Greek Christmas Traditions

Written by Kate Power

Even though Easter is a much bigger holiday than Christmas for Greeks, it’s still a great time of tradition, but with a twist. Greek Orthodox traditions mingle with familiar festive customs. Where some people decorate a Christmas Tree, lots of Greeks put model ships in their houses, and where gifts are presented on December 25^th in some homes, Greek give gifts on New Year’s Eve.

Christmas Tree in Greece. Photo Credit Tilemahos Efthimiadis

After a couple of years living in Greece, here are some of the most famous that I’ve heard of:

The Christmas Goblin

I had never heard of these even in my first few years of living in Greece. The kallikantzari are mischievous elves who visit earth for 12 days over Christmas. Their aim is to disturb people; they come out at night to steal food or knock things over. However they are not too effective as far as mischief goes, because usually they can’t agree on anything, so their plans are left on the shelf. In the past, villagers wouldn’t leave their houses after nightfall for fear of running into one of the creatures. On Epiphany (January 6^th), water is blessed and it forces them back underground.

Grab Some Snacks And Be On The Adventurous Trip

Written by Shezaa Nehal

Now get out of your homesickness when in Dubai because this content is going to tell you what you can do to entertain your sleeping soul. The city’s sky, desert, ocean, beaches all are ready to be captured by you so get on for the best time.

Make A Fly

Wonderful to see the entire desert in a single glimpse. Look around and observe the tiny running desert safaris, camels with their little moves and people like tiny creature. The unique experience of watching the desert will always amuse you whenever you recall it.

Fishing and Swimming in Dubai

Dinner Along With Music

Along the creek hop on the glittering dhow cruise to have a dinner with your loved one and enjoy the soft melodious tunes in the background. Everything around you definitely hit to your senses. The fascinating lightening of the city fills your trip with more charm, so miss this bright chance.

Dune Bashing For Fun  

Thrilling actions will chill out when you are making the 45 degree angle. Rolling up and down in the scattered desert will help you to observe the desert as well to experience a different thing in your life. But do not forget that the horrible jeeps are roaring around you so be careful.

Top 10 Tips for Photography Abroad

Written by Glenn Asher-Gordon

Publisher's Note:

Taking photos can be as challenging as can be, especially to me. These tips are so inspiring that I honestly cannot imagine my life without a camera. I am so grateful to Glenn for sharing valuable information which is very useful to new photographers and for you who is passionate about photography. 

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                          Glenn Asher-Gordon

I am a happy, young and enthusiastic photographer who specialises in taking pictures of landscape and wildlife. Though I normally take photos while travelling abroad, I capture Events professionally in Leicestershire and beyond. 

I enjoy bringing my love of nature into my wedding and event photography wherever possible. When shooting portraits, I like to focus on the interplay between people or pets, trying to capture something of a person's spirit that indefinable quality that makes them unique. Visit me at Gray Gordon Photography. 

Whether photography is a hobby or profession, the following tips are essential to improve and master your passion. Remember, just because someone has an expensive camera doesn't mean that they're a good photographer.

• Respect your Environment

Most importantly of all, look after your surroundings. Do not destroy delicate plant life, endanger or frighten an animal just to get a good shot. If you truly value the beauty of your subject, please take the time and care to protect it.

Basking by the Sea  - Photo Courtesy of Glenn Asher-Gordon 

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• The Early Bird Catches the Worm

And the early photographer catches the early bird, catching the worm. Be prepared to put yourself out a little if you want to get that stunning shot.  Really, attention-grabbing or thought-provoking shots rarely fall onto your lap, you have to go and look for them.

Ryanair launched flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg

Irish carrier may follow other budgets already blazing trail in Russian airspace. It is cleared for take off to Russia.

Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget airline, looks set to follow other low-cost carriers into Russian airspace by launching flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg early next year.

Photo Credit: Josep Lago

Russia’s aviation authority has granted the Irish carrier permission to fly from Dublin to Russia beginning in March 2014, Bloomberg reports.

However, the airline was still in negotiations over which airports it could potentially use in Russia, Ryanair said.

“Ryanair has had discussions with a number of Russian airports, but they are purely exploratory at this time,” the airline’s spokesman, Robin Kiely, said in a brief statement.

Domodedovo Airport, to which Ryanair’s competitor easyJet currently flies, was the most likely candidate for the Russian capital, The Moscow Times said.

When Is a Temple Not a Temple?

Written by D.R. Ransdell

When Is a Temple Not a Temple?

Answer: When it’s a mega-temple!

My friend and I decided to visit Thailand’s Wat Pho on the morning we were going to visit The Grand Palace because the two famous sites were close together. The descriptions in our guidebooks made it sound like the temple was famous because it was one of the oldest in Thailand and because it was closely associated with the Buddha. We didn’t think much past that. We took for granted it was on a must-see list.

            When we arrived at the temple, we were shocked to find that it wasn’t merely a temple but a whole temple complex. This was completely new to me. Up to that point I’d spent a lot of time traveling through Europe, which meant touring famous churches such as the Chartres Cathedral or the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. Even though those two churches were examples of buildings that deserved a ninety-minute visit, I wasn’t prepared for Wat Pho, which was worth several hours!

Making the Most of Your Museum Visit

Written by Marie Rea

Many people get turned off with the idea of visiting museums. But for my family of four, museums are awesome and interesting places to enjoy- they offer exhibits and collections you will perhaps never see as they are rare and they offer avenues for intellectual exploration which can lead to more amazing discoveries for your kids particularly, depending on their interests.

First, what are museums?

According to the Museum Association website (UK): 'Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artefacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for society.' This definition includes art galleries with collections of works of art, as well as museums with historical collections of objects."

Often they are housed in huge buildings with several levels like the Natural History Museums in almost every country. Or, they can be in a small "Heritage listed" old home that often has been restored and so forth.

Inside Museum - Prefecture of Kerkyra CORFU

Here are some guidelines on getting the most from your museum visit, based on my personal experience:

Do your research before your intended visit. This way, you will know which areas you need to spend more time in and those you don't need to see or just pass through quickly.

For instance, when my boys were fascinated with dinosaurs and other prehistoric stuff, we took them to the Field Museum in Chicago which was an enormous place with various sections. So we knew which floors to go to first and then just browsed through the others. But, once we were there, we were also fascinated with the various natural stones and minerals exhibits that this encouraged my boys to get interested in collecting stones and forge metals.To this day, they have a growing collection of pocket knives (all legal) and the like.

Berlin - Its Beautiful and Not-So-Beautiful Sides

It's an early morning trip to Berlin with the intention of seeing its historical architecture. It's a brief stay, just enough to experience the good and the not-so-good side of the city.

I am not a newbie in travelling. But, when I am in another country, I have the tendency to react and compare whatever this country have that others don't. True enough, the bad experience in Berlin is something that a tourist like me will not expect. Besides, I have high regard to this city prior to my trip.

The incident is not the focus of this blog, but rather the places that I consider a treasure in this cosmopolitan city. Nevertheless, I am obliged to keep you aware when you decide to pay a visit to the city of Berlin. It may or may not happen to you, but, just the same, I will tell you exactly what you should avoid and the things you should know about Berlin.

Brandenburg Gate - Berlin

My hosts from Hamburg, who are also my cousins, spent little time in convincing me to include Germany on this particular European journey, saying that their country is one of the best in the world. 

Obviously, I believed them. 

As I always try to see as many attractions as I possibly can in every country, my hosts purchased a whole day bus tour to explore the neighbouring Berlin. 

You also have the option to buy a hop-on hop-off City Sighgtseeing valid for one or two days or the Berlin Pass good for whole day tour to 20 different stops including Potsdamer Platz, Checkpoint Charlie, Berliner Dom, Altes Museum, Alexander Platz and Brandenburg Gate to name a few.