Palau: A True Gem for Travellers

Palau is a beautiful nation of islands. It is situated in the southwest of the Philippines in the North Pacific Ocean. Tourism is Palau’s largest industry, and it is one of the wealthiest nations in the pacific.

The country is an archipelago consisting of about 340 coral and a volcanic island. Diving is a famous activity here with truly world-class dive sites. Palau is an enchanting paradise for snorkelers and divers worldwide. Palau is famous for its underwater wonders. This tiny country has lots of activities and attractions to keep travellers happy when not fully submerged.

Let’s explore Palau and find out the best things to do.

Palau Sightseeing:

Koror:

whenever visiting Palau, Koror should not be missed out. This is the most popular island, especially for the tourist. From Koror, you can visit and explore many other destinations.

Kayangel Atoll Belau

Kayangel Atoll Belau is one of the most amazing Palau points of interest. Kayangel offers stunningly beautiful beaches with white sand, seashells, and driftwood. It is a perfect place to sit in the shallow water and enjoy the water with a breathtaking azure color. You can also spend the day here with fishing, snorkeling, and sunbathing.

Bai House:

The city is best known for its traditional Palauan men’s meeting house, a so-called Bai. During the ancient times in the villages meetings were conducted in the Bai. The traditional Bai House is a work of beautiful drawings and a rich history. Only men were allowed to enter the Bai house.

Jellyfish Lake

Jellyfish Lake is a marine lake located in the Eil Malk Island of Palau. This is a unique opportunity that you should not miss when in Palau. It is a real experience when you get a chance to swim among the migrating golden jellyfish. The jellyfish were trapped in the lake because of the sudden rise in the sea levels some twelve thousand years ago. Scuba diving is not allowed in the lake, but tourists can swim alongside the golden-hued jellyfish.

Waterfalls

Head to Ngardmau Falls to see beautiful rainbow shrouded in the mist. The fantastic Ngardmau Falls is located in Babeldaob. It is the largest island in the Republic of Palau. Ngardmau Falls is the largest waterfall in Micronesia. The best way to reach the fall is to trek along a scenic jungle path. Tourists can travel in the monorail to reach the waterfalls. As you follow the downstream you can find beautiful little pools and miniature waterfalls. While hiking you will find historical remains of Japanese colonial times along the trail, such as old locomotive and other parts of an old railway system

Palau Aquarium

Palau Aquarium is a Japanese funded research complex. The aquarium is a part of the Pacific International coral reef centre. This is an outdoor museum where visitors can view marine life through glass sides on ponds. The aquarium has local fish. Some are in the ocean but with a net around them.

Entertainment in Palau: 

Nightlife in Palau has the entertainment to suit everyone’s taste. You can dine in a fine restaurant in Ngerulmud or relax at a coffee shop and then go to a nightclub or you may prefer to go to a theater. The best place to party would be the Taj, Kramer’s Drop off/Neco and Sam’s, all situated in Malakal. For late-night partying, there are always the karaoke bars in Malakal. These places can be fun if you go in groups.

Activities in Palau: 

Flying over the islands: Palau helicopters have a range of scenic flights over the region. They also have a 45 minutes tour over the Rock Islands and the strikingly photogenic seventy islands. These islands cannot be accessed by sea. The only way to have good view is from the sky.

Kayak around Rock Islands: Explore the stunning natural beauty of the Rock Islands by kayak or canoe. Jutting out from the water, the Rock Islands are Palau’s crowning glory. Countless dive and aqua sports centers are offering guided or self-guided kayak tours.

At Palau Eco Theme Park is the longest zip line in the world. It is a great family-friendly opportunity for fun and adventure. It is easily accessible from Cove Resort Palau.

Palau offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a host of water sports and activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, interacting with dolphins and swimming.

Experiencing mud bath in Palau’s Milky Way: bathing in the white limestone mud found on the water floor will make you look ten years younger. The Milky Way lagoon is known to be a natural spa treatment. Local and tourists look forward to applying the white mud from the lagoon all over the body. One can feel relaxed while having a mud bath.

Palau Cuisine: 

Eating out is a pleasure while visiting Palau. However, you need to know the best restaurant and the best cuisine. Local cuisine is typical of the pacific islands and root vegetables such as taro, yams, and pumpkin. Coconut is widely used ingredients for flavoring everything from fish to soups. Some of the specialties are fruit bats soup, broiled fish, tinola soup, pichi-pichi a desert and Halo-halo.s

Regional drinks are Red Rooster (local beer brand) and kava Juice.

Shopping: Koror is a great place to buy storyboards and local handicrafts. There are many shops in Palau selling the usual array of souvenirs and decorative trinkets. Ulekdubs gift shop and Etpison Museum is few of them.

The Best time to visit Palau: there is no real best time to visit Palau since it is great all year-round. To be more precise the best time to visit Palau is between September and May.

The best way to visit Palau is by renting a car since it is relatively cheap.

Connectivity: many establishments offer free WiFi.

Whenever planning to explore Palau in your coming vacations, find out the popular tourist attractions situated in Palau. The natural beauty of this island attracts tourists from across the globe. You will find amazing people and for sure this will be the best holiday of your lifetime.

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Luanda: A Truly Picturesque City

Angola’s capital city Luanda is often referred to as the most expensive city in the world for the ex-pats. Luanda is a city located in the South-West of Africa on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, near the mouth of the Cuangi River. The city is built around the bay and is in the shape of a semi-circle. People in Luanda speak mostly Portuguese.

Luanda was once a place of conflict but has reinvented itself as a peaceful, stable modern city. The city has been restored which was once historically a center for trade, culture, and commerce. Today, you’ll find a luxury beach party scene, fine dining and shopping in a lush, and welcoming.

You will find beautiful architecture to a museum to relaxing beaches Luanda offers numerous diverse attractions and entertainment options. Luanda doesn’t have much relating to museums, cinemas, and a theatre, so eating out is a big pastime. Mostly restaurants in Luanda are filled with ex-pats. Places like Kintal Da Tia Guida attract mainly Angolans and entire families on weekends, creating a boisterous festive atmosphere.

Let’s Take a Look at the Best Things to Do and See In Luanda: 

The Palacio de Ferro (Iron Palace) is a magnificent palace built by world-renowned architect Gustave Eiffel the builder who built the world-famous Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Statue of Liberty in New York. The Iron Palace is a stunning piece of architecture.

Ilha de Luanda (island of Luanda) it’s not an island but a small peninsula, it’s has some good beaches, restaurants, and bars. If you want to enjoy nightlife and party then this place is a must to visit.

Tourist Attraction in the Outskirts of Luanda: 

Miradourous da Lua is a beautiful landscape created by wind and water. This landscape resembles a moon surface. In other words, it is also known as Moon Valley point. Miradouro da Lua was formed by a cliff with sharp pinnacles that have been eroded from the wind and the sea. This gives it a moon-like surface.

Kissama National Park is two hrs distance from the city of Luanda. This National Park is also called as Quissama National Park. The plants in Kissama are very beautiful with huge Baobab trees. Some mammals in the park include the forest buffalo, eland, antelope, waterbuck and bush bucks among others.

Accommodation: one can stay at the thatched chalets on the banks of Cuanza River with self- contained accommodation facilities at Pousada Caua. This lodge also offers activities like fishing, beach walks, river cruises, bird watching adventures, and others.

Kalandula falls is one of the largest waterfalls by volume in Africa. It is a must-visit attraction whilst you are in the capital. Kalandula Falls is a broad horseshoe-shaped waterfall. It is termed as the awesome power of nature. The best views of the falls come from its base.

Outdoor Activities in Luanda: 

In Luanda, there are interesting and beautiful savannahs that will impress wildlife lovers. Jeep safaris are available for travelers where they come across leopards, elephants, lions, giraffes, antelopes, and various kinds of monkeys. Tourists can go walking all over and admire at the majestic trees that have adapted to the hot climate.

Beaches: 

Among all the beaches of Luanda Mussulo, Ile, Belas, and corymbia are popular beaches. There is a small palm island, which amazes visitors by its beauty.

The beach Mussulo is a good place to get away from the city. The water is warm, and it is relaxing. Tourists can enjoy the quad bikes and boating. So there is plenty to do there. It’s great to go with a group of friends or with the family. Shacks and restaurants are lined along the beach as well as a few hotels and resorts. This place is perfect for a day trip or a romantic overnight getaway.

Go Surfing: Cabo Ledo is the world-famous surfing beach in Luanda. It is a great place for surfers who have just begins to surf. The beach is also available with some quaint bungalows. It is also a great place to camp under the starlit nights.

Entertainment in Luanda: 

Best places to meet girls in Luanda and dating guide: this is the most expensive city in Africa and most expensive in the world, at least if you want to enjoy western living standards. The main area for single nightlife is on Ilha De Luanda and along Avenida Murtala Mohamed, Ilha do Cabo and Miramar. All three of these places try to hook up with Luanda girls.

Nightlife: dance the night away at the chic Switch Supper Club which is open on the weekends until 6a.m. Nightlife can be very expensive. Drink some local beers like Cuca or Tigra before you go out to a bar or club if you want to cut down on your cost.

Cuisine: from fine dining to fabulous street food, including mouth-watering fresh seafood dishes, there is a diverse restaurant scene for your taste buds to explore. Loolal Mar sells the best seafood in Luanda. Though the prices are high the tourist enjoys seafood along with an open-air seaside setting.

Shopping: Maianga is the city’s shopping district for locals. Bellas shopping is the country’s first modern mall. It is a great way to escape a hot day. It is a large mall that has eight cinemas, an entertainment area, a food court and over 100 stores. There are also banks and supermarkets within the mall.

Go crafts shopping at the Benfica market selling everything from perfume, ivory, animal skins, colorful pictures to tourist guidebooks and several types of antiques.

When to visit: October to March are the most culturally active months. They include Angola Restaurant week, the Axiluanda Food Festival, Luanda Cocktail Week, Luanda’s anniversary and it’s very own carnival glorious beach weather too.

Climate: Luanda being the seaside capital city of Angola has the perfect climate for a visit at any time of the year.

Luanda being an appealing destination, one must not miss the opportunity to visit this picturesque city.

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Types of Travel Trip One Should Go On

“To travel is to live” is a saying. It takes a lot of time planning and efforts in deciding what kind of trip would suit you. There are different types of trips with family, friends, spouse or going solo. To some travellers, “Vacation” means easing out on a tropical beach or staying in an urban hotel. But it’s time to think something different and start planning trips that will help you both unwind and grow as a person.

Below are the types of travel trips that will invoke the wanderlust in you to embark on a trip of a lifetime.

 The Weekend Break Trip:

The Weekend break, everyone wants to take a break but due to a hectic work schedule during the week they can’t make it. There is always a way-out where you can still travel by taking short weekend getaways. For that look for cheap airfare deals, fly out on Friday evening and return on Sunday by making the most of the short time you have. Choose a city you’ve always wanted to go to. A weekend break is one of the easiest ways to escape your day-to-day activities and be on time for your job on Monday. There is another option if you have a caravan, you will always have the option of a cheap holiday. Whenever you get a free weekend you can pack up and drive somewhere to a new place. This is the only way to explore the natural beauty that lies close to your home.

 Multi-Day Trip

A multi-day tour or cruise saves your travel budget. You might have had a dream of going to Antarctica, spending two weeks on a cruise ship, spellbound by towering icebergs or kayaking in protected waters. Cruising through the crystal clear waters and getting exposed to an adventurous way of travelling across different parts of the world is something only a cruise trip can make it happen. One has to experience a cruise trip of a lifetime whether local or international.

 Cycling Trips

Cycling trips are another popular method of transportation and adventure travel. Instead of exploring a destination on foot, travellers prefer to climb aboard a bike instead. One can cover more ground at a faster pace and be connected with the landscape, culture, and people there. Mountain biking offers a similar experience but allows access to more remote, off the beaten path destination while introducing a more challenging aspect to the riding as well.

Solo Trip

Solo trips are on the rise and are the most preferred types of trips nowadays. You can take your own decision on how to go about your solo trips. A solo trip is more of enjoying yourself and finding a deeper connection with travel by travelling safe and on your own. Solo travelling keeps you more stretched out whereas the companion travel won’t. Choose a destination where you feel safe and will be in a comfort zone.

Luxury Trip

Those looking forward to living life king-size, a luxury trip happen to be one of the best types of trips for them. Just think if you are living in a palatial hotel relaxing your nerves through spa therapies, nothing beats the comforts and convenience that a luxury trip wraps you in. Everyone should go on a trip once in their life because having a personal butler is kind of amazing.

Canoeing and kayaking

Canoeing and kayaking trips are another popular trip to experience a destination. Here the traveller gets access to the lakes, rivers, and even oceans. However, travellers should have to be experienced with paddling before taking up these types of journeys, as they should be aware of the nature of the water involved.

Fun Trips

Trips with friends: everyone needs a super fun, memory-making trip with their best friends. When we travel with our friends the memories are never forgotten. When intending going on a trip with your friends you tend to conquer fears together and discovering new perspectives.

Exotic Retreat

Sometimes what you need is an exotic retreat. Select a destination that is away from everything and which allows you to just relax and rejuvenate. These types of trips are also great for newlywed couples where you can just spend the start of your new marriage together.

Clubbing Holiday Trip

Clubbing holiday is the best trip for the younger generation and is best for those that like a certain type of music. If you are a lover of dance/electronic type music then Ibiza is one of the best destinations in the world for these types of trips.

Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism, if you wish to experience different cultures during your vacation, there are plenty of unique places all over the world. One can meet locals, see amazing art, architecture, try new and different food, and visit places of historical and cultural significance. India is one of them with unique festivals, art dance, music, cuisine, architecture, customs, and belief. From the famous Taj Mahal to the Ganges you can enjoy both its cities and natural wonders.

 Group Tour

A group trip is described as a gang going together to party and be together for a few days or more. Age doesn’t matter. The advantage of a group trip is that you will mix around with a lot of people who share your interests and you will probably make some new friends.

Girls and boys trips: An all-girl or all-boys trips are the types of trips that comprise of ultimate fun, extraordinary idea and cool vacation spots. These trips are not only for bachelors parties but they are also meant for travellers who would like to have some heart-to-heart talks, create inexplicable memories, and just be themselves.

 Beach Trip

An Epic Beach Trip- crystal clear water, soft white sand, giant palm trees, and sunny skies. Everyone needs to experience an epic beach trip. These types of trips refer to a hot destination and will be able to lounge around in the sun all day. To visit these places always head to places closer to the equator, as well as around the Mediterranean in Europe.

These are some of the ideas of different holiday trips that you should consider when you go away and will lead you to be a better traveller and provide some experiences you may never have thought about having.

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Antigua and Barbuda: A Beach throughout the Year

Antigua and Barbuda are known for their most ravishing beaches in the world. Antigua proudly proclaims it as “a beach throughout the year”. Barbuda, Antigua’s sleepy sister island, is blessed with some pristine stretches of pink-tinged sand sprinkled with chic resorts, picturesque landscapes, and a wide variety of wildlife. Water sports activities are conducted on both islands like diving, swimming, fishing, sailing, and windsurfing. Antigua and Barbuda is a sun-drenched, aquamarine dream of the country. The land is filled with history and culture making the visitors more aware than just a golden tan.

Certainly, Antigua 300+beaches are stunning but there is still much to excite the traveler on this small Caribbean Island.

ADVENTURE EXPERIENCE AT ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA:

Mt Obama is the highest point on Antigua. It was known as Boggy peak but now has been renamed as Mount Obama in memory of President Obama. The area of hills that Mount Obama is in is transformed into a national park and nature reserve to protect the city. The climb to its summit is a must if you want to experience breathtaking views across the island. The beginners and the experienced hikers can experience this hike. The time taken to climb this mountain is about three hours.

Take a boat to Barbuda the sister island to Antigua. Most visitors spend their time on Antigua, but it is very easy to take a day trip or spend a couple of nights over in Barbuda for an even more intimate Caribbean island experience.

One of the best things to do in Antigua if you want to see the amazing marine life is to go snorkeling. There are many possibilities to snorkel. You can rent snorkel gears and start exploring the beach. You get a little sea scooter that helps you swim faster through the water. You will spot stingray, turtles, etc. Galleon Beach in English Harbor is known for excellent snorkeling, and there is a big chance of spotting sea turtles.

Stingray City Antigua is a shallow pool with a sandy bottom amid a tropical reef, where hundreds of friendly southern stingrays glide through the crystal clear waters waiting to be fed by visitors. This adventure will highlight your vacation and will be an experience to live with you forever.

Nightlife in Antigua and Barbuda

NIGHTLIFE IN ANTIGUA revolves around open-air beachside bars and quaint restaurants scattered around the island. Entertainment hubs in Antigua are located in St. John’s City along stretches of Dickenson Bay, Jolly harbor and English harbor. Sunset cruise, Fetes during the week, Casinos and cinemas allow the visitors a variety of activities to choose from.

Friday evening is dedicated to seafood Friday in Nelson Dockyard. On Sunday evening visitors to Shirley heights lookout point in English Harbour can enjoy steel pan and live band music at the longest-running Sunday party in the Caribbean. It is known as The Shirley heights Sunset Party and BBQ.

Nightlife in Barbuda is very sparse and casual. There are a few bars where you can get a beverage, mingle, and perhaps listen to music. You will hardly get to find a big party going on.

Shopping in Antigua and Barbuda purchasers need only to show their valid departure details to purchase duty-free items from internationally recognized brands. Vendor mall offers a selection of local art and crafts, straw goods, pottery, and jewelry.

Redcliff Quay is a colorful picturesque shopping district. There are several exclusive shops including jewelers, boutiques and craft shops.

The best time for visitors to go to Antigua and Barbuda is from December to April when the weather is at its best.

The best way to move around Antigua is to rent a car. Most hotels and resorts offer car rental services in Antigua. You can easily do it yourself and much cheaper.

SIGHTSEEING IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA:

Antigua Rainforest Canopy Tour: Antigua has plenty of pristine, verdant jungle to explore and one of the most exciting ways to experience the natural beauty is to join a Zipline canopy tour. The zip line tours are fun and safe for visitors of any age. The aerial zips give visitors a bird’s eye view of the stunning flora and fauna in Antigua’s rainforest.

Frigate Bird sanctuary, Barbuda is a haven for birders. It is accessible only by boat. The bird sanctuary lies in Barbuda’s northwest lagoon and is one of the largest nesting colonies of frigate birds in the Caribbean. These large sea birds are known for their bright red gullets and one and a half meter wingspan.

Betty’s Hope is an exciting piece of colonial history to be found on the island. Antigua’s first sugar cane plantation stands on this site. The only reaming structure is the two stone windmills. The site is now a national heritage landmark and many aspects of it have been restored, such as the sugar mill towers and sails.

St. John’s, Antigua is the capital city and cruise ship port of Antigua and Barbuda. It is impossible to avoid a visit to Antigua’s capital of St. John’s and it is well worth it. For an overview of the island’s history, discover the island past at the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, along with the city’s unique Museum of Marine Art. End your day with dinner in one of St. John’s eclectic mix of quirky restaurants and be sure to spend some time exploring the city’s unique shops.

Go for a romantic picnic to one of the best and most romantic places at Half Moon Bay a natural and curve of coral-colored sand that curves for one mile along the southeast coast of the island. Remember to take your snorkel and mask to explore the coral garden that lies just offshore.

Pink Sands Beach at Barbuda’s is one of the biggest draws on the island. This pink sand was formed by the sea by crushing millions of seashells.

The best cuisine served is at the authentic French restaurant Le Bistro Restaurant, family-friendly The Crow Nest and Millers by the bay which has local seafood and reggae.

Where to stay in Antigua:

Antigua is famous for its tourism. There is a wide range of accommodation available on the island catering to everyone’s needs. There are hotels and resorts situated on the eastern coastline where the beaches are best and the water is calm and clear. Few of them are:

Luxury Hotel: Hermitage Bay

Mid-range Hotel in Antigua: Pineapple Beach Club Antigua

Budget Hotel in Antigua: Paige Pond Country Inn

Hostel in Antigua: Caribbean Holiday Apartments.

The Caribbean is loaded with a variety of destinations for travelers to visit but Antigua and Barbuda stand out for many reasons. No matter what type of travel you’ll be doing the country offers a variety of amazing travel experiences for everyone.

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DES MOINES Iowa Unexpected Delight

Des Moines is not only the capital of Iowa, but it is also the largest city making it a prime spot for tourists to visit. You can find plenty of great things to do in Des Moines from fairs to museums to parks. There are family-friendly attractions for adults or young adults travelling alone or with a group of friend. Des Moines has taken many steps to develop as a vibrant cultural landscape with sculpture parks, botanical gardens, and a shopping and dining place. Whatever you choose to do on your visit to this friendly city whether it is touring impressive art collection or catching a baseball game under the lights, don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to spend a longer time at Des Moines

Tourist travelling to Des Moines has a wealth of activities to enjoy.

Different things to do in Des Moines:

There are plenty of things to do in Des Moines, a truly unique city to visit. Iowa capital has everything- outdoor activities like breathtaking nature, fun, and games to keep you entertained, art, history, and culture to immerse yourself in and to shop to suit any needs.

Blank Park Zoo is home to animals from all over the world from Koalas and kangaroos to penguins and pandas. Get to know creatures from all over the world in the zoo exhibits including the Aquarium, African Broad walk, Australian Adventure and the Caves. The zoo offers animals feeding for ostriches, small birds, and giraffes along with camel rides, a train that opens on the weekends, a gift shop and a cafe.

Downtown Farmer’s Market has been an iconic feature for 40 years.

It has more than 300 artists, crafters, bakers and farmers come from over 58 counties. You’ll find everything from fruit and vegetables to flowers and art.

The flea market is one of the best places to head to if you’re in search of unique items like antiques, collectables, and other goods. There are also beautiful places to find products like clothes, toys, and tools for meagre prices. The collection varies from new to slightly used, and this is a great way to cycle up something making one man’s trash another man’s treasure. Iowa has many amazing flea markets, some of which are open every day, all year long and others that are open for extravagant three days events seasonally. No matter the time you wish to visit, be sure to go home with something you’ll treasure forever.

Smash Park is the perfect place for some food, drinks, and games. Smash Park is the city’s social entertainment and events venue, offering delicious street food and handcrafted cocktails with games including shuffleboard, pickleball, ping pong, and bocce ball. You will definitely won’t be bored.

Great Escape is located minutes from downtown in Pleasant Hill. Great Escape is an excellent place for family fun, offering bowling, cosmic bowling, laser tag, and a game room. Social Eats and Crafts is a full restaurant inside Great Escape, allowing visitors to grab a bite to eat between all the laser tag and bowling.

Adventure Land Park is Iowa’s most prominent attraction with more than 100 rides and attractions. There are so many games like thrill rides, kiddie rides, family rides, and adventure bay is added water-related attractions. Chicken Shack, Main Street Creamery, Dippin Dots ice cream, and petunia Pig are some of the eateries at the park.

Des Moines unexpected delights.

Agro Adventures: Central Iowa is famous for canoeing, climbing, biking, fishing and winter sports. The goal is to make outdoor recreation fun, accessible, and educational. Argo’s home is a Water Park with a canoe day trip on the Raccoon River.

Backspin Golfers can play on the world’s great destination courses, such as Pebble Beach and St. Andrews indoor at Backspin Golf in Ankeny.

Greater Des Moines has various shopping destination with a blend of major national retailers and unique local boutiques. With several options right off the interstate shopping in Des Moines is convenient, affordable, and sure to find something amazing. Enjoy tax-free shopping at Greater Des Moines on first Friday and Saturday in August.

There’s fun for everyone in Downtown Des Moines whether you are a citizen or a visitor. Rock at a music festival or take a jog on the city streets. You can also relish delicious dinner or immerse yourself in the artistic experience.

Local entertainment: In Downtown Des Moines, you can dance to the beat of your drums, with a vibrant live music scene supported by a passionate community. You can find a cultural event from hip-hop to classical performances of opera legacy. Local artist stars and music legends grace the stages of Downtown DSMn to make it one of the most exciting places for music in Greater Des Moines.

Best place to eat: Downtown Des Moines is a city bursting with flavour. Locally owned breweries, wineries, and restaurants are unique to downtown DSM. You can find the perfect pairing for any craving. Strange things in Des Moines: Stick out your tongue at Raccoon River Brewing Company. Des Moines locals are proud of their home breweries such as Raccoon River Brewing Company. But there’s a special drink at this brewery called Confluence Cream Soda that is tasty, but it turns your mouth bright blue.

High Trestle Trail: this outdoors multi-use trail is scenic and well worth a visit. It used to be a railway line. It’s now mostly smooth and flat, perfect for cycling, running or walking. Most visitors head to iconic High Trestle Trail Bridge. As one of the most extensive trail bridges in the world, it’s a must to see. Check out the bridge after sundown. Blue lights shine on the steel frame of the bridge representing the main river channel running below.

Romantic places for couples in Des Moines:

Splash Seafood Bar & Grill: grab a dish at splash seafood bar and Grill. It has fine dining, premiere oysters, crab and lobster, and world-class wine list. It is a perfect night out for many couples. Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack and Hotel: catch live horse racing at Prairie Meadows, beautifully renovated Casino, more than 2000 slot machines, meadows event centre, and hotel are all within one property.

Blue moon Dueling Piano Bar: Catch a tune at Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant, Where piano players dazzle with entertainment and laughter. Enjoy cocktails for an added evening of delight. Check what you’ve been missing and start planning your next trip to Greater Des Moines.
     

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The Most Stunning Deserts of the World

Desserts in the world are underrated. They receive a significantly small amount of rainfall. They can be either a hot desert or cold desert. Most deserts are quite barren as the dry living condition is too hot to host most plant and animal life. We shouldn’t disrespect the desert because it is so much more than that.
If we imagine, deserts often conjure up a vision of vast empty areas with no life insight. But this isn’t always the case, despite the harsh condition some are home to diverse animal and plant life. They often carry a rich history that can be traced back to millions of years. The continent of Africa is no exception. One-third of the vast African continent is covered by deserts.

Desserts are harsh places, and we love exploring, photographing and learning more about these mystical places. These regions form when regional climate changes resulting in long-lasting drought conditions. Africa’s deserts are home to some of the most extreme landscape and stark conditions on Earth. From volcanic mountains to sand dunes to chalk rock formations, the desert offers a combination of striking beauty and geological wonder.

Take a look at the favourite deserts across the world. 

Syrian Desert 

Syrian Desert is unique for being a combination of a real desert and a steppe meaning low grassland. It is located in the North of the Arabian Peninsula in Syria. The desert is flat but very rocky. The landscape was formed by lava flows emerging from volcanic activities in the region of Jebel Druze in Syria. This desert covers the parts of Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

White Desert Egypt:

While Egypt‘s most popular tourist attractions are the Great Pyramids of Giza and Luxor’s valley of the kings, the country has much to offer than just those spectacular sites. Its lunar looking White Desert is located to the West of the Nile River and is bordered by Sudan to the South, Libya to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. The white desert is home to a chalky, surreal rock formation that looks like a natural sculpture from another planet. If you visit the White Desert, make sure to head to its northern portion to see the impressive crystal mountain; it is a sizeable sparkling rock entirely made of Quartz crystal. These unique formations were, in fact, formed by sandstorms and wind erosion. The White Desert was formerly an ancient sea bed when it dried up. It left behind sedimentary rock layers formed from dead marine plants and animals. The wind swept away the softer rocks leaving behind, the harder rock of the plateau.

Wander through the Namib Desert:

It is the oldest desert in the world. The Namib is a lovely coastal desert that stretches along the Atlantic coast from Angola to the Western Cape province of South Africa. This rugged barren landscape is home to the highest sand dunes in the world. For a truly remote experience, travellers should plan to stay in the Namib Rand Nature Reserve or in Solitaire, both of which are accessible by road. The best times to visit are at any point between June and September when temperatures are manageable and not too hot.

Sahara Dunes, Morocco:

Is a part of the Sahara Desert. It is most welcoming to visitors, accessible from the northern part of Morocco. Let Berbers guide you on a hike from the town of Zagours or camp in Tazzarine; a destination famous among runners for the yearly Marathon des Sables.

The Namib Desert Namibia:

The beautiful Namib is one of the world’s oldest and driest deserts. Its name means an area where there is nothing in Nama a language spoken by some locals in Namibia. The landscape of this stunning region features the biggest sand dunes on the planet and granite peaks. It is home to an impressive amount of wildlife adapted to the area’s dry climate. It’s possible to visit this incredible place by foot, on horseback or by a helicopter.

Great Karoo South Africa:

The Great Karoo is South Africa‘s vast dry heartland. This semi-arid desert is full of exciting features, attractions, craggy mountains, vibrant wildflower, quaint colonial towns and unique wildlife. Visitors come to see the national parks, attend many small-town festivals, go fossil-hunting and stargaze under the big sky.

Makgadikgadi pan:

It is a massive area of bone dry salt pans in Southern Botswana. It is so quiet that you can hear the blood rushing through your veins. The Kalahari Desert landscape is not very welcoming. It is formed by a giant lake that dried up a million years ago. However, if the winter gets substantial rain, the area sprouts bright green grass. It welcomes wildlife like zebra, wild beast and flamingos.

 

Sahara Desert

Sahara Desert: It is one of the largest hot deserts in the world and is the third-largest desert behind Antartica and the Arctic which are north cold deserts. The name of the desert comes from the Arabic word Sahara which means desert. Winds and the rainfall have shaped the Sahara into a landscape of dunes, valleys, flats and sand seas. Camels are some of the most iconic animals of the Sahara. They are known as “Ship of the desert”. They are well adapted for the hot and arid environment according to the San Diego Zoo. The humps on a camel’s back stores fats which can be used for energy and hydration in between meals.

Black Rock Desert

The Black Rock Desert is found in Nevada. It is a quite famous site of The Burning Man. There is an annual weeklong event showing how the construction of Black Rock city took place. During the festival, all traces of it are removed until the following year. Most of the desert is composed of lava beds and alkali flats.

Mojave Desert

Mojave contains Death Valley which sits at an elevation of 282 feet below sea level, making it the lowest point in North America. The trees delineate the boundaries of the region. Las Vegas, Nevada is the Mojave’s largest city.

Greenland

Greenland is the largest non-continental and coldest desert in the world. It is famous for having the largest national park in the world; the North East Greenland National park.

The Atacama Desert is situated in South America. It is considered the driest and non-polar desert in the world. It is noticed that the Atacama Desert has been described as very similar to the Mars surface.

Do visit the amazing African deserts with unique landscapes that merge natural beauty and impressive geological phenomena.

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Kigali Rwanda, The Land of Thousand Hills

Kigali is famous for its lush hillsides, flowering trees, winding boulevards, and bustling streets. It is one of the most attractive capital cities in Africa as well as one of the cleanest and safest cities. Kigali is emerging as a proud city known for its progressive start-ups, energetic art scene, and great dining and coffee.

Kigali offers many interesting places to see and things to do. 

Entrance to the Kigali Genocide Memorial:

No trip to Kigali is complete without spending some quality time at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a final resting place for more than 250000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This is the best place to learn about the worst human tragedy that affected the country and one of the most awful historical times for Africa.

Fly from the sky: 

Skydiving is a popular sport that has been introduced to Kigali. It is the ultimate thrill and not for the faint-hearted. The activity can be done by anybody but needs great mental preparation. Jumping from a small plane to the ground will raise your adrenaline to phenomenal levels. You will need to take a course explaining how to pack your parachute and their safety advice. When you venture out you are not alone, your instructor will be with you all the way.

Kimironko Market: 

The best way to learn about the culture of a country is to visit the local markets. Kimironko Market is a large market where all sorts of items are available. Here you can find handicrafts and souvenirs, colorful baskets, fabric and seamstresses ready to make you a dress, fresh vegetable and fruits and a host of other household items. This market is more spacious allowing you to mingle with the locals as you get to know about their products. So it is better to move along in the market with your guide to help you with translation where necessary.

Climb Mount Kigali for those who love adventure

Climbing Mount Kigali could be just the thing you need. It is not a mountain as such but the highest hill in Kigali reaching 6000 feet. From the top, you can see a view of the entire city of Kigali. It’s gorgeous, there’s a lot of farmlands, coffee, tea, and beans being tented by local farmers, it is so peaceful and quiet. Overall hiking to the top of the mountain is easy because of its gentle slopes. Mount Kigali offers amazing views of the city and with opportunities to take beautiful photos. While on top you can stop for food and beer at the Mera Neza Bar or visit the Fazenda Sengha Horse Ranch for horseback riding.

Go for sauna and massage: 

While in Kigali you will have no shortage of places to go, that offers pedicure, facials or manicure. Healing spa is one of the best spas in Kigali. It offers massages, facials, and a wide range of body treatments, body slimming and toning in an opulent and serene environment. Massage and sauna aren’t reserved for only the high-end hotels but also for the specialized outlets scattered around the city center.

CHILDREN’S OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN KIGALI: 

Bambino Super City is a one-stop-shop for kids. At Bambino, there are children’s rides, carousels, restaurants, swimming pools and lots of beautiful spots for a picnic or outdoor walk.

There are weekly events like sports clubs and lessons that can keep your child busy and active week after week.

Dream Team Football Academy, Nyarutarama Tennis club and Fazenda Sengha are some of the clubs.

Are you ready for a night out? There are new ideas for you and your special someone to relax and enjoy a night away. Kigali isn’t exactly known for its party scene. In the last few years, night out in Kigali has grown tremendously. There are several rollicking dance clubs and nightspots if you know where to look. Bars and nightclubs have sprung up all over the city.

Cocktail bars, happy hours and live music can now be found several nights a week and options for going out to have diversified. One of the best Papyrus sits within stumbling distance of Repub Lounge. Papyrus is a restaurant, bakery, and lounge situated upstairs, but in the basement, it’s a sweaty, full volume disco that only really gets going after the clock strikes midnight. When you are tired or need a break, Kigali has some great restaurants and cafes where you can smell some of the local dishes or indulge in a cup of locally grown coffee.

Choma’Dm restaurant and bar in the Nyarutarama neighborhood are one of Kigali’s hippest spots.

Sundowner is popular with expat and intern set. Sundowner is the place to go on Friday or Saturday night to listen to P square and dance until dawn.

Executive Car Wash is located in an actual car wash. This bar serves some of Kigali’s best brochettes alongside a selection of cold beers. It also hosts karaoke nights.

For a romantic time, there are tonnes of unique date opportunities around Kigali.

Go for a couples massage or yoga together: Nothing says I love you more than a relaxing spa date! Surprise your loved one with such an experience this holiday season as Kigali has enough spots for this to cater for all your budget needs.

Enjoy a picnic on one of Kigali’s hills: though Kigali’s public park options are limited, snag some sandwiches from Turambe shop and vanilla éclairs from Baso Patissier before making your way to one of Kigali’s many beautiful hills. Find a quiet spot, lay down a blanket, and enjoy a date in the land of a thousand hills. Travel by taxi, bus or motorcycle to the top of Mt Kigali or pick any of the other surrounding hills at random.

Do a Go Kigali tour: for an in-depth experience of Kigali look no further than Go Kigali tours. These half or full-day tours led by Rwanda guides take visitors through five neighborhoods on an action-packed day of sightseeing, eating and learning about the city. The tour visits markets, milk bars, and local restaurants.Mt. Kigali and more in the course of just a few hours and is a great way to see this beautiful city.

Nyamirambo being Kigali’s colorful neighborhoods is known throughout the city as one of the loudest and interesting areas in town. The neighborhood is historically Muslim and the play host to the famous Gaddafi Mosque as well as a series of fantastic restaurants.

Travelers come from all over to catch a glimpse of the magnificent gorillas, yet there is so much more to see and experience.

With so much to see and do in Kigali, it’s hard to decide where to start when visiting this exciting and vibrant city.

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The Don’ts in Maldives

The Maldives is considered as one of the world’s best destinations where dream vacation comes true. The beautiful island of Maldives is considered where magic meets beauty.

The Maldives is a gorgeous getaway to enjoy the sun, sand, and seafood. Though the resorts have has its own identity and lenient rules than the inhabited islands, the nation itself is very conservative.

Your vacation in this piece of paradise will be full of sunbathing, snorkeling, scuba diving, whale shark watching, island hopping, bicycle riding, gorging on delicious food, surfing, and paddleboarding. The Maldives is branded as the “Sunny-side of life” and a place for the sun, sea, and sands these natural factors are the most obvious reasons why it is a popular tourist destination. Maldivians know that foreign visitors follow their customs and different ways of doing things. Therefore, visitors to the Maldives should follow the local customs and practices.

We want to ensure that your holiday goes smoothly without any glitch, hence here’s a simple guide to what not to do in the Maldives to make your trip a memorable one.

Do not take off your tee: it is all about public Local Islands and beaches. This custom certainly sounds absurd to you. It’s an Islamic country there are certain morals and values to uphold. You cannot expect to roam around in a bikini in public places and expect the people there to take it easy. You can do all this in your resort. Nude sunbathing is an absolute no-no in the Maldives.

Don’t buy turtle and black coral since they are endangered not just in the Maldives, but all over the world. While taking a stroll on many atolls in the Maldives, you might come across some shady people who are trying to sell turtle shell and black corals to you. This sale of products have been banned in the Maldives for over two decades, so please don’t partake in this illegal and unethical sale unless you want to face harsh punishments or even jail time.

Don’t bring liquor or alcohol products to the Maldives. The import of alcohol and consumption in the local islands is strictly prohibited. Only permit holders such as resort and safari boats are allowed to import alcohol in the Maldives. However, alcoholic beverages are available for consumption in the tourist resorts.

Sunscreen: the Maldives is known for its serene turquoise waters. But before you dive into the depths of the ocean make sure you apply an adequate amount of good quality sunscreen lotion to avoid getting a dreadful tan that will cause even more excruciating burns and you might have to spend some days of your vacation in your hotel room.

Maldivian island hopping: Tourists are discouraged from visiting Non -resort islands. This is largely in case they want to keep a tight grip on where the tourist dollars are spent and to make sure the Non- resort islands are not corrupted by foreign influences. To visit the Non- resort islands and utter atolls you will need to organize a guide or licensed tour operator to show you around.

Avoid excess display of intimacy in public: the Maldives is considered as a conservative country. Too much display of intimacy on public local places isn’t considered as decent and people might object. Avoid getting into trouble during your short stay there. Let your holiday be a memorable one.

Do not litter the ocean: Marine life and vegetation are an important part of the ecosystem and in the world of rapid climate change the marine habitat has been affected severely. No matter which beaches you visit, please refrain from littering. We have all seen images of seals trapped in plastic sheets, plastic removed out of a whale during autopsy and straws stuck in a poor turtle’s nose. All of these can be hazardous.

Be extra respectful during the holy month of Ramadan. People are likely to be sensitive to anything they perceive during this month. You should take steps to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the public. Ramadan involves Muslims not eating or drinking from dawn to dusk and it’s rude to ignore these customs.

Use high protection cream: since the Maldives is located so close to the equator, it is possible to get burnt even on a cloudy day. So, you need high factor cream.

Avoid drinking tap water: water undergoes a different process in the Maldives to get rid of all the harmful bacteria and germs. This process is known as reverse osmosis desalination. This process is very successful in eradicating all the germs and bacteria from recycled water. It also gets rid of all the natural minerals in the water that provide several benefits to the human body and ends up not being as nutritious as it should be. It is a better choice to opt for packaged mineral water sold in these stores.

Banned items: the Maldives is a strictly Islamic country. There are specific ban items that you can bring with you to enjoy a hassle-free vacation at the Maldives. Leave at the port items which you have carried and not allowed using like alcohol, tobacco products, and religious texts and enjoy the unplugged holiday.

Don’t wear your shoes while entering a home or mosque. If you are not sure if you should remove your shoes, take a peep at what other people are doing and follow or ask someone.

When meeting someone for the first time, a handshake is common. Accept between men and women of the Muslim faith. Maldivian men may nod or bow to a woman, but if you are unsure, you can extend your hand.

Drug enforcement in the Maldives is strict and you have to pay a heavy penalty. They don’t have the death penalty for drug offenses, but they do have mandatory prison time for anyone caught even with soft drugs. Possession of minor amounts is considered trafficking with a life sentence in prison attached to it.

To make the best out of your trip to the Maldives is to shed off all remains of supremacy from your actions and think as the locals do. To earn respect you should show respect to others too.

Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you have a problem-free trip to Maldives.

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Find Hidden Beauty in Moldova

Moldova is the least visited European country. So they lack tourist attractions. Though Moldova is rich in its history and tradition; it is very poor in tourism strategy and promotion.

Moldova offers a lot in its own right way. First it’s remote and rarely visited country making it perfect for adventurers who want to blaze a trail. Second it has a growing wine tourism industry and those who knows wines known that some of the best in Europe come from Moldova. Moldova is a perfect destination for people who are seeking solitude and adventure. Moldova being a remote country, so a stone is yet to be unturned. There are various places to visit in Moldova especially the picturesque views and a variety of landscapes which include river and valleys alike.

NATURE OF MOLDOVAN 

Moldovan people are very friendly even though they might be cold in the beginning, but once you get to know some of them you’ll see that they are very cheerful and like to dance much more than other Eastern European people. Moldovan girls are the most beautiful girls in the world.

 

BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MOLDOVA ARE: 

Chisinau is a friendly place with beautiful parks, nature and lots of green space. There are lots of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, spas and casinos. Don’t miss out the Pushkin Park and the Orange Pyramid at the World War II memorial. You’ll find marvellous frescoes in the Nativity cathedral .When visiting Chisinau do as the locals do and start your day with a coffee and a glass of local Kvint cognac. After your coffee you have no other choice than exploring the city by foot.

Tipova Monastery is situated in a remote area, but the scenic beauty makes up for it. Located in one of the most beautiful places in the country, the monastery has three complexes which were dug out from the rocks on the banks of Nistru River. The churches were built between 11th and 14th century. It is believed that the complexes have originally served as a refuge place for Christians trying to hide from the Tartars during their invasion in the 13th century. Apart from the beauty of the monastery, visitors are attracted by the amazing landscapes around the place. The combination of rivers, forest, cliffs, waterfalls and hills creates a unique Moldovan charm together with its local culture and mild climate.

Festivals in Moldova not to miss: when we travel we like to make sure our trips are larger than life and bigger than grand plans. There’s no better way to do so than loving it up at a festival.

Some of the festivals have been listed to chart out your travel plans. 

GUSTAR is an ethno music festival. The citizen of Moldova and foreign tourists gather for a multicultural dialogue. People call it Gustar, archaic word that symbolizes the month when most of the fruits including grapes are ripen and tasted. You will have a chance to spend a weekend in nature, taste delicious traditional meals and enjoy amazing ethno music.

Velo Hora: it’s a goal to unite people on bicycles, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle changing drivers attitude towards cyclists. There have family friendly games and activities to enjoy, including an open air concert in the square. The festival draws its name from Hora, a traditional Moldovan circle dance symbolizing unity.

Wine Day: try different types of wine and liquor, enjoy traditional food, meet people, engage in a traditional Hora and have a whole Moldovan cultural experience. Don’t forget to spoil yourself and buy a bottle of Moldovan Wine.

Martisor is one of the biggest musical celebrations in Moldova. During these ten days you can feel the music vibrations in the air. The concert halls from Chisinau and other cities host over 40 concerts. Martisor is a music festival with most varied folklore and symphony music, theatre and chamber companies, even modern music. It gathers artists from many countries.

Breathtaking landscape: Moldova has some pretty bad roads but there are some really amazing landscapes you can see while travelling around. Moldova is a hilly country with lush green forest. The autumn is especially beautiful when the forest get golden red. Moldova nature is really amazing with stunning sceneries.

The weirdest tourist attraction: Moldova is probably the poorest country in Europe. It is surprising when you see a bunch of rich people flaunting their wealth in the town of Soroca. They have built some astonishing houses that are a replica of some of the national landmarks like Peter’s Basilica and the Bolshoi theatre. This town is known as Gypsy Hill and is becoming a hot tourist attraction with tourists from around the world coming to admire this replica town.

Stefan Cel Mare Park: if you wish to spend some lonely time anywhere then this place is the best one. The park is very big and there are many sitting areas. You can sit here quietly for a moment. Apart from this there are some eating places inside the park that serves tasty delicious snacks. If you wish you can avail such food. During the night this park is beautifully decorated.

Incredible food and hospitality: “Al Mancat? Vine, Maninca is some of the first Romanian words one will learn when visiting Moldova. Did you eat, come eat. Although the dishes vary as far as culinary style is concerned the grand Hospitality and sense of welcoming the food is served never changes.

Moldova is known for its vibrant nightlife which is filled with numerous bars and clubs. The Republic of Moldova is an ideal place for the ones who seek to enjoy an active nightlife.

These are some of the places to enjoy your night out 

Party ZAN Game Club, Kira Club, Mojitos, Sky bar, Barbar, Korova, Piano Bar, Tap Room 27, Black Rabbit Gastro barrow And Toast Cafe.

If you are on a budget, come to Moldova. Here you can afford to have a good time. Food, wine, bar hopping and taxis are cheap.

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Navigate Around the Alluring Principality Monaco

Monaco is a destination like no other. It is the second smallest country in the world, less than two square kilometres in size it is perhaps the most glamorous little stretch of land on the planet. The scenery is dotted with deep blue sea, graceful palm trees and vibrant flowers. The most dramatic feature is the steep rock jutting out into the Mediterranean called “Le Rocher” (The Rock).

Monaco is also a home to the most renowned casino in the world which is constantly surrounded by fast luxury cars such as Ferrari, Bentley or Lamborghini. This country though small in size offers many fun attractions and the good news is you don’t have to own a great deal of money to experience them.

Here are some reasons why Monaco should be on your must-visit list. 

Enjoy the sunshine at Larvotto Beach: 

Monaco is located by the Mediterranean Sea which makes it a perfect spot for sunbathing, relaxing and swimming in the warm water. Even during the winter months when the rest of Europe is freezing cold you will till most likely be able to enjoy a warm climate and plenty of sun. Beside the well maintained beach the area boasts many seaside restaurants and brasseries where you can enjoy delicious French food and refreshing drinks.

Monte-Carlo casino: 

Monaca’s casino is the iconic building in the principality and probably one of the landmarks most familiar to you when thinking of Monaco. It is one of the most famous casinos in the world, particularly as it was built in the flamboyant Beaux Arts Style in 1893. The marble atrium is lavish in style. There are 28 onyx columns that welcome you to the Gaming Rooms. Fans of James Bond will enjoy the scenery as this is said to have been the setting for the James Bond Novel “Casino Royale”. There is different gaming rooms decorated according to the themes. Make sure you look up at the stunning artwork as you try your luck.

Ni Box bowling: 

To escape the heat for a while and some light-hearted fun, you can find a well equipped bowling alley in the heart of Monaco. Open solely in the afternoons from 2 Pm onwards. You can spend time for a few hours of entertainment here.

There is no need for an introduction for racing fanatics; the Monaco Grand Prix is one of the main Formula 1 races in the calendar each year. The racing tradition in the principality started in 1950 and usually takes place around May. What makes it more special is that it cuts through the streets of the city past Boulevard Alberta and past the famous Monte Carlo Fairmont Hotel.

Fantastic food: 

Monaco is a home to some of the world’s most reputable restaurants along with a whole host of delicious local cuisine. Whatever your taste buds are looking for in the principality, Monaco should be able to provide with vigour. You’ll find Italian and French Fusion when it comes to the Principality’s cuisine. Some of the best restaurants are Blue bay, Le Louis XV, Joel Robuchon Monte Carlo, IL Terrazzino etc.

One of the beautiful buildings and landmark of the principality, the Oceanographic Museum is a must to see. Perched on the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, it houses various exhibitions throughout the year as well as it is an impressive aquarium. An aquarium is situated in the basement that holds more than 6000 specimens.

Monaco Tours:

Perfect for tired leg sightseeing. Hop on Monaco’s little train to tour the city. Lasting for 30 minutes, the tour takes you around all the sights of Monaco feeding you all the interesting facts and figures. It runs all year round from February to November.

Rainier III outdoor swimming stadium allow the kids to spend the afternoon cooling off and splashing around in this open air pool right on the harbour. It’s run by the municipality and the rates are reasonable, considering its Monaco. Interesting facts is that in the wintertime it is turned into an ice skating rink.

Monaco is filled to the brim with luxurious hotels to stay. This is why if you’re looking for an indulgent treat destination for a particular celebration there is really nowhere better than Monaco. Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo with its Gustave Eiffel Dome and opulence wherever you look is the best.

Le Metropole shopping centre: 

A sweeping marble staircase, chandeliers and designers clothes at every corner. Monaco’s shopping centre definitely doesn’t disappoint. It is known for its opulence which also means that you can expect to find a good range of upscale shopping opportunities here. The shopping centre consists of three floors and there are plenty of seats to rest your weary feet, plenty of Photo opportunities too. Avenue Princess Grace, named in honour of Grace Kelly is also another good choice if you want to find some elegant clothes and accessories.

Luxury spa experience: 

Monaco has a selection of luxury spas which offers relaxing treatments for visitors to the country. Thermes Marin Monte Carlo offers luxury tailor made treatments, including sweater based treatment, wellness programs, massages and more and has been a part of the spa scene in Monaco for nearly a century.

Imagine having a unique, romantic and fun date night on the Mediterranean coast. Doesn’t sound too bad.

Try out these date ideas during your stay in Monaco: 

Enjoy a night at the Monte Carlo Opera House. It’s usually booked, so make sure you plan ahead.
For a more casual date night, try to view the sun as it sets over Monaco. There are several places that are great for sunset viewing as the principality is perched on a cliff .Larvotto Beach and Place du Palais are two favourites.

Monaco’s tourism is the main driver of events and activities all year round. Expatriates working in Monaco have plenty of choice in terms of leisure activities over weekends, during holidays and festivals. There are several major events each season from sporting events to arts and culture and festivals.

Pack your bags for a balmy weather and holiday of hedonism in sunny opulent Monaco.

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Explore the Hidden Gem of Lisbon

The second oldest capital city of Europe is Lisbon. A city tour of Lisbon showcases the attractive sights and sounds of the Portuguese city. Lisbon was once a home to the world’s greatest explorers like Magellan, Vasco Da Gama and Prince Henry. Lisbon is blessed with many beautiful sandy beaches ranging from dune backed sands to little sheltered is coves. Lisbon is a great for a weekend escape. It’s a multicultural, passionate, multifaceted city. It conquers you with its mix of modern and old fashion.

With its world class restaurants, style and rich history in art and culture, Portugal’s city remains high on every traveller’s hit list. Whether you’re just here for a short visit or thinking of sticking around a little longer this checklist will help you find the very best thing. Sticking around a little longer you will find the most important landmarks, get a taste of some traditional Portuguese food and uncover hidden gems in the coolest neighbourhood around the city.

Discover the things to do during your visit here to get into the heart of what makes Lisbon so wonderful.

Find a bakery: Lisbon will certainly become a favourite destination for visitors with a sweet tooth, right from the famous Pasteis de Nata in Belem to tartes de maca to travesseiros in nearby Sintra. Lisbon is a city in to indulge your senses.

Ride Tram 28: Like San Francisco in the United States, Lisbon is a city famed for its historic, rattling tram lines. Tram 28 has been working its way up the steep, cobbled roads and into the old Alfama district for decades. The journey start from below the palm spotted hills of Graca and weaves towards the hair pin alleys of Escolas Gerais before pulling up to a halt beneath the gorgeous domes of the Estrela Basilica.

Lisbon is one of the European cities located so close to the stunning seafront. From its miles of dune backed sands to sheltered coves, Lisbon is a home to numerous beautiful sandy beaches along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It is a paradise for beach lovers.

The vibrant nightlife: In Lisbon sunset does not mean the end of the day. The day has just started for the locals, especially on the weekends and during the summer holidays from hidden bars to clubs, cellar to beautiful rooftop bars to fancy cocktail places. There is definitely something for everyone. Bairro Alto is the liveliest district in Central Lisbon for its nightlife. It is well known for its vibrant bars and quirky pubs. People tend to spill out of the different bars and drink together on the narrow winding cobbled streets. It is common with students, so the prices of drinks are highly competitive.

Perfect place for foodies: Lisbon has several restaurants to offer with the Portuguese food being delicious and diverse. You will find a hatful of street food option and local restaurants. Lisbon being renowned for its seafood, you will find some of the best cafes and restaurants along with varied award winning fish dishes. It is a good place to start your day when Lisbon is the O Arrastao. But if you want try authentic food, a trip to Taberna is a must.

Go treasures hunting at Feira da ladra: For a very local experience go treasure hunting at Feira da Ladra, Lisbon’s most famous flea market. Every Tuesday and Saturday here you will find hundreds of stalls selling literally anything.

Boat tour along Tagus: speaking of sunset one of the most romantic things to do in Lisbon is going on a sail boat tour along the Tagus and actually enjoy the sunset views from there while sipping a glass of champagne or an icy cold beer.

Lisbon is famous for open air museum because of its fascinating street art. There is street art tour that takes you around to admire the beauty of the city. Each nook and corner of the city you will find creative masterpieces, showcasing the colourful ambience of this artistic city.

Find the best souvenirs from Lisbon: if relatives and friends have asked for a souvenir and you are wondering what to buy in Lisbon this time get them something different from those boring pins and shot glasses. At Conserveira de Lisboa all they sell is premium quality canned food, the shop has been running since 1950 when canned food was popular because it is affordable and but now it is become gourmet canned food. You will find here the typical sardines, tuna and mackerels together with mousse of codfish and stuffed squids and other yummy stuff.

Go underwater in the Lisbon oceanariums: Located out in the blue waters of the Tagus Estuary, the huge Lisbon Oceanariums rises like a hulking aircraft carrier. You can get up close to colourful puffer fish as well as watch the sharks. You’ll see curious moray eels and meet the cuddly penguins.

Watch the sunset from the roof of a car park: many Miradourous offer fantastic views of the city. It is one of the best places to watch the sun go down in Park Bar. This quirky bar is located on top of a multi storey car park. To get to it you have to enter the car park and take the dirty graffities stairs to the top level. As you are going up there’s no indication that there’s a bar at the end.

Shopping: Go full hipster at LX Factory. Formerly it was known as a collection of factories. The LX Factory has been regenerated and turned into a hipster hotspot full of boutique clothing stores, restaurants and bars. It tends to attract a slightly older and mellower crowd than the Bairro Alto and is ideal if you’re looking for a fun evening with good food and good cocktail but not a night that lasts till 7 in the morning.

Lisbon is a cultural wonder yet besides Fado, street art routes, literature, history and museums there is also a room for adventurous thing to do.

Motorbike Tour: if you want to enjoy a unique experience you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the south of Portugal on a 4 day motorbike tour through Southern Portugal along the Vincentian Coast.

Visiting Lisbon and not going for surfing is like visiting Barcelona and not trying the famous bread with tomato or like going to Amsterdam and not hopping on a bike. Learn to surf with a local surfer.
The better way to get to know a city than to get tips from a local on the most unique experiences is to feel it for yourself. This will make your trip truly unforgettable.

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Choosing a Suitable Sporty Destination

Different people spend their vacation in a variety of ways. Most of the tourists prefer to relax and unwind while others are thrilled by an energetic getaway.

Most sports person lookout for adrenaline rushing sports activities to engage in just like any other vacation. Choosing a suitable destination for a sporty holiday takes time and seeing that the trip is a success. Depending on what sports they prefer, sports fans can choose to visit the sporting destinations that will offer them fun.

So take a look at the top sporty holidays. 

Antigua: Carlisle Bay is a family friendly hotel with a myriad of sporting possibilities. It’s particularly good for tennis lovers with 9 tennis courts and some fantastic programmes. Complimentary activities at the resort include use of the swimming pool, snorkelling, windsurfing, kayaking and gym. With an additional charge guests can go scuba diving, deep sea fishing, water skiing and kite surfing nearby. There are also 18 golf courses.

Rio-de Janeiro Brazil: after the success of FIFA World Cup many football enthusiast will want to visit Brazil. However there are also other sports where tourists can participate. For instance mountain biking, canoeing, scuba diving and kite surfing will be great activities for those who enjoy energetic vacations.

South Korea: anyone looking for traditional martial arts, judo and taekwondo, South Korea is a destination worth considering. At the same time visitors are likely to enjoy base, football and golf. Alternatively one can try out boating or walk and hike along the beautiful trails.

Sydney in Australia is one of the world’s greatest places to spend sports holidays with a rich sporting legacy left after the successful Olympics Games which were held here in the 2000.Sydney offers a wide variety of water sports and outdoor activities such as skiing, snorkelling, scuba diving canoeing kayaking ,surfing, water rafting, hiking and horse riding. Certain area along its coast also offers power sports such as water skiing and jet skiing. It also allows its visitors to go sailing.

Jamaica has been voted as the best sports tourism destination. Indeed it is a little surprise considering that the country offers opportunities aimed at satisfying tourist’s appetite for excitement like mountain biking, diving, fishing, dog sledding and tennis. These sporting destinations are worth visiting.

Toronto is an ice hockey town. The Maple Leafs is the pride and joy of this wonderful city. Toronto is also a basketball franchise as well.

Tokyo is a city that’s not only stunning but also a great sports town. Baseball is a staple game for the people of this city with five clubs in the area. The famous teams like Tokyo Yomiuri Giants, Saitama Seibu Lions, Chiba Lotte Marines, Tokyo Yakult Swallos and Yokohama DeNA Baystars are driving fans to visit the stadiums during each and every season.

Maui Hawaii is a home to pristine white sand beaches, aquamarine water and a rich sea life. Maui isn’t just for sun worshippers and relaxation seekers with its lush tropical landscape, mountainous terrain and volcanic peaks, this island is also perfect destination for adventurist.

Get your hands on typical outdoor activities such as canoeing, snorkelling, kayaking, hiking sailing and ocean rafting. Activities like zip lining, scuba diving, rainforest, rappelling, parasailing, helicopter rides and hiking up the Haeakal Crater a four mile hike through Maui’s Volcano can also be explored. Visitors can even bike down to the base of the Volcano.

Las Vegas Nevada is not only for famous for casinos, nightclubs and pool bars. Visitors can take part in adventure sports, go ATV riding or land sailing, free fall over the bright lights of the city. Head to outdoor shooting range, drive an exotic car at racing speeds or book a helicopter tour. For the ultimate adrenaline rush opt for one of the city’s most famed activities thru zero gravity flight.

Adventure sports destinations in the world: 

One man sports is another man’s madness. A sport is a tame and slightly misplaced suffix when it comes to adventure sports. Adventure sports have a certain amount of thrill and danger involved. Sports like skiing, mountaineering, bungee jumping have garnered a huge number of followers and are practiced all across the globe. For those on the other side of the fence here’s a snap shot of the most spine tingling, heart –in –your mouth destination for extreme sports in the world.

Mysore: Sky Diving is not a very popular sports in India due to conservative mentality of the people and the amount of risk involved. Mysore being a historical town with various monument and forts, it also offers thrill seekers a chance to experience skydiving, accelerated free falls and tandem jumps.

Auli (Skiing): is located in the state of Uttarkhand in the northern part of India. Auli is the major skiing destination in the Himalayas with its monolithic slopes which go up to a massive 3049 meters above sea level. It attracts adventure skiers from all across the world. December to March is the best season to visit Auli.

Flying fox in Kerala: apart from water sports, Kerala offers one of the extreme and fascinating sports called Flying Fox. It is a unique journey from above the hills, rivers or valleys with ultra strong steel zip lines and at the same time enjoy the breathtaking views of the earth below. Kerala also offers extreme adventure sports like Mountaineering, valley crossing and Trampoline.

Stok Jangri Ladakh: The trek up to stok Kangri is considered to be one of the most challenging trek routes in India. However once you’re up there you can reward yourself by Paragliding over the valleys and taking in some breathe taking views.

Bali a surfer’s paradise with its beautiful sandy beaches, exotic culture and friendly people is a home to some of the best surf breaks in the world. The Legian is a perfect place to stay and enjoy the best Bali has to offer. Being close to some great beaches for surfing and the local shops and restaurants of Seminyak, the hotel is ideal for both families and couples looking for a far away holiday this summer.

If you like to play as hard as you relax and you fancy an energetic getaway, take a look at our top sporty holidays.

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Backpackers Delight: Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos

Southeast Asia is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in the world. This corner of the Asian continent is big and diverse offering many great activities for everyone. Natural beauties, fascinating landmarks and many cultures are assets that Southeast Asia has in abundance. Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos are especially rewarding in this regard. These countries are very popular among backpackers. Affordable lodging, cheap transport and endless friendliness of the locals are faithful companions to members of the backpacking community. So is planning essential in many things in life, including travelling.

Let’s find out how you should plan a Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos backpacking tour.

Laos: there is something special about Laos that we just love. If you’re looking for a bit more authenticity and calmness than Laos is the place to visit. Laos lacks iconic sights. There is nothing necessarily epic that draws people to it. Laos is a paradise for backpackers, offering satisfying backpacking experience, irresistible gastronomy, undiscovered wilderness, spell binding scenery, mysterious river village and adrenaline pumping adventure activities and budget friendly travel option across the country. Laos is the destination for adventurers. Thanks to its pristine jungles and Karsts mountain landscape. It is the best country in mainland Southeast Asia for hiking and trekking. It’s also an excellent place for other outdoor activities like kayaking, zip-lining, carving and rock climbing.

The standard backpacker route through Laos includes Lang Prabang, Vang Veng and Vientiane. These towns offer excellent western Style accommodations and restaurants.

Activities for backpackers: admire the beauty of Kuang Si waterfall one of the prettiest waterfall of Asia. Take a ride in a hot air balloon in Vang Vieng and swim in the secret Pool at Kuang Si the most famous waterfall.

Chill in a hammock at Si Phan Don: No backpacker’s trip to Laos is complete without some major chill out time on 4000 islands. Choose a village home stay or stay at Mekong riverside bungalow.

Vieng: Explore the caves, blue lagoons, tube down the river or go Zip lingo by day and then party the night away in this backpacker haven three hours north of Vientiane.

Join a cooking class in Luang Prabang and learn how to cook some Laotian delicacies.

Laos is not cheap to travel as Thailand or Vietnam but by staying in hostel and eating local food you can save on that. The local currency is the Lao Kip; however Thai Baht and USD are also widely accepted.

Laos is a special place where you’ll long to return to.

CAMBODIA: 

Cambodia is a fun and cheap destination for backpackers. But what really make it an enchanting destination to visit are its beautiful friendly people.

The ancient mysterious and breathtaking vine clad temple complex of Angkor Wat is one of the most mesmerising sights you will ever set eyes upon. Such is the rustic beauty and appeal of Cambodia that once you backpack across it mystical terrain a part of your soul never leaves from there.

Start off at Siem Reap and take a self tour at Angkor Wat: You can also take the Angkor wat sunrise Tour. The place contains the magnificent remains of the capital during Khmer empire dating from the ninth century. Move out before dawn to catch the sunrise behind the site’s most famous temple.

Kampot is a laidback river town for those seeking a vacation. Book a riverfront hostel, open a can of Angkor beer and watch the world for by. Adventurous tourist may hire a motorbike and head up towards the Bokor Mountain.

Koh Rong Samloem is a perfect postcard tropical island. It is a home to simple beach huts and swathes of untouched stretches of white sand. This island also boasts of translucent turquoise waters perfect for snorkelling.

Ride the bamboo train: another unforgettable experience that sits in Battambang is the bamboo train. The train is made up of a small bamboo platform covered with a mat and a few thin cushions to sit on. This sits on two sets of bogies with a simple motor at the back. A wooden pole is used as both the brakes and accelerator with the train hitting speeds of up to 50km/hr a truly exhilarating experience. Visit the exotic markets and night markets in Phnom Penh.

VIETNAM: 

Vietnam is easy to explore with a backpack with a super efficient transport including public buses and easy to use train. Rich culture and currency makes you feel like a king. Vietnam is a paradise for backpackers. If you are seeking epic adventures, unique experiences, mouth watering foods and ancient historical sites, glistening pagodas, lush rice paddies, magnificent limestone rock formation, amazing caves, bustling food markets, idyllic mountains, shimmering coastlines that’s Vietnam for you.

Many travellers opt to explore Vietnam by motorcycle which is the best way to get around if you have plenty of time.

Hanoi is the chaotic capital of Vietnam. It is a great place to start your journey or end it, depending on whether you plan your backpacking trip from the north to south or vice versa. Hanoi also home to the famous water puppet show .The city has many attraction to see, most of which are lakes, pagodas and museums and of course the Old Quarter.

Make a trip to the country side of Sapa where you can ride your motorcycle through the hills and explore waterfalls. Arrange a trip to Halong Bay being a highlight on any Vietnam trip.

Shop in the quaint town of Hue to Hoi an, where you can get an affordable, good quality suit made. Then go to Nha Trang to let loose, feel a bit wild and have some fun on the water. A popular water sports area with the likes of windsurfing, paragliding and jet skiing on offer. There’s enough of adrenaline here to keep the most adventurous happy.

Party at the clubs or bars at Nha Trang beach. Munch on Vietnamese cuisine especially the lip smacking street food.

Make a trip to Phu Quoc Island and discover its immaculate beaches.

Mui Ne is a great place to go kite surfing for its strong waves on the shore but very good wind for all water sports.

So while planning your Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia backpacking tour you don’t need to book a return flight, since the prices of 2 one-way flights are similar to those of return flights.

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