RSS Feed Twitter

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 November. Show all posts
Showing posts with label November. Show all posts

Cradle Mountains, Tasmania - A Wilderness Vision

Monday, May 23, 2011 11:12 AM TOIP
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 comments

The Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is one of the iconic national park in Australian island of Tasmania. Covering an area of 1280 sq. km., the national park contains some of the spectacular scenery and it is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Area. The Park actually is two, Lake St. Clair on the south-east side is the main attraction and starting point for Tasmania's most famous walks including the famous The Overland Track. While Cradle Mountain on the northern end has some of the incredible scenery.

The jagged contours of Cradle Mountain epitomize the feel of a wild landscape, while ancient rain forest and alpine heath-lands, button-grass and stands of colorful deciduous beech provide a range of environments to explore. Icy streams cascading out of rugged mountains, stands of ancient pines mirrored in the still waters of glacial lakes and a wealth of wildlife ensure there is always something to captivate you. 
Photo Credits: hobartcampervanhire.com
 Hiking is one of the major activity in the Park. Overland Track, a 80 km walk between Cradle Mountains and lake St Clair, is the most beautiful walking trail of the Park. There are guided tours for the walk, including stays at catered huts on the way and can be done in 6 days. If you are short of time, there are several small tracks.

Visit:
1. Avoid Winter months of June, July and August
2. During April, you can see the spectacular changing colors of the deciduous beech

Attractions:
1.Climb Mt Ossa, Tasmania’s highest mountain and visit the fairytale D'Alton, Fergusson and Hartnett waterfalls
2. Cruise along Lake St Clair, Tasmania’s deepest lake and a walk past highland lakes and rivers
3.  Explore magical myrtle forests and see a species of beech tree more than 60 million years old
4. Trek to the top of Cradle Mountain through button grass plains and herb meadows.  From the 1,545 meter summit, you can look out over Dove and Crater Lakes Crater Lake and see valleys, plateaus, heaths and forests stretching for around 80 kilometers
5. Watch out for Padmelons, Bennett's wallabies, wombats and possums
6. If you are interested in the natural history of the park, you can enjoy the displays and interpretation at the Visitor Center, which you will pass as you travel towards Dove Lake
Photo Credits: journals.worldnomads.com
Accessibility: 
Cradle Mountains (Northern End): Devonport, Deloraine or Launceston
Lake St. Clair (Southern End): Derwent Bridge on the Lyell Highways between Queenstown and Hobart.

Accommodation:  
Plenty of accommodations are available for the tourists of this park

Tips:
1. Walkers are limited for environmental reasons so you’ll need to book with Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service in advance.
2. Feeding animals is strictly prohibited in the park and a large fine amount is imposed if caught feeding animals.
3. Climate in the region is unpredictable and wet weather is very common. Hence suitable gears is recommended.

Damascus "World's Oldest Continously Inhabited city"

Friday, May 20, 2011 3:20 PM TOIP
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 comments

Damascus, the capital city of Syria, is believed to be established between 10,000 to 8,000BC. Amidst all the controversial explanation for the etymological origin of "Damascus", the city has greater significance. Under the Romans, Damascus was a chief town and later a fortress of Bilad-Al-Sham and also a passage to Mecca. The old-walled city of Damascus still preserves its historical aspect and gives an ancient feel with its narrow puzzling alleys, verdant courtyards, bazaars, minarets, mosques, street-cart vendors and coffee houses. Damascus city is also an UNESCO world heritage site.
Photo Credits: www.worldofmosques.com
Facts:
Currency: Syrian Pound or Lira [10 SYP = Rs. 9 at the time of post]
Language: Arabic
Time Difference: 2 1/2 behind IST
Best Time to Visit: March-May, Sep-Nov

Get-in:
Visa: Indian Nationals should obtain an visa before entering the country.
Flights: There no direct flights from India. Major transits are Dubai, Qatar, Turkey and Bahrain. Major middle-east airlines fly between the transits.
Trains: There are also trains between Turkey and Damascus. Seat61 can provide all the information.
Buses: Damascus can also reached in bus from Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon

Getting Around:
Taxi is the major mode of transportation. 
Photo Credits: doctormobiles.blogspot.com
Attractions:
Below the must-see sights in Damascus:
1. Azzam Palace 
2. Umayyad Mosque
3. National Muesum
4. Sayyida Ruqayya Mausoleum - Persian-Iraqi Architecture
5. Souq al-Bizuriyyah - Spice Bazaar
6. Khan As'ad Pasha, a cathedral from Khans
7. Chapels of Ananias
8. Souq al-Hamidiyya - a old narrow bazaar
9. Citadel
10. Mount Qasioun

Do:
1. Bath in a Hammam, Turkish bath.
2. Relax at a Hooka cafe
3. Taste the popular Shawarma

Tips:
1. Please check travel advisory before planning the trip
Side-Trips:
1. Homs - an ancient city by the river Orontes
2. Bosra - a Roman city 

Kuala Lumpur - "City of Cultual Diversity"

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 11:23 AM TOIP
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , 0 comments

KL, the capital city of Malaysia "truly Asia", has transformed from a humble tin mining village to a bustling metropolis This Asian cyber-city retains the historic temples and mosques along with some of the tallest skyscrapers in the Southeast Asia.The most memorable thing in KL is the culture and coexistence of various ethical groups, Malays, Chinese, Indians and the British.
Photo Credits: www.destination360.com
Facts:
Currency: Ringgits (RM or MYR) [1 MYR = Rs. 14.83] rate at the time of blog post
Language: Malay/ Bahasa Malaysia
Time Difference: 2 1/2 hrs ahead of IST
Best Time to visit: Nov-March

Get in:
Visa: Indian Nationals are no logger eligible for visa on-arrival. Valid Tourist visa is required before entering the country.
Flights: Metropolitan cities in India have direct flights to KL. Air Asia is a Major no-frill airlines to Malaysia. Air Asia flies from Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Tiruchirapalli. Air India Express (Indian low cost airlines) also flies to KL from Chennai and Tiruchirapalli.
Boats, Trains and Buses are also available from the neighboring countries of Malaysia.

Getting Around:
Trains, Monorails and Buses are the major mode of transport. KL Sentral is the major transportation hub. Prepaid cards and maps are available at all the stations. Metered taxi is also a very reliable and can be seen at all major sites and stations.

Attractions:
KL is one of those cities which doesn't boost many must-see. The highlight of the city is the people and their life. Most of the visitors spend at least 2 days to enjoy sight seeing, shopping and eating.
1. Petronas Twin Tower
2. Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC)
3. Aquaria KLCC
4. Menara KL Towers
5. National Mosque
6. Batu Caves
7. KL Railway Station
8. KL Bird Park
9. Petaling Street, Chinatown
10. Cosmo's World Theme Park
Photo Credits: www.destination360.com
Do:
1. If you are in KL during Thaipusum, Hindu Festival, visit Batu Caves to watch the celebration
2. Enjoy shopping and night-life in the KL's Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle covers the busy shopping area of Bukit Bintang, 5-star hotel strip of Jalan Sultan Ismail, The Jalan P. Ramlee party street and KLCC.
3. Chinatown is a haven for shopping and street food.
4. During F1 season, head to Sepang Formula One circuit (50 km from KL)
Tips:
1. If you want an excellent view of the city, head to Petronas Towers. It has a observatory viewing bridge between levels 41 and 42. The tickets to the viewing bridge is free and limited. Reach the tower early in the morning to collect the tickets, there will be a long queue.

Side Trips:
1. Genting Highlands - City of Entertainment. Casino and Theme Park is the mark of the place. The city can be reached in 40 mins by road from KL.
2. Putrajaya - The new Federal Administrative center of Malaysia. Has many beautiful federal buildings. It can be reached by KL International airport Transit.

ICC World Cup 2011 Special - Kandy, Sri Lanka

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 3:04 PM TOIP
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 comments

Generally recognized as the cultural capital of Sri lanka, Kandy is a major tourist destination and one of the cities hosting matches for ICC World Cup 2011. This scared Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura was the last royal capital of the Sinhala Kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. Kandy, a UNESCO world heritage site is a must visit in Sri Lanka.
Photo credits: www.outboundholidays.com
Facts:
Currency: Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR) [1 Indian Rupee = 2.45 Sri Lankan Rupee]
Language: Sinhala and Tamil
Time Difference: Same as Indian Standard Time
Best time to Visit: November to April

Get in:
Visa: Indian nationals are eligible for Visa-on-arrival in Sri Lanka for tourism purpose. The visa is valid for 30 days and can be extended to 2 more months by the Immigration Department of Sri Lanka. The documents required for visa on arrival is a return ticket, passport valid for at least 6 months, photo graph and fund to support travel (not less than $30 per day).
Flights: Kandy does not have air transport. Colombo is the major hub and has a good connectivity with all the major cities in India.
Train (from Colombo): The Intercity Express train are the hassle free and scenic way to get to Kandy. There are other trains as well. Train tickets can be purchased in advance or before departure.
Taxi: If you are directly heading to Kandy from Colombo airport, Taxi is a good option. The journey takes about 3 hours and costs about R6000 [14700 INR]
Intercity air-conditioned bus (from Colombo): Second best option to train. Reservations can be booked through travel agencies.
Hired Mini-vans: Travel agencies and hotels can arrange mini-vans with drivers.

Get Around:
Auto/Tuk-Tuk – Cheap and ever running way to see the city
Walk – the city is not large hence you can walk around.
Photo Credits: www.world66.com
Attractions:
The temple of Tooth: The most sacred Buddhist establishment in Sri Lankan, where one of Buddha's tooth is being kept.
The Old Royal Palace compound: Consists of old royal palace, quarters of the royal concubines, Queen's chambers, the Council chambers, the Armour and exhibits of Kandyan era.
The Royal Botanical Garden: Once a pleasure garden for Kandyan queen, this beautiful park host numerous tropical foliage.
Udawatta Forest: A small forest with tropical plants, wildlife and ponds
Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage: Shelter for about 70 semi-tamed elephants. Feeding and bathing times are a must see.
The Tea Muesum: A Muesum dedicated to the history of Sri Lankan Tea
Lankatilaka Temple: A magnificent temple built on rock at a scenic location
Embekke Temples: A 14th century shrine famous for the wooden cravings on the entire structure decorated with dancers, musicians, wrestlers, legendary beasts and birds.
Temples: There are many other temples: Gadaladeniya, Dodanwala Devalaya, Degaldoruwa, hindagala Viharaya, Madawala Viharaya and Galmaduva Viharaya.

Do:
Trekking: There are many scenic routes in and around Kandy.
Kandyan dancing: The traditional form of dancing is a must see.
Asgiriya Stadium: Watch the ICC World Cup 2011, if its still on.
Perahera festival: It's an elephant paegent and a must see if you are in Kandy in August.

Get out:
Colombo: The Capital City of Sri Lanka.
Dambulla: 60 Km from Kandy and has a beautiful Cave temple.

Tokyo – A city of contrast

Monday, January 17, 2011 12:44 PM TOIP
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 comments

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

Langkawi - Honeymooner's Paradise

Thursday, December 30, 2010 9:54 AM TOIP
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , 1 comments

Langkawi is a popular tourist destination in Malaysia. Langkawi, located in the Kedah state in the north-western part of Malaysia, is a cluster of archipelago of 99 islands. The clear turquoise water, green mountain ranges, beachfront resorts, limestone caves, mangroves and sandy beaches defines Langkawi.

Langkawi, the Malaysia’s best kept secret, is an ideal destination for Honeymooners. Why Langkawi for Honeymoon?
  1. Low cost airlines like Tiger airways, Air Asia etc. cuts down the travel cost and makes it affordable.
  2. Langkawi has many beach resorts and high-end hotels
  3. Activities in Langkawi is not tiring, hence making the honeymoon days laid back
Pulau Payar Marine Park, Langkawi
 Quick Facts:
Language:  Malay/Bahasa Malaysia
Currency: Ringgit [1MYR=14.5 INR] (at the time of the blog post)
Time difference: 2 1/2 hrs ahead of India
Best to Travel: Nov-March, Apr-Aug (Sunny), Sep-Oct (rainny)

Get-in:
Visa – Indian’s can no longer get visa on arrival. Tourist Visa is required before entering Malaysia.
Flights – There are very few or no direct flights to Langkawi from India. Kuala Lumpur is common transit point. Low cost carriers like Air Asia, Tiger Airways fly from major cities in India to Kuala Lumpur.
Trains & Ferry – Since Langkawi is an Island, a combination of train and ferry travel can be done. The nearest station is Kuah and a ferry should be taken from Kuah to Pantai Cenang Jetty terminal. [Not recommended: Long journey time]

Getting around:
Taxi can be found everywhere and the rates are fixed. Scooters/motorbikes and cars can be hired and it is highly recommended. Rentals can be found near airport, Pantai Cenang shops and jetty terminal. Road conditions are good for driving but children crossing the roads and animals on the roads are common. Helmets and seat belts are mandatory.

Sight-Seeing:
Tours:
Though there is a long list of tours provided by the operators, these are the some of the highly rated tours:
  1. Island Hopping Tour – As the name suggests, in this half day tour you will be taken to few islands around Langkawi. Eagle feeding can also be witnessed in the tour.
  2. Scuba diving & Snorkeling Tour – The full day tour will take you to the Pulau Payar marine Park, where you can snorkel. Snorkeling equipments and food is included in the tour. But for scuba diving you might need to pay extra. Three companies operate the tours, so read the reviews and choose the one you want.
  3. Mangrove & Limestone Cruise – In this half day tour, you can explore the mangrove forest and limestone rock formations. Some tour operators also include Kayaking along the mangrove forests.
  4. Jet Skiing- Many beach resorts rent out Jet Ski to their guest. But if you are not in one of them, jet skiing in the clear blue waters of Langkawi will be a great experience.
Most of the tour operators provide pick-up and drop off to the hotel. Tours booked through hotel include a commission which is quiet hefty. Hence, it’s a good idea to head to Pantai Cenang and book the tour with the operators.
Cable Car to Mount Gunung
Other Activities:
  1. Cable Car Ride & Hanging Bridge – This location will remind of the climax scene of Shahrukh’s Don (2007). It was shot here.From the Oriental Village, take a ride in the cable car to the top of Gunung Mat Chinchang and walk across the 700m high sky bridge for a spectacular view of the islands and the mountains.
  2. Underwater World: Beautiful indoor aquarium.
Get-out:
  1. Penang which can be reached from Langkawi by ferry is a must see historical town
  2. Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant city. Since many flights transit through Kuala Lumpur its good idea to stop over and visit the Petronas Towers, Bird Park and China Town.

Hong Kong Highlights

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 2:35 PM TOIP
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 comments

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.

Photo Courtesy: http://www.photos4travel.com/
Quick Facts:
Language: Chinese (Cantonese/Mandarin), English
Currency: Hong Kong Dollars (HKD)
Time Difference: 2 ½ hours ahead of IST

Best time to visit:
Oct – Dec: Warm, dry and sunny.
Jan – March: Cool, less humidity

Events:
Chinese New Year in month of February
Hong Kong Arts Festival, a month long festival of international performance, in Feb and March

Get – in:
Visa: Indian Passport holders can get visa on-arrival for a stay not exceeding 14 days
Airport: Hong Kong International Airport/Chek Lap Kok
Flights: ex-Bangalore (Dragonair, Cathay Pacific), ex-Delhi (Air India, Jet Airways, Cathay Pacific, Kingfisher Airlines), ex-Mumbai (Air India, Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Cathay Pacific)
Budget Flights: JetStar Asia (via Singapore), Bangkok Airways (via Bangkok)

Getting around:
Hong Kong is very convenient when it comes to getting around. Whether by taxi, ferry, rail, bus or tram, you can get around easily and catch wonderful glimpses of the city along the way.
For more information
Octopus card is a must if using the public transport. It provides instance electronic access to Hong Kong's public transport system and also in many convenience store and restaurants. Basic Octopus card costs $150 with face value $100 and $50 is refundable deposit.
For more information

Top Attractions:
  • Hong Kong Museum of Art
  • Hong Kong Museum of History
  • Ocean Park
  • Hong Kong Disneyland
  • Victoria Peak
  • Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront
  • Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Must-do:
  • Take a gamble in Horse Race
  • Shopping in Street Market
  • Learn Tai Chi in Hong Kong Museum of Art
  • Ride in the Central Mid-level Escalator (World's longest outdoor covered escalator)
  • Sail away in the Star ferry
  • Taste the Hong Kong street food
  • Stroll along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront
Night Life: Lan Kwai Fong

Get out:
Macau, China - the most populous and richest cities in China
Shenzhen, China - the most populous and richest cities in China
Zhuhai, China – nicknamed as City for Lovers and city of a hundred islands

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Powered by Blogger