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Monday, 16 January 2012 03:09
12 Places in Africa to Visit in 2012
Africa is the 2nd largest continent with the 2nd largest population. The vast and diverse continent is made up of a wide array of people, religions and sites. Having already spent some time in Morocco and Egypt, I am looking forward to a more extensive trip later this year that will take me all over the continent. This post contains a list of 12 'must see' sites. You may not be able to visit all of them in one trip, but I'd suggest putting all of them on your 'bucket list'.
Avignon & Provence Travel Story
Avignon's Famous Palais des Papes & Pont de St. Benezet
Enclosed within a wall of medieval ramparts, Avignon’s old town is a labyrinth of cobblestone streets, architectural marvels, and culinary delights. Located in Southern France, it is one of the main cities in Provence and sits high above the banks of the Rhone River. The main attraction here is the Palais des Papes, or the Papal Palace. It was the reason for the construction of this historic fortified city, which is now a UNESCO Heritage site. The other major attraction is the Pont d’Avignon, also known as Pont de St. Benezet. The famous French children’s song, “Sur le Pont d’Avignon” is based on this bridge, however the original title of the song was actually “Sous le Pont d’Avignon”, meaning under the bridge of Avignon. In medieval times there were cafes under the arches where the dancing would take place.
Tuesday, 05 July 2011 17:14
10 Must See Temples & Monuments in South East Asia
1. Burma (Myanmar) - Rangoon (Yangon) - Shwedagon Pagoda
At nearly 100 metres high, the Shwedagon Pagoda is visible from all over Rangoon. Though the site dates from the 16th century, the main stupa is painted with over three tonnes of gold and was built in the 18th century. Surrounding the main pagoda are eighty-two other buildings. The best time to visit the site is in the early morning or before the sun goes down because of the heat. This is important to note because you have to remove your shoes before entering the site, so arriving during the peak of the afternoon will make it seem like you're walking on hot stones.
Read more: 10 Must See Temples & Monuments in South East Asia
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 16:20
Making the Most of a 7 Hour Layover at Incheon Airport in South Korea
I recently survived a 38 hour trip halfway around the world that included a 7-hour layover at the Incheon airport in South Korea. As someone who has never visited Korea, I wondered if this would be enough time to head into Seoul for a quick visit. After doing some research, I decided to give it a go, despite the fact that the Incheon airport has plenty to keep any traveler occupied.
Read more: Making the Most of a 7 Hour Layover at Incheon Airport in South Korea
Luxor, Egypt, Travel Story
Late Night Arrival in Luxor
When we arrived we watched as the passengers from our flight all scattered to their respective buses and personal drivers. It seemed as though they all knew to arrange for a driver ahead of time. As we walked out into the dark dingy parking lot at 1 AM and saw the hoards of taxi drivers waiting to pounce on anyone without a driver (in this case we were the only ones), we knew we had made a mistake in not having the hotel pick us up. Note: if you are going to be arriving at night, make absolutely sure to arrange for a driver to pick you up. You will save yourself a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety.