Last look at the World Travel Market in Excel, London

Silk Road Destinations

 

As you see, the Silk Road runs through several countries. Alphabetically, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Iran, Kyrgystand, Mongolia, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.  

Silk Route Destinations, stand at the World Travel Market, held at Excel, London. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

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Salt mine to visit in Romania

 

At the World Travel Market zI learned about Romanians salt mine, which has a nearby d

Sp.a hotel, near city Turda near the ci

County of Cluj in Transylvania in Romania.

Right next to Dracula's castle.

Nepalese, Tibetan Buddhist Prayer Flags - What Do The Colours Mean?

Flag of Nepal.

The national colour of Nepal is red. Red stands for boldness. The flag has the colours red, white and blue.

The symbols are the moon and the sun. Several meanings are attached to these symbols.

 I was given 'Tibetan prayer flags, hand made in Nepal.' Also called Nepalese prayer flags . I got them at the World Travel Market which is a trade fair, business to business at Excel in London every February, as well as in other countries at other times of year. 

I have 

What Are Nepalese Prayer Flags For?

I am not a Buddhist and wondered what the flags are for and what I was to do with them. What do the Nepalese and Buddhists do with the prayer flags? They are on a string which links them. 

White for purity.

Are they like the Catholic rosary beads, where you count off your prayers. Or like worry beads, for comfort, for saying mantras, chanting?

At first I left them neatly folded in their packet. Maybe I should give them to somebody else who was a Buddhist, or wanted to become Buddhist.

Eventually, I decided to take them out and look at them.

They are hung outside temples and buildings in Nepal and other Buddhist countries and buildings. The flags are designed to flutter in the wind, and carry the blessings, messages, prayers and hopes of goodwill around the world.

What Are The Colours And What Do They Mean?

Red is the colour of fire.

White is the colour of clouds, air {purity+.

Blue is the colour of the sky, or space.

Green is the colour of  water, seawater, sea/

Yellow is the colour of the earth.

The flags also have animal symbols.

The bear.

The dragon.

Then I opened my other packet of flags. The same colours, red, white, blue, green, yellow.

 Not the same as the others in a smaller size. These had the words Om, ma, ni,padme, hum, repeated once more.

Photo by Angela Lansbury.

If you go to Everest, on the Tibetan side, the north side, you reach the world's highest monastery, Rongbuk,  (some say second highest, but the other one is also in Tibet)_where you will see the flags, and your guide or leader will probably explain the flags to you.

Website Information On The Nepalese Flag

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Nepal

Website Information On Prayer Flags

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rongbuk_Monastery

Japanese Green chocolate matcha biscuits

 I was given this packet on a Japanese stand, at the annual World Travel Market held in London at Excel Exhibition centre in early November, but I don't know what they were advertising. Probably visit Japan.

The bowl of green in the centre confused me. I thought it was a seaweed soup. In fact it is the little conical biscuits covered in green almost savoury chocolate with matcha or green tea flavour.

I did wonder whether I had accidentally swallowed whole something which was meant to be soaked in hot water. I searched the company name. Their website did not show this product, but lots of pictures of dark brown chocolate and the useful and reassuring fact that they are a market leader in Japan with about a quarter share of the segment.

Then I spotted the words Nishio  matcha at the top of the cover of the packet. 

A quick search instantly produced a site with the reassuring word biscuit. Good to know I have not overdosed on soup. 

Although, having eaten the entire packet in one go, alone, I supposed I have overdosed on my daily allowance of biscuits and sugar. 

Useful Websites

https://www.meiji.co.jp/products/brand/global/choco/en/products/kinotake/detail/0017/

https://www.japancandystore.com/products/takenoko-no-sato-biscuits-nishio-matcha?srsltid=AfmBOopXLtGkbWaAJbLNHlzC5X0QS1zT-UhN3lEajuQ3tmCAcOjFtJb9

https://www.meiji.com/global/food/chocolate/meiji-milk-chocolate.html

World Travel Market, Tourism and Peace

WTM lanyard for name badge.

Speakers at the World Travel Market in London in November 2025, were Aziz Abu Sarah and Magen Inon.

A few facts about them.

Magen Inon

Magen means star or shield. Inon or Yinon means he will flourish, have posterity. Maoz means strength, stronghold, fortress, refuge.

He lost both his parents in a Hamas attack in 2023. He started a chain of Abraham youth hostels in Israel and then abroad. Also the Jesus trail in Israel.

Aziz Abu Sarah

Azis is Arabic for beloved and cherished, respected, powerful and mighty. Al-Aziz is one of the 99 names of God.

Mejdi means to honor in Arabic.

You can also do online cookery classes, Middle Eastern, Asian and South American.

Tour destinations have included Israel, Turkey, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Colombia, Egypt, Vietnam, Morocco, the Balkans, and the U.S. South.

Useful Websites about Peace and Speakers |at the World Travel Market 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/19/hamas-attack-peace-revenge-border-war

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magen_David_Adom

https://www.ted.com/talks/aziz_abu_sarah_for_more_tolerance_we_need_more_tourism/transcript

https://mejditours.com/virtual-tours/virtual-experiences/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maoz_Inon

https://www.ted.com/speakers/aziz_abu_sarah

Culinary Creations - Food From Around The World At The World Travel Market in London

FOOD

(Coconut) milk rice, national dish of Sri Lanka. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

RICE

Sri Lankan Coconut Rice

Coconut milk rice from the Sri Lanka stand. It is the national dish and eaten every day, for three meals a day, starting with breakfast. The only ingredients are rice and coconut milk. Cut a square of the solid rice into diagonal lines to make squares or diamond shapes.

SNACKS

DATES

Three types of dates. Hard. Medium Soft. Ultra soft.

From a Saudi stand.

DATE ICE CREAM - And coffee

Date Ice Cream and coffee, sold at Harrods in London.

PEANUTS

Nagaraya Brand Barbecue Cracker Nuts Coated Peanuts

WALNUTS

Argentinian sweet with a walnut on top.

Dulce de cayote, called angel hair in Spain. a sweet from Argentina.

Best biscuit - Kings soft cookie

From Elbisco Greece. On Facebook and Instagram.

Useful Websites For WTM snacks

https://www.hungrylankan.com/recipes/kiribath-sri-lankan-milk-rice/

Egyptian Museum's Gold Treasures Exhibited at WTM London

Egypt won the award for the best design at the World Travel Market in London, with high quality replicas of Tutankhamun tomb treasures.

 At the World Travel Market in London, at Excel exhibition centre, the Egyptian stand was impressive.

Age Friendly Travel & Tourism

 

This lovely gentleman, is a highly qualified doctor who has spent 25 years in gerontology and community geriatrics.

His qualifications are MBBS (master, some countries use MD medical doctor, in the UK the equivalent is MBBS, in the USA Md.

Geriatrics means medical.

Gerontology is social, cultural, environmental, and biological ageing.

He says life expectancy is increasing and the number of centurians is also growing larger.

He is writing a book, Age Well For All.

He was a GP in Turkey. He speaks Turkish and Dutch. He planned to study in the UK but had a scholarship to study in Holland.

He went to the annual ITB Berlin. International Travel Beurs (fair or exhibition in March 2025.

He organized a forum world promoting age friendly tourism. Longevity destination, 6 people representing 6 continents, with a large audience. 

I typed on a tiny mobile phone at the World Travel Market in London to capture the conversation while chatting and made some typos now corrected!  Please share interesting posts with your colleagues, family and favourite friends worldwide.

For Angela, Argentinian Dulce de Cayoteangel hair sweets from Spain

 At WTM on the Argentina stand I tried a small soft sweet with a walnut in the middle.

In north Argentina it is called dulce (sweet) de (of) cayote.

Mother of pearl pendants and my name in Arabic - at WTM

 

We are holding my name in Arabic which he has just drawn.

Thank you in Arabic is Shukran.

This grntleman is on Instagram. Based in Morocco.

I honeymooned in Morocco at the Mamounia hotel where Churchill had stayed.

We had a two centre holiday in The north then in Marrakesh

Chilean Pisco - and Peruvian Pisco

 

Chilean Pizco from the Chile stand at the World Travel Market at ExCel in London.

This is Pizco, which comes from Chile (and Peru). I tried it at the World Travel Market on a stand in Excel in London, which was held in November 2024.

The next World Travel Market will be November 4-6 2025.

Spanish is a language which will take you far.

In South America all the countries speak Spanish as the main official or common language, often with a few other languages, except for big Brazil which speaks similar sounding Portuguese.

Pizco is Spanish for a little bit, or a pinch, We use the word pinch in English when recipes say a pinch of salt.

Chile imports

I loved the Pizco, which I had with large slice of sweet grapefruit. Having read up about it, i realises why I like it. Several versions feature the sweet muscat grape.

But you can get sweet or sour tipples. Pizco is served in several cocktails such as Pizco Sour which is made with bitters. Wikipedia has a list of the cocktails, as well as the origin of the name. 

It appears that both Chile and Peru claim Pizco as the national drink. The many varieties of the cocktail are listed in Wikipedia, as well as the amounts of produce and the countries buying it. Chile makes Pisco but the drink is so popular that they also import a lot from Peru.

Peruvian

• Puro (Pure), made from a single variety of grape, mostly Quebranta, although Mollar or Common Black can be used; however, no blending between varieties is accepted ("pure" pisco should contain only one variety of grape).
• Aromáticas (Aromatic), made from Muscat or Muscat-derived grape varieties, and also from Albilla, Italia and Torontel grape varieties; once again, the pisco should only contain one variety of grape in any production lot.
• Mosto Verde (Green Must), distilled from partially fermented must, this must be distilled before the fermentation process has completely transformed sugars into alcohol.
• Acholado (Multivarietal), blended from the must of several varieties of grape.

Some other specific restrictions of note are:^{[citation needed]}

• Aging: Pisco must be aged for a minimum of three months in vessels of "glass, stainless steel or any other material which does not alter its physical, chemical or organic properties".
• Additives: No additives of any kind may be added to the pisco that could alter its flavor, odor, appearance or alcoholic proof.
• 
  
• Chilean Pisco

• Pisco Corriente o Tradicional, 30% to 35% (60 to 70 proof)
• Pisco Especial, 35% to 40% (70 to 80 proof)
• Pisco Reservado, 40% (80 proof)
• Gran Pisco, 43% or more (86 or more proof)
• 
  
• Cocktails
• Chilcano de Pisco, a Peruvian cocktail made with Pisco, lemon juice, ice, bitters, and ginger ale.
• Piscola, also called "national cocktail" in Chile (Spanish: Combinado nacional or combinado) a cocktail prepared mixing Coca-Cola and pisco. Other combinations of Pisco and cola include the Perú Libre differentiating the same drink made with different origin piscos.
• Pisco Sorpresa, a cocktail originated in East London, inspired by the Latin American classic. Involves shaking gin, Cointreau, triple sec, Bacardi and pisco, adding raspberry juice, pouring into a cocktail glass and finishing off with a dash of soda, grenadine and a squeeze of lemon.
• Don Alfredo, a Peruvian cocktail made with mosto verde Pisco, St Germain, lime juice, ice and soda water.

What have I learned? That I will have a good time visiting Chile and Peru, Chilean and Peruvian restaurants in London or worldwide, or ordering Pisco online, eg from Tesco, and going to next year's World Travel Market.

Chilean restaurants in London listed on Yelp include El Vergel which means Orchard, Southwark area, an SE1 postcode.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisco

https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Chilean+Food&find_loc=London

https://www.drinkfinder.co.uk/c/210/pisco

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Paddington bear of Peru

 

https://www.wtm.com/london/

Malaysian Costumes ar the World Travel Maket in London

 

 

Georgian restaurant Kartuli in Dulwich

The Georgian lady serving is wearing a hygienic glove to serve. Excellent. The food was great. Lots of walnuts.

At the World Travel Market in ExCel in London I stopped at the Taste of Georgia sign to try Georgian food. They served several savourites, including aubergine, and breadmade with cheese. All very tasty. 

Their restaurant serves Georgian food and wine.

The restaurant is called Kartuli, which is the Georgian name for their country.

Kartuli Georgian Restaurant & Wine Shop

65 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, SE22 8EP

Tel 0208 299 4989

Useful websites

www.kartuli.co.uk

 

Visit Malta where Gladiator 2 was filmed

 

The film industry in Visit Malta.

This was at the World Travel Market at Excel in London in November 2024. The next World Trvel Market show is 4-6 November 2025.

Useful Websites

World Travel Market

https://www.wtm.com/london/ 

Costa Rica hat painting at the World Travel Market

 

Colourful painting at the World Travel Market at ExCel, London. November 2024.

Costa Rica is in Central America. Rica means rich in Spanish, the noun coming after the adjective, the opposite to English grammar. But you can think of the country's name as a reminder of the language and grammar. (Similar to Puerto Rico meaning rich port, the island in the Caribbean.)

I was very pleased with my hat. A great introduction to Costa Rica and reminder of the country.

Egypt's GEM Grand Egypt Museum

 News at the World Travel Market.  UK visitors to Egypt are increasing and in  addition to the pyramids the GEM museum is huge with stunning new exhibits being added. To house a huge ancient Egyptian boat, the boat was kept intact, installed in its new home and the museum was built around it.