Showing posts with label australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label australia. Show all posts

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

We get reminded often that life is too short and time flies by so fast and of the waning days we have left on the planet earth. Sooner or later, we become too busy with work, too married to live the kind of life we always desired or too old to do the things that we should have done years ago. 
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Yes, definitely, now is the time to start living and stop dreaming. To help you accomplish this, we have compiled a list of unbelievable places around the world to see before you die. Yes, so many other-worldly places are there right on the earth, and we never even knew about it. Here we are providing you 20-landmarks that appear like scenes and paintings from Sci-fi movies and you must take time to visit them once in your lifetime.

We know that life is short and funds are limited; therefore, we have narrowed down are selection. We have picked 20- landmarks, but as you know “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.”
Now without any further ado, we bring to you 20 places to see before you die – the global bucket list


Skaftafell Ice Cave, Iceland

The ice-cave nestles on the frozen lagoon of the Svinafellsjokun glacier in Skaftafell in Iceland. The ice caves are known to fall easily; therefore, the safest time for you to explore this incredible place is winters when it has hardened. Well, duh…yes it is an ice cave.



The glacier ice soaks almost all the visible light except from the blue fraction, which you will see. It looks amazing from inside, we cannot literarily wait to get there with our tripods and spoil someone else’s photos. 

Antelope Canyon, USA

Another place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is Antelope Canyon, USA. It is one of the most visited and most-photographed slot canyons in USA. It is situated on Navajo land close to Page, Arizona. The place includes 2-separate, absolutely photogenic slot canyon segments; individually referred to as the Upper Antelope Canyon/ The Crack, and the Lower Antelope Canyon/The Corkscrew.

The Canyon was created by erosion of Navajo Sandstone, mainly because of flash flooding and other sub-aerial processes. Rainwater, particularly during monsoon season, flows in the extensive basin over the slot canyon sections, picking up sand and speed as it runs into the narrow passageways.



Over time, the narrow passageways have eroded away, smoothing the hard edges and making the corridors deeper in such a manner as to create characteristic “flowing” shapes in the rock. 


Santorini, Greece

The place is perhaps the most charming and most adored island of Greece in the Aegean. The name of the island is more than enough to unleash in mind volcanic landscape, dazzling white houses, heart-melting sunsets, red and gray beaches, pleasurable connotations, wild fun and terraces with phenomenal sea views.
Image Courtesy - Wikipedia

All this, tagged with remnants of lost civilizations explored in the volcanic ash clearly justify the epithets with which most visitors identify Santorini and is rightly called – indescribable, magical and incredible. 

Bora Bora Island, France

The next place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is Bora Bora Island, France. Wow, Bora Bora, the most renowned of all French Polynesia Leeward Islands. It is so pretty that they has to name it twice (Bora-Bora). 

The tropical paradise offers a plethora of activities like snorkeling and scuba-diving for a fun-filled time with a family, and it is one of the most loved romantic getaways as well.
Bora Bora island
image courtesy -tahiti-tourisme.com

With a spectacular view of the ocean, you would not mind spending moths unleashing here. 

The Great Wall of China

One of the greatest wonder of worlds, the Great Wall of China, became the World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987. Just like the colossal monster, the Great Wall of China winds up and down across the mountains, plateaus, desserts and grasslands, spanning around 8,851.8 kilometers from east to west of China.

 With a history of over 2,000 years, some of the parts of the wonder are now in ruins or have disappeared. Nevertheless, it is still one of the most impressive attractions all around the world because of its historical significance and architectural grandeur. 

image courtesy - wikipedia



Mount Fuji, Japan

The tallest mountain of Japan, which though dormant since 1707, remains an active volcano, finally became listed in UNESCO’s illustrious World Heritage list in 2013 after years mysteriously absent. Home to eight Shinto shrines, five prominent lakes and Shiraito Shrine, reverence of this towering icon appears only in some of the earliest recorded literature of Japan when Fuji-san, as it is known locally, was stated to puff clouds of smoke across Honshu.

Today, it is one of the most visited attractions of Japan, with thousands of tourists enduring the tough climb to the apex each year for a moment of tranquility and peace as they look back over the most populous island of Japan. 
Image courtesy - wikipedia

Fields of Lavender, Provence, France

Another place to see before you die is Fields of Lavender, Provence, France. The beauty of Provence is well- encapsulated by the texture, fragrance and color of lavender. Lavenders bloom at full swing in early July, thus, if you wish to capture an amazing panorama of lavender fields in Provence, France than come here at that time. Je t’adore!


Image Courtesy - wikipedia
The Caves of Crystal in Naica Mine, Mexico

The Naica Mine of Chihuahua in Mexico is a working mine that is widely known for its outstanding selenite crystals. The astonishing Cave of Crystals is a cave around 1,000 feet underneath the surface in the limestone host rock of the Naica mine.

The chamber includes huge selenite crystals – some of the largest natural crystals found ever. The giant selenite crystals were formed by hydrothermal liquids discharged from the magma chambers underneath the surface. 

Image courtesy - revue-technique.lu
Berlin Wall, Germany

The Berlin Wall was the establishment for one of the most defining times of living memory, when on November 9, 1989, it fell off after around 3-decades dividing Germany into 2 parts –West and East. At least 136-people died when trying to cross it between 1961 and 1989, and the fence is remembered today more for what it was than what it is today.

Currently, only 2-sizeable sections remain as memorials: The East Side Gallery – loaded with vivid murals, including the popular “Fraternal Kiss”, showing Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev smooching his East German Counterpart Erich Honecker, and the Bernauer Strasse division in the city’s north, which acts like an exhibition about the city’s life during the times of Berlin Wall. 


Image Courtesy - soggiornilinguistici.wordpress.com

The Wave in Arizona, USA

Another place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is the Wave in Arizona, USA. The Wave is a sandstone hard rock formation situated in the US near the Arizona and Utah border on the Coyote Buttes’ slopes located in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness situated on the Colorado Plateau.

 Around 200-million years ago, the area was a sandy dessert, where giant dunes migrated across the landscape moved by the seasonal winds. Prevailing winds of the ancient Jurassic times can be ascertained by identifying the layers (cross-bedding) in the sandstone rock.
image credit - tp-photoart.com

What we see now are some of the original layered dunes shaped into impressive landforms and disclosed by erosion from eons of runoff. The stunning ribbons of various hues known as Liesegang Bands were created by precipitation and movement of oxidizing materials like manganese and iron by ground water. The fins/veins of calcite cut across the rock sandstone, adding another element to the landscape. 

The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

Full four years in the making, Michelangelo’s translation of some of the Old Testament’s most influential tales – the tale of Noah, three each from the creation and the fall of Adam and Eve – has turned out to be one of the iconic images in the Western art.

While it was surely the talk of the town in 1512, around 501 years later – the Sistine Chapel is so popular that it allures as many as 20,000 tourists daily, who line up to explore the world’s most visited room. 

Image Courtesy - famouswonders.com/sistine-chapel
Taj Mahal, India

 If ever there was a more enchanting monument of love than Taj Mahal in India, it has long since vanished to dust. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built this amazing marble- white mausoleum in the memory of his beautiful third wife, Mumtaz Mahal in the year 1632.

The resulting structure, conceptualized by Afgan Ustad Ahmed Lahori has been titled as the jewel of Muslin Art in India, and architectural masterpiece and one of the incredibly romantic buildings in the world. 

Image Credit - Wikipedia
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Another place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Charles Darwin called this island “a small world within itself.” The renowned naturalist developed his theory of evolution via the natural selection not long post his visit to the quixotic Isles in the year 1835, and now almost 2-centuries later it is still possible to get a glimpse of the extremely oddball creatures that startled him.

The island is the melting pot of enticing marine life, thanks to its location at the conflux of 3-ocean currents. Atop the crystalline waters, this astonishing 19-island archipelago is home to a plethora of colorful species, many endemic, like blue-footed booby, giant green tortoise (can live for more than 170-years, meaning some of the tortoise roaming in the island today may have been born at the time of Darwin’s visit) and pink iguana. 

Image courtesy - getty images

Canals of Venice, Italy

If there was a more romantic place on the face of earth than Venice Canals, definitely we would see that place simulated in every casino worldwide. However, since there are arguably more Roman statues and fake canals in casinos worldwide than anything else, it is absolutely true to say that the real Venice is the Romantic Winner.

 And hey why would not it be?  Who on earth does not wish to transport themselves into a gondola for a lethargic ride around the “beautiful floating city” past its popular Byzantine and Gothic palazzos, enticing cafes and bohemian shops?

 The astounding city is a marble masterpiece, the engineering marvel and a sight tha would not be around forever. 
Image courtesy - hoodaki.com
Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu stands tall at 2,430 meters above the sea-level in the heart of the tropical mountain forest, in an outstandingly charming setting. It was likely the most astonishing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its giant walls, height, ramps and terraces appear as if there have been naturally cut in the persistent rock escarpments.

The natural setting, especially on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encircles the upper Amazon basin with its wide diversity of flora and fauna. 


Image courtesy - hoodaki.com


Sydney Opera House, Australia

Another place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is Sydney Opera House, Australia. The Sydney Opera house is a world-famous landmark of the city skyline, a projection screen for Sydney’s numerous festivals, barometer of international talent and a lighthouse for ferries entering the harbor. It is an architectural wonder that was constructed well ahead of time, one that changes the picture of the whole country and far ahead of the available technology. 


image courtesy - wikipedia

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Spent your whole life just by looking and fantasizing at the pictures of Great Pyramids of Egypt and figured them to be in the nitty-gritty of the desert? 

The proximity to contemporary Cairo may startle you; however, somewhat modern setting does not take away from the core reality that these giant limestone beacons, the Great Sphinx and their guard cats are more than 4,500 years old and still standing solid as the sole surviving marvels of the ancient civilization.

For modern, high-tech day time travel, it definitely does not become much better than this. 

Image courtesy - famouswonders.com
Stonehenge, UK

Stonehenge symbolizes one of the most remarkable prehistoric megalithic monuments worldwide on account of sheer sophistication of its concentric plan and size of its megaliths. Constructed between 3,000 BC and 2,000 BC, this impeccable complex is now a spiritual site of pilgrimage in Neo-druidry, as well as one of the most iconic attractions of UK.  Just what precisely Britons built it for; however, Stonehenge remains one of the great mysteries of archeology.

 Was it a sacrificial burial ground or a celestial timepiece? The answers can be found any day now. 

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Another place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is Plitvice Lakes National Park, CroatiaThe sizzling Plitvice National Park is situated in the Lika region of Croatia. The beautiful park is surrounded by the mountains Mala Kapela, Medvedak and Pijesevica, which are parts of the famous Dinaric Alps.

The 16-blue-green Plitvice lakes that were separated by the natural dams of travertine are located on the Plitvice Plateau. The lakes are famous for their unique colors, ranging from azure to gray and green. The colors change regularly based on the angle of sunlight and quantity of organisms and minerals in the water. 


We humans have transformed and exploited the Planet Earth beyond recovery; however, fortunately not everything gifted to us by the Lord is lost yet. Blue water lakes, stunning mountains, opulent oceans with sizzling islands – our planet has innumerable breathtaking vistas and amazing places, just waiting for you to visit and explore them.

We hope you will visit the above-mentioned 20 incredible places in at least once in your lifetime and see the beauty the Lord has bestowed us humans with….yes there is a Paradise on every nook and cranny the Earth.

We would recommend you to book flights to these stunning places at Hoodaki.com, an agency that is known within the industry for enterprise quality service to holiday seekers. To book your flights and plan your holidays contact Hoodaki.com. 

Thursday, 24 April 2014

Cancel your dinner reservation at a five-star hotel, fold up your picnic blanket and ditch the corner seats of the neighborhood movie multiplex…..get a little creative and show your deep real feelings to the one you love!

A kiss is always more than a mere plain kiss when it happens in an alluring storybook setting. Steal a kiss and sweep your lover off her feet at one of the most romantic, swoon-worthy and picturesque places filled with love, passion, superstition and history.


There is no need to wait for your anniversary or holiday or some special day before visiting one of the most romantic places to kiss in the world your sweetheart. 

Vienna, Austria

 One of our most favorites is city of Vienna in Austria. Vienna is a paradisiacal place with shimmering landscape, splendid architecture and beautiful people. Perhaps, you will be motivated while exploring this huge museum, beneath the arches of a cathedral or while exploring a historical landmark. Vienna is an ideal pace to create your own history with a passionate kiss. 

Create History with a Passionate Kiss at Vienna, Austria
image credit - pixabay.com

Ellis Island, New York

The second on our list of Long time ago most romantic places to kiss in the world is Ellis Island, NY. A number of happy family reunions happened at a gate called the “KISSING POST.” Share a kiss in front of plaque that stands strong in this place presently, on the 1st-floor in the west wing of the building.

Share a Memorable Kiss at Ellis Island, New York


image credit -newyorkguest.wordpress.com

The Sweetheart Garden, New Jersey Shore

The sweetheart garden located in Leaming’s Run Gardens is a charming and seductive place to share a kiss with your partner. Kiss in the middle of a mammoth heart-shaped garden made purely of purple and pink flowers.
The Sweetheart Garden, New Jersey Shore
image credit - pressofatlanticcity.com

Moreover, Leaming’s Run offers other inimitable gardens that are regularly changing throughout the year.  Take a stroll along the scenic paths and past calm ponds. No two visits to this garden are the same. 

The Kissing Bench, Syracuse, NY
The Kissing Bench, Syracuse, NY
image credit woodbloom.com

Legends say if a couple kisses while sitting on the kissing bench (a stone bench) at the Syracuse University, they will tie the knot eventually. This bench brings good luck for those who want to take their relationship to the next level and believe in love forever.

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

It is not called as the Honeymoon Capital of Canada for nothing. The gorgeous scenery of one of the most loved waterfalls in the world has been attracting honeymooners and lovebirds for over 200 years now. 
Niagara Falls, Ontario, canada
image credit -wikimedia.org

You can take a stroll along the same place at Table Rock, where the sensational Marilyn Monroe filmed parts of Niagara in the year 1953 and relish a memorable kiss with your sweetie at the brink of the falls.

The Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA

The next on our list of most romantic places to kiss in the world is The Santa Monica Pier, CA. Imagine the thrill to kiss your beloved on a Ferris wheel. Take a milkshake on the pier to share at the apex, where you will see mind-sweeping vistas of Los Angeles and the ocean.

The Rodin Museum, Paris, France



Re-create the magic of passion demonstrated in the 19th-century sculpture, “The Kiss”, prior to taking a romantic walk in the rambling rose garden of the museum. 


Lovers Point, Pacific Grove, CA
Lovers Point, Pacific Grove, CA
A beautiful beach 
Image credit 
Come here with your beloved at the crack of dawn and share a sweet morning kiss; as the place faces the east and it is the only place in the entire west coast where you watch the holy sun rise above the water.

Juliet’s Balcony, Verona, Italy
Juliet’s Balcony, Verona, Italy
image credit - wikimedia.org

Nestled in Verona, a small district in Italy, Juliet’s Balcony allures million tourists every year. This is “the place” where Romeo proposed to Juliet in Shakespeare’s play. You and your beloved can kiss under the balcony and feel the sweet sorrow of Juliet and Romeo.


Hotel De Ville, Paris, France

Star in your own edition of “The Kiss on the Sidewalk” iconic photograph of Robert Doisneau, by visiting the stunning city hall “Hotel de Ville” located n Paris. To have an epic kiss, stand across from the “C’ at the café. 

Hotel De Ville, Paris, France
image credit - wikipedia


 A perfect kiss can happen anywhere, anytime provided both the persons have love for each other in their hearts. However, the above-mentioned spots are the world’s 10 most romantic places to kiss for a reason; they are particularly good at seducing people into perfect lip-locks.
 


Read also - 

Romantic Getaways: Top 5 Honeymoon Destinations in Southeast Asia



Friday, 11 April 2014

A spectacular holiday spot three-quarters of the year, and ideal for a winter gateway, holidaying in Brisbane will leave you whisked away to the world-class resorts and golden beaches while Britain endure the season’s cold breeze. Holidaymakers will find Brisbane a bustling city, loaded with history and culture.

Brisbane is Australia’s 3rd-largest city, a vivacious city with humble and welcoming people. The stunning series of global events that marked the goodwill of the city commencing in 1982 made it one of the popular Aussie cities, and today tourism is a prosperous sector in Brisbane.

 So do not think much and plan your next holiday in Brisbane; relish city life under the shadow of the Australian sun during holidaying in Brisbane. This vibrant place renders all you can desire from an Australian city – plush hotels, ample culture, rocking nightlife, great shopping centers and easy access to some of the nation’s best beaches. 

Brisbane vacations are spent under the sun that shines brightly throughout the year; perhaps that is the reason why the place benefits from a simple laid-back vibe where days are usually spent sipping cold coffees in sidewalk cafes and evening are spent in awesome eateries along the waterfront.

There is a direct flights to Brisbane International Airport and you will land in the city around 14-miles inland from the eastern coast of Australia, where the Brisbane River flows into Moreton Bay and meets the ocean.  The capital of popularly known as “ Sunshine State of Queensland”, Brisbane offers to its tourists the chance to travel north and soak the rays and waves of the Sunshine coast, or travel south to lounges located on the Gold Coast.

The charming city is situated on the bend in Brisbane River, and life here is centered on the flowing water. The city features a flawless blend of ancient Victorian buildings and state-of-art skyscrapers.

 Here are a few tips on what to do when on a holiday in Brisbane, Australia?

Despite a lot of people bypassing Brisbane during their visits to Brisbane, as Sydney seems to steal all the attention, there is so much to do in Brisbane. It is worth spending time here and experiencing the pleasant vibe of the place instead of just using Brisbane as a halt point on the road to Gold Cost, Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast or Noosa.

Things to Do and See in Brisbane during holidays

Visit the Top of Mount Coot-tha

There are regular buses to the acme or to the planetarium at the base (in case, you would want to walk to the top via the botanical gardens). Go at the time of sunset for fabulous 360-degree view over Brisbane city to the coast. There is a café and a restaurant at the acme, both of which according to me are over-priced for food they serve, but are still a fine place to hang out for a drink with mind-sweeping top view. 

Take a Chill-Pill in Fortitude Valley along with rocking young people, lots of restaurants, bistros, nightclubs and boutique shops.


Take a Ferry to Brisbane River – There are numerous boat tours to Brisbane and CityCat ferries to succor you get around, but I would recommend a free Cityhopper. Cityhopper started on 1st July and connects various Brisbane great spots like South Bank and Eagle Street, along the inner stretch of the Brisbane River and it runs from early morning 6AM till midnight.

Ferry in Brisbane
Ferry in Brisbane


The Sciencenter next to Queensland Museum is fantastic if you have kids along. There is a charge for entry; however, it is worth it as kids will certainly want to play and stay all day there.


South Bank Museums – Make sure to see Queensland Museum, it is Brisbane State Museum where you can know about Queensland’s geography, native people and history through the hands on display and enticing exhibits. 

Promenade alongSouthbank – The city boasts of long river walks on both sides of river; however, Southbank is extremely vibrant.  There are free swimming pools for the warmer months. Additionally, there are playgrounds for kids, street performers to entertain you and markets. The ultra-shining Brisbane River sets everything beautiful and there is a wide array of restaurants and cafes.
South Bank Parklands
South Bank Parklands

Go on a Shopping Spree when on a Holiday in Brisbane

Queen Street Mall is the most famous shopping centre in Brisbane with chain stores, department stores and boutiques to match every budget.
queen street mall brisbane
queen street mall in brisbane


 The Powerhouse Farmers Markets located in New Farm are open for customers on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month.

Southbank markets on weekends are great fun.



in Next Post we will post about Best Restaurants in Brisbane to eat delicious food

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