Before the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990), the capital, Beirut, was a trade and amusement center – the Paris of the Orient. The political situation continues to be difficult, but stylish restaurants like the Kaléo near the Al Omari Mosque will turn worriers into epicures.
Silvio Pfeufer wants to create culinary works of art typical of Berlin. Last March, he succeeded the adventurous but controversial Michelin-starred Andreas Rieger as chef of the einsunternull restaurant in Berlin’s Mitte district. At Pfeufer’s restaurant, guests are served a seven-course meal consisting of his interpretations of traditional German dishes. The restaurant’s own pastry shop delivers the fitting desert.
Rob Woodcoy, an American fine artist and photographer, is also a man on a mission. His montages, centered on the human figure, tell stories and convey how diverse we are as individuals. He runs photography workshops, too – including one in northern California this month.
On Scheelhoek Island in The Netherlands, you can observe sandwich terns, an endangered species of bird, at the egg-shaped TIJ Observatory jointly designed by RAU Architects and Ro&Ad Architects – composed entirely of natural materials.
The Kakku pagodas – of which there are over 2000 – have bells in their dainty towers that tinkle in the wind. The 16th-century temple complex is sacred to the Pa-O people, but visitors are now allowed to enjoy the magic, too.
inlelaketourism.com/kakku-pagodas.asp
