Photo Credit: alazaat
Istanbul is Turkey’s cultural center, bisected by the Bosphorus, the narrow Istanbul Strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea. Istanbul, literally, bridges two continents, with the western part of the city lying in Europe and the eastern part in Asia. Let’s start our journey on the Asian of the Anatolian side of the city.

The Beylerbeyi Palace is one of the most magnificent in the whole of Istanbul. It was built by Sultan Abdulaziz from 1861 to 1865. The three stories palace has twenty-six rooms and six saloons, and has wonderful Turkish motifs outside and in.

Not far from the city, the nine islands in the Sea of Marmara known as the Princes’ Islands are available to tourist visits. They are great places to relax in and get away from the crowds. The islands were said to be a place where disgraced princes were exiled, hence the name. Motor vehicles are not allowed in the islands so be prepared for a lot of walking.

Also on the Anatolian Side is one of the highest hills in Istanbul, the 268 meters high Camlica Hill. There’s a public park at the top with charming cafes with a decidedly Ottoman feel. It’s great being there at night since you can see a panoramic view of Istanbul, and the lights are dazzling.

And what else can you visit in Istanbul? You can’t say that you have never thought about a Turkish bath (hamam). Why go there at all without it? Although be very choosy about the hamam you try as hygiene may be an issue. You can check out Suleymaniye Bath, built by Sultan Suleyman in 1550. This is the only hamam that allows male and females together so the whole family can enjoy it.

After that, you can then go to the more historical, European side of Istabul.

Photo Credit: c3lsius_bb
Have you ever wondered what the Philippines is like? You have probably heard of the capital, Manila, the walled city of Intramuros, maybe the beaches of Boracay that are world-famous.

One of the many Filipino travel blogger who has written about most of them is Ivan Henares who writes about his travels in his blog, Ivan About Town, which won Best Travel Blog for 2007 in the Philippine Blog Awards. He believes that traveling shouldn’t be expensive at all, and is an advocate of backpacking as a reasonable way to visit extraordinary places.

In his blog, you can read incredible, first-hand accounts of the beauty the Philippines has to offer. He has been to numerous places in the country including Puerto Prinsesa and the Hugduan Terraces Cluster in Ifugao.

Recently, he has been spotted in Spain, snacking on biscuits known as… well, Filipinos.

He has also been featured in the Manila Bulletin, one of the Philippines’ major broadsheets where he talks about his journeys across the Philippines and in other countries. You can find the interesting article here

He is also very passionate about the Philippines’ cultural and natural heritage. He is right when he said that these sites are what visitors to the Philippines come to the country to see. And that’s not only in the Philippines, but in the rest of the world as well.

Reading his blog made me realize that the traveling expense shouldn’t be inversely proportionate to the enjoyment you must feel while doing it.

Photo Credit: antonfortunato
Long Island stretches to the Atlantic Ocean the east from New York City. It is divided into four distinct and unique regions, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau Counry and Suffolk. And being dependent on the sea, Long Island considers the smattering of lighthouses a matter of great importance, not only for safety, but for history and for beauty.

One of the two most known is the Fire Island Lighthouse. Open for public tours all year round, you can catch the majesty of the Atlantic Ocea, as well as the Great South Bay and Fire Island. You can even see the lights and life of the Manhattan skyline and the Empire State Building on a clear day.

The other is the oldest lighthouse in New York and the fourth oldest active lighthouse in the whole of the United States, the Montauk Point Lighthouse which has been part of Long Island for over 200 years. The lighthouse serves as a beautiful location for weddings and tours are available all year round.

Leading to the lighthouse is the wooded tundra of Montauk Point State Park where visitors can enjoy either calm waters or the best surfing waves. There are also hiking trails to enjoy or just sit in the shades of pine trees and relax.

You can check out other note-worthy lighthouses from here.

Photo Credit: GreyHobbit
St. James in Central London may be the most affluent part of the city, encompassing Buckingam Palace and the Palace of Westminster. It’s a great place for a tourist to start when visiting.

The Westminster Abbey lies in Parliament Square and is the site of the coronation of every king or queen of Great Britain since 1066. This is also where Princess Diana’s funeral service was held. You would also want to see Westminster Cathedral, with its gloriously unique Byzantine-style architecture. It’s truly beautiful.

Next, you can pass by Downing Street to catch a glimpse of number 10, the official London residence of the British prime ministers. Number 11 is where the Chancellor of the Exchequer lives.
Do you like walking? Then take a stroll at the glorious 23 hectares of St. James’s Park where many ceremonial parades and other national events usually take place.

But what you really want to see is the main residence of the British monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the timeless Buckingham Palace. The state rooms are open during the summer when the Queen is at Balmoral Castle, and not all places are accessible. But you can watch the Changing of the Guard, a charming affair. Be sure to pick a great spot at the fence in front of the palace.

Photo Credit: Jun Acullador

Intramuros is the “walled city” of Manila, the capital of the Republic of the Philippines. It is on the south side of the Pasig River, close to Manila Bay. Originally known as Old Manila, it was the seat of the Spanish colonial rule in the East for almost 400 years.

One stop is Fort Santiago where the Philippines’ national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was executed in 1896 by firing squad. You can see the Rizal Shrine there. There is also a museum where you can find a replica of his prison cell as well as the dungeons.

Probably the most famous and note-worthy church in the Philippines is the Manila Cathedral. It is also arguably the most enduring, having survived earthquakes, typhoons, fires and even bombs!- in its long and noble history. Today, the cathedral is famous for weddings.

Another interesting church in the area is the San Agustin Church. Although it had suffered damage during the battle of Manila in World War II, it had survived gracefully. The interior of the church has beautiful murals covering the walls and ceiling. And if it’s art you want, you will enjoy the San Agustin Museum right beside the church. Inside you will be welcomed by the huge, more than 3,000 kilogram bell. You will surely have that old Spanish-colonial Manila feel.

There are a lot of places to sit and relax nearby so you don’t need to worry about walking as it is the best way to get around, especially by the actual walls. It would also be interesting to know that you can get around the city in a kalesa, or a horse-drawn carriage in Fort Santiago, with a friendly driver to act as tourist guide.

Photo Credit: andrewcparnell
If you think about international peace, diplomacy and goodwill, perhaps, Geneva in Switzerland would be the first place to come to mind. It is filled with offices of organizations that make the world a better place, and, amazingly, it retains a relaxed atmosphere.

One thing to note about Geneva is time. Everybody with a schedule is actually punctual. So keep that in mind while doing some visiting.

Perhaps the most fun place to visit in Geneva is the Jet d’Eau, the most popular symbol of Geneva apart from the Palais des Nations. It is a fountain of water pumped 140 meters into the air on the Rhône River. It offers a spectacular view at night and from a distance.

Photo Credit: edwin.11

The Palais des Nations was originally built to house the League of Nations. You really want to go there to see the magnificent Assembly Hall, the library, and the beautifully landscaped grounds. Don’t forget your passports though. They require that before they let you in.

You might also want to see the Cathédrale St-Pierre which has a spiritual and cultural significance to the people of Geneva. You may want to visit it in conjunction to the International Museum of the Reformation for the complete experience.

There are also spectacular parks you might want to check out for a quick visit. Parc des Bastions is exceptionally lovely, not to mention artistic. The giant chessboards and large statues are complement of the students of the liberal arts campus of the University of Geneva.

Photo Credit: Jeff.Dlouhy

The central Austrian city of Salzburg is the setting for the famous movie The Sound of Music, and the birthplace of music master Mozart.

The name Salzburg means “Salt Castle” from the time in the 8th century when barges carrying salt traveled on the Salzach river. The Festung Hohensalzburg, or the Hohensalzburg Fortress, was built in 1077 and offers an awesome view of Salzburg and the Alps that would make you burst into heartfelt song, singing the hills are alive. The fortress also has a museum showing medieval weapons and torture instruments, making you want to think about a few of your favorite things.

Mozarts Geburtshaus (birth house) is located in the house of Salzburg. The Mozart family occupied it in 1747 to 1773, and it was where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, himself, was born. It is currently an interesting museum, and well worth the visit.

You may also want to pass by the Schloss Hellbrunn, a tranquil place that was an archbishop’s summer palace. It currently has stunning gardens, a wading pool and a children’s playground.

Another interesting point would make you want to wonder how to solve a problem like Maria. The Schloss Mirabell right next to the Salzach river is a beautiful garden built by an enamored archbishop for his courtesan. Inside, you will find one of the “most beautiful wedding halls in the world”, the Marble Hall.

Tranquil. Romantic. Beautiful. Whoever built Salzburg must have done something right.

Photo Credit: realmerlyn
Rio de Janeiro is the second largest Brazilian city and lies on the South Atlantic coast of the country. It is known most for its gorgeous landscape and beaches. Probably the best place for a tourist to visit is the city’s Zona Sul (South Zone). Lots of hotels line up in Copacobana and Ipanema, some of the country’s most famous beaches. Although the Copacabana gets a bit too crowded, it’s still one place to drop by even if you just need to sit down on the sand and relax. Ipanema on the other hand has a a lagoon called the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas where you can walk around, jog or relax.

See a breath-taking view of the Zona Sul via cable car up the Sugar Loaf mountain, just a few minutes away from Copacabana. Or, better yet, take that tour of the Corcovado mountain, topped by the world famous 38m statue of Christ the Redeemer.

The South Zone also has museums for those who can’t travel without a dose of culture. Museu da República (Palácio do Catete), is the former presidential palace that had been converted into a historical museum. Right beside that an art gallery and small theater.

At night, lay your head down at the Copacabana Palace Hotel. Now this is the life.

Photo Credit: roland

The most popular traveler activities in Juneau are shopping, fishing, hiking and traipsing over to the Mendendhall Glacier, and hiking. There is “Downtown” Juneau, and “The Valley” part where the Mendenhall Glacier is located. Aside from that, it also has one of the most spectacular wildlife in the world, with whales and brown bears galore.

The massive Mendenhall Glacier and the immense Mendenhall Valley is the top tourist attraction in the city. But it is also only one of the chains of interconnected glaciers of the Juneau Icefield.

After that, take a wildlife tour and get up-close-and-personal with black bears, sea lions, seals and otters. Humpback whales, in particular, call the waters of the northern Inside Passage home during the summer. Catch a whale watching tour near Glacier Bay.

Black and brown bears are also common in the city, and one can easily spot them around the city. Larger bears can be viewed at the to Admiralty Island National Monument and the Kootznoowoo Wilderness Area, the home of more than 1,500 brown bears. Pack Creek also offers a bear sanctuary and viewing areas for the curious visitor who wants to view bears going salmon-hunting. Eagles also call Juneau home. About 20,000 bald eagles live there, and you can easily spot one, perched on treetops hunting for food.

With natural treasures like that, every day in Juneau is an adventure.

Photo Credit: mandj98

Maybe one of the humbling experiences a person can have is to watch one of the most beautiful things on Earth, and feel the power that is so much more grand than he is. I guess that’s how one should realize when standing at the Niagara Falls State Park. That singular experience is sure to be able to bring out the writers and artists in people, and yet not be able to express the grandiosity of the feeling.

And if the actual attraction is not enough, there are several more places to visit, and several must do activities, and that’s just on the U.S. side of the falls. Take the Cave of Winds tour starting with an elevator ride down the Niagara Gorge and experience the breathtaking power of the Niagara on the Hurricane Deck. Then you walk along the base of the Bridal Veil Falls on a series of wooden decks and stairs, and experience the softer side of the Niagara.

Not as adventurous? You can stand at the Observation Tower that extends over the gorge. It lets you look directly into the waters below. Glass elevators allow access to the gorge where visitors can board the Maid of Mist, for those who are unsatisfied with just observing. Visitors can take a trip on the Maid of Mist. The boat would take you through the intensity of the falls amidst crashing waters at the basin of the Horseshoe Falls.

Awe-inspiring, breath-taking, stunning, majestic… the Niagara Falls experience exceed all superlatives.