Thousands of years ago, Rome was the capital of the Western world. The Empire stretched across Europe, Northern Africa, and the British Isles. Today, traces of ancient Rome remain scattered throughout Europe, and those who travel to Rome itself can marvel at the ruins of the Forum, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon. If these sights leave you wondering what life was like in the Roman Empire, why not spend a day at Ostia Antica? Once upon a time, Ostia Antica was a bustling Roman seaport. Supplies of grain, wine, oil, lead, and marble were imported to the Roman capital via Ostia Antica's harbor, which eventually become the most important in the Empire. Ostia Antica experienced its heyday in the 2nd century AD, under the Emperors ...
Looking for a trip to paradise? Look no further than Socotra Island, Yemen. It truly is a paradise found. As very few people have heard of the Island, which lies approximately 380 km south of the Arabian Peninsula and 240 km east of the Horn of Africa, travellers do not have to worry about busy beaches, crowded scuba centres, or an invasion of snorkellers. You will probably be one of the few people who travel here, so be prepared for a very serene and perfect getaway. Socotra Island is one of a small chain of four islands found in the Indian Ocean, and is part of the Republic of Yemen. Socotra has pristine beaches, monstrous mountains and unique caves that are fun for any traveller’s ...
There's adventure travel and then there's the Cave of Swallows, which takes adventure travel to a whole other level. As the deepest cave shaft in the world, there's only one way to see the Cave of Swallows, and that's down. This is the Mount Everest of caves, and adventure travellers and groups of outdoor enthusiasts make the trek each year to the pit cave that is deep in the Mexican forest. Located in the small town of Aquismón in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, the Cave of Swallows is certainly off the beaten path, away from the town in a heavily wooded area. The pit cave doesn't have the same history as many of Mexico's landmarks, as it was only found a little ...
A trip to the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo is a defining experience, and often a thought-provoking one. It is a hub for fish and sea life deliveries from all over the world, and the place to get the freshest sushi in Tokyo. Watching rubber-booted fishermen with deft hands fillet, slice and clean fish of every variety, as well as sea urchins, eels, shellfish, and pretty much anything imaginable, is an intriguing sight. As you make your way around buckets and trays full of live sea life, this is not a place for the squeamish, or the vegetarian. The Tsukiji Fish Market's crowning glory, as well as its bitter shame (depending on who you talk to) is the fresh tuna fish auction early in the ...
When you succumb to buying an Easter weekend pass to Bluesfest in Byron Bay, Australia, a world-class journey of music is about to unfold. Byron Bay’s Bluesfest music festival has some of the most unique artists in the world, and is now in its 22nd year. Bluesfest has now stretched to the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, nestled on 120 hectares, 11 km north of Byron Bay. Bluesfest goes off without a hitch as 17,500 visitors and 6,500 campers descend on the music festival for Easter weekend. Although it’s a very popular festival, the chill-out homey feel is maintained throughout. Festival Director Peter Noble has always had a vision for Bluesfest. He says, "Bluesfest features musicians who have something to say, either by being the finest ...
A trip to Vietnam is always a thought-provoking experience, and the country has a friendly relationship with most Western nations, but certainly a complex past history. An often surreal experience to be had in Vietnam is visiting the embalmed corpse of Ho Chi Minh, founding president of the People's Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh was once an enemy of much of the developed world and a hero to the Communists as he led the Viet Cong to victory in the “Vietnam War” (called the “American War” within Vietnam). Despite the bloodshed associated with his name, Ho Chi Minh is nothing short of a national hero in Vietnam today. The city of Ho Chi Minh (formerly known as Saigon) bears his name, and he ...
Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica is a Caribbean treasure, and one of the island's most popular attractions. Up there with Jamaica's reggae music and white sandy beaches—is Dunn's River Falls: a hallmark of Jamaica. You may recognize the Dunn's Falls in pop culture, as these Jamaican waters were filmed in famous movies, including Cocktail with Tom Cruise, and James Bond's Dr. No. Dunn's River Falls in Ochos Rios, attract thousands of locals and tourists each year, offering an alternative way to cool off than heading to the beach. Formerly a small fishing village, Ochos Rios is located on the north coast of Jamaica, and is a highly populated tourist area. Ochos Rios is also a port of call for cruise ships. Although Jamaica is known ...
Faro in southern Portugal is a great town to soak up the atmosphere of the Algarve. One of the attractions here is a visit to the Igreja do Carmo: a church in Faro famous for its Capela dos Ossos (“Chapel of Bones”). Located a short walk from the old town of Faro, you can see the Igreja do Carmo as you walk up the hill, in the middle of a plaza. It isn't open all day, and closes through the middle of the day, so time your arrival accordingly. At around 3.30 p.m. the Igreja do Carmo re-opens, and as you walk down the wooden aisle, the ominous creaking of floorboards builds the suspense for the main tourist attraction. Taking a right halfway down the ...
London’s Tower Bridge is one of the city of London’s most famous landmark attractions, and is a national symbol that makes you think of the splendours and history of London just from the sight of it. The iconic status of London’s Tower Bridge has seen it featured in several films and television series, including the critically lauded Spice World, the recent remake of Sherlock Holmes, and, lest we forget, the most British of all TV “programmes”: Doctor Who. Tower Bridge opened to the public after eight years of construction in 1894, and quickly became a public icon. However, in order to become the bridge it is today, several changes had to occur, both on the interior and exterior. During World War II, a third steam ...
A trip to Nicaragua would not be complete without trying out volcano boarding: sandboarding down an active volcano—an extreme sport that could have only been created in a place known as the “Land of Lakes and Volcanoes”. Cerro Negro, an imposing dark mass of rock and volcanic ash true to its name (“Black Hill”), is the place to test your fear. Formed in 1850, it is the youngest volcano in Central America, and has erupted more than twenty times. Best of all: it’s still active today. Although the Cerro Negro volcano is relatively small at only 400 meters high, its slopes are incredibly steep. One of these has an incline so dramatic that walking up is impossible, but because it is uniquely composed of volcanic ...
