Catalina Forbes - The Adventure Travel Site

All about Tunisia – Another great North African destination

Tunisia is not just about a picturesque beach destination. It’s also about vibrant cultures and rich history. This is why you should visit this amazing destination at least once in your lifetime.

Tunis – the Capital City

Tunis is a city where history and modernity beautifully blend together. Explore this city during your stay at any hotel in Tunis the likes of The Residence Tunis. The Bardo Museum and the Carthage Paleo- Christian Museum are some of the major attractions to visit in this city.

Alexandre Moreau, Carthage Room Bardo, CC BY-SA 2.0

The rich history

Tunisia is blessed with 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Explore these historical sites when you are there, and learn about the amazing history of this destination.

Tunisian cuisine

Do not miss out on Shakshuka and Lablabi when you are in Tunisia. Tunisians have their unique ways to prepare meats, veggies, and grains and all of them are equally good. Their seafood dishes are also finger-licking good!

Seaside bliss

The best thing about Tunisia is that its coastline is amazingly long. If you head to Hammamet, you get to enjoy the best beaches in the country. These beaches also offer great water-sports opportunities.

Visiting Traditional Villages in Guizhou – Enriching Journeys of Discovery

A truly enchanting destination, Guizhou in China is home to ancient villages set amidst stunning natural landscapes; here are some of the top places to visit.

Matang Gejia Village

In the Matang Village, you will find the Gejia ethnic group. As you wander around the village, you will come across locals dressed in traditional costumes, charming wooden houses and batik creations for which it is famous; depending on the tour, you can even get hand’s-on experience in the batik-making process.

Xijiang Miao Village

This Miao village is surrounded by spellbinding scenery and can be explored on excursions from 5-star hotels in Guiyang including the property of Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas. On your visit, you can see stilted houses made from wood, wind and rain bridges and remarkable traditional cultural performances too.

Zhaoxing Dong Village

This is one of the nation’s most well-known Dong villages and is popular for its picturesque countryside setting. The village is in a lush valley surrounded by mountains and is famed for its five distinctive drum towers; there are stages outside each of these towers where you can witness folk songs and plays at night.

Mill 1, The river crossing Zhaoxing village, CC BY-SA 4.0

Basha Miao Village

This idyllic village is the last place in the country where locals can have guns which is a part of its traditions as well; in fact, guns are used in a typical welcome ceremony for visitors. The village also hosts performances that feature unique folk customs and offer insights into local life, farming, marriage and dance.

Khon Kaen, A Cultural & Historic City in Thailand

If you’re planning on seeing the wondrous sights of Thailand on a sightseeing tour, be sure to make a trip to the city of Khon Kaen. This is an ancient settlement with plenty of history and culture for you to absorb and immerse yourself in – so, let’s take a closer look at what it has to offer.

Wat Nong Wang

If you’re looking for things to do in Khon Kaen, you should definitely start with a visit to Wat Nong Wang. This is one of the country’s most famous and spectacular temples, most notable for being 9 floors tall!

Wat Thung Setthi

The brilliant gold and blue exterior have come to characterise the Wat Thung Setthi – another beautiful temple found within the city. If you’re staying at a centrally-located hotel – for instance, the Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre – this is a fairly quick visit too – approximately just 15 mins from your hotel!

Bueng Kaen Nakhon

This is a lake found right at the heart of Khon Kaen. This is a great place if you want to enjoy a calm and tranquil atmosphere that’s removed from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. A number of distinct shrines can also be found along the length of the lake.

Shrine of City Pillar

Found near the city’s flourishing shopping centre, the Shrine of City Pillar is another important religious site found in Khon Kaen. It is believed that a famous monk once placed an inscribed stone at the site of the shrine.

Visiting Jebel Akhdar – Exploring the Mountains

The Jebel Akhdar is a spectacular mountain range that rises high above the rugged landscape of Oman’s countryside. Full of hidden sights and quaint villages, a trip here can be quite rewarding for any adventurous explorer!

A Strange Name

The words Jebel Akhdar roughly translate to meaning “Green Mountain”. This is interesting as you’ll be hard-pressed to spot any greenery when you first arrive at the foot of the mountain range. Don’t worry though, the vast expanse before you has its own charm and you can even find lush orchards hidden all over the place.

Getting There

If you’re staying at a Salalah beach resort – say, for instance, the Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara – you’re looking at a two-hour drive in order to reach the mountains. The rough terrain of the region means that it is quite remote and isolated – the perfect place for a quiet and relaxing trek.

Best Time to Visit

So, when exactly should you visit the mountains? Generally, you’ll want to target the months of March and April. Not only is the weather stable during this period, but it’s also when the damask roses of the region go into bloom!

Go for a Walk

The best thing to do here in the Jebel Akhdar is to slowly explore the villages, orchards, and gardens strewn across the mountain range. You can hire a driver to help navigate the narrow roads and to reach all the best spots.

A Guide to Minneriya National Park – Thrilling Wildlife Encounters

Providing some amazing wildlife sightings including wild elephants, the Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka is not to be missed; here’s a quick look at what to expect.

Planning Your Visit

This national park is in the island’s north-central region, within easy reach of Polonnaruwa; properties here including Hotel Sudu Araliya provide ideal accommodation options and will help organise excursions to Minneriya as well as places to visit in Polonnaruwa. The dry season from April to October is generally the best time to visit the park.

The Elephant Gathering

The key attraction at Minneriya National Park is undoubtedly what is known as the ‘Gathering’. From July to October each year, as many as 300 elephants gather around the park’s reservoir to bathe, feed and play. It offers an unforgettable elephant safari and the chance to see these gentle giants and their young up close.

Other Wildlife Species

On your safari, you will have the chance to spot many of the park’s other animal residents too. Keep watch to see toque macaques or purple-faced langurs swinging in the trees, mugger crocodiles soaking up the sun and cautious spotted deer in the jungle. If you are lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the elusive leopard.

Diverse Birdlife

Minneriya National Park is also ideal for birdwatching and more than 170 avifauna species have been recorded here. This includes endemic birds such as the Sri Lanka grey hornbill and Sri Lankan junglefowl. Due to the park’s reservoir, you will also see water birds such as painted storks, little cormorants and herons.

Visiting the Emerald Pool in Krabi – A Mesmerising Natural Attraction

A site of great natural beauty in Krabi, where you can also enjoy a refreshing dip, the Emerald Pool is well worth a visit; here is more to help you plan a trip to this attraction.

What to Expect

Set amidst the Thung Teao Forest Natural Park, the Emerald Pool is light green though becomes turquoise when the water temperature changes! Ideal for excursions from properties like Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort, this pool features freshwater from natural streams and is a great place for a swim.

The Blue Lagoon

Those visiting from a hotel Ao Nang Krabi has to offer by the coast, can also head to the Blue Lagoon, about 400 metres from the Emerald Pool. While you are not permitted to swim here, you can take in the sight of this beautiful lagoon that is fed by a hot underground spring, surrounded by the forest.

Other Things to Do

On your visit, you can enjoy other captivating things to do including trekking through the forest where you will come across everything from waterfalls to exotic wildlife. Also within the same reserve is another natural attraction, the Klong Thom Hot Springs fed by underground volcanic chambers, perfect for a relaxing soak!

Planning Your Visit

The Emerald Pool is about an hour’s drive from Krabi town; some resorts organise excursions here, while you can take a tuk-tuk, sign up with a tour group or rent a car or motorbike and get there yourself. There aren’t changing rooms and remember to bring a towel; additionally, weekday visits will feature fewer crowds.

Malaysia: A Must-Stop Country for Shoppers

In addition to the adventure theme parks, temples and great dining options in Malaysia, you also find the best shopping spots that literally have everything. If you are a shopaholic looking for what Malaysia has got to amaze you, read on… you will have some great insights.

Petaling Street

When exploring the best of KL during your stay at Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort, make sure you explore this Malaysian shopping street in Chinatown too. From apparel, artificial flowers to electronics this place has it all.

Suria KLCC

It’s new and so modern. This is located in the all-time favourite Petronas Towers, which you don’t ever miss to visit during your KL diaries. Luxury brands like Gucci, Marc Jacobs, and Louis Vuitton can all be found here and if you are someone looking for branded items, this is the shopping mall to visit!

Berjaya Times Square

This is a 48-storeyed building, and most definitely one of the biggest shopping malls in the world, featuring more than 100 stores in addition to the various entertainment and dining options as well.

Mitsui Outlet Park Klia

One of the main things to do in Sepang if you are a true shopaholic is to visit the Mitsui Outlet Park Klia, which basically has a factory outlet concept. You will find all the upper-middle to high end off seasoned products here, which is ideal for those on a budget but who are also interested in purchasing branded items!

The Royal Buddha Image Phra Bang

The Royal Buddha Image in Phra Bang is located in Luang Prabang which is one of the oldest cities in Laos that was founded more than 1200 years ago.

History

Luang Prabang was once known as Lan Xang and was the first capital of Laos during the 14th century. It was ruled by the Khmers and the Champa and finally by the French. It was a troubled region for most of its time in the history books.

Budgiekiller, Buddhist temple at Royal Palace in Luang Prabang, CC BY-SA 4.0

Geography

The province of Luang Prabang covers 16,875 sq. km. and borders Vietnam on one side. The capital is located on a very narrow peninsula bisected by two rivers, one of which is the Mekong.

Landmarks

If you are booking into a local hotel like Avani+ Luang Prabang and are looking for options in things to do in Luang Prabang, you start by exploring the famous landmarks in the area like Wat Manorom, The Royal Sitting Buddha, Phra Bang and many more.

The Buddha Image

Phra Bang is an 83 cm high standing Buddha statue. It is said to have been cast in ancient Sri Lanka and brought to Laos but the features put it somewhere in Khmer origin.

Top-rated attractions in Thailand

Attractions you find in Thailand are diverse and all of them are well competent to provide you with memorable experiences in their own unique ways. It’s not just about enjoying history and culture, but also about enjoying the best food and admiring the sceneries.

Khon Kaen National Museum

Within close vicinity of hotels Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre, you find the Khon Kaen National Museum which has various ancient tools, marble slabs, and stuccos as its exhibits. Not to forget, it features some dinosaur fossils and human skeletons as well.

The Grand Palace, Bangkok

When you are planning your day in Bangkok from your hotel in Khon Kaen make sure you do not miss to include visiting the Grand Palace in the city. You find royal halls, temples and ancient relics in these premises and they will all show you how advanced the craftsmanship has been back in the day.

Bealbrown at the English Wikipedia, Grand Palace view, CC BY-SA 3.0

Sunday Walking Street

If you are someone looking forward to cheap but tasty food in Thailand, then the Night Walking street in Chiang Mai will be the ideal option for you.

Sukhothai Old City

Although what you find here are some ruins of a great old city, the photo options that it provides are adorable. This old city is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and is considered one of the most significant historical sites in Thailand.

Ahoerstemeier, Sukhothai historical park1, CC BY-SA 3.0

Unusual Attractions in Botswana

Although attractions the likes of Mokolodi Nature Reserve are popular among the ones who travel to Botswana, there are many places that are worth a visit, yet so hidden that most of us simply do not even know of their existence!

Three Chiefs Monument

The Three Dikgosi figures are quite popular among the guests of hotel properties the likes of Avani Gaborone Resort & Casino. These are three historical figures immortalized in bronze and is a definite must-see for those history and architecture lovers!

US Army Africa, Three Dikgosi Monument – March 2010, CC BY 2.0

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Those who stay in hotels in Gaborone, Botswana often visit Northern Botswana as well, and Makgadikgadi salt Pans are an attraction you find there. They span over 10,000 square miles and of course, are one of the largest salt pans on the planet.

Diego Delso, Salar del parque nacional Makgadikgadi Pans, Botsuana, 2018-07-30, DD 37, CC BY-SA 4.0

Kebokwe’s Cave

You may call it a cave with a lot of historical significance. Although this is a place of pilgrimage for the faithful Botswana locals, for tourists it’s more of a curiosity spot!

Matsieng Footprints

According to legendary myths, the first humans were created in the pools here and the footprints you can see behind the rock are theirs. As this place is just a 30-minute drive away from downtown Gaborone, the accessibility is not at all difficult.