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 MoreauCarthage Room BardoCC 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.

Must-Visit Amusement and Theme Parks in Gold Coast – Having Fun Under the Sun

The Gold Coast is one of the best locations to visit in Australia. There’s plenty of excitement to be had here – most notably, at the amazing amusement and theme parks on offer here. So, if you’re looking to have some fun times on the Gold Coast, here’s a look at where you need to be heading.

Dreamworld

If you’re staying at a Coolangatta resort – say, for instance, the Oaks Gold Coast Calypso Plaza Suites – be sure to make a quick trip to Dreamworld. This theme park has got it all – thrilling rides, water sports, and even some exotic wildlife!

Holoverse

Holoverse is a great place to visit with the kids and to test out some truly state-of-the-art technology. Essentially, you can interact with realistic holograms and play a number of AR games at the world’s first holographic arcade.

Warner Bros Movie World

This is perhaps the biggest and most popular theme park in Australia! It’s also home to the tallest, longest and fastest rollercoasters in the country – so, strap into your ride and let the adrenaline flow.

IFLY

IFLY is an indoor skydiving arena that lets you experience the thrill of skydiving without actually plummeting to the ground from up high. There are plenty of experienced instructors employed here as well, so you can take it easy and enjoy yourself here, knowing that you’re Insafe hands.

 

 

Things to Do in Brisbane after Night Falls – Let the dark welcome more fun!

Many travellers know A-Z about the things they can do in Brisbane when the sun shines. But are the nights only reserved for sleep? No- not in Brisbane. Brisbane nights are more impressive.

Twilight kayaking
This is not an adventurous experience. It’s more of a relaxing, romantic experience that you can try out with your loved one. Paddle under the Story Bridge and collect great memories.

Dine at a good restaurant

Kgbo, Logan Road, Woolloongabba, Queensland 08, CC BY-SA 4.0

Are you spending your vacation at a Woolloongabba hotel? Do not miss out on the chance to have a great meal with your family or friends. Properties such as Oaks Brisbane Woolloongabba Suites do food wonders!

Climb rocks
Why focus on fake rocks when you have Kangaroo Point Cliffs? This can be a challenging experience to climb in the night, but it’s sure to be exciting.

Watch a movie
If candlelit dinners are too mainstream, here’s a wonderful idea! Head to the Powerhouse Moonlight Cinema or the American Express Open-Air Cinema to watch a new release classic movie. You just have to grab a bean bag chair and enjoy your moments.

 

 

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 1The river crossing Zhaoxing villageCC 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!

Photo by form PxHere

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.

Image by travel backpacker from Pixabay

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.

Image by Sanjeeva Pieris from Pixabay

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.

Diving in Jeddah

There is a world of excitement waiting for all the divers out there in Jeddah. This article lists down a few of the most amazing dive sites in the seas here.

Image credit- Unsplash,
Sebastian Pena Lambarri,CC0

Sharm Obhur

You can enter this dive site right from the shores. The reef is easy to explore and perfect for beginners. You will see clown fish, turtles and eels. Maybe a Bullshark or 2 as well if you are lucky.

Abu Tair

If you are an experienced diver, you can try exploring the Staphonos shipwreck in Abu Tair. This was a cargo ship that carried cables, steel beams and chains, thus it is also called the Cable Wreck.

Abu Faramish

This spot is known for, yet another wreck called Ann Ann. The ship sits upright even to date with many of the rooms intact. You can also see the toilet in the ship which divers find quite interesting.

Jebel Al Lith

If you’ve already tried out all the activities, there are to do at your Jeddah accommodations the likes of Spectrums Residence Jeddah, its time you searched for some thrills. Jebel Al Lith offers a dive site which just happens to be the territory of the whale sharks!

Unusual Things to Do in Kandy

Kandy is one of the most amazing places to visit in Sri Lanka and is known as the cultural capital of the country. Here are a few things you can try out to experience the city better.

Image credit- Unsplash,
Kirsty barnby,CC0

Visit the Temple of The Tooth Relic

Yes, this is the most iconic attraction here and it doesn’t really seem like an unusual thing to do. But ever thought of visiting in the evening? There are special rituals being carried out on some days after dusk, so you can inquire with your hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka before your visit.

Visit a spice garden

Ask around and you’ll find your way easily to the spice garden. It is usually one of the free things to do here in Kandy. You will come across plants like vanilla, cocoa, citronella, turmeric and much more.

Take the train to Ella

So, one of the most scenic train rides in the world would be the ride from Kandy to Ella. Try your best to hitch a ride and check out Ella as well.

Visit a gushing waterfall

If you stay at a hotel like Hunas Falls Hotel Kandy, the sound of the water will reach your ears no sooner you step out. Go on a tour and explore this wonder of nature, Hunas Falls.

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!

Image via snappygoat

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.