May is the time of year when the weather is changing around the world, but peak crowds haven't quite arrived, meaning it's a great time for travellers to enjoy new places without having to compete with other tourists.
In the Northern Hemisphere, summer beckons, while on the other side of the world, the colours of autumn are in bloom.
If you're seeking wildlife experiences, consider a trip to Kenya, where you'll have the wilds of the Maasai Mara almost to yourself. If you want to extend winter climes beyond this month, head to Ruka in Finland's Lapland, where skiing, snowfall and sunshine await, or go down under to New Zealand for an adventure-filled escape.
Here are eight of the best places to travel to in May.
1. Athens, Greece
Escape to Greece this month and you’ll get to enjoy the Mediterranean country before peak tourist season begins. It is warm and sunny but not scorching, which makes it the perfect time to explore ancient ruins, relax on beautiful beaches and feast on Greek cuisine. Hop on a ferry and take a day trip to the nearby Saronic Islands where you can wander pine-covered Spetses or explore ancient history in Hydra.
2. Machu Picchu, Peru
May marks the beginning of Peru’s dry season, making it an excellent time to visit, and this year is a great time to go as there are still access passes available for popular attractions such as Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. The political unrest of last year has calmed and it is safe for tourists to visit again with transport to and from the mountains operating normally. Trekking the Inca Trail before the summer tourists roll in is something very special.
3. Kenya’s Maasai Mara
May falls between Kenya's two busy tourism seasons and can be a bit of an underrated time to visit the Maasai Mara, especially if you want to do so without hordes of other travellers.
The land is lush and green, making it perfect for budding photographers looking for scenic backdrops for their pictures – it is also a good time to spot lions, waterbuck cubs and elephant calves. It’s also a great month for birders.
4. Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
The green season begins in Costa Rica towards the middle of this month with rainforests blooming and green swathes taking over the country’s hills and valleys. As it’s officially monsoon, there are fewer tourists in May, but rains typically only last for a few hours each day.
Head north-west to the driest place to be this month, Nicoya Peninsula, where you can enjoy beautiful beaches and explore stunning national parks in shades of olive, jade and emeralds. Experienced surfers can also tackle awesome swells along the Pacific coast at this time of year.
5. Mustang, Nepal
May is an excellent time for adventure seekers to head to Nepal, particularly for those looking to go trekking in the Himalayas or discover off-the-beaten destinations. The weather is generally clear and warmer than the winter months, which attracts adventurers trying to scale Mount Everest. It’s also the time to head to Mustang – nestled in the Himalayas, it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and vibrant forests.
It’s also when you can visit the Tiji festival in Nepal’s upper Mustang area. This fascinating event is full of Tibetan rituals and drums, prayers, dancing and incense, it’s also one of only a few occasions when outsiders can get a glimpse of life in rural Nepal.
6. Yellowstone, US
One of the best months of the year to visit Wyoming’s most famous national park, Yellowstone comes to life with wildlife in May. Spot bison and elk, often with their newborns, and enjoy carpets of blooming wildflowers. As the snow at higher elevations begins melting, the waterfalls and river in the park cascade, and you can enjoy it all without the crowds as peak visitor time for the park isn’t until summer.
7. Ruka, Lapland, Finland
If you’re not quite ready to be done with winter, head to Ruka in Finnish Lapland, which boasts Europe’s longest non-glacier ski season. The main slope is usually operational until June, with five or so runs in action in May. Plus, there are tubing hills and playgrounds for the kids. It’s also nearing the season of Finland’s midnight sunshine – meaning nights are very bright, giving you plenty more hours to enjoy the slopes.
8. Queenstown, New Zealand
May is the end of autumn in New Zealand – a great time to visit without the crowds that flock here in summertime. Head to the South Island, where you can enjoy glorious autumn scenes in Arrowtown, go bungee jumping in Queenstown or head off on two wheels to explore the dramatic colours along the Otago Rail Trail before the winter weather creeps in. Mount Cook is also beautiful at this time of year, just don’t forget to pack layers, the weather will be getting colder.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
more from Janine di Giovanni
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
HAJJAN
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Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
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if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
RIDE%20ON
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now