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The Thinking Traveller

The Thinking Traveller

G, where should we travel next?

Our affiliate friends, G Adventures, are always on the cutting edge of sensing what the world needs next in adventure travel.  They've been doing it for decades and, so, know their stuff. Well, given where we are in this point in time, travel has had to change and shape-shift.  But, that has given us time to…

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The German village that got lost

Europe is a very organised place.  It has to be, with 27 different countries, almost as many languages and 447.7 million inhabitants, it's pretty big, too.  Of course, that's also what makes it such a fun place to visit.  Peaceful, prosperous, progressive and ever-changing, it's a travel destination that never gets boring. But, even with those…

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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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War is over (if you want)

It will be trite to say too much about how awful war is.  You would think that after all of these decades and thousands lost, humanity would get the point that war is not a solution.  And yet, war marches on. It is useful to look back and reflect (and perhaps learn) on all that has…

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Sleepwalk on the water

How often do you have a dream come true?  This one almost defies belief, and certainly exceeds expectations. Once a monastery, Argos in Cappadocia is an exclusive hotel featuring elegant rooms with elaborate stone carvings and antique furnishings. Some of the suites even have a private indoor pool, perfect for guests dreaming about a romantic…

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Sleeping village

This article will either make you shake with fright, long for your teenage years   . .  or both. Designers are clever, especially when it comes to transforming something simple and relaxing into the stuff of nightmares.  It doesn't take much, and our imaginations have a tendency to run away from reality, especially when you desire that. And,…

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Ride the Hong Kong dragon

As if Hong Kong is not enough on its own, it also shyly features quiet joys. Fear not.  We're not discussing a fiery Cantonese dish (most aren't.)  Nor are we proposing some kind of thrill ride that requires diapers (although this activity features thrills of its own.) One little-known joy of Hong Kong is Shek O Peak,…

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How can Kuwait any longer??

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…

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An Eagle has landed

With companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, space travel nowadays seems like a doddle - like something anyone can do.  Like something rather ordinary.  Not a breathtaking and, at one time, herculean event. Some of us may remember sitting in front of our televisions when the Apollo 11 mission created a global gasp as…

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RUN! HURRY! THE MATTERHORN IS MELTING!!

They keep warning us about global warming but, for some reason, we don't listen. The Matterhorn is global warming’s latest victim.  Researchers installed 50 movement sensors at 13,000 feet to monitor how the mountain is coping with rising temperatures and melting permafrost, the layer of frozen soil beneath the Earth’s surface. They found developing and expanding fissures…

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Wings over Beijing

China is an exciting country, with such incredible diversity in its terrain, people . . . and its cities. Of course, Beijing rises to the top. It is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 million residents within an administrative area. It is home to the headquarters of most of China's largest state-owned companies…

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A walk around the block

Wide open spaces.  Free to roam. Fresh air. Peace and quiet. As quiet as a mouse.  “Listen to the silence. It has so much to say." But maybe not here.  Watch as Tim Traveller poses the question "Today this channel asks another vitally important question: where should I live if I want to have the largest…

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The desert is an ocean

The desert is an ocean, with its life underground.  And a perfect disguise above. In the arid heart of Australia, in the Central Tablelands of NSW, paleontologists have found new evidence of an abundance of life. A new fossil site that can most aptly be described as "exceptional" has turned up fossils of spiders, insects, fish, plants…

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