Category: TRAVEL

The Arab Republic of Egypt, commonly known as Egypt, is a Republic in North Africa. “Egypt” came via the Latin word Aegyptus derived from ancient Greek, which means ‘the name of a temple of the god Ptah at Memphis.’ Cairo is the capital of Egypt and is known as the land for learning, culture and commerce.

Egypt has many exciting places to visit and enjoy. Tourists can choose from a variety of options like a Sahara wild safari, a trip to Cairo and also take a cruise down the Nile.

Egypt is well connected by trains and accessible via air, but due to the large area the country occupies, finding one’s way around can be time-consuming. An organized tour can be an excellent option for people who have less time to travel the land. However, adventurers can opt for a cruise down the Nile, which takes one along the beautiful river and is a spectacular experience. Tourists can also hire private tour guides. Tour guides in Egypt are certified by the government and are very helpful.

The hospitality industry in Egypt is thriving and has a lot to offer depending on the individual needs. There are a number of hotels to choose from in places like Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria as well as the Hurghada and the Sharm-el Sheikh.

Egypt is a shopper’s paradise a host of local made goods. The Khan-al-Khalili bazaar in Cairo has many items of everyday use. There are bazaars in other towns, as well. A traveler can get the best of hand-made carpets, perfume-concentrates, and pharaohnic objects. Egyptian cotton is world-known for its purity. Authentic papyrus can be purchased in the local markets.

The best time to visit this desert land is between September and May. A trip to Egypt can be an informative one with the host of ancient sites and the rich historical civilization. Personalized tours are available to suit every traveler’s needs. Tourist visas can be obtained at any port of entry.

The Egyptian civilization is one of the oldest in the world and dates back more than 6000 years. Early settlements were around the banks of the Nile river and irrigation formed the basis of this civilization.

In ancient Egypt, the most-powerful person was the ‘pharaoh’, who was both the political and religious leader. The duties of the pharaoh included collecting taxes, making laws and protecting the people from foreign invasions. People in ancient Egypt were involved in activities like farming and making crafts. Craftsmen formed one of the communities in ancient Egypt. These men were skilled and made beautiful and expensive objects for temples and pharaohs.

People built mud-brick homes and grew their own food. Additionally, they traded villages for goods that could not be produced. The ancient Egyptians were pious people and believed that worshipping different Gods and Goddesses would make their lives peaceful and harmonious.

Pyramids were built in Egypt as ‘tombs’ for the pharaohs and their queens. In addition, temples were built as a dedication to Gods and Goddesses, who were worshipped by the priests and the pharaohs. Egyptians practiced the art of ‘mummification’. It was believed that when a person died, his soul would leave him, thus, in order to re-unite the soul and the body, people were buried in pits in the desert. This method was gradually replaced with burying dead people in coffins to protect them from decaying. Mummification ensured that the dead bodies remained ‘life-like’.

One of the vital activities of the Egyptians was communication, in order to preserve information about religion and the government. Scripts were invented, one of which is known as the hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics involved using pictures to describe events and tell stories, and is one of the earliest forms of written communication.

The Great Wall of China, one of the most appealing attractions of China and one of the greatest wonders of the world, was constructed by the Vassal states under Zhou Dynasty for defense purposes. The construction began during 7th century B.C. and was completed between the 14th and 17th centuries. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the Great Wall of China as the World Heritage in 1987.

Once the state of Qin was unified with China, China joined all the walls to impede invaders from northern China and extended them to more than 10000 li, which is equal to 5000 kilometers. Like a Chinese holistic dragon with a zigzag shape, the Great Wall of China stretches across mountains, plateaus, deserts, rivers and grasslands with a length of almost 6,700 kilometers. It is over 2000 years old and runs from East China to West China. Unfortunately, portions of the wall are in ruins due to lack of interest on the part of the Chinese Government. This magnificent piece of Chinese history touches the provinces of Shanhaiguan Pass, Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu and finally ends in Jiayuguan Pass.

China tour operators like Beijingguide.com, Chinahiking.com, and Orientaltravel.com etc various tours to the Great Wall of China at discount prices and outstanding services. Tourists stay at the beautiful places near the wall like Jinshanling and Simatai, where there are restaurants, guest houses, shops and transportation agencies. The entire Great Wall of China can be broadly divided into four popular sites namely Badaling, Mutianya, Simatai and Shixiaguan. Of these, Simatai is the steeper portion of the Wall. Generally May and October are ideal months for touring.