Though Egyptians have lived in and around the Cairo area since time began, the modern city itself is ually traced to the year 968 AD and the newly arrived Fatimid dynasty. For centuries the city prospered and grew to become the largest city in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Later French… Continue reading Egypt and the building of a new Capital City
Tag: Desert
The death of the Aral Sea
Once the fourth largest inland body of water in the world and half the size of England has over the last few decades almost totally disappeared. The Aral Sea sits in the middle of the Kyzylkum Desert fed by the two rivers, the Syr Darya and Amu Darya. It wasn’t really a sea but a… Continue reading The death of the Aral Sea
How Technology Can Help Solve The Water Crisis In Africa
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I was thrilled that I was approached and then commissioned to write for one of the leading academic environmental magazines in the world, TerraGreen after they read my post on The Green Wall of Africa. I was thrilled that it was made the March 2014 Cover Story with… Continue reading How Technology Can Help Solve The Water Crisis In Africa
Dungeness – Britain’s only desert
You’d be forgiven for thinking that I have over-indulged this holiday for putting two seemingly mutually exclusive terms in the same sentence, Britain and desert. Yes I too thought it a bit strange, even more so as it is pouring down with rain outside at this very moment. However dear reader, I have not lost… Continue reading Dungeness – Britain’s only desert
The Man Who Planted Trees and The Green Wall of Africa
About five years ago, I watched part of a short animated film entitled The Man Who Planted Trees. It is the most lovely short French film (an English version can be viewed here) and it tells the story of a man in an early 20thC European Alpine valley that was desolate and empty of life… Continue reading The Man Who Planted Trees and The Green Wall of Africa
Lawrence of Arabia
This is the first section of a two part article about T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. This first part will be about the better known side of Lawrence and especially the film whilst the second part will be a more personal look at Lawrence and my journey in his footsteps. You can… Continue reading Lawrence of Arabia
Qasr Amr – pleasure palace of the Caliphs
Qasr Amr is located on the desert road to Azraq and only a short distance from Iraq. It is possibly the highlight of the chain of desert castles built in eastern Jordan. It was built by Caliph Walid I around 715AD. As the name suggests it was originally part of a castle but now all… Continue reading Qasr Amr – pleasure palace of the Caliphs
Stephen Liddell 