Relish the Backwater Cruise during Honeymoon in Kerala

Every bridal couple dreams of life after their wedding, and with the purpose to make their life happy, they plan for honeymoon. Honeymoon is not only related to love and romance but it is one of the beautiful feelings which they remember till their eternity. Honeymoon gives them a beautiful chance to get away from the stress of the wedding and spend beautiful time of intimacy together. Without a perfect start to their married life couples can often experience some form of disillusionment. If you decide to celebrate your most promising occasion at Kerala then you will have plenty of choices there which will definitely fascinate you.

Kerala- the green paradise on earth fondly known as God's Own Country is the beautiful state which is located at south-western region of India. This place have bunches of attractions which never fails to leave the mark on honeymooners heart. The tranquil surroundings with their magnetizing attractions and wonderments leave the honeymooners awe-struck. God has blessed this place with unparalleled attraction and expressions of nature which you can experience during honeymoon in kerala. Hill stations of this state are very popular among honeymooners which are globally acclaimed for its magnetizing attractions such as picturesque landscapes, lush green valleys, cascading waterfalls, wildlife parks and wide varieties of flora fauna that never ceases to enchant. There are numerous hill stations in this beautiful state such as Munnar, Idukki, Wayanad, Thekkady, Kochi, Kottayam and etc are some of the major hill stations of this state.

When it comes to select the hill station in this beautiful state, then Munnar comes to first in mind which is also referred as Kashmir of south. Munnar was once the summer gateway of Britishers which has become the perfect honeymoon destination. Apart from its attractions this place is famous for several tea gardens and colonial bungalows which you can experience during Kerala Honeymoon Travel. With your partner, you can settle down in a cozy chair in the colonial bungalows to watch the picturesque landscapes while feeling the chilly air and sharing your feelings naughtily. And you can also go for an invigorating-walk passing through the various spice plantations. Hill stations and backwater destinations feature an array of fascinating sights.

Waterways, canals, lakes, lagoons, rivers, inlets, etc team up together and forms a breathtaking backwater. Backwaters of Kerala are blessed outstanding charm and beauty which true beauty is hard to cast in words. One can enjoy the backwaters by canoeing, boating, yatching, and houseboat cruise. The most preferred way to explore the endless stretch of scenic waterways of this state is houseboat cruise. The magnificence of these backwater sites entices vacationers to visit this place all the year round. Kerala Backwater Honeymoon is an amazing experience of honeymooners which relish them forever. There are numerous backwater destinations take a backwater cruise with your beloved however it's not possible without houseboats or Kettuvallams.

Without the houseboats of Kerala the cruise over the scenic backwater would never had been possible. These houseboats offers all the facilities to the vacationers including bath-attached rooms, lounge, deck and many alike which adds charm on your journey. Be here and relish the journey of backwaters.

Tours across all USA

The United States is the third largest country by land area and by population encompassing 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) and over 300 million people. The U.S. consist of 50 states - 48 are called the "contiguous", "continental" or "lower" states. Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states of the union. In addition to the states there exist several areas with a special status: Washington D.C. and the US territories of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The playwright Arthur Miller once said that the essence of America was its promise. Now that promise of America can take on near mythic proportions. America is a land of dazzling cities, towering coast redwoods, alpine lakes, rolling vineyards, chiseled peaks, barren deserts and a dramatic coastline of unrivaled beauty: and that’s just California!

In the other states lie an astounding collection of natural and cultural wonders. Countless experiences await you, from scenic coastlines and mountain ranges to vast prairies, deserts and canyons. This is a country of road trips and great open skies, where four million miles of highways lead past red-rock deserts, below towering mountain peaks, and across fertile wheat fields that roll off toward the horizon. The sun-bleached hillsides of the Great Plains, the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest and the scenic country lanes of New England are a few fine starting points for the great American road trip.

America is the birthplace of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Miami, Boston and New York City – each a brimming metropolis whose name alone conjures a million different notions of culture, cuisine and entertainment. Our exciting big cities are matched by the charms of our smaller communities. All showcase the heritage and culture of a great nation. But perhaps the greatest attraction is the spirit of the American people.

Yong He Gong Beijing China Travel Guide And Tips

Yong He Gong, or the Palace of Harmony and Peace, and widely known as the Lama Temple, is a best preserved Tibetan Buddhist temple in China. Located in An Ding Men, Dongcheng District, the Lama temple covers 66,400 square meters and is 480 meters long from north to south and 120 meters wide from east to west. The architecture, ornaments and size of the temple is comparable to the Forbidden City therefore it is recognized that it is a miniature royal palace and a Buddhist temple of the highest ranking in China. In fact the Lama Temple was originally associated with the royal family. It was first built as a residence for Prince Yinzhen, the fourth son of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. Prince Yinzhen was known as the Yong Prince, so the palace was called Yong He Palace. After Prince Yong took the supreme power in 1725 (Emperor Yongzhen), he moved his residence to the Forbidden City and turned half of this old home into a temple for the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Yong He Gong is the biggest Buddhist temple in Beijing and is supposed to be the temple which makes every wish come true. On a map written both in Chinese and English the visitors can admire the vastness of the temple and decide what they want to explore first. The main buildings of Yong He Gong are built around a central axis. There are eleven halls and in each of them are many culture relics, pictures of Tangka and Buddhist statues which momentarily are not allowed to be taken pictures of.

Admission fee:
25 rmb for a person. 50% off for the students (need a student ID). The ticket is a CD.

Traffic:
To get here, you can take the subway line 2 or line 5 to the station named Yong He Gong. The city bus is also a good option. You can take the city bus line 800, 44, 13, 62, 116, 807.

Opening hours:
09:00 - 17:00.

Address:
12 Yong He Gong Dajie Street, Beijing, China.

Postal code:
100007.

Tel:
010-64044499, 010-84028329, 010-64074951.

Tips:
(1). Don't take pictures in Yong He Gong.
(2). Buddhist events are on the 1st, 8th, 15th and the last day of every month (traditional Chinese calender).
(3). You can bargain here and a lot of people recommend the unique perfume sold in Yong He Gong.
(4). Don't drive your own car to Yong He Gong because it is not easy to find a parking lot here. You will waste a lot of time if you do so. The taxi is a better choice for your Yong He Gong travel.
(5). Don't wear a new jacket here because there are so much ash in the air around Yong He Gong. This place will turn your white jacket to grey in just ten minutes.

Copyright belongs to Travel2ChinaInfo Dot COM . You can find more information about china travel,airlines,cheap flights,non-stop flights,direct flights from our web site. (This article written on 04/06/2011).

Holidays in India - Some Preferred Destinations

Looking for ideal holiday destinations in India? Well, you have lots of options to choose from according to your needs, preferences and budgets as well. This article aims for giving you brief ideas about some of popular and preferred holidays destinations found in this country.

Shimla: Also known as the Queen of Hill Stations, Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh and one of the most popular and beautiful hill stations in northern India. Blessed with fantastic nature beauty and draped into colonial age-old charm, the city is a preferred destination of nature lovers, families, trekkers, adventure enthusiasts and honeymooners. The Mall, the Ridge, Scandal Point, Jakhoo Hill & Temple, Tara Devi Temple, Kali Bari Temple, Kamna Devi Temple, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Viceregal Lodge, Prospect Hill, Summer Hill, Kufri, etc are key attractions of Shimla tourism. Accommodation facilities available in this city are excellent. So you are surely going to treasure unique lifetime experience with holidays in Shimla, the Queen of Hill Stations.

Manali: Also known as the Switzerland of India, Manali is one of the most charming and magnetic hill stations in India. Located in Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, this picturesque hill town is very popular among tourists, vacationers, families, trekkers, mountain adventure enthusiasts, winter sport lovers, and honeymooners. Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley are two very popular places in Manali from where you can see spectacular sites of snow-clad towering mountain peaks of majestic Himalayas.

You will see extraordinary nature beauty with fruit laden apple orchard, gorgeous gorges, beautiful meadows, lush forests of pine & deodar trees and postcard-perfect landscapes. Apart from scenic beauty you will also see some popular tourist attractions such as Hadimba Devi Temple, Manu Temple, Vashisth Village & Temple, Hot Water Springs, Mountaineering Institutes, Buddhist Monasteries, etc. Accommodation facilities available here are excellent with good hotels for both budget travelers and luxury travels. So you are surely going to enjoy memorable holidays in India after enjoy magnetic charm of Manali, the Switzerland of India.

Kashmir: Kashmir, the Paradise on the Earth, is the perhaps the most beautiful land in India. Located in Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, it is a preferred destination for nature lovers, families and honeymooners. Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Srinagar, etc are famous places in Kashmir where vacationers can enjoy their delights.

Agra: Agra is an important city of India located in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is worldwide famous for its heritage and historical monuments such as Agra Fort, Taj Mahal (one of Seven Wonders of the World) and Itmad-Ud-Daullah. The magnificent Agra Fort was built by great mughal emperor Akbar. The fort complex houses many structures which are known for their exceptional architectural beauty. The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful monuments in the world. It was built by mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the commemoration of his most darling wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Also known as the Symbol of Love, the magnificent Taj Mahal never fails to impress visitors coming from different parts of the world. The beauty of Taj is matchless. The Itmad-Ud-Daullah is beautiful mausoleum monument built by mughal empress Noor Jahan in the commemoration of his father. The interiors of Itmad-Ud-Daullah are considered more beautiful than of even the Taj Mahal. Agra is also a destination of golden triangle tours in India. Golden triangle covers three destinations - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. So, holiday in Agra will surely give you delightful experience with incredible sightseeing opportunity and excellent accommodation facilities.

Goa: Goa is the smallest but most gorgeous state of India. It is often described as the Beach Capital of India as there are several beautiful palm-fringed and sunny beaches in this tiny state. Palolem, Dona Paula, Anjuna, Baga, Colva, Calanguate, etc are famous beaches in this state which are very popular on holidays in India. Apart from beaches, there are many beautiful churches, mosque, temples and historical monuments in this state which are worth visits.

Beautiful Greek Flags

Of all the different flags of Europe, the Greek flag is very much one of my favorites. Like other international flags, this particular one is also referred to at times as the "blue-white." The flag displays nine equally sized horizontal bands or stripes, alternating in color with the colors being blue and white. Also, a white cross is displayed in the canton section of the flag, which is in the upper left corner. Truly, the flag of Greece displays wonderfully from steel flagpoles of all kinds.

A series of different flags are used for purposes of identification in Greece. One such flag is the so called "presidential flag," which is used to show that the President is present. It displays a blue colored field and a silvered colored cross and various other interesting elements. Greece's history has a wonderfully "rich" history of all kinds of flags that hung from and attached to different objects, including smaller and taller flagpoles.

Greece is considered one very popular holiday or vacation destination by Europeans as well as those living in countries in other parts of the world. Its respective culture has evolved over a period counting thousands of years, which include Classical Greece and the Hellenistic Period, as well as the influences of the Roman Empire.

Those especially interested in historical flags of Europe, will notice that there is an interesting comparison between the national flag of Greece and other flags that were flown during different periods of time in European or world history, including the one used by the British East India Company and Old Glory!

Not much information is in existence about the exact reasoning why it was adopted officially in 1822. Some historians have even said that the current design of the flag as shown and flown from small and tall flag poles is based on a Greek flag that was flown before the current one. As with most flag-controversies, and because of a lack of historical information, facts are hard to prove.

Visit the Philippines

Visit the Philippines

When you first arrive in the Philippines. Your senses will be overloaded by the culture. Sight, sound, and Smell is the first three to get overwhelmed. There are a lot of people in the large cities that you will be arriving at. The fact that you are arriving at an International airport only increases the number of people around you. On the streets there are open air barbeque stands everywhere. Their coconut charcoal smoke adds to the charm and the pollution. Colorful Jeepneys, Trikes and Pedicabs scurry every where. Beggars are common, and you may be approached often. Public urination is common and a site that you will see every where.

As you continue to move through the country, you will enjoy the friendliness of those that you meet along the way. Do not be afraid to ask for assistance as you travel. However, the common reply to any question about direction is, "Over There" followed by a wave of the arm. It is futile to try to get additional information. The best you can hope for is a landmark which will put you near your destination.

After arriving you will fly to Dumaguete, a smaller size city of 100,000. Located in Negroes Oriental. You will notice that unlike the larger cities. There are NO traffic rules here. Except for the smaller vehicle moves out of the way of a larger one. And everyone moves out of the way of a Ceres Bus! You will be met at the small terminal by a representative from Monarch Sands to take you to the resort. Our expert drivers will deliver you safely, do not fear. Sit back and observe the country and the cities that you pass through. We will pass Bamboo, Nipa plants , Coconut trees, Banana trees, Mango trees and Papaya trees. Cows, Horses, Chickens and Caribou.

The Resort is located approximately 1.5 hours south of Dumaguete. The country side will change rapidly from bustle of p
Best diving sites
eople and traffic to small villages, banana tress, mountain ranges and rice paddies. Just before you get to the Resort you will pass a breath taking view of mountains and rice paddies on your right. Around Kilometer marker 42. Ask the driver to stop at take some pictures and stretch your legs . But if not we can always return another day.

The Philippines is a very religious country and you will notice hundreds of small open air churches along the countryside. If you would like to attend a Sunday service, please request upon your arrival and we will arrange it. If you visit any of the large shopping malls in the Philippines, you will notice that at 3:00pm and 6:00pm everyday. Everyone will stop and pray. Hail Mary will be broadcast over the loudspeakers. Please be respectful and pause.

You will be greeted along the way by hundreds of children along the roads that will wave and call out greetings.

The Malapalay Market is a bustle of activity every Wednesday morning. Barter for hand made souvenirs and taste local cuisine Monarch Sands offers a tour of Markets weekly. Ask at the front desk about time schedule.

Cock fighting is the favorite past time of the Filipino male. Large arenas are built in almost ever city. Betting is done by hand signs between members of the crowd. Fingers indicate the number of pesos bet, pointing up, side ways, or down ads zeros to the number. Just as when you go to an auction, caution should be used with your hand gestures. Tours of local Cock fights and training is available at the Front desk.

Dogs are every where. Most are very sickly looking scraggly dogs. If approached treat with caution. Most will beat a hasty retreat if you hiss at them or raise a threatening hand.

When interacting with the local population, men are called, DONG, women are called DI. All will speak a degree of English. Smiles and hand gestures are common. A Filipino goes out of their way to be friendly, and a negative answer to any question will be avoided. Another common phrase when you request a price or the cost of a service. Is; "UP TO YOU."… You will know if you paid too much if they start to smile and their eyes get wide. Conversely, a sad face and a frown and you know you are paying way to small amount.

There is with all this friendliness what is called a LONG NOSE TAX. This is the fact that you will pay as much as double what a local will pay for the same item. The perception is that you HAVE more money, so, the price is higher just because YOU can afford it. If you think the price is higher then what you want to pay, offer a lower amount. This may work, but, not all the time. There is a ingrained pricing system. If an item cost 3 pesos to buy. It will be sold for 5 pesos in every little store. No store will sell at a discount. Even if the product will spoil tomorrow. It is hopeless to try and explain that half price today is better then none tomorrow. The price is the price.

Service, tipping and billing; Service in general is horrid. Urgency is never a factor. There is ALWAYS tomorrow here in the Philippines. Any Tip that you give will be greatly appreciated, but not required. Make sure you check your bills for accuracy. When ordering meals, make sure that your order is repeated back to you. Do not expect that all the items on the menu will be available. Living on Islands has advantages and disadvantages. Restaurants try hard to keep high quality fresh products on hand. But, storms, shipping and wholesalers often run out of key ingredients cause problems. If our menu lacks an item, our excellent staff will offer you a specialty item that they will design just for the occasion. Their talent at cooking always amazes me.

Monarch Sands Resort (http://www.monarchsands.com) is situated on a secluded cove, located North of the sleepy town of Siaton. Native style cottages made of Nipa, Bamboo and local materials face the blue waters of the Bohol sea. Each cottage has a large porch to watch the local fishermen sail their small Bangka boats out for the nightly catch. The string of a hundred lights fill the horizon as they cast their nets.

Snorkel our scenic cove, Dive Apo island, or feed our pet monkeys with bananas from local banana trees. Sip coconut coolers after a relaxing massage on our large sand beach.

Shelling provides the material for our craft classes, and the local fishermen provide the daily catch for your Filipino cooking lessons.

Tour Dumaguete or watch Caribou plowing local rice paddies or tour waterfalls straight out of Jurassic Park.

Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona

Have a walk along the narrow streets of El Born quarter and you will feel the spirit of Barcelona in the 14th century. The names of the streets in honour of different professional guilds who participated in the flourishing maritime and commercial situation of that time.

Continue walking and you'll meet the most beautiful cathedral in the world: the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. It's an ideal example of Gothic style architecture and it was Gaudi's inspiration for the design of the Sagrada Família interiors.

Santa Maria del Mar was designed by Berenguer de Montagut and it was the place where the shipwrights and merchants of Barcelona used to pray. This beautiful basilica was completed in just 55 years, between 1329 and 1384, thanks to the help of Barcelona citizens who contributed with money and their own hands to build the also known as the church of la Ribera.

Santa Maria del Mar is a gigantic marvel of architecture and looks sublime and severe. The church has a lot of stained-glass windows which contribute to its gorgeous image. There are statues at the entrance commemorating the guild members who personally helped to transport the heavy stones from the quarry to their new church. The great rose window is also worth a mention.

Get into the church and check how wonderful it is also in the interior. There are private tombs and those of Barcelona's medieval guilds and brotherhoods.

The successful epic novel the Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcons is set in Santa Maria del Mar, which is also mentioned in the novel The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

At night, Santa Maria del Mar rests but el Born doesn't. Sophisticated, relaxed bars around the basilica open their doors to offer a quiet, friendly night. There is plenty of different choice as there are bars suitable to anybody.

Do you fancy a delicious cocktail? Go to La Luna. Do you want to taste some Catalan cava? El Xampanyet is your choice. A glass of wine? Va de vi is waiting for you. What about some international cuisine? Then, you must go to La Fianna. And for a dance to the rhythm of samba, get into Berimbau.

Visit El Born in Barcelona and travel back in time and then have a drink or some tapas in any bar around Santa Maria del Mar,the cathedral of the sea.