One of the things I like about travel is encountering different ideas and customs. I really like noticing the differences. Even in the U.K. there are huge variations in buildings, landscapes, foods, accents and even customs. Whilst others delight in the homogenisation of things, especially in Europe, there is nothing that I dislike more. Things… Continue reading There’s something about Persian door-knockers!
Tag: Islam
Is the Queen descended from the Prophet Muhammad?
It is said that most of us have hundreds or thousands of living relations, if only we knew who they were. On one line of my family tree I have found to be descended from such people such as the brother of King Harold of 1066 fame, Robert The Bruce and various old Saxon and… Continue reading Is the Queen descended from the Prophet Muhammad?
Gertrude Bell – The Ketrun – Desert Queen
From time to time, I have written about iconic and pioneering women in relative recent history, well recent by British standards 🙂 I also sometimes write about the Middle-East which is actually the one area of life that I can actually claim to have some academic expertise. So I have finally taken the opportunity to… Continue reading Gertrude Bell – The Ketrun – Desert Queen
Musa I of Mali – The richest man you may never have heard of
You might never have heard of Musa Keita I of the Mali Empire but it is fair to say that no-one alive today will ever make such an impact on the world today. Born in 1280 AD, Musa grew up in the extremely wealthy Malian Empire of western Africa which occupies the lands roughly around and… Continue reading Musa I of Mali – The richest man you may never have heard of
Volleyball in a Bikini or a Hijab?
Much has been made about the appearance of the Egyptian beach volleyball team playing in the Olympics wearing the all-encompassing Hijab Islamic dress rather than the usual Bikini style outfit and comment has been made over how appropriate this is. First of all I must declare that I haven’t watched one moment of the Olympics. Partly… Continue reading Volleyball in a Bikini or a Hijab?
Sunni and Shia Islam – All you Need To Know – Islam 101
You’d have to be living on another planet not to hear about the seemingly endless troubles in the Middle-East. To many in the west, Muslims are Muslims but it is much more complex than that with an ancient schism dominating the religion and threatening to engulf the world whether we know about it or not.… Continue reading Sunni and Shia Islam – All you Need To Know – Islam 101
Cultural Vandalism – The destruction of priceless monuments by ISIS / ISIL
One of my most popular blog posts that I have ever written was on the ongoing destruction of historic Mecca by Saudi Arabia and whilst one day soon I hope to write more on the topic, I thought for now it was important to write about some of the destruction of priceless artifacts that is… Continue reading Cultural Vandalism – The destruction of priceless monuments by ISIS / ISIL
Shibam – The original high-rise city
Even going into London as frequently as I do it is hard to keep track of all the new skyscrapers going up with their weird names. The Gherkin, Shard, Walkie-Talkie or as it used to be called The Death Star due to its propensity of reflecting sun into some sort of laser, melting parked cars… Continue reading Shibam – The original high-rise city
The Recording Angels
I was going to write today about the situation in Syria and Iraq and torment put upon the ancient local Christians there but then I thought I would write something a little more positive and what I am going to write about are the Recording Angels. Recording Angels feature in several world religions and have… Continue reading The Recording Angels
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 