After six or seven trips to Thailand, I thought I knew Bangkok. I’ve visited the busiest roads, like Khao San Road and its side streets. I’ve been to night markets, flower markets, malls, aquariums, and temples. I’ve taken slow boats up the Chaopraya River.

In recent years, I’ve only used Bangkok as a place to sleep before launching to Chiang Mai or for family adventures to Koh Phangan, Phuket, and other islands where life slows to the rhythm of the sea. But I had never really explored Bangkok itself with teens until now.

With two teenagers in tow and four nights to spare, we decided to give Thailand’s capital the attention it deserved. My son had one request: he wanted to rent electric bikes. A friend of his had explored Japan this way, and he was convinced Bangkok would be just as exciting.

He was right.

Ebikes were our best family activity in Bangkok

After a quick search, I found Go Bangkok Tours (also known as Go Bangkok E-Bike), a highly rated small-group bike tour company run by a Dutch expat named Ray. The company is based in Bang Rak, one of Bangkok’s oldest and most fascinating neighborhoods, not far from Tower Club at Lebua, the gloriously over-the-top hotel famous for its sweeping city views and its cameo in The Hangover Part II. (Side note: I want to stay there next time.)

We booked online without prepayment, showed up with our passports, and were welcomed like old friends. The atmosphere was relaxed and personal. There was plenty of water to drink and even a coconut waiting in the fridge. This wasn’t a giant tour bus operation. It felt more like joining a local friend who happened to know every secret alleyway in Bangkok.

Is it safe to bike in Bangkok with kids?

This was the first question everyone asked when we returned home. “Are you crazy? How do you ride a bike in Bangkok?”

I hadn’t really thought about it because my kids ride bikes in major cities, and we know that in the busiest cities, cars get stuck in traffic and move slowly. I was mostly concerned about the pollution, and surprisingly, it was the least choking air I’d ever experienced in Bangkok.

Bangkok traffic is legendary. Motorbikes weave between cars. Tuk-tuks, which you can hail like an amusement ride, dart in every direction. Crossing the street can feel like a strategic exercise. But the tour was surprisingly safe, except when one rider ran out of power. More on that later.

Our guide was a local Thai, and the tour moved at a relaxed pace. We occasionally crossed busier roads, but most of the ride followed narrow lanes, quiet alleyways, and pedestrian-friendly pathways. Much of the time we were far from heavy traffic, weaving between the backyards and alleys of local communities.

And because the bikes were electric, nobody got exhausted.

Why electric bikes are perfect for teenagers

If you’ve ever traveled with teenagers, you know the secret to a successful trip: to get them off their phones, you need to keep them moving, keep them engaged, and keep them from melting in the heat.

Bangkok in April was blisteringly hot, one of the hottest stretches of weather I’ve experienced in Thailand. The electric bikes solved everything. The pedal assist did most of the work. We still felt active, but there was almost no strain. My teens loved the sense of freedom, gliding through the city with just enough speed to feel adventurous without any real effort.

For families, this is the sweet spot between sightseeing and fun.

One caveat: your teen needs to be at least 160 cm tall.

Ebikes take you to the hidden Bangkok you’d never find in four days

The real magic was seeing parts of Bangkok we never would have discovered by taxi or train.

We passed through narrow canals and quaint neighborhoods where we saw turtles and peacocks. We pedaled through hipster cafés and street art districts, meeting Thai influencers along the way. We explored quiet Buddhist temples, stopped at the bustling flower market, visited a famous hipster coffee shop, and rode through riverside communities before returning by ferry with our bikes.

Another highlight was sampling a strong local herbal spirit nicknamed the Thai answer to Jägermeister. My teenagers were not allowed to join in, and they still haven’t forgiven me.

Feeding turtles in Bangkok

Oddly enough, the most memorable part of the day was feeding turtles.

We stopped beside a canal where there was a pond, and we were given a small bag of sausage pieces. For nearly twenty minutes, my kids and I sat together, placing the sausage on sticks and offering it to enormous turtles waiting below. They fought for our meat sticks, and we loved every minute of it.

It was simple, slightly ridiculous, and absolutely unforgettable.

A four-hour shortcut to understanding Bangkok

Bangkok can be overwhelming. It’s enormous, hot, crowded, and not particularly walkable unless you know exactly where you’re going.

This electric bike tour gave us an insider’s introduction on day one. By the end, we understood the city better and knew which neighborhoods we wanted to revisit.

We also learned about Buddhism, temple etiquette, and the daily rhythms of life in Thailand.

Did you know that spirits in Thailand have a favorite treat?

Those little shrines outside homes, hotels, and businesses are there to attract spirits and ghosts so they don’t move in with you. And their snack of choice? Red Fanta.

If you want to make an offering, crack open a bottle and add a straw.

Don’t avoid Thailand during the rainy season

Warm tropical rain can be part of the adventure. Getting drenched in Bangkok while riding an electric bike sounds less like a problem and more like a story your family will tell for years.

Cost and value

There are several bike tours on offer in Bangkok. Ours cost around $50 per person, which felt very reasonable considering:

• Four hours of guided exploration
• Electric bike rental
• Ferry ride
• Snacks and drinks
• Expert local guidance

And for the Dutch guest who ran out of power on his stand-up scooter, there was an extra battery pack fully charged and ready to go.

Near the end of the trip, there was one stretch along a busy road where our guide instructed us not to stop under any circumstances. That, of course, was exactly where his battery ran out.

For us, it was easily one of the best family activities in Bangkok.

Our verdict: 10 out of 10

We’ve done temples, beaches, jungle adventures, and countless city tours.

This electric bike tour in Bangkok stands out as one of our favorite travel experiences in Thailand.

The post Exploring Bangkok by electric bike with teenagers appeared first on Green Prophet.

A new breed of luxury has landed on the Red Sea, mirrored pods floating above coral reefs, reflecting sky and sea like something not entirely of this Earth. Energy powered by solar powers, drinking water pulled from the sea using desalination.

Welcome to Shebara, Saudi Arabia’s newest ultra-luxury resort, part of the Kingdom’s massive Red Sea tourism push. Opened in late 2024 on Sheybarah Island, the 73-villa resort is already being positioned as one of the most exclusive and visually striking hotels in the world. Celebrities, as we noted in the past, have been spotted there.

But is Shebara really sustainable? And is it worth the price, ethically, environmentally, or even financially?

A futuristic resort in a fragile ecosystem

Shebara sits in a pristine archipelago of 90+ islands along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast,  an area rich in coral reefs, seagrass, and mangroves. Its design is undeniably dramatic: stainless-steel, orb-like villas that mirror their surroundings, sometimes appearing to disappear into the horizon. Saudi Arabia says tourism here will be capped at one million visitors per year to protect the ecosystem.

That’s the promise, but the reality is harder to measure.

Is Shebara hotel actually sustainable?

Saudi Arabia markets the Red Sea Project as regenerative tourism, powered by renewable energy and built with minimal ecological impact. But there is no information about third parties who certify these kinds of projects. Common in the Middle East.

And scale matters. Building luxury resorts on previously untouched islands, whether it’s in the Seychelles, or in the Red Sea. This raises familiar questions:

What happens to coral reefs under increased tourism pressure? How “low impact” is construction when villas weighing over 100 tons are shipped and installed offshore? Can high-end travel ever truly be sustainable?

Even online, skepticism is growing. “Seems so consumptive and indulgent… makes me sick,” one Reddit user wrote about the Red Sea resorts.

Another described the destination as “completely deserted,” raising questions about demand versus hype about the place.

At the same time, guest reviews paint a different picture — “amazing staff,” “exceptional experience,” and “beautiful design” as found on Booking.com.

So which is true? Likely both. Celebrity buzz — and quiet luxury can co-exist. So if you have money to indulge in about $2000 a night listed on its booking site, go to Shebara and share your experience with us. Luxury hotels in Thailand cost about $1000 a night, like this one we stayed in – Keemala. While it’s not a sustainable option for weeks on end, a few nights can buy you a good reset with high-quality pillows. If you can find family rooms in high-end resorts, it might be cheaper than renting 2 or 3 rooms to fit the kids.

While Shebara isn’t yet flooded with celebrity sightings like Dubai or the Maldives (which has some racist policies in place), it’s clearly being built for that market — an ultra-private selection of villas, overwater pools, and controlled access to a rare island.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy is betting heavily on attracting global elites, influencers, and high-net-worth travelers to reshape its image through tourism. The celebrity pipeline will follow if they get paid well enough.

Are prices to Saudi Arabia and Dubai dropping because of Middle East conflict?

There’s a persistent rumor that regional instability is pushing luxury travel prices down. But the reality is more nuanced. There’s no strong evidence that Shebara itself is discounting heavily. Some reports suggest nightly rates in the luxury tier (well over $2,000+ per night).

However, broader travel demand in the Middle East can fluctuate with geopolitical tensions. When travelers hesitate, resorts sometimes adjust pricing quietly. So yes — in some cases prices soften.

But Shebara is positioned at the very top of the market, where exclusivity often matters more than occupancy. For Green Prophet readers, the question isn’t whether Shebara is beautiful. It’s whether it represents the future we actually want.

The post Shebara hotel Saudi Arabia – is it eco-luxury dream or desert illusion? appeared first on Green Prophet.

When the region settles after the American war with Iran, and it will, American and European travelers will come back. Not just for spectacle or headline projects, but for places that feel real. Places that haven’t been engineered to impress and which get into your soul.

We predict that visitors to Saudi Arabia will want to see places like Rijal Alma.

About 28 miles west of Abha, in the mountains of Saudi Arabia’s Asir region, Rijal Alma sits along steep slopes that fall toward the Red Sea. The village is known for its tall, narrow houses, some rising six stories—built from stone, mud, and wood. They’ve been standing for generations, holding their shape in heat, wind, and time.

This is vernacular architecture in its pure form. Long before eco, regenerative and sustainability became buzzwords, builders here figured out how to work with the climate. Thick earthen walls absorb heat during the day and release it at night. Small windows limited direct sun and gave privacy which is what Muslim families expect. The stacked design helps air move through the structure. Nothing is decorative for the sake of it. Everything has a purpose.

Saudi Arabia today is pushing forward with massive projects which have either failed or been postponed, like NEOM, Trojena, Shebara—designed to redefine how people live in extreme environments. They’re bold, expensive, and built to draw attention. But they also raise a question. Is oil money only buying the new and fantastic? As the world weans itself on oil, Saudi Arabia and its family owned oil company Saudi Aramco, will return to humble roots like the House of Saud, a ruling family that once lived in a mud palace.

Rijal Alma shows a different approach to building. The materials are local and the scale is human.

Under the House of Saud, there’s been more interest in restoring historic sites like this one. That’s a start. But preservation alone isn’t enough. The real shift would be using these ideas again, not as decoration, but as a base for new construction.

In a hotter world, that kind of thinking matters. Buildings that cool themselves. Materials that don’t rely on long supply chains. Designs that last.

When travel feels safe again, visitors from the US and Europe will likely make their way here. Not just to see something old, but to understand how people built before energy was cheap and space was unlimited. Walk through Rijal Alma and you notice it right away. The temperature drops in the shade. The walls feel solid. The streets are narrow for a reason. Nothing is random.

It’s not nostalgic. It’s practical. And we love that.

The post When peace returns, will we rediscover Saudi Arabia’s mud-brick soul? appeared first on Green Prophet.

Koh Phangan, an island in Thailand, is sold as a healer’s paradise. Any day of the week you will find Tantra, yoga, breathwork, rope yoga or ecstatic dance under palm trees at Zen Beach in between the full moon parties and half moon parties. You can spend every day of the week trying to fix yourself. If you are single or in a couple, that works, but not so much with teens.

We came to the island paradise with teens. We did what you do when you first arrive: Muay Thai kickboxing, zip lines, swimming pools, ATVs, swimming until sunset, cooking classes. It worked for a week or so, then it didn’t.

Because teens don’t just want stimulation, they want real things, so we went looking and found the island you don’t see on Instagram.

The island you don’t see

A few turns off the main road and you find another Koh Phangan, one that is not curated. It’s PACS, a center and hospital to heal and rehabilitate stray dogs and cats. There are broken dogs and cats, run over by cars or motorcycles, some neglected by their owners, raw skin exposed on their necks for being chained to a short leash for months.

Janina, from Germany, saw the street dogs on the island 4 years ago and has been coming back to PACS once a week to help out for a day each time.

“I saw them on the streets all the time,” she tells me. “I was angry.”

Now she comes, not to heal herself, but to clean cages, feed animals, wash dogs with skin infections, give company to the cats. The work is repetitive, smelly, physical, and mostly invisible.

PACS — Phangan Animal Care for Strays has been quietly running a catch, spay/neuter, and release program, working to reduce suffering at the source since 2001. It’s not glamorous but population control, wound care, infection management, and prevention.

The rescue effort here started about 25 years ago, near a local school, when injured dogs kept showing up with nowhere to go. Fifteen years ago it became a proper Thai-run foundation. Today it operates as a hospital, relying on donations, Facebook, Instagram, and a fragile pipeline of adoptions.

At PACS, the idea is simple: the well-being of animals reflects the well-being of the community.

The 7-Eleven dogs

On this island of Koh Phangan, dogs have territories and they are micro-economies of survival. There are the “7-Eleven dogs” and you see them everywhere. One usually, hanging outside convenience stores, living off scraps and tourists who think a sausage is kindness. I saw one in the town of Thong Sala, drunk on food, lying outside the entrance, belly full with a ring of sausages around him that he couldn’t bother to eat.

“Every day sausage is not good,” one volunteer tells us. “The food they are given is not healthy to eat every day. Not even for us.”

Some 7-11 shops tolerate them. In Had Yao, dogs for some reason are allowed to wander inside like locals. In other places, fights break out because outsiders disrupt a fragile territorial balance that only the dogs understand. Those that support the Strays center hope that the pets they take care of will be adopted. In normal situations they treat the animals and when possible release them back to the location where they were first found.

This is the reality PACS works inside, not removing dogs from the ecosystem entirely, but stabilizing it, one animal at a time. While the 7/11 dogs might be lucky to get regular food, the luckiest ones who get their forever home.

We came to walk the dogs

We came to walk the dogs but enough volunteers showed up that day.

So we stayed and pet cats that leaned into our hands looking for love. We met dogs that barked out of fear but then got close to us over time. One had three legs. Another, Pupita, carries a toy in his mouth when she’s nervous. She is looking for her forever home.

Peanut had a spinal chord injury and now works as an emotional support dog for the other dogs. He drags his two back legs around behind him but his situation doesn’t seem to stop his smiles or passion for life. Peanut is looking for his forever home and he’d make a great emotional support pet, says Kim, the assistant on duty.

You don’t explain this to teenagers. You let them see it and touch it.

The people who stay

Salem came from London and works at a retreat on the island. He adopted a dog a few years ago called Mellow, once called Bones. Now he’s adopting another, Syrup. Salem and Syrup were excited about going home together.

“I saw him when he was tiny,” he says. “He came with a bunch of other puppies and one by one they were adopted but he stayed. From the beginning, I liked him.”

That day Syrup, now about 5 months old, was going home. They were going for Syrup’s last walk as a shelter dog. Salem often connects two worlds that don’t usually meet: wellness tourism and animal rescue. He brings his island friends to come to the shelter to walk the dogs.

Then there’s a German man Lungs Hai (name means uncle, and probably a Thai name he adopted) who found a dog chained to a tree (named Tongmung, now Clyde), fed him for three months, and watched his neck become raw and infected from his leash and collar.

At that point the shelter stepped in, according to Thai law, and could take the dog. That was a few months ago and Lungs Hai comes every day for a check in and some cuddles. Clyde’s neck is healing and he is looking for his forever home.

This is not a place for clean endings and not all stories belong in a brochure. A nurse named Kim who shows us around and welcomes us, tells me about the resident pig (my daughter would water down with a hose) that killed nine dogs and broke a volunteer’s leg.

The myth of healing

Koh Phangan will sell you healing in a coconut wearing Lululemon yoga pants. But healing isn’t always soft or pretty. Washing a dog with a skin disease, feeding a cat that might not survive the week.

We didn’t save anything that day but the center showed our teenagers what compassion looks like. The people working and showing up at PACS did that.

If you travel with kids, especially teens, try to build in something uncurated. Last summer we found volunteer opportunities for them in a forest in Canada. If you are traveling look for a place that’s working in the community to better it: because somewhere between the zip line and the beach, between the dance floor and the detox smoothie, there is a quieter education happening to help those who can’t speak at PACS.

How PACS started

PACS (Phangan Animal Care for Strays) was founded in 2001 by a veterinarian named Shevaun. She arrived on Koh Phangan while traveling and was struck by the condition of the animals: they were injured, untreated, and with no veterinary services on the island at the time. Stray population control was often done through culling (killing, as they do in Hebron), and locals had to travel by ferry to Koh Samui just to treat their pets.

So she started small, asking vets back home to send supplies, treating animals for small donations, and using those funds to help strays. From that, PACS grew into what you see today: a hospital, a sterilization program, and a quiet force of nurses, vets and volunteers, trying to stabilize the island’s stray population.

How you can help

PACS runs on small acts that add up.

• Donate through their website – this keeps the clinic running, pays for surgeries, medicines, and daily food.
• Follow and share on Facebook and Instagram – awareness leads to adoptions and support from outside the island.
• Adopt, or help find a home – even sharing a dog or cat’s story can connect them to a forever family. There are people on the island, PACS says, that can help you with pet relocation and adoption to foreign countries much like the cats of Istanbul. Fall in love with a Thai dog or cat? It’s possible to take them home with you.

Not everyone can take a dog home from Koh Phangan. But everyone can do something.

::PACS

The post Koh Phangan’s angels for the dogs and the cats appeared first on Green Prophet.

Few sights capture the spirit of Sydney quite like the illuminated sails of the Sydney Opera House and the sweeping arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Over time, I’ve realised that enjoying these icons isn’t limited to sightseeing spots or waterfront walks — some of the most amazing views actually come from a dinner table.

There’s something special about sitting down to a great meal while the harbour glows around you. From elegant waterfront restaurants to unique dining experiences that bring you right onto the water itself, Sydney offers plenty of ways to pair incredible food with unforgettable scenery. If you’re looking for dinner venues in Sydney for a date with the city’s most famous landmarks, here are some of the spots that truly stood out to me.

Bennelong 

If you want a luxurious restaurant with a great view, Bennelong is the place to go. Nestled within the sails of the Sydney Opera House, you really can’t get any more up-close than this! The dishes you are served are just as dramatic as the architecture around you, and the menu captures the essence of contemporary Australian dining. 

While I could go on about the dishes they serve, it’s the views that we’re here for! When you’re seated within a World Heritage listed site, the views are arguably going to be one of the most impressive ones in the city. The extraordinary Opera House architecture, followed by sweeping views across Circular Quay, the Harbour Bridge and all the way to the Royal Botanic Gardens, I believe that Bennelong offers Sydney’s most spectacular dining room.

Harbour Dinner Cruises 

Now that we’ve checked out dining inside an icon, let’s go out a little further – but not too far. Aboard one of these Sydney Harbour dinner cruises, you dine ‘on the water’, with the views of not just the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, Luna Park, Fort Denison et al – truly what I would call an ‘all-in-one’ experience . While you could choose an authentic paddlewheeler or a premium catamaran, if you don’t want to compromise on the ‘luxury’ element, then there’s the elegant glass-boat option as well – the perfect ‘luxury sightsee and dine’ experience. 

Of course, as expected of a Sydney Harbour dinner cruise, you enjoy a delicious dinner. While some cruises come with a buffet, most have multi-course meals with hot dishes of seafood, veggies and local produce. Some experiences even have live entertainment on board, making it more than just a sightseeing cruise. An evening on board a dinner cuisine really blends ambience and iconic harbour views with just one booking.

Cafe Sydney

Don’t get confused by the name, because this is no cafe. Perched atop Customs House, Cafe Sydney is exceptional among dinner venues in Sydney. It captures the very essence of the city with breathtaking views of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and the sails of the Sydney Opera House from its rooftop vantage point. As the harbour stretches out and the skyline begins to glow, the view becomes just as memorable as the meal itself. 

Cafe Sydney’s dedicated team curates a dining experience that feels every bit as premium, sophisticated and elegant as its surroundings. With an impressive backdrop setting the scene, every meal here feels like something truly special. The menu is just as impressive—offering everything from à la carte selections to thoughtfully crafted plant-based dishes and a refined three-course set menu, all complemented by a tempting dessert selection. With so many enticing options to choose from, I felt completely spoiled for choice.

The Squire’s Landing

The flagship brewhouse of James Squire, this venue is ideal for all sorts of special occasions — from celebration dinners to casual catch-ups with family and friends. What makes it truly special is its wrap-around, floor-to-ceiling windows that face the waterfront. So, you can dig into a delicious meal while gazing out across picturesque Sydney Harbour toward the iconic Sydney Opera House and the illuminated Harbour Bridge.

The menu, inspired by James Squire, offers bold flavours crafted from the freshest seasonal produce. It was the first time I spotted Moreton Bay bug tails on a menu, so I couldn’t resist trying them — and they were delicious! You’re welcome to pair your meal with a pint of James Squire brew or sample one of their limited releases. With great food, great brews and one of the harbour’s most iconic views, it’s the kind of place where the flavours on your plate and the scenery beyond the glass compete for your attention.

Sails 

Sails in the Sydney suburb of Lavender Bay is a waterfront retreat that offers front-row views of the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Set along the harbour at Lavender Bay in McMahons Point, the restaurant blends contemporary Australian dining with the relaxed charm of life by the water. Just an 8-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, it’s a scenic escape that feels effortlessly accessible.

Sails’ menu celebrates Sydney’s coastal flavours, showcasing the finest local seasonal ingredients in beautifully executed dishes. One item that immediately caught my attention was the Swordfish Tataki, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. The beverage selection is just as thoughtfully curated, with vibrant cocktails and a wine list featuring vintages from Australia and Europe. With delicate coastal flavours on the plate and uninterrupted harbour views all around, dining here feels like a perfect pairing of Sydney’s food and waterfront views.

Wrapping Up

In a city like Sydney, dinner can easily become more than just a meal — it can turn into a memorable evening. With the glowing sails of the Sydney Opera House and the towering arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as your backdrop, even a simple evening out feels a little more special. Whether you’re celebrating something special or simply want to soak in the harbour’s magic over dinner, these dinner venues in Sydney prove that the view can be just as satisfying as what’s on your plate!

The post Dinner Venues In Sydney With the Best Views of Opera House & Harbour Bridge appeared first on Green Prophet.

Salman Rasouli

Critiquing architectural and development projects, particularly within environmentally sensitive contexts, is an essential component of social dynamism and a prerequisite for healthy public discourse. However, such dialogue can only be constructive when it is built upon accurate information, verified field observations, and unambiguous reference to scientific sources.

The article “The Aga Khan is Greenwashing Their Awards,” written by Ronak Roshan and published on September 3, 2025, on Green Prophet, critiques the “Majara Complex and Community Redevelopment.” While the project appears at first glance to align with the sustainability values of international awards, the article relies on a series of claims to argue that it contradicts the fundamental principles of sustainable development.

Majara is part of the “Presence in Hormuz” initiative by ZAV Architects, developed alongside projects like the “Rong Cultural Center” and the “Typeless.” Designed within the natural and social fabric of Hormuz Island, the project aims to foster cultural tourism and create socio-economic opportunities for the local community. It was subsequently named a recipient of the Aga Khan Award in the 2023–2025 cycle.

While disagreement regarding the balance between development and the environment is expected, when a critique relies on scientific and environmental claims, the accuracy of citations and field observations becomes paramount. Such texts significantly shape the perception of non-specialist audiences regarding architectural and development projects.

Accuracy of Information and Responsible Critique

In the article in question, references to academic research are presented in a way that initially lends the arguments an air of validity. However, a closer examination reveals that the scientific content of these sources has been misinterpreted.

For example, regarding sea turtle nesting sites:

Research by Loghmani-Devin, Savari, and Sadeghi (2013) regarding “Hawksbill Turtle nesting on Hormuz Island” [1] states that while two-thirds of the island’s beaches are suitable for nesting, the northern and western shores are not utilized for this purpose due to the nature of the substrate. The Majara complex is situated precisely along these northern and western shores.

Research by Maria and Nasir (2014), referenced in the article, focuses on “Identifying and Prioritizing Important Nesting Sites of the Green Turtle on the Iranian Beaches of the Oman Sea” [2]. While the study makes passing reference to Persian Gulf islands, its primary focus is the Iranian mainland coast. No specific data or field maps were provided for Hormuz Island, making it an insufficient source for conclusions about the island’s habitats.

Furthermore, inaccuracies exist at the level of basic field observation. The article mistakenly places Majara in the west and southwest of the island. In reality, the complex is located on the northwestern shore, approximately four kilometers from Hormuz City, a fact easily verifiable by public maps.

Development, Sustainable Tourism, and Hormuz Island

In the post-World War II era, rapid industrialization and environmental damage gave rise to environmental movements that increased awareness about resource exploitation. The central dilemma remained: how to reduce poverty and improve social welfare without economic and industrial development.

The concept of sustainable development emerged as a response, aiming to meet present needs without compromising the future. In tourism, this requires balancing economic, social, and environmental impacts.

In Hormuz, the debate is often framed as development versus conservation. Global experience shows that development brings both risks and opportunities. The goal is not to reject development, but to manage it responsibly through planning and conservation strategies.

Majara Project’s Strategy for Sustainable Development

The Majara project outlines several approaches to maintaining a sustainable relationship with the island:

Architectural and Environmental Strategies

• Materials: Use of Nader Khalili’s Superadobe technique and sustainable materials.
• Permeability: Elimination of perimeter walls to maintain ecosystem integration.
• Setbacks: A 71-meter distance from the high-tide line.

Socio-Economic Strategies

• Employment: Jobs for 120 local residents.
• Empowerment: Training in construction, management, and hospitality.
• Local Support: Support for cultural events and artists.

Social Impact Strategies

• Workshops on biodiversity awareness
• Wildlife mapping for visitors
• Community use of Typeless complex
• Support for cultural programming

Participatory Conservation Strategies

• Collaboration with NGOs and environmental groups
• Stray dog management and gazelle surveys
• Development of a sustainable tourism framework

Technical Analysis: Turtle Habitats and Soil Quality

Sea turtle nesting depends on specific coastal conditions. Scientific data indicates that the Majara shoreline is unsuitable due to fine-grained, saline, and metal-rich soils, as well as its narrow width.

In contrast, southern and southeastern shores have light-colored, permeable, carbonate-rich sands suitable for nesting and are designated protected areas.

Vegetation and Restoration

Prosopis juliflora, introduced in the 20th century, became invasive. At Majara, approximately 80 trees were removed and replaced with over 500 native species.

Waste and Water Management

The site includes a wastewater treatment system capable of processing 20 cubic meters per day, along with a composting system handling up to 50 kg of organic waste daily.

Conclusion

The Aga Khan Award process involves rigorous field evaluation. While no project is without limitations, discussions of sustainability must be grounded in accurate data and transparent analysis.

We invite researchers, critics, and interested parties to engage further through field visits and dialogue on Hormuz Island.

_____

Salman Rassouli is an Iranian architect with a passion in green architecture and sustainable development. Starting his career path as an environmental activist, he gained a Master’s degree in environment and sustainable development from UCL in 2009. Further, he served as project manager in the NGO CENESTA, where he led projects such as “empowering nomadic people of Iran” through facilitating development of conservation plans and promotion of sustainable livelihoods. Since 2017, he started working as an architect and sustainability manager in ZAV architects, consulting the Majara and other Projects for sustainable design and environmental impact assessment.

::Zav Architects

The post A Fact-Based Reflection on Sustainability and Tourism in Hormuz appeared first on Green Prophet.

Neom, a bombastic collection of futuristic cities and resorts, has flopped as Saudi oil prices roll back reality. The Saudi plan of hosting the 2029 Asian games to be held at Trojena, a ski report in the desert, has been cancelled.

The 2029 Asian Winter Games were supposed to be Saudi Arabia’s big moment for tourism and Vision 2030, hosted at Trojena, the ambitious mountain ski resort being built inside the $500 billion Neom megaproject in the northwest desert. It would have been the first winter sporting event ever held in an Arab-speaking country, a remarkable geopolitical flex for a nation with essentially no winter sports tradition and barely any snow. (Read here about Snowmax and the dangers of artificial snow).

The Olympic Council of Asia announced the games would be postponed last month, and within days announced they would instead move to Almaty, Kazakhstan. Al Arabiya Gulf News gave no reason for the change, but the context is hard to ignore.

With oil prices down, Saudi Arabia is in fiscal trouble, and oil is the core of the problem. The kingdom’s budget deficit widened in the fourth quarter of 2025 to its highest level in five years, as lower oil prices squeezed government finances, according to Arab News.

Saudi Arabia needs crude at around $91 a barrel to balance its budget, but prices have been stuck in the low $60s for months Securities Finance Times, a gap of nearly 30% between the dream and reality.

That gap is starting to show in the kingdom’s grand ambitions of building The Mile, a 15-minute city on the Red Sea.

Saudi officials have signaled a pivot to “wiser” spending, and the government has made clear it will not hesitate to walk away from costly projects that no longer fit its priorities.

Trojena, which was already facing significant construction delays and had missed its original 2026 completion target, appears to be one casualty of that reckoning along with The Line.

Saudi officials have been quietly reviewing some of the biggest Vision 2030 projects and though they are not canceling them outright, they are stretching timelines and trimming scope.

Almaty, by contrast mades sense. Kazakhstan previously hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games and the 2017 Winter Universiade, so the infrastructure is already there.

For Saudi Arabia, losing the games is more than a sporting embarrassment. It’s a signal that Vision 2030’s most spectacular promises: a ski resort in the desert, a linear city in the wilderness, a new Las Vegas on the Red Sea were always contingent on oil staying expensive. And one by one, reality is doing the editing that ambition refused to do. If Americans pull through on fusion (see Xcimer), OPEC oil will be over.

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The winter months are the perfect time to travel to Thailand, especially when you get a cold snap or lots of snow. Warm tropical temperatures hovering around 86F, paired with a pineapple strip, a mango shake, and a beach anywhere south of Bangkok can cure anyone’s winter blues.

While Bangkok is fast (we enjoyed ebikes on our last trip with teens), it is furious and sometimes smoggy, and it’s definitely a place to shop. But instead of lingering in Bangkok we decided to take a slow boat up the Chao Phraya River to the Ayutthaya province to see ancient ruins and the spirit of ancient Siam.

And on this slow boat, The Mekkala Cruise (with an overnight luxury cabin) you can learn about good environmental stewardship by being among Thai people, and people of the river.

We boarded the boat at 1PM and met with Teerapole who we’d been coordinating with via email. We met at a well-traveled temple and on a small pier where the fish are protected from fishing.

He tells Green Prophet: “I think the river culture in Thailand is becoming something of the past. Not many tourists have an opportunity to see a simple way of lives of Thais since boat travel is less popular than other means of transportation. It’s also amazing to know how local people  have learned to live with nature for centuries.”

Over on the boat, the group was small, in total about 15 of us, and we had ample space and privacy on the renovated rice barge which is more than a 100 years old.  A covered deck protected us from the sun, and the occasional hot rain. Around 1:30PM we pulled off the pier and headed up Chao Phraya River, passing endless barges trucking goods like freight trains or Mac trucks to and from Bangkok. At one point a passing barge hit a bridge and that was scary. We also had a toddler at the time and made sure she was wearing a life jacket the entire time because you never know.

Don’t expect the excitement of the turquoise water you’ll find down in the south on this river trip. This is a well-traveled river, giving credence to Bangkok being the Venice of the East. The journey takes you to the banks of the King’s Summer Palace (the one from the movie The King and I) gave us ample time to think and imagine a different way of life so connected to the water, and so far from the thirsty Middle East from which we arrived. The water is most murky and brown, without smell but don’t expect to jump in to cool off.

Factories that line river, including the Singha Beer factory are contributors to industrial pollution in the river as well. There are over 30,000 industrial facilities that line the river, and many of these are in clear view as we chug along.

The drive to Ayutthaya from where we were in Bangkok takes about an hour and a half by car. The Mekkala Cruise we took lasted about about five hours at night, and a couple more in the morning. We enjoy the slowness of going up river. It was a one night trip.

Along the way we couldn’t help but notice the sandbags, the general disorder and the waterline marked by paint or sand shadows, showing where the floodwaters had risen only three months ago. Even ancient river people attuned to the currents are not immune to the chaos of climate change.

But river people live simply, many of them parking their boats under their homes.

After a half day on board we get off to visit a fresh food market. Being a little late for the day, the pickings were slim. We returned home to find a wonderful candlelit dinner waiting for us. The food was the best so far that we’ve had in Thailand and the staff of four were very careful to make sure they prepared food to suit our dietary habits. I was eating lacto-ovo vegetarian and they got it without any explanation.

As for facilities you couldn’t be happier: The gorgeously renovated rice boat and cabins were spotless and well equipped with private toilets and showers.

After docking for the night, the next day early in the morning the boat started on its journey without us knowing it. Then we docked for a nice treat: we stopped at a Mon village (see the local food truck below), an ecological village that clearly was affected by the flood. Red flood lines were painted on all the electricity poles throughout the village. See how they shop for fresh food below.

Back on the boat we ate breakfast and continued along our way to the King’s Palace.

Run by the company Asian Oasis, the same outfit that runs a couple of eco-lodges in northern Thailand, the Mekkala Cruise was an overnight cruise that starts in Bangkok and ends in the old capital of Siam.

As revelers race towards the islands looking for parties and sunshine, an honest retreat is the Mekkala’s slow boat cruise bringing you closer to the every day people that inhabit the suburbs of Bangkok. The drop off destination is a perfect launch pad for another day of must-see tourism sites: the King’s Palace, and all the 4,000 year old ruins in the Ayutthaya region. These are the ruins that will give you a bit of scope and scale of the Thai culture.

In the spirit of protecting and celebrating the river culture of the Bangkok area, we learned from our own intuition and the staff on board how important the rivers are for the way of life in Thailand. I give this boat cruise a big thumbs up as a gentle way to ease into Bangkok and the time of your life in Thailand. It’s easy to find a hotel and get glued to the beach life in Thailand or settle for default shopping trips in Bangkok. Taking a slow boat river cruise is a fun and easy way to feel authentic travel without missing your creature comforts.

We have also travelled to Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai as a family on an unforgettable trip, but we stayed in huts and homes that had mud floors and we ate from campfires. If that’s for you and your family, read all about Chiang Mai hill tribes tourism and homestays here.

If you are only taking the Mekkala for one day (they offer longer trips), extend the river cruise experience by taking a long tail boat another hour up the river from the King’s Palace pier for about 200 baht per person. It will bring you smack dab in the middle of all the ruins, with the help of a motorbike taxi.

Thai people have an extraordinary grace, charm and sense of humor that you can really only experience in person, in their own country.

What are Thai people best known for I asked Teerapole when we were docked in Bangkok. What can they give the ecological movement? Tolerance, he told me. Thai people are open-minded and are easy to embrace change. I told him that the Thai people also have a lot to teach the world. Their family values, communal eating habits, their simple way of life should be embraced by all of us.

Want to know more about eco and sustainable travelling Thailand?

This is the best vegan restaurant in Thailand – Street Vegan 

Rent ebikes or electric bicycles in Bangkok 

This $900 a night luxury eco hotel in Phuket, Thailand is great for families

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The desert area north of Amman, Jordan (the site of the King Hussein Park) which engulfs roughly 75% of the entire country, is under strain. In addition to being water scarce, what resources are available are taxed by the presence of Palestinian refugees and other displaced persons.

Wildlife are similarly threatened, mostly by people. Jordan’s wolves are hunted, as are hyenas, and amphibians, other mammals, and reptiles are losing their habitat. Owls are considered a bad Oman by Jordanians and they are murdered too.

Although elsewhere Israel and Jordan cooperate to save birds that share a joint migratory corridor, the Badia Center for Ecological Education works to raise awareness of all species in the Badia.

Initiated in 2000, the center has a dual role as a wildlife rehabilitation center and education center. It is a unique center as it comprises cooperation between 170 Bedouins, 68 of whom are women.

Various Bedouin tribes have traversed the desert for hundreds, and some say thousands of years, with some coming from Saudi Arabia and Morocco, and despite being forced into a more static lifestyle, many have maintained the knowledge of the area’s unique landscapes and wildlife. Some like Mariam, a Bedouin woman in Israel, turns folklore wisdom into medicine. There is lots more on Bedouin folk wisdom from Jordan here.

In addition to identifying the various threats to species in the region, the center hopes to reduce the pressure on wildlife. Locals run over and poison predators such as wolves if they encroach on their livestock, and because they are superstitious. The same is true for barn owls, though some people like Prof. Yossi Leshem in Israel is de-demonizing owls. 

Owls Unite Arab Farmers in Palestine, Israel and Jordan

According to an anecdote in David without Borders’ blog (no longer online on Nov. 2020), Bedouin people believe that if a hyena urinates on them, it will proceed to drag them to a cave and feast on their body. Because of this, they won’t hesitate to kill them on the spot if they come across one.

In time, the group also hopes to build an eco-lodge to help fund strident efforts to preserve their precious natural resources.

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Balat is not a neighborhood you would visit on a standard tour to Istanbul—the kind that shuttles you between giant mosques like Hagia Sophia. If you want a real taste of the city and the people who live there, wander a smaller neighborhood. Balat is my favorite for its cobblestone lanes, record shops, cafés, second-hand clothing stores, colorful stairs, textiles and towel shops—and the cats. Cats rule Balat, and much of Istanbul.

Be prepared to lose yourself wandering around this village-like part of the city. I’d spend half a day in Balat, much of it in wanderer mode. This is one of Istanbul’s most quietly enchanting quarters, where cultures overlap not as a museum piece, but as a living, breathing fact.

For centuries Balat has been home to Jews, Greeks, Armenians, and Muslims, and that mosaic still shapes the streets. You’ll pass the Ahrida Synagogue, Orthodox churches, and modest mosques within minutes of each other. Unlike grand Sultanahmet, Balat’s diversity feels intimate and domestic—it’s history at human scale you can still touch and feel. Homes and cafés are built among crumbling walls and old fortifications, and the vibe among the people is good. As my Uber driver said arriving in Balat, “In Istanbul we love our cats, and hate our mayor.”

Balat has recently become a magnet for vintage lovers and collectors (some say it happened when Coffee Department opened in 2010), but it hasn’t lost its edge and grit.

Find old record players spinning Turkish tunes, bent silverware, Anatolian rugs, colorful caftans, postcards, rusted tools, and ceramic cups poking out from tiny shops that are halfway between a flea market and a time capsule. We saw men dancing in the street and attractive local couples (lovers?) having intense coffee conversations in the late sunny morning—on a weekday.

The prices in the second-hand clothing shops are not what they once were (here is our old guide to second hand clothing shops in Istanbul around Istiklal street), but the items are well-curated. And the second-hand shops in Istanbul will still offer you eastern garb such as cloaks and overcoats, plus colorful wool sweaters. The stairs and buildings in Balat are colorful too.

The joy of being in Balat—or in Istanbul in general—is not ticking off addresses and sites of interest. It’s letting curiosity pull you down side streets where eye contact can lead to a conversation.

Three Cafes Worth Lingering In

Velvet Cafe – A Balat institution. Mismatched furniture, plants everywhere, and the feeling that time has agreed to slow down. Looks like a place to join a revolution—or start one.

Naftalin Kafe – Nostalgia perfected: old family photos, radios, and Turkish coffee that tastes like it belongs to the room. Cats rule the café. Notice our top photo taken recently outside Naftalin on one of the main tourist streets, where the cat is telling the waitress who to serve next.

Coffee Department in Balat – A more modern stop with excellent coffee, popular with locals and creatives without breaking the spell of the neighborhood. Believed to be the café that opened Balat up to becoming a prime tourist destination.

This is cat country, and humans know it. Cats lounge on stoops, café chairs, shop counters, and car hoods with total confidence and airs of superiority. They do let you touch—on their terms. Bowls of food appear mysteriously. Some cats even drop down on a rope from the sky (or the top-floor apartment). People have built cat houses for their furry friends, and non-profits exist to help foreigners send a beloved Balat street-cat back home with quarantine and papers (see Paws of Hope if you are interested in the adoption process). This is far from the Erdoğan-style Turkey that has called for the culling of millions of Turkish street dogs.

In Balat, cats are not a feature. They are the management.

Explore your faith in interfaith

Balat wears its interfaith history casually. As you wander, the names surface naturally: the Ahrida Synagogue and Yanbol Synagogue, quiet and inward-looking, echo Balat’s once-thriving Jewish life. Then the call to prayer drifts from neighborhood mosques like Ferruh Kethüda, Tahta Minare, and Balat Çavuş; and church bells mark time at St. George (Aya Yorgi), St. Mary of the Mongols, and the iron-clad St. Stephen Church by the water. Holding time are the crumbling Byzantine walls—cracked, vine-covered, and indifferent to faith—reminding you that in Balat, coexistence was a daily habit.

Follow the slope down toward the historic Golden Horn and you’ll find fishermen casting lines for small fish, chatting here and there while watching the water—and making sure the crows and the cats don’t fish the tiny fish out of the buckets.

Second hand clothing and vintage shops in Balat, Istanbul

Istanbul is known for its curios and second-hand clothing shops. You will get a taste of it all in Balat as you wander the streets. We came across a few vintage and second-hand clothing shops. The prices were not cheap (a T-shirt was priced around 25 Euros), so if you are in the business of bargain-basement shopping, better shop elsewhere in America or Canada at church thrift shops.

Ayca Vintage

Ayca vintage has a great vibe, with African drumming and song beckoning you to come in. We guessed it was the owner who peeked at us from under her hat—cat nearby—journaling. The shop is stocked with vintage caftans and colorful sweaters. She’s taken the selection job out of your day.

Ayvansaray mahallesi sultan çeşmesi cad. no:83A BALAT Fatih / istanbul

Twobavintage

Around the same area is Twobavintage, which stocks mainly kitschy kitchen items and relics from another era. There is a small selection of clothes in the back.

Ayvansaray Mahallesi Sultan Çesmesi Sokak No 94 Balat

Kulis vintage

Expect to pay a pretty penny for thrifted T-shirts and second-hand, western style here at Kulis Vintage. We found the same in Berlin when we were there 2 months ago. Highly curated, high prices—which is the way of the world for curated vintage in cities. Kensington Market in Toronto has been like that for decades.

Exploring the streets and finding colorful umbrellas and painted stairs in Balat is a must. Some parts are tourist traps, demanding you buy food before you enter. Some coffee shop owners say they have the best rooftop views of the Golden Horn. We can’t confirm.

We found an excellent towel and blanket shop with great prices. Where you can still find a deal is if you are looking for high-quality Turkish cotton towels. We found a shop, pictured below, where we bought a few high-quality towels for 200 LR each, about $5 USD. We didn’t bother bargaining because the price was fair and the seller was very nice.

His shop was down the street from Ayca Eastern Design. We didn’t get the full name, so show this man’s photo around the neighborhood and the locals will point out the way.

Off the Path: Working-Class Istanbul

Another face of Balat reveals itself when you leave the “Instagram streets.” Wander toward Cibali, where workshops still hum—metalworkers, repair shops, small factories—and life feels practical. This is also where you brush up against literary history.

Nearby lived Orhan Kemal, one of Turkey’s great writers of the working class. Kemal was the chronicler of laborers, factory hands, and the urban poor. He worked near the old Cibali Tobacco Factory (today part of Istanbul University), quite close to his former home, and wrote about the very people you still encounter here.

His presence lingers not as a plaque-heavy attraction, but as a spirit. We walked past his modest corner house that holds a plaque to his name. Impressive wooden houses nearby are for sale, and we dream about being a writer from his vantage point in this now-charming location.

Balat isn’t polished, and that’s exactly the point. It rewards slow walking and making mistakes. Tune into a few landmarks that interest you and wander toward them, noticing what you meet, smell, and hear along the way. On one of our meanderings we came across three schoolboys “cat-napping” a cat in their backpack to take home.

We also appreciated that some of the local artisans, like the owner of ilitya, are opening their studios for hands-on experiences. He is a graduate of design school and, unlike the thousands of traditional pottery studios in Turkey, he sells modern functional-ware. Made in molds and glazed in the studio, you can buy—or study and make your own—your choice.

We took a taxi to Balat from our hotel, but plenty of buses and trams run right to this neighborhood.

Green Prophet’s trip to Istanbul was sponsored by the United Religions Initiative, an interfaith network for peace and reconciliation. Their travel grant allowed us to tour Istanbul’s heritage independently to witness and report on the city’s diversity and heritage.

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