YouTube: Kumsal is a Turkish belly dancer and teacher from Istanbul. As a 25 years old young new generation dancer she became famous in Turkey with an oriental dance competition held in 2004 on national TV. She dances in winter times in Istanbul famous night clubs such as Sultana’s, Dedikodulu Meyhane. In summer times she dances in famous dance club Kervansaray in Bodrum. She has appeared on national television, magazines, news papers after becoming successful in the oriental dance competition. She had ballet education in Turkey but then oriental dance became her passion as well as a career in Turkey. She went to Japan for stage shows and danced in famous trade fair shows as well. She teaches both in Egyptian and Turkish style. In her classes veil work, floor work, finger cymbals, body posture are the main subjects.

Situated on the Aegean Coast, Bodrum’s charming (and mainly original and old-world) landscape is dotted with bars and nightclubs featuring a nightlife second to none. However, it’s not all about the nighttime. The daytime is just as much fun with plenty of things to see and do. A number of historical attractions such as the Castle of St Peter, the Mausoleum, and the Myndos Gate provide an interesting and educational overview of the area’s history. There are many activities such as sailing and boating and hamams (Turkish baths), that will keep you happy during the hot sunny days.

The sun shines for around 300 days a year in Bodrum, making it the perfect holiday destination for the sun worshiper, and between May and October you’ll find the best weather. August temperatures regularly reach a very warm 35C+ with over 12 hours of beautiful Turkish sun. There is generally a nice coastal breeze that helps to keep humidity to a welcome level. These temperatures obviously mean it’s advisable to ensure you book somewhere with air conditioning. In addition to the great warm weather, the Agean sea warms up to about 25C so you are guaranteed a nice warm swim. Things do cool down in Spring and Autumn, but even then it is far from cold.

Just outside Bodrum is Bitez, otherwise known as Agacli (meaning “full of trees”), which gets its name from the fact it is one of the main citrus growing areas of the Bodrum peninsular. The promenade is lined with restaurants and cafes offering every nationality of cuisine with a view of the cleanest beaches on the peninsular. The clientele of Bitez attracts more of an older circle, giving it that high-class feel. This is amplified by the white washed hotels and apartments that overlook the sandy beach with its picturesque wooden jetties, which plays host to a popular windsurfing and sailing school with Bitez cove being the ideal place for the beginner.

Turkish Markets are a must for any holiday maker and Milas Market is one of the biggest in the area. With everything from textiles to perfumes to fruit and more, it is an extraordinary place to visit. The stallholders are uniquely Turkish and this being a”proper” market, you’ll find them courteous and the whole place does not have that “holidaymakers” market feel. There’s still plenty of opportunity to find that perfect souvenir with handicrafts and local weaving and produce in abundance. If you’re up for it, forget eating out and enjoy putting together your next meal from the local offerings. With so much on offer you’ll find everything you need for that perfect lunch! There is so much to experience, you’ll wonder where the time has gone as you wander round the masses of stalls. Once you’re finished at the market you may fancy a change of pace. Just a little north of Milas you will find Lake Bafa where the northern shore of the lake’s steep slopes are covered by wild or semi-domesticated olive trees that are virtually untouched to this day. According to legend, it was here that the goddess Selene fell in love with the shepherd Endymion and she asked Zeus to keep the young shepherd in perpetual sleep and bore up to fifty children from her nightly encounters with the sleeping young man.

The Bodrum peninsular has managed to keep its charm. There are many villages and hamlets to explore, with Karakaya being a fine example. With its beautiful views across the Aegean and lovingly restored house, it is a very special place to visit. Many of the local communities welcome your visit and the bazaars and villages are the ideal way to explore. Comakdag village lies on the Izmir Milas road on a picturesque mountain slope. With its native culture and heritage, you’ll find it a welcome place with its artistic houses. You may even be lucky and witness one of its wedding feasts that can last for days. Many beautiful local silk weavings are available int the stores and worn by the residents. Rabbit Island is another fabulous place to visit and is situated between the Bodrum and Gumusluk beaches and is accessed by paddling across the sunken causeway, a treat in itself.

If golf is your thing, it is available only 15 minutes outside Bodrum. Vita Park lies close to Tuzla Bay, a unique wetland habitat for a number of rare bird species and flamingos. The resort encompasses a total area of one and a half million square meters, including the 5795-metre course, clubhouse and the Mike Adams Golf Academy. The par-71 Milas course is the first course finished and is reminiscent of a Scottish links course. The second course, the Halikarnas, is currently under construction and is designed to have a dramatic Arizona golf course look.

Bodrum is a perfect place to experience a delightful Turkish holiday. It still has a unique blend of old world charm with quiet unspoiled villages as well as great night life. There is something for everyone. Visit Turkish Sun for more information.

YouTube: Xian Terracotta Warriors

In central China, Xian is the world’s largest city of over 3.2 million people and has re-emerged as an important cultural, industrial, and educational center with facilities for research and development, national security, and China’s space exploration program. By auto, Xian is located about 1100 km southwest of Beijing and about 1400 km northwest of Shanghai. Xian is the capital of the Shaanxi Province.

China’s Xian is full of museums where you can explore life from ancient times. You will be astounded by some of the exhibits in many of the Xian museums. Way back in the 11th century BC and the Zhou Dynasty, the town of Xian was a political and cultural center within China. History goes back much further than that however. People settled in the area and it has been documented by the find in 1954 of Banpo village that was already 6500 years old.

The actual date that Xian became a city was around 202 BC. Han Dynasty Emperor Liu Bang made his capital in nearby Changan and in order to get away he built a palace in Xian. In the time of the Sui Dynasty the capital was moved closer to Xian and in fact, the town was made part of the royal palace. You will find modern Xian in Central China near the Qinling Mountains on the south and the Wei River on the borders of the north. Because the history goes back so far this is a haven for many different museums.

Everyone has heard of the Terracotta Army and Horse Museum. Here there are over 7000 terracotta statues placed in 16,300 square meters. There are life sized warriors and horses that stand ready to attack in battle formations. This museum is a must see when ever you are in the area. In 1974 some villagers were building wells and stumbled upon some bronze weapons. They knew they were important and brought in agents from the Cultural Heritage department of the government. This was the beginning of one of the most substantial archaeological digs found in modern times. There were three pits filled with these figures and they built a roof over top to protect them. You can see the horses and chariots and warriors and even see some of the excavation that is still going on.

Another museum that most have heard of is the Shaanxi History Museum in Xian City. The building is huge and built in the Tang dynasty style. Inside just the main hall are 2700 pieces of art. There are permanent exhibitions and also some special ones brought in for just a time. The permanent exhibition is all about Shaanxi history. There are artifacts from all periods of time and many dynasties within the history of the area including Neolithic ceramics, bronze pieces including weapons, statues, swords, gold objects and many different photos of archaeological sites. Here is a tip concerning the gift shop. There may be price tags on all the items for sale but you are expected to bargain with the clerk for the best price you can get.

Hanyang Tomb is an underground museum that was open in 2006. The exhibits of relics are in glass cases that are easy to view. There are sections of the museum built over pits and have glass floors so you can see down into the pits. This tomb lay quiet for over 2000 years and there are still areas that are being excavated to this day. You will see many different statues of both humans and animals that are very detailed. You actually go into the tomb and guides will give you a few plastic bags to put over your shoes to protect them from the elements.

Banpo Village was a major settlement around 5000 BC. The Banpo Museum was opened in 1958 about 15 km from the city of Xian. The people that organized this city were community oriented because the village had a large hall in the middle of town and many different rooms were laid around that hall. The village did not have a fence but did have a large trench that was built to discourage large animals from getting in side. There was an area in the village where people made ceramics in kilns; there was a cemetery and about 46 houses. You can see the tools the people used and see what it was like to live in a Neolithic Village.

If you can find the Bell Tower you can find the Stele Forest Museum. Here you will find about 1000 pieces of stone that are inscribed with calligraphy created in the Han to the Qing dynasty. This museum was formally a very popular Confucius temple. It is filled with stone tablets that are as old as 4000 years and continue up into the 20th century. All are inscribed with beautiful calligraphy. Guides will help you make your own calligraphy if you wish.

The city of Xian is a great place for those who love history. You can see a variety of historic sites from Neolithic villages to artifacts from the dynasties. You can view the magnificent life sized terracotta figures and try to make a bit of calligraphy of your own. These are only a few of the many museums in town and all of them are worth a visit.

Check the Xian Travel Service for more information on the local culture, museums, and fascinating things to explore while visiting Xian.

YouTube: National Geographic — Terracotta Warriors