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Venice-5 Things Not to Miss

ar1000lonelyplaces — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Venice is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, with its large collection of beautiful churches, museums and the world famous canals and the awesome experience of travelling leisurely on a boat enjoying the magnificent views the city has to offer. Founded fifteen hundred years ago on a cluster of mudflats in the centre of the lagoon, Venice rose to become Europes main trading post between the West and the East. Cohabiting with the ocean, Venice has a closer relationship to nature than most cities, but at the same time its one of the most artificial places on earth. Here is my pick of 5 things not to miss when you go to Venice.

The Basilica di San Marco
San Marco is the most exotic of Europes cathedrals and one of the most visited ones. The combination of ancient structure and later decorations is, to a great extent, what makes San Marco so bewildering.The Gothic arches and carvings on the roofline of the main facade are not what you would expect to see on top of squat, rounded Byzantine arches, and the garish seventeenth to nineteenth-century mosaics that dominate this front must be the worst aesthetic mismatch in all Italy. But this exactly is what makes this church a perplexing architectural miracle.

The porphyry figures of the Tetrarchs and the horses of San Marco. The Main facade, the North and South facades. On the main facade, the only mosaic to survive is the scene above the Porta di Sant Alipio, The Arrival of the Body of St Mark.

The Accademia

You can see one of Europes finest specialized art collections in the famous Gallerie dell Accademia. San Along with Marco and the Palazzo Ducale, the Accademia completes the triad of obligatory tourist sights in Venice. The icon-like Byzantine influenced figures of Paolo Veneziano, works by Giovanni Bellini, Cima da Conegliano and Vittore Carpaccio forms the priceless collection of this gallery. Carpaccios strange Crucifixion and Glorification of the Ten Thousand Martyrs of Mount Ararat is the most gruesome painting here. Works from the Italian giants Tintoretto, Titian and Veronese also finds space here.

This gallery houses works from two of Venices most significant artistic dynasties, the Vivarini and Bellini families.Giovanni Bellini is represented by the intense portrait of The Blessed Lorenzo Giustinian, while Vivarini by the Madonna and Child with Saints Andrew, John the Baptist,Dominic and Peter. Another remarkable work here is Carpaccios Story of St Ursula, painted for the Scuola di Sant Orsola at San Zanipolo.

San Giorgio Maggiore

Lets move to see one of the most fabulous views of Venice. Palladios church of San Giorgio Maggiore facing the Palazzo Ducale across the Bacino di San Marco, is one of the most prominent and familiar of all Venetian landmarks. It is a startling building, whose isolation almost forces you to have an opinion as to its architectural merits. The Venetians were the first to cover church interiors with white stucco, and the technique is used to dazzling effect in San Giorgio.

The most compelling feature of this building is the campanile, which stands on the churchs summit. The San Giorgio campanile surpasses that of San Marco as the best vantage point in Venice, because it has the advantage of being slightly detached from the main part of the city, giving you a panorama that includes many of the canals and magnificent buildings.

Possagno

My fourth pick is the famous sculpture habitat Possagno. As you approach Possagno, a small town lodged at the base of Monte Grappa, one of the strangest sights in the Veneto hits you a huge temple that rises above the houses like a displaced chunk of ancient Rome. It was built by Antonio Canova, one of the dominant figures of Neoclassicism and the last Italian sculptor to be generally regarded as the most accomplished living practitioner of his art. Shortly after Canovas death in 1822, all the working models that had accumulated in his studio in Rome were transported to Possagno, and here, an annexe (the Gipsoteca) was built onto the Canova house for the display of the bulk of the collection.

Canovas range will make surprise you because of its variety. You will find portraits, images of classical heroes, the funerary monument for Maria Christina of Austria, and a large Deposition, a bronze version of which is to be found in the Tempio. Canovas skill in depicting the intense feelings is brought to light by two overpowering tableaux of violence, each over 3m high, Hercules and Lichas and Theseus and the Centaur , while the adjoining room, tastefully added in 1957 by Carlo Scarpa, displays a more intimate and even erotic side, including a Sleeping Nymph and the famous Graces.

Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Venice is underendowed with paintings by Titian, its most illustrious artist.Apart from the Accademia and the Salute, the Frari is the only building in Venice with more than a single first-rate work by him.
Titians Assumption ,is well places for us to see as we look towards the high altar through the monks choir. A piece of compositional and colouristic bravura for which there was no precedent in Venetian art, no previous altarpiece had emphasized the vertical axis over the horizontal.

The Assumption, nevertheless fits its surroundings perfectly. The spiralling motion of the Apostles and the Virgin complements the vertical movement of the surrounding architecture, an integration that is strengthened by the coincidence between the division of the paintings two major groupings and the division of the windows in the chancel. The other Titian masterpiece here, the Madonna di Ca Pesaro was equally innovative in its displacement of the figure of the Virgin from the centre of the picture.

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. We at 1000lonelyplaces.com truly believe in this statement and through our blog, we strive to inspire people all over the world to travel. You can find unexplored travel destinations, holiday hotspots, luxury resorts, spas, travel tips and much more in our blog. For more travel information and a free travel e-book visit http://www.1000lonelyplaces.com/

Cat Island Bahamas, A Lonely Paradise for Honeymooners

ar1000lonelyplaces — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Cat Island is a slender 48-mile-long boot-shaped slice in Bahamas, no more than four miles wide at any one point until it reaches the sole in the far south, where its width triples. Lush and hilly by Bahamian standards, Cat has some of the best soil for farming in the Bahamas, and consequently boasts more vegetation and animal life than other islands. Life remains quiet here most days, though things can heat up during the Cat Island Regatta in August, which attracts hundreds of yachters, and the boisterous Cat Island Music Festival in June, which celebrates homegrown rake n scrape folk music.

The geography
North to south, a single smooth and well-paved Queens Highway runs the length of the island. The southern end of the island presents great opportunities for diving, with steep underwater cliffs and offshore reefs, while the entire east coast, accessible only by dirt roads, offers a continuous strand of idyllic seaside, with hidden coves and rugged shores.The west coast, with its mud creeks and estuaries, is a fine bonefishing hideout.

South Cat is centred on New Bight, a relatively sprawling settlement two miles in length that serves as Cats administrative centre and is the gateway to the boot of Cat Island. North Cat is anchored by the charming settlement of Arthurs Town, the pre-Hollywood home of Sidney Poitier. The whole north coast is one continuous beach, though often fronted by dramatic steep cliffs and broken by isolated coves. There are several choice beaches on the island, starting with Fernandez Bay, just north of New Bight and an exquisite curve of white sand and turquoise sea in a sheltered cove. The Atlantic beaches are wilder, harder to reach, and home to big waves and high winds a tempting challenge for windsurfers and swimmers.

At the southern end of the island, Greenwood Beach is eight miles of gorgeous blush-coloured sand washed by crashing surf. Towering over the island terrain near New Bight, Mount Alvernia stands 206ft above sea level the highest point in the Bahamas and offers a sweeping view of the islands rolling terrain and coastline.

How to get there?
There are two airports on Cat Island, the small Arthurs Town Airport in the north and the more heavily used New Bight Airport servicing the south. As most accommodations are clustered towards the islands southern end, most visitors will want to land at the latter.

Diving and Watersports
While the Atlantic or north coast is storm-tossed, Cat Islands south coast, from Columbus Point in the east to Devils Point in the west, is one of the most spectacular diving sites in a region filled with impressive choices. Here along the coast, the reef wall begins at only around 50ft and drops off steeply into a variety of gulleys, chimneys, canyons and troughs. The best dive sites along the south shore include Black Coral Wall, The Maze, Vladys Reef, The Anchor, The Cut and The Cave.
One must-see for experienced divers is the Tartar Bank, an offshore pinnacle that does not so much feature coral as huge schools of pelagic triggerfish, many sharks, spadefish, barracuda, jacks and eagle rays. It lies sixteen miles southeast of Cat, a boat ride of at least 45 minutes, and the best time to dive it is November to January, though the weather can be wild.

Top 5 Places to See in Moscow

ar1000lonelyplaces — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Moscow is one of those beautiful European cities where one can experience a calm harmony of modernity and ancient cultural heritage.In this article we suggest you our picks of 5 must see places in Moscow.We are sure this will be a remarkable journey.

Bolshoy Theatre

Bolshoy Theatre is home to one of the oldest, and probably the most famous, ballet companies in the world. The first Bolshoy Theatre opened in Moscow in 1780 and presented masquerades, comedies and comic operas. It burnt down in 1805, but its successor was completed in 1825 to a design by Osip Bove and Andrey Mikhaylov.This building too was destroyed by fire, in 1853, but the essentials of its highly praised design were retained in Albert Kavos reconstruction of 1856.

The main features of the Theatre are given below

Beethoven Hall
This ornately decorated room was formerly known as the Imperial Foyer. It is now used for occasional chamber concerts and lectures. The stuccoed decoration on the ceiling includes approximately 3,000 rosettes and the walls are adorned with delicately embroidered panels of crimson silk.

Royal Box
Situated at the centre of the gallery, the royal box, hung with crimson velvet, is one of over 120 boxes. The imperial crown on its pediment was removed in the Soviet era but has now been restored.

Apollo in the Chariot of the Sun
This eye-catching sculpture by Pyotr Klodt, of the original 1825 building was retained by Albert Kavos. It depicts Apollo driving the chariot on which he carried the sun across the sky.

Red Square
Another big attraction of Moscow is the famous Red Square.the Red Square is approximately 500m in length, was also the setting for public announcements and executions during the period of Tsars. At its southern end, in front of St Basils Cathedral, there is a small circular dais,called Lobnoe Mesto, this is the platform from which the tsars and patriarchs would address the people.Today the square is used for a variety of cultural events, concerts, firework displays and other public occasions

St Basils Cathedral
Commissioned by Ivan the Terrible to celebrate the capture of the Mongol stronghold of Kazan in 1552, St Basils Cathedral was completed in 1561. It is reputed to have been designed by the architect Postnik Yakovlev. According to legend, Ivan was so amazed at the beauty of his work that he had him blinded so that he would never be able to design anything as exquisite again. The church was officially called the Cathedral of the Intercession because the final siege of Kazan began on the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin.The cathedrals design, which was inspired by traditional Russian timber architecture, is a riot of gables, tent roofs and twisting onion domes.

Domes
Following a fire in 1583 the original helmet-shaped cupolas were replaced by ribbed or faceted onion domes. It is only since 1670 that the domes have been painted many colours; at one time St Basils was white with golden domes. Running around the outside of the Central Chapel, the gallery connects it to the other eight chapels. It was roofed over at the end of the 17th century and the walls and ceilings were decorated with floral tiles in the late 18th century.

Kuskovo
Kuskovo was the country seat of one of Russia s wealthiest aristocratic families, the Sheremetevs. The present buildings were commissioned by Count Pyotr Sheremetev after his marriage to the heiress Varvara Cherkasskaya in 1743. Among their 200,000 serfs were the architects Fyodor Argunov and Aleksey Mironov who played a major role in Kuskovos construction, probably under the supervision of professional architect Karl Blank. Apart from the elaborate gardens,the main attraction is the two-storey wooden palace, completed in 1777. A ceramics museum, with a renowned collection of porcelain, occupies the Orangery.

Wooden Palace
Surprisingly, this Neo-Classical palace is made entirely of wood, plastered and painted to resemble stone. Carriage ramps sweep up to the main portico, which is emblazoned with the crest of the Sheremetev family

Orangery
With a central hall for dining and dancing, the Orangery was built in 1761 to 62. It is now a ceramics museum, based on the 18th to 19th-century porcelain collection of Aleksey Morozov. Pieces on show include Wedgwood, Meissen and items from various Russian factories.

Lenin Mausoleum
Following Lenins death in 1924, and against his wishes, it was decided to preserve the former Soviet leaders body for posterity. The body was embalmed and placed in a temporary wooden mausoleum in Red Square. Once it became clear that the embalming process had worked, Aleksey Shchusev designed the current mausoleum of a pyramid of cubes cut from red granite and black labradorite. Paying ones respects to Lenins remains was once akin to a religious experience, and queues used to trail all over Red Square.In 1993, however, the goose-stepping guard of honour was replaced by a lone militiaman and now the mausoleum attracts mostly tourists. There are rumours that Lenin will soon be moved elsewhere or buried.

5 Must See Places in Kremlin

ar1000lonelyplaces — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The Old Russian town of Kremlin is a perfect feast to the eyes of an architecture lover. It offers you a variety of buildings exhibiting the beauty of old European architecture. The opulent palaces, the magnificent cathedrals, the majestic bell towers and much more are there for an art lover. Lets look at my pick of top 5 must see architectural beauties of Kremlin.

Ivan the Great Bell Tower
This elegant bell tower built in 1505 to 08 and designed by Marco Bon Friazin is my first pick. It takes its name from the Church of St Ivan Climacus, which stood on the site in the 14th century. The bell tower is called the Great because of its height.
The four-storey Assumption Belfry, with its single gilded dome, was built beside the bell tower by Petrok Maliy in 1532 to 43. It holds 21 bells, the largest of which, the 64- tonne Assumption Bell, traditionally tolled three times when the tsar died. Outside the bell tower is the enormous Tsar Bell. This is the largest in the world, it weighs over 200 tonnes and is a sight to see. This world famous bell attracts loads of tourists from around the globe every year.

Great Kremlin Palace
My second pick from Kremlins architectural collection is the Great Kremlin Palace.The Impressive 125m facade of this yellow and white palace is best admired from the Kremlin embankment, just outside the Kremlin walls. The Great Kremlin Palace was built to replace the 18th century Kremlin Palace. In 1837 Tsar Nicholas I commissioned the Great Kremlin Palace as the Moscow residence of the royal family, where they stayed when visiting from St Petersburg, then the capital. This Palace was designed by a team of architects led by Konstantin Ton, and it took 12 years to build. On the palaces ground floor are the luxurious private rooms of the royal family. The state chambers, on the first floor, include several vast ceremonial halls. The imposing St Georges Hall has white walls engraved in gold with the names of those awarded the Order of St George, one of Russias highest military decorations.

Trinity Tower
This tower takes its name from the Trinity Monastery of St Sergius, which once had a mission nearby. The towers Trinity Gate used to be the entrance for patriarchs and the tsars wives and daughters. Today it is one of only two that admit visitors from around the globe. The other is in the Borovitskaya Tower to the southwest. At 76 m high, the seven-storey Trinity Tower is the Kremlins tallest. It was built in 1495 to 99 and in 1516 was linked by a bridge over the Neglinnaya river to the Kutafya Tower. The river now runs underground and the Kutafya Tower is the sole survivor of the circle of towers that were originally built to defend the Kremlin walls.

Cathedral of the Annunciation
The Cathedral of the Annunciation is a wholly Russian architectural design. Commissioned by Ivan III in 1484 as a royal chapel, it stands be-side the Faceted Palace. The cathedral, built by architects from Pskov , originally had three domes and open galleries on all sides but, after a fire in 1547, the corner chapels were added and the galleries were enclosed. On the south facade is the Groznenskiy Porch, which was added by Ivan the Terrible. The whole of the interior of the cathedral, including the galleries, is painted with frescoes. Three of the greatest masters of icon painting in Russia contributed to the iconostasis, widely considered the finest in Russia. Theophanes the Greek painted the images of Christ, the Virgin and the Archangel Gabriel in the Deesis Tier, while the Icon of the Archangel Michael on this tier is attributed to Andrey Rublev, also several of the icons including The Annunciation and The Nativity were painted by Rublev. Most of the other icons in this tier, including the The Last Supper and The Crucifixion are the work of Prokhor Gorodetskiy.

Cathedral of the Archangel
This was the last of the great cathedrals in the Kremlin to be built. It was commissioned by Ivan III in 1505, shortly before his death. Designed by a Venetian architect, Aleviz Novyy, it is a skilful combination of Early-Russian and Italian Renaissance architecture.The most striking of the Italian features is the scallop shell motif underneath the zakomary gables.This site was the burial place for Moscows princes and tsars from 1340. The walls, pillars and domes of the cathedral are covered with superb frescoes painted in 1652 to 66 by a team of artists led by Semen Ushakov, the head of the icon workshop in the State Armoury. There are over 60 full-length idealized portraits of Russian rulers, as well as some striking images of the Archangel Michael,traditionally the protector of the rulers of early Moscow. The fresco in the cathedrals central cupola depicts the threefold nature of God. The Father holds the Son on his lap and the Holy Spirit, in the form of a white dove, hovers between them.

Must see Museums in Amsterdam

ar1000lonelyplaces — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Amsterdam is one of the coolest cities of Europe and one of the most beautiful ones. Its an art lovers paradise. Amsterdam has something for everyone, honeymoon couples or lovers can just leisurely enjoy the incredibly beautiful calm city with lot of ancient European 17th century architecture partitioned by number of canals.

Transportation is best undertaken on foot or by bicycle barely breaking your sweat. Oldies also can have a peaceful time visiting the umpteen numbers of museums and old mansions. But the luckiest ones are the art lovers, they have come to one of their must see locations. You can have a look at the collections of most famous artists Europe has ever produced, the immortal Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt.

Amsterdam: The city
The city Amsterdam was originally built on the shores of the saltwater Zuiderzee, but centuries of land restoration projects and works changed the structure of the landscape itself and the saltwater Zuiderzee got separated from the sea by a dike and became a freshwater lake. Thus Amsterdam now borders the freshwater lake IJsselmeer.

The center of Amsterdam is shaped like a horseshoe, surrounded by four famous canals called the Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. There is the world famous Red Light District, which consists of several canals and the side streets between them. As you might have already guessed, this area is famous for the prostitution business. You can see a lot of bars, adult shops, peep show bars in this region. A nice varied experience for a roaming maverick tourist.

Major attractions of Amsterdam

Van Gogh Museum
The Vincent van Gogh museum, Amsterdam houses the world’s largest collection of the works of the immortal Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. This museum holds over 200 paintings and 500 drawings of Van Gogh. Among the works are also drawings by Gauguin. If you have an appetite for culture and art, the van Gogh Museum is a must see sight for sure.

From his early work, the museum contains 700 artistic works and 850 letters. After moving to Paris in 1886, van Gogh entered an impressionist period, of which the museum contains a large collection. The most astounding thing about the collection here is the organization of the works. The entire collection is arranged chronologically from the first to last work, each representing a different phase of his life and work: The Netherlands, Paris, Arles, Saint-Remy and Auvers-sur-Oise. As you walk, you can clearly see the evolution of this master’s skill.

The masterpieces include the world famous The Potato Eaters, Sunflowers, several Self Potraits of van Gogh, and much more.The Van Gogh Museum is situated in the Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter, between the Rijks Museum and the Stdelijk Museum.

Rijks Museum
If you have not been to the RijksMuseum, you have not been to the soul of Amsterdam. Rijksmuseum (National Museum), set in its historic building, is the largest museum in the Netherlands. The museum is the largest in the size of its collections, its building, the budget and the number of staff employed. This museum holds masterpieces, furniture and beautiful jewelry and other stunning items. Also it holds some of the famous paintings by the world famous painters, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. If you visit this museum, make sure to see the Nightwatch by Rembrandt.

Anne Frank House
Another must visit place of Amsterdam is the Ann Frank Museum. Who hasn’t read the intense diary of Anne Frank? Hiding from the Nazis, she and her family lived in an annexed section of an apartment in Amsterdam for two years during the holocaust. In 1957, the house was donated to the Anne Frank Foundation and converted into a museum. A visit to this place will send chills through your spine. The museum contains films, the annexed area and the original notes of Anne Frank. A must see for anyone traveling to Amsterdam. The room used by Anne Frank is restored as such with all her books and photos pasted on the wall. The photos and the writings you find there will fill you with the horror and fear the Jews experienced during the holocaust period.

The Royal palace
The Netherlands are a monarchy and the Royal Palace is the official Royal residence. However, the Royal family (Queen Beatrix and Prince Willem Alexander) live in Hague. So the majestic royal palace now became one of the most famous tourist attractions of Amsterdam. The Royal palace holds a large collection of royal furniture, chandeliers and other exclusive items. It gives an indication of the opulent life which the monarchs have led during their prime time. This palace is a real treat to all the tourists coming to Amsterdam.

Must see Museums in Amsterdam

ar1000lonelyplaces — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Major attractions of Amsterdam

How To Take Memorable Photographs While Travelling

ar1000lonelyplaces — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s some ideas to enhance your vacation as well as your memories of them by taking beautiful photos.

Location Preparation

1) Since you know where you’re going (assuming that you knew it), doesn’t it make sense to check out the location before you get there? Create a list of attractions, accommodations, special points of interest, amusement areas, shopping, etc. The best way is to google it or check out the destination in flickr or picassa. You will get a feel about which are the best photogenic places.

2) Figure out the photo opportunities for each appropriate venue. What about capturing a “WOW” photo that could be hung over the mantle? Check out in internet, the best photogenic places in and around your destination. Check for different combinations of your destination, best photography locations, for images of the location, scenic spots, etc. The options are endless.

3) If you’re off to a non-big city area, scout out the national parks in the area. The great thing about national parks is that the scenery is usually so breathtaking, that a so-so shot looks outstanding, just because of the subject. Also you will get a lot of space to experiment your photography skills by taking photos of your loved ones along with serene beautiful nature.

4) Sometimes the journey to a travel destination offers you a lot of photographic opportunities. The hairpin curves, the picturistic hilly areas, the highway side lonely restaurant, the birds-eye view of valleys or distant mountain river or waterfalls etc .Always look out for those rare pics. The photographer inside you should always be alert.

Photography Preparation

OK,so now you’re either traveling through or you’re at a wonderful location full of photo opportunities.

You began this leg of your trip at the crack of dawn and as you’re pulling into the most scenic overlook for say 100 kms, the sun is just starting to crack the horizon. You instinctively pull the car over, grab your camera and try to your tripod, and look for the best spot to set up. Just one tiny little problem. YOU FORGOT YOUR TRIPOD! Rather than smack yourself on the forehead then, why not plan these things now, before you leave?

1) First and foremost, don’t forget the basics like batteries, battery charger, camera bag, and additional lenses and filters (if applicable on your camera).These are the basic necessities and one set of spares for these should always be in your travel bag so that in hurry-burry of your preparation, even if you forget to take these, you should have a back up.

2) Memory. Of course, bring all the memory you have, but also pack your portable storage device.
3) If your camera has a hot shoe, bring your external flash, and any additional equipment that can be used to help with bounce flash
4) Don’t forget to take your Tripod? It doesn’t take up much room, and also tripods allow you to capture entirely new categories of photographs that won’t be possible without one.
5) And just in case you need it, bring the manuals for your equipment.

Finally, don’t get so wrapped up in taking perfect shots that you don’t enjoy the trip. Remember to use the tripod so that you’ll be in at least some of the photos. In fact, Photos always comes secondary to the enjoyment you get on experiencing every second o the trip. So don’t ever forget to enjoy the moments of your tour

China Trip -Things to Remember

ar1000lonelyplaces — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Peoples Republic of China is the new buzzword of tourism around the world. The most populated and the third largest country in the world with huge geographical diversity and great ancient culture has much to offer to the tourists around the world. The fact that China opened itself to the world outside recently only is another reason for the huge demand for Chinese travel. It really is a different world altogether.

The fragrance of fish, lobsters, the sturdy Great Wall, the broken hush of winds by the Martial Arts, the grand museums, the sky-scrappers of Shanghai, the eye-catchy Olympic stadiums and unpretentious down to earth people. Welcome you to the fastest growing economy in the current world-China.
Here are some points to keep while preparing for a trip to China

Entry Visa
China require entry visa from most countries. Apply at the Chinese consulate or through your travel agent before travelling to China.

Climate
China is a big country with vast geographical diversities. We have extremely diverse tropical in south to subarctic in north. Be prepared with the right seasonal clothing.

Understanding of English
While preparing for Beijing Olympics, Chinese government had undertaken a massive English coaching venture for Chinese citizens including thousands of volunteers, cab drivers, hotel staffs. This has improved the English speaking ability a lot, even then majority of civil servants, custom officials, police, hotel staff and men in the street do not speak English or at best a smattering of English. Most signboards and notices will carry both English and Chinese with sometimes notorious translations. Do not expect hotels or shops to understand English. Try to speak slowly.

Foreign Exchange
The unit of currency is known as Yuan or Renmembi (RMB) . Get some Chinese Yuan in your local country before travelling. When in China, exchange foreign currency for local currency in the banks or at the hotel. Banks tend to give slightly better rates than hotels.

Payment facilities
Most high class hotels and shopping centers take Credit Card or Travelers cheques. Smaller hotels and shops take cash only. Once out of the bigger cities, credit card and ATM cards tend to be almost impossible to utilize. Cash is still king in Chinese business and trade. Counterfeit notes are common in China. Check carefully before accepting change, especially if it consists mostly 100RMB notes. You can feel a texture difference if it’s a counterfeit note.

Social Security
China is generally a safe country. However, hang on tight to your wallet especially in crowded, popular tourist sites in tourist cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Xian. Domestic Travel Bus, train, ferries and domestic flights are quite well developed. Taxis are convenient and are available at all hours. Avoid the crowd at the stations and book your tickets through the hotel tour desk or the nearest tour agent. Prices are likely to be competitive and tickets will be delivered to your hotel room. Avoid travel in China during peak holiday seasons or book tickets well ahead.

China Places of Attraction
* Beijing
Beijing Amusement Park
The Beijing Recreation Center
The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) at Beijing
Beijing Museum of Natural History
China Aviation Museum
Tiananmen Square
Wangfujing Business Street of Beijing (for shopping)
*Shanghai
The Oriental Pearl TV Tower
The Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang-Xian
The Shanghai Museum
Caribe Bar and numerous other pubs and discotheques
* Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a destination in itself, with so much of tourist attractions. The most famous are stated here
Ocean Park
Victoria Bay
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Victoria Peak
Wong Tai Sin Temple
* The Great Wall of China
There is not much to be told about this wonderful structure, considered as one among the seven wonders of the world. Its one of the lifetime experiences and a must see destination for every tourist.
* The Grand Canal of China
* Mt. Huangshan

Local Hotels
There is a good choice of hotels in China ranging from one star to the most luxurious 6 stars. Most of the time, the rooms are safe and clean. There are many websites selling China hotel rooms on the internet. You can also check out the travel counters which are available in most train, bus stations as well as airport. Book ahead if travelling in peak seasons.

Peak Tourist Seasons of China
Chinese New Year: Date varies but generally late January or early February.
May Day: First two weeks of May
China National Day: Middle two weeks of October. Avoid travelling during these periods. Book rooms and travel modes way early if need to travel. The crowds during these periods will be scary. There will be the foreign tourists as well as the vast Chinese population.

Chinese Food
What can I tell about the world famous Chinese food, in one word, its fabulous. But be aware that the Chinese food we get from any other part of the world will be suitably altered for the local tastes. So once you are in China, you have a chance to taste the authentic Chinese dishes, so try as much Chinese food as your wallet or stomach can afford. Restaurants are available everywhere and open to late hours. Most famous restaurants will have a menu that includes photographs of the various dishes.

Internet access
There are cyber-cafes everywhere in China, especially in tourist areas. Most are patronized by young people playing online games but you still can access all your important stuff. Access may be a bit slow for international websites. You will need to show your passport as China has tight regulations at Internet Cyber Cafes.(keep in mind about the Google hazzle )

Toilet facilities
One of the worst experiences many have with China is the atrocious toilet facilities. Things have improved very much but it may still be a good idea to empty your stomach or bladder at every opportunity in a hotel, restaurant or departmental store. Public toilets and toilets in small shops can be a nose hazard! So
*Never expect a clean toilet 100% of the time.
* Be prepared; Carry some tissue.
* You may have to use a squat toilet.
So the best idea is to make use of any hotel lobby toilet, since 99% of them will be clean and neat.
I hope the above information was useful to you. Hope you will have a nice trip to China.

8 Tips for Successful Travelling

ar1000lonelyplaces — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Success of a travel depend not only your destination, but also how you enjoy the whole trip. You dont want to get your trip in a mess with some small incidences like missing your connecting flight or not getting the hotel room. A little planning can save you a lot of money, time and stress. This article lists some essential guidelines that helps any one for planning a successful, hassle-free trip.

Here are 8 essential travel tips for planning a successful,stress-free travel.

1. Structure your travel well and prepare a schedule.
First decide the places you want to see on your next tour. With the help of a map or internet try to combine those places which are geographically close to each other. This will cut down your travelling time in between .Also this will make the arrangement of transport lot more easy and cheap. Try to stick to this schedule as far as possible (sometimes some unforeseen incidents may derail your well planned schedule like accident)

2. Book your accommodation in advance.
In this era of internet explosion, when one can easily book any type of accommodation that suits one’s budget through internet, sitting at your home, ensure that you book all your stays well before your date of travel. This is extremely essential if you are travelling with your girlfriend or kids. This means that you don’t waste precious time going from hotel to hotel trying to find a room, having to arrive early enough at your next destination to look for accommodation. Also the tension you have to take outnumbers the savings you make by last minute bookings.

3. Decide on mode of transport.
Driving will give you more flexibility but can be daunting at times and is not recommended if you mainly wish to visit cities. You may decide to take your own car if you live in Europe. If you fly you can hire a car. Beware of extra charges for additional drivers, insurance excesses, airport charges, out of hours charges etc. try to find hotels which has tie up with taxi services and gives you complementary offers.
If you use a budget airline try to only book direct flights. If you book a two let journey, the budget airlines will not assist you, as they only operate a point to point service. Public transport is pretty good in most of Europe.

4. Be aware of security of possessions.
Use a money belt, hotel safe etc. Do not have all your money/cards in one purse or wallet. If you lose it you are in trouble. Make sure you have travel insurance and if there is an incident get a written report from the local police station, to enable you to make a claim.

5. Try to learn at least a few words of the language.
This will be greatly appreciated and the natives will have an instant inclination to help you.(particularly if you are visiting places, where people have great national pride about their language). My French is what you might describe as school girl but I do try when in France. Often I receive the reply in English but at least I tried. I always apologize if I cannot speak the language. I don’t assume that the person I am talking to should speak English, I ask in their language if they speak English.

6. Cushion your timings.
You should allow some time just to wander around, enjoy a leisurely lunch. You do have to plan an itinerary, or you can just waste a lot of time, but it doesn’t have to be written in stone! Allow yourself the opportunity to be spontaneous.

7. Don’t just stick to tourist traps.
Try to visit some authentic local restaurants, markets, villages, etc. where you will meet local people, rather than just other tourists. Surely part of the reason for going abroad it to experience at least a little of the local flavour, not just spend all your time with other tourists.

8. Do not try to see and do too much.
You may end up actually seeing very little. I think it is better to see more of fewer countries/regions and see them properly. You may not want to stay in one location for your whole trip. However if you choose carefully it may be possible to do several day trips from one central location. If you do decide to tour, consider spending at least two nights in some of your destinations. It can be quite tiring being on the move every day, packing and unpacking.
Sometimes you feel that the journey itself is the destination, I believe thats when you become the true traveler