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The world's busiest open-air market is Morocco's largest traditional bazaar called Marrakesh, dubbed the "Red City" and the "Land of the God" as it is pulsating with life and color. By day, the whole square is filled with snake charmers, clairvoyants, story tellers and gnaoua musicians. Like a chameleon, it changes its color at night and becomes a vast ocean of open-air restaurants, food stalls, and souks selling spices, hand-crafted candle holders, leather goods, colorful bowls, Moroccan cashmere shawls, and scarves and table cloths made out of cactus silk.
Marrakesh is divided between the traditional fortified city, called the Medina, and the modern city, Gueliz. In the old quarter, visitors can wander around the snaking passages of Djemaa el Fna Square, where women can be seen in their traditional veils while mule carts can be spotted treading their way to the narrow streets that are filled with thousands of stalls selling all sort of curios.
From here, travelers can head to the medersa of Ben Youssef, a crumbling 16th-century Koran school famed for its mosaics and cedar panels that are replete with Islamic verses and carved stucco. The school extends to the Koutuobia Mosque, which overlooks the sea and the festive atmosphere of the souks.
Marrakesh's modern section, on the other hand, has a French colonial allure that resonates from its cafés and brasseries (resto-bars), which are speckled in boulevards along with the palaces of Bahia and Badi, the monument of Dar Si Said. Behind the red ocher walls of the palaces are the tranquil gardens and courtyards of Agdal, Menara, Jardin Harti and Jardin Majorelle.
After a day tour around the souks or after a night of partying, visitors can pamper themselves in the city's many public baths like the Hammam Bab Doukkala, Ksar Char-Bagh Hammam and Hammam Dar El-Bacha. For those not into steam baths, they can take a hike to the mountain or the desert or head to the lavish Nikki Beach, located at the Circuit de la Palmeraie.
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An Aerial fiesta in Clark Pampanga
Its a party in the sky as multi colored hot air balloons piloted ny different pilots from various partso of the world participated in this annual gathering. As early as 5am, the 2,500 hectare aviation complex at Clar Economic Zone in Pampanga was already crammedi with excitement. Clusters of hot air balloon participants busily prepare their own balloons for liftoff as they need to take advantage of ... Read full Blog post
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