Culturally Emersion Through Thailand’s Temples

Thailand’s vibrancy manifests itself in every corner of the country. From the scenery and art to its culture and people, you will be left awestruck from the moment you step off the plane. The country of smiles is more than just bustling Bangkok and pristine beaches, it’s a place of culture that’s deeply rooted to religion. And what better way to get to know Thailand than exploring its numerous, beautifully crafted temples? Download the Thailand Travel Guide and Offline Map to get started on your journey!

1.     Wat Pho

Among Bangkok’s famous sights, Wat Pho has gained its due fame from its gigantic Reclining Buddha. This temples has made a name for itself by collecting a handful of superlatives: the city’s largest reclining Buddha, the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand, and the country’s earliest center for public education.

2.     Wat Phra Kaew

Bangkok’s biggest tourist attraction and a pilgrimage destination for devout Buddhists and nationalists. This architecturally awe-inspiring temple is the spiritual core of Thai Buddhism and the monarchy, which houses the country’s most holy image, the Emerald Buddha. Attached to the temple complex is the Grand Palace, the former royal residence, once a sealed city of intricate ritual and social satisfaction.

3.     Wat Phumin

Located in Nan Province, bordering Laos, is Nan’s most famous Buddhist temple. It is adorned with exquisite murals that were done during the late 19th century by a Thai Lü artist named Thit Buaphan. The ornate altar in the centre of the bòht has four sides, with four Sukhothai-style sitting Buddhas facing in each direction.

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Germany, More Than Just the Land of Beer

Germany definitely goes beyond its big city reputation to many beautiful landscapes that look like came out of a story book, romantic castles fit for fairy-tales, and half-timbered towns. Still need convincing to go? Experiencing Germany through its food and drink will add a rich layer to your memories and stomach. You'll quickly realize that there's so much more than just pretzels, sausages, and beer to good old German cuisine. So what are you waiting for? Download the Germany Travel Guide and Offline Map now!

1. Berlin 

Being such a multicultural metropolis, local place great emphasis on their mantra 'live and let live' and put greater emphasis on personal freedom and a creative lifestyle than on material wealth and status symbols. Cafes are jammed at all hours, drinking is a religious rite and clubs keep going until late. Size-wise, Berlin is pretty big but its key areas are wonderfully compact and easily navigated on foot, by bike or by using public transport.

2. Schloss Neuschwanstein

Appearing through mountaintops, Schloss Neuschwanstein might look familiar to majority of visitors. This wondrous palace was the model for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. King Ludwig II planned this fairy-tale pile himself, with the help of a stage designer rather than an architect. He envisioned it as a giant stage on which to recreate the world of Germanic mythology, inspired by the operatic works of his friend Richard Wagner.

3. The Wild Life

The Black Forest or popularly known has the forest where Hansel and Gretel encountered the wicked witch got its name from its dark canopy of evergreens. The vast expanse of hills, valleys, rivers and forests stretch from the swish spa town of Baden-Baden to the Swiss border, and from the Rhine almost to Lake Constance.

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Exploring the Great Canadian Outback

It comes to now surprise how the world's second largest country can offer endless varieties of landscapes. Spread across six time zones, Canada has sky-high mountains, glinting glaciers, spectral rain forests, and remote beaches. Whether it's snowboarding Whistler's mountains, surfing Nova Scotia's swells or kayaking the white-frothed South Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories, adventures abound. So go on that next adventure with the Canada Travel Guide and Offline Map.

1. Haida Gwaii

Haida Gwaii forms a dagger-shaped archipelago of some 450 islands, it offers a magical trip for those who make the effort. The number-one attraction here is remote Gwaii Haanas National Park, which makes up the bottom third of the archipelago. Attention has long focused on the many unique species of flora and fauna to the extent that 'Canada's Galápagos' is a popular moniker. But each year it becomes more apparent that the real soul of the islands is the Haida culture itself.

2. Niagara Falls

Witness a spell-binding rush of unstoppable water over the arcing fault in the riverbed with thunderous force. Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls conveniently placed at the nook of the international border between Canada and the United States. These falls have a combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America that has a vertical drop of more than 165 feet.

3. Cabot Trail

Who can resist driving through Cabot Trail? Driving the trail is Nova Scotia's most famous recreational activity. Let the winding roads take you to serene lakes, beneath soaring eagles, and cliff-top vistas. Along the way, artists' workshops dot the southeastern flank of the trail like Easter eggs, from Englishtown to St Ann's Bay. You'll find pottery, leather, glass and pewter workers, painters and sculptors, and discover living remnants of Mi'kmaw and Acadian culture.

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Jaw-dropping Croatia and Why You Should Visit Now

Spend your days basking under the balmy sun and frolic in the Mediterranean sapphire waters amidst ancient walled towns--there's no better place to be than in Croatia. Its extraordinary island-speckled coastline is indisputably its main attraction where its crystal clear waters will outstand you. Precariously poised between the Balkans and central Europe, this land has been passed between competing kingdoms, empires, and republics for millennia. Download the Croatia Travel Guide and Offline Map and plan your next adventure now!

1. Dubrovnik

Regardless of whether you are visiting Dubrovnik for the first time or the hundredth, the sense of awe never fails to descend when you set eyes on the beauty of the old town. Indeed it’s hard to imagine anyone becoming jaded by the city’s white limestone streets, baroque buildings and the endless shimmer of the Adriatic, or failing to be inspired by a walk along the ancient city walls that protected a civilized, sophisticated republic for centuries.

2. Plitvice Lakes National Park

Within the boundaries of this heavily forested national park, 16 crystalline lakes tumble into each other via a series of waterfalls and cascades. The mineral-rich waters carve through the rock, depositing tufa in continually changing formations. Clouds of butterflies drift above the 18km of wooden footbridges and pathways that snake around the edges and across the rumbling water.

3. Hvar Town

The island’s hub and busiest destination, Hvar Town is estimated to draw around 20,000 people a day in the high season. It’s odd that they can all fit in the small bay town, where 13th-century walls surround beautifully ornamented Gothic palaces and traffic-free marble streets but fit they do.

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Three Great Places to Visit in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is more than just your average lake. Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains it offers a myriad of activities and attractions in and around the lake itself. Pick one of the nearby ski resorts and enjoy a snow-filled visit or go for a picnic by the beach. There's always something here for everyone from wooden trails and stunning lake views to Vikingsholm, a 1929 Nordic-style mansion. Be sure to download the Lake Tahoe Travel Guide and Offline Map for your lake-side adventures.

1.     Van Sickle Bi-State Park

Nestled at the border of California and Nevada, the Van Sickle Bi-State Park pays tribute to Henry Van Sickle, a key member in the founding of Genoa and the surrounding areas. This public recreation area offers trails for hiking, mountain biking, and even horseback riding. You can also enjoy beautiful historical buildings, which include the historic Van Sickle farm barn, a 1917-era log cabin

2.      Fannette Island

Nestled in Emerald is the only island in Lake Tahoe. Fannette Island was the home of Captain Dick Barter, the Hermit of Emerald Bay, from 1863 to 1873 thus earning it the name Hermit's Island. The eccentric captain built his own tomb and chapel on the island. Accessible by boat, canoe, or kayak you enjoy a different perspective of the lake from the granite islet. On top of the hill lie the ruins of a small stone building, the "Tea House".

3.     Vikingsholm

Vikingsholm a 38-room mansion on the shore of Emerald Bay was built in 1929 by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight as a summer home. The Nordic-style mansion was inspired by Mrs. Knight's travels to Scandinavia and some parts of the structure contain no nails or spikes as a result of old-fashioned construction methods. Today it is now on the National Register of Historic Places while most of the building was made from materials found at Lake Tahoe.

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Bucket list add on! Vancouver, Where Nature Meets Science

Are you planning a family trip? Why not consider visiting Vancouver in British Columbia? The bustling west-coast seaport has something to offer for every member of the family. As Canada's densest and most ethnically diverse cities, it come to no surprise that Vancouver has a lot going on. It's a sea port that's surrounded by picturesque mountains and it's thriving art scene is very much palpable with its notable architecture. Whether if dad is a thrill seeker and you're bringing grandma along Vancouver has something for every taste and personality. make sure download the Vancouver Travel Guide and Offline City Map to help you plan your trip!

1.      Science World

A sparkling geodesic dome, towering metal dinosaur and Mondrian-like exterior invite you into a museum with intricate exhibits that will keep you preoccupied for hours. Located just minutes from downtown at Main Street, it ignites your mind with its interactive indoor and outdoor displays, inspirational feature exhibitions and jaw-dropping live science demonstrations. From environment, life sciences, physics, and even sustainability, Science World is a dream come to true for any science buff. They even hosts occasional After Dark adult evenings featuring special guests such as the animators from “Jurassic World”!

2.      Stanley Park

Stanley Park was named the "Top Park in the World" by TripAdvisor and it come to no surprise. The park itself contains 27 kilometers of trails through rainforests, an almost century-old seawall, sandy beaches, First Nations totem poles, wildlife, the Vancouver aquarium, sports facilities and plenty of dining options. Walk the trails around Beaver Lake. Here you'll feel like you've been transported to another place, being surrounded by a 400-hectare rainforest, you'll never feel like you're right in the heart of downtown. Go for a walk around the lily pad covered lake and you’ll encounter wildlife such as raccoons, frogs, herons, and friendly squirrels.

3.      Granville Island

Touted as a paradise for food lovers, this man-made island is a gem located only 10 minutes from Vancouver Downtown. It's main attraction is its public market. As a hub bustling with activity, it offers fresh produce, fruit, meat, fish and more. Enjoy homemade ice cream and pastries and explore more of island as it's also considered one of the city’s most important cultural districts with theaters, artisan workshops and craft studios.

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Top 6 Reasons to Visit Geneva, One of the Greatest Urban Locations in the World

Geneva lies literally on the French border, occupying the westernmost corner of Switzerland. It has the Alps on one side and the Lake Geneva on the other. Here are a few reasons to visit Geneva. Check out the Geneva Travel Guide and Offline City Street Map for more detailed information. World’s Best Watches

Many of the world’s best watchmakers are in Switzerland and no other location has more of them than Geneva. If you want to go shopping for watches there is no better place to go. Some of the great watch houses even have their own museums. Some of the most popular watch brands based in Geneva are:

• Patek Philippe
• Breguet
• Rolex
• Vacheron Constantin

Geneva Rolex Watch

Authentic Swiss Chocolate

Geneva also houses boutiques from the most famous chocolate producers in the world many of which offer tours around their factories. Some such chocolate makers include:

• Teuscher, La Maison du Cacao
• Zogg
• Chocolaterie des Bergues
• Stettler
• Auer
• Chocolaterie du Rhone

Museum of Art and History

The Musées d’Art et d’Histoire is considered by many as the country’s national museum due to its unparalleled collection of literary works, artworks, and historical artifacts. On one floor you will find an abundance of French sculptures and on another floor an Egyptian mummy carbon dated to have been buried around 9th century BC.

The Infamous Jet of Water

The Jet d’Eau is the official symbol of Geneva. It is simply a natural wonder. The spray can tower up to a remarkable 450 feet (137 meters). Water gets sprayed so high up in the air that you can see it from anywhere along the lakefront.

Geneva amazing Jet of Water

The Red Cross headquarters

Ever wondered why the original emblem of the International Red Cross looks like a color-reversed version of the Swiss flag? Well, that is because the organization is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The base also houses one of the most famous museums in the continent.

Lake Geneva Cruise

Experience the best view of Geneva and the surrounding regions by going on a boat cruise on the colossal Lake Geneva. Several towns on the Swiss side and the southern French Coast have boats departing regularly.

There are more reasons to visit Geneva. Look them up at eTips.

First time in Hong Kong?

It is a one of a kind place known as the shopping paradise of Asia. You wouldn’t want to miss its outstanding nightlife, international cuisine, and a number of festivals. Some travelers try Hong Kong first to explore their being as a jetsetter. But take note, it’s one of the world’s most expensive cities to live in. So expect cozy restaurants and hotels around. Check out our Hong Kong Travel Guide and Offline City Map Support to know more about this well-known urbanized country and be surprised that there’s really a lot to explore here!

Enjoy Hong Kong Beautiful Skyline

Here are our top 5 things-to-do:

Clock Tower

A 44-meters gigantic old Clock Tower built in 1915 as part of Kowloon-Canton Railway.It has served as a memorable infrastructure, located near Victoria Harbour. It is formed with red bricks and granite where the top of the tower can be reached by a wooden staircase.

Temple Street

If you are fond of visiting markets, well, this is Hong Kong’s busiest place to visit at night. A usual crowded market yet it is where you’d find stalls with various affordable merchandise, clothing, gadgets etc., It is a good place to load up cheap Chinese jewelries, bags, and more souvenirs.

Golden Bauhinia Square

Bauhinia is considered as the emblem of the country, and is an open area in Wan Chai.In history, this place is a landmark made to commemorate the handing over of Hong Kong to China from British rule. Now, it is one of the main tourist attractions where you can also witness the daily flag raising ceremony except on the first day of each month. A good place to take photos!

Victoria Peak

It is a mountain in the Western hald of Hong Kong Island. Riding the Peak Tram is the easiest way to get at The Peak. It offers a panoramicview of Hong Kong which is also makes it as one of its popular attractions.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

This temple is a major tourist attraction dedicated to the Great Immortal Wong. Considered a home to three religions - Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. It was established in 1921, and is now a must place to visit by different travellers- it showcases it’s colorful surroundings and award-winning pavilions.

Wonders of Hong Kong. Travel to Hong Kong

There are countless things to do in this country. This guide can help you experience a glimpse of what Hong Kong can offer. Visit eTips for more travel information!