Summer is coming to an end and as every year, some destinations have become real “hits”! Curious to know which are the three destinations that will climb on the podium?!
Uzbekistan: a journey on Tamerlane’s route
Third place: Uzbekistan! Asian deserts sands, ancient fortresses, nomadic populations and the ancient Persian culture: this is Uzbekistan. What enchants travellers to this little corner of the world is the geometric architecture, the cobalt majolica’s colour and in the great empire of Tamerlane.
In Uzbekistan the traces of Tamerlane’s empire are everywhere. However, only 3% is still visible the rest was destroyed by other conquerors like Genghis Khan.
At this point you are probably wondering “who is Tamerlane”, the “scourge of the steppes”! He was a warrior who, in the second half of the 14th century, founded an empire that extended from eastern Persia to Mesopotamia. He chose Samarkand as the capital of his kingdom, making it a caravan crossroads.
Following Tamerlane’s footsteps means discover the Silk Road, one of the most fascinating routes of the ancient world. It offered the possibility for populations to know each other through precious goods such as leather, fabrics, silk, rubies, rhubarb, spices and pearls.
A trip to Uzbekistan means delving into the folds of time, into a fantastic world, full of colors, scents. Discover noisy bazaars like that of Osh, one of the largest in Central Asia! It means gazing open-mouthed at the magnificent architecture consisting of sacred mausoleums, mosques, palaces and Madrasas, that in the Middle Ages were the only institution of higher learning in Islam. It means getting to know Central Asia cold deserts, the Kara Kum and the Kizil Kum, icy in winter and scorching in summer, dotted with shrubs like the saxsaul, a small bush.
The cities are also fascinating. Bukhara that develops through three Toqui (covered markets) with its flow of people who alternate here crossing its colorful or opulence. What can we say about Samarkand, an almost mythical city, present in the stories of Marco Polo, an exotic place, the ancient hub of the world, an Arabian phoenix born from the ruins of ancient Marakanda.
Summer in Madagascar, the matryoshka of Africa
Second place: Africa! A trip for those in search of the roots and essence of a place, authenticity and colors. A treasure chest that preserves a universe within itself, a country of a thousand fragments that come together to form wonder.
Rainforests, plateaus, tea plantations, coral reefs, lemurs, inhabitants of the Ranomafana National Park, also known for its orchids. Here you can meet the Tanala ethnic group, known for its honey production.
Its pulsating heart that beats to the rhythm of the villages, which dot the red earth, a land that is the result of different cultures, from Asia and Middle East.
A contamination that we find for example in the craftsmanship, in the production of Antemoro paper, of Arab tradition, typical of the village of Ambalavao. It is made with the bark of the macerated avoha and decorated with natural flowers. Also the ebony, the rosewood and the bois de rose, which come to life through the artifacts displayed on the stalls of Ambositra, the craftsmanship capital, to be visited aboard the pousse pousse, the colorful risciò.
A single trip is not enough to capture all the nuances of this corner of paradise. Firstly do not miss the Isalo National Park! Another name is “the Malagasy Colorado” because of its canyons, where you can find dwarf baobabs of just 60 cm, in some periods covered with yellow flowers and the Bara ethnic group, who buries their dead here.
Nevertheless the red rock pinnacles, the Tsingy Rouge, the result of erosion and the mixing of different oxides, the burials of Sakalava, Mahafaly, Antandroy, with their flashy paintings and the wooden funerary steles called Alo Alo.
These are just some of the unmissable stops that characterize this adventure through the hinterland of Madagascar!
Summer in Japan, the fascinating universe of Geishas and Shoguns
And the winner is: Japan! This destination is for those who don’t like half measures! Those who are attracted by the past and traditions as much as by the future. It materializes in megalopolises like Tokyo, where Shibuya crossroad represents the center of the world. Japan is the result of this two opposites mix, where the common thread is the omnipresent nature.
A trip to Japan is an experience to discover the pillars of Eastern philosophy: meditation, elegance, nature, deep traditions. Immerse yourself in the thermal baths of an onsen, sleep in a ryokan, the traditional Japanese inn with tatami floors and futons; try the local cuisine and its delicacies such as Takoyaki (octopus and batter balls), Unadon (marinated and grilled eel, served with rice or noodles), Katsudon (breaded and fried pork) to name a few. Watch a fight between sumo wrestlers, a true national sport. Meet Zen monks in cities like Kyoto, where there are 1,500 Buddhist temples and Zen gardens. Watch deers in Nara Park, a traditional city with its old wooden houses that alternate along the streets of Naramachi.
And tradition also characterizes the Kunisaki peninsula, in the north of Beppu. There people live in wooden villages in the middle of the fields and temples hidden in the forests. Visit the jigoku hot springs, the so-called hells, where each pool has a different color.
A trip to Japan would not be complete without climbing Mount Fuji. It’s the result of volcanic activity that began 100,000 years ago. It is not just a mountain, but an icon of spirituality. Legend tells that the religious ascetic Hasegawa Kakugyo (1541-1646) climbed the mountain more than 100 times. His adventures led to the formation of the Fuji-ko, a group of Mount Fuji worshipers. As a sign of devotion, they built shrines and rock monuments.
Was your 2024 dream destination one of the three or not?! Write it in the comments! And stay tuned, we are already thinking about 2025!