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Inspiration

Inspiration

Where were the rivers of Babylon?

Much like our Rastafarian friends, we often where the rivers of Babylon were located.  And, even more, where was Babylon itself?  And what happened to it? According to Wikipedia.org, Babylon was the capital city of the ancient Babylonian Empire, which itself is a term referring to either of two separate empires in the Mesopotamian area in antiquity. These two empires achieved regional dominance between the 19th and 15th centuries BC, and again between the 7th and 6th centuries BC.   But where is it now?  And why should you visit?  It is a fascinating and unusual adventure into ancient history, that’s why. Due to Babylon’s historical significance as well as references to it in…

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But what will you do with all that time?

It won't be surprise if we say that Japan is one of the happiest and most welcoming countries in the world.  Its residents strive every day find happiness in even the little things.  But, some of the quiet islands take that ethos even further. Okinawa, Japan has highest congregation of  people over 100 years of…

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I’ve seen her before

We discovered an article the other day about a female model that you've no doubt seen before.  In fact, she's even been in one of our posts.  But, who is she?  What's she like? Well, believe it or not,  she's an unassuming Canadian woman by the name of Ariane, although her real name is Rebecca Givens. …

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Conversations with the trees

They can hear you, you know . . . The hippies never really went away, and that's a good thing.  What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?  But, the hippie movement has changed shape over the decades, especially since we now better understand that we must partner with Mother Nature rather than subdue her. Thankfully, there…

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Tenacity city

ACHIEVEMENT IS A CHOICE We won't wax here on about working hard.  That is a personal choice and who are we to say?  It has its ups and downs.  It's not for everyone.  And there is no shame in simply being who you are, ambitious or not. In China, though, there is an entire city of go-getters.…

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Cycle, with meaning

Sorry, we meant Roughlee. Near Nelson, Lancashire, UK a refuge built in 1912 for mill workers to meet in nature is still open to cyclists for tea and leftwing sympathy. You can clearly see Clarion House from high up on the ridge between Barrowford and Roughlee. Not only because it stands alone on a green…

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$700,000,000 homes and ten car garages.

If you think you know Africa, think again.  The country - and its entrepreneurs are not getting left behind.  Brains and guts exist in every country, and Africa on that list. The Real Wakanda is where oil magnates, textile queenpins, and construction autocrats come home to gargantuan mansions. Africa is home to 1.2 billion inhabitants, and has…

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Why? Because we’re the VatiCAN!

If you haven't visited the Vatican in Rome, please be sure to add it to your list.  Not only are the Vatican buildings, themselves, incredible, but the Vatican museum will blow your mind. As you may know, the Vatican itself is an independent city-state and enclave located within Rome, Italy and it is a distinct…

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Yogyakarta blanche

Isn't it a delight when you discover someplace new and it exceeds all of your expectations especially when you don't know what your expectations are?  Yogyakarta is one of those places. The Indonesian city rests in central Java, between the cool breezes of the Indian Ocean and the steamy breath of volcanoes. Travel here and join the…

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There is no “we” in ice cream.

We don't know about you, but sometimes we pause and marvel at what amazing machines we are, we humans.  How many automobiles or airplanes live past sixty years?  How many of our fellow creatures on this earth drive those cars or fly those jets?  Makes you think, doesn't it? And why do we live so…

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Take a tour of the Emirates

Surprise!  This is actually a tour of the sumptuous Emirates Airbus A380, and will be worth every minute of your time. These yachts of the airwaves were almost put out to pasture with the Covid-19 pandemic.  With 400+ seats and breathtaking style and luxury, the A380 was almost anathema, when no-one was flying.  The Boeing 747…

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Bangkok walks!

A marvelous thing about our world and our planet (with all of its residents) is how much change happens every minute of every day.  Not all of it is necessarily good, but there is so much good in humanity that, sometimes, it's nice to simply celebrate the good. For example, Bangkok is a sprawling, diverse and…

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Guilt-free sea

You'll probably be asking what a cargo ship has to do with cruises.  Well, right now, not much.  But, watch this video to see what the smart boffins are doing now to help create a better world. Dubbed ‘the Tesla of the seas’ this fully-electrified, fully-autonomous cargo ship is already making waves. How does it work?…

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It’s 1984 again . . and again

We here at Matouring.com are of an age when we've seen (and even experienced first-hand) some of the half-baked ideas and horrific outcomes on the world stage and in world politics.  It feels like we're there yet again, but, unlike before, we have the power to collectively act and make a difference. George Orwell (with his books…

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Supper’s ready

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused pandemonium everywhere, especially when it comes to the world of tourism. As you'll know, Leonardo DaVinci's Last Supper is one of the most visited and admired tourist attractions in the world.  It did not escape the travel drought, either.   But, happily, it is now open again for you to visit. The Santa…

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Be a better traveler

By default, just because you're reading this (and have visited our site,) we can assume that you're a smart, aware, thoughtful, curious and fun human being.  But, we always have room for improvement, it's safe to say.  The choices we make on the road can have a big impact on the people and places we encounter…

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Weekly . . perhaps, weakly

The week is the most artificial and recent of our time counts yet it’s impossible to imagine our shared lives without it. Among many collective discoveries during the pandemic confinement of 2020, Americans learned just how attached we are to our seven weekdays. As complaints about temporal disorientation mounted that April, we focused not on the clock…

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