Grand Palace Elephant Nature Park in Bangkok

When visiting Bangkok, the number one thing to put on your bucket list is The Grand Palace in the heart of the city. The Palace is an extravagant array of temples and buildings covered in beautiful bright colors with elaborate designs. Every surface of the Palace buildings seem to shine, and it’s no wonder it’s one of the most famous tourist attractions in Bangkok.

The Palace was constructed in 1782 and served as the country’s administrative and religious center. It was also the official residence of the King and Royal Family until 1925, which makes it an extremely busy attraction for both tourists and Thai’s. The Palace complex itself is enormous, covering an area of 218,000 square meters. It’s size and large number of buildings means that it will take quite a while to see everything, so plan on having at least a few hours to explore. One particular place to make sure you see while visiting the Palace is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The small Buddha is over 2,000 years old and is as sacred as it is beautiful.

Due to the palace being a religious center, dressing appropriately is a sign of respect so visitors will need to cover their shoulders, legs and stomach. If you didn’t bring conservative clothes with you there is no need to worry. Appropriate clothing can be rented right from the entrance to the palace for a deposit of 200 Baht. The Palace is an attraction you do not want to miss while visiting Bangkok, and you’ll leave mesmerized by the rich history, detailed architecture and dazzling colors.

If you’re an animal lover, there’s one activity in Northern Thailand you must put on your bucket list. Chiang Mai is famously known for its elephant sanctuaries that are scattered around the city. Thailand is notorious for its use of elephants for tourism purposes through elephant trekking, but a more ethical option for the animal lovers out there is to visit a sanctuary. Asian elephants are an endangered species, so these sanctuaries primary purpose is to rescue elephants from their harsh working conditions to promote good health, safety and freedom.

One of the most popular elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai is called Elephant Nature Park. The park allows visitors to join them in half day, full day, or overnight visits for 1700 to 4900 Baht depending on the package type. It’s located about 60 kilometers outside of the city of Chiang Mai, so you get a great view of the picturesque jungle along the way.

While visiting, you will learn all about elephant behavior and their history in Thailand while helping with various activities. The park’s activities include feeding the elephants sugarcane and bananas, bathing them, interacting with them, and of course taking photos with them. During bathing time you will help give the elephants a fun mud bath, then walk them down to a waterfall to wash the mud of both yourself and these beautiful animals. It’s truly an experience you will never forget, so be prepared to fall in love with these gentle giants before the day is over.

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Grand Canal and Doge's Palace in Venice

The city of Venice is a place that for the most part has remained unchanged since the 10th and 11th centuries. The most interesting characteristic of the city is how it is set up. What looks like a “city” is actually a series of close to 100 small islands that are linked by several bridges and crosswalks.

Flowing between these mini-islands are several canals that serve the purpose of their roads. These canals all flow into the Grand Canal, comparable to a major city highway. Since the city has no actual roads, this is their main form of transportation aside from walking.

If you are visiting Venice, it is almost certain that you will find yourself on the Grand Canal at some point. No road in the city means no cars; all of the traffic is right on the water. You will see all kinds of boats, from tour boats, delivery boats, police boats, and even gondolas, which offer a great experience going down the Grand Canal. Venice also has its public transportation in the form of boats, including “city buses” that have routine stops along the canals that you can freely hop on and off.

With so much traffic along this Grand Canal, along the canal are numerous shops, restaurants, and many other sites that you’ll want to visit on your trip to Venice.

Doge’s Palace is located in the St. Marks Square in Venice and represents the wealth and power of the city. This palace was built and used for political and judicial activities. It was the actual residence of the Duke of the city.

The palace’s architecture is a great example of Venetian Gothic style and was actually the most powerful real estate in all of Europe for over four centuries.

As the palace was used for judicial purposes, the famous Bridge of Sighs links the Doge’s Palace to the New Prison by which prisoners were transported directly after trial.

In 1923, the Doge’s Palace was converted into a museum, allowing visitors to tour the palace and it’s numerous rooms. Throughout the entire palace you will see it decorated with artwork and sculptures from some of the top artists that lived in Venice. Be sure to look up in each room, as there are magnificent murals in many of the rooms with unbelievable detail.

One of the most significant rooms in Doge’s Palace is the Hall of Great Council. In this massive hall, meetings were held, sometimes holding over 2500 Nobles at one time. This room also contains the world’s largest oil painting entitled “Paradise” by Tintoretto. The meaning behind the painting is to showcase that good decisions receive divine recognition, which is the overall purpose of the palace’s original use

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Know How to Relax When in Italy

Cool Down With Ice Cream From Boutique del Gelato in Venice

The temperature across Italy can really soar in the summer months, and while you can cool down with air conditioning and bottles of water, our preferred method for bringing down the body temperature is by indulging in lots of incredible Italian ice cream. Let’s face it, you’re not going to struggle to find great gelato wherever you may be in Italy, but we’d like to give a special nod to Boutique del Gelato in Venice. Some favourite flavours of ours include Amaretto, Nocciolosa (which is not a million miles away from Nutella), and Tiramisu.

Hike Through the Apuan Alps in Tuscany

Tuscany is well known for its olive groves, excellent wine production, and gorgeous countryside, but this is also a place where the famous Apuan Alps mountain range exists. If you fancy going on a brisk hike while you’re in Tuscany, traversing the land of the Apuan Alps is a fantastic idea. Because of their extraordinary beauty, these mountains are often referred to as the mountains of the moon. With well marked mountain trails, there’s no excuse not to strap on your hiking boots.    

Take a Selfie on the Spanish Steps

Rome has no shortage of iconic sites, and one of the most famous of them all has to be the Spanish Steps, a lavish set of outdoor steps that start in the Piazza di Spagna. They were created in the 18th century, and have been etched into any people’s minds through their use in popular films such as Roman Holiday and The Talented Mr Ripley. Get there early in the morning to enjoy the cool weather, and to make sure you don’t have other people in your Spanish Steps selfie shot!

Indulge a Need for Speed at the Ferrari Museum

If you have the need for speed, you need to know about the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, which is an official company museum created by Ferrari themselves. Walking through this museum gives you the chance to see some of the most iconic cars from the company’s history, and to understand the history of the company in the place where it all started.

Take in the Skyline of San Gimignano

The main cities of Italy, like Rome, Milan, and Florence, are, of course, must-visit places, but it can also be a great idea to get off the beaten track a little and get to see some of the smaller places in Italy that you won’t find in all of the tourist guide books. San Gimignano, a medieval hill town in Tuscany, is one such place. Medieval towers ride up against the skyline, making this an aesthetically unique place in the country.    

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Relax and Party When in Italy

Sip on Baxeichitos, the Basil Flavoured Mojito

Mojitos are one of those cocktails that absolutely everybody loves, and they are perfect for cooling down and relaxing on a summer evening. The mojito is traditionally not very Italian tasting, but fear not because the good people of Genoa have created a mojito that has more of an Italian flavour profile because the mint is replaced with basil. The herby flavour provides a fresh kick that is very welcome on a balmy Friday evening.  

Enjoy a Modern Art Experience at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection

While there is no shortage of art galleries and museums across Italy, most of these are dedicated to the works of artists who created their masterpieces centuries and centuries ago, but what if your artistic leanings are more contemporary? Then you need to find your way to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, which contains an astounding amount of 20th century art, from artists such as Max Ernst, Salvador Dali, and David Hockney.

Try Deep Sea Fishing in Palermo

If your idea of a great time is dangling a fishing rod into the water and waiting for a catch, your trip to Italy can provide you with opportunities to take your fishing to the next level. Palermo is the capital of the island of Sicily, and a place where many fishermen live and supply the island with an abundance of fresh fish and seafood. There’s a whole array of companies that can take you out on to the waters, and you’ll have the chance to catch tuna, amberjack, and more.    

Laze on the White Beaches of Lampedusa Island

There is so much to see and do in Italy that, frankly, it can all become just a little bit overwhelming. When you’ve had enough of walking between ruins and museums, why not take some time to chill out on the white sand beaches of Lampedusa island, a gloriously sun bleached island that exists just south of Sardinia? This island is rough and ready, not very visited by tourists, and that makes it the perfect spot to relax and get away from it all.    

Join a Festival Dedicated to Tuna and Anchovies

If you are really into seafood and you fancy celebrating the incredible Italian fish and seafood grub, a festival you might be interested in is the Sagra del Tonno, a festival that is totally dedicated to tuna and anchovies! We know that this is pretty niche, but what could be better than tucking into yummy seafood day and night, right? It is celebrated in late July each year in the quaint village of Cetara.    

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Tips When Traveling to Italy

Peruse the Collections of the Galleria Borghese

So you’re an art lover, huh? Well, you have certainly made it to the right country, and if you only have the chance to check out one of the many art galleries in Rome, make sure that it’s the impressive Galleria Borghese. Listing the highlights here could honestly take up the entire book, but some notable artists on display include Titan, Caravaggio, and Raphael.

Join in With the Carnevale Fun in Venice

When you think of places around the world that are famous for their carnival celebrations, your mind will most likely wander to Rio and its colourful street parades, but Italy is also a place with carnival celebrations, and Venice is the best city for this. Something that sets a Venice carnival apart from the rest is that Venetian masks play a huge role in the celebrations. Be sure to grab one for yourself – it makes an awesome souvenir.

Watch an Opera Performance at Teatro Alla Scala

Italy is the birthplace of opera, dating back to the sixteenth century when crowds would gather to watch the grand performances and listen to the spectacular voices of the performers. And so what better place to take in an opera show than Italy? There are loads of great theatre venues around the country, but the Teatro Alla Scala in Milan is somewhere extra special. Over the last 200 years, this theatre has attracted some of the greatest operatic stars from Italy, and with a capacity to seat more than 2000 people, the atmosphere is always very special.

Swing by The Vatican

While in Rome, one of the must-do things on any travel agenda has to be a day trip to the Vatican, is its own city-state in the very heart of the city. Once inside, there are many highlights whether you’re a Catholic or not. The Vatican Museums contain spectacular art works, as well as sculptures and even Egyptian mummies. And also be sure to check out the stunning St Peter’s basilica, and climb to the top for an exceptional view out across the Vatican and beyond.

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Travelling Cheap - Know What to Bring and Do

The first trick to traveling on the cheap and the best way to enjoy every destination is to travel light. Enjoying yourself requires that you have zero cares in the world, which includes your baggage. You must pack your bags with two rules in mind. One is that you must be able to throw that bag on your shoulder and walk. That means pack light. The second is that if you lose your bag, it shouldn't make one ounce of difference to you. Being light on your shoulder and light on your mind.  

Traveling light does a few things for the budget as well. It allows you to take budget transportation easily without the need to lug around heavy luggage that will most likely cost more and blow the budget. Think about it this way, each extra pound you carry reduces the distance you can travel. So if you want to see more, carry less.

In most places that are great for travel, like the beaches of Borneo, or the mountains of Peru, or even the foothills in Nepal, carrying heavy bags is an impediment. Learn to live simply and you will enjoy your travel.   While we are on the subject of packing, consider having two pouches, stored in different locations, on your person. One is your main pouch where you will carry your passport, travel documents, the bulk of your cash, credit cards, prescription medication and travel itinerary; also include a note clearly explaining any allergies to medication, your blood type and the phone number to contact in case of emergencies.

Your second pouch, which should be in a body pouch that is strapped next to your skin under clothes, should carry an additional set of government identification, traveler's checks, ATM cards, phone number of the embassies or consulates, emergency contact numbers, and a map.  

The two pouches are for a very simple purpose. In the event one gets stolen or just lost, you must always have a second set of documents that will get you to the consulate as fast as possible. If you lose your papers, cash, and travel tickets, stop your vacation and head straight to the embassy.  

Your travel pack should contain clothing that is appropriate to the location. If you are traveling in hot zones, light, short and thin are not always the solution. Find out how the locals dress to adapt to the heat. The same goes for more temperate climates or even frigid locations.   Pack in a way that you can bring everything you pack on board as a carry-on. Do not check anything in. The possibility of losing your luggage can ruin an otherwise perfect vacation.  

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Island Hopping When At The Great Barrier Reef

Visit Heron Island

In addition to unbelievably intriguing and attractive diving sites, the islands of The Great Barrier Reef are as exciting and beautiful as their marine life. One such island is Heron Island, which is a perfect place even if you are not a diver. Here, you can truly immerse yourself in the beauty of nature by lying on the pristine white sandy beach that surrounds the island. The island makes you realize you are the part of nature since you are constantly exposed to the music of seabirds and due to the fact that you can see a lot of multicolored fish and tracks of turtles. Most importantly, you can also visit the Aqua Soul Spa for the lifetime massage.

Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island is among the amazing 74 islands that create the Whitsunday archipelago. This island combines the feeling of adventure with over the top indulgence. You can actually spend your day relaxing at the spa or playing golf. You can also go on a pleasing and mesmerizing bushwalk with your friends and satisfy your cravings for food with more than 20 high quality dining options.

Lizard Island

The acutely surprising and enchanting Lizard Island is the home of 24 spectacularly pristine sandy beaches. As a matter of fact, this island provides a tourist with everything he can expect in terms of natural beauty. Similarly, there are outstanding dining services provided by some luxurious hotels and restaurants that offer both the local and international cuisine.

The Airlie Beach Lagoon

The Airlie beach Lagoon is hugely popular among both the local and international tourists. Located on the shorefront, it is a stinger-resistant swimming enclosure that offers every modern facility, from toilet to shower room, from picnic tables to BBQ and many other things you can imagine. The Airlie Beach is also unsurpassable in its natural beauty as it offers a calm and white sandy beach where you can relax while observing seagulls and other sea animals flying elegantly.

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