Central Park, New York City. Tourism Site Guide and Review

A_Day_At_The_Central_Park.jpgAs the city and the park moved into the twentieth century, the lower reservoir was drained and turned into the Great Lawn. The park became less and less an elite oasis and escape, and was gradually shaped more and more by the needs of the growing population of New York City. Its uses evolved and expanded; by the middle of the century, ball clubs were allowed to play in the park, and the “Please Keep of the Grass” signs which had dotted the lush meadows of the park were a thing of the past.Read More…

    Eiffel Tower, Paris. Tourism Site Guide and Review

    The_Seine_and_the_Eiffel.jpgAs everybody knows Tour Eiffel is the most famous place in Paris. You can miss everything in Paris but certainly not Tour Eiffel. It is named after the man who designed it, Gustave Eiffel and weights 7,000 tones, being made of 15,000 pieces fitted together by 2,500,000 rivets. Up to the top (320m) there are three levels to visit: Stages 1 and 2 (steps or lift) and Stage 3 at the top (lift only).Read More…

      Pride of The Paddocks, A DAY AT THE RACES IN WEST BALI

      tremendeous_speed_of_racing_buffaloes.jpgLittle is written about Bali’s western Jembrana Regency, a rugged strip of land caught between wild, empty beaches and the uninhabited peaks of the Bali Barat National Park. Trucks and express buses travelling to and from Java traverse its coastal highway, but little traffic actually stops. And therein lies its charm. While resort development has spread westward towards Tanah Lot, the coast thereafter remains virtually untouched. It seems just a matter of time before the development potential here is realised, with many excellent sites ready for low key development. Until then however visitors to this part of the island have the place virtually to themselves and are able to indulge in some of the island’s less-seen cultural attractions such as the bull races of Jembrana.

      Jembrana’s relative isolation from the rest of the island has lent it a distinct cultural identity. Closer to Java than to the cultural heartland of Bali. Jembrana is home to a large Muslim community whose mosques rub shoulders with Hindu temples along the roadside. The jegog bamboo orchestra originated in these parts, as did a number of discreet dance forms. Here, too, in and around the district capital of Negara, is the stomping ground of Bali’s only buffalo racing fraternity.

      The origins of mekepung, or water-buffalo racing. are unrecorded: it is assumed the sport began as nothing more than rivalry between local farmers. The spirit of friendly competition survives today. although with some serious stakes. Local government and business now sponsor three annual competitions - August’s Bupati Cup. September’s Perancak Cup and 0ctobefs climatic Gubernur Cup - events aimed at attracting tourists to this overlooked corner of Bali. Still, the regular weekly races continue as they have for generations, rodeo-like carnivals leavened with pomp and ceremony.

      To ,witness this ancient sport, a very early start is required. Event begin after sunrise every Sunday, and by mid-day it’s all over.

      Two hours along the trans-Bali highway from Denpasar. just before Negara, a huge hand-painted sign pointed me down a dusty lane. Within seconds Inew I had come to the right place. The road led straight into a procession of man and beast, all decked out in their Sunday best. In a slow and orderly line, up to 100 muscle-bound water-buffaloes, adorned with coiauful silk flags, ribbons and jangling belis, were making their leisurely way to the starting line.

      The animals were yoked in pairs to rickety two wheel chariots. Betwenn their heads flew team colours on flags depicting any one of Bali’s many monkey spirits. These symbols represent strength, speed and agility, all essential qualities for both buffalo and driver.

      THIS SPECTACLE WAS REPEATED OVER AND OVER MAKING EVEN THE CHARIOT SCENE IN “BEN HUR” LOOK LIKE A SECOND RATE PRODUCTION

      At first sight, the chariots - gaily painted carts presumably adapted from the traditional plough - looked suspiciously frail and unsafe, constructed as they were from lengths of wood, rope and bamboo. I was soon to find out, however, that the flexibility inherent in this design is essential for surviving Negara’s bumpy race-track. The chariots were to endure some serious pounding that morning.

      The drivers led their plodding animals through an ever-growing throng of onlookers - hundreds of people already enjoying their day at the races. As a steady murmur emanated from the excited crowd, I realised that the spectators were mostly men and boys. This was definitely a manly spectacle, and owners paraded their animals with unabashed bravado.

      Despite all the bells and ribbons, the water-buffaloes looked impossibly clumsy and meek. Looks have never been more deceiving. Come race time, they would be transformed into galloping juggernauts, capable of tremendous speed and endurance.

      Not just any water buffalo can be a racer. Young potentials are earmarked early as being small and stocky powerhouses. Once a bull has been chosen as a racer, it receives endless doting attention from its owner. It does not work the fields like its less fortunate brothers and sisters, but lives instead in relative luxury. Potential champions are housed separately in comfortable lodgings and fed a special protein diet full of eggy yolks to enhance their racing performance.

      On reaching a large municipal sports field, metres from the beach, the contestants fought for any available shade from the heat of the early morning sun. Owners petted their bulls, stroking their heads and brushing their hides. Drivers also are trained from an early age and I watched as small boys helped their fathers prepare for the race.

      The atmosphere seemed a little tense, and although everyone was having fun, there was a noticeable undercurrent of nervous energy. Bets were being made secretly and rivals were busy inspecting the competition, an important weekly social event preceding large monthly competitions.

      The racetrack was a giant “U” about 800 metres long, and wide enough for chariots to overtake each other. As the time grew nearer, spectators gathered on a small make-shift terrace, their tension becoming increasingly audible. Finally, two pairs of bulls were led to the starting line. A referee lined them up. Satisfied, he shrieked a quick count of “Satu! dua! tiga!”, and they were off. Cheers and whoops went up as the on-lookers jumped to their feet. The buffaloes accelerated at an alarming rate and thundered down the track, chariots and drivers bouncing behind them. As they disappeared into the distance, their progress was visible still from the trail of dust left in their wake.

      For the drivers, who spend most of the race in a kneeling position, the most difficult challenge is turning. Once buffaloes start running in a straight line, they are under-standably difficult to manoeuvre. It takes great strength and skill to follow the track’s “U” shape at such high speeds. Overturned chariots and runaway bulls are not uncommon.

      As with most races, the real excitement of a mekepung comes at the finish. On the home stretch, the drivers, with amazing balance and agility, used the reigns to pull themselves to their feet, all the time shouting encouragement (or obcenities, for all I knew!) to their stampeding buffaloes. Between the pounding of hooves and the hysterics of the crowd, the pandemonium was incredible. Finally, a pair of roan bulls crashed across the finish line, their driver too busy reigning in the beasts to savour his triumph.

      For the next hour, this spectacle was repeated over and over until all teams had run the gauntlet, making even the chariot scene in “Ben Hur” look like a second rate production.

      Competitors gathered at the end of the first round to carry out hurried repairs. The scene was like a medieval pit stop, with people running around frantically to retrieve debris from the circuit. The rutted track had taken its toll. Torn banners, broken yokes and wheels were all tied back into place and the bulls tightly secured for the second leg of the race, which would be run in the opposite direction of the first. The pairings, however, would be the same, giving the defeated a chance for reprisal.

      The morning ended as suddenly as it had began. After the races, the buffaloes and their riders returned to their villages, victors and vanquished alike, some wandering in single file along the road, others taking a short cut along the beach. Within minutes the playing field was empty again, silent but for the roar of the nearby surf.

      • Suggestion: Book your accomodation in advance, even rooms at a youth hostel were almost impossible to get.

      Memphis and Sakkara, Tourism Site Guide and Review

      the_temple_of_Saqqara.jpgIt’s something that you have to visit when you are there: Memphis, Sakkara and Gizeh. Memphis is a little open air museum. Most important to see at the Sakkara site is the stairs pyramid of king Djoser which was build 2650 BC. This wasn’t only the first pyramid but also the first building made by stone in the whole world. Around the pyramid you will find a lot of graves.Read More…

        Christian Cairo, Tourism Site Guide and Review

        The_Greek_Orthodox_Church.jpgThis old cairo is an area where you can visit some old churches and old christian settlement thousands of years ago and here is where history witness some wars. Its all about history…Read More…

          Nile River, Tourism Site Guide and Review

          Lush_Greenery_on_the_Banks_of_Manyal_el_Rodah.jpgThe Nile River is the longest river on the earth, 6695KM or 4160Miles in length and flowing across many countries in Africa : Burundi, Congo, Eritrea,Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Egypt. The source of Nile River was found in 1858 by A british man, John Hanning Speke in Lake Victoria Nyanza, Burundi. Because of the river`s maximum usage of ancient Egyptian and its part in making The Great Pharoonic Civilization of Egypt, most of the people know that the Nile River is mainly located in Egypt. You may see the Nile River from many main streets of Cairo. You can even take a 5-10minutes walk from Egyptian Museum to the Nile River. Magnificient views in both day and night time.Read More…

            The Cairo Citadel, Tourism Site Review

            Cairo_Citadel1.jpgWhen you have more time to spend in Cairo, besides the pyramids and museums, Citadel will be the other main destination. The entrance fee was 40LE in (for foreign visitor), half price for the student card holder, and less than 10LE for egyptians. Take a lot of pictures from the front yard of the citadel!!!.Read More…

              Egyptian Mosque, Tourism Site Review

              Cairo_City_of_a_Thousand_Minarets.jpgIslamic Cairo, often referred to as Fatimid Cairo, is extremely fascinating, as this part of the city has changed little in perhaps 500 years. It was the centre of Cairo for 8 centuries, from its founding in 969 AD by the Fatimids through the Ayyubid and Mamluke periods, and until the 18th century when Egypt was part of the Ottoman Empire.Read More…

                Egyptian Museum, Tourism Site Review

                Egyptian_Museum_Cairo2.jpgThis is the most popular site of the egyptian museum, besides the mummies area. It is located on the second floor, on the top of the new kingdom area. After the stairs, on the second floor, you will see the four shrines (gold platted) of King Tut. The silet room will be located between the 3rd and 4th shrine. The main attraction of the room will be the 11kg of King Tut Face Mask. This one used to travel across the miles to other countries (big exhibitions in US museums). Other than that, you will see many things from King Tut`s tombs around this room too. You cant imagine how they made all of these golden attires on King Tut`s mummies in thousands of years ago. Taking pictures is strictly prohibited. Nevertheless, the view is breathtaking and will be remained in your memory forever.Read More…

                  Gizeh Pyramids, Tourism Site Review

                  Gizeh_Pyramids_at_night_view.jpgThe first place one should visit when come to Egypt is pyramids,The structure consists of approximately 2 million blocks of stone, each weighing more than two tons,When it was built, the Great pyramid was 145.75 m (481 ft) high. Over the years, it lost 10 m (30 ft) off its top. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries.
                  After the accomplishment of the building of the Great Pyramid, King Khafre had a hard act to follow. Khafre rose to the occasion by building his pyramid on higher ground giving the illusion that his pyramid was taller.Read More