Displaying items by tag: ethiopia

Leptis Magna in the Rain
Most visitors picture the Libyan desert as dry, sunbaked, and unchanging—but every so often, the skies open up. When rain falls over Leptis Magna, it feels like walking through a dream. Water runs along 2,000-year-old Roman drains, puddles form in the market square, and marble columns shimmer in soft light. The ancient stones seem to breathe again. Few people are lucky enough to witness this moment—but if you do, you’ll never forget it.

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.

A Nation of Poets
In Somalia, poetry is more than art—it’s conversation, law, memory, and soul. Known as the “Nation of Poets,” Somalia has preserved its stories through verse for centuries. At tea stalls or during camel trading, it’s not unusual for someone to burst into spontaneous poetry—sometimes in praise, sometimes in protest. In the absence of written records, the oral tradition lives on, line by line.

Saint Louis
This was a capital of French West Africa in early 1900s. And little is left from past glamour and shine. But still, fantastic place to visit! Saint Louis feels like going back in time with it's classic French architecture and the wild African charm on the streets. Once you cross to the harbor and to N'Dar island, true Africa reveals. While this town has a potential to be one of the World's top travel hot spots, it is now just a big mess of color, scents, smiles and smiles.

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.

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.

Tailored Clothing
One of the coolest things one can get in Vietnam is definitely a piece of tailored clothing. Numerous local tailors offer all sorts of clothing: from simple summer shirts to three-piece suits. Local Hanoi tailors are known for exceptional and fast work. Hoi An is one of the most popular places to get your clothes tailored at more than 300 tailors and leather-workers.