounced skirt called the fustanella with 400 pleats (one for every year of Turkish occupation), knee garters with white wool stockings and red leather shoes with pom poms! My guide tells me that to make this elaborate costume, skilled tailors toil for something like 80 days!


 The evzones neither walk nor march-the motion is more like slow dance with their legs kicked up high into the air!





You are allowed to take pictures with them:

 Be serious, don’t make faces and don’t make conversation with themJ


On Sundays there is the special Grand Change at 11 am with a military band.

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