Chocolate Hills
Photo by: Raelene G, Creative Commons

The Chocolate Hills are an unusual geological formation found in Bohol, in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. It is found that there are 1,776 hills spread on an approximate 50 square kilometer area. Depending on the season, the Chocolate Hills change in color, varying from green to chocolate brown.

The Chocolate hills are the most famous tourist attraction in Bohol. The Chocolate hills were featured in the Philippine Tourism Authority’s list of Philippine tourist destinations and are the Philippines’ third National Geological Monument. Proposals to include the Chocolate hills in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list are currently being conducted.

The Chocolate Hills look like women’s dress, or giant mole hills, or something out of a child’s drawing. The unusual thing about it is that it is a natural phenomena! Geologists believe that the hills were formed from marine limestone on top of a clay layer. The Chocolate hills are uniform in shape, some standing from 30 to 50 meters high. They are usually covered with grass the year around, but turn brown during the dry season, thus the name. You can see the magnificent view by climbing 214 steps to an observation outpost above the hills.

You can get to the Chocolate Hills on your own or by joining a day tour. From Tagbilaran, go to the bus terminal in Dao, and take a bus to Carmen. Ask the bus driver to drop you off at Chocolate Hills, located 4 km before you reach Carmen. If you get lost you can always ask help from the locals who are very hospitable and friendly.

The Chocolate Hills is indeed one of the Philippines’ most amazing destinations. The Chocolate Hills Complex has: a hostel, swimming pool, restaurant, and an observation deck to view the amazing hills. You can also view the hills at Sagbayan Peak in the town of Sagbayan.

Mayon Volcano – Albay, Philippines
Photo by: anne jimenez, Creative Commons

Famous for its “Perfect Cone”, the Mayon Volcano is the Philippines’ most active volcano and the most popular tourist destination in the Bicol Region. With a height of 2,463 meters, it is the centerpiece of the Albay province, which is about 300 kilometers southeast of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

Mayon Volcano has had 49, recorded eruptions, and continues to be active. Through the years, life and property has been claimed by this wonder of nature. Its first recorded eruption was in year 1616. Even without volcanic activity, the volcano continues to be dangerous for climbers, including the more experienced ones. Its steep slope make it difficult for climbing, thus it has claimed the lives of climbers in the recent years. Rock avalanches and landslides are common. If you want to climb the volcano, you’ll have to work your way through the forest, grasslands, and deserts. The safest way is to pass on the north western slope, but you will have to register at PHILVOCS to climb. Once you reach the summit, be wary of the dangerous fumes emitted by the Volcano. A gas mask in hand will be really useful.

Apart from climbing, you can go nature hiking and marvel at the many wonderful animals such as the parakeet, red jungle fowl, owl, fruit dove just to name a few. You can also do many activities such as hiking, camping, climbing, bird watching as well as photography.

The best time to visit the volcano is between the months of March and May. Do not visit the volcano during rainy season (Nov to Jan) because it is more dangerous. You can go there by land through the Quirino highway, which is about 553 kilometers away. The journey will take about 8 to 10 hours, and many buses depart every day from Manila to Legaspi.

Valley of the Geysers
Photo by: Robert Nunn, Creative Commons

The Valley of Geysers is located in the Kamchatka Peninsula, to the east of Russia. It is also the world’s only geyser field and the second largest concentration of geysers. It measures about 6 km with a number of hot springs and ninety geysers located to the left of the Geysernaya River where geothermal waters passes from a stratovolcano. The places here are very difficult to reach and the only means of traveling here is through a helicopter.

The Valley of Geysers was been discovered by Tatiana Ustinova, a local scientist in the year 1941. After a gap of fourteen years a book was released by Tatiana Ustinova describing her explorations. The surveys were continued up to 1970s and in the year 1990 an automatic monitoring system was launched.

A total of 30 geysers have been named, among them the Giant Geyser is the biggest of all that produces a jet of water of about 40 meters. In the 1980s the area was promoted as a tourist spot by USSR.

It has only be recently that tourists were allowed on site, currently, a total 3000 visitors have been to the valley. The Valley of Geysers is also included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Volga River-Backwater
Photo by: mironset, Creative Commons

The Volga River is Europe’s largest river and it flows through the west of Russia and recognized as the national river of Russia. Its length measures 3530 km. The river is used for flood control, transportation, power production and irrigation. The river also plays a major role in the day to day life of the Russian people earning it the name “Mother Volga”.

The Volga River is the largest on the European continent and a major water sources to Russia. It covers about two-fifths area in Russia and its massive size makes it one of the historic and greatest rivers in the world.

The river originates in the Valdai Hills and it slowly drops to a height of 748 meters. The river also receives water from 200 tributaries. It also mixes with 151,000 rivers and a number of streams together all these measure about 357,000 miles.

The Volga River has a series of reservoirs and dams. The reservoir are used as navigation locks and hydroelectric power stations. Among them the Ivankovo reservoir is located at the top that covers an area of about 126 square miles.

The river has also been expanded for navigation purposes at the time of Stalin’s industrialization. Shipping from here is done to a number of places in Russia and the river is also connected with Black Sea and Don River.

The river valley also provides massive quantities of wheat and a number of minerals such as petroleum, natural gas, potash and salt. The Volga River also features a number of holiday destinations, some of these places provide activities such as water sports and fishing.

Trans-Siberian Railway
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The Trans-Siberian Railroad is an impressive railway network with a length of 9259 kilometers. It connects Moscow and Eastern Russia and the countries of Japan, China and Mongolia.

The first plans of the Trans-Siberian Railway were laid during the reign of Emperor Alexander II under the supervision of Alexander III. A total of 1.455 billion rubles were spent for the construction in between the years 1891-1931 which is the highest amount spent compared to money spent during the World War I.

Local laborers and Russian soldiers were used in the construction of the railroad. Construction on Lake Baikal was a challenge in those days as it measured 640 km long and 5000 feet deep. The Amur River Line that leads to the Chinese border was completed in the year 1916. It is also the longest railway line in the world. Electrification for this route began in 1929 and was completed in 2002.

The main route was built between the years 1891-1916 that connected Russia with China that included a shortcut to Vladivostok. It starts from St. Petersburg at Moskovsky and it passes through the routes of Moscow, Omsk, Novosibrisk, Taishet, Irkutsk, Ulan Ude, Chita, Khabarovsk and ends at Vladivostok.

The second route is known as Trans-Manchurian that coincides with Tarskaya and Trans-Siberian. It starts from Tarskaya and passes through Harbin and Mudanjiang located to the northeast of China and it joins with Ussuriysk also the main route located to the north of Vladivostok.

The third route is known as Trans-Mongolian Railway. It coincides with Trans-Siberian and Ulan Ude and from here it leads to the Ulaan-Baatar and later it heads to Beijing.

In 1991 a new route has been opened which was constructed for than five decades. It is known as Baikal Amur Mainline and it passes through the Amur River and finally reaches Pacific at Sovetskaya Gavan.

The train tickets can be purchased from a number of companies such as Czech Railways, Polskie Koleje Panstwowe and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn. The tickets from Vladovostok to Central Europe costs about €250.

Monte Carlo Casino – Monaco, France
Photo by: Rudolf Stricker, Creative Commons

The Monte Carlo Casino is Monaco’s main tourist attraction. The casino building features an opera, ballet house, Ballets de Monte Carlo’s headquarters and Grand Theatre de Monte Carlo. It is located in the quarter of Monte Carlo and Monaco citizens are prohibited in the gaming rooms. In addition the European Poker Tour is held here annually which is Europe’s prestigious poker tournament.

The casino building was designed by Charles Garnier, a French architect who also designed the Palais Garnier. The first casino opened here in 1856 when Prince Florestan I legalized gambling in the year 1854. Also a new block was added to the casino by Prince Charles III.

The present building was constructed in the year 1858 with a number of gaming rooms. Also in the year 1910 a theater was added and the casino was expanded. In the present days the casino features a restaurant, garden and a poker room for the wealthy people. The gambling games in the casino are Video poker, Slot machines, Blackjack, Stud poker, Craps, Baccarat and Trente et Quarante.

The Monte Carlo Casino has been featured in movies, among them Casino Royale (1953), Never Say Never again, Golden Eye and Once Upon A Crime.

Alzette River in Luxembourg
Photo by: wolfgangstaudt, Creative Commons

Luxembourg is a small independent nation in Western Europe and it is also close to the borders of Germany, France and Belgium. Luxembourg covers an area of about 2586 square kilometers and the population here is about 620,531. Luxembourg is being ruled by the Grand Duke and it is also the only independent nation in the world with Grand Duchy.

Luxembourg history dates back to 963 a.d. and in the year 1815 it was formed as an independent nation. In the year 1839 half of the area here was included in Belgium and finally in the year 1867 Luxembourg achieved its independence. The climate here is almost dry, summers are too hot and winters are extremely cool.

Luxembourg has emerged as one of the major powers in the world and it is also a member of European Nation, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Majority of the people in Luxembourg are Roman Catholics and it is also considered as the land of unique traditions. It is also a major tourist spot in the world, among them the notable places are:

Am Tunnel
It is a contemporary art gallery located in the Luxembourg City. It houses the collection of objects belonging to the cities forts and a number of paintings describing the medical history.

Monument of the Millennium
It is an archaeological site that was discovered in the year 1963. It features the foundations of an ancient castle which was never built.

National Museum of Arts and History
It is located in the Luxembourg City and it houses the collection of artifacts and artworks of the Luxembourgian history.

National Museum of Natural History
This museum is located close to the banks of Alzette River, Luxembourg City. The museum features eight massive blocks that describes about the natural sciences such as botany, geology, ecology, vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, mineralogy, paleontology, astrophysics and geophysics.

Schloss Vaduz (Vaduz Castle) Liechtenstein
Photo by: _o_de_andrade_, Creative Commons

Liechtenstein is a small state in Western Europe and it is also close to the borders of Austria at the east and Switzerland to the west. It covers an area of about 160 square kilometers and the population here is about 38,720.

Liechtenstein comprises of 11 municipalities and it is also the world’s smallest German speaking nation. The majority of the lands are cultivated and the surrounding areas are mountainous and these areas are one of the best winter sports destinations.

Liechtenstein has an altitude of about 2599 meters and it is also the world’s sixth largest independent nation. The 11 municipalities in Liechtenstein are Balzers, Eschen, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schann, Schellenberg, Gamprin, Triesenberg and Vaduz the capital of Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein was established into a small nation around 1719 AD and later it in the year 1806 it formed as a sovereign state. At the time of World War I it was close to Austria and the economic condition of the nation was collapsed due to the low taxes. In the present days Liechtenstein is one the peaceful countries in the world and it has no enemies among the other nations. Also it emerged as one of the major tourist spot, the major attractions here are

Museum of Fine Arts
It is located in the Vaduz city and the museum covers an area of about 1750 square meters. It houses the collection of contemporary arts, rotating exhibits and the collections of Liechtenstein Prince.

Liechtenstein National Museum
This museum features 42 exhibit halls and it houses the collection of the natural, cultural and national history.

Calculator and Typewrite Museum
This museum features the collection of a number of objects of about 150 years old. The collection includes the legendary Curta and the world’s smallest mechanical calculator.

Gutenberg Castle
It is a free standing castle located on the top of 70 meter high rock. The castle has its history from the 13th century and it also played a key role at the time of Bronze Age.

Vaduz Castle
The Vaduz Castle was built around 700 years ago and it is also the official residence for the Liechtenstein princess. In the present days it is one the major attractions in the Vaduz city.

Autumn in Vilnius
Photo by: Arti Om, Creative Commons

Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, is located in Northern Europe, and is one of the world’s largest medieval towns. The town covers an area of about 3.59 square kilometers and it features 74 quarters and 70 streets with 1487 buildings.

The Old Town features a number of museums, churches and architectural monuments. The buildings here are a fine example of the neoclassical, gothic, baroque and renaissance style. The main street in the Vilnius is Pilies Street and it is also known as ‘Hub of Cafe’ and the street life is one of the major attractions here.

Vilnius Old Town is famous for the monuments and it was also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The famous monuments in the Vilnius Old Town are

Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace was built in the 14th century and a number of structures were added up to the 18th century. The palace has been converted to a presidential palace from the year 1997.

Slushko Palace
The Slushko Palace was built in between 1690-1700 and it is located close to the Neris River. The palace was built by Dominik Sloszko and it features a large ornamented works. In the present days the palace features the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and it is also one of the major attractions in the Vilnius Old Town.

St. Anne’s Church
It is a Roman Catholic Church located on the banks of Vilnia River and it is a fine example of Brick Gothic and Flamboyant Gothic styles.

Vilnius Cathedral
The Vilnius Cathedral is located in the middle of the Vilnius Old Town. It features a number of tombs and several paintings belonging to the 16th-19th centuries.

All Saints Church
This church was built in between the years 1620-1630. It features a massive bell tower and a dome roof was added to the church in the 18th century. In addition the church also features a small museum.

Lithuanian National Drama Theatre
This theatre was established in the year 1940 and over 200 performances were held here.

Pha That Luang
Photo by: permanently scatterbrained, Creative Commons

Pha That Luang is a 16th century Buddhist stupa located in the Vientiane City, Laos. It was built by the Emperor Setthathirat in the 16th century on the remains of Khmer temple belonging to the 13th century.

It is believed that the Khmer temple stands on a 3rd century temple which was built by Buddhist missionaries who were sent to this place by the Emperor Ashoka to house the relics of Buddha.

In the 16th century the Emperor Setthathirat made the Vientiane City as the capital of Laos. In the year 1566 the construction of the Pha That Luang had begun and the entire complex was covered with golden leafs.

In 1828 the Pha That Luang was badly damaged during the Thai invasion. In the 1930 the Pha That Luang was rebuilt based on the paintings of Louis Delaporte, a French architect.

The Pha That Luang has three levels and a number of statues of Buddha can be seen here. Buddhists from all over world come to Pha That Luang as a part of their quest, at the same Pha That Luang attracts tourists from around the world.

Photo by: Jeny, Creative Commons

The Seville Cathedral is located in Seville, Spain. The church was built in the 1500s in Gothic styles. It is the largest cathedral in Spain and the world’s third largest cathedral.

Seville Cathedral
The Cathedral features the tomb of Christopher Columbus. This was built to display the wealth of Seville to the other nations. In the year 1511, the cathedrals dome collapsed but later rebuilt.

In 1888, a massive earthquake hit the city and the same dome collapsed, and again rebuilt. The cathedral consists of 80 chapels. The interiors feature Spain’s longest nave with a peak that measures 42 meters high and is emblazoned with gold. In addition, the cathedral feature paintings by Zurbaran and Murillo.

Giralda Tower
The Giralda Tower is the Cathedral’s famous bell tower. The tower measures 97.5 meters high was the world’s tallest tower at the time of its construction. The tower features a statue that measures 4 meters high and is inscribed with Seville’s motto, “NO8DO”(She has not left me).

Sunset in Madagascar
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The Ranomafana National Park is situated to the southeast of Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar. Rano means water and mafana means hot in the Malgache language. The park covers an area of about 41,600 hectares and the climate here is dry. The park was established in the year 1991 and it features flora and fauna with rare species that includes the lemur.

The Ranomafana National Park features hot springs that were discovered hundreds of years ago. Later a spa was created here by the French and it has emerged as one of the largest towns. In 1986 Hapalemur aureus was discovered here and later Hapalemur simus was rediscovered.

The park is located on a high plateau which features a number of mountains that measures about 600 to 1400 meters. The park also features rainforest, high plateau forest and cloud forest which are one of the major attractions here.

The area features about 100 villages with a population of about 25,000 and the majority of the people are farmers. The park can be accessed by a boat from Fianarantsoa which takes about 10 hours journey and from the southeast of Madagascar it takes about 2 hours journey.

Shwenandaw Monastery
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Shwenandaw Monastery is found on Mandalay Hill, Myanmar. It is a historical monument built in the 1800s by the Emperor Mindon. The monastery is famous for the teak carvings of Buddhist myths, decorated roofs and walls.

The Shwenandaw Monastery is built in a Burmese style and it was also the place where the Emperor Mindon had died and later on the building was moved to the monastery. The Shwenandaw Monastery also served as the home for the Emperor Mindon. Also after the emperors death it is also said that Mindon’s spirit has been haunting the monastery.

The Shwenandaw Monastery is built of Myanmar teak and it is a masterpiece of wood carver’s art. The building is wrapped with carved panels and the entire building is wrapped with gold coverings. As a result of bad weather the gold coverings have been damaged.

The Shwenandaw Monastery is also the only wooden Royal Palace that survives to the present day. It is also one of Myanmar’s major tourist spot, it opens at 10 am and closes and 6 pm.

Nazca Monkey – Nazca, Peru
Photo by: leander.canaris, Creative Commons

Nazca Lines are located in the Nazca Desert, Peru. They are giant sketches that are so large that they can only be viewed from the air. These are believed to have been made by the Nazca Indians from 200 BC to 700 CE. There are hundreds of designs, they include human body shapes, hands, trees, condors, hummingbirds, monkeys, sharks, spiders, llamas, fish, and lizards, just to name a few.

Due to the dry and stable climate, these large drawings have been preserved for centuries, even lasting to this day. The Peruvian desert of Pampa Colorada or Red Plain is filled with Nazca lines. They are normally 15 wide, not sandy, but has a dark red colored layer on top with a lighter colored soil underneath. Clearing away the upper layer creates Nazca Lines, thus revealing the lighter colored soil underneath.

It is amazing how these lines survived for centuries, thus many people have speculated with many conspiracy theories. Simply put though, the desert is made of stone, and the dry climate makes it very hard to erase the drawing.

The primary means of transportation to get the Nazca is only by bus. From Lima, Ica Cusco, and Pisco, there are plenty of buses to take you to Nazca. Once you get to Nazca, how can you see the lines? The best way to see them is by air. You can take a small plane that can carry five passengers. The tour lasts about 30 to 35 minutes, and they fly over the most renowned Nazca lines. It is recommended to fly and see the lines between 8 to 10 am and 3 to 5 pm, where the air is usually clear and haze free. Prepare yourself though, these small plane rides can get bumpy and nauseating, especially if you’re prone to airsickness.

Tyre Harbor
Photo by: upyernoz, Creative Commons

The city of Tyre is located to the south of Lebanon city and it is one of the major cities in the Phoenician era. The city extends up to the Mediterranean Sea and it is about 80 km from the Beirut city. The Tyre city is Lebanon’s fourth largest city with a population of about 318,000.

Mythology places Tyre as the home of Elissa and Europa, and features one of the major ports in the nation. It is a major tourist stop because of the numerous ancient sites, among them, is the famous Roman Hippodrome. Tyre is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical constructions.

The city features a number of monuments dating back to 1500 BC; the people of this period were the world’s leading merchants. The city is also famous for its manufacture of the Tyrian purple dye which was mainly used the emperors of that period. Around 1000 BC during the reign of King David there was a friendly relation in between the people of Tyre and Hebrews.

Also at this city, a Syrian woman’s daughter was healed by Jesus Christ mentioned in Mark 7:24.

Tyre features three archaeological sites that include the Byzantine mosaic floor of an ancient church, Roman Cemetery and Roman triumphal arch. Among the ruins in the city is the hippodrome, the best preserved area that accommodates up to about 20,000 spectators.

In addition the city also features a number of ruins belonging to the Byzantine and Arabs. The other major sites are the Shia Mosque with double domes, Christian quarter and colorful souk.

Masada – Mountain Fortress
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Masada is an ancient site with a number of fortifications, to the south of Israel, it is a rough natural fortress that is located along the edge of the Judean Desert that overlooks the Dead Sea. It also stands as a fine example of Israel’s ancient kingdom and the site of a violent destruction of Jewish patriots in the hands of Roman Army around 73 AD.

The cliffs located to the east measures 400 meters and the cliffs located to the west measures 90 meters high. The area on the top of the plateau is almost flat and looks in the shape of a rhomboid that measures 4300 feet. It features a number of towers and fortress that consisted of cisterns, palace, barracks, storehouses and armory for the storage of weapons.

Masada is famous for the ancient ruins which are:

Masada Storehouses
These storehouses were built by King Herod. It consists of 15 massive storerooms, jars and wine bottles were stored here.

Herod’s Bathhouse
It was the private bathhouse of King Herod. It featured a massive floor with 200 pillars and featured a furnace where hot air was sent below the floor and water was spilled on the floor, steam was produced. In addition the room also featured pipes inside the walls that heated the room.

Siege Camp
It is a massive wall that bounds Masada and the Roman camps. The wall measures about 7 miles long and 6 feet thick.

1st century Synagogue
This site was discovered as a part of Yadin’s excavations. Also at this site, a temple and coins belonging to the Jewish Revolt were iscovered.

Masada is a major tourist spot in the world and it was also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2001.

Church of the Nativity
Photo by: upyernoz, Creative Commons

The Church of the Nativity is in Bethlehem and it is the world’s oldest operating church. The church was built on the top of a cave believed to be the birth place of Jesus Christ.

The first church on this site was built by Saint Helena. The construction of the church began in the year 327 and ended in the year 333. In the year 529 the church was destroyed as a part of the Samaritan Revolt. In the year 565 the church was rebuilt by Justinian the Great. In the year 614 Persians invaded the church and they haven’t touched the church. It is said that The Three Wise Men (who visited Christ after his birth) had appeared to the Persian commander Shahrbaraz in Persian clothing and commanded him to leave the place.

The church is a mixture of two churches that features the cave where Christ was born. The church complex is maintained by Armenian Apostolic, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic authorities.

The Church of the Nativity was built in a Roman style with five isles. It consists of golden mosaics and the entry into the church is through a small door known as “Door of Humility”. The church consists of an array of lamps and gilded iconostasis on the entire complex.

The neighboring Church of St. Catherine is a Roman Catholic Church that was built in a Gothic style. It is the place where the Midnight Mass during Christmas Eve is celebrated by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The Grotto of the Nativity is an underground cave located below the church and this cave is also the birth place of Christ. It features an altar, marble floor bounded by silver lamps.

The Manger Square is a large courtyard located at the beginning of the church. It is also the place where a number of people gather here at the time of Christmas Eve and also take part in the midnight services to sing the Christmas carols.

Also a number of chapels are located within the compound that includes the Chapel of Innocents describing the children being killed by the King Herod and the Chapel of Saint Joseph that describes about the angel appearing to Joseph and ordering him to go to Egypt.

The Church of the Nativity is the sacred place in the world and the Christmas celebrations are attended by a number of people all over the world every year. Roman Catholics celebrates Christmas on 25th December whereas the Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7th.

Via Dolorosa – Holy Sepulchre & 9th Station
Photo by: kudumomo, Creative Commons

The Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering) is a historical street divided into two parts located in the Jerusalem. It is also the street where Jesus Christ passed through at the time of His crucifixion.

The Via Dolorosa has been a major destination for pilgrims since the early days of Christianity. At first the Byzantine pilgrims went on a single way without stopping in between till the end. In the 8th century a new route has been discovered starting from the Gethsemane Garden and it heads to the Mount Zion around the Temple Mount. In the Middle Ages two new routes have been discovered to the Latin Church’s east and west directions.

In between the 14th and 16th centuries the Franciscan route is the major way for the pilgrims starting from the Church of Holy Sepulchre that featured eight stations.

Today, the main route starts from the Lion’s Gate located in the Muslim Quarter and the ending point is at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The streets here are one of the busiest in the world with a number of shops.

The 14 stations of the Cross are:

Station 1
It is the place where Christ was sentenced by Pontius Pilate is about 300 meters from the Lion’s Gate. An elementary school has been built at this location.

Station 2
It is the place where Christ was given the cross. It features the Chapel of Judgment located to the left and it is also the same area where Jesus Christ was given the death sentence. To the right, is the Chapel of the Flagellation where the Roman soldiers had beaten Christ.

To the north direction is the Convent of the Sisters of Zion that contains the massive pieces of Lithostartos. To the west of the Lithostartos is the Ecce Homo Arch and it is the place where Pilate recognized Jesus Christ and shouted to the crowds “Ecce Homo” which means “Behold the man”. The arch was built during the period of Emperor Hadrian.

Station 3
It is the place where Christ fell carrying the cross for the first time.

Station 4
It is the place where Mary had seen Jesus carrying the cross. The area now features an Armenain Church of the Lady of the Spasm. The major attractions in the church are the couple of sandals which are the footprints of Mary and the floor mosaic belonging to the 5th century.

Station 5
It is the place where Simon, the Cyrene, was ordered by the Roman soldiers to carry the cross of Christ. This site is located where Via Dolorosa turns to the west at al-Wad Road.

Station 6
It is the place where Veronica wiped the face of Christ with a cloth and later the image of Christ is marked on the cloth. This cloth is now located at the St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. The Station 6 is also considered as the “Church of the Holy Face”.

Station 7
It is the place where Christ fell down on the ground for the second time. The area is now a Franciscan Chapel.

Station 8
It is located on the market street and it is also the place where Jesus consoled the women from Jerusalem.

Station 9
It is the place where Jesus Christ had fell on the ground for the third time.

The Stations 9-14 are located in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the entry is through the Station 9.

Station 10
It is the place where Christ has been stripped and the site is located on the top.

Station 11
It is the place where Christ is being nailed on the cross.

Station 12
It is the place where Christ dies on the cross also known as Rock of Golgotha.

Station 13
It is the place where Christ is being taken from the cross after his death.

Station 14
It is the place where Christ is placed inside the tomb.

Every Friday at the Via Dolorosa a weekly procession is held here starting from the Pilgrims Reception Center that displays the events describing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Hagar Qim
Photo by: peuplier, Creative Commons

Hagar Qim is a massive megalithic temple complex that dates in between 3600-3200 BCE. Located on the island of Malta, the temple complex is a masterpiece and one of the world’s major religious sites. In addition the Hagar Qim is also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The temple is situated on the top of a hill and was built using globigerina limestone which is also Malta’s second oldest rock. The temple features two massive rocks at the entrance and it also features a massive wall and forecourt.

The temple complex features a main temple and three other additional buildings. Built between 3600-3200 BC the entry at the outer block features six massive chambers and the wall here is built of large stones. The main sites in the complex are:

Temple Forecourt
The temples forecourt features irregular slabs in front of the outer wall. The floor features large blocks of stones and floor here looks similar to the forecourt in Mnajdra’s southern temple.

Dwelling Houses and Bastion
The dwelling houses are a group of small sized stones. The bastion here borders the temple with massive stone blocks. The wall here is about 20 meters long and it features a massive stone that weighs about 57 tons.

Northern Temple
It is the oldest block in the temples complex. It features a secondary doorway and three layers of flooring. In addition a number of stone balls are seen on the walls and also these balls serve as the foundation for the temples complex.

Women’s Chamber
The Women’s Chamber features a rectangular slab and a stone pillar. The chamber features an Oracle hole which is used for transmitting sound in those days. In addition the remains of several blocks can also be seen in the present days on this site.

Main Temple
The temples entrance measures about 14.3 meters long with massive slab walls. The temples interior is entirely different compared to the temples of that period and it features stone altars and smooth blocks. These objects were discovered in the year 1839 and it can be seen at the Valletta museum.

The Watering Place
It is situated on the top of a hill close to the temples complex. It features seven reservoirs where three rivers consist of water and the remaining are dry.

Alleyway in Mdina, Malta
Photo by: Eirik Newth, Creative Commons

Mdina is a medieval town in Malta. It is also considered as the “Silent City”, a town that covers an area of about 314 square kilometers with a population of about 300.

The town features a number of walls and the first wall here was built around 700 BC by the Phoenicians. Mdina is too far from the sea and it is also the highest point in the island. It is also the place where the Apostle St. Paul lived after he was involved in a shipwreck.

The major walls in the town were built in the 10th and 11th centuries. During this period, the town streets, moats and fortifications were widened. In the year 1693, a massive earthquake struck the town and majority of the structures were destroyed including the St. Paul’s Cathedral. Later the cathedral was rebuilt by the Knights of Malta in a Baroque style.

In the present, the city is one of the major tourist spots. It features a limited number of houses and has a smaller population. The major attractions in the town are:

St. Paul’s Cathedral
It is a Roman Catholic Cathedral built in between the years 1697-1702. The cathedral was designed by Lorenzo Gafa and it houses several paintings belonging to the 15th century. The baptismal font in the cathedral is made of Irish wood; in addition the cathedral also features a massive collection of silver coins and plates.

Vilhena Palace
The Vilhena Palace was built in the year 1454 and in the year 1908 it was converted to a hospital and closed in 1956. In 1973 it reopened as a museum.

The other attractions in the town include the St. Agtha’s Chapel, St. Nicholas Chapel, National History Museum and Bastion Square.

Valletta, Capital of Malta
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Valletta, capital of Malta, is located to the east of the island. It covers an area of about 7491 square kilometers and the population here is about 7213.

Valletta features a number of constructions built in Neo-Classical, Mannerist and Modern architecture. A major part of the city was destroyed in the World War II leaving the historical constructions in ruins. In 1980 Valletta was added as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The major sites in the city are

St. John’s Co Cathedral
It is a unique cathedral with a barrel shaped ceiling and a single massive painting of Mattai Preti. The marble flooring inside the cathedral features a number of colors and it is also one of the world’s best floors. It is a major tourist spot and it opens at 9:30 am and closes at 4:30 pm.

The Cathedral Museum
The Cathedral Museum features the two important works of Caravaggio where one of the works is the Beheading of St. John the Baptist and the other work is Caravaggio displaying himself as a knight.

The Palace of the Grand Masters
It was built in the 17th century and in the present days it is used as the President’s office. It houses the collection of Knight’s armoury and it is open to the public in between 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The National Museum of Fine Arts
This museum houses the collection of Mattia Preti paintings. In addition there are several paintings of Caravaggisti, Eradi and Ribera.

Fort St. Elmo
Situated on the edge of the peninsula, it was built by the Knights in the year 1551 and today it serves as a police academy.

The National Library
The National Library is located close to the Grandmaster’s Palace. It was built by the Knights in the year 1798.

Victoria Panorama in Gozo, Malta
Photo by: Glen Bowman, Creative Commons

Victoria is the capital city of Gozo which is one of the islands in the Republic of Malta located at the Mediterranean Sea. The city has a population of 7,413 and is among the highest populated areas in Gozo. “Rabat” was the original name of the Victoria city and the Gozitans still consider the city’s name as Rabat.

The city features an ancient citadel belonging to the Bronze Age around 1500 BC. It was extended by the Phoenicians and in the Roman period it was the major cities in Malta. The north part of the citadel was built at the time of Aragonese periods and the south block was rebuilt by the Knights of St. John in between the years 1599-1603.

The citadel features a massive stone wall built by the Knights to protect the city from enemies. The St. Paul’s Cathedral lies close to the wall that was built in the 17th century on the site of a ruined temple.

Victoria City is famous for the feasts among them the famous feasts are the St. George’s feast that is devoted to St. Mary and it is celebrated every year in the St. George’s Basilica. Another major feast is celebrated on December 8th at the St. Francis Church that is devoted to the Lady of Divine Grace.

In the present days Victoria City has emerged as one of the major tourist places in Malta. It has immense night life, in addition a number of shopping centers, restaurants, bars and coffee shops are established here.

The Great Mosque of Djenne
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The Great Mosque of Djenne is found in the Djenne, Mali. The mosque is built in a Sahelian architectural style and it is the world’s largest building to be constructed with mud brick. The first mosque on this site was built in the 13th century and the present building was built in the year 1907. It is also one of Africa’s major landmarks and it was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1998.

The first mosque on this site was built in between 1200-1300, some earlier documents show that al-Sadi’s Tarikh al-Sudan describing the mosque which was recorded in the 17th century. This document describe the construction of the mosque and how Sultan Kunburu had converted into Islam. At first the sultan built a mosque and bounding walls to the east and later his successor had added towers to the mosque.

The present structure of the mosque was built in the year 1906. The mosque was built under the supervision of Ismalia Traore and the outer walls of the mosque were built similar to the walls that were built in the 13th century. The terrace on the mosque features two tombs,

The walls of the mosque are built of mud bricks and is coated with mud plaster that adds smooth looks to the building. The walls are ornamented with palm tree sticks known as “toron”. The mosque’s platform measures about 75 meters wide and it is about three meters high. The entry to the mosque is from the northern side.

The prayer wall faces towards the east and it features three massive minarets. The eastern wall here is of 3 ft thick and it is made stronger by adding eighteen pilasters. The prayer hall features irregular windows that allows light inside the hall.

In the present day, the Great Mosque of Djenne is a sacred destination to many muslims. A yearly festival is held at the mosque that includes food and music. In addition a race is held here where the participants runs and climbs on the mosque to deliver plaster on the damaged areas.

The Main Mosque of the town of Mopti
Photo by: upyernoz, Creative Commons

The Mopti Mosque is situated in the City of Mopti, Mali. The mosque features a covered building, three meters high wall and a courtyard. The mosque is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2009.

The present structure of the mosque was built in between the years 1936-1943 on the same site of a mosque that was built in the year 1908. It was built Sudanese style and the designs are mostly symmetrical and vertical compared to the other mosques.

The Mopti Mosque was also listed as a National Monument by the Malian Government in the year 2005. Some parts of the mosque have been damaged over the years and the repair works have been done to the mosque in between 2004-2006 under the supervision of Aga Khan Foundation.

In the present days the Mopti Mosque is one of the sacred places. It is visited by people from all over the world. The mosque is opens to public from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The mosque remains closed to the public on Fridays and on festivals.

Transport of choice in Timbuktu, Mali
Photo by: emilio labrador, Creative Commons

Timbuktu City is located in the Tombouctou Region, Mali. The city is the home for several madrasas(arabic for educational institution) and Sankore University. The city is Africa’s spiritual capital and the main center for Islam between the 15th and 16th centuries. The city features three major mosques which are Sankore, Sidi Yahya and Djingareyber.

The people here are Fulani, Songhay, Mande and Tuareg. The Timbuktu City has also contributed a lot for Islam and it is also the first place in the world to feature a university. Timbuktu also features a number of texts belonging to the ancient Greek period and these texts were copied and written in the books belonging to the 14th century.

Timbuktu was founded in the 10th century by the nomadic Tuaregs. At this period the city prospered and a number of buildings were built and the only means of traveling is by a camel. In the 13th and 14th centuries Timbuktu had emerged as a major port city. In the year 1581 the Sankore University was built and it became a major center for Islam.

In the present day, Timbuktu is a modern town and one of the major tourist spots with an international airport. In the year 1988 Timbuktu was also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The major places to be seen here are

Djinguereber Mosque
The mosque was built in the year 1327. Some parts of the mosque were built of limestone, wood, fiber, and straw. The mosque features two minarets, three courts and about 25 pillars.

Sidi Yahya Mosque
The Sidi Yahya Mosque was built in the year 1440. It features massive doors at the entrance and pillars of about three rows that faces towards the north-south. The courtyard features a tall minaret and a cemetery which is not in use.