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INTERESTING AUTUMN TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FROM EGYPT
by Ted Cookson
Published in July 2006
Casablanca, Morocco dancers and musicians, 59-second video clip
Reunion Island
volcano,
38-second video clip
Are you considering an autumn holiday this year? Autumn is the best time to
visit 21 different countries - 12 in Asia, two in the Near East and five in
Africa and the Indian Ocean plus Australia and New Zealand.
TWELVE COUNTRIES IN ASIA:
BHUTAN: The best time to visit this remote Buddhist Himalayan kingdom is
from October through March or April. Tourism to Bhutan is strictly regulated.
Visas are only granted to travelers who have prepaid a package which includes
accommodation and sightseeing. Tours include visits to Buddhist monastery-forts
called dzongs.
CAMBODIA: The best season for visiting this Southeast Asian country is
from November through February. The biggest tourist draw is Angkor Wat, a
sprawling temple complex akin to Luxor's Karnak but in a jungle setting. Angkor
Wat can be reached in only one hour by air from Bangkok. The Cambodian capital
of Phnom Penh, with its French colonial architecture, is also worth a short
visit.
CHINA: The prime months for visiting China in general are April-May and
September-October. China's tourist highlights include: Beijing with its Great
Wall and Forbidden City; the sprawling port of Shanghai with its unique early
twentieth-century European architecture; Xi'an with its terra-cotta warriors;
Guilin where tourists take a day-long Li River cruise past scenic karst
formations; and Chengdu with its pandas. The best time for visiting Hong Kong
is from March to May and from September to December.
INDIA: In general, prime time for a visit to India is from October
through March. Although this vast subcontinent offers many sightseeing
possibilities, the major tourist destinations include the capital of Delhi and
Agra's Taj Mahal plus Jaipur and Udhaipur in Rajasthan.
JAPAN: The best months to visit Japan are from April to May and also
October. While not visited often by tourists from Egypt, the metropolis of
Tokyo, the gardens and shrines of Kyoto and the nearby ancient capital of Nara
are among the many highlights of Japan.
MALDIVES: Best visited from November through March, the Maldives is a
paradise for divers and snorkelers. Located south of India in the Indian Ocean,
this island republic has allowed over 90 of its 1,200 islands to be developed
for tourism. The airport near the capital of Male can be reached from Cairo via
Dubai or Doha.
MYANMAR: The prime season for visiting this interesting country is from
November to February. Formerly known as Burma, this Southeast Asian country is
situated between Bangladesh and Thailand. Yangon, the capital and largest city,
was previously called Rangoon. Yangon is home to the remarkable large gold
Shwedagon Pagoda. As Myanmar is so inexpensive, shopping in Yangon's old,
covered Scott Market can be a real treat. Air service to Yangon is available
via Bangkok.
SOUTH KOREA: The prime months for visiting South Korea are April and
October. While not on the agenda of many travelers from Egypt, Seoul offers
traditional temples as well as some incredible shopping. Also, a day tour to
view Panmunjom in the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) is a fascinating experience.
Due to security issues, however, this tour must be arranged in advance.
SRI LANKA: November to February is the best time for a visit to this
teardrop-shaped island nation off the southeast coast of India. Although one
will probably not dwell long in the capital of Colombo, Kandy's Temple of the
Tooth and the extensive ruins at Anuradapura, Polonnarua and Sigiria all draw
plenty of tourists. Several days of touring in Sri Lanka combined with a
relaxing beach holiday in the nearby Maldives would make a terrific
two-destination holiday.
TAIWAN: Best visited in April-May and October-November, Taiwan is a land
of contrasts. Its well-stocked national museum contains a number of treasures.
On the other hand, in the alleys of Taipei one can witness local men chugging
down fresh snake blood, which they believe will render them more virile.
Unfortunately, Taiwan is another destination which is not on the map of most
travelers originating in Egypt.
THAILAND: Best visited from November to February, this ancient kingdom
has a rich culture. There is plenty of history to see not only in Bangkok but
also in the former capital at Ayyutthaya to the north. Now that adventure
holidays are all the rage, the northern centers of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
have become very popular. The well-developed beach resorts at places like
Phuket and Ko Samui can become quite crowded during peak travel periods.
VIETNAM: The best months to travel to this long and narrow country are
from November to February. The primary tourist destinations are Ho Chi Minh
City (formerly known as Saigon), Hanoi, and the central region where Danang and
the former capital of Hue are situated. Because exotic Vietnam is very
inexpensive, shopping there can easily turn into an extravaganza!
TWO COUNTRIES IN THE NEAR EAST:
JORDAN: Although it can be visited year-round, the very best months for
visiting Jordan are April and October. The primary tourist site is Petra in the
south. The second most interesting site is Jerash, the ruins of a Roman-era
city some 75 minutes north of the capital of Amman. When driving the old,
winding Kings' Highway connecting Amman and Petra, tourists can stop off en
route at Madaba, Mt. Nebo and Kerak. The oldest map of Palestine is drawn in
mosaic on the floor of a church at Madaba. The Biblical site of Mt. Nebo
features a mosaic museum and an overlook of the Dead Sea, while Kerak sports a
well-preserved Crusader-era castle.
TURKEY: The best months for Turkey are April-May and September-October.
Istanbul is simply overflowing with the remnants of the grand capital of the
Ottoman Empire. In addition, there are wonderful Classical ruins both north and
south of Izmir on the Turkish Aegean coast. Ephesus is of course the most
famous. But Bergama, 90 minutes north of Izmir, and Priene, Miletus and Didyma,
all south of Izmir, provide wonderful day trips from a base in Izmir or from the
much smaller, nearby port of Kusadasi. Cappadocia, situated on the Anatolian
plateau and with its multi-layered underground cities and unique fairy chimneys,
is accessible by car from Ankara or from the smaller, closer airport at Keyseri.
FIVE COUNTRIES IN AFRICA AND THE INDIAN OCEAN:
BOTSWANA: The dry season for viewing game stretches from April to October,
with September being the very best month. Botswana's gem is the game-rich
Okavango Delta, one of the world's largest inland oases. This country is often
combined with visits to Zambia to see Victoria Falls and/or to South Africa to
visit Cape Town.
ETHIOPIA: Prime time for a trip to Ethiopia is from September to
February. Although not on most travelers' radar screens, this mountainous
country boasts some fascinating sites. Aside from Africa's largest outdoor
market and a couple of interesting museums in the capital of Addis Ababa, the
so-called Historic Route in the north forms the usual tourist circuit. The most
fantastic sight is Lalibela with its large rock-cut churches. But there are
also stone obelisks at Axum, well-built castles at Gondar, and of course Tisisat
Falls on the Blue Nile near Bahar Dar.
MOROCCO: The prime months for visiting Morocco are April and
September-October. Although scenic and exotic Marrakesh is the best-known
tourist destination, the ancient city of Fes is equally enticing. Meknes and
Volubilis, both near Fes, offer Islamic architecture and Roman-era ruins,
respectively.
REUNION ISLAND: The best season for a visit to this remote but beautiful
island lying to the east of Madagascar is between May and November. Volcanic in
origin, Reunion is nearly devoid of sandy beaches. Tourists can explore the
island's volcanic craters and even drive into cirques, large craters whose walls
have eroded, leaving a path to the sea.
TUNISIA: The best months for visiting this small North African nation are
October and November and also February and March. The well-known Bardo Museum
in Tunis contains one of the world's best collections of Roman-era mosaics. The
skimpy ruins of ancient Carthage are also located near the capital. The
well-preserved coliseum at El Djem is definitely worth a visit. The pilgrimage
center of Kairouan and the picturesque desert oases of Nefta and Tozeur round
out the list of tourist destinations in Tunisia's interior. Mediterranean beach
resorts at Monastir and elsewhere are popular with European visitors.
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND:
AUSTRALIA: The two best seasons for visiting Australia are March to May and
September to November. Sydney is at its best from September to May whereas
Melbourne is best from November to March. With so much to offer tourists,
Australia's highlights include the very urban Sydney and Melbourne plus Ayers
Rock in the interior and the Great Barrier Reef in the northeastern state of
Queensland.
NEW ZEALAND: While the period from December to February is the best time
to visit this two-island nation lying to the east of Australia, one will
encounter fewer tourists in October and November and also in March and April.
Auckland, the largest city, and Wellington, the capital, are both located on
North Island. Volcanic wonders abound around Rotorua in the center of North
Island. The much less-developed South Island, home to many natural wonders, is
also well worth a visit. Magnificent Milford Sound and snow-capped Mt. Cook are
the most outstanding of these. Queenstown has developed into an adventure
travel center, offering everything from a ride in a microlight aircraft to a
ride down a river in a jet boat. Bungee jumping originated in Queenstown too!
ABOUT TED COOKSON: Egypt's most widely-traveled travel agent, Ted has been
to every country in the world! He has also visited 307 of the 315 destinations
on the list of the Travelers' Century Club (visit
www.eptours.com and refer to World Travel Club). A travel agent in Cairo
since 1986, Ted manages EGYPT PANORAMA TOURS, a full-service travel agency, at 4
Road 79 (between Roads 9 and 10, near the "El Maadi" metro station) in Maadi.
Contact Egypt Panorama Tours (open 7 days a week 9 AM-5 PM) at: Tels. 2359-0200,
2358-5880, 2359-1301. Fax 2359-1199. E-mail:
ept@link.net. Web site:
www.eptours.com.
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