Egypt was one of humanity’s cradles: massive, powerful, and shrouded in a thousand secrets. The zenith of its era has passed, yet the cultural relics continue to radiate a particular energy. They appear to be breathing and desire to say something.

Egypt is a rare country where you can have a low-cost trip while still getting a sense of history. The country’s mysterious aspect serves to stretch the boundaries of common perception. Traveling not only via hotels and retail malls, but also through the past’s living history. Only in this manner can your view of the world become richer and clearer. 
Ancient Egypt’s entire society was structured around a religious attitude toward the afterlife. The sky-supporting pyramids and the tombs buried deep within the earth implicitly prove this.

The tomb of Nefertiti, where Amenhotep III’s entire family is most likely buried, is now being sought in the least investigated portion of the western valley. The only problem is that the Egyptians attempted to conceal the graves. To avoid being ravaged, the burial had to be kept secret. Excavations can take a long time, yet the enigmatic tomb may be discovered in the future.

Humanity can touch such magnificent constructions as the Cheops Pyramid and the Great Sphinx, in addition to unknown areas. The issue is that the public has become tired with them. People are eager to learn new things. There is also a solution. There are plenty of less well-known spots in Egypt that are equally as powerful as the big monuments.

Tomb of Nefertari 

Ramses II’s first and most ardently adored wife was Nefertari. Her tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Queens in the early twentieth century. An entryway chiselled into the rock was discovered, leading to a magical labyrinth. The soul was intended to find her way after death with such a precise shape of tomb. The walls were adorned with deity images and inscriptions that served as clues. Nefertari was told to cross from the domain of death to the road that leads home by the entire pantheon of gods. 

Unfortunately, not much of the tomb survives now. In the past, it was violently robbed. Nefertari’s mummy is only missing her legs, sandals, and part of her jewellery. Even Nevertheless, the tomb’s incompleteness does not detract from the sacredness of the site.

The tomb was closed to the public a few years ago. The tomb’s destruction was expedited by tourist visits. Because of the condensation, the salt crystals that form on the stone beneath the plaster layer become more intense. The walls start to fall apart. The tomb can now be visited, but only in small groups and for 10 minutes, at a higher cost than before. It is unknown how long it will remain open to the public, therefore it is worth hurrying.

Temple of Hathor

The Temple of Hathor has been beautifully preserved to this day. For hundreds of years, it had been buried beneath the sands. It was discovered and freed from its latent state to the outside world in the mid-nineteenth century.

Her four faces can be seen on the columns at the temple’s entryway. Hathor was a goddess of love and the sky who was linked to the omnipresent deity who watches over the entire universe.

The depth of her images is admired on the temple walls. The old zodiac, its stars, and other celestial bodies can all be seen on it. Hathor was also known as the Star Goddess.

The statue of Hathor was carried up to the temple’s roof for the New Year’s celebrations, where she might be invigorated by the sun. By the way, Egypt’s New Year was only celebrated when the Nile flooded. The water was rushing over the banks, covering the soil in silt and algae.

The Temple of Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut was a legendary Pharaoh who declared herself. She oversaw the construction of a massive temple with three terraces carved into the rock.

Many constructions were created under Hatshepsut’s rule. There are various pointed towers included. Ancient architects built and installed them in two months, whereas modern American workmen moved one of her buildings from Manhattan’s dock to Central Park in four months. The tower was even given its own railroad.

All of Egypt’s magnificent structures were built in an incredible amount of time. Consider Amenhotep III’s temple, which was devastated by an earthquake. It was the equivalent of seven soccer fields in size. Only statues, each weighing 700 tonnes and standing five stories tall, remain.

Al-Fayoum Oasis 

The Gardens of Egypt, also known as Al-Fayoum Oasis, is a lovely palm grove near Cairo. There, the magnificent Lake Qarun gleams, waterfalls rage, and irrigation channels whisper. The remnants of Pharaoh Amenemhat III’s pyramid can be found among all this life-giving vegetation.

A temple with thousands of chambers, halls, and corridors sits near his tomb. Unfortunately, neither the temple nor the pyramid have survived to our time. Al-Fayoum’s collection of burial portraits is equally fascinating. They were painted during the aristocrats’ lifetimes, capturing all of the nuances of human appearance. Instead of a mask, the mummy was given a realistic visage.

At the edge of the world, in the arms of the Atlantic Ocean, stands a small island – Iceland. Being far away from other civilizations, Icelanders managed to keep their ancient traditions. These traditions determine their mythological way of thinking and special course of life nowadays.

History

The ancient Scandinavian people spent most of the year in the grip of winter. On long cold evenings, they warmed themselves around the fire and told legends. Their view of the world was very different. They believed in gods, nature spirits, elves, and trolls. And this belief was passed on to modern Icelanders, which are very reverent and deeply honor their heritage. 

In 2020 came out a funny American film “Eurovision: The Story of a Fire Saga”. It was filmed in Iceland and England. The main characters are mediocre musicians dreaming of fame. One day the elves help them find fame. Because in Iceland, elves can do anything.

Probably the huge layer of traditions was preserved because for many years Iceland was living inside itself and did not let other cultures in its internal and external space. The same is true of the language that they speak even now. Modern Icelandic is almost indistinguishable from Old Norse. It was spoken by their ancestors, the Vikings, who migrated to Iceland in the ninth century. So any Icelander can easily read the ancient tales of their forefathers.

Sumardagurinn Fyrsti

Knowing their past experiences and the roots of their worldview, Icelanders take great responsibility in celebrating national holidays. For example, Iceland will soon celebrate Sumardagurinn Fyrsti, or the first day of summer. But it is not summer in our usual sense, but between April 19 and 25, on a day that falls on Thursday. This year it’s April 21. 

Why does summer come in April? In Iceland, the year has always been divided into only two parts: winter and summer. And summer according to the Icelandic calendar came when the polar night ended. Celtic peoples have a very similar holiday Beltane, which marks the departure of the dark time of day and the transition to a lighter period.

However, spring does not always mean warmth. In Iceland, if there is frosty weather on the first day of summer, it is a good sign. If winter and summer freeze together, the whole year is sure to pass in a prosperous way. Ponds covered with ice on the holiday night is an unquestionable attribute that the same will be the layer of cream on the milk after the milking at the end of the year.

In spite of the constant cold, Icelanders have learned to warm their homes and roads by geothermal stations. They are the first in the world who know how to use nature without any harm to it and to themselves. Once again it confirms the high moral level of Icelanders, who treat life in all its manifestations with love and respect. 

Day of Love

Sumardagurinn Fyrsti has a special meaning for women. Young maiden Harpu, daughter of the last months of winter Torri and Gowa, is associated with the first day of summer. Young ladies believed that on this day Harpa could point her magic hand to their future husbands. Ladies wrote the names of all suitors they liked on a slip of paper and then blindly chose the one whose name came up first. 

In general women in Icelandic tradition had always played a special role. Even in Viking times women could make their own decisions and were quite independent. If they lived with a man and something did not suit them, they could easily leave him and nobody dared to reproach them. Probably this attitude and equality in the past laid the foundation for a respectful attitude towards women in the future. 

Yes, in Viking times women could stand up for themselves, but they were still considered the weaker gender. Only in 1975 that the situation changed, when women started fighting for their rights. They were heard, and now Iceland ranks first in the world among countries with gender equality. Even in kindergartens, girls are taught to be strong and enduring. Emphasis is placed on sports, not on playing dolls.

Gifts to Odin and the feast

In the past, every important feast was accompanied by a sacrifice to Odin. And Sumardagurinn Fyrsti is no exception. The Islaanians have long since moved away from sacrifices and transformed the ritual into presenting gifts to relatives, friends, and even distant acquaintances.

After the gifts are exchanged, everyone is seated at a festive meal. The table is bursting with all kinds of treats. The special dishes on this day are porridge with raisins and cream, a flatbread made of rye flour stuffed with fish and lamb. And the drink that fires up the blood should be brennivin – moonshine infused with cumin. As Icelanders enjoy their meal and gorge themselves on it, they thank the gods for the blessings.

City Feast 

Sumardagurinn Fyrsti is celebrated grandly and in all its magnificence. 

On this day, even flags are raised over government offices. Everyone celebrates the arrival of the long-awaited summer. Parades are paraded through the streets, markets buzz with laughter, plays are staged and Icelanders put on their national and festive outfits.

In the past, Sumardagurinn Firsti had battles in the streets, but not in the brutal Viking style, just jokingly, without fatalities. Today in Reykjavik the tradition is gladly continued but in an even milder format. All the people who poured out into the street, including both adults and children, happily water each other with water pistols. To avoid turning into ice, those who are in tune for the fight put on waterproof raincoats and come off full blast.

In Iceland, children from childhood are taught not to be afraid of the cold. For example, if there is severe bad weather outside (as usual), school sports classes are not canceled. Thus, children grow up more hardened and adapted to the local climate. Therefore, if Sumardagurinn Fyrsti turned out to be quite cold, no one would rush home but continue water battles.

How modern architecture and green jungle intertwine

Singapore’s rhythm development speeds up every day. And no wonder, the map of progress is drawn by the future. Singapore is one of the few places on the planet where the future is not vague but stands out incredibly clearly. A union of technology and nature.

Singaporeans do not just dream and talk about tomorrow but every day put the idea into practice with great enthusiasm. Here, the future instantly becomes the present. 

Ahead of its time

Singapore is several steps ahead of many, it can be seen in its space architecture. Modern buildings go hand in hand with verdant greenery. Parks, squares, and gardens are everywhere. An endless line of planters on the streets where it’s hard to plant trees. Even such a sad place as the women’s prison is not left out, the perfect lawn laid out in front of its entrance. The aim is not to create a garden in the city, but a city in a garden.

Where are the greenest areas today? Let’s take a look at some of the amazing locations that make the whole city unique. First, however, it’s worth mentioning the last place where the «home jungle» breathes the past. 

Lorong Buangkok Village 

Lorong Buangkok Village is an extinct dinosaur among Singapore’s other architecture. There are only 25 houses in the village (kampong). Typical kampong houses are incredibly simple and refer back to that homey Malaysia that disappeared from Singapore forever.

After the first wave of the pandemic, interest in Lorong Buangkok increased. Tourists now regularly visit it to enjoy the special charm of the old village lurking in the urban jungle. Here lives the friendly village spirit that Singaporeans instill in the infrastructure of the high-rise buildings. The government tries to organize public spaces in the skyscrapers to make people see each other more often and socialize in a nice neighborhood way. 

Gardens by the Bay

The star of Singapore is the Gardens by the Bay. Today it is already world-famous. It’s supertrees as one of the city’s calling cards. 

Every day at the park runs a show called «Garden Rhapsody». The supertrees are lit with lush colors, changing colors, types, and intensity of glow. The show is accompanied by the sounds of nature: rustling leaves, birdsong, and other natural sounds. It is noteworthy that even the show in Singapore manifests the idea of the unity of humans and nature. And these are not just words. Throughout the day, the supertrees store solar energy and then use it during the show.

The supertrees are located in the southern part of the park, and along with them are the domes with incredible greenhouses: the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest.

Flower Dome

To see the most exotic trees and plants, just visit the Flower Dome. This rare greenhouse contains all the amazing flora: baobabs, bottle trees, canary dates, agaves, opuntias, and endless other beauties. All the “inhabitants” of the dome are bathed in ideal conditions, all thanks to the special structure of the roof. 

The dome consists of 3 thousand panels made of glass that retains the excess solar energy. At the base of the dome are laid pipes with circulating cold water. This way cool air is always at the bottom and warm air accumulates at the top.  

Surprisingly, all the zones of the greenhouse are in the same space and are not separated by partitions. Each zone has its own microclimate: the desert has dry air, while the tropics have humid air. Each flowerbed has its own temperature. How exactly this particular atmospheric symbiosis is maintained is a real mystery.

There are 9 gardens in the Flower Dome: 5 gardens with flora from South America, California, South Africa, the Mediterranean, and Australia; 2 devoted to regularly updated seasonal collections and 2 devoted to current themes.

Important detail: almost all of the plants can be touched.

Cloud Forest

The Cloud Forest dome replicates mountain rainforest conditions. The dome is backed by an artificial mountain with a waterfall. It makes the impression of a mountain atmosphere and creates the right temperature for the plants.

Such cloud forests are rare on the planet. It can be found only in the equatorial and subequatorial belts, between 500 and 4,000 meters above sea level. Here, as well as in the mountains, a beautiful thick fog forms. 

In the Cloud Forest, you can find plants from South Africa, Western America, the Himalayas, mountain India and the island of Sri Lanka.

A string of trails stretches across the entire dome so that all the beauty can be seen at maximum proximity. 

SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands

At a height of 200 meters stands a ship’s deck the size of three soccer fields. It has the world’s largest pool at this height (150 meters).  Enjoying the pool`s coolness, you can view a breathtaking panorama of the city. On a clear day, you can see the islands of Malaysia and Indonesia from the deck. 

Like the rest of Singapore, the deck is lavishly decorated with greenery. Hundreds of palm trees and other exotic trees flutter in the wind along the entire area. Once here, you feel as if you are in a magical lagoon but high up in the mountains. 

There are regular bars and restaurants on the deck. And down at Marina Bay Sands, you can go shopping and visit the casino.

Thailand is more than just tropical beaches, Thai massages and the red light district. The Cultural scene of Thailand is as vibrant as New York’s. You will be introduced to a rich and colorful country that evolves constantly, as you set aside the old cliches.

Siam Niramit Show

Siam Niramit show is the pride of the country that earned an honorary award of excellence by The Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Siam Niramit’s scenery is striking in its scale and grandeur. The performance consists of several levels. Elephants walk on it, a river flows, boats swim and demons float in the sky under the rain  with the roar of thunder. The play is crafted so believably that there is no line between fantasy world and reality.

The story consists of  three parts. The first reveals the history of Thailand, its ancient cities and ancestors. The second part tells the story of the creatures that live in three worlds: the Flaming Hell, the Heavenly Paradise and the fairytale Nimapaan Forest. The third part is the most pompous and dynamic, it presents all the holidays and festivals of Thailand, and the audience can immediately take part in the colorful rituals.

Undoubtedly, Siam Niramit is the most exciting show in all of Asia.

MOCA Museum of Contemporary Art

MOCA BANGKOK has a collection of ingenious works from modern Thai art over the past 30 years. They`ve been carefully and passionately collected by Bunchai Bencharongkul, the famous media magnate and founder of the museum.

The MOCA Gallery features paintings, sculptures and installations with a traditional Thai feel, as well as the works inspired by Western art styles.

About 800 works from the private collection of Boonchai Bencharongkul are featured at the museum. All of them are displayed in 20,000 square meters of gigantic space. MOCA’s collections perceptively express the Thai mentality, sensitivity to art, deep convictions and character of thought.

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak is one of the largest markets in the world. It is like an ancient Greek Minotaur’s labyrinth where you can easily get lost, so it is better to buy a map at the entrance. 

Chatuchak bursts with an abundance of millions of goods. Here you can buy Asian and European antiques, appliances, exotic plants, pets, food and drink, furniture, ceramics, rare books, clothes and hundreds of other products. 

This is where the contemporary Thai designers set up night markets. These days Chatuchak turns into a big party with model shows, fire shows and other various interactive activities. If you manage to find yourself in such a night market, you will definitely pick up new and unique perspectives here.

The market has been working for 40 years and is considered to be the top shopping place in Thailand, a place you can bargain for the best deals. 

Dream World Disneyland

Dream World is a Thailand version of Disneyland, combining elements of Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. The architecture of Castle at Dream World resembles a mix between Thai temples and the castle of Sleeping Beauty. 

The Thai Dream World has its own atmosphere with different sections like Dream World Plaza, Dream Garden, Fantasy Land, Adventure Land, Garden of Love and Uncle Tom’s Farm.

Dream World Plaza is the main square where all the carnivals, shows and parades with fairy tale characters take place. It is home to cafes, stores, and souvenir shops. 

Dream Garden is adorned with waterfalls, a lake and fountains. You can explore the surroundings on a miniature train or from a cable car. 

The hallmark of Fantasy Land is the Castle of Sleeping Beauty as well as Cinderella’s carriage, Snow White’s house, a pirate ship, the cave of horrors and more from fairy tales.

Adventure Land is the zone of extreme attractions. Here you can ride a magic carpet, roller coaster, do rafting and catch adrenaline on many different attractions.

The Garden of Love is next, where couples can take beautiful and romantic photos to remind them of their magical trip.

Finally visit Uncle Tom’s Farm, a contact Zoo to feed, pet and learn more about goats, sheep and rabbits.

Mr. Jesada’s Museum of Technology

Do you remember the movie from Back to the Future? Even the Doc’s DeLorean is here!

Mr. Jesada’s museum is a home to almost every car that has been built. You will witness the long and thorny path that the inventors had to walk till we get the modern technology of contemporary cars.

On the vast grounds of the museum you will see amphibious cars with underwater engines, leather covered cars, vintage cars, the unicycle(first invention that led to the invention of cars), as well as helicopters and airplanes.