When in Thailand: Snorkeling and Feeding the Monkeys

Take a snorkeling tour around the Phi Phi Islands. Koh Phi Phi is known worldwide for its natural beauty. Often featured in travel magazines across the globe, it’s known as one of the biggest tourist destinations in Thailand. I’m sure almost everyone has seen the photos with its picture perfect white sand beach surrounded by limestone cliffs and long tail boats, and if you haven’t seen the photos you’ve likely seen it featured in movies like The Beach. Phi Phi is the image most often featured on postcards and therefore pulls in thousands of tourists each day.

Once on Koh Phi Phi there are plenty of places to explore like Monkey Beach, Loh Dalum Bay, Bamboo Island, and the famous Maya Bay. If you have a limited amount of time on the islands, then booking a snorkeling tour is one of the best ways to experience Koh Phi Phi. Phi Phi has some of the best snorkeling in Thailand with its clear waters, colorful fish, and huge coral reefs. The snorkeling tours allow you to see Phi Phi from a different perspective, away from the overcrowded and overpriced beaches. On these tours you will be provided with gear, transportation to each snorkeling spot via boat, lunch, and a knowledgeable tour guide. Tour costs range from 800 to 2400 Baht depending on the season, amenities and whether you want a private or group tour.

Koh Phi Phi is also known for its amazing bioluminescent plankton. After night falls the waters turn into a beautiful light show, with luminous plankton lighting up the bay. Swimming amongst dancing underwater lights is an experience you’ll never forget, so if it sounds like something that interests you, book a sunset tour that includes night snorkeling.

Feed the monkeys at Monkey Beach in Koh Phi Phi. Another place to add to your Koh Phi Phi bucket list is Monkey Beach. If you want to see wild monkeys frolicking on the beach, this is the place to visit. You can either rent a kayak and paddle over to the beach for around 200 Baht, or book a boat tour that stops here. You shouldn’t go here expecting a relaxing beach to sunbathe on though. This beach is mainly for entertainment, as the monkeys are wild, sneaky and hilarious.

Using your common sense when visiting Monkey Beach is important because the monkeys are some of the best thieves in the world! Avoid wearing anything valuable, and try to keep your things out of the monkey’s reach. These crazy monkeys will snatch up cameras, jewelry, sunglasses, and any other item they fancy. They are not shy, and will wander right up to you to see if you brought them any bananas. They may even climb up your leg during their search, so stay calm and don’t panic. If you don’t have any food with you they will likely quickly move on to search another tourist.

This is a fun place to take some photos of monkeys playing with each other in the sand, and perhaps even climbing on you! Despite all the warnings, Monkey Beach is a must-see beach on Phi Phi, and watching wild monkeys playing on a beautiful tropical beach is truly remarkable.

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Piazzale Michelangelo and Accademia Gallery in Florence

Designed by Giuseppe Poggi, Piazzale Michelangelo is a large plaza located on a hill at the south end of the Florence. This plaza was built in dedication to Michelangelo who is actually buried not far away. A notable characteristic of Piazzale Michelangelo is the Statue of David centerpiece, which is a bronze replica of the statue, in addition to other replicas of Michelangelo’s work around Italy.

Also in the plaza is another popular attraction, the San Miniato al Monte Church as well as a restaurant, which was initially intended to be a museum for Michelangelo’s works.

Many of the popular tourist sites in Florence are located close together so the Piazzale Michelangelo offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience them all at once! This is thanks to its elevation in comparison to the rest of the city, being atop a hill that is still walking distance from many of the other landmarks.

Pizzale Michelangelo is known as the most popular place to see the city since it gives viewers a panoramic view of Florence. The most popular times for visitors here is at sunrise and sunset.

Although active, the nearby San Miniato al Monte Church is open to visitors, being a great display of medieval architecture as well as religious art on its interior.

The Accademia Gallery is a museum located in Florence. This museum was the first art school in Italy hence it’s name. Art was initially collected at the school to serve the purpose of education, used for studying and copying.  Here you can find art of all types from Italy’s art renaissance era including sculptures and paintings.

Perhaps one of the most known statues in the world, Michelangelo’s statue of David is housed here and is the main focal point of the museum. This 17ft. marble statue is recognized as the work of art that made Michelangelo world-famous.

Thanks to the Statue of David, the Accademia is possibly the most popular destination in Italy. Be prepared for long visitor lines as well as crowded viewing of this iconic piece. Luckily its size makes it highly visible. This is the original statue that was originally placed in an outside plaza of the city’s government building. Now, there are several replicas placed around the city including one in its original standing place.

The gallery also houses many other famous Michelangelo art pieces as well as paintings and sculptures from other popular Italian artists from the time.

The Accademia Gallery is seen as one of the most important museums in the world thanks to its collections.

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Piazza Navona and Borghese Gallery in Rome

What is Piazza Navona Piazza Novona is a known as one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. It is located in Rome and was built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, which was a popular place for athletic contests and festivals. After being paved over in the 15th Century, Pope Innocent X commissions much of the squares modern features including the Church of Sant’Agnese, and 3 of Italy’s most iconic fountains: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of 4 Rivers), Fontana del Moro, Fontana di Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune).

Piazza Navona is a very popular pedestrian area and perfect for tourist offering numerous architectural structures in one convenient location that were constructed from some of the most famous Italian architects in history. The shape of the square is actually an oval; this is reflective of the shape of the original stadium it was built on.

In the center of Piazza Navona, you will find a marketplace catered specifically to tourist including many local vendors selling paintings, art objects, as well as street performers showcasing music and dance.

Surrounding the square, you will find a wide range of restaurants and cafes that are perfect for experiencing Italian cuisine. Many of these dining locations, open both day and night, feature outdoor seating to enjoy the sights of Piazza Navona.

What is the Borghese Gallery?

In the center of Rome, you will find the Borghese Gardens, which is often described as Rome’s Central park because of it’s location and scale. In the very center of the park you will discover the Borghese Mansion, which houses the Borghese Gallery. This gallery is a must for art lovers and anyone interested in exquisite taste.

The Borghese Mansion is a 17th Century villa owned by the Borghese family, one of the richest families in Italy. With such wealth, the mansion was filled with now priceless art that was either purchased and more often commissioned by the owner.

Visiting the Borghese Gallery

Like most galleries in Italy, you will be required to make time reservations to be able to see the Borghese Gallery.

The entire mansion is decorated with past and modern art, including paintings and sculptures, with each room housing an iconic centerpiece. Each piece of art is from some of the world’s most famous artists, including the best sculptures from Bernini, while also holding the largest painting collection from Caravaggio. Each piece of art holds a story in itself that would be ideal to research in order to heighten your appreciation of such classic works.

To add to the opulence of the Gallery, the construction of the mansion reflects the luxury of the Borghese family, from the detailed architecture to the ceiling murals.

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Perceive the Animals at the Bioparco Zoo in Rome

Are you travelling with your kids? If yes, then this should be part of your itinerary!

What was once called Rome Zoo, now the Bioparco di Roma is one of Romes famous Destinations for tourists. I want to provide you with information about this place, so you can consider to visit Bioparco Zoo. 

What is the Bioparco?

The zoo was constructed during the late 1908, where its purpose relied on exhibiting exotic animal’s species. The zoo was designed by architect Carl Hagenbeck. During World War II, the zoo began to deteriorate, although the location was renovated and some parts of it rebuilt completel.

Visiting the Bioparco Zoo

Visiting the Bioparco Zoo should be considered on putting on your itinerary. Especially during the hotter seasons. You’ll find the usual zoo-themed animals such as the giraffes, elephants, hippopotamus, bears, amongst many other exotic animals. But the zoo also exhibits the Kleinmann’s tortoise, which is falling near extinction in the dangerous wild.

The zoo provides tourists with a nice alternative activity from seeing most of the historic landscapes and gives you a sense of visual entertainment. There are plenty of shady spots for resting, plenty of picnic benches, and water fountains.

There is also a small café by the zoo entrance, and up on the rooftop there is an expensive high-class restaurant in which you can spot the giraffes while you dine.

You could catch more information at the official website of the zoo at Bioparco.it

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Hiking and Railway Tripping When in Thailand

Erawan National Park in Western Thailand is one of Thailand’s most popular parks due to its magnificent waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and amazing caves deep in the forest. The park lies in the Kanchanaburi region of Thailand, about 2.5 hours North West of Bangkok.

Along with its stunning scenery, the park is also a wildlife lover’s dream. The forests surrounding the main tourist attractions are filled with monkeys, monitor lizards, and hundreds of different types of birds. If you venture deeper into the forest, however, you may just find wild elephants, deer, gibbons, and wild boar. The major attraction of the park is Erawan Waterfall, which is an impressive seven-tiered waterfall that falls over beautiful limestone cliffs. Spanning a distance of 2km, this waterfall is nothing short of spectacular. Small pools have been formed on each tier of the waterfall, allowing for visitors to relax and bathe beneath the streams of water.

The route between the waterfall tiers is a fun walk over bridges, up ladders, and through forest paths. The path gets significantly more difficult after the fifth waterfall tier, so make sure to wear appropriate shoes if hiking to all seven tiers. In total, it should take 60 minutes from tier one to seven, so leave yourself plenty of time if you’re set on swimming in each waterfall. Visitors who make it all the way up to the seventh tier are rewarded with a peaceful waterfall pool and an extraordinary view over the jungle.

Halfway between Erawan National Park and Bangkok lies the Thai-Burma Railway Centre, a museum dedicated to a project famously known as “death railway”. Built by prisoners of war and Asian laborers in 1942, the railway coined the name “death railway” after leading to thousands of deaths during its construction. The Centre provides an interesting yet sobering look at what daily life was like for these forced workers during the construction of the railway.

The railway spans a 415-kilometer distance between Thailand and Burma, and was constructed by the Japanese during World War II. Tens of thousands of workers died while working on the railway primarily due to diseases caused from extreme malnutrition, excessive work, and insufficient medical supplies. Those who died were buried in unmarked graves along the side of the railway tracks until their remains were moved to official war cemeteries after the railway’s completion.

Today, you can get a lesson in its history from the Thai-Burma Railway Center, visit the War Cemetery, walk the famous bridge over the river Kwai, or even take a train ride on “death railway”. Only a small portion of the railway is open today, but the ride is quite memorable and will provide you with some unique photographs. The two-hour train ride provides you with beautiful scenic views of the river and mountains, but the remarkable history is what makes the ride so special.

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Palazzo Vecchio and Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Florence

In the last 1800s, the capital of Italy was moved to Florence for a brief moment. With this move came the movement of the government to the city, which was stationed in Palazzo Vecchio. This palace served as the town hall and although it is no longer an active government building, it is still seen as a symbol of the government.

Palazzo Vecchio is located in the Piazza della Signoria. This plaza once held the original David statue from Michelangelo and has since been replaced with a replica. Throughout the building’s existence, it has held much historical and political significance, just as it continues to do today.

Palazzo Vecchio is now a popular museum in Florence showcasing the great political history of the city and Italy overall. This museum allows you to walk through its countless rooms, each named after a historical figure that was significant to Palazzo Vecchio. You will find a variety of attractions within these rooms, showcasing anything from Italian art, to traces of the building’s historical uses, to just the overall grandeur of the interior designing which includes elaborate ceiling designs throughout.

More than just a museum, Palazzo Vecchio offers visitors three courtyards, a chapel, a variety of halls, as well as a mezzanine which hosts their own unique collections.

Leonardo da Vinci is known as one of the greatest influencers of art and invention around the world. Born nearby Florence, this museum is located not too far from his original birth home.

The Leonardo da Vinci museum is a small gallery type museum that features the largest collection of life-sized machines that are based on Da Vinci’s drawings. This museum still holds the original collection of his drawings, which are available for viewing pleasure alongside the machine models.

The Leonardo da Vinci Museum is an amazing educational experience as many of the model machines are interactive! This gives you the unique opportunity to get hands-on with some of the actual machines that shaped many of our inventions today.

The museum is divided into five sections reflective of the machines that are present. Leonardo da Vinci designed machines in categories including the following: Mechanisms, Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. Some of the most popular models in the exhibit are the flying machine, mower, and boat propellers. These machines, amongst many others, are still used today, simply given more modern improvements.

The Leonardo da Vinci museum remains true to its historical nature by constructing all of the machines out of wood, a material that was most likely used with their original construction.

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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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