HISTORY & CULTURE
It was the revelatory power of literature that first ignited my interest in history. Of giddying power and political intrigue. Of devastating destruction and undying romance. Of the successes and misfortunes of individuals and kingdoms long lost. Then, travel brought those stories alive in a way no school curriculum ever could, even with the most inspired of teachers.
My choice of destinations reflects my interest.
The folklore is reason enough to visit the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat near Barcelona. Like the fantastic claims of this being the ‘Castle of Munsalvaesche’ where the Holy Grail is believed to be hidden! Or those of miraclulous occurences in 890 AD, that led shepherd boys to the ‘La Moreneta’ (the little dark […]
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The cable car whisked us up through the lush green hills to tower 14 of the Wall snaking deep into the hazy horizon. According to legend the Great Wall was built along the tracks of a ‘friendly’ dragon that helped trace its course. The meandering ramparts interspersed with beautiful watchtowers, did seem to lend credence […]
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Our first sight of the Forbidden City from the panoramic vantage point of Jingshan hill (above) was a great introduction to its immense scale! This place is huge…..I mean HUGE! Considered the world’s largest palace complex, consisting of nearly 8704 rooms across 980 buildings spread over more than 72 hectares of land!! Did I mention huge? […]
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Day trip to Abydos and Dendera – Part I, where we explore the Temple of Seti I in Abydos, one of the most beautiful Egypt temples.
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Ramesses II – The Pharaoh whose fallen statue is said to have inspired Shelley’s Ozymandias.
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Small is relative in this country of superlatives, but Xian (pronounced Shi-Aan) wasn’t small by any stretch of the imagination. With a population of over eight million* and the wrecking balls in full swing, Xian is fast catching up with its larger counterparts. Despite all this, despite our surprise at its bigness, the constant grey skies and […]
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Although the Terracota army of Emperor Qin is the main attraction in Xian, there is another lesser known subterranean army that is just as, if not more, impressive! The underground army of Han Emperor Jing Di Liu Qi and Empress Wang Zhi at Yangling, is six times larger, houses around 40,000 individual figures, and is supposed to have […]
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Excavations of grand tombs and mausoleums around the globe are witness to the ancient world’s preoccupation with death and the afterlife. But the grandest excavation by far, has to be that of the terracotta army of Emperor Qin in Xian. The on site museum is concealed under an unsightly hangar like building. The sheer scale of […]
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The Solar Boat Museum in Giza is dedicated to the Khufu Ship. Read all about the only surviving ancient Egyptian Solar Boat and the best way to see it.
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The Urge To Wander 