10Jun

History, Culture and a Shopper’s Heaven in Captivating Kowloon Peninsula

Author: Travel Guru  |  Category: China

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Merchandise on display at Ladies' Market on Tu...
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Fast-paced and metropolitan to its skyscraper teeming core, Hong Kong is an Asian powerhouse to be reckoned with. Fun-loving and futuristic, this oriental playground is a city that calls out to the urbanite in all of us with its’ unabashed progress and Time Square resembling landscapes. A Mecca of world commerce and enterprise Hong Kong is also where Asia and the world’s elite come to let their hair down within the sleek enclave of its chic surroundings.

But many forget that Hong is also a combination of small isles and peninsulas that add to its cultural and ecological diversity and nowhere is it more apparent than in the picturesque Kowloon peninsula. Located on the southern quarter of Hong Kong, Kowloon encompasses five of the eighteen constituencies of the island nation and was renowned as a holiday hotspot for centuries that date back to the early Chinese dynasties. A fact that is not surprising when considering its vibrant attractions and activities. No trip to this idyllic peninsula would be complete without witnessing the Symphony of Lights 14 minute spectacle that takes place nightly.

Involving 44 buildings and structures that dominate Hong Kong’s skyline this Guinness World Record holder for the world’s biggest permanent light and sound show is a synchronized delight of light beams, searchlights, lasers and music. Other must-see locales include the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum, Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple and the country’s most ancient and prominent religious structure, Man Mo Temple. The Kowloon Park is another preferred spot among seasoned travellers for its’ lush landscapes and activities which include swimming, open-air sculpturing and games. With captivating Chinese gardens, brooks, streams and a lake it is the ideal locale for a family picnic. The Hong Kong Space Museum and Hong Kong Museum of History are also popular with both young and adult travellers for their interactive exhibits and presentations while the Kowloon Walled City Park complete with walkways, statues and gardens is also worth the visit.

Kowloon is also a veritable shopper’s paradise with its host of malls, vibrant local markets and trendy boutiques. Mall enthusiasts should head down to the Festival Walk, Elements or Harbour City while all kinds of gadgetry are found in Sham Shui Po. These department stores stock high end goods and luxury brands by the truckload in elegant settings that befits a picky shopaholic. Bargain hunters should try the Park Lane Shopper’s Boulevard and Nathan Road or head on to Cheung Sha Wan Road Fashion Street where wholesale rates apply to some of the funkiest threads you’ll ever come across.

Local markets are also treasure troves of Kowloon where one can find anything from clothing, fresh produce, flowers and souvenirs to gold fish. The Temple Street Market offers everything from bargain clothes, CD’s DVD’s, shoes, home ware and scrumptious snacks while a host of herbal remedies and even soothsayers. Other colourful markets include the Jade Market with its ‘500 plus stalls, the Fa Yuen Street Market and Ladies Market in addition to Goldfish Market in Tung Choi Street and the Flower Market Mongkok.

Kowloon also has a lot to offer when the sun goes down as its bowling alleys, cinemas and cosy bars come to life. Popular bowling venues include the SCAA Bowling Centre, Hong Kong Bowling City and Olympian City Super Fun Bowl while Cinematheque Broadway, the Newport Theatre, The Grand Cinema and AMC Theatres are also on-site for movie buffs. Preferred hangouts for locals and foreigners alike include Felix, the Fringe Club Roof Garden, Delaney’s Pub and Red as well as Bocas Tapas and Wine Bar where jazz lovers unite.

Eaton Hotel Hong Kong is one of the finest and most luxurious hotels in Kowloon with its superior service and fine amenities. Contemporary in essence and comfortable in style this charming rest is also one of the best tourist hotels in Hong Kong.

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10Jun

Kempty Fall

Author: Travel Guru  |  Category: India

Kemty falls, located at a distance of 15 km from Mussoorie, is one of fascinating tourist attractions of the region. Set at an altitude of 4500 ft, surrounded by high mountains, it offers a panoramic view of water falling from a great height. Waterfall splits into five more streams as it hits the bottom. The exquisite views of location, makes it one of the popular weekend gateway in North India.

Kempty falls was developed as a tourist spot by John Mekinan, after 1835. The term ‘Kempty’ is derived from the word ‘Camp-Tea’. Britishers use to spend their leisurely time  near Kempty falls and organise  tea parties here.

The cascading Kempty falls has lot to offer tourists and make their trip memorable. Trout are abundance here, but one has to take permission for fishing from the Divisional Forest Officer, Mussoorie. Kempty falls, some 12 km down hill on crossing the Algar river, it reaches the holy Yamuna river.

The scenic beauty of the place attracts the numerous visitors. Listen to the soothing melody of water falls and enjoy the lush green surroundings, relaxing your mind and soul. The water cascades from a height of forty ft, forming a foggy environ. Tourists interested in seeking the thrill of the gigantic falls for more than one day can stay in huts in the area around the Kempty.

Best time to visit the Kempty Falls is from March to July. The trip to kempty falls will surely leave with beautifyl lifetime memories to be cherished. Mesmerizing scenic beauty of the nearby surroundings of Kempty Falls is the best place for nature lovers. Its the green paradise in mussorie, that attracts thousands of tourists every year,

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17May

Feel The Magic Singapore – get cheap flights to Singapore

Author: Travel Guru  |  Category: Singapore

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17May

Munnar- The Enchanting Land of Rich Bio-Diversity

Author: Travel Guru  |  Category: India
Picture of anaimudi mountain from eravikulam n...
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Munnar- incredibly enchanting destination promising serenity and scenic beauty- is a must-visit tourist destination of Kerala. Its misty air, romantic ambiance and beckoning tea, coffee and spice gardens attract many a tourist from across the globe.

Located at an altitude of 6000 ft in the beautiful Idukki district, Munnar was once a favored summer resort of the British during pre-independence days. This wonderful hill station has amazing attractions in its sleeves. From lush green tea and coffee gardens to arresting valleys, majestic mountains, dense forests and a wide range of flora and fauna, Munnar offers a lot to make your holidays memorable.

Main Attractions

Eravikulam National Park

A sparkling gem of Munnar tourism, Eravikulam National Park is a well known wildlife destination of India. It shelters a variety of wildlife, including the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Some other species found here are Atlas Moth, Elephants, Sambars, Gaurs, Lion-tailed Macaque, Langur, Tigers and Leopards.

Tea, coffee and spice gardens

Munnar is famed for its tea, coffee and spice gardens. Spend some time amidst these gorgeous green gardens and get refreshed to the hilt.

Anamudi Peak

Located within the boundary of Eravikulam National Park, Anamudi is the highest peak in South India. It offers panoramic views of the surroundings. Rich in bio-diversity, it is also ideal for trekking.

Devikulam

Devikulam is a fascinating hill station located at an easy distance(7 km) from Munnar. There is a sacred lake here where Goddess Sita took bath. It is believed that the water of this lake has curative powers. This destination is also known for Trout fishing.

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17May

The River Kwai Festival

Author: Travel Guru  |  Category: Thailand

Chulalongkorn Day sees the start of the spate of festivals that run through until the Songkhran peak next April. In six months Thailand has its high season of public holidays and festivals. Such events as the Chiangmai Flower Festival, Loi Krathong, Yasothon Rocket Festival I and Chinese New Year are found within this period and the celebrations kick off with a full 10-day festival at the River Kwai Bridge in Kanchanaburi in the last week of November, leading up to His Majesty the King’s birthday on December 5.

The annual festival is aimed at increasing awareness for a peaceful future. What better location?

A party atmosphere prevails and amongst the many exhibits and shows is the nightly son et lumiere extravaganza at the infamous bridge. Complete with fake air attacks and explosions with lots of fireworks, the upgraded sound and light show has commentaries in various languages available in grandstand seating on the riverside.

Special trains run from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station during this period and a special steam train excursion usually takes visitors on the last day of the festival. Nowadays, the idea is to book early as it is an immensely popular event. On the bonus side is that travel to and from Bangkok has improved dramatically over the past few years and an overnight in Kanchanaburi is no longer a necessity.

Don’t expect to see the thick vegetation or rocky waters from which Sir Alec Guiness saw “his” bridge over the River Kwai – that’s in Sri Lanka, where the movie was made portrayed in the film – and a beautiful spot indeed.

It’s a good time for the festival as the scenery is a lush green at this time, conflicting with the yellow ochre to be found in April.

What you will see is the real thing and for those not having been before, the Death Museum is certainly sparse and a little tacky in parts, but it is full of the articles, photos and reports from the days of the war; simply a museum with the genuine article and with no pizzazz.

Naturally, don’t miss the train trip. The best departure is the 1055 from Kanchanaburi and a good idea during festival time is to board at the town station rather than at the bridge. Here one can pay bht 200 for a guaranteed seat including coffee and cookies and receive a Death Railway Certificate. It’s probably overpriced but during this busy period it’s worth the extra baht or so. The prisoners of war built wooden viaducts that never cease to amaze as the train hugs the cliff face high above the Kwai. I’m sure that over the last few years the train service has actually become slower at this stage of the journey, down to about 5km an hour. You’ll understand why when you hear the wood creaking below you. The 75 minute trip from Kanchanaburi town to Nam Tok (waterfall) at the end of the line is scenic and even when reaching the terminal, one is still 350km from Moulmein, the original terminus for this important supply route. Vegetation has long reclaimed the old track route and the workers’ camps along the rest of the line. At Nam Tok you are on the edge of the Burma foothills and from here to 3 Pagodas Pass is real border jungle country.

An introduction to this can be found by taking an overnight excursion from Pakbeng pier, near to Nam Tok station, to the River Kwai jungle Rafts or Resotel. The latter is situated next to the King Lawa limestone caves and is an upmarket cottage version of the original rafts. The rafts are great for a one night experience on the river and although a little sparse with no electricity or hot water, it’s a back woods feel that can be maintained for at least one night by those in search of something a little different. There are no mosquitoes prevalent because of the fast flowing River Kwai and with the rafts only being accessible by boat it is given a little more of the pioneering excursion value. The local Mon tribe pretty well do all the staff work and elephant trekking as well as old fashioned walking is the order of the day.

The rafts are tethered to the bank and walkways are available for those wanting to go off into the forest. Many simply opt for tubing down the river. No need to swim, the current simply takes you. Food is inventive and tasty and at around bht 1300/night including all meals it’s a worthwhile experience of up-country Thailand and also a way to see what those prisoner of war workers had to break through to build that railway.

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17May

The Peshwa temples at Parvati Hill are inspiraing

Author: Travel Guru  |  Category: India

Parvati Hill is a very beautiful and awe inspiring sacred mountain that is located in the south-east Pune region of India. Situated 2200 feet above sea level Parvati hill is the highest point in the Pune region. Parvati Hill has some amazing observation points and visitors describe the views as amazing, Parvati hill gives visitors a 360 degree view of the city below.

The hill also offers some lovely relaxation spots where visitors can eat drink and enjoy the view below.

History shows that many years earlier the area was one large field that was ruled by the Peshwa The plains that can be seen at the bottom of Parvati Hill were once used by armies as bases during feudal wars.

The Peshwa Temples

The hill has many temples on it that are considered the oldest structures standing in Pune today. The Peshwas built the temples with one temple standing out from all of the others. The supreme temple on Parvati hill is called Devdeveshwar temple and it is made completely of black stone. It is said that this temple once held a gold statue of the goddess of parvati. This temple was built during the 17th century and in those times only the Peshwa rulers were allowed to pray in the temple. Hundreds of years later the temple was opened to the public and people have enjoyed access immensely ever since.

The famous British envoy Sir Charles Mallet is said to of camped at Parvati Hill for more then a month during the battle of Kirkee.

Many Legends are associated with the famous Parvati Temple

One Legend is that the Mother of Peshwa leader Belaji Bajirao suffered for many years with a foot ailment, that made it hard for her to walk. When Bajirao’s mother visited the temple it is said that she emerged able to hop and dance enthusiastically. After experiencing the incredible healing powers of the temple. She vowed to build a large and magnificent temple for the people. The temple that Bajirao’s Mother built is the incredible Deveveshwar temple.

Not everyone thinks of India as an amazing tourist destination

Apart from the Taj Mahal India has hundreds of incredible locations and the Parvati Hill is just one example. When one visits India, they will be touched for life by the incredible diversity of the Indian people, but also the beauty and contrast of the land.

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11May

Phnom Penh Things to Do

Author: Travel Guru  |  Category: Cambodia
Royal Palace, Cambodia
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5 Star Hotel Phnom Penh is a short drive from the international airport in Phnom Penh and many other popular attractions such as Central Market, Russian Market, Royal Palace and National museum objects.

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10May

Gadsisar Sagar Tank

Author: Travel Guru  |  Category: India

General Information
Location
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

Origin
1156 AD.

Main Attraction
Arched Gateway Built By A Courtesan.Gadsisar Lake in Jaisalmer, the rainwater fed reservoir, was built in 1156 AD and rebuilt in 1367AD by Maharwal Garsisingh. Until 1965, it remained the city?s only water supply. It is adorned with an arched gateway, which is believed to have been built by a courtesan. The Tilon ki Pol, the palatial archway at the water?s edge, was built by a local prostitute.

The dismayed king tried to severe it down, but not the one to stay behind, Tilon constructed a tiny temple along the lake, dedicated to Lord Satyanarayan (Krishna, as truth) and ensured the building?s survival. Along the lakeshore and on the islands, is a plethora of little temples and cenotaphs. Arrayed all around the tank, are many small shrines and temples. An extraordinary plumage of birds can be seen here.

Prime Attractions of Jaisalmer
Havelis : The beautiful mansions built by Jaisalmer’s wealthy merchants are known as ‘havelis’ and several of these fine sandstone buildings are still in beautiful condition. Patwon ki Haveli is the most elaborate and magnificent of all the Jaisalmer havelis.

Jaisalmer Fort : The golden – yellow sandstone of Jaisalme rFort, over 800 years old, crowns the Trikuta Hill. Within its walls, defended by 99 turrets, lies the old city, nearly a quarter of modern Jaisalmer.

Sam Sand Dunes : Any trip to Jaisalmer is indeed, incomplete, without a trip to the most panoramic dunes of Sam where the wind is unceasingly carving out scenic patterns, on the sand! Situated 42 kms from Jaisalmer, the sun-soaked Sam Sand Dunes bring to light a glided mirage. Truly the essence of the desert, the ripples of the wind-caressed dunes create an enchanting mirage.

Desert Festival : Held in the months of January-February, the Desert Festival exudes a delightful spirit. For three days, the otherwise barren land of Jaisalmer comes to life and is clustered with hordes of colourfully dressed people.

Gadsisar Lake : Gadsisar Lake in Jaisalmer, the rainwater fed reservoir, was built in 1156 AD and rebuilt in 1367AD by Maharwal Garsisingh.

The Government Museum in Jaisalmer is situated on Police Line Road near Moomal Hotel. It was opened in 1984. The large collection of wood and marine fossils in the museum gives an insight into the geological past of the area.

Manak Chowk : Outside the fort is the main market place called Manak Chowk, which is the centre of local activity. From Manak Chowk, one can walk into the lanes where the famous carved havelis are to be found. Each haveli’s facade differs from other. Built mainly during the 18th and 19th centuries, the carving in the havelis of Jaisalmer is of a very superior quality.

Wood Fossil Park
Wood Fossil Park at Aakal, is 17-kms from the city of Jaisalmer. Lying on the Barmer Road, this park transports you back to the Jurassic period, when the whole Thar region lay under the sea. The park with 180 million-year-old fossils that are the geological landmarks for the study of the Thar Desert is any geology enthusiast?s delight.

Desert National Park
It preserves the eco-system of the desert within its confines. The Monitor lizards, desert foxes, porcupines, occasional wolves and black bucks, and the Great Indian Bustard (a protected bird ) are found here, forming an ecological chain revolving around cactii and other hardy desert plants.

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24Apr

Amritsar, a city that changed its own course of destiny

Author: Travel Guru  |  Category: India
Gateway of the Ram Bagh, North-East of Amritsa...
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India is the mother that holds the rest of south East Asia’s nest together.  This country that is fast making its mark in the world carries a wealth of history and heritage. The culture of India too, is extremely unique and very closely knit in nature. Families are a close unit, and respect for elders is a very big part of this culture. Indian hospitality is such that guests are treated on a similar pedestal as gods and are accepted into the family the moment they walk through the door.

The city of Amritsar is an ancient pride and fascination of India. Founded by guru Ram Das in 1577 Amritsar, a predominantly Sikh city houses many shrines and temples. Often rated alongside the Taj Mahal is the famous Golden Temple that sets off its radiance against the holy waters in the likeness of a magnificent bullion bar that is an attraction of nearly every visitor to this city. Breathtaking gardens and parks are a specialty that holds both the old and the new together for the sake of history and modernization in the palm of Amritsar’s hand.

Ram Bagh is a garden of splendor named in honour as a tribute to the founder of this metropolis. With a museum that contains age old weapons and a summer palace, this mesmerizing beauty is often one to be captured by visitors to the city.  As a city that has reshaped the course of its future, Amritsar is an awe inspiring place engulfed within many philosophies and beliefs such as the Tarn Taran house whose sacred tank is believed to have supernatural powers of healing the sick.

On a visit to this awe inspiring city an Amritsar hotel with a true taste of culture and comfort will set the stage for the voyage ahead.  Ista Hotel Amritsar is a perfect place situated not too far from these places of interest. An Amritsar luxury hotel such as this will prove to be just the right combination of magnificence and splendor.

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23Apr

History, Nature and Art come together at Yuexiu Park

Author: Travel Guru  |  Category: China

Appearing as something almost out of a fairytale, Yuexiu Park presents quite a spectacle during your travel in Guangzhou. The park is an interesting mix of both historical relics and an ecological habitat.

One of the main highlights in the park is the Five Rams Structure which also happens to be one of the most prominent structures in Guangzhou. The story goes that it was created over 2,000 years ago when five immortals on five respective rams descended on the famine stricken city. Each ram carried in its mouth a sheave of rice that was to feed the city. Afterward the Gods ascended whilst the rams turned to stone leaving the impressive monument behind.

The Zhenhai Tower which is also known as the Five Story Tower has an interesting tale behind its construction. The Yongja Marquis of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Liangzu a strangely coloured air rising over the Yuexiu Mountain. Liangzu was then informed by a sorcerer that this was an omen that signified the coming of a new Emperor. To combat this omen the construction of a tower was ordered. Today the tower serves as the Guangzhou Museum and houses important relics as well as various documents that showcase around 2000 years of the city’s history.

While the historic buildings located in the park add a strong air of importance, the naturalistic part of the park adds a serene element to the collective whole. Visitors will hear the chirps of birds nestled in the many trees as well as a variety of plants.

The park also houses three lakes that are truly tranquil in their nature which has made them a popular subject of numerous paintings. The three lakes are interconnected by bridges allowing for a scenic walk past all three. But the bridges themselves are also used to host flower shops further adding to the sights that can be seen. One of the lakes is also open for boating and fishing providing further activities to indulge in.

Guangzhou
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With the many attractions that can be found in the city, travellers wanting to visit them all will need to find a suitable Guangzhou hotel. For those seeking the added comfort of luxury hotels Guangzhou, an ideal option would be Shangri-La Hotel Guangzhou due to its renowned level of service.

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