Posts Tagged “Culture”

Where is Wadi Rum?

Wadi Rum, JordanWadi Rum also known as The Valley of the Moon is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan 60 km to the east of the port of Aqaba; it is the largest wadi (Wadi is the Arabic term for valley) in Jordan. Wadi Rum’s highest elevation is Mount Um Dami at 1,840 metres.

The Bedouin people that inhabit the area still maintain their semi-nomadic lifestyle. They are hospitable and offer a friendly welcome to visitors, often inviting them to sit and enjoy a coffee or if you’re lucky, a meal.

Sadly, when I travelled through Jordan during 1989 I didn’t have the knowledge of just how incredible the place is and from Aqaba, travelled straight to Petra and and on to Amman. Wadi Rum was added to the Bucket List some time ago and I can’t stop kicking myself for missing it.

Treks and Climbs in Wadi Rum, Jordan

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One Great Reason to Visit Wadi Rum

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the vast, open and very scenic desert valley.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

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Where is Ubud?

Ubud Monkey ForestUbud is located north-east of Bali’s capital Denpasar, in the central uplands regions. Cheapflights Australia will get you to Denpasar where you can grab an airport taxi or hire a car. The trip generally takes 1-1.5 hours. Note there are no airport shuttle buses.

Ubud is the hub of Bali’s arts and culture, together with yoga and nature. The Ubud area is surrounded with forests, rivers and cooler temperatures. Some of the small “boutique” hotels in and around Ubud, offer spa treatments or treks up Ubud’s nearby mountains. Ubud’s central market is a popular attraction also.

Ubud’s other star attraction is the ‘Ubud Monkey Forest’ where visitors can see the hundreds of macaque monkeys which live in the reserve. Visitors can buy bananas at the front gate to feed to the monkeys, who may even try to steal from you! The cheeky monkeys love objects which are shiny, so glasses, earrings and metal objects are often stolen…so be on the look out!

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One Great Reason to Visit Ubud

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for a true Balinese cultural experience.

Walking around Ubud, Bali

Bali & Lombok (Regional Travel Guide)

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The world is full of fantastic holiday destinations, but some destinations are an absolute must for the Christmas period. Luckily there are a lot of places where English is the dominant language, which means you will have a lot less trouble communicating with the locals. There are also many places in Europe where English is the nationals’ second language, which is similar to Hong Kong in many ways.

New England in America is the perfect place to spend Christmas. It is in Vermont, USA, and is the setting that inspired the song “White Christmas.” They have horse drawn carriages that take you through snow-covered forests, and most types of credit card are accepted in the USA.

Credit and charge cards are the best way to pay for goods and services when you are abroad. Converting a little bit of your money into foreign currency is good for things such as vending machines and parking meters, but most other goods and services can be bought with a credit card. Many credit cards offer a good exchange rate that will enable you to save money.

You must also remember that a credit card offers protection against theft, whereas carrying cash or a debit card will not. If someone steals your credit card, you will be able to cancel it before damage is done, and you may be able to claim back most of the stolen sum. Your credit card company may also send out a new credit card to your hotel room if you ask them to. The rewards are many, look for a credit card that allows you to earn Asia Miles when you travel abroad.

Disney land in Paris, and Disney world in America, celebrate Christmas with parades and parties all the way through the Christmas period. They may not get very much Christmas snow but the traditional seasons celebrations are very festive and run throughout most of December.

If you prefer a holiday with a few extra Christmas trimmings, why not try an Austrian Ski trip? Try a trip to Hopfgarten. Their SkiWelt region that surrounds Hopfgarten has previously been named as the best international ski region. It has perfect little ski villages that look just like the ones on Christmas cards, and has over one hundred and fifty five miles of inter-connected ski runs. They offer very large ski chalets and most bars are open late, even over the Christmas period.

Travel destinations to consider for Christmas

In Switzerland,a lovely white Christmas is all but guaranteed. You should try the Wilderswil alpine village. You should also take a trip on the Voralpen Express and see the perfect Christmas scenes as you make your way to Rapperswil on Lake Zurich. If you are lucky you may also be able to book a daytrip to St Moritz where you can enjoy the glamour and the culture whilst celebrating the Christmas period.

If white snow and bracing cold air is not your ideal Christmas setting then Kasbah is a must go for Christmas. You can enjoy a safe and fun Christmas within the walls of Marrakech. Over Christmas you will find food stalls, jugglers and fire-eaters in Djemaa El Fna square. You will also find various celebrations in Kasbah, such as a Moroccan feast that has folk music on Christmas Eve.

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Where is Seville?

Seville, Andalusia, SpainSeville is the capital of Andalusia and is the stereotypical Spain with flamencos, bullfights, Moorish palaces and gorgeous hilltop villages. Other than Seville, the two other principal centres include Granada and Cordoba.

Seville is a great city with its colour and is as alive at night as it is during the day (but what Spanish city isn’t?). There are plenty of beds in hostels and hotels to base yourself to see the sights. Seville contains three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Alcázar palace complex, the Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies. It is also the only river port in Spain and lies in the fertile valley of the Guadalquivir River.

Other not to miss attractions include the Plaza de Espana and the nearby parks offer a romantic setting for an evening stroll. Behind the Cathedral is the picturesque old Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz.

Frommer’s Seville Day By Day

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One Great Reason to Visit Seville

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to experience the stereotypical Spain!

Come to Seville

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