pataya : A Beautiful Sea Beach in the Thailand.

Pattaya is a city in Thailand, a beach resort popular with tourists and expatriates. It is on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of Bangkok city.  The city is in the heavily industrial Estern Seaboard zone. It has a population exceeding 100,000 (2007). 

The Pattaya Bay Area is one of Asia's largest beach resorts and the second most visited city in Thailand, after Bangkok. This panorama overlooks Bali Hai pier and the core of the city. The main sweep of the bay area is divided into two principal Beachfronts. Pattaya Beach is parallel to city centre, and runs from Pattaya 

Nuea south to Walking Street. Along Beach Road are restaurants, shopping areas, and night attractions. Jomtien Beach in the southern part of the bay area is divided from Pattaya beach by the Pratamnak Hill promontory. It consists of high-rise condominiums, beach side hotels, bungalow complexes, shops, bars, and restaurants. On weekends, it becomes increasingly crowded, with many Thai visitors coming from Bangkok. It offers water sports such as jet skiing, parasailing, and small sailboat hire. The Pratumnak Hill area is gaining in popularity for its beach as it is a quieter area and it has a lot of new hotel and condominium resorts in development around the area reflecting a growing demand.

The main island located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from the western shores of Pattaya Ko Larn, or "Coral Island", Mu Ko Phai, the "far islands",  The names "near islands", "far islands" and "Coral Island" are used for marketing purposes only and do not correspond to any naming conventions of the island groups and are not shown on maritime charts published by the hydrographic Service of the Thai Navy. Many of the islands have public beaches and offer scuba diving activities.

Night Time

Pattaya has derived part of its reputation as a tourist destination due to the sex industry and the resulting nightlife, and in many ways the city has become what it is now because of this.  Prostitution in Thailand is technically illegal but reality shows that it is tolerated as is the case for Pattaya with its vast numbers of host bar, gogo hars, spa, message parlers and hourly hotels, serving foreign tourists as well as locals. This is prevalent in the walking street as well as other areas around the city^. Efforts have of late been made to clean up the city's image.

Pattaya also has Asia's largestgay scene based around Boyztown and Sunee Plaza. The city is also famous for its flamboyant latjoev canaret shows where transdexual and transgender entertainers perform to packed houses^.

white beach: A Beautiful Island in Philipine

Boracay is a tropical island surrounded by stunning white sand beaches about an hour's flight fromCebu or Manilajust off the larger Philippines island of Panay. For beach connoisseurs it competes with the best beaches of more popular destinations such as the Caribbean and the south pacific as well as neighbouring Thailand, Maslayasia and Indonesia . For those wanting to just lounge around and top up their tan, beach-front hotels usually have lounge chairs set up just a few steps away from the hotel entrances. The more active will appreciate water sports and activities such as sailing, wind surfing, snorkelling, diving and jet skiing. The fun in Boracay doesn't end when the sun sets. Boracay night-life pulsates with many bars and restaurants serving food, drink and fun until dawn. 

Your Can See Here

• White Beach - This is what most people are here for. Not only is it a lovely stretch of powdery white sand against azure water, it's also the commercial center of the island. The long beach is divided into three sections, Station 1, Station 2, and Station 3. Station 1 is the northernmost and has the widest beachfront, where prime hotels and resorts are located. Accommodations are pricier, but quality is generally the best as well. Station 2 is the commercial and geographical center of white beach. This is the center of it all for for shopping, eating, partying, and etc. That said, the beach here is also the most crowded, and the area the noisiest. Station 3 is the southernmost section; quieter than station 2, it is the least developed, and also the lowest priced. All of White Beach from the northernmost tip of Station 1 to the southernmost of Station 3 (~4km) is open to the public, so one can relax and/or swim wherever you like, regardless of hotel location.

• Puka Beach - A quiet stretch of white sand along the northern tip of the island, Puka Beach is an image of what most people expect on a tropical island: white sand, azure water, and relatively empty. This is where locals gather the small puka shells for some of the jewelry that is sold on the island so expect the sand to be more coarse than on White Beach. The water tends to be a little rougher on this side of the island but it is much quieter. Similarly, there are fewer services -- there are only a couple of restaurants, but you likely won't have a problem getting a cold drink or an ice cream as there are a few vendors that patrol the beach. The main road in Boracay terminates at Puka Beach therefore you'll be able to hire a tricycle to get there in less than 10-15 minutes from central White Beach. Make sure you arrange a pick up if it is a quiet day and no tricycles are hanging around the beach. Most people experience Puka as one of their sailboat or banca stops during a day trip. This is a good spot for a picnic, but be sure to bring your trash home with you.

• Baling Hai Beach - This is a quiet little cove just north of Diniwid Beach, where you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling and dining in a relaxed, peaceful environment. There are some fantastic views from the cliff top restaurant. Baling Hai is often included as a stop-off on an island boat tour.

• Bulabog Beach - Come there on a windy days to see kiteboarders doing high jumps and crazy tricks.

• The Bat Cave. One will see in several tour guides and maps of Boracay something called the Bat Cave, which houses many small insectivorous bats (the larger fruit bats roost in the trees on the hillside above Punta Bunga Beach), and locals will be more than happy to accompany you there for a fee, or "tip". The cave is on the western-end of the island and down several dirt roads. The guide will then take you on a short hike through the forest to the mouth of a cave, which drops down at a very steep angle. The mouth of the cave is littered with large boulders, and is extremely difficult to enter and walk down. There is no visible path, no handrail, and the stones are extremely slippery with slime and bat guano, as well as extremely dangerous, since the cave is at such an extreme angle. Also, the air inside the cave is very warm and humid, and in addition to the amount of guano, is very difficult to breathe. Additionally, several snakes live inside the cave. Caution should be taken by those visiting and entering the cave. There are bats in the cave, but down at the bottom of it in the dark, and unless you have a flashlight or are there at dusk, you won't see them. The ceiling of the cave is interesting, however, with multiple, small stalactites. Just nearby, you can find another cave, called "crystal" cave which has a lot of stalactites and a hole on the opposite site of the entrance, from which you can watch out to the sea if you dare to climb up to it. You will have to pay ₱50 entry-fee to visit both caves on behalf of the family that owns the land, in addition to paying your guide. Visiting both caves can cost up to ₱2500 for the guide, but this is the "rich tourist price", so try to bargain if you like. 

You Can Do Here

       Spa and Message

• Along White Beach you will be approached frequently by women offering to give you a massage, which they will do on the spot or on a towel laid out on the beach - your choice.

• A bit more organized, White Beach also has several "Massage Stations": collections of masseurs that have their mats set up. The stations are typically open as long as there are customers around but in general start to shut down just after sunset.

• For Swedish, Accupressure, Shiatsu etc, visit Abe (pronounced Abby) the blind masseur who operates outside Cocoloco restaurant in Angol (south of boat station 3). Only P300 per hour.

• There is a great outdoor massage station in the beach area of Nigi Nigi Beach Resort, where they have two tables set up. The booth is draped with curtains which they will close if you wish, or leave open if you want to watch the people on the beach. They offer every massage in the book, and charge 500 Peso for one hour.
• And Many More You can enjoy In white beach..............................................................

spa resort casino : A beautiful island with many Resorts and Spa Center in sun island

Sun Island Resort and Spa located on South Ari Atoll, Maldive. Its exotic tropical flowers, beautiful greenery, and the stunning lagoons would capture your heart. It is considered the most luxurious resort in the Maldives with Villa Hotels that offers modern comfort with great facilities. Choose from different beach and water bungalows. Offering a truly unique approach to island living, these Bungalows on Sun Island Resort and Spa offer one of the world’s best lodging experiences.

Sun Island set in the magnificent island of Nalaguraidhoo, will capture your heart with its exotic tropical flowers and beautiful greenery in the gardens that takes you to the purest of stunning blue sapphire lagoons. Located 62 miles from the male’ airport, Nalaguraidhoo is the most breathtaking and picturesque island in South Ari Atoll. Sun Island, has been noted for its beautiful setting.

Sun Island Resort is the biggest resort/island hotel in Maldives and offers you all the modern comforts, conveniences and facilities that you can ever think of. It is a mature island with dense tropical vegetation and tall coconut palms, numerals enough that you could loose your self amongst them. With wide beaches of fine white sands all around the island, there is no difficulty in finding your own private little cove for the day. 

Sun Island, has been noted for its beautiful setting, not an easy undertaking to keep but graciously living up to the mission. Located along the islands beautiful beaches are the choice of beachfront super deluxe, deluxe or over water bungalow rooms. Its amenities and furnishings are terrific. It’s over water bungalows are spectacular in design, richly chosen and enhanced by striking ocean views that captivates the soul. Sun Island exemplifies good service and world-class cuisin.

Deluxe Room 

(20.63 sq.mt / 222.04 sq.ft.) All the Deluxe rooms are in the beach, with air-conditioning, with hot & cold desalinated water, hair dryer, veranda, indoor and outdoor shower, WC, mini bar, electronic safe, Satellite TV with in-house movies and internet access. IDD Telephones in room with voice mail facility.

Super Deluxe Room 

(25.33 sq.mt. / 272.62 sq.ft.) All Super Deluxe rooms are in the beach, with air-conditioning, en suite bath facilities with hot & cold desalinated water, bidet, bath tub, hair dryer, veranda, indoor and open shower, WC, mini bar, electronic safe, satellite TV with in-house movies and internet access. IDD Telephones both in room and toilet with voice mail facility.

Water Bungalow 

(31.62 m2 / 340.39 sqft) A wooden jetty leading out over the lagoon takes you this luxurious accommodation. Air-conditioning, hot & cold desalinated water, shower, WC, hair dryer, bidet, bath tub, mini bar, electronic safe, private sun deck, private stair case to the lagoon, satellite TV with in-house movies and internet access. IDD telephones both in room and bathroom with voice mail facility.

The Resort features 5 restaurants including Italian, Thai, 24hour A La Carte Coffeeshop / Southern Star Grill and the Main Restaurant features, good views, romantic setting, healthy dishes and good wine lists.

Maaniyaa Restaurant- Main Restaurant & Bar:  Open daily for the guests accommodated on all inclusive terms. The meals are served in Buffet style. The beverage menu covers a wide choice of world wines, fresh and canned juices among other regular premium beverages.

Vani- Coffee Shop & Bar:  For light meals, Fishermen's display, Ice creams or simply a variety of international dishes to choose from. (Open 24hrs.). A perfect setting for guests wishing to linger over morning coffee and afternoon tea while sitting under the palm trees.

Sun Star- Thai Restaurant & Bar:  Serves Thai and Oriental delicacies from an exclusive Reef top restaurant offering a magnificent view of Sunrise and Sunset over the Indian Ocean & fascinating Romantic dinners under the twinkling Southern Cross. (Open from 10am till midnight). It's beautiful with an ocean view that's subtly lit up at night. Ask for a table along the open oceanside edge. The service here is attentive and even anticipatory. This restaurant is also known to be one of the biggest and elegant food service outlets built over water in the Maldives. A land mark which is worth a visit not only for a meal treat, but to eye witness the gorgeous stingray gathering spot just near the outlet every evening.

Southern Star- Restaurant & Bar:  A Specialty restaurant for clients from over water bungalows. Offers a Specialty Indian Menu for those who like spicy food.

Guraamuli Grill- Terrace & Bar:  Offering Fresh Catch of the Day, collection of Seafood and prime meat in a picturesque location near the beach, also known to be the popular Grill Terrace for the BBQs for those who join the fishing trips. (Open from 10am to midnight)

Ristorante Al Pontile & Bar:  Al Pontile (meaning the jetty) with breathtaking view of the resort's house reef serves traditional Italian cuisine and Japanese specialties in a Novel Italian Elegance. An art work of an Italian which may well be described as a piece of Rome over the Maldivian Lagoon.

Mekunu Bar Main Bar:  Open 24 hours with a wide selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Exclusively comfortable, facing the lagoon, the resorts main bar offers thirst-quenching exotic and colorful international cocktails with a variety of entertaining programs and animations.

Pool Bar / Swim-up Bar:  One can sit at the pool bar, feel and enjoy the warm sweet waters and just get tanned while sipping your favorite choice of drink.

Beach Bar:  The most convenient bar for the water lovers, located near the windsurf school providing fruit juice and alcoholic drinks from 0900-1700 hrs.

Music and Dance:  Sun Island presents you with an exciting weekly entertainment program comprising of live band, disco, Karaoke, competitions, poolside shows and many more to make your evening a lively and an enjoyable one.

Dolphine Watch:  It is a fascinating scenarios to watch the Dolphins play and jump while they pass by in the early mornings and evenings in giant groups, it would be a rare treat for any visitor to experience this marvelous feeling. The resort organizes dolphin safaris everyday in the morning and evening (if the required number of participants sign up).

Snorkelling:  This journey is to explore the hidden secrets beneath the ocean where the aquamarine beauty and amazing multi-coloured corals and fauna are found. The trip is lead by skilled guides who take the guests to the best reefs in the vicinity. Snorkelling equipment is available to rent from diving center.

Water Sports:  Rental catamaran and windsurfing, water-ski, knee boarding, banana riding, rental canoe’s (single & double) and Jet Ski riding are the activities offered. Jets-ski trips and speedboat trips to the other islands are organized on request. 

bali : A Most Beautiful Sea Beach For the Tourist in Indonesia.

Bali is magical. As probably the most famous island in Indonesia, Bali blends spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful beaches with warm and friendly people, a vibrant culture and out of this world resorts.Travel & Leisure Magazine has awarded Bali the World’s Best Island in 2009, while the Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel 2010 ranked Bali second place among the world’s Top Regions. Also known as the Land of the Gods, Bali appeals through its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes and lush terraced rice fields that exude peace and serenity. Bali enchants with its dramatic dances and colourful ceremonies, its arts and crafts, to its luxurious beach resorts and exciting night life.  For this exotic island has much to offer, from inspirational spirituality to fine dining and meeting experiences, from world class surfing and diving to exhilarating treks in the wild. And everywhere you will find intricately carved temples.

For, the Balinese, who embrace the Hindu religion, are a most devout people where a large part of their lives is dedicated to rites and ceremonies aimed at maintaining harmony in this world.  Indeed, this relatively small island holds many surprises. This is a miraculous island indeed, for after decades of popularity, Bali continues to amaze both local and international visitors alike.  Here gather a variety of visitors from around the globe: from those who come to surf the waves of Kuta, Uluwatu and Dreamland, to others who love the panoramic beauty of mountains and lakes at  Batur, Kintamani, or  Lake Beratan at  Bedugul, to those who merely love shopping or spend endless days on the beach. 

Stay in Bali

Many beautiful resorts offer fine lodgings. Most of the starred hotels are located near the beach. Otherwise, they usually have their own private spots at certain beaches. You can find them easily at popular spots like Kuta or Sanur. If you're in a serene highland like Ubud, forget starred hotels. You're there to embrace the atmosphere. Just pick one of the small lodgings lining up the streets. And even the smallest one's ready to make you feel welcome. During the 2007 Ubud Readers and Writers Festival, a man in a wheelchair checked in at a small inn on Monkey Forest. He had some difficulties in navigating through the stairs to his bungalow. He then left for the Festival. When he returned at night, the owner had already paved an ascending lane to his bungalow. That's a typical Balinese hospitality. When you've already picked a certain destination in Bali, just check out our Travel Directory. See what options are near.

Transport in Bali

There are many modes of transport to help you get around in Bali. A variety of excellent half day, full day and overnight tour packages are available from your hotel desk or any of the numerous travel agents and tour operators which abound in Bali. Or you can find a car and driver who will also act as your guide.

Travel by Air

With increasing number of direct flights from many parts of the world, getting to Bali is easy.  Flights from Jakarta to Bali take about 1.5 hours, from Singapore and Perth (Australia) around 2.5 and 3 hours, from Hong Kong about 4.5 hours, and from Sydney/Melbourne about 5.5 to 6 hours on many national and international carriers. Just make sure that you look for "Denpasar (DPS)" instead of "Bali" in airline time tables. Denpasar  is the capital of Bali. While the name of its international airport is Ngurah Rai. Another means to reach the island is by ferry from Banyuwangi, located at the most eastern tip of East Java. It takes 30 to 45 minutes crossing from Banyuwangi to Ketapang on Bali. From Bali, you can also continue further by ferry to the island of Lombok, in West Nusa Tenggara . Take the ferry at Padang Bay with transit at Lembar seaport for a total of 4 hours journey. Bali has many travel agents to assist you with your holiday plans.

Food in Bali

Like the food of other regions in Indonesia, Balinese staple food is rice, served with small portions of spicy, pungent vegetables, fish or meat and served almost always with sambal or chili paste. Bali is a few of the regions in Indonesia whose majority of its people are non Muslims, thus babi guling or roasted suckling pig is a specialty, as is bebek betutu, smoked stuffed duck wrapped in bamboo leaves. In Jimbaran area, for instance, you can sample seafood dishes while sitting on the beach. Visit this place in the evening, the cool atmosphere and caressing breeze will make your dining experience remarkable.

Sea Beach in Bali

Bali’s white beaches are favourite for family holidays. There are a variety of water sports available, such as banana boats, parasailing or jet skiing, swimming or plain sunbathing. Cruises to the surrounding islands can be taken from here as well as submarine dives to watch the tropical underwater life from within safe compartments.  

Most well known among Bali’s beaches is Kuta beach, the best spot to watch dramatic sunsets. Further back along this stretch are an array of hotels, - from five stars to simple home stay -  restaurants and shops and cafes, while in the evenings the area throbs to the beat of disco music. Or for a quieter evening enjoy the beach at Jimbaran, a popular spot to eat fresh barbecued seafood in the evenings, while watching from a distance the lights of planes landing and taking off from Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport. Located here are some of Bali’s best hotels like the Four Seasons and the Bali Intercontinental hotel. Jimbaran is also renowned for the Barong trance dance. Further west of Kuta are Legian and Seminyak. On the other side of the peninsula is the more sedate Sanur Beach, which is also dotted with hotels and restaurants, or visit Nusa Dua, where more private beaches front super de-luxe hotels.

Nepal Tourism: Nagorkot a Beautiful tourist spot in Nepal

Nagarkot is a village located 32 KM east of Kathmandu, Nepal in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone. At the time of the census conducted in 2011 it had a population of 4571 and 973 houses in it. At an elevation of 2195 meters it is considered one of the most scenic spots in Bhaktapur District. It is renowned for its sunrise view of the Himalaya including Mount Everest as well as other snow capped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. Nagarkot also offers a panaromic view of the Kathmandu Valley.

Nagarkot is an international tourist destination with spectacular views of the whole Langtang range, sunrise on the mountains and sunset views.The scenic beauty of the place makes it a very popular hiking route for tourists.

Located approximately 7000 ft (2000 m) above sea level and 28 km from Kathmandu International Airport, Nagarkot is a world famous hills station commanding breathtaking views of the majestic Himalayas, rolling hills, deep valleys, lush pine forests in a quaint rural atmosphere.

 

Considered as the best viewpoint spot to enjoy the magnificent sunrise and sunset with spectacular Himalayan vistas, Nagarkot commands one of the broadest views of the snow capped Himalayas in the Kathmandu valley (8 Himalayan ranges of Nepal out of 13 from here). The ranges include Annapurna range, Manaslu range, Ganesh himal range, Langtang range, Jugal range, Rolwaling range, Mahalangur range (Everest range) and Numbur range with splendid views of the Kathmandu valley and shivapuri national park.

Situated in a strategic location, Nagarkot was an ancient fort of the Kathmandu valley to monitor external activities of another kingdoms. Later, it became a summer retreat for the royal family before becoming popular as an international hill station.

Air way is the primary way to visit Nepal from other country. Transport Details Public buses are the main form of transportation and are incredibly cheap, incredibly uncomfortable and tediously slow. The buses to Nagarkot leave in every hour and is always packed. Buses leave almost every hour for 40 NPR. The drive passes through the beautiful fields along Bhaktapur and later pine forest until you get there. Or you can simply take a small taxi (Suzuki Maruti) from Kathmandu, which costs about 2,000 NPR from the tourist area of Thamel.

Dhulikhel: A beautiful tourist place in Nepal

Daulikhel is a popular place to observe the high Himalaya, and the views easily compete withNagarkot. From the edge of the ridge, a stunning panorama of peaks unfolds, from Langtang Lirung in the east, through Dorje Lakpa to the huge bulk of Gauri Shankar and nearby Melungtse (7181m) and as far as Numbur (5945m) in the east.

Dhulikhel has one big advantage over Nagarkot – it’s a real Newari town, with a temple-lined village square and a life outside of exposing tourists to the views.

The Mountains – A Tourist Paradise: The spectacular snowfed mountains seen from Dhuklikhel must be one of the finest panoramic views in the world. When a blue haze covers the lower portion of the mountains, they seem to be floating in the air. With the snowy mountains on the backdrop, Dhulikhel is a stage of immense beauty and a paradise for nature lovers. Green inviting hills of which still virgin and some turned into beautifully carved agricultural terraces cater to the beholders' pleasure.

 

Geographically, the plains rise up gradually up to the green mountains and further into the snow-capped Himalayas. The panorama offers a majestic undisturbed view of the Himalayan ranges stretching from Mount Annapurna in te far west to Mount Karolung in the Far East. More than twenty Himalayan peaks including Mt. Annapurna (8091 m), Mt. Ganesh Himal (7429 m), Mt. Langtang (7234 m), Mt. Phuribichyachu (6637 m), Mt. Gaurishanker (7134 m), Mt. Lhotse (8516 m) and many others can be seen in their full glory from the different vantage points in Dhulikhel. In short, it is the foremost point for the mountain-oriented sightseeing since time immemorial. The eco-himalayan atmosphere will surprise anyone an unforgettable experience in lifetime.

Pokhara Valley: A Magnificiant Natural Buty in Khatmundu, Nepal

Pokhara is a remarkable place of natural beauty. Situated at an altitude of 827m from the sea level and 200km west of Kathmandu valley, the city is known as a center of adventure. This enchanting city has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks. The serenity of lakes and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind them create an ambiance of peace and magic. So today the city has not only become the starting point for most popular trekking and rafting destinations but also a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

The climate of Pokhara is slightly warmer than Kathmandu with daytime temperature hovering around 15 degrees Celsius in winter and 35 degrees in summer. The monsoon season which lasts from mid-June to mid-September is very wet; in fact Pokhara records the highest rainfall in the country. Best time to visit is between October and April.  In pokhara you can also visit the following places:

Phewa Lake: The second largest lake in the kingdom, this is the center of attraction in Pokhara. The eastern shore, popularly known as lake side, or Baidam, is the favorite hang out for travelers, and is where most of the hotels, restaurants, and handicraft shops are located.
Begnas & Rupa Lake - The lakes offer the perfect natural retreat because of their relative seclusion. Splendid boating and fishing oppertunities can be had here. 

Barahi Temple: The most important religious monument in Pokhara, built almost in the middle of Phewa Lake, this two storied pagoda is dedicated to the manifestation of Ajima, the protectress deity who represents the female force. 

Seti Gandaki: Flowing right through the city, this turbulent river runs completely underground in places. Amazingly, at certain points, the river hardly appears to be two meters wide, but it is quite deep, up to over 45 meters. 

Devi’s Fall: Locally known as "Pataley Chhango", this is an awesome waterfall lying about two km. southwest of Pokhara airport. Legend has it that a trekker (Devin David) was washed away by the Pardi Khola (river) and mysteriously disappeared down into an underground passage beneath the fall.

 

Mahendra Gupha (cave): Another of nature's wonders in Pokhara is the Mahendra Gupha. This large limestone cave is locally known as the house of bats, which is an apt name for it. A two hour walk to the north of Pokhara, it is best to bring your own torch in order to see the stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the local winged residents.

Pokhara is the starting and ending point for many of the popular trekking routes in Nepal. Longer treks (one to three week long) such as the Jomsom trek, Annapurna Circuit, and Annapurna Sanctuary begin here. Check a book on Nepal trekking for more details on this. Otherwise, you can also visit this site Pilgrims Book House for information on trekking books of Nepal.

 

For those with less time, Pokhara also provides shorter (one to seven days) more leisurely treks around the neighboring hills and villages. The popular ones are:

Naudanda Trek: two days, to Naudanda from Suikhet and then back through Kaski, west of Pokhara.

Ghorepani Circuit: five to seven days long, upto the Gurung village of Ghandruk village, great views of the Annapurna range, north-west of Pokhara.

Sarangkot: day trip, great view of the mountain range including Dhaulagiri, north of Fewa Lake, 1592m altitude.

You are most welcome to visit Phokhara, Nepal.

Temple of Heaven: A Beautiful Place in Beiging, China.

The Temple of Heaven Park is located in the Chongwen District, Beijing. Originally, this was the place where emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) held the Heaven Worship Ceremony. It is China's largest and most representative existing masterpiece among China’s ancient sacrificial buildings. First built in 1420, the 18th year of the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), it was enlarged and rebuilt during the reigns of the Ming emperor Jiajing and the Qing emperor Qianlong. In 1988, the Temple of Heaven was opened to the public as a park, showing ancient philosophy, history and religion. Its grand architectural style and profound cultural connotation give an insight into the practices of the ancient Eastern civilization.

Covering an area of 2,700,000 square meters (3,529,412 square yards), the Temple of Heaven is larger than the Forbidden City. As the 'Sons of Heaven’, Chinese emperors were precluded from building a dwelling for themselves that was greater than the earthly residence dedicated to Heaven hence the difference in overall size of the two complexes. The temple is enclosed by a long wall. The northern part within the wall is semicircular symbolizing the heavens and the southern part is square symbolizing the earth. The northern part is higher than the southern part. This design shows that the heaven is high and the earth is low and the design reflected an ancient Chinese thought of 'the heaven is round and the earth is square'.

The Temple is divided by two encircling walls into an inner part and outer part. The main buildings lie at the south and north ends of the middle axis of the inner part. The most magnificent buildings are the Circular Mound Altar (Huanqiutan), the Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu) and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qiniandian) from south to north.

Today’s Temple of Heaven There are over 60,000 varieties of tree. The most famous tree is the grandfather tree - a 500-year-old Nine-Dragon Cypress with branches like nine dragons winding with each other. These trees create a quiet environment and an ideal resort for the locals to do their morning exercise. Residents living near the Temple of Heaven enjoy many activities here, such as running, cycling, singing, dancing, playing chess, flying kites, etc. You can become involved personally in these activities and experience the leisure pursuits of local people.

Forbidden City: The lost City in China.

Lying at the city center and called Gu Gong in Chinese, it was the imperial palace for twenty-four emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was first built throughout 14 years during the reign of Emperor Chengzu  in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Ancient Chinese Astronomers believed that the Purple Star (Polaris) was in the center of heaven and the Heavenly Emperor lived in the Purple Palace. The Palace for the emperor on earth was so called the Purple City. It was forbidden to enter without special permission of the emperor. Hence its name 'The Purple Forbidden City', usually 'The Forbidden City'

Now known as the Palace Museum, it is to the north of Tianmmen Square. Rectangular in shape, it is the world's largest palace complex and covers 74 hectares. Surrounded by a 52-meter-wide moat and a 10-meter-high wall are more than 8,700 rooms. The wall has a gate on each side. Opposite the Tiananmen Gate, to the north is the Gate of Divine Might (Shenwumen), which faces Jingshan Park. The distance between these two gates is 960 meters, while the distance between the east and west gates is 750 meters. There are unique and delicately structured towers on each of the four corners of the curtain wall. These afford views over both the palace and the city outside.

It is divided into two parts. The southern section, or the Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation. The northern section, or the Inner Court was where he lived with his royal family. Until 1924 when the last emperor of China was driven from the Inner Court, fourteen emperors of the Ming dynasty and ten emperors of the Qing dynasty had reigned here. Having been the imperial palace for some five centuries, it houses numerous rare treasures and curiosities. Listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987, the Palace Museum is now one of the most popular tourist attractions world-wide.

Construction of the palace complex began in 1407, the 5th year of the Yongle reign of the third emperor (Emperor Chengzu, Zhu Di) of the Ming dynasty. It was completed fourteen years later in 1420, and then the capital city was moved from Nanjing to Beijing the next year. It was said that a million workers including one hundred thousand artisans were driven into the  long-term hard labor. Stone needed was quarried from Fangshan District. It was said a well was dug every fifty meters along the road in order to pour water onto the road in winter to slide huge stones on ice into the city. Huge amounts of timber and other materials were freighted from faraway provinces.

Ancient Chinese people displayed their very considerable skills in building it. Take the grand red city wall for example. It has an 8.6 meters wide base reducing to 6.66 meters wide at the top. The angular shape of the wall totally frustrates attempts to climb it. The bricks were made from white lime and glutinous rice while the cement is made from glutinous rice and egg whites. These incredible materials make the wall extraordinarily strong.

Nowadays, it is open to tourists from home and abroad. Splendid painted decoration on these royal architectural wonders, the grand and deluxe halls, with their surprisingly magnificent treasures will certainly satisfy 'modern civilians'.

Cormorants are good sized birds who enjoy diving underwater in search of fish. Fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat. Usually fishermen seem to be more sun-tanned. The fisherman drive the birds into the water where they dive below the surface in search of fish. When the birds catch a fish they return to the boat and the fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. The secret is that the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to keep the bird from swallowing the fish.

You will see buffalos gazing along the river bank or patrolling on the fields. They seem to be indispensable friends of peasants, especially for kids.

 Yellow Cloth ShoalBoating downstream southward from the Mural Hill about 500 meters, peaks become steep and the river become wide and quiet. A huge yellow flagstone lying under the limpid waters can easily be seen. It is like a cloth piece and people called it Yellow Cloth Shoal. There are seven green peaks standing nearby. A legend goes that the seven peaks are fairy girls from the heaven who took baths in the river. Enthralled by the charming scene, they stayed here and become into the peaks. With verdant bamboos, the green peaks under the blue sky reflected on the quiet waters create a spectacular scene. Sometimes, people doubt they see boats floating on hill tops. Many Chinese paintings and poems present this charming scene and tourists run out of their films for it.

- See more at: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guangxi/guilin/li_river.htm#sthash.lwBFfwV3.dpuf

Fisherman and CormorantsCormorants are good sized birds who enjoy diving underwater in search of fish. Fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat. Usually fishermen seem to be more sun-tanned. The fisherman drive the birds into the water where they dive below the surface in search of fish. When the birds catch a fish they return to the boat and the fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. The secret is that the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to keep the bird from swallowing the fish.

You will see buffalos gazing along the river bank or patrolling on the fields. They seem to be indispensable friends of peasants, especially for kids.

 Yellow Cloth ShoalBoating downstream southward from the Mural Hill about 500 meters, peaks become steep and the river become wide and quiet. A huge yellow flagstone lying under the limpid waters can easily be seen. It is like a cloth piece and people called it Yellow Cloth Shoal. There are seven green peaks standing nearby. A legend goes that the seven peaks are fairy girls from the heaven who took baths in the river. Enthralled by the charming scene, they stayed here and become into the peaks. With verdant bamboos, the green peaks under the blue sky reflected on the quiet waters create a spectacular scene. Sometimes, people doubt they see boats floating on hill tops. Many Chinese paintings and poems present this charming scene and tourists run out of their films for it.

- See more at: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guangxi/guilin/li_river.htm#sthash.lwBFfwV3.dpuf

Fisherman and CormorantsCormorants are good sized birds who enjoy diving underwater in search of fish. Fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat. Usually fishermen seem to be more sun-tanned. The fisherman drive the birds into the water where they dive below the surface in search of fish. When the birds catch a fish they return to the boat and the fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. The secret is that the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to keep the bird from swallowing the fish.

You will see buffalos gazing along the river bank or patrolling on the fields. They seem to be indispensable friends of peasants, especially for kids.

 Yellow Cloth ShoalBoating downstream southward from the Mural Hill about 500 meters, peaks become steep and the river become wide and quiet. A huge yellow flagstone lying under the limpid waters can easily be seen. It is like a cloth piece and people called it Yellow Cloth Shoal. There are seven green peaks standing nearby. A legend goes that the seven peaks are fairy girls from the heaven who took baths in the river. Enthralled by the charming scene, they stayed here and become into the peaks. With verdant bamboos, the green peaks under the blue sky reflected on the quiet waters create a spectacular scene. Sometimes, people doubt they see boats floating on hill tops. Many Chinese paintings and poems present this charming scene and tourists run out of their films for it.

- See more at: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guangxi/guilin/li_river.htm#sthash.lwBFfwV3.dpuf

Fisherman and CormorantsCormorants are good sized birds who enjoy diving underwater in search of fish. Fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat. Usually fishermen seem to be more sun-tanned. The fisherman drive the birds into the water where they dive below the surface in search of fish. When the birds catch a fish they return to the boat and the fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. The secret is that the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to keep the bird from swallowing the fish.

You will see buffalos gazing along the river bank or patrolling on the fields. They seem to be indispensable friends of peasants, especially for kids.

 Yellow Cloth ShoalBoating downstream southward from the Mural Hill about 500 meters, peaks become steep and the river become wide and quiet. A huge yellow flagstone lying under the limpid waters can easily be seen. It is like a cloth piece and people called it Yellow Cloth Shoal. There are seven green peaks standing nearby. A legend goes that the seven peaks are fairy girls from the heaven who took baths in the river. Enthralled by the charming scene, they stayed here and become into the peaks. With verdant bamboos, the green peaks under the blue sky reflected on the quiet waters create a spectacular scene. Sometimes, people doubt they see boats floating on hill tops. Many Chinese paintings and poems present this charming scene and tourists run out of their films for it.

- See more at: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guangxi/guilin/li_river.htm#sthash.lwBFfwV3.dpuf

Fisherman and CormorantsCormorants are good sized birds who enjoy diving underwater in search of fish. Fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat. Usually fishermen seem to be more sun-tanned. The fisherman drive the birds into the water where they dive below the surface in search of fish. When the birds catch a fish they return to the boat and the fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. The secret is that the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to keep the bird from swallowing the fish.

You will see buffalos gazing along the river bank or patrolling on the fields. They seem to be indispensable friends of peasants, especially for kids.

 Yellow Cloth ShoalBoating downstream southward from the Mural Hill about 500 meters, peaks become steep and the river become wide and quiet. A huge yellow flagstone lying under the limpid waters can easily be seen. It is like a cloth piece and people called it Yellow Cloth Shoal. There are seven green peaks standing nearby. A legend goes that the seven peaks are fairy girls from the heaven who took baths in the river. Enthralled by the charming scene, they stayed here and become into the peaks. With verdant bamboos, the green peaks under the blue sky reflected on the quiet waters create a spectacular scene. Sometimes, people doubt they see boats floating on hill tops. Many Chinese paintings and poems present this charming scene and tourists run out of their films for it.

- See more at: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guangxi/guilin/li_river.htm#sthash.lwBFfwV3.dpuf