Afaranwide

NEWSLETTER 52: AUGUST 2020

Hi, and thanks for your interest in the Afaranwide travel blog!

Retreating Not for Faint-Hearted

We’ve all been retreating from normal life recently, and Afaranwide’s Sue Brattle had a chance to take part in a homespun (and successful) retreat in a friend’s living room recently. That prompted her to write about the other, rather posher, retreats she’s been on in the past. All in all, the local one scored the most points in her book, and we hope it inspires you, too. READ MORE

Can City Survive Without Tourism?

The pandemic is a shapeshifter; it moves along so fast, it’s impossible to keep up with it. However, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Hong Kong plunged in with a panel discussion that involved a restaurateur, HK lifestyle brand retailer Goods of Desire, and an economist. It took place the day before public gatherings were limited to four people (once again), and a week before restaurants were closed except for takeaways. The rules have since changed again. Goods of Desire has switched from making clothes and other items to producing masks. The discussion was titled Can City’s Economy Survive Without Tourism Dollars? It’s a question being asked all over the world, and I suspect many places won’t survive. – SB. READ MORE

QE2 Fans See Red Over Colours

Back in March, we published a post that featured the Queen Elizabeth 2 hotel in Dubai. The former liner’s utilities pipes had been painted bright colours, and we asked on social media if anyone knew why. Marc Stevenson in Dubai commented: “Yes – I do as I designed the colours – some time hiding something or putting it in to the ships colours stands out – so we wanted to make a point of interest and have a photo opportunity.”

This provoked a sparky division of opinion among the QE2’s devoted fans. Some said they liked the colour scheme, while another described it as “absolutely ridiculous and completely tacky”. Marc came back and asked if anyone had any other ideas, while another critic wrote: “Looks like water park slides or guinea pig play pipes lol.” At one stage the discussion became so heated an administrator stepped in and wrote: “Please keep things civil guys. This group is not the place for coming to blows.” READ the original post. And READ about the day Dubai bought the QE2.

Mosques Ancient and Modern

Eid Mubarak! This week saw the start of Eid Al Adha, an Islamic holiday that is celebrated around the world. We marked the occasion by publishing a gallery of photos of stunning mosques. Given that most share common elements such as minarets and domes, it’s remarkable how much variety there is in their design. This one – the Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Nizwa, Oman – is particularly beautiful, and the mountainous backdrop adds to its appeal. READ MORE

They're Working Smart in Vietnam

The pandemic has enabled some people to shine in adversity. I wonder who at Vietnam Travel (the country’s tourist board) is behind their push to help us enjoy Vietnam’s many delights while we can’t get there? 15 Ways to Visit Vietnam From Home is a brilliant section on their website, with recipes, a colouring book of Vietnamese images, phrases to learn, music to listen to, books to read, even how to whip up a traditional foot bath. There are 360° tours, and (my favourite) films of 10 youngsters giving a guided tour of their home provinces. Well done, Vietnam Travel. – SB.

READ our posts about Phu Quoc and Nha Trang in Vietnam.

Treasure From a Golden Age

A side-effect of China’s supercharged development is that many ancient sites and artefacts are being uncovered. I remember being intrigued to read in a Chinese newspaper about a chariot belonging to a duke from one of the country’s bewildering number of dynasties. It had been found by construction workers as they prepared a site for yet another new skyscraper. A particularly spectacular discovery was made at the city of Chengdu in the south-west of the country. The bronze-age Shu kingdom built the city of Jinsha 3,000 years ago, and it was found by contractors working on a new sewage system in 2001. Archaeologists have recovered a vast treasure trove of artefacts, including this exquisite gold disc with cut-out shapes of the sun and four birds. READ MORE

Bird’s Eye View of Hong Kong

Tourist attractions across Hong Kong have closed temporarily as the city grapples with a third wave of COVID-19 infections. Among them is the Sky100 observation deck, which provides amazing views of the iconic cityscape from the 100th floor of the International Commerce Centre in Kowloon. Before the closure, Afaranwide went up in the high-speed lifts to have a look. READ MORE

Next Up on Afaranwide

We have two new posts coming out soon. One looks at Beirut, which after decades of turmoil is now facing a new crisis – the threat of economic collapse. We’re so sad to see this, as it should be one of the world’s most vibrant cities, and its resilient and upbeat people deserve so much more. The second is about Beijing’s beautiful Temple of Heaven (above), where successive emperors prayed for good harvests – and took the blame if the crops failed.

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