Travel & Destinations

A Divine Culinary Experience

By Jesse Stancy

Termed as one of the cleanest places in the world, Singapore is a small place with a lot to offer. Those who have explored this city have immediately fallen in love with all its beautiful features. From delectable cuisine to a thriving nightlife; Singapore is one of those places you have to visit. Located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, it is also home to clean beaches, rustic spaces, and much more.

Delectable Dishes

For a small island-state, Singapore has a variety of restaurants serving signature Singaporean food. Food is an essential part of the city sand; that is why it is thriving with restaurants. If you want a more immersive experience with food, head over to Chinatown where you will meet several best ranges of foods on offer in town. It is as vibrant as it is tasty with many local chefs in outdoor places serving delicious food at affordable prices.

Cultural Diversity

Singapore is a culturally, and religiously diverse place thanks to the rich heritage and influences. To start, the island has four official languages; English, Tamil, Malay and Mandarin. You can learn commonly used phrases through interactions with friendly locals. Singapore also celebrates many national holidays thanks to the different religions residing there. If you time your trip right, you could experience these charming and immersive festivals and celebrations. Visitors can also tour different majestic places of worship.

Thrilling Nightlife

A thrilling night on the town is hard to say not to when you are visiting Singapore. One of the best attractions of this island is the exciting nightlife thanks to some favorite bars and night shows. You can start your interactive night with the locals at the top of the world’s tallest infinity pool, where you will sip signature cocktails while enjoying a breathtaking view of the city. You can also head over to bars with stunning city views, and if you are not too tired, you can catch an impressive fire dancing night show.

The Singapore Zoo

This zoo is famous for its ‘open’ captivity design where animals are kept in large enclosures that are surrounded by moats or other non-intrusive barriers. It is a unique and thrilling way to experience wildlife, and best of all, you can get around easily without disrupting the animals. The park offers unique methods of getting around, including trams, charming boat rides, and romantic horse carriages.

Outdoor Attractions

Finally, be sure to take in Singapore for all its outdoor attractions starting with the diverse architecture. From the colonial-era Raffles Hotel to the futuristic condos of the big city, Singapore is rich in architectural diversity. With a proper guide, you are sure to spot unbelievable Art-Deco inspired buildings. My friend from Bloomington Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, who loves Art-Deco recommended we vacation in Singapore and we were amazed. Check out his website, if you need your carpets cleaned here: https://bloomingtoncarpetmn.com/. Gardens by the Bay is a must-see in the island as it is dominated by a collection of giant metal vertical gardens that are covered in thousands of species of flora and fauna. The futuristic alien landscape alone is worth the visit. Finally, be sure to visit Haw Par Villa, a former amusement park filled with life-sized sculptures and dioramas showing Chinese mythology; a fun and creative way to learn more about Asian folk stories.…

Travel & Destinations

Touring Estonia – From East to West

By Jesse Stancy

Estonia is one of three Baltic countries, including Latvia and Lithuania, which lost their independence after World War II and were forced to join their larger neighbor, the Soviet Union. Although that time is still a recent memory, Estonians are eagerly awaiting and there is a welcome optimism in the air.

In the far east of the country, another bank of the Narva River in Russia and a secluded patrol boat keep Estonian fishermen by the water.

The Friendship Bridge connects the two countries, with large trucks lined up to cross the international border, but otherwise, everything is quiet. It is only 30 years since Estonia became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union and since then a lot of water has flowed under the bridge.

Narva
The majority of people living in Norway still speak Russian and are waiting for the former industrial city to be rebuilt. Greenhome production was the largest textile complex in Europe and the most modern in the Russian Empire, with 20,000 workers at its height. It finally closed in 2010 and everything left just a shell. It is an extraordinary place, occupying a huge space on an island in the middle of the river, and preserving 19th-century buildings, just dreaming of new projects.

The future of Narva Castle is bright, dating back to the 13th century and one of the best-preserved in Estonia. Located 50 meters above the Herman Tower, it faces its Russian counterpart, Ivangorod Castle, on the other side of the river. Inside there is a nice interactive museum that tells the history of the ages and the surrounding fields are one of the few surviving statues of Lenin in Estonia. From here it is possible to take a cruise to the spa resort near Norva-Jesus with its long sandy beach.

Sillamäe
30 minutes west of Norva-Jesu, Silamu was a 19th-century summer resort that was popular with Russian artists and musicians, including Tchaikovsky. It disappeared from the map, however, after World War II, when uranium was discovered here and a processing center was built. Elite scientists and military forces came to work here and Stalinist neoclassical buildings were scattered in the center for their residence.

Mining Museum
I was driving about 30 minutes ago in Kohtala-Jarve where a working mine has been converted into a museum, complete with an underground railway. You get your helmets and overlays and go to explore the depths after feeding the workers. Huge machines covered in dirt and rust are driven to live by the guide, he is a former miner, and it becomes clear why the longevity was not too long.

Shale oil mining began here in 1931, and the piles of limestone loot around the mine have now been converted into artificial skulls and off-road tracks. The area that was once badly damaged by the smoke from the processing plant has been reforested and the abandoned mines are now attractive lakes. Estonia is now set to suspend all shale oil production.

Tallinn
I arrived in the capital, Tallinn, and wandered around the delightful old town, with little traces of the Soviet era. In fact, wandering the narrow, winding streets takes you back to the 15th century. It is divided into two levels, the upper castle, the cathedral, and the seat of government, and the lower, the merchant’s house and the secret courtyard of the Hanseatic League.

The port played a major role in trade between Russian and German cities in the Baltic region between the 1st and 1st centuries and was the basis for the construction of the 20th Russian submarine.

All are long gone and there are massive developments at Nobelson, including new apartments, shops, galleries, and restaurants. There is even a group of igloos that are on the coast, which serve as separate saunas.…

Travel & Destinations

What are the best places to visit in Europe?

By Jesse Stancy

Nothing speaks of beauty better than Europe. It may be smaller but makes up in a variety. The best places to visit in Europe cannot be scripted. Food, History, Art, Culture, luxurious beaches, etc. — Europe has it all. With endless options to choose from, it makes planning a trip challenging. To help you narrow things down, we have selected some of the best places to visit in Europe. We know International ventures might be off the table, but that will give us time to plan your next trip.

 

Best places to visit in Europe

Budapest, Hungary

The rich historical and architectural heritage makes it one of the best places to visit in Europe. Are you looking for Culture and elegance? Then the capital of Hungary should be on top of your travel list. Budapest has one of the safest and beautiful streets that will fill your days with memories. Due to its Low currency value, it is one of the best places to visit in Europe on a budget.

Melissani Cave, Greece

The Melissani Cave is an unforgettable sight. Although the cave was discovered hundreds of years ago, it was not until the 60s that it was opened for the Public. Melissani cave has two distinct chambers- One dark and another Sunlit. This unique combination and its stunning blue waters will make the visit worth your while.

The Dolomites, Italy

The gorgeous relative of the Alps, the Dolomites, covers the northeastern part of Italy. The mountain ranges are breathtaking. It is also the home for local skiers during winter. Looking for more? Head down to Bolzano, a small but stylish town, to enjoy its rolling green hills and sawtoothed peaks.

Cliffs Of Moher, Ireland

The natural wonder that reaches 702 feet, The cliffs of Moher is untamed beauty. The Cliffs of Moher are located on the west coast of Ireland and it is a 90-minute drive from Galway (Southside). You can rent a car or a shuttle bus to reach this location.

Lapland, Finland

White landscapes, Northern lights, reindeer population — feels like something out of a fairy tale? It’s Not.

You can witness such beauty only in Finnish Lapland. If you come during the sun, you can get a glimpse of the midnight sun as well.

Moravian Fields, Czech Republic

It is one of the best places to visit in Europe for first-timers. The Moravian fields might look like oil paintings, but it is as real as it gets. The eastern region of the Czech Republic is referred to as Moravian Tuscanny for its resemblance with Italy’s rolling hills. If you are in Prague, you can reach Moravian fields in one day.

Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva offers unique experiences and the biggest lake in Europe. The trip will be a miss if you do not take the time to see Geneva. It will impress you time and time again. You can go skiing in the morning, and then shopping in the afternoon. The picturesque countryside and its vineyard will leave you wanting for more. It is Truly, one of the best places to visit in Europe.

Europe offers a countless experience that is hard to encapsulate. But one thing is for sure, Europe will never let you down regarding beauty, food, and natural trails.

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Travel & Destinations

A complete guide for visiting Bucharest

By Jesse Stancy

The tourism industry of Eastern Europe is becoming immensely popular with every passing day. And with this, Bucharest, the capital of Romania, has become a point of interest for tourists all around the world. The incredible history, the grimly structured buildings, museums, and alluring stories of the notorious past have all added to the city’s appeal. The present state of progressive capitalism and the different communist rule has many people from all over the world to visit Bucharest and explore its beauty.

The temperature check

Bucharest is also known for the extremes of temperature. While the summers will make you half-baked in the scorching heat, the winters can be captivating and hardly rise above the freezing point. The summers of Bucharest generally comprise of the higher side of the Mercury scale and are accompanied by brutal heat waves. The winter temperatures are usually below the freezing point. The best times to visit this place are during April and May or September and October.

History lovers’ Paradise

The Romanian capital cannot be termed as a kid-friendly city, that is to say, that there are not many zoos or amusement parks that you could look forward to here. However, if you are a lover of history and artefacts, you will fall in love with the city with a wide range of museums and buildings. Picturesque boulevards and tree-line parks also add up to the charm of elegance and sophistication to the town. The palace of parliament will be the perfect place to begin your sightseeing in Bucharest. It was built during the communist rule and is one of the most significant buildings in the world after the Pentagon in the USA. This building is constructed of 12 stories and has 1000 rooms, four underground levels, and the giant nuclear bunker. Some of the country’s best auditions have worked towards building the building and have left no stone unturned to give you a mesmerizing experience.

The village museum

You can take a quick tour of the village museum once you are enthralled by the beauty of the palace of parliament. Situated at the Herastrau park, it is one of the most unique and most elegant outdoor museums in the city. The museum speaks about the Romanian rural architecture and the diversity of history. The workers beautifully depict the lives of peasants in traditional dressing from the 16th and 17th centuries. You will also be able to buy traditional handicrafts and tools as a symbol of quintessential Romanian culture.

Bucharest national museum

Once you are done exploring the village museum, you can next turn towards the Bucharest national museum, housed in a 20th-century post office, and is considered one of the essential structural heritages of Bucharest. It has an overall of 41 rooms and regularly speaks about the social, political, and economical journey of the country from the prehistoric period to the 1920s. Once in the museum, you should take a look at the National Treasury situated in the basement. The room is filled with various gold jewelry pieces from the different historical eras and also from the curios of Neolithic age. It is not only the best place to sharpen your knowledge but also the biggest and the most fantastic museum in Bucharest.

No wonder Bucharest is also known as the city of paradoxes; however, this is one paradox you will love. Visit the town right away to experience the amazing difference.…

Travel & Destinations

Exploring Latvia – The ideal summer holiday destination

By Jesse Stancy

Latvia is a great holiday destination that, in chance, travelers from all around the world throughout the year. However, it has some captivating scenery and gives a magical scenic extravaganza during the summer months. This is the time when the days are very long up to 20 hours and involves a lot of hiking across the lush green forest, swimming in the Baltic sea, and partying in the white sea beaches, all of which gives you reason enough to visit the country during the bright summer holidays.

Exploring the geography of Latvia

Having one of the longest Sandy beaches of your Latvia is exceptionally popular for providing the best of time during the summer holidays. You can move straight to Jurmala, the premier coastal resort of the country situated right beside Riga, and enjoy your time in sunbathing and swimming or relaxing your mind while witnessing the breathtaking views of Cape Kolka.

Enchanting beaches of Liepaja

Liepaja has some of the most alluring beaches in the nation. It is, however, a viral site for partying and letting loose. This city is the third-largest city of Latvia and hosts the annual rock music festival and the biggest beach party in the country. So, always ensure that while in Latvia, you take a stopover for mingling with the local crowd and dancing your heart out. It will surely be a sight worth cherishing.

The amazing Gauja National Park

The Gauja National Park is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Latvia. With mesmerizing trails, it provides fabulous cycling and hiking opportunities for the lovers of outdoor activities. You can also indulge in observing rock formations and exciting wildlife while going on a can you ride for camping for the night.

The fabulous weather

Latvia showcases fantastic summer weather, which is ideal for touring. You can always take a stroll through Riga’s mesmerizing streets and admire the Art Nouveau Architecture or take a quick tour of Sigulda’s old castles. The best fort of Latvia, the Turaida castle, is also situated there. It was built in 1214 and subsequently restored in the 1970s.

The summer activities of Latvia

While taking a tour to Latvia during the summers, you can indulge in a wide range of festivals, including the Jani festival, which is the public holiday celebrating the summer solstice and the Cēsis festival, which is held in the town of Cēsis in August. You can also discover the flea markets and enjoy the bonfires and traditional local wears and pick herbs during the Jani festival. In contrast, during the Cēsis festival, you can opt to enjoy opera, concerts, and other art exhibits to commemorate the town’s medieval heritage.

The final words

Latvia indeed has amazing offerings to its travelers during the summer holidays. Right from the gorgeous beauties to the different enchanting activities, everyone will have a fantastic time in the country without a scope of regret. So, wherever you are, you need to make sure that you do not forget to visit Latvia in your next summer.…

Travel & Destinations

Astounding places to experience in mesmerizing South Korea

By Jesse Stancy

Being one of the lesser-visited countries of eastern Asia, South Korea still boasts of a fascinating culture and history in the entire continent alongside breathtaking scenery that will enthrall every tourist. The people of Korea are extremely warm and delightful to be friends with while you are traveling. There is a beautiful contrast of culture and fantastic significance in South Korea that you visit. This city, which never sleeps, is a heaven for those craving some adventure in contemporary Asian surroundings. Given below are some of the most mesmerizing places which you should not miss during your trip to South Korea. Read on to know more.

The ancient capital of Gyeongju

Gyeongju is the oldest capital of the longest surviving Kingdom in the history of Korea. Your South Korean cannot be completed without making a visit to this city and uncovering it’s beautiful heritage. Gyeongju is also designated as one of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites, which homes a lot of “living museums.”

Discovering Gyeongbokgung Palace

Often termed as one of the grandest palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty, the Gyeongbokgung Palace is rightfully known as the “Greatly blessed by heaven.” the Palace was originally built in 1395 and had been repeatedly restored to cope with the damages caused by war and fires. However, only 40% of the original Palace is still visible to the tourist and speaks with the utmost grandeur about the history and culture of South Korea.

Bullet trains

South Korea is a fantastic mixture of traditional and modern life. When ancient buildings describe the country’s culture and traditions, it also boasts of high-speed bullet trains running through the contemporary outlay. You can board such a train in another capital city of Seoul, and head towards another metropolitan called Busan. The train takes almost 2 hours to reach its desired destination running at a speed of 117 mph.

Gaya Mountain National Park

Gaya Mountain National Park is a famous home two temples and the highest peak of Korea that stands a figurine of the Buddha carved into a rock face. This National Park was designated the same in 1972 due to its mesmerizing views and unscathed glory. Luckily enough, in the remote part of South Korea, the wars could not touch its beauty, which is still appreciated by the visitors. The Park is elevated by Valleys all around, including the Hongryudong Valley, giving Redwater a gorgeous view due to crimson foliage around it.

Peace at the Haeundae beach

Haeundae Beach is regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches of South Korea that attracts tens of thousands of visitors during the summer months alone. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions that is overlooked by the high-rise buildings. The beach is immaculate and surprisingly clean irrespective of hosting a wide range of exciting events throughout the year. It is also famous for getting covered with thousands of parasols that have founded the beach to give it a striking look of white sands composed of naturally eroded shells.…

Travel & Destinations

Best Places to travel in Belgium

By Jesse Stancy

Belgium is among the smallest countries that are largely populated in Europe.

It is located in Western Europe and it is famous because of its splendid modern and antique towns, preserved old architecture, excellent beer, and it is also important because it serves as the headquarter for the European Union.

Belgium is a place that connects the wonders and charms of the old world with the enhancements of the modern world, culture, and today’s trends.

The old and vintage castles, mansions, museums, cathedrals, amusement parks, and shopping centers add much more value to the country.

If you are planning a trip towards this amazing and beautiful country then this guide is going to be much helpful for you.

It may be difficult to choose the top tourist attractions to visit during your short trip but we have made the process much easier for you.

As we have shortlisted the best places to travel in Belgium during your short trip so that you can enjoy your vacations without facing any sort of hassle.

Brussels

Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and it is famous for its nightlife and large shopping centers. It is considered as one of the largest hubs in Europe for museums with rich historical relics, palaces, mansions, chapels, and trade.

Brussels is also called the administrative capital of the European Union. It also attracts millions of tourists each year from different parts of the world.

Other factors that add up to the fame of Brussels is the existence of world-class cafes, pubs, restaurants, and shopping malls.

There are different travel destinations in Brussels that help you to plan a day trip with loads of fun.

Some famous tourist attractions in Brussels include the Grand Palace, Atomium, Mini Europe, Mannekin Pis, and the Tintin Museum.

If you are worried regarding your stay in Brussels then there is no need to get panic. Here are a few hotel recommendations. You can stay in the Hotel Amigo, NH Brussels Grand Palace Arenberg, Radisson Blue Royal, Floris Ustel Midi.

Bruges: A must-visit for Palaces and Canals

Bruges ranks on the top when it comes to the most stunning tourist attractions in Belgium.

This place is a picture perfect medieval town that is blessed with different historic buildings and lush canals.

The beautiful palaces, chapels, and mansions of Bruges highlight the great history of the Vikings while the arranged network of canals, that is flowing through the whole city has helped Bruges to gain much popularity with the name of “The Venice of the North”.

In Bruges, you can explore the town by traveling on the bicycles, enjoy boating in the canals or taste the Belgian hot chocolate at any one of the main cafes in the market square.

If you are planning a trip towards Belgium then make sure to add this city on your list as well.

The top tourist attractions in Bruges include the Grote Market Square, Belfry Tower, and the Gruuthuse Mansion.

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