Photo Credit: edwin.11

Lausanne is the capital if the Swiss canton of Vaud which sits at the northern most point of Lake Geneva. And because of the large student population in the area, if is, of course, a popular spot for nightlife and the arts. Its setting, a spectacular hilltop one, faces the Alps.

The neighborhoods of Lausanne are quite interesting. Probably the best place to visit would be Cité, the Ville Marché, and the port of Ouchy. La Cité, the area’s Old Quarter, has an impressive medieval cathedral and a castle. Ville Marché is a medieval city with outdoor markets. An interesting place, however, is the old fishing village of Ouchy. You definitely won’t get hurt there. Instead, there are unbelievable views of the lake and the Alps. It’s somewhat of a tourist summer Mecca in the area because of this, and it conveniently offers hotels and restaurants. It’s actually a port and a popular lakeside resort. While there, you can visit the castle of Ouchy which is an old medieval castle that had been converted into a hotel.

Other places to visit in Lausanne are the Palais de Rumine, which is a lovely building that houses five museums; the Mudac, which is the Museum of Design and Contemporary Applied Arts; and the Musée de l’Elysée, which is a photography museum located in a wonderful park, on its own a piece of art.

So don’t be scared. There are actually no ouchy in Ouchy.

Photo Credit: buitenzorger

Senggigi, a town in Lombok, Indonesia, is the main tourist strip, stretched out in miles and miles of beachfront. It is divided into three parts, Mangsit Beach, central Senggigi and the southern part near Batu Bolong. There are quiet resorts along Mangsit has quiet resorts, but Senggigi and Batu Bolong has great night and social life.

Senggigi Beach, although one of the main reasons why travelers visit the area, is not entirely as spectacular. It is, however, a popular launch point for tourist activities in Lombok. You can visit weaving villages and waterfalls that scatter in the area.

Two kilometers south of Senggigi, is the Pura Batu Bolong, a scenic spot where a small Hindu Temple is located, overlooking the beach. The most interesting part is the empty chair that graces the location, which represents Brahma, the god of creation. Sunsets are great to catch at this place.

Most activities in Senggigi involve diving and snorkeling, and hiking. There are also several places where you can go visit and have a great time such as the Gili Islands for snorkeling or diving and Mount Rinjani, which is an active volcano.

But of course, the best thing about Senggigi is the nightlife. Visit the Beach Club, a great place to watch the sunser over Bali, and the Happy Cafe where live bands are great to watch.

Photo Credit: Teorem
The Seychelles are a group of islands lying off the coast of East Africa and northeast of Madagascar, consisting of more than 100 islands (115 to be exact). Eighty-three of these islands do have names, and forty-six are uninhabited.

And what can you do in hot and humid Seychelles? Well, hit the beach of course. Many of the islands beaches are untouched, uncrowded paradises with gorgeous blue, blue skies and tranquil sands. You have to see the World Heritage site of the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, nestled in the heart of the small island of Praslin. It’s the home of the coco de mer, the world’s largest seed.

Another thing that holds a record as being the world’s largest is the Aldabra Atoll, a 22 mile coral atoll which is the world’s largest coral atoll, as well as another World Heritage site. It is made of four large coral islands enclosing a gorgeous, shallow lagoon. It is also the home of some 152,000 giant tortoises.

Aside from these, you can go surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling, an activity that can be enjoyed anywhere in the Seychelles. It is, after all, the perfect place for water sports with the clear beautiful Indian Ocean.

If you don’t like getting wet, it offers land sports, bike rentals and walking tours, as well as markets, art galleries, plantation houses and museums! You can enjoy anything.

You don’t even need a Visa to get in, only a passport that’s valid for six months and proof of accommodations. So let’s get our feet wet, and visit the sunny and sexy Seychelles Islands.

The World Cosplay Summit on August 2, 2008 will be held in Nagoya, the capital of the Auchi prefecture, in the region of Honshu in Japan. Nagoya is the fourth largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka in the country and will host one of the most popular events, not only in Asia but in the world as otakus all over the world will trek to this place to dress up as their favorite characters from manga and anime.

Photo Credit: Marksein

Now a metropolis, Nagoya was named after Nagono, an old manor built in the area in the 12th century. The people of the area began to refer to the whole city by the manor’s name because of its two hundred year prosperity. The pronunciation of the Chinese characters in “Nagono” eventually became “Nagoya”.

Fans of Japanese animation and manga from all over the world will come dressed up as their favorite characters and join parades around the streets of Nagoya. It definitely would be a surreal experience. The Summit culminates with the World Cosplay Championship where costumed teams from different countries would show off their costumes and perform on stage in tribute to their favorite characters.
Aside from the Summit, Nagoya also hosted the Nagoya Sumo Tournament, just recently, and the Kakuozan Summer Festival. The annual Osu Summer Festival which is held in the shopping sections of Osu Kannon Temple will be held on the second to the third of August. Another festival, the Nagoya Castle Summer Night Festival which will be held on the 17th is a traditional style of festival with Japanese lanterns and dancing to honor the ancestors. It will be held at the Nagoya Castle, a famous city landmark which houses a museum, and beautiful gardens.

So if you’re thinking of visiting Nagoya, now is just about the right time.

Photo Credit: pedrosimoes7

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is built on top of seven hills, just like other places such as Istanbul, Rome and Seattle. It is famous for the great nightlife and known as “Europe’s cosmopolitan center”.

The best way to see Lisbon is to take a trip through a tourist tram, or one of the ordinary trams, such as line 28, that would take you to most of the most famous sites in Lisbon.

One of which is the Gulbenkian Museum which was created to showcase the personal collection of Calouste Gulbenkian which includes paintings by Rembrandt and Monet. It is located in downtown Lisbon and shouldn’t be missed. Even the gardens outside the museum are gorgeous.

You can reach St. Jorge’s Castle by taking a scenic trek from downtown through Alfama, which is a lovely neighborhood. The castle is located in a great place, up the hill, and offers a great view of the city.

If you want a productive day, take a trip to the Belem where the Belem Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the Belém Cultural Center are clustered together. There are many gardens to enjoy and relax in, and they are conveniently and beautifully located by the water.

There are also several Lisbon versions of other incredible monuments around the world, such as the Ponte 25 de Abril which is Lisbon’s answer to the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Cristo Rei, which is Portugal’s version of the Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro.

Photo Credit: tata_aka_T
A beautiful island off the coast of Belize, Caye Caulker is known for its supply of fresh water from the La Aguada. Its name is the anglicized pronunciation of the Spanish name Cayo Hicaco, meaning “the island of the cocoplum”.

Its location is already close to paradise itself but there is more to the island. The Caye Caulker Forest Reserve is mostly dense forest and covers the northern part of the island. It had been declared a protected area in 1998. There is also the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve adjacent to the forest as well as the Belize Barrier Reef that runs along the entire Caye. Four kilometers from the south of San Pedro, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve had bigger fishes but could get terribly crowded as well.

If you’re interested in bigger, as in bigger, marine animals, visit the Shark and Ray Alley to watch (or swim with) sharks and stingrays. An hour away from Caye Hicaco, the Blue Hole is also an interesting place to visit. Forty meters deep, it is the most famous dice site in Belize where you can find lots of corals and fishes.

Diving, snorkeling and kayaking are the most popular activities in the area. You can check out the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary to swim with the manatees. Or go to Seagull Adventures for snorkeling.

Visit the Official Official Site of the Caye Caulker Belize Tourism Industry Association (CCBTIA) for more information.

Photo Credit: mo_ko_na
Helsinki (also known as Helsingfors) is the capital of Finland. Founded in 1550 AD by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden, it was given its status as capital in 1812.

It is actually surrounded by a saaristo, or an archipelago, and is best to visit during the summer where it is incredibly beautiful. There are many islands that surround the city center but there are three major islands where tourists go.

Suomenlinna is known as the greatest sea fortress on the Baltic. It is a charming place, steeped in history, and is still the proud home of catacombs, cannons and old fortifications which was why it was included in Unesco’s World Heritage List. There are a few houses, mostly old buildings, theaters, restaurants and museums in the location.

Just north of the center is the island of
Seurasaari where you can follow walking trails and see charming authentic Finnish houses where you can be educated on the traditional Finnish wat of life. Well preserved old buildings represent all the provinces of Finland in the more than 80 buildings at the Seurasaari Museum.

The island of Korkeasaari is where the Helsinki Zoo is. It houses about 200 different animal species.

Aside from these three islands, Helsinki also offers more tourists attractions such as numerous parks such as the sea-side Kaivopuisto, museums, churches and monuments.

Photo Credit: jmenard48
Volterra, a town in Tuscany, Italy, is a great town for walking. But then, that’s not the reason why I was compelled to blog about it. You see, Volterra has been one of the highlighted locations in the very popular young adult novel by Stephenie Meyer, New Moon, which is the sequel to the soon-to-be-released movie, Twilight staring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.

Apart from its popularity in the said series as the royal vampire city, Volterra is a town of stunning architecture set more than a thousand and seven hundred feet above sea level. It is surrounded by strong walls protecting the town’s treasures, real alabaster, mineral waters and salt springs.
The first sight you would have you see is the Porta all’Arco, the gate that is built of volcanic stones during the 4th century B.C.

The Pinacoteca is a 14th century palace that houses classic paintings uncluding the Annunciation & the Deposition of the Cross. With a combo ticket, you can see the Pinacoteca along with the Sacred Art and Etruscan Museum which offers the best of Etruscan art in the whole of Europe.

Fancy thinking you’re one of the Godfathers? You can visit the Medici Fortress, a prison for Sicilian mob figures. You can also relax at the nearby park which used to be the Acropolis of Volterra for 3000 years.

There are also some great places to eat at Volterra, like the Ristorante Enoteca del Duca which serves Tuscan food in a beautiful setting. Albergo Etruria is an ancient stone building that had been turned into a good hotel.

Photo Credit: sleepyneko

Another island off the coast of Cape Cod is the dramatic Nantucket with its harbors, cliffs, beaches and old mansions. If Martha’s Vineyard mostly caters to celebrities, Nantucket is more for the average folks-doctors, lawyers, executives. The little island allows them to get away from the hective and intense work life of the city. Nantucket offers many restaurants that has the finest seafood cuisines in the country, and all of them comes with a five-star service.

The entire island has also been declared a National Historic District for its historic sites which include the Brant Point Light which is the second lighthouse in America, having been built in 1746, after Boston Light; the the Nantucket Atheneum, and the First Congregational Church among others.
The island also has a number of beaches where you can enjoy fresh air and the lovely Atlantic. They also offer many aquatic activities, and you can chose which beach to visit, depending on your preference. Click here for a list of Nantucket beaches.

The Main Street is also the main shopping district where you can find expensive boutiques that sell clothes, shoes, jewelry and handbags to outfit every body. You can also find a lot of antique and gift shops, and book shops. You can technically find anything that you need for a grand vacation.

Don’t forget to buy a gold miniature Nantucket Lightship Basket. The actual baskets are considered as one of America’s most unique artistic treasures and are unique to the island of Nantucket.

Photo Credit: cking

Eight miles off the peninsula of Cape Cod was once a whaling center, but is currenly a popular summer destination, Martha’s Vineyard. It is technically divided into six towns, as far as locals are concerned, its just “up island” to mean the Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tisbury, or “down island” to mean Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Tisbury. And also, as far as locals are concerned, there are too many celebrities coming and going that they have gotten used to the glitter.

One of the must-see is the Gay Head Cliffs at Aquinnah, or what used to be Gay Head. Below the cliffs is the gorgeous Moshup Beach. Menemsha is also a gorgeous place to visit where you can actually see the sun set over the sea.

It also boasts a few interesting lighthouses, such as the Cape Poge Lighthouse, the Gay Head Lighthouse and the East Chop Lighthouse which are both open to the public for sunset tours.

Martha’s Vineyard also has four beaches, South, State, Aquinnah (also known as Moshup) and Lucy Vincent. South Beach has the best surf while the State Beach is calmer, and best for the kids. Aquinnah is the most picturesque for the cliffs. Lucy Vincent is more of a private beach for locals.

So enjoy the beaches, but watch out for the jellyfishes. All in all, it’s a wonderful summer experience.