Light of Alexandria

Planning Today for Tomorrows Needs
Islamic ,Safe and Secure
 

Ethical, Transparent and Sustainable i.e. Islamic

Islamic Economics

 Islamic economics is based on the Shariah.The basic objectives are to ensure general human well-being and socio-economic justice.
 All the wealth belongs to Allah (swt): “And give them of the wealth of Allah which He has given you.” [An-Nur: 33]
 The community is the trustee of the wealth: “Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend whereof He has made you heirs.”[Al-Hadid: 7]
 Hoarding of wealth is prohibited: “And those who hoard up gold and silver and spend not in the way of Allah; announce to them a painful chastisement.” [At-Tauba: 34]
 Circulation of wealth is a duty: “Whatsoever Allah may restore unto His Messenger – is due unto Allah and unto His Messenger – the orphans and the needy …so that it may not be confined to the rich amongst you.” [Al-Hashr:7]
 The main objectives of the Shari‘ah are to ensure that human life is based on ma’rufat (good) and to cleanse it of munkarat (evils). The term ma’rufat denotes all the qualities that have always been accepted as ‘good’ by the human conscience. The Shari‘ah gives precise definitions of ma’rufat and munkarat, clearly indicating the standards of goodness for which individuals and society should aspire

Conventional Vs. Islamic

 The Role of Moral Values

 While conventional economics generally considers the behavior, tastes and preferences of individuals as given, Islamic economics does not do so. It places great emphasis on individual and social reforms through moral uplift. This is purportedly to be the purpose for which God’s messengers have come to this world. Moral uplift aims at changing the behavior, tastes and preferences of the individuals, and thereby, it complements the price mechanism in promoting general well-being.
 The Importance of the Hereafter
 The Hereafter is a concept which is completely ignored by conventional economics, but it is one which is greatly emphasized by Islam and other major religions. Because of their innate goodness, human beings do not always try to serve their self-interest. They are altruistic, and willing to sacrifice for the well-being of others. This behavior is rewarded in the Hereafter. Whilst conventional economics also seeks optimal allocation of resources, the fact that it is unable to offer rewards for benevolent acts means that the humane side of the economy is neglected.

Definition Of Investment Planning

 Investment planning: It is designed to help with investment strategies with the objective of generating positive return on investment.
 The following steps are necessary:
 Assess risk appetite, develop an investment strategy by choosing a wide array of investments.
 Growth & Income
 Risk & Return
 Spending & Security
 Wealth Transfer & Wealth Control
 Achieving a Balance. An effective Investment Planning program creates a ‘ plan’ that helps them understand the ‘big picture’…and how to balance these  objectives, make decisions, and implement changes that provide a total wealth  planning solution.

Process Of Investment Planning

 The 5 step process are:
 Inventory taking
 Analysis and evaluation
 Plan designing
 Implementation
 Monitoring and reviewing
 The liquidity issue 
 Liquidity is necessary for immediate consumption
 Assets should be kept in different grades of liquidity so that it is easy to liquidate when necessary

The Islamic Angle

 Muslims are supposed to have surplus wealth to be strong. Surplus wealth can only be obtained through higher income as a result of hard work. Having surplus income alone is not enough.
 Co-operative effort through helping one another (“Help ye one another in righteousness and piety”al-Maidah5:2)
 Peace and stability to ensure greater development
 Service to others is an important social responsibility
 Charity to help others
 Principle of sharing
 Responsibility towards development
 The traditional trade-off concept is between risk and return
 With more complex financial instruments like fixed  income instruments, with its own individual risk  characteristics, the wealth planner has to be more  skilful in drawing up the right strategies to ensure the  required rate of returns for the clients
 In Islam the trade-off is not only between risk and return but it is also between life in this world and the hereafter
 The Quran has in various places guided man to diversify their risk (Story of Jacob who tells his sons to enter from different gates to collect food from Egypt)
 The Quran also reminds Muslims not to sell life in the hereafter for the life in this world. In other words the life in this world is not worth compared to life in the hereafter

Retirement Planning

 Retirement planning is one of the significant parts in the financial planning process ; it will create a significant source of income during the retirement period;
 The Retirement Planning process
 Setting of Retirement Plan Goals;
 Obtain Necessary Financial Information to Determine Retirement Needs;
 Definition of Income Stream : a term used to cover any range of products that bring forth a steady stream of income;
(b) Vehicles Providing Income Streams
 Pensions
 Employees Provident Fund (EPF)
 Takaful or Life Assurance

Investment in Real Estate

 Real estate refers to land and all those that are fixed to it such as building, plant and machinery
 People invest in real estate to get the flow of income rather than the space it provides.
 Geographical
 Population
 Physical Aspects
 Technological/Building method
 Fashions and Trends
 Occupancy status
 Development approvals
 Tenure and Title Conditions/Restrictions

Investment In Securities

 Securities are financial assets that are traded in the capital markets. Since the fluctuations in securities prices can be very volatile it is very attractive for people with surplus funds to buy and sell them hoping to get dividends and/or capital gains within a short time.
 There are two main types of securities namely:
 Equity instruments
 Debt instruments
 The third type which is increasingly becoming popular is
 The hybrids. Hybrids are those that have the characteristics of both equity and debt.
 Difference between debt and equity:
 In terms of claims
 In terms of time
 Debt or borrowing is fixed in time i.e. it is terminal or has maturity and therefore is fixed in claim. This means that debt must be paid in full upon maturity. Once it matures the firm must pay the creditors the principle plus interest.

Stock Screening Process

 Halal Stocks and Shariah Index
 No Haram Activities
 For companies with activities comprising both permissible and non-permissible elements the SAC uses two other criteria:
 The public perception or image of the company
 To determine the tolerable level or benchmark of mixed contributions from permissible and non-permissible activities, the SAC came out with four levels:
 5% benchmark – when the non-permissible are clearly prohibited (riba; gambling; liquor; pork)
 10% benchmark – involve element of umum balwah prohibited element affecting most people and difficult to avoid

Stock Screening Process

 20% benchmark – mixed rental payment from Shariah non-compliant activities such as rental from premises used for gambling; sale of liquor etc
 25% benchmark – activities that are generally permissible and beneficial (maslahah) but contains elements that may affect the Shariah status of these activities. Among these activities are hotel and resort; share trading; stock broking and others
 Shariah compliant securities which are subsequently considered Shariah non-compliant:
 If the price of the securities is more than its cost: must sell immediately. If not the proceeds should go to charity
 If the price is lower than cost: then wait until the price is equal to cost and then sell. If dividends are declared during the holding period the dividend may be accepted

Islamic Debt Securities

 Islamic Interbank Money markets (IIMM) was established in 1994. This is to allow Islamic banks to manage their liquidity and price discovery. Several new instruments were introduced
 REIT
 Private Equity Funds
 Income Funds
 Sukuk is a long term IDS whose underlying contractual framework could be a BBA; Murabahah; Istisna (purchase of manufactured products on order) or Ijarah (leasing). BBA is most popular and known as BAIDS but not popular among Middle East Shariah scholars
 The ijarah sukuk are more acceptable globally.

Insurance and Takaful

 One of the important areas of wealth planning is the distribution of the estates. Insurance and takaful are instruments that create instant estates and hence they are very important in the distribution of such estates
 We should not forget to protect our ability to earn or generate wealth. This can be done through insurance and takaful
 We may save money for the future but such savings need preservation
 Insurance and takaful creates instant estates with a small premium or contribution. It provides financial security against premature death and disability.
 Death or accidents can happen any time. Insurance and takaful can to some extent guarantee our loved ones will have something to depend on when we are gone or become incapacitated.

Takaful Products

 Basically there are two types of products: the life and general for insurance and family and general for takaful.
 Four major types of life insurance: term; whole life; endowment and investment-linked
 A straight life contract is one where premiums are payable as long as the insured lives
 Endowment is another type of permanent insurance similar to whole life. The only difference is that it provides death benefits for a specified period of time. It has cash values and the policy holder is paid the contract’s face value at the end of the protection period.
 Investment-life insurance contract divides the premium into two parts: the investment account and the risk account. The risk account takes care of the insurance benefits but the investment account belongs to the policy holder.

Family Takaful Products

 Family takaful products are similar to investment-linked insurance. It has two separate accounts: the Participants’ Accounts (PA) and Participants’ Special Account (PSA) which is based on Tabarru’. If participant dies before maturity date he or she will receive whatever he or she has contributed up to the date of death plus his portion in the PSA including the profits from investment.
 Mortgage Reducing Term Assurance (MRTA) or Mortgage Takaful
 Fire
 Marine
 Etc.

Building $ 1 Million Portfolio

 Basic Assumption
 Starting Age – 25 Years
 Retirement – 55 Years
 Total Years – 30 Years
 Regular Withdrawals – 5 Years
 Total – 5 Withdrawals

Uses of Withdrawals

 Marriage – 30 Years of Age
 Home – 35 Years
 Land – 40 Years
 Rental Property – 45 Years
 Education (KIDS)– 50 Years
 Marriage ( KIDS) – 55 Years

How much to Invest

 0-5 Years – 50 KD a month  = total 3000 KD
 6-10 Years – 100 KD a month = total 6000 KD
 11-15 Years – 150 KD a month = total 9000 KD
 15-20 Years – 150 KD a month = total 9000 KD
 20- 25 Years – 200 KD a month = total 12000 KD
 25- 30 Years – 200 KD a month = total 12000 KD
 (Think Future – think of Rupee at 30 a Dollar soon)
Withdrawals 
 5 Years – 3000 KD –  Marriage
 10 Years – 6000 KD – Home with rental option
 15 Years – 9000 KD – Land for resale or development
 20 Years – 9000 KD – Rental Property
 25 Years – 12000 KD – Education 5 years plan
 30 Years – 12000 KD – Marriage and other related expenditure.

How much it will be at Retirement
 5 Years – 3000 KD – 96000 KD
 10 Years – 6000 KD – 96000 KD
 15 Years – 9000 KD – 72000 KD
 20 Years – 9000 KD – 36000 KD
 25 Years – 12000 KD – 24000 KD
 30 Years – 12000 KD – 12000 KD
 ≈ 325000 KD @ 150 rupees a KD
 ≈ 5 Crore
 With own house and basic facilities all responsibilities paid off.
 @ 1% a month return then monthly pension of 500,000.

Where to Invest
 Pension Plan
 Takaful Pension Plan – Regular Return/dividend Plan
 Growth and Return Pension
 Medical + Growth+ Pension
 Real Estate
 Home/ Residential Property – Rental Earning
 Land Buy – IJARA/ Diminishing Musharakah/ REIT
 Commercial Rental Property – ISTISNA/ REIT
 Islamic Capital Market
 Unit Trust/ Mutual Fund
 Sukuk/ Islamic Bonds
 Equity/ Share Investment
 High Risk Assets
 Venture Finance
 Private Equity
 Entrepreneurship
 Commodities
 Gold, Silver, Precious Metals
 Few Ideas Which has high Potentials
 Live Stock – Goat, Ship, Cow, Buffalo
 Agriculture and Plantations

Sectors of My Choice
 Choice I
 Waste, Water, Food
 Choice II
 Alternative – Health, Energy, Education
 Choice III
 Health, IT/ITES, Real Estate

Regions of My Choice
 Choice I
 India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia
 Choice II
 Malaysia, GCC, Brazil
 Choice III
 Under Developed Countries – Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria, Namibia

Portfolio Distribution
 Sector Distribution
 I – 50 %
 II – 30%
 III – 20%
 Regional Distribution
 I – 50%
 II – 30%
 III – 20%

Why to Avoid Haram
 The Punishment for Dealing with Riba (Interest and Usury) – Quran Verse 2:275 (Chapter Al-Baqara)
  “Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch hath driven to madness. That is because they say: “Trade is like usury,” but God hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for God (to judge); but those who repeat (the offence) are companions of the Fire: They will abide therein (for ever).”
 Ibn Majah recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said, (Riba is seventy types, the least of which is equal to one having sexual intercourse with his mother.)
 The Two Sahihs recorded that the Messenger of Allah said, `Ali and Ibn Mas`ud narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, (May Allah curse whoever consumes Riba, whoever pays Riba, the two who are witnesses to it, and the scribe who records it.)
RIBA
 Allah Does Not Bless Riba  
 (276. Allah will destroy Riba and will give increase for Sadaqat. And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners.) (277. Truly, those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and perform the Salah and give Zakah, they will have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.)
 Allah states that He destroys Riba, either by removing this money from those who eat it, or by depriving them of the blessing, and thus the benefit of their money. Because of their Riba, Allah will torment them in this life and punish them for it on the Day of Resurrection. Allah said,
 On the authority of Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah said: “Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah has commanded the Faithful to do that which He commanded the Messengers, and the Almighty has said: “O ye Messengers! Eat of the good things, and do right..” (Quran 23:51). And Allah the Almighty has said: “O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you..” (2:172). Then he mentioned [the case of] a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky [saying]: O Lord! O Lord!-while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered!” (Muslim).

HARAM- Prohibited
 Giving Short Measures
 The community of the Prophet Shu‘ayb (sws) was known for practicing it with impunity. Consequently, they were destroyed for their persistence in deceit and disbelief in Allah and His Messenger. Allah the Almighty has repeatedly commanded exactitude in weights and measures. One of the verses says: And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with a just balance. That is good and better in the end. (17:35)
 Allah Has Destroyed People Who Involved in Haram ( Prohibited)
  (7:4) How many a township We have destroyed! Our scourge fell upon them at night, or when they were taking midday rest.
  (7:5) And when Our scourge fell upon them their only cry was: ‘We are indeed transgressors.’
 People can learn a lesson from the tragic fate of those nations that spurned God’s Guidance, and instead followed the guidance of others; and they became so degenerate that their very existence became an intolerable burden on the earth. Eventually, God’s scourge seized them. and the earth was cleansed of their filthy existence.
 (7:10) We assuredly established you in the earth and arranged for your livelihood in it. Little do you give thanks.
Effect of Halal

 A morsel of Halaal food
 Eating haraam gives rise to every type of infamy. Whereas, the halaal morsel is the cause of every kind of goodness and charity. Numerous traditions praise the acquisition of livelihood through lawful means. For example the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) says, “Worship consists of seventy parts and the best part is earnings by lawful means.” (Safinatul Behaar) The Messenger of Allah has also said, “When a man eats halaal food an angel stands over his head and prays for his forgiveness till he finishes eating.” (Safinatul Behaar) The Prophet has remarked in a similar vein, “One who strives to earn his livelihood in a lawful manner from morning till night, achieves salvation.” (Safinatul Behaar) The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) states that Allah has said:
 ”I will not care on the Day of Qiyamat from which door he enters Hell, the person who does not care from which door he earns money in this world.” (Behaarul Anwaar) The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) has also mentioned the following tradition: “One who does nor care from which way he earns wealth in this world will be sent to Hell in Qiyamat and I shall not care from which way he is made to enter it.” (Behaarul Anwaar)
  (Surah Nisa 4:2) It should not be that in a hurry to obtain livelihood you obtain it through illegal ways, before Allah provides you with the halaal sustenance that He had decreed for you.”

Risk Hedge in Islamic Perspective
 Zakat
  Zakat means growth (nam’a), blessings (barakah), purification (taharah), or appreciation (madh). It is called zakat because one’s wealth grows through the blessings of giving part of it and the prayer of those who receive it. Zakat purifies its giver of his/her sins and is clearly ordered by God. The Quran says “Take alms of their wealth and make them pure and clean” (9:103).
 It is a criterion for the believers and a way to success in this life and the next. Allah says, “Who establishes worship and spend of that we have bestowed upon them, these are the true believers. For them are grades of honor with their Lord, and forgiveness, and a beautiful provision”. [8:3-4]
 Zakat is also purification from greed and envy. “And human inner selves are swayed by greed”. [4:128]. For Allah says, “By no means shall you attain righteousness (and reward) unless you spend of that which you love”. [3:92]
 Zakat brings forth the good and Allah’s Mercy, “And My Mercy embraces all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who are righteous and give zakat, and those who believe in our verses (and signs)”. [7:156]. It spreads tranquility and peace. Zakat is social security for the weak and a protection for the society against disintegration.
 It purifies wealth. The Prophet (saw), said, “Whenever people refrain from paying the zakat due on their wealth, they will be deprived of rain. If it were not for the sake of their cattle, they would not receive rain”. (Ibn Majah and Al-Hakim) Only by paying the right of Allah and the right of the poor from zakat is the wealth purified from decreasing, or from destruction.

Quran and Hadith
 Quran Surah Qalam  Ayah 17:33
  Verily, We have tried them as We tried the People of the Garden, when they swore to pluck the fruits in the morning,). Without (saying: “If Allah wills.”). Then there passed over it a Ta’if from your Lord while they were asleep. So by the morning, it became like As-Sarim. Then they called out (one to another as soon) as the morning broke. Saying: “Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck (the fruits). So they departed, and they were whispering.  “No poor person shall enter upon you into it today. And they went in the morning with Hard Qadirin. But when they saw it, they said: “Verily, we have gone astray. ‘”Nay! Indeed we are deprived!. The Awsat among them said; “Did I not tell you, `Why do you not Tusabbihun. They said: “Glory to Our Lord! Verily, we have been wrongdoers.Then they turned one against another, blaming. They said: “Woe to us! Verily, we were Taghin. We hope that our Lord will give us in exchange better than it. Truly, we hope in our Lord. Such is the punishment, but truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they but knew.
Hadith on Sadaqah

 HADITH
 Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said that once a person in a jungle heard a voice from a cloud above, saying, “Go and supply water to such and such person’s garden”. Thereupon the cloud moved in one direction and rained on a piece of stony land. A channel collected the whole of that water which began to flow in a particular direction. He followed it and came to a place where a man stood with a shovel in hand, diverting the water to his garden. The person asked the man his name; and when he told him, it was the very name he had heard from the cloud. The person then asked him why he had asked his name. The person replied that he had heard a voice coming from the cloud saying, “Go and supply water to such and such person’s garden” and it was the same name which he had told him. The person then asked the man, “What he did, for, the cloud to supply water to his garden.” The owner replied that now he has to tell the true facts. Whatever produce he got from the garden, he divided it into three equal parts; one part i.e. one third of the produce, he gave away promptly as Sadaqah, the second part he kept for himself and the family; the remaining one third he spent on the garden itself.

Discover the stark desert beauty of Egypt, home to the monumental legacies left behind by the great pharaohs. Explore its bewitching history and captivating culture by journeying down the Nile, across the remote contours of the Sinai Desert and along the sun-swept beaches lining the Red Sea. Shop in an Egyptian bazaar, climb Mt Sinai, and see one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Discover the stark desert beauty of Egypt, home to the monumental legacies left behind by the great pharaohs. Explore its bewitching history and captivating culture by journeying down the Nile, across the remote contours of the Sinai Desert and along the sun-swept beaches lining the Red Sea. Shop in an Egyptian bazaar, climb Mt Sinai, and see one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Highlights
Wander among the Pyramids and experience the Sphinx.
Visit a Nubian family for a local meal.
Relax on a felucca down the Nil.e
Travel to the Valley of the Kings by donkey.
Marvel at Karnak Temple.
Climb mystical Mt. Sinai.
Enjoy your stay in beach huts on the Red Sea coast.
Experience Islamic Cairo.
Unique Aspects

Discover Egypt’s legendary history and landscape through the eyes of locals.

Accommodations

Two star locally owned hotels for eight nights, felucca for one night, overnight sleeper train for two nights, and beach hut for two nights.

Best Time to Go

November to May

Duration

15 Days

Sustainable Elements
Local suppliers are contracted when possible.
Local guides.
Local and public transportation.
Meals and accommodations are provided by small, locally owned operators or local families.
Carbon offset trip by 2010.
Option to visit and contribute to regional responsible travel projects.
Cost

From $ 965 double occupancy plus local payment of $ 300. Trip price includes trip leader, guides, accommodations, transportation, select activities, entrance fees and some meals.

The geography of ancient Egypt was based on the Nile River. Besides the areas around the Nile and some oasis, Egypt was a desert. They had wetlands and jungles by the Nile. Temperatures reached 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46.1 degrees Celsius). They had fertile soil from the Nile flooding, and this could be used for farming. The Nile River flows to the north, but the winds blow from the south.

                Ancient Egyptian architecture was similar to other cultures, but was also quite different. Their houses were made of mud walls and reed roofs. At first their houses were circular but later on they were square. They had temples for their gods and goddesses, and also for their rulers. They also had tombs and pyramids for their deceased rulers. The pyramids were made of 2,000,000 blocks of stone that each weighed 2.5 tons. They had traps to stop robbers, but most were robbed anyways. The Valley of the Kings was the burial site for all of their rulers. They also built the Sphinx. They used Nileometers to measure the depth of the river. They also had huge obelisks that were enormous pillars made of granite or stone that they inscribed things onto.

                Ancient Egypt began as many different tribes. Later on they became 2 nations; Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. Upper Egypt was south of Lower Egypt. Their rulers were called pharaohs. In 3100 B.C.E. Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt and they became united, and they flourished for 2700 years. In 700 B.C.E. wars broke out. Around 330 B.C.E. Alexander the Great from Greece conquered Egypt. Their most common punishment was 100 strikes, and they rarely used the death penalty. They had a lot of weapons like clubs, maces, swords, chariots, bows, and war ships. They had police called magis.

                Ancient Egyptians had many different jobs. They had stone masons, fishermen, craftsmen, farmers, jewelers, and gold smiths. Their fishermen were all professionals. They traded goods along the Nile River.

                Ancient Egypt had a very unique way of communicating. They had obelisks that had everybody’s names on them for religious purposes. They wrote using hieroglyphics, and had over 700 symbols that all meant different things. Their hieroglyphics were very advanced. They wrote on papyrus paper, which they made out of the papyrus plant. This is how we got the word paper.

                Ancient Egyptians ate crocodiles, hippopotamuses, lions, carp, catfish, onion bread, grapes, figs, dates, honey, ice cream, herbs, butter, barley, and wheat. They liked to put onions in their food. They wore linen, and their clothing was usually bleached and light because of the heat. Most Egyptians were only 5 feet tall and had dark skin.

                Ancient Egypt had a polytheistic religion. They believed in many gods and goddesses. They also believed that their gods lived in temples, and that there was an afterlife. They believed that onions had protective and healing properties. They also thought some animals and birds to be sacred. Pharaoh’s tombs had millions of dollars worth of stuff in them. They mummified people and some animals. This could take 70 days, and involved removing the organs, drying the body with salt, and wrapping the body. Their pharaohs were considered to be gods, or the children of gods. They buried people west of the Nile River.

                Ancient Egyptians had many great inventions. They had pottery ovens that were made of clay and bronze, silver, or gold. They had eating utensils. They had a thing that made it easier for farmers to get water using a counterweight. They also had iron tools. They had beauty products like makeup, cosmetics, and wigs for men and women. They had boats made of papyrus reeds, and they had paddles. They also had irrigation for farming.

Now you will know a little bit more about ancient Egyptian culture.

Egypt is the land of first great civilization, the pyramids, the minarets, the Nile, the scope of Egypt is very magnificent.

Best time to fly

The cheap flights to Egypt can be anytime of the year depending on the location to be visited. The cheap flights ofEgypt are also dependent on the season of the year. It is possible to get cheaper deals to airports serving resorts. The native Egypt flights are Egypt air.

In addition to Egypt flights there are also agencies availing Egypt airline tickets. There are many direct flight offices and travel agents and websites offering cheap airlines tickets toEgypt. The last minute flights to Egypt are also cheaper.

Best time to travel

The best time to visit Egypt is winter [December to February] and summer [June to August] is low season in parts of country and to lesser degree in Cairo. Summer is hot roaring 40 C but still tourists visit Alexandria coasts or red sea. At winters, Luxor is pleasant, Cairo is not comfortable, Alexandria is subjected to frequent down pours an Sinai beaches are too chilly.

The happiest for all Egypt visit is spring i.e. March to May and Autumn i.e. September to November.

Climate

Egypt’s climate is hot and dry with exception of winter months of December, January and February. Average temperate is from 20 ̊C on Mediterranean coast to 26 ̊C in Aswan, maximum temperature at some places go upto 31 ̊C and 50 ̊C respectively. At night temperature is as low as 8 ̊C in Cairo and along Mediterranean coast.Alexandria receives most rain, between March and April; the sky becomes dark orange and chokes up with dust.

Attractions

The legendary pyramids are tips of archaeological iceberg. Different cultural dynasties have embraced the architectural wealth of Egypt. Cairo is a medieval core; Luxor is site of ancients and is lined with opulent burial chambers and most formidable monuments in all antiquity. Further, south of Aswan have temples with powers of archaic Gods and omnipotent pharaohs. Egypt’s ocean of sand is stretching to Sahara with green solitary islands. The deep crystal water is of red sea is brilliant in coral surrounded by aquatic underwater life. Explore mountain wilderness of Sinai, take luxurious Nile Cruise and travel from Pyramids tot Petra.

Getting in and around

No trip is complete without a trips done Nile River, bus services is in every city town and village rates are comparable to second class train tickets. With many buses operating the routes have become uncomfortable. Driving in Cairo is a crazy affair; avoid intercity driving at night its better to have 4 WD. Motorcycle is an ideal way to travel around Egypt. Petrol and diesel are readily available. Several international car hire agencies like Avis and Hertz are there and local transports are microbus and pick up trucks. The trains have access to major cities and towns of Egypt.

10. European Castles

A castle (from Latin castellum) is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble. This is distinct from a fortress, which was not a home, and from a fortified town, which was a public defence. The term has been popularly applied to structures as diverse as hill forts and country houses. Over the approximately 900 years that castles were built they took on a great many forms with many different features, although some, such as curtain walls and arrowslits, were commonplace.  A European innovation, castles originated in the 9th and 10th centuries, after the fall of the Carolingian Empire resulted in its territory being divided among individual lords and princes. Castles controlled the area immediately surrounding them, and were both offensive and defensive structures; they provided a base from which raids could be launched as well as protection from enemies. Although their military origins are often emphasised in castle studies, the structures also served as centres of administration and symbols of power. Urban castles were used to control the local populace and important travel routes, and rural castles were often situated near architectural and natural features that were integral to life in the community, such as mills and fertile land. -Wikipedia.org

9. Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) west of Amesbury and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones. It is at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.[1]  Archaeologists had believed that the iconic stone monument was erected around 2500 BC, as described in the chronology below. One recent theory, however, has suggested that the first stones were not erected until 2400-2200 BC,[2] whilst another suggests that bluestones may have been erected at the site as early as 3000 BC (see phase 1 below). The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1986 in a co-listing with Avebury Henge monument. It is a national legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument. Stonehenge is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage, while the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust. -Wikipedia.org

8. Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation—first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. The temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country’s prime attraction for visitors.  Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture, with key features such as the Jagati. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs and for the numerous devatas (guardian spirits) adorning its walls. -Wikipedia.org

7. The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China, literally “The long wall of 10,000 Li is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups such as the Xiongnu from the north and rebuilt and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century. Since the 5th century BC, several walls have been built that were referred to as the Great Wall. One of the most famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Little of that wall remains; the majority of the existing wall was built during the Ming Dynasty. -Wikipedia.org

6. Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu (“Old Mountain”, is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World.  The Incas started building the estate around AD 1400 but it was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a century later at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction. -Wikipedia.org

Do you like this article? You can write articles like this and make money from it. It is free to join and you can make money online as soon as you sign-up. Click on the link to Sign-up with Bukisa.com and starting making some good money on the internet.

5. The Parthenon

The Parthenon is a temple of the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their protector. Its construction began in 447 BC and was completed in 438 BC on the Athenian Acropolis, although decorations of the Parthenon continued until 431 BC. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered to be the culmination of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece and of Athenian democracy and one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments. The Greek Ministry of Culture is currently carrying out a program of selective restoration and reconstruction to ensure the stability of the partially ruined structure. -Wikipedia.org

4. The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.  The Taj Mahal (also “the Taj”) is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Indian and Persian architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”  While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma’mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer. -Wikipedia.org

3. Petra

Petra (meaning rock) is a historic and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma’an that has rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited tourism attraction. It lies on the slope of Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Petra is an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.  The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. It was described as “a rose-red city half as old as time” in a Newdigate Prize-winning sonnet by John William Burgon. UNESCO has described it as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage.” Petra was chosen by the BBC as one of “the 40 places you have to see before you die”. -Wikipedia.org

2. Egypt

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Thereby, Egypt is a transcontinental country, and is considered to be a major power in North Africa, Mediterranean Region, African continent, Nile Basin, Islamic World and the Red Sea. Covering an area of about 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq mi), Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west. Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its estimated 77.4 million live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable agricultural land is found. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt’s residents live in urban areas, with most spread across the densely populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.  Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world’s most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and its Great Sphinx. The southern city of Luxor contains many ancient artifacts, such as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Egypt is widely regarded as an important political and cultural nation of the Middle East. -Wikipedia.org

1. Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country’s largest and most populated municipality (central area), with over 2.7 million residents in 1,285.3 km2 (496.3 sq mi). While the population of the urban area was estimated by Eurostat to have been 3.46 million in 2004, the metropolitan area of Rome was estimated by OECD to have had a population of 3.7 million no later than 2006.[3]  The city of Rome is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber river within the Lazio region of Italy. Rome’s history spans over two and a half thousand years. It was the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, which was a major political and cultural influence in the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea for over seven hundred years from the 1st Century BC until the 7th Century AD. Since the 2nd Century AD Rome has been the seat of the Papacy and, after the end of Byzantine domination, in the eighth century it became the capital of the Papal States, which lasted until 1870. In 1871 Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and in 1946 that of the Italian Republic. Since 1929 it is also the site of the Vatican City, an independent city-state presided over by the Pope.

In 2007 Rome was the 11th-most-visited city in the world, 3rd most visited in the EU, and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. The city is one of Europe’s and the world’s most successful city brands, both in terms of reputation and assets. Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Monuments and museums such as the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum are amongst the world’s 50 most visited tourist destinations (the Vatican Museums receiving 4.2 million tourists and the Colosseum receiving 4 million tourists every year). -Wikipedia.org

Did you like this article? You can write articles like this and make money from it. It is free to join and you can make money online as soon as you sign-up. Click on the link to Sign-up with Bukisa.com and starting making some good money on the internet.

:

Top 10 Travel Destinations

The Tallest Waterfalls in the World

The World’s Tallest Buildings

The World’s Tallest Trees