Albania: The Sleeping Beauty

1. Official name: Republic of Albania
2. Capital: Tirana
3. Total Area: 28,748 km²
4. Approximate population: 3,190,000
5. Location: Southeastern Europe
6. Languages: Albanian, Greek
7. Religions: Sunni Muslim, Albanian Orthodox, Roman Catholic
8. Currency: Lek
9. Organizations: United Nations
10. World's 143^rd largest country/territory (area)

We now shift our focus to a little known country in southern Europe: Albania; a nascent country;just awakening from it's deep communist sleep. It has long been a forgotten country until recent due to it's communist agenda which led the country to exist in complete isolation,distancing itself even from neighboring communist countries like Russia and Yugoslavia. Even as communism failed elsewhere, this country seemed intent on staying it's course; albeit alone.That is until 1992 when communism lost it's importance there too. 

Hence what we now have is a beautiful country....not yet spoilt by mass tourism and globalization, with a culture that is a 100% homegrown. Albania offers a host of things to enjoy......from pristine crystal clear beaches to snow capped mountains, adorned with some of the best preserved greek ruins and topped off with unbeaten hospitality, it is hence no wonder it ranked No.1 on Lonely Planet's top 10 countries to visit.

Here's a glimpse of what is on offer: starting with the capital city of Tirana. It is considered to be a charming and beautiful city but has started showing signs of renovation from it's communist days, bringing in problems associated with sudden rapid industrialisation.

Et'them Bey Mosque and Tirana Clock Tower

 The Et'them Bey mosque shown is considered one of the most beautiful mosques in Albania and took a total of 28 years to build!

It was closed under communist rule until it was reopened in 1991without permission from authorities. 10,000 people attended without any interference from the police.The event was a milestone in Albanian religious rebirth.

Also seen in the picture is the Clock Tower.It was once the tallest building in Albania....in 1822.....and the clock was replaced after being destroyed in the second world war. Access to the top is now free for visitors.

Piramida

The building pictured is the Piramida and was originally built as a museum dedicated to the former dictator Enver Hoxha. It was the most expensive building erected under communist rule and is now abandoned although there are future plans to renovate it.

Mount Dajt

Mount Dajt is a mountain east of Tirana, in central Albania. The best way to take in the beauty is by travelling by cable car. On top is a national park, home to a variety of flora and fauna. Also nearby is the bolliva Lake, one of Albania's main water sources. Of course the best thing you could do is sip coffee on top and take in the breathtaking view of Tirana from there.

View from the top

Besides this there is the Ish-Blloku which is an up market area;was once the protected area where top communist officials stayed,away from public eye. Now however it is thronged by teenagers and youth alike, and contains Tirana's best restaurants and entertainment destinations. Tirana also has many museums,galleries and even a zoo in case you are interested. Also a must see is the Tirana mosaic, which is Tirana's only archaeological site and contains evidence that there once existed a village in that area.

Berat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is a rare example of well preserved Ottoman architecture. Below we see why:

Berat

Mount Tomorr

Mount Tomorr is a large mountain range in southern Albania, not far from Berat. According to Albanian folklore, it is believed that Tomorr was a giant that wanted to fight another giant called Shpirag for a young woman. They eventually killed each other and on hearing this the woman cried and drowned on her own tears, thus creating the river Osum.

Bogova Waterfalls

Also definitely worth visiting is the Bogova waterfall which isn't too far from the mountains and is beautiful site to relax in.

Apollonia

Temple at Butrinti

Albania is also famous for it's Greek ruins, such as Appolonia shown in the picture. Though once Greek it was later taken over by Romans and their influence can be seen in the ancient Roman city of Butrinti.

Beach at Dhermi

And finally for those of you who wish to soak up the sun instead of exploring ancient ruins, can do so in one of the many beaches along Albania's coast. Crystal clear water as far as the eye can see; and not crowded to spoil your fun. Also a must is to sample the honey and olive oil which are usually home made and considered one of the best in the Balkans. Or perhaps reach out and grab an orange from a tree for you to relish!

Albania is a magnificent country, which abounds in natural beauty; a small country that has everything from magnificent mountains to beautiful beaches; ancient ruins to modern establishments and everything in between. Not to forget it is after all the country where the beloved Mother Teresa was from. It has a vibrant history and it's potential as a tourist hotspot knows know bounds.What iv'e shown here is but a taste of what Albania truly has to offer. So go to Albania,try some byrek and wash it down with some raki or boza and be rest assured you're gonna have a great time.

Afghanistan: The Heart Of Asia

1) Afghanistan

1. Official name: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
2. Capital: Kābul
3. Total Area: 652,225 km²
4. Approximate population: 27,145,000
5. Location: Central Asia
6. Languages: Dari, Pushtu, Uzbek, Turkmen
7. Religions: Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim
8. Currency: Afghani
9. Organizations: United Nations
10. World's 41^st largest country/territory (area)

In keeping with my earlier post about talking about all the countries i decided the best way to cover all of them without missing any would be to categorize them alphabetically.....hence i present to you my first country on the "road less travelled" section: Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in the heart of Asia and has been the centre of many powerful regimes with a vivd history to its credit. It has however spent its last few decades in international limelight for all the wrong reasons. Having said this it is not advisable to travel there any time soon but for the more intrepid traveller it has much to offer.

Let us begin at the capital city of  Kabul. I personally am not that interested in history but in this case i will say that it has been mentioned in the hindu rigveda text as a "vision of paradise set in the mountains" and true to that it is a sight to behold (mainly from pictures from the internet). It used to boast of beautiful gardens,pristine lakes and architectural magnificence as seen in it's palaces. However due to years of war and instability it is now but a shadow of it's former self.

Bagh-e-Babur

The garden in question is the Bagh-e-Babur or the gardens of Babur,the first Mughal Emperor. His wish was to be buried here but after his death he was buried in Agra,India before later being moved to his tomb in these gardens. It still is remarkably well kept and is a popular destination for locals for picnics and lazy afternoons. However another popular picnic spot is the Bagh-e Bala which was once an emir's summer palace, the area around which has been converted into a large park.

Bala Hissar Fort

Located to the south of Kabul at the end of a mountain,the Bala Hissar Fort was an ancient citadel and home of many of afghanistan's kings.However this place is off limits owing to unexploded bombs and landmines. Of course there are rumors of it's beauty during spring giving it a nickname: the "Emerald Hill".

Darul Amman palace

The Darul Amman Palace was by King Amanullah Khan as part of an endeavor to modernise afghanistan. However years of neglect,fires and bombings have left it in ruins.Visitors can still enter as long as they are willing to bribe the guards. Nearby places of interest include the Tajbeg palace,the residential home of the king and his wife,the Green Palace (aslo in ruins) and the Daoud Khan memorial, at the site where President Daoud's body was found along with his relatives in mass graves after his assassination.

Lake Qargha

There is not much to say about Lake Qargha except that it is a beautiful reservoir and is home to boating and swimming. However plans to organise more water sports are underway. 

The Panjishir valley is possibly the most beautiful valley in Afghanistan though it is now adorned with armored tanks that have been destroyed.It is located near the Hindukush range and is home to the ethnic Tajiks.It was once a popular tourist destination but later became a symbol of resistance to the soviets. The tomb of the leader, Ahmad Shah Massoud is nearby and is a must see for any visitor.

Tomb of Bala Hissar

Next we come to the city of Balkh. Here the most noted monument is the Tomb of Bala Hissar or the Khoja Abu Nasar Parsa dargah, adjacent to which is the tomb of the famous Persian poet Rabia Balkhi. the story goes that her brother sealed her in a basement for having an affair and that she wrote her most famous poem on the wall in her own blood as she died. Also a must visit is the Haji Piyada mosque which is on a watch list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world!

Bamiyan Buddha

For a country that is an Islamic republic, it is interesting to find hints of periods where no one religion dominated....this can be seen at the famous place called Bamiyan where one can or rather could see a 55 metre tall buddha statue. Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world used to flock here to stay in its many caves and admire it's spectacular and sacred sites. However this was all before the many wars that plagued the area.....and finally the taliban destroyed up the statue with dynamite,making it lose it's status as the largest statue in the world. It also is one of the more picturesque regions of the country.

Shrine of Hazrat Ali

The impressive blue tiled mosque seen here is in the Mazar-e Sharif, the capital of the Balkh province. It is also known as the shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was the son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad and is one of the 4 caliphs of Islam. Also nearby are said to be ancient Greek ruins but not much has been said about that.

Band-e Amir

Of course one cannot leave this place without a visit to the beautiful Band-e Amir, a chain of 6 natural lakes separated but natural calcium carbonate dams and is on the UNESCO's world heritage list and is Afghanistan's most scenic destination.

There are obviously more places to see especially for visitors wanting a more picturesque vacation....two such places are the Shamali Plain and the Salang Pass  .

Shamali Plain

Salang Pass

For a country riddled with problems and instability there is still a part of it that calls out to the world, albeit in a bleak voice. Any chance for reform has been set back hundreds of years by wrong interpretations of holy scripts and years of wars that could have been spent on preserving heritage and uplifting standards. If however an opportunity arises for me to visit, I would do so in a heartbeat. A country as beautiful as this has the potential to become a calming voice in an otherwise obstreperous political agenda.

Being one of the world's most dangerous countries at the moment, due to taliban led insurgencies,  a country that was once proud to display it's beauty has been reduced to a cowering lady,hidden behind a veil that,denied face and form by age-old custom.

Taking The First Step.....

There always comes a point in a person's life when life seems too monotonous or just downright drab. That's when you either stick to the road that you're comfortably trekking along or get off the highway and challenge the grand scheme of things. In my case: challenge accepted!

Those familiar with the term YOLO (you only live once) will understand what it all means....and for those who don't,well......i'm here to show you what you're missing. This blog is dedicated to my one true passion...travel (and everything else associated with it)....and while you may think "well haven't I come across loads of blogs like this?"....you may actually be proved right! My intention here is not to make this site my memoir....but to open up the "world" of possibilities that await anybody bold enough to take that literal first step.

As per my last count.....or rather my last google search.....the number of recognized countries is 196....now thats a lot of travel....and i would love to do it....if only i could....but that also means theres loads of stuff to write about on this blog.....so i hope you won't be disappointed.

I hope to open up a new chapter in this concept by not just talking about countries that everyone has probably heard of and are popular tourist destinations.....but also by talking about "The Road Less Travelled" or simply countries that will make you step out of that comfort zone and take you on a real adventure/exploration.

For those of you who ask why travel of all things...well i'll answer it as bluntly as i can....it's bloody brilliant! There's nothing more exciting than pushing yourself across new boundaries...experiencing different cultures.....eating foods that you normally wouldn't dare to (i'm not exactly andrew zimmern)....and trying to make out the subtle differences and/or similarities between your home country's and your new host!

It could either be a calming trip of self discovery or an exhilarating trip of living life on a new edge....whatever the deal is there's always something for you to do. Over the coming days i will keep updating this blog.....tackling random countries to throw things off perspective and in case i have been to any place personally i shall give a detailed account of my day to day activities in those places. Any ideas/suggestions are encouraged and i shall do my best to provide any and all necessary information i can gather....

So here's to a new beginning in my online life.....where the "world" wide web is my oyster!