When you mention "sleeping with the fishes," back in the days of Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde and George "Baby Face" Nelson, you might be able to get what we mean. Not something that you would aspire to.
No, it means something entirely different from our intentions here. When we say sleep…
Middle East
If you've read certain articles here on Matouring, we love to feature places that are well known, but actually are different from some percieved (and often incorrect) impressions by a certain few who have, perhaps, not done their homework before bypassing or dismissing a new place to explore and enjoy.
We feel that…
We love history here, at Matouring. History is who we are and why we are the way we are. And, even more than that solumn sentence, history is actually really fun, especially when you realise all that they did - and did for the world (even today) in a relatively short amount of…
Have you ever flown in a hot-air balloon? If not, you may want to move that further up in your travel "to-do" list.
Why? Because when you choose the right location and the right time of year, it is an other-worldly experience. When we took ours, over the hills of Tuscany, it was nothing like we…
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…
What do you know about Kuwait?
Yes, Kuwait (Arabic: الكويت) is a country in the Middle East. It is located at the head of the Persian Gulf, with Iraq to the north and west, and Saudi Arabia to the southwest.
And, yes, Kuwaiti people originate from Arabia, Iran and Iraq, although a small minority of Kuwaitis trace…
What lovely animals, the dolphins. Gentle, smart, quick, adaptive and friendly. They seem to have a genuine love of humans. You just want to kiss them. Well, here's the next best thing.
Get up close to dolphins on this fantastic 9-hour snorkel trip from Hurghada, Egypt. Enjoy a boat cruise to areas in the open sea…
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…
As ever, the world is swirled and twirled by events, people and time itself. Even the most powerful must take our last breaths.
And where would this addage be more appropriate than in the lands where kings, queens, power, priviledge and treachery were business-as-usual.
Of course, we're talking about ancient history (as we do,) and in this…
As the old phrase goes, "there's no getting around getting around." We've all got to do it. Sometimes it's a pain, other times it's a pleasure. Sometimes you have no choice.
Getting around has been a real challenge during these times of the Covid-19 pandemic. So much so, that many of us have simply opted not…
We often have - often romantic - visions of the Sahara desert as a "destination" for our travels. And rightly so, as its wonders are legend and plentiful. But it takes a certain kind of traveler to do that.
But, this singular place on earth was not always the stark vision that we have in our…
Muscat, Oman, is likely another one of those places that you've heard of, but have never visited. Well, let us tempt you with a tour to remember.
Discover the main attraction of Wadi Shab, a magical waterfall within a cave. Take a 40-minute hike to reach the destination, where you can also dive into a couple…
Praise the Pharoahs! At last, the miracle mile is cleared for us mortals.
Egyptian authorities have unveiled a renovated ancient promenade in the city of Luxor that dates back 3,000 years.
It's the latest government project undertaken to highlight the country's archaeological treasures.
Read more here courtesy of ABC.net.au
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Dubai has turned breaking world records into something of an art form over the years, and the emirate now has yet another to add to its list. The world's first and highest 360-degree infinity pool has just opened at the Palm Tower, a hotel and residential building from developer Nakheel that offers showstopping views…
Etihad Airways, our affiliate friends, have launched the third step of its golden jubilee celebrations as the UAE (United Arab Emirates) proclaims fifty years since its establishment. In a group of videos released over the next few weeks, Etihad will pull together experts from the Formula 1, music and fashion pundits from around the world, with…
Aren't we fortunate that our giant steps in technology allow us to see and touch things that were only dreams to our grandparents? Above and beyond the "everyday" ability to travel to almost any corner of the world with consumate ease, we are - as humanity - unearthing new views into our past as every…
Fair warning: chances are good that you won't be able to visit Nabta Playa, but we know that our readers are curious types. And, there are plenty of other things to do in the desert. The Nabta Playa archaeological site, one of the earliest of the Egyptian Neolithic Period, is dated to circa 7500 BC This…
As we humans (supposedly) get smarter, we should also do smart things. That's not always the case, but here it is.
In 2010, workers encountered an especially impressive mosaic while digging the foundation for a new hotel in Antakya, Turkey. They found an ancient mosaic measuring 9,000 square feet, making it the largest intact mosaic ever…
Many specialist skills, those creating and molding incredible pieces over the decades, have long since disappeared into our overall void of mass-manufactured sameness. But, fortunately, there are those who still carry the torch of the artisan.
Saied Hussain has been hand making tiles out of cement for over 50 years. He says he’s one of the…
We think this is a good thing: recycling is the way forward. And here's an unusual and creative take on it. A massive new theme park is being built in the Middle East - on an oil rig. The project, called The Rig, will be spread over a whopping 1.6 million sqft in Saudi Arabia…