Saad Al-Qurashi, head of the Haj and Umrah Commission at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said this there will be a sharp drop in the number of Saudi and non-Saudi domestic pilgrims. He said “There will be 70 percent fewer domestic pilgrims this year compared to last year.” He said about 68,000 Haj permits have so far been issued to domestic pilgrims, and this includes expatriates from neighboring countries.
About 1.7 million Haj visas have been issued to foreign pilgrims. Experts estimate that losses in the Haj and Umrah sector will reach hundreds of millions of Saudi riyals. The sharp decrease in numbers is attributed to people limiting their travel because of fears over the swine flu virus.
The newest museum to open in Jo'burg, the Constitution Hill Museum, is on the site of an infamous old prison complex known as Number Four. Closed off in 1983, it was home to some 2000 or 3000 black prisoners, most of which were arrested because they did not carry their pass books with them, and were kept in appalling conditions. Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi have also spent some time in this ...
During his time, Henry Clay Frick was one of the most despised men in America. He was a steel magnate and one of the founders of U.S. Steel. Among other things, he was partially responsible for the Johnstown Flood, which killed more than 2,000 people, and his anti-labor efforts led to the death of sixteen men during the Homestead Strike. Frick was also an avid art collector, and after his death...
This museum, considered one the world’s best, is dedicated to more than 400 years of Swedish postal history. While the mere mention of a postal museum will elicit a not so enthusiastic response from most people, the museum will surprise and engross you will the thrills and adventures of Ms. Letter and Mr. Stamp. The museum also has a special section for kids in the basement where a children’s post...
Fontainebleau is a small city 55km southwest of Paris in the department of Seine-et-Marne. It was once the Royal Court’s getaway, and now it is a popular weekend getaway for Parisians. There is a lot to do in and around this picturesque city of 35,000. The Fontainebleau Forest is a national park. Spread over 280km², it is one of the most beautiful forests in Europe. It attracts more than ...