Asia
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A Wonder of the World: The Taj Mahal
One of the most famous landmarks in India is the Taj Mahal. Ever since I was in elementary school, I had always wanted to see this marvelous white marble mausoleum. It was almost about 15 years later, that I finally had the opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal. Jason and I arrived into Agra, India around midnight by train from Delhi. We were told by our driver, sunrise would be the best time to see the Taj Mahal. However, we were too exhausted to wake up so early, so we planned to visit during noon. That was a huge mistake. Although Agra is home to one of the wonders of…
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Haifa’s Gorgeous Bahai Gardens
We specifically visited Haifa, the largest city in northern Israel, to visit the Bahai Gardens. Also known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, these gardens are stunningly beautiful. At its center stands a domed shrine dedicated to the Bab, the resting place of the Prophet-Herald of the Bahai faith. From the shrine, there are nineteen terraces with stairs extending up the northern slope of Mount Carmel. Beautifully manicured trees and hedges, among colorful flowers and graveled pathways can be found throughout the gardens. The gardens provide an excellent view of the city below and the vast Mediterranean Sea. The gardens are also worth visiting in the evening. The lights and…
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Singapore By Night
Singapore’s central business district looks very spectacular at night. We had a very pleasant time strolling around the marine habour in the evening. The national personification of Singapore is the merlion. The lion head symbolizes the country’s original name, Singapura (lion city). While, the fish body represents how Singapore was historically a fishing village. I found the Singapore Flyer very attractive with its beautiful colours. Every few seconds the colors of this giant Ferris wheel would change and create a gorgeous reflection in the water. Although it may be difficult to tell, this is a photo of a fountain. I thought the blue balls and their reflections in the water…
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Himeji Castle: One of Japan’s most Exotic Castles
Japan is an exotic country with a lot beautiful buildings, temples, and castles. While we were in Kyoto, Japan, we were determined to visit at least one Japanese castle. We eventually decided to ride the train to a small city called Himeji, which is located in the Kansai region of Japan. It was time to visit the largest, most popular, and best preserved castle in all of Japan! This is Himeji Castle. It is also referred to as Hakuro-jō (“White Egret Castle”) or Shirasagi-jō (“White Heron Castle”) because the castle’s white exterior design supposedly resembles a bird taking flight. The Himeji Castle, is one of the three premier castles in…
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A Homestay Experience in Madikeri, India
Madikeri, is a beautiful hill station in India’s Karnataka State. It was here, in Southern India, we decided to do a homestay. As travelers, we really enjoy talking and learning from the locals. So, when the opportunity to spend two days and a night with a local Indian family arose, we were thrilled. The area surrounding Madikeri is a trekker’s paradise. We spend two days with our host, trekking through these beautiful landscapes. Along the way, our host shared insightful information about the various plants and species inhabiting the lands. This was some of the best trekking we had ever done. Aside from the views, what made the trekking very…
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Dolphin Watching at Lovina Beach in Indonesia
I am not an early bird, I like sleeping. If I have to get up before sunrise, there definitely better be a good reason. Getting up before sunrise to watch dolphins swim in the sea, that definitely makes the list. Lovina beach, which is located in the northern part of Bali, Indonesia, is an excellent place for dolphin watching. When we went on the tour, we managed to see at least 10 to 20 dolphins. I have seen a few dolphins in aquariums and at Marineland in Canada. I have always felt uncomfortable seeing these animals confined to such small place spaces, when their natural habitat should be the vast…
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The Beauty of Fall in South Korea
If I had to choose my favorite season, it would definitely be fall. It is a sumptuous time to relish in a plethora of rich and vibrant colors. It is a time to soak-up the very essence of nature. As I stroll down the cacophonous city streets, I am drawn to the silent, cryptic-looking trees. Their long branches radiate, bursting with lusciously colorful leaves. For me, these attractively hued trees hold a delightful treasure called happiness. The beauty of fall captivates my senses like a lover enraptured by his beloved’s kiss. I happily become lost in the world of reflection and tranquility. Helpless as a newborn, my senses are heightened…
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Bungee Jumping is Scary!
I would have thought that skydiving from 14 000 ft, scuba diving with sharks, or surfing with large waves, might have been one of my scariest adventures. However, it was bungee jumping that I have found the scariest. In Inje, South Korea, we decided to do our first ever bungee jump! The jump was only about 60 meters. I am not afraid of heights, so at the time I was just super excited to try this new adventure. I was told to walk off the ledge and just drop on the count of 3. Below me I could see nothing but water. It seemed like a fairly long way down.…
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Horseback Riding in Udiapur, India
Our first trip to India was only for 2 weeks. During this trip we managed to make our way to Udiapur. This city, which has become a very popular tourist destination, is located in the state of Rajasthan in western India. Although Lake Pichola, the artificial fresh water lake, and the Lake Palace were beautiful, our most memorable experience was doing horseback riding for the first time ever in Udiapur’s countryside. We were given a quick lesson on how to guide our horses. Once were we seated on our horses, we rode through some villages. The villagers were so happy to see us riding the horses and were waving at…
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Unique Architecture in Singapore
One of our favorite things to do while traveling is simply to walk around a city and become lost in it. Exploring by foot is a very fun and rewarding way of traveling. It allows you to immerse into the local culture and discover things that may not necessarily be found in a travel guide. While in Singapore, we leisurely walked around all day simply admiring the beautiful city. We noticed there were a lot of unique and colorful buildings everywhere. It was definitely a nice touch to the city.
