Approach Guides :: Online World Cultural Travel Guides and Guidebooks

Kathakali: Traditional Dance of Kerala, India

ApproachGuides — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:33:17 +0000

Kathakali (meaning “story play”) is one of the traditional dances of the South Indian state of Kerala. This classical dance is noted for the elaborate costumes, bold make-up, and choreography based on the ancient Indian martial art, Kalarippayattu. Historical Reference Kathakali took its present form in the 17th century, and given that timing, we surmise [...]

Hidden Gem in Puglia, Italy: Trani

ApproachGuides — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:15:36 +0000

The town of Trani is located on the east coast of Puglia (map), between the Gargano Peninsual (north) and Bari (south). Trani is an active and vibrant city with an impressive list of restaurants and a big weekend and evening passegiata. The city is a great place to use as a base while exploring this [...]

Moses’ Mountain: Climbing Mount Sinai in Egypt

ApproachGuides — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:38:12 +0000

The Sinai Peninsula’s Moses’ Mountain (aka Mount Sinai, Mount/Gebel Horeb, Mount/Gebel Musa) rises behind the storied, 4th century St. Catherine’s Monastery, the oldest continuously operating Christian monastery in existence today. The monastery — formally named Sacred and Imperial Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai — is built upon the supposed location of the Bible’s famed [...]

Maya Cosmology & Symbols: The Ceremonial Serpent Bar

ApproachGuides — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:40:34 +0000

Ceremonial bars — also known as serpent bars — are a common symbol in the Maya world and often depicted being wielded by rulers on stelae. They are typically employed when stelae were constructed to depict a period ending event. The bar typically ends in two open serpent mouths, from which gods emerge; the serpent [...]

Best NYC Wine Bars for TBEX Meetups

ApproachGuides — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:49:17 +0000

Approach Guides wants to welcome all travel bloggers that are attending TBEX ’10 to our home city of New York! Although we will miss seeing you this year (we are in Mexico writing a guide on Mayan architecture); we want to welcome you with a list of our favorite NYC wine bars for meeting up [...]

How to Read a Japanese Kaiseki Menu

ApproachGuides — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:31:31 +0000

During our first visit to Japan, we were overwhelmed (in a good way!) by the traditions of the local culture. The culture of food, especially, had so many rules, courses, and new types of dishes to experiment with that we can see how first-time travelers may be overwhelmed. We attempt to demystify Japanese food, specifically [...]

What to Buy in Spain: A Consumer’s Guide to Jamon Iberico & Jamon Serrano

ApproachGuides — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:07:27 +0000

Whenever we visit Spain, we seek out one of the country’s most famous delicacies: Jamón Ibérico de Bellota – a seriously delicious, acorn-fed, salt-cured ham. The taste of the jamon is one of the most distinctive tastes in the world – nutty, rich, slightly sweet and savory. Once you have had it, you will never [...]

Mosaics in Venice’s St Mark’s: Lesser-Known Facts

ApproachGuides — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:16:23 +0000

Everyone knows about the exceptional mosaics at St Mark’s cathedral in Venice, however, there are still a few tricks to visiting that can really make your visit more enjoyable and thought-provoking. What time to visit. Try to visit from 11:30 AM TO 12:30 PM. During this time, the church turns on all of the interior [...]

Top Three Tips for Staying Sane While on the Road

ApproachGuides — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:20:20 +0000

After spending four years on the road, we found three key things that greatly enhanced our travel experience and helped us stay sane while traveling for long periods of time. Here are our tips: Exercise. Exercise is key to minimizing jet lag, recharging after touring for long hours, and recovering from an evening out. We [...]

Travel to Turkey: A Recommended Reading List

ApproachGuides — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:06:13 +0000

There are several books that we recommend for an upcoming trip to Turkey. We try to give readers a selection of books that give the story behind Turkey’s history and focus on it’s powerful political and religious past, its architectural contributions and delicious food. A Short History of Byzantium by John Julius Norwich Of all [...]