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Phosi Market

Brimming with life, the Phosi Market is a scene where vendors have their fresh produce and other goods on display on mats on the floor or on small tables to capture the eye of potential customers. Now…some items may look appealing and some not, but then it’s all about the experience here.

The biggest market

Phosi Market is the largest market in Luang Prabang with three-quarters of it always full. There are over a hundred sellers offering customers a wide choice of various items. How about a visit to experience what the place has to offer for yourself?

Food and spices

The local spices are readily available here and freshness is guaranteed. The air here might seem a bit heavy with smells of food and spices wafting through the air as there is very less space for air circulation.

Grocery items

There is a large variety of fresh vegetable to buy here. The butchery section of the market is no place for the faint of heart, still, one may find all sorts of meat here. Pig blood curd is one of the most unusual foods to find here.

Getting here

If you are lodged at a centrally located hotel in Luang Prabang, getting here would be easy via a taxi. For those who fancy a stroll, the market is a 22-minute walk from Avani+ Luang Prabang and other city hotels.

Mount Phou Si

Ever heard of the sacred mountain in Luang Prabang with a challenging flight of 300 stairs with a magnificent panoramic view as a reward? Yes, this article speaks of none other than Mount Phousi which is a must-see attraction here. Here are a few things to know if you plan on visiting the mountain.

Gerd Eichmann, Luang Prabang-Phou Si-06-gje, CC BY-SA 4.0

Entrance fees and timing

The entrance fee for the mountain is about 20,000 kip. The fare will be collected once you are halfway uphill. Also, the mountain is open for sightseeing from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm.

A Sacred Mountain

Mount Phousi translates to “sacred mountain” or “sacred hill”. It bears great significance to the Buddhists in the local area. On the stairways, flower vendors and bird vendors sit, selling. their blessing offerings to visitors. Remember to dress appropriately and respect the peaceful atmosphere here.

Wat Chom Si

This is a temple with a golden stupa on the top of the mountain which was built in 1804. With the temple is a grotto that shelters a big statue of Buddha which is worshipped by the locals with offerings and prayers.

Best time to visit

Mount Phousi offers breath-taking views of both the sunrise and the sunset. However, if you want to avoid the mad rush of crowds, its better to be there before sunrise. This would be even more convenient if you are lodged at Avani+ Luang Prabang or another hotel in Luang Prabang a short distance away from the property.

Gerd Eichmann, Luang Prabang-Phou Si-14-Sonnenuntergang-gje, CC BY-SA 4.0

A 5 Day Itinerary to Busan

If you are planning to spend 5 days in Busan, then know you are in luck. Most people get only a couple of days and that is never enough for them to explore the second-largest city in South Korea. We have put together an itinerary so you can make the most of your 5 days and find all the places to visit in Busan.

Day 1

Visit Gamcheon culture village in the morning for a colourful walk and then take the afternoon for a bit more walking along the Busan coast. You can pick one of the three best stretches which are each about an hour’s drive from Avani Central Busan Hotel.

cezzie901, Gamcheon Culture Village View 5, CC BY 2.0

Day 2

On the second day go out to explore Nampo-dong and Gwangbokdong food street where you can get a stool and sit down for some street food. After a good meal get lost in Gukje Market which is a gigantic market that you will find hard to navigate, so make sure you get your bearings before you plunge in.

Ryan Bodenstein, Gwangbok-dong Street in Busan 4, CC BY 2.0

Day 3

Visit the picturesque Haedong Yonggungsa Temple early in the morning. It is the best time to explore the temple in the serenity of the sea at dawn. In the afternoon you can head to the beach.

midnight.here, Haedong Yonggungsa, Busan, CC BY-SA 2.0

Day 4

Spend the 4th day relaxing with some time at a hot spring and reconnect with your soul.

Day 5

The last day is the best day to take a day trip from Busan to South Korea’s largest and most important temple; Tongdosa temple.

Adelaide City Guide

Gorgeous scenery, plenty of natural beauty and an abundance of things on offer, Adelaide is quite the enchanting stop. Here are a few spots you can stop by during your time there!

Rundle Mall

Adelaide’s main shopping mall, Rundle Mall was also Australia’s very first pedestrian-only mall. You’re bound to find a number of international and local retailers here, making it quite a well-rounded shopping experience.

Adelaide Central Market

This spot gives you an insight into the local life on Adelaide, known as “Adelaide’s food hub”. You’ll find 80 different stalls, all under one roof, selling some of Australia’s freshest produce such as an excellent range of fruits and vegetables. You can also enjoy live music every Friday!

Adelaide Botanic Garden

Having first opened in 1857, this botanic garden spans 51 hectares. Less than 10 minutes from Avani Adelaide Residences and many other Adelaide hotels, some of the structures you find in the garden date back to the 19th century. The largest single-span conservatory in the southern hemisphere is also housed here, the bicentennial conservatory – which safeguards endangered plants from several cities and countries.

Manon D, Cactus in Adelaide’s Botanical Garden, CC BY-SA 4.0

Bottle Beach Koh Phangan

Bottle beach is revered as one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. If you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing and laid back time in Thailand – Bottle Beach in Koh Phangan is where you need to be!

Overview

The remoteness and tranquillity of Bottle Beach is one that plenty of visitors enjoy. Most of the visitors visit the beach just as a day trip, but to truly savour everything this location has to offer – a longer stay is recommended.

Christian Fernandez Gamio (Golfer70), Koh Phangan BottleBeach 22, CC BY-SA 3.0

How to get to Koh Phangan

This beautiful island doesn’t have its own airport, which means that you’ll have to reach the island through a boat trip. Otherwise, you can try travelling to Surat Thani by bus or train and then get to the island through a boat. Lomprayah, Seatran, Raja Ferry are a few of the service providers you can opt for!

What to expect

Despite being quite difficult to reach, it’s the most rewarding beach in Koh Phangan! The beach is quite secluded, except for a handful of resorts as not many people make the journey to this spot. The sand is as soft as it gets and the water is extremely clear, even on gloomy days! With enough effort and help from your hotel in Koh Phangan, the likes of Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas, this treasure isn’t too hard to find!

The celestial temple of Angkor

Phimeanakas is a small, laterite Hindu temple and it takes the shape of a three-stepped pyramid. In addition to the temple, there are several things to see such as the pools which have been used for different tasks back in the day.

Entrance gopura

It’s the main entrance to the temple which consists of a gopura building. The building has a central entrance door and a single tower on top. Gorgeous indeed!

The 03 steep tiers

This pyramid temple is a popular attraction in the city, especially to the travellers staying in hotels in Siem Reap, Cambodia mainly because of its unique shape. There are three steep tiers of a diminishing size which have guardian elephant statues at each of their corners.

On top of the pyramid

You find a platform surrounded by small galleries on the top of this pyramid and at the centre of this platform, there are ruins of a small cruciform sanctuary.

The Phimeanakas stele

If you stay at hotels such as FCC Angkor Siem Reap during your holidays and are looking for some good options that will help you discover more about the history of the city, this attraction is ideal not only because the small temple takes an impressive shape; but also because you find treasures like the stele here, which reveals some wealthy information of a past king.

Mekong River Cruise Experience

The Mekong river is the main reason why so many powerful civilisations thrived in South East Asia. And a cruise down the river is the perfect way to really understand how much influence a river can have on mankind and their development.

Asia’s Most Legendary River

A luxury Mekong river cruise is one of the best ways to understand the influence the great river has had on civilisation. The river has enriched culture and traditions for more than 2000 years in the region which means a cruise with Mekong Kingdoms will take you on that same journey years later.

Cambodia

The cruise will take you through Cambodia following in the footsteps of royalty who sailed the same seas years before. Cambodia is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site Angkor Wat and other spectacular remnants of Khmer culture.

Vietnam

Vietnam is next on the Mekong River, the easternmost country on the Indochinese peninsula. It is a visual masterpiece of colour and wonders fast evolving into a prime tourist destination.

Mekong River

The Mekong River is the 12th longest in the world. It flows from the Tibetan plateau to the South China sea through China to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. It is the lower end of the river, the basin that spreads across Cambodia and Vietnam that is mostly traversed.

Tourism in Bali

Bali has now become one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in the world, simply because of the fact that it has something for everyone who visits it. Here is some information that you should know about the Bali Tourism sector if you are a potential visitor to this amazing island.

Reaching Bali

The city has the third busiest airport in Indonesia- the Ngurah Rai, which is also the 07th best in the world. Regular flights are available for countries such as America, Australia, Europe, and almost all Asian countries, so its always hassle-free to get into Bali.

Its People

People in Bali belong to diverse religions, and they include Balinese Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism. Be it you know them, or don’t know them at all, Balinese people are really are some of the most pleasant people you will ever meet.

The amazing culture

Even when you dine at a popular resort such as Katamama Suites at Desa Potato Headyou’ll be amazed to see different kinds of arts and crafts positioned here and that grabs the attention of tourists quite noticeably. Bali is rich with diverse art forms such as painting, woodcarving and also performing arts.

The tourism industry in Bali

If you take any luxury hotel in Seminyak, Bali for example, you may be surprised to see how good their service quality is in every aspect. They play an extremely important role in strengthening the tourism arm of Bali, together with other players such as travel agents.

Bentota Beach

Located 64km south of Colombo, Bentota beach is one of the most beautiful beaches along the southern coastline. It has long been popular among tourists and locals alike. It is very easy to distinguish the beach by just mentioning its name.

Location

Two of the most popular beaches in the south are located along the same stretch of coastline. The Beruwala beach can be found just before the town of Aluthgama and the Bentota beach is accessed as soon as you pass over the Bentota Bridge.

Water Sports

Bentota Beach is not just very pretty, it is also a great place to get involved in water sports. If you are hoping to catch the best waves, head there around October to April when the waves are calmer and perfect for engaging in water sports.

Luxury Hotels

Bentota is home to some of the best luxury hotels in Sri Lanka. You can find 5-star service, delicious international menus and all the comfort you could ask for at places like Saman Villas.

Shopping

It is also quite possible to get your souvenir shopping done in the small boutiques and shops that come in all shapes and sizes. You can purchase traditional crafts, gems, batik-wear and other small ornaments that you can take home with you.

Attractions in Melbourne

Australia’s second-largest city with plenty on offer. Here are a few spots you must include in your holiday itinerary when in Melbourne.

Federation Square

Federation square opened up in 2002 to commemorate 100 years of federation. This spot has become an integral part of the city and also a great place for tourists to start their sightseeing.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Amongst the many Melbourne city attractions, you’ll have to take the time to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens. Close to many a hotel, the likes of Avani Central Melbourne Residences, the gardens cover an area of 38 hectares and boast over 8500 species of plants.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Melbourne is known for its love of sports – there it is no surprise that a sports stadium is among the city’s top tourist attractions. MCG is known the world over and is considered one of the world’s greatest stadiums.

National Gallery of Victoria

This is the oldest public art gallery in Australia, holding more than 70,000 works of art in two city locations. The building is renowned for The Great Hall, where visitors are encouraged to lie on the floor and gaze at the colour stained glass ceiling!