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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...

Rio Carnival - Time to Go GaGa

Thursday, March 10, 2011 12:29 PM TOIP
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Rio Carnival is the biggest street party in the world, with hundreds of thousands of people flocking to Rio de Janeiro each year to celebrate the famous festival. Rio (Rio de Janeiro) is the second largest city in Brazil and one of the most visited city in the southern hemisphere. Rio also boosts some of the most famous landmarks in the World. 
Photo Credits: boncherry.com
Rio carnival is held before Lent (a period between As Wednesday and Easter) every year and the first ever festival dates back to 1723. The highlight of the carnival is the spectacular Sambadrome parade and the street parties. The carnival parade is filled with people and floats from various samba schools, who compete for the championship by building the best floats and costumes. Each school has thousands of participants and follow a special order with their parade entries. The Sambadrome is the arena where the parade happens and tickets can be bought in advance though online reservation or from the hotels and agents to view the parade.


If parade is not your cup of tea, head to a street parties. Highly populated by the locals, music and dance takes the stage in the beaches of Rio. The percussion instruments send out the irresistible beats and rhythms making the crowd explode in a colorful dance revolution. Samba is the most popular dance. But anyone can dance in their own style.
Photo Credits: http://www.welt.de
With the combination of the parade, the balls, and the street carnivals, Rio’s carnival is said to be the greatest show on Earth. So if you wanna go GaGa, head to Rio for the Carnival. The following are the carnival dates and the processions takes place on Sunday and Monday.

  • March 5th 2011
  • Feb 18th 2012
  • Feb 9th 2013
  • March 1st 2014

Tips:
1. Book your hotels in advance. A huge crowds floats in during the carnival
2. Be safe.

ICC World Cup 2011 Special - Kandy, Sri Lanka

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 3:04 PM TOIP
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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.

Germany's Romantic Road

Friday, February 11, 2011 10:13 AM TOIP
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The Romantic Road or Romantische Strasse, aptly named, is one of Germany's most popular tourist routes. The route is little over 260 miles, between the town of Würzburg in the north and Fussen in the foothills of Bavaria Alps. In Medieval Age, the route used to be a major trade route and now it still retains the medieval glory with picturesque towns with walled cities, hidden monasteries, timbered houses, beautiful castles, towers and hotels. All the more romantic is unspoiled nature and driving along the vineyard, clear water and rolling hills until you reach the Bavarian Alps.
Photo Credits: http://www.tourism-review.com
Frankfurt is the major departure point for the route. Many tourist coaches are available and can provide a day trip from Frankfurt to Fussen. However, the most romantic option is to rent a car from Frankfurt and enjoy the route leisurely by dining in romantic courtyard restaurants, strolling through lush parks, taking in historical castles,exploring the old town centers that have lost nothing of their original splendor and staying in a romantic hotel.

The major stops along the route are:
Würzburg: if you like your wine, you'll like Würzburg and its outdoor cafes and excellent restaurants. The Residenz Palace is a World Heritage Site, and you'll want to visit it along with the Marienberg Fortress.
Creglingen is a small and attractive town set in the Tauber valley in southern Germany with access to some spectacular countryside of vineyards and woods in the hills around the historic centre.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Rothenburg is a must stop on the Romantic Road. Not only is it one of Germany's best preserved medieval towns with walls you can walk around, but it has a torture museum for when things get a little too romantic for you. 
Photo Credits: www.live-like-a-german.com
Dinkelsbühl is one of the archetypal towns which give the German Romantic Road its character
Nördlingen is one of the most attractive of the towns in the central part of the Romantic Road.
Harburg is a pleasant daytime stop on the way south down the Romantic Road.
Augsburg: Augsburg has a rich history dating back to the Roman empire. Dubbed both "The Renaissance City" and "Mozart City", it has been an important center of trade down through the ages. During the Renaissance, Augsburg was a main cultural center which is reflected in its fine Rococo architecture.
Landsberg is one of the towns on the Romantic Road which is located at an important junction to the rest of Bavaria.
Pfaffenwinkel: This part of Bavaria (called "Pastor's Corner") is famous for its churches and pristine landscapes; a must-see is the pilgrimage church Wieskirche ("Church in the Meadow") in Steingaden; this rococo masterpiece is on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage sights.
Füssen is located at the very end of the Romantic Road. The town itself has a wealth of historical interest, but it's also close at hand to some of the most popular castles in southern Germany - Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenswangau Castle.

For more information:

Jeju Islands - "Islands of the God"

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 9:04 AM TOIP
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Jeju-do (Cheju Island) is a volcanic island and the largest island in South Korea. The island is formed by the outpouring of lava from volcanic eruption 2 million years ago. The island and its lava tubes not just give the island a unique natural beauty but also provide insights on the history of our planet. Hence the island was designated as a UNESCO natural world Heritage site.
Photo-credits: planetware.com
 Jeju-do is a honeymooner’s paradise and estimated 60% of the newly wed South Koreans travel to Jeju for their Honeymoon. Once an island used to banish prisoner, the island is popularly known as “Island of Gods”. The volcanic rocks, dramatic waterfalls, turquoise beaches and the Korean culture and tradition, makes Jeju-do a not to be missed destination. Jeju-do is an ideal destination for Honeymooners and vacationers looking for places less commonly heard in India.

Best time to visit: autumn (March-May) and spring (June-August).
Time Difference: 41/2 hrs ahead of IST
Currency: South Korean Won (KRW) [1 INR = 25 KRW approx.]

Get-in:
Flights: Jeju International Airport is located Jeju city and all the flights to Jeju, fly into this airport. There are no direct flights to Jeju from India. The major transit points are Seoul, Beijing, Osaka, Hong Kong, Singapore etc.
Boat: There are ferry services between a number of ports in mainland Korea and the Jeju Island. There are also Cruises from Japan.

Accommodation: There are many resorts, hotels and traditional stays in Jeju. The most hotels are oriented in Jeju city and Seogwipo. But there is accommodation on the small islands as well.
Photo-credits: www.jejuweekly.com
Attractions:
1.  Hallasan National Park: It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and a beautiful park to hike.
2. Sungsan’s Peak: A great sunrise view point.
3. Chenjeyun Waterfall: 3 falls in the lush green landscape
4. Chungbang Waterfall: A thunderous waterfall, very attractive
5. Hallim Park: A beautiful park with many exotic plants and beautiful caves
6. Water hole, a spectacular display of nature's ability to shape and carve yet another visual marvel
7. Yeomiji Botanical Park
8. There are a number of museums
9. There are also many beaches
10. There are many caves and volcanic rocks

Do:
1. Jeju Fire Festival: In Feb, the Jeju island showcases torch relay for a long stretch
2. Diving in Munsom
3. Trekking in the Hallasan National Park

Tips:
1. Having a Korean phrasebook will be of great use
2. The entry fee for tourist spot are costly compared to mainland South Korea

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Friday, January 28, 2011 8:55 AM TOIP
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 The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world, viewing it from greater distance one can understand why. It is larger than the Great Wall of China, stretching over 3000 km almost parallel to Queensland coast, from the coastal town of Bundaberg up to the tip of Cape York. It is also the only living thing on earth visible from space.

The reef, between 15 km and 150 km off the shore and around 65 km in some parts, is a gathering of brilliant, vivid coral providing divers with the most spectacular underwater experience imaginable. A closure encounter with the Great Barrier Reef’s impressive coral garden reveals many astonishing underwater attractions including the world’s largest collection of corals (about 400 different kinds), coral sponges, dolphins, molluscs, rays, tropical fishes (about 1500 species), birds, turtles and clams. In recognition of its significance, The Great Barrier Reef was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981.

The Great Barrier Reef’s islands are simply enchanting. There are over 100 islands, scattered off the coast of Queensland. Some islands are continental islands and some are coral clays. Some islands have marine life and some don’t. Some have standard accommodation facilities and many are not on the reef.
List of Reef Islands
 
Reef tourism has rapidly grown over the recent times; there are approximately 820 operators and 1500 vessels operating in the Marine Park. There is a diverse range of tourism operation in the Great Barrier Reef. The popular tours are days trips, overnight trips, snorkeling trip, scuba diving trip, helicopter tours, hot air ballooning tour, fishing charter, glass-bottomed boat tour, cruise ships, beach hires, water sports, whale watching, swimming with dolphin and many more.
List of some tours

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