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Beach Honeymoon

Lazying out in the endless coastlines, soaking in the clear turquoise waters and a sunset dinner cruise is your perfect honeymoon destinations, then here are some beaches that will make you so “AWW”.

Glacier Express – A train to fall in love with

Some of the most spectacular train journeys one can make is in Switzerland. Topping the list is the “Glacier Express”. During this 7 ½ journey, expect to see gorgeous villages, soaring steeples, red sloped roofed houses, brown cows munching away the lush green grass, ice melting into little water falls, green forests and wild meadows. This St. Moritz/Davos - Zermatt panoramic train journey, crosses 291 bridges, 91 tunnels, and the Oberalp Pass which is 2033 meter above the sea level.

Hong Kong Highlights

Hong Kong is a vibrant never-say-sleep city. Neon-lit skyscrapers, tightly packed sidewalk, molasses-slow traffic, steam-filled eat outs identifies this overwhelming harbor city. In addition to the Cantonese Chinese and British influence, one can notice a diverse influence from Vietnam to Vancouver making Hong Kong a unique destination

Paris Highlights

Paris, the city of lights and city of fashion, has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic city in the world. History, art, culture, food or fashion, one can have a variety of attraction to see in this city.

Adventure Sport: Zorbing down the hill

For Adventure Sports enthusiast, Zorbing is a must do. Simply saying, Zorbing is a recreation activity of rolling down a hill inside a inflated ball. The experience is more like throw inside a washing machine. Though you might think with all the movement inside the zorb, you would end up black and blue, but Zorb is incredibly safe. The Zorbing site was first established in Rotoura, New Zealand.

World Famous Cuisines

The history, climate, geography, religion and culture have a deep impact on any cuisine in the world. The origin and migration of food have in turn influenced the history, culture and culture. For any traveler, tasting the world famous cuisine with its authenticity is indeed a great opportunity. Here are some of the world famous cuisines in no particular order: Lebanese Cuisine, Greek Cuisine, Spanish Cuisine, Japanese Cuisine, Mexican Cuisine, Thai Cuisine, Chinese Cuisine, French Cuisine, Italian Cuise...

Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts

Tokyo – A city of contrast

Monday, January 17, 2011 12:44 PM TOIP
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Tokyo, Japan, is a city of contrast, where future innovations in technology unfold in the center of old heritage and tradition. In this crowded city, shrine and temple stand side by side with tall and modern architecture. Advanced technology, craze for animation, youth culture, beautiful parks makes the city overwhelming. The land of rising sun is a great destination for anyone looking for everything during their vacation.
Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan. Photo-credits: www.weirdlyodd.com
Quick Facts:
Language: Japanese
Currency: Yen 
(Exchange Rate: 100 INR = 183 YEN, at the time of the post)
Time Difference: 3 ½ hrs ahead of IST

Best Time to Visit:
Spring (March-May) – The famous cherry blossom happens in March – April, when the cherry trees blossoms and turns into a shade of pink, making parks beautiful and picture perfect. The temperature is warm. There are many festivals during these months

Autumn (Sep - Nov) – The temperature and humidity is tolerable. The trees also change colors and it is as impressive as cheery blossom.

Get-in:
Visa:
Tourist Visa must be obtained from Japanese Embassy/Consulate prior to arrival. The Visa is valid for 90 days and can be extended for another 30 days. Passport, Visa application, Photo, Flight ticket confirmations and Certificate of Income/ Certificate of Deposit balance to prove travel expense are required. Additional documents or sponsorship might also be required. Once in Japan, one must carry his passport at all times, if found without passport, one can be fined up to 2,00,000 YEN.
Flights:
Direct Flights: Air India has a direct flight from Delhi to Tokyo.
Transit Flights: Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Beijing are some major transit points for Tokyo, Japan
Boat: There are ferries from Korea, China, Taiwan and Russia to the major ports of Japan

Getting around:
In Tokyo, train and subways are the most efficient means of transport. It is crowded and confusing at time. It’s best to analyze the Subway map before boarding. Passes and prepaid cards are available. Buses and ferries are also available in areas where subways are not present.
Photo credits: www.weirdlyodd.com
Attractions:
Tokyo has a number of attractions parks, temples, shrines, markets etc. The below link has the attractions divided by area: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html. Most of the tourists spend 3 – 5 days in Tokyo. There is a must see list:
  1. Shinjuku – The area around the busiest railway station in Japan. Place to see cosmopolitan city.
  2. Shibuya - The trendy and fashionable shopping district
  3. Akihabara – The electronic device market
  4. Ueno Park – Has temples, shrines, museums and a large pond
  5. Imperial Palace and Garden – Residence of the imperial family of Japan
  6. Tsujiki Fish Market – Japan’s largest fish market
  7. Tokyo Towers – The symbol of Tokyo
  8. Asakusa(Sensoji temple & Nakamise)
Do:
  1. On a Sunday, head to Harajuku to witness the fashion and cosplay culture of Tokyo teens
  2. Try Sushi
  3. Get a great view of the city from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building for free
  4. Visit Ginza, the premier shopping district
  5. Stay in a capsule
  6. Visit the theme parks and enjoy some adrenal rushing rides
Tips:
  1. Japan Rail Pass is great option if traveling in whole of Japan
Side Trips:
  1. Kamakura – Small city with full of historic treasures
  2. Hakone – National Park with the view to Mount Fuji
  3. Nikko – A world Heritage Site

Tradition Accommodations around the World

Thursday, December 9, 2010 10:46 AM TOIP
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Tradition accommodations provide you the taste of its culture and tradition. To make you holiday exclusive, why not stay in some of these world renowned traditional stays:

Paradores of Spain are a chain of historical and regional establishments "Inns" in unique locations and within monumental buildings like: Castles, Monasteries, Noble Mansions, Palaces. 
 In the old downtown area of Beijing, the traditional Courtyard Houses are quite impressive for the unique charm of the northern Chinese folk residence. 
Photo Credits: www.dailygalaxy.com
Ryokan are Japanese style inns found throughout the country, especially in hot spring resorts. More than just a place to sleep, ryokan are an opportunity to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle and hospitality
Photo Credits: www.nihonsun.com
Shop-houses are one of the most significant building types in Singapore. It reflects the architectural heritage and portrays the island's history and development. 
Photo Credits: www.photo.net
 Riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden or courtyard. An important design concern was Islamic notions of privacy for women inside residential gardens.
Photo Credits: www.travelrags.com
Peniches is a Parisian term for barges or houseboats. In recent years some of this Barge Paris (péniche Paris) have been given a more personalized look and have been converted into houseboats. These peniches in Paris become vacation rentals with a difference.
Photo Credits:www.pnich.com
Ger or yurt is a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by nomad Mongolians. Many tourists want to stay in gers in the countryside, and so tour companies are catering to this popular demand by setting up ger camps with simple but adequate facilities.
Photo Credits:www.telegraph.co.uk
Cappadocian cave hotels provide a unique experience for any traveler. Old volcanic rock homes have been restored into comfortable, extraordinary caves for travelers. Cave rooms range from very simple to luxurious and elaborate.
Photo Credits:www.suncodel.wordpress.com

Snow, Ice and Festivals

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 5:59 PM TOIP
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If snow and ice sculptures are your fascination, here is a few snow celebration that you will love:
Sapporo Snow Festival, Sapporo, Japan (Feb 7 '2011 – Feb 13 '2011)
This Japan's largest winter events attracts 2 million people every year. Began in 1950, when the local high school students built 6 snow statues, soon became famous as Japan Self-Defense Force joined them in building the first massive snow sculpture. Expect to see around 400 massive snow sculptures built by participants from various regions of the world.

 
Quebec Winter Carnival, Quebec, Canada (Jan 28' 2011 – Feb 13' 2011)
The history of Quebec Winter Carnival dates back to the time when the inhabitants of Quebec, then New France, had a tradition of getting together before starting to drink, eat and enjoy. Today the carnival is the largest one in the world. The Quebeckers have understood it that it is better to embrace the cold than to fight it. There are loads of exciting activities in the carnival.

 
Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, Harbin, China (Jan 5' 2011 – Feb 25' 2011)
Do you want to see world record sized snow sculptures longer than 1 or 2 football fields..Or be amazed at buildings, palaces, castles and other architecture that are wildly lit up and spectacular and are made entirely of ice. The tallest ice buildings in the last two years were about 50 meters (about 160 feet) tall! Or would you want to see the beautiful and intricately carved ice art of the international ice carving competition? Then come to Harbin during the International Ice and Snow Festival and see them before they melt. 


World Ice Art Championships, Fairbanks, Alaska (Feb 22' 2011 – March 27' 2011)
The world's largest ice art competition is a month long event where more than 100 artist build amazing ice sculptures. Though not a festival, the event is one of the best of its kind.

 
Saint Paul Winter Carnival, St Paul, MN, USA (Jan 27' 2011 – Feb 6' 2011)
Offended by a reporter remark “St Paul is another Siberia, unfit for human habitat in winter”, St Paul Chamber of Commerce commenced the first carnival in 1886. The event featured many activities like bobsledding and ice horse racing.

 

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