Best Hotel in South Africa, Brazil, and India

Tsala Treetop Lodge

Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Tucked off the Western Cape in South Africa sits the Tsala Treetop Lodge, a network of 16 suites and villas nestled into the trees of an indigenous forest. Constructed with a compilation of wood, stone and glass, each of these luxurious accommodations has its own private deck and infinity pool designed for sunbathing in the seclusion of the forest. Should you start to feel overwhelmed by the dense forest, you'll be happy to note that you're just a stone's throw from the swimming beaches of Plettenburg Bay.

Alternatively, you can explore the wonders of the beloved Garden Route, which features roaring waterfalls, a lovely lakes district and a pristine coastline. Meanwhile, if you're looking to delight in a meal on terra firma, head down to the lodge's ZINZI Restaurant, which serves up a delicious, internationally inspired menu.

Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel

Manaus, Brazil

You can explore northern Brazil's Amazon Rainforest from canopy level at the Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel's treehouses or aptly named Tarzan Suites. Located up to 110 feet above the jungle floor, the accommodations are accessible via an inclined catwalk. Each suite is also equipped with plush queen beds, spacious bathrooms and private balconies. You will also have access to a complimentary breakfast buffet, along with four treetop bars and two canopy-level pools.

And for those looking to step down on solid ground, a number of adventures await. You can visit the nearby Tarino Indian village, which is just 20 minutes from the hotel by motorized boat. You can also stroll along the walkways of the rainforest, greeting chattering parrots, macaws, sloths and monkeys along the way.

Green Magic Resort

Kerala, India

Communing with nature is one of the allures of staying in a treehouse. Birds and butterflies are constant companions at the Green Magic Resort in Kerala, India, as is the orchestra of gurgling spring water and rustling leaves. You get to cozy up in your choice of three bamboo treehouses suspended high up in a ficus tree forest. Rising anywhere from 60 feet to 115 feet off the ground, the treehouses are accessible by a water lift, a hanging bridge or a rope walkway. When it comes to mealtime, you'll enjoy food prepared at the on-site restaurant with locally harvested, organic ingredients.

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A History of Penang's Hotel

As a beach escape, Penang can’t compete with the postcard coastlines and waterways of Langkawi. On the flipside, when it comes to food, the arts and architecture, Penang is your Malaysian island of the moment.

Charted by the Chinese in the 15th century and later founded by English trader Francis Light, Penang’s colonial vestiges are becoming increasingly more of a travel highlight, with ongoing restorations bringing the island’s older architecture back to life.

British heritage is only part of the picture here, as well. During the Brits’ 171-year long rule, Penang’s role as outpost for the East India Company paved the way for a variety of diasporic communities to make their architectural mark.

Some of the most beautiful buildings are the Chinese clan houses and Peranakan shophouses that line Georgetown’s streets, many of which lie within UNESCO’s Heritage Protected zone. Also worthy of reverent contemplation – and unbridled photo-taking, where permitted – are its mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples, Muslim shrines and monuments, and pre-war churches and cathedrals.

Travelers wishing to explore Penang’s past through architecture may as well immerse themselves in it completely by staying in a restored hotel or guesthouse. The following is a round-up of some of the most beautifully restored accommodations in Penang.

The Straits Collection
The UNESCO protected zone of Armenian street in George Town is progressively being restored and the Straits Collection is a row of shophouses within it offering shops, an art gallery, cafés and a guesthouse. Four rooms in the converted shophouse offer contemporary living for long or short stays, right in the middle of the best-preserved part of Penang.

Cheong Tze Fatt Mansion 
With history and romance emanating from every pastel-blue nook, this Vogue-featured property offers 16 rooms, each one slightly different from the rest. Rambling hallways, original spiral staircases, intricate ironwork railings, mosaic tile floors and stained glass are some of its features, though it’s only really by swanning around its interiors that guests can fully appreciate the ambience of this 1880s aristocrat’s abode.

Lone Pine 
This newly-opened beach resort in Batu Ferringhi is the beach-side town’s only 5-star resort. It’s just been renovated to add more rooms, offering guests modern design, water views and private plunge pools on balconies.

Eastern & Oriental 
Completed in 1885 by the Sarkies Brothers – also responsible for Singapore’s Raffles – the E&O is a Penang’s landmark hotel. The George Town property – once billed as the ‘The Premier Hotel East of Suez’ – was one of the era’s most prestigious hotels, attracting a high-profile clientele that includes Charlie Chaplin and Rudyard Kipling. The Heritage Wing is where the true history buffs and wannabe Hemingways should stay.

Coffee Atelier
Also in the center of George Town’s heritage zone, this ‘kopi’ shop houses an art gallery, a café and 4 spacious suites. Suites are restored with Chinese antique furniture, preserving the building’s 1927 ambience, while not omitting modern conveniences like flatscreen TV, DVD players, WiFi and kitchenette.

23 Lovelane Penang Hotel

Love Lane’s buildings showcase five different styles of architecture from five different periods. Starting from the 1880s, with Chinese, Indian and Anglosaxon influences, it’s now a boutique hotel offering 10 rooms with high-tech extras like WiFi, iPod dock, flatscreen TV – modcons its original owners could never have imagined.

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Best Hotel in Costa Rica and Peru

Friendly customer service and a comfortable bed are must-haves, but nowadays, adventurous travelers are looking for hotels that also provide one-of-a-kind experiences. Among them: treetop hotels.

Instead of resting on solid ground, these hideaways take to the skies, perched in the forest canopies in some of the world's most exotic locales.

Crowning branches from China to Brazil, the nine unique hotels featured on this list range from rustic to luxurious. These unique lodgings offer you the chance to reconnect with nature, not to mention your old childhood fantasies.

Tree House Lodge
Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

A trip to the Tree House Lodge in Costa Rica's Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge offers a balance of sunlight and shade. A canopy of tree branches blankets the split-level treehouse, which is close to the popular Punta Uva beach. Inside the stilt-supported accommodations (accessible via suspension bridge), you're greeted with ample space (enough room for six people), as well as a full kitchen and a Jacuzzi.

Peering out from under the thatched roof, you will feel completely isolated, but in reality you're just a five-minute jaunt from grocery stores and restaurants. And to enhance your escape, the Tree House Lodge can organize everything from a zip-line canopy tour to a white-water rafting adventure to hiking excursions through the surrounding jungle.

Inkaterra Canopy Treehouse
Tambopata National Reserve, Peru

Multiply the excitement you once felt when you first stepped inside a treehouse, and you'll start to ascertain what it might be like to spend the night 90 feet above the Peruvian Amazon. Sidling up to the Tambopata National Reserve, the Inkaterra Canopy Treehouse mixes luxury with adventure. For instance, you can enjoy the services of a canopy butler, who serves chilled sparkling wine as visitors watch dusk fall over the rainforest.

A stay here is quite exhilarating too, as mesh screens are all that's separating you from outdoor critters like hummingbirds and monkeys. And for those who find the treetop stay to be too much of an adrenaline rush, Inkaterra's 35 ground-level cabanas — which are fitted with amenities like hammocks and plush robes and slippers — await.

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Top 10 Asian Art Hotels

An effective antidote to hotel fatigue, staying in an art hotel is a miniature journey in itself. Promoting deep engagement between guest and environment, the art hotel can reignite the spirit of discovery, inspire escapism and be culturally edifying all at the same time. Offering just as much comfort as creativity, these 10 Asian art hotels pay homage to a variety of artists and styles, many literally providing a canvas for local contemporary talent.

1. Guilin HOMA Chateau 
Karst mountains provide a dramatic backdrop for the angular rooftop of HOMA, surrounded by lakes, flower beds and sculptures. The hotel and art park – dubbed ‘Yuzi (Fool’s) Paradise’ by its founder Rhy Chang Tsao – provides guests plenty of visual stimulation, pitting stunning natural scenery against the artificial shapes of contemporary sculpture. Rooms come in a variety of styles, filled with objets d’art and all modern amenities. Art courses are offered including, from Chinese calligraphy to pottery.

2. Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, Makati
As the name suggests, this recently-opened hotel is Picasso-themed, with rooms named – and styled – after various stages of Picasso’s life (Madrid, Barcelona, Montparnasse etc). Rooms are designed with a ‘frame’ motif a frame to highlight cetain room features, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame Makati city views. The property also features found objects, murals, pictures and an in-house gallery that hosts a rotating schedule of contemporary exhibitions by Filipino artists.

3. Palais de Chine, Taipei
Equipped for business, the neo-classic Palais de Chine melds artistic form with function. Modern and antique sculptures and paintings decorate the common areas, while rooms have a 1930s nouveau flavor, featuring French imported furniture and artworks. The hotel has various spaces for meetings, weddings and events, and in-room includes an ‘e-butler’ service, mood lighting, luxe marble bathrooms and the latest AV equipment to answer guests’ practical needs.

4. Grace Beijing
Formerly Yi House, the Grace Beijing retains all its predecessor’s arty affiliations, positioned as it is in Beijing’s 798 Art District. Artist studios provide glimpses of courtyard graffiti, while larger rooms feature bespoke photography, drawings and paintings. For more art, guests are within striking distance of neighboring galleries and museums.

5. JIA Boutique Hotel, Hong Kong
Outfitted by the godfather of design hotels, Philippe Starck, JIA is your quintessential hip inner city hotel.  Bare in places, elaborate in others, the property’s 55 rooms are decorated in a mix of modern and traditional, local and international. Compact in-room spaces, dissected by white curtains, are filled with Starck furniture and mod-cons.

6. The New Majestic, Singapore
This converted shophouse in Singapore’s Chinatown offers 30 boutique rooms, each featuring art installations by a different local artist. Ultra modern spaces come in a variety of styles and lay-outs, some rooms with gardens, some with loft beds and some with twin tubs. In-room facilities are top of the line: Bose stereos, Ploh linen, Kiehl’s toiletries and Nespresso coffee machine. The ‘Space Project’ brings a collection of contemporary local artwork into the lobby.

7. Mystic Place, Bangkok 
Every room in this kitsch B&B near Bangkok’s Chatuchak market has a different theme. Ranging in square footage, mood and featured medium, there are 36 wildly different rooms to choose from – a forest, a Chinese tea room, a fashion house’s fitting room.  One room, equipped with paintbrushes, invites guests to add their own artistic contribution to the wall, while others inspire with murals, embroidery, jewelry, photography – even empty rice bags.  Some rooms offer private gardens or a petite rooftop terrace.

8. Langham Place, Mongkok
Billing itself as the ‘new home’ for Chinese contemporary art, Langham Place focuses on local artists, with more than 60 per cent of its collection by Hong Kong talent. From sculpture (two huge ‘red guards’ greet guests in the lobby) to oil paintings, the art here is designed to provoke as well as decorate.

9. Zobon Art Hotel, Zhuhai
This accolade-winning green hotel on Middle Lover’s Road offers artwork in every guest room, plus a writing/drawing desk facing picture windows with ocean views to inspire creativity in traveling artists. Works of art also feature throughout common spaces. It’s close to the ferry port, and convenient for wannabe Bohemians on their way to/from Hong Kong or Macau.

10. Hotel Eclat, Taipei
Contemporary local and international art is on display in this Da’an hotel. Apart from being more than competently wired for business travelers, guests can have their left brain massaged as well, with paintings and sculptures throughout the lobby and restaurants.  A second Eclat hotel is scheduled to open in Beijing’s Parkview Green multi-venue complex.

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Best Least Visited Countries in the Earth

For some travelers, getting off the beaten path is a point of pride, a way to see the parts of the world that don’t make it into glossy guidebooks.

But how many of those same adventurous travelers would be willing to visit, say, Somalia?
About 500, it turns out. At least, that’s how many tourists found their way to the war-torn east African nation last year.

That makes Somalia the second-least visited country in the world, after the tiny pacific island nation Nauru, according to a recent list compiled by travel writer Gunnar Garfors from UN statistics.

Little Nauru – 8.1 square miles in size, population 9,378 – got just 200 visitors last year, and it’s pretty clear why.

“There is almost nothing to see there,” writes Garfors, “as most of the island … is a large open phosphate mine.”

Indeed, most of the world’s least visited countries seem to fall in one of two categories. There are the Naurus, where you’ll puzzle over what to do, and the Somalias, where it’s simply too dangerous to do much of anything at all. (As Somalia’s Wikitravel page aptly notes, “the easiest method for staying safe in Somalia is not to go in the first place.”)

Most of the “nothing to do” countries are the crumbs that dust a map of the Pacific Ocean: the Federated States of Micronesia, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Tuvalu. The latter shares with the Maldives the dubious distinction of having "highest elevation points" that are the lowest on earth – 15 feet above sea level. Visit while you can, as rising sea levels could make the island uninhabitable within a century.

As for the “too dangerous” countries, the list reads like a global primer in political conflict. For instance, despite its pristine national parks full of wild gorillas and elephants, the perpetually ungovernable Central African Republic (#23) is an unpopular destination for tourists. And its stock will likely continue to plummet – last week a rebel alliance seized the capital, Bangui, and the president fled to neighboring Cameroon.

Afghanistan (#10) also suffers from tourism-deflating instability, which keeps visitors away from its rugged peaks, ancient Buddhist monuments, and Islamic holy sites, including the 12th-century Minaret of Jam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“The Taliban have a message for foreign tourists who come to Afghanistan, especially if they are from any of the 50 countries that are part of the NATO-led coalition supporting the government: Big mistake,” writes The New York Times.

Other countries on the list, like Guinea Bissau (#14), Libya (#15), and East Timor (#18), have seen their reputations – and infrastructure – hobbled by recent wars or uprisings.

North Korea's repressive tourism laws help make it No. 16 least visited. (Photo: Matt Paish 2012 / Flickr)
But not every country on the list is too dangerous or boring to visit. A few are simply effectively sealed off to the outside world.

All foreign visitors to North Korea (#16) are limited to a state-curated itinerary and must have an official government “minder” by their side at all times. But for the few Western tourists who venture into the country, that’s part of the appeal. “You will rarely get to see propaganda done more explicitly,” Garfors writes.

Except, perhaps, in Turkmenistan (#7), where visitors who brave the onerous Soviet-esque visa application process are rewarded with sites like a 50-foot golden statue of former dictator Saparmurat Niyazov in the capital Ashgabat, which rotates throughout the day to face the sun. But the country’s most indisputably impressive site is a massive flaming crater deep in the Karakum Desert. Measuring 230 feet across and almost 70 feet deep, the so-called “Door to Hell” has been burning continuously since Soviet scientists lit it on fire in 1971.

Obscure? Yes. But that's part of the charm.

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Fast Forward to Dubai Today

There used to be a catchy slogan promoting Dubai, back in the days when it was little more than a shopping paradise.

“Fly buy Dubai.”

Then, the idea was to break your journey from, say Europe to Asia with a stopover in Dubai, where you could shop, shop, shop to your heart’s content, and be on your way.  Because, back then, there wasn’t honestly much else to do in this city-state.

Fast forward to Dubai today, a fabulous holiday destination in its own right, regardless of whether one shops or not. (Though you probably will, let’s be honest).

An ever-expanding oasis in the desert, Dubai is now a place of über-glittering malls, marinas, a super-efficient transit system, and enough attractions to keep you busy for several days (even without the shopping…)

Many of the ‘other’ non-shopping attractions in Dubai are actually located within the malls, so in addition to miles of retail therapy, these huge complexes also house restaurants, cinemas, ice rink, aquarium, ski slope – yes that’s right, you can ski in the desert.

There is a hugely popular indoor ski slope right there in the huge Mall of the Emirates, which now comes complete with penguins.  The ‘mountain’ inside Ski Dubai is only 60 meters high, but has five slopes of varying difficulty, including the world’s first indoor black run. You can toboggan, snowball, snowboard, meet the penguins, or just hang out in the unnaturally freezing cold.

And if you feel like ice skating?

Well, in that case, head off to yet another amazing mall, the Dubai Mall.  The ice rink is on one of the lower floors of the mall, surrounded by balconies lined with cafés and restaurants. If you’re not skating, head for a café, and sit and watch the show going on below you.  Lots of giggly beginners toppling all over the place, and the inevitable teenage girl having a private lesson, executing ridiculously complicated sequences.

This same mall also houses the Dubai Aquarium, which truly is a marvel of technology: in a country of superlatives, it will come as no surprise that this is the largest suspended aquarium in the world.  You can see the fish and sharks as you walk around the Mall, but there are also glass-bottomed boat rides inside the Aquarium, a walk through tunnel and you can dive with the sharks – the ultimate adrenalin rush.  If you are not quite up to diving with sharks, then you can go for the softer option and cage snorkel, where you swim inside a cage that’s suspended above the sharks and thousands of fish.

Dubai never seems to stop growing, and most of it is upwards, with amazingly innovative tower blocks making the skyline a technological marvel. The most unmissable of them all is, of course, the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.  It is an elegant, beautiful tapering tower, with seriously fabulous views from the observation deck.

As a fitting counterpoint to modern Dubai, it is great fun to take a stroll along Dubai creek, which is at the heart of the original city.  Much sensitive restoration has been done of the old buildings, such as the charming Dubai Museum, housed in the restored Al Fahidi Fort, which was erected around 1799.

Oh, and by the way.

When you have skied, and skated, and scuba dived, and been up the tallest building in the world, and wandered through the eighteenth century old city, don’t forget to shop.  The shops in Dubai are beyond world class, so you have a real treat in store.

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The Insider Secrets to Rome

Heaping plates of light-as-air pasta. Art by Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini. Some of the most entertaining people-watching on the planet. Rome is a city like no other, and with the newly elected Pope moving in, the old adage about all roads leading to you-know-where seems especially true these days.

But as welcoming as it can be, to the first-time visitor Rome can also feel a little like an upscale hazing ritual, with winding ticket lines, expensive meals, and crowds, crowds, crowds. With the help of actual Romans and some well-traveled BT editors, we've put together some can't-miss tips for making yourself at home in the Eternal City.

It's easy to eat great in Rome, but keeping the tab reasonable is another story. We turned to Rome resident Elizabeth Minchilli, author of the bestselling app Eat Rome and host of the blog Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome, for affordable restaurant recommendations. Her picks:

Forno dei Campo dei Fiori. "This outpost of the famous bakery sells one thing only: Panini," says Minchilli. "The bread is actually the bakery's much-loved pizza Bianca and filling includes mortadella, mozzarella and tomatoes, and frittata." (Vicolo del Gallo 14)

Enoteca Corsi. This wine shop also does a brisk business as a working-class restaurant. "The real action is in back," says Minchilli. "Paper-topped tables and wooden chairs are all original. A daily menu is thrown on the table, with dozens of Roman specialties like meat-stuffed zucchini, osso buco, and thick and delicious faro soup. Don't miss the gnocchi on Thursdays!" (Via del Gesu 87)

L'Asino d'Oro. With creative riffs on traditional Umbrian and central Italian cuisine, this restaurant is jammed and pricey at night. "But at lunchtime, the fixed menu is one of the best deals in town at $17," says Minchilli. "Three full courses, plus wine and water, but it's cash-only at lunch and make sure you reserve ahead." (Via del Boschetto 73)

See the Vatican after hours

With one of the greatest art collections on Earth, it's no surprise that the Vatican Museums are packed during the day. Time was you needed to hand over hundreds of extra euros for a less-crowded tour during the evening. But each Friday between May 3 and July 26, and Sept. 6 and Oct. 25, the Vatican Museums will be open from 7p.m. to 11 p.m., with the last entrance at 9:30 p.m. 

For $21 at mv.vatican.va, you can enjoy relative peace and quiet on a self-guided tour of the Pio Clementino collection; Raphael Rooms, the galleries of the Candelabra, Tapestries, and Maps; and the Sistine Chapel. Bring binoculars to view Michelangelo's paintings on the Chapel's ceiling, but remember that photography is not allowed (the company that funded the chapel's recent renovation was given rights to the iconic images and does not allow them to be photographed by visitors).

Beat the lines at the Colosseum

The most famous site in Rome is remaining open to the public during a $30 million, 2-plus-year renovation that will create an underground visitors' center and expand access to underground tunnels. While the amphitheater has been thrilling visitors for 2,000 years, that doesn't mean you should have to wait for centuries at the back of a seemingly endless ticket line. 

Instead, buy your tickets (about $14) to the Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill at the Palatine box office on Via di S. Gregorio 30. Then, you can proceed right past the line to the entrance turnstiles. (If you have visited Rome over the past 10 years or so, you may recall that the Forum was once free, but now tickets are required.)

Get into the Galleria Borghese

Don't make the rookie mistake of showing up at the popular Galleria Borghese without tickets. Only 360 visitors are admitted every two hours (at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.), and advance tickets (about $14) are required before you can see the heartbreakingly beautiful works here, including those by Titian and Bernini. You can drop by a day or two in advance to make your reservation for a specific date and time, or reserve at galleriaborghese.it. Then, collect your tickets in person at least 30 minutes before your scheduled admission time.

Don't eat ice cream on the Spanish Steps!

Sure, “Roman Holiday” may be the most, well, romantic movie ever, and the sight of Audrey Hepburn eating gelato on the Spanish Steps is indelible. But if you try parking on the steps—or any other public space—to chow down these days, you may end up being slapped with a fine. Last year, Rome's mayor was horrified when he saw the city's historic landmarks jammed with people scarfing pizza and panini and licking ice cream cones. 

A new ordinance forbids eating and drinking anywhere in Rome with "particular historic, artistic, architectonic, and cultural value" (yeah, that's pretty much everywhere). And we're not talking about a minor traffic ticket here—fines can total up to more than $600.

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9 Temples Listed on Bangkok’s

Every major city in Thailand has a specific set of nine temples that are officially recommended for a mad-dash, merit-making tour. Thai people have an affinity for the number nine, and there’s a sense of accomplishment (as well as utter fatigue) waiting at the end of a daylong nine-temple marathon.

Completing one of these lists is challenging enough in a typical Thai city. In Bangkok, where traffic jams and jam-packed public transport factors in, the only way you’re going to make it is with some careful planning. Map your route the night before from the air-con comfort of your Bangkok hotel, and plan on getting an early start.

These are the nine temples listed on Bangkok’s official circuit.

Wat Kalayanamitr

Dating to 1825, this temple was built by an ancestor of the Galayanamitr clan, an aristocratic family that still has a commanding presence in national affairs. When construction was complete, the temple was donated to Rama III. An enormous Buddha image and a collection of early nineteenth-century murals are the major attractions. The Kalayanamitr family’s Chinese heritage shows in some of the temple’s architecture and artwork – particularly in the statues scattered across the grounds.

Wat Chana Songkhram

Anyone based in a Khao San Road hotel is in prime position to visit this temple. It’s located squarely between the famous street and the Chao Phraya River and is often used as a shortcut by backpackers walking between the two. The shady courtyard in this eighteenth-century temple is worth a few minutes’ respite, and you’re likely to gain the sort of candid insight into temple life (think chanting in the morning and evenings, novices doing chores around the courtyard) that’s hard to come by in more touristy temples.

Wat Phra Chetuphon

There are only six Royal Temples of the First Order in Thailand, and this is one of them. Wat Pho (as it’s often called) houses more than a thousand Buddha images, but none compares to the 43-meter-long reclining Buddha with mother of pearl inlays on the soles of its feet.

Wat Pho also hosts a famous Thai massage school and has a collection of murals, sculptures and literature that are viewed as a kind of ‘university of the people’. The remains of the first king of the current Chakri Dynasty are also enshrined here.

Wat Phra Kaew

Regardless of how zealous or jaded you feel about temple-hopping, you will visit Wat Phra Kaew. It’s inevitable. Wat Phra Kaew reigns over all other temples in Thailand, and it houses the most sacred Buddhist relic in the kingdom – the Emerald Buddha.

Take your time on this flawless jade carving. It’s said to have originated two millennia ago in ancient India, before crossing the sea and taking up residence of Ankor Wat. From here, legend tells that it held residency in virtually all of the ancient kingdoms of Southeast Asia, passing through city states in Laos, Lanna and Ayutthaya before settling at its current position in Bangkok. At one point, it even burst out of a secret hiding place when lightning struck a stupa in Chiang Rai.

Wat Phra Kaew was commissioned by Rama I and completed during the reign of Rama III. It’s located on the grounds of the Royal Palace and is still used for royal religious ceremonies.

Wat Rakhang

Opposite the grand palace on the Chao Phraya River, Wat Rakhang (‘Bell Temple’) is named for a large and ancient bell that was unearthed here on temple grounds during the reign of Rama II. He sent the bell along to Wat Phra Kaew but compensated Wat Rakhang with five smaller bells that are still used here in the temple’s bell tower.

Wat Suthat

Here’s something you probably never knew: there’s a small but elite faction of Brahmin (not Buddhist) priests that play a critical role in certain aspects of Thai religious culture. They coronate the king, officiate seven national ceremonies per year (including the Royal Ploughing Ceremony), charge Buddha images with sacred power and even help everyday villagers with domestic tasks such as consecrating a spirit house.

Wat Suthat is the headquarters of Brahmin Priests in Thailand. This temple has all of the Buddha images, murals and decorative inlays expected of a major temple in Thailand, but these are literally overshadowed by the Great Swing, a 25-meter-tall, bright red frame fronting the temple. This swing was once the centerpiece of an epic Brahmin festival that saw men soaring through the air, grasping at a sack of gold that was hung just out of reach. So many people plummeted to their deaths that the festival was canceled in the 1930s. The Great Swing still stands, though.

Wat Arun

Wat Arun means ‘Temple of the Dawn’, which has to be one of the most spectacular names you could give a temple. The central prang (a Khmer-styled spire) towering over temple grounds shimmers in the morning light. The culprit: thousands of inlaid porcelain fragments that were carted over on Chinese merchant ships in the early 1800s.

Wat Arun finds its way onto reams of Bangkok hotel brochures, postcards and film reels. If you need a photograph of your own, try to catch it from the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River early in the early morning light.  (Or stay at Arun Residence).

Wat Bowornniwet

This is another of the six Royal Temples of the First Order. This temple’s claim to fame is that King Rama IV, who never had designs on the throne, served as abbot here during his more 25 years in the priesthood. Carrying on the tradition, male members of the royal family continue to don the saffron robes at some point in their life and live as a monk here in Wat Boworniwet.

Wat Saket

The towering chedi at center of this temple complex is called the ‘Golden Mount’. Climb to the observation at the top for panoramic views of the city. You’ll see everything from the Grand Palace and Democracy Monument to a few of the prominent five-star hotels in Bangkok. If you’ve managed to squeeze all nine temples into a single day, the view at Wat Saket is a good note to end on.

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10 Great Unusual Places on Earth

Boiling mud, chocolate mountains and colourful sand dunes — just a few characteristics of some of the world’s most unique places. Keep reading to discover 10 of the most unusual places on the planet.

Beppu, Japan

Located on the island of Kyushu, Japan, Beppu is a city smack in the middle of the sea and mountains. Beppu is known for its hot springs, called onsen in Japanese. Here you will find eight different geothermal hot spots, often dubbed the “eight hells of Beppu.” This unusual amount of hot springs, condensed in one small region, is what makes Beppu so unique in comparison to the rest of Japan and the rest of the world. It continues to be a popular tourist attraction for visitors every year.

Mount Roraima, South America

With 400-metre tall cliffs on all sides, Mount Roraima is a truly remarkable creation. It is the tallest of the Pakaraima Chain in South America and borders Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. Many of the plant species atop this mountain are found nowhere else on earth. Only very experienced rock climbers have been known to make the extremely challenging climb.

Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Due to vast amounts of algae in the water, Lake Nakuru is known for attracting one of the largest flamingo populations in the world. At any given moment, there can be anywhere from thousands to millions of flamingos lining the shore. Nowhere else in the world can this most unusual site of herds of flamingos be seen.

Racetrack Playa, Death Valley, California, U.S.A.

As if they have moved on their own, huge boulders weighing hundreds of pounds leave imprints as they slide along the flat ground at Racetrack Playa. Dry most of the year, with no vegetation, the Racetrack is home to these sailing stones, which are a geological phenomenon. It has been discovered that the boulders only move once every two to four years, leaving a distinct trail behind. How? The boulders are most likely pushed by winds exceeding 145 km/h when temperatures fall below freezing. The ice formation on the ground, due to the drop in temperature, causes the solid ground to take on a clay-like texture. This allows the rocks to slide easily. However, several theories are still being contemplated and there is no general consensus on how these rocks move exactly.

Pamukkale, Turkey

For thousands of years, visitors have bathed in the lavish pools at Pamukkale, which translates as “Cotton Castle.” The ancient Greco-Roman and Byzantine city of Hieropolis was once atop the majestic hot springs of Pamukkale. Since then, hotels were built over the ruins of the ancient city, causing severe damage to the landmark.  Now a World Heritage Site, this beautiful and unique place is open to visitors, making it one of the top unusual tourist destinations in the world.

Seven Coloured Earths, Mauritius

Found in the Charamel Plain in Mauritius, the Seven Coloured Earth geological formation is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mauritius. The sand is divided into seven colours: blue, purple, yellow, red, brown, violet and green. The truly remarkable part of the formation is that the colours seem to settle on their own in layers. Even if you were to pick up some sand and mix all the colours together in your hands, it would still settle into a layered formation, one layer for each colour. The phenomenon behind this distinct formation still remains a mystery.

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

Located in Los Glaciares National Park in southwest Santa Cruz, this massive glacier is one of only three Patagonian glaciers that is actually growing. Glaciologists have not yet been able to agree on the cause for the growth.  The glacier is 250 km2 and remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in Argentina. Visitors can sign up for a trek tour to walk across the massive glacier, located only two hours away from the city of El Calafate by bus.

Rotorua, New Zealand

A most unique location, Rotorua City is just north of New Zealand. It is known for its geothermal activity, resulting in geysers, like the Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa, and mud pools. These unique boiling mud pools attract the attention of tourists from across the globe every year. The city is also known for smelling very much like rotten eggs, a result of the geothermal activity in the area, which causes sulphur to be released into the atmosphere.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

One of the first locations in the world to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Plitvice Lakes, located in Plitvice Lakes National Park, is a remarkable and unique sight to see. Ever year, over 1.2 million tourists from all over the world travel to Croatia to see its cascading lakes. What makes these cascades so amazing is that they are all interconnected and follow the same flow. Sixteen of these lakes can be seen from above. The lakes are also well known for their gorgeous colours, ranging from deep blues to vivid greens.

Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines

When the grass atop this collection of over 1,200 mountains dries, it turns brown, giving the hills the look of chocolate. A famous tourist attraction in the Philippines, the Chocolate Hills are unique and remarkable due to their almost symmetrical shape and the abundance of them. It is still a mystery among geologists as to how these almost perfectly shaped mounds were created in the first place.

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Excelent River - Ganges

Expectations were high as we flew into Varanasi's smart little airport.

Years of wanting to visit one of India's holiest cities had always been tempered with a slight fear as to how to handle the piety and religious fervour and, indeed, the spectacle of death that are an integral part of the DNA of this sacred city.

And now, at long last, here we were, barreling into town on a crowded road through suburbs which looked pretty much any suburb in any small town in India.

Until we arrived at the River Ganges. And suddenly Varanasi was so totally not like any other town in India.

A crowd of little children hanging round the water's edge tried to sell us candles and marigolds, but we were too entranced by the view to be bothered. Boats, boatmen, children, goats, pilgrims praying – all in a joyous noisy muddle – and even more exciting, there was our transport to the hotel waiting for us – a wooden boat. We piled aboard and puttered off down the Ganges.

Down the river we sailed, past ghats which, even in the mid-day heat, were crowded with people bathing, praying, washing their clothes, swimming, even indulging in a little illegal fishing – against an unfolding panorama of temples and higgledy-piggledy buildings, and a riot of colorful buildings and yet more temples.

A ghat is, usually, a small flight of steps leading down to a scared lake or river, and in Varanasi, the river Ganges, so important for Hindus, is lined with one ghat after another. Some are busier than others, some are historically more important than others. Some were built and paid for by rich maharajahs. A couple of the ghats are cremation ghats, and that had always been one of the concerns about visiting Varanasi.

Wouldn't it be, well, a little intrusive, if not downright traumatic to see a body burning?

During our time there, yes, we saw funeral pyres burning.

No, we didn't see the actual bodies.

No, we didn't see any limbs floating down the river, as I had read in other accounts.

So no, frankly, the death aspect of the city wasn't overwhelming at all. One afternoon, wandering through the tightly jam-packed gullies behind the ghats, we crossed a funeral procession, jog- trotting briskly through the narrow crowded lanes.  A group of young men held a bier aloft, chanting prayers as they went, and smiling cheerfully at me as they sped past. One of my Indian friends explained: there is no greater blessing than to die in Varanasi, so why would the family be sad?

There are, inevitably, certain things you should really do when you visit Varanasi, other than simply wandering along the ghats and in and out of the gullies, soaking up the atmosphere (which is a wonderful way to see the city).

You really should visit the Bharat Kala Bhavan, an excellent museum on the campus of the renowned Benares Hindu University.  The museum's collection of Indian miniatures is excellent, and they have some superb statues. The Bharat Kala Bhavn is large and fairly rambling with a sleepy, almost deserted feel to it, but full of beautiful treasures.

You should also go visit a sari shop, even if you haven’t the remotest intention of buying, just for the thrill of seeing so many gorgeous silk saris, which are a Varanasi speciality.

You absolutely, no-two-ways-about-it have to go on the river at dawn and watch the sunrise.

However many images you may have seen of the sun breaking through the mist, and devotees standing in the river praying to the rising sun – however many such images you may have seen, the reality takes your breath away . There is a simplicity and dignity to the sight of the river waking up so calmly and beautifully to another hectic day.

You also have to go see the evening "Ganga Aarti" – this is also pretty non-negotiable on the Varanasi To-Do list.

At sunset, a group of young pujaris (priests) perform a mass prayer ceremony on the banks of the river, which is spell-binding.  Huge crowds watch from the ghats themselves, while even bigger crowds make their way downriver in a flotilla of little boats, and you sit in a good-natured, un-harried boat traffic jam and watch from the water.  Bells, conch shells, candles, music combine into a mesmerising spectacle.

Whatever your faith or lack of faith, whatever your belief or lack thereof, the Ganga Aarti ceremony is so beautiful that you leave feeling happy and at peace.

Do what we did: though staunchly professing a non-religious approach to the ceremony, we had nevertheless each bought a little candle, called a "diya" and some marigolds, from a persistent little boy. On our way back down the river after the Aarti, one by one we all lit our candles and gently placed them in the river, where they floated away to join the dozens of other little lights bobbing their way down the sacred Ganges.

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The Ayutthaya Nine is All About Ancient Ruins

Ayutthaya is all about ancient ruins – especially from a foreign tourist’s perspective. What you may not realize is that many of the newer-looking temples in this city are just as ancient as their crumbling counterparts. The difference is that they’ve been maintained, restored and rebuilt over the centuries, and they’re still in active use today.

Now, if it’s your first time in Ayutthaya, or if you only have time for the highlights, then by all means focus on the ruins. They’re spectacular. But if you’re craving an authentic Thai experience, consider following the nine-temple pilgrimage route that Thai visitors embrace.

Make merit at all nine temples in a day, and you’ll be tapping the kind of luck and prosperity that average temple-goers only dream of. Of course, all that good luck comes at a price – namely sore feet, aching legs and sunburn.

The nine temples on this circuit are much older than those on the ‘Bangkok Nine’ itinerary, and they are listed below along with the special blessing that devotees are said to receive by making merit there:

Wat Tum

Joy and fun

This is an ancient temple with its roots in the early Ayutthaya period. It was abandoned for a while and fell into decline before being revived by the founder of the current (Chakri) dynasty. It is believed that King Naresuan staged the ‘Drinking of the Water of Allegiance’ at Wat Tum. This is an ancient Khmer rite that called on both Buddhist monks and Brahmin priests. In this rite, subjects loyal to the crown drink sacred water. Any difficulty swallowing, as well as any ensuing sickness, is interpreted as a sign of treason.

Wat Tha Ka Rong

Wealth and profit

Twice used as a military base during the Ayutthaya period, Wat Tha Ka Rong has recently seen a resurgence of interest. Today, it’s a famous merit-making temple among Thai devotees. Wat Tha Ka Rong has several famous shrines, including an enshrined bone fragment of the Buddha, an ancient smiling Buddha image and an altar to the Goddess of Mercy.

But the most peculiar feature may be a chunk of petrified wood taken from a takhian tree. Many Thai people believe that these trees house spirits that can help or haunt you. Local legend holds that this petrified log has a corner on winning lottery numbers. If you stop by to make merit here, just assume that the other devotees aren’t doing it right. We can’t all be winners, after all.

Wat Racha Praditsathan

Greater status and prestige

This 16th-Century temple is tied up in the life of King Chakkraphat, who reigned over Ayutthaya for over 20 years. He entered the monkhood at this temple to avoid assassination after the previous king of Ayutthaya (his half-brother) died. The crown passed to Chakkraphat’s nephew, but the boy king was assassinated by his own mother, who installed her lover on the throne instead. A coup ensued, and King Chakkraphat ascended to the throne in his place. Enter blessings of status and prestige.

Wat Yai Chai Mongkon

Greater joy and hope

Founded in the 14th Century, Wat Yai Chai Mongkon was originally planned as a sanctuary for monks from Sri Lanka. The towering brick chedi was later built to honor King Naresuan, who is famous for driving the Burmese out of Thailand in the 16th Century. If you’re looking for an extra measure of good luck, try your best to get a coin stuck on the feet of the seven-meter reclining Buddha. It’s an Ayutthaya tradition.

Wat Phanan Choeng

Lifelong joy and happiness for the entire family

Predating the founding of Ayutthaya by a quarter century, this temple is ancient and still active. The on-site celebrity is a colossal 19-meter Buddha image, and there is barely enough room for it in the prayer hall that houses it.

There’s also a legend attached to this temple about a Chinese princess sent by boat to marry an ancient king. Her boat docked and the princess disembarked, but the king was not waiting to receive her. She was either heartbroken or deeply offended. In either case, she took her own life by holding her breath – no easy feat. A shrine in the temple honoring this princess is a popular stopover among the Chinese-Thai community.

Wat Klang Khlong Takhian

Greater joy and safety from danger and accidents

There are no decisive records pinning down the age of this temple, but the assumption is that it dates to the earliest days of Ayutthaya. Thai Buddhists make merit at three important shrines. The first is a nearly 550-year-old Buddha image. The second is the first-ever Buddha shrine made from an alloy rather than a pure metal. The third is an ancient shrine depicting ten past lives of the Buddha. The second and third are both giant replicas of ancient Buddhist amulets. Buddhist amulets are believed to protect the wearer from accident and injury – thus the temple’s blessing.

Wat Samana Kot Tharam

Good luck and safety

The highlight of this temple is a well-restored ordination hall in classic early Ayutthaya style. Compared to later models, it’s crudely constructed, but that’s what makes it authentic. Inside is an ancient Buddha image with a golf leaf exterior. The core is sandstone, which makes it relatively rare.

Wat Thammikarat

Success and profitability in business

This temple is ancient, and scholars think that it predates the founding of Ayutthaya. It has undergone multiple restorations, and the result is a mosaic of architectural styles. The lion (singh) statues may have been Chinese imports or they may even date to a 12th-Century Khmer settlement. Take a moment to admire the detached bronze Buddha head, which is a replica of a relic left behind after the Burmese army gutted this temple and burned the resident Buddha image. The original is in Ayutthaya’s Chao Sam Phraya Museum.

Wat Na Phra Meru Chikaram

Long and healthy life

This is the only temple in Ayutthaya that wasn’t burned by the Burmese army, so it makes sense that Thai Buddhists believe making merit here leads to a long and healthy life. The on-site ordination hall is exceptionally large, and it houses the Crowned Buddha, a six-meter Buddha image donning royal garb, arm ornaments and earrings. This is the largest image of its kind to survive the wars with Burma.

There are several other noteworthy Buddha images and relics in this temple. One image is well over 1,000 years old. If you walk the grounds, you’ll also see a small chedi that has been completely enveloped by a bodhi tree that grew right over the top of it.

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What Do You Think About London by Boat?

Fed up of over-crowded tubes and buses in London ?

Tired of being squashed ?

Tired of standing, strap-hanging ?

Too tired to pound those pavaments for hours on foot ?

Take heart – there is another way to see this amazing city.

By boat!

There are any number of big ferries, complete with bars and restaurants and multi-lingual commentaries and all the usual tourist paraphernalia, sailing up and down the Thames, but on a recent visit we decided to do things differently.

Opt rather for the commuter boat, part of the London Transport system.  Mothers bringing children home from school; office workers from Canary Wharf, one of the financial hubs of London; a couple of commuters with cool fold-up bikes that they tucked under their arms as they boarded – we were actually the odd ones out, map of the river in hand, cameras to the fore, as we caught the boat at Embankment Pier.

In the long run-up to this summer’s London Olympic Games, there has been a massive regeneration of the River Thames and the surrounding areas.  Formerly disused and abandoned wharves have been turned into breath-taking apartment blocks; fashionable restaurants and galleries have opened up, all against the backdrop of the eye-catching shapes of gleaming new office blocks.

The great thing about traveling by river is that it is definitely more relaxing than standing in a crowded bus or train, but what you may not expect is the speed with which these boats bomb off down the river from one stop to another.

Depending on the type of ticket you have, you can hop on and off all day at leisure, “doing” most of the city’s major attractions from the river, from Hampton Court to the London Eye and Tate Modern, from the Houses of Parliament to the Tower of London, sailing from one sight to the next.

The regeneration of the east of London allows you to see historic monuments from what was almost certainly their original, intended perspective.  Arriving at the Tower of London by boat lets you look at the structure in a more relaxed way than from the busy road on the far side, where coaches park, disgorging tourists.

Far more fun to arrive by boat, trying to imagine how differently the Tower and the river must have looked in the 15th and 16th centuries when prisoners destined for the dreaded Tower of London were brought by barge along the Thames to the infamous Traitors' Gate. As the boats with the condemned passed under London Bridge, the heads of recently executed prisoners would have been displayed on pikes.

On a lighter note, there is a story that all wicked Londoners like to tell about London Bridge – how it was sold to a naïve American in 1967 for over £1 million. The story goes that the buyer thought he was getting the much more famous and iconic Tower Bridge, but ended up with London Bridge instead. Sadly for the story tellers, it’s only partly true: the old bridge is in Arizona, but apparently the buyer knew full well what he was getting.

You sail past the reconstructed Shakespearean Globe Theatre and historic ships such as HMS Belfast, see the silhouette of St Paul’s Cathedral on the horizon and then, one of the most beautiful sights the city has to offer, the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, whose magnificent architecture was clearly meant to be seen first from the water.

For our journey, we hopped off at The O2 and joined a huge throng of people – hundreds of mainly young, city types all out for a drink or for dinner in this enormous, stylish dome.  It was crowded, with queues forming early outside the more popular bars and cafés – and all this on a Monday evening.  If ever you wanted visible proof of the success of the development of the east end of London, this was it.

What is wonderful about travelling this way is that you get to see vignettes of normal river life: at the QE11 pier, we watched a man in a little wooden rowing boat puttering along the river.  Other fishing boats were moored behind him, as well as a few über-smart yachts, and behind him, towering over it all, the panorama of the 2012 Olympic village.

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7 Best Pilgrimages Place that Could Change Your Life

Pilgrimages aren't only for the religious.

They can be fun and inspiring, challenging yet rewarding and don't necessarily involve prayer.

The best ones, however, do involve a bit of a trek.

Even if don't "find yourself" along the way, you'll definitely find something to tell your friends about once you get back.

1. Kumano Ancient Trail, Japan

Zen-like surroundings should promote a Zen-like state of mind.
Popularized by emperors in the 10th century, the trail to Kumano leads to three sacred shrines, numerous protector shrines and tea houses.

Located in the Kii mountains south of Osaka, the views are often spectacular. You can walk for days or weeks -- it’s up to you. You can do the whole pilgrimage in roughly six weeks.

A hot spring hotel to soothe aches and pains at the end of the day is never far away. This is one of only two UNESCO-recognized pilgrimage walks, after the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Getting there: Best time to go is in spring and autumn. Fly to Kansai International airport, Osaka and take a train to Kii-Tanabe station. From there you can ride a bus to the pilgrimage route trailhead.

www.tb-kumano.jp

2. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

Beat altitude sickness by chewing coca leaves with the locals.

Billed by some as a life-changing experience, experts believe the Incas built this trail as a holy pilgrimage to prepare visitors to enter Machu Picchu.

The 43-kilometer (26.7 miles) walk can be challenging, partly due to the high altitude and rough terrain.

Access to the trail is strictly controlled, with the Peruvian government issuing 500 permits each day -- about 200 of these are for tourists. The rest go to guides, porters and cooks.

Make sure you book well ahead and organize your trip through an authorized trekking company.

Getting there: Best time to go is May through September. The trail starts in Cusco, an expensive one-hour flight or inexpensive 21-hour bus ride from Lima.

www.incatrailperu.com

3. Mount Kailash Pilgrimage, Tibet

Praying for enlightenment, or some warm shoes?

Mount Kailash in Tibet has been a popular destination among pilgrims for more than 15,000 years.

Supposedly the pilgrimage can erase the sins of a lifetime.

It takes roughly three days to trek the 52-kilometer (32.3 miles) trail around the mountain. Climbing it is forbidden.

According to Buddhist teachings, if you manage to keep going for 108 rounds, you'll reach Nirvana.

Getting there: Best time to go is April through September. A tour company can help with the logistics of getting into Tibet and driving to the base of Mount Kailash.

www.kailashtour.com

4. Camino de Santiago, Spain

"How far to the next bistro?"
Also known as The Way of St. James, the Camino de Santiago is a popular walking path that leads to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. Here, the apostle St. James is said to be buried.

There are a number of different routes to the final destination -- these can take anywhere from a week to months. The French Way is one of the most popular and has been declared part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It starts from St. Jean Pied de Port, is 780 kilometers long (485 miles) and takes on average a month to hike. The trail is well signposted, easy to follow and provides ample opportunity to sample local culture ands enjoy small towns and rioja wine en route.

Getting there: Best time to go is in May, June or September, avoiding July and August when many Europeans take vacation. To start in St. Jean Pied de Port, fly to Paris, Biarritz or Pamplona and take a train.

www.turismo.navarra.es

5. Pilgrims’ Way to Canterbury, England

Scene of a murder committed by King Henry II's knights -- now a popular pilgrimage site.

The route from London to Canterbury Cathedral, known as the Pilgrims’ Way, became popular with pilgrims after the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Beckett was murdered in 1170 by King Henry II’s knights.

Beckett quickly became known as a miracle maker and was later canonized.

The main pilgrim route that ran between Winchester and Canterbury is sadly no longer a viable walking trail due to traffic. The modern pilgrim can follow the St. Swithun's Way to Farnham and then the North Downs Way to Canterbury.

Walking the entire 180-kilometer (112 miles) route will give you approximately two weeks to enjoy the English countryside and get a glimpse of its history.

Getting there: Best time to go is April through October. Winchester is one hour from London by train.

www.canterbury-cathedral.org

6. Croagh Patrick, Ireland

Is the destination the goal or the journey itself?

There are stunning views along the west of Ireland if you make the steep ascent up this 765-meter (2,509 feet) high mountain.

This is where St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is said to have spent 40 days and nights praying and fasting and to have banished snakes from the country.

More than a million people from around the world make the journey every year to follow in St. Patrick’s footsteps -- many of them barefoot.

Even though it takes only a couple of hours to reach the top, it's not an easy climb. At the peak, you can attend mass in a modern chapel or enjoy the views before making your way back down for a pint of Guinness in a local pub.

Hikers can also a walk along the 61-kilometer-long (38 miles) St. Patrick’s Heritage Trail.

Getting there: Best time to go is April through September, but traditional pilgrimage days are the last Friday and Sunday of July, and August 15. Croagh Patrick is eight kilometers (five miles) from Westport town, which is accessible by both bus and train from Dublin and Galway.

www.croagh-patrick.com

7. Char Dham, India

Stunning scenery with possibility of spiritual enlightenment.

Char Dham refers to four pilgrimage sites in the Uttaranchal state at the foot of the Himalayas.

These sites are particularly important to Hindus, who aim to visit them at least once in their lifetime.

For the non-religious, this journey is an excellent way to learn more about Indian culture and tradition and to experience the natural beauty of the country.

More than 250,000 visitors from around the globe make the trip annually. Most of them start their journey in the temple town of Haridwar, while others leave from Rishikesh or Dehra Duhn, the capital of Uttaranchal.

Tradition dictates visiting the sites from east to west in the following order: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Allow approximately two weeks to visit all four or visit one only in three or four days.

Getting there: Best time to go is May-June and September-October, avoiding monsoon season. Fly to New Delhi and take a train to Haridwar.

http://uttarakhandtourism.gov.in

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It's Best Place The Muse Hotel New York

At The Muse Hotel, we make travel more inspiring. There's so much happening in New York City outside our doors - the electrifying theater scene, the hustle of Times Square, the shopping, the lights and the go-go-go. Our 200-room boutique oasis gives you access to it all, plus uplifting ways to have fun and unwind.

Highlights of our hotel include:

• AAA Four Diamond Award
• Just steps from the city's renowned theater district and Times Square
• Accessible Features
• Acclaimed adjacent restaurant and wine bar, NIOS, features globally inspired cuisine
• Drink in the culture of New York City during our Hosted Evening Wine Hour
• In-room spa treatments to keep you feeling like your usual self
• Complimentary in-room wireless high-speed Internet access for Kimpton InTouch members
• Kimpton Hotels' Global Business Program

Instantly, you'll experience our genuine and caring way of making you feel at home. Our lively side comes out to play in our adjacent restaurant, NIOS, where regionally influenced food, wine and sparking conversation flow. Our guestrooms are sinfully spacious by New York standards and whisper relaxation with artwork that nods to mythology. We think the Greek goddess from whom we borrowed our name wouldn't have it any other way.

Review:

The Muse is a terrific private and quiet retreat that is tucked away on a quiet street right near (less than a full block away from) Times Square. The rooms are stylishly appointed and extremely comfortable. The Duxe beds are among the best beds you will find in any hotel. The bathrooms are stylish and up-to-date. True to many of the Kimpton managed Hotel Properties, the wonderful attention to detail makes this hotel a stand-out place to stay in New York City, whether for business, or with your friends or as a couple. Reserve early, especially during peak periods.

Room Tip: A great choice if you want to be near Times Square, but not in a noisy or busy location.


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Best Hotel in the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, Atlanta

Description

This luxury Atlanta getaway in chic Buckhead neighborhood is directly across from prestigious shopping at Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza. A familiar landmark on Atlanta's social scene, The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead is located in the heart of the city's finest dining and entertainment establishments. The hotel is also seven miles north of downtown and the Georgia Aquarium. All Ritz-Carlton Hotels and Resorts in the USA and Canada have a smoke-free policy that applies to guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public space and associate work areas. To accommodate the needs of smoking guests, hotels will have designated smoking areas outside of the property.

Amenities

• Air Conditioning (In Room)
• Iron
• Microwave Oven
• DVD/VCR
• Safe (In Room)
• Kitchen/Kitchenette
• Newspaper (Free)
• Telephone
• Non-Smoking Rooms
• Daily Maid Service
• Coffee Maker
• Mini-Bar
• Refrigerator
• Television (Cable/Satellite)
• Television
• In Room Broadband Internet Access
• Telephone (Voicemail)

Review:

I have been a guest at the Buckhead Ritz Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. My family has enjoyed the fantastic food during the Holiday seasons for the past several years. The ice carved center piece sculpture during Holidays, Mother's Day, etc. along with the live music creates an atmosphere that you do not want to leave. In addition, my grandson and I have spent many nights at the Ritz Carlton in Marina del Rey, California. Year after year we have had the times of our life during July 4th celebration enjoying the cook outs and watching the roasting of a pig one year. The evening fire works are fantastic. Finally, I must give many accolades to the fine group of staff who are so willing to adhere to your every request so patiently. The SUPERB service at the Ritz Carlton has kept me coming back year after year. There is nothing that I dislike about any of the Ritz Carltons I have been a quest.

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Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur

For the amount of times I’ve been to Kuala Lumpur my insider food knowledge is embarrassingly limited. Being predisposed to hanging around malls and hotels, most of my eating experience is gathered from food halls and complimentary breakfasts.

Which, I guess, still qualifies me to let you down gently if you had planned a stay in the capital that involved having bacon served to you at any time, since non-halal meats aren’t permissible by Muslim law. Turkey ‘bacon’, beef sausages and other heinous food items are offered as substitutes but if you’re anything like me, the mere existence of such things is insulting.

The last time I visited Malaysia, I was extremely poor. Staying in a hostel around Chinatown made it pretty easy to get cheap food, however, and my first stop at around 1am (thanks, budget airline) was an all-night Indian place – what you call a Mamak stall.

The eatery I hit up first was exactly opposite the bus terminal, on the same side as the fancy Jalan Petaling gate. There’s a 24-hour McDonald’s a few doors down from it and a 7-Eleven next door and you should eschew both in favour of some Nasi Kandar (a dish of steamed rice, curry and some sides). This particular Nasi Kandar involved fried chicken and fresh roti canai and came in at 6 ringgit. I don’t think I was ripped off and I was completely stuffed for 12 hours. Actually, the best meals I’ve had in Malaysia have been Indian-derived.

Also eaten in KL: boiled Cantonese-style chicken and duck from a street vendor (6MYR); Indomie Goreng instant noodles from the supermarket (less than 1MYR); a few cups of kopi – condensed milk coffee (1MYR each); Ribena juice and some pastries from a bakery (The Bread Shop? Bread Story?) in KL Sentral.

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What Do You Think About Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam

Description

This 5-star hotel, in the heart of Amsterdam, is set on the edge of the famous Dam Square, opposite the Royal Palace. Numerous Amsterdam tourist attractions are within easy walking distance of the hotel, including the Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk, Anne Frank House, Van Gogh museum, red-light district, and Heineken Brewery. Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky benefits from 2 restaurants and a fitness centre on site.Set in a 19th-century building, the hotel rooms are stylishly furnished with parquet floors and a seating area. Each has an en suite bathroom and coffee and tea making facilities for extra comfort.The hotel has a summer garden where guests can sit whenever the weather is nice and sunny. An extensive breakfast is served here as well. The ?? la carte restaurant Reflet offers French-inspired dishes. At Wynand Fockink Distillery, guests can taste and buy Dutch gin and liqueurs. The Lounge offers various tea selections and liqueurs with stunning views of Dam Square. The Golden Palm Bar serves an assortment of exotic cocktails. Several tram lines stop across the square from NH Grand Krasnapolsky. Central Station is less than 5 minutes away on foot. Schiphol Airport is 25 minutes' drive from the hotel. The city of Amsterdam imposes an extra tax of 5 percent on room accommodation rate. This tax will be charged to guests at check-out, and paid directly to the hotel.

Amenities

• Air Conditioning (In Room)
• Newspaper (Free)
• Refrigerator
• Telephone
• Television (Cable/Satellite)
• Non-Smoking Rooms
• Television
• DVD/VCR
• Daily Maid Service
• Fireplace
• Safe (In Room)
• Coffee Maker
• Telephone (Voicemail)
• Kitchen/Kitchenette
• Balcony/Terrace
• Mini-Bar

Review:

The Kras was an absolute perfect location! A slight delay in checking in, but there was a huge group of us from the US. Our room was on the 3rd floor, and from my window I could see the clock tower from the church. I was also overlooking the rooftops of all the old buildings surrounding us! I just adored the view! We were able to walk to the Anne Frank house. Beautiful walk, roughly 3 blocks. Souvenir shops right outside the hotel. Don't miss Madame Tousseau's Wax Museum just across the square! The red-light district is roughly right behind the hotel, and beyond of course! That area is not for the uptight or young children!! The staff at the hotel were always helpful and friendly to us Americans!

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The Best Place to Stay in Anaheim, California

The fact that we returned to the Ayres for another stay should be very telling! We had another excellent stay for two nights surrounding a trip to Disney with the kids.

The room was spacious and included a small fridge which was great for storing milk for the kids or snacks to take to Disney. This is a small boutique hotel, with a lot of personality and individual service that sets it apart from the large chains. Th rooms were both internally (we didn't hear anything from other rooms or from the hallway) and externally (we also didn't hear anything from the street and our room faced the highway) quiet. Parking was not a problem, there is lots of space.

The breakfast is one of my favourite parts. Jose is still the chef, and depening on the day, he makes pancakes or french toast right in front of you (there is a bit of a wait, but they're fresh!) and he has hashbrowns and eggs. He was very friendly, and he's very sweet with little kids. In addition, there is fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, juice and danishes. We were really well fed. If I had to make any suggestion at all, it would be to keep breakfast open slightly longer, maybe until 10am (it's open from 6am to 9:30am), only because after a late night at Disney, we had to wake up our four year old so that she woudn't miss breakfast, though it would have been nice to let her sleep a bit longer.

Warm cookies at a friendly check-in are also a nice touch. The staff is friendly and enthusiastic. Free wifi and free parking. Marcus the manager is also charming and friendly, and quite generally a pleasure to deal with - he even ordered us great Anaheim weather for us Canucks, which was delivered. While our entire family looks forward to a magical time at Disney (since Disney is, afterall, the main purpose of the Anaheim part of our trip), this Mom also looks forward to a luxurious and pampered stay at a beautiful hotel!

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Bondi is the Best Beach in Sydney

This one kilometer stretch of golden sand loved by all of Sydney is undeniably one of the country’s most famous beaches. The first thing that strikes you as you wind down the busy main road that connects Bondi Beach to the Eastern suburbs of Australia’s biggest city, is the improbability of seeing such a postcard perfect beach, literally fifteen minutes away from the downtown of Sydney, and surrounded by densely populated suburbia.

The name “Bondi” is an aboriginal word that means water breaking over rocks, and I guess it is the unique rock formations, found at either end of the beach that inspired the name. Like most of Sydney’s beaches, Bondi is a surf beach, and for those entering the water sans surfboard, dont even think about swimming outside of the flagged areas, where trained life guards keep an eagle eye on all those in the water. In fact Bondi Beach is where the original Surf Life Saving Club was founded, way back in 1907, and much of the life saving equipment in use on beaches all over the world was invented right here on Bondi Beach.

Clear water and white sand aside, Bondi is much more than just a beach. The thriving cafe scene, multitude of restaurants, hip bars, and regular calender of events and festivals, all combine to make Bondi Beach a cosmopolitan melting-pot not to be missed by anyone visiting Sydney. One of the most popular events to visit Bondi is the annual City to Surf Fun Run, held on the second Sunday of every August. This 14km Sydney race attracts over 60,000 entrants every year, from all over the world. If, like me, you’re more of a spectator than a competitor, don’t miss the Festival Of The Winds, Australia’s largest kite festival, held every September. Easily enjoyed with a glass of cold beer from the balcony of the famous Bondi Hotel.

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You have Only 48 hours in London and Want to See Everything?

Well, not everything, obviously, but as much as is humanly possible, whilst not neglecting to sleep, eat, shop, and have a pint in a pub.

The best way to get an initial (and literal) overview of this marvelous city is to take a tour on an open-top bus.  Get your bearings, see all the major sights in one go, and then, the next day of your all-too-brief two-day stay in London, you can go back and visit select places in more detail.

Many companies do these tours, most of which are hop on-hop off, so you can happily spend one whole day being driven around London, and deciding when and where you want to get off, sight-see, shop, eat, and then get back on another bus, for the next leg of discovery.

Sitting atop a bus – if the fickle English weather permits – allows you to see the city’s geography from a great vantage point.

Any list of great places to hop off and visit must include the residence of the Queen, Buckingham Palace – try and time it for the daily Changing of the Guard at 11.30am, though in summer you should aim to get there much before, because of the crowds.  All the pomp and circumstance of England at its best, when the guards change duty, with lots of the obligatory marching up and down the courtyard in front of the Palace.

Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. Monks first worshipped on the site in the 10th century, and since 1066 Westminster Abbey has been the scene for royal coronations, so the Abbey’s history is an integral part of British history.

Be sure to see the place where the monarchs are crowned, the tombs of generations of the country’s finest royalty, politicians, heroes, writers and poets.  If you happen to be in London in early November, the sea of poppies outside the Abbey, commemorating those who died in battle over the generations, is an overwhelming, moving sight.

From the Abbey, walk across the road to the Houses of Parliament with the distinctive clock tower, Big Ben.  You can arrange a visit of the Houses of Parliament and even attend a debate. Check online for timings.

And yes, Big Ben, when it chimes the hour, sounds exactly the way it does on the BBC World Service.

The Tower of London is one of those iconic places that you have read and heard so much about, and the reality is every bit as amazing.  The Beefeaters, the Tower’s guards, really do wear fabulous Tudor-style dress, complete with ruffles and a black bowler-style hat.  They are a source of stories and anecdotes, and will happily pose for any number of photos.

Be sure to see the Crown jewels, a dazzling collection of the British royal family’s collection jewelery and crowns and tiaras, some of which have delightful signs saying, “In use.”

St Paul’s Cathedral

The current structure rose from the ashes of the Great Fire of London in 1666, and is the undisputed pinnacle of Sir Christopher Wren’s talent.

Climb the steps to the Whispering Gallery, and trade whispered secrets across the vast dome, but talking to the walls.

British Museum

The British Museum is, without doubt one of the world’s great museums, an extraordinary treasure trove of history, artifacts, documents, sculpture. With over 7 million items in the collection, you can only hope to see a tiny fraction of what is stored here.  The Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, mummies from ancient Egypt – the scope of history on offer is breathtaking.  Entrance is free.

Take time out to wander around Trafalgar Square, gaze up at Nelson’s Column, and if you are not museumed-out, then visit the National Gallery.  With over 2000 paintings, from the 13-20th century, yet again, you can only skim the surface of all the gems on display.  Raphael, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Rubens – all the major European masters are represented, as are the quintessentially English painters such as Hogarth, Stubbs, Gainsborough and, of course, Constable.

Yet again, entrance is free.

You might want to make a contribution to the many free galleries and museums you visit in London.  Upkeep is phenomenally expensive, but it’s entirely up to you whether you drop a fiver in the donations box or not.

And the Parks?  The Zoo?  Shopping on Oxford Street?  A trip down the River Thames?  A show in the West End?  Another pint in a local pub?

At this rate, you might just have to extend your stay.

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