Neuschwanstein Castle of the Mad king in Germany

Situated on a rugged hill, just above the village of Hohenschwangau near Fussen in the Southwest Bavaria in Germany, the Neuschwanstein Castle is a nineteenth century Romanesque palace. This palace was owned by Ludwig ll of Bavaria and after his death this palace was opened to the public in the year 1886. It is reported that since the year 1886, more than 61 million people has visited the palace. Annually more than 1.3 million people and 6000 visitors per day during the summer visit the palace. This palace is known to be the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle of Disneyland.

The interior of the palace is marvellous in its architectural splendour. The palace has near about 14 rooms which includes the throne room, Ludwig's suite, the Singers' Hall, Grotto along with other rooms for the administrative staff and the servants. Before the death of Ludwig, only 14 rooms were finished and were completely decorated. The architectural fashion is often referred to as castle romanticism.

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Antelope Canyon - A Photographer’s Paradise

Located on on Navajo land near Page, Arizona, Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon often referred to as a Photographer’s and sightseer’s paradise. It is usually divided into two sections one being the Upper Antelope Canyon also known as The Crack and the other being the Lower Antelope Canyon or The Corkscrew.

This slot canyon is one of the most visited one of the Southwest where tourist are permitted to make tour arranged by private tour companies. The upper canyon is the most preferred one which is visited because of the facts that its entire length along with the entrance requires no climbing and beams can be better observed here than the upper canyon. Beams are noticed mostly in the summer months- from March 20 to October 7 every year.

The lower canyon is accessible through a flight of stairs as it is V-shaped and shallower than the upper canyon. This canyons also draws numerous photographers despite its limitations.

Why should you Choose Phuket over Maldives?

Are you in a dilemma of choosing between Phuket & Maldives to visit during holidays? Let’s go through a brief details about the two places & what they offer individually.

The Republic of Maldives is an Indian Ocean island state. It is consisted of 1,190  islands. Among them 200 are inhabited. The weather is tropical & mild. Male is the capital city of the state & Hulhule International Airport is located just 2 Kms away from the city.

Main landmark of the city is the Presidential Palace (Theemuge). Many stalls & small shops are located in the outskirts of the city. You can visit the city Fish Market. Near this there is a market where you can find each & every article of Maldives.

Main attractions for the visitors in Maldives are the beaches, restaurants, cafes, tea houses & theme parks. Exquisite local & continental dishes are available at the beach side restaurants.

Ferry excursions are popular among tourists. You can go to the airport berth via a ferry trip at the Boduthakurufaanu embankment.

Tourists prefer seaplanes to move to & fro to other islands. Another mode of transportation is  motor boats or Dhoni boats. But they are relatively slower in speed. That’s why they are mostly used for diving cruises.

Phuket is the largest island of Thailand, located in the Indian Ocean. Most comfortable season to visit the island is from the months of November to March. At this point of the year the island is dry & sunny. Pristine & picturesque beaches hold the major attraction.

Visit the enchanting local rivers & beaches. Here there are white sandy beaches & water is so crystal clear that you can see upto a depth of 30 mts.

Taste excellent Thai cuisines at beach side restaurants. The west coast of Phuket welcome you with La Vegas styled nightlife at notorious beach resort of Patong. Other colorful beach resorts are Surin, Karon & Kata while Kamala is more tranquil version of beach life.

If I was in your place & had to choose between Phuket & Maldives I would opt for the former. The reasons are given below.

• Maldives is extremely expensive & if you are a student you may not be able to afford it. Villas in Phuket come within the reach of a middle class tourist. Resort, apartments, villas in Phuket are concentrated in the western part of the island. Numerous villas, apartments & condominiums are available here.


• Phuket & her inhabitants are extremely friendly. You can befriend with many lovely people. While the people of Maldives are of more sombre nature. They offer you the right service but they are not into making casual friends.


• Phuket offers you a huge range of recreational activities. But in Maldives you can only dine, dive & lounge at the beaches. Phuket offers her visitors with an ample scope of entertainment & highlights of Thai heritage. This includes elephant safari tours, elephant shows, orchid parks, Thai dance dramas, Buddhist pagodas & the processions of monks around the convents. One of the most popular attractions in Phuket is the participation of tourists in water sports activities like diving, snorkelling, water skiing, sailing, hang gliding etc.


• Transportation between islands in Maldives are made possible through seaplanes & they are really costly. While in Phuket you can move between islands on ferries & boats & they are really cheap.


• Visa norms are relaxed in Thailand in comparison to Maldives. You are entitled for a visa in Maldives if you have a valid return ticket. While no such restriction is there in Thailand. A tourist is entitled for visa in Thailand if he/she has a valid passport of 6 months beyond their intended stay in Thailand. While a thirty days free visa is available for people of all nationalities in Maldives. On expiry of this time frame people are removed from there. But you can extend your visa 6 months beyond your intended date of return from Phuket. People belonging to specific 48 countries are offered a tourist visa exemption in Thailand while norms are equal for all nationals in Maldives.

On the basis of above mentioned points, visiting Phuket will be more alluring than visiting Maldives & I would have certainly opted for Phuket before anything.

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The Spectacular Horsetail Fall at the Yosemite National Park

When water flows during the few weeks in February at the Horsetail Fall, the park visitors & photographers gather here during the waning light of evening to witness a spectacular natural phenomenon. It is called The Horsetail Fall phenomenon. At this time of the day sunlight falls at such an angle that it sets the waterfall ablaze with the play of colors-of red & orange. It seems as if a river of fire is falling down the cliffs of El Capitan.

You can get most stunning views during the middle to late February. However it depends on the weather conditions. You may be luckier visiting the place before or after that time frame depending on the level of water flow & the cover of the cloud.

Most amazing photos can be clicked at the El Capitan picnic area. It is situated at around 1.7 miles from the Yosemite lodge on the Northside Drive of the Falls. During the latter part of February, you can see very often crowd of photographers of every distinction catching the last rays of the sun in the dusk in their cameras.

If you are a photography enthusiast willing to take unique images of the Fall, you need to explore different angels & shift through different locations. There are different locations that work wonders. Search for the locales where the Falls will be lit from the back by the sun. These locales can be found along the river or along the rim.

Try to visit this place during this time of the year to see this amazing natural phenomenon. Trip to the Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park will remain a lifetime experience for nature lovers & photographers.

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Witness the Rich History of India at Chittorgarh Fort

If you want to witness the history of one of the bravest ruling clans of India, come & visit Chittorgarh fort in the State of Rajasthan. The fort is located around 112 km from Udaipur. it is constructed on a hill near the Gambheri river. It was built in 7th century AD by some Mauryan ruler. Regular bus services are available. Also, you can hire a taxi from the City of Udaipur & reach here.

It is credited of being the largest fort in India. It is spread over an area of 700 Acres & extend over 3 kms in length & 13 kms in peripheral length. This impregnable fort had witnessed 3 war fares.There are well designed palaces, huge towers & magnificent cenotaphs. Several strong gateways secure the colossal structure of the fort. This massive fort is accessible through 7 huge gates or ‘Pols’ that includes fortification with strong iron spikes. In earlier times they also served as watch towers.

Many palaces are there inside the fort that need a special mention. There are Rana Kumbha Palace & Rani Padmini’s Palace. These are marvels of Rajput architecture. Legendary beauty of Rajasthan Rani Padmini committed suicide inside the underground cellars at Rana Kumbha Palace to save her honour during one of the several battles fought here.

The fort is decorated with 2 most impressive towers depicting the glorious history of Rajasthan & her rulers. They are the ‘Vijay Stambha’ or The Tower of Victory & the ‘Kirti Stambha’ or The Tower of Fame. ‘Kirti Stambha’ is a 7 storied structure with a height of 22 mts. You can reach to different floors by covering 54 steps.

Come home to the State of Rajasthan because if you give a miss to this part of India, you miss her rich heritage & The Fort of Chittorgarh is a living piece of history. So take some time out from your busy schedule & do make a point to visit this fort.

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Melancholic Beauty of Fairy Pools at the Isle of Skye in Scotland

The name of Scotland simultaneously brings in mind the image of bagpipes being played by men wearing Scottish kilts. Scotland is the land of unique beauty. People who can appreciate the beauty of pristine nature blended with a sense of melancholia will truly enjoy Scotland. Among numerous places to visit in Scotland, Fairy Pools at the Isle of Skye is a beautiful blue & crystal clear pool on the river Brittle.

It is situated at the foothills of the Black Cuillins near Glenbrittle. Visitors all over the world are enticed to come here for its amazing scenic beauty. It offers “Wild Swimming” for those brave hearts who dare to swim inside the chilling waters. There is an exciting opportunity for photography for less adventurous visitors as the place is gifted with fantastic scenic beauty.

On the west of Skye is Carbost, the nearest village to the Pools. You can reach to the Pools by walking along the road to Glenbrittle. You can reach to the first main waterfall that marks the beginning of the Pools by covering 2.4 Kms that takes you about 40 mins. Most of the visitors take time to explore different pools along up the river from the 1st waterfall.

This place is ideal to visit in the dry seasons as rainy days make the place slippery & dangerous to trek.

Parking facility is available at the gravel car park area established by the Forestry Commission. You can reach to the first & the largest waterfall in about 20 mins. from the car parking area.

Enjoy the breathtaking scenic beauty of the Fairy Pools & hear the quiet music of nature. This place is worth visiting at least once in lifetime.

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New Year Celebrations & Phuket

I will be off to Phuket on coming eve of the new year this year. Extremely excited to be there. I checked a number of travel agents, both local & international. But as per my common sense, I chose to go with some local travel & booking service provider. There were many like Phuket.com, LivePhuket.com, PhuketRentHouse.com etc. Among them I liked the reviews about LivePhuket.com. So I booked a villa from them at Patong.

New year is a big & lavish affair in Phuket. It is a cool place for both a middle income man & an affluent one. I heard a lot about the spectacular fireworks there. The budget travellers can enjoy their drinks & snacks at beachside area & watch fireworks, hear music from various musical concerts being held by talented DJs at beachside parties.

Patong & Surin beaches attract chunk of visitors. In recent years the beach clubs at Surin organized buffet treats satisfying the foodies with a variety of continental & oriental cuisines. There was a long list of drinks to be chosen from. I hope this will be repeated this year. New year in Patong is synonymous with festivities, musical performances & good food. The sky comes alive with glittering Chinese lanterns. A 3 days new year celebration is held in Patong from Dec. 30th to 1st Jan. Musical performances are delivered on a giant floating stage. Gala nights are organised by many luxury hotels.



A spectacular show of firework is organized at the west coast beaches on Dec.31st, all for free. Musical competitions are held. Lovely music is delivered at Karon beach parties. Dance festivals are held there.

A 3 days new year celebration starts in Phuket from Dec.29th to Dec.31st. It includes organisation of musical concerts & contests, food stalls offering you some amazing dishes, ‘Light Wonderland’ & shows of fireworks at midnights.



The pubs & nightclubs of Bangla road become charged up. The DJS at discos spin pulsating music. I wish to make some interesting & beautiful friends there. This will be an added reward for me.



Family oriented people may enjoy a night out at Adventure Mini Golf Course which is situated near Bangtao beach. A Golf party is organized by the Golf Club that includes lavish dinner parties along with DJ nights.

You may be lucky enough to see JLo standing on some luxury cruise as at this time of the year many celebrities flock this part of the globe. All these possibilities are charging me even further. I just can’t wait to be there guys. Image Courtesy: http://bit.ly/1u9bVdC Image Courtesy: http://bit.ly/1150FEB Image Courtesy: http://bit.ly/1usSgH4

A Memorable Honeymoon in Australia

I heard that there are many places in Australia which the honeymoon couples would love to explore. But these are not so well known destinations for the tourists. I plan to take a trip to such places with my girlfriend. Let’s check two of them in brief details.

Barossa Valley: Appreciate the rustic atmosphere of Barossa valley, situated in South Australia. Renowned for its fine wines & champagnes, Barossa valley is a paradise for the oenophiles. South Australia is famous for its fine wineries & lush green vineyards. Foodies would have a gala time spending here. Wolf Blass, Pehmann & Penfolds are some of its renowned wineries. Take a look around the roads of the city & appreciate the beautiful buildings of the churches. If you are planning to visit it in the month of April, be witness to Australia’s largest & longest running Wine Festival, the Barossa Vintage Festival, going to be held between April 15th to 19th, 2015. Join the Sabato Sera saturday night dinners. Music lovers, sooth your ears at candlelight concerts of Barossa. Take a relaxed walk to explore the tranquility, serenity, fine dining & scenic views of this place. I bet you will fell in love with the Barossa valley.

Byron Bay: This laid back town at New South Wales is ideal for honeymooners. Pristine beaches & wonderful sceneries are added charm of this place. This will be a luxurious & relaxing trip experience for you. Sun tan your skin on the beach; water sports enthusiasts, ready your surf boards; try your hand in hand gliding as the views from sky are amazing; nature lovers, get set for whale watching expedition. You may also take a few minutes boat trip to Cape Byron Marine Park ; take a trip to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, a historical 1901 built lighthouse through the oceanway, which runs through the central city area. Byron Bay is also a renowned place among national & international backpacker community.

 Do you like scuba diving & snorkelling? Yes. Then this is your ultimate destination. Sub tropical rain forests are situated near Byron Bay. Make it a point to visit the Nightcap National Park & Minyon Falls. Indulge in kayaking & fishing. Huff, with so much to do, do you get a chance to be bored? No way.

Australia is the land of amazing stuffs. There are numerous things to do & places to explore. So I am looking forward to take a trip there as soon as possible.

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Reasons I Wish to Visit Naples

Naples, the name itself brings a sensation of romance & the charm of old world. Sometimes while driving my Ferrari California along Beachside Drive at Rancho Palos Verdes, CA my wandering imagination takes me to the narrow, bending road along the Amalfi coast situated at south of Naples. I feel like driving through its treacherous bends (about 1000 in total number).

I feel that shivering sense of adventure while thinking about it (2 cars can hardly go side by side). Drive through it & enjoy the spectacular views of the Tyrrhenian sea. An exploring spirit would take you to Cetara, a seaside fishermen’s village on the Amalfi coast.

We grew on Italian pizza & accustomed to hear that it originated in Naples. Thus you can sense that Naples is a paradise for gourmets. Feast on Spaghetti, Pizza, sea foods, anchovies with provolone & lobster claw shaped pastry dessert, ummh! Amazingly delightful.

Often described as an open air museum, Naples is surrounded by history. Take a look at Museo Cappella Sansevero, a baroque styled, historical church. Even an agnostic would appreciate the master piece marble statue of “Veiled Christ”.

Visiting Naples & excluding the National Archaeological Museum of Naples is a sacrilege. History buff or not you will love the place. Appreciate the Farnese collection. Feel the pain of unfulfilled dreams of citizens of Pompeii when the killer lava waves of Vesuvius engulfed the city, thousands of years back as the Museum owns the biggest collection of artefacts from the lost city. You will wonder about the fickleness of lady luck when you see how a small article could have survived that moment of annihilation.

Until now you must have understood why I am so emotional about visiting Italy. A paradise for foodies, history & art buffs & also musical connoisseurs, Naples will hold a section of heart forever. Try to visit her at least once in your lifetime.

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