Agra, The Chosen City for Taj Mahal

Agra was the chosen city of the Mughal emperors during the early years. It was here that the founder of the dynasty, Babur, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of the River Yamuna. Here, Akbar, his grandson, raised the towering ramparts of the great Red Fort. Within its walls, Jehangir built rose-red palaces, courts and gardens. Shahjahan embellished it with marbled mosques, palaces and pavillions of gem-inlaid white marble. Agra is globally renown as the city of the Taj Mahal, a monument of love and imagination, that represents India to the world.

Phuket - Old Town

Phuket Town itself is quite low key. There are not many big buildings here - mainly shophouses. The most interesting part of town are the old steets around Thalang Road, Debuk Road and Rasada Road. They are all connected and not far from each other. It is quite nice spending half a morning just wondering around, and then stop at one of the many restaurants or cafes for lunch.

Due to the Chinese, Portuguese and European influence in the early days, the Old Town here is populated mainly with Sino-Portuguese/ Sino-Colonial shophouses. These are the same as the ones you find in Penang, Malacca, Singapore and Kuching. There are many variations in the architectural details, but the basic design is a two-storey shophouse with a "five-footway" - essentially a multi-functional verandah serving as a covered pedestrian thoroughfare. On the ground floor is usually a shop, though in some of the units it is actually the living area. On the 1st floor is usually the living quarters. If you want to know more about Phuket heritage, go to this excellent web site - Phuket Heritage.

Old shophouses along Thalang Road.

Shophouse facades - quite similar to those in Penang, Malacca or Kuching. The variation is in the details. I think the old contractors or builders probably moved from place to place, bringing the designs with them.

These shops wouldn't look out of place in Kuching or Penang.

An interesting cafe on Thalang Road.

Evidence of Chinese and Muslim culture.

A must-have in any Asian home - a gas stove. Don't forget the rice cooker as well.

One thing I noticed in Phuket which is quite different are these gold shops. They are usually decked out to the nines in garish red and gold decors.

Phuket - Phuket Town

Phuket is a small island towards the Western side of Thailand. It used to have a burgeoning tin mining industry, so the Europeans had long made their presence felt in this part of the World. Much of the tin mining was carried out by Hokkien Chinese immigrants, and you can see their legacy in the older parts of town. Today the main business in Phuket is tourism.

I hired a car, which is the best way to get around Phuket and it is very affordable. You can hire a Toyota Vios for around THB 1,000 per day. The landscape from the airport to Phuket town is very familiar to someone coming from Malaysia.

Phuket Airport is around 30 km from Phuket Town - about 40 min driving time. There are only a few major roads so driving around is not a big problem. All you need is a good map, and I had GPS on my phone which was a great help.

As I entered Phuket Town, I got a strange feeling of deja vu. The 2 and 3-storey buildings are very similar to the ones in smaller towns back in Malaysia. As you enter the older parts of town, you could be in Penang or Malacca. The old shophouses look exactly the same - with their Sino-Portuguese/ Sino-Colonial architecture which is common in many South-East Asian towns.

Entering into Phuket Town.

Phuket has a large Chinese and Muslim population. You see many Chinese temples around, as well as mosques - often on the same street.

The monument at Phuket Town Centre.

These buses converted from trucks are quite common in Phuket. They come in small, medium and large sizes. It is difficult to imagine enduring a long trip on these "buses", but the locals don't seem to mind.

Special school delivery.

One thing really great about Phuket traffic system is the traffic light. They actually have count-down meters which show you exactly how many seconds left before change of light. I think this great idea should be adopted everywhere.

Melbourne ,Australia– An Adventurous Visit To The Capital City Of Victoria

Melbourne is a Victorian city explored by John Balman. It is also known as the cultural capital of Australia. It is located in the mid south of Victoria. It specializes in dining as Melbourne has one the best restaurants. It also the most visited cities in Australia.

Melbourne ,Australia

Visitor’s attraction in Melbourne
Melbourne is known for parks and gardens and therefore called as the “garden city” .The main attraction are as follows:
1. Fun city sunshine
This is gaming platform where people from all age groups can participate.
There’s coffee shop for parents where they can relax. IT has a perfect gaming environment with two level arenas.
2. Melbourne Zoo
It is also known as the royal Melbourne zoological gardens and is the oldest
of all zoos. The main attraction in the zoo is the different species of elephant, exotic and beautiful butterflies.
3. Giant sky wheel
The giant sky wheel is a travelling carriage which can carry about six people. It is an about 10-12 minutes drive. We can have exciting experiences of the Melbourne city through this ride.

4. St. Paul’s cathedral
It is situated opposite to the Flinders Street and is the tallest church in Melbourne. Various events like marriage, funerals etc are carried out. It is made up of sandstone.

5. Queen Victoria market
It is also known as Queen Vic market. Initially it was a small market but now it has become the most visited markets. Tourists from all over the world come to visit this market.

Best time to visit Melbourne
The start of the autumn season is the best time as leaves change their color.
How to reach Melbourne
Melbourne is connected to all the major cities by finest rail network. Even
Taxis and cars can be hired for reaching Melbourne.
Finest Hotels in Melbourne

1. Vibe Savoy Hotel Melbourne
It is located opposite to the Spencer’s street and one of the finest resorts. It has spacious rooms with cuisines, restaurants, mini bars and is ideal for special events. It has about 162 guest rooms, conference room, and 6 suites. It also provides air conditioning rooms with 24 hrs internet facility all at reasonable price and style.

2. The Royal Hotel
It is located on St. Kilda Road. It has beautiful surroundings with color TV, fully furnished ac rooms, banquet halls and meeting facilities, also fully equipped mini bars, courtyard, currency exchange etc. It is cheap and best.
3. Somerset Gordon Heights
It is located near the little Bourke Street. People looking for a pleasant stay and family trip can choose this accommodation. It has all the necessary facilities like a theatre, restaurants, including four set bedroom which are fully equipped and well maintained.

Enjoy An Awe-Inspiring Sunny Holiday In The Beautiful Island Of Lanzarote

Lanzarote is an extremely well-liked holiday island in Canaries and is situated around the edge of African coastline. Lanzarote is really a family friendly place and offers something for everybody. Its varied landscape and Atlantic area offers a selection of secure shallow beaches or dramatic swells. You will discover a lot of coastal actions to appreciate snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing and parasailing. Lanzarote Resorts have secure beaches and plenty of activities to maintain the kids pleased. Lanzarote is attracted by couples who enjoy purchasing and nightlife. Puerto Del Carmen has the busiest nightlife with pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. It is possible to purchase perfumes and cigarettes at more affordable rates in the city as Lanzarote enjoys a unique duty free tax status.

Canary Islands

Things to do

1.Timanfaya National Park
The Timanfaya National Park is essentially the most popular traveler attraction in Lanzarote and was inaugurated in 1968. Located from the south west the fire mountain nearly brought about full devastation to Lanzarote by killing off everything around the Island during a five year eruption.

2.Submarine Trips
You can acquire component in Submarine Trips departing from Puerto Calero, or for your less costly choice the Aqua Sub departs from Playa Blanca harbor through the ferry port.

3. Water Athletics
The Island is buzzing with h2o sporting activities, from diving, jet skis and wind-surfing there’s a lot to maintain the h2o junky occupied. Look at a few of the waves up at La Santa!

4.Fuerteventura
Consider the short journey across the sea towards the island of Fuerteventura. Just half an hour away from Playa Blanca by Ferry, Fuerteventura features a absolutely distinct knowledge to Lanzarote and is nicely worth the day trip. If you wish to explore Fuerteventura further we suggest hiring a car once you get more than there. In case you hire a auto in Lanzarote ask your hire organization to find out if you are insured to bring it more than to Fuerteventura.

5.Quad Bike Safaris
Not for that faint hearted, the Quad Bike Safari lasts approximately three hours. You will see some of the most stunning parts from the Island on road but 80% off road.

Accommodation
Lanzarote features a well-furnished and luxurious accommodation to its visitors. There are several five-star and luxury hotels within the island that not just supply ideal amenities and services but additionally bring care in the traveler buyers. The two most well-known hotels in the city are Hyatt Regency and Holiday Inn.

Ottawa – A landmark Of Historical Monuments And Museum

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is the fourth largest city with a population of about 899,150. The museums of fine architecture are the striking feature of Ottawa. Hockey is its national sport. The beautiful parklands and waterways are the specialty of Ottawa.

Places To Visit In Ottawa
Visit the thrilling and exciting destinations of Ottawa.


1. Gatineau Park

The park is opened all the year round except for Christmas. Its fun to visit the parks as everyone will have something to enjoy like the rides, gliding, swimming and fishing. The park has enormous species of mammals and 230 birds.
2. Pink Lake

The color of the river is not pink but as the pink family used to live there that’s why it is named as Pink Lake in their memories.

3. Beaches

The beaches make us feel relaxed and cool. The beaches of Ottawa are the best way to enjoy your day to release fatigue. Their cool environment refreshes out thoughts. There are four beaches opened only during specific time. The Britannia beach, Westbury beach, Mooney’s Bay beach etc.

4. Lusk Cave
It is around 50 kilometers from Ottawa and made up of marble. The cave has water about one meter deep.

5. Prince Edward Island

It is a fun place to enjoy with your family and friends. The scenic beauty of the beach is amazing. As the island is not too big it can it will take only a little time.
Best Time To Visit Ottawa
The best time to plan your trip is in the months of January, August and October. The weather is moderate and cool.
How To Reach Ottawa
Ottawa is well connected by rail, road and water. The major sea routes include Gatineau River, Ottawa River and Rideau River.

Accommodation In Ottawa


1. Lord Elgin Hotel

The hotel is comfortable and has excellent services. The staff is friendly and cooperating and the dinner is very good. The rooms are air conditioned with music systems, desk, internet and gymnasium.

2. Capital Hill Hotel

Located at the Albert Street this hotel is a luxurious one at cheap prices. The food is great and the location is just perfect. The drinks offered were of high quality.

3. Ottawa Marriott Hotel
The resort is situated in the Kent Street offering both fun and entertainment. It has excellent services of desk, laundry, high speed internet and many more.

So Ottawa is an ideal place to spend your vacations as this fantastic city is dirt free, compressed and accurately planned. The city is the centre of planning and politics and a perfect choice for a fabulous weekend as one can see amazing locations in a short span of time.

Singapore - Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay used to be the centre of commerce in Singapore. Lying at the mouth of Singapore River,the shophouses and godowns served the shipping trade between Asia and Europe. You can imagine that Sir Stamford Raffles and his officers once roamed these streets to keep things in order. 

Today, Clarke Quay has been transformed into a tourist magnet, with dining, shopping and entertainment venues fitted into the converted warehouses and shophouses. A street canopy designed by London Architect Will Alsop provides shelter from the tropical sun and rain. Specially designed low speed fans in the shape of  "Whale-tails" introduce artificial breeze into the covered streets. The canopies are called "Angels" - the umbrella-like structures are constructed out of steel frame and covered with high-tech plastic ETFE. 

Some of the most interesting dining establishments in Singapore can be found here - e.g.  The Clinic - a fine-dining restaurant and pub fitted out as an operating theatre, Restaurant Madame - part of the IndoChine group of restaurants, Coriander Leaf - a Pan-Asian fusion food hub, and Tomo Izakaya where the seafood is flown in straight from Tokyo's Tsukiji Market.

The canopies do function as intended, and walking in the streets even under the hot tropical heat is quite pleasant.

There are more covered terraces next to the River. The circular sun-tents are supposed to evoke Chinese lanterns, but to me they look more like those huge magnets they use in a scrap-metal yard. A bit scary to sit under these !

KEUKENHOF GARDENS

The name Keukenhof means kitchen yard or garden. Herbs for the kitchen of the castle of Jacoba van Beieren were also collected here; hence the name Keukenhof. The current site originally provided the herbs and vegetables to the local palace kitchens in the 15th Century. In 1857, the gardens were landscaped by Jan Zocher, a prominent Dutch landscape architect, whose legacy includes Amsterdam’s beloved Vondelpark but it wasn’t until circa one hundred years later that a group of tulip growers initiated a spring flower exhibition at the Keukenhof in 1949. They never looked back. Strolling through these gardens, it is easy to comprehend how the tulip came to dominate the lives of so many Dutch people hundreds of years ago. The national emblem of the Netherlands, the tulip has long been synonymous with Holland and was originally introduced in the 1590s. Tulip mania quickly followed with the crazy selling of tulip bulbs for as much as the price of a house, until the market collapsed in 1637.

However it is not only the tulip that the Keukenhof celebrates. All bulbous plants are showcased here as well as perennials. There is also a great display of stunning orchids, over 35,000 lilies, daffodils, hyacinths, narcissus and much more. There are many garden sculptures throughout the grounds and over 2,500 trees, many of which are very old.
The gardens are primarily designed in the classic English landscape style but contain many examples of other garden styles. It is this diversity that makes the Keukenhof so inspiring. For example the charming nature gardens combine wild bulbous plants with perennials and shrubs, and is truly enchanting. There are the fascinating historic gardens which including ancient herbs (culinary and medicinal) and also very old tulip varieties, and the very elegant Japanese country garden. The current park was a section of the sizeable estate of Slot Teylingen, with beautiful untamed bushes and dunes. After the decease of Jacoba van Beieren Keukenhof fell into the hands of rich merchant families. Baron and baroness Van Pallandt invited landscape architects J.D. and L.P. Zocher, designers of the Amsterdam Vondelpark, to make a design for the garden around the castle. This design, in the English landscape style, has always been the basis of Keukenhof.
At the moment the estate belongs to a Corporation. On the initiative of the Lisse mayor of that time and a number of leading flower bulb growers and exporters, an open air flower exhibition was organised here for the first time in 1949. This expanded to an annually recurring event that has always drawn great numbers of visitors from all over the world. This is how Keukenhof became the park that we now know.

Image: from many sources

Travel in Lombok Indonesia

The island of Lombok which means 'Chilli' in Indonesian is located to the east of Bali. From the small black sand bays of Sengiggi, some of the most spectacular sunsets on the planet can be witnessed. The pace of life is slow to the point of stopping and the southern coast of Lombok has some of the most stunning beaches in Indonesia. From silhouetted palms, to mist ringed volcanoes, Lombok island is a haven of natural beauty and just the ticket for getting away from it all which explains the recent popularity of Lombok in recent years. Most tourists make the trip to here to get away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Bali and enjoy the serene beaches.

The flight from Bali to Lombok’s Mataram airport takes just 30 minutes but upon arrival its like stepping into a different era altogether. Getting around is quite convenient with reasonably priced Bemo (converted minivans) or the tourist favourite Cidomo (horse pulled cart).

The local inhabitants of Lombok are called Sasaks. They speak Indonesian as well as their local Sasak language. The other main ethnicity’s include Balinese, Chinese, Arabian, and Javanese. Lombok has three main districts with three capital cities: Mataram in the west, Praya in central and Selong in east Lombok. The majority of commerce is in the capital city of Mataram in west Lombok.

When it comes to souvenirs from Lombok, its a choice between their woven textiles or potteries which is being exported throughout the world. There are also many traditional handicrafts you could take back as a souvenir i.e; wooden masks, baskets made out of ketak grass, wooden boxes designed with bits of shells, or other things made from bamboo or rattan.

At the end of the day, Lombok's charm truly lies in its century-old, tranquil coastal areas with virgin white beaches and green mountains.

Some of the major attractions are:

• Mt. Rinjani
• Sendanggile Waterfalls
• Gili Islands
• Mayura Water Palace
• Masbagik Village
• Narmada Palace
• Pura Meru Temple
• Lombok Pottery & Weaving
• Sasak Village
• Mataram Museum