01 Nov 2010
Tunisia: Straddling Cultures
Africa is gaining popularity as tourists begin to realise that the continent is not all wild and untamed nature. The continent’s shining star is Tunisia, which is bordered by Algeria, Libya, and the Mediterranean Sea. Tunisia offers the jaded traveller rich and spectacular landscapes, and a culture that has been shaped by 3,000 years of European, Arabic and African influence.
Tunisia is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the ancient city of Carthage and Ichkeul National Park where the lake and wetlands are important resting areas for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds each year.
Another is the Medina, the old walled part of the capital Tunis, whose labyrinth of narrow streets and open markets selling trinkets, silver, brass ware and carpets, transports the visitor to 7th century North-African Arab history.
The capital is also home to some 700 ancient palaces, mosques, mausoleums, and fountains dating back to the 13th century Almohad and Hafsid periods.
Islam may be Tunisia’s dominant religion, but churches such as the Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul believe the many centuries of Christian rule and the country’s proximity to the Mediterranean.
Indeed, 20km from Tunis on the Bay of Tunis, the picturesque village of Sidi bou Said brings a whiff of the Mediterranean with its white-washed houses, bright-blue shutters and cobblestone streets.
Surrounded by the Sahara Desert in the south-west is the oasis city of Tozeur.
The curious subterranean dwellings of the local Berbers and the beautiful desert landscape have drawn film-makers – the city and its surroundings were used in several films, including Star Wars and The English Patient. The vast Chott El-Jerid, a dry lake tinged red by minerals, is another Star Wars location where some of the most memorable scenes were shot.
Tibet: At Heaven’s Gate
A land of many temples and monasteries, Tibet doesn’t just draw Buddhist devotees on spiritual quests. The region, which sits on a plateau high in the Himalayas, also draws mountain climbers eager to conquer the world’s highest peaks.
A common starting point for many travellers is the capital Lhasa. At an altitude of more than 3,500m, Lhasa, whose name means Land of the Gods, is one of the highest cities in the world.
Home of the Dalai Lama, this ancient city’s cool and dry climate has led locals to dub it Sunlit City.
Not to be missed is the Potala Palace, which is perched atop the rugged terrain of the Marpo Ri Hill at an altitude of 3,700m.
Consisting of two separate parts – the White and Red Palaces – Potala was the residence of the Dalai Lama until he left China in 1959 to establish a governmentin-exile in India. A treasure trove of Tibetan history, religion, culture and the arts, Potala houses precious sculptures, murals, scripture, statues, antiques and jewellery.
If you only have time for one temple visit, it has to be the Jokhang Temple.
The two iconic golden deer flanking the Dharma wheel on its gilded bronze tiled roof invite the traveller to explore its vast grounds. Regarded as the most sacred temple in Tibet, it was constructed in the 7th century by King Songtsan Gampo to house the Buddhist artefacts that were part of the dowries brought by his two wives, Princess Bhrikuti from Nepal and Wen Cheng from Tang China.
Today, it remains a central part of Tibetan history and religion, with thousands of pilgrims visiting its dark and expansive interiors to pay respects to the various gods and bodhisattavas (enlightened individuals who put paradise on hold to guide others). Papua New Guinea:
The Final Frontier
American artist Mark Jenkins once said that real adventure forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world.
Without a doubt, this can be found in Papua New Guinea, considered to be one of the last frontiers on earth.
Situated at the eastern most tip of Indonesia and north of Australia, Papua New Guinea is one of the largest countries in the world. It is largely unexplored tropical forest and mountains, with a population that comprises hundreds of traditional societies with their own indigenous languages, art, dance, weaponry, costumes, music and other forms of culture.
Most people typically live in villages that rely on subsistence farming, hunting and collecting wild plants.
The Sepik River, which originates in the central highlands of Papua New Guinea, is considered to be one of the great river systems of the world and the largest uncontaminated freshwater wetland system in Asia Pacific. In villages that line the 900km river, Haus Tambarans or spirit houses, with their elaborate roofs supported by beautifully carved wooden columns, are venues for meetings, rituals, initiations and worship.
Scuba diving among unchartered reefs and World War II wrecks are some of its greatest attractions, as are birdwatching, game-fishing, and trekking. The historic Kokoda Trail, linking the southern and northern coasts of Papua New Guinea, was a battleground for the Japanese and Australian armies during World War II and winds through forests, streams, rubber plantations, steep valleys and villages.
The 96km trail can be completed between four and 12 days, depending on the trekker’s fitness level.
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