It took 5 minutes to decide the next tourist place for our summer vacation. I suggested and the whole family readily accepted my suggestion. We decided to go via Mumbai.. After the crowded city like Mumbai we entered in Goa .. Its felt like walking through a real paradise.. Like living our dreams. Goa.. so beautifully it blends the legacies of its Portuguese ancestors and Indian tradition that one can only end up loving every bit of his stay in Goa. The Gothic Churches, Goa Forts, colonial buildings, temples and shrines, villages and Mediterranean hamlets all reflects the colorful and unhurried lifestyle of Goa has its 131-km-long coastline. Long stretched sprawling beaches invite you to sit and sip Goan local made wine’ Feny’. We stayed at Margao city 6 km away from Colva beach.. We spend most of our time in colva and Benaulim beach . In our four days trip, we visited Palolim beach too. This romantic beach is popularly known as the “Lovers Paradise” having crown of palm trees. All the beaches have several shacks. where you can relax and enjoy sipping bear with delicious food.We entered into many sports like para sailing,water sccoter. We were amazed to see the relaxed life style of local people. When you are on bike (which is available on rent if you want), you find a smiling face through from a window. a calm, serene ambience ( only in off season)where you forget all tensions and want to throw your all worries in deep into the sea. We went to Panjim ( Panaji) Panjim is the smallest but pleasant state capital situated on southern bank of the river Mandovi. We chose to spend our evening on the yacht where a DJ night was on and in between the loud music we enjoyed Goan folk dances presented by a local dance group..a heavenly experience on the surface of river and under the star embedded sky. We are back from that paradise but its glorious remembrance has its own trace in our heart ,wishing that if only we could also be part of their care free life. 3 years ago

All of sudden we decided this programme..We means my whole family with sister and her hubby. Bandhavgarh National Park is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India. Before going to that placed I searched about the facts of this park and came to know that Bandhavgarh National Park is spread at vindhya hills in Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh National Park consists of a core area of 105 sq km having steep ridges, forest and open meadows.
Bandhavgarh National Park was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and at present is a famous natural hub for White Tigers. White Tigers, now a major attraction around the world’s zoos, were first discovered in Rewa, not far from here. Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the finest national park in the India and has the distinction of harboring the highest concentration of tigers per unit area of forest. The Bandhavgarh National Park is spread over on area of 448 sq km with a cross area of 105 sq km. At the center of the park is the bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 meters above sea level and surrounding it are a sloping valleys, These valleys end in small, swampy meadows locally known as “bohera”.

Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968. Since then many steps have been taken to retain Bandhavgarh National Park as an unspoilt national habitat for a variety of wildlife peculiar to the area. These includes gaur (Indian bison), sloth bear, leopard, porcupine, wild boar, sambhar and spotted deer, among others and of course, the tiger.
We found a very comfortable resort between in side the forestWe decided to stay in tents… We started our journey from Allahabad U.P. by car And reached around 6 P.M. In the evening. After taking tea and snacks everybody went to allotted tents for littls rest but I explored the area and found that place amazingly beautifull with humming of birds,fresh air. There was a hall with a fire place and behind this there was a beautifull swimming pool made of stones. While I was clicking my camera..Everybody joined me. We took our dinner on a tree house.
Next day we went to the deep forest and had awesome view of tiger’s family resting under a tree. We met wild elephants.We spent almost full day and then came back with storing the scenic beauty on our mind. Such a memorable place. 4 years ago

I could have never believed this logo of Kearala tourism if I didn’t see the beauty of this place from my own eyes..Unbelievable lush green area with no unnatural humane interference. I wondered how could one place remained so intact,so natural that God himself appears in every leaf,every rock.we decided to take route from Wayanad.
Wayanad District;
We were not expecting at all the greens on the hills .The etymology of the word Wayanad is Vayal (paddy) Naad (land); ‘Land of Paddy Fields’. There are many indigeneous tribals in this area. It is set lofty on the majestic Western Ghats with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 Metres above mean sea level. We perticularly visited one resort called vythiri.We were surprised to see its approach road,totally uneven bearing no maintainance. We wondered wheather anybody has ever visited this place..to our utter surprise we found this place so beautiful rested in the corner of little bubbling spring. We had nice tea and moved forward.
Kozhikode(Kalikat);
previously known as Calicut, is an important and scenic town in North Kerala. The name Kozhikode is derived from the Malayalam word for the crowing of a cock. The area around Kozhikode was ruled by local rulers called Zamorins who traded with merchants from Arabia. In 1498 the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed at Kappad Beach, near Kozhikode. After the British grew to become the dominant trading power, Kozhikode, renamed Calicut, became an important British trading outpost. A locally made variety of checked cloth called Calico (from Calicut) was a popular item of export. You can tour the attractions of Kozhikode on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.We stayed only for one night and was most privileged to view see in early morning,luckily we could see Indian Institute of Management. You will find it lovely not only for roam around but for study too,scenic beauty from the institute is beyond imagination.
Alleppey:The Venic of East;
We had so much heard for this place..so were very excited Nowhere else will you find, spread out across the center of town, a unique crisscrossing network of canals & lagoons on which thatch covered country boats punt (houseboats) along leisurely. We spent our one day and night on house boat Just imagine and feel the swaying or the boat with the
rhythm of waves. We had a grand party. People of these boat was so humble and great cook. They served us delicacies of Kerala like aviel, pysome and fresh juicy pineapples. We could never forget these magnificent moments of life. When we left that place, it seemed that we are leaving our heart there. Then we proceeded towards:
Thekkady and Periyar;
The very sound of the word Thekkady conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. Ride across the Periyar forest of Thekkady, which is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India.
The Periyar Widlife sanctuary is spread across 777 sq km, of which 360 sq km is thick evergreen forest, the Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Noted for its geomorphology, diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the Reserve attracts visitors all over the world and is one of the world’s most fascinating natural the wild life reserves. We found a beautiful sprawling lake resting in the lap of lush green hills. They provided steamer service for taking a view of animals roaming there in the forest. Unfortunately we could see nothing but bison grazing there and few fearless dears. Every body was so alert with camera to shoot those animals that I just shouted ‘look at that mouse’ to see the reactions..instantly their camera started rolling..we laghed like a train and after realizing their mistake, people also rolled with laughter.
Finally we came back with loads of memories and DVDs. God knows when we will get opportunity again to view those scenes again. 5 years ago

Actually our target for this vacation was only upto Banalore,capital of Karnataka in India.I came to know that after centuries of the rule of the Western Gangas, Bangalore was captured by the Cholas in 1024 which later passed on to the Chalukya-cholas in 1070. In 1116 the Hoysala Empire, overthrew the Cholas and extended its rule over Bangalore. Modern Bangalore was founded by a vassal of the Vijayanagara Empire, Kempe Gowda I, who built a mud fort and a Nandi Temple in the proximity of modern Bangalore in 1537. Kempe Gowda referred to the new town as his “gandu bhoomi” or “Land of Heroes”.We saw the famous Vidhan Soudha(The paliament) and its beautiful palace.

Vrindavan Garden;
which is on the KRS dam is one of the most visited gardens in India. The musical fountains here have fascinated not only the visitors but they have been taken on silver screen too.We were little disapponted coz we had visited in day light so no musical show was visible there.
Mysore;
Afterwords we took a short tour of Mysore or Mahishur as it was called then, traces its history back to the mythical past, when Goddess Chamundeshwari of Chamundi Hills killed the wicked buffalo-headed demon, Mahishasura. Mysore Dussehra is the celebration of this victory of good over evil. Mysore also has associations with the Mahabharata and King Ashoka of the 3rd century B.C. During the Wodeyar rule Mysore reached the zenith of its glory as a fabled centre of oriental splendour. It is 140 kms from Bangalore.
This city has retained the charm it had acquired during the reign of Wodeyars. Mysore is also known as the city of palace. For centuries Mysore has been visited for sandalwood and silk. The Mysore palace is often compared with the Buckingham palace in England. 5 years ago

This goal has been sitting untouched for too long now. Noting that I’m moving to the otherside of the country in a few weeks, it’s probably a good time to reflect on what I’ve loved about Darwin since moving here a little over a year ago.

Climate I love the fact that I never need to bring a jumper or jacket out with me “just in case” it gets cold. It never gets cold here! During the dry season (May-Sep) the temp is generally 32 degrees C (not F!) with beautiful clear blue skys. During the wet season, you don’t need a jumper, just an umbrella everywhere you go, as it can rain at a seconds notice. But after the rain has passed, everything is glistening, all the vegetation is healthy and green and the temperature drops, giving a nice break from the heat. Providing cyclones stay away, it’s fantastic!

Botanical Gardens I live a few minutes away from the Botanical Gardens and it’s one of my favourite places to go. Nice big grassy areas for picnics or lying around in the shade reading a book, stunning rainforest section with a waterfall and an abundance of wildlife, and great walking tracks too. The Esplanade, East Point Reserve and Fannie Bay are also great spots.

Lack of industrial areas This equals little smog and no ugly areas of the city.

Close to work Nothing is far away (in the immediate township), so shopping centres, work and friends houses are all a stones throw away. Also little traffic means no peak hour and no road rage.

That’s just a handful of the things I love about Darwin. Even though I do love it, I don’t think I could live here forever as it’s so far away from my family. The amount of time I’ve spent up here has been perfect – just like an extended working holiday really! If you are considering visiting the NT, I highly recommend it – this place is amazing. 6 years ago

Well, now that I’ve pretty well settled into the country life, I guess I can write more about what I like about being here! I am NOT a country girl by nature, but there are things that are starting to appeal to me.

This morning I went for a 5 mile walk/jog around the “block” which is all dirt roads with lots of flora and fauna this time of year. Today I saw TONS of butterflies and dragonflies, a couple of chipmunks, and a painted turtle crossing the road. Other times I’ve gotten to see rabbits, groundhogs, and white-tailed deer. Nearly every time I “get” to see a crazy pit bull who is not fenced or tethered to his house in any way, as he likes to chase me and bark at top volume. Good thing I’m not afraid of dogs! A lot of folks on my route also keep horses and cows, so that’s fun to see.

While the ones that chase me are annoying, I like that the dogs can have some room to run around and bark if they want to without pissing off the neighbors. My dogs are fenced in, but the love their big yard so much.

I’m so excited for the crops to start coming up so I’ll be able to find lots of fresh local produce! Not only at the farmer’s market, but people who just grow for themselves always have too much so they tend to set a table at the end of their driveway. Just pick what you want, leave the money in the shoebox. Great system!

Another thing that’s nice is having family close by. I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with my folks and it has been extremely pleasant. Plus, we’re not TOO far from the northern Detroit suburbs so it’s just an hour drive or so to civilization (real stores, non-mullet hair salons, etc).

I think I like it here! 7 years ago

When I was a kid growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, I thought Ann Arbor was the coolest town in the world. It had the University of Michigan. In the summer, the Ann Arbor Art Fairs drew 100,000 people to enjoy the displays and festivities. In addition, there were hippies, punks, skateboarders, wonderful shops and good restaurants.

25 years later, it’s still true.

Ann Arbor is a cosmopolitan small town. The University draws students and researchers from all over the world. It is, I have to say, a great place to raise kids. There’s always a lot going on, and it’s safe and easy to get around. We’ve got a cool downtown to hang out in, Top of the Park Summer Festival, the Neutral Zone, good transportation system, a beautiful Arboretum. I’m happy to live here! 7 years ago

There’s an old Chinese saying—You are not a true man if you haven’t been to the Great Wall; it’ll be a great pity if you don’t try Peking Duck.

Each time when my foreign friends asked me about the can’t-miss things in Beijing, I always told them—the Great Wall and Peking Duck.

Born and raised in Beijing, I think Beijing is the heart of China—it’s one of the cities with the richest cultural backgrounds in China.

Beijing is an ancient yet modern city; It’s an ideal place to explore ancient China’s magnificent civilization and stately history.

Hike on the Great Wall at Badaling, which has functioned both as a barrier to marauding “barbarians,” and as an elevated highway for people and goods.

Visit to the fabled Ming Tombs, resting place of 13 emperors and their treasures to peer at the luxurious imperial tombs and their stories.

Enjoy a slice of Beijing life when tour the Hutongs via a pedicab.

Sit in an old-world Beijing setting, drink the best teas in China and watch all kinds of trditional Chinese performance at Lao She Teahouse.

And the list goes on…

But I’d say that the most fansinating side of Beijing is its people. Beijingners are famous for their hospitalities and passion. To prepare for the Olympic Games in 2008, even people at the age of my grandparents’ are learning English now!

As a Beijingner, I’m proud. I’d say, China-truly Asia and Beijing-truly China! 7 years ago

Orissa… Soul of India
One of my relatives lives in Bhubaneswar Orissa,so I had an opportunity to visit that place,also known as The soul of India.Orissa is famous for sandy palmcovered beaches, nature, wildlife and religious architectural monuments .These monuments are so lively that they seem to talk ..reveal their own mystery. We planned to visit Puri first.We had heard that after staying 3 to 4 days,one can attain ‘moksha’(come out of the circle of reincarnation and be one with God),so we were thrilled and excited to visit this holy place,we were fortunate enough to witness the ritual of Jagannath Puri Rath yatra,Puri was over crowded that time,so we came to its beautiful and amazingly clean beach( nonvegaterian food is prohibited in this city,so no scattered egg shells around) to enjoy water.We came back same day.Next day we went to see The Sun Temple (the Black Pagoda),Black Pagoda is a 13th century architectural marvel. Designed as a celestial chariot of the sun. Sun tample is famous for its erotic scluptures showing every aspect of life and you will find lively dance poses sculpture in NATYA MANDIR.The Chariot at Konarak of the Sun God sits on 12 pairs of wheels.. is drawn by 7 horses, representing the seven days of a week and 24 spokes in the wheel representing hours in a day. Bathing on konark see beach is strictly prohibited,cuz beach is uneven and rocky. But we were astounded just looking at the picturesque beauty at the time of sun set.We came back same day.Next day we planned to visit Bhubaneswar itself. Bhubaneshwar is said to have 21,000 temples. The ancient city of Bhubaneshwar (Bhuban being world and Iswar God) is a walk down centuries of temple architecture. It is probably the only city in the world that enables an authentic over-view of the stages of development of Hindu religious architecture. People still follow their rituals religiously.You may still find regular dances by the ‘Devadasis’ or divine servant girls. In the fast moving world of today these temples are a gentle reminder of the splendor and heritage.On the contrary Bhubaneswar is matching steps in modernisation.Architecturally, its a very beautiful and systematically planned city.We used to take a stroll in the evenings,cool breeze was soothing after hot and humid afternoon.We were there for five days and enjoyed every moment of our stay. 7 years ago

I’ve lived in Manila all my life – except for a short stint in Melbourne, Australia – but still I keep finding out so much more about this place that I call home.

One thing I love about Manila is the nightlife. There’s so many clubs, bars, restaurants, videoke bars, etc that you can choose from! And the local music scene is totally awesome. Beer is hella cheap at Php20 (less than US$1!). My favorite haunts include 6 Underground, Cafe Saguijo and Conspiracy where a lot of up-and-coming local bands perform live every night.

For arts and culture, there’s always the museums – the National Museum and the Ayala Museum top my list. The Ayala Museum have a permanent exhibit of my favorite Filipino painter (Fernando Amorsolo) plus lots of international exhibits. The old city of Intramuros and Fort Santiago are great for history buffs – these date back to the Spanish occupation which lasted for 300 years (1500s to 1800s).

A short drive from the heart of the city gets you to quick weekend getaways ranging from the beaches in Batangas, the Taal Volcano (smallest volcano in the world) that can be trekked (volcano trekking is very popular here), the Taal Lake where a particular kind of fish can only be found here in the entire world, a butterfly farm in Marikina, and the La Mesa Dam where families can do a variety of activities (picnics, hiking, swimming, boating, etc).

Sunset in Manila Bay is famous all over, with good reason. They’re absolutely gorgeous. And lately, they’ve developed the area around the bay so that there are a lot of outdoor restaurants with live music lining up the banks (called Baywalk) which make for a great night out.

I also love Manila for the gastronomic pleasure it brings. Aside from Filipino food (of course), there’s Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Ethiopian, Thai, Vietnamese, German, French, Mediterranean, Greek, Spanish, Korean, fusion, etc. Not to mention the little informal shops that line streets where you can get cheap barbecued meat, grilled fish, fishballs, squidballs, grilled chicken intestines, quail eggs, duck eggs, and a whole lot of other “exotic” fare. It’s so hard for me to pick any favorite restaurant as there’s so many good ones out there – Antonio’s in Tagaytay, Cafe Breton with their delicious crepes, the native Filipino food at Kamayan and Dencio’s…there’s a lot!

Shopping is practically a national sport. We’ve got so many malls all over the place; I’ve never seen so many malls in one city anywhere else in the world. Aside from the malls where local (Bench, Human, Maldita, Folded & Hung, Kamiseta, and so many more) and foreign boutiques (which include top brands such as Chanel, Prada, Topshop, Charles & Keith, Nine West, Louis Vuitton, and so much more) stand side by side, we have so many bazaars and second-hand shops where you can get great bargains. Greenhills is the shopping mecca of any fashionista, where you can get branded items at a third of their prices and where everything from pirated DVDs, clothes, furniture, and jewelry are sold. 7 years ago

is world reknowned for blending cowboys and culture. It is a unique combination of cosmopolitan and small town lifestyles all within an hour’s drive.

The metroplex covers 12 counties and a multitude of towns that each have something unique to offer. If you enjoy the bright city lights and a fast pace you will be right at home in Dallas or Fort Worth. But, if you prefer a quieter, more serene lifestyle where your nearest neighbor is a half mile away, there are beautiful country estates to call home.

The Trinity Railway Express is a relaxing, affordable train ride between Dallas and Fort Worth that connects the two cities for your fun and enjoyment.

You can visit world class museums in Fort Worth like the Kimbell Art Museum or take your children to the IMAX Theatre at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History or spend the day reliving the Old West in the Historic Stockyards.

In Dallas you can take the family for a day at the Dallas Zoo , explore the West End cultural district or spend a beautiful afternoon at White Rock Lake. Then stop by the Farmer’s Market for an epicurian adventure.

Arlington is in between Dallas and Fort Worth and claims to be the fun center of the metroplex…Six Flags Over Texas Amusement Park and Hurrican Harbor are popular family vacation destinations for people all over the Southwest.

This area is home to many championship sports teams including the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, and the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas/Fort Worth is also the host of the PGA Byron Nelson and Colonial golf tournaments each May.

NASCAR at the Texas Motor Speedway is a popular pasttime in North Texas as is watching the bull riding at the Mesquite Rodeo.

Music lovers have live music at a myriad of local night clubs for anyone’s musical pleasure. Both Dallas and Fort Worth are home to world class symphony orchestras, ballet companies and live theater productions. Add in special concerts at American Airlines Center, The Myerson, Nokia’s NextStage , the Bass Performance Hall or Billy Bob’s of Texas – there is always someone here to entertain and delight you.

For quieter outings, you can take a short drive to Dinosaur Valley State Park in nearby Glen Rose, where you can walk in the footsteps of the giants that roamed North Texas millions of years ago. Or you can go see the 32 endangered species living at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center before they become extinct.

North Central Texas has something interesting for everyone.

Gee, this sounds like it was written by a Realtor :) 7 years ago

Kullu – Manali – Gateway to the Himalayas

In the year 2002,in the month of June We decided to go Vaishnav Devi,(a religious place in Jammu),I had 10 days vacation in my hands,we got down at Pathankot and were planning to hire a cab to go to katra.Then suddenly I saw a tourism hoarding,which was displying a a beautiful moutain range clad with snow,it was only 340 km. away,in impulse we decided to go to kullu-manali in Himanchal pradesh firstly,instead of going to the Vaishnav Devi.Later it became a memorable experience.
Manali in Himachal Pradesh, India derived its name from Manavalaya i.e. the abode of Manu. According to myth, Manu the divine law-giver, was the only survivor of the Mahajal Pralay – the great flood – and is said to have fathered the human race. He certainly chose enchanting environs. When we entered Manali we were spellbound to see its beauty With the majestic grandeur of the Himalayas on one side, river Beas cutting across the town, verdant valleys with rolling meadows and grazing herds dotting the hillsides, apple orchards,when we were passing through a resort we saw a folk group dancing that was awesome, folk music was adding romance to the ambience and presenting a wondrous canvas. We decided to stay in a hotel,when local guide infomed about Rohtang Pass – Situated at an altitude of 3979 mtrs above sea level and 51 kms outside Manali is the mighty Rohtang Pass – the gateway to Lahaul-Spiti valley. Open for just about four months a year, it affords a wide panoramic view of the mountains. Here one sees the majesty of the mountains at its height and splendour. At the top of the pass the air seems to glitter against the snow as you look down over herringboned ridges into the Lahaul valley. There is the beautiful Dashohar Lake left of the pass. A few km away from the pass is the Sonapani glacier and slightly to the left are the twin peaks of the Gaypan-jagged pyramid of rock, snow streaked and snow crowned. When we reached there,there was steep climbing to reach at the highest peak,we put on snow shoes and hold a stick to support,climbed at the top. Bubbling with excitement we made a snowman and then slipped from the snow. An Yak was waiting there,so we took a ride and ate at local Dhaba. WE explore Manali and visited Tibetan Market and Mall: The Tibetan Market is an interesting cluster of shops. It was nice to browse around for knick knacks, handicrafts and imported goods. Rahalla Falls – 16 km from Manali town at the start of the climb to the Rohtang Pass, at an altitude of 2501m.
Jagatsukh Temple – About 6 km from Manali is the famous Shiva Temple in “shikara” style and nearby is the old and interesting Devi Sharvali Temple.
Hadimba Temple – Also known as the Doongri Temple, this four-tiered pagoda-like wooden temple stands in a clearing amid tall and stately deodar trees and has beautiful carvings on its ornamental door. Dedicated to Hadimba, the wife of Bhim, this temple is the venue for an annual fair held during May.
Vashist Spring – Across the Beas river, about 3 km away from Manali, at an altitude of 1,982 meters (6,200 feet), are the natural sulphur springs. The village itself is perched on a steep hillside across the river Beas.
Tibetan Monastery – This is new and colorful. A pleasant place to visit.
Beas Kund – The famous Beas Kund, the source of the Beas river, at the Rohtang Pass is easily accessible. The great rishi, Vyas performed “Tapa” here during the Mahabharat times.
Manikaran: 85 km from Manali and 45 km from Kullu, lies in the Parvati Valley, the holy pilgrimage place of Manikaran. Here icy cold waters of the Parvati river co-exists with boiling water side-by-side. The hot water springs are reputed for their healing properties.
On return we experienced the local color and quaint villages and the vibrant and festive mood of the people and their colorful clothes and handicrafts.ANd Ofcourse we went to Vaisnav Devi to offer our prayers. 7 years ago

I love this goal-thanks for the invitation, Kindredsp! It is so great to learn about where ya’ll are from-there are so many new places I want to visit now! 7 years ago

I lucked into the upper west side and every year I am here I realize just how lucky that was for me. Every neighborhood in New York is so diverse and distictive. These are some things I love about my neighborhood:
1.Lincoln Center
2.The Museum of Natural History
3.I am one block from Starbucks, Loews movie theater, Barnes and Noble, a Post Office and Tower records—though these are not independently owned they make life nice and I buy alot of my books from little bookstores(I just started buying from an indie bookstore but I still like browsing at 11pm in Barnes and Noble)I sometimes rent movies from Tower and I only buy Starbucks organic coffee(wow!since joining the group”buy only from independent retailers for 14 days” I feel a little weird and defensive about going to these places!)
4.Lincoln Plaza and Walter Reade movie theaters
5.I can look out my window and see the park
6.Central Park
7.I feel safer on my block than almost anywhere in the world—all the buildings on my block have doormen and ABC studios are across the street and there is always security there.
8.Isabella’s, Shun Lee, Lenny’s, Bick Nick’s Too, Ollies, Fred’s, River,Cafe Luxemborg,the parlor at the Cafe des Artistes and this little bistro on columbus that I can never remember the name—all good restaurants!
9.It has a real family feeling-there are more children in the upper west side than any other neighborhood(I just read this in some magazine)and lots of dogs-it just has a really cozy feeling about it
10. It has great little shops on Broadway, Amsterdam and Columbus
11. Great Farms Deli and 67th Street Wine and Liquors
12. Riverside Park
13. Since I live in what would be the lower upper west, mid-town is just a quick walk through Central Park
14. It is very liberal and feels like everyone is accepted—this is one of the most important things to me
I know I am leaving so much out of this—I think New York is one of the most amazing cities on earth. 7 years ago

Last year in the month of March we planned to go to Sikkim,we found Sikkim a paradise of natural beauty, land of monumental mountains that seems to touch the heavens. Sikkim lies-sandwiched with Nepal in the west and Bhutan in the East. The edge of the Tibetan Plateau more or less demarcates the northern border with Tibet. This small but beautiful land is towered by Mount Kanchendzunga, the third highest mountain in the world, “Houses of the five treasures”.With 200 Buddhist monasteries dotted across the tiny land, the influence of Buddhism is everywhere. Even in the remotest hamlet, the fluttering of prayer flags are a constant reminder of the teachings of Lord Buddha.We stayed at Gangtok.Gangtok, the “Lofty Hill” or the “Hill made flat to build the Gangtok monastery in 1716”. Gangtok is a city, which, till one sees it, one would believe exists only in picture-story books, in the distance are the snows, on the streets amidst brightly painted pagoda roofed houses, lined with friendly smiling people are silver, silk and spice and jewellery to gladden an maiden’s heart.We were there for three days,so we planned out trip carefully.First day we went to see Changu Lake With an average depth of 50 ft, this lake is situated 35 km from Gangtok at an altitude of 12,000 ft on the Gangtok – Nathu-la highway.Its cool, placid water is in the perfect harmony with the scenic beauty around. A small temple of Lord Shiva is constructed on the lakeside. Primulae flowers and other alpine vegetation grow wild around the lake. Normal breathing was impossible,it took efforts to walk on hills but we climbed on highest peak,it was breath taking view, We bet to each other that we will surely meet a YETI:),after that we went to Ganesh Tok
It is situated on a ridge and is only 7-km from Gangtok. From this spot one gets birds view of sprawling Gangtok town down below while across the hills Mt. Khangchendzonga and Mt. Siniolchu loom over the horizon. A cafeteria serves hot tea/coffee and snacks.
Hanuman Tok:It is 11-km from Gangtok town, above Ganesh Tok with a Hindu temple where the devotees come and offer prayers.Local market was beautifull,we bought token gifts for our friends.I wish I could go again. 7 years ago

It seems that I’m the one who haven’t dropped anything here~ hehe

Currently I’m studying, working and living in Shanghai. Though I don’t have much feeling towards it, it surely a fascinating city, to me, probably the most exciting city in China. Here, I feel anything is possible, for most aspects. Good shopping paradise, just after Hongkong since we still need to pay tariff for most import goods. But you can find anything you want here. And there is the most famous Xiang Yang Market, where you can buy a fake LV handbag or Tiffiny rings with very cheap price. Also some fabulous bars, for every styles. Even the daughter of Clinton had delayed her flight due to a Jazz bar called Cotton when her dad was visiting here.

I do think Shanghai is a non-political center of China, from finance, trading to culture, food, and life style. When my friend heard that I might study in the USA later this year, she recommended countrysides cos since I’d been to Shanghai, NYC might not excite me much. They are very similar.

The bad things here are obvious. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening. There are some who live in 100million RMB villa and also many living on the street and begging. We may not have weaponed robbery but we do have pocket thrives. Another thing is the weather: too cold and humid in winter and too hot and humid in summer (more than 38 Celsiur Degree)....killing me…If you are interested, you can find more from www.shanghaiist.com a blog made by some foreigners living here. 7 years ago

what do you find fascinating about YOUR place, hmm?

we all want to know. 7 years ago

Few days back I had an oppurtunity to visit Rajasthan,A place of amazing legends of heroism and romance still resound from its equally amazing architecture, that still stands to narrate its tale of a bygone era. The magic of Rajasthan is unequalled in the world for its heritage, culture, safaris, sand dunes and lush green forests with its wildlife. Rajasthan is often expressed as huge open-air museum with relic,We visited Jaipur with its surroundings. The old Jaipur painted in Pink can grip any visitor with admiration. Stunning backdrop of ancient forts Nahargarh, Amer, Jagarh and Moti Dungri are dramatic testimonials of the bygone era and a reminder of their lingering romance.We stayed there in an old heritage hotel,It was thrilling to be treated like queens and kings of old times.We enjoyed the sloppy sand dunes,in Jaipur. We went to a local resort Chokhi Dhani where we had typical rajasthani cuisin had fun doing free swings,camel rides.We stayed there for three days,it was like heaven. I recommend you all to visit this beautiful place of heroism and romance. 7 years ago

is not really a city to go sightseing in, although there are things to see (the aquarium, the umeda sky building, dotombori bridge, Osaka castle) – but it’s great for eating out!
My neighborhood is quite a sterile business district, and the area immediately surrounding our apartment is populated by convenience stores and 24 hour restaurants. A five minute ride up the road though and it’s a different story – there are old shopping arcades and winding, labyrinthine streets. For me this sums up Osaka perfectly – not the prettiest city in the world, but look around and you’re bound to find something of interest.
_{I first posted this on 43places. The picture was taken at Namba Station, somewhere between the Midosuji and Nankai lines.}7 years ago

I moved to this area shortly after college because it offers a lot of big city amenities without too many big city drawbacks. Compared to larger cities, traffic (and commuting) is not so bad. When I first moved to Richmond, the murder rate was very high, but misleading—almost all of it was concentrated in certain segments of the city, and almost always involved drugs. (The rate is now much lower, and in Mechanicsville, where I live, it is almost nil.)

However, Richmond has many of the cultural and social offerings a larger city offers (perhaps now quite as varied), and there is so much to do here—museums, concerts, shows, restaurants, clubs, opportunities because of the James River (fishing, rafting, swimming, climbing, etc.). And when you need a change of scenery, the Atlantic Ocean is just two hours to the east, the Blue Ridge Mountains are about two hours to the west, the offerings of our nation’s capital are two hours to the north, and North Carolina is two hours to the south.

When we bought our house, the prior owners had a sign that read:
I wasn’t born in Mechanicsville, but I got here as fast as I could.
I think that sums it up for me. 7 years ago

it’s a town with lot of cars, people and tourists but we still can find a serene place for exercising and breathing… 7 years ago

I’m in the midst of moving, so instead of describing my locale I’ll describe my home!

What’s cool about my house is all the toys! We have a big screen TV, surround sound, lots of DVD’s, a PS2 and games (including dancing games like DDR and Groove). We have tons of board games too, which we don’t play very often but will very soon because our new house will have them out on display so it will occur to us more often. In fact, instead of a “normal” dining room we are getting an air hockey table! There will also be a dart board in the corner, and the room has built-in shelving for all those board games. Someday we may get a kegerator!

Upstairs in our guest room we’ll have the PS2 and games, plus a very cool retro futon (that can be pushed aside for the dancing games) and a mini fridge. It all sounds like fun to me!

Also there is a sun room attached to the back of the house where I will practice lots of yoga and even bring some students in for classes. It has a pine floor, 3 walls of windows, and a stone fireplace in the corner.

One really cool thing about the house is that my parents lived there for 18 years, so it has a lot of their energy there and I feel so comfortable. They still live nearby, about a 1/4 mile back into the 46-acre piece of land! So we will be able to hang out together a lot! It will be so good to be close to family! 7 years ago

—Let me count the ways.

The city spreads for many miles along the western shore of Lake Michigan. And we are blessed to live just a few blocks from the lake! Lake Michigan is huge; its waves splash on the shore like smallish ocean waves. In fact, some of our friends who have visited from other countries have insisted, “But that has to be an ocean! You can’t see to the other side!”

We live on the far north side of the city, & to get to the Loop (downtown area) we can catch the El (elevated train) at a station just two blocks from us. Or we drive south on Lake Shore Drive, which, true to its name, hugs the shoreline. The view is always spectacular.

The northernmost neighborhoods next to the lake-Uptown, Edgewater & Rogers Park-are supposed to be the most diverse neighborhoods in the whole United States. Historically, this was where many impoverished refugees & other immigrants could find affordable housing. There are 80-some nationalities & 60-some languages represented in the area. You can imagine what that means in terms of food! There are amazing ethnic restaurants—Ethiopian, Nigerian, Vietnamese, Thai, Cuban, Peruvian, Colombian, Mexican, Chinese, Persian, Indian, Pakistani, Afghan, Japanese, Turkish, Bosnian, etc. etc. etc.

I love it that when I walk around the neighborhood I may hear a number of different languages spoken within a short time.

I’ve found things to love about every place I’ve lived as an adult—but this place feels most like home to me. 7 years ago