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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