Dakar is the Capital City of Senegal (Africa) situated on the Cape Verde Peninsula on the Western edge of Africa. Its huge economic and tourist fame has been promoted by its strategic location, i.e. the Western-most city in Africa which is the best departure-arrival point for European and trans-Atlantic trading and travel.

The Major Attractions of Dakar

When you visit Dakar you would be surprised by the cleanliness of the city. This is a modern and cosmopolitan city which is a major tourist attraction. The people here are famous for their exceptional hospitality which leaves all the tourists overawed and overwhelmed. Wherever you go there will be someone ready to help and guide you taking out time from their busy schedule to assist you. This is simply amazing.

The Beaches – there are two major beaches in Dakar, i.e. the Plage Bel-Air and the N’Gor and Yoff. Incidentally, this beach is also famous as the cleanest of all. Two more beaches are worth a visit – the Yenn and the Toubab Dialao. From here you could also enjoy the spectacular view of the red cliffs.

The History – check out the Ille de Goree (Goree Island) which had been the place from where slaves were packed for America. There is a museum called the House of Slaves which is worth seeing.

Sight Seeing – most of the attraction are around Dakar and be warned that it is quiet a harrowing experience to travel outside the city – however, as the saying goes, ‘No pain, no gain” if you want to enjoy some great spots, you need to risk the trip.

The first thing to visit is the old capital of Senegal, the St Louis. Here you would be able to enjoy some great nightlife, excellent natural beauty in the bird sanctuaries and parks, and an exceptional appetizing cuisine.

The other amazing spot that you need to see is the Sine Saloum Delta. The trip within the Delta by pirogue is by itself a great experience. Use a pre-paid guide to show you around so ou could make the most of your trip.

Just an overnight trip away from Dakar is the Casamance where you would find some amazing beaches and the friendliest people in the world (if that can be possible). Your target is the Cap Skirring which is a major tourist attraction.

If you have a religious bent of mind and want to combine your vacation with a little spiritual experience, visit the Touba which is a highly venerated religious center just a day away from Dakar.

Shopping in Dakar – those who love shopping would not be disappointed by Dakar. You have the Islam Couture where you can highly qualitative (and expensive) African embroidered garments. Then you have the flea markets, Marche Sandaga, Marche HLM and Marche Kermel where you can buy absolutely anything under the sky. You will find some wonderfully quaint restaurants and food stall on the top of the three storied Marche Sadanga where you could enjoy both the local cuisine and the panoramic view of the city.

People who visit Seychelles are impressed by its stunning natural beauty. Situated in the Indian Ocean off the Coast of Africa these 115 islands can be easily called paradise on Earth. A vacation in Seychelles is replete with opportunities for water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, para sailing, and sailing among others which are thrilling to say the least. All the hotels and resorts offer classes and rent equipment so you need not carry your own.

The Seychelles Capital City Victoria

Victoria – the capital of Seychelles – is a definitely must see place. Each of the 115 islands offer something special to see and you can take short excursions from Victoria to all these islands depending upon what you would like to see. The traveling between he islands is usually done by ferry or helicopter. Some people prefer to go by the small taxi airplanes as well.

Whichever way you choose to go, you would find the natural beauty of these islands breathtaking, Every where you turn, you would find nature at its best. The natural beauty you experience in Seychelles is something that would convince you that the concept of paradise exists. Visit the Garden of Eden which showcases some exceptional landscaping and wildlife. 

Victoria will offer you plenty of shopping places where you could buy unusual handicrafts and souvenirs.  It offers some wonderful museums which reflect the French influence of Seychelles and excellent hiking treks for those who want to get in touch with the nature. Many people are thrilled with the occasional sighting of the giant tortoise and the amazing display of exquisite exotic birds.

Take a boat around the island, play a game of golf or simply relax in the luxuriant resorts – anything you choose is great.

The Native Inhabitants

The Seychelles has managed to protect the native population in their original habitat which is amazing for a tourist destination. There are many islands who are yet untouched by modernization and the 21st century civilization. Visiting these islands and interacting with these wonderful  people – the Creoles – can be an amazing experience. These people still eke their livelihood by fishing and cultivation in the most traditional (primitive) ways.

Visiting these islands can expose you to the past primitive civilizations and traditions in a way that cannot be compared with anything else. The natives are friendly and harmless – yet they are totally ensconced into their own culture and traditions despite their close encounters with tourists and the modern civilizations they represent.

When you decide to go to Seychelles, be prepared for some exceptional experiences that you would not find anywhere else in the world – (i) a paradise under water, (ii) a paradise in wildlife, (iii) a paradise for hikers and  (iv) a lost paradise (with natives). Hawaii, move aside there is another contender for the ‘Paradise-On-Earth’ label.

You will find the mystique city Cairo situated along the Nile. This city is known locally as Al Qahirah or the ‘Mother of all Cities” as it connects strategically the trade routes to three major destinations, i.e. Asia, Europe and Africa. This is the largest city in Africa and the Middle East which enjoys a homogenous mix of Jewish, Islamic and Christian population for the last 2000 years.

Cairo’s Major Tourist Attractions

1. History Showcased – Just 24 kilometers away from Cairo you will find the Memphis and Saqqara. Memphis is famous as the old Capital of Egypt which was built by King Menes. You will find here the amazing statue of Ramsesses II which stands 13 meters tall and weighs about 120 tons. Another must-see spot in Memphis is the Temple of Embalming he Sacred Apis Bull. Close to it is Saqqara which is basically an ancient Egyptian cementery. Here you will be able to see the majesty of the Step Pyramid (built by Imhotep for King Zoser) and the Pyramids of Unas (5th Dynasty of Pharaohs), Serapheum (Greek Philosopher) among others.

2. Churches – You will have to see the Hanging or Al-Muaallaqah Chuch, the Church of the Virgin (Al-Adra), the Cathedral of St Mark (Al-Qiddis Morcos), the Church of St Sergius (Abu Sergah), the Church of the Virgin in Zaytoun. While you are visiting these amazing churches from the time of Babylon, check out the Coptic Museum which offers the display of some exceptional Christian manuscripts, icons and relics.

3. Mosques – Do look up the Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas, the Blue Mosque and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammad Ali, the Mosque of Sultan Hassan among others. Check out the Bab Al Khalq Museum where you will find an exceptional array of Islamic art and relics.

4. Parks and Gardens – Cairo has some amazing parks and entertainments areas. You must see the Fish Gardens in Zamalek and the amazingly landscaped International Garden in Nasr city. Another must-see spot here is the Andalusian Gardens which famous all over the world.

5. Shopping Venue – Visit the Khan-Al-Khalili Bazaar which offers you a chain of medium and small shops where you could buy absolutely anything you wanted. Check out the exquisite work in gold and silver ornaments and the intricate embroidery on fabric. You will also find here some very unusual woodwork that is very popular with tourists.

6. Entertainment – Cairo offers all kind of entertainment from the highly cultural Opera House which is a seven storied ultra modern building to all night bars and cafes. The Opera House was built with the collaboration of Japanese architects and the result is stunning. It houses three large theaters, a huge museum and a library. There is a rotating restaurant on the top which can be quite an exhilarating experience.

Everything in Cairo is enigmatic and mystique though it is modern and vibrantly alive. There is something there that makes it extremely intriguing and attractive to the outsiders.

Designed by French architects and French trained Romanian architects, the city of Bucharest makes a great impact on any tourist. The Capital City of Romania makes for an exceptional treat destination in Europe.

Dracula’s Country

Romania has long been associated with the legendary and fearsome character of the Vampire, Dracula. The story of Dracula is built on the horrible reputation of Vlad Tepes (Tepes meaning stake in Romanian language) who used to impale his prisoners of war on wooden stakes to celebrate his victory. The gory sights of hundreds of people impaled on stakes dead – and the fact that Vlad was wearing a large head of the devil on a long gold chain – gave rise to the belief that he was in league with the Devil. In fact Dracula comes from ‘Dracul’ which in Romanian means The Devil.

Bucharest is also known as the Little Paris or The Paris of the East has blossomed in the last decade owing to the extreme efforts of building the glory of the city post the Ceausescu regime. Ceausescu was one of the worst dictators in Eastern Europe who was ousted and executed along with his wife in a stunning revolt by the people of Romania.

Bucharest offers you elegant shopping complexes, large boulevards, and plenty of exceptionally landscaped parks are a delight to any visitor. The city has a cosmopolitan look and feel and makes you feel luxuriously entertained. Bucharest is very expensive – yet has a come-hither charm that blends ethnicity with ultra modernization in the same breath.

Romania is the only Latin country where the Roman Catholics are not the majority (only 5% are Catholics). The religion followed here is Roman Orthodox.

Bucharest is a stone throw away from some of the best tourist attractions in Romania. Since this is a tiny country, you would not spend much time on the road and once you are in Bucharest, you should make it a point to see all the surrounding attractions to enjoy the feel of the real Romania.

A few hours away to the North lies Brasov – a mind-blowing must-see mountain resort. Here you can indulge in skiing, camping, hiking, parachute jumping, mountain climbing, etc. Animal lovers would be thrilled with the sighting of wild animals such as bears, wolves, reindeers, etc roaming freely over the mountains.

Mamaia and Constanta are further South from Bucharest – these are exceptionally beautiful beach resorts – a must-see during summer time. Here you would be able to enjoy typical water sports or just basking in the sun on the wonderful beaches.

Romania, it is said has everything nature could give – sea coast and wonderful beaches, fertile plains and exceptional mountain ranges (the Carpathian Mountains). Your visit to Bucharest would be able to unveil the beauty of this tiny country to you for an out-of-the-world experience.

Turkey is a wonderful place to visit with surprisingly beautiful beaches. If you would like to make a mental picture the beaches of Acapulco and Miami would pale in comparison to the Turkish beaches. However, for unknown reason, these exceptional tourist attractions are somehow underrated locally.

Ankara, the capital of Turkey is also one of the oldest cities of this country. Founded in 2000 BC, this historic city is a tremendous delight to anyone who visits it. Some of the ancient relics that trill the historic tourists are the Tomb of Haci Bayram and the exquisite mosque besides it, the Augustus temple that is standing from the Roman times and the Fortress Kale which stands majestically over the city.

A very interesting must-see attraction is the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk who is the founder and the first President of Turkey. This is a memorial which contains Kemal Ataturk’s writings, a number of memorabilia and a stunning wax statue of Ataturk. You could also see a great deal of artifacts from Ottoman Era in the Etnography museum.

For those who love the fine arts, there are five theatres and three major symphony orchestras in Ankara which are simply delightful.

The city of Ankara is an excellent blend of modern and ancient architecture. Everywhere you look you would find something that delights you. The food in Ankara is spicy and totally addictive. You should not forget when you are in Turkey to have coffee. Here you will be able to sample some of the most aromatic cups of coffee in the world.

The night life in Ankara is great during the summer with its late night bars, round the clock cafes and clubs with gardens and open courtyards. The center of the town, Kizlay is full of small beer joints which serve some wonderfully spicy food and entertain you with excellent Turkish tunes.

For people who want to sample a real Turkish fare, the best would be to eat at any of the Osmanic style restaurants at Kale. You must taste the kababs and the typical skewered lamb cooked with yoghurt and tomatoes. You will find that grilled meat and fish makes an exceptional snack anytime you want it.

A great place to visit is the Sherlock Holmes pub which offers a typical English setting on the second floor and local extravaganza on the ground floor. If you prefer classier joints, try the Laila Ankara Club on Sogutozu Cd.

As you can see there is a little for everyone in Ankara – and the best part is the surprisingly beautiful natural bounty of the place.

Shimla is situated in North India and is a very well renowned and sought after hill station both by Indians and foreign tourists. This city owes its name to Goddess Shyamala, which is another form of the powerful Goddess Kali. A temple for this Goddess was consecrated here, in the middle of the Jakhu Hill forest in the 19th century. The city was named Shimla by the English during their occupation of the Indian territory.

What You Should See In Shimla?

As a great tourist attraction Shimla has a lot to offer in terms f natural beauty and historic monuments. Some of the must-see in Shimla are briefly described below:

1. The Jaku Hill – this is situated just two kilometers outside Shimla. This is the highest peak in Shimla at 8000 feet. On the top you will find a beautiful Hanuman temple which hosts a great number of monkeys who are perpetually waiting to be fed.

2. The Annadale – this is one of the most favorite picnic spots in Shimla. Situated at an enviable height of 6117 feet above sea level, it offers a breathtaking panorama for those who dare to reach at the top.

3. Kufri – Just 16 kilometers from Shimla this is the best spot to learn skiing in winter (January and February). High above the sea leave at 8.600 km height, this place is an ideal picnic spot as well as sports hub.

4. The Mall – this is a must-stop for all those who want to take home some souvenirs for their friends and family at home. You will find here a kaleidoscope of shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, etc. There are two exclusive points for meetings – i.e. where youngsters just hang out – these two places are, The Ridge and The Scandal points.

5. The Christ Church – this is renowned as he second oldest Church in North India. The Church has stood stoically against the ravages of time and nature and still stands in it full majesty promoting the story of Christ and His eternal love through the exquisite glass paintings. This is definitely a must-see when in Shimla.

6. Museums – there is a distinguished museum – the Shimla State Museum – which have managed to show case the best possible face of this wonderful town. You will find a surprising number of miniature Pahari paintings, jewelry, bronze or wood carvings seem to come alive in this museum.

7. The Summer Hill – you will find this Summer Hill at a distance of about 5 km from the Ridge, at a height of 6,500 ft above the sea level, right on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. This is the place where Mahatma Gandhi took rest whenever he was this side. He always advised, ‘eat for yourself, and dress for others’.

Check out with the doctor before you start any type of herbal diet. It usually okay the way it is – and adding few more Rupees would really not mind.

Las Vegas is the largest city (by population) in the State of Nevada. This is one of the most wanted tourist destinations in the world especially for gambling and entertainment. Las Vegas is the largest city founded in the 20th Century (founded in 1905).  Also known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas is the gambling center of USA.

The glamour of the city, the 365x24x7 availability of alcoholic beverages and the specialization of gambling and adult entertainment earned this city another name that it is wearing well, the Sin City.

The Thrill of Las Vegas

Everything that you see and experience in Las Vegas is thrilling. Wherever you look you can see glamour, luxury and pure entertainment. This city is built for entertainment and it is the only city in the world which was built with these two purposes in mind – tourist attraction and entertainment of tourists.

The Las Vegas strip or the Las Vegas Boulevard which is mostly outside the Las Vegas city limits is replete with exceptional sights such as unusual sculptural structures, such as the Treasure Island Pirate battle, the volcano explosion, the Mirage among others. Wherever you go you will find an entertainment extravaganza. The greatest thing you will observe in Las Vegas is that it is unique in all the entertainment it offers.  There is no imitation here, no equals – each hotel, each inch in Las Vegas is unique.

Outside the gambling, luxurious decadence of the hotels lies another world of entertainment – take a short trip to the Shark Reek and Dolphin Habitat at Mandalay Bay.  You need to make it a point to see the exceptional Star Trek presentation of the Las Vegas Hilton. For children, you have the GameWorks where the kids can play at a wide variety of arcade games.

Nature lovers can enjoy the Red Canyon Rock which is just outside the city and if you are culture and tradition freak, you should visit the Hoover Dam and the Mormon Fort which would live a lasting impression.

Las Vegas is great in day time – but its forte lies in entertainment at night. This Sin City specializes in providing with any and all the entertainment you would ever need. If you can think about it – you will find it in Las Vegas – from all types of gambling games to dancing showgirls, to complete family entertainment.

The attraction is Las Vegas is more in the fact that it makes the tourist feel like he or she is in a magical land where everything is meant for their comfort, luxury and pleasure. It is a heady experience – one that you would never forget.
 

For all who are familiar with the famous epic Ramayana, Hampi would be of great significance. It is believed that Hampi was the Monkey Kindgdom (Kishkinda) that was mentioned in the Ramayana.  History shows that this city’s significance as a center of trade grew from around 1336 AD when it became the foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire. By 1565 the empire was covering the whole area between the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal Ceylon and the Deccan Plateau. It reached its zenith under the ruling of Emperor Krishnadevaraya.

This is not exactly a place where you would have regular tourist fun. Hampi is a treasure for people who love history and the knowledge it disseminates regarding the past ancient Indian civilization. This ruin city bears silent yet loud testimony of a glorious past of India and would thrill anyone who enjoys the soundless testimony its ruins brings to us, the modern generations.

Today, Hampi is a recognized and protected world heritage monument under UNESCO and Indian Government. Archeological excavations have unearthed a treasure of artifacts in the form of carved stone figurines and statues and many other things that are amply shown as ruins of grand palaces of the past kings of India. Buddhist inscription dated 2-3rd Century were also found at this site indicating the Buddhism was maybe a well known religion in this area during that time.

Many great travelers in the past have mentioned Hampi’s grandeur and beauty when it was at its peak. Domingo Peas compares it to Rome an says, “…it is undoubtedly the best provided city in the world.” The trade that flourished in those times in the city of Hampi was specially based on precious and semi-precious stones.

The city’s architectural richness have totally enthralled historians and historic visitors alike. There are architectural masterpieces such as the temples of Hazara Rama, Balakrishna and the Vitala; there are impressive structures that show the advanced knowledge of engineering and architecture of that period of time  such as the Queen’s Bath, the Kamala Mahal (Palace) and so on.

The glory of Hampi came to an end when the empire fell in the Battle of Talikota in 1565 AD and came under the ruling of the alliance of five Bahamani Kings who completely destroyed the city while ransacking for war spoils.  In spite of the massive destruction that had befallen, Hampi still lives on to say the whole story of its glorious past.

Hampi is a place which will easily transport you back in time to the 13th century with each stone and ruined remains that is available. The place is vibrant with the richness of the past and continues to create and attract the fascination of people from all over the world.

Kuala Lumpur is a great place to visit anytime of the year. This is a paradise for people who love sight seeing and shopping. You would find a lot of the famous exquisiteness that the Orient is so famous about, as well as great food and even greater diversity of entertainment. Some of the must-see places when you visit Kuala Lumpur are given below:

1. The Mega Mall – this is specially a great stop for those who love shopping. This is a giant shopping mall where you would find anything you can think about in the hundred odd shops aggregated here. You could really shop until you drop here. There are plenty of restaurants that serve excellent meals and fast food for those in-between shopping moments. This is a sure-fire way to have fun and get some excellent stuff for those at home.

2. Revolving restaurant on the top of the Telecommunications Tower – you can have a fascinating view with your meal while also enjoying one of the tallest structures in Kuala Lumpur – the Telecommunications Tower. You may like to take the lift – though some prefer to climb the 2000 odd steps (the Tower is 421 meters tall) – to the top where you would be regaled by the view of the city. For those who want to savor the place for a while, a meal at the revolving restaurant here on the top of the world could be just the right thing.

3. Taman Tasik Perdana (The Lake Gardens) – nature enthusiasts cannot miss this exceptional exhibition of flowers and birds. The Lake Gardens are sprawled over an unending 90 acres of land around a man-made lake. You will find here stunning exhibits of orchids, hibiscus, birds and so many other attractions that would keep you entertained for hours.

4. The Petronas Twin Towers – this is the tallest of the buildings in Kuala Lumpur standing at an impressive 452 meters height. The beauty of the architecture of this place is unparalleled. Famous as the second tallest building in the world, the Petrona Twin Towers would thrill you with the splendid view of the city. While you are up there do not forget to visit the viewing deck on the sky bridge that joins the twenty-first floors of the Twin Towers. This experience is something you would definitely not forget in a hurry.

5. The Batu Caves – you will find the Batu Caves just outside the city limits towards Kuantan. This place, besides being stunningly beautiful, is a significant and scared place to visit for Hindu people. The caves are about 100 meters high and about 400 meters long. Your visit to the Batu caves would be very entertaining due to the “hospitality” of the monkey which would accompany you during the visit. Keep some nuts handy if you are fond of animals. The monkeys look forward to the tidbits.

As a tourist you would be awed by the beauty of this wonderful city. There are a myriad of things to see and experience in Frankfurt. You will find here entertainment, culture, festivals, beer and many other things that Germany is famous for. One thing that would definitely leave some impact on you is the excellent German jazz that you will find played at almost all the available taverns in the city.

Some of the must-see and must-experience sights in Frankfurt are briefed below:

1. Local Cuisine – if you are among the people who simply have to know about the local culture and cuisine, the Lorsbacher Tal is a good place to start your quest. This is an exceptional apple wine serving restaurant which offers you solid German ambiance and excellent local cuisine.

2. Jazz in Frankfurt – This is a small but delightful restaurant where along with the excellent meals served you would be regaled with some extraordinary music. This could be anything from a Flamenco dance to Jazz, to Blues, to Swing. The ambiance here is relaxed and food excellent.

3. A Rendezvous with Culture – Frankfurt hosts the house of the famous poet Goethe. The poet lived in this house until 1775. The house is now converted into a museum and National Monument open to visitors.

4. The Senckenberg Museum – you will find in this museum an extraordinary collection of more than 500 thousand exhibits on the development of earth and life on earth over the past million of years. This is simply fascinating to say the least.

5. Nature Lovers Behold – The Palmengarten or the Palm Garden should definitely be on your list of must-sees if you are a nature lover. This is a huge garden and park spread over 20 acres exhibiting some mind-boggling 300 varieties of orchids and over 1600 species of cactus.

6. The Zoo – Since we are speaking of nature lovers, can animal lovers be left far behind? Frankfurt has an excellent zoo which houses some 650 types of animals. There are about 6,000 animals accommodated in this zoo – and the arrangements are delightful. Keep a whole day in hand if you are planning to visit this zoo. There is plenty to see and enjoy here with the animals.

7. Night Sights – What is a visit to Frankfurt if you have not seen the Berger Strasse or the Berger Road. This road is famous for its night life, bars, round the clock cafes and restaurant. There is not one dull moment on this street and people who visit it once would love to return again and again.

The above is not an exclusive list, so feel free to explore the attractions of this wonderful city, called Frankfurt. This is a city that would remain with your forever.