Archive for the ‘Asia’

  • Glories of the Guam Island – Barrigada, Agat, Hagatna
    Glories of the Guam Island – Barrigada, Agat, Hagatna
    Guam is a small water locked territory nestled in the Pacific Seas, which is separated by only about thirteen degrees from the zero degree line of equator. To the North of Guam is the technological nation of Japan, while the western part of Guam neighbors the land of the Philippines. A thriving commercial hub, Guam attracts a large number of sun-sand-surf enthusiasts from all over the world. The only way to lay your steps on the Guam lands is by means of flight. A typical vacation experience at Guam will include the pristine shores and the sandy beaches of Guam, as against the contrasting hues of the blue skies. After reaching the islands, the traveler will have to find a mode of transport to go about exploring the place. And, the best deal is to hire a vehicle or rent a car. There are many rent-a-car providers who can be easily  [...]
    Posted at August 31st, 2010 at 05:08 am
  • When in Agra, Visit the Red Fort
    When in Agra, Visit the Red Fort
    When people visit Agra in India, they generally end up marking out some time to visit the Taj Mahal. There is a lot more that the region has to offer to everyone who decides to visit it. The Agra Fort stands at a distance of lower than 2 kilometers from the Taj Mahal. The Heydays of Agra: The history of Agra is known to date back to around 2500 years. It wasn’t until the days of the Mughal emperors (Muslim rulers) that this region got the status of being a provincial city. Humayun, son of Babur, who was the founder of the Mogul empire, received a number of precious gems and stones from the family of the King of Gwalior. One of these gifts included the oh-so-famous Kohinoor diamond. This precious and unique diamond is today said to be in the custody of the English, who had ruled over India for a good 150 years. But things got even  [...]
    Posted at August 30th, 2010 at 01:08 am
  • The Timeless Syrian Saga
    The Timeless Syrian Saga
    No! Before you begin to connect Syria with a land of terrorists, or fanatics or alike; its time to rise up from false media projections. To the contrary, of what is commonly gathered of Syria, this middle-east nation is one of the most hospitable countries to visit with very friendly people who treat guests with much warmth and friendliness. Once you come to Syria, you love Syria forever! Like it is said, ‘Simplicity is most beautiful.’ It can be similarly summed up for Syria whose undying charm comes straight out of its effortless enigma. However, the commercialization plan is high up on the agenda of Syria. Especially post Bashar-al-Assad entrance into the lineage to take charge of the country. Today, Syria stands as a leading destination and a nation with an open outlook evolving by the day. Though, not a scowl of uncontrolled  [...]
    Posted at August 29th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
  • A bridge from the past
    A bridge from the past
    In the western world, India is considered the land of the esoteric and the exotic, sometimes wildly so. That conception will only be further reinforced when this story starts to spread far and wide. The general idea is that bridges are created and then used by people for crossing a divide great or small. In a small part of India though, bridges have been known to grow themselves and stay as they are (perhaps even growing stronger) for several centuries. Meet the ‘Living Bridges of Cherrapunji”, or as alive as any bridge you’ll ever see anyway. Meghalaya, where Cherrpunji is located, is famed not just for the incredible amount of rainfall it receives annually but also the flora and fauna that is to be found here. Some of these are unique to the region, and the manner in which they have been used is even more astounding. A tribal  [...]
    Posted at August 21st, 2010 at 12:08 am
  • The silently beating heart of China
    The silently beating heart of China
    The Chinese are often spoken of in very high regard when one talks of culture and civilizations, so just how hallowed would talk about Shanxi be given that it is considered to be the cradle of Chinese civilization? Brimming with ancient beauty, leafing through any old tome on China will reveal to you several references to the sway Shanxi held on Ancient China. It is referred to on multiple occasions as the ‘heart’ of China and the term ‘cradle’ pops up over and over again, just to dispel any doubts. Just in case you did have any doubts about its importance in the giant scheme of things, it is responsible for giving the western world the most recognizable facet of China, the name itself. The name ‘China’ is a derivative of the Qin dynasty (pronounced as ‘Chin’) and this by itself is the largest indicator of Shanxi’s  [...]
    Posted at August 19th, 2010 at 12:08 am
  • A bridge too far
    A bridge too far
    When anyone talks about bridges, what comes to mind are the famous ones that offer a pretty sight or are feats of engineering, like the Golden Gate or the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Everyone’s been over those ad infinitum, so we’ll try and inject a bit of adrenaline into a somewhat sterile topic. If you have a fear of heights, stop reading. If you have a fear of heights but like that which is forbidden, you’re on your own since we don’t know how to deal with your conflicting emotions. Musou Tsuribashi bridge, Japan If you have ever seen Japanese television shows, you’ll know that they are just a little bit nutty. If you somehow haven’t ever been exposed to Japanese television and wanted incontrovertible evidence that there is a giant truckload of crazy hidden away somewhere beyond Tokyo, look no further than an old suspension  [...]
    Posted at August 6th, 2010 at 04:08 am
  • 5 Pyramids you ought to know about
    5 Pyramids you ought to know about
    If you’re anything like us, then there’s only two kinds of pyramids that you would have heard of. The first resides in Egypt, and they’re called great for a very good reason. The second was a kind of marketing scheme that was actually a scam. But there’s more to pyramids than just this. Pyramids are sacred structures built all over the world and not just limited to Egypt. The whole point of traveling is to gain a better understanding of new cultures and if you share the same opinion as us then you have to bear witness to these pyramidic structures. Pyramids of Guimar (Tenerife) Generally when someone says pyramid there are very few images that spring to mind. If you’re very lucky, you know of those in the Amazon Basin or in Indonesia. But if you want a slice of something seriously mysterious, take a trip to Tenerife in  [...]
    Posted at August 6th, 2010 at 12:08 am
  • Brunei: Size doesn’t matter
    Brunei: Size doesn’t matter
    When you think of miniscule, think of the tiny sovereign state of Brunei. No, that is not to say that we are belittling the Nation of Brunei, the abode of peace. By miniscule, we are simply referring to the sheer size of Brunei, for it ranks among the smallest countries on Earth. But the Sultanate of Brunei is a pint-sized powerhouse, blessed as it is with some of the largest oil fields in all of Southeast Asia, and its ruler, the Sultan of Brunei, ranks among the wealthiest people on earth due to his total control of the economy and the significant oil revenues Brunei gets. Brunei is all that remains of an empire that once extended to all of Borneo and the southwestern part of the Philippines. But for a country this small, Brunei is remarkably wealthy thanks to its underground reservoirs of black gold and thanks to this wealth  [...]
    Posted at August 4th, 2010 at 01:08 am
  • The flowering valley of Sangla
    The flowering valley of Sangla
    Untouched by mankind and lying in the lap of nature is a destination few know of and none that have visited it forget. The name is Sangla; the flowering valley of Sangla. Remember it well, for the next time your friends ask you to propose an esoteric and exotic destination you can impress them (and the ladies) with your enormous knowledge of offbeat locations. What’s more, they’ll be even more impressed once they end up visiting the flowering valley of Sangla itself. Mind you, it’s not exactly a hop, skip and jump away. Hidden away in the Himalayas at a height of some 8900 feet above sea level, this little pearl is approximately some 600 kilometres from Delhi. Also known as Baspa Valley by those not fond of long-winding names given that it lies on the banks of the Baspa river, Sangla is famous for its floral life. And as with  [...]
    Posted at August 3rd, 2010 at 04:08 am
  • Sri Lanka: The Paradise Island
    Sri Lanka: The Paradise Island
    Sri Lanka is a mystic yet small island which has been given a lot of titles to its credit, such as the teardrop of India for its shape, Ceylon, the island of Dharma, Serendib, Pearl of the Orient and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Location: It is situated in the Indian Ocean to the south of India. It is only 31 km away from the southern coast of India. Greeting in Sri Lanka: Ayubowan is the way of greeting anyone you meet in the paradise world of Sri Lanka. In Sinhalese it means “may you have a long life”. It is a traditional form of greeting in the country. Like in the Japanese culture you bow down to greet one another in the Sri Lankan culture. One bows down their head gently and clasps the palms together in front of the chest in respect. It is a tradition in most of the parts of the country and  [...]
    Posted at July 30th, 2010 at 12:07 am