It lies on the Mediterranean Sea, close to Cyprus.

Lebanon has a rich and ancient history which is shaped by a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity.

Lebanon was the home of the Canaanites (Phoenicians), whose kingdoms flourished for 1000 years (15150 – 539 BC). Today, Lebanon is a totally integrated society consisting of both Muslims and Christians, living in harmony.

During its heyday, before the civil war (1975 – 1990), Lebanon was referred to as the “Switzerland of the East.” Beirut was popularly known as the “Paris of the Middle-East.”

Despite the after-effects of war and the influx of refugees, modern-day Lebanon has the highest Human Development Index in the Arab world. The economy is growing, and Lebanon is attracting tourists from across the globe again.

Travel-buddies, Zaritha van Wyngaardt and Helene Behrens, from Johannesburg in South Africa, recently returned from their journey through Lebanon and they had a smashing time!

Although Lebanon is the smallest recognised country on the mainland continent, it has a lot to offer travellers.

Despite the rumours and nay-sayers, Zaritha and Helene’s journey is proof that Lebanon is completely safe for travellers to visit and explore.

In true travel-girl style, these ladies absolutely slayed their Lebanon experience.

From fabulous accommodation to awesome wine and dine to road trips, people, historical sites and much more – Lebanon has it all!

Here’s why.

1. BEIRUT IS BEYOND MAGICAL.

Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. Everyone who doesn’t visit this city is seriously missing out.

The hotels are world-class, and Beirut’s night-life scene is huge, especially on roof-top bars and night clubs.

The Beirut Heritage Trail is a must for history buffs with its Byzantine mosaics, Roman baths, mosques, underground street and ruins.

Archaeology fans will enjoy spending an hour or two at the Beirut National Museum.

Beach clubs are quite the thing for sea, sand, daybeds, spa facilities, restaurants, and a super-friendly cosmopolitan crowd.

2. LEBANESE FOOD AND WINE ARE RIDICULOUSLY GOOD.

Did you know that Lebanon is one of the oldest wine producing sites of the world?

The best place to explore Lebanon’s vineyards is the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon (30 km east of Beirut).

The Beqaa Valley has more than a dozen vineyards and produces more than 6 million bottles a year. Zaritha and Helene had a wonderful time exploring the Ksara Wine Cellar.

If you’re a serious foodie, then Lebanon is the place to go foodie-crawling. Some Lebanese dishes to try out are Kibbeh (sautéed pine nuts and mince with a fried exterior), Kafta (lamb, beef or chicken meatball, filled with onion, parsley, breadcrumbs and spices, barbequed on skewers) and Kanafeh (a sugary cheese pastry smothered in an orange blossom syrup).

According to Zaritha, if she had to stay one more day, she wouldn’t have been able to take a flight back home – she would have had to roll back to S.A.

3. BYBLOS AND SIDON ARE TWO OF THE OLDEST CITIES IN THE WORLD.

The English word for “Bible” is derived from Byblos as papyrus was imported to Greece through Byblos.

Byblos (40km north from Beirut) is one of the oldest Phoenician cities in the world. At the Byblos ruins one can explore the ruins of many successive civilizations.

Byblos is listed as the 7th oldest city in the world.

Interesting fact: Byblos is where our contemporary alphabet originated.

Sidon is the third largest town in Lebanon, about 40 km south of Beirut. This fishery town is named after the great grandson of Noah in the Bible – the first Canaanite.

Currently, Sidon is listed as the 8th oldest city in the world.

According to the Biblical Archaeological Society, Sidon was the hometown of that naughty girl in the Hebrew Bible, Jezebel.

4. ROAD-TRIPPING THROUGH THE COUNTRY-SIDE IS TOTALLY SAFE.

Nothing beats an unplanned road trip with your best friend.

This is exactly what Helene and Zaritha did.

They packed their bags, booked a car and off they drove through the mountains and country side until they found this cute little guesthouse in Douma (80km from Beirut).

This charming location is known for its special location, with an abundance of olive trees, vineyards and apple trees in a valley surrounded by mountains.

Never once did they feel threatened or unsafe on the road.

“The people of Lebanon are so warm, friendly and welcoming. Their hospitality is amazing”, says Helene.

Zaritha and Helene also the visited the grave of Lebanese author of The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran.

“One day you will ask me which is more important? My life or yours? I will say mine and you will walk away not knowing that you are my life.” – Kahlil Gibran

5. THE BAALBEK RUINS ARE HISTORICAL GEMS.

Both girls agree that the Baalbek ruins were one of their best travel highlights by far. Baalbek has exceeded all their expectations.

Baalbek is a city in the Anti Lebanon foothills in the Becaar Valley, about 85km northeast from Beirut.

The Baalbek Complex is a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site and consists of three temples, Venus, Jupiter and Bacchus.

Seriously, this is a must visit.

“My favourite Lebanon moment was when I stood on the green line which separated Christian and Muslim Beirut from each other in the past and realised how far this country has come, and that we, in South Africa, can learn a lot from Lebanon in terms of tolerance.”

– Zaritha van Wyngaardt

A visa to Lebanon can be quite a process to obtain.

However, for more information on how to obtain a visa for Lebanon, contact Zaritha at zaritha@obviouschoice.co.za.

ABOUT THE OBVIOUS CHOICE:

Zaritha van Wyngaardt is passsionate about traveling and offers individuals from all walks of life the opportunity to travel to vibrant and authentic destinations.

The Obvious Choice is your one-stop solution for conferences, events, incentives and experiential travel.

For more information, visit the Obvious Choice website; like our page on Facebook and follow our experiential travel adventures on Instagram.

Written by Deidré Schoeman

The post 5 Reasons Why We Really, Really Love Lebanon. appeared first on The Obvious Choice.

According to Forbes’ latest travel trends, women make 80% of all travel decisions and they now demand adventure instead of pamper-sessions.

So, what happened to the whole soul-searching Eat, Pray, Love trend? Well, let’s just say that it’s been more than 10 years since the release of Eat, Pray Love, and currently, Elizabeth Gilbert is happily married to another woman, Rayya Elias.

Women are more bold about their travel adventures and decisions, and they don’t mind doing it alone, as long as they feel safe.

In terms of physical safety, Cuba is a dream destination for girls who love adventure and travel.

Zaritha van Wyngaardt, owner and founder of the Obvious Choice, is a serious travel addict and has recently travelled Cuba. She was accompanied by her 21 year old daughter, Lenka van Wyngaardt.

Lenka, a 3rd year Physiotherapy student at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) is a bliss to travel with.

1. Kick-start Havana with a cocktail along the Hemingway Trail

Ernest Hemingway couldn’t have said it any better: “My mojito in La Bodeguita del Medio and my daiquiri in El Floridita.”

Havana is obsessed with Hemingway as this was his home for 20 years. El Floridita is a restaurant along the trail that refers to itself as the Cradle of the Daiquiri.

La Bodeguita del Medio is a small bar off a side-street from the Plaza de la Catedral. This little gem is very popular among travellers interested in the legacy of Hemingway and his writings.

Once here, you have to stop for an ice cold mojito to break the Havana humidity and heat.

Vinales is Cuba’s second most visited travel destination. It offers travellers great hiking, caving and rock climbing opportunities.

The Vinales Valley, surrounded by its limestone hills (mogotes) is an official UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At La Casa de Veguero you can visit the tobacco farm where you can take a peek inside one of the tobacco drying houses and watch how Cuban cigars are made.

These cigars can be purchased on site.

After all, they are the world’s best.

Zaritha captured the That’s How You Roll a Cuban Cigar Moment on video. View the clip on our Instagram page.

Oh yes, and don’t forget to follow!

4. Respect “The Che.”

Cuba loves Ernesto Che Guevara.

He is everywhere in Cuba; on the streets, the walls, the park…

Name it, Che is there.

In Santa Clara you can view the extraordinary statue of Che holding a little boy in his arms. The statue represents The Next Generation – an exceptional work of art. Don’t miss it!

5. Sing and dance with local musicians

Cuba is very passionate about their local music scene.

Musicians can be found around every street corner and most restaurants.

Make the most of your Cuban night-life experience by watching a live band or go dancing with the locals – a great way to meet new friends.

6. Leisure up on beach time

Trinidad is located by the sea and has two beaches: Ancon and Maria Aguilar. These beaches are perfect for scuba-diving, lazing in the sun and swimming with the dolphins.

6. Photography

Cuba has a lot to offer when it comes to capturing great and colourful images for your social media pages.

From architecture to cocktails, from meals to street-life, and from living with the locals to long walks on the beach – there will always be a colourful display of photo opportunities at hand.

Finally, this is what our girls had to say about their travels in Cuba:

“Cuba is like a time-warp… like a complete throwback to the 50’s.” – Zaritha.

“Cuba is the most authentically charming and aesthetically pleasing place I’ve ever been to. The food was a diverse array of flavours, the weather sunny and the people were genuine and always ensured that we were having a good time. Special note and thanks to all the cocktails.

I am glad Trump put an embargo on Cuba, because now there is more for the rest of us to enjoy.” – Lenka.

For further information, contact the Obvious Choice as follow:

Zaritha van Wyngaardt

Email: zaritha@obviouschoice.co.za

Mobile: +27 82 652 1841

LinkedIn: Zaritha van Wyngaardt

Facebook: @obviouschoicetravel

Instagram: @obviouschoicetravel

Web:www.obviouschoice.co.za

We’d love to hear from you.

In the meantime, travel awesome!

ABOUT THE OBVIOUS CHOICE:

Owner and Founder of the Obvious Choice, Zaritha van Wyngaardt, is passionate about travelling and offers corporate clients, as well as individuals, the opportunity to travel to vibrant destinations to experience, energise and revitalise.

The Obvious Choice is your one-stop solution for Experiential Travel, Conferences, Incentives and Event Management.

Written by: Deidré Schoeman

The post Cuba: A Guide for Adventure Girls appeared first on The Obvious Choice.

“There should be somewhere on earth a place which no nation could claim as its own, where all human beings of good will who have a sincere aspiration, could live freely as citizens of the world and obey one single authority, that of the supreme truth; a place of peace, concord and harmony…” – The Mother.

Auroville (City of Dawn) is a universal and experimental township located in the Viluppuram district, South India. The City of Dawn is named after Indian seer and spiritual visionary, Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950). It has its origins in the French language, “Aurore,” meaning dawn and “ville,” meaning city. Mirra Alfassa, “The Mother,” and Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual collaborator founded the township and Charter (Visionaries) in 1968. It was designed by architect Roger Anger.

In short, the purpose of Auroville is a collective experiment dedicated to human unity and international understanding.

Owner and founder of the Obvious Choice, Zaritha van Wyngaardt, spent one day in Auroville during her India journey in March this year. She was accompanied by her husband, Gerhardt van Wyngaardt.

Here are some of their Auroville highlights…

The Matrimandir:

“The Matrimandir will be the soul of Auroville. The sooner the soul is there, the better it will be for everybody and especially for the Aurovilians.” – The Mother.

The Matrimandir is found at the centre of Auroville. This futuristic golden sphere-shaped building is referred to as ‘The Soul of the City.’ It is situated in a large open area called ‘Peace.’

According to Sri Aurobindo’s teaching on ‘The Universal Mother,’ the Matrimandir literally means ‘Temple of the Mother.’ More can be read about the character, role and understanding of the Divine Mother in his book, ‘The Mother.’

The upper hemisphere of the Matrimandir’s Inner Chamber is completely white with a crystal glass globe at the centre. A ray of electronically sunlight falls on the globe through an opening at the apex of the sphere and thus radiates an abundance of natural lighting in the Inner Chamber. No images, organised meditations, flowers, incense, religion or religious forms are allowed in the Inner Chamber. The 12 meditation (concentration rooms) are called ‘Petal’ rooms.

Green Practices and Organic Food:

Auroville has over two dozen farms united under the Auroville Farm Group (AFG). Farmers specialise and study in their own fields of interest – orchards, crop fields, vegetable gardens and/or dairy (all organic). The technologies used are eco-friendly (windmills for water, solar energy, micro-sprinklers and methane gas collectors).

“Supreme art expresses the Beauty which puts you in contact with the Divine Harmony.” – The Mother

Art and Culture:

Zaritha and Gerhardt are passionate about the arts, so we are not surprised at all when they ended up at Svaram Musical Instruments, Vocational Training Center and Research Station.

The beauty of Svaram instruments is that they can be played without “knowledge”, that exactly your novice approach brings out their special gift, similar to the Zen advise to retain the “Beginner’s Mind”, or in the context of the ancient Indian Rasa Theory: let Adbhuta, the sentiment of Wonder inspire your approach.” – Aurelio (Founder of Svaram).

Svaram instruments are researched, designed and home-made by Auroville community members, volunteers and students, bridging the differences of culture, education, background and generations.

Sound healing and therapy.

Sound stones (made from black granite) vary in shapes and sizes and is played with the help of water and all parts of the hands. The full mass of the stone becomes a resonating body. This cutting-edge sound can almost be compared to a space-age sound.

The Sound Bed is the size of a massage table and has 50 strings or more attached to the bottom. The receiving individual lies on top of the resonating box while the tuned strings are gently played by the sound therapist. The magical vibrational sounds are absorbed by the body’s cells. This ‘altered state’ nurtures the whole system of the mental-emotional-physical constitution, releases blockades and traumas, regenerates and leaves an imprint of harmony and well-being.

For more images on the unique instruments of SVARAM, click here.

Although we only touched base on Auroville’s Green Practices and SVARAM Musical Instruments sections, Auroville has more to offer in the fields of Architecture, Education and Reaserch, Rural Development, Health and Wellness, Industry and Commerce, Art and Culture and City Services.

Auroville seems to be the ideal city or ‘idea’ for the future, however in the ‘real world’ we still have a long way to go. The beauty of Auroville’s concept is that it all started with Sri Aurobindo’s vision. His vision turned into the Mother’s passion, to serve and to make the world a better place. Her passion was put into action by architect Roger Anger.

What is your vision?

What is your passion?

Remember, “All those who wander are not lost.” If you are in search of your passion or looking at expanding your vision or just to simply restore and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul, then you might want to check out at least one of the four featured tours on offer from the Obvious Choice:

• Bhutan
• Leh | Ladakh
• The Nagaland Festival Tour
• Ayurveda Retreat and Nature Tour, Kerala.

ABOUT THE OBVIOUS CHOICE:

Owner and founder of The Obvious Choice, Zaritha van Wyngaardt, is passionate about travelling and offers corporate clients, as well as individuals, the opportunity to travel to vibrant destinations to experience, energise and revitalise.

For further information, visit the Obvious Choice website at www.obviouschoice.co.za or send Zaritha an email.

The Obvious Choice is your one stop solution for Experiential Travel, Conferences, Incentives and Event Management.

The post Auroville in India is more than a visionary experience. appeared first on The Obvious Choice.