Displaying items by tag: eritrea and ethiopia travel

Stećak Monuments
Just recently added to UNESCO World Heritage list, stećak tombstones are shared by nearly all the nations of the Balkans but Bosnia has most of them: about 60 000. There are several variations of this unique monument and most recognizable are the ones in the shape of a sarcophagus with various decorations on them. Radimlja necropolis near Stolac in Hercegovina is one of major sites to visit if curious about this unique tradition.

Aral Sea
Once a third largest, sweet water mass on the planet, the Aral Sea is just a sad reminder of our destructive nature today. Long drive from Muynak - where one can see last local ships, anchored in sands 150 kilometers from the nearest water - the Aral Sea is an eerie site today. Dead, lifeless and completely abandoned, this area is a true treat for dystopia seekers. The drive there is 4 hours long, through the steppe and some stunning geology.

Fascist Architecture of Asmara
Asmara is a unique place. With eternal spring weather, it is one of the most pleasant places on Earth for living. It is also a very pretty place with unique architecture reflecting Italian colonial rule. From Cinema Impero, to communal houses and stunning Fiat gas station, walking the streets of Asmara gives a very unique feeling: more classic European than African. And if you are staying at "Albergho Roma" hotel, you will only need Sophia Loren in maid outfit to complete the scene from a Fellini movie. And one more thing, there are no traffic lights in this 600 000 people city. They realized they don't need them after one power outage. Very polite and nice people.

Ashgabat
There is no place like it in the world; wide boulevards, marble skyscrapers, unique and strange monuments, and an eerie lack of people during the day. Make sure you take one day for monuments sightseeing only. There is a big number of them all over the town and they are quite compelling. Don't miss the world's largest enclosed ferris wheel and the Monument to Neutrality. Basically, wherever you turn, there will be something unusual and unexpected. Ashgabat is a real treat.

Richat Structure
If you are a seeker of unknown and interested in truly unique places, the a visit to Richat Structure is simply a must! One of the most unique places on the planet is also called "Eye of Sahara" due to its unusually regular shape. While this structure can only be seen from the sky, a visit to it by car is also a unique experience. Especially if you are waiting for dawn at it's very center. This structure is purely a geological formation although some are connecting it to legendary Atlantis. There is only one way to check.

Constanța Casino
If you are looking for something cool and unique, Constanța Casino cannot be beaten! It was commissioned in 1900 and first opened to the public in 1910. It was one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau in the region. But, hard times came quickly and it was the first hospital during WWII and then the restaurant till 1990 when it was completely abandoned.

The Lotus Farm
The Lotus Farm is basically a large lake producing thousands of lotus flowers which are harvested to create a unique, silk-like textile. Lotus is, of course, used in Khmer cuisine as well. Pretty much all parts of the plant are edible but we prefer the dried seeds. They have a nut-like flavor and are often sold dried in western countries. Lotus farm makes for a nice, non-touristy detour from the main route and you can get a good picture of how people live in Cambodia.

Straw Hats of Yemen
One of the most curious and unusual details you will see in the mainland are the strange, tall hats worn by local women in the fields. Despite the scorching heat, Yemeni women are dressed in black burqas while working in the fields and the only relief, apparently, is coming through these tall hats. The hats are made of dried and braided strips of date palm leaves and are characteristic to Hadramaut province of Yemen. These strange hats are called madhalla and please ask for permission before taking a photo.