Moscow Red Square
I have visited the Red Square in Moscow in 1989. It was a few months before the collapse of the USSR. You could see the vivid cracks of Communism and Marxist-Leninism on the body of the city. How historical monuments were falling down, due to mismanagement, how drunk people were shouting in the Square throughout the night and how shops were empty. People all looked sad and mentally engaged. You rarely could somebody who would smile at you or easily answer your enquiry about an address. Every body was scared to talk to you particularly when the recognised you as a foreigner.
Pyramids
Egypt always seems mysterious and full of secrets. It is the cradle of one of the oldest civilizations of history but it is strange and different from other aspects too. Egypt has the best Koranic reciters, the best dancers and the best Arab singers. How these three come together is the first mystery. It is the land of pharaohs as well as the land of prophets. Moses and Joseph are the best known prophets born and lived in Egypt. The land of three wars against Israel, but the first, among other regional warriors, that made peace with it. All these and other questions were my occupation during my stay in Egypt to be answered.
Bali Island
Indonesia is quite different from any other Islamic country in the world. When you go to small island of Bali you feel what I say. This island is too small to be toured by a bicycle within hours. However, there are more than 600 superb hotels in this island to receive visitors and tourists from all over the world who arrive by planes every 15 seconds. The flowers in this small island are too smelly that when you carry one small flower you do not need any perfume. The food in this island particularly its tropical fruits are unimaginable. Its people are so friendly that you never want to part.
Lac Leman
I do not know how exactly many times I visited Geneva, I guess more than ten times. It is hosting the UN European headquarters and many other international agencies. But aside from that Geneva is the land of many important scientists and philosophers.
Geneva Hills
Damascus
Do you know that damas means cotton fabric. Damascus therefore must mean the place that has the best cotton fabrics. Who knows? But Damascus is still one of the centre places he Middle East. If you go to its Sham Cemetery you find more prophets and saints buried than normal people.
Istanbul
What does Istanbul mean? Before Islam and before the Ottoman Empire this city was called Constantinople which meant, in Latin, the city of Roman Emperor Constantine. When Muslims conquered it, they preferred Islam instead of Constantine. Therefore the name of the city was changed to Islampole, obviously means the city of Islam. Strangely when the Ottoman Empire ended and Kamal Pasha Ataturk assumed power in this city he changed the name of the city to Istanbul. Why? You wait fr sometime later.
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is located in Agra, a small city not far from New Delhi. It is undoubtedly the legacy of Persians in India. When Mongols ruled India they used Persian language and Persian tradition as their royal protocols. Even the prevailing architectural style was Persian style. In Taj Mahal you find everything about Iran in India. Did you know that official language f India has been Persian until the rule of British? English replaced Persian but still too leaned, intellectual elite of India try to speak Persian and to select the Persian names for their children.
China Wall
I intend to call it one of the wonders of history, but my son does not agree with me. When you are on the top of the wall You wonder how this huge number of heavy stones have been brought to the top of the hills and to the summit of the mountains. One Chinese told me that this Wall is still the symbol of Chinese pride and ability. When you are on the Wall you believe that China an become the first power of the world in the 2050s.
Tian Anmen Square
Tian Anmen Square, Beijing, is really a part of the world's history. Many historical monuments from the last millennia including the astonishing forbidden city and its tens of furnished palaces and buildings are located on one side. In the middle of the Square the mausoleum of Mao Tse Tong is standing. He is the only a person ever who was privileged to be remembered in his mausoleum in this place. His portrait is facing the portrait of Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken on the other side of the Square. The Square is also remembering the uprising of the students in the 1990s against Chinese Communist rule which in itself is a turning point in this country.
Ibn Khaldoun Square
Ibn Khaldoon is not only one of the most famous and intelligent Islamic thinkers and philosophers but also the founder of the modern sociology and economics. His tax system is currently applied in many developed and developing countries. His statue is still standing in front of the old and traditional Tunis bazaar showing him looking deep into the history of science and thought.
Monks, Katmandu
I like Buddhist monks. They are boys brought from remote villages of China, Tibet, India, Bhutan and Nepal to explore ways of happiness and mental tranquility that Budda has prescribed. They live with a pink shawl around their body and a bowl of rice throughout their life in their expedition. Do they really find happiness? Are they really happy? I think they are happier than those who have money, big cars, long dinner table, huge houses and so fort.
The Pacific 2nd World War Museum
When the commander of the Allied Forces in the Pacific, General Mc Arthur, left Philippines he surely declared that he would come back. He left all these installations and bases in the main land of the Philippines and its surrounding islands. All the bases are now museum of the 2nd World War in the Pacific. It shows how Americans prepared the area for the second War almost about ten years before the actual War began. In other words the 2nd War was not spontaneous or the result of Nazis or Japanese. The American and other Allied forces were ready for it. One of these bases were located in the Corregidor Island, off Manila and in the mouth of the Manila Gulf.
Corregidor Island
Strategically Important Island, Manila Gulf, Philippines
Versailles
Palace
When you are in France you are deemed to hear about the French Revolution. This Revolution changed the whole Europe culture, belief and behaviour. When you think about the French Revolution, you must visit the Versailles Palace. Versailles Palace is a reminder of an event that happened in many other places of the world ever since. When I was in the Versailles Palace my mind was engaged in this question: Has Revolution changed any thing basic, important and fundamental in France, Europe and other parts of the world? What are those Changes? Do we really know them?
Durbar Square, Katmandu
Nepal is different from most of the world. A country on the foothills of Himalaya Mountain range and the host of the Everest climbers of the world. The people are so poor that you wonder how this county is standing between two major powers, China and India, and not being influenced by their growth and development. This is Durbar Square in the middle of the old town of Katmandu. Durbar is the Nepalese pronunciation of the Persian world of Darbar which means royal court. Durbar Square means the square where all ancient royal palaces are located. around.
Jean Jacque Rousseau Monument
Jean Jacque Rousseau was living in exile in small island in the middle of Geneva for a long time before returning to France. He was under prosecution in France and living in exile for his beliefs and his ideas. This small island is locate don the south side of the Mont Blanc Bridge in Geneva where a statue of Rousseau is witnessing the time when France and most of Europe were prosecuting thinkers for what they were writing, teaching and publishing.
Seoul Tower
South Korea is rapidly developing in terms of economy and social standards. It was behind the acceptable social and economic levels almost 30 years ago. But its per capita income and GNP all show how it has steadily developed during the last three decades. It is the showroom of the West vis-a-vis North Korea where communism and socialism is entrenched. Not very far from this tower, the US military bases are recruiting young Koreans to join and fight in the front line against their Northern mates.
World Summit of Information Societies, WSIS
It was in 2003 when the first World Summit of Information Societies, WSIS, was held in Geneva with the participation of many world political leaders and experts of communications and IT. I also attended this historical event where the outline of future development in the IT and Internet was drawn.
Schengen
Schengen is a small village located between three EU countries of Luxembourg, Germany and France. Its ironic location spurred a visa agreement which is called after the name of this beautiful village. In this picture which was taken in the center of the village you may see Germany on the background, France on the right side and Luxembourg on the left. In fact if you make a turn around the central square of the village you will pass through all three countries while turning in this square.
Louvre Museum
This is one of the most important museums of the world. I have visited Hermitage Museum in Russia and the British Museum. But I guess French Louvre has many features that the other two do not have. I call it the most cultural museum of the world. When I saw Monalisa of Leonardo De Vinci for the first time, I was shivering. I think it was because I could not believe that I am really watching the most famous and important portrait of history. To visit Louvre you need at least one week time.
Etretat Cliffs
It is located in the Upper-Normandy, France on the eastern side of the Channel. The British call it the British Channel and the French call it Mansh. Whatever it is, Etretat is one of the most beautiful places in France and perhaps in the world. The cliffs are amazing. It is also a part of Normandy where Joan of Arc was living and making history. When in this place you can imagine how was the ambience for Joan of Arc when she was fighting against British. This place has a prominent place in history. The Allied D-Day ambush started from here at the last stage of the 2nd War.
Lucerne
Lucerne is located on the borders of Lake Lucerne within the sight of Mount Pilatus in Central Switzerland. I visited this beautiful village in the middle of a cold winter in the late 1990s. The mount was snowy, the roads were icy and the ski slopes were full of people including small children who were skiing. I went on the top of the mount in a restaurant to have my sandwich and coffee. The restaurant was flanked by glasses through which you could see all the slopes around and the snow capped summits on the horizon. I never forget the pleasant memory of visiting this mountain.
UN Headquarters
The Headquarters of the United Nations in New York is in itself a piece of history. The UN General Assembly is in another building on the west wing of the main building, but the Security Council is in this building. The Headquarters is a museum of art and handicrafts from all over the world too. Every member country has donated a gift to the UN which is the best it could. India a big piece of ivory on which Indian artists have worked delicately. China has sent carpets and other wood works. Japan has given a large peace bell to be tolled on the anniversary of Hiroshima atomic bomb detonation. Iran has also sent a carpet.
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital of Sudan. It is located on the junction of the two blue and white Niles. These two rivers make the mainstream of the Nile River that is passing though Egypt and other parts of the North Eastern Africa. On the junction itself a Hilton hotel is standing to receive very few gusts from all over the world. If you visit Khartoum you have plenty of time to shop. Shops are small, traditional and full of animal skins, gold artifacts and wood handicrafts. You may easily buy a traditional local dress for US $ 5, wear it and go to a Local Coffee shop, they call it "Maqha" and have a nice Arabic coffee.
Muhammad Ali Pasha Citadel, Cairo
The Ottoman rulers of Egypt were called Pasha. The Pashas eventually declared some sort of autonomy and ruled Egypt independently. One of the most famous Pashas of Egypt was Muhammad Ali Pasha. The citadel named after him is still standing on the top of hill overlooking Cairo. This citadel is in itself a museum of architecture and artifacts. A huge mosque very similar to the mosques you may see in Istanbul a museum of the life and the legacy of Pashas and may other building including the Saladdin Fort are open to visit.
Vienna
Vienna is really one of my best favourites among all the cities I visited. When you walk in the peaceful, clean and calm streets you see the names of famous musicians and artists on the streets, alleyways and squares. In the central park of Vienna not very far from Danube River there is a huge golden statue of Juhan Strauss standing at the entrance playing violin. As you fix your eyes on the statue, the sound of a violin is heard from a few yards away. The able musicians are playing Waltzes in this part including the Blue Danube Waltz.
Wall Street
Wall Street is famous for the sake of the New York Stock Exchange that is located in this Street. It is really the heart of the world economy although many other such markets around the world are playing their important roles in the world's economy. I visited this market in an afternoon when it was not so crowded. I was told that sometimes it is too crowded to be approached. However, it was a good experience to see this huge and main stock exchange.
Kyoto
Kyoto is really the cultural capital of Japan. I visited Kyoto a few months before the terrible earthquake that jolted Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto. I was sad to hear that all those beauties in Kyoto were damaged too. Kyoto is full of life. Although historical and traditional but you find it a modern industrial and economic poles as well. In every corner of the city there are temples, palaces and beautiful gardens. When I was there the city was fully decorated with cherry blossoms (Sakura) that doubled the glory of the colorful city of Kyoto.
Roman Oasis City of Lebda, Libya
Lebda is a Roman city by all means. It is small but equipped with all facilities Romans had in Rome. Courts, roads, markets, stadium, play grounds, steam baths and many other facilities are still standing there. Lebda is far from Tripoli deep inside the desert of North Africa. The interesting point is that the city is fully made of stone. But there is no stone at your disposal in the desert of Libya. The stones were brought there either from Egypt or from Italy which is not far from Libya in the middle of Mediterranean Sea. The city is preserved thank to the remoteness of the location, least rain and few transit.
Putrajaya
It is the new Malaysian Capital. It is an innovative creation of Malaysian elite to construct a capital out of nothing. The new capital is full of buildings all replicants os monuments of famous Islamic cities all around the world. A mosque and bridge copied from that of Esfahan in Iran and similar copies from other places are now attracting many tourists from all over the world.
