Thursday, February 28, 2019
Located on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat, Jamnagar has a lot to offer other than just Bandhani, a type of sari. Jamnagar is one of the best cities to visit in India, with a refinery plant inaugurated by Reliance Industries Limited. This city has everything from fancy pop culture to an exquisite taste in food and beverages.
Jamnagar is situated on the south of the Gulf of Kutch, with pleasant weather during the monsoons and chilly winters. It is the best time of the year to visit Jamnagar.
Here are the top places to visit in Jamnagar:
There is a lake situated in the centre of the city, Lakhota Lake, one of the hangout places in Jamnagar. One of the popular tourist destinations, Lakhota Lake was wholly responsible for providing water supply to the entire city. Although, the water supply from this lake has been immobilized for the past few decades as the construction of Ranjit Sagar Dam was commenced at the outskirts of the city.
The lake is in a circular shape that offers people to enjoy the scenic beauty while chit-chatting on the banks. A couple of years ago, the municipality of Jamnagar built a jogging track around this lake that offers the public to work out in the mornings and evenings at a minimal maintenance fee.
The best time of the day to visit this lake is during the night. Millions of stars reflecting on the still water face and the lamp posts repealing in the waterfront give the mind a calmness and peace longing for a long time.
A small palace on the island at the center of the Lakhota lake, once belonged to the Maharaja of Nawanagar that has now turned into a museum which showcases sculptures, arms, and artifacts from the 9th to the 18th century. The palace itself is a tourist destination for people to engage in the craftsmanship consisting of European architecture and Indian carvings. A must visit to realize where Jamnagar comes from.
A bird reserve located 10 km north-east of Jamnagar offers a natural habitat to some of the most exclusive birds like Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Purple Moorhen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt etc. A trip to this sanctuary is must for all the nature lovers and bird-watchers.
The most historical complex in Jamnagar was the old royal residence of Jam Saheb, the king of Nawanagar (now known as Jamnagar). This palace offers great cultural insights into the Indo-European style of architecture. The designing of this gigantic palace is European whereas the carvings and paintings/caricatures are from the roots of the Rajput dynasty of India.
When Raja Ranjit Singh returned from his European journey, he constructed the Willingdon Crescent which was inspired by famous markets in the major European cities. Today, it is the commercial hub of Bandhani in Jamnagar. A perfect market that is too difficult to miss.
A round-about in the missed of the street that serves as the silver market in Jamnagar. Well, the literal meaning of the place also suggests the same; Chaandi – Silver & Bazaar – Market. This market has everything from fine jewelry showrooms, ethic cloth wears to fantastic street food. This place has everything. Chaandi Bazaar is a favorite hang-out spot of all the Jamnagaris.
Located in the district of Jamnagar, this national park fed by the contrasts of the Gulf of Kutch becomes a true paradise for nature lovers. From its coral extensions to the wetlands where herons and flamingos live, including species such as puffer fish, colorful octopuses or dolphins, the Marine National Park becomes a very varied scene, especially when the tide recedes leaving uncovered its orphaned islets or marine secrets.
Just like any other cities in Gujarat, Jamnagar too is a foodie's paradise with chain restaurants like Dominos, Subway, McDonald's in the heart of the city. For people who fascinate street food, Jamnagar has a lot to offer. The streets offer multiple cuisines that include Chinese, chats, South Indian food, Ice-creams, milk based cold-beverages (yes, they are different from milkshakes), kathiyawadi thali and much more.
However, the main attraction for tourists in terms of street food in Jamnagar is the famous Jamnagari Mukhwas & Dry Fruit Kachori. A local snack amongst Jamnagaris is the famous Gujarati breakfast: Fafda-Jalebi with Papaya Sambhar; a delicacy too hard to miss.
There another local favorite cuisine is Malai Gola or ice Popsicle prepared from ice-chips and topped with flavored syrup and cream. A standard dessert during the summer season. Jamnagar has numerous restaurants that serve multi cuisine. Although, the famous attractions are open-air garden restaurants 6-7 km away from the city. Pleasant weather, kids’ area, and live screening, these make them perfect for any occasion.
Gujarati Farsan is basically a group of foods that are collectively called Farsan. They are usually eaten as snacks or breakfast but can also be a side dish for meals.
Jamnagar has no 5-star hotels, however, there are numerous 3 and 4-star hotels within the city. On average, each hotel has approximately 40-50 rooms. So, it is highly recommended to pre-book.
Jamnagar railway station is one of the major railway stations in Saurashtra, Gujarat. With convenient mobility across the country, it is not at all difficult to reach. Here are all the required details to know about Jamnagar. Rest, I believe one should explore places on their own.
Jamnagar is situated on the south of the Gulf of Kutch, with pleasant weather during the monsoons and chilly winters. It is the best time of the year to visit Jamnagar.
Here are the top places to visit in Jamnagar:
1. Lakhota Lake
There is a lake situated in the centre of the city, Lakhota Lake, one of the hangout places in Jamnagar. One of the popular tourist destinations, Lakhota Lake was wholly responsible for providing water supply to the entire city. Although, the water supply from this lake has been immobilized for the past few decades as the construction of Ranjit Sagar Dam was commenced at the outskirts of the city.
The lake is in a circular shape that offers people to enjoy the scenic beauty while chit-chatting on the banks. A couple of years ago, the municipality of Jamnagar built a jogging track around this lake that offers the public to work out in the mornings and evenings at a minimal maintenance fee.
The best time of the day to visit this lake is during the night. Millions of stars reflecting on the still water face and the lamp posts repealing in the waterfront give the mind a calmness and peace longing for a long time.
2. Lakhota Palace and Museum
A small palace on the island at the center of the Lakhota lake, once belonged to the Maharaja of Nawanagar that has now turned into a museum which showcases sculptures, arms, and artifacts from the 9th to the 18th century. The palace itself is a tourist destination for people to engage in the craftsmanship consisting of European architecture and Indian carvings. A must visit to realize where Jamnagar comes from.
3. Khijadia Bird Sanctuary
A bird reserve located 10 km north-east of Jamnagar offers a natural habitat to some of the most exclusive birds like Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Purple Moorhen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt etc. A trip to this sanctuary is must for all the nature lovers and bird-watchers.
4. Darbargadh Palace
The most historical complex in Jamnagar was the old royal residence of Jam Saheb, the king of Nawanagar (now known as Jamnagar). This palace offers great cultural insights into the Indo-European style of architecture. The designing of this gigantic palace is European whereas the carvings and paintings/caricatures are from the roots of the Rajput dynasty of India.
5. Willingdon Crescent
When Raja Ranjit Singh returned from his European journey, he constructed the Willingdon Crescent which was inspired by famous markets in the major European cities. Today, it is the commercial hub of Bandhani in Jamnagar. A perfect market that is too difficult to miss.
6. Chaandi Bazaar
A round-about in the missed of the street that serves as the silver market in Jamnagar. Well, the literal meaning of the place also suggests the same; Chaandi – Silver & Bazaar – Market. This market has everything from fine jewelry showrooms, ethic cloth wears to fantastic street food. This place has everything. Chaandi Bazaar is a favorite hang-out spot of all the Jamnagaris.
7. Marine National Park
Located in the district of Jamnagar, this national park fed by the contrasts of the Gulf of Kutch becomes a true paradise for nature lovers. From its coral extensions to the wetlands where herons and flamingos live, including species such as puffer fish, colorful octopuses or dolphins, the Marine National Park becomes a very varied scene, especially when the tide recedes leaving uncovered its orphaned islets or marine secrets.
Food in Jamnagar
Just like any other cities in Gujarat, Jamnagar too is a foodie's paradise with chain restaurants like Dominos, Subway, McDonald's in the heart of the city. For people who fascinate street food, Jamnagar has a lot to offer. The streets offer multiple cuisines that include Chinese, chats, South Indian food, Ice-creams, milk based cold-beverages (yes, they are different from milkshakes), kathiyawadi thali and much more.
However, the main attraction for tourists in terms of street food in Jamnagar is the famous Jamnagari Mukhwas & Dry Fruit Kachori. A local snack amongst Jamnagaris is the famous Gujarati breakfast: Fafda-Jalebi with Papaya Sambhar; a delicacy too hard to miss.
There another local favorite cuisine is Malai Gola or ice Popsicle prepared from ice-chips and topped with flavored syrup and cream. A standard dessert during the summer season. Jamnagar has numerous restaurants that serve multi cuisine. Although, the famous attractions are open-air garden restaurants 6-7 km away from the city. Pleasant weather, kids’ area, and live screening, these make them perfect for any occasion.
Gujarati Farsan is basically a group of foods that are collectively called Farsan. They are usually eaten as snacks or breakfast but can also be a side dish for meals.
Hotels in Jamnagar
Jamnagar has no 5-star hotels, however, there are numerous 3 and 4-star hotels within the city. On average, each hotel has approximately 40-50 rooms. So, it is highly recommended to pre-book.
How To Reach Jamnagar
Jamnagar railway station is one of the major railway stations in Saurashtra, Gujarat. With convenient mobility across the country, it is not at all difficult to reach. Here are all the required details to know about Jamnagar. Rest, I believe one should explore places on their own.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Almost all the tourists traveling to India visit the popular destinations. Especially if it is the first visit to this country, they prefer to stay in North India and visit the Jim Corbett National Park, Ranthambore National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park and Kaziranga National Park. Few travelers venture to stretch their route further south, or to discard other more famous northern cities to see this very different part of India. And it is that the South India is another India.
Karnataka is a state which has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. It is a state with lush greenery and thick jungles with plenty of water resources. 25% of Indian elephants, 15% of Indian Tigers reside in Karnataka. The state of Karnataka is blessed with over 5 national parks, 18 wildlife sanctuaries and 9 Bird sanctuaries.
National parks are strictly reserved for the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. Controlling the activities like poaching, hunting, forestry and gazing on cultivation are not permitted. In the national parks private ownership is also not allowed. Karnataka is home to dense forests and breathtaking wildlife gateways.
The top national parks in Karnataka are described below:
Bannerghatta National Park is one of the popular national parks in Karnataka. This national park is situated at a distance of 23 km from Bangalore City Railway station. The park is spread across an area of 25000 acres. There are parks inside the national park like a snake park, an aquarium, a crocodile park, and safari park.
In the Bannerghatta National Park you can see all kinds of animals including variety of tigers, lions, leopards, crocodiles, different species of birds and many other animals. The park is famous for its Grand Safari. A jeep safari provides you an opportunity to spot leopards, white tigers, Bengal tigers and lions present there inside the park. The park is even famous for bird spotting. This national park remains closed on Tuesdays.
This National Park cum Tiger reserve is situated at a distance of 204 km from the capital city of Bangalore. The park offers safaris at a more budget friendly price compared to Kabini which is resort centric and expensive. Bus and Jeep safari are organized here. Bandipur falls between the Mysore - Ooty route. It was once the hunting place for the Maharaja of the kingdom of Mysore.
Bandipur National park is spread across 874 square km and surrounds 69 square miles of the protected forest land. Currently the national park houses over ten thousand animals which include tiger, snakes, Indian elephants and many more. The Bandipur national park is often visited for conservation activities like research, monitoring, habitat management, and education.
The Bandipur national park is home for 70 tigers and 3000 Asian elephants. The safari remains open on all days of a week.
This national park was a part of Dandeli wildlife sanctuary before it was carved out to form the Anshi national park. It is spread across 340 square km and is at a distance of 509 km from the city of Bangalore. It is a park which is located in the Uttara Kannada district in the eco-sensitive region of western ghats. It is the home of many reptiles, mammals, and variety of animals. You can find some important species like bonnet macaque, Sloth bear and many more.
A popular refuge for nature lovers and adventure buffs, Dandeli is just 103 kilometers from Goa. For all couples interested in adventure, go on a safari tour and rapids. Tourists can enjoy birds and fishing. Many camps in Dandeli organizes activities such as night camps, hiking, canoeing, bird watching, tiger and crocodile spots and fishing, picnics, ecotourism and excursions to nearby caves and temples.
The Nagarhole national park situated 236 km from Bangalore is home for many wild animals. Nagarhole National park is a popular destination for Tiger spotting, located in Mysore district of Karnataka. It can also be known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, which had more than 96 species of Dung Beetles, 60 various species of Ants and 250 species of birds.
It was established as a wildlife sanctuary and later converted into a national park. This park was an integral part of the Government’s project tiger scheme till 1999. With the highest numbers of tigers here this park was also awarded the best national park of South India.
The black leopard, reminiscent of Bagheera from The Jungle Book, is just one of the incredible species you’ll have the chance to see on this tour. This lesser-known national park in India is also home to bison, leopards, tigers, elephants, Asian wild dogs and an array of stunning birds.
Among the list of national parks in Karnataka, Nagarhole National park contains a significant number of Sloth Bear, Indian Bison, Elephants and Leopard. It contains quite a large number of Tigers. This garden forest is very rich with several high-value commercial tree species. Sandalwood, Teak and silver Oak are the major trees in this park. The mugger crocodile is an endangered species located in this park.
You can go for a real jungle safari on the weekend from Bangalore! It’s pretty amazing that you can do that on a little weekend getaway! The best time to visit Nagarhole National Park is April and May.
Located on the banks of Kabini river, Kabini wildlife sanctuary has rich density of wild animals like elephants, leopards, panthers, sambhar, dancing peacocks and colorful birds. Elephant safari gives best chance of sighting wildlife here.
Kudremukh literally means the horse face. As green as someone's imagination can run, the place is a literal paradise reclining on Western Ghats. The Kudremukh Peak, which is the third highest peak in Karnataka, is a paradise for trekkers while Kudremukh National Park, the nirvana of the wildlife enthusiast.
It is situated at about 350 km from Bangalore. This is the second largest wildlife protected area in the Western Ghats which spreads across 600 square miles. In this national park there is a wide variety of animals that can be found.
Karnataka is a state which has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. It is a state with lush greenery and thick jungles with plenty of water resources. 25% of Indian elephants, 15% of Indian Tigers reside in Karnataka. The state of Karnataka is blessed with over 5 national parks, 18 wildlife sanctuaries and 9 Bird sanctuaries.
National parks are strictly reserved for the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. Controlling the activities like poaching, hunting, forestry and gazing on cultivation are not permitted. In the national parks private ownership is also not allowed. Karnataka is home to dense forests and breathtaking wildlife gateways.
The top national parks in Karnataka are described below:
1. Bannerghatta National Park
Bannerghatta National Park is one of the popular national parks in Karnataka. This national park is situated at a distance of 23 km from Bangalore City Railway station. The park is spread across an area of 25000 acres. There are parks inside the national park like a snake park, an aquarium, a crocodile park, and safari park.
In the Bannerghatta National Park you can see all kinds of animals including variety of tigers, lions, leopards, crocodiles, different species of birds and many other animals. The park is famous for its Grand Safari. A jeep safari provides you an opportunity to spot leopards, white tigers, Bengal tigers and lions present there inside the park. The park is even famous for bird spotting. This national park remains closed on Tuesdays.
2. Bandipur National Park
This National Park cum Tiger reserve is situated at a distance of 204 km from the capital city of Bangalore. The park offers safaris at a more budget friendly price compared to Kabini which is resort centric and expensive. Bus and Jeep safari are organized here. Bandipur falls between the Mysore - Ooty route. It was once the hunting place for the Maharaja of the kingdom of Mysore.
Bandipur National park is spread across 874 square km and surrounds 69 square miles of the protected forest land. Currently the national park houses over ten thousand animals which include tiger, snakes, Indian elephants and many more. The Bandipur national park is often visited for conservation activities like research, monitoring, habitat management, and education.
The Bandipur national park is home for 70 tigers and 3000 Asian elephants. The safari remains open on all days of a week.
3. Anshi National Park
This national park was a part of Dandeli wildlife sanctuary before it was carved out to form the Anshi national park. It is spread across 340 square km and is at a distance of 509 km from the city of Bangalore. It is a park which is located in the Uttara Kannada district in the eco-sensitive region of western ghats. It is the home of many reptiles, mammals, and variety of animals. You can find some important species like bonnet macaque, Sloth bear and many more.
A popular refuge for nature lovers and adventure buffs, Dandeli is just 103 kilometers from Goa. For all couples interested in adventure, go on a safari tour and rapids. Tourists can enjoy birds and fishing. Many camps in Dandeli organizes activities such as night camps, hiking, canoeing, bird watching, tiger and crocodile spots and fishing, picnics, ecotourism and excursions to nearby caves and temples.
4. Nagarhole National Park
The Nagarhole national park situated 236 km from Bangalore is home for many wild animals. Nagarhole National park is a popular destination for Tiger spotting, located in Mysore district of Karnataka. It can also be known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, which had more than 96 species of Dung Beetles, 60 various species of Ants and 250 species of birds.
It was established as a wildlife sanctuary and later converted into a national park. This park was an integral part of the Government’s project tiger scheme till 1999. With the highest numbers of tigers here this park was also awarded the best national park of South India.
The black leopard, reminiscent of Bagheera from The Jungle Book, is just one of the incredible species you’ll have the chance to see on this tour. This lesser-known national park in India is also home to bison, leopards, tigers, elephants, Asian wild dogs and an array of stunning birds.
Among the list of national parks in Karnataka, Nagarhole National park contains a significant number of Sloth Bear, Indian Bison, Elephants and Leopard. It contains quite a large number of Tigers. This garden forest is very rich with several high-value commercial tree species. Sandalwood, Teak and silver Oak are the major trees in this park. The mugger crocodile is an endangered species located in this park.
You can go for a real jungle safari on the weekend from Bangalore! It’s pretty amazing that you can do that on a little weekend getaway! The best time to visit Nagarhole National Park is April and May.
Located on the banks of Kabini river, Kabini wildlife sanctuary has rich density of wild animals like elephants, leopards, panthers, sambhar, dancing peacocks and colorful birds. Elephant safari gives best chance of sighting wildlife here.
5. Kudremukh National Park
Kudremukh literally means the horse face. As green as someone's imagination can run, the place is a literal paradise reclining on Western Ghats. The Kudremukh Peak, which is the third highest peak in Karnataka, is a paradise for trekkers while Kudremukh National Park, the nirvana of the wildlife enthusiast.
It is situated at about 350 km from Bangalore. This is the second largest wildlife protected area in the Western Ghats which spreads across 600 square miles. In this national park there is a wide variety of animals that can be found.
Monday, February 25, 2019
Kaziranga National park is home to five famed mammals – the Asiatic Elephants, Swamp Deer, Indian Rhino, Royal Bengal Tigers and Water Buffalo. The national park also shelters some of the rarest bird species making it a popular ecological destination in the country. Located in the state of Assam, Kaziranga National park is a World Heritage Site of UNESCO with a population of 2,500 rhinos – it is the 2/3rd of the total world population of Rhinos. Not only this, it also houses a large population of One-horned Rhinoceros in its grasslands.
The vast national park attracts a large number of tourists and wildlife admirers each year after National Parks in Karnataka and Wildlife Reserves in Madhya Pradesh. This has made it one of the most popular tourist spots in Assam. There are various private and government resorts in Kaziranga National Park for the tourists and travelers.
In this blog, we have mentioned some of the most luxurious and comfortable resorts and list of hotels in Kaziranga National Park. Plan a trip to Assam by booking cheap flights and visit these top resorts in Kaziranga National Park.
IORA Resort in Kaziranga is settled at a charming location and offers Assamese hospitality to the guests. Its modern amenities, luxurious and spacious rooms, fitness rooms, spa centers and breathtaking views of the verdant fields make it one of the best luxury resorts in Kaziranga National Park.
The resort provided various indoor and outdoor fun activities along with the jeep and elephant safari. If you are not someone who enjoys such activities, sipping a glass of mocktail in the spacious balcony or chilling in the swimming pool is also no less satisfying.
Rooms: The resort has around 42 well-designed and equipped rooms out of which 4 are thematic suites, 11 are deluxe rooms, 23 are luxury rooms and the remaining 4 are supreme rooms. You will get all the modern amenities in the well-furnished rooms – television, Wi-Fi connectivity, coffee maker and a mini bar. You need to make advance reservations at the resort.
Address: Bogorijuri, Golaghat (Kohora)
Borgos Resort in Kaziranga renders an extraordinary wildlife experience to the guests. It is located close to the wildlife park’s main entrance gate, right at the center of the Bijulee Tea Garden. The resort is aesthetically designed offering a panoramic sight of the verdant surrounding.
You will have access to an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center and a massage center. And what makes it all the more special is its friendly and responsible staff, they ensure you are in utmost comfort and luxury.
Rooms: The resort consists of different categories of rooms like luxury deluxe rooms, executive rooms, Executive deluxe rooms and presidential suites. The rooms are perfectly ventilated, well-furnished and best-suited for a luxury vacation amid wildlife.
Address: Silbudi, Golaghat (Kohora)
The third on our list is the Infinity Resort Kaziranga operated by a famous chain of hotels. If you are looking forward to experiencing the natural beauty of Assam, this resort is the best choice. With a perfect location amidst the medicinal plants, thick mangroves, fruit trees and betel nuts, the Infinity Resort is very close to the national park.
The resort features a swimming pool, a spa and recreational center. The resort management offers activities like elephant ride, nature treks and wildlife safaris. You will love the food at the multi-house restaurant in the resort – Chinese, Continental, North-Indian and Assamese cuisine at its best like Khaar, Duck meat curry, Masor Tenga, Aloo Pitika, Dhekia Xaak aru bhaji.
Rooms: The resort consists of 18 double-bedded and twin-bedded large rooms with proper ventilation. The rooms are constructed like a traditional Assamese house giving it an aesthetic look in the jungle.
Address: Bochagaon, Golaghat (Kohora)
Are you searching for cheap resorts in Kaziranga National Park? If so, Bonhabi Resort in Kaziranga is a suitable option. The resort also renders bird-watching tours and safari to the guests. Settled in a refreshing environment, the resort is one of the perfect places for wildlife getaway along with several adventure activities.
Rooms: There are 12 comfortable, well-furnished, beautiful rooms in the Bonhabi Resort offering spectacular views of verdant paddy fields and tropical rainforest. The staff will attend you in a friendly manner with all the amenities.
Address: Bogorijuri, Golaghat (Kohora)
A visit to the Kaziranga National park, a land of rhinos will become unforgettable with a stay at the Kaziranga Resort. Although it is a new resort in the wildlife park, it ensures the best facilities and hospitality. Popular for its perfect location, amiable facilities and well-furnished rooms, the Kaziranga Resort also provides the guests with additional services and activities such as elephant ride, horse ride, traditional Assamese cuisine and traditional folk dance.
Rooms: The resort offers a comfortable stay at Kabri Cottage, Cluster Cottages, Assam Type Cottage and Honey Cottage. Each type of room is well-furnished and offers state-of-the-art facilities.
Address: National Highway 37, Golaghat (Kohora)
There are several government accommodation options in the park like Bonashree, with terrace and garden and Aranya Lodge with option for bungalow or a room in the hotel.
From Kaziranga to Guwahati it takes 5 hours to get there. For those who come from Tawang it is not possible to arrive in a single day from Tawang. The jeeps take about 8 hours to get to Bomdila and about 16 hours to get to Tezpur. Next day you can continue to the Kaziranga National Park. Frequent buses leave from Tezpur towards Kaziranga and take 2 hours to arrive.
The best time to visit Kaziranga National Park is between the months of November and April. The climate of the Kaziranga National Park in the summers is too hot and during the monsoons the park remains closed.
The vast national park attracts a large number of tourists and wildlife admirers each year after National Parks in Karnataka and Wildlife Reserves in Madhya Pradesh. This has made it one of the most popular tourist spots in Assam. There are various private and government resorts in Kaziranga National Park for the tourists and travelers.
In this blog, we have mentioned some of the most luxurious and comfortable resorts and list of hotels in Kaziranga National Park. Plan a trip to Assam by booking cheap flights and visit these top resorts in Kaziranga National Park.
1. IORA Resort, Kaziranga
IORA Resort in Kaziranga is settled at a charming location and offers Assamese hospitality to the guests. Its modern amenities, luxurious and spacious rooms, fitness rooms, spa centers and breathtaking views of the verdant fields make it one of the best luxury resorts in Kaziranga National Park.
The resort provided various indoor and outdoor fun activities along with the jeep and elephant safari. If you are not someone who enjoys such activities, sipping a glass of mocktail in the spacious balcony or chilling in the swimming pool is also no less satisfying.
Rooms: The resort has around 42 well-designed and equipped rooms out of which 4 are thematic suites, 11 are deluxe rooms, 23 are luxury rooms and the remaining 4 are supreme rooms. You will get all the modern amenities in the well-furnished rooms – television, Wi-Fi connectivity, coffee maker and a mini bar. You need to make advance reservations at the resort.
Address: Bogorijuri, Golaghat (Kohora)
2. Resort Borgos
Borgos Resort in Kaziranga renders an extraordinary wildlife experience to the guests. It is located close to the wildlife park’s main entrance gate, right at the center of the Bijulee Tea Garden. The resort is aesthetically designed offering a panoramic sight of the verdant surrounding.
You will have access to an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center and a massage center. And what makes it all the more special is its friendly and responsible staff, they ensure you are in utmost comfort and luxury.
Rooms: The resort consists of different categories of rooms like luxury deluxe rooms, executive rooms, Executive deluxe rooms and presidential suites. The rooms are perfectly ventilated, well-furnished and best-suited for a luxury vacation amid wildlife.
Address: Silbudi, Golaghat (Kohora)
3. Infinity Resort Kaziranga
The third on our list is the Infinity Resort Kaziranga operated by a famous chain of hotels. If you are looking forward to experiencing the natural beauty of Assam, this resort is the best choice. With a perfect location amidst the medicinal plants, thick mangroves, fruit trees and betel nuts, the Infinity Resort is very close to the national park.
The resort features a swimming pool, a spa and recreational center. The resort management offers activities like elephant ride, nature treks and wildlife safaris. You will love the food at the multi-house restaurant in the resort – Chinese, Continental, North-Indian and Assamese cuisine at its best like Khaar, Duck meat curry, Masor Tenga, Aloo Pitika, Dhekia Xaak aru bhaji.
Rooms: The resort consists of 18 double-bedded and twin-bedded large rooms with proper ventilation. The rooms are constructed like a traditional Assamese house giving it an aesthetic look in the jungle.
Address: Bochagaon, Golaghat (Kohora)
4. Bonhabi Resort, Kaziranga
Are you searching for cheap resorts in Kaziranga National Park? If so, Bonhabi Resort in Kaziranga is a suitable option. The resort also renders bird-watching tours and safari to the guests. Settled in a refreshing environment, the resort is one of the perfect places for wildlife getaway along with several adventure activities.
Rooms: There are 12 comfortable, well-furnished, beautiful rooms in the Bonhabi Resort offering spectacular views of verdant paddy fields and tropical rainforest. The staff will attend you in a friendly manner with all the amenities.
Address: Bogorijuri, Golaghat (Kohora)
5. Kaziranga Resort
A visit to the Kaziranga National park, a land of rhinos will become unforgettable with a stay at the Kaziranga Resort. Although it is a new resort in the wildlife park, it ensures the best facilities and hospitality. Popular for its perfect location, amiable facilities and well-furnished rooms, the Kaziranga Resort also provides the guests with additional services and activities such as elephant ride, horse ride, traditional Assamese cuisine and traditional folk dance.
Rooms: The resort offers a comfortable stay at Kabri Cottage, Cluster Cottages, Assam Type Cottage and Honey Cottage. Each type of room is well-furnished and offers state-of-the-art facilities.
Address: National Highway 37, Golaghat (Kohora)
There are several government accommodation options in the park like Bonashree, with terrace and garden and Aranya Lodge with option for bungalow or a room in the hotel.
From Kaziranga to Guwahati it takes 5 hours to get there. For those who come from Tawang it is not possible to arrive in a single day from Tawang. The jeeps take about 8 hours to get to Bomdila and about 16 hours to get to Tezpur. Next day you can continue to the Kaziranga National Park. Frequent buses leave from Tezpur towards Kaziranga and take 2 hours to arrive.
The best time to visit Kaziranga National Park is between the months of November and April. The climate of the Kaziranga National Park in the summers is too hot and during the monsoons the park remains closed.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
America can be a relatively young nation, but it has a diverse and complex history. Nature and progress coexist to perfection in United States. And so much so that this symbiosis has resulted in spectacular American landmarks and monuments erected by man, a symbol of unbridled progress. From trees and landscapes built in the last century to thousands of years old mythological monuments, there are wonderful places for tourists to visit in America.
Great places to visit in USA, including the prominent ones, are Washington DC, Boston, and New York.
The gorgeous and mysterious beaches of the Northwest like Oregon and Washington are like nothing else on earth. Even the East Coast has a couple of worthy spots, albeit with much smaller waves like Siasconset in Massachusetts and North Carolina’s Ocracoke. White sand, black sand, pink sand, normal sand, you’ll can literally find it all in America!
Among the famous landmarks in the world, here are some of the most famous landmarks in USA.
Among the American tourist attractions, the colossal Statue of Liberty remain undaunted for more than a hundred years at the port of New York. The statue was given by France to the United States on the occasion of the centenary of its independence. Statue of Liberty stands tall on Liberty Island.
The nation’s capital. If you are an American history nerd, there are a tons of things to see here. Plus, the downtown area is very nice and upscale. The Lincoln Memorial remains striking even after you have seen it on endless postcards, book readings to a scene in 'The Simpsons'. The monster statue encompassed by the expressions of the Gettysburg Address is an absolute must visit for any American needing to pay tribute to an extraordinary president.
Interesting Reads: Things To Do In Washington DC
If you are longing for a trip in timeless natural splendor resting in the cabins, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the place for you. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in USA. The immense forest between North Carolina and Tennessee exceeds almost twice as many visits to the second in the top ten, the Grand Canyon of Colorado.
Another attraction is the presence of around 1,500 black bears that roam freely in these mountains. The best time to travel to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina is from April to October. The park service charges a camping fee, but the rates are minimal.
One of the places that can most impress those of who travel to the national parks is Antelope Canyon in United States. It is a spectacular natural landscape located in northern Arizona, next to the town of Page, a town located on the boundary between northern Arizona and southern Utah.
It is about three hours north of the Grand Canyon of Colorado and the recreational park of Glen Canyon, which is considered a tribal park for the Navajo Indians, and specifically, on the shores of Lake Powell. The walls of this small canyon in the middle of the Arizona desert are so full of magic and softness, which through the photographs taken by travelers who visit it transmits an impressive beauty.
In this way, it becomes one of the places where the most beautiful snapshots are taken on the west coast of United States. Antelope Canyon is divided into two zones, the upper canyon and the lower canyon. The most visited and most appropriate in order to take pictures is the upper canyon, whose tour lasts an hour and a half.
It is highly recommended to try to make the visit at noon, about 12 o'clock, because it is the moment in which the light enters more deeply in the canyon, causing the most beautiful scenes. The tour involves riding a large SUV that travels a few miles along a very sandy road until you reach the shore of Lake Powell, from where you can access the entrance to Antelope Canyon.
Of course, it is important to avoid the first hours of the day and holidays. Since for the visit there is usually a large influx of tourists that coincide by the narrow canyon, this can make it difficult to take pictures without people in front. To visit this natural enclave you have the option to sign up for a Antelope Canyon tour from Las Vegas.
Located in the north of Arizona, Antelope Canyon is one of the top ten geological wonders. It is divided into two parts: the Upper Antelope Canyon and the Lower Antelope Canyon. This peculiar terrain makes the light here beautiful and strange. Some parts of the valley bottom can only be exposed to sunlight at noon.
The canyon used to be the habitat of pronghorn antelope. Antelope often roamed in the valley, so it was named Antelope Canyon. It is also an Indian reserve. Until now, some old Navajo people still meditate here to complete communication with the spirit of the earth.
The Grand Canyon in Arizona is an exceptional sight which everybody must see once in their lifetime. Among the best states to visit in USA, flying over the Grand Canyon with kids during vacation with family is perhaps the best option to admire its immensity. The viewpoints that look out to it are an excellent alternative to cover one of the natural wonders of the world from a privileged position.
Drive the Columbia River Gorge and stop for a good long stroll at every feature including Crown Point, the Bonneville dam hatchery and fish ladder, and every waterfall, then getting a late lunch. For a full day’s visit, the Mt Hood scenic loop includes these and more.
Yellowstone Park is one of the most visited parks, and rightfully so. Yellowstone boasts crystal clear waters and gorgeous landscapes of mountains. This is the place to be if you have never been there.
The feats of the Yogi Bear made the Yellowstone National Park famous. But the truth is that there are so many natural attractions you have that you would not have needed. Yellowstone has geysers and other geothermal features. Yellowstone is a multi sensory experience where you can enjoy seeing the geysers, and grand prismatic spring, and morning glory pool.
You can feel the sun on your face, feel the wind in your hair, feel the mist from the steam, and feel the warmth emitted by some of the springs. You can hear the wind in the trees, hear the call of the ravens, and the occasional bugle of a bull elk, hear the clumping of the hooves of the bison on the road, the chattering of chipmunks and squirrels
You can hear the glub, glub, plop sounds of the mud pots, the hiss of steam escaping the fumaroles, the splashing and gurgling of springs, waterfalls, and geysers. You can smell the pine trees, the smell of fresh air, earth, sulfur, and wildflowers and you can taste huckleberry ice cream.
Here grizzly bears live with black bears, coyotes with wolves and moose and bison with deer, among other species. But here, too, there are rivers for whitewater rafting, lakes, lush forests, canyons and hundreds of waterfalls dotting this natural space distributed between the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Its boasts peerless geological features you can not find anywhere else.
It’s also perfectly accessible, many of its most iconic attractions can be viewed on a comfortable scenic drive. The Golden hour, has pros and cons to that. Unquestionably most landscapes come alive at that time. But the famous Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone’s Midway Geyser Basin will mostly only show off ethereal atmosphere in its vapors at those times. When the sun is the highest is the time its astonishing colors are best revealed.
Unfortunately, that’s when the crowds are the most intense and when parking may not be available. Either arrive earlier and wait, as the world passes you by, or park further away off the road where legal and walk in. By the way, everyone will tell you don’t park at Midway and see it from the boardwalk. The superior view is from the overlook off the Fairy Falls Trail.
There are pros and cons again. Plan ahead; reserve your room in the park a year or more in advance to find a reasonable rate. You’re welcome to stay outside of the park but if you don't reserve that early you’ll be paying the same as in but you’ll also have driving time to the park and you’ll miss out on relaxed ambiance before and after the summer hoards descend.
West Yellowstone, Montana, is the exception, it’s right next to the park but still 40 minutes from Old Faithful and traffic is bad coming out of the park. If you don’t get going early, traffic is bad going in. But if you’ve reserved enough time in advance, you can relax and enjoy it.
Pad your travel time to the park from home. A two-day trip to Yellowstone is sufficient if you don’t plan to see attractions along the way or if you don’t want to be able to serendipitously follow your nose at times. Once you’re past the famous, bucket-list attractions, you can relax quite a bit more and experience the authentic Yellowstone experience.
If you try to see the park in two days you’ll have memories of anxiety, too many traffic jams, Old Faithful was a letdown, the food was expensive, the service was poor and the wildlife wasn’t as prevalent as you’d been led to believe, except for the bison. Many try to see it in only one day.
Once you’re past the competing-with-the-crowds-for-inadequate-parking phase you’ll find the park is huge and full of atmosphere all those competitors are missing like picnic areas, a walk along a gravel beach/bar, steak dinner with a singing cowboy after a horse or wagon ride, fishing, a boat cruise, history, more wildlife than you saw the other day, amazing changes in lighting and weather and more than 1,700 kilometres of hiking trails.
Most of the crowds are on the road, in the parking lots or restaurants or at 5–6 highlight attractions. As for Old Faithful, viewers are kept back more than 100 metres. This is a result of one-viewing-then-on-to-the-next-attraction syndrome.
If you are lodging at Old Faithful and find out from the rangers what else is going to erupt and when, after you’ve seen bigger geysers like Grand, Great Fountain and Beehive, you’ll notice Old Faithful has been regularly performing but in the background, even in the middle of the night. Some eruptions are taller, some are shorter.
You may decide it’s a lot more fascinating than you first thought, once you allow it to be what it is, away from centre stage. But it you lodge elsewhere or camp, Yellowstone will present an entirely different mood than you thought it would have.
This is where the Earth is young and full of surprises. There is so much more going on than five or so famous attractions. The first national park is more amazing than you’ve been led to believe. But, you need to have leisure to relax and take it in. The crowded path by midday to the brink of the Lower Falls has an entirely different atmosphere at 8:00 pm or 7:00 am or in between.
The entire park is that way. It’s like stargazing — not so rewarding to those on a tight schedule. You see a lot more after your eyes have adjusted to the darkness. And, though faint objects don’t look like much when observed directly, avert your eyes just a little. You’ll find they come into focus much better and with more clarity.
From the overlook, you are considerably farther from the brilliant Cyanobacteria in the water going directly under the walkway and within which are animal tracks. Delicately unexpected patterns in the vapors over the spring including rare vortexes are entirely missed by those up on the hill.
And the celebrated visual angle, looking down on the spring, is found looking into the larger Excelsior Geyser from much closer. Missing the yellows and oranges? Excelsior’s are enjoyed on the walk to and from the basin and missed on the hill. You need at least twice the amount of days you thought you need to experience the park.
Lodging inside the park allows you to not only experience the sunrise and sunset lighting but also the middle of the night. Additional, you will be well ahead of the daily masses. Before they arrive and after they leave, even Old Faithful and even in July becomes peaceful, serene and eminently photogenic. Reserve a year in advance.
Try not to buy food in the park as it's very expensive, You can buy a cheap cooler to keep in your trunk with drinks lunch meat fruits snacks. Yellowstone is huge, and if you have kids you will be glad you have food on hand. There are lots of pull offs with picnic tables and areas you can just have a picnic just remember to secure your food. Touch you are in grizzly country.
If you shop for T shirts and such the smaller shops in the Western towns are usually cheaper than the National Park lodges and stores. Also buy gas outside the park and fuel up the night before or early in the morning. There is so much free hiking and geysers and wildlife and just the beautiful scenery to see that doesn't cost anything except for your weekly pass into the park which is good for 7 days. You can also get day or weekly fishing license.
No matter how you decide to do it, it is an adventure of a lifetime. Truly an amazing place. Take lots of pictures and you will have lots of great memories.
Great places to visit in USA, including the prominent ones, are Washington DC, Boston, and New York.
The gorgeous and mysterious beaches of the Northwest like Oregon and Washington are like nothing else on earth. Even the East Coast has a couple of worthy spots, albeit with much smaller waves like Siasconset in Massachusetts and North Carolina’s Ocracoke. White sand, black sand, pink sand, normal sand, you’ll can literally find it all in America!
Among the famous landmarks in the world, here are some of the most famous landmarks in USA.
1. Statue of Liberty, New York
Among the American tourist attractions, the colossal Statue of Liberty remain undaunted for more than a hundred years at the port of New York. The statue was given by France to the United States on the occasion of the centenary of its independence. Statue of Liberty stands tall on Liberty Island.
2. Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC
The nation’s capital. If you are an American history nerd, there are a tons of things to see here. Plus, the downtown area is very nice and upscale. The Lincoln Memorial remains striking even after you have seen it on endless postcards, book readings to a scene in 'The Simpsons'. The monster statue encompassed by the expressions of the Gettysburg Address is an absolute must visit for any American needing to pay tribute to an extraordinary president.
Interesting Reads: Things To Do In Washington DC
3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
If you are longing for a trip in timeless natural splendor resting in the cabins, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the place for you. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in USA. The immense forest between North Carolina and Tennessee exceeds almost twice as many visits to the second in the top ten, the Grand Canyon of Colorado.
Another attraction is the presence of around 1,500 black bears that roam freely in these mountains. The best time to travel to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina is from April to October. The park service charges a camping fee, but the rates are minimal.
4. Antelope Canyon, Arizona
One of the places that can most impress those of who travel to the national parks is Antelope Canyon in United States. It is a spectacular natural landscape located in northern Arizona, next to the town of Page, a town located on the boundary between northern Arizona and southern Utah.
It is about three hours north of the Grand Canyon of Colorado and the recreational park of Glen Canyon, which is considered a tribal park for the Navajo Indians, and specifically, on the shores of Lake Powell. The walls of this small canyon in the middle of the Arizona desert are so full of magic and softness, which through the photographs taken by travelers who visit it transmits an impressive beauty.
In this way, it becomes one of the places where the most beautiful snapshots are taken on the west coast of United States. Antelope Canyon is divided into two zones, the upper canyon and the lower canyon. The most visited and most appropriate in order to take pictures is the upper canyon, whose tour lasts an hour and a half.
It is highly recommended to try to make the visit at noon, about 12 o'clock, because it is the moment in which the light enters more deeply in the canyon, causing the most beautiful scenes. The tour involves riding a large SUV that travels a few miles along a very sandy road until you reach the shore of Lake Powell, from where you can access the entrance to Antelope Canyon.
Of course, it is important to avoid the first hours of the day and holidays. Since for the visit there is usually a large influx of tourists that coincide by the narrow canyon, this can make it difficult to take pictures without people in front. To visit this natural enclave you have the option to sign up for a Antelope Canyon tour from Las Vegas.
Located in the north of Arizona, Antelope Canyon is one of the top ten geological wonders. It is divided into two parts: the Upper Antelope Canyon and the Lower Antelope Canyon. This peculiar terrain makes the light here beautiful and strange. Some parts of the valley bottom can only be exposed to sunlight at noon.
The canyon used to be the habitat of pronghorn antelope. Antelope often roamed in the valley, so it was named Antelope Canyon. It is also an Indian reserve. Until now, some old Navajo people still meditate here to complete communication with the spirit of the earth.
5. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon in Arizona is an exceptional sight which everybody must see once in their lifetime. Among the best states to visit in USA, flying over the Grand Canyon with kids during vacation with family is perhaps the best option to admire its immensity. The viewpoints that look out to it are an excellent alternative to cover one of the natural wonders of the world from a privileged position.
6. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Drive the Columbia River Gorge and stop for a good long stroll at every feature including Crown Point, the Bonneville dam hatchery and fish ladder, and every waterfall, then getting a late lunch. For a full day’s visit, the Mt Hood scenic loop includes these and more.
7. Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Park is one of the most visited parks, and rightfully so. Yellowstone boasts crystal clear waters and gorgeous landscapes of mountains. This is the place to be if you have never been there.
The feats of the Yogi Bear made the Yellowstone National Park famous. But the truth is that there are so many natural attractions you have that you would not have needed. Yellowstone has geysers and other geothermal features. Yellowstone is a multi sensory experience where you can enjoy seeing the geysers, and grand prismatic spring, and morning glory pool.
You can feel the sun on your face, feel the wind in your hair, feel the mist from the steam, and feel the warmth emitted by some of the springs. You can hear the wind in the trees, hear the call of the ravens, and the occasional bugle of a bull elk, hear the clumping of the hooves of the bison on the road, the chattering of chipmunks and squirrels
You can hear the glub, glub, plop sounds of the mud pots, the hiss of steam escaping the fumaroles, the splashing and gurgling of springs, waterfalls, and geysers. You can smell the pine trees, the smell of fresh air, earth, sulfur, and wildflowers and you can taste huckleberry ice cream.
Here grizzly bears live with black bears, coyotes with wolves and moose and bison with deer, among other species. But here, too, there are rivers for whitewater rafting, lakes, lush forests, canyons and hundreds of waterfalls dotting this natural space distributed between the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Its boasts peerless geological features you can not find anywhere else.
It’s also perfectly accessible, many of its most iconic attractions can be viewed on a comfortable scenic drive. The Golden hour, has pros and cons to that. Unquestionably most landscapes come alive at that time. But the famous Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone’s Midway Geyser Basin will mostly only show off ethereal atmosphere in its vapors at those times. When the sun is the highest is the time its astonishing colors are best revealed.
Unfortunately, that’s when the crowds are the most intense and when parking may not be available. Either arrive earlier and wait, as the world passes you by, or park further away off the road where legal and walk in. By the way, everyone will tell you don’t park at Midway and see it from the boardwalk. The superior view is from the overlook off the Fairy Falls Trail.
There are pros and cons again. Plan ahead; reserve your room in the park a year or more in advance to find a reasonable rate. You’re welcome to stay outside of the park but if you don't reserve that early you’ll be paying the same as in but you’ll also have driving time to the park and you’ll miss out on relaxed ambiance before and after the summer hoards descend.
West Yellowstone, Montana, is the exception, it’s right next to the park but still 40 minutes from Old Faithful and traffic is bad coming out of the park. If you don’t get going early, traffic is bad going in. But if you’ve reserved enough time in advance, you can relax and enjoy it.
Pad your travel time to the park from home. A two-day trip to Yellowstone is sufficient if you don’t plan to see attractions along the way or if you don’t want to be able to serendipitously follow your nose at times. Once you’re past the famous, bucket-list attractions, you can relax quite a bit more and experience the authentic Yellowstone experience.
If you try to see the park in two days you’ll have memories of anxiety, too many traffic jams, Old Faithful was a letdown, the food was expensive, the service was poor and the wildlife wasn’t as prevalent as you’d been led to believe, except for the bison. Many try to see it in only one day.
Once you’re past the competing-with-the-crowds-for-inadequate-parking phase you’ll find the park is huge and full of atmosphere all those competitors are missing like picnic areas, a walk along a gravel beach/bar, steak dinner with a singing cowboy after a horse or wagon ride, fishing, a boat cruise, history, more wildlife than you saw the other day, amazing changes in lighting and weather and more than 1,700 kilometres of hiking trails.
Most of the crowds are on the road, in the parking lots or restaurants or at 5–6 highlight attractions. As for Old Faithful, viewers are kept back more than 100 metres. This is a result of one-viewing-then-on-to-the-next-attraction syndrome.
If you are lodging at Old Faithful and find out from the rangers what else is going to erupt and when, after you’ve seen bigger geysers like Grand, Great Fountain and Beehive, you’ll notice Old Faithful has been regularly performing but in the background, even in the middle of the night. Some eruptions are taller, some are shorter.
You may decide it’s a lot more fascinating than you first thought, once you allow it to be what it is, away from centre stage. But it you lodge elsewhere or camp, Yellowstone will present an entirely different mood than you thought it would have.
This is where the Earth is young and full of surprises. There is so much more going on than five or so famous attractions. The first national park is more amazing than you’ve been led to believe. But, you need to have leisure to relax and take it in. The crowded path by midday to the brink of the Lower Falls has an entirely different atmosphere at 8:00 pm or 7:00 am or in between.
The entire park is that way. It’s like stargazing — not so rewarding to those on a tight schedule. You see a lot more after your eyes have adjusted to the darkness. And, though faint objects don’t look like much when observed directly, avert your eyes just a little. You’ll find they come into focus much better and with more clarity.
From the overlook, you are considerably farther from the brilliant Cyanobacteria in the water going directly under the walkway and within which are animal tracks. Delicately unexpected patterns in the vapors over the spring including rare vortexes are entirely missed by those up on the hill.
And the celebrated visual angle, looking down on the spring, is found looking into the larger Excelsior Geyser from much closer. Missing the yellows and oranges? Excelsior’s are enjoyed on the walk to and from the basin and missed on the hill. You need at least twice the amount of days you thought you need to experience the park.
Lodging inside the park allows you to not only experience the sunrise and sunset lighting but also the middle of the night. Additional, you will be well ahead of the daily masses. Before they arrive and after they leave, even Old Faithful and even in July becomes peaceful, serene and eminently photogenic. Reserve a year in advance.
Try not to buy food in the park as it's very expensive, You can buy a cheap cooler to keep in your trunk with drinks lunch meat fruits snacks. Yellowstone is huge, and if you have kids you will be glad you have food on hand. There are lots of pull offs with picnic tables and areas you can just have a picnic just remember to secure your food. Touch you are in grizzly country.
If you shop for T shirts and such the smaller shops in the Western towns are usually cheaper than the National Park lodges and stores. Also buy gas outside the park and fuel up the night before or early in the morning. There is so much free hiking and geysers and wildlife and just the beautiful scenery to see that doesn't cost anything except for your weekly pass into the park which is good for 7 days. You can also get day or weekly fishing license.
No matter how you decide to do it, it is an adventure of a lifetime. Truly an amazing place. Take lots of pictures and you will have lots of great memories.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Is it possible to travel to Holland without having to stop in Eindhoven, devastated during World War II. Without much charm, it is famous for its football team, the famous PSV, as well as for the electronics company Philips. It is to the latter that the most fashionable city in the Netherlands owes its development as well.
But I advise not to immediately remove Eindhoven from your itinerary. In fact, the city can be very interesting as a base to visit its surroundings with some unusual things to do in Eindhoven. As an example, I will tell you that Amsterdam, the capital, is less than an hour and a half by train.
As we know, it was Edison who invented the light bulb, but the production on a large scale was something of Gerard Philips and his father Frederik. History tells the Philips Museum, but also the Art Hotel, in the city center, with rooms from 100 euros. Part of this four stars is inside the old tower of light where incandescent lamps were manufactured at the end of the 19th century.
And although there is little time to see the immense collection of modern and contemporary art of the Van Abbemuseum, just to see the spectacular building of Abel Cahen is worth approaching the river Dommel.
Visit the Strijp-S, the old Philips factory and headquarters of the Dutch Design Week. If you play at home PSV, Eindhoven is an opportunity to go to the Philips Stadion or visit its open air museum. Rent a bicycle at the Tourist Office and pedal to Neunen, one of the cities where Vincent van Gogh lived and where it is possible to see many of his most world famous works.
Finally, Eindhoven is also known for its airport, where low-cost airlines usually land. It can therefore serve as a gateway or exit to the country, with the consequent savings in the price of your tickets. So, when you go to buy or book your plane ticket, be very aware of Eindhoven. Often the rates to fly there are very interesting. In short, Eindhoven is really interesting as a base or to get to or leave the country.
When we organized the trip to the Netherlands, one of the things to start our adventure was to know how to get out of the airport and get to the area where we were going to stay, in this case, we chose an Airbnb on the first day to the outskirts of the center of Amsterdam. Many low cost airlines such as easyJet, Transavia and Vueling fly to Amsterdam's main airport, Schiphol. Without a doubt the best option if you want to go to the center of the capital.
There is also another alternative, that of flying to the Eindhoven airport. In this case, you can probably find cheaper tickets. The only drawback is the distance. Eindhoven is one hour and a half from Amsterdam. Ryanair, Wizzair and Transavia are the low cost airlines that fly to Eindhoven Airport.
In this post I will explain how easy it is to get to Amsterdam from the Eindhoven airport. As soon as you leave the airport there is a bus stop. Look closely, because if you do not have buses waiting you may miss it. We took the bus that left us at the Eindhoven train station. Even if it creates a bit of confusion, the train station and the bus station are together.
In that station was where we bought some cards with which we can access all public transport. While we were buying our cards, we took advantage and asked the girl what was the next train to Amsterdam Central Station and we went to the corresponding platform. The road to get to Amsterdam from the Eindhoven airport was quite simple and it only separates us an hour's journey.
Since we left the Eindhoven train station, all the landscapes we saw on our way were incredible. All very green, full of color and animals. Without problems we arrived at Central Amsterdam and from there we took the tram to our Airbnb house.
If it is a beer, the first stop may be a microbrewery Brouwerij het Veem. If live music is your thing, you can visit the hotel bars and restaurants near the restored Klokgebouw industrial building.
There are lots of taxis in Eindhoven which allow the travellers to get the taxis and have a journey, where they want to go. We are here to tell you which taxi service is better in Eindhoven. The numbers of taxi companies have outlets in Eindhoven. Most of the rental car companies such as Avis Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent-A-Car, Basic Car Rental, Budget Rent-A-Car, Taxi Star, Auto Europe, Casual Car Rental and many others.
The rental car companies have their offices, and the websites are available on the internet so you can book a taxi that you want. In the Netherlands, driving within is relatively straightforward without any distortion on the roads. The routes are well marked by which you can easily remember the path as well. Parking within the city is much quite expensive. It will charge around about €0.50 per 16 minutes.
Rental cars or taxis are readily available outside the stations such as airport or train or bus station. Travellers do not need to go to offices and book a taxi for them which can get them to their expected place.
However, if you plan for a long journey, or you are on your business or tight schedule, we recommend you to book the best taxi in early time. You can get a taxi car from any company that would be suitable for you, and you think that you can enjoy that, you should call the company and book a taxi online or on call.
The best taxis are the following given:
Taxi Star
With the rental cars or taxi along with a drive, this company offers you the high-quality service that you are expecting from us. The company also allows you to enjoy the journey in a peaceful environment. The cars are clean, equipped with air-conditioner, navigation and it is also free from any distortion or irritation such as advertising and it is free from damage too.
They serve their services in the best way that you expect from them. It has the fixed prices that the customers find the costs in their budget. According to my list this is the best Taxi Eindhoven.
PIN Taxi Eindhoven
It is a family business for 25 years of experience. It serves their services in a budget manner that a customer can afford it. There are lots of taxi cars that depend on your journey. You can book a taxi with a 50% discount compared to national or local taxis rates.
Pin Taxi Eindhoven will take you to you expected place or hotel or vice versa to Eindhoven airport or train station. At Pin Taxi, the travellers got a modern, clean and luxurious taxi at a fair price and fixed the low cost which would be in your budget.
You can pay the charges via debit or credit cards, and the respective driver will be happy to write a receipt for you. Their taxi service does not charge for extra luggage, any event fees or on holiday.
Their taxis make you sure for comfort with a bottle of water, Wi-Fi, cell phone charging facility and a few others. There is a big facility that this company is providing you which is you can calculate indications and navigations from start to end. If you cannot find your destination, you can get in touch with this company.
Airport taxi transfers
Eindhoven airport taxi transfers, the taxis are available on the lowest price which is much guaranteed. The big facility of this company, which is if you find the lower cost taxi than this company within three days of your arrival, they will refund the difference in the cost. The private airport transfer service of the company from Eindhoven airport is professional, comfortable, reliable and affordable.
You do not have to wait. You will be met the driver at the airport in Eindhoven by one of the professional drivers. That means no waiting much for a taxi in line. Roundabout one hour of waiting time is included for transfers from Eindhoven airport to your desired place.
If your flight delayed by chance, your professional driver will get know about it, and he will adjust the pickup time from Eindhoven airport based on your new flight arrival time. They also offer an excellent and flexible cancellation policy.
The rental cars are available for airport transfers in the Eindhoven range from lowest cost, sedan cars, and minivans to luxurious sedans, minibuses and buses that you desired to choose.
Taxi Eindhoven Airport
Passengers while travelling usually prefer this company as well, if you are moving from or to Eindhoven airport or train station you should avail this company services. They specialized in transportation to and from several airports in Netherland. The drivers of this company trained professionally for several airport routes.
They usually remind and understand the schedule of the airport like no other does. It’s a guarantee for you with a smooth slow of your peaceful journey to and from Eindhoven airport. This company completely try to unburden you and make you sure that you will be pick up and drop off to your desired place at the exact time.
It is the most convenient place, so you do not worry about the shuttle service. Luxury vehicles and professional drivers are available by this company to serve their functions. You can book a taxi online, and you can check your fare first without any obligation.
Hurm Taxi
This company avails you taxis which are much reliable and cheap as well. You can book it the taxi at a more affordable price. The professional drivers give you benefit from extra revenue from an empty kilometre. They want you to arrive safely and comfortably at your desired place.
The drivers also suggest and advise you to be punctual on the early time to check-in for the airport so that you will not face troubles of traffic and for the wastage of time. Hurm also makes every effort to drop you at the Eindhoven airport on time.
If you are travelling to Eindhoven, we recommend you to have the best service in the above best taxi service. You can avail all the facilities in the taxi by which your journey will be best for you in a comfortable manner.
You do not need to go to their offices to get a Taxi Neumünster, you can book the taxi online before a few hours to go to your destination. When you check out from your destination the taxi will be available for you at the right time with their most excellent services.
But I advise not to immediately remove Eindhoven from your itinerary. In fact, the city can be very interesting as a base to visit its surroundings with some unusual things to do in Eindhoven. As an example, I will tell you that Amsterdam, the capital, is less than an hour and a half by train.
As we know, it was Edison who invented the light bulb, but the production on a large scale was something of Gerard Philips and his father Frederik. History tells the Philips Museum, but also the Art Hotel, in the city center, with rooms from 100 euros. Part of this four stars is inside the old tower of light where incandescent lamps were manufactured at the end of the 19th century.
And although there is little time to see the immense collection of modern and contemporary art of the Van Abbemuseum, just to see the spectacular building of Abel Cahen is worth approaching the river Dommel.
Visit the Strijp-S, the old Philips factory and headquarters of the Dutch Design Week. If you play at home PSV, Eindhoven is an opportunity to go to the Philips Stadion or visit its open air museum. Rent a bicycle at the Tourist Office and pedal to Neunen, one of the cities where Vincent van Gogh lived and where it is possible to see many of his most world famous works.
Finally, Eindhoven is also known for its airport, where low-cost airlines usually land. It can therefore serve as a gateway or exit to the country, with the consequent savings in the price of your tickets. So, when you go to buy or book your plane ticket, be very aware of Eindhoven. Often the rates to fly there are very interesting. In short, Eindhoven is really interesting as a base or to get to or leave the country.
How to Get from Eindhoven Airport to Amsterdam
When we organized the trip to the Netherlands, one of the things to start our adventure was to know how to get out of the airport and get to the area where we were going to stay, in this case, we chose an Airbnb on the first day to the outskirts of the center of Amsterdam. Many low cost airlines such as easyJet, Transavia and Vueling fly to Amsterdam's main airport, Schiphol. Without a doubt the best option if you want to go to the center of the capital.
There is also another alternative, that of flying to the Eindhoven airport. In this case, you can probably find cheaper tickets. The only drawback is the distance. Eindhoven is one hour and a half from Amsterdam. Ryanair, Wizzair and Transavia are the low cost airlines that fly to Eindhoven Airport.
In this post I will explain how easy it is to get to Amsterdam from the Eindhoven airport. As soon as you leave the airport there is a bus stop. Look closely, because if you do not have buses waiting you may miss it. We took the bus that left us at the Eindhoven train station. Even if it creates a bit of confusion, the train station and the bus station are together.
In that station was where we bought some cards with which we can access all public transport. While we were buying our cards, we took advantage and asked the girl what was the next train to Amsterdam Central Station and we went to the corresponding platform. The road to get to Amsterdam from the Eindhoven airport was quite simple and it only separates us an hour's journey.
Since we left the Eindhoven train station, all the landscapes we saw on our way were incredible. All very green, full of color and animals. Without problems we arrived at Central Amsterdam and from there we took the tram to our Airbnb house.
Restaurants in Eindhoven
If it is a beer, the first stop may be a microbrewery Brouwerij het Veem. If live music is your thing, you can visit the hotel bars and restaurants near the restored Klokgebouw industrial building.
Transportation in Eindhoven
There are lots of taxis in Eindhoven which allow the travellers to get the taxis and have a journey, where they want to go. We are here to tell you which taxi service is better in Eindhoven. The numbers of taxi companies have outlets in Eindhoven. Most of the rental car companies such as Avis Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent-A-Car, Basic Car Rental, Budget Rent-A-Car, Taxi Star, Auto Europe, Casual Car Rental and many others.
The rental car companies have their offices, and the websites are available on the internet so you can book a taxi that you want. In the Netherlands, driving within is relatively straightforward without any distortion on the roads. The routes are well marked by which you can easily remember the path as well. Parking within the city is much quite expensive. It will charge around about €0.50 per 16 minutes.
Rental cars or taxis are readily available outside the stations such as airport or train or bus station. Travellers do not need to go to offices and book a taxi for them which can get them to their expected place.
However, if you plan for a long journey, or you are on your business or tight schedule, we recommend you to book the best taxi in early time. You can get a taxi car from any company that would be suitable for you, and you think that you can enjoy that, you should call the company and book a taxi online or on call.
The best taxis are the following given:
Taxi Star
With the rental cars or taxi along with a drive, this company offers you the high-quality service that you are expecting from us. The company also allows you to enjoy the journey in a peaceful environment. The cars are clean, equipped with air-conditioner, navigation and it is also free from any distortion or irritation such as advertising and it is free from damage too.
They serve their services in the best way that you expect from them. It has the fixed prices that the customers find the costs in their budget. According to my list this is the best Taxi Eindhoven.
PIN Taxi Eindhoven
It is a family business for 25 years of experience. It serves their services in a budget manner that a customer can afford it. There are lots of taxi cars that depend on your journey. You can book a taxi with a 50% discount compared to national or local taxis rates.
Pin Taxi Eindhoven will take you to you expected place or hotel or vice versa to Eindhoven airport or train station. At Pin Taxi, the travellers got a modern, clean and luxurious taxi at a fair price and fixed the low cost which would be in your budget.
You can pay the charges via debit or credit cards, and the respective driver will be happy to write a receipt for you. Their taxi service does not charge for extra luggage, any event fees or on holiday.
Their taxis make you sure for comfort with a bottle of water, Wi-Fi, cell phone charging facility and a few others. There is a big facility that this company is providing you which is you can calculate indications and navigations from start to end. If you cannot find your destination, you can get in touch with this company.
Airport taxi transfers
Eindhoven airport taxi transfers, the taxis are available on the lowest price which is much guaranteed. The big facility of this company, which is if you find the lower cost taxi than this company within three days of your arrival, they will refund the difference in the cost. The private airport transfer service of the company from Eindhoven airport is professional, comfortable, reliable and affordable.
You do not have to wait. You will be met the driver at the airport in Eindhoven by one of the professional drivers. That means no waiting much for a taxi in line. Roundabout one hour of waiting time is included for transfers from Eindhoven airport to your desired place.
If your flight delayed by chance, your professional driver will get know about it, and he will adjust the pickup time from Eindhoven airport based on your new flight arrival time. They also offer an excellent and flexible cancellation policy.
The rental cars are available for airport transfers in the Eindhoven range from lowest cost, sedan cars, and minivans to luxurious sedans, minibuses and buses that you desired to choose.
Taxi Eindhoven Airport
Passengers while travelling usually prefer this company as well, if you are moving from or to Eindhoven airport or train station you should avail this company services. They specialized in transportation to and from several airports in Netherland. The drivers of this company trained professionally for several airport routes.
They usually remind and understand the schedule of the airport like no other does. It’s a guarantee for you with a smooth slow of your peaceful journey to and from Eindhoven airport. This company completely try to unburden you and make you sure that you will be pick up and drop off to your desired place at the exact time.
It is the most convenient place, so you do not worry about the shuttle service. Luxury vehicles and professional drivers are available by this company to serve their functions. You can book a taxi online, and you can check your fare first without any obligation.
Hurm Taxi
This company avails you taxis which are much reliable and cheap as well. You can book it the taxi at a more affordable price. The professional drivers give you benefit from extra revenue from an empty kilometre. They want you to arrive safely and comfortably at your desired place.
The drivers also suggest and advise you to be punctual on the early time to check-in for the airport so that you will not face troubles of traffic and for the wastage of time. Hurm also makes every effort to drop you at the Eindhoven airport on time.
If you are travelling to Eindhoven, we recommend you to have the best service in the above best taxi service. You can avail all the facilities in the taxi by which your journey will be best for you in a comfortable manner.
You do not need to go to their offices to get a Taxi Neumünster, you can book the taxi online before a few hours to go to your destination. When you check out from your destination the taxi will be available for you at the right time with their most excellent services.
Monday, February 18, 2019
You must have heard a lot about UAE and the unique tourist attractions it has to offer. Among all these famous and unique attractions Dubai contributes a lot to the attract tourists in UAE. Dubai is not a destination for anyone, but this mysterious city is undoubtedly a unique metropolis and a perfect choice for travelers looking for new adventures.
The famous qualities that make Dubai an amusement park are what make this city in the United Arab Emirates a fashionable destination. With this in mind, we find unique experiences that you can only live in Dubai, a city characterized by luxury, its lively nightlife and an ultra-modern atmosphere for all tastes.
But in Dubai, you can make many other excursions that unite the adventure together, and in the majority you will stay with your mouth open. We list some of the activities that explain what to do in Dubai, by land, sea and by air.
Try it by booking a helicopter ride or a seaplane ride. It is one of the best things to do in Dubai, because it gives us amazing views from the air and the possibility of taking spectacular photos. You have the choice between four tours depending on the duration of the flight: Dubai Odyssey Tour with 40 minutes, Dubai Vision Tour with 22 minutes, Dubai The Palm Tour with 17 minutes and Dubai Iconic Tour with 12 minutes.
All flights depart from the helipad located next to the Dubai Police Academy. It is another adventure to do in Dubai from the air, and if I had to choose between seaplane or helicopter, I would keep the seaplane. One of the reasons is that its cruising speeds are 320 km per hour and 200 km per hour respectively, which allows in the case of the seaplane to fly over the most important places to visit in Dubai.
Another reason is that its offer of destinations is greater, we have the Dubai Contrast Hydroplane offer, to see the city of Dubai in a single day with two complete excursions from the air and by road, 25-minute flights through Dubai and Abu Dhabi and 45-minute flights touring the city of Dubai from Dubai Creek and Dubai Palm Jebel Ali.
If you plan to visit the theme parks of Ferrari World or Yas Waterworld you can do it from Dubai by seaplane, including tickets and return by road to your hotel in Dubai.
It is now possible in Dubai, to experience the sensation of floating! At Inflight Dubai, in the largest and tallest wind tunnel in the world, enjoy the sensation of weightlessness or also called zero gravity.
Make music in the desert under the full moon with Dubai Drums, an experience that combines the tribal rhythm of the drums with a relaxed and family-friendly environment, in which everyone can participate. For the most skeptical, it is proven that playing group music releases endorphins and is an excellent example of an ancestral activity that we can enjoy today.
It is your activity if you want to see the sunrise from the Emirati desert enjoying unforgettable views of the sunrise. During this trip you will have the opportunity to see the contrast between the reddish color of its dunes and the green of the oasis, as well as its fauna. An unforgettable experience!
Do you want to challenge your fear of heights? So Burj Khalifa is for you. If you are afraid of heights, it is best that you stay away from Burj Khalifa but if you want to challenge them, head to the 65-meter long conveyor belt that shows you the history of Dubai, before climbing up to the 124th floor to observe the city skyline from an impressive height.
To climb to the top of the skyscraper you will have to book a Sky Experience, which takes you to the highest outdoor observatory in the world, on the 148th floor, where interactive experiences of the areas surrounding the Emirate are included. Anybody can climb the Burj Khalifa’s observation desk upto 148th floor with fixed charges.
In day time before sunset ticket price is very cheap and night time same ticket can be 3 times higher. The very top of the Burj Khalifa is 163rd floor which is not accessible by public. However, this area is randomly accessed by high profile celebs and some adventurers & photographers with special permissions. Crown Prince of Dubai acessed this area multiple time and posted mesmerising pictures on social media.
Photographer and adventurers can access this part of the building with special permission.
Let yourself be dazzled by the shine of the Golden Souk. Have you ever looked around and thought, this is very nice, but it would be even better if it were gold? If you are a lover of this precious metal (and even if you are not), do not miss visiting the Dubai Gold Souk, the perfect place to buy not only gold, but also diamonds and other types of top-notch jewelry.
Even if you are not very supportive of ostentation, it is worthwhile to shop around this market and haggle with local vendors to take a good souvenir of your trip. It is open every day from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, except Fridays, when it opens at 4:00 pm.
The desert safari of Dubai is one of the best desert safaris in the world. You have four ways to enjoy the desert safari. You can go for a morning desert safari, evening desert safari, have dinner in the desert, and go for an overnight safari.
It is one of the places that visitors do not want to leave the United Arab Emirates without visiting, and the color of the sand and the dunes they form is different depending on the Emirate we are visiting. You can visit light red Abu Dhabi for having a minimum concentration of iron oxide, to creamy Ajman for its white coral sediments.
You can see red Dubai for having more iron oxide than in Abu Dhabi, in black Fujairah for the sand that comes of the erosion of its mountains, in Ras Al Khaimah, mostly white in quartz, in reddish Sharjah, pulling brown for its mixture of iron and lead sulfide, and in blue Umm al-Qaiwain, which is given by iron when it is not it's rusty.
The deserts of Dubai plays an important role in the adventure activities in Dubai and tourist attractions in Dubai. But what are the reason behind the high rated attractions? The reason is I guess the number of unique activities that a desert safari has to offer. It consists of crossing the imposing dunes mounted on spectacular 4×4 cars, until arriving at a Bedouin tourist camp for a dinner with tanoura show and belly dance.
Desert safari can be done at any time of the day but I guess the best time to do it is in the evening. Bonus point of doing desert safari in the evening is that you get to see the sunset in the desert also. Sunset is a very beautiful part of nature whether it is on the country side or on the desert. Dune bashing is another kind of thrilling activity here during the desert safari.
You get to experience the sand dunes of desert at a very high speed. Camels are the most friendliest creatures that can be found in a desert.
Camel rides are best on the soft red sand dunes. For those looking for stimulating experiences, the Dubai desert is their destination. Be it a private dinner at Arabian Adventures among the dunes in which couples discover wildlife and hidden desert stories, morning excursions, dinner with authentic Emirati food under a blanket of stars or magical hot air balloon adventures, while enjoying of silence over an endless ocean of dunes.
Live strong emotions swimming among sharks. You don't need to get on a boat and go to the open sea. The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo offers an experience with sharks in the middle of the city. Safe, inside a diving cage, visitors can witness sharks being fed a few centimeters away. This 30-minute experience also includes a tour of the aquarium facilities and the possibility of feeding shark pups. Of course, it is not an adventure suitable for heart.
Skiing in the middle of the desert? In Dubai, it is possible! Are you discouraged going to Dubai because of the heat it is? Do not worry! Ski Dubai is located in the Mall of the Emirates, the largest shopping center in the city. Change the desert dunes for a winter landscape created for the whole family and enjoy the pleasure of skiing without leaving a fortune and without planning a vacation to a ski resort.
To complete this peculiar experience of skiing in Dubai, you can book a visit to meet the penguins that leave their enclosure a few times a day.
Cool off in an ice bar. After skiing, do not take off your coat and visit the first lounge bar at a temperature below zero in the Middle East, Chill Out Dubai. At a more than refreshing temperature of -6 ° C you may want to warm up with a hot chocolate than to have an ice cream cocktail, but it is certainly an unforgettable experience for all travelers.
Visit Abu Dhabi and enjoy the speed. Yes, we know that Abu Dhabi is a totally different city, but it is only
90 minutes away by car. This trip will be only to get warm, because one of the things that stand out of Abu Dhabi is speed. After a few days in the Arab Emirates you have surely seen a few Maserati at full speed through the streets of the city.
Join the motor enthusiasts at Yas Marina, a circuit with a wonderful design that has been the scene of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
In Dubai there are also options for those who are looking for fun and taking the child inside, sliding down the longest urban zip line in the world or, for the more daring, the tandem zip lines of the XLine Dubai Marina. For the more adventurous, in the mountainous enclave of Hatta they can practice high intensity activities such as mountain biking, climbing, kayaking or hiking.
The famous qualities that make Dubai an amusement park are what make this city in the United Arab Emirates a fashionable destination. With this in mind, we find unique experiences that you can only live in Dubai, a city characterized by luxury, its lively nightlife and an ultra-modern atmosphere for all tastes.
But in Dubai, you can make many other excursions that unite the adventure together, and in the majority you will stay with your mouth open. We list some of the activities that explain what to do in Dubai, by land, sea and by air.
1. Skydiving in Dubai
Try it by booking a helicopter ride or a seaplane ride. It is one of the best things to do in Dubai, because it gives us amazing views from the air and the possibility of taking spectacular photos. You have the choice between four tours depending on the duration of the flight: Dubai Odyssey Tour with 40 minutes, Dubai Vision Tour with 22 minutes, Dubai The Palm Tour with 17 minutes and Dubai Iconic Tour with 12 minutes.
All flights depart from the helipad located next to the Dubai Police Academy. It is another adventure to do in Dubai from the air, and if I had to choose between seaplane or helicopter, I would keep the seaplane. One of the reasons is that its cruising speeds are 320 km per hour and 200 km per hour respectively, which allows in the case of the seaplane to fly over the most important places to visit in Dubai.
Another reason is that its offer of destinations is greater, we have the Dubai Contrast Hydroplane offer, to see the city of Dubai in a single day with two complete excursions from the air and by road, 25-minute flights through Dubai and Abu Dhabi and 45-minute flights touring the city of Dubai from Dubai Creek and Dubai Palm Jebel Ali.
If you plan to visit the theme parks of Ferrari World or Yas Waterworld you can do it from Dubai by seaplane, including tickets and return by road to your hotel in Dubai.
It is now possible in Dubai, to experience the sensation of floating! At Inflight Dubai, in the largest and tallest wind tunnel in the world, enjoy the sensation of weightlessness or also called zero gravity.
2. Dubai Drums: Full Moon Drumming
Make music in the desert under the full moon with Dubai Drums, an experience that combines the tribal rhythm of the drums with a relaxed and family-friendly environment, in which everyone can participate. For the most skeptical, it is proven that playing group music releases endorphins and is an excellent example of an ancestral activity that we can enjoy today.
3. Hot Air Ballooning in Dubai
It is your activity if you want to see the sunrise from the Emirati desert enjoying unforgettable views of the sunrise. During this trip you will have the opportunity to see the contrast between the reddish color of its dunes and the green of the oasis, as well as its fauna. An unforgettable experience!
4. Burj Khalifa: Tallest Building in the World
Do you want to challenge your fear of heights? So Burj Khalifa is for you. If you are afraid of heights, it is best that you stay away from Burj Khalifa but if you want to challenge them, head to the 65-meter long conveyor belt that shows you the history of Dubai, before climbing up to the 124th floor to observe the city skyline from an impressive height.
To climb to the top of the skyscraper you will have to book a Sky Experience, which takes you to the highest outdoor observatory in the world, on the 148th floor, where interactive experiences of the areas surrounding the Emirate are included. Anybody can climb the Burj Khalifa’s observation desk upto 148th floor with fixed charges.
In day time before sunset ticket price is very cheap and night time same ticket can be 3 times higher. The very top of the Burj Khalifa is 163rd floor which is not accessible by public. However, this area is randomly accessed by high profile celebs and some adventurers & photographers with special permissions. Crown Prince of Dubai acessed this area multiple time and posted mesmerising pictures on social media.
Photographer and adventurers can access this part of the building with special permission.
5. Dubai Gold Souk: All that Glitters is Gold
Let yourself be dazzled by the shine of the Golden Souk. Have you ever looked around and thought, this is very nice, but it would be even better if it were gold? If you are a lover of this precious metal (and even if you are not), do not miss visiting the Dubai Gold Souk, the perfect place to buy not only gold, but also diamonds and other types of top-notch jewelry.
Even if you are not very supportive of ostentation, it is worthwhile to shop around this market and haggle with local vendors to take a good souvenir of your trip. It is open every day from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, except Fridays, when it opens at 4:00 pm.
6. Desert Camping in Dubai
The desert safari of Dubai is one of the best desert safaris in the world. You have four ways to enjoy the desert safari. You can go for a morning desert safari, evening desert safari, have dinner in the desert, and go for an overnight safari.
It is one of the places that visitors do not want to leave the United Arab Emirates without visiting, and the color of the sand and the dunes they form is different depending on the Emirate we are visiting. You can visit light red Abu Dhabi for having a minimum concentration of iron oxide, to creamy Ajman for its white coral sediments.
You can see red Dubai for having more iron oxide than in Abu Dhabi, in black Fujairah for the sand that comes of the erosion of its mountains, in Ras Al Khaimah, mostly white in quartz, in reddish Sharjah, pulling brown for its mixture of iron and lead sulfide, and in blue Umm al-Qaiwain, which is given by iron when it is not it's rusty.
The deserts of Dubai plays an important role in the adventure activities in Dubai and tourist attractions in Dubai. But what are the reason behind the high rated attractions? The reason is I guess the number of unique activities that a desert safari has to offer. It consists of crossing the imposing dunes mounted on spectacular 4×4 cars, until arriving at a Bedouin tourist camp for a dinner with tanoura show and belly dance.
Desert safari can be done at any time of the day but I guess the best time to do it is in the evening. Bonus point of doing desert safari in the evening is that you get to see the sunset in the desert also. Sunset is a very beautiful part of nature whether it is on the country side or on the desert. Dune bashing is another kind of thrilling activity here during the desert safari.
You get to experience the sand dunes of desert at a very high speed. Camels are the most friendliest creatures that can be found in a desert.
Camel rides are best on the soft red sand dunes. For those looking for stimulating experiences, the Dubai desert is their destination. Be it a private dinner at Arabian Adventures among the dunes in which couples discover wildlife and hidden desert stories, morning excursions, dinner with authentic Emirati food under a blanket of stars or magical hot air balloon adventures, while enjoying of silence over an endless ocean of dunes.
7. Dubai Aquarium: Nothing with Sharks
Live strong emotions swimming among sharks. You don't need to get on a boat and go to the open sea. The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo offers an experience with sharks in the middle of the city. Safe, inside a diving cage, visitors can witness sharks being fed a few centimeters away. This 30-minute experience also includes a tour of the aquarium facilities and the possibility of feeding shark pups. Of course, it is not an adventure suitable for heart.
8. Ski Dubai: Indoor Ski Slope in the Desert
Skiing in the middle of the desert? In Dubai, it is possible! Are you discouraged going to Dubai because of the heat it is? Do not worry! Ski Dubai is located in the Mall of the Emirates, the largest shopping center in the city. Change the desert dunes for a winter landscape created for the whole family and enjoy the pleasure of skiing without leaving a fortune and without planning a vacation to a ski resort.
To complete this peculiar experience of skiing in Dubai, you can book a visit to meet the penguins that leave their enclosure a few times a day.
9. Dubai Chillout Ice Lounge: Enjoy a Cocktail Below Zero
Cool off in an ice bar. After skiing, do not take off your coat and visit the first lounge bar at a temperature below zero in the Middle East, Chill Out Dubai. At a more than refreshing temperature of -6 ° C you may want to warm up with a hot chocolate than to have an ice cream cocktail, but it is certainly an unforgettable experience for all travelers.
10. Dubai Formula 1: Experience Speed
Visit Abu Dhabi and enjoy the speed. Yes, we know that Abu Dhabi is a totally different city, but it is only
90 minutes away by car. This trip will be only to get warm, because one of the things that stand out of Abu Dhabi is speed. After a few days in the Arab Emirates you have surely seen a few Maserati at full speed through the streets of the city.
Join the motor enthusiasts at Yas Marina, a circuit with a wonderful design that has been the scene of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
11. Ziplining in Dubai
In Dubai there are also options for those who are looking for fun and taking the child inside, sliding down the longest urban zip line in the world or, for the more daring, the tandem zip lines of the XLine Dubai Marina. For the more adventurous, in the mountainous enclave of Hatta they can practice high intensity activities such as mountain biking, climbing, kayaking or hiking.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Tamil Nadu is one of the best places to visit in South India. Among the famous temples in Tamil Nadu are Meenakshi Temple, Kanchipuram and Nataraja temple. A trip to the Southern part of the country isn’t considered complete without a visit to the two C's - Chennai and Coimbatore. Taking pride in their uniqueness, both the places have their own charm and grandeur.
While Chennai is most famous for its culture and cuisine, Coimbatore is known for its natural beauty and age-old temples. Coimbatore to Chennai bus route is also scenic and adds a fun factor to the entire vacation.
Tiruchirappalli is known for its rock fortress and temple at a height of more than 83 meters. Other famous temples are the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam), Siva Tiruvanaikkaval Temple and the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the jewels of India but, despite being one, it is not so well known among travelers who venture to this area of this intense country.
It has 21 Gopuram (towers), the highest known as Rajagopuram and that makes the entrance to the temple, is more than 70 meters high, which makes it the tallest temple tower in Asia. Another of its most impressive towers is the white tower, with more than 40 meters high. Its annual festival of 21 days, called Margazhi, attracts a million people.
Dhanushkodi, on the southeastern tip of Pamban Island is called the arch of Rama. The waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean can be found here.
Bathing in this place is considered very auspicious. The bridge here is known as the Adam's bridge and the rocks around the sea are believed to be used by Hanuman to get through Sri Lanka. 16-km south-west of Ramanathapuram is the renowned Shiva temple of Uttarakosamangai. The temple has inspired many Tamil devotional works. And of course, it has inspired the Ramanatha temple in Rameshwaram.
Dhanushkodi once had a railway station and jetty service to transport travelers to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. It was a busy port town with a working post office, a temple visited regularly by devotees and a church attended by locals and visitors alike. Vinayaka temple was in front of our house And church was behind the house on the way to school. But now, only ruins are remaining.
Yelagiri is a small hill station located in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. If you are looking for some peace and isolation during the weekend, then you should go to this place. Yelagiri is a vibrant hill station and is one of the ideal places to visit near Bangalore. Like Kodaikanal and https://www.travtasy.com/2019/07/places-to-visit-in-ooty-travel-guide.html, you can enjoy the calm amid the incredible views.
Endowed with an aesthetic beauty by nature, Yelagiri provides a peaceful environment suitable for nature walks and hiking. There are several attractive tourist spots to visit here such as Punganoor Lake, Velavan Temple, Jalagamparai Falls, Murugan Temple, Moksha Vimochana Temple and Nilavoor Lake. Yelagiri also offers numerous adventure avenues especially trekking and rappelling.
Beside the infamous Nilavoor Lake in Yelagiri stands the Nachi Amman Temple.
Located in eastern Ghats in Salem, Yercaud is commonly called as the poor man's Ooty. Yercaud is blessed with forests, mountains and waterfalls, making this a paradise for travelers with limited budget. The Yercaud roads are well maintained, making this a great destination for a road trip.
Considered the queen of hill stations of South India and the capital of the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, Ooty, also known as Udhagamandalam is one of the most recommended hill stations in India. A drive through the Mudumalai forests is a treat to the soul. Home to the Indian tigers, elephants, gaurs, sloth bears, dhols and more; this is a safari you don't want to miss!
You can proceed to Masinagudi, a small village located near the wildlife sanctuaries in Mudumalai and Bandipur. Another place where you can go for a safari AND stay in a tree house!
Marudamalai Temple: Situated atop a hill, Marudamalai Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Murugan or Kartikeya. The temple complex is built using unique Dravidian style, which is around 1200 years old. Other than the religious aspect, the temple complex also offers sensational views of the surroundings.
Adiyogi Shiva Statue: Adiyogi Lord Shiva Statue has been recognized as the "Largest Bust Sculpture" by Guinness World Records. This 112-foot tall statue of Lord Shiva, situated at the foothills of Velliangiri Mountains, was inaugurated on 24 February 2017 by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Siruvani Waterfalls: Home to the tribals of Mudugars and Irular, Siruvani Waterfalls is located at a distance of 35km from Coimbatore. This dam is a major tourist attraction and is flocked by tourists all year round.
Anaimalai Hills: While the Western Ghats have been in the limelight as a tourist spot for a long time, its tallest and tallest subset, the Anaimalai Hills, has often been overlooked in favor of more popular areas and clusters such as the Sahyadris and the nearby Nilgiris . In recent years, the rich coffee, teak and sandalwood plantations surrounding the hills have attracted many travelers seeking to experience the majestic Western Gates in their pristine and untouched form.
From here the Anaimalai Nature Reserve located in the Anaimalai Hills of Pollachi, Valparai is a must-visit center. With tea estates ranging up to 70,000 acres of plantation and more, this slice of heaven is as green as it can get throughout the year! Turn back in time, live the colonial life and hospitality in plush bungalows and walk through the green lands and detox. Be sure to visit the numerous dams and lakes, plan a picnic or hike!
It is located at an altitude of 1,400 meters in the Western Ghats near Pollachi. The highest peak is the Anaimudi (8850 feet). A large number of dams and reservoirs exist in the area including the Aliyar dam, Kadamparai dam, Nirar dam, Solaiyar dam (one of the largest of its classes in Asia) Mannambhally Dam and the largest of all is the Parambikulam dam.
Some other prominent attractions in the city include Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Perur Pateeswarar Temple, Eachanari Vinayagar Temple and Marudamalai Temple. Coimbatore to Chennai bus fare is cheap and varies between Rs 700 to Rs 1200.
Located in the wide mountain range of Anamalai hills on the western ghats, Valparai will stun you into silence with its tea gardens and coffee estates. This place is a perfect travel destination.
Now its the turn of the East coast. An equally beautiful road trip from Chennai, Pichavaram on East Coast road is as refreshing as it can get. Make sure not to miss peaceful sunrise next day after exploring mangroves.
Tiruvannamalai isn’t much famous and not at all popular for a vacation purpose but it’s super peaceful and rejuvenating.
The route to Kolli Hills has about 75 narrow turns which makes the journey extremely thrilling.
Pancha Bhootha Stalas are a set of five temples spread all across Southern India, where Shiva is worshiped as one of the five primal elements. One of these five is the Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram where Shiva is worshiped as Prithvi Lingam (the element of Earth). The earliest historical reference to the temple can be found in the classic Tamil Sangam literature, dating back to roughly 300 BCE.
Occupying an area of 25 acres, Ekambareswarar is also one of the largest temples in the country. Rajagopruam is the main and the southern entrance tower of the temple. At a height of 192 ft, this eleven storied tower is the sixth tallest gopuram in India. The gopuram was constructed in 1509 AD during the Vijayanagar era.
To cover all these destinations, keep at least a week's time in hand. So, what are you waiting for? Book your tickets now.
While Chennai is most famous for its culture and cuisine, Coimbatore is known for its natural beauty and age-old temples. Coimbatore to Chennai bus route is also scenic and adds a fun factor to the entire vacation.
1. Tiruchirappalli
Tiruchirappalli is known for its rock fortress and temple at a height of more than 83 meters. Other famous temples are the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam), Siva Tiruvanaikkaval Temple and the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the jewels of India but, despite being one, it is not so well known among travelers who venture to this area of this intense country.
It has 21 Gopuram (towers), the highest known as Rajagopuram and that makes the entrance to the temple, is more than 70 meters high, which makes it the tallest temple tower in Asia. Another of its most impressive towers is the white tower, with more than 40 meters high. Its annual festival of 21 days, called Margazhi, attracts a million people.
2. Dhanushkodi
Dhanushkodi, on the southeastern tip of Pamban Island is called the arch of Rama. The waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean can be found here.
Bathing in this place is considered very auspicious. The bridge here is known as the Adam's bridge and the rocks around the sea are believed to be used by Hanuman to get through Sri Lanka. 16-km south-west of Ramanathapuram is the renowned Shiva temple of Uttarakosamangai. The temple has inspired many Tamil devotional works. And of course, it has inspired the Ramanatha temple in Rameshwaram.
Dhanushkodi once had a railway station and jetty service to transport travelers to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. It was a busy port town with a working post office, a temple visited regularly by devotees and a church attended by locals and visitors alike. Vinayaka temple was in front of our house And church was behind the house on the way to school. But now, only ruins are remaining.
3. Yelagiri
Yelagiri is a small hill station located in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. If you are looking for some peace and isolation during the weekend, then you should go to this place. Yelagiri is a vibrant hill station and is one of the ideal places to visit near Bangalore. Like Kodaikanal and https://www.travtasy.com/2019/07/places-to-visit-in-ooty-travel-guide.html, you can enjoy the calm amid the incredible views.
Endowed with an aesthetic beauty by nature, Yelagiri provides a peaceful environment suitable for nature walks and hiking. There are several attractive tourist spots to visit here such as Punganoor Lake, Velavan Temple, Jalagamparai Falls, Murugan Temple, Moksha Vimochana Temple and Nilavoor Lake. Yelagiri also offers numerous adventure avenues especially trekking and rappelling.
Beside the infamous Nilavoor Lake in Yelagiri stands the Nachi Amman Temple.
4. Yercaud
Located in eastern Ghats in Salem, Yercaud is commonly called as the poor man's Ooty. Yercaud is blessed with forests, mountains and waterfalls, making this a paradise for travelers with limited budget. The Yercaud roads are well maintained, making this a great destination for a road trip.
5. Mudumalai
Considered the queen of hill stations of South India and the capital of the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, Ooty, also known as Udhagamandalam is one of the most recommended hill stations in India. A drive through the Mudumalai forests is a treat to the soul. Home to the Indian tigers, elephants, gaurs, sloth bears, dhols and more; this is a safari you don't want to miss!
6. Masinagudi
You can proceed to Masinagudi, a small village located near the wildlife sanctuaries in Mudumalai and Bandipur. Another place where you can go for a safari AND stay in a tree house!
7. Coimbatore
Marudamalai Temple: Situated atop a hill, Marudamalai Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Murugan or Kartikeya. The temple complex is built using unique Dravidian style, which is around 1200 years old. Other than the religious aspect, the temple complex also offers sensational views of the surroundings.
Adiyogi Shiva Statue: Adiyogi Lord Shiva Statue has been recognized as the "Largest Bust Sculpture" by Guinness World Records. This 112-foot tall statue of Lord Shiva, situated at the foothills of Velliangiri Mountains, was inaugurated on 24 February 2017 by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Siruvani Waterfalls: Home to the tribals of Mudugars and Irular, Siruvani Waterfalls is located at a distance of 35km from Coimbatore. This dam is a major tourist attraction and is flocked by tourists all year round.
Anaimalai Hills: While the Western Ghats have been in the limelight as a tourist spot for a long time, its tallest and tallest subset, the Anaimalai Hills, has often been overlooked in favor of more popular areas and clusters such as the Sahyadris and the nearby Nilgiris . In recent years, the rich coffee, teak and sandalwood plantations surrounding the hills have attracted many travelers seeking to experience the majestic Western Gates in their pristine and untouched form.
From here the Anaimalai Nature Reserve located in the Anaimalai Hills of Pollachi, Valparai is a must-visit center. With tea estates ranging up to 70,000 acres of plantation and more, this slice of heaven is as green as it can get throughout the year! Turn back in time, live the colonial life and hospitality in plush bungalows and walk through the green lands and detox. Be sure to visit the numerous dams and lakes, plan a picnic or hike!
It is located at an altitude of 1,400 meters in the Western Ghats near Pollachi. The highest peak is the Anaimudi (8850 feet). A large number of dams and reservoirs exist in the area including the Aliyar dam, Kadamparai dam, Nirar dam, Solaiyar dam (one of the largest of its classes in Asia) Mannambhally Dam and the largest of all is the Parambikulam dam.
Some other prominent attractions in the city include Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Perur Pateeswarar Temple, Eachanari Vinayagar Temple and Marudamalai Temple. Coimbatore to Chennai bus fare is cheap and varies between Rs 700 to Rs 1200.
8. Valparai
Located in the wide mountain range of Anamalai hills on the western ghats, Valparai will stun you into silence with its tea gardens and coffee estates. This place is a perfect travel destination.
9. Chidambaram
Now its the turn of the East coast. An equally beautiful road trip from Chennai, Pichavaram on East Coast road is as refreshing as it can get. Make sure not to miss peaceful sunrise next day after exploring mangroves.
10. Tiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai isn’t much famous and not at all popular for a vacation purpose but it’s super peaceful and rejuvenating.
11. Kolli Hills
The route to Kolli Hills has about 75 narrow turns which makes the journey extremely thrilling.
12. Kanchipuram
Pancha Bhootha Stalas are a set of five temples spread all across Southern India, where Shiva is worshiped as one of the five primal elements. One of these five is the Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram where Shiva is worshiped as Prithvi Lingam (the element of Earth). The earliest historical reference to the temple can be found in the classic Tamil Sangam literature, dating back to roughly 300 BCE.
Occupying an area of 25 acres, Ekambareswarar is also one of the largest temples in the country. Rajagopruam is the main and the southern entrance tower of the temple. At a height of 192 ft, this eleven storied tower is the sixth tallest gopuram in India. The gopuram was constructed in 1509 AD during the Vijayanagar era.
To cover all these destinations, keep at least a week's time in hand. So, what are you waiting for? Book your tickets now.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Bali is one of the best places to scuba dive in the world. Indeed, Bali is an attraction for divers from all around the globe. There are the incredibly beautiful beaches and the rich biodiversity of the sea. In addition, the underwater world in Indonesia is quite unique.
Sunken temples and ships and coral walls that bloom with color can be encountered. Sea fans can swim near Manta rays and Mola Mola, as you marvel at the beauty of the deep sea.
This is why this article focuses on the island's best dive spots. Moreover, another favorite and exciting activity is free diving in Bali. Freediving, however, isn't uncommon. On the contrary, it's a little more exciting and an adventure than scuba diving. You must visit these best scuba diving in Bali spots if you are looking to relax your body and soul.
Let's begin with the best beaches in Bali!
The famous Menjangan Island (Deer Island) is one of the true natural treasures of Bali. The island is part of Bali Barat Taman National Park in Bali's northwest area. The beautiful coral reef gardens that surround the entire island make this spot so amazing. Can you imagine the underwater sight being so impressive?
Also, for scuba divers who wants to see aquatic animals, the place has a wide range of ecobiology. This is the perfect place to explore fish and colorful coral reefs. In fact, you will notice several coral species and colorful tropical fish.
But Menjangan Island is not even the best part. There will also be a look at turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays, frogfish and more. The visibility is good and therefore suitable for every diver.
The beautiful Pemuteran is another hidden gem. It is a fisherman village on the north coast of Bali. The jungle is green, the water is blue, and what else can you ask for, for a dive under the surface!
Before you get to the destination, the Pemuteran adventure begins. Because you have to pass by the mountain road past Bedugul if you want to get there. Three great views over three different lakes will be seen along the route. As a bonus, you can admire some of the best temples in Bali.
None of the beauty over the surface, however, comes close to the beauty of the underwater sites. The Napoleon Reef, Biorock Reef, Temple Wall, and Bio Wreck are the most popular sites. In shape of shipwrecks covered in beautiful corals species along with fish floating in the vicinity of the artificial metal structures.
You could even be fortunate and see great ocean animals such as whale sharks, eagle rays, and reef sharks. Pemuteran is the paradise spot for every diver who wants to enjoy underwater beauty and is one of the best diving sites in Bali. Furthermore, here you can go for night dives!
The experienced divers know that the word muck (a silty seabed generally of black volcanic sand) means to find unbelievable little treasures. A great tip before you go there is to make sure that you go with a Balinese dive guide. Spotting the Ghost pipefish, the nudibranchs or the pigmy horses require patience, knowledge and good eyes. The guides know the best places to spot them.
Liberty wreck is now one of the most popular wreck dives in Bali. USAT Liberty was a US cargo ship struck by a torpedo. You can start your dive from the black sand beach in Tulamben. The USAT Liberty is just 25 m away. You can see the bump head parrotfish School and Jackfish float around the boat when you go diving at sunrise.
In 1963, a 70 m deep underwater wall arose from the volcanic eruption of Mount Agung. This is a good place to try your luck on white tip sharks. You can also spot whale sharks if you are extra lucky.
Along with its village of fisherman and its black sandy beach, this is the ideal place for relaxing and peaceful diving. The 15 minutes of sailing by traditional jukung boats is compulsory to reach the charm of diving in Amed.
A great variety of marine life can be found in Amed. Keep your eyes peeled out for the ever. You can see the pygmy or occasional blacktip reef shark. You can also spot angelfish, puffer fish, trevally and lionfish.
Seraya Secrets is one of the most exciting dives in Bali with a truly amazing life. This is an essential destination for underwater photographers. When you enter Seraya Secret, at the same moment that your mask is submerged, you realize that you have entered another world.
You can see boxing crabs, zebra crabs, harlequin prawns, devil scorpionfish, mime octopus, juvenile lionfish, Coleman prawns. Just 10 meters deep, you can enjoy one of the most exciting dives in the world, full of strange life and that can only be found in this part of the planet.
Padangbai, also known as Blue Lagoon is a beautiful site. It is perfect for beginners or those who are looking for a cruise dive because the location is protected. Visibility is excellent, and you don't have to go too far to explore some of the site's beauty. Marine life is wondrously diverse too. You will find frogfish, morays, stonefish, nudibranchs, squid, stargazers and rays also.
Gili Tepekong and Mimpang await those with more experience seeking their next adventure. The great thing is that Gili Tepekong has poor conditions. The chances are that they will be appropriate for Gili Mimpang diving and vice versa.
There are beautiful rock formations, colorful sea life and calm corals in the underwater world. This part of Bali also offers an opportunity if you are visiting at the right time. July to September is the best time to dive in bali as you can see the incredible mola mola.
Nusa Dua is the most artificial and desolate spa town in Bali. The road is well equipped, and the streets are delimited by very well-kept flower beds. Some are private beaches for the clients of the hotel complexes. The prices in the warungs are expensive. The coastline is full of luxury hotels with activities typical of an amusement park. It is just worth the path that leads to the rocks on the shore.
Sunken temples and ships and coral walls that bloom with color can be encountered. Sea fans can swim near Manta rays and Mola Mola, as you marvel at the beauty of the deep sea.
This is why this article focuses on the island's best dive spots. Moreover, another favorite and exciting activity is free diving in Bali. Freediving, however, isn't uncommon. On the contrary, it's a little more exciting and an adventure than scuba diving. You must visit these best scuba diving in Bali spots if you are looking to relax your body and soul.
Let's begin with the best beaches in Bali!
1. West Bali National Park
The famous Menjangan Island (Deer Island) is one of the true natural treasures of Bali. The island is part of Bali Barat Taman National Park in Bali's northwest area. The beautiful coral reef gardens that surround the entire island make this spot so amazing. Can you imagine the underwater sight being so impressive?
Also, for scuba divers who wants to see aquatic animals, the place has a wide range of ecobiology. This is the perfect place to explore fish and colorful coral reefs. In fact, you will notice several coral species and colorful tropical fish.
But Menjangan Island is not even the best part. There will also be a look at turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays, frogfish and more. The visibility is good and therefore suitable for every diver.
The beautiful Pemuteran is another hidden gem. It is a fisherman village on the north coast of Bali. The jungle is green, the water is blue, and what else can you ask for, for a dive under the surface!
Before you get to the destination, the Pemuteran adventure begins. Because you have to pass by the mountain road past Bedugul if you want to get there. Three great views over three different lakes will be seen along the route. As a bonus, you can admire some of the best temples in Bali.
None of the beauty over the surface, however, comes close to the beauty of the underwater sites. The Napoleon Reef, Biorock Reef, Temple Wall, and Bio Wreck are the most popular sites. In shape of shipwrecks covered in beautiful corals species along with fish floating in the vicinity of the artificial metal structures.
You could even be fortunate and see great ocean animals such as whale sharks, eagle rays, and reef sharks. Pemuteran is the paradise spot for every diver who wants to enjoy underwater beauty and is one of the best diving sites in Bali. Furthermore, here you can go for night dives!
2. Kubu
The experienced divers know that the word muck (a silty seabed generally of black volcanic sand) means to find unbelievable little treasures. A great tip before you go there is to make sure that you go with a Balinese dive guide. Spotting the Ghost pipefish, the nudibranchs or the pigmy horses require patience, knowledge and good eyes. The guides know the best places to spot them.
Liberty wreck is now one of the most popular wreck dives in Bali. USAT Liberty was a US cargo ship struck by a torpedo. You can start your dive from the black sand beach in Tulamben. The USAT Liberty is just 25 m away. You can see the bump head parrotfish School and Jackfish float around the boat when you go diving at sunrise.
In 1963, a 70 m deep underwater wall arose from the volcanic eruption of Mount Agung. This is a good place to try your luck on white tip sharks. You can also spot whale sharks if you are extra lucky.
Along with its village of fisherman and its black sandy beach, this is the ideal place for relaxing and peaceful diving. The 15 minutes of sailing by traditional jukung boats is compulsory to reach the charm of diving in Amed.
A great variety of marine life can be found in Amed. Keep your eyes peeled out for the ever. You can see the pygmy or occasional blacktip reef shark. You can also spot angelfish, puffer fish, trevally and lionfish.
Seraya Secrets is one of the most exciting dives in Bali with a truly amazing life. This is an essential destination for underwater photographers. When you enter Seraya Secret, at the same moment that your mask is submerged, you realize that you have entered another world.
You can see boxing crabs, zebra crabs, harlequin prawns, devil scorpionfish, mime octopus, juvenile lionfish, Coleman prawns. Just 10 meters deep, you can enjoy one of the most exciting dives in the world, full of strange life and that can only be found in this part of the planet.
3. Padangbai
Padangbai, also known as Blue Lagoon is a beautiful site. It is perfect for beginners or those who are looking for a cruise dive because the location is protected. Visibility is excellent, and you don't have to go too far to explore some of the site's beauty. Marine life is wondrously diverse too. You will find frogfish, morays, stonefish, nudibranchs, squid, stargazers and rays also.
Gili Tepekong and Mimpang await those with more experience seeking their next adventure. The great thing is that Gili Tepekong has poor conditions. The chances are that they will be appropriate for Gili Mimpang diving and vice versa.
There are beautiful rock formations, colorful sea life and calm corals in the underwater world. This part of Bali also offers an opportunity if you are visiting at the right time. July to September is the best time to dive in bali as you can see the incredible mola mola.
4. Benoa Bay
Nusa Dua is the most artificial and desolate spa town in Bali. The road is well equipped, and the streets are delimited by very well-kept flower beds. Some are private beaches for the clients of the hotel complexes. The prices in the warungs are expensive. The coastline is full of luxury hotels with activities typical of an amusement park. It is just worth the path that leads to the rocks on the shore.
Monday, February 11, 2019
We don't know about you, but sometimes, we think a little bit of excitement is needed to break up the monotony of our regular routines. And if you're an Australian resident, or if you are a tourist planning an Australian adventure, we have some ideas here that will definitely get your heart racing.
Are you planning to travel to Australia in search of sun at any time of the year, or rare and endemic fauna? Here are our exciting experiences for your Australian Bucket List.
Here are some travel tips to prepare your Australian bucket list and the different things that Australian culture taught me as I moved from the northern territory to east coast to western Australia to south Australia:
Hamilton Island located near the Great Barrier Reef offers a unique environment. In the north of the region we find the Daintree jungle, the Whitsundays islands and the tropical islands of Lizard and Hayman. In the south is the cosmopolitan city of Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Surfing is an iconic part of Australian culture, and Bondi Beach is the preferred hotspot for both amateur and professional surfers alike. Don't worry if you don't have the right gear - you can hire what you need offshore. And if you don't know one end of the surfboard from the other, there are also surfing lessons available if you are willing to hit the waves.
Just don't be put off by the surfer dudes doing Eskimo rolls around you, because with a bit of practice, you will soon be kickflipping with the best of them!
Okay, so this isn't one for vertigo sufferers, but if you do have a head for heights, then take a Skypoint Climb up one of one of Queensland's iconic landmarks, the Q1 Resort Building. It takes around 90 minutes from the beginning of the climb to the end, but despite the effort, you will be treated to the breathtaking view of the Gold Coast and beyond.
Dining packages are available on booking, but you might want to eat after the climb, just in case you get an upset tummy while scaling the Q1. It's not you we're worried about; it's the poor folks going about their business down below who don't want that sudden deluge of your dinner!
Going to Australia during this time allows you to enjoy it without having to think about a lot of tourists fighting for space with you. At such time, you will surely see sunbathers whether it is in Ningaloo Reef, Fraser Island, Cable Beach, Bondi Beach, Whitehaven Beach or Kangaroo Island. Weird, right? At this time, you can have access to great hotels at affordable prices.
Have you heard about the Australian Alps? If you haven’t then it is time for you to learn a bit more about the most scenic part of this country. First of all, they have interesting, themed pubs all over the place, so you know you’ll have fun. If you want to experience Australia truly, I suggest you pay them a visit.
The other thing is that the Alps themselves, are quite beautiful. This range is located in southeastern Australia, and it overlaps eastern Victoria, southeastern New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory.
I bet when you are thinking about wine, the first thought that comes into your head is French or Italian, European in any case, even perhaps Napa Valley. However, Australia might surprise you when it comes to quality wine. Moreover, the wine regions in Australia are quite popular among the locals, and the most famous one of them all is Hunter Valley, Jacob's Creek winery in Barossa Valley and Yarra Valley.
While you are there, you should definitely visit the numerous, breathtaking white sand beaches Australia has to offer. My personal recommendation would be for you to take a small road trip to the Whitsunday islands and the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia.
Even though it does not qualify as your typical, surfing beach in Australia, it is still a sight to behold. In fact, it’s the largest living “organism” on Earth, and it is spectacular. When you look at the sun shimmering on the water’s surface, you’ll know you made the right choice.
Therefore, what I learned from Australia as well, is to breath in the beauty and relax. Here are the Australian Islands You Need To Explore.
Do you want to know why Australia has by far the best coffee in the world? It's because it also has the largest Greek population in Melbourne and Sydney. Even though that might not make sense right away, just think about the traditional coffee recipes brought here by the Greeks. Now blend that with Australian techniques and Asian influences.
After years and decades spent on perfecting different types of coffee and working with numerous ingredients and combinations, the Australian coffee scene was born. Honestly, the coffee itself makes it worth it for you to travel to Australia. You can find almost any type of cappuccino, mochaccino, frappucino there, and you should make it a priority to at least try a few different flavors while sitting along the Sydney Harbour watching the Opera House.
There is more to do, of course. You might swim with the whale sharks on the Ningaloo Reef, take a road trip along the Great Ocean Road and see the unique rock formations in the Twelve Apostles or cage dive with a Great White Shark at Port Lincoln.
You can disconnect a few days while discovering typical landscapes of the South Australia in Kangaroo Island. Apart from kangaroos you can see sea lions resting on coves, koalas and penguins. Eucalyptus forests, extensive deep blue beaches, underground caves and a host of other landscapes await you.
You can go into the desert of Australia and find places as incredible as the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and visit the sacred monolith of the aborigines in the northern territory. Also known as Ayers Rock, this huge monolith in the red centre stands out in the middle of nowhere and is a symbol of spiritual importance for some Australian aborigines.
There is more talk of northern lights, but the aurora australis is just as incredible. In the southern hemisphere there are several places to witness this phenomenon as from Antarctica but the most wonderful originate in southern Tasmania in Australia and New Zealand. They can be seen throughout the year, but it is recommended to visit during the equinox.
At up to four days sail through some of the roughest seas in the world, Australia’s Macquarie Island lies right on the geographic and geological border of Oceania and the Southern Ocean. There, you’re halfway to the edge of the antarctic ends of the Earth, where the planet’s largest tectonic plate (the Pacific plate) grinds into the submerged eighth continent of Zealandia and the Indo-Australian plate (the oldest exposed on the globe’s surface) — all that remains on this face of the planet of Gondwana from a ½-billion years ago.
Unusual? The island’s the only Pacific island in the world where the rock’s thrust up from six kilometres below the surface of the Earth, then pushed over the Oceanic plate through another three kilometres of ocean depths — an entire sequence of rock layers from the Earth’s crust to the upper mantle exposed above sea level.
At Macca, 1,500 km from Tasmania and almost an equal distance north of the Antarctic, the average temperature varies between 3-7°C all year. It’s also one of the cloudiest places on Earth, with barely 180 hours of sunshine each year. The winds are near constant year-round at 30 km/h, with rain or snow 320 days per year.
Macquarie Island’s home to thousands of royal, rockhopper and gentoo penguins, plus petrels, albatross, skua and ducks. Add 80,000 elephant seals, with adult males up to four metres (13 feet) long and weighing as much as four tonnes. Each summer, Macca hosts the world’s entire population of 800,000 king penguins.
Among all the islands in the Pacific and Oceania, Macca is completely geologically unique — the only ophiolite found anywhere in an ocean basin — a pristine, sub-antarctic wilderness.
Australia has many exciting experiences just begging to be tried, and while we haven't covered everything here, we are sure you will find something incredible to do to add to your Australian Bucket List.
Are you planning to travel to Australia in search of sun at any time of the year, or rare and endemic fauna? Here are our exciting experiences for your Australian Bucket List.
Here are some travel tips to prepare your Australian bucket list and the different things that Australian culture taught me as I moved from the northern territory to east coast to western Australia to south Australia:
1. Dive down into the Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island located near the Great Barrier Reef offers a unique environment. In the north of the region we find the Daintree jungle, the Whitsundays islands and the tropical islands of Lizard and Hayman. In the south is the cosmopolitan city of Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
2. Ride a wave at Bondi Beach
Surfing is an iconic part of Australian culture, and Bondi Beach is the preferred hotspot for both amateur and professional surfers alike. Don't worry if you don't have the right gear - you can hire what you need offshore. And if you don't know one end of the surfboard from the other, there are also surfing lessons available if you are willing to hit the waves.
Just don't be put off by the surfer dudes doing Eskimo rolls around you, because with a bit of practice, you will soon be kickflipping with the best of them!
3. Climb Australia's tallest building
Okay, so this isn't one for vertigo sufferers, but if you do have a head for heights, then take a Skypoint Climb up one of one of Queensland's iconic landmarks, the Q1 Resort Building. It takes around 90 minutes from the beginning of the climb to the end, but despite the effort, you will be treated to the breathtaking view of the Gold Coast and beyond.
Dining packages are available on booking, but you might want to eat after the climb, just in case you get an upset tummy while scaling the Q1. It's not you we're worried about; it's the poor folks going about their business down below who don't want that sudden deluge of your dinner!
4. You will love Kangaroo Island in Winter
Going to Australia during this time allows you to enjoy it without having to think about a lot of tourists fighting for space with you. At such time, you will surely see sunbathers whether it is in Ningaloo Reef, Fraser Island, Cable Beach, Bondi Beach, Whitehaven Beach or Kangaroo Island. Weird, right? At this time, you can have access to great hotels at affordable prices.
5. The Australian Alps in Victoria
Have you heard about the Australian Alps? If you haven’t then it is time for you to learn a bit more about the most scenic part of this country. First of all, they have interesting, themed pubs all over the place, so you know you’ll have fun. If you want to experience Australia truly, I suggest you pay them a visit.
The other thing is that the Alps themselves, are quite beautiful. This range is located in southeastern Australia, and it overlaps eastern Victoria, southeastern New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory.
6. The wine regions in Yarra Valley
I bet when you are thinking about wine, the first thought that comes into your head is French or Italian, European in any case, even perhaps Napa Valley. However, Australia might surprise you when it comes to quality wine. Moreover, the wine regions in Australia are quite popular among the locals, and the most famous one of them all is Hunter Valley, Jacob's Creek winery in Barossa Valley and Yarra Valley.
7. You must visit the beaches in Queensland
While you are there, you should definitely visit the numerous, breathtaking white sand beaches Australia has to offer. My personal recommendation would be for you to take a small road trip to the Whitsunday islands and the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia.
Even though it does not qualify as your typical, surfing beach in Australia, it is still a sight to behold. In fact, it’s the largest living “organism” on Earth, and it is spectacular. When you look at the sun shimmering on the water’s surface, you’ll know you made the right choice.
Therefore, what I learned from Australia as well, is to breath in the beauty and relax. Here are the Australian Islands You Need To Explore.
8. Sydney has the best coffee in the world
Do you want to know why Australia has by far the best coffee in the world? It's because it also has the largest Greek population in Melbourne and Sydney. Even though that might not make sense right away, just think about the traditional coffee recipes brought here by the Greeks. Now blend that with Australian techniques and Asian influences.
After years and decades spent on perfecting different types of coffee and working with numerous ingredients and combinations, the Australian coffee scene was born. Honestly, the coffee itself makes it worth it for you to travel to Australia. You can find almost any type of cappuccino, mochaccino, frappucino there, and you should make it a priority to at least try a few different flavors while sitting along the Sydney Harbour watching the Opera House.
9. Swim with the whale sharks on the Ningaloo Reef
There is more to do, of course. You might swim with the whale sharks on the Ningaloo Reef, take a road trip along the Great Ocean Road and see the unique rock formations in the Twelve Apostles or cage dive with a Great White Shark at Port Lincoln.
You can disconnect a few days while discovering typical landscapes of the South Australia in Kangaroo Island. Apart from kangaroos you can see sea lions resting on coves, koalas and penguins. Eucalyptus forests, extensive deep blue beaches, underground caves and a host of other landscapes await you.
You can go into the desert of Australia and find places as incredible as the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and visit the sacred monolith of the aborigines in the northern territory. Also known as Ayers Rock, this huge monolith in the red centre stands out in the middle of nowhere and is a symbol of spiritual importance for some Australian aborigines.
10. Witness the aurora australis in Tasmania
There is more talk of northern lights, but the aurora australis is just as incredible. In the southern hemisphere there are several places to witness this phenomenon as from Antarctica but the most wonderful originate in southern Tasmania in Australia and New Zealand. They can be seen throughout the year, but it is recommended to visit during the equinox.
At up to four days sail through some of the roughest seas in the world, Australia’s Macquarie Island lies right on the geographic and geological border of Oceania and the Southern Ocean. There, you’re halfway to the edge of the antarctic ends of the Earth, where the planet’s largest tectonic plate (the Pacific plate) grinds into the submerged eighth continent of Zealandia and the Indo-Australian plate (the oldest exposed on the globe’s surface) — all that remains on this face of the planet of Gondwana from a ½-billion years ago.
Unusual? The island’s the only Pacific island in the world where the rock’s thrust up from six kilometres below the surface of the Earth, then pushed over the Oceanic plate through another three kilometres of ocean depths — an entire sequence of rock layers from the Earth’s crust to the upper mantle exposed above sea level.
At Macca, 1,500 km from Tasmania and almost an equal distance north of the Antarctic, the average temperature varies between 3-7°C all year. It’s also one of the cloudiest places on Earth, with barely 180 hours of sunshine each year. The winds are near constant year-round at 30 km/h, with rain or snow 320 days per year.
Macquarie Island’s home to thousands of royal, rockhopper and gentoo penguins, plus petrels, albatross, skua and ducks. Add 80,000 elephant seals, with adult males up to four metres (13 feet) long and weighing as much as four tonnes. Each summer, Macca hosts the world’s entire population of 800,000 king penguins.
Among all the islands in the Pacific and Oceania, Macca is completely geologically unique — the only ophiolite found anywhere in an ocean basin — a pristine, sub-antarctic wilderness.
Australia has many exciting experiences just begging to be tried, and while we haven't covered everything here, we are sure you will find something incredible to do to add to your Australian Bucket List.
Friday, February 08, 2019
Everyone's favourite holiday is about to make an appearance. That's right. Valentine's Day is around the corner - and whether you want to celebrate with your partner, un-valentine with your friends and family, or fly solo, we're here to help you out!
Valentine's Day is synonymous with romanticism and traveling is one of the best ways to celebrate love. But more and more couples leave a single pattern and love is understood in many different ways. February is the best month of the year to plan a trip to the world class snowy destinations before the spring sun reaches us and all the snow melts.
Winter is almost on its way out, so if you still want to bust out the skis and break into the comfy hug of warm coats and jackets, February is a good time to go for honeymoon in a romantic getaway, glamping sites in forests, cozy mountain lodges and more.
February is also a month for festivals like the Chinese new year and mardi gras. Some of the best places to visit in February for honeymoon are the Caribbean island, the big apple in the east coast or among UNESCO world heritage site and cobblestone streets in Europe or a national park near San Francisco.
Here in this travel blog are some best places to go for valentine's day staycation and plan a tour.
Come on, those who knew themselves at eighteen years of age or earlier and have not separated since. Carrying all life together requires putting a note of excitement and surprise, and what better fate than Morocco. It's close, it's a cheap and culturally exotic destination. No couple can resist the charms of Marrakech in the Jemaa el-Fna Square.
It is the epicenter of the city 24 hours a day and getting close to the great desert dune in Merzouga is a guarantee of a unique experience.
Udaipur, in all its finery, is the epitome of a luxury holiday - and what better day to splurge with your partner than a day meant to celebrate each other? Head on over to this Rajasthani town of lakes to enjoy comfortable stays, sunsets rippling over water, and private, romantic boat rides where you can forget about the rest of the world.
If you're looking to take a fun road trip through Rajasthan, then drive over to Shekhawati. This open-air gallery is super underrated - and the wonderfully restored havelis are the perfect chance to experience some royal treatment! Have a picnic on the sands, take a walk through the village, chill by the pool, and enjoy some folk and dance along with delicious food!
Want a Valentine holiday but don't have too much time to head out of town? Or do you want to have a private un-valentine with your family or gal pals? Either way, this farmhouse in Sohna Hills is a great chance to escape the city without going too far. A mere 40 minutes drive from the NCR, it's a great spot to walk through fields, enjoy a smooth drink, and have a picnic party.
If you're looking for a real adventure, then get onto an ATR and head to Shillong's valleys. This rainy state of India is a great place to go on treks, walks, and all kinds of nature fun. Check out the beautiful Umiam Lake for a picnic, or go on a daring adventure with your partner by exploring the Mawsmai caves - all while enjoying the rolling hills and landscapes.
Within close proximity to Patagonia, one of the most devastatingly beautiful places on this planet, Ushuaia welcomes visitors to the bottom of the world with its quirky buildings set against huge mountains.
Feel like heading somewhere with a little sun and silence? Phú Quốc is where the fun is at. Rent a private suite or villa on this Vietnamese island to take private dips in the pool, and enjoy lazy mornings with scrumptious breakfasts. Enjoy a siesta on the sand, or a romantic beach picnic to a glorious sunset.
Adventurous couples should consider taking a trip to the Patagonian forest in Chile where they will have one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day. The Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve offers various activities such as kayaking, rafting and mountain biking if that is something you are into but you can also go horse riding, fly fishing and sailing.
The great thing here is that there are many ways to experience this area, such as sleeping beneath a waterfall in the egg-shaped Hotel Montaña Magica where the rooms look like wooden cabins.
Then, you can also sleep in pods among the trees in the Canopy Village which will allow you to get closer to the birds and give you a unique view of the local wildlife. Moreover, the Nothofagus Hotel & Spa is something that will truly take your breath away and make you feel like you are inside a tree. For some romantic alone time, you can ride a cable car or take a dip in the hot springs.
While this is in no way an exhaustive list, but these are some of the best places to travel in February for those who love the cold winter breeze. February is here, so get packing and to explore your favorite winter destinations!
Valentine's Day is synonymous with romanticism and traveling is one of the best ways to celebrate love. But more and more couples leave a single pattern and love is understood in many different ways. February is the best month of the year to plan a trip to the world class snowy destinations before the spring sun reaches us and all the snow melts.
Winter is almost on its way out, so if you still want to bust out the skis and break into the comfy hug of warm coats and jackets, February is a good time to go for honeymoon in a romantic getaway, glamping sites in forests, cozy mountain lodges and more.
February is also a month for festivals like the Chinese new year and mardi gras. Some of the best places to visit in February for honeymoon are the Caribbean island, the big apple in the east coast or among UNESCO world heritage site and cobblestone streets in Europe or a national park near San Francisco.
Here in this travel blog are some best places to go for valentine's day staycation and plan a tour.
1. Marrakesh, Morocco
Come on, those who knew themselves at eighteen years of age or earlier and have not separated since. Carrying all life together requires putting a note of excitement and surprise, and what better fate than Morocco. It's close, it's a cheap and culturally exotic destination. No couple can resist the charms of Marrakech in the Jemaa el-Fna Square.
It is the epicenter of the city 24 hours a day and getting close to the great desert dune in Merzouga is a guarantee of a unique experience.
2. Rajasthan, India
Udaipur, in all its finery, is the epitome of a luxury holiday - and what better day to splurge with your partner than a day meant to celebrate each other? Head on over to this Rajasthani town of lakes to enjoy comfortable stays, sunsets rippling over water, and private, romantic boat rides where you can forget about the rest of the world.
If you're looking to take a fun road trip through Rajasthan, then drive over to Shekhawati. This open-air gallery is super underrated - and the wonderfully restored havelis are the perfect chance to experience some royal treatment! Have a picnic on the sands, take a walk through the village, chill by the pool, and enjoy some folk and dance along with delicious food!
3. Haryana, India
Want a Valentine holiday but don't have too much time to head out of town? Or do you want to have a private un-valentine with your family or gal pals? Either way, this farmhouse in Sohna Hills is a great chance to escape the city without going too far. A mere 40 minutes drive from the NCR, it's a great spot to walk through fields, enjoy a smooth drink, and have a picnic party.
4. Meghalaya, India
If you're looking for a real adventure, then get onto an ATR and head to Shillong's valleys. This rainy state of India is a great place to go on treks, walks, and all kinds of nature fun. Check out the beautiful Umiam Lake for a picnic, or go on a daring adventure with your partner by exploring the Mawsmai caves - all while enjoying the rolling hills and landscapes.
5. Ushuaia, Argentina
Within close proximity to Patagonia, one of the most devastatingly beautiful places on this planet, Ushuaia welcomes visitors to the bottom of the world with its quirky buildings set against huge mountains.
6. Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Feel like heading somewhere with a little sun and silence? Phú Quốc is where the fun is at. Rent a private suite or villa on this Vietnamese island to take private dips in the pool, and enjoy lazy mornings with scrumptious breakfasts. Enjoy a siesta on the sand, or a romantic beach picnic to a glorious sunset.
7. Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, Chile
Adventurous couples should consider taking a trip to the Patagonian forest in Chile where they will have one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day. The Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve offers various activities such as kayaking, rafting and mountain biking if that is something you are into but you can also go horse riding, fly fishing and sailing.
The great thing here is that there are many ways to experience this area, such as sleeping beneath a waterfall in the egg-shaped Hotel Montaña Magica where the rooms look like wooden cabins.
Then, you can also sleep in pods among the trees in the Canopy Village which will allow you to get closer to the birds and give you a unique view of the local wildlife. Moreover, the Nothofagus Hotel & Spa is something that will truly take your breath away and make you feel like you are inside a tree. For some romantic alone time, you can ride a cable car or take a dip in the hot springs.
While this is in no way an exhaustive list, but these are some of the best places to travel in February for those who love the cold winter breeze. February is here, so get packing and to explore your favorite winter destinations!
Wednesday, February 06, 2019
Australia is not a place for the fainthearted. The fact is that this continent is inhabited by the most dangerous animals in the world. Water and land on the Green Continent are simply teeming with the diversity of its far from harmless occupants. Most Australians are accustomed to living next door to venomous snakes, spiders, crocodiles and other deadly creatures.
With some offbeat destinations in Australia, it seems like a world of its own. Australia has different things than what I was used to from knowing from unique wildlife in Kakadu National Park, a pink lake to having the longest fence in the world. While traveling Australia, there are a lot of things you will encounter that would scream of world class luxury, and remind you of 5-star accommodation in Sydney, or dining in Melbourne.
Australia is a country with white sand as well as blue mountains, where its cities can be separated by up to 4000 km. From Perth in Western Australia to Sydney, there are 45 roads! Visit the main cities of Australia and get carried away by its environment, in Melbourne, Byron Bay or Sydney. It definitely reminded me of such while traveling in Australia.
Whether your itinerary involves swimming, diving, surfing or cruising the Aussie waters, so make sure take note of the following tips.
While traveling Australia, you would see an eatery that has a logo similar to Burger King, but with a different name of Hungry Jack’s. Don't be scared. It is really Burger King, then why do they have a different name.
Another eatery has been using the name, 'Burger King' in Australia, and when the owner of the Burger King you know in the United States and other parts of Europe decided to expand to Australia, it was found that the name was taken. It's not only Burger King that has another name, McDonald's comes bearing a different name, though the reason is different from the former.
In Australia, residents preferred calling the eatery Macca's instead of McDonald's. The company decided to change the signage of some of its eateries to Macca's. If you are in Australia, and you opt for those cans that are labeled as lemonade, you will be left with lemon-lime soda that will remind you of Sprite, and not lemonade. To get lemonade in Australia, opt for Lemon Crush.
In a lot of countries, their hotels come with complimentary WiFi, but that's not the case in Australia. To access the WiFi, you are expected to pay AUD 25 for every night. This seems expensive and may leave you making use of your data plans.
You are probably wondering what Ute is. Well, that was how I felt when I heard the word until I saw them myself. Ute is a car built to look like a pickup truck. It is not common in where I come from but know for sure that if you step your feet in Australia, you will see them a lot.
The same way Kangaroos and Koalas are synonymous with Australia; the same thing can be said of ugg boots. These boots have been traced to the 1920s when they used to be worn by shearers inhabiting the areas that made up rural Australia. Surfers fell in love with them in the 1970s.
Never put your fingers close to them. There is a very high chance, especially in Sydney and eastern Australia it will be home to a Funnel-Web Spider. These beasties have a bite powerful enough to pierce soft shoes and even fingernails. The bite is said to feel like getting a nail hammered into you and the venom is very potent. Always check inside boots, watering cans, or clothing that's been left outside before using them.
While Funnel Web Spiders and all the other critters that roam Australia can be scary, actual encounters with them are quite rare and unlikely to yield a bite if you keep a cool head about it. Don't let these fascinating creatures scare you from visiting this beautiful country.
These are self sufficient and portable. Millions of these are consumed every year. In fact 270 million! And whilst not unique, the way they are made and consumed has lead them to be the unofficial Aussie national dish (which says so many things). There should be amounts of gristle to help hold it all together with the last gristle piece in your mouth acting as a sort of pie flavoured chewing gum for a lasting experience.
Best eaten in cold winter days at the footy (AFL) or Rugby, or when you discover the fridge is bare and you find one of these bad boys in the bottom of the freezer. Also a favourite of Tradies (Tradesmen) at morning tea or lunch who may attempt to put the tomato sauce on resembling a map of ‘straya’ (or a ‘map of tassie’ for the young apprentices), and will preface tucking into one by looking at it lovingly and say bloody ripper.
See burning roof of mouth. Also beware of ‘pie split’. This is when the pie splits or falls apart. The meat oozes out onto your hand and burns like hell, resulting in furious licking to both relieve the pain and to avoid spilling onto your clothes. Particularly deadly when combined with mouth burn.
Can be avoided by an experienced handler who will inspect the crust for weak spots and cradle accordingly, along with careful selection to ensure the pastry is sufficiently robust. Warning: DO NOT microwave, it will only end in tears.
This dish is a staple of pubs across most of Australia. Walk up to the barman/lady and ask for a Parma and a VB or the cheapest beer in the area. If you say ‘parmy’ or ‘parmo’ you are clearly not from around these parts. Craft beer is acceptable if you live in the hipster suburbs of Melbourne. There are even websites and Facebook groups dedicated to rate the Parma in your local area.
Although it originated in Italy and then America, nowhere in the world do as many pubs stock it and in fact probably survive off it. For pubs where there is a high blue collar working population that the flouro vest to Parma ordering ratio is as high as 80% (steak and chips comes in a distant second). Australia added ham to the recipe to one up those yanks.
Many pubs have parmas of the world night. Mexican Parma with chilli. Canadian Parma with bacon and maple syrup? Italian Parma, with meatballs. Hawaiian with PINEAPPLE! But All of those are like kissing your sister. Sure she’s a girl but it’s just plain wrong.
Best eaten when you’re hungry. Get a Chernobyl version of one of these and you won’t have to eat for days. These are so tasty and easy to make that any pub that can’t serve up a decent one shouldn’t be allowed to operate. The only thing to avoid is the perfectly heart shaped thin pieces that some places and supermarkets pass off.
Don't bother making them. Sure you might be able to make it better than some pubs, but you’re only going to go to the pub 2 nights later, umm and ahh about what to order and next thing you’re experiencing ‘Parma regret’ by having 2 in 3 days and fretting over the fact you’ll be back at the pub in another 2 days going for a third in a week, and possibly growing another finger.
Bonus tip. If you find one made with Panko breadcrumbs you’re on a winner. They are the schnitz.
No one can deny this black tarry goodness as being invented in Australia (yeah yeah, hold fire Pommies, read on). But then what about the first time you smoked, had coffee, alcohol?. In most cases they were pretty ordinary. But then you persist and the rewards (or not) are evident. Lightly cooked hot toast. Immediately put a healthy (or not so healthy) amount of butter.
Wait about 20 seconds for the butter to mostly melt and lightly dab all over bits of vegemite. Consume immediately. Just the right amount is heaven. The only other acceptable way to have vegemite is in a Salada or Vita Weat biscuit ‘sandwich’. A dab of butter, vegemite and squeeze 2 biscuits together until the vegemite comes through the holes like a bunch of little worms.
Whilst they taste just ok, the source of mild amusement makes the experience enjoyable. Don’t be fooled and let any Poms make you think that marmite is anything other than like most things with the mother country. They might have brought us over in convict ships and taught us how to play cricket/bathe, but despite being quarter of the population we are better at it.
The recipe is the same. But every now and then the dude in the internal marketing must get invited to the Ad agencies Xmas party and they convince him after a few lines of Columbian marching powder he should do iVegemite, or cheesy vegemite. NO! All you need to do is update the ‘happy little vegemite’ song with some influencer using auto tune and run an ad with the kids snapping their vegemite toast and putting it up on instaspam. #begemite
Best eaten anytime before or after drinking. Stock up on the vitamin B to reduce and relieve hangovers.
As usual in Australia, someone comes over from another country, brings their cuisine, ‘Australianizes’ it, and gains fame and fortune. The humble Dim Sim is one of those. So some Chinese dude came up with a dumpling/wonton cross on steroids and now they are sold at every single fish and chip shop in the country.
Go to your local fish and chip shop, order pieces of flake, potato cakes (scallops for northern states), minimum of chips, and fried/steamed dim sims. In THIS ORDER. The Dim Sims should come last because the customary response will be, do you want Soy Sauce. Now any decent Fish and chip chef will only ask this question if you have ordered steamed dimmies as no one in their right mind would have soy sauce with fried dim sims. Although there are exceptions.
Alternatively if you went to see bands in pubs in the 80’s they had to serve a ‘meal’ if they were also serving alcohol. This involved a raffle ticket as part of your door entry which you took up to the meal counter and exchanged for 2 fried Dim Sims so they could fulfill their compliance obligations because they wouldn’t want a bunch of pissed teenagers with empty stomachs.
But the girls wouldn’t touch them because it made their breath smell like baby vomit, so the boys would quite often end up eating them mixed with beers. So here we have boys with a gut full of dimmies and beer, and girls with empty stomachs and West Coast coolers (leg openers). What could go wrong!?
Needless to say, by the time the band finished and everyone spilled out into the car park to watch the obligatory punch on between Dazza and Bazza (or Shazza and Kazza if Kazza was rooting Shazza’s boyfriend Dazza) and get into their Sandman’s (Aussie Panel Van which usually had a sticker on the back stating, If the vans a rockin’ don’t bother knockin’ or Don’t laugh your daughter could be inside), you had to dodge the spew so your Addidas Rome’s didn't get covered in recycled cabbage.
The South Melbourne market dimmy is legendary. A long time ago another dude at the South Melbourne market in Victoria decided to supersize them. They’re bigger and badder. 2 of these is a meal and made correctly they are great. But beware, made badly and its an all night appointment with the porcelain bus and a plastic bucket because it will be coming out like a fire hydrant at both ends.
If you completely lose your mind and decide to go to the supermarket and actually buy these abominations, make sure you cook them properly. Best eaten after consuming large quantities of alcohol. They do have excellent soaking qualities.
The Chiko Roll has a disputed history. So disputed in fact there was a parliamentary debate about the origins. Seriously. Forget about debating global warming or recessions, here in Australia we want our politicians to know where our Chiko Rolls come from, goddammit! But the most likely origins come from Bendigo, Victoria.
Now ‘Benders’ is known for 2 things. A bit of gold mining, and one of the only places in Australia where you can be a Grandmother at the age of 30. Don’t believe me? Just take a walk down the benders mall on a weekday. It’s like a child care centre within a child care centre. Also it’s one if the most unlikely places in the world to have an Ice Skating rink.
Like the Dimmie, some dude thought How can we make a spring roll into a meal that can handle the robust manliness of a good Aussie blokes vice like hands? And bang! The Chiko was born. Like the pie and the dimmie you don’t make them. Get em at the footy, or local fish and ship shop. At one stage 40 million of these supersized spring rolls were sold a year.
The popularity can also be attributed with the 70s obsession with innuendo and phallic symbols. But along with the 70s they’ve gone out of fashion a bit and now it sits around 15 million. And apparently they taste better whilst wearing next to nothing in front of a fan and straddling a Harley.
Preferably get them pretty fresh. Nothing worse than a shrivelled up Chiko that’s been sitting in the Bain-Marie for 6 hours (just ask the ‘chiko chick’ above). But really you only need to bite both ends off and chuck the rest away. Best eaten like just about any ‘Australian’ food after alcohol or when your desperate for a quick bite that’s not quite a meal but will hit the spot.
A favourite of children’s parties for the last 90 years. These simple little triangles of joy have brought a level of delight to children that is only rivalled when one of their friends farts or gets hit in the nuts. The origins of fairy bread go back to Tasmania. ‘Tassie’ is a small island state south of the mainland with great wilderness, trout, great local produce, and dubious family ties.
But Australians being lazy thought: Well I can bake cupcakes, put icing on them and carefully sprinkle 100s of 1000s on them, or for a 20th of the time I can get some cheap bread and sprinkle the bastards with no regard. Pretty simple equation really. And the kids like them better. Now get your science hat on because it’s complicated.
Get a slice of white bread, spread copious amounts of butter and then sprinkle over hundreds and thousands. Cut them into TRIANGLES. Some people have suggested dipping them in the 100s of 1000s but really there is no bigger joy than seeing the 100s and 1000s spilling on the table, on to the floor and pretty much covering the whole house by the time the little blighters have finished, is there?
Plus if they are imbedded into the butter they get soggy. Now vegemite lovers may dispute the use of white bread only but this is a not negotiable with fairy bread. If you go to a friends party for their kid and they are serving fairy bread with rye or pumpernickel then it’s time to get a new friend.
As per bread variations, If anyone attempts to cut them into squares or get trendy with fingers or brioche versions or the like then ditch them like a goldfish that can’t swim. Best eaten at a kids party. In fact it is the only time you would eat them. They have the nutritional value of a handful of plutonium. Oh and don’t refer to cocktail franks as ‘Little boys’. Please.
Kangaroo are crepuscular meaning that they are mostly active at dusk, dawn and night. At night time they are attracted to light. It is common for Kangaroos to jump at incoming vehicle only to freeze (or blinded) by the light. If you are planning to drive at night time in the outback, drive slowly and extreme caution.
There is an item called the Kangaroo Whistle that emits high frequency noise used to repel Kangaroo. Avoid driving at night all together and take the gas station tip and rest at the motel.
It snows in several areas of the country every year, sometimes disrupting traffic and isolating communities. Even in areas that are deemed Sub Tropical, many homes run heating during the Winter. Melbourne in particular can be very chilly for months on end.
Somewhat true, but although the interior of Australia is desert - due to the lack of inland mountains that create rain such as in the Americas - large areas are green and forested.
This is a kind of inside joke by Australians. If you call anything Macquarie, you are a bit right, even when you don't know its name. In Australia, a lot of places have Macquarie attached to it, from Harbor, Street, River, Lighthouse, Hospital, Bank, Lake and lots more. Why is this so?
New South Wales had a governor, Major General Lachlan Macquarie, who spent his time, crafting out infrastructure that turned Australia to what it is today. You can see a giant stone chair that has the Macquarie name attached to it. This was where the Wife of the Major General would sit and stare at ships as they entered the harbor.
With some offbeat destinations in Australia, it seems like a world of its own. Australia has different things than what I was used to from knowing from unique wildlife in Kakadu National Park, a pink lake to having the longest fence in the world. While traveling Australia, there are a lot of things you will encounter that would scream of world class luxury, and remind you of 5-star accommodation in Sydney, or dining in Melbourne.
Australia is a country with white sand as well as blue mountains, where its cities can be separated by up to 4000 km. From Perth in Western Australia to Sydney, there are 45 roads! Visit the main cities of Australia and get carried away by its environment, in Melbourne, Byron Bay or Sydney. It definitely reminded me of such while traveling in Australia.
Whether your itinerary involves swimming, diving, surfing or cruising the Aussie waters, so make sure take note of the following tips.
1. Fast food giants have varying names
While traveling Australia, you would see an eatery that has a logo similar to Burger King, but with a different name of Hungry Jack’s. Don't be scared. It is really Burger King, then why do they have a different name.
Another eatery has been using the name, 'Burger King' in Australia, and when the owner of the Burger King you know in the United States and other parts of Europe decided to expand to Australia, it was found that the name was taken. It's not only Burger King that has another name, McDonald's comes bearing a different name, though the reason is different from the former.
In Australia, residents preferred calling the eatery Macca's instead of McDonald's. The company decided to change the signage of some of its eateries to Macca's. If you are in Australia, and you opt for those cans that are labeled as lemonade, you will be left with lemon-lime soda that will remind you of Sprite, and not lemonade. To get lemonade in Australia, opt for Lemon Crush.
2. Wifi doesn't come cheap
In a lot of countries, their hotels come with complimentary WiFi, but that's not the case in Australia. To access the WiFi, you are expected to pay AUD 25 for every night. This seems expensive and may leave you making use of your data plans.
3. You see Utes everywhere
You are probably wondering what Ute is. Well, that was how I felt when I heard the word until I saw them myself. Ute is a car built to look like a pickup truck. It is not common in where I come from but know for sure that if you step your feet in Australia, you will see them a lot.
The same way Kangaroos and Koalas are synonymous with Australia; the same thing can be said of ugg boots. These boots have been traced to the 1920s when they used to be worn by shearers inhabiting the areas that made up rural Australia. Surfers fell in love with them in the 1970s.
4. Never ever stand close to holes you see in the ground
Never put your fingers close to them. There is a very high chance, especially in Sydney and eastern Australia it will be home to a Funnel-Web Spider. These beasties have a bite powerful enough to pierce soft shoes and even fingernails. The bite is said to feel like getting a nail hammered into you and the venom is very potent. Always check inside boots, watering cans, or clothing that's been left outside before using them.
While Funnel Web Spiders and all the other critters that roam Australia can be scary, actual encounters with them are quite rare and unlikely to yield a bite if you keep a cool head about it. Don't let these fascinating creatures scare you from visiting this beautiful country.
5. Hand held Meat Pie
These are self sufficient and portable. Millions of these are consumed every year. In fact 270 million! And whilst not unique, the way they are made and consumed has lead them to be the unofficial Aussie national dish (which says so many things). There should be amounts of gristle to help hold it all together with the last gristle piece in your mouth acting as a sort of pie flavoured chewing gum for a lasting experience.
Best eaten in cold winter days at the footy (AFL) or Rugby, or when you discover the fridge is bare and you find one of these bad boys in the bottom of the freezer. Also a favourite of Tradies (Tradesmen) at morning tea or lunch who may attempt to put the tomato sauce on resembling a map of ‘straya’ (or a ‘map of tassie’ for the young apprentices), and will preface tucking into one by looking at it lovingly and say bloody ripper.
See burning roof of mouth. Also beware of ‘pie split’. This is when the pie splits or falls apart. The meat oozes out onto your hand and burns like hell, resulting in furious licking to both relieve the pain and to avoid spilling onto your clothes. Particularly deadly when combined with mouth burn.
Can be avoided by an experienced handler who will inspect the crust for weak spots and cradle accordingly, along with careful selection to ensure the pastry is sufficiently robust. Warning: DO NOT microwave, it will only end in tears.
6. Chicken Parmigiana
This dish is a staple of pubs across most of Australia. Walk up to the barman/lady and ask for a Parma and a VB or the cheapest beer in the area. If you say ‘parmy’ or ‘parmo’ you are clearly not from around these parts. Craft beer is acceptable if you live in the hipster suburbs of Melbourne. There are even websites and Facebook groups dedicated to rate the Parma in your local area.
Although it originated in Italy and then America, nowhere in the world do as many pubs stock it and in fact probably survive off it. For pubs where there is a high blue collar working population that the flouro vest to Parma ordering ratio is as high as 80% (steak and chips comes in a distant second). Australia added ham to the recipe to one up those yanks.
Many pubs have parmas of the world night. Mexican Parma with chilli. Canadian Parma with bacon and maple syrup? Italian Parma, with meatballs. Hawaiian with PINEAPPLE! But All of those are like kissing your sister. Sure she’s a girl but it’s just plain wrong.
Best eaten when you’re hungry. Get a Chernobyl version of one of these and you won’t have to eat for days. These are so tasty and easy to make that any pub that can’t serve up a decent one shouldn’t be allowed to operate. The only thing to avoid is the perfectly heart shaped thin pieces that some places and supermarkets pass off.
Don't bother making them. Sure you might be able to make it better than some pubs, but you’re only going to go to the pub 2 nights later, umm and ahh about what to order and next thing you’re experiencing ‘Parma regret’ by having 2 in 3 days and fretting over the fact you’ll be back at the pub in another 2 days going for a third in a week, and possibly growing another finger.
Bonus tip. If you find one made with Panko breadcrumbs you’re on a winner. They are the schnitz.
7. Vegemite
No one can deny this black tarry goodness as being invented in Australia (yeah yeah, hold fire Pommies, read on). But then what about the first time you smoked, had coffee, alcohol?. In most cases they were pretty ordinary. But then you persist and the rewards (or not) are evident. Lightly cooked hot toast. Immediately put a healthy (or not so healthy) amount of butter.
Wait about 20 seconds for the butter to mostly melt and lightly dab all over bits of vegemite. Consume immediately. Just the right amount is heaven. The only other acceptable way to have vegemite is in a Salada or Vita Weat biscuit ‘sandwich’. A dab of butter, vegemite and squeeze 2 biscuits together until the vegemite comes through the holes like a bunch of little worms.
Whilst they taste just ok, the source of mild amusement makes the experience enjoyable. Don’t be fooled and let any Poms make you think that marmite is anything other than like most things with the mother country. They might have brought us over in convict ships and taught us how to play cricket/bathe, but despite being quarter of the population we are better at it.
The recipe is the same. But every now and then the dude in the internal marketing must get invited to the Ad agencies Xmas party and they convince him after a few lines of Columbian marching powder he should do iVegemite, or cheesy vegemite. NO! All you need to do is update the ‘happy little vegemite’ song with some influencer using auto tune and run an ad with the kids snapping their vegemite toast and putting it up on instaspam. #begemite
Best eaten anytime before or after drinking. Stock up on the vitamin B to reduce and relieve hangovers.
8. Dim Sims
As usual in Australia, someone comes over from another country, brings their cuisine, ‘Australianizes’ it, and gains fame and fortune. The humble Dim Sim is one of those. So some Chinese dude came up with a dumpling/wonton cross on steroids and now they are sold at every single fish and chip shop in the country.
Go to your local fish and chip shop, order pieces of flake, potato cakes (scallops for northern states), minimum of chips, and fried/steamed dim sims. In THIS ORDER. The Dim Sims should come last because the customary response will be, do you want Soy Sauce. Now any decent Fish and chip chef will only ask this question if you have ordered steamed dimmies as no one in their right mind would have soy sauce with fried dim sims. Although there are exceptions.
Alternatively if you went to see bands in pubs in the 80’s they had to serve a ‘meal’ if they were also serving alcohol. This involved a raffle ticket as part of your door entry which you took up to the meal counter and exchanged for 2 fried Dim Sims so they could fulfill their compliance obligations because they wouldn’t want a bunch of pissed teenagers with empty stomachs.
But the girls wouldn’t touch them because it made their breath smell like baby vomit, so the boys would quite often end up eating them mixed with beers. So here we have boys with a gut full of dimmies and beer, and girls with empty stomachs and West Coast coolers (leg openers). What could go wrong!?
Needless to say, by the time the band finished and everyone spilled out into the car park to watch the obligatory punch on between Dazza and Bazza (or Shazza and Kazza if Kazza was rooting Shazza’s boyfriend Dazza) and get into their Sandman’s (Aussie Panel Van which usually had a sticker on the back stating, If the vans a rockin’ don’t bother knockin’ or Don’t laugh your daughter could be inside), you had to dodge the spew so your Addidas Rome’s didn't get covered in recycled cabbage.
The South Melbourne market dimmy is legendary. A long time ago another dude at the South Melbourne market in Victoria decided to supersize them. They’re bigger and badder. 2 of these is a meal and made correctly they are great. But beware, made badly and its an all night appointment with the porcelain bus and a plastic bucket because it will be coming out like a fire hydrant at both ends.
If you completely lose your mind and decide to go to the supermarket and actually buy these abominations, make sure you cook them properly. Best eaten after consuming large quantities of alcohol. They do have excellent soaking qualities.
9. Chiko Roll
The Chiko Roll has a disputed history. So disputed in fact there was a parliamentary debate about the origins. Seriously. Forget about debating global warming or recessions, here in Australia we want our politicians to know where our Chiko Rolls come from, goddammit! But the most likely origins come from Bendigo, Victoria.
Now ‘Benders’ is known for 2 things. A bit of gold mining, and one of the only places in Australia where you can be a Grandmother at the age of 30. Don’t believe me? Just take a walk down the benders mall on a weekday. It’s like a child care centre within a child care centre. Also it’s one if the most unlikely places in the world to have an Ice Skating rink.
Like the Dimmie, some dude thought How can we make a spring roll into a meal that can handle the robust manliness of a good Aussie blokes vice like hands? And bang! The Chiko was born. Like the pie and the dimmie you don’t make them. Get em at the footy, or local fish and ship shop. At one stage 40 million of these supersized spring rolls were sold a year.
The popularity can also be attributed with the 70s obsession with innuendo and phallic symbols. But along with the 70s they’ve gone out of fashion a bit and now it sits around 15 million. And apparently they taste better whilst wearing next to nothing in front of a fan and straddling a Harley.
Preferably get them pretty fresh. Nothing worse than a shrivelled up Chiko that’s been sitting in the Bain-Marie for 6 hours (just ask the ‘chiko chick’ above). But really you only need to bite both ends off and chuck the rest away. Best eaten like just about any ‘Australian’ food after alcohol or when your desperate for a quick bite that’s not quite a meal but will hit the spot.
10. Fairy Bread
A favourite of children’s parties for the last 90 years. These simple little triangles of joy have brought a level of delight to children that is only rivalled when one of their friends farts or gets hit in the nuts. The origins of fairy bread go back to Tasmania. ‘Tassie’ is a small island state south of the mainland with great wilderness, trout, great local produce, and dubious family ties.
But Australians being lazy thought: Well I can bake cupcakes, put icing on them and carefully sprinkle 100s of 1000s on them, or for a 20th of the time I can get some cheap bread and sprinkle the bastards with no regard. Pretty simple equation really. And the kids like them better. Now get your science hat on because it’s complicated.
Get a slice of white bread, spread copious amounts of butter and then sprinkle over hundreds and thousands. Cut them into TRIANGLES. Some people have suggested dipping them in the 100s of 1000s but really there is no bigger joy than seeing the 100s and 1000s spilling on the table, on to the floor and pretty much covering the whole house by the time the little blighters have finished, is there?
Plus if they are imbedded into the butter they get soggy. Now vegemite lovers may dispute the use of white bread only but this is a not negotiable with fairy bread. If you go to a friends party for their kid and they are serving fairy bread with rye or pumpernickel then it’s time to get a new friend.
As per bread variations, If anyone attempts to cut them into squares or get trendy with fingers or brioche versions or the like then ditch them like a goldfish that can’t swim. Best eaten at a kids party. In fact it is the only time you would eat them. They have the nutritional value of a handful of plutonium. Oh and don’t refer to cocktail franks as ‘Little boys’. Please.
11. Avoiding the kangaroo that roams at night
Kangaroo are crepuscular meaning that they are mostly active at dusk, dawn and night. At night time they are attracted to light. It is common for Kangaroos to jump at incoming vehicle only to freeze (or blinded) by the light. If you are planning to drive at night time in the outback, drive slowly and extreme caution.
There is an item called the Kangaroo Whistle that emits high frequency noise used to repel Kangaroo. Avoid driving at night all together and take the gas station tip and rest at the motel.
12. Take warm clothing
It snows in several areas of the country every year, sometimes disrupting traffic and isolating communities. Even in areas that are deemed Sub Tropical, many homes run heating during the Winter. Melbourne in particular can be very chilly for months on end.
Somewhat true, but although the interior of Australia is desert - due to the lack of inland mountains that create rain such as in the Americas - large areas are green and forested.
13. Anything is christened Macquarie
This is a kind of inside joke by Australians. If you call anything Macquarie, you are a bit right, even when you don't know its name. In Australia, a lot of places have Macquarie attached to it, from Harbor, Street, River, Lighthouse, Hospital, Bank, Lake and lots more. Why is this so?
New South Wales had a governor, Major General Lachlan Macquarie, who spent his time, crafting out infrastructure that turned Australia to what it is today. You can see a giant stone chair that has the Macquarie name attached to it. This was where the Wife of the Major General would sit and stare at ships as they entered the harbor.
