Places and Foods

Hongkong, China

2013-11-09T06:13:00.002-08:00

Hongkong is one of the most visited cities in Asia. Being first time in this region is unusual though. Living in Taiwan in a couple of years should be my advantage moving around with chinese people. But Hongkong is not Taiwan so I need to level my curiosity to what has to offer in the city.

I proved myself that the food, transportations and living conditions are almost the same. The only difference are the currency and prices of the commodities and hotels. When you go to Hongkong, it is more of modern cities than nature. While I am in the city proper, I witnessed the progress of this small metropolitan city and its people. Moreover, I enjoying our tour with my friend. Our journey together is a good memory that will last in the years to come.

Bohol, Philippines

2013-10-26T08:34:00.001-07:00

Bohol is one of the most visited provinces in Southern Philippines because of the prolific and thirst quenching landscapes. The sceneries are breathtakingly superb. Seen above picture is the chocolate hills and lately most of the natural wonders was destroyed because of the magnitude 7.1 in Richter scale that hit the province just recently.

Visitors love to come in this place because of the friendly locals. Their foods, local products, souvenirs and places like serene mountains and beaches. Mostly are from Korean and some other parts of Asia are enjoying the nice and promising safe haven.

If you are planning to have a vacation in such a short or long period of time, so be it and experience the exclusive vividly place like Bohol. Peso is the local currency and transportation is really cheap. Hotel and restaurant are everywhere and the seafoods were plenty, cooked safe and fresh.

Ephesus, Turkey

2012-10-08T01:55:00.004-07:00

If you are in Istanbul for a short period of time and want to make a day trip to the historical ancient city of Ephesus in style, then this tour is for you. Visit the best preserved ruins of the world at Ancient Ephesus, a unique opportunity to visit a history so far removed from our world as we know it today. Then visit the House of the Virgin Mary (said to be where St. John brought her to live out her final days). This tour involves no long bus journeys, only a short domestic flight ensuring that your travel is relaxing and comfortable. Book your day trip with Luxury Tours Turkey. We will offer the best and the most luxurious travel throughout Ephesus, whilst maintaining quality of service, quality of life and value for money.

The Fountains of Trajan and Polio, The Temples of Hadrian and Domitian, The Library of Celsus, The Varius and Scholastica Baths, the Bouleterion and the Great Theater, House of the Virgin Mary, Archaeological Museum of Ephesus.

IZMIR

St. Tropez

2012-09-04T03:51:00.001-07:00

Sant Tropetz in Occitan is a town, 104 km (65 mi) to the east of Marseille, in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It is also the principal town in the canton of Saint-Tropez.

It is located on the French Riviera, and it is known today for its famous and extremely wealthy summertime guests. It has been dubbed the 'playground to jetsetters, fashion models, and millionaires', and it is most-enduringly known as the place where the iconic Brigitte Bardot was "discovered" and for its role in the liberation of southern France during World War II.

Saint-Tropez has had a varied history. It was a fifteenth-century military stronghold, an unassuming fishing village at the beginning of the twentieth century, and the first town on this coast to be liberated during World War II (as part of Operation Dragoon). After the war, it became an internationally-known seaside resort, renowned principally because of the influx of artists of the French New Wave in cinema and the Yé-yémovement in music. In latter years, it has been a resort for the European and American jet set and the inevitable hordes of tourists in search of a little Provençal authenticity and an occasional celebrity sighting.

Barcelona, Spain

2012-08-15T05:43:00.006-07:00

Barcelona is today one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair/exhibitions and cultural-sports centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities.Indeed, it is a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula), 26th in the world (after Moscow, before Dubai) and a growing financial centre (Diagonal Mar and Gran Via). As of 2009 it was ranked Europe's fourth best city for business.One of Europe's principal Mediterranean ports can be found here as well as Barcelona international airport, which handles above 34 million passengers per year. It also boasts an extensive motorway network and is a hub of high-speed rail, particularly that which is intended to link Spain with France and the rest of Europe.

Bahamas

2012-08-13T02:04:00.002-07:00

Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is a country consisting of more than 3,000 islands, cays, and islets. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States (nearest to the state of Florida). Its land area is 13,939 km² (5,382 sq mi), with a population of 353,658. Its capital is Nassau. Geographically, the Bahamas lie in the same island chain as Cuba, Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands; the designation of Bahamas refers normally to the Commonwealth and not the geographic chain.

Originally inhabited by the Lucayans, a branch of the Arawakan-speaking Taino people, the Bahamas were the site of Columbus' first landfall in the New World in 1492. Although the Spanish never colonized the Bahamas, they shipped the native Lucayans to slavery in Hispaniola. The islands were mostly deserted from 1513 to 1648, when English colonists from Bermuda settled on the island of Eleuthera.

Tunisia

2012-07-27T03:23:00.003-07:00

The history of Tunisia reveals this rich past where different successive Mediterranean cultures had a strong presence. After the Carthaginian Republic, the Roman Empire came and left a lasting effect on the land with various monuments and cities such the El-Jem Amphitheater and the archaeological site of the ancient city of Carthage, which is classified as a world heritage site. El Jem is just one of seven world heritage sites found in Tunisia.

After a few centuries of the presence of Christianity, represented by the Church of Africa, the Arab Islamic conquest transformed the whole country and founded a new city called Al-Qayrawan, Al-Qayrawan is a renowned center for religious and intellectual pursuits.

Burgas, Bulgaria

2012-07-15T07:34:00.004-07:00

Arrive at the Black Sea port of Bourgas. On the way, drove through some of the hotel construction along the shore. Gorgeous hotels and souvenir shops are crowded next to each other. It was easy to see why the biggest industry in Bulgaria right now is construction. This area is booming! Walk also along the coastal town of Nessebar with its unique architecture and numerous churches. Have some lunch overlooking the sea.

Burgas is a city on the Bulgarian Southern Black Sea coast. It developed more actively in the beginning of 20th century and today it is a large industrial center with many tourist attractions in the region. Built by the sea and surrounded by lakes, Burgas offers relatively mild weather characterized by cooler summers and warmer winters.

Belize

2012-07-10T10:51:00.002-07:00

Many of us dream about moving to live abroad in a destination where the sun shines more often, where the people are friendly, where the cost of living is lower and where the pace of life is laid back – but finding such a ‘paradise’ can prove tricky.

Located in Central America, north of Honduras and south of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, Belize is a small nation with total area of 22,960 sq km and housing a population of less than 300,000. The terrain of the country is mountainous and hilly with the highest point Victoria Peak soaring 1,160 m above sea level in the Cockscomb Mountains. The coastline is flat and swampy featuring many lagoons, especially in the northern and central parts of the country. More than 50% of Belize is covered by tropical rainforest dissected by a network of rivers mostly small in length. The country is divided into six districts, including Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek and Toledo.

Istanbul, Turkey

2012-07-07T02:43:00.002-07:00

Istanbul is the largest Turkish city. It’s situated on the Bosphorus Strait on two continents- Asia and Europe. The town has long history and is well known in the past as Byzantium and Constantinople. It was capital for many years of Roman Empire (330-395), Byzantine Empire (395-1204 and 1261-1453), Latin Empire (1204-1261) and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922). Then when in 1923 the Turkey Republic was proclaimedAnkara as the administration center became the capital. The city was so important for all those empires because of its strategic point and moreover the very difficult to be conquer fortress. The nature enabled the town to have a natural port inside because of the Golden Horn bay. That makes possible the fleet to stay in a secure place, guarded by the town walls.

Nowadays Istanbul is the third biggest city in Europe after London and Moscow. It’s a modern metropolitan city with very developed economy. Moreover it has very well developed infrastructure. The strategic geography position of the city gave the advantage to be the commerce centers since many years. Istanbul is the gateway from Europe to Asia both through land and sea.

Istanbul has been part of many empires and so has rich cultural heritage. Most of its monuments are part of the UNESKO world heritage. Despite the fact that it was conquered by different rulers none of them has destroy buildings from the past. All of the rulers clearly understand that they should respect the culture and history and so most of the buildings are well preserved. That enables tourists to see mosques, Turkish bath, Roman baths and Christian churches in one town. The only problem through the years of this town was the earthquakes. The whole area around the town is the border of the African and Eurasian plate. That is incentive for more and stronger earthquakes. The last devastating one was in the late 1509 and it destroys more than 100 mosques.

Edinburgh, Scotland

2012-06-27T23:22:00.002-07:00

Edinburgh, the country's capital and second largest city, is one of Europe's largest financial centres. Edinburgh was the hub of the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century, which transformed Scotland into one of the commercial, intellectual and industrial powerhouses of Europe. Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, was once one of the world's leading industrial cities and now lies at the centre of the Greater Glasgow conurbation. Scottish waters consist of a large sector of the North Atlantic and the North Sea, containing the largest oil reserves in the European Union. This has given Aberdeen, the third largest city in Scotland, the title of Europe's oil capital.

Scotland is from the Lation Scoti, the term applies to Gaels. The Late Latin word Scotia (land of the Gaels) was initially used to refer to Ireland. The use of the words Scots and Scotland to encompass all of what is now Scotland became common in the Late Middle Ages. Scotland is associated with Rober Bruce, William Wallace, Tartan, Highlands and whiskey.

Auckland, New Zealand

2012-06-27T05:15:00.001-07:00

New Zealand is 1930km (1200 miles) southeast of Australia and consists of two major islands, the North Island (116,031 sq km/44,800 sq miles) and the South Island (153,540 sq km/59,283 sq miles), which are separated by Cook Strait. Stewart Island (1750 sq km/676 sq miles) is located immediately south of the South Island, and the Chatham Islands lie 800km (500 miles) to the east of Christchurch. Going from north to south, temperatures decrease.

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Rhodos, Greece

2012-06-24T03:21:00.002-07:00

The island of Rhodes is divided into ten municipalities (Rhodes, Ialysos, Kallithea, Kameiros, Lindos, Afandou, Rhodes Archangelos and South) with numerous small villages such as Lardos, Siana, Gennady or Lachania.

About half of the island's inhabitants live in the city of Rhodes, which is mentioned as the capital and tourist center in the north of the island. Its old town with Grand Master's Palace and mighty city walls was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace houses, among other interesting mosaics and a copy of the famous Laocoon group.

South Africa

2012-06-22T05:42:00.005-07:00

South African history has been dominated by the communication and conflict of several diverse ethnic groups. The aboriginal Khoisan people have lived in the region for millennia. Most of the population, however, trace their history to immigration since. Indigenous Africans in South Africa are descendants of immigrants from further north in Africa who first entered what are now the confines of the country roughly one thousand years ago.White South Africans are descendants of later European settlers, mainly from the Netherlands and Britain. The Coloureds are descended at least in part from all of these groups, as well as from slaves from the then East Indies, and there are many South Africans of Indian and Chinese origin, descendants of labourers who arrived in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The history South Africa is taken here more broadly to cover the history not only of the current South African state but of other polities in the region, including those of the Khoisan, the several Bantu kingdoms in the region before colonisation, the rule of the Dutch in the Cape and the subsequent rule of the British there and in Natal, and the so-called Boer republics, including the Orange Free State and the South African Republic. South Africa was under an official system of racial segregation and white minority rule from 1948 known as Apartheid, until its first egalitarian elections in 1994, when the ruling African National Congress came to dominate the politics of the country.

Mauritius

2012-06-21T01:05:00.004-07:00

Mauritius, known officially as the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation located off the coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean. It is a volcanic island of lagoons and palm-fringed beaches with coral reefs surrounding most of the coastline.

Nowhere else a postcard idyll thus corresponds to the reality as in Mauritius: snow-white palm beaches, colorful coral reefs and turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. While it was mainly the honeymooners, the cozy resorts, the merry markets, the Sega dance and appreciate the cultural diversity of the island, there are now more golfers are discovering Mauritius as a year-round destination for your golfing holiday. Golf has a long tradition here, by the way: since the beginning of the 20th Century the British colonial rulers have played their tournaments between volcanic rock and sugar cane fields. Today it is mainly the resorts, which attract players with golf course every skill level, whether directly by the sea or on the territory of former sugar cane plantations. Eight times 18 holes today, vie for the golfing guest - there is the golf vacation experience par excellence.

London, United Kingdom

2012-06-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Truly cosmopolitan and having some of the world’s greatest cultural treasures, London is referred as the “World in One City.” The 15 million tourists who visit it yearly can’t be wrong. They are expected to come in droves in 2012 as London sets the stage for the Olympics.

As one of the busiest cities in the planet, London has a couple of major airports. Most of the international passengers arrive in the city via the London Heathrow Airport in Hillingdon, West London. From there, the easiest way to reach downtown is via Heathrow Express, whose trains head directly to Paddington (central London) after a 15-minute ride. Buses and taxis (cabs, as the English call them) are also available at the airport terminals.

The nightlife in London is particularly happening, as the English social life revolves around alcohol. The average Brit loves to go out and get drunk. South East has an array of pubs which, at the crack of midnight, can get very rowdy with rampant drunkenness.

Also called the “Millennium Wheel,” the London Eye (London Borough of Lambeth; is a probably present in the checklist of every tourist. When it was first introduced in 1999, it was the tallest Ferris Wheel in the world, and the giant structure looks like an eye when viewed from afar. The London Eye moves along slowly – taking around 30 minutes to complete a revolution, which is just as well so you can take in a sweeping view of the city without the hurry.

Mexico City, Mexico

2012-06-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

The city is located 2200 m above mean sea level. Some people have breathing difficulties at high places and have experienced difficulty when breathing. The altitude is equivalent to more than 7,200 ft. This is far higher than any metropolitan area in the United States. If you live closer to sea level, you may experience difficulty breathing due to altitude and pollution. Air quality has, however, been improved in the last few years.

Mexico City's night life is like all other aspects of the city; it is huge. There is an enormous selection of venues: clubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, and variations and combinations thereof to choose from. There is incredible variation, from ultramodern lounges in Santa Fe and Reforma, to centuries-old dance halls in Centro and Roma. There are also pubs in Tlalpan and Coyoacán and clubs of every stripe in Insurgentes, Polanco, Condesa and the Zona Rosa.

Melbourne, Australia

2012-06-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

Melbourne is truly a magnificent place to visit if you are looking for a vacation getaway. And the constant arguing about which place is better – Melbourne or Sydney – is still going on. But, obviously, it is actually your turn to choose which is which. Melbourne has a lot to offer in terms of attractions and sights, but unexpectedly you don’t always need to charge it onto your credit card as a lot of things there are offered for free.

There are a lot of great sights and activities for free around Melbourne. So it means you can stretch your budget even further and use only the money on things that you actually want.

ABU DHABI, UAE

2012-06-16T22:47:00.002-07:00

Abu Dhabi attracts more and more visitors every year. The reason is quite simple: fabulous beaches, a wide range of top hotels, spectacula sand dunes, and countless culture and leisure facilities. In addition, the emirate turn into a first class destination for golf enthusiasts from all over the world: five outstanding golf courses and perfect golf conditions all year long. T & L took a closer look at Abu Dhabi's golf courses. It was located in every heart of the emirate. Set with circumference of both with stunning grass and sand horseracing tracts ,you may play the intriguing 9-hole course not only next to galloping jockeys but also until long after sunset. Nightlyflodd ligthing makes it possible to see off from 6 am to 10 pm.

Tampa, Florida, USA

2012-06-14T03:07:00.000-07:00

The word "Tampa" may mean "sticks of fire" in the language of the Calusa, a Native American tribe that once lived south of today’s Tampa Bay. This might be a reference to the many lightning strikes that the area receives during the summer months. Other historians claim the name means "the place to gather sticks".

Though there are plenty of land based activities in the city of Tampa for travelers to enjoy - from the nearby beaches to the Florida Aquarium to Busch Gardens, plenty of visitors to the city never leave the shore. But its prime position on the Florida coast has allowed Tampa to grow into one of the most popular cruise ports in the entire country. So much so that many travelers to the city have come for this reason and this reason alone. And whether you are going on an ever-popular Caribbean cruise or across the Gulf of Mexico to destinations in Central America, Tampa cruises seem to leave around the clock. Though you will not find many of the casino cruises that depart from other Floridian ports, quite a few of the most luxurious cruise lines now call the city home.

Tampa's booming economy is responsible for such rapid growth in private jet travel to and from the area. Tampa is home to the corporate headquarters of a number of top national companies like: Outback Steakhouse, TECO Energy, Walter Industries and WellCare Health Plans to name a few. The Tampa Bay area is home to one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays play ball at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, which is on the south side of the Tampa Bay Tampa is also home to the 2002 Super-Bowl Champs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Tampa Bay Bucs stadium, known as Raymond James Stadium, is the location where Super-Bowl XLIII will be played.

Baden, Switzerland

2012-06-05T08:03:00.006-07:00

Baden is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Aargau, on the west bank of the river Limmat, located in the Limmat Valley (German: Limmattal), 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Zürich. It is the seat of the district of Baden. The name refers to the mineral hot springs, which were known at least as far back as the Roman era.

Moscow, Russia

2012-06-04T09:56:00.001-07:00

Moscow, the capital of Russian Federation. The city area is about 30 km in diameter and the population reaches to over 13 million people. Nowadays, Moscow is the most important political and financial center of Russia and is home to the government and the parliament.

Moscow is a city of distinction - ancient abbey and ultra-modern high-rise building stand next to each other, neon-lit ads share the skyline with monumental Stalin buildings, black shiny Mercedez sit in the same traffic jams as the battered old Ladas, and new Russian millionaires sip cocktails in the latest cafe while poverty-stricken pensioners shuffle by. People says, "There's Russia, and then there is Moscow". It's like an exaggerated version of everything there is to Russia. IF you are planning to visit in this city, prepare a challenging but incredibly enriching experience, and without a doubt, a very electrifying place to go.

Cayman Islands, Carribean Sea

2012-06-02T23:07:00.002-07:00

The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica. The Cayman Islands are considered to be part of the geographic Western Caribbean Zone as well as the Greater Antilles. The territory is a major world offshore financial centre.

The Cayman Islands are located in the western Caribbean Sea and are the peaks of a massive underwater ridge, known as the Cayman Ridge (or Cayman Rise). This ridge flanks the Cayman Trough, 6,000 m (20,000 ft) deep [8] which lies 6 km (3.7 mi) to the south.[9] The islands lie in the northwest of the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba and west of Jamaica. They are situated about 700 km (430 mi) south of Miami,[10] 366 km (227 mi) south of Cuba,[11] and about 500 km (310 mi) northwest of Jamaica.[12] Grand Cayman is by far the biggest, with an area of 197 km2 (76 sq mi).[13] The two "Sister Islands" of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are located about 120 km (75 mi) east north-east of Grand Cayman and have areas of 38 and 28.5 km2 (15 and 11.0 sq mi)[14] respectively.

It was the Islands' ample supply of turtle, however, that made them a popular calling place for ships sailing the Caribbean and in need of meat for their crews. This began a trend that eventually denuded local waters of the turtle, compelling local turtle fishermen to go further afield to Cuba and the Miskito Cays in search of their catch.

Venice, Italy

2012-05-29T13:55:00.001-07:00

What a wonderful day. When the sun is setting in, on the month of June, September and October are the perfect season to have a break. This small city have numerous spotlight perfect for shooting, dating and romancing. I am delighted to the fantastic blue skies reflecting above the water. The cruise ship docking behind count up to a placid and enigmatic outline. With those luminescence-like bulb depicting into the steady water gives us more fascination about the seascape.

Venice at night

This classy and enumerated structures are built by the most respected architechts in roman times. The fraction of all detailed measurements and designs were all extravagant laid on a land surrounded by water.

Venice at midday

Venice now is on the verge of flood in its surroundings. Grand canal now overflowing with water coming from the open sea. Buildings are slowly sinking in few more years coming. Some were predicted, that, this city will soon disappear on the map. The caused of water coming in that sucks the city is due to climate change that makes the glaciers melting, wherein the sea and the major ocean are rising. I am just asking myself, if the water level is rising, then is there hope for the nation cry out for rain? There are some circumstances only science can understand and we leave them for that to study and explain. Although, its already predictable.

Venice at the Grand canal

This is the aerial shot from space where the water are slowly engulfing the spectacular manmade city. There is no escape anymore than to let the city and the rest of this wonderful city's historical landscape gone in a couple of years. But then, while the city still visible and can stand still on the brink of extinction, visit now before it is too late.

Aerial View of Venice

Grand Canary Island

2012-05-27T23:34:00.000-07:00

This island of Spain, the generally hot, humid summer and cool winter Canary Islands are fathom for their supplied sun and sand – although, as they are volcanic, the latter is often a rather unattractive shadow of dust. Answers have been found by transporting golden sand from the Sahara 200 km away, and by constructing salt water public air swimming pools. Nonetheless, the balmy year-round climate, cooled to a steadt 25-30º C by marine currents, has ensured that these seven islands have not only fabulously lush vegetation, including a excessive amount of bananas, but also a constant flow foreigners.

The greater part are attracted by resorts such as Tenerife’s Playa de las Americas, yet their tarnished reputations – complete with satellite football and fish and chips – eclipse dramatic and incredibly varied scenery. This ranges from Tenerife’s cloud-forest and Teide volcano (Spain’s highest peak) to the canyons of Gran Canaria, the lush interior valley of La Palma and La Gomera, the simmering craters and lava-fields of Lanzarote, or the windswept rock-formations of tiny El Hierro.

Windsurfing are frequently undertake in Lanzarote - a fascinating destination, perfect for any nature and sport lover.

Lanzarote is an island located in the north of the canarian archipelago, 100 km offshore from Morocco, right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its perfect climate conditions (water temperature between 20-23 °C, air temp. between 20-25 °C) is possible to surf all year long.

The beach of Famara is the perfect beginners spot, with its sandy 7 km long beach and crystal waters. In Lanzarote there are also many famous heavy powerful high quality reef breaks, perfect challange for hard core experienced surfers.