The province of Kerman is full of interesting places to visit. Rayen and Bam are famous for their citadels and ancient cities. Mahan gets its fame due to its impressive Persian garden. Kaluts is well-known for being the world’s hottest and driest place. They are all so tempting to visit, don’t you think? Read more: Kerman’s Hidden Gems: Guide to Visiting Rayen, Kaluts, Mahan, and Kerman City That would not be an issue at all for those who have unlimited timeRead more
Kerman Province is Iran’s second largest province. Situated in the southeast of Iran, it is home to diverse landscapes from deserts, mountains, historical cities, and ancient citadels. The hottest place on earth, Dasht-e Lut Desert or Kaluts, can be found in Kerman. The region also inherits a long history of human settlements which goes back to the fourth millennium BC. Historically, it was part of the region of the Achaemenid Empire, known as Carmania, with mining (silver, copper, ochre, orpiment, andRead more
Iran is home to one of the oldest ancient civilizations in the world. For many centuries, the country is a testament to one of the world’s most powerful empires, conquering a huge chunk of Central Asia, the Middle East, all the way until Turkey. It has survived many wars, conflicts, and confrontations from its neighbouring countries. Among many of the country’s heritage is the famous city of Persepolis and the royal tombs of Necropolis, two spectacular legacies left behind byRead more
On the slope of Jabal al-Madhbah, in the Valley of Moses (Wadi Musa), lies the ancient city of Petra. When Nabataeans took over the city from Edomites and made it into the capital of their kingdom, the city gained status as it stood at one of the most important trade routes in Arabia. Caravans passed through Petra, carrying spices and textiles from Arabia to Syria, allowing the city to collect taxes from traders. The Nabataeans also developed their own extraordinary water system, which enabled the city to flourish even during prolonged periods of drought. Petra continued to prosper after Romans took over and eventually declined due to the change in trade routes. The earthquakes that devastated the whole area also brought the Rose City to ruin. It was not until 1812 that Petra was revealed to the Western World. Since then, the site has not lost its spotlight and historical importance as it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. It is also the most visited tourist attraction in Jordan. This is a must-visit site if you happen to be in Jordan!
Before coming to Jordan, I tried to browse through a number of profiles in CouchSurfing and see if there are any interesting locals I would like to meet. When it comes to Jordan, though, I took an extra precaution in choosing a host to stay with. The amount of men registered on this site with a wrong purpose alarmed me. I encountered many profiles with negative references. After all, this is an Arab country with an Arab culture. They are not used to hanging out with women or having women sleeping in their homes. This is not their culture to say the least. Compared to Turkey and Iran, choosing an open-minded host with true travel spirit in Jordan proved to be difficult.
Traveling to Iran would not be complete without visiting historic sites of the Great Archaemenid Empire. Since these sites are not too far away from Shiraz, I decided to visit them as soon as we arrive in the city from Yazd early morning. An Iranian guide, recommended by Lonely Planet, picks us up from the bus station to our ultimate destination. I'm hoping that by having a tour guide, we'd not only visit these places and be amazed with their architectures, but also learn about the history behind them.
I escaped the snowy Eindhoven and spent my winter/Christmas break this time in the sunny Saudi Arabia. It had been 2 years since my family and I hadn’t had a vacation with the complete members; it’s either I wasn’t there, or my sister wasn’t there. That’s why this vacation was quite exciting as all of us reunited again. And I wanted it to be a bit different than usual, so we decided to go to somewhere nice that we hadn’tRead more
