On the western part of the country, the desert state of Rajasthan brims with heritage – beautiful palaces, historic forts, painted regal havelis, and it is, indeed, a resplendent route to journey on. The desert folk with lineages of royalty intermingled with rustic communities have long endured the adversities of the land. Their ways of life evolved in the arid environment — from the cuisine using the desert plant life to clothing helping them stand against dunes, from the folk music that sings of water and wells. to the dance forms that mimic the desert wildlife.
DETAILSCelebrated for its colourful history, fascinating customs, and jaw-dropping landscapes it’s easy to see why Bolivia and travel are a match made in heaven. There are wonderful Incan ruins to be explored, yet the Spanish colonisation can still be strongly felt: the “white city” of Sucre is a UNESCO-listed site. The phenomenal Salt Flats are a photographer’s dream and must-do experience in Bolivia. So too is the monumental Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable body of water at 3,800 metres, its waters reflecting the Andes ranges.
DETAILSFour countries… similar, but different. Nicaragua is the largest of the Central American countries by land size. Colonised on the Pacific coast by the Spanish and on the Atlantic coast by the British. Add an African-Caribbean influence with the indigenous peoples and you have a melting pot of cultures. The country has a growing tourism industry and now is a good time to visit given tourism is in its infancy and you can experience the genuine culture.
DETAILSCrete’s natural beauty is equalled only by the richness of its history. The island is the birthplace of the first advanced society on European soil, the Minoans, who ruled over much of the Aegean some 4,000 years ago. You’ll find vestiges of this mysterious civilisation all over Crete, including the famous “Palace of Knossos” and the legend of the labyrinth of King Minos and the slaying of the Minotaur by Theseus to save the kings daughter, Ariadne. At the crossroads of three continents, Crete has been coveted and occupied by consecutive invaders.
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