Bruges, Belgium

A canal in Bruges with the famous Belfry in the background

Burges (/ˈbruːʒ/ in English; Dutch: Brugge [ˈbrʏɣə]; French: Bruges [bʁyːʒ]; German: Brügge [ˈbrʏɡə]) is the capital and largest city in the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country. One of the historical cities it’s become prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO since the year of 2000. Also known as ‘Venice of the North', it is criss-crossed by canals, the main ring of which encloses the historic centre.

In the eleventh century Bruges was a major commercial centre for the wool industry, and by the late thirteenth century it was the main link to Mediterranean trade. It soon became a major financial centre too, and in 1309 the Bourse opened, making the city the most sophisticated money market in the entire region. By the Sixteenth century, however, Bruges had split from the Netherlands, and the port of Antwerp had taken over much of its trade, leaving Bruges to decline into a provincial backwater.

The old street in Bruges.

Part of the buildings at the Markt

There is much fine art and architecture to see in Bruges. The Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk) boasts the highest brick spire in Europe and contains a sculpture of the Madonna by Michelangelo. The Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilig Bloed Basiliek) is another famous church that displays a phial said to contain the blood of Christ. The Groeninge museum contains paintings from six centuries, including works by Hans Memling and Jan Van Eyck, who lived and worked here.

Other famous buildings in Bruges include:

* The Béguinage

* The Basilica of the Holy Blood (Dutch: Heilig-Bloedbasiliek). The relic of the Holy Blood, which was brought to the city after the Second Crusade by Thierry of Alsace, is paraded every year through the streets of the city. More than 1,600 inhabitants take part in this mile-long religious procession, many dressed as medieval knights or crusaders.

* The modern Concertgebouw ("Concert Building")

* The Old St. John's Hospital

* The Saint Salvator's Cathedral

* The Groeningemuseum, which has an extensive collection of medieval and early modern art, including a notable collection of Flemish Primitives. Various masters, including Hans Memling and Jan van Eyck, lived and worked in Bruges.

* The City Hall on the Burg square

* The Provincial Court (Provinciaal Hof)

* The preserved old city gateways: the Kruispoort, the Gentpoort, the Smedenpoort and the Ezelpoort. The Dampoort, the Katelijnepoort and the Boeveriepoort are gone.

If you tire of cultural sightseeing take a trip on a canal or just sit in a pretty, peaceful spot and try one of the 350 or more beers.

THe Church of The Our Lady.

The beautiful scene of Rozenhoedkaai.

Padang, Sumatra – Indonesia

Rumah Gadang.

Padang in the second largest city in Sumatra after Palembang in Indonesia, it is also one of the cleanest. Padang has been awarded with “Adipura” (cleanest and greenest city) award for 17 times and “Adipura Kencana” for 3 times until 2009. This city had been hit by an earthquake on 30 September 2009 with magnitude of 7.9 that resulting more than 1,100 fatalities with 313 of which occurred in Padang.

Padang has become a trade center since 16^th century. Pepper was the main item for the trade during 16^th and 17^th century. Among countries traded with Padang include India, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Anyway by 1663 this city came under the authority of Dutch, then under British twice and many other changes taken place here.

Imam Bonjol Park.

Adityawrman Museum.

Besides all of the colorful histories of time, Padang also rich with their unique cultures that can be seen almost in instant represented in their architectures, dresses, dialect, dishes and in every aspect of their lives. In fact this trade of cultures spread into their nearest neighbor; Malaysia (where one state in Malaysia has ancestors who came from Padang long time ago).

There are many things to see and do for visitors in Padang in the form of local’s activities or the nature of its surrounding. Local’s activity such as “songket weaving” is called “Pandai Sikek” in local dialect or there also wood-carving workshop in the area of Bukit Tinggi. While for the nature’s lover the Anai Waterfall in the Anai Valley will surely awaken your nature’s spirits.

Most of the visitors to Padang will never miss their chance to visit to Batusangkar known as the land of Minangkabau. All along the route visitors also can see the beautiful landscape of surrounding areas. The main attraction here will be The Great Palace of Pagaruyung with its unique architecture with high curved roof together with Silinduang Bulan Palace. Pariangan Village is the oldest Minangkabau village located in the foot of Mount Marapi. You can also try one of local’s best ‘Kawa Daun’, a traditional coffee leaves drink.

Danau Maninjau.

Kelok 44 route. 

Minangkabau traditional wedding costume.

Ubud, Bali - Indonesia

Ubud landscape with their popular paddies.

Ubud is one of important town in centre of Bali Island in Ubud District surrounded with beautiful landscape of rice paddies and steep ravines. The town was originally important as a source of medicinal herbs and plants; Ubud gets its name from the Balinese word ubad (medicine). One of popular attraction in Bali, this area has transformed to accommodate different types of travellers need.

Because of its location, it also makes a good base for visiting other Balinese attractions, but there is plenty to see and do here. Ubud is surrounded by the traditional stunning landscape that Bali is known for including rice paddies, scenic villages, art and craft communities, ancient temples, palaces, rivers, unique character and friendly locals.

Local people at temple.

Local people activity.

Ubud has been a ‘royal town’ for well over a hundred years and its princes, who bear the title ‘Tjokorda‘ or ‘Agung’ still live in traditional palaces, called ‘Puris’, that dot the countryside.

In the south of the town is a small reserve called Monkey Forest, housing an abundance of long-tailed macaques that clamber over the temple. Bananas are on sale so that tourists can feed them. Just beyond the Monkey Forest is one of the many craft villages in the area which specialises in wood carvings. The Museum Puri Lukisan (Museum of Fine Arts) has a wide collection of traditional and modem Balinese arts and the wood carvings are particularly good.

Perfect vacation at Ubud, Bali.

Another temple at Ubud, Bali.

Ubud is bursting with colour and light, perhaps it is this profusion of plants, flowers, palms and rice paddies that inspire the creative minds of the population. The town and area has a number of art museums, such as the Blanco Renaissance Museum, the Puri Lukisan Museum, Neka Art Museum, and the Agung Rai Museum of Art. Close-by is the Museum Rudana in Peliatan,

Luang Prabang, Laos

Wat Xieng Thong one of the popular attraction.

Luang Prabang, or Louangphrabang (Lao: ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ, literally: "Royal Buddha Image (in the Dispelling Fear mudra)," is the capital city of Luang Prabang Province in north central Laos. The city is located at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers about 300 km north of Vientiane. The population of the city is about 50,000. Surely to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and in 1995 it was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list, recognised as the best preserved city in south-east Asia.

Set on a peninsula where the Mekong and the Khan rivers meet, and surrounded by misty green mountains, Luang Prabang was a kingdom from the fourteenth century until the Lao monarchy was dissolved in 1975. It is the only city in Laos where the ethnic Lao population outnumbers Vietnamese and Chinese.

View of Luang Prabang area.

The surrounding area of Luang Prabang.

The old city is rightly famous for its historic temples and monasteries (there are more than 30 of them) and for its splendid Royal Palace, which now serves as a fascinating museum. There are lovely old French-Indochinese colonial houses, and two-storey shop houses featuring both French and Lao architectural influences. Two parallel streets run the length of the peninsula and one runs all the way around it on the river’s edge. These are criss-crossed by many fascinating little lanes and back streets.

Walking in Luang Prabang is a joy — several of the streets are shaded with palms and flowering trees, sweeping, gilded temple roofs can be glimpsed every few yards, colourful prayer flags flutter in the breeze and temple gongs echo around the town. You can watch the sunset from the top of Phou Si Hill or enjoy a cool drink by the river’s edge. Explore the markets or visit one of the monasteries, such as Wat Xiang Thong, and soak up the serene and spiritual atmosphere that still pervades the town despite its influx of visitors.

Many temples with beautiful decoration like this.

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Great Barrier Reef - from the air.

The Great Barrier Reef on Australia‘s north-eastern continental shelf is a site of exceptional natural beauty stretching for 2,000 km (1,250 mi) and covering an area of about 350,000 sq. km (135,100 sq. mi), making it larger than the whole of Italy. It is not only the largest UNESCO World Heritage Site on earth but also contains the world‘s most extensive coral reef system.

Composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 island in the whole area located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It can be seen from outer space and is the world’s largest single structure made by living organism.

Beautiful fishes swimming.

Colorful scene under the water.

The reef runs mainly north to south, passing through a number of different climates, accounting for the thousands of different species of marine life that inhabit it. It is made up of 3,400 individual reefs, including nearly 800 fringing reefs, coral islands, continental islands covered in forest, sandbars, and mangrove systems linked by huge turquoise lagoons.

The whole reef is under threat from global warming, with increasing damage to the coral itself, but it is of vital importance to the world’s ecosystem, containing as it does a third of the planet‘s soft coral species, the largest existing green turtle breeding site, 30 different species of mammal, including breeding humpback whales and a large dugong population, as well as sponges, molluscs, 1,500 types of reef fish and 200 species of birds. It also contains fascinating original archaeological sites and is probably the most spectacular marine Wilderness on earth.

Great Barrier Reef stretching over long area.

Beautiful corals.

Noosa, Australia

Beautiful beech in Noosa.

Noosa is situated at the most exclusive end of the Sunshine Coast about 140 km (90 mi) north of Brisbane, and is an area where many celebrities have a home. It sits within a beautiful headland with the mouth of the Noosa River west of the town, a stretch of beach to the east, and the small but charming Noosa National Park covering the headland itself, an area of 23 sq. km (9 sq. mi).

Noosa has been popular with the surfing fraternity for about 40 years, since the big waves that crash into the headland first came to their notice. Today all kinds of water sports are pursued upon the river and its creeks as well, such as windsurfing, kayaking and jet skiing. It is an ideal place for boating, or you can just take it easy and go fishing at the river mouth.

Location map.

Main area.

The headland and cliffs in the national park rise to 200 m (660 ft.) and overlook sheltered bays and splendid ocean views. The park contains high dunes and coastal heath as well as different types of grasslands and scrub, forest and rainforest. In all, 13 separate plant communities have been defined in this small area, and various walking trails have been formed, such as the palm grove route and the coastal route. You may see koalas clinging to the eucalyptus but the main focus of the park’s diverse habitats is the 121 different species of bird that make their homes here.

Welcome to Noosa.

Noosa coastline.

Kakadu National Park, Australia

Kakadu National Park from the air.

Kakadu National Park is an area of 20,000 sq. km (7,720 sq. mi) lying about 150 km (90 mi) east of Darwin, and is the largest national park in Australia. It includes the whole of the South Alligator River, which is actually home to a large crocodile population, and various other habitats including heathland, eucalyptus woods and rainforest.

Two different species of crocodile live here — Johnston crocodiles, which live in fresh water and mainly eat fish, and estuarine crocodiles, which are a very different thing. These creatures are the largest reptiles in the world, and can live in both fresh and salt water. They can grow up to 6 m (20 ft.) in length, can be extremely dangerous and occasionally kill careless tourists.

Kakadu map.

The park is home to a huge range of flora and fauna — more than 10,000 species of insects, 25 per cent of Australia’s freshwater fish, kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, water buffalo and many more. There are also about 5,000 sites of Aboriginal art, from many different eras. The town of Jabiru, on the eastern side, is near the Ranger Uranium Mine, and has a small airport from where it is possible to arrange scenic flights across the park in helicopters or light aircraft. The area is far too large to see in one day, but there are camping sites and resorts where you can base yourself for longer stays, and the Park Headquarters and Visitors Centre is full of useful information.

Aboriginal painting in Kakadu.

Wetland area.

The Tunnels of Củ Chi, Vietnam

Cu Chi Tunnel, one of the most important history of Vietnam.

The tunnels of Củ Chi are a relatively modern, man-made phenomenon, but their fame, deservedly, is worldwide. They are the outstanding symbol of the dogged determination of the Vietnamese desire to be free of Western colonists the tunnels Located in the Củ Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.

The tunnels were first thought of in the late 1940s, when the Viet Minh (the League for the Independence of Vietnam) were trying to remove the French from their country. Originally thought of as hiding places for arms and ammunition, they soon became hiding places for the Viet Minh fighters. By the mid-1965, 250 km (155 mi) of tunnels threaded their way under Cu Chi and the areas around it. One even ran under the American army base situated there. These tunnels allowed the many groups of Viet Cong fighters in the area to liaise with one another at will and even to infiltrate Saigon itself.

Signboard to the tunnel.

Tourist entering the tunnel.

The tunnels were dug to as many as four levels. The building work was incredibly hard - not only were there poisonous snakes, scorpions and insects, but these tunnels had to be made sufficiently solid not to collapse. People lived below ground for weeks on end, and there were not only living quarters but also functioning hospitals, kitchens, classrooms and even operating theatres and a small cinema.

More than 12,000 people died here during the Vietnam War, but the Tet offensive, which was dreamed up in these tunnels, probably turned the tide of opinion and made the Americans begin to realize that this was a war they would not win.

When the door closed, it almost undetected.

The network of Cu Chi Tunnel.

Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Local people with their boats.

The Mekong River, at over 4,000 km (2,485 mi), is the twelfth longest river in the world. It rises high up on the Tibetan plateau, flows down through south-western China, around Myanmar, down through Thailand and Laos, where it forms a border, through Cambodia and finally into Vietnam where its fertile delta forms the country’s agricultural heartland. The rich nutrients provided by the alluvial sediment enable about 40 per cent of Vietnam’s food to be produced from an area that covers only 10 per cent of the country.

Known to the Vietnamese as Cuu Long (Nine Dragons) because of the nine tributaries that spread out across the floodplain, the area has been criss-crossed with canals to channel the excess flood water in the most practical fashion. It was not until the French colonized Vietnam in the nineteenth century that the agricultural potential of the area was understood. Ironically the boggy marshlands and rice fields subsequently provided excellent cover for Vietnamese resistance fighters against the French and later the Americans.

Boat full of loads.

Local boats.

The river, with its network of tributaries and canals, is what makes the region so beautiful. It is essential for travel and transport and thousands of boats ply up and down these waterways, from tiny rowing boats to cargo boats carrying rice, fruit and sugarcane. All life is there to be seen on the water: colourful floating markets, river villages and Khmer pagodas can all be seen, and the areas not given over to farmland are rich with wildlife. Thousands of birds nest in colonies, and there are five species of dolphin to be found, including the rare Irrawaddy dolphin.

The Mekong River is very important to every people all along the river. From up above north in China until down here in the Mekong Delta, it’s provide important food source such as fish, irrigate the farmland, transportation and also many dams were built to provide electricity. 

Busy waterway.

Rice fields surround the Mekong Delta.

Huế, Vietnam

Gate to Imperial Citadel

Huế is a city with a long and distinguished history and despite the bitter battles that have taken place here in recent times, during the Vietnam. War, it has kept its air of romance, refinement, scholarship and spirituality. The founder of the Nguyễn dynasty, Emperor Gia Long, made Huế his capital in 1802, and it soon became known for its cultural activity. On the north bank of the Perfume River, the Emperor built a huge citadel in the Chinese style, with a Forbidden City at its heart, reserved for the sovereign's use. The Imperial City which surrounds it was the hub of the administration, and the whole complex is enclosed by a wall 7 m (23 ft.) high and 20 m (66 fl) thick, surrounded both inside and out by a moat and a canal.

Imperial Citadel.

The Imperial City was devastated first by fire in 1947, and later by some of the most terrible battles of the Vietnam War. However, some of the buildings remain and have been perfectly restored. Rebuilding has been continuous since 1975 and received a boost when Hue became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The Ngo Mon Gate and the Thai Hoa Palace are two of the highlights but there are ancestral altars, Chinese assembly halls, pagodas, temples, royal mausoleum and fascinating museums to be explored too.

Huế is not simply a city of glorious historic relics; it is a lively thriving place, home to five universities. In 1995 it was given independent city status by the government to mark its growing economic importance.

Royal tomb.

Royal tomb's gate.

The Grand Palace, Bangkok

The best way to approach the Grand Palace complex is from the Chao Phraya River. The palace complex and Wat Pra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) are set within almost 10 ha (25 acres) of flat surrounded by a white wall that belies the unbelievably colorful wat within.

The Grand Palace itself is not lived in by the king, but used by on ceremonial occasions. The four buildings that make up the complex are not open to the public, but you can admire their exterior architecture. The largest building, the Grand Palace Hall was built by British architects in the late 1880s.

The Grand Palace by night.

The King will change the Emerald Buddha's attire.

The surrounding area.

Nothing could prepare you for your first sight at Wat Pra Kaew. The colors of Theravada Buddhism are red, green, orange and yellow and along with masses of gilding and gold leaf, lotus bud patterns and columns encrusted with gleaming mosaics, these colors are everywhere – so bright they almost hurt the eye.  The stupas are gilded and the swooping layers of the roofs are tiled in shining orange and green tiles. The Thai version of the Ramayana story is illustrated in its entirety around the interior walls.

The Emerald Buddha is tiny in comparison to many if the famous Buddha statues in Thailand, but it is of immense significant. Its origin is surrounded in mystery, but it was first recorded in Chiang Rai, in the fifteenth century. Laotian invaders removed it to Luang Prabang and then Vientiane, but it was recovered and returned to Thailand in the eighteenth century by Rama I, the founder of current Chakri dynasty. It sits high up in a glass case in a huge shrine that was built specially to house it.

Temple of Emerald Buddha.

The sculptures.