PAKISTAN A LAND WITH STARK CONTRAST

Pakistan is a country of stark contrast. The area covers from the Arabian Sea, the scorching desert in the south-west and freezing Himalayas in the north.  Pakistan has a population of 120 million.

Pakistan is in the north-west of the Indian sub-continent. It borders on Iran and Afghanistan in the west, China in the north and India in the east. The mighty river Indus flows through its centre from the Tibetan plateau, through the Himalayas and the Karakoram Mountains to the Arabian Sea.

In the bitterly cold, dry mountain ranges are the Nanga Parbat and K2 which is the second highest mountain in the world. It is the plains of the Indus where most of the population lives. The summers, here, are very hot and in the monsoon season the rainfalls can be as much as 50cm.

               K2 -- THE SECOND HIGHEST MOUNTAIN AFTER MOUNT EVEREST

 THE BALTORO GLACIER IS 62KM LONG  

THE FOUR PROVINCES

The largest province is Baluchistan in the south-west and is the least populated. It is mostly hot, dry desert. Their food in the province is mainly kebabs which are cooked over the open fire. Most Pakistanis eat chapatis (flat bread), rice, lentils and vegetable

North of Baluchistan is the mountainous North-West Frontier. Its inhabitants are the Pashtuns and previously called Pathans. They are known for their simple, rugged lifestyle and war-like nature. The province has beautiful valleys where the Chitral and Hunza people live.

Half of the people of Pakistan live in the Punjab, This province is rich in agriculture and industry. The word Punjab means the Land of the Five Rivers which are the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutley and Beas. They all flow into the Indus. Part of the Punjab lies now in India. People of the Punjab cook their meal in a clay oven which is called tandoor. This style - tandoori - is famous throughout the world.

Sind is an ancient southern province. It was first mentioned in records of the invasion by Alexander the Great in 325 BC. Large area is desert. The farming is along the Indus River. A trade centre is the port of Karachi. Karachi is the country's largest cities.

LANGUAGES, PRAYERS, PLEASURE

Urdu is the official language and English is quite widely spoken. However, Panjubi is more widely spread. Despite the many different ethnic groups, languages and customs they are united by their religion - Islam. The call by the Islamic priest (muezzin) can be heard all over the country, towns and villages. Even when they work in the field; the farmers roll out their prayer mats and pray facing Mecca.

They also love sports and excel in polo, cricket, hockey and squash. Tennis, football and squash are popular.

Women in Pakistan used to be held back and confined at home. Now you fined quite a number of women in medicine and law. Benazir Bhutto was the first female prime minister in the Muslim world.

Although there are developments in industry, Pakistan is still a large rural agricultural country. Many people earn their living on farms. The Indus River supplies the water through irrigation the land. They grow wheat, rice and cotton, The use of fertilizers and machinery increases the production. Pakistan is self-sufficient in essential food. The major export is rice. Cattle, goats and water buffalo are for their meat, dairy products and hides. The leathers goods are exported.

Their main problem is energy and fuels, The oil has to be imported. The country has some natural resources. Pakistan has developed nuclear energy but the pollution and temptation of making nuclear bombs is of great concern.

THE DESAI NATIONAL PARK
 IN PAKISTAN

ANCIENT HISTORY

In the Indus Valley lived for over 5000 years one of the oldest civilization. In 325 BC Alexander the Great conquered it and included into his empire. Nearly 100 years later came the next major invasion. A great, young Arab general, Mohammed Bin Qasim, conquered the region. He introduced Islam.

In the 16th century Moghul emperors stopped the 800 years warfare and brought stabilization to the area. They built beautiful monuments, mosques and gardens.

Recently, Pakistan was part of the British colony. When independence was declared in 1947, the country was split up into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. This cost millions of live because of the religious violence. Pakistan was divided into West and East Pakistan and India in between.

In 1971 after further terrible bloodshed, East Pakistan became a separate country and it is called Bangladesh. West Pakistan became Pakistan.

Other fighting broke out over the territory Jammu and Kashmir in the far north. In 1977 General Zia ul-Haq, took over Pakistan. He introduced strict Islamic laws. Benazir Bhutto became prime minister in 1988. It was the first election since Zia's coup.

                  17TH CENTURY BADSHAHI MASJID BUILT DURING THE MOGHUL RULE 

CANADA ROCKY MOUNTAINEER TRAIN

If you really want to treat yourself to something special, board the Rocky Mountaineer for a two-days' ride 

The train is a masterpiece of engineering. The double-decker carriages have comfortable seats and a glass doom to enable you to see the maximum of the majestic Rocky Mountains. There is also an outdoor viewing platform which gives a chance of taking a closer and perfect picture. The Gold leaf service will spoil you beyond belief.

Every Gold Leaf carriage has its own kitchen. It will spoil you with omelettes, eggs Benedict, pancakes, yoghurts and granola for breakfast. For lunch you will taste Alberta beef, pacific salmon and British Columbian wine. The dinner will be an even bigger surprise.

The Rocky Mountaineer trains only runs between April and October because of the Canadian winters. A journey in the spring will give you a chance to see a great wildlife. In the autumn the rivers will be teeming with salmon and bears wading in the rivers to catch the fish. You will be able to watch coyotes, deer, elks, eagles and ospreys.

For British Columbia to become part of Canada, instead of the USA, the conditions were a coast-to-coast railway to be built. The harsh Canadian winter and the landscape of huge mountains was a great challenge. It entailed a 594-mile journey. It was built with a figure-of-eight tunnel system to prevent runaway trains. The train makes a 226 degree turn and it is a most fascinating sight. It enables you to see the track you travelled but is now 50ft below you.

If you travel from west to east you will experience an even more awe inspiring scenery. There is the Fraser River, you will travel along magnificent woodlands and then the high mountain tops to be admired.

The many names of unforgettable scenes are Hell’s Gate with fast water gushing down.  Avalanche Alley and Jaws of Death Gorge will point out the danger and powerful nature.

After an overnight stop at Kamloops the sceneries are getting more magic but it must have been even harder for the engineers to put the railway through this beautiful countryside.

The Stoney Greek Bridge, at 325ft above the canon, leaves you spellbound. However, the Spiral Tunnels built as far back as 1907 going through Mont Odgen, rising another 54ft and then circled 288 degrees in Cathedral Mountain leaves you speechless. There is no word to describe such an achievement mot only of engineers but even harder for the workers who had to built them almost by hand.

At Banff you will see scenery which is indescribable. A hot spring on Sulphur Maintain will be beneficial for your health. A gondola ride on Sulphur Mountain will give you an overall view of the majestic mountains.

These described experiences can’t be missed. Canada is definitely worth a holiday and the train journey in the Rocky Mountaineer will be unforgettable. The costs is £599pp and worth the price for such a service. The flight from Gatwick to Vancouver is about £358pp. Prices will vary but it might be cheaper to book them separately than package.

  

                                                                                      

BAHAMAS

THE BAHAMAS FROM SPACE

BAHAMAS

NASSAU -  CAPITAL 

The Bahamas are made up of 700 islands and over a 900km of the Atlantic Ocean. They are reaching from the southern tip of Florida to the south-east of Cuba. The islands are low-levelled and made of corals. From all the 700 islands only 22 islands are inhabited. The reason is that the soil is poor, no deposits of minerals and any other wealth. Under water the corals reefs are teaming with fish and marine life.

The climate is warm all year round. However, they do have a hurricane season and it can have a disastrous effect. The climate, beaches and coral reefs attracts visitors from all over the world. Tourism is the biggest industry. The nearby US is where the most holiday makers come from.

The Bahamas, unfortunately, are also know for offshore business and shipping registration which provides income but also abuse of the system. It is also known for illegal drugs trafficking and the government is trying to stop the trade.

The Taino people moved into the inhabited south Bahamas from Hispaniola and Cuba in the 7th century AD.  They became known as the Lucayans.  At the time of Christopher Columbus arrival in 1492 there were about 30,000 people.  After his arrival the Lucayans were wiped out by exposure to the smallpox and bad treatment.

When Christopher Columbus sailed to the Caribbean Islands in 1492 it is assumed that he landed on the Bahamas Island called San Salvador or Watling Island. When the Spaniards landed they met the native inhabitants called Lucayans. The Spaniards did not bother with the island but took the native inhabitants and sold them on the island of Hispandiola, also in the Caribbean, as slaves.

The British people arrived in the Bahamas in the mid-16th century and for the first 100 years shared the land with buccaneers and pirates. 

BAHAMAS SUNSET

One of the most famous pirates was Blackbeard. They tried to colonise the land.

In 1973 The Bahamas became independent members of the Commonwealth and with that the British rule ended in a matter of speaking.

BAHAMAS PARLIAMENT IN NASSAU THE CAPITOL

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BANSKO, BULGARIA SKI RESORT

Bansko

Bansko is at the foot of the Pirin mountains.  The nearest airport is Sofia and the winter resort is 170 km away from the airport.

Bansko lies at a height of 936 metre while the highest ski run is at 2560 metre and the longest is 7 km.  The longest down hill route 16km.  It has facilities for beginners, intermediate and advance skier.  Also the snowboarders are not forgotten and can show off their skills in “Fun Park” with artificial bumps and jumps.

The Fun Park has floodlights and connects to the ski road down to the centre. Various types of ski lifts and length are available. 

All the runs have artificial snow machines which guarantees snow even in the warmest weather.  A ski/board road takes right back to the centre of the town. 

Bansko itself is a mixture of old and new houses and hotels. The Old Clock Tower had been keeping time for the last 150 years. The local “Mehanas”  at the centre are numerous taverns and restaurants. Here you can find original Bulgarian dishes eaten next to roaring log fires and live entertainments.  It will be an unforgettable holiday on the slopes and the evening spend in truly Bulgarian hospitality

One warning or good advice, Bulgarians shake their heads when they mean “yes” and they nod when they mean “no”.

More information available online www.banskoski.com

ANTARCTICA

ANTARCTICA

Antarctica is the coldest continent on earth. Temperature can reach between -80oC and -90oC. East Antarctica is even colder then the Western region. Winds can reach high speed of 150 km. The Ice sheet covered 2.4 per cent of the whole 14 million sqkm. It is 4,776 meter at its thickest.  In the water surround the Antarctic continent as penguins, whales, seals and krills.

There are no land mammals. Eskimos and polar bears living in the Arctic regions.

Antarctic below 50 degrees has one long day and one long night each year. The seasons are opposite the Arctic. The sun sets in March and rise in October.

MOUNT EREBUS ON 
ROSS ISLAND HAS 
AN ACTIVE VOLCANO

Antarctica the ice covered continent at the South Pole. It is assumed that the first person discovered Antarctica was the Russian explorer Fabian von Bellinghousen in 1820

British, French and American scientific and geographical expedition was made through the 19^th century.

The Norwegian Carsten Borchgrevink commanded the British Southern Cross expedition and stayed during the winter on the continent in 1899. The next decade Antarctica became a great rivalry and the quest for the unknown pushed explorers to the limits of endurance. Otto Nordenskjold of Swedish nationality explored Antarctica Peninsula all along the east coast from 1901 to 1904.

SHACKLETON EXPEDITION 

SHACKLETON 
EXPEDITION TEAM

The British explorers Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton led three parties between 1901 and 1913 from Ross Island which is off the Antarctic coast. They made important discoveries in geology and meteorology. Shackleton and his men came within 97 miles (156km) of the South Pole in 1909. They had to turn back because their supplies run low and wouldn’t have enough for the return journey. 

Roal Amundsens and his Norwegian party was the first to reach the Pole on December 14, 1911. Robert Scott and his men reached the Pole a month later. Unfortunately, all the men died on the return journey. The last two were only 11 miles (17km) from the supply depot and safety.

Afterwards most of Antarctica was mapped from the air.

The Norwegian-British-Swedish expedition made scientific journeys into the interior between 1949-1952. They laid the foundation for the International Geophysical Year 1957-8. During this year 12 nations set up more than 50 stations during the Antarctic winter.

Since 1957, the Special Committee in Antarctic Research has coordinated all fieldwork.

Countries made territorial claims in Antarctica since. They are Britain, New Zealand, Australia, France Norway, Chile and Argentina. 

An Antarctic Treaty had been signed in 1961 by these countries plus Belgium, Japan, South Africa, the USSR and the USA. At a later date Brazil, China, India, Poland, Uruguay, Italy and Germany signed.  The treaty was for preserving Antarctica for peaceful purposes. It pledges scientific cooperation and forbids nuclear explosions and the disposal of radioactive waste. Furthermore a 50 year ban on all mining was agreed in 1991.

A study of the hole in the ozone layer are also made on Antarctic

ANTARCTICA NEAR THE COAST

OBERAMMERGAU, PASSION PLAY GERMANY

Next performances in 2020.

OBERAMMERGAU THEATRE
OF THE PASSION PLAY

Oberammergau lies in the Bavarian Alps in Germany. The people of that village vowed to God that if he spares them from the bubonic plague they would perform, forever, every 10 years the life and death of Jesus.

Since death after the pledge was made subsided they believed their people were spared. They kept their promise and their first performance was in 1634.

Nowadays the play is performed every 10 years for 5 months and with 102 performances. The next passion play is in 2020. It involves 2000 people, including musicians and stage technician but only people from the village itself are allowed to take part. The men will grow their hair and beard in preparation. People in the village and right through the Alps are deeply religious. Therefore the play is performed right from their heart and with sincerity, which shows in the play.

The play starts with the Old Testament. A scene of King Ahasuerus rejecting Vashi in favour of Esther. Then the brothers sell Joseph to the Egyptian, Moses rising up the bronze serpent in the wilderness. The three tableaux Christianity superseding Judaism, Judas selling Jesus, and the crucifixion.

Although looking very authentic they are all local people because only local people are allowed in the play. They let their hair and beards grow months before that. 

All in all the play is 7 hours long with meal break provided. The performance starts at 14.30, three hours interval, and finishes at 22.30.

Audiences are coming from all over the world.

At the beginning the parish church proved too small and they held it in the graveyard of the church before the village people who died of the plague.

The fame of the play spread and in 1674 seat were provided.

Stage and stage mechanism were added and in the 18th century it proved the churchyard was too small.

They built a stage on the field nearby but every time they perform the play. 1815 through the local priest made them built a permanent stage. In 1830 it had to be expanded. Now the only problem was that when it rains the audience got wet and if they put up their umbrellas the people behind couldn't see the play.

1890 a purpose-built theatre was built. It was ready for the 1900 performance and had a six arched hall with 4000 seats.

1930 it was enlarged again and criticized for looking ugly but it has a great acoustic and stage view.

1990 the theatre was redesigned again with seating more comfortable, under floor heating, cloakrooms added and accessible for wheelchair.

Today it has a capacity of 4700.

The village itself, as you can see on my last two pictures, is an experience by itself. The heavily painted houses, and these are only two of them, makes it a visit all well worth while. You also find hand-carved ornaments, so well made which you won't find anywhere else in a hurry. Their belief and sincerity shows in their work.

From Oberammergau you will able to take excursions to the castles of King Ludwig II and sightseeing in the Alps.

Considering all these opportunities included it would be really worth while to visit the Oberammergau Passion Play. An experience you will never forget.

BEWARE COCAINE TRADE IN CUZCO, PERU

CUZCO, PERU -- PLAZA DE ARMES

This is a sad situation for such a beautiful and ancient country. Unfortunately the cocaine trade got hold of it. This is not a report to justify the two British girls caught at the airport. We would just give a clear picture and warning of what is going on.

The problem is in Cuzco are tourists and backpackers passing through going to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.  Every year around hundred of thousands tourist passing through to see these ancient ruins. Many hostels offer a bed for £4 which is like a magnet to students using their gap year to visit this ancient country. During the day Cuzco is a picturesque city but by the night it turns into multi-million pound drug trade with ruthless men desperately trying to push their drugs

It is said that in some way it is like Ibizza which is well known for drinks and drugs.

The coca plant will only grow on the low level slopes just below the Andes.  Cuzco is 12,000ft above the sea level which is to harsh a climate.  The coca plant itself might not be so deadly but when it is harvested it is soaked with chemicals then baked in the sun until it becomes a white powder. Cocaine.

It is transported in drums and has a seven hour journey to Cuzco. There it will be packed into 2 kg packages quite openly.  Drug mules take it over then and transport it round the world.

Peru with its ancient history has a dark side to it. It is the top producer of cocaine and it is estimated that 53,000 hectares of coca are planted and will produce 325 metric tons of pure cocaine.

Of course with drugs trafficking come the cartels and they are ruthless. They are so powerful that nobody dares to challenge them.  Many people including policemen have been killed. They terrorising towns and cities and destroying whole communities.  The cartels will not let get anyone in their ways and kill when they are threatened.

The availability of quite big quantities is alarming and the hard pushing dealers. A great trick of theirs is if somebody runs out of money because of the hard drinking and/or extending their holiday that is the moment when the trafficker moves in; he lends them money in very friendly manners and on acceptance shows his real face behind it.

So tourists and backpackers be aware not to venture out at night and during the day stay together in groups. It is a magnificent country and its ancient culture are well worth to visit but do enjoy it and don’t get involved with drug trafficking.  Too many people had been already caught and finished  their holiday in Peru’s prison. There are gruel prisons belief it.