learn about 43 new places by finding out " What you like and find fascinating about your place?"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.