Where To Go

QATAR

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This hot, desert country juts out from the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula into the Arabian Gulf. It has Bahrain to the west and United Arab Emirates to the south-east.

The country measures an area of 11,435 sq km, has a population of 435,000 people and its capital is Doha. Languages are spoken Arabic and English. The religion is Muslim

Qatar is flat and barren and the highest point is 75m. There is little natural vegetation and only patches of scrub. It has not a lot of wildlife but only dangerous desert creatures such as camel spiders and scorpions.

Birdlife, including falcons, is common.

ECONOMIC

Qatar was a poor country and the only income was pearl diving as a main industry.

PEARL QATAR

In 1939 oil was discovered and it boosted the economy greatly. Ever since the standard of living improved and many foreign workers came to Qatar.

Natural gas is also an important source of income and the North Field is one of the largest natural gas fields in the world.

HISTORY

Qatar’s main history was only civil ones and it was between the Al-Thani family who ruled Qatar since the mid-18^th century and the Al-Khalifa family. The Al-Khalifa family rules Bahrain and originally occupied Zubara, north Qatar.

In 1932 the Al-Thani reclaimed Zubara and the western peninsula. There is still a dispute over the Hawar islands, on the west coast.

In 1971 Qatar became independent from Britain.

The country’s Emir, ruler of the country, is Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

In 1989 Qatar opened its doors to tourism.

The Zubara fort, near the north-western coast, was built in 1938 when the Al-Thani family claimed Zubara from the Al-Khalifa’s of Bahrain.

The fort was built as a border police post and used by the military until the mid-1980s. It was for many years the main settlement in Qatar, but now it is a museum.

SAUDI ARABIA

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It is an area of approximately 2,500 sq km and a population of 16.9 million. The capital is Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia is the cradle of the Islamic religion and one of the richest countries in the world. It has 25 per cent of the world’s oil reserve. Saudi Arabia is a powerful force in the Middle East.

It is a huge country and occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula; borders in the north on Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait. In the east on United Arab Emirates and Qatar and on Oman and Yemen in the south.

The country is mostly mountainous or desert and has no rivers or water courses.

Temperatures can reach 54C at midday and drop to below freezing at night.

AGRICULTURE

The tough climate limits farming and only around oases and on terraced hillside farming is possible. Some villages still use ancient irrigation methods but since the 1980s agriculture has improved dramatically.

Most of the areas irrigated are circular for the rotating sprinklers can water the whole area easily.

Fossil water used for irrigation in some regions is 17,000 years old. Desalinated sea-water is also used.

Modern irrigation systems using desalinated or fossil water, combined with the use of pesticides, drought-resistant crops and new farming methods, such as hydroponic, made Saudi Arabia a major exporter of wheat. Alfalfa, maize and barley are also grown on a large scale. Vegetables, dates and fruit are still grown on small farms.

Saudi Arabia imports sheep but raises its own dairy animals. Mutton is the country’s main dish. Fish come from the Arabian Gulf. The great export of shrimps to the US and Japan was destroyed by the oil pollution caused in the 1991 Gulf War.

CULTURE

Religion and politics are the same. It is the Muslim holy land. The country holds Islam’s two holy cities. Mecca is the birthplace of the prophet Muhammed and Medina his burial place.

The country has an Islamic monarchy, which means that the king combines his role as Custodian of the Two Holy Places and religious leader, or imam, and being both king and prime minister.

The two deputy prime ministers and heads of the armed force are also members of the royal families.

The population is mostly Sunni Muslims and practice their religion very strictly. Men and women live separate lives, even at home. Women must be veiled in public and are not allowed to drive.

The Islamic Law of the country is very strict. People are flogged in public for drinking alcohol, hands cut off for theft and punishment for adultery is death by stoning. The religious police force, matawwa, enforces the rules.

Shortly after the state was created by the first king, Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud in 1932 oil was discovered. It is now the biggest oil exporter in crude and refined oil.

The country has also huge reserves of natural gas.

The country has used huge sums to modernize the country such as roads. airports, hospitals, schools, housing, water supplies and telecommunications.

The people enjoy a very high standard of living and most of the services are free or very cheap.

WILDLIFE

Saudi Arabia has a big wildlife out in the country with gazelle, wild cats, snakes, scorpions, wolves and mongooses. The sea snakes in the Gulf are deadly. One drop of their venom can kill five adults. Millions of migrating birds pass over the country each year.

Two traditional forms of hunting are popular, Falconry and coursing which uses the swift and beautiful Arabian hunting dog. the saluki.

Oil money has also been used to conserve wildlife and repair the terrible damage by oil pollution from the Gulf War. Today there are 56 wildlife reserves and 52 areas of marine conservation.

KUWAIT

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Till Iraqi invasion, in 1990, the tiny state of Kuwait lived an obscure oil sheikhdom. From that moment on it was in the eye of the world but recovered from the disastrous invasion.

Kuwait has an area of 24,280 km, a population of 1,5 million and Arabic and English is spoken.

It is bordered by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Kuwait is at the north-western edge of the Arabian Gulf.

In summer, temperature can reach 50C and in winter drops to a low as minus 6C. Rainfall varies from 22mm to 352mm per year. Dust storms can reduce visibility to zero.

Kuwait City had been started about 300 years ago by members of the Utbi tribe. They came from central Arabia driven out by drought. They build a fortified camp named Kuwait meaning ‘small fort’. The ruling Al-Sabah family have been in power since 1752.

Kuwait City was gradually built around its fine natural harbour. Today the city and the country’s economy are being rebuilt after the devastation caused by the Gulf War in 1991.

ECONOMY

Before the discovery of oil, Kuwait’s asset was its fine natural harbour which made it a good stopping-over place for traders. The country’s income came from camel caravans, and fishing, especially for pearls.

Agricultural land was and is non-existent, although some wheat and vegetables are grown near the Saudi Arabian border.

The land is mostly desert and the wildlife there was – lizards, snakes and small mammals, plus flamingos, steppe eagles, cormorants and bee-eaters – were largely destroyed by the Iraq’s invasion and have not fully recovered since.

In 1930 Kuwait sunk the first oil well and it has discovered that the whole area is floating on a sea of oil.

By 1950 Kuwait was becoming enormously rich. The government spent huge sums on education, health care, building and industrial development, roads and communications.

Because of the small native population, the government encouraged foreign workers into the country but they soon outnumbered Kuwaitis.

Iraq’s invasion in 1991 was the biggest disaster in Kuwait. Allies made all the effort to get the Iraqi army out but on their retreat, they caused enormous destruction to Kuwait City and the industries. They torched most of the oil-wells which caused massive economic and ecological damage.

Kuwait and its people are steadily recovering from the war but the evidence Iraq left behind is still there. There are mines littering along the coastline, in the sea and desert.

IRAQ

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The modern state of Iraq lies in the so-called “cradle of civilization”, the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Like most of the Middle eastern countries, modern Iraq was carved out of the old Ottoman Empire at its collapse in 1918.

It is on the border of Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia. Kuwait and Iran.

Iraq has two outlets to the Arabian Gulf, the river port and large city of Basra and Umm Qasr near the Kuwait Border.

The country climate is harsh. Summer temperatures reaching 40C and cold hard winters, with rain in northern areas and snow in the mountains of the North-east. A dry north-west wind, the shamal, brings frequent summer sandstorms.

AGRICULTURE

Between the arid desert of the west and the mountains of the north-west, Iraq has much fertile agricultural land. Barrages and dams on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, north of the cities of Hit and Samara create a well-watered upper plain. The main crops are wheat, barley and maize. The lower plain, south of Hit and Samara to the Gulf, is a marshy land where rice is grown. Along the River Shatt al-Arab dates are grown. Iraq produces 80 per cent of the world supply.

In the foothills of the mountains in the north-east tobacco, fruit, tomatoes and grapes are grown. Sheep and cattle are reared to export wool and meat.

Iraq is rich on natural gas and oil and has 15 per cent of the world’s reserves of oil. Due to its natural resources and major agriculture Iraq could be a great country in the Middle East, if not the greatest.

PEOPLE AND HISTORY

The land between the Tigris and Euphrates was formerly known as Mesopotamia. It there that the first civilization, the Sumerian, developed around 4000 BC.

The Sumerians were followed by the Babylonians, the Assyrians and the Persian Sassanians.

Muslim Arabs first arrived in 637 AD. The country came back to its former glory under the Muslim Abbasid dynasty, who claimed descent from Mohammed’s uncle and created a new capital Baghdad.

The last Abbasid Caliph was murdered by the Turks in 1258. From that date until the end of the World War I the area was part of the Ottoman Empire.

After 1921 Iraq was a kingdom under British protection, gaining full independence in 1932.

1958 the king was overthrown and a republic was set up. Coup after coup until a real stability came into power under army Commander, Saddam Hussein. During the stable climate of 1970 the country started to progress rapidly as a major oil producer.

Iraq’s problems are that the Muslim’s population is divided into Shiites and Sunnis but the ruling party are Sunnis who fear the Shiite Muslims especially from neighbouring countries such as Iran.

Another problem is the mountainous region in the north-east of the country is home of four million Kurds. Kurds are an ancient people whose native land was included into the Ottoman Empire. When the empire broke up they were promised an independent homeland but it never happened. Nowadays the Kurds are a large minority in Iraq, Iran and Turkey. The problem in Iraq is the Kurdish area is very rich in oil; of course, Iraq does not want to lose it.

During the 1970s some measure of self-government had been introduced but it was not an independence.

1979 the Shah of Iran was overthrown by Shiite extremists under Ayatollah Khomeini and Saddam feared that Iraqi Shiites would rise against him at the same time. Saddam decided to dispute the agreed Iran-Iraq boundary along the River Shatt al-Arab, and his army invaded Iran in 1980.

The war late eight years with huge casualties on both sides.

At the end of the war Iraqi government sent the army to Kurdistan, where guerrilla had seized control of Iraqi areas. Thousands of Kurds died and thousands fled to Turkey and Iran.

With the economy in ruins Saddam looked for another source of income and saw Kuwait. He accused Kuwait of overproducing oil, flooding the market and lowering the prices. He also accused Kuwait of stealing Iraq’s oil.

August 1990 Saddam invaded Kuwait. Iraq ignored warning to get out of Kuwait and in 1991 a large Allied force started an intensive bombing campaign.

Iraq was defeated and the UN forced Iraq to destroy all its weapons, conventional, nuclear or chemical. It also had to pay huge compensation to Kuwait. Iraq also received economic sanctions which added to the problems.

Saddam turned again on the Kurds rebels in the north and two million more Kurds fled. He also launched a campaign against the Shiite March Arabs. The Allies enforced “safe havens” for Kurds and Shiites but the Iraqi government still carried on its campaigns.

At this point it has to be said that the USA and UK had no right to invade Iraq starting a 10 year long war, and illegal, killing one million Iraqis and over 480 British soldiers, numerous maimed some for live.

Today Iraq is ruined economically and is still an international outcast, because of its failure to fulfil the terms of the UN resolution. It also has to be said whether the UN resolution was right which it is not always is the case.

Roughly 50 per cent of the population is unemployed, the people are facing famine caused by the sanctions. There again it only hurts ordinary people and they suffered enough but if USA and/or UN does not like something their answer is sanction like with Crimea.

In the early 1993 the country was suffering from inflation of over 1000 per cent and is effectively closed to visitors.

In my opinion it is hard to understand that after a failed accusation of Saddam’s Weapon-of-Mass-Destruction, removal of Saddam Hussein, an illegal invasion of Iraq by the Allies which cost unnecessary lives and sufferings that the Allies still have the right to sanction adding more suffering to Iraq’s people. Should not the UN step in and stop it instead since they supposed to be the peace keeping force and neutral?

OMAN

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Oman is a land of big mountains and long unspoiled beaches. It was once nicknamed as the hermit of the Middle East.

Oman is on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. The country is cut into two by the Hajar Mountains. The northern part juts out into the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. The very tip, the Musandem Peninsula, is at the Strait of Hormuz. It has a very mountainous and fiercely rugged landscape in contrast to the flat desert plains along the Batinah coast and the tropical vegetation in the south.

The highest peak Jebel Akhdar, a green mountain is 3075m.

There are also several islands which belong

to Oman. The biggest is Massirah.

Oman is one of the greenest of the Gulf countries. There are plant and wildlife protection schemes to preserve rare species like the Arabian oryx.

In the north and inland the climate is hot and dry; around the coast it is humid and in the

south tropical monsoon rains last from June to September.

ECONOMY

Till the 1960s the country mainly produced date, limes and fish.

Like most of the Middle Eastern country Oman also discovered oil which greatly improved the economy and way of life.

In 1989 and 1991 Oman discovered natural gas and it brings in more money than oil.

HISTORY

The first record of people living in Oman date back to the 3^rd century BC. The south of Oman was one of the most economical places in the ancient world. The tree from which frankincense is extracted was discovered growing in the southern region of Oman. Frankincense in ancient times had more value than gold.

During the 7^th century the Islamic religion was introduced in the northern region of Oman. By late 7^th or early 8^th the religion spread across Oman and it became the Ibadhi Islam sect, a strict division of Islam. Even today the country is still strictly Islamic.

Oman is ruled by the Sultan and no political parties are allowed. The dynasty goes back to the 18^th century.

In 1991 a Consultative Council with 59 members selected by the palace and regional leaders was formed. It was the first step to democracy.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

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It has seven sheikhdoms with the longest coastline of the Arabian Gulf. The UAE is one of the most relaxed and welcoming countries in the Gulf. The area has 83,600 sq km and with a population of 1.6 million.

It is situated in the south-east corner of the Arabian Peninsula.

The seven sheikhdoms are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Qawain, Ras al Khaimah, Fujairah, Qatar and Oman.

The high Hajar Mountains are at the back of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah ending into a dry desert plains of the empty part of Abu Dhabi. Along the coast are salty mud-flats called sabkah.

Inland the desert landscape is flat and in the extreme desert temperatures very little flora can grow. The Buraimi oasis in the eastern part of Abu Dhabi, along the Oman Boarder, is lush vegetation with natural groves of date palms.

There is not much wildlife apart from the Arabian ibex, wild goats and camels are but a few. During July and August temperature can reach 48C. The climate is more pleasant from October to May with warm days and cool nights.

ECONOMIC

Until 1940 the pearl trade was the main industry but with international demand it soon collapsed. The fishing industry is still a major economical contributor but since 1962 the discovery of oil brought the real wealth to Abu Dhabi. Dubai is the second richest of the emirates. They discovered oil in 1970 and has one of the largest dry docks in the world.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

In 1971 the UAE became one country of seven separate countries previously known as the Trucial Coast States. Britain ruled the countries from 1860 and in 1968 decided that the countries should unite with Bahrain and Qatar to form one country called the Federation of Arab Amirates. But Bahrain and Qatar demanded independence.

On 2 December 1971 six of the Trucial states joined forces and became the United Arab Emirates. In 1972 Ras Al Khaimah joint the UAE.

The constitution was made for only five years but was extended in 1976 and till exists still today.

The UAE is one of the most peaceful Gulf nations. In 1990-91 it added its troops to the anti-Iraq coalition.

In 1993 it was part sending soldiers to assists the United Nations in Somalia, Africa.

United Arab Emirates also has a policy of continuously claiming land from the sea and with that it continuously extents.

BENIN

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Benin is a small West African country. It was once famous for its fabulous Empire.

Benin, or Dahomey as it was previously called, lies on the Gulf of Guinea. On the west it borders on Nigeria and on the east Togo, On the north is Niger and Burkina Faso.

As all the countries along the Gulf of Guinea in the south are wet and rainy so is Benin with swamps fringing the lagoons. A belt of rainforest is behind the swamps.

The high grassy plains in the north are drier and rise slowly towards the Atakora Mountains.

About 70 per cent of the people are farmers They grow crops to feed their families. They are subsistence farmers and there food consists of millets, maize, yams and cassava. Some families on the coast live by fishing. Their houses are built on stilts above the water.

Cotton, palm oil, cocoa and coffee are grown for export.

CAPITAL PORTO NOVO

The capital is Porto Novo with around 200,000 inhabitants. The old slave trade port of Cotonou is twice as big than Port Novo. Cotonou is located on the narrow strip of land on the edge of a lagoon. It was from here that thousands of slaves were shipped to the cotton plantations in the southern states of the USA.

COTONOU

Benin was previously called Dahomey and a powerful empire existed in the area from 1625.

Dahomey empire sold slaves to Euroean traders, who shipped them to the Americas therefore the coastline was then known as the Slave Coast.

The empire was much bigger than today's country and the capital was at what is now a small town of Abomey in the interior. It is still known for its ancient dancing rituals.

France ruled Dahomey from 1892 until independence in 1960. The name was changed in 1975 to Benin.

Political unrest has plagued the country and brought it down to poverty. It now relies on aid from

outside.

ATAKORA

TOGO

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Togo is a small West-African country lying between Benin and Ghana. It is a long and narrow strip with a small coastline. Grassy plains and hills are the general landscape. The climate is hot and rainy. In the west it has a rainfalls of 90 cm a year.

The Togo hills rise in the centre of the country and are the border between Togo and Ghana. On the eastern side Togo borders on Benin and in the north on Burkina Faso

TOGO TOURIST ATTRACTION

Agriculture
Most of the people are farmers although the land is fairly poor. The main crops are palm kernels and coconuts in the south. Coffee and cocoa are grown in the hills. Peanuts, millet and cotton in the north.
Togo produces a lot of phosphate rock which is used as fertilisers.

Religion
In the north are mostly Muslims who dress in flowing white robes. In the south Christianity is widely spread and they wear usually Western clothes.

A traditional drummer parades through the street of Lome. Most people in Togo follow animist religions based on local gods and spirits.

History
Germany ruled Togo before the World War I, When it was taken over by Britain and France. The British part named Togoland joined with Ghana in 1957.

The French part went its own way and became independent in 1960.

The Togo Republic has a population of 3,8 million and an area of 56,785 sq km. The capital is Lome.

TOGO'S CAPITAL LOME

Gnassingbe Eyadema has ruled Togo since 1967 but his power is declining since democracy is in demand. He was forced to hold an elections in 1993 and had to appoint an opposition prime minister in 1994.

IVORY COAST

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The Ivory Coast was a colony of France. The country official name is Cote d'Ivoire. It is one of the most prosperous West Africa countries.

The landscape copies Ghana with rain forest in the south and high grassy plains in the north.

The hot, steamy south was covered with forest but it was cut down to make way for coffee and cocoa plantations.

Many wild animals live on the northern plateau such as lions, monkeys, antelopes and elephants. There is also grazing for cattle.

Two-thirds of the people living there are growing food like maize, rice and jams. Crops for export are grown and Ivory Coast is one of the world's largest coffee and cocoa producers.

Industry
Younger generation are working in factories in the old capital and chief port, Aidjan. Half of the population is under 20 years old. Flour mills food canneries, breweries, sawmills, textile and plastics manufacturers are all thriving.

Since 1980 there is a prosperity boost from an offshore oil extracted from the Gulf of Guinea.

History
From 1893 to 1960 the French ruled the country. It became independent under the presidency of Felix Houphouet-Boigny. He remained till his death in December 1993.

His policies were - keep close ties with France; allowing plenty of foreign investment and keeping tribal rivalries under control.

ABIDJAN

One of his major acts were to move the capital from Abidjan, known as the Paris of Africa, to his home village of Yamoussoukro.

YAMOUSSOUKRO CITY

The Ivory Coast republic has a population of 13 million and an area of 322,463 sq km. The religion is Muslim, Christian and Traditional.

BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF PEACE

A Basilica of Our Lady of Peace was built in the capital and it is the biggest church in the world. It is modelled on St Peter in Rome and completed in 1989.

YEMEN

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On the tip of the Arabian peninsula. Yemen is a large country. It is just smaller than France but two-thirds of it is uninhabited.

Yemen borders in the west by the Red Sea; on the north by Saudi Arabia; on the East by Oman and on the south by the Gulf of Aden.

In the west lies a wide coastal strip the Tihama along a range of mountains. The highest peak Jaban an-Nabi Shu'ayh is 3700m. Behind the mountains lies a fertile high plateaux. In the middle of it is the capital San'a at an altitude of 2250m.

In these highlands are active volcanoes with hot springs and some times earthquakes.

The lower mountains towards Oman, in the east, are only 1000m high.

In the north the southern end of the Arabian Desert riches into Yemen till the middle of it.

AGRICULTURE
Yemen has twice a year a monsoon coming from the south. It make the country the most arable spot on the Arabian peninsula. The temperature various between regions and seasons.

Tihama and the southern coast are hot and with high humidity and a daytime temperatures topping 40C in summer.

Yemen cultivated so much land that little natural vegetation remain. In Tihama there are mangroves, salt-resistant plants pm the seashore and sparse grasses and shrubs on the dune valleys.

Inland, around the wadis and in the mountain foothills, the land is moist enough for evergreen plants growing, including palms and acacias.

Hunting had killed off most of the wild animals. There were leopards, gazelles, hyenas and jackals in southern Yemen.

TRIBAL LIFE
Yemen is a tribal society and the tribes are joined in 'federation'. Most people live in houses built of natural material. on the plains and around wadis, building materials are mud, brick and reeds.

Mountain houses are mostly build with stones.

RELIGION
The state religion is Islam while in the south are mostly Sunni Muslims and in the north are Shi'a sect. There was a minority of Jews but when the Israel was established in 1948 the majority left.

Yemen is a developing country with little industry. The majority is agriculture with most of the crops for its people.

Tropical fruit is grown on low level. At the middle level cereal is grown and at high level are coffee and qat grown to export. On the central highlands sorghum , vegetables and spices are grown.

OIL ECONOMY
Oil was discovered in Marib in late 1980 but the output is low. The Yemen economy was mainly supported by its people working in oil-rich Gulf states.

In October 1990, Saudi Arabia expelled over 1 million Yemenis because the country would support during the Gulf war. Most Arab countries and USA stopped economic aid and co-operation which a devastating impact.

HISTORY
Yemen used to be split into North and South Yemen. The North was ruled by an Imam, a religious leader, but was overthrown by a revolution. Civil war continued until the 1970 when religious leaders agreed to a republican government run by the military. The country was renamed the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR).

Both north and south Yemen wanted to be reunited but the official relations between were bad.
In 1980, The PDRY soften on its hard-line Marxist beliefs and better relation ship with YAR followed.

In 1990 unification was declared. The first free election in the whole Arabian peninsula were held in April 1993 and a coalition government was formed between the three major parties.

YEMEN'S CAPITAL SAN'A

INDIA PART TWO

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RESOURCES AND INDUSTRY
India is rich in minerals, with large deposits of coal, iron ore, oil, bauxite and zinc. The mining industry has progressed during the last decades but India is still not making full use of its huge mineral resources.

India has still rich tradition of crafts.

Manufacturing has increased since it started a series of a five-year economy development plans in 1951. Factories produce now cars, sewing machines, aircraft, textiles, railway engines and ships. The biggest bicycle factory in the world is Hero Cycles of Punjab.

India has the world's largest film industry much bigger than Hollywood. It has the nickname Bollywood because it was started in Bombay (Mumbay). It produces 700 films a year in 16 languages.

India is an independent federal republic and the largest democracy in the world. It is divided into 25 states and seven union territories. Each state has his own elected assembly and government.

The president of the republic heads the national government in New Delhi but is mainly a figurehead. Decision and the law is made in the lower house (Lok Sabha). The prime minister is usual the leader of the main party.

SUCCESSION OF EMPIRES
Ashoka in 3rd century BC united India but the Empire blossomed during the 4th century AD with Gupta.

PALACE IN JAIPUR

JODHPUR PALACE

Then the Muslim empire followed and reached its height under Mughal emperors such as Akbar and Shah Jahan.

When the Mughal power declined Europeans went in and establish the East India Company in 1857. Revolt broke out and the British Government took over.

BOMBAY GATEWAY

WHERE BRITISH ALWAYS LANDED

It started the independent movement and under Mahatma Gandhi rapidly increased until 1947 India became independent. After Gandhi was assassinated Pakistan and Bangladesh split away.

Ever since India has dramatically improved economically and politically. India and Pakistan had also several wars.

ELECTIONS
Elections involves huge numbers of voters, voting stations and parties. In view of over 900 millions people living in India it is not surprising.

In 1991 there were over 314million people voting in the General Election; 359 parties to vote for; 565,000 polling station were needed and manned by three million staff.

INDIA PART ONE

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India is the largest democracy. The country has great contrasts. It has nuclear power and satellite communications network yet most of the people's lives has not change for century.

India is the seventh largest country by area. and only China has more than its 900 million people.

Its shape is a giant triangle jutting out into the Indian Ocean. Across the north are the Himalayas with some of the highest peak in the world. At the south of the Himalayas spreads across the country a broad and fertile land.

From Kashmir to the most southern tip, the cape Comoran, it is nearly 3000km.

There are many great rivers like the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, and several tributaries such as the Indus, flow across the northern plain and add to India's most fertile land.

A huge plateau in the south called the Deccan runs from the Arabian Gulf to the Bay of Bengal.

CLIMATE
Mountain areas in the north have a cool climate in summer and freezing temperatures in winter. The rest of northern India is very hot in summer. Temperatures can rich 48oC (120oF). The heat during the day is so intense people die of sunstroke. It last until the monsoon or the rainy season arrives.
Monsoons start on the cost in June and spreads across the north in July and August. In some parts this follows by a mild winter. but in the north. In Punjab and Bihar it can fall to freezing at night. The south and east has a humid climate for most of the year.

The Shillong plateau, just north of Bangladesh, is the second rainiest place in the world with 1.143cm (450 inches) a year. It is an important tea growing region.

LANGUAGES AND RELIGIONS
India has officially 16 languages and hundreds of locally spoken ones and over thousand dialects.

Children speak one language at home and become fluent in several more at school.

Hindi is the national language but many people in the south do not like to use it. English is often used at an official level.

The majority of Indians follow Hinduism. It is an ancient religion introduced by the Aryans nearly 3500 years ago. The river Ganges is sacred to Hindus, and many bathe in its waters at Varanasi.
There are also large numbers of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhist.

The majority of Indians live in villages and most of them are very poor. They mostly work on the land but villages have a carpenter, shopkeeper and potter.

Wheat is the main crop in the northern plains while rice is mostly grown in the south. As well as rice, wheat. maize, millet and many other vegetables are grown there. India is one of the world largest producers of bananas, groundnuts, lentils, sugar cane, pepper, tea, coffee and cotton and jute for textiles.

India has the fourth largest railway network in the world with 62,000km of track. In some places it is still the only reliable transport since the roads are badly maintained. Most of the passenger trains are diesel and some electric.

There are still a great number of steam engines used and a joy to see for railway enthusiasts. They still run a incredible number of steam engines and all in immaculate conditions. Another remarkable point; they arrive dead on time even they have been travelling for 24 or even 48 hours. India has three class system. To travel in the first class is an absolute, enjoyable and affordable luxury.

It is incredible to us but it is India and its complete different way of live.

AUSTRIAN SKI RESORT NEWS

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The famous Austrian ski resorts Lech, Zuerch, Stuben and St Anton open their on-piste link this December.

It will make the Arlberg one of the biggest ski resorts in world. There are an unbelievable 82 lifts and 305km of pistes. It also promises no queues.

ST ANTON AM ARLBERG

ST ANTON

Ski lifts are getting bigger, longer, faster and more comfortable.

The improvement of the ski resorts adds more hotels, chalets to be open in Decembers with a wide variety of styles.

LECH AUSTRIA

If you would like to have a good time on a reasonable low budget book private but book early because they are quickly taken. You will get beautiful rooms with showers, a family, friendly service including a rich breakfast.

British Airways now flies from Heathrow direct to Innsbruck at a low price.

SALZBURG CHRISTMAS MARKET

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Salzburg, Austria, is very well known through Wolfgang Mozart who lived and composed there. The house where he lived is in the main street and can be seen.

But Salzburg has also another attraction; its many Christmas Markets. The main Christ mas Market is in the Cathedral Square with the romantic background setting adding to it.
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The stalls sell mullet wine, ginger bread biscuit, roast sausages over coal fired grills, all sorts of decoration and with the snow it leaves nothing out of Christmas.

The aromas out beat one another. Choirs and musicians are on every corner and adding even more to the atmosphere.

In Austria the Christkind appears and brings present. It is a big golden angel flying down from the sky down to earth. The Christkind will come to the market on Saturdays between 3,30 and 6,30 pm and entertain the children.

Santa Claus or St Nikolaus comes on the 6 December and brings small presents if you were good.
Snowboarders and skiers are not left out because behind Salzburg are any amount of ski-runs for various abilities and snowboarders.

On the other side of the river Salzach is Mirabell Palace and on the Mirabellplatz is another Christmas Market with all the festivities in the stalls for your pleasure and entertainment.

On the mountains overlooking Salzburg is a castle Hohensalzburg Fortress displaying another Christmas Market in the big courtyard with homemade articles. It differs with medieval entertainments and brass bands.

A wonderful views across the snow covered mountains add to your joy.

GHANA

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Ghana was once part of the British Empire. It was also one of the first African states to be independent in 1957.

The country has rich natural resources and during the 1960 was very prosperous. After that its economy decline due a number of political problems.

Geography

The south is tropical with plenty of rain and thick forest. Sadly, many of the trees had been cut down for timber and also for agriculture. There is now more grasslands.

In the north the rainfall is less and a hot, dry wind named Harmattan blows down from the distant Sahara Desert.

Most of Ghana's people are farmers and they grow crops to be sold like cocoa, coffee and palm oil. Cocoa is the country's main crop for export. Other exports are banana, tobacco and hardwood timber.

In the north groundnuts (peanuts), cotton and millet are grown. Farmers also rear cattle but they can be effected by the disease-carrying tsetse fly.

Fishermen bring their catch into the small Ghanaian port Elmina where the first European landed in West Africa. A fort at the harbour was built by the Portuguese in about 1490.

The Dutch invaded the country in 1637 and turned the church into a slave market.

In 1956 Ghana built a dam across the river Volta. This created the largest artificial lake in the world. Lake Volta has a size of 8000 sq km. The dam provides electricity for most of Ghana's industry.

LAKE VOLTA

A good network of roads links the capital, Accra with the main ports of Takoradi and Tema. At Tema the mined bauxite is smelted into aluminium. The country also produce gold industrial diamonds and manganese.

ACCRA GHANA'S CAPITOL

History

The name Ghana derives from the empire existed in West Africa between 7th and 12th centuries.
The Europeans arrived during the 1600s named the country Gold Coast because it was gold which tempted them to sail to Ghana.

Later on they turned to trading slave which was more profitable.

The country became a British colony in 1893 and received Independence in 1957. It was the first country in black Africa which broke away from a European Empire.

Ghana was ruled for the following nine years by the controversial Kwame Nkrumah and his supporter called him the Redeemer. He lost his seat to a military coupe in 1966. Since then Ghana's rulers change from military to civilian.

NIGERIA

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Nigeria got its name from the great river Niger flowing through the heart of the country. It has the biggest population 105 million, than any other African country.

Nigeria is one of the richest on the continent but due to corruption the people loosing out on prosperity.

The country borders Benin to the west. Niger to the north, Chad on the north-east and Cameroon on the east. The Gulf of Guinea at the south. Nigeria is the size of France, Britain, Belgium,, Holland and Luxemburg together. Area wise it is the 14th largest country in Africa

The capital is Abuja

From Forest to Desert
In the south is the swampy Niger delta; north of the delta a tropical rainforest and further on are the rolling grassy plans known as the savannah. On the very north the land called Sahel a very arid southern edge of the Sahara Desert.

The river Niger which is Africa's third longest river flows from the north-west of the country through the centre and into the Gulf of Guinea. Another big river Benue flows southwards from the east of the country and into the Niger.

The best place to watch wildlife is at the Yamkari Game Reserve in central Nigeria with herds of elephants, baboons, crocodiles,
hippopotamuses and buffaloes.

In the north-east is the Lake Chad which Nigeria shares it with Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

It is hard or even impossible to define which part belongs to which country. The lake seize varies from 20,000 sq km in the dry season to 50,000 sq km in the wet season.

Economy and people
Over half of the Nigerians are farmers. In the north groundnuts (peanuts), cotton and sugar cane are grown, In the south cocoa, rubber and kola nuts. The Fulani of the north keep large herds of cattle, sheep and goats.

Before the 1970, when Nigeria gave priority to industry, it grew all the food for the country and more. which was exported. Now the Government if trying to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food again.

Nigeria's biggest export is in oil which amounts to 90 per cent of its income.

In Nigeria are around 400 separate languages. Some amount only to a few thousands. the largest groups are the Hausa and Fulani living in the north, the Yoruba in the south-west and the Ibo in the south-east.

They are making two-thirds of the population. Each group is different and have their own festivals which usual are drumming, dancing and feasting. They could go on for days.

History
Nigeria's history spans back to Nok civilisation around 2500 years ago. Over the 16 centuries it developed into today's way of life with the four main groups firmly established.

When the European arrived in the 16th century forcing Nigerians into slaves for the next 300 years and the Nigerian coast became its centre.

When the slave trade came to an end Britain increased its control over the country and completely ruled it by 1914.

Independence
Nigeria became independent in 1960 and had the usual political upheavals

A civil war started in 1967 which established an independent state, Biafra, costing many casualties but led to victory.

Nigeria faced 20 years and still has economic mismanagement, large scale corruption, political instability including a succession of civilian and military government.

OBERGURGL AUSTRIA

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Obergurgl lies in the Austrian Alps and is one of the highest villages guaranteeing a skiing paradise.

It has and deserves the title "Diamond of the Alps". The name Obergurgl means Ober = Upper and gurgle is the sound the brooks make when coming down the mountains.

Direct flights are from all major UK airports available to Innsbruck and from there buses will transport you to the village Obergurgle

Ski rental is available at the foot of the ski lift without standing in an endless queue. Guaranteed snow gives a 70 miles of perfect runs for various abilities of skiing.

The Hochgurgl has a breath-taking view over the mountainous region around and wide, long ski runs. A bus service from the village will take you there.

An eight-miles hiking trail will let you enjoy the clear mountain air, quietness of the winter scenery and explore the most beautiful spots through forest and along mountain brooks.

Along the way are many restaurants to take a break and enjoy the local food at a reasonable price.

In the village are a number of restaurants and pubs with live music to dance the night away.
All restaurants and hotels are decorated in the typical Austrian style and it makes a homely atmosphere.

A great ice rink is open daily from 4.30pm to 10pm.

A 3km long toboggan run gives another occasion to enjoy the winter wonderland.

For horse lovers there is an indoor riding arena where the wellknown Haflinger breed is stable.

Furthermore, many hotels offer wellness facilities where you can rivitalise your aching bones.

For enjoying the winter holiday in Obergurl and saving on package holidays in expensive hotels send for a brochure and book a private accommodation which includes breakfast. It is perfect and very recommendable.

GIBRALTAR

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Gibraltar is at the most important military location in the world. It is only a rocky outcrop off the south coast of Spain and serves as guard to the Mediterranean's only outlet to the Atlantic Ocean.

Gibraltar is only a very small British crown colony and is covered by a limestone mountain full of natural and man-made caves. The only land link is a small land (isthmus) which is 3km long to Spain.The airport was build on it.

The rock covers the island and is steep on all sides. There is a cable car to ride to the summit. The highest point of the rock is 426m.

Gibraltar has very mild winter and very hot, dry summers. To avoid a water shortage the water is collected in winter and stored in underground reservoirs built into the mountain.

There are over 500 species of small flowering plans and very few large trees. The famous Gibraltar candytuft is unique to the island and grows nowhere else in the world.

GIBRALTAR CANDYTUFF

Migrating birds use Gibraltar as a very convenient stop-over on their way to Africa.
Barbary monkeys for which the rock is also famous for has the only wild monkeys in Europe. They live on the upper slopes.

Gibraltar has no farms and all the food has to be imported. The local people work in shops, offices and hotels. The British currency is used and the stamps have the monarch on it. Tourism is a very important part of the economy.

SPANISH AND GILBRALTAR BEACHES

The population is a wide mix but very few are of Spanish origin. Their ancestry is mostly British, Italy, Malta, Morocco and Portugal.

HISTORY
Britain captured Gibraltar in 1704 after a battle with Spain and it is British ever since. Spain does not agree with it and there had been many confrontations either by demands from Spain or blockades.

British main interest in Gibraltar is that it provides a very important naval base guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea especially at war time.

The building of the Suez Canal in 1869 at the eastern end of the Mediterranean made it even more important to keep the British Navy base.

The Spanish town of La Linea is situated at the border of Gibraltar which rises almost sheer beyond the adjoining isthmus.

SPAIN

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Most of its history Spain was cut off from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees mountain range. Ever since it joined the European Union it became one of the most important countries of Europe.

Spain covers most of the Iberian peninsula. It will come as a surprise that Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. The capital Madrid is Europe's highest capital city at 645m. It is at a centre of the plateau meseta, The two rivers Tagus and Duoro have cut deep valleys right down to Portugal.

MADRID

The plateau is surrounded by high mountains and keeps out winds and rains therefore it is called dry Spain.

Northern Spain facing the Atlantic Ocean is wet and has green, lush country-side. It has also most important industry. The north-east is the Basque country who are a different race and have their own language. The Pyrenees mountain separates Spain from France

PYRENEES

The South and east coast is along the Mediterranean Sea and the Balearic Islands are 90 and 180km off he coast. The north African provinces Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and 1000km to the south-west also belong to Spain. They are volcanic and have magnificent mountain scenery and beaches

SPAIN BEACHES

The Spanish north coast has many deciduous forest, with oak, ash and beech. The meseta has evergreens of juniper and pine. The valuable cork oaks and sweet chestnuts grow in the west near the border of Portugal and Barcelona. The dry south has only small bushes and coarse grass.

BARCELONA

AFRICAN MIGRANTS
The animals in the northern mountains are deer, ibex, eagles, eagles, some wolves and lynxes. Further in the south are animals which are found in Africa such as genets, Egyptian mongooses and imperial eagles. Tortoises are everywhere.

Spain is a stopping-off for migrants birds such as flamingos, snipe and storks.

Agriculture is still wide spread and the crops are barley and wheat. Rice is grown near the coast of Valencia and Murcia. Olives grow almost everywhere as well as potatoes, onions and sugar beet. Merino sheep are an important wool industry with its fine fleece. Oranges and tomatoes is Spain major export.

Home produced wine is mostly consumed by families. The famous sherry comes from Jerez de la Frontera near Cadiz.

Coal and iron ore are mined in large quantities. The world's richest mercury mine is at Almaden in Ciudad Real. Spanish industry has a long history. Toledo produced fine daggers for centuries and Bilbao. steel-making factories once produced thousand of swords but is still an important steel-making centre.

Ship-building is at La Coruna, Valencia, Cadiz and Bilbao. The heavy industry is in Barcelona and Madrid with big car manufacturing and aircraft factory. Textiles are in Barcelona and leather goods. The gun holsters produced in the Basque region are well known.

Tourism is an important industry to Spain. Over 30 million visitors a year coming to Span mostly to the Mediterranean beaches.

The religion is mostly Roman Catholic and there are many colourful possessions.

HISTORY

Spain has been invaded by Phoenicians, Greeks and Celts.

But the Romans united the country as an imperial province. Then followed the Visigoths and then the Muslim Moors from North Africa. For nearly 500 years Spain was Islamic.

In 1492 the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expelled the last Moors. When they captured colonies abroad, Spain became an Empire. The "Golden Era" followed disastrous wars and equally feeble kings which weakened the country.

In the 19th century Spain declined rapidly and its American colonies became independent.

In 1931 Spain became a Republic and five years later fascists in the army opposed the elected left-wing government and a civil war broke out. The fascist General Franco won and he ruled till 1975. After his death the monarchy was restored and democracy returned.

Spain joined the European Community in 1986.

FRANCE.

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France is nearly twice the size of Britain but its population is less.

The length of the country is 950km from Dunkirk in the very north to the border of Spain. In the east, France borders on Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany,

Switzerland and Italy. The Mediterranean coastline is between Italy and Spain.

CLIMATE AND LANDFORMS
The climate varies greatly since France covers an area from northern to southern Europe. The North is cool and towards the Mediterranean in the south it is hot and dry. In the west along the Atlantic Gulf Stream the area of Brittany has mild and damp weather.

MEDITERRANEAN - NICE

The landscape also varies widely. There are the high mountains of the Alps in the south-east between Italy, Switzerland and Spain. The most famous mountain is the Mont Blanc and also the world's most dangerous because of its sudden weather changes. The mountain ranges are visited by skiers and in the summer by walkers, climbers and in the Pyrenees by skiers on glacie

PYRENEES

The country's longest river is the Loire flowing through central France. It rises on the Massif Central, extinct volcanoes, and deep gorges similar to the Grand Canyon in the United States. Along the Loire in central France are many famous chateaux (castles) and vineyards. One of the most beautiful parts are the National Parks in the Pyrenees where bears still roam wild.

FARMING AND FOOD
The large size of France with different climates makes it the European Union top agricultural producer. Almost two-third of the land is farmed and the country is almost self-sufficient in farm products

DORDOGNE VALLEY

In the north there is mostly wheat grown for the well known French baguettes. Bread is baked right through the day.

A wide variety of fruit and vegetables are grown in the south by irrigation during the dry hot summers.

France has an inheritance law when a farmer dies every child is entitled to an equal part of the land. Therefore you will find many small farms. The large farms are in the wine-growing regions of the south. They either co-operatives or extended families working together. Many small growers in Bordeaux and Burgundy made their name for delicious wine. The most famous is champagne which is grown in the north-east region near Reims.

France became also famous for its cheeses like Brie, Camembert and Roquefort made from ewes' milk.

INDUSTRIES
French government always puts money into industry to give it more chance to compete. French cars manufacturers made their name for having new ideas which are copied by other countries' manufacturers.

France is a leader in fashion and perfumes. Fashion shows are held since 1900 in Paris.
France has a shortage of coal and other fuels. It produces its electricity from Nuclear - and Hydro Power Station.

Like its neighbours French economy has declined and unemployment risen. In the industrial north-east steel and textiles workers lost their jobs.

But science-based industries growing in the South. Concorde, Airbus, the Ariane space rockets and high speed trains TGV were produced by France.

THE CAPITAL CITY
Two-third of the population are living in Paris. Parisians mostly work in offices, shops and tourism.
Sights must be seen is Eifel Tower 300m, on an island of the river Seine is Notre Dam and it was on this island that Paris was original founded.

More interesting buildings to visited are Arc de Triumph, church Sacre-Coeur and the art centre in Montmartre.

MONTMARTRE

PEOPLE AND HISTORY
Celtic people occupied the area of France first and it was called Gaul. Romans conquered it in 50 BC. When the Roman empire declined in the 5th century the area was overrun by Germanic tribes from the east. The strongest were the Franks and it gave the country its name.

After that France's history were mainly of religious and political turmoil. One of the worst was the storming of the Bastille, a huge prison fortress in Paris. It was the start of the French Revolution.

King Ludwig XVI and his queen lost the throne and their lives and France turned into a Republic.
Throughout the 19th century it was a fight between enemies and supporters of the Revolution. Monarchs kept coming and going and Napoleon III (1852-70) disastrous war with Germany got him exiled.

France and Germany fought in both World Wars on opposite sites but after 1945 they made great efforts to bury the past and are now Allies within the European Union.

PAKISTAN A LAND WITH STARK CONTRAST

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Pakistan is a country of stark contrast. The area covers from the Arabian Sea, the scorching desert in the south-west and freezing Himalayas in the north. Pakistan has a population of 120 million.

Pakistan is in the north-west of the Indian sub-continent. It borders on Iran and Afghanistan in the west, China in the north and India in the east. The mighty river Indus flows through its centre from the Tibetan plateau, through the Himalayas and the Karakoram Mountains to the Arabian Sea.

In the bitterly cold, dry mountain ranges are the Nanga Parbat and K2 which is the second highest mountain in the world. It is the plains of the Indus where most of the population lives. The summers, here, are very hot and in the monsoon season the rainfalls can be as much as 50cm.

K2 -- THE SECOND HIGHEST MOUNTAIN AFTER MOUNT EVEREST

THE BALTORO GLACIER IS 62KM LONG

THE FOUR PROVINCES

The largest province is Baluchistan in the south-west and is the least populated. It is mostly hot, dry desert. Their food in the province is mainly kebabs which are cooked over the open fire. Most Pakistanis eat chapatis (flat bread), rice, lentils and vegetable

North of Baluchistan is the mountainous North-West Frontier. Its inhabitants are the Pashtuns and previously called Pathans. They are known for their simple, rugged lifestyle and war-like nature. The province has beautiful valleys where the Chitral and Hunza people live.

Half of the people of Pakistan live in the Punjab, This province is rich in agriculture and industry. The word Punjab means the Land of the Five Rivers which are the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutley and Beas. They all flow into the Indus. Part of the Punjab lies now in India. People of the Punjab cook their meal in a clay oven which is called tandoor. This style - tandoori - is famous throughout the world.

Sind is an ancient southern province. It was first mentioned in records of the invasion by Alexander the Great in 325 BC. Large area is desert. The farming is along the Indus River. A trade centre is the port of Karachi. Karachi is the country's largest cities.

LANGUAGES, PRAYERS, PLEASURE

Urdu is the official language and English is quite widely spoken. However, Panjubi is more widely spread. Despite the many different ethnic groups, languages and customs they are united by their religion - Islam. The call by the Islamic priest (muezzin) can be heard all over the country, towns and villages. Even when they work in the field; the farmers roll out their prayer mats and pray facing Mecca.

They also love sports and excel in polo, cricket, hockey and squash. Tennis, football and squash are popular.

Women in Pakistan used to be held back and confined at home. Now you fined quite a number of women in medicine and law. Benazir Bhutto was the first female prime minister in the Muslim world.

Although there are developments in industry, Pakistan is still a large rural agricultural country. Many people earn their living on farms. The Indus River supplies the water through irrigation the land. They grow wheat, rice and cotton, The use of fertilizers and machinery increases the production. Pakistan is self-sufficient in essential food. The major export is rice. Cattle, goats and water buffalo are for their meat, dairy products and hides. The leathers goods are exported.

Their main problem is energy and fuels, The oil has to be imported. The country has some natural resources. Pakistan has developed nuclear energy but the pollution and temptation of making nuclear bombs is of great concern.

THE DESAI NATIONAL PARK
IN PAKISTAN

ANCIENT HISTORY

In the Indus Valley lived for over 5000 years one of the oldest civilization. In 325 BC Alexander the Great conquered it and included into his empire. Nearly 100 years later came the next major invasion. A great, young Arab general, Mohammed Bin Qasim, conquered the region. He introduced Islam.

In the 16th century Moghul emperors stopped the 800 years warfare and brought stabilization to the area. They built beautiful monuments, mosques and gardens.

Recently, Pakistan was part of the British colony. When independence was declared in 1947, the country was split up into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. This cost millions of live because of the religious violence. Pakistan was divided into West and East Pakistan and India in between.

In 1971 after further terrible bloodshed, East Pakistan became a separate country and it is called Bangladesh. West Pakistan became Pakistan.

Other fighting broke out over the territory Jammu and Kashmir in the far north. In 1977 General Zia ul-Haq, took over Pakistan. He introduced strict Islamic laws. Benazir Bhutto became prime minister in 1988. It was the first election since Zia's coup.

17TH CENTURY BADSHAHI MASJID BUILT DURING THE MOGHUL RULE

CANADA ROCKY MOUNTAINEER TRAIN

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If you really want to treat yourself to something special, board the Rocky Mountaineer for a two-days' ride

The train is a masterpiece of engineering. The double-decker carriages have comfortable seats and a glass doom to enable you to see the maximum of the majestic Rocky Mountains. There is also an outdoor viewing platform which gives a chance of taking a closer and perfect picture. The Gold leaf service will spoil you beyond belief.

Every Gold Leaf carriage has its own kitchen. It will spoil you with omelettes, eggs Benedict, pancakes, yoghurts and granola for breakfast. For lunch you will taste Alberta beef, pacific salmon and British Columbian wine. The dinner will be an even bigger surprise.

The Rocky Mountaineer trains only runs between April and October because of the Canadian winters. A journey in the spring will give you a chance to see a great wildlife. In the autumn the rivers will be teeming with salmon and bears wading in the rivers to catch the fish. You will be able to watch coyotes, deer, elks, eagles and ospreys.

For British Columbia to become part of Canada, instead of the USA, the conditions were a coast-to-coast railway to be built. The harsh Canadian winter and the landscape of huge mountains was a great challenge. It entailed a 594-mile journey. It was built with a figure-of-eight tunnel system to prevent runaway trains. The train makes a 226 degree turn and it is a most fascinating sight. It enables you to see the track you travelled but is now 50ft below you.

If you travel from west to east you will experience an even more awe inspiring scenery. There is the Fraser River, you will travel along magnificent woodlands and then the high mountain tops to be admired.

The many names of unforgettable scenes are Hell’s Gate with fast water gushing down. Avalanche Alley and Jaws of Death Gorge will point out the danger and powerful nature.

After an overnight stop at Kamloops the sceneries are getting more magic but it must have been even harder for the engineers to put the railway through this beautiful countryside.

The Stoney Greek Bridge, at 325ft above the canon, leaves you spellbound. However, the Spiral Tunnels built as far back as 1907 going through Mont Odgen, rising another 54ft and then circled 288 degrees in Cathedral Mountain leaves you speechless. There is no word to describe such an achievement mot only of engineers but even harder for the workers who had to built them almost by hand.

At Banff you will see scenery which is indescribable. A hot spring on Sulphur Maintain will be beneficial for your health. A gondola ride on Sulphur Mountain will give you an overall view of the majestic mountains.

These described experiences can’t be missed. Canada is definitely worth a holiday and the train journey in the Rocky Mountaineer will be unforgettable. The costs is £599pp and worth the price for such a service. The flight from Gatwick to Vancouver is about £358pp. Prices will vary but it might be cheaper to book them separately than package.

BAHAMAS

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THE BAHAMAS FROM SPACE

BAHAMAS

NASSAU - CAPITAL

The Bahamas are made up of 700 islands and over a 900km of the Atlantic Ocean. They are reaching from the southern tip of Florida to the south-east of Cuba. The islands are low-levelled and made of corals. From all the 700 islands only 22 islands are inhabited. The reason is that the soil is poor, no deposits of minerals and any other wealth. Under water the corals reefs are teaming with fish and marine life.

The climate is warm all year round. However, they do have a hurricane season and it can have a disastrous effect. The climate, beaches and coral reefs attracts visitors from all over the world. Tourism is the biggest industry. The nearby US is where the most holiday makers come from.

The Bahamas, unfortunately, are also know for offshore business and shipping registration which provides income but also abuse of the system. It is also known for illegal drugs trafficking and the government is trying to stop the trade.

The Taino people moved into the inhabited south Bahamas from Hispaniola and Cuba in the 7th century AD. They became known as the Lucayans. At the time of Christopher Columbus arrival in 1492 there were about 30,000 people. After his arrival the Lucayans were wiped out by exposure to the smallpox and bad treatment.

When Christopher Columbus sailed to the Caribbean Islands in 1492 it is assumed that he landed on the Bahamas Island called San Salvador or Watling Island. When the Spaniards landed they met the native inhabitants called Lucayans. The Spaniards did not bother with the island but took the native inhabitants and sold them on the island of Hispandiola, also in the Caribbean, as slaves.

The British people arrived in the Bahamas in the mid-16th century and for the first 100 years shared the land with buccaneers and pirates.

BAHAMAS SUNSET

One of the most famous pirates was Blackbeard. They tried to colonise the land.

In 1973 The Bahamas became independent members of the Commonwealth and with that the British rule ended in a matter of speaking.

BAHAMAS PARLIAMENT IN NASSAU THE CAPITOL

BANSKO, BULGARIA SKI RESORT

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Bansko

Bansko is at the foot of the Pirin mountains. The nearest airport is Sofia and the winter resort is 170 km away from the airport.

Bansko lies at a height of 936 metre while the highest ski run is at 2560 metre and the longest is 7 km. The longest down hill route 16km. It has facilities for beginners, intermediate and advance skier. Also the snowboarders are not forgotten and can show off their skills in “Fun Park” with artificial bumps and jumps.

The Fun Park has floodlights and connects to the ski road down to the centre. Various types of ski lifts and length are available.

All the runs have artificial snow machines which guarantees snow even in the warmest weather. A ski/board road takes right back to the centre of the town.

Bansko itself is a mixture of old and new houses and hotels. The Old Clock Tower had been keeping time for the last 150 years. The local “Mehanas” at the centre are numerous taverns and restaurants. Here you can find original Bulgarian dishes eaten next to roaring log fires and live entertainments. It will be an unforgettable holiday on the slopes and the evening spend in truly Bulgarian hospitality

One warning or good advice, Bulgarians shake their heads when they mean “yes” and they nod when they mean “no”.

More information available online www.banskoski.com

ANTARCTICA

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ANTARCTICA

Antarctica is the coldest continent on earth. Temperature can reach between -80oC and -90oC. East Antarctica is even colder then the Western region. Winds can reach high speed of 150 km. The Ice sheet covered 2.4 per cent of the whole 14 million sqkm. It is 4,776 meter at its thickest. In the water surround the Antarctic continent as penguins, whales, seals and krills.

There are no land mammals. Eskimos and polar bears living in the Arctic regions.

Antarctic below 50 degrees has one long day and one long night each year. The seasons are opposite the Arctic. The sun sets in March and rise in October.

MOUNT EREBUS ON
ROSS ISLAND HAS
AN ACTIVE VOLCANO

Antarctica the ice covered continent at the South Pole. It is assumed that the first person discovered Antarctica was the Russian explorer Fabian von Bellinghousen in 1820

British, French and American scientific and geographical expedition was made through the 19^th century.

The Norwegian Carsten Borchgrevink commanded the British Southern Cross expedition and stayed during the winter on the continent in 1899. The next decade Antarctica became a great rivalry and the quest for the unknown pushed explorers to the limits of endurance. Otto Nordenskjold of Swedish nationality explored Antarctica Peninsula all along the east coast from 1901 to 1904.

SHACKLETON EXPEDITION

SHACKLETON
EXPEDITION TEAM

The British explorers Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton led three parties between 1901 and 1913 from Ross Island which is off the Antarctic coast. They made important discoveries in geology and meteorology. Shackleton and his men came within 97 miles (156km) of the South Pole in 1909. They had to turn back because their supplies run low and wouldn’t have enough for the return journey.

Roal Amundsens and his Norwegian party was the first to reach the Pole on December 14, 1911. Robert Scott and his men reached the Pole a month later. Unfortunately, all the men died on the return journey. The last two were only 11 miles (17km) from the supply depot and safety.

Afterwards most of Antarctica was mapped from the air.

The Norwegian-British-Swedish expedition made scientific journeys into the interior between 1949-1952. They laid the foundation for the International Geophysical Year 1957-8. During this year 12 nations set up more than 50 stations during the Antarctic winter.

Since 1957, the Special Committee in Antarctic Research has coordinated all fieldwork.

Countries made territorial claims in Antarctica since. They are Britain, New Zealand, Australia, France Norway, Chile and Argentina.

An Antarctic Treaty had been signed in 1961 by these countries plus Belgium, Japan, South Africa, the USSR and the USA. At a later date Brazil, China, India, Poland, Uruguay, Italy and Germany signed. The treaty was for preserving Antarctica for peaceful purposes. It pledges scientific cooperation and forbids nuclear explosions and the disposal of radioactive waste. Furthermore a 50 year ban on all mining was agreed in 1991.

A study of the hole in the ozone layer are also made on Antarctic

ANTARCTICA NEAR THE COAST