Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef (Flickr by Simon Starr)
During the summer months a holiday to a tropical destination is quite popular. There are several things to do while on holiday in paradise and one exciting activity to partake in in scuba diving. Scuba diving is a wonderful way to see all that the ocean has to offer up close. If scuba diving isn’t up your alley then perhaps just snorkeling would be better suited for you. But one this is for certain; with these scuba destinations you are sure to see the ocean at its finest. continue reading
Dubai tours will give travellers the opportunity to expand their cultural horizons later this year when one of the emirate’s major venues presents two exhibitions of art from around the world.
The unfamiliar Korean art scene will be the first to be explored at a show opening at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre on May 29th.
Scheduled for a short run to June 3rd, this exhibition will feature a number of works by renowned Korean artists, including colourful and vibrant pieces that represent a dynamic and thriving art scene.
The focus will then move to the southern hemisphere with a showcase of paintings by two female artists from South Africa.
Opening on June 9th and running to June 18th, this display will consist of a series of rich paintings that offer a new take on the urban landscape and explore the environments in which we live and work as "desert gardens".
The Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre is one of Dubai’s major cultural venues and in the past has hosted the Gulf Film Festival and runs of High School Musical, The Importance of Being Earnest and other shows.
Dubai – A true modern metropolis, Dubai boasts a fine range of tourist facilities including the refined Burj al Arab hotel.
Those looking for a break from their traditional Easter this year can find refuge on the Red Sea Coast. Ethiopia and Egypt are celebrating Easter and the arrival of spring with their own traditions. While the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s Fasika focuses on the solemn and religious nature of the season, Egypt’s Sham el Nessim relies more on tradition, making it accessible to all religions in the region.
Ethiopia Rejoices During Fasika
Travellers to Ethiopia during Fasika, which takes place based on the Eastern Christian calendar, will find people in a state of reflection and fasting. The 55 days leading up to Easter have strict dietary guidelines which limit food intake. When Easter Sunday arrives, mass is held in the local church. All of the followers can not usually fit inside the church and sometimes it must be held outside under a large tent. Decorative Vitenge and Kanga (cloth made to look like trees or butterflies) are hung from the ceiling. Long after light is gone the priest announces that Christ has risen. It is now 3am and the celebration shall begin.
Christian hymns are sung with the beating of drums and the high-pitched Kigelegele cries of the women. Dancing and feasting brings the fast to a close as the Ethiopians celebrate life. Formal dress of stark white robes dance against the jewel tone robes of the priests. Sequined umbrellas add to the mesmerizing spectacle before you. The celebration continues through the day with great feasting and family. continue reading
An oasis of calm and high culture in Egypt’s bustling capital will host one of Mozart’s most famous operas this spring.
The Cairo Opera House will stage Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) from April 14th to 17th.
Written by the Austrian composer in 1786, the opera follows on directly from the events of the Barber of Seville and takes place in the court of Countess Rosina, where the Count’s valet, Figaro, is set to be married to his beloved Susanna.
The Cairo Opera House should be a key stop for visitors on Egypt tours as it is one of the most impressive cultural venues in the entire country.
In addition to its rich and varied performance schedule it also co-ordinates educational programmes and workshops under the auspices of the National Cultural Centre.
As a unique opportunity to see a production of this classic work against the backdrop of one of the most richly historic and culturally unique countries in the world, this should not be missed.
Why not book the Full day Museum, Citadel & Bazaar tour in advance?
While Egypt is a land rich with its own culture spanning thousands of years it, like most others, isn’t immune to the odd import.
With this in mind, it’s hardly surprising that there will be a little corner of Sharm El Sheikh celebrating St Patrick’s Night on March 17th.
Quite how the Guinness will taste is anybody’s guess but there’s no doubt that the place to be for visitors on Egypt tours is the Camel Bar, a key nightspot in this popular tourist destination and part of the Camel Hotel which boasts its own dive school.
In keeping with the season the bar will become a repository for all things Irish. A good time can be had on any night of the year but on Paddy’s Day there’s an extra special party mood, replete with the obligatory shamrocks, fiddle music and ill-conceived over-sized headgear.
Dressing up is pretty much de rigueur so those planning to pay a visit on this particular night had better pack a few extra items in their suitcases.
The visually-arresting styles of modern Egytian art are given a fantastic showcase at the Al Nitaq festival in Cairo, held in February or March each year.
Galleries and exhibition spaces all over the city participate in this superb event, which incorporates everything from traditional mediums like painting and sculpture to contemporary work involving natural materials and technology.
As well as the visual arts, literature and performances are key parts of the festival too, with theatre events, workshops, poetry readings and many more highlights on the schedule, making this is well-rounded and comprehensive look at modern Egypt and its relationship with the world through art.
The festival began in 2000 and ran in 2001, but political difficulties meant that it was abandoned for several years, before making its reappearance in 2007 – much to the relief of the strong Egyptian art scene and both its young and established figures.
Visitors on Egypt tours should make a point of including some of the shows or openings into their sightseeing, particularly at the famous and historic Townhouse Gallery, in order to gain an insight into the modern face of Egyptian art and culture.
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