The totally off-topic thread

[drross]

Stonehenge was incredibly disappointing. But I thought the Blue Mosque was wonderful. Planning on visiting Abu Dhabi in a couple of weeks to see the Grand Mosque.

RAM - my sons in particular know I will not end up in a Nursing Home. I have plans.

The Grand Mosque is huge! we really enjoyed it. Any females must cover the wrists as well as ankles and males and females are not allowed to touch the other sex while in the grounds. Watch a terrified elderly chinese couple being separated by the mosque guards

 

[Pushka]

The Grand Mosque is huge! we really enjoyed it. Any females must cover the wrists as well as ankles and males and females are not allowed to touch the other sex while in the grounds. Watch a terrified elderly chinese couple being separated by the mosque guards

Wrists? Goodness, what is it with religions that joints are so vulgar! The Catholic Church is similar - so not an Islam issue, but wrists?

 

[drross]

Wrists? Goodness, what is it with religions that joints are so vulgar! The Catholic Church is similar - so not an Islam issue, but wrists?

yep - weird but true

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The 9 most overrated tourist destinations ! 5: The Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Agree - 'Gold Medal' for over rated - but certainly wins 'Diamond Award for Worst Stench at a Tourist Destination' - 5,000 pair smelly stinky barefeet / socks in one huge indoor enclosure at the one time aint my cup of tea.

 

[drross]

Wrists? Goodness, what is it with religions that joints are so vulgar! The Catholic Church is similar - so not an Islam issue, but wrists?

and interestingly at the Grand Mosque in Casablanca no such concerns.

 

[docjames]

and interestingly at the Grand Mosque in Casablanca no such concerns.

Nor in Abu Dhabi

 

[JohnK]

You have Saturdays AFF to look forward too

That may not be a good idea at this stage.

Have had a sore throat since day 2 of Thailand trip. Just about to finish up second course of Amocyllin and sore throat has not improved. Suspect got it on flight over. I don't want to be the cause of AFFers getting sick in an eclosed train carriage for that many hours.

 

[Pushka]

That may not be a good idea at this stage.

Have had a sore throat since day 2 of Thailand trip. Just about to finish up second course of Amocyllin and sore throat has not improved. Suspect got it on flight over. I don't want to be the cause of AFFers getting sick in an eclosed train carriage for that many hours.

Or it's viral. Most of my sore throats are viral. One particularly bad one turned out to be chicken pox a few days later.

 

[JessicaTam]

Nor in Abu Dhabi

Women certainly do need to cover up in Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque. Including a head scarf. Those tourists who came unprepared were directed to a room where they were issued with full body coverings.

 

[Pushka]

Women certainly do need to cover up in Abu Dhabi. Including a head scarf. Those tourists who came unprepared were directed to a room where they were issued with full body coverings.

Is that just walking around in public areas (not beach)? Glad its going to be cooler this time. And no Ramadan.

 

[JohnK]

Or it's viral. Most of my sore throats are viral. One particularly bad one turned out to be chicken pox a few days later.

Could well be viral but I have a history of bacterial infections.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Just made QF LTG and now flying to BNE on VA!

No point turning down a free flight on Virgin if the credit card is offering one.

Welcome to Brisbane, you have picked a good day.

 

[RooFlyer]

The 9 most overrated tourist destinations !

https://au.totaltravel.yahoo.com/news/a/30259659/the-9-most-overrated-tourist-destinations/

1: Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England
2: The Mall of America, Bloomington, Minesota
3: La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
4: The Golden Temple, Kyoto, Japan
5: The Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey
6: Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium
7: Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood, California
8: Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, California
9: The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen, Denmark

Only done a couple of those but I had no problem with Stonehenge. What do people expect? Wilderbeast sweeping majestically across the plains?

 

[JessicaTam]

Is that just walking around in public areas (not beach)? Glad its going to be cooler this time. And no Ramadan.

I was replying to the discussion about various mosques. I have edited my post to clarify.

 

[RooFlyer]

Wrists? Goodness, what is it with religions that joints are so vulgar! The Catholic Church is similar - so not an Islam issue, but wrists?

In Georgian Orthodox Churches (in Rep. Georgia, natch) my 25yo female guide, usually in long casual pants, had to don a calf-length 'skirt' (supplied by the church) to wrap around over her pants. It covered less than her pants, but a 'skirt' was the required form of female attire.

In Burma, at one temple I (male) was required to have an ankle length longyi (sarong) wrapped around my lower half when my knee length short trousers, socks and shoes were judged too racy.

But only in the Vatican have I see dress modesty required in a Catholic Church.

 

[Pushka]

In Georgian Orthodox Churches (in Rep. Georgia, natch) my 25yo female guide, usually in long casual pants, had to don a calf-length 'skirt' (supplied by the church) to wrap around over her pants. It covered less than her pants, but a 'skirt' was the required form of female attire.

In Burma, at one temple I (male) was required to have an ankle length longyi (sarong) wrapped around my lower half when my knee length short trousers, socks and shoes were judged too racy.

But only in the Vatican have I see dress modesty required in a Catholic Church.

Ah yes. All the male P's in the family were required to wear a sarong over their long shorts visiting ancient Hindu temples in Bali.

Actually MrP is wearing my sarong I see but they also had to wear the sash (yellow).

 

[SeatBackForward]

Ah yes. All the male P's in the family were required to wear a sarong over their long shorts visiting ancient Hindu temples in Bali.
View attachment 59808
Actually MrP is wearing my sarong I see but they also had to wear the sash (yellow).

Hmm, at the holy Hindu temples I've been to in India the reverse is true. All men need to enter with their shirts off, and no restrictions on leg exposure, especially as most men there would be wearing a dhoti/lungi.

 

[Pushka]

But only in the Vatican have I see dress modesty required in a Catholic Church.

Just saw this. In 'the old days' a head covering like a lacy scarf was required in churches.

 

[Cossie]

Each to their own. I happened to be driving along a road in the UK a few years ago, didn't realise at the time that it lead to this! Stunning in the snow.



Probably the best 'religious experience' I've had was in Syria a few years ago before the place imploded. Umayyid Mosque in Damascus, spent quite a few hours there soaking up the atmosphere

.

 

[Cossie]

A few more photos, I shudder to think what has happened to these young kids. She wasn't begging, she was asking me to throw the ball. The boy then asked for my camera and he obviously knew what he was doing and took loads of shots, some quite good.