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Pangong Tso Lake in the Himalayas
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Coron Palawan, Philippines
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Rocky Village, Vernazza, Italy
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Porto Katsiki, Lefkada Island, Greece
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Lower Lewis River Falls, Gifford Pinchot National Forest , Washington
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Golden Eye Hotel , St. Mary, Jamaica
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Soneva Fushi, Maldives
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Golden Horn, Brac Island, Croatia
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Alentejo, Portugal
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Etretat, Normandy, France
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Pearl Waterfall, Jiuzhaigou Valley
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Awa’awapuhi Trail Kauai, Hawaii
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Preachers Rock, Preikestolen, Norway
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Santa Domenica nel Salento
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Blue Caves , Zakynthos Island, Greece
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Skaftafeli , Iceland
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Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Executive summary by darmansjah
The extraordinarily beautiful pocket of wooded hills in this World Heritage site enclose 16 turquoise lakes that are connected by waterfalls and cascades. The mineral-rich waters carve through the rock, depositing tufa in continually changing formations. Wooden footbridges follow the rumbling water for an exhilaratingly damp 18km (11mi).
Animal life flourishes in the unspoiled conditions. The stars of the park are bears and wolves, but there are also deer, boar, rabbits, foxes and badgers. There are over 120 different species of bird such as hawks, owls, cuckoos, thrushes, starlings, kingfishers, wild ducks and herons. You might also occasionally see black storks and ospreys. Flocks of butterflies flutter throughout the park. For mor details please visit : www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr
Plitvice Lakes National Park is the oldest national park in Southeast Europe and the largest national park in Croatia.
The national park was founded in 1949 and is situated in the mountainous karst area of central Croatia, at the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The important north-south road connection, which passes through the national park area, connects the Croatian inland with the Adriatic coastal region.
The protected area extends over 296.85 square kilometres (73,350 acres). About 90% of this area are part of Lika-Senj County, while the remaining 10% are part of Karlovac County.
In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage register among the first natural sites worldwide. Each year, more than 1,200,000 visitors are recorded. Entrance is subject to variable charges, up to 110 kuna or around $18USD per adult in peak season. Strict regulations apply.
The preservation of old customs and traditions is of high significance for the local population. The local culture has also been detected as an important factor for tourism. As regards architecture, the region of Lika is well known for its low wooden houses with roofs made of rye straw or shingles. Many features of the ancient living style are mirrored in local costumes. They tell a lot about regional affiliations or social standings of those who have worn those costumes. Under French rule, men were allowed to wear their costumes during military service.
Up until the 20th century, social gatherings during the winter months, when no agricultural activities could be performed, called "prelo" represented a typical tradition of this region.[38] These gatherings served for the joint production of textiles or butter or for the further processing of harvest products (production of flour, etc.). These activities used to be accompanied by drinks and dances, particularly during the evenings. A well-known dance of this region is the round dance (Croatian kolo).
Local cuisine consists of drinks, such as Slivovitz (Croatian šljivovica), wine and coffee or dishes, such as soft cheese (Croatian vrhnje), polenta, pršut, sausages, (as for example the paprika sausage), roasted suckling pig (Croatian: odojak) or lamb (Croatian: janjetina).
It was raining but that still didn't deter us. Had heard only good things about this park and it was worth seeing. The waterfalls, lakes and surrounds just beautiful. Can be quite unsettling when raining as there are quite a lot of steps and rickety bridges to make your way over. and can get very slippery.
It truly is out of this world to visit. Water everywhere coming down all around the visitor in absolutely beautiful falls from the walls of the valley. Lakes large and small filled with fish, birds, and other wildlife. Definitely a not to be missed treat in this country. Our only issue, and we know it can't be helped, but negotiating.
Make no mistake, the lakes are beautiful, although mountain lakes, in comparison to Plitvice - which are more like swamp lakes, are my preference. What diminishes their charm is the fact that due to many tourists, there are no free paths, but you have to walk on especially designed ones, and cannot wander around. This makes the experience closer to.
We had read all the reviews and also had only one day to spend in the park. We decided to take the longest walk (walk K) which although around 16 miles takes you right round the park and to all the main sights. We saw some beautiful panoramic views . The intense colours were unbelievable and water so clear!
The trail signs were easy to follow and our chosen trail kept us away from the bulk of the crowds while still enjoying the lake panoramas! There were a couple of harder uphill climbs. There was food available in the park but I would recommend you bring your own and plenty of water too. Arrive early for this walk as it takes around 8 hrs.
Yes, there are a lot of people around and true, this is not The place for solitude and quiet contemplation - BUT: it is an incredibly beautiful spot, the path is prettily done, the site is clean and well maintained and despite the number of visitors, things operate quite smoothly. Pictures and videos can not do justice to the place- not to be missed!!
It is well accessible, well maintained, clean, natural and beautiful place. Walking trails are easy but long. These are worth doing. Water is crystal clear. Road train is also good especially if tired of walking. There is lot of parking space outside gates. There are restaurants and toilets in the park. Must be visited in every season.
An amazing place but a word of warning; if you are looking for peace and contemplation, or somewhere to take your time to compose some memorable photos, don't visit during the summer. We visited at the end of a wonderful two weeks in Croatia (mid Sept 2013) but I was staggered by the sheer volume of people; at the park entrance you'd be forgiven for thinking you were at Alton Towers as bus after bus disgorges tourists who throng onto the narrow boardwalks.
There is no denying that this is a wonderful and magical place, but my experience was tainted by the insane number of people. For large parts of the walk along the boardwalks, you are stuck in a conveyor of moving people; so not the slightest chance of being able to compose a good photo or just take in the sights. This is not what I was expecting from a national park. Perhaps I've been spoilt by time in some of the big US national parks last year, but I feel that the Park really needs to get a handle on visitor numbers/management somehow. As it stands, I'd only contemplate visiting again in the depths of winter.
This is a national treasure and highly worthy of a visit . You need 2 x 4 hr visits to walk the upper and lower lakes properly which we did over 2 days - if time is a constraint you can do the shorter walks and use the boats and motor tram which is all part of the entry in one day .
The food in the park we found was substandard , take water, good walking shoes - plenty of ice cream available, and you will take lots of photos.
There are waterfalls and lakes elsewhere, but nothing like this. Strolling along on those wooden trails, being so close to hundreds of waterfalls each with its own unique character, seeing the crystal clear water and the unbeleavable colour of those lakes is an unmissable experience.
We payed 220 kunas (€30) for a pair of adult tickets and that gives you access to the park for the whole day. You can chose different loops of trails around the park depending on how much time you have. The short loops take abot 2-3 hours to complete, while there's a 4-6 hour and a 6-8 hour loop too. We took trail H (4-6 hour) which took us 5 hours with countless stops for photos and a 45 minute lunch break and it pretty much covered the whole park. There are some remarkable elevation changes so if you're not young and fit, plan for a bit longer. Make sure you take your camera with you, the pictures you take home from this place will hold some serious magic! 
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HANOI, VIETNAM
Executive summary by darmansjah
A temple in the Old quarter (fgr).
Best For District, The old Quarter’s narrow, congested streets are thriving with commerce. Some of them are named after the products that were traditionally sold there-these days, P Hang Gai peddles silk and embroidery, while P Hang Quat is the place to purchase candlesticks and flags.
Best for Ho Chi Minh, contrary to his wish for a simple cremation, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleumis a monumental marble edifice. Deep in the bowels of the building, the former leader’s body is stored in a glass sarcophagus. (Dec-Sep; 5 Pho Ngoc Ha; admission free).
Founded in the 11th century and dedicated to Confucius, the Temple of Literature(best for temples) is a rare examples of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese originally only granted to those of noble birth-these days the hoi polloi are free to explore inside (P Quoc Tu Gia; admission US$0.50).
Preserved pagodas are found at the Temple of Literature
HOAN KIEM LAKE-best for lake -which translates as ‘Lake of the Restored Sword’-is a popular symbol of old Hanoi. Legend states that the Vietnamese once used a magical sword to drive the Chinese from their lands, before a giant tortoise grabbed it and disappeared into the lake.
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology–best for museum-is one ofVietnam’s major museums, displaying tribal art, cultural artefacts and textiles. In the grounds are examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture (vme.org.vn; Nguyen Van Huyen Rd; admission US$1.60).
HANOI is perhaps Asia’s most graceful and exotic capital city– a place of grand old boulevards and ancient pagodas where locals practice their tai chi moves beside tree-fringed lakes. For all of its timeless charm, it’s also a 21st-century metropolis.
HANOI is at its hottest and rainiest between may and September. Taking place in late January or early February, Tet is the Vietnamese New Year, marked by flower exhibitions and markets, while the CAMA Festival in June features music from Polynesian hip hop to Japanese garage-rock (camafestival.com).
Several airlines, including Singapore airlines, tiger airways, and Vietnam airlines fly direct from Singaporeto Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi. airAsia, Malaysia Airlines and Vietnam Airlines cater flights from K.L. to Hanoi. Taxis are the best way to get around the city. Also try cy-clos, or pedicabs, which are cheaper alternatives.
Popular mode of transport in Hanoi
Quan Ly is one of Hanoi’s most traditional bars, specializing in ruou, a Vietnamese liquor made from rice, with a number of varieties on sale. There’s also abundant bia hoi-a light Vietnamese draught beer (82 le Van Huu; glasses of bia hoi US$0.20).
Invariably packed to the rafters, Quan An Ngon offers Vietnamese street food from all corners of the country, with a series of mini-kitchens arranged around a large courtyard. Try chao tom (grilled sugar cane rolled in spiced shrimp paste). Do be prepared to wait for a table during peak periods of the day (00 84 8829 9449; 15 P Phan Boi Chau; dishes from US$1.60).
Highway is the birthplace of a family of restaurants specializing in cuisine from Vietnam’s northern mountains. There’s an astounding array of dishes-from bite-sized catfish spring rolls to pork fillet with shrimp sauce (highway4.com; 3 P Hang Tre; dishes from US$5).
Set in a handsome French colonial mansion, Ly Club has an impressive dining room featuring elegant oriental light fittings and a menu of Asian and European dishes (lyclub.vn; 4 Le Phung Hieu; meals from US$11).
La Badiane is a stylish bistro located west of Hanoi’s Old quarter. French techniques underpin the menu, although asian influences creep into some dishes-try the tomatoes stuffed with Vietnamese spices and turmeric rice (labadiane.hanoi.sitew.com; 10 Nam Ngu; set lunches US$16).
Getting around Hanoi has an extensive publics bus system – pick up a bus map from Thang long Bookshop (P Trang Tien). A few cyclo (bicycle rickshaw) drivers frequent Hanoi’s Old Quarter - agree a price before peddling off and be sure to take a map as few drivers speak English.
Hidden away in the narrow lanes of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Hanoi Elite is agreat-value place to stay. Its 12 guest rooms have comfortable beds and its breakfasts are cooked to order (hanoielitehotel.com; 10-50 Dao Duy Tu St; from US$55).
The Art Hotel is a new opening currently making a name for itself in Hanoi’s Old Quarter-spacious rooms have spotless bathrooms, while the surrounding area can claim some of the city’s best street food (hanoiarthotel.com; 65 P Hang Dieu; from USD63).
Sporting an assortment of textiles, ethnic art and locally made furniture, 6 on Sixteen has just six sparsely decorated rooms close to Hoan Kiem Lake. Breakfast includes freshly baked pastries and robust Italian coffee. Try to bag a room with a balcony as the rooms as the back have tiny windows (sixonsixteen.com; 16 Bao Khanh; from US$71).
A stylish hotel overlooking the St Joseph’s Cathedral, the Cinnamon Hotel deftly combines original features, such as wrought iron and window shutters, with more minimalist Japanese aesthetics. All of the six rooms have balconies (cinnamonhotel.net; 26 P Aur Trieu; rooms from US$71).
A hotel that has been the preferred address of the great and the good in this city for a century, the Sofitel Metropole Hotel has an immaculately restored colonial façade and mahogany-panelled reception rooms. Guest bedrooms in the old wing offer old-world style-the more modern wing of the hotel doesn’t quite have the same character and charm (sofitel.com; 15 P Ngo Quyen; from US$300).
String Theory Puppetswhich dance on water, traditional music and folklore come together at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, giving visitors and an insight into ancient traditions and an art form which originated as far back as the 11thcentury in the rice fields of North Vietnam. Go with an open mind and ignore the cramped seating and you will find it enchanting (thanglongwaterpuppet.org; 57b Pho Dinh Tien Hoang; admission from US$1).
School’s in On the edge of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Hanoi Cooking Centre is more than just a cooking school. Also on offer are eye-opening tours of markets, fascinating street eats experiences (not the sanitized version for tourists one might expect!), a delightful courtyard café and a shop-all on an intimate, friendly scale and run with passion and knowledge (hanoicookingcentre.com; 44 Chau Long St; classes from Us$55).
Memories of home users rate Hanoi’s Memorial House. This traditional merchants’ house is one of the Old Quarter’s best-restored properties, and is sparsely but beautifully decorated, with rooms set around two courtyards and filled with fine future. There are also crafts and trinkets for sale here, including silver jewellery and basketwork (87 P Ma May; admission US$0.20).
To find out more about Hanoi, The New Hanoian is also a good resource (newhanoian.com). parts of Graham Greene’s The Quiet American (US$13; Vintage) are set in Hanoi, and scenes from the 2002 movie were filmed here.
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Naples
Executive summary by darmansjah
Naples is an exhilarating mess of UNESCO-listed historic buildings, citrus tree-filled cloisters and electrifying street life. Once the heart of Roman Neapolis, which open centre is a warren of narrow streets, which open up to an imperial 18th-century seaside promenade with romantic views of Vesuvius. With the warm weather and Maggio dei Monumenti cultural festivalin full swing, may and June are great months to visit. Alternatively, visit in September or October and catch the infamous pizza-making competition , Pizzafest.
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Crystalline Turquoise Lake, Jiuzhaigou
Executive summary by darmansjah
Jiuzhaigou Valley is a nature reserve and national park located in the north of Sichuan, China.
Jiuzhaigou Valley is part of the Min Mountains on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and stretches over 72,000 hectares (180,000 acres). It is known for its many multi-level waterfalls, colorful lakes, and snow-capped peaks. Its elevation ranges from 2,000 to 4,500 metres (6,600 to 14,800 ft).
Jiuzhaigou Valley was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992 and a World Biosphere Reserve in 1997. It belongs to the category V (Protected Landscape) in the IUCN system of protected area categorization.
Jiuzhaigou& Huanglong National parks are another two popular travel attractions in Sichuan. You can easily to access these two places by land and flight. Colorful natural lakes, waterfalls, virgin forests and Tibetan villages, and other places around such as grasslands, nomads, rivers, it really make this area like a fairyland.
Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou - Huanglong- Chengdu, This quick trip offers an easy way to explore breathtaking and mystifying Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong National Parks; so get your camera ready! Get close to the nature's and perhaps catch a rainbow. Fly to Jiuzhaigou for an in depth exploration of beautiful Sichuan and local Tibetans life. Two full days offers you a more relaxing opportunity to soak in the atmosphere. Matched with Huanglong National Park enjoy the countless lakes. This Jiuzhaigou tour mixes a hiking in the isolated Zharu Valley, a quiet corner of the park that few tourists ever visit. Along with a scenic visit in the three main valleys of the park. A 6 day adventure deep into the best scenery of northern Sichuan. Balanced between horse riding in the snow-capped mountains of Songpan, to the magical blue / green lakes of Jiuzhaigou, and the rushing waterfall of Huanglong National Park. Have a pleasant trip to popular Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong National Park, travelling from Chengdu north in a private car along the a very scenic route. Once arrived in Jiuzhaigou explore the lush forest, countless lakes and snow-capped mountains. Drive to Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu seeing the fantastic landscapes all along the way. Once you arrive in mystical Jiuzhaigou see the unique turquoise lakes, virgin forest and exotic Tibetan villages. An unforgetable journey awaits. Travel to Northwest Sichuan to enjoy fantastic landscape at every turn! Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong National Parks show you the miracle of of nature's beauty. A surprise to most is Huahu Lake and exploring the nearby Tibetan villages.
Day 01:Fly to Jiuzhaigou
Upon arrival at Jiuzhaigou, to be met and transfer to Jiuzhaigou, it will takes about 2.5 hours. On the way to Jiuzhaigou, you will view the snow mountains, majestic rivers, tibetan Villages. Overnight at Jiuzhaigou.
Day 2 : Sightseeing in Jiuzhaigou National Park
You will have one full day to spend at JiuZhaiGou National Park with crystal clear lakes, waterfalls, virgin forest, and Tibetan villages to explore. You can take the pollution free sightseeing buses to the top of the valley, then walk down to appreciate the nice scenery along the way. In the evening, you will have the chance to see a local Tibetan-Qiang minority Culture show(Price not included). Overnight at Jiuzhaigou.
Day 3 : Jiuzhaigou - Huanglong Park - Songpan County
After breakfast at your hotel, then drive from Jiuzhaigou to Huanglong Park(about 3hours), on the road you will view the plateau grasslands with yaks and yak herders. Considering your physical condition, you can either enjoy the tour by foot or cable car(some visitors will feel altitude sickness in this lateau area), Huanglong is renown for its beautiful calcification lakes. Late afternoon drive to Songpan, here you will meet your Songpan Horse trekking tem. Overnight at Songpan County.
Day 4 : Songpan County -Mounigou Erdaohai horse riding
Today you will have a totally new experience, you will start your horse back riding journey after the food supplies and cooking utensils are loaded on the packhorses by the guides. You will ride for 4-5hours to ErDaoHai Lake (36 km from Songpan town). The region is famous for having many lakes; you will see Toudao Lake, Swan Lake and Feicui Lake, and many others. The guide will choose good places to break for lunch and dinner. You will camp overnight near ErDaoHai Lake.
Day 5 : Munigou Er'daohai - Kuangquanshui horse riding
After breakfast, you will leave ErDaoHai Lake and head for Jadeite Spring (KuangQuanShui). On the way you will pass Rensen (Ginseng) Lake, Flower Lake, Stone Forests, Moon Lake and many other scenic spots. The guide will choose suitable places to break for lunch and dinner. You will camp near Jadeite Spring.
Day 06: Mounigou Valley-Songpan county
After breakfast, you will return to Songpan. On the way, you will see Mallard Lake and pass through SanLian and MuNi towns. Upon arrival at Songpan, transfer to Jiu-huang airport for the flight to your next travel destination, end the trip.
Remarks: The horse back riding program can be customized according to your schedule and requirments, below are the most popular programs among the clients.
Two day to Jadeite Spring (Kuangquanshui) with a vist to local village
Two day to Munigou Erdaohai Lake
Three day to Munigou Erdaohai Lake and Jadeite Spring(Kuangquanshui)
Three to four day to the Ice mountain (Xuebaoding)
Songpan Horse Trekking Tour Tips:
A big different temperature between day and night, suggest to bring your warm clothes.
Horse trekking in the forests and mountainous is a hard job and altitude sickness always comes in this trip. Be sure in a good physical condition. If you get some uncomfortable reaction, please tell the guide immediately.
Kindly treat horses as the local people. Please don't chase or run horses during the trip and move suddenly or shout in front of a horse in case you frighten them and cause accidents. NO FLASH when you take photos with horses. Respect the local custom. You will get along with the local residents for several days and you will find the different lifestyles. Let the local people know that they are equally treated.
Pay attention to enviroment protection. Collect all the rubbish and take it back.
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