For more details, please consult the latest information provided by Royal Mail's International Incident Bulletin. If you enjoy travelling and history, this is a book you don’t want to miss, it could get you start planning for your next trip without realising. It is sad to know that Islam does develop but it has been a hard journey for the newly reverted, as they receive no support from the government. The Best British Travel Writing of the 21st Century includes 30 outstanding travel stories published in British media over the last two decades, as chosen by some of the top names in travel writing today. Get caught up in Bangkok's energy, sample fresh local food in Chiang Mai, and relax in luxury on Ko Samui; all with your trusted travel companion.

The Empire at its peak was powerful and wealthy with superior government, social and economic systems. The juxtaposition between the proffering of money and the vendor’s refusal to take it really illustrated the heart of this book for me: travel is about experiencing different cultures, people and lifestyles; about finding oneself touched by small acts of kindness such as this. I also enjoyed Tharik’s trip up into the mountains with his friend Idar; having worked in a secondary school myself, I loved the contrast between the caretaker’s persona in the UK and his greeting Tharik in Albania “like a Sicilian don in a smart striped shirt and white cotton trousers”. Drawing on the wisdom of the Qur'an, the pages in this book share insightful words and guidance from a wide range of Muslim figures from Rabia through to Hafez, offering a place for spiritual growth as you deepen your connection to Allah and enhance your worship and devotion.Emigration is also barely touched on – it’s a big issue in the Balkans, where some countries have lost 25% of their population since the fall of Communism. The most interesting parts were about the present-day and the people the author met, so it's a pity that this aspect wasn't as prominent as the long discourses on history and architecture (thank goodness for internet photographs, I say). All of this work is to essentially just try and move towards a normalisation of Islam being a part of the Western cultural landscape. I was excited by the theme, which is well worth exploring, but I believe the author went to the region with preconceived notions which he then tried to fit into the narrative. As a result, when the power dynamic shifted, the narrative was controlled by the Christian West and changed to suit political aims.

He quietly bemoans an example of conservative Islam only two pages after being delighted to meet a boy who had memorised the entire Qur’an by age 10. There is a lot of history in here, a particular fascination of Hussain’s, but there is much more detail about the towns that they stay in and the people that they meet during their travels. It was one of those books where I didn’t want it to finish and savouredthe last few pages by reading them slowly.Immerse yourself in this beautiful selection of powerful words to help you feel inspired and encouraged throughout the holy month of Ramadan - a time of hope and renewal. He visits the Mostar Bridge that was rebuilt after it was destroyed during the Croat–Bosniak War, prays in mosques that are older than the Sistine Chapel and talks to many different factions of Muslims from Sunni’s to dervishes.

It’s heartfelt to read stories of individuals who wanted to challenge Islam, learned about it and fell in love with it. Discover royal palaces, have a pint in a pub, and catch a West End show - all guided by local experts with fresh perspectives. Tharik rightly points out that Islamophobia has been centuries in the making and as a result is quite solidified and canonised in Western psyche and culture. Each of the countries is home to sizeable Muslim populations – communities that were first established centuries ago, during the reign of the Ottomans. His family accompany him on his journey, and this imbues the prose with a sense of warmth and humour.And paints a more subtle and differentiated picture of the different strands of Islam which I for one wasn’t aware of. This is a wonderful and truly heartwarming travelogue by the creator of The Woking Trail and The Muslim Cemetery Walk, which is a Muslim herotage trail in the UK. The car journey and the places they visit are very vivid; very evocatively described; culminating in a scene of great tranquillity and self-discovery.