WORLD TOURISM DAY

 

Let us all celebrate the World Tourism Day!

Today, Tuesday 27^th September. 

Get out of your comfort zone and act like a tourist for a day!

 

"Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The adoption of these Statutes is considered a milestone in global tourism.  The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide".

-Wikipedia

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_Day

 

Georgia On Our Minds

 

My Georgia Trip (Blog Series 2 of 3)

 

When I was in a mall here in Doha a few days back, I overheard a group of friends talking about their recent trip to Georgia and how they liked it… and seems talking of planning to go back.  And again from another group of people who were talking about the same. And again another group whose planning for a trip soon.  It is not my habit to listen to other people’s conversation but I just accidentally heard them talking about Georgia at different occasion.   As I myself have been to Georgia just recently, I can vouch to the testimonies of those who have been to the place.  We can only say good words about that Eastern European country.  If you have been to that place, you could have thought of remembering the good times there.  And I cannot help but think of the song written in 1930 popularized by Ray Charles “Georgia On my Mind”.  Though, the song is not pertaining to the country but the US State of Georgia probably.  I am sure by now everyone reading this could think in unison about Georgia on our minds.

Whether you are taking your journey to the capital Tbilisi to walk on the famous Bridge of Peace, to stroll its downtown in Rustaveli Avenue, to visiting its popular baths and numerous century old cathedrals, to taking a dip to its medieval architectures to get a whiff of its rich history and or later go up-country from its capital; Georgia has something to offer for everyone… the possibilities are endless!

So, when are you planning yours?  It’s going to be worth the trip!

Just one warning though, beware of the panhandlers in the streets (beggars) mostly kids; they could be anywhere and could be so assertive.  They would even grab you in the leg and cling there until you give them some Lari (1GEL that is).  For me, that is the only one problem tourists could be beleaguered on with their otherwise safe stroll in the city of Tbilisi… the juvenile delinquency.



 

 

Travel Quote by S. Orman

"It's impossible to map out a route to your destination if you don't know where you're starting from."

- Suze Orman



                                                              For illustration only/theage.com.au

Gudauri: Greater Caucasus Mountain Range

 

 

My Georgia Trip (Blog Series 1 of 3)

 

One Magical day with so much of exciting magical moments for someone like me who hails from a country different from this one.  Surely there are a lot of other countries that has the same sceneries, but I have not been there yet though… here is where I got to experience it first… The Gudauri, where the snowy mountain alp called Greater Caucasus Mountain Range is situated in Georgia… the country on the crossroad of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. 

 

The mountain is in so high altitude that makes it capped with snow all year round.  Any holidaymaker will enjoy its slopes.  It is great for any skiing activities paralleled from what you can get in Switzerland.  Just remember to bring your own equipment because renting one at site could be expensive for some and not to mention the trainer that teaches basic skiing, he could be so pricey for an hour lesson.  Well, it could also be not much for an experience, some people are willing to pay the price for that once in a lifetime indulgence.

The Gudauri alp,  a sight to behold and remember!

 

 

 

 

TITANIC: The Legendary 104th year!

Are you always intrigued by the legendary Titanic? The infamous ship is now 104 years old to be exact by April 15, 2016 dating back from its maiden voyage.

I am as intrigued as you are! Well enough to satisfy my curiosity, I visited the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool, England to see what’s of remains the shipwreck (at least, the least thing I could do). ‘Got photos of some of the items collected from some of their expeditions.

Today, researchers are still mapping the Titanic debris field hoping it will provide new clues about what exactly happened the night 100 years ago when the superliner hit an iceberg and plunged to the bottom of the North Atlantic.

True enough, who couldn’t be interested than these generations of different film production outfit that made it into TV and movies? The most famous though was the latest from James Cameron that has come out again, in 3D in time for its 100th anniversary in April 15.

The film is not short of intrigues itself, I remember a British woman friend of mine once told me that she was saved from food poisoning from the location shoot in Mexico when she finally decided not to come up for the shooting as crowd extra. The catering company commissioned for the shoot seems mishandled the services.

Tidbits:

The Titanic movie actor's (Billy Zane) dialogue once said: “Even God Himself cannot sink this ship!” They thought it is unsinkable, well then, it sunk!

But one of its contemporaries also once said: “Only God can sail this ship!” Well then, it is still voyaging up to this day, the MV Doulos (former name SS Medina in 1914), the oldest active ocean-faring passenger ship. The ship like no other!

Travel back through time looking at these photos below:

Come and visit this place!

Nostalgic over larger than life 3D version of the Titanic movie?  I do, as for me, this is the greatest movie of our time ever made!



Travel Well

“You don’t have to be rich to travel well.” – Eugene Fodor

Garden Wedding

 

Are you planning to tie the knot soon?  You are probably on the lookout for that perfect location - may it be in a church, in a civil wedding hall or a much grandiose garden wedding.  Well, look no further!  A garden wedding is so much in demand these days, so much so with a garden wedding by the beach side.  It is not only literally refreshing,  it also gives you a feeling of bliss on that important day, because, I’m telling you, that bliss will be so missed when you are on a family way real soon after.

Of course, you got to find a perfect month for that perfect weather.  You also got to have an alternative location to keep at close should there be a sudden change of weather forecast in a flash.  I am talking based on experience, this was when I attended a niece wedding by the Marina Bay in Sydney, Australia when suddenly an outpour of rain on an unexpected strong wind course ruined the supposedly perfect garden wedding day.  A close beach club venue saved not only the couples important day but also the whole entourage and guests perfect outfit of the day!  Well, we called that a drizzle of blessings.

So, whether you are planning for a grandiose or modest kind of tight budget, there are plenty of destinations to look from this time of the year.  We in the Philippines do not run short of destinations to choose from as we are blessed with over 7000 (7,107 islands to be exact on low tides) islands in one nation to boast for.

 

 

                   Marinduque, Philippines      Bret/Viber

 

An inquiry to a good one or two wedding organizer could do the magical trick.  So here is one reputable name in the field that could take away the worries out of your mind - or your hands rather, suggested by a good friend Mr. Bret Pilapil whom all photos here in this particular post were provided by the way, please contact - The Wedding Planner Mr. Resty Montepieda.  Just leave a comment below for your contact queries.

 

In case some of you are scouting a place for the same or just planning to hang out with family and friends, especially for those who live within the area and/or from neighboring provinces in Marinduque, Philippines, there are numbers of resorts around town.  It is also noteworthy to feature here the beautiful South West Bay Resort (in photos) at Brgy. Bacung-bacung, Gasan, Marinduque, Philippines.  Summer time is around the corner, so go pack your things ahead for that great holiday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Travel!

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

Travel Quote by Ibn Battuta

 

Marinduque, Philippines

 “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

Happy New Year 2016!!! It's A New Travel Year!

Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

 

 

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

 

#ColorTheraphy

 

Paris 2015: Climate Change Conference (COP21)

 

Remember my old article about the Doha 2012 UN Climate Change Conference: COP18/CM8 back in November 2012? http://dreamworldtravelbyroland.blogspot.qa/2012/11/doha-2012-un-climate-change-conference.html

This year the UN Climate Change Summit is ongoing in Paris, France. The Climate Change Conference (COP21) hopes to be successful and fruitful for us all as world leaders are presently battling with what little is left.

Let us make this world a wonderful place to live for us and the future inhabitants to come…and for other people in our present generation to enjoy of what are still beautiful places that left there is.

 

 

“The world is expecting more from you than half-measures”

“The clock is ticking towards climate catastrophe.”

- UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

 

 

 TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

#PrayForParis

 

 When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

 

 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.  -  1 Corinthians 13:13 - NIV

 

ROZZA HASSAD: The Greenhouse

I know most of you have walked into a botanical garden somewhere in the world as any country has several around, especially those labeled as green.  By green, I mean any environmental conscious country there is.  How about greenhouses?  I’m sure you have.  And mind you, I never have… until recently.
 

On my recent local trip in Qatar one Saturday, I was amazed by one of these local farm houses around the country.  I read about the article in one popular local online magazine in Doha (Doha News) and bumped into this article that says “Things to do in Qatar this weekend”, and it got my attention into one thing to do that would interest me, a visit to a greenhouse somewhere in the outskirt of Doha.  At first, I thought it was just a similar botanical garden with a greenhouse in the middle of the dessert as many rich would have for their private indulgence which anyone can only see from afar when you travel on a main roads going to the north or to the south of the country.  

 

We started our trip somehow in a bad note because we got lost and seems like do not know our way around to the place even if we were looking through a location map. We were not enchanted for one but the experience of getting lost gave us more excitement in driving around nowhere, the thrills were priceless.  The place only opens ones a month from sometime in September or October to April depending on the weather at around 10am till 2pm, so imagine the suspense if you get late because your mental GPS is malfunctioning, not to mention that your petrol is dwindling.  See how terrible it could be if we were stuck in the middle of nowhere in some faraway dessert?

 

Getting there was even a surprise, it was not your typical greenhouse in the middle of nowhere but an impressive one that only few can afford.  The place is called ROZA HASSAD (google it!) in Umm Leghab, Dukhan Road.  The greenhouse is not just flowers, vegetables and crops production farm but a very environmental friendly one.  It is self-sufficient and self-sustain farm.  It produces its own water for irrigation, recycles water, produces its own natural compost and uses the most sophisticated temperature and light controlling system; and the most simple pest control techniques which are by the way again all natural.  At the end of the guided trip you can have the opportunity to bring produce on your way back home!

 

So what’s better way to spend your holiday next weekend?  But you just have to wait for months till next season of the opening day comes back around (as per schedule announcement). 

 

Below are some photos in action, of course, with the permission to blog an article about from Mr. Jean Pierre, the man himself, a kind tour guide who lets us get in, even if the door was already closed… because we were late (big thanks to the management!). 

 

Their environmental advocacy is well worth promoting, please support them as well next time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographs Courtesy of: 

Mr. Mykel Quinto (MQ House of Photography)

 

http://dohanews.co/seven-things-to-do-in-qatar-this-weekend-april-9-11/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002972576915&fref=ts