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Shigeru Aoki (1882-1911) was a Japanese painter famed for his combining of Japanese mythology and legends with the Western-style art movement that could be found in some late 19th and early 20th century Japanese paintings.<br/><br/> Aoki was born into an ex-samurai household in northern Kyushu. He left his home in 1899 to pursue artistic studies in Tokyo, and soon began to accumulate critical acclaim for his artwork and its use of Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood techniques mixed with Kojiki themes. He died in March 1911 from tuberculosis, aged only 28.
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. Historically, the city was known as Kauthara under the Champa. The city is still home to the famous Po Nagar Tower built by the Champa. Being a coastal city, Nha Trang is a centre for marine science based at the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute.
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. Historically, the city was known as Kauthara under the Champa. The city is still home to the famous Po Nagar Tower built by the Champa. Being a coastal city, Nha Trang is a centre for marine science based at the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute.
The Matsu Temple on Chichin Island near Kaohsiung is dedicated to Matsu, goddess of the sea. Mazu (Wade–Giles: Matsu, Vietnamese: Ma To) is the indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron saint of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons.<br/><br/> Born as Lin Moniang in Fujian around 960 CE, worship of Mazu began around the Ming Dynasty, when many temples dedicated to her were erected all across Mainland China, later spreading to other countries with Overseas Chinese populations.<br/><br/> Mazu is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas in Southeast Asia, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.
The Matsu Temple on Chichin Island near Kaohsiung is dedicated to Matsu, goddess of the sea. Mazu (Wade–Giles: Matsu, Vietnamese: Ma To) is the indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron saint of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons.<br/><br/> Born as Lin Moniang in Fujian around 960 CE, worship of Mazu began around the Ming Dynasty, when many temples dedicated to her were erected all across Mainland China, later spreading to other countries with Overseas Chinese populations.<br/><br/> Mazu is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas in Southeast Asia, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.
The Cham people are remnants of the Kingdom of Champa (7th to 15th centuries), They are nowadays concentrated between Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia and central Vietnam's Phan Rang and southeastern Vietnam’s Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang areas. Approximately 4,000 Chams also live in Thailand, mostly in the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. The Chams form the core of the Muslim communities in both Cambodia and Vietnam.
The Grand Canal (also known as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the longest canal or artificial river in the world and a famous tourist destination.<br/><br/> Starting at Beijing, it passes through Tianjin and the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the city of Hangzhou, linking the Yellow River and Yangtze River. The oldest parts of the canal date back to the 5th century BCE, although the various sections were finally combined during the Sui dynasty (581–618 CE).
Ebisu, also transliterated Yebisu, is the Japanese god of fishermen and luck. He is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune or Shichifukujin, and the only one of the seven to originate purely from Japan without any Hindu or Chinese influence.
Erhai Lake is the second largest lake in Yunnan Province. Its main village, Caicun, is a maze of unpaved alleys and mud houses. On the eastern shore of the lake is the picturesque Bai village of Wase, and just offshore is Little Putuo Island (Xiao Putuo Dao), named for the mythical mountain home of Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Compassion. There is a statue of the goddess, who is said to guard the lake’s waters, in a temple on the island.<br/><br/> Dali is the ancient capital of both the Bai kingdom Nanzhao, which flourished in the area during the 8th and 9th centuries, and the Kingdom of Dali, which reigned from 937-1253. Situated in a once significantly Muslim part of South China, Dali was also the center of the Panthay Rebellion against the reigning imperial Qing Dynasty from 1856-1863. The old city was built during Ming Dynasty emperor Hongwu's reign (1368–1398).
Along the southern coast of Sri Lanka, from Hikkaduwa towards Weligama, long stakes have been driven into the seabed anything from 15 to 150m offshore. Perched on these stakes, for all the world like human cormorants, are the stilt fishermen of Sri Lanka. Stilts are passed down from father to son and are therefore highly valued. Each fisherman makes his way out at low tide and returns when the tide has once again fallen, or by boat. The catch, caught by rod, is kept hanging from the top of the stilt. Best viewed either at dawn or at dusk, they are one of the most intriguing and photogenic sights in Sri Lanka.
A balloon is conceptually the simplest of all flying machines. The balloon is a fabric envelope filled with a gas that is lighter than the surrounding atmosphere. As the entire balloon is less dense than its surroundings, it rises, taking along with it a basket, attached underneath, which carries passengers or payload.<br/><br/> Although a balloon has no propulsion system, a degree of directional control is possible through making the balloon rise or sink in altitude to find favorable wind directions.
Erhai Lake is the second largest lake in Yunnan Province. Its main village, Caicun, is a maze of unpaved alleys and mud houses. On the eastern shore of the lake is the picturesque Bai village of Wase, and just offshore is Little Putuo Island (Xiao Putuo Dao), named for the mythical mountain home of Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Compassion. There is a statue of the goddess, who is said to guard the lake’s waters, in a temple on the island.<br/><br/> Dali is the ancient capital of both the Bai kingdom Nanzhao, which flourished in the area during the 8th and 9th centuries, and the Kingdom of Dali, which reigned from 937-1253. Situated in a once significantly Muslim part of South China, Dali was also the center of the Panthay Rebellion against the reigning imperial Qing Dynasty from 1856-1863. The old city was built during Ming Dynasty emperor Hongwu's reign (1368–1398).
Along the southern coast of Sri Lanka, from Hikkaduwa towards Weligama, long stakes have been driven into the seabed anything from 15 to 150m offshore. Perched on these stakes, for all the world like human cormorants, are the stilt fishermen of Sri Lanka. Stilts are passed down from father to son and are therefore highly valued. Each fisherman makes his way out at low tide and returns when the tide has once again fallen, or by boat. The catch, caught by rod, is kept hanging from the top of the stilt. Best viewed either at dawn or at dusk, they are one of the most intriguing and photogenic sights in Sri Lanka.
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. Historically, the city was known as Kauthara under the Champa. The city is still home to the famous Po Nagar Tower built by the Champa. Being a coastal city, Nha Trang is a centre for marine science based at the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute.
The Bayon was originally the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII. The Bayon, at the centre of Angkor Thom (Great City), was established in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII.<br/><br/> Angkor Thom, meaning ‘The Great City’, is located one mile north of Angkor Wat. It was built in the late 12th century CE by King Jayavarman VII, and covers an area of 9 km², within which are located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those established by Jayavarman and his successors. It is believed to have sustained a population of 80,000-150,000 people.<br/><br/> At the centre of the city is Jayavarman's state temple, the Bayon, with the other major sites clustered around the Victory Square immediately to the north.<br/><br/> Angkor Thom was established as the capital of Jayavarman VII's empire, and was the centre of his massive building programme. One inscription found in the city refers to Jayavarman as the groom and the city as his bride.<br/><br/> Angkor Thom seems not to be the first Khmer capital on the site, however, as Yasodharapura, dating from three centuries earlier, was centred slightly further northwest.<br/><br/> The last temple known to have been constructed in Angkor Thom was Mangalartha, which was dedicated in 1295. In the following centuries Angkor Thom remained the capital of a kingdom in decline until it was abandoned some time prior to 1609.
The Tonlé Sap (Large Fresh Water River or Great Lake) is a combined lake and river system of major importance to Cambodia.<br/><br/> The Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is an ecological hot spot that was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997.<br/><br/> The Tonlé Sap is unusual for two reasons: its flow changes direction twice a year, and the portion that forms the lake expands and shrinks dramatically with the seasons. From November to May, Cambodia's dry season, the Tonlé Sap drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. However, when the year's heavy rains begin in June, the Tonlé Sap backs up to form an enormous lake.<br/><br/> The Tonlé Sap is home to many ethnic Vietnamese and Cham communities, living in floating villages around the lake.
The Matsu Temple on Chichin Island near Kaohsiung is dedicated to Matsu, goddess of the sea. Mazu (Wade–Giles: Matsu, Vietnamese: Ma To) is the indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron saint of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons.<br/><br/> Born as Lin Moniang in Fujian around 960 CE, worship of Mazu began around the Ming Dynasty, when many temples dedicated to her were erected all across Mainland China, later spreading to other countries with Overseas Chinese populations.<br/><br/> Mazu is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas in Southeast Asia, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.<br/><br/> Mazu also has a significant influence on East Asian sea culture, especially in China and Taiwan.
The Matsu Temple on Chichin Island near Kaohsiung is dedicated to Matsu, goddess of the sea. Mazu (Wade–Giles: Matsu, Vietnamese: Ma To) is the indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron saint of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons.<br/><br/> Born as Lin Moniang in Fujian around 960 CE, worship of Mazu began around the Ming Dynasty, when many temples dedicated to her were erected all across Mainland China, later spreading to other countries with Overseas Chinese populations.<br/><br/> Mazu is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas in Southeast Asia, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.<br/><br/> Mazu also has a significant influence on East Asian sea culture, especially in China and Taiwan.
The Matsu Temple on Chichin Island near Kaohsiung is dedicated to Matsu, goddess of the sea. Mazu (Wade–Giles: Matsu, Vietnamese: Ma To) is the indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron saint of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons.<br/><br/> Born as Lin Moniang in Fujian around 960 CE, worship of Mazu began around the Ming Dynasty, when many temples dedicated to her were erected all across Mainland China, later spreading to other countries with Overseas Chinese populations.<br/><br/> Mazu is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas in Southeast Asia, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.<br/><br/> Mazu also has a significant influence on East Asian sea culture, especially in China and Taiwan.
The Matsu Temple on Chichin Island near Kaohsiung is dedicated to Matsu, goddess of the sea. Mazu (Wade–Giles: Matsu, Vietnamese: Ma To) is the indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron saint of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons.<br/><br/> Born as Lin Moniang in Fujian around 960 CE, worship of Mazu began around the Ming Dynasty, when many temples dedicated to her were erected all across Mainland China, later spreading to other countries with Overseas Chinese populations.<br/><br/> Mazu is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas in Southeast Asia, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.<br/><br/> Mazu also has a significant influence on East Asian sea culture, especially in China and Taiwan.
The Matsu Temple on Chichin Island near Kaohsiung is dedicated to Matsu, goddess of the sea. Mazu (Wade–Giles: Matsu, Vietnamese: Ma To) is the indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron saint of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons.<br/><br/> Born as Lin Moniang in Fujian around 960 CE, worship of Mazu began around the Ming Dynasty, when many temples dedicated to her were erected all across Mainland China, later spreading to other countries with Overseas Chinese populations.<br/><br/> Mazu is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas in Southeast Asia, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.<br/><br/> Mazu also has a significant influence on East Asian sea culture, especially in China and Taiwan.
Palestine (Arabic: فلسطين‎ Filasṭīn, Falasṭīn, Filisṭīn; Greek: Παλαιστίνη, Palaistinē; Latin: Palaestina; Hebrew: פלשתינה Palestina) is a name given to the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The region is also known as the Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ־ישראל Eretz-Yisra'el), the Holy Land and the Southern Levant.<br/><br/> In 1832 Palestine was conquered by Muhammad Ali's Egypt, but in 1840 Britain intervened and returned control of the Levant to the Ottomans in return for further capitulations. The end of the 19th century saw the beginning of Zionist immigration and the Revival of the Hebrew language. The movement was publicly supported by Great Britain during World War I with the Balfour Declaration of 1917. The British captured Jerusalem a month later, and were formally awarded a mandate in 1922.<br/><br/> In 1947, following World War II and the Holocaust, the British Government announced their desire to terminate the Mandate, and the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition the territory into a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jewish leadership accepted the proposal but the Arab Higher Committee rejected it; a civil war began immediately, and the State of Israel was declared in 1948.<br/><br/> The 1948 Palestinian exodus, known in Arabic as the Nakba (Arabic: النكبة‎, an-Nakbah, 'The Catastrophe') occurred when approximately 711,000 to 725,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes, during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War during which Israel captured and incorporated a further 26% of Palestinian territory.<br/><br/> In the course of the Six Day War in June 1967, Israel captured the remainder of historic Palestine and began a continuing policy of Israeli settlement and annexation.
Shantou is a port city that was opened to foreign trade after the Second Anglo-Chinese War, also known as the Opium War (1856 - 1860 CE). The town became a British treaty port in 1858.<br/><br/> The first treaty ports in China were British and were established at the conclusion of the First Opium War by the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. As well as ceding the island of Hong Kong to the United Kingdom in perpetuity, the treaty also established five treaty ports at Shanghai, Canton, Ningpo, Fuchow, and Amoy. French and American concessions followed soon afterwards.<br/><br/> The second group of British treaty ports was set up following the end of the Arrow War in 1860 and eventually more than 80 treaty ports were established in China alone, involving many foreign powers.
The Cham people are remnants of the Kingdom of Champa (7th to 15th centuries), They are nowadays concentrated between Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia and central Vietnam's Phan Rang and southeastern Vietnam’s Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang areas. Approximately 4,000 Chams also live in Thailand, mostly in the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. The Chams form the core of the Muslim communities in both Cambodia and Vietnam.
The Cham people are remnants of the Kingdom of Champa (7th to 15th centuries), They are nowadays concentrated between Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia and central Vietnam's Phan Rang and southeastern Vietnam’s Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang areas. Approximately 4,000 Chams also live in Thailand, mostly in the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. The Chams form the core of the Muslim communities in both Cambodia and Vietnam.
The Cham people are remnants of the Kingdom of Champa (7th to 15th centuries), They are nowadays concentrated between Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia and central Vietnam's Phan Rang and southeastern Vietnam’s Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang areas. Approximately 4,000 Chams also live in Thailand, mostly in the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. The Chams form the core of the Muslim communities in both Cambodia and Vietnam.
The Cham people are remnants of the Kingdom of Champa (7th to 15th centuries), They are nowadays concentrated between Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia and central Vietnam's Phan Rang and southeastern Vietnam’s Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang areas. Approximately 4,000 Chams also live in Thailand, mostly in the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. The Chams form the core of the Muslim communities in both Cambodia and Vietnam.
The Cham people are remnants of the Kingdom of Champa (7th to 15th centuries), They are nowadays concentrated between Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia and central Vietnam's Phan Rang and southeastern Vietnam’s Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang areas. Approximately 4,000 Chams also live in Thailand, mostly in the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. The Chams form the core of the Muslim communities in both Cambodia and Vietnam.
The Cham people are remnants of the Kingdom of Champa (7th to 15th centuries), They are nowadays concentrated between Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia and central Vietnam's Phan Rang and southeastern Vietnam’s Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang areas. Approximately 4,000 Chams also live in Thailand, mostly in the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. The Chams form the core of the Muslim communities in both Cambodia and Vietnam.
The Cham people are remnants of the Kingdom of Champa (7th to 15th centuries), They are nowadays concentrated between Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia and central Vietnam's Phan Rang and southeastern Vietnam’s Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang areas. Approximately 4,000 Chams also live in Thailand, mostly in the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. The Chams form the core of the Muslim communities in both Cambodia and Vietnam.
Wadduwa is famous for its rich cultivation of coconut palms and as a major producer of toddy and vinegar. It is renown for its products made from coconut fibre such as brooms,carpets etc.
Wadduwa is famous for its rich cultivation of coconut palms and as a major producer of toddy and vinegar. It is renown for its products made from coconut fibre such as brooms,carpets etc.
Wadduwa is famous for its rich cultivation of coconut palms and as a major producer of toddy and vinegar. It is renown for its products made from coconut fibre such as brooms,carpets etc.
Cochinchina is a region encompassing the southern third of Vietnam including Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City. It was a French colony from 1862 to 1948. The later state of South Vietnam was created in 1954 by combining Cochinchina with southern Annam.<br/><br/> The Cham people are remnants of the Kingdom of Champa (7th to 15th centuries), They are nowadays concentrated between Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia and central Vietnam's Phan Rang and southeastern Vietnam’s Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang areas. Approximately 4,000 Chams also live in Thailand, mostly in the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. The Chams form the core of the Muslim communities in both Cambodia and Vietnam.
Tavik Frantisek Simon (1877–1942), was a Czech painter, etcher, and woodcut artist. Although based mainly in Europe, his extensive travels took him to Morocco, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), India, and Japan, images of all of which appear in his artistic work. He died in Prague in 1942. Largely ignored during the Communist era in Czechoslovakia, his work has received greater attention in recent years.
The Tonlé Sap (Large Fresh Water River or Great Lake) is a combined lake and river system of major importance to Cambodia.<br/><br/> The Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is an ecological hot spot that was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997.<br/><br/> The Tonlé Sap is unusual for two reasons: its flow changes direction twice a year, and the portion that forms the lake expands and shrinks dramatically with the seasons. From November to May, Cambodia's dry season, the Tonlé Sap drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. However, when the year's heavy rains begin in June, the Tonlé Sap backs up to form an enormous lake.<br/><br/> The Tonlé Sap is home to many ethnic Vietnamese and Cham communities, living in floating villages around the lake.
Hanoi is the capital and second-largest city in Vietnam. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political center in the country, but was eclipsed by Hue during the Nguyen Dynasty as the capital of Vietnam. Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954, and from 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.
Often weighing over 200 kg (450 lbs), the Giant Mekong Catfish was protected by decree in Southeast Asia as far back as the 19th century. Fishermen in Laos were only allowed to catch the ‘pa buek’ fish on full moon and the following two days. Nowadays, despite these efforts, the giant catfish is extremely rare and is listed as critically endangered. It breeds in the brackish waters of the Vietnamese delta and in the border area comprising Laos, Thailand and Cambodia.
Palestine (Arabic: فلسطين‎ Filasṭīn, Falasṭīn, Filisṭīn; Greek: Παλαιστίνη, Palaistinē; Latin: Palaestina; Hebrew: פלשתינה Palestina) is a n ame given to the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The region is also known as the Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ־ישראל Eretz-Yisra'el), the Holy Land and the Southern Levant.<br/><br/> In 1832 Palestine was conquered by Muhammad Ali's Egypt, but in 1840 Britain intervened and returned control of the Levant to the Ottomans in return for further capitulations. The end of the 19th century saw the beginning of Zionist immigration and the Revival of the Hebrew language. The movement was publicly supported by Great Britain during World War I with the Balfour Declaration of 1917. The British captured Jerusalem a month later, and were formally awarded a mandate in 1922.<br/><br/> In 1947, following World War II and the Holocaust, the British Government announced their desire to terminate the Mandate, and the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition the territory into a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jewish leadership accepted the proposal but the Arab Higher Committee rejected it; a civil war began immediately, and the State of Israel was declared in 1948.<br/><br/> The 1948 Palestinian exodus, known in Arabic as the Nakba (Arabic: النكبة‎, an-Nakbah, 'The Catastrophe') occurred when approximately 711,000 to 725,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes, during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War during which Israel captured and incorporated a further 26% of Palestinian territory.<br/><br/> In the course of the Six Day War in June 1967, Israel captured the remainder of historic Palestine and began a continuing policy of Israeli settlement and annexation.
This drawing is based on an illustration by Louis Delaporte, one of dozens he produced during his two-year venture (1866-68) with the Mekong Exploration Commission, which was sponsored by the French Ministry of the Navy. The intention of the expedition was to lay the groundwork for the expansion of French colonies in Indochina. Traveling the Mekong by boat, the small French delegation voyaged from Saigon to Phnom Penh to Luang Prabang, then farther north into the uncharted waters of Upper Laos and China's Yunnan province, before returning to Hanoi in 1868 by foot, accompanied by porters and elephants.
Edward William Lane (1801-76) was a British Orientalist, translator and Arabic scholar who lived in Ottoman Cairo from 1825-28. So fascinated was he with Egypt, he dressed as an Ottoman Turk and spent much time sketching the backstreets of Cairo. Upon his return to England he translated the novel ‘Arabian Nights’ [‘1001 nights’] and ‘Selections from the Qur’an’.
Palestine (Arabic: فلسطين‎ Filasṭīn, Falasṭīn, Filisṭīn; Greek: Παλαιστίνη, Palaistinē; Latin: Palaestina; Hebrew: פלשתינה Palestina) is a name given to the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The region is also known as the Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ־ישראל Eretz-Yisra'el), the Holy Land and the Southern Levant.<br/><br/> In 1832 Palestine was conquered by Muhammad Ali's Egypt, but in 1840 Britain intervened and returned control of the Levant to the Ottomans in return for further capitulations. The end of the 19th century saw the beginning of Zionist immigration and the Revival of the Hebrew language. The movement was publicly supported by Great Britain during World War I with the Balfour Declaration of 1917. The British captured Jerusalem a month later, and were formally awarded a mandate in 1922.<br/><br/> In 1947, following World War II and the Holocaust, the British Government announced their desire to terminate the Mandate, and the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition the territory into a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jewish leadership accepted the proposal but the Arab Higher Committee rejected it; a civil war began immediately, and the State of Israel was declared in 1948.<br/><br/> The 1948 Palestinian exodus, known in Arabic as the Nakba (Arabic: النكبة‎, an-Nakbah, 'The Catastrophe') occurred when approximately 711,000 to 725,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes, during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War during which Israel captured and incorporated a further 26% of Palestinian territory.<br/><br/> In the course of the Six Day War in June 1967, Israel captured the remainder of historic Palestine and began a continuing policy of Israeli settlement and annexation.
Cochinchina is a region encompassing the southern third of Vietnam including Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City. It was a French colony from 1862 to 1948. In 1864, all French territories in southern Vietnam were declared to be the new French colony of Cochinchina, which was to be governed by Admiral Jules Marie Dupré from 1868-74. The later state of South Vietnam was created in 1954 by combining Cochinchina with southern Annam. In Vietnamese, the region is called Nam Bo.
The resort town of Vung Tau was known in colonial times as Cap St Jacques, though nobody has used the latter designation since 1954 when the French left. The town lies at the tip of a triangular peninsula jutting into the sea near the mouth of the Saigon River.<br/><br/> Vung Tau which means 'Boat Bay' is Vietnam's main crude oil extraction centre.
The resort town of Vung Tau was known in colonial times as Cap St Jacques, though nobody has used the latter designation since 1954 when the French left. The town lies at the tip of a triangular peninsula jutting into the sea near the mouth of the Saigon River.<br/><br/> Vung Tau which means 'Boat Bay' is Vietnam's main crude oil extraction centre.
Asia's smallest and least-known nation, the Republic of Maldives, lies scattered from north to south across a 750-kilometre sweep of the Indian Ocean 500 kilometres south-west of Sri Lanka. More than 1000 islands, together with innumerable banks and reefs, are grouped in a chain of nineteen atolls which extends from a point due west of Colombo to just south of the equator.<br/><br/> The atolls, formed of great rings of coral based on the submarine Laccadive-Chagos ridge, vary greatly in size. Some are only a few kilometres square, but in the far south the great atoll of Suvadiva is sixty-five kilometres across, and has a central lagoon of more than 2000 square kilometres. The northern and central atolls are separated from each other by comparatively narrow channels of deep water, but in the south Suvadiva is cut off by the eighty-kilometre-wide One-and-a-half-Degree Channel. Addu Atoll is still more isolated, being separated from the atoll of Suvadiva by the seventy-kilometre-wide Equatorial Channel.
Asia's smallest and least-known nation, the Republic of Maldives, lies scattered from north to south across a 750-kilometre sweep of the Indian Ocean 500 kilometres south-west of Sri Lanka. More than 1000 islands, together with innumerable banks and reefs, are grouped in a chain of nineteen atolls which extends from a point due west of Colombo to just south of the equator.<br/><br/> The atolls, formed of great rings of coral based on the submarine Laccadive-Chagos ridge, vary greatly in size. Some are only a few kilometres square, but in the far south the great atoll of Suvadiva is sixty-five kilometres across, and has a central lagoon of more than 2000 square kilometres. The northern and central atolls are separated from each other by comparatively narrow channels of deep water, but in the south Suvadiva is cut off by the eighty-kilometre-wide One-and-a-half-Degree Channel. Addu Atoll is still more isolated, being separated from the atoll of Suvadiva by the seventy-kilometre-wide Equatorial Channel.
In a country blessed with a plethora of beautiful islands, Ko Chang stands out as one of the loveliest. It’s also Thailand’s second largest island (after Phuket), but what makes it so appealing is its rugged aspect, and the way it rises suddenly from the sea, the usual lovely white sand Thai beaches, but backed by a solid hilly interior covered in wild jungle that seems to shelter the coast from the sea.<br/><br/> People visit Ko Chang for these pristine beaches, but also for the jungled interior with its many trails and waterfalls, birds, mammals and of course coral reefs. People also seek out Ko Chang because, despite its increasing popularity, it remains a world away from the commercial development of Pattaya, Phuket and Ko Samui – at least for the present.<br/><br/> The main beaches are scattered along the western and southern coasts of the island, with the east coast both less accessible and more suited to trekking and bird-watching than swimming and sunbathing. Some of the best coral reefs are to be found around smaller offshore islands, especially to the south and west of the main island.<br/><br/> As a general rule, the resort beaches are more developed to the north of the island, and this too is where the most sophisticated restaurants and more up-market accommodations are to be found.
In a country blessed with a plethora of beautiful islands, Ko Chang stands out as one of the loveliest. It’s also Thailand’s second largest island (after Phuket), but what makes it so appealing is its rugged aspect, and the way it rises suddenly from the sea, the usual lovely white sand Thai beaches, but backed by a solid hilly interior covered in wild jungle that seems to shelter the coast from the sea.<br/><br/> People visit Ko Chang for these pristine beaches, but also for the jungled interior with its many trails and waterfalls, birds, mammals and of course coral reefs. People also seek out Ko Chang because, despite its increasing popularity, it remains a world away from the commercial development of Pattaya, Phuket and Ko Samui – at least for the present.<br/><br/> The main beaches are scattered along the western and southern coasts of the island, with the east coast both less accessible and more suited to trekking and bird-watching than swimming and sunbathing. Some of the best coral reefs are to be found around smaller offshore islands, especially to the south and west of the main island.<br/><br/> As a general rule, the resort beaches are more developed to the north of the island, and this too is where the most sophisticated restaurants and more up-market accommodations are to be found.
Krabi Province is made up of more than 5,000 sq km of jungle-covered hills and sharp, jagged karst outcrops, as well as more than 100km of luxuriant, pristine coastline and around 200 islands in the neighbouring Andaman Sea.<br/><br/> About 40 per cent of the provincial population is Muslim, the remainder being predominantly Buddhist. This is a clear indication that Krabi sits astride the invisible dividing line between Buddhist Thailand and the four southern provinces—Satun, Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani—which are predominantly Muslim. Far from causing any sort of problem, this adds immensely to the cultural width and diversity of the province, blending mosques with temples, Malay cooking traditions with Thai cuisine, and giving the province a pleasantly relaxed multi-cultural feel.
The varied coastal landscape of Hat Chao Mai National Park includes mangrove creeks, coastal karsts, and hidden beaches accessed through caves. Some of Trang’s many offshore islands, are under park protection including Ko Kradan, Ko Cheuk and Ko Muk. Rare dugongs can sometimes be spotted in the shallow waters and seagrass beds between the mainland and the islands; other mammals include sea otters and dolphins at sea, and langur, macaque, pangolin and wild boar on land.<br/><br/> Trang province was dependent on tin mining until the first rubber seedlings were brought into Thailand around 1901 – part of a long journey from South America via the neighboring Malay States.<br/><br/> Rubber, palm oil and fishing are the mainstays of the province's economy. Tourism is making an increasing impact as Trang’s Anadaman Coast and islands are increasingly developed and popularized.
This little-visited waterfowl park is part of the larger Thale Sap Songkhla Wildlife Refuge, taking up most of Thale Sap Lake. The Thai Royal Forestry Department has so far identified 44 familes, 127 genus, and 219 distinct species of birds in the area, including bitterns, egrets and herons. The best time to visit is between December and March.
This little-visited waterfowl park is part of the larger Thale Sap Songkhla Wildlife Refuge, taking up most of Thale Sap Lake. The Thai Royal Forestry Department has so far identified 44 familes, 127 genus, and 219 distinct species of birds in the area, including bitterns, egrets and herons. The best time to visit is between December and March.
For thousands of years, most seawater pearls were retrieved by divers working in the Indian Ocean, in areas like the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and in the Gulf of Mannar. In the 14th-century Arabian Sea, the traveller Ibn Battuta provided the earliest known description of pearl diving by means of attaching a cord to the diver's waist.<br/><br/> Before the beginning of the 20th century, pearl hunting was the most common way of harvesting pearls. Divers manually pulled oysters from ocean floors and river bottoms and checked them individually for pearls. Not all mussels and oysters produce pearls. In a haul of three tons, only three or four oysters may produce perfect pearls.