Explore the Beautiful City of Khon Kaen in Thailand – Captivating Experiences Abound

Located in northeastern Thailand, Khon Kaen offers plenty to discover and here are some of the main attractions to include on your itinerary.

Image via wikimedia commons

Temple Visits

To gain insights into Thailand’s religious heritage, amongst the best things to do in Khon Kaen is to visit some of its temples. The relatively new Wat Thung Setthi with its striking design of blue and gold is not to be missed; also visit the remarkable Wat Nong Wang that has nine levels you can climb to enjoy amazing lakeside views.

Dino Water Park

To have fun with the whole family, head to Dino Water Park. Situated within easy reach of properties like Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre, this huge water park features thrilling rides and slides; highlights include the Looping Rocket and Windigo, while it also has water play areas for kids, a wave pool and more.

Local Markets

There are lively local markets to visit both for finding great bargains and trying Thai food. The Saturday Walking Street Market held from 5:00pm onwards is well-known and features buskers as well. Other hotspots include Ton Tann Night Market that has live entertainment and the more traditional Fairy Plaza Night Market.

Bueng Kaen Nakhon

One of the most popular attractions in Khon Kaen is the lake known as Bueng Kaen Nakhon which offers an idyllic backdrop for relaxation and recreation. There’s a playground for kids nearby, while you can rent bikes and enjoy cycling, go on leisurely strolls, head out on paddle boats or at one section, try some fishing.

Incredible Things to Do in Ao Nang, Krabi – A Splendid Holiday

From discovering islands of mesmerising beauty and hiking through verdant rain forests to exploring exquisite temples, there’s a lot you can do while in Krabi.

Relax at the Beach

After experiencing the constant hustle of Bangkok, Ao Nang is an ideal place to chill and relax. It is blessed with the most incredible beaches making it quite popular among beach bums. This is something you simply must do while holidaying at a hotel Ao Nang Krabi has to offer such as Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort.

Explore Hong Island

A spectacular island that you simply mustn’t miss during your trip to Ao Nang, Hong Island is located in the Than Bok Khorani National Park. The striking turquoise lagoon is the main highlight of this island besides the soft-powdery beaches that are fringed by coconut trees.

Caitriana Nicholson from 北京 ~ Beijing, 中国 ~ China, Hong Island tour (4442329613), CC BY-SA 2.0

Visit the Emerald Pool

Spend a day at the Emerald Pool to experience a different slice of nature. This is a favourite spot for hikers and wildlife enthusiasts. The water is surprisingly warm, which makes it ideal for a great swim.

Treat Your Taste Buds

Ao Nang night market is the best place to relish mouthwatering Thai food. One may come across a variety of vendors selling a range of delectable food including mango sticky rice, pad thai, and more.

Super Fun Activities to Do at Night in Melbourne – Enjoying the Nightlife

Melbourne is among the best cities to explore after dark as the city comes alive with its nightlife. So, if you’re in the mood for some merriment, here’s a look at some of the most fun and exciting activities you can try here at night.

JacsWiki, Old (Former) Castlemaine Gaol, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Eureka Skydeck

You can start your night out by enjoying an amazing view of the cityscape by visiting the Eureka Skydeck. If you’re up for it, you can also climb onto a glass cube that will net you n unobstructed 360-degree view of Melbourne at night.

Catch a Show

If you’re staying at one of the hotels Southbank has to offer – for instance, the WRAP on Southbank – you should definitely consider going to see one of the many shows in the city. These range from musical operas at Her Majesty’s Theatre to blockbusters at the Regent.

Go on a Ghost Tour

One of the spookier things you can do here at night is to take a ghost tour at the Old Melbourne Gaol. Built in the 1800s, this building once held some of the country’s most dangerous and notorious criminals.

Visit the Night Market

Of course, there are plenty of great shopping opportunities to take advantage of here in Melbourne and the Queen Victoria Night Markets are among the best. Here you can shop for everything – from new clothes and threads to fresh produce and souvenirs.

A Handy Laos Travel Guide – Useful Tips & Insights for Travellers

In the heart of Southeast Asia, Laos offers unforgettable adventures where you can discover a rich cultural and natural heritage; here’s a guide to help plan your trip.

When to Visit

Laos is a great destination to visit year-round; that said, the most popular period is from October to February due to the cool weather. Temperatures rise in March and April, while from May to September there’s a greater chance of rain; showers won’t be throughout the day though and you can still enjoy sightseeing.

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has some of the best hotels in Laos too. Those staying here including at the property of Avani Hotels & Resorts, have ample opportunities to explore this town, home to French-Indochinese architecture, ancient temples like Wat Xieng Thong and the sacred Mount Phousi.

Basile MorinTemple Wat Xieng Thong – Luang Prabang – LaosCC BY-SA 4.0

Other Highlights

Amongst the best things to do in Laos include visiting the Pak Ou Caves with its Buddha images, embarking on a Mekong River sunset cruise and taking in the stunning Kuang Si Falls. You can also enjoy tubing in Vang Vieng, exploring the Buddha Park near Vientiane and trekking and cycling amidst the countryside.

Tips on Attire

Since the weather can get humid, pack light cotton clothing as well as a light sweater or jacket for travel in the cool season. If you’re visiting during the rainy season, a rain jacket or poncho will come in handy. Keep in mind that at sacred sites and temples, you need to dress conservatively, covering bare shoulders and legs.

Thrilling Activities in Sydney

If you love adrenaline-pumping activities, then Sydney has got you covered! These are some of the most exciting things you can do here.

Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Don’t miss the unforgettable chance to scale the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, within easy each of properties like Oaks Sydney North Ryde Suites. Known as BridgeClimb, this adventure features an ascent to the summit over 130 metres above the ground to enjoy 360-degree panoramas on top of the largest steel arch on the planet!

Take on a High Ropes Course
More thrills await at the Wild Ropes attraction at Taronga Zoo Sydney. For those staying at North Ryde hotels, Circular Quay can be easily reached for a ferry to the zoo; here, you can try a high ropes course with flying foxes, climbing walls, suspension bridges and more, above an area that’s home to kangaroos and koalas!

Come Face to Face with Sharks
For extreme thrill seekers, diving with sharks is hard to beat which is exactly what awaits at Shark Dive Xtreme! On offer at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, you get the unique chance to dive and come face to face with Grey Nurse Sharks as well as Wobbegong and Port Jackson sharks, not forgetting huge stingrays too.

Ride a Rollercoaster Zip Line
At Treetops Adventure Park in Western Sydney, you get the opportunity to experience the fastest rollercoaster zip line in the world! Dubbed the Crazy Rider, this exhilarating zip line spans 500 metres, reaches speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour and features action-packed turns, twists, drops and 360-degree loops.

 

 

Best Mountains to Explore near Sydney – Get rewarded with peace of mind

Appreciate the great outdoors while you are in Sydney. You get the perfect chance to get closer to nature through this activity, and you can gain some self-satisfaction too!

Blue Mountains National Park (Mount Banks)

Mount Banks is surely for those who are interested in the beautiful views. Enjoy heavenly views of the Grose Valley while you are at the top.

Barrington Tops National Park (Careys Peak)

This is a World Heritage Site and known for the best that the Barrington Tops National Park has. This is one of the best ways to enjoy the Australian wilderness.

Linda Muldoon, Barrington Tops National Park, Honeysuckle Walk, CC BY-SA 4.0

Wolgan Valley (Donkey Mountain)

Reaching this summit will surely delight the adventurers out there! Expect to meet pagodas, canyons, caves, and rock orchids while you take your journey.

Burning Mountain

This is also known as Mount Wingen. 30 m beneath the mountain, there has been a fire for over 5500 years, and yes… now you see why it’s given the title ‘Burning Mountain’

Holidaying in Sydney

While you are enjoying all the beautiful harbour views from any Sydney Darling Harbour hotel the likes of Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites, just decide to enjoy a hike or a stroll over these beautiful places.

Explore Whistler Blackcomb – Unlimited fun!

Did you know that Whistler Blackcomb is so much beyond just skiing and snowboarding? It’s all about a great and awesome path of experiences starting from the Whistler gondola.

Getting to the top of Whistler Blackcomb

There are two options. If you are coming from a Whistler hotel the likes of Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside, you may easily use the Whistler Gondola. The other option is to take the Blackcomb Gondola.

 

Ruth Hartnup from Vancouver, Canada, Peak 2 Peak (3133694802)CC BY 2.0

The Peak 2 Peak Whistler Gondola

This is the longest and the highest gondola in the world. No matter on which mountain you land on, be it Whistler or the Blackcomb, you always can go to the other via this Peak 2 Peak Gondola.

Hiking opportunities

Both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains offer great hiking opportunities and they are equally awesome. Some trails are ideal for all hikers- all with easy, intermediate, and advanced skill levels.

Things to do at the top of Whistler Blackcomb

What else can be done here in addition to sightseeing and hiking? Well, there is a lot more! You can opt for alpine riding or helicopter tours. Mountain Skills Academy also has so many interesting activities there to entertain you and your friends/family.

Pidurangala rock hike in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Pidurangala Rock is one of the best-hiking destinations that Sri Lanka has to offer. The trek up is full of amazing sights to see and you get treated to an amazing view of the surrounding landscape once you reach the top – here’s a closer look at what this hike is like.

Image credit- Unsplash, Damien Cornu,CC0

The History

Pidurangala was first established by King Kashyapa – the same king who commissioned the famous Sigiriya Fortress found close by – and was to serve as a Buddhist monastery and holy site. Pilgrims from all across the kingdoms would make the trek up the mountains to offer tribute and receive blessings.

The Way Up

There are plenty of Sigiriya hotels in the vicinity – for example, the Aliya Resort Resort and Spa – that will include a hike up Pidurangala in their itinerary. Do keep in mind that the hike can be a bit challenging – granted the reward is well worth it.

The Pidurangala Temple

Before you reach the top of the rock, you’ll first come across the Pidurangala Temple. While most of the temple has now unfortunately fallen into ruin, the massive Reclining Buddha Statue still remains and makes for an impressive sight.

The View

The view from the top of Pidurangala is simply amazing – from up here, you’ll get a great look at the nearby Sigiriya Fortress and well the endless expanse of forests and distant mountains that spread around in all directions.

A Simple Guide to Wildlife in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the most popular destinations to visit in South Asia and the unique wildlife you can spot here plays a large part in all that. In many ways, Sri Lanka offers some of the best safari experiences in all of Asia – so, here’s a look at some of the key forest denizens that make exploring Sri Lanka’s wilds so exciting.

Sri Lankan Leopards

Sri Lankan Leopards
Sri Lankan Leopards | Image via flickr

The Sri Lankan leopard is the top predator here in the island’s wilderness and it’s quite an elusive sighting too. National parks like Yala and Wilpattu are your best bet if you want to try your hand at spotting one in the wild.

Sri Lankan Elephants

The Sri Lankan elephant is the largest subspecies of Asian elephants found in the world. These massive pachyderms are most concentrated in a select number of national parks. At locations like Minneriya, they gather is huge super-herds that can be quite the sight to see up-close.

Sloth Bears

The sloth bear is definitely one of the stranger forest denizens you’re likely to spot in the wilds of Sri Lanka. This is a species of bear that specialises in eating insects and is characterised by a long snout and thick shaggy fur that’s black in colour.

Blue Whales

Blue Whales
Blue Whales | Image via flickr

If you’re staying by Sri Lanka’s coastline, perhaps at one of the Bentota hotels on offer such as the Cinnamon Bey Beruwala, you might have a chance of spotting blue whales off the coast. These gigantic marine mammals are actually the largest living organisms ever to have existed!

Ultimate Hanoi Guide – Plan well and enjoy every bit of your tour

Hanoi is an interesting destination because of its attractions and multi-cultural vibe. If it’s going to be your first time in Hanoi, make sure you plan it well.

Places to explore

Hanoi is a destination with many great attractions. But, if you are running short of time during your tour, prioritize the Hanoi Opera House, Water Puppet Theatre, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Ngoc Son. They shouldn’t be missed out on at any cost.

Shopping

The best place in Hanoi for shopping is indeed the Hanoi Weekend Night Market. If you have time, head to Hang Gai Street and Lotte Centre for some good shopping moments.

Christophe95Hanoi Night Market 1CC BY-SA 4.0

Accommodation

Finding a good hotel in Hanoi is important. It’s not that difficult as long as you have world-class options such as Pan Pacific Hanoi. They offer great dining facilities too.

Nightlife

Head to Binh Minh’s Jazz Club at night when you are in Hanoi. For an authentic experience, head to the Bia Hoi Junction and mingle with the locals in style.

Things to know

Traffic is so intense in Hanoi, so you will have to tolerate this. Nights can be chaotic and busy, but you can enjoy all of it if you have a little patience.