Standing on top of Mt. Sinai, a trekking guide looks over the St. Katherine’s Protectorate, situated about a two hours’ drive from Dahab, Egypt. He is a member of the Jabaelya tribe, one of the seven tribes of the South Sinai region. This unique tribe is a mixture of Arab and Eastern European blood, descending from the soldiers of Emperor Justinian, who he brought to guard the Monastery of St. Katherine.

The biggest treat in Medjugorje is the peaceful time for prayer in such inspired surroundings. Just walk through the fields to the Blue Cross or Apparition Hill. If you stay longer, take time to be a part of Medjugorje’s local community. Meet the families while attending Holy Mass, stop for casual conversation with locals or simply take your quiet time and space for personal reflection.

Every year, the whole city of Bhaktapur, Nepal, empties itself into the streets for over a week to celebrate Bisket Jatra, which starts four days before the Nepalese New Year and continues for four days after it. Lasting from April 9 until April 16 this year (2012), the multifaceted festival is a ritual welcome extended to the New Year and carries immense cultural significance for the people of the city.

Time is such a precious commodity these days; we’ve been led to believe that if we don’t maximise our scant vacation time by hitting all the major tourist must-dos, we’ve somehow failed. But travelling and living in Laos has taught me that slowing down adds richness to your experience – like seeing the world vividly in Technicolor.

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND TURKISH. On Turkey’s pristine south coast, nestled between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, the city of Antalya has long been a favourite holiday destination. Dubbed the new Turkish Riviera, the flanking seaboard offers everything from Roman ruins to hiking or kayaking deep canyons.

Religion is of very great importance for the residents of Corfu, as it is for most Greeks, and churches and small chapels can be found everywhere all over the island. Corfu has nearly 800 churches and monasteries altogether! Even the tiniest village in Corfu has a church in its centre and these churches can sometimes…

The Cerrado is a vast tropical savannah that is one of the biggest and most diverse of Brazil’s ecosystems. Not far from the big city of Goiania lies the special jewel of the Cerrado: the historic city of Pirenópolis. It’s the right place to go when you want to escape the hectic big city and it was the destination we had chosen for a brief holiday among friends.

While the film contains its fair share of recognisable landmarks, what we enjoy about it is how the process Lam has used works just as well with unspectacular locations. A crooked bridge over a fast-flowing stream looks just as fantastic as the Eiffel Tower when it’s portrayed in this way.

Nestled in the foothills of the Phu Pasak mountain range of southern Laos, the ancient ruins of Wat Phou, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, have a special atmosphere to them, inspiring serenity and bliss in those who walk the sacred grounds. In addition to the site’s clear historical appeal, a trip to the ruins is essential for anyone with spiritual inclinations: the calm surroundings, the inherent mysticism and few visitors make it a great place to meditate.