Every country has its quirks. Some are safer than others, either due to levels of traditional crime or because of political unrest.
Before traveling to any country you should take a bit of time to do a little bit of research regarding safety, crime, and health. With that in mind, here are some things you should keep in mind as you travel throughout Cambodia. Read the rest of this entry »
Time Magazine named it the 5th most popular viral video of all time. More than 23 million Youtube viewers witnessed hundreds of murderers, rapists and drug addicts in orange jumpsuits shift, twirl, and dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, a revisit to the famous group choreography in the music video. They have been featured in the local version of Big Brother as they danced with the housemates, These are the Cebu Dancing Prisoners.
We cannot believe that we already visited a lot of interesting sights in Ayutthaya. This olden city truly has a lot to offer any curious traveler. My partner and I were really thankful that we went out of our way to book the two hour trip to Ayutthaya from Bangkok.
Without wasting any more precious time, we left Wat Yai Chai Mongkhol and headed to another famous temple called the Wat Mahathat. The Wat Mahathat was an imperial monastery that served as the headquarters of the Sangaraja or the head of the Buddhist monks belonging to the Kamavasi Sect. This started when Mahathera Thammakanlayan was in power. It should be noted also that the extraordinary Buddha image set on a throne that was made of green stone was sheltered at the Wat Mahathat. It was during the reign of King Rama III in the Rattanakosin Period when this Buddha image was moved and transferred to Wat Naphrameru.
Nepal’s countryside is breathtaking, its people astounding, and its culture incredible.
There are, of course, a few museums throughout that you should seriously consider visiting if you want to truly understand the country’s rocky history. Consider the following: Read the rest of this entry »
There is a long history of zoos in China, starting in the second century BCE, when the Chinese Empress Tanki had a “house of deer” built, while King Wen of Zhou kept a 1,500-acre zoo called Ling-Yu, or the Garden of Intelligence. Today, Chinese zoos offer a modern approach to animal caretaking while keeping classic aesthetics intact to landscape architecture and habitat design. The 5 zoos below are considered the best in the country, places where families can enjoy the company of indigenous wildlife, both endangered and prospering, as they live protected near the city centers.
Our day trip to the olden city of Ayutthaya had been quite fruitful so far. We already got to visit the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace and marveled at the expansive and serene palace grounds. From here, we proceeded to the Wat Phanachoeng Worawihan to see the big Buddha image. We even got to witness some of the interesting and extraordinary rituals of the locals. After we had our fill of all the attractions that we could possibly appreciate within the temple grounds, we left for the third stop in our itinerary. We asked our taxi driver, Phan, as to where we were heading next. He said that we were in for a good treat. The next temple in the list was the Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, one of the oldest temples in Ayutthaya.
The Wat Yai Chai Mongkol is located at the Southeast side of the city of Ayutthaya. According to history books and information materials that we received on site, the monastery was built in 1357 A. D. by King U-thong for the use of the monks who came back from Ceylon after a rigorous and intensive study under Phra Vanarat Maha Thera. These monks were collectively known as the Pa Kaeo Sect. This was why the monastery’s original name was Wat Pa Kaeo. The sect that stayed in the monastery was appointed a head and was named The Patriarch on the Right Hand Side by the King. Given that The Patriarch stayed at the monastery, it was also named Wat Chao Phya Thai which translated to The Temple of the Supreme Patriarch.
Nestled in the Alkan Province of the Philippines you’ll find the tropical island of Boracay. The island is incredibly popular amongst tourists because of its white sand beaches, shells, romance, and seclusion. Littered with restaurants, shops, gardens, and attractions, you’ll find the island entertaining and intriguing - and you’ll be searching for a reason to stay longer.
There is a difference between mountain climbing and mountain hiking. Mountain climbing requires specialized equipment and experienced climbers who are aware of the risks involved. On the other hand, mountain hiking is a more casual affair and aimed at amateurs outdoorsmen. The trail at Huashan, a mountain in China’s Shaanxi Province, blurs the line between the two activities, subjecting hikers to a perilous ordeal with minimal gear and little support.
There were a multitude of attractions to digest in just one sitting at the Bang Pa In Summer Palace. The Thai kingdom obviously knew how to properly preserve their country’s royal properties. Even if we have not fully explored the entire grounds of the summer palace, we had no choice but leave for our next stop as we only had one day to explore Ayutthaya.
From the Bang Pa-In Summer Place, we travelled for less than an hour to reach the Wat Phananchoeng Worawihan. We were greeted by a disheartening site when we reached the second stop in our itinerary. There were a lot of buses at the parking lot and there was a long queue of eager visitors at the entrance. We asked the locals and inquired if there was an excursion and we were informed that a huge group of students arrived to learn more about the giant Buddha image and take part in several cultural traditions. We were left with no choice but to simply fall in line. Fortunately, we were ushered to a shorter line that was intended for tourists. In less than ten minutes, we found ourselves within the temple grounds and about to enter the hall of the giant Buddha image.
As sad as it sounds to discuss, funeral customs really do vary significantly from country to country. If you should ever find yourself in a position where you must attend a Chinese funeral it will be helpful to understand exactly what the traditions entail as the customs are much different than those found in the west or even in surrounding European countries.
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From bustling markets, to monstrous mega malls and buzzing nightlife, Manila will have your heart racing for more! With its blend of American and Spanish influences, and well spoken English, the Filipino locals will surely not disappoint with their accommodating and friendly nature.
It takes a while to get used to Manila but those who persevere will find that it’s a unique city with a lot of personality and character. Let this magical city inspire you with its own sense of charm and energy.
Bellhop Picks:
High-end: InterContinental Manila
Mid-range: Somerset Olympia Makati
Low-range: Garden Plaza Hotel & Suites Manila
Read more about other attractions in our Philippines guide. See what fellow travellers have to say in the Philippines tales section. 
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