References

1)The Telegraph. (2015, September 3). Tokyo City Guide. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/japan/

2)Ashcraft, B. (2015, July 10). Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Japan.Retrieved from http://kotaku.com/frequently-asked-questions-about-visiting-japan-1716461645 

3)Tourism, O. (2013). Travel to Oman, Visit Muscat through Oman Travel Guide for Sultanate of Oman Adventure - Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman. Retrieved September 3, 2015, from                        http://www.omantourism.gov.om/wps/portal/mot/tourism/oman/home/!ut/p/a1/hc_            LDoIwEAXQb3HBlg4ij7irgIgoqNUI3RgwWEmAGkCJf28l7nzN7k7OTWYQRRGiV            XLLWdLmvEqKZ6b6QQmi5VjKxCaCoBHzKVOiKVCqAkQCwBfBsO__h7Rnlgun            o2MhehMfAs831n7W3WpAFZeINysyTRwRuDamgDECHY7zQEYqi_w44Y5oqz

4)Top 30 things to do in Oman. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Attractions-g294006-Activities-Oman.html

5)Introducing Mongolia. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia

6)Mongolia Tourism: Best of Mongolia. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Tourism-g293955-Mongolia-Vacations.html

7) Zagreb in Your Pocket. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.inyourpocket.com/zagreb

8) Visit Croatia- A Travel Guide. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/     

9) Barbados. (2015). Retrieved from http://wikitravel.org/en/Barbados

10)Greater Miami and the Beaches. (2015). Retrieved from    http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/things-to-do/travel-guides

11) Introducing Sri Lanka. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka

12)Trebay, G. (n.d.). Return to Sri Lanka. Retrieved from            http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/return-to-sri-lanka

13) Fiji Travel Guide. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-        guide/Fiji

14) Crowther, L. (2013, February 15). STA Travel. Retrieved from                                               https://www.statravel.co.uk/travel-blog/2013/02/14-reasons-to-visit-fiji-before-you-                  die-of-jealousy/ 

15) Cook, S. (2015). 11 Reasons to Visit India. Retrieved from                                                           http://goindia.about.com/od/planningyourtrip/tp/10-reasons-to-visit-india.htm

16) Ellora Caves. (2015). Retrieved from http://wikitravel.org/en/Ellora

17) Top 10 Things to Do in Tanzania. (2012). Retrieved from                                                       http://www.mydestination.com/tanzania/travel-articles/721890/top-10-things-to-do-in-    tanzania

18) Best Time to Visit Zanzibar. (2015). Retrieved from                                                                  http://www.go2africa.com/location/6542/when-to-go

19) Travel, J. (2015). 11 Reasons Why Travel Makes You a Happier Person. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacada-travel/11-reasons-why-travel-makes-you-a-happier-person_b_6908918.html

20) Mordini, S. (2012, April 3). 10 Reasons Why You Should Travel. Retrieved from               http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4403/10-Reasons-Why-You-Should-Travel.html

21) Peterson, H. (2014). 6 Reasons Why Traveling Abroad is Important for Young People. Retrieved from http://greenhearttravel.org/travel-resources/6-reasons-why-traveling-abroad-is-important-for-young-people 

The Unique Oman

            Hey, guys! Ever wishing of going to the Arab countries but didn’t managed to make a decision on which county to be visited? Well, don’t worry because I have a suggestion for you. Let us go to Oman!

            In Oman, there are many fascinating places to go and one of them is called Bahla Fort. It is one of four historic fortresses situated at the foot of the Djebel Akhdar highlands in Oman. It was built in the 13th and 14th centuries, when the oasis of Bahla was prosperous under the control of the Banu Nebhan tribe.

Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in restoration 

            Next, they have Muscat which is the capital of Oman. It sits on the Gulf of Oman, surrounded by mountains and desert. With history going back to antiquity, it mixes high-rises and upscale shopping malls with landmarks such as the 16th-century Portuguese forts, Mirani and Jalali, looming clifftop over Muscat Harbor. Its modern, marble-clad Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with gleaming 50m dome and prodigious Persian carpet, can accommodate 20,000 people.

Oman Convention Center

Shopping Malls in Muscat

            Musandam is also one of the must-go places in Oman. Often described as “The Norway of Arabia”, the peninsula boasts a magical combination of mountain and maritime landscapes, as the towering red-rock Hajar mountains fall precipitously into the blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, creating a labyrinthine system of steep-sided fjords (khors), cliffs and islands, most of them inaccessible except by boat.

Kayaking in Musandam

The super clear water at Musandam

The cruise of Musandam

The Land of Tradition and Modernity: Japan

The combination of tradition and modernity makes Japan a very interesting place to be visited. The Land of Japan is richly endowed with nature and has beautiful mountains, trees, rivers, lakes and seas; which show distinctive beauty in each season. In spring, trees begin to bud and cherry blossoms bloom. In summer it is hot and people enjoy water sports. In autumn, trees turn red and yellow, painting the mountains in autumn color. In winter snow falls so that sports such as skiing can be enjoyed. Onsen, or hot-springs, one of the blessings of nature, can be enjoyed throughout the year. Taking a bath at an onsen will be the most comforting experience for you. Japan’s unique natural beauty will give visitors an unforgettable experience.

One of the awesome places that Japan offers us is the Nikko town which is located along the Japan’s Romantic Road. Nikko is well known for its beautiful auntumn colours (koyo). In the average year, the colours start descending from the higher elevations of Yumoto Onsen in early October, best around Lake Chuzenji and the Irohazaka road in the mid to late October and reach the town of Nikko in the first half of November. 

Nikko Autumn Colours

Ryuzu  Fall, Nikko

Next, when stepping into Japan, ones must never forget to visit Tokyo, the capital of Japan.

Scenic walk in Ueno Park, Tokyo

Mount Fuji, Tokyo

The Tokyo Japan Temple

The other mesmerizing place to be visited in Japan is Takayama, the city in the mountainous Hida region. To differentiate it from other places named Takayama, the city is also commonly referred to as Hida-Takayama. Takayama retains a traditional touch like few other Japanese cities, especially in its beautifully preserved old town. It now ranked as one of the prime candidates among travelers wishing to add a rural element into their itineraries.

House in Hida Takayama

The Bridge

The Hida Takayama town

The Adventorous Mongolia

Good morning, world! Ever heard of Mongolia? Well, Mongolia is not your standard high-class go-to-the-beach and take-it-easy holiday destination. If you like adventurous travel, love nature and are not afraid of some cultural experiences, Mongolia is definitely the place to go. It is located in east-central Asia, bordered by Russia in the north and China in the south, east and west, making this country unique with the variety of cultures.

Mongolia national flag

The Mongol people

If you want to go there, make sure you make an effort to visit Gobi Desert. The Gobi desert is not one massive sand dune. It’s a universe of landscapes; some of them look eerily alien. It is located in South Mongolia and North China. The Gobi is an immense place where dinosaurs once roamed. It’s difficult to do justice to the Gobi on the written page. Take a look at this video and you’ll see what I mean.

Also, do visit the Terelj National Park. It is the most popular destination and the third biggest protected area in Mongolia. It offers a huge number of adventure activities such as rafting, riding, hiking, skiing, camping and mountain biking for you guys to try. To be more updated about the activities that you can do there and other information about the park, you can always visit this link.

As for those who love skiing, you can go to the Sky Resort for a mountain skiing. This small ski resort includes a couple of beginner runs, two chairlifts and full ski services (equipment rental, lessons, cafeteria) and even night skiing! A golf course is also operating here in summer. Skiing is possible between mid-November and March.

A Fairy Tale City of Croatia

            Hello people! How you doing? Let us widen our general knowledge today by reading my post about one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, Croatia. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea and has been a must-see places for the tourists for a long time because of its unique location, deep cultural roots and incredible history. So people, let’s travel Croatia with me!

            The first place that I want to introduce to you guys is Zagreb. It is a large city which managed to stay romantic and safe with the unlimited possibilities for visiting music and theater events, art exhibitions, museums, sporting events and enjoying pleasant walks, interesting architecture, plentiful parks in the center of the city, pedestrians zones and the atmosphere. 

Dolac, the farmers' market. It is the most visited and the best known farmers' market in Zagreb, well known for its combination of traditional open market with stalls and a sheltered market below.

A relaxing walk in pedestrian of Zagreb

Park Maksimir

            Next, the Korcula Island. Tradition is alive there and kicking on Korčula, with age-old religious ceremonies, folk music and dances still being performed to an ever-growing influx of tourists.

The island from above

A traditional knights' performance of Croatia

                                         

The Croatian folks dance

            Lastly, I would like to introduce the city of Dubrovnik.  Regardless of whether you are visiting Dubrovnik for the first time or the hundredth, the sense of awe never fails to descend when you set eyes on the beauty of the old town. Indeed it’s hard to imagine anyone becoming jaded by the city’s marble streets, baroque buildings and the endless shimmer of the Adriatic, or failing to be inspired by a walk along the ancient city walls that have protected a civilized, sophisticated republic for centuries. Take the revamped cable car up to Mt Srđ; marvel at the Mediterranean lifestyle and the interplay of light and stone; trace the rise and fall of Dubrovnik in museums replete with art and artifacts; exhaust yourself retracing history – then plunge into the azure sea. 

The old city of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik cable car

Barbados of Jack Sparrow

“Jack, that time we met in Barbados, I didn’t know whether I ever wanted to speak to you again”

            Did you guys remember the line? It is from the movie Pirates of Caribbean, the conversation between Jack Sparrow and Esmeralda. Do you ever dreamt of going to Barbados? Well, I always found myself dreaming of a vacation there. If you didn’t know, Barbados is an independent island nation within the British Commonwealth in the eastern Caribbean.

Flag of Barbados

This place is worthy to be visited as much of the island is ringed by coral reefs and provide an excellent environment for snorkeling and scuba diving. The island lies on the boundary of the Caribbean and South American continental plates making Barbados unique on geological grounds. Within the core of the island it made up mainly of coral sediment, can be found numerous caves and underground lakes. The most famous of which is arguably Harrison’s Cave; a network of caves, waterfalls, pools and fantastic stalagmites and stalactites.

One of Harrison Cave's pools

Exploring the cave

Barbados also offers one of the most popular cities to be travelled in America which is Miami. They have Miami Beach there which is very famous for the film and music video filming of international celebrities. For more facts about the popular Miami, you guys can click here. 

The view of Miami Beach from the top

The lively Miami Beach at night

Miami Beach Party

Last but not least, Miami also offers its tourists the historical place to be discovered. One of them is the Bussa Emancipation Statue. It is actually a public sculpture of a slave rebellion leader in Barbados. Many Barbarians refer to the statue as Bussa, the name of slave who helped inspired a revolt against slavery in Barbados, back in 1816. It somehow symbolized the “Breaking of Chains”. 

Bussa!

A Welcoming Country: Sri Lanka

Morning people! Let’s start your day with a quick review about Sri Lanka that may interests you to pay a visit there someday. Basically, it is a diverse and multicultural country which is the home to many religions, ethnic groups, and languages. Endless beaches, timeless ruins, welcoming people, oodles of elephants, rolling surf, cheap prices, fun trains, famous tea and flavourful food are best describing Sri Lanka.

National flag of Sri Lanka

When planning to have a holiday in Sri Lanka, you can always consider Devon Falls. It is the most popular water fall in the country due to its clear view from the popular Hatton Nuwara Eliya Road.

View of Devon Falls

                          

                                               A short video of Devon Falls

Besides, Adam’s Peak is also a must-go place when you visit Sri Lanka. It is known as Adam’s Peak (the place where Adam first set foot on earth after being cast out of heaven), Sri Pada (Sacred Footprint, left by the Buddha as he headed towards paradise), or perhaps most poetically as Samanalakande (Butterfly Mountain; where butterflies go to die). Some believe that the huge ‘footprint’ crowning the peak to be that of St Thomas, the early apostle of India, or even of Lord Shiva. 

The footprint at Adam's Peak

Adam's Peak view from the top

Lastly, don’t forget to go to the Kuttam Pokuna, the twin ponds of the ancient Sri Lanka’s hydrologic engineering. The said pair of pools were built by the Sinhalese in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura. These are considered one of the significant achievements in the field of hydrological engineering and outstanding architectural and artistic creations of the ancient Sinhalese.

Kuttam Pokuna before restoration. Photo taken on late 1800's or early 1900's

Kuttam Pokuna now

The Romantic India

            Hey there! How was your day? Mine is all fine. Oh, by the way, I attended an open house just now, wearing kurung saree. It is from India :) That is why my topic today is India. Haha

            A little bit about India, it is a country in South Asia and has been called as the home of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. It is a vast country that's just over one-third of the size of the United States. Much of it is rural, and there are some incredible sights to be seen and discovered. To the north, there are the Himalayas. To the south, beaches. To the west, desert. And to the east, tribal territory. Interesting, isn’t it?

            So guys, as usual, I would like to highlight three places that I personally found as attractive for you guys to visit. Let’s go to the first one; Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. It is also the mausoleum of Shah Jahan. It is located on the river bank of Yamuna in the heart of the city Agra in India. This beautiful architecture attracts tourist from all over the world. Indeed, it is a romantic place for couples to go. Please visit here for more info about things you can do at Taj Mahal.

The front view of Taj Mahal

Native at the river of Taj Mahal

A short video of facts about Taj Mahal that people rarely know

            Next, if you guys go to India, don’t forget to visit Udaipur. It is a city in western India and has been marked as one of the popular destination for the foreigners to come. If you found that Taj Mahal is romantic place, here come the most romantic! It is called the most romantic city in India because of its famed lakes and palaces.

City Palace Complex. Rajasthan's royal rulers converted their palaces into this hotels and tourist attractions in order to generate income after the states were merged into Union of India. It's the largest palace complex in Rajasthan.

Bagore Ki Haveli. A relaxing place to sit by the water and wander into the lifestyle of the royal family.

            Enough of those romantic kind of stuffs? Now, let’s go to the Ellora Caves for some adventures. Well known for its monumental caves, Ellora is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and forms one of the major tourist attractions in Marathwada region of Maharashtra. For a more complete explanation about the caves and things that you should know about it, don’t be hesitated to visit here. 

Ellora Caves

The Happy Fiji

            Bula! Let’s explore the heart of the South Pacific, Fiji today. The archipelago has been blessed with 333 tropical islands that are home to happiness.

Map of Fiji Island

People of Fiji

            In Fiji, there is a place called Lau Group. It is made up of a few small islands in Fiji’s Far East, offers a glimpse of Fiji often not seen by tourists. Mostly undeveloped, life here is simple and somewhat wild – there are no restaurants or hotels, and only two islands have guesthouses. If you’re prepared to venture off the beaten track you’ll get to experience Lau’s unique culture. If you want to see a place that’s utterly unspoiled, while still offering the traditional Fijian hospitality, then visiting the Lau Group is your chance. You may visit here for more information.

            Next, Fiji also offers a town which is the centre of Hinduism and Islam to be visited by the tourists, called Nadi. Nearly everyone who visits Fiji comes to Nadi. This bustling multi-cultural town is the main hub for international traveler and offers great places to eat, drink and shop. Main Street is the centre of action with plenty of shopping, and the latest Hindi or Fijian music playing from every storefront. With its wide range of quality accommodation and close proximity to Denarau Island and the Mamanucas, Nadi is the ideal place to base yourself during your trip.

            Lastly, if you come to Fiji, do visit the Pacific Harbour. The area lives up to its reputation as a spot for adrenaline junkies, offering a wide variety of activities to get your heart racing, from surfing and shark feeding to four-wheel-drive tours. For a more laid-back experience try a round of golf on the championship course, or enjoy a spot of fishing. There’s a good range of accommodation types, from budget offerings to some of Fiji’s finest hotels, and plenty of dining options.