Ninh Binh, located about 100 kilometers south of Hanoi, offers a landscape shaped by limestone karsts, winding rivers, and flooded rice paddies. Often referred to as “Ha Long Bay on land,” the area is best explored by rowboat. At Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, boat routes pass through caves, ancient pagodas, and valleys surrounded by towering cliffs. Local rowers often use their feet to paddle, an unusual technique that surprises many first-time visitors.
Bogotá, the vibrant capital of Colombia, sits high in the Andes at 2,640 meters above sea level. The city balances historic charm with modern energy, where cobblestone streets meet bold street art and colonial churches stand beside sleek galleries and cafes. At the heart of it all is La Candelaria, Bogotá’s oldest neighborhood, where travelers can visit centuries-old buildings, including the neoclassical Capitol and the richly decorated Gold Museum.
Brazil's third largest city, Belo Horizonte was founded in 1897. Most of Brazil's gems and semi-precious stones are mined in this area and it is where you can find the best bargains, from aquamarines to imperial topaz. It is just 59 miles from Brazil's most historic colonial city, Ouro Preto.
Syracuse, located on the eastern coast of Sicily, is a city where history and the sea converge in unforgettable ways. Founded by ancient Greeks in the 8th century BC, it became one of the most powerful city-states of its time. Today, visitors can explore the impressive archaeological park of Neapolis, which features a vast Greek theatre, Roman amphitheater, and the Ear of Dionysius, a limestone cave known for its remarkable acoustics.
Photo Credit: Photo by Hisham Zayadneh on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Eyad SR7AN on Unsplash
Jerash is reached by a short drive (29 miles, 47km) north of Amman and is an ancient Graeco-Roman city, once known as Gerasa. It has been dubbed the 'Pompeii of the East', because of its extraordinary state of preservation. Jerash is a vast city, which flourished in the centuries immediately preceding and following the Christian era.
At the approach to the city, the visitor is greeted by the imposing triple-arched gateway, built to honour the Emperor Hadrian when he arrived there in 129A.D.
Jerash formed part of the Decapolis, a league of ten cities built by the Romans and dating from the first century B.C. Today, visitors may wander among the original temples, theatres, plazas, public baths and colonnaded streets complete with sculptures and fountains, all enclosed within the still-remaining city walls.
The great oval forum, once the centre of social activity within the city, is impressively well-preserved and is approached by means of the Street of Columns. The city's 14 churches with their beautiful mosaic decoration all date from the Byzantine era.
The annual Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts is held for two weeks
every summer and is an important cultural event, featuring performing artists from all over the world. This event has international
recognition and is a source of great pride to the culturally-minded
people of Jordan. There is also a daily sound and light show in English French, German and Arabic.