Abu Dhabi - a great 'showcase'

Abu Dhabi - the capital city - lies among the lifeless sand and parched rivers on the Persian Gulf. This is the largest and richest cities in the UAE.

'The showcase' of the half million of the city, the capital of the state, serves as a quay, that consists of gleaming skyscrapers. In Abu Dhabi there are enough attractions, one of the most interesting - Oil Show, where audiovisual describes the city's development. Here is the Abu Dhabi Corniche - a specially reconstructed shipyard, where produced Arab dhow. The city's largest and most populous of the emirates, it is called the "garden city bay - here as much man-made gardens and parks, based on the irrigation of each tree and bush (used for irrigation, desalination plants). In this sense it is comparable only with Al-Ain. Zeid Port is the gateway to the sea, as well as Rashid in Dubai and Mina Khalid in Sharjah. There is, of course, and an international airport. However, its role as the main oil-producing state of the city, Abu Dhabi is not a major center of recreation or cheap trade.

In Abu Dhabi, called the Manhattan of the Middle East. Perfectly straight streets of the city form a network with six major highways. The most spectacular buildings are clustered along the coastline or are on parallel streets: Sheikh Khalifa, (Sheikh Khallf), Sheikh Hamdan (Sheikh Hamdan) and Sheikh Zayed (Sheikh Zayed). Features that distinguish Abu Dhabi from any other modern city, and which reflects its Muslim character - is a large number of mosques in the city and its environs. Everywhere in the town you can see several intricately decorated minarets. Visitor affects the abundance of greenery in Abu Dhabi. Along the main road into the city and the entire waterfront stretch line planting hide arid soil, growing eucalyptus and palm trees. There are a lot of grassy lawns, ornamental shrubs. In the evening you should definitely take a walk along the waterfront and delight your eyes playing water jets in fountains, with fanciful names - "Dalla", "Pearls," "The Flying Swans".

Abu Dhabi was founded in 1760. On the basis of the capital of the UAE there is a beautiful legend. Arabs-hunters from one of the oases chased gazelle. Gazelle long wound in the desert, and then withdrew the hunters on the shore of the Persian Gulf, where the water rushed in and proceeded to wade to the island. The hunters followed, and the gazelle brought them to power with a beautiful fresh water. In gratitude, the hunters gave gazelle life, and is based near the source of the settlement was called "the father of a gazelle," which in Arabic sounds like Abu Dhabi.

Pearl of the Persian Gulf - Qatar

The Middle East region is the epicenter struggle of a number of world states for control over Middle Eastern oil, because the Gulf is the largest in the world place deposits for crude oil.

Pearl of the Persian Gulf - such a definition, enjoyed the small state of Qatar, as it represents enormous opportunities to meet the needs of all categories of tourists.

Qatar - one of those countries that are difficult to immediately find on the world map. Surprisingly, prior to the beginning of XX century, most European travelers do not even imply the existence of this tiny peninsula.
In 1989, the Qatari government opened its borders to foreigners, by authorizing the immigration authorities the issuance of tourist visas.

Qatar today - is a dynamically developing country. But since it is still not very popular, the prices here with the same quality of service are significantly low. There are no visa restrictions for unmarried girls under age 30 in Qatar. The country is absolutely safe, late at night you can calmly walk down the streets.

Best time to relax in Qatar - is September-January and March-May. Excellent hotels and sandy beaches are waiting for you. Many beaches have the swimming pools interconnected and equipped with water slides. Persian Gulf is considered a excellent place for diving. One of the most popular entertainments offered to tourists in Qatar - the safari. In contrast to the UAE, this safari is more extreme and recalls the roller-coaster ride. After racing tourists are awaited for a barbecue on the Persian Gulf beach under the curtain of the picturesque tent.

Middle Eastern ancient jewellery

Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian tombs of the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC have given us a great quantity of gold and silver jewellery, including headdresses, necklaces and earrings inset with precious and semi-precious stones. Middle Eastern jewellery incorporating animal figures as amulets is also commonly found. However pieces from this area and time are seldom on the market and are not likely to be actually worn.

Very fine gold and silver jewellery was also made in Persia, Anatolia and Phoenicia.

Manufacturing techniques of Middle Eastern jewellery included granulation (surfaces decorated with clusters of tiny granules of gold), filigree, inlaid gems, and cloisonné and champlevé enamel.

Within the Middle East there is clear Egyptian influence on Phoenician work and of Mesopotamian styles on Persian pieces, and this suggests widespread trade and other contacts.


The art of jewelry has influenced many cultures. Traditionally, jewelry displays distinctive character, presents intense artistic images, and carries rich cultural assets through plasticity and expression. The language of jewelry is fairly complex and hard to interpret. Just like popular ancient languages that dominated in certain historic periods, such as Aramaic, Hebrew, Persian, Greek and Latin, the language of jewelry and the jewelry items themselves have changed and developed in time, according to laws and customs of historical development. Stylistic evolution from the Early Oriental to Hellenistic-Romanian trends served as a basis for the stylistic changes in the art of jewelry making. Aside from its external beauty properties, every jewelry object has a second, internal life triggered by its semantic significance and perceived through one’s mind, intuition or aesthetic sense.

It is known that diadems were a special sign of a god or royalty. Gold garlands were kept in temples as parts of gold funds and were given as rewards for special achievements. Fragments of diadems were found among the finds of Oxus and Tillya-tepe.

Characters crowned by similar head jewelry can be found on coins, intaglios, pottery, paintings, frescos and reliefs, which allow us to recognize them as royalty or god-like creatures. Most of diadems were gold. Sometimes they are made by the stamping method. Details and fragments of diadems are made in the shape of leaves, trefoils or rosettes.

Earrings represent one of the most popular types of adornments at all times. There are many types and kinds of earrings. Mostly earrings were made of gold, sometimes of bronze earrings, and made out of electrum, naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver.

As an example of earrings (as a popular item of jewelry), can be seen on an ancient sculpture. Like on one where the ears of small head are decorated with simple rings (no lock), which were made separately and especially for the head.

One of the widely-spread types is a circle-base ring shape. Decorative element is represented by zoomorphic ends, anthropomorphic images, plant elements, figure images, and the actual ring shape with thickening ends. Jewelers used casting, forging and later granulation. A steatite mold for casting, attributed to XIII- XII B.C., is an eloquent testimony to that. Among other stones, garnet was frequently used both as inserts and as separate pendants.

The earrings of the ancient Middle East demonstrate different stylistic trends: ancient Eastern, Hellenistic, Egyptian, and Hellenistic-Roman, which is typical for the ancient culture and art in this region, because it was an integral part of the overall context of the history of ancient civilizations. The adornments in question demonstrate certain stages of the art of jewelry developing in the ancient world.

Historical cities: Isfahan-Iran

Isfahan or Esfahan (Persian: اصفهان Esfahān historically also rendered in English as Ispahan or Hispahan, is located about 340 km south of Tehran and is the capital of Isfahan Province and Iran's third largest city (after Tehran and Mashhad).

Isfahan has been designated by UNESCO as a world heritage city. It contains a wide variety of Islamic Architectural sites ranging from the 11th century to the 19th.
Historically, Isfahan dates back to ancient times. However, most of its preserved monuments date from the Islamic era when the city was the capital of Iran from the 7th to the17th centuries. Isfahan's numerous cultural treasures and historical splendours comprising of palaces, mosques, churches, bazaars and beautiful bridges, make it one of the most beautiful cities in Asia Minor. (Current population: 1,300,000)

Unesco World Heritage adds: Meidan Emam, a complex of buildings commissioned by Shah Abbas I the Great in the early part of the 17th Century, includes the Royal Mosque, the Mosque of Sheykh Lotfollah and the Portico of Qaysariyyeh and, from an earlier period, the 15th Centruy Timurid Palace.

The Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan is one of the biggest city squares in the world and an outstanding example of Iranian and Islamic architecture. It has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city also has a wide variety of historic monuments ranging from the Sassanid to the Safavid dynasties.
Remaining Islamic architectural sites were built from 11th to the 19th century, while older, pre-Islamic monuments date back to 1000 B.C.

Historical sites

Squares and Streets

* Naqsh-e Jahan Square also known as "Shah Square" or "Imam Square" - 1602.
* Meydan Kohne (Old Square)
* Shahshahan Square
* Chaharbagh Boulevard - 1596.
* Chaharbagh-e-khajou Boulevard

Palaces

* Ali Qapu (The Royal Palace) - Early 17th Century.
* Talar Ashraf (The Palace of Ashraf) - 1650.
* Hasht-Behesht (The Palace of Eight Paradises) - 1669.
* Chehel Sotoun (The Palace of Forty Columns) - 1647.

Old schools (Madresse):

* Madreseye Sadr.
* Madreseye Shah (Chahar Bagh School).
* Madreseye Khajoo.

Mosques

* Shah Mosque
* Hakim Mosque Isfahan
* Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque
* Esfahan Jame (Congregative) mosque

Caravanserais

* Shah Carvanserai


Bazaars

* Grand Bazaar, Isfahan
* Shahi Bazaar













Isfahan’s main monuments are centred around the following areas; the Imam Square (or Royal Square), the Friday Mosque, and the bridges on the Zayandeh Rud. The centre of Isfahan during the Seljuk period was the Friday Mosque. Today, the mosque is like a patchwork of history with a winter hall that is probably Timurid; minarets built by the "Black Sheep" tribe and the interior decorated by the Safavids.

In 1598, Shah Abbas decided to shift this centre to the present day Imam Square - according to some, in order to annoy a rich merchant who was reluctant to part with his property. This Square is one of the largest in the world (500m x 160m) and was the symbolic centre of the Safavid Dynasty and its Empire. It was used for holding festivals, markets and games of polo. The original goal posts from Shah Abbas’ polo grounds are still in place today at the far ends of the square.

The square is surrounded on all 4 sides by long walls with the Imam Mosque in the south, the Mosque of Sheikh Lotfollah in the east, the Ali Qapu Palace in the west and the entrance of the great Bazaar in the north. It is a very popular spot on summer evenings when the Isfahanis settle down on carpets and bring out their picnics and samovars.

Isfahan’s majestic buildings and bridges, elegant gardens, attractive bazaars and teahouses, entrance the visitor into wanting to spend as much time as possible in its relaxing atmosphere.

The Red Sea

The Red Sea, or as it’s called in Arabic: Bahr al-Ahmar, is one of the world’s most tantalizing seascape environments. It began to develop 20-30 million years ago when the plates of East Africa and Arabia stretched-out until they broke apart. The Red Sea is a geologically recent opening and one of the youngest oceanic zones on earth.




* The Red Sea is usually considered an extension of the Indian Ocean, which lies between Africa and Asia

* Narrow connection to the Indian Ocean lies at its south through the Bab al Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden

* 1,200 miles long and as much as 190 miles wide at some points

* Maximum depth of the Red Sea is 8,200 feet

9 countries share the shorelines of the Red Sea and the waters of the Red Sea support a vital fishing industry and provide recreation facilities. Unfortunately, the coastal environment is fragile. The shore line, coastal region, and near-shore waters are all under pressure from populations and industry.

Approximately 40 % of the Red Sea is quite shallow (less than 100 m) whereas about 25 % of the Red Sea is less than 50 m deep. About 15 % of the Red Sea is over 1000 m depth. Shelf breaks are marked by coral reefs and the continental slope has an irregular profile (series of steps down to 500 m)

Any attempt to describe the marine life of the Red Sea risks drowning in superlatives--it is extraordinary, unparalleled, marvellous, incredible, and truly wondrous. It was not by chance that Jacques Cousteau chose this region to first introduce the world to undersea life, and by the same token it is not by chance that so many people become diving fanatics during a visit to Sinai.

The exceptional richness of marine life in the Red Sea, and in the Gulf of Aqaba in particular, is due to an unusual combination of environmental factors. First, the Red Sea is comparatively sheltered and calm: its currents are gentle and regular, its tides almost non-existent, and its temperature warm and steady. While its waters run quite deep, they are warmed by volcanic heat emanating from the sea bed. The result of all these factors is an environment ideally suited to the complex and delicate ecosystem of coral reefs.

Even among the world's most celebrated reef systems, that of the Sinai stands out for its unusual wealth of certain kinds of marine life--most notably, coral itself. The sheer abundance of corals, many of exceptional size and color, makes diving in Sinai an experience of almost magical intensity. But beyond the corals is a nearly infinite variety of marine species, including such notable creatures as Napoleon wrasse, brilliant orange coral groupers, enormous gorgonian fans, moray eels and hammerhead sharks, elaborate lionfish and majestic, swooping giant manta rays.

Cargo vessels, oil tankers, fishing boats, and passenger liners all move their trade across this great waterway, but for many, the true enchantment of the Red Sea is hidden just below its surface.

There are over 1000 species of invertebrates and around 200 recorded coral types to be found. Moreover, the Red Sea boasts over a thousand species of fish, more species than any other proportional body of water. Not surprisingly, therefore, the Red Sea is considered by many to offer the very best diving available in the marine world. The Red Sea attracts divers, photographers, marine scientists, and leisure seekers from all over the world, hoping to experience and explore the incalculable wonders of the colorful, abounding marine life and the Red Sea’s lavish coral reefs. In places, the exceptional living reef stretches way out to sea, forming a elaborate system of caves, lagoons, gardens, and plateaus. Some of these coral summits plunge dramatically thousands of feet to the ocean floor. The Red Sea is not all a delight however, as it has its troubles which you will have to stay away from. There is minimal danger from marine animals in the Red Sea, and with a little common sense, even these dangers can be eliminated. Some of the marine animals are dangerous to touch, others dangerous to eat, and some are dangerous to come face to face with. There are fire corals and stinging hydroids which can be extremely painful if accidentally touched as well.

The Living Dead Sea

Thanks to its unique elements of nature, life and quality of life at the Living Dead Sea are unlike any other place in the world.

The climate and the mineral qualities are major features in the variety of its therapeutic qualities, of its beauty treatments and of the menu of bodily pleasures to choose from.

The only place on the globe where the crust of planet Earth recedes to an "in-depth low" of minus 416 meters below sea level.

330 days a year of sun that caresses sunbathers through atmospheric filters with the least chance of sun-burning. The air that is miraculously dry, unpolluted, pollen-free, the air that purifies respiratory systems also filters and softens solar radiation.

The Living Dead Sea is the only un-drownable lake on earth. Travellers from afar make the distance just for the sensation of reclining into its salty water, floating in armchair, reading position and leaving the worries of the world behind them. An assortment of mineral waters of various qualities is used for therapeutic and cosmetic treatments, as well as for manufacturing of the famous Dead Sea cosmetics lines. Drinking water comes from underground aquifer reservoirs by hydro-energy.

Mineral-rich springs, predominantly sulphur, rise from deep down into little ponds
along the Dead Sea shores.


Mud pack

For improved blood circulation, to relieve tensions of mind and muscle, for cosmetic and therapeutic benefits, indulge in a natural black mud pack. This experience is the most hilarious fun of the Living Dead Sea.

The name 'Dead Sea' is actually a kinder, gentler translation from the Hebrew name 'Yam ha Maved', which means, 'Killer Sea'. It is some of the saltiest water anywhere in the world, almost 6 times as salty as the ocean. The Dead Sea is completely landlocked and it gets saltier with increasing depth. The surface, fed by the River Jordan, is the least saline. Down to about 130 feet (40 meters), the seawater comprises about 300 grams of salt per kilogram of seawater. That's about ten times the salinity of the oceans. Below 300 feet, though, the sea has 332 grams of salt per kilogram of seawater and is saturated. Salt precipitates out and piles up on the bottom of the sea.

There are no fish or any kind of swimming, squirming creatures living in or near the water. There are, however, several types of bacteria and one type of algea that have adapted to harsh life in the waters of the Dead Sea. What you'll see on the shores of the Sea is white, crystals of salt covering everything. And this is no ordinary table salt, either. The salts found in the Dead Sea are mineral salts, just like you find in the oceans of the world, only in extreme concentrations. The water in the Dead Sea is deadly to living things. Fish accidentally swimming into the waters from one of the several freshwater streams that feed the Sea are killed instantly, their bodies quickly coated with a preserving layer of salt crystals and then tossed onto shore by the wind and waves. Because of the extremely high concentration of dissolved mineral salts in the water its density is way more than that of plain old fresh water. What this means is our bodies are more buoyant in the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea is continually fed water from the rivers and streams coming down off the mountains that surround it. But the kicker is this....no rivers drain out of the Dead Sea. The only way water gets out of the Sea is through evaporation.

This part of the world get plenty hot. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind all the dissolved minerals in the Sea, just making it saltier. In fact, it's through the dual action of: 1) continuing evaporation and 2) minerals salts carried into the Sea from the local rivers, that makes the Sea so salty. The fact that the water doesn't escape the Sea just traps the salts within its shores. There's nothing living in the Dead Sea because it got so salty, so quickly, that evolution has not had a chance to produce any creatures that could adapt to such brutal conditions.

Middle Eastern Food

The region of the Middle East was the site of great ancient civilizations, Mesopotamia and Egypt, as well as the birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Today the term Middle East is also used in a cultural sense for that part of the world predominantly Islamic in culture, in which case Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the remaining countries of North Africa are included. The cooking that developed from country to country bears similarities as well as differences, but most of the cooking had its origins in what we may call 'tent cooking.'

Geographic borders have been defined and redefined through the centuries, but many of the roots of Middle Eastern cooking can be found in the country of Israel. Israel is located in the South West corner of the Asian continent and at the South Eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Geographically it is at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. It is bordered by Lebanon to the North, Syria to the North East, Jordan to the East and Egypt to the South West. Its Western shoreline is on the Mediterranean Sea and it occupies a narrow strip at the extreme South along the Red Sea. Together with the country's non-Jewish citizens - Muslim and Christian Arabs, Bedouin, and Druze this melting pot gives the country its exceptional cuisine flavour.

Though often utilizing similar ingredients and cultural tastes, Middle Eastern Food can refer to a wide range of cuisines, from North African to Turkish, from Armenian to Israeli. The dishes frequently contain flatbreads such as pita and legumes such as chickpeas or beans. Many dishes do not include meat, making Middle Eastern cuisine a great option for vegetarians.

The Middle Eastern food is closely tied to Mediterranean food and often uses lamb and rice
Other common elements: Pita, honey, chickpeas, olives, tahini, lemons, cumin, yogurt, lentils, eggplant

Cuisine Characteristics

Middle Eastern cuisine is defined by the region and the traditions of the people that live there. With the warm climate, foods like grapes, lemons, olives, mint, parsley and eggplant are commonly grown and found in many dishes. Because pork is neither kosher nor halal, most Jews and Muslims do not eat it, and it is thus a rarity in Middle Eastern food. Lamb or mutton are much more common than beef. Because the Koran forbids alcohol, Middle Eastern dishes are not cooked in wine or other alcoholic beverages.

The fascinating Burj al Arab...

The Burj al Arab rises from the Arabian Gulf on an island 280 metres from the shores of the renowned Jumeirah Beach stands the iconic Burj Al Arab. What can you say about this hotel other than "amazing".

Considered one of the world's most luxurious hotels from the day it opened, Burj Al Arab stands over one thousand feet tall and was built to resemble the sail of a yacht.

The Burj al Arab has 202 incredible suites spread over 28 floors, which are subdivided into Deluxe Suites, Panoramic Suites, Club Suites, and Royal Suites with spectacular views over Dubai.

Guests are wowed by the stunning spacious lobby with water features and huge fish tanks.

The Burj al Arab building with its breathtaking architecture is linked to the mainland by a slender, gently curving causeway. Boasting of both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa and health club, a heli-pad and a private beach.

The Burj al Arabs further facilities here include many extravagant shops, a hairdresser, bars, restaurants, one of which is a seafood restaurant, which can be reached via the submarine simulator. The other restaurants offer Arabian, modern European, Mediterranean, and international cuisine.

Did you Know that Interesting Facts About Israel?

Israel, the 100th smallest country (!), with less than 1/1000th of the world's population, can claim to the following:

• Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.

• Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation

• In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the US (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).

• Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the US.

• Outside the United States and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.

• Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.

• Israel has the largest fleet of the aircraft outside of the US.

• Israel's $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.

• Israel has the largest number of biotech start-ups.

• Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.

• Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity.

• According to industry officials, Israel designed the airline industry's most impenetrable flight security. U.S. officials now look to Israel for advice on how to handle airborne security threats.

• In 1991, during the Gulf War, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra played a concert wearing gas masks as scud missiles fired by Saddam Hussein fell on Tel Aviv.

• Israel has the world's second highest per capita of new books.

• Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees.

• Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.

• Israel has 2 official languages: Hebrew and Arabic.