Vancouver is one of the largest and liveliest cities in huge Canada. In the heart of the city center, you can enjoy the offer of cafés and museums. The nature surrounding the city offers opportunities for a wide range of activities, whether you enjoy skiing or photography. VANCOUVER AS A TRAVEL DESTINATION A big city close to nature According to DigoPaul, Vancouver, the host city of the 2010 Winter Olympics,…
Read MoreFLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MOVEMENT IN RIGA
The Old Town of Riga cannot be missed on a weekend trip to Latvia. Flying to Riga The Latvian national airline Air Baltic operates to Riga from all of Finland’s largest airports. Finnair also transports passengers to the city without stopovers. You can get a one-way flight with up to a couple of dozen, and you can also travel from Turku and Tampere. There is no ferry connection from Finland…
Read MoreMACAO ATTRACTIONS
FLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MOVEMENT IN MACAO The architecture of the casino hotels is startling, but in contrast to the modern buildings, the city also has several parks. Travel to Macau via Hong Kong The easiest way for a Finnish tourist to travel to Macau is to fly to Hong Kong and continue the journey by ferry to Macau. There are both direct and scheduled flights to Hong Kong. Finnair’s direct…
Read MoreUNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia
Southeast Asia has many magnificent cultural and natural sites that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The UNESCO World Heritage List is a system designed to protect the world’s unique cultural and natural heritage. The sites selected for the list often represent important eras in the history of each country and also have a significant impact on the country’s current culture. For the tourist, a visit to a UNESCO…
Read MoreAngola Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, Angola’s population is divided into a variety of peoples and religious groups, often with different customs and traditions. The national identity is usually very weak – if it even exists. Instead, Angolans identify with their own group of people in which they share traditions, languages and history. The traditional life patterns have changed significantly in recent decades. The elderly council, which had a strong…
Read MoreBenin Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, the family and clan are important in a Beninier’s social life. The family is expected to stand up for the individual, while at the same time he is expected to be loyal to the extended family. Women often decide on the children and the household (although the children are considered to be men), but in society life is the men who dominate. Especially in…
Read MoreBotswana Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, Botswana means “tswana’s place” in the majority language setswana. The residents are called batswana meaning “tswana people” but the word is also used about the twsana ethnic group. The dual meaning reflects tswana’s dominance in the country, and much of what is typical of the country is actually tswana’s traditions. Botswana’s democratic rule is considered to have its roots in the tswana community, where…
Read MoreBurkina Faso Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions Hospitality and courtesy are important characteristics of Burkinis. It is part of the mossi culture of the majority people that a person should not attract too much attention or arouse jealousy by showing himself or herself. This is especially true of rich people. It is polite to ask how someone’s family is doing, as the family is the given point of reference in society. According to Abbreviationfinder,…
Read MoreBurundi Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, as a visitor in Burundi, it may be wise not to go too fast in the contacts with people you meet. A half-century of violence and racist public rhetoric has led some Burundians to look with some distrust at strangers. Politeness, discretion and restraint can be described as basic rules in the interaction with and between burundians. Conversations can initially address neutral and uncontroversial…
Read MoreCameroon Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions When visiting a Cameroonian home, you prefer to talk about the family and the village, and avoid political and religious discussions – at least at the first visit. In working life, punctuality and personal contacts are important. In Cameroon, most people greet each other through a regular handshake. If you know each other well, you usually use your fingers as a sign of friendship. Some cheek pussies…
Read MoreCape Verde Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions Traditions, celebrations and customs on the Cape Verde Islands are characterized by the mixed African and European origins of the population. Christian traditions dominate here, but elements of traditional African customs and customs are found. Cape values strongly identify with the culture of their special island. Generally speaking, Cape values from the northern part of the island (barlavento) are more Portuguese influenced, while the country’s southern islands…
Read MoreCentral African Republic Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions Prior to the conflict that broke out in 2012, the interaction between the country’s people groups was usually relaxed, although there was a historical contradiction between the river peoples in the south and the savanna peoples further north. Equality is a widespread ideal, but like other peoples, Central Africans can be divided into different walks of life. Social classes are based on where you live and what…
Read MoreChad Culture and Traditions
Culture The cultural differences between Chad’s many ethnic groups are sometimes great. An important dividing line is between the south, whose inhabitants are generally more Western-influenced and able to read and write to a greater extent, and northern Chad, where modern education is less common and traditions stronger. Many Chadian peoples are prominent in handicrafts such as weaving, wood carving, silversmithing and goldsmithing, leather work and more. Decorated gourds are…
Read MoreComoros Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions The everyday life of most Comoros is characterized by Islam and the Muslim holidays. Islamic fundamentalism is not common, but it gives high status in society to have made a pilgrimage to Mecca. According to Abbreviationfinder, the Comoros are described as a relatively open and tolerant society, and even people who meet temporarily are happy to discuss politics and social issues. However, distrust of politicians is usually…
Read MoreDemocratic Republic of the Congo Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, Congo-Kinshasa is a multicultural society with widely different local traditions and customs in different parts of the country. French is still the language that holds the different peoples together. The fact that there is widespread poverty does not mean that it is acceptable for a foreign visitor to dress carelessly in meetings with Congolese. In general, the interaction between people is relaxed, and the…
Read MoreDjibouti Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, Djibouti’s two large groups of Issa and Afar are traditionally nomadic people and the country’s customs and customs are thus characterized by the shepherd culture. A rapid move into the cities means that more and more residents are now influenced by Western European influences. Both ice cream and aphas hold on to personal privacy. Older people are treated with respect. Countryaah: Overview of the…
Read MoreEgypt Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions Egyptian identity is closely intertwined with history. The country’s unique civilization has had an impact on both Israeli and Greek culture, thereby helping to shape Western civilization. Although Egypt is a secular state, Islam permeates the personal as well as political, economic and legal life of Egyptians. Islam is practiced every day through clothing, rules of the food, prayer and constant references to God’s will and blessing.…
Read MoreEquatorial Guinea Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, in Equatorial Guinea, the family is a necessary social safety net, and it is important to show great respect for both elderly and deceased relatives. The flag and the national anthem are important national symbols. Singing and dancing often occur during celebrations and national holidays. How to greet and dress Long and healthy health is important. Often people shake hands and people are often…
Read MoreEritrea Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions Customs and traditions vary between different regions and people groups in Eritrea. There are cultural divides mainly between Christian residents of the highlands and Muslims in the lowlands. At the same time, the Italian colonial era and the long liberation war have helped to create a common Eritrean identity that many are guarding. Despite the difficult living conditions, many feel proud of their country. Countryaah: Overview of…
Read MoreEthiopia Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions Much of what is perceived as typically Ethiopian originated among the Amharic people. As state representatives, they have historically spread and left cultural imprints in large parts of the country. Not least in the lowlands there are groups of people with other traditions and ways of living. Many Ethiopians take great pride in the country’s long history and tradition of self-determination. They are happy to point out…
Read MoreGabon Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions In the Gabonese countryside many older customs are still alive. There are also traditional dance ceremonies in addition to the national holidays. In the capital, Libreville, Western – mostly French – influences are increasing. How to greet and dress When greeting someone for the first time, they often shake hands formally. Friends kiss each other on the cheek. Countryaah: Overview of the capital city of Gabon, including…
Read MoreGambia Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, the Gambians usually have a tolerant attitude towards one another despite different ethnicities and religions. Foreign visitors can also expect a friendly response. Customs and customs vary among different ethnic groups. Traditionally, mandinka has been strictly divided into four social groups, in turn divided into subgroups. There was a kind of nobility and a group of free farmers, traders and religious leaders (marabouts). A…
Read MoreGhana Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions Characteristics that are high in the course of Ghanaian society are hospitality, openness and courtesy. According to Abbreviationfinder, the lifestyle is often relaxed. Respect for the elderly is great. Relatives and friends often visit each other without warning. People are not usually punctual when it comes to meetings. However, it should be remembered that this is often due to poor transport and communication. Greeting phrases alternate between…
Read MoreGuinea Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, mof Guinea’s roads and railways link cities and major mines, while it is difficult to get to more sparsely populated parts of the country. However, new roads have been built to facilitate communications between the capital and the countryside. The railways available are used to transport bauxite from the mines to the ports of Conakry and Kamsar. There is an international airport in Conakry.…
Read MoreGuinea-Bissau Culture and Traditions
Culture Guinean film director Flora Gomes, educated in Havana, has attracted international attention. His film Republica de Mininus (Children’s Republic) from 2012 is about a small country ruled by children since all the adults have disappeared. Inspired by the film, a new domestic children’s rights organization, Republica di Mininus Hoje (RdMH), was formed and a special children’s parliament was set up. He has also made the documentary As Duas Faces…
Read MoreIvory Coast Culture and Traditions
Culture The ethnic and cultural diversity is great in the Ivory Coast. Well known are the wood-carved masks, which play an important role in cultural rites and ceremonies. The Baulé people have developed a special art of wood carving. Wooden sculptures from the Ivory Coast were among the first examples of art from black Africa to be exhibited in Europe. The Dan people in the western Ivory Coast make murals…
Read MoreKenya Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions In Kenya, the collective is often more important than the individual. The concept of harambee – roughly “all together” – is central. It is a tradition that exists in virtually all ethnic groups and is about joint work and shared responsibility. Since the birth of his father, Jomo Kenyatta, harambee has been something of an official slogan for the country. By the way, many Kenyans identify more…
Read MoreLesotho Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, in Lesotho, people address each other with family names: an older man to be addressed as ntate (father), an older woman as mother (mother), a year-old girl / woman as ausi (sister) and a year-old boy / man with the nickname abuti (brother). Answering only yes or no to a question is unfair – you should answer “yes ntate” or “no mme” instead. Being…
Read MoreLiberia Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions Greeting is an important social lubricant in Liberia. One should rather visit a little too often than infrequently, even if it comes to complete strangers who happen to be in the same room or happen to meet in a door. To a stranger it is enough with a “hello” or a friendly nod, to a closer acquaintance, the initial greeting must be followed by a “how are…
Read MoreLibya Culture and Traditions
Customs and traditions According to Abbreviationfinder, Libya is a conservative but hospitable country, where those who adhere to the prevailing traditions tend to be well received. For several decades, the country was marked by Gaddafi’s rule and it is as yet unclear which new symbols and holidays will replace the fallen regime. The feasts of Islam have the stronger tradition. Libya is characterized by Islam and customs from the Bedouin…
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