Sri Lanka Best Honeymoon Destination

Romantically referred to as the "pearl in the ear of India", there is no better place to honeymoon than gorgeous Sri Lanka. This tiny island boasts lovely stretches of beaches and a rich cultural heritage. Together, indulge in adventures at this breath taking destination and enjoy this special time in this romantic country.

Get active and throw yourselves in some water sports along the 1340 km of coastline surrounding Sri Lanka. Windsurfing, surfing, swimming all are to be indulged in for an exotic, island adventure. Worth mentioning is the Arugam Bay which is 315 km east of Colombo, one of Sri Lanka's capital city. Its main attraction is surfing and you can arrange for classes with experienced surfers. Pottuvil Lagoon is just two kilometers from the Bay and has an impressive mangrove ecosystem. Apart from this see herd of elephants and leopards at Lahugala National Park and get engrossed in viewing the exotic birds at Kumana Bird Sanctuary. Cap off your visit with a spiritual retreat at Magul Vaha Viharaya, a 2000 year old Buddhist temple.

Get set for some major city life by visiting Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital city. See the remains of colonial architecture still reserved from the Dutch and Portuguese occupation. Buy a box of Indian sweets at Pettah, Colombo's loud bazaar and polish them off while people- watching at Galle Face Green. It is a boisterous place with crowds involved in fun games of cricket and kite flying and families and friends picnicking. Try your hand at cricket too while you are at it!

For a cosmopolitan experience take a walk along Crescat Boulevard which houses a majestic shopping centre full off international brands. To the south of the city are Dehiwala and its Zoo which has all kinds of animals. Spend a Sunday at Mount Lavinia with its relaxed atmosphere. It is truly pulsing on Sundays when you can enjoy the sea air and a refreshing cocktail amidst the music and people.

Do not miss the ayurveda spas for herbal treatments that are great for relieving stress. These are found in most cities of Sri Lanka. Satisfy your craving for culture by visiting the National Museum in Colombo which has Sinhalese artifacts, rare collections of traditional masks and 4000 palm-leaf manuscripts. Do view blue whales on the trips organized from Mirissa on the south coast. Such views will truly take your breath away and reveal the beauty of seeing such wonder with your loved one.

British Museum London

London is known as cultural hub of Europe. It is one of the urban areas with great history and developed economy. Here you will find many museums that reveal London past, history and culture. London is home of museums. While tour to London, museums in London are one of the main tourist destinations. You can visit to the museums in London to discover more about London history, culture and its past relation with world. Among London museums, British museum is one of the famous that attracts million of tourists every year. It was built in the year of 1753 and consists vast collection of human history and culture.

The British Museum is also known as universal museum where you will find antiques from all across the globe. It consists vast collection of antiquities from different continents of the world. Myths of the Trojan War, specimens of glass, evolution of the Olympic games, held between 776 B.C. and AD 395 are some of the topics about which you can easily explore in the British museum.

Here you will find aircrafts of different regions that are representative of different regions of world. The Duveen gallery, globular cast iron Reading Room, Elizabeth II Great Court are some of the items that were designed by well known architectures of world attracts you while tour to British museum in London.

Apart from galleries there are also many shops from where you can purchase guidebooks, posters, camera films, stationary items, sculptures, gems and jewelry, silk scarves and ties. In order to attract Londoners museum also host many exhibitions, lectures, seminars and symposia. Visit to British Museum is a great experience where you can learn many things regarding London past, history and culture.

London Shopping Guide

London as capital of England, known for rich economy, culture and great history. Here you will find wide range of tourist attractions. There are many things to do by tourists. One of which is shopping. There are many streets in London known for shopping. London shopping market ranks among European countries like Oxford Street with 300 shops is a famous one where you could find each and every type of products from cosmetics to electronic appliances. Here you will find different types of shopping malls and complexes from where you can buy different types of products.

One of the famous shopping markets in London is Oxford Street. Where you will find international and British original brand product. It is best known for Selfridges and the other big department stores selling some upscale and upmarket goods. Covent Garden famous for specialist goods deals in fashions and herbs, gifts and toys, books and dollhouses, cigars and lots more. If you want some expensive, stylish and dashing products according to modern fashion then New Bond Street is waiting for you. It is known for fashionable Street in the world.

Tottenham Court Road is famous for shops selling electrical goods like computers, cameras etc. If you are looking for watches and jewellery shops then Hatton Garden is there. Knightsbridge market is known for Harrods and Harvey Nichols department stores. It is one of the popular and heaven for shoppers. Another famous market in London is Camden Town combination of four markets - Camden Market, Camden Lock Market, Camden Canal Market and Stables Market all are selling vintage clothing, street fashion, antiques, leather wear and arts and crafts.

Sloane Street is one the fashionable street in London like Bond Street. Gucci, Hacketts, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Gianfranco Ferre, Yves St Laurent and Christian Dior are the few names found in Slona Street. Greenwich Market established by Royal Charter in 1849 famous for hand crafted items and trinkets. Wentworth Street and Middlesex Street consists almost one thousand stalls, which you will see on Sunday selling clothing, household goods. Jermyn Street, which is famous for shirts. Many shirt makers like Turnbull and Asser, Thomas Pink, T.M. Lewin having base here.

Besides this London have world famous departmental stores like Harrods and Selfridges selling daily use products. Music shops and bookshops can be found throughout the city of London.

Tourism Guide La Paz, Bolivia

The establishment of La Paz took place in 1548 and today is the governmental capital of Bolivia. La Paz is situated within the Andes with an altitude of around four thousand meters above the sea level. It is a beautiful place with loads to experience, especially the historical monuments and museum.

If you are thinking of visiting La Paz ,then make sure you are not a beach lover or an adventure lover, as this place is pretty small and does not offer that much in the way of recreational. activities. It is merely for those who are willing to see the historical streets, monuments and museums.

As said earlier La Paz is a small town, therefore traveling within it is not much of a problem. There are merely two means of public transportation, which are taxis and buses. There are two types of taxis found here, which are mini vans and regular buses. Mini vans are known as mini buses and buses are known as micros. The taxis in La Paz are known as trufis. The taxis do not regulate on meters, therefore you need to know about the fares on the distance you will be traveling or else you do have a chance of getting looted by paying higher fares.



Places to visit in La Paz:


1. The Witches' Market: This market is located between the Sagarnaga and Santa Cruz. It gets its name because of the fact that people here sell fetuses of llama and frogs that are dried up. These are not meant for eating but instead for ritual purposes.

2. Calle Jaen: A small town that hosts preserved buildings which are mostly colonial and a couple of famous museums.

3. The Museum of Contemporary Art: This is a well known and a must see museum that has collections of work by the famous painter Mamani Mamani and some other works by the students here.

4. San Francisco Museum: This is the main museum of La Paz that contains some of the most important historical things of Bolivia. It surely is an important and exciting museum.

5. Coca Museum: This museum is a well known tourist spot and considered to be the most visited places by tourist.

Best Cities in the World

New York City

One of the most popular cities throughout the world, with hardly anyone who do not know where this amazing city is. With five boroughs, this magnificent city boasts world's finest blend of cultures from all over the world. The city is filled with most iconic landmarks and exceptional attractions that are suitable for people of all shapes and sizes. Some most famous attractions of New York City includes the Empire State building, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Time Square, and among many others.

Rome

Headed by the Romans, this exceptional city is the center of ancient European civilization. Rome is popular as it carries the rich heritage, culture, and history of the whole continent. It is famous for its stunning architectural masterpieces, such as the Roman Forum, The Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica, etc. Named as the "The Eternal City," Rome is considered to be the best city to spend your vacations for travelers all over the world.

Bangkok

Known to be one of the busiest city of South East Asia, Bangkok is very popular among tourists from all over the world. This extravagant city offers all its tourists everything that they can ask for. Rich culture, unique history, architectural masterpieces, picturesque botanical gardens, and scrumptious cuisines from all over world, is all that can be found in Bangkok. The prime features of the city include The Marble Temple and Temple of the Dawn. For visitors who want to get away from the bustling city life, a visit to the popular Lumphinee Park is the best place to be. All visitors can experience this unique atmosphere of this beautiful city, excellent weather, and friendly people.

San Francisco

This city is known to be one of the most popular tourist destinations of the United States, and one of the world's best cities for its tourists. The landmark of San Francisco is the Golden Gate Bridge; however, this is not the only thing that visitors can enjoy in this exceptional city. You can enjoy the sunshine, hilly streets, stunning views, delicious dining and a whole lot more, only at San Francisco.

Sydney

Holding the symbols of Australia, like the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House, Sydney is a popular city destination for tourists from all over world, making this city to be the world's best city. The city also boasts beautiful landscapes and natural attractions, such as The Rocks and Darling Harbor. Sydney is also popular for modern its modern marvels, excellent shopping, pulsating nightlife, and delicious dining.


Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the African cities where you will find most of the European people living here. Cape Town is the major attractin of touriswm in all around Africa. Dutch East India Company was the creator of Cape Town which now became largest city in South Africa. Cape Town is famous for its Mountain, art work and dazzling chefs. Atlantic Beaches, Africa Nova gallery, Bergwater Vineyards, Brewers & Union bar, Cape Point parks and agarden, Clifton Beaches, District Six Museum, Table Mountain National Park are some of the tourist attractions of cape Town.


Florence

Florence is one of the famous Italian city. Gucci, Pucci, and Roberto Cavalli are all from this small town, which turned into fashionable city. Workshops of the Oltrarno, Brunelleschi’s masterpiece, great wines are some of the attractions of Florence. Archelogical Museum of Florence, Botanical Gardens, Bargello, Market to Table, National Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology, Soul Space spa, Teatro della Pergola theater, Teatro del Sale bar, Villa Bardini Gardens are some of the tourist attractions of Florence.

Tourist Guide Rubenhuis Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp was once a great center of the arts. It was in this Belgian city that Peter Paul Rubens had his home and his studio. He was also a collector of art and he displayed his art so that his students could be inspired as well as potential clients. This is where you will be visiting, this is the Rubenhuis.

Tickets are sold across the street from the house in a visitor center and you will also get your audio guide. You are going on a self guided tour. You cross the street and enter through the portico into the gardens of the house. The tour begins before you even enter the house. You can take pictures while you are outside in the garden but photography is not allowed inside the house. What you learn is that the garden pavilion does date from the time of the Master but the garden design has been recreated as it may have looked since no record exists.

In many ways Rubens house is typical of many 17th century Flemish homes. The kitchen has a open fireplace and there are tiles on the walls. There are wonderful paintings on display throughout the entire house. While you are in the dining room be on the lookout of a very fine self portrait. Unlike many other artists of the period there are very few self portraits of Rubens. His vision of himself is as a businessman rather than an artist, it was how he wanted to be perceived.

Rubens house was many things, it was a family home, it was an art an art school, a workshop, a museum and a pleasure gallery. Rubens was a collector and he modeled his on the great Italian collections of his time. He bought paintings that he liked but he also bought some works as an investment, he was after all an astute businessman. There was an inventory of his estate when he died and we have a very good idea of the type of works that he was collecting. Some of the oil sketches that he owned are very rare today because the original works are no longer extant. His home would have drawn many of his contemporaries to see his collection. He collection works on paper, canvas, wood and sculptures as well.

The house is filled with period furniture, none of it original to the house. After Rubens death his furniture was sold. What you will see that is original is the paintings of his grandparents. This is one of the amazing moments during a visit here, to see these portraits from the 16th century.

The tour finishes in the workshop, where there are several very fine paintings by Rubens and some of his very talented students. More than 2,500 works were produced in over 40 years in this workshop making Rubens one of the most prolific artists ever. There is a nice gift shop across the street near the ticket office.

A visit to Rubenhuis is a highlight of any visit to Antwerp. It isn't just about getting o know the man behind the artist but also about seeing how a family would have lived in 17th century Flanders.

Places to visit in France

Nestled towards the edge of the Loire region of central France, Bourges has around 100,000 residents and features many fine examples of Gothic, Renaissance and Classical buildings.

Originally a fortified Gallic city in the ancient kingdom of Bituriges, Bourges was to be destroyed and then rebuilt by the forces of Julius Caesar in 52 B.C. Known as Avaricum to the Romans, it's central position made it the logical choice to be the capital of the Province of Aquitaine. Recent archeology digs have discovered impressive remains of what Caesar himself described as one of the most beautiful towns in Gaul.

Acquired in 1100 by the French King, Philippe I, Bourges remained in royal control and was eventually made a duchy for Jean de France Duke of Berry in 1360. It was from this region that his successor, Charles the Dauphin set about reclaiming his kingdom from the English with the aid of the legendry Joan of Arc. Her personal mission may have ended at the stake in 1432 but she sparked a French resistance that within twenty years had swept the English occupation back to the port of Calais.

At the heart of the city, upon a hill, lies Saint Etienne Cathedral. This lofty and light filled place of worship took 60 years to build during the 12th and 13th Centuries. Inside, the deep colours of the stained glass windows portray Bible stories such as the Prodigal Son, the life of Mary, Christ's crucifixion, the Last Judgment and the Apocalypse. The global significance of the building was recognized in 1992 when it was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Almost as impressive is the Palais de Jacques-Coeur, one of the most remarkable examples of fifteenth-century domestic architecture in France. Jacques Coeur was a prolific merchant trader who rose to wield considerable political power as the King's commissioner, before falling foul to those who envied him in 1451. Fortunately for posterity he had already completed his house which was unusually modern for its time, with latrines, a steam room, and a rationally planned design that predates the Renaissance.

Many of the city's historic treasures can be found housed in The Berry Museum, itself built in 1515. Their collection of Greek and Roman artifacts battle to attract tourists away from the fine pottery and ceramic display to be found at the Museum of Decorative Art, just a stone throw away.

Despite the stunning variety of architecture and its ancient past, Bourges is aware of the need to adapt to compete in the world today. Equipped with the latest technology, the Palais de Congres and Parc des Expositions provides the means to meet the city's ambitious objectives in business related tourism.

The buildings, both ancient and modern, may draw admiration but it is the natural beauty that has inspired national acclaim and Bourges is honoured to bear the title Flowering City. The pride is evident in the locals claim 'that although the place oozes history it breathes through its parks and gardens'. The formal Town Hall gardens give pleasant views of the Cathedral whilst the water gardens formed by the Yevre and Voiselle Rivers are perfect to boat around on lazy summer days.

With such scenery it was perhaps inevitable the city's most famous offspring would have an eye for beauty. Berthe Morisot (1841-95) was to become a member of the Impressionist circle of painters and by the age of twenty four she had exhibited in the esteemed Salon de Paris. Ten years later she joined other Impressionists such as Czanne, Degas and Monet to host their own exhibition at the studio of the photographer Nadar. Although a talented landscape artist she concentrated on elements of the domestic life she experienced on a daily basis and utilised her friends and family as models.

Today, although blessed with fine galleries, it is the art of music that draws crowds to town. Every spring, during the French holidays, the city invites established International stars and up and coming talent to perform. This six day festival, known as Les Printemps de Bourges, spreads through the whole of the city with ten concert halls, forty bars and fifteen restaurants willingly acting as hosts for the numerous artistes. Past attractions have included the varied melodies of Jerry Lee Lewis, Emmy Lou Harris, Charles Aznavour, The Ramones, The Cure, Joe Cocker, Def Leppard, and Sting.

Following close on the heels of this music extravaganza is another five week festival called the Ballades. Lasting for a full five weeks this is centred on the performing arts with theatrical events and street theatre monopolising many of the city's gardens and squares. The residents barely have time to recover from this contemporary mix when they are confronted with Festival Synthse, an electronic and acoustic music party during the first week of June.

Once the vibe music has faded and summer casts it's full warmth over the medieval streets, the local council endeavour to prolong each day by switching on special ambient lighting. Not only bathing the main buildings in subtle tones but also projecting dreamlike images of Gothic and Renaissance citizens onto available walls. This is complimented by yet another musical gathering, Un t Bourges, which has an eclectic line-up of free, outdoor performances of anything from local organ music to Chinese jazz. Without a doubt Bourges is a musical city rich in Roman ramparts, medieval streets and an abundance of greenery. Tucked away off the conventional tourist trail it is often bypassed by those not in the know, a veritable French idyll waiting to be discovered.