If you love art and you love to travel, there are endless opportunities to combine the two. Every culture in the world has their own ways of expressing themselves through art, and you no matter where you go, if you look hard enough, you are guaranteed to see something amazing. Next time you are planning an overseas trip, keep these two places in mind and if at all possible, squeeze both into your itinerary. You will be treated to some incredibly different and powerful examples of human expressions.
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Qatar – If you like poetry and dance, you need to visit Qatar on National Day, September 3rd., where the local poets put on quite a show. Stay at one of the luxurious Doha hotels and prepare yourself for a treat. Two main performances dominate the day. The first, Al-Ardha, involves a poet winding his way though two lines of dancers while chanting celebrations of valour and horsemanship. As the poet chants the dancers echo various parts of his chanting while brandishing their swords in the air. It is a truly powerful performance and is done ultimately to honor the Emir and the country. Another great National Day performance is known as Al-Qulta and is best appreciated if you can understand Arabic. Here two poets are given a topic, stand face to face and battle back and forth with rhymes. Often the audience will get involved by slapping their palms together to make accompanying beats to the rhythm of the poetry. For the spoken word enthusiast, it doesn’t get any better.
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Vietnam – An ancient culture comprising many influences, the Vietnamese express themselves in varied and beautiful art forms. It is definitely worth a visit and its easy to find a good place to stay. Vietnam Hotels are ultra modern, which makes going out and viewing ancient and often traditional art all the more spectacular. It truly is the best of both worlds. The Tomb of Khai Dinh in Hue is a great example of the eclectic nature of Vietnamese culture. A mix of Hindu, Gothic and Chinese architecture, this temple is a spectacular of multiculturalism and a must see. Another essential stop is the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Art in Hanoi. Here you will find a huge and diverse collection including traditional lacquer paintings, woodblocks and silk paintings to name but a few. If you dont have lots of time, this is a great way to see a lot of different art on offer. If time isn’t an obstacle, make a point of getting out into the hills around times of celebration as you will see each area has its own cultural dress and usually their own styles of dance. Traditional Vietnamese dancing is some of the most beautiful and elegant in Asia.
Art is something that links all people. It’s a way of forming bonds, expressing ourselves and telling our stories. Visiting Vietnam and Qatar and checking out some of their unique art, will leave you breathless and wanting to find out what else is out there.
