Manchester is a multi-cultural melting pot and has become one of the coolest and most successful cities in the UK. At the beginning of the industrial revolution Manchester was a small market town. When the first cotton mills were built in the late 1700s the city flourished and continues to do so today. As a result of this rich history Manchester is home to some of the most interesting museums in England.

Here are some of the Museums of Manchester:

Museum of Science and Industry

MOSI is a large space that houses six themed areas: Industry and Innovation, Science and Technology, Energy, Transport, People and Communications. Items in the exhibitions include amazing pieces that range from pre 1900 scientific instruments to pristine examples of hydraulic powered machinery. The museum also has an immense, hidden collection of artefacts that have been used in BBC documentaries and university lectures. Once you’ve made your way around the whole museum, head to the 4D theatre which screens two fifteen-minute films daily. The museum is open from 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday and entry to the museum is free, although they do suggest a £3 donation.

Greater Manchester Police Museum

Opened in 1981 in a former police station, the Greater Manchester Police Museum is relatively new. The museum includes a tour of the station including the holding cells and an original magistrates’ court, and you’ll get the chance to see how police uniforms and vehicles have changed over time. The whole experience takes about two hours unless you’re there for an event, so perhaps plan in a visit to another nearby museum to make the most of the day. Admission is Free.

Imperial War Museum

IWM North is part of the Imperial War Museum chain that operates across the UK and having been open for only 10 years, this museum boasts a surprisingly comprehensive history of war. At the time of writing, events include an Iraq war tour, a closer look at war art history and the roles animals play in war. As with many of the other museums in Manchester, admission is free. Considering that many of these museums are located quite centrally, it’s worth looking into staying somewhere relatively close-by. One suggestion might be the Manchester Ibis, as it’s in the perfect location in terms of accessibility.

National Football Museum

Manchester is famously home to two of the world’s greatest football teams – Manchester United and Manchester City. As such, it seems appropriate that the city is also home to the National Football Museum. Take a walk through the hall of fame before heading up through six floors of football heaven where you can try your hand (or foot) at a penalty shootout, examine football fashion through the years and even lift a trophy for yourself. Again admission is completely free.

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post

Photo Credits: Flickr Creative Commons
Photo Credits: NFM and GMP Museums by Gene Hunt, IWM by heatheronhertravels, MOSI by westher

The post The Museums of Manchester appeared first on Frameless World - Travel Photography by Bino. Follow his adventures in Facebook and Twitter or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Travelling and Seeing the World is one of life’s great experiences for many. It offers a wonderful experience to learn about different cultures, see the most breath-taking sites the world has to offer and meet great people along the way. However, it could also mean spending your money savings. For those who don’t have savings like for some travelers that I met on the road, they manage their travel finances by availing personal loans in their home country. Having loans would also be a good strategy to manage your finances. In fact, most business companies use this financial strategy in running their businesses. I suggest that you use a loan calculator online in case you’re planning to avail loans. Having an idea about the amortization and available payment mode would play a vital part to know if availing loans would be a wise option for you.

Being on the road for more than 2 years now, finding ways on how to manage finances is already part of my routine. It would be very important to ensure that all the finances are up to date regardless of where you are. I want to share with you a few ways to reduce your costs so you can make your travel a little longer or at least on a less cost, making your travel experience more enjoyable.

Here are some ways to manage your finances while travelling:

CONSIDER GETTING A CREDIT CARD

You may consider getting a credit card. This is definitely a life-saver in case there are no available ATM machines to withdraw money. In my case, I also maintain one credit card which has a cash-back reward program. A certain portion of my purchases debit back to my account which I can use to pay the balances. Some credit card have e-miles program. This is also a great option for travelers as you were able to earn miles everytime you use your card. This miles can be used in exchange of for free plane tickets.
Some credit cards, offers pre-approved loans which you can avail anytime. It would be a great back-up in case of emergency. Especially when you lost some of your cards or you are encountering system problem with your banks. So in choosing credit card that you will bring while on the road, know all the perks that comes with it and find the best bank loan being offered by different banks.

OPEN AT LEAST TWO BANK ACCOUNTS

Having more than one bank account is ideal while you are on the road. In my case, I always have one of my ATM with me everytime I go out and I leave the other one in my room. The main reason I’m doing this is at least I have another plastic money that I can use in case one got lost. Just make sure that both your accounts have internet banking facilities so you can easily transfer funds from one to another or vice versa. Some banks have low or no international fees, so be sure to know about the applicable fees before opening an account.

GET THE MAXIMUM WITHDRAWABLE AMOUNT

Everytime I arrived in a certain country, I always research about the banks available. Because some banks do not impose ATM international transaction fees which cost around US$4-5 per transaction aside from the fees on your bank end which is also almost around that amount. You can use that saving for other things. In case, all the available banks have international transaction fees, I usually get the maximum withdrawal amount because the fees are the same regardless of the amount you withdraw.

DON’T PUT YOUR CASH IN ONE PLACE

While on the road, don’t put all your cash in your wallet or pocket. Segregate them and put them in different place like wallet, money belt, inside your socks or shoes. In case something worse things happen, chances are you still have cash with you.

So when you are planning to do long term travel, always include financial aspects in your planning. Choosing the right bank and financial strategies would definitely make your trips more enjoyable and memorable.

The post Ways to Manage Your Finances While Travelling appeared first on Frameless World - Travel Photography by Bino. Follow his adventures in Facebook and Twitter or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Kota Kinabalu in Sabah is one of the places in Malaysia that I want to visit again. I remember that the last time I was here, it really feels like that I’m just in my home country as there a lot of Filipinos living and actually was born in Kota Kinabalu, aside from the fact that they also have tropical climate.

Being a beach lover, one of the places that I want to visit again in Kota Kinabalu is the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park or also known as TARP, a Marine National Park which is composed of 5 islands and was named after Malaysia’s first Prime Minister.

Padang Point

Last week, I was invited along with other Philippine Bloggers by Zest Air to join their maiden flight to Kota Kinabalu from Manila. Since I am still travelling around Asia, I asked a dear friend to join on my behalf.

This new route from Zest Air is a great opportunity for Filipinos to visit Borneo. Aside from Kota Kinabalu, Zest Air also introduced new flights to Kuala Lumpur and Bacolod from Manila.

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque

Zest Air’s flight schedule for Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur and Bacolod:

*All flights are daily except for Manila – Kota Kinabalu – Manila which is every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday.

Recently Air Asia and Zest Air signed into a strategic partnership, Zest Air flights can now be booked on line through Air Asia’s on line facility (www.airasia.com). Zest Air (www.flyzest.com) flights to Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur are departing from NAIA Terminal 4 or formerly known as Old Domestic Airport in Pasay City.

Here are some of my articles about Kota Kinabalu:

Kota Kinabalu – A Natural Paradise Inside Borneo

Islands and Beaches of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

Here are some images of Kota Kinabalu from my visit 2 years ago:

Pulau Sulug (Sulug Island)

Sunset at Kota Kinabalu

Sea Foods

Atkinson Clock Tower

Pulau Sapi (Sapi Island)

Pulau Sapi (Sapi Island)

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After enjoying the relax atmosphere of Kibber for a few days, we decided to move and went to Manali enroute to Leh in Ladakh. We went down to Kaza to check if the road from Kaza to Manali is no longer covered with ice and passable. The locals from Kaza told us that the road was passable for small vehicle only so the bus to Manali is not yet being offered and might resume their operation by the end of that month (June 2012).

Magnificent View of Kaza

After learning that there’s shared taxi to Manali from Kaza, we immediately booked two seats for the following day. On the following day, we left Kaza at 6:30 in the morning. The road to Manali from Kaza is a combination of bumpy and paved road but the view was amazing and breath-taking.

Here are some images of our road trip from Kaza to Manali:

After 13 ½ hours of journey we finally reached Manali. It was already pass 8 pm but the street of Manali was still too busy and crowded with local tourists. We headed directly to the bus station to check the bus schedule to Leh. Our initial plan was to go directly to Ladakh, but when we learned that the bus to Leh already left, we look for other alternatives. We saw that some travel agencies offer shared van to Leh for INR1,900 / head. The fare price was way over our budget so we decided to have an overnight stay in Manali and take the bus for the following day. We felt really tired form the long road trip, but still we exerted efforts to walk with our backpacks and look for a room. After searching for room for almost 2 hours, we didn’t find any room which is beyond our budget. The cheapest that we got was INR1500 for a basic double room. Since we were tired, we didn’t bother to go to Old Manali where the cheapest options are located which is 30-45 KM away from the town.

To cut he story short, we ended up availing the shared van which leaves 1 in the morning. Meaning, we have to endure another 18 hours of overland travel from Manali to Leh. We went back to the bus terminal around 10 pm to rest and waited for 1 am. While passing the time, I was really hoping that with the price we paid, the van have relaxing and comfortable seat.

At quarter to 1 am, I walked around the bus station and looked for the van. I remember that, everytime I saw a nice van, I was hoping while crossing my fingers that it’s the vehicle that will bring us to Leh. Hahaha,., After searching for a few minute, we finally found it and I’m really happy to see that it was a good one.

Here are some images of our road trip from Manali to Leh:

After a long overland journey from Kaza to Leh in Ladakh we finally reached the place I am dying to see. It was already past 8 in the evening when we got there so I didn’t see the beauty of Leh at that time yet, but there’s something in the air, blowing in the wind that’s telling me that I am already in Paradise.

Leh Palace

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On our second day to Kibber, I and my friend along with two female travelers from Australia and a solo male traveler from Spain decided to visit the nearby Ki Monastery by trekking the hill side from Kibber to Ki. The idea was suggested by fellow travelers whom we met in Kibber. They said that the view of the Ki Gompa from above was so amazing and breath-taking.

After roaming around the enchanting village of Kibber, we were all set to visit the Ki monastery, which is 12 kms away from Kaza and situated at an altitude of 4,166 meters above sea level. We first saw the monastery sitting on the hilltop while on our way to Kibber from Kaza. I was in awe when I saw it and captivated by the magnificent beauty of the place. After, trekking for almost 1 ½ hours, we finally saw again the magnificent temple structure of Ki Monastery. The descriptions of other travelers that we met in Kibber are all true. The view from above was stunning and unbelievable! It was beyond our expectations. We seated on the edge of the cliff and stared on the beauty and unbelievable view beneath us. After a few minutes of speechless moment, we decided to trek down the steep hillside to get close and wander around the monastery.

The small town of Kibber

Me in action

Ki Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. The gompa has the distinction of being the biggest monastery of Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It serves as a religious training centre for Lamas (Monks). Ki Gompa is a home to around 300 lamas who receive their religious education here.

View from the top

Some information about Ki Gompa from Wikipedia:

“Key Gompa is said to have been founded by Dromtön (Brom-ston, 1008-1064 CE), a pupil of the famous teacher, Atisha, in the 11th century. This may however, refer to a now destroyed Kadampamonastery at the nearby village of Rangrik, which was probably destroyed in the 14th century when the Sakya sect rose to power with Mongol assistance.

Key was attacked again by the Mongols during the 17th century, during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama, and became a Gelugpa establishment. In 1820 it was sacked again during the wars betweenLadakh and Kulu. In 1841 it was severely damaged by the Dogra army under Ghulam Khan andRahim Khan. Later that same year suffered more damage from a Sikh army. In the 1840s it was ravaged by fire and, in 1975, a violent earthquake caused further damage which was repaired with the help of the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Public Works Department.”
Repeated attacks on the monastery resulted in frequent renovation and reconstruction work which in turn has given rise to irregular box like structure. The building has the appearance of a defensive fort rather than a monastery. Every part of the room is covered with intricate designs of mandalas, thangkas and other buddhism images. Photographs are not allowed inside the rooms of the temple, so we only managed to a get an outside view.

Monks playing Volleyball

Young Monk playing with his friends

The temple also houses some of the most valuable buddhism manuscripts, images and unique wind instruments which they still used during special occasions like fairs held during the months of July and September. They also have collection of weapons which were probably used to defend the monastery from the attackers.

Ki Gompa is truly a place where one can feel peace, calm and serenity.

The post Ki Gompa – Largest Buddhist Monastery in Spiti Valley appeared first on Frameless World - Travel Photography by Bino. Follow his adventures in Facebook and Twitter or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

After staying in Tabo for 3 days, we move to Kaza to explore more of Lahaul and Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh. Kaza being the largest town in Lahaul and Spiti district is quite populated and busy compared to the other town in Spiti Valley. Kaza is surrounded by ice-capped mountains and barren land. After we found a guesthouse, we secured our bags and rest for a while and decided to explore the town of Kaza. After realizing that there’s nothing much to do here, we decided to go further to Kibber, a small town near the Ki Monastery above the town of Kaza.

Kibber lies at an altitude of 4205 meters above sea level. The road to Kibber is not a paved one but the views are amazing especially once you reach the village. The town of Kibber is claiming that they are the highest motorable village in the world. I noticed that the landscape of Kibber and the entire Spiti Valley resembles that of Ladakh. The houses in Kibber village are unique to Spiti as most of them are made of stones instead of mud or brick that they used extensively in other parts of the Spiti Valley. They say that the culture is also similar to that of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism is the predominant religion. No wonder why Spiti Valley is also known as the Little Tibet.

While I was in Kibber, I always go out of the room during day and night to enjoy the cool weather and stare at the magnificent view of the sky. For some reason, the skies are so blue and the stars literally shine brightly at night. The architectural structures in the village of Kibber are worth to see. There’s nothing much to do in Kibber though aside from trekking and mountaineering.

The usual scenes here are donkeys carrying goods, childrens carrying water that they get near the snow covered mountains, yaks and sheeps getting ready to move up and down the hills for their daily tasks in the fields. It’s so amazing to witness how the villagers live their everyday life.

I have seen animal skins lying outside the houses of Kibber (it was a common site in the many villages of Spiti). It might be a Yak fur, the locals might be either selling it or using it to protect themselves from the extreme cold climate at night.

According to the owner of the house where we stayed, the land in Kibber is very fertile compared to other town in Spiti Valley allowing them to produce sufficient amounts of foods even for trading. The economy of the village is based mainly on trade with Ladakh. They even use the barter system with Ladakh where locals often trade their Donkeys for Yaks. In preparation for winters, villagers stock food that will last for the season and during winters all of the villagers stay within their houses and use that time to knit clothes and create handicraft items.

Having a laid-back and relax atmosphere, wonderful villagers and amazing views, Kibber will always be a special place for me. I admit, I have fallen in love with this place.

The post Kibber – High Altitude Village in Spiti Valley appeared first on Frameless World - Travel Photography by Bino. Follow his adventures in Facebook and Twitter or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

One of the magnificent places I’ve seen in India is the Nubra Valley in Ladakh. When we went there, we were greeted by hundreds of grazing sheeps and Bactrian Camels which made the place more scenic. The Bactrian Camel has two humps on its back. The Nubra Valley was a stopping place on the historic Silk Route. Caravans of traders along this route used Bactrian camels. They traded with countries of Central Asia and South Asia. In present time, some locals still use these camels for transportation and some use them for camel safari.

SPECIFICATION:

Camera: Canon 450D

F-stop: f/8

Exposure time: 1/250 sec.

Exposure bias: 0 step

ISO: 100

Focal length: 131mm

Flash: No Flash

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While I was in Siem Reap, Cambodia, I was so fortunate to witness The Annual Giant Puppet Project parade, a very colorful and fun parade where more than 500 children showcase their handmade giant puppets. It was held last February 23, 2013 at the Old Market and Pub Street area of Siem Reap.

The Giant Puppet Project parade was established in 2007 and organized by Giant Puppet Project. This annual event is a local children’s community arts project and is the largest of its kind in Siem Reap. It provides a creative platform and outlet for less fortunate children to showcase and promote self expression and confidence through art.

Led by a team of artists from the renowned Phare Ponleu Seplak Visual Arts School in Battambang, the children spend weeks creating the puppets. During the parade, local children showcase their gigantic artworks where some were equipped with light and sound effects.

Here are some images from this year’s event:

THE GIANT SLOW LORIS

THE GIANT HONEY BEE

THE RED HEADED VULTURE

THE GIANT COBRA

THE GIANT STING RAY

THE GIANT FROGS

THE GIANT PORCUPINE

You can support this great Giant Puppet Project by giving some donations. Simply visit Giant Puppet Project website for instructions.

The post The Annual Siem Reap Giant Puppet Project Parade appeared first on Frameless World - Travel Photography by Bino. Follow his adventures in Facebook and Twitter or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Holy Week is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the Spanish calendar. There’s still time to grab a cheap flight to Malaga to catch the festival running from Sunday March 24 till March 31. This year is sure to be one to remember as locals and tourists alike join together to celebrate the life of Jesus.

Holy week in Malaga is very different to other Spanish towns. Whereas Passion Week is noted with meditation and silence in Malaga you’ll see happiness, noise and cheer with processions and singing.

There is a real festival atmosphere with elaborate thrones are carried along the procession route lit with candles and adorned with flowers. The streets are lined with people who gather to applaud their favourite floats.

The people of Malaga are no less devoted than their compatriots but they celebrate their faith in a much more vocal way than the more sombre displays seen around Spain.

Easy Access

Santa Maria Cathedral

Malaga is a popular destination due to the high number of high number of budget airlines that fly here and. As well as the wonderful Holy Week celebrations there are plenty of other sightseeing opportunities, restaurants and the added advantage of a beach this city really does have it all. If you’re planning a quick break away this could be the destination for you.

Museo Picasso Málaga

Museo Picasso

After the processions, floats, music and singing has died down there is plenty of rich heritage to immerse yourself in. The Museo Picasso Málaga celebrates the life of its greatest son Pablo Ruiz Picasso. It is one of many around the world’s many Picasso museums this one can boast 285 works donated by members of the legendary artist’s family.

Dolphin watching in Gibraltar

Dolphins in Gibraltar

A benefit of Malaga is its proximity to neighbouring Gibraltar which makes for a fascinating day trip. Just a two hour coach journey across the border and you can experience the famous Rock of Gibraltar from which you can climb to marvel at the views of Spanish and Moroccan coastlines. There are several dolphin-watching cruises in the waters. Home to three different species of dolphin they cruises often deliver those magic moments of the beautiful creatures.

So head to Malaga this March and be part of centuries of tradition with Holy Week before heading out to sample all that this wonderful Spanish city has to offer.

Author’s Bio: Jenni is a travel writer who spends the summer months seeking out the best festivals all over Europe. From village fates in the Pyrenees Mountains to rock festivals in the UK, she attends and writes about her experiences and gives recommendations to fellow festival goers through blogging.

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post

Photo Credits: (Flickr & Wikimedia Creative Commons) Cathedral by rosemarydukelow, Dolphins by nlcondit, Museo by Llecco

The post Malaga – The Heart of Holy Week in Spain appeared first on Frameless World - Travel Photography by Bino. Follow his adventures in Facebook and Twitter or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

On our way to back to Leh from Nubra Valley in Ladakh, India, We spotted these Himalayan marmots playing on the ground. According to BBC, “Himalayan marmots are some of the highest altitude-dwelling mammals in the world. They are widely distributed in the Himalayan mountains at elevations of up to 5,000m or even higher. These marmots dig unusually deep burrows for the colonies to hibernate in for winter, so they prefer alpine meadows and sloping grasslands where the soil can easily be excavated. A thick fur coat helps to keep out the worst of the Himalayan weather.” Himalayan marmots live in small groups called colonies, consisting of an adult male, a couple of adult females, some sub-adults (“teenagers”), and pups.

SPECIFICATION:

Camera: Canon 450D

F-stop: f/7.1

Exposure time: 1/400 sec.

Exposure bias: 0 step

ISO: 100

Focal length: 250mm

Flash: No Flash

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