Hailed as being the only one of its kind in the World, the Snake Temple serves as a natural refuge for these fierce predators. Snakes may be deadly creatures but according to the beliefs of those running the temple and its followers, they are the loyal servants of a deity. According to the legend the Temple was built in honour of a Buddhist monk named Chor Soo Kong who provided shelter to the snakes. After his death and the completion of the temple in his honour it is believed that the snakes moved in to the temple of their own accord. The strength of Chor Soo Kong is quite strong and believers from nations as far away as Taiwan and Singapore travel to Malaysia to commemorate his birthday which is on the 6th day of the Lunar month. Though normally deadly, every precaution has been taken to ensure that visitors are safe from harm as the venom from the snakes has been removed. The most common species that resides here is the Pit Viper which is normally a vicious snake, however all the vipers in the temple are docile. This strange deviance in behaviour is explained by the presence of the burning incense which it is believed to be able to calm the snakes down. The snakes can be seen coiled around trees, beams and pillars allowing visitors to get close. Sadly however the free roaming snake population of the temple has decreased significantly in recent years due to urbanization of the surrounding area locale. Visitors should not worry as there is always the extensive collection of walled off specimens. Photo opportunities with a snake on your body can also be arranged making for unique memento of your trip. When travelling to Malaysia visitors owe it to themselves to visit this divine shrine that combines a naturalistic and religious attraction in a single location. presents travellers with a that provides convenient access to various destinations as well as a range of amenities to ensure comfort during their stay.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
.Beautiful city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia (a Spain’s province), is situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered at either end by 2 river deltas. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after its capital city Madrid. Barcelona has a population of 1.5 million, over 4 million including suburbs. The varied, eventful history of the city dates back 4,000 years to the first settlements by ancient farmers. Later it became a Roman colony, the Visigoth’s capital city, and then it came under Moorish rule. It went through sieges, destructions and occupations, finally to become an autonomous democracy 1975. The city has always played an important role in political and cultural life of Spain and it is well reflected in the variety and quality of historical buildings, museums, many other tourist attractions. Today Barcelona is one of the most diverse European cities with unique culture and rich traditions. You can find here a formidable balance of the traditional things and the avant-garde. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona affords visitors a warm and sincere welcome, being acknowledged worldwide as one of the best tourist-friendly cities in Europe. Barcelona’s organization of the 1992 Olympics provided regeneration of this dynamic city, gave a fresh start to its infrastructure development. WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE: POINTS OF INTEREST – La Ramble is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buckers, living statues, mimes and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jeweler. Pavement cafes and stands selling craftwork, street performers surrounded by curious onlookers, a noisy bird market, Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, the Gran Teeter del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house- these are all colorful parts of La Rambla’s mosaic. La Rambla ends at the lofty Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) and the harbour. Barri Gotic – also known as Gothic Quarter, it is the old part of the city. Picasso lived and worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 and Joan Miro was born and lived here during his youth. Gothic Quarter is situated on the right hand side of the La Rambla, it contains a concentration of medieval tall Gothic buildings (14-15th century) on narrow cobbled streets and now is home to much of the city’s nightlife. La Sagrada Familia – La Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous and magnificent among Barcelona’s landmarks. The life’s work of Barcelona’s famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, the magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral imprint themselves boldly against the sky with swelling outlines inspired by the holy mountain Montserrat. Above each facade there are four towers, 12 in total, which are dedicated to the Apostles. The tower in the center, the tallest of all at 170 m., is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Around these there are the towers of the four Evangelists, and the tower over the apse is dedicated to the Virgin. They are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that seem to breathe life into the stone. Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterwork was completed, and since then, controversy has continually dogged the building program. Nevertheless, the southwestern (Passion) facade, is almost done, and the nave, begun in 1978, is progressing. La Pedrera – Casa Mila (Mila House) is an apartment building, the last example of Gaudi’s civil architecture.It is one of his finest and most ambitious creations, extraordinarily innovative in its functional, constructive, and ornamental aspects. Visitors can tour the building and go up to the roof, where they can see spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor below the roof is a modest museum dedicated to Gaudi’s work. Montjuic – the largest open space in the city, its main attractions are the Olympic installations, the Spanish Village and the hilltop fortress. Montjuic, the hill overlooking the city centre from the southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks and the main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Montjuic is covered in ornamental gardens with water features and is the most popular destination in Barcelona on Sundays. Tibidabo – is the highest hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. It has amazing views of the whole of Barcelona, a stunning cathedral, and a family fun park Parc d’Atraccions with old-style rides offering breathtaking views. A glass lift at the park goes 115m (383 ft) up to a visitors’ observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower. Modernisme – spectacular modernista architectural creations dotted around the city by famous Antoni Gaudi and his contemporaries. Camp Nou – home of F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe’s leading soccer teams, with capacity of almost 100,000 spectators. The Seu Cathedral – Built in medieval times on the site of a Roman temple, La Seu is one of the great Gothic buildings in Spain. Parc de la Ciutadella – Barcelona’s favorite park and a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families, friends and ducks The Sardana – traditional Catalan dance, performed outside the cathedral and at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join in.
MUSEUMS – The Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -the only museum in Europe devoted exclusively to Pre-Columbian cultures. Housed in a gothic palace, its collection is one of the finest of its kind and gives visitors an insight into the rich world of the earliest cultures on the American continent. This tiny museum contains one hundred pieces, including wood and stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, jade, often found in international exhibitions and prestige publications. The exhibits represented the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Chavin, Mochica and Inca civilisations. Palau de la Musica Catalana – one of the world’s most extraordinary music halls, it is a Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome ceramic ticket windows on the Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt side to its overhead busts of Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner, the Palau is the flagship of Barcelona’s Moderniste architecture. Museu Picasso – is Barcelona’s most visited museum. 3,500 exhibits make up the permanent collection. Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in Barcelona, and this collection, is particularly strong on his early work. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from the beautiful Rose and Blue periods, and the famous 1950s Cubist variations on Velazquez’s Las Meninas (Ladies-in-Waiting). Gaudi Casa-Museu – Gaudi lived in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house from 1906 to 1926, which now houses a museum of Gaudi-designed furniture, decorations, drawings, and portraits and busts of the architect. Fundacio Miro – it was a gift from the famous artist Joan Miro to his native city. The museum opened in 1975, and now it is one of Barcelona’s most exciting showcases of contemporary art.
BEACHES – One of Barcelona’s greatest draws is undeniably its beautiful beaches. Beside world-famous Costa Brava and Costa Dorada which are within 1-hr drive time from Barcelona, there are also several nice beaches over 4 km long within the city boundaries, we will list just several of them here: Nova Icaria- Closest to the Olympic marina, always crowded, this wide swathe of rough golden sand is great for food goers. There are three perfect beach bars and two very popular restaurants on the promenade (Mango and Chiringuito de Moncho) and countless bars and restaurants are just a short stroll away. Bogatell- This beach is twice the length of adjoining Nova Icaria and fringed by a stretch of stone walkway perfect for jogging, roller blading and cycling. Three large informal restaurants on the promenade. Mar Bella (Metro Ciutadella Vila Olimpica, plus 20-minute walk)- Barcelona’s only naturist beach close to a peaceful park – good for a picnic or siesta under the trees. Barceloneta- wide and long, a traditional and popular stretch with locals, crowded, noisy and very jolly.
WHEN TO GO, WEATHER: The best times to visit Barcelona are late spring and early autumn, when the weather is still comfortably warm, around 21-25°C. Summers are usually hot and humid, with temperatures averaging +30 (+ 86 Fahrenheit). Especially avoid the “dead” month of August, when many shops, bars and restaurants close for the month as many local inhabitants head out of the city. Winters are cool with average daytime temperatures around +12 C (+59 Fahrenheit), occasionally rainy.
GETTING THERE AND AROUND: By a direct flight to Barcelona, or through Madrid or via another large European city from almost any major airports in the world. The highest fares are from May to September, the lowest in March-April, October-November and December to February (excluding Christmas and New Year when prices are hiked up). Note also that flying on weekends may increase your ticket cost. If traveling to Barcelona from within Europe you can also chose train, bus or car, though these take much longer than a plane and often work out no cheaper. Many Mediterranean cruises include Barcelona as a port of call.
ACCOMODATIONS: We can offer you a range of choices. You can choose vacation rentals in Barcelona starting from $ 125 USD for a double room in a 4-star apartment hotel. Or you can opt for hotels from $ 65 USD for a double room in a 3-star hotel. Accomodation prices do not change much throughout the year due to the steady all-season flow of visitors to this extremely popular tourist city and surrounding resorts.
DINING: Besides restaurants you can eat at bars where you would have a succession of tapas (small snacks- three or four chunks of fish, meat or vegetables, or salad, which traditionally used to be served up free with a drink) or raciones (larger ones). The bar option can be a lot more interesting, allowing you to do the rounds and sample local specialities. Generally, the average cost for a meal consisting of two dishes and dessert would come to about 25 Euros. Travellers on an extremely limited budget can do well for themselves by using the excellent markets, bakeries and delis and filling up on sandwiches and snacks. Decent restaurants and cafes are easily found all over the city, though you’ll probably do most of your eating where you do most of your sightseeing, in the old town, particularly around La Rambla and in the Barri Gotic. Look for the best and most authentic seafood restaurants in Barceloneta, a seaside neighbourhood. Gothic Quarter neighbourhood is home to some of the oldest and most traditional restaurants in the city. Gracia is a very popular area among young people during the weekend, it leads the way in terms of exotic restaurants (Lebanese, Egyptian, Thai etc.).
TRANSPORT: Barcelona has excellent transport system comprising the metro (subway), buses, trains and a network of funiculars and cable cars. You can find a link to transport maps at the end of our guide. On all the city’s public transport you can buy a single ticket every time you ride, but even over only a couple of days it’s cheaper to buy a targeta – a discount ticket strip. The T-10 targeta is valid for ten separate journeys on the metro, buses and trains. These tickets can be used by more than one person at a time. The metro is the quickest way of getting around Barcelona. For black-and-yellow taxis there is a minimum charge of $ 2 euro. You’ll obviously have a great deal more freedom if you rent a car . Major roads throughout the city are generally good, and traffic is generally well behaved, though Spain does have one of the highest incidences of traffic accidents in Europe. It also has some of the lowest fuel prices on the continent.
SHOPPING: Barcelona, one of the most stylish cities in Europe offers great shopping, from designer clothes and accessories to household items. You will find the city to be quite cheap for a lot of items, especially if you coincide with the annual sales ( rebaixes in Spanish) lasting from mid-January until the end of February, and throughout July and August. The best shopping areas in Barcelona are the old streets off the upper part of the Ramblas. Souvenirs include ceramics, which are widely sold in the streets around the cathedral; leather goods; city’s delicatessens, particularly cooked Catalan meats and sausages; a porron (the long-spouted glass drinking jar); CDs and tapes of Catalan rock and pop, sardana music, Spanish rock or flamenco. If you’re looking for original gift ideas, some of the best hunting can be found in the shops of any of the city’s museums, where you’ll find reasonably priced and unique examples of Catalan disseny (graphic), and other original items ranging from postcards to replica works of art. We wish you a nice and safe trip!
Bangkok is a buzzing city criss crossed with canals & rivers. The sky line is one of high rises, shopping malls & international hotel chains but at the canal banks and side streets of the city the traditional side of Thai life is clearly visible. The business hub of the city is easily navigated using the skyrail & underground but the more touristy areas around the Koh San road are less well supplied & Tuk Tuks are the main mode of transport. Negotiate hard with your tuk tuk driver – a taxi will always be cheaper & has the advantage of air conditioning however be sure to agree that you’re charged according to the metre as opposed to agreeing a fixed price. Taxis will only take you at an agreed price after 3pm as from this point on your in to rush hour and they are highly likely to spend hours with you stuck in traffic!
About 3 hours out of Bangkok towards the Burman (now Myanmar) border, in the province of the same name, is the town of Kanchanaburi where you can walk over the famous but tragic bridge of the River Kwai. There are some interesting museums here where you can learn more about the history of this place of wartime tragedy & cinematic fame. There are also many opportunities for elephant riding in the surrounding area. A 20 min drive out of the town will take you to the Tiger Temple – a real highlight of any trip to this province. This functioning buddhist temple is also home to about a dozen tigers of varying ages (& sizes!). The temple first took on this unexpected side line in 1999 when a tiger cub was found in a near by village, it had lost its mother to poachers and needed round the clock care to survive. The villagers took the orphaned cub to the temple where the monks agreed to offer it sanctuary.
Word spread in the surrounding area and over the years more and more orphaned cubs were bought to the temple – word also spread amongst the tourist population and in the present day a mutually beneficial relationship exists between the tourist dollar and the conservation of the tigers. A few dollars gains you entry in the afternoons when the tigers are napping in their canyon, photos can be taken from afar for free and if cubs are around there are opportunities for photos here also. For a few extra dollars you can have a picture taken with a fully grown tigers head in your lap – not an experience easily found any where else in the world! Don’t listen to chinese whispers that the tigers are drugged – they aren’t and are in fact very well looked after thanks to the dilligence of the monks and the many (often western) volunteers. Of course queing up with lots of other sightseers to get your picture taken with a tiger isn’t exactly the ‘genuine’ experience a backpacker is after however getting that close to fully grown tigers remains awe inspiring and your money is going to a good cause so if you can stomach the crowds get yourself down there. If you want a more personal encounter then there are two other options open to you – firstly you can volunteer, you must remain at the temple for an agreed minimum stay (think it’s 1 month) and assist as required, meals and basic accomodation is covered. Secondly if you’re lucky (this is not an every day offering) and if you can afford it (c. $50 when we visited) then you can spend the morning with the tigers – only 5 people maximum allowed for this so you will get the one on one experience. A morning with the tigers involves arrival at 7am for breakfast with the monks where you will get to bottle feed & play with the tiger cubs (including being locked in a cage with them & some squeaky toys for an hour of play time!). Next you will get to walk the ‘teenage’ tigers down to the canyon for their morning exercise – incredible to watch them pouncing on each other in the water (check out the photos in the photo section of this website). Following exercise time you will walk the tigers back up to their cages and give them a quick bath – just like their domestic cousins they aren’t great fans of this so handle with care!
Singapore, an independent city-state off the southern borders of the Malay peninsula, lays claim to a vivid and eventful history. Its modern history began with the establishment of a trading post by Sir Stamford Raffles for the British East India Company in 1819. A vital port on the spice route, Singapore eventually became one of the most significant military and commercial hubs of the British empire. After achieving independence Singapore has prospered, with foreign investment and momentum towards industrialization making it one of the wealthiest nations in the world today. Singapore is also a magnet for tourists, with its renowned shopping opportunities, unique cuisine and cosmopolitan image attracting a multitude of foreign visitors.
Thian Hock Keng holds an important position as one of the most significant and most ancient Hokkien temples in Singapore. It was originally a site where Chinese migrants expressed their gratitude to Ma Zu, goddess of the sea, for their safe passage. The temple proper was constructed by the Hokkien clan in 1839, and the building also contained the clan’s office and functioned as a meeting site. The various facets of the temple’s past are inscribed in granite tablets inside the building’s Entrance Hall. A plaque gifted by Emperor Guang Xu of the Qing dynasty, proof of the temple’s importance, is also to be seen.
The temple is constructed in conventional southern Chinese manner, the whole structure being free of nails. A masterwork of tiles, wood and stone, the temple contains phoenixes and dragons, huge columns, ornate sculptures and fascinating carvings. Every effort was made in the construction of the temple to maintain its esteemed status by using only the finest materials from China.
Thian Hock Keng features an imposing main entrance, while the side entrances have vividly coloured tiles depicting the Buddhist swastika, roses and peacocks. In typical Taoist fashion sculpted door gods, lions and tigers guard the doors. In addition to the main temple the complex includes two courtyards and two pagodas, one dedicated to Confucius.
A like no other, the Raffles Hotel Singapore provides some of the best has to offer. With sumptuously appointed rooms, modern amenities and a tradition of satisfying the expectations of any guest, there is no doubt that the Raffles Singapore is a premier hotel in every way.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
At the north-eastern side of Beijing is China’s largest and most perfectly preserved imperial temple – The Lama Temple or Yonghe Temple. This temple was established in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty. Prince Yong used the temple as his residence and after his death his coffin was placed in one of the halls. His successor, the Qianlong Emperor thereafter granted imperial status to the temple – which is seen by the replacing of its turquoise blue tiles with the Emperor Status yellow ones. The temple then gradually became a residence centre for Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhist monks.
The entire architecture is based along a north to south axis with 5 main halls and courtyards. Each of these halls are in succeeding height order with the last being the highest. The temple boasts of Mongolian, Manchurian, Tibetan and Han influences.
The Hall of the Heavenly Kings marks the entrance to the other halls and contains the statues of the 4 Divine Kings. The Hall of Harmony and Peace consists of the images of the 3 Buddhas of the 3 ages – Kasyapa Matanga ( Buddha of the past), Sakyamuni (Buddha of the present), and Maitreya (Buddha of the future).
Next is the Hall of Everlasting Blessings, which the Prince Yong used as his residence. This hall now carries a green tara and white tara depiction, the former of which is unusual given its make consisting of 4000 silk pieces.
The lamas read their sutras and hold ceremonies in the Hall Of The Dharma Wheel, which also consists of a structure of the founder of the Tibetan Buddhist Yellow Hat Sect.
The last hall, the pavilion of Infinite Happiness is the highest and the main hall. An 18 meter high statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single Sandalwood tree takes pride of place and is one of the artworks to be in the Guinness Book in 1993.
These are just some of the aspects of this amazing Lamaserie and the traveller would indeed be wise to explore the rest of this monastery. Being close to the subway, this temple is easily accessible. If the traveller wishes to visit this monastery at leisure, and is looking for , then a such as the Somerset Grand Fortune Garden would be ideal, with its central location.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
The south Indian state of Karnataka is an enchanting land where architectural beauty is found in plenty. Hampi, a historic village in this state is renowned the world over for its architectural ruins which still hold the old-world-charm. Virupaksha Temple is one of the most fascinating temples in Hampi where tourists come from far and wide. Hampi is famous as a World Heritage Site for its beautiful architectural ruins. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshiped in the form of Virupaksha or Pampapati in the shrine.
It is an ancient temple which enjoys a prized place in the hearts of devotees. Being one of the main pilgrimage centers in Hampi, it attracts many a devotee. It was built in the 7th century by Lokamahadevi, theQueen of Vikaramaditya II to celebrate her husband’s victory over the rulers of Kanchipuram. Addition of more structures to this shrine by the Vijayanagara Empire was a great contribution towards its architectural beauty. Fully intact, the temple is surrounded by several architectural ruins, which have their own charm.
The temple encompasses a sanctum, smaller shrines, three ante chambers, a pillared hall and an open pillared hall. The eastern gateway of the temple has 9 tiers and it rises to a height of 50 m. Flawlessly proportioned, this gateway leads to the outer court where several sub-shrines are located.
The temple has three huge towers, the eastern tower being the tallest one. The most beautiful among all the structures in the temple is the central pillared hall which is beautifully decorated with stone carvings.
The most propitious time to visit this temple is during the annual Chariot festival, which is celebrated with great fervor in the month of February. The other popular festival celebrated in the temple is the marriage of Virupaksha( Lord Shiva) and Pampa( Goddess Parvati) in the month of December every year.
A tour to will reward you with amazing architectural beauty. Set amidst the ruins of the famous monuments of Hampi, this temple is still intact and holds old-world charm. Virupaksha is one of the famous which should be visited at least once.
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