Tag: Asia-apc

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Asia Travel Trends

10 Days Itinerary for Vietnam

Vietnam is a beautiful country with varied terrains and you need sufficient time and information to ensure you make most of your Vietnam experience. During one of our #ghoomophiro trip, we curate this itinerary for us. Hope you enjoy this Vietnam trip too. In our 10 days’ trip, we tried to experience all facets of Vietnam starting from Halong Bay to Mekong Delta. The country is an abode of nature and will quickly make you feel if you are in heaven.

Days 1-3: Saigon and the Mekong Delta

Saigon is popularly known as Ho Chi Minh City. A walk in the city will tell you the story of rich colonial past. You can roam around the museum, tunnel network. This will let you understand the life of Vietnamese closely.

Only two tunnels are opened. Post this, heading to Mekong Delta is a great idea, where you can experience world’s best floating markets. The best part is the items being sold in these markets are freshly grown in nearby places. The Mekong is also known as rice bowl of Vietnam. The place lets you view the greenery. While you are cruising the delta, you can witness the rich biodiversity and also enchant yourself with the Vietnamese culture, as everything around you from water sound to countryside view echoes Vietnam.

Days 4-6: Hue and Hoi An

Next day, take a flight to Hue, which was once upon a time an imperial city and now one of the UNESCO sites. Located on the bank of Song Huong- Perfume River; Hue is around 700 km from southern Hanoi. It is a must-see place for history buffs. Hue Citadel, Emperors Tombs (There are several tombs of ancient emperors around the Perfume River. Few of them includes Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, Tu Duc, Dong Khanh)

Pagodas (Thien Mu Pagoda is the most popular pagoda. With the symbol of the octagonal 21-meter-high tower, the pagoda is the perfect combination of artificial architectural work and picturesque nature. Other pagodas are Tu Dam, Tu Hieu, Huyen Khong).You can also

You can also sunbathe in the beautiful beaches of Thuan An and Lang Co beach. One can also enjoy the hot springs hot springs namely Thanh Tan in Phong An, Phong Dien, which can rejuvenate you after a tiring day.

If you are into shopping, then Spiral Foundation is the place, an organization that sells eco-friendly crafts produced by deaf and mute artisans. Hue still maintains its conservative tranquility and this adds to the beauty of the place.

Hoi An Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port. It is a city cut by the canals.  Its streets, countryside reflects the influences from history and give a picturesque view. You should not miss hitting the beach, trying the street barbecue and spending time at a homestay. This will definitely enhance your experience. Do not miss to explore the place on the bicycle tour.

Days 7-10: Halong Bay and Hanoi

Flying from Danang to Haiphong, you can drive through pleasant farmland to reach the Halong Bay. The place is famous for its 1600 islands that form a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Experimenting an overnight cruise to view these beautiful islands is indeed a great plan. The place is also another UNESCO Heritage Site.

Now is the time to wrap up the trip with the visit to capital city Hanoi. Highlights of the city include Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Water Puppet Theatre, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son, Dong Xuan Market, Ba Vi National Park, and Hanoi old quarter and opera house.

Needless to say, Vietnam is an exceptionally idyllic vacation spot and brings you close to nature. While you are packing for your upcoming vacation to Vietnam, do not miss to apply for Vietnam Visa to avoid last minute rush.

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Asia

Where to eat Indian food in Jakarta

Indian food has a variety of dishes all spiced up and delicious. There is no shortage of restaurants that serve Indian food in Jakarta but in terms of taste and quality, I have compiled a list of the best places to eat Indian Food in Jakarta.

Let’s take a look:

Ganesha Ek Sanskriti

Address: BRI II Building, Jl Jend Sudirman Kv 44-46

Ph no: +62215719415

Address 2: Kemang Square Lt 2, Jl Kemang Raya No 5

Ph no: +62217196837

Ganesha is the top restaurant in Jakarta for Indian food. With its ethnic interior and branches spread in two different places, it not only offers a homely feel but also a variety of North Indian and Tandoori dishes. Their menu is divided into non-vegetarian and vegetarian items and everything is delicious. So you can order anything and it will turn out to be delicious

Kinara

Address: Kemang Raya No. 8-B

Ph no: +62217192677

Though it may be a little pricey, the food is definitely worth it. Also, the overall ambience of the place gives off a good vibe. They have a rooftop area for parties but even the main dining area is no less than royal.  My recommendation is to go for the Sunday brunch and get some free juice and lassi. The brunch starts from 11 am onwards. Otherwise, get ready to loosen your pockets.

Queen’s Tandoor

Address: Permata Plaza, Jl M H Thamrin Kav. 57

Ph no: +62213903286

This is one of the oldest and well-established restaurants that is known popularly for its fusion of Indian and Chinese cuisine. It also offers a wide variety of Indian food such as South Indian Dosa. You can also try their signature dish that is raan-e-bahaar, a mildly spiced lamb leg. You can trust Queen’s Tandoor to only serve you quality dishes made from fresh ingredients.

Koh-e-noor

Address: jl Rasuna Said C-22, Pasar Festival GF.03-04 Jakarta Selatan

Ph no: +62215276531

Koh-e-noor is one of the less pricey restaurants. The interiors are decorated with Indian paintings and ornaments giving it an ethnic look. You should try their naan, banarasi Dum aloo and do not forget the delicious Jalzeera. That is just what I found the most delicious but you can also pick one of the many things from the menu. In fact, there are also options for Vegans. The service is fast, there is a variety of Biryanis that you can try and this is one of the places that you will find yourself returning too. It is one of the places that will give you all you desire in terms of tasty food without burning a hole in your pocket.

Man aur Tan

Address: Jl Prof. Dr. Satrio Casablanca Kuningan (6th floor), Jakarta Selatan

Ph no: +622130040888

Address 2: Merlynn Park hotel Lantai 5, JL KH. Hasyim Ashari, No. 29-31

Ph no: +622130026888

It is a clever wordplay on Manhattan hotel. But this is one romantic restaurant and you can take your loved one there for a special date. The royal ambiance of the restaurant will make them feel like a king or queen and you shall be treated majestically while enjoying the deliciousness of North Indian cuisines. The staff may be Indonesian, they greet you in an Indian way making you feel at home.

Some more suggestions would be D’Bollywood, Samy’s Curry, Eastern Promise, Spicerack and Frontpage. That wraps it up. These are the most fantastic restaurants that will serve authentic finger-licking good Indian food that will make your stomach happy and your heart sing.

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Adventure Architectural Asia Spiritual Hubs

48 Hrs in Kathmandu

The nonignorable chaos of wonderfully diverse people, most of them tourists though and the places full of pure natural bliss, Kathmandu is Nepal’s capital city. The city, like every other capital cities in the world, happens to be the center of all cultural, social and political happenings in the country. The added charm comes from the Mother Nature herself who has poured her heart into making this city a beautifully constructed piece of architecture. The mankind has also been quite fond of the city, how else would you explain the amazing temples and monuments located here. The recent earthquake almost ruined the city in its entirety but perhaps, it knows quite well how to take care of itself.

There are many things a tourist can do in here to make the most out of their trips. The religious institutions, the majestic Himalayan range, the national parks etc makes the city a complete package. Let us know more about what exactly one should be doing in the city once they land here.

Boudhanath Stupa- One of the very few UNESCO world heritage sites in the country, Boudhanath Stupa is a charming attraction for the tourists. Most of the tour guides always chose this place to start the journey deep into this beautiful city. The religious center of Nepal’s Tibetan/Budhh community, this stupa is a marvelous piece of architecture and a wonderful kick starts to the trip.

Everest Region- Home to some of the tallest mountain peaks in the world such as Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest, the Himalayan range is one other big tourist magnets in the city. Trek into the Everest was somehow closed due to the recent earthquake that shook the country but it was reopened after some time thanks to the heavy pressure by the tourists.

Annapurna Region- If there is anything else in the world that could be compared to Everest region in terms of magnificence is this. The 10-day trek over here is one of the longest and the most exciting trek in the world. The Annapurna Base Camp happens to be the highest point that gives a cool 360-degree view of the entire region, which makes for a sight to savor.

Durbar Square- Affectionately known as the heart of Kathmandu tourism, the Durbar Square remains crowded for the most part in the year. There are countless numbers of shrines and little temples spread in the square which is a great place for the most religious of tourists. Hanuman Dhoka and Taleju temple are two shining diamonds in the crown that Durbar Square is.

Pashupatinath Temple- King Bhupendra Malla, who reigned the country in the later parts of the 16th century, got this temple built and invited some of the most accomplished architects from all over the world to do the task. And the result is for all of us to see. This serves as a great pilgrim spot for the Hindu devotees who come here in heavy numbers.

There is no dearth of tourism spots in this city. There is the Royal Palace, Narayanhiti place museum among many other places. The only Hindu country in the world is being run by the Kathmandu city and its spirit is unbreakable. The latest example is the earth shattering earthquake. The city got up on its feet in no time and from the bruises of it, it became stronger than ever.

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Adventure Asia Treks

Hiking on Bhutanese trails

Bhutan- the nation that measures its progress and well-being by the Gross National Happiness (GNH) index- is a different world in itself because of nationalismIt is a country where a majority of the geographic area comprises mountains and has peaks with altitudes ranging from 520 ft to more than 23,000 ft above sea level. Located at the southern end of Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is often called as ‘Mountain Fortress of the Gods’. Therefore, some really good treks can be expected here and all of them are arranged by only local agents. Some of them are as follows:

Druk Path Trek: It is a six-day trek and one of the easy ones. The hike begins from Paro and ends at Druk Path in Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan. On the way, one can enjoy glimpses of Mount Gangkar Puensum (24,836 feet) which is the country’s tallest mountain and even after many attempts by people to climb it, is the highest unscaled peak in the world. The best time to trek on the Druk Path is between March and June or September and November.

The Jhomolhari Trek: This is one of the most popular treks in Bhutan. The difficulty level is above average and one goes through two passes named and Takhung La pass and Bhonte La pass during the trail. The trek gives an amazing view of Mt. Jomolhari (24,000 ft). An annual event called the Jomolhari Mountain Festival, to acknowledge the domestic culture, is celebrated at a different time each year here.

Snowman Trek: Demanding 25 days, the Snowman Trek is probably the toughest trekking routes in the world. It starts from Paro and ends at Lunana stretching between the border region of Bhutan and Tibet. One gets to cross eleven passes including Gangla Karchung La and Loju La, during the journey and there is not much habitation on the way.  The best time to trek here is before winters and after monsoons in October.

Bumthang Owl Trek: Trekking on this route is a great idea for those who have a time constraint but want to take away a flavor of the traditional culture with them. It also gives hikers opportunities to visit ancient Buddhist monasteries on the way.  Mt. Gangkar Puensum can be seen during the trek. It is also likely to spot Himalayan Black Bears here in the autumn season. The best time to hike here is from April to early June.

Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek: Famous for local trout fishing, Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek is a challenging one which requires at least six days. It gives spectacular sights of some of the highest Himalayan peaks including Mt. Everest and Kanjenjunga. The best time to hike on this route is between April and June or September and October.

Apart from the above-mentioned treks, Bhutan offers a plethora of other ones, for obvious reasons. They give travelers a deep insight into the local culture and the lifestyle of the people. It is a very different experience altogether!

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Asia Staycation

The Beautiful Taj Exotica Resort  “Vivanta” at Maldives

As soon as the 15 minutes ride from the airport brings you here, you become assured that the hole that this little expensive trip caused in your pocket, it doesn’t pinch anymore. Everything is forgotten, every qualm or the worry you ever had about the trip. As the delicate flora and fauna welcome you, you feel half of your outwardly stresses slowly fading away.

The hotel’s private speed boat takes you down to the Emboodhu Finolhu Island, where this man made heaven happens to be located. The island is quite on the smaller side at mere 770 meters but never falls short of impressing the visitors in their pursuit of spending some quality times with their loved ones.

Accommodation- The presidential suite, at 10k USD per night may be too expensive for a lot of you, so don’t worry. Other options are there to give you a great value for money for every last penny that you are going to spend. The deluxe Lagoon Villa comes to the rescue, so you might consider booking it. As you step in the 1000 square feet suite, you realize your worth on this planet. The bathroom is massive, maybe larger than the bedroom that you have at your current apartment. The plunge is one added specialty and takes your breath away. There are 64 options in total that you can choose from.

 

Food and Beverages- Vivanta the Coral Reef, Maldives has all the beautiful and mesmerizing ocean views and eye pleasing sunsets that will soothe your heart. The Taj hotel line is not only popular for the expensive stays or the luxury suites, their foods and beverages are considered to be the most vivid and delicious in the entire world. The cooks from around the world are there to satisfy your taste buds to their last core.

The Japanese food is by far the most impressive highlight in here and will take your taste buds on a roller coaster ride. Maldives is also quite known for its enigmatic cuisines, its seafood is marvelous and you may find enough options to choose from. The addition of coconut to their meals is quite brilliant. And in case you miss the taste of your native country, you will have no dearth of your favorite cuisines here. Come let us explore the restaurants here.

Latitude-The multi-cuisine restaurant, Latitude will leave you overwhelmed by the exotic mouth-watering dishes. You taste buds will encounter the range of different flavors from all across the world here!

Open the Grill-Having dinner with your sweetheart under the sky bed and long spread stars till the horizon is the most amazing experience like nothing else. So, Vivanta by Taj brings for you Open – The Grill, multi cuisine dining experience with the lagoon and the swimming pool. Guests are served with a freshly introduced South American concept. You can experience the exotic food having the flavors of Peru, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, it’s a real treat.

Reef Bar- The Reef Bar in the Maldives is the perfect place to soothe your senses. It is a bar-lounge in the Maldives where People gather in evening for fun and enjoy.  The best time to visit the place is before sunset and  having a  sip of sun-downer will be like the cherry on the cake.

Spa- All luxuries aside, let’s take it down to the spa. The hotel being located in the Indian Ocean, the ancient Indian techniques are used thoroughly in the Jiva Grande Spa, which happens to be located just in front of the hotel. Mixing up of some great ancient Indian techniques with some new contemporary practices, this will tell you what relaxation actually means. As you come out all relaxed and fresh as a new born baby, you will come to know the difference.

Taj Exotica Resort is a masterpiece in itself, from the exotic lands of the surroundings to the mind blowing services that are the trademarks of all the Taj’s across the world, everything is here. You can visit the range of restaurants and bar designed in a Unique way to satisfy the guests to the fullest. Some of them are Latitude, Open the grill, Reef bar, Pizzeria and much more. One of the most luxurious experiences of life awaits you, what are you waiting for?

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Asia

Borobudur is a majestic 9th century Buddhist temple and one of the Seven Wonders of the World

Borobudur temple located in Java, Indonesia is a famous Buddhist temple which dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries and is known to be among UNESCO’s world heritage sites. It is the single largest Buddhist structure anywhere on the earth and that makes it an essential pilgrim site for the Buddhists.

How to reach here

The nearest airport to the place is the Yogyakarta’s Adisucipto international airport and Solo’s Adisumarmo International Airport. Both are international airports and a few hours ride from the airport will take you to the temple complex in no time.

About

The site is open to public visits from 6AM-5PM.

The place reeks of Buddhism through every corner and there are more than a hundred little and big statues of Buddhas seated inside perforated stupas and then comes the biggest stupa of them all, located right in the center of the massive complex. The stupas have been here for more than 1200 years in total and are still standing, clearly passing the every test of time put before them.

The Buddha statues are in the universal posture in which Gautam Buddha has been seen, the Chakra parivartan mudra. However, most of the idols are in good condition but a few of them have no heads over them. The local government decided to let them be in order to ensure the authenticity of the monument. Some of the heads have been stolen while some are placed in high-end history museums across the globe.

Each of the stupas mentioned above has a lotus base, telling a lot about the ancient architectural prowess Indonesians had possessed. And the more surprising thing is that there no mortar or nails that were used in sticking the stone together. The stones have been interlocked in a certain way to give it an illusion of being mortared. There are tiny spaces here and there in the stones, giving and impression that the entire structure could fall any minute but as it happens to be the case, it hasn’t and it won’t.

At the top three levels, there are stupas, while there are circumambulation paths on the next six levels. As you walk around, you can clearly see walls around you with scriptures written on them. They talk about the life of Gautam Buddha and some of his most ardent followers.

History

The temple was built around 800 CE by the Sailendra dynasty, making it one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in the world. It has been said that it took around 75 years to make the temple. For the stone interlocked structures, the architects from all over the world were invited, and they performed a great task of merging science with architecture in order to give the world a monument that is as pleasurable to the sense as is a source of wonder.

Tip

If you are still at Borobudur during the late afternoon, at the time nearing sunset, then do not miss the experience and visit the top level for sunset. You will find the surroundings to be very quiet at this time, and the sunset view behind the mountains to the west is quite mesmerizing and magical.

Best Time to visit

The best time to visit the monument is around May to September, and you should carry water with you as there is none available at the monument.

This magnificent piece of architecture has always been a tourist magnet and will continue to do so, as long as the world keeps respecting the sheer power of architecture combined with religion.

The Borobudur Temple, located at Borobudur District, South of Magelang is not the only sight to visit. Besides Borobudur temple, the waterfall named Kedung Kayang should be on your list of things to do in Magelang. This beautiful waterfall is definitely a hidden gem for tourists and remains pretty busy with locals. Besides the waterfall, you should also check out the Setumbu Hill where you can enjoy the glorious sunrise overlooking Borobudur temple.

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Asia Beaches

Asia’s 4 Lesser Known Honeymoon Destinations

Selecting a honeymoon getaway for yourself and your partner might be little tricky as that trip is supposed to be the most romantic and memorable one of your entire life. There are some conventional holiday destinations in Asia like Maldives, Bali, Mauritius and Phuket but listed below are 4 offbeat ones that are excellent options for you to visit in the new phase of your life.

Hoi An, Vietnam

This is a 15th century UNESCO World Heritage town famous for its traditional Vietnamese homes and colossal French colonial houses. Here you will get a chance to completely travel back in time and enjoy delicious food in top class restaurants. You can also relish the lip-smacking street food that this pretty little town has to offer. You should stop in at one of the town’s numbers of tailors and cobblers, where they create something completely bespoke for you to embellish your wardrobes. Staying at the Nam Hai Hotel will give you the added benefit of the beach and a pool

Isle East Indies

You can rent a private island here for yourself and your better half. The feeling of waking up all alone on a marooned island with your husband/wife and the amazing natural beauty is surreal. The island can be reached via Raden Mas, a vintage wooden sailing boat and the house you will be sleeping in is a Javanese Joglo, an antique and ornately hand carved timber structure that was erected in Central Java and brought over to the island piece by piece. Through the house, the natural sea breeze flows and there is a euphoric view of the turquoise sea. Sports lovers can make the most of the activities such as scuba diving, waterskiing, snorkelling and kayaking to neighbouring islands. Alternatively, you can chill and relax on one of your private beaches in peace. Couples must have barbeque dinner onboard Raden Mas boat. Some of them are known to have fallen asleep on deck under the canopy of the twinkling stars.

 Tugu Hotel, Lombok

Known as Puri Dadap Merah, this Honeymoon House is based on the architecture of Java’s Red Aksobya Temple and is filled with antiques from Java and Bali. This makes it a place for veritable and unique experience. It also boasts of a mosaic pool facing the ocean, a private spa and dining terrace as well. Tugu Hotel is located on the beautiful and immaculate white sand beach of Sire and has fishing villages and traditional homes near it that can be visited by foot or a two- wheeler. A horse drawn carriage ride during the sunset is a must here for the couples.

Kyoto, Japan

If you visit Kyoto in Japan in between the last week of March and the mid of April, you will witness the popular cherry blossom season. The place is blissfully serene with its Buddhist temples and Zen gardens offering peaceful moments. You may row around the lovely Hozu-gawa area in a rented boat and spend quality time with your spouse. To make this an even more memorable experience, you should stay at Tawaraya which is known for being one of the best ryokans in not only Kyoto but also in the entire country. It is a world-class accommodation frequented by celebrities, aristocrats and politicians

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Adventure Asia Himalayas Spiritual Hubs Treks

Everything you would like to know about Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Mythological Importance:

The Tiger’s Nest is another name of Paro Taktsang or Taktsang Palphug Monastery. It is a sacred temple of the Buddhists that was built in 1692 in Bhutan, around the Taktsang Senge Samdup Cave. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava had meditated in these caves for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. Today, Paro Taktsang is famous for the 13 ‘tiger lair’ caves in which he had meditated.

A temple which is devoted to Padmasambhava (also known as the Temple of the Guru with Eight Names) is a classic structure built around the cave by Tenzin Rabgye in 1692. Therefore, it is Bhutan’s cultural icon.

According to legends, Guru Padmasambhava came here from Tibet, on a tigress’ back from Khenpajong.

There is also an alternative story by another legend that stated that the former wife of the emperor Yesh Tsogyal willingly became the disciple of Guru Padmasambhava. She transformed into a tigress and carried him on her back. Consequently, the place came to be known as the ‘Tigers Nest’.

It is also believed that Tenzin Rabgye, the builder of the monastery in 1692, was the reincarnation of the Guru Padmasambhava.

How to reach the Tiger Nest Monastery?

The Monastery is 10 km to the north of Paro in Bhutan, at an elevation of about 10,000 ft. You can reach the Tiger’s Nest by walking or on horseback. It is a quite challenging trek, you gain merit with every step but the view of the Paro Valley from the monastery is worth the endeavor. The trek starts from the valley floor which is at about 7000 ft and it takes about 2-3 hours (on an average) to complete the hike. It starts with slow climbs into serene pine forests where you will find water- powered pray wheels and flags. It is said these are for trekkers to be bestowed upon with power and stamina to complete the forthcoming journey. From here onwards, the climb becomes steep, arduous and steady up to a ridge. Horse- ride is only allowed till the second viewpoint due to some accidents that took place in the past.Once you reach the monastery you will find the atmosphere to have become mystical; you will find a deep sense of calmness and peace. Also, you should seek blessings from the monks. It is the true feeling of being a pilgrim!

Travel Notes:

  • Wear hiking shoes and it is better to wear thick socks as you have to remove your shoes at the entry.
  • Bring your hiking poles. If you forget, you can buy a wooden walking stick at the parking lot.
  • Bring your rain gear as the weather is unpredictable.
  • The hike should be done at the end of your trip to give you more time to acclimatize to the altitude.
  • Walk at a steady pace and avoid walking fast and resting too much.
  • It is recommended to start the hike early in the morning.

So get set and go to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan if you want to have an adventurous cum religious trip!

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