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Some of the
countries selected here are not so
accessible Burma and Libya for example,
but it is worth the effort. Others are
becoming popular as in the case of India
and its 'Saint Tropez' like resort:
Kovalam, as the brochures describe it.
Don't believe the brochures, but try the
experience as described in Death in
Kovalam written by John Francis
Kinsella. |
| LIBYA a
country of adventure, prehistory and
desert exploration |
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| For the
visitor Libya is three different
world's. The modern world of Tripoli,
the ancient world of Leptis Magna and Cyrenaica
and the prehistoric world of early man
in the Akkakus Mountains in the deep
south in the Sahara. Modern Tripoli is
of little interest a simply point of
departure for greater things of greater
past glory. The posters of the aging
dictator are of little interest
reminiscent of Castro and Saddam. For
the more adventurous the Akkakus is
without doubt the most fabulous and for
those with an eye on prehistory the kill
sites are extraordinary and few Libyan
guides are even aware of their
existence. These sites are the vestiges
of Stone Age prehistoric man daily life |
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BURMA LAKE INLE |
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In Burma there are not
only temples but also extraordinary landscapes
such as on Lake Inle. Burma is difficult to
visit today and in spite of the country's
authoritarian regime the people are warm and
welcoming. Contrary to what is popularly
believed Burma is a rich country, rich in its
simplicity and nature. In normal times it is
overflowing with the produce of its fertile
land. The recent cyclone was a work of nature,
even though the tragedy that followed was the
making of its military junta. |
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| Niokola
Koba National Park Senegal |
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Our travel editor really
checks out the places to go and not always in a
five star hotel. Here he is spotting game in the
Niokola Koba National Park in Senegal on the
Gambia River at the border with Guinea, a far cry from the coastal beaches
frequented by most tourists |
| One of the most
respected trees in Africa. |
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This page is designed for travellers who seek
something a little different from those dreary
five star hotels that hardly vary from New York
to Dubai to Singapore to San Francisco |
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DUBAI and the Emirates |
| A small oil rich
country worth a visit with its incredible
skyline and the charm of its Creek and Old Town,
a two day stop over on the way to the east is
sufficient for the casual visitor to take in its
sights. |
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INDIA and its southern coast |
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Kerala on
the coast of the Arabian Sea in
the south of India has become a
popular destination for
tourists. It is still unspoilt
in the sense that it has not
been transformed into blocks of
concrete even if numerous small
hotels and guest houses have
sprung up in places like Kovalam
and the intrinsic character of
its many small fishing villages
has not changed. Visitors should
not expect the comforts of
Europe and South-East Asia but
the pleasure of discovering
India is great. Scenes as
those shown above of fishermen
hauling in their nets are common
and cities such as Kochi
(Cochin) are full of surprises. |
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CAMBODIA and the mysteries of ANGKOR |
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| The ancient
city of Angkor is the focal point of any
visit to Cambodia though many visitors
do not spend sufficient time to explore
its great many temples. The city of Siem
Reap, the starting point for a visit to
Angkor has become a tourist magnet,
which does not mean it is not an
experience in itself with its many small
restaurants, guest houses and markets.
For the individual traveller these small
guest houses are infinitely more
interesting than the large hotels
catering for package tours. |
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The
pleasure of a private lodge in the Kruger Park
in South Africa with a friendly lion to boot! |
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| A dog's life in
Santa Monica... |
| Santa
Monica, California - Always an
interesting place for foreign
tourists, a veritable court of
miracles. |
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| Burgos, Spain.
Those interested in prehistory should visit the
magnificent city of Burgos in north-west Spain
where not only will they find its splendid
cathedral but also the Atapuerca the site of
Europe's most ancient inhabitants going back one
million years. This photo shows the entrance in
one of the caves where the greatest number of
pre-human specimens were ever found on one site. |
| Burgos cathedral is
one of the finest in all Spain with an
exhibition of beautifully restored Medieval
paintings.
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