An African safari is anything but staying indoors and watching television with guests. Well, this could be a part of the trip in normal times, but not in a pandemic. African safari holidays involve typically chasing the game in open outdoors in secured safari vehicles. You can see the great migration across wild Savannah. You can watch a heart-stopping predator and prey action drama and you can enjoy the sight of a solitary elephant basking under a baobab. It is all animals around you from whom we haven’t anything to fear about coronavirus transmission.
One great advantage that is inherent in the African safari packages is its very low-density people crowd. For each person occupying a position there is ample space around him for free movement and yet not run into another human being. Social distancing is inbuilt unless there is someone reckless enough to close this safety gap. Then again the protocols are put in place very stringently and ensured that they are not violated.
The African nations have felt the bite of epidemics and the disaster it can spell much before the coronavirus pandemic has started to bare its fangs. They have experience in health crises and have learned the hard way to battle them.
The need of the hour :
Africa’s safari camps are located in remote habitats. Here you will feel the fresh air and breathe in the freshest of oxygen for granted. It is a gift from nature and no one would play any dirty game trading it to the point of profit maximization. The vast expanse of Savannah and the forest cover are the basic inputs to well-being which is a much sought-after commodity amid the pandemic-induced panic.
Forecasts by experts reveal an imminent rise in wildlife safaris and naturescapes because the tourists have the guarantee of safe travel. It is crowd-free and lush with ample wood cover. African safari holidays are very much ready to offer the guests the same elements.
A vast cover of open sky, clean air, unrestricted greenery, and super hospitality are the need of the hour. These are available in African safari packages and that makes them so demanding in the times when the planet earth is threatened by this alien plague. Africa as a tourist destination is also an emerging market for wine tourism, culinary wonders, exotic music, and art.
Future of African safari packages :
The continent of Africa is cut out for tourism. Wildlife, lakes, open grasslands, mountains, and deep forest cover make it one of the most popular destinations among the tourist circles. On an average the international tourism industry pertaining to this continent is capable of 120 billion dollars in terms of tourism-based revenue. This is around 7 % of the continent’s gross income. To keep this number alive massive effort is required to sustain conservation projects for the flora and fauna.
The pace of the rise in tourism in many African nations fails to catch up with the galloping costs associated with conservation projects which need a fast solution. In 2020 the tourists’ footfall slumped and that was a bad blow to the safari companies that had to survive on charities and interests in savings. Now the times have improved and the safari industry is starting to see the silver lining.
A right itinerary for an African safari is what we need at the moment to give us some space to breathe and some relaxing moments for our mind and body. It helps the local ecology and economy as well so long the tourists behave responsibly.
African safari costs
The financial impact of a holiday comes possibly immediately after you have decided on your trip. A lot of factors come in between including the coverage of the itinerary which is by far the most important. Best African safaris for families would mean savoring the thrill of East African and South African safaris. Besides, there is a scope of Gorilla tracking which is not a very family thing. Trackers need to route through deep jungles and mountain vegetation.
While working out a safari budget that will give you optimum return these things merit consideration :
Look for African safari costs that meet your specific interests. No need to burn unnecessary fuel and other costs in safaris which you don’t like to see but you have no other option because you are tied to a package.
Privacy and plush accommodation will naturally build in cost. More important would be to have a great guide to learn what to look in the forest instead of indulging in lavishness that doesn’t add to your jungle safari.
You can save money and obviously time with an experienced travel agent. They keep you updated on light aircraft timetables. They are appropriate for narrow dirt strips that is what you get in most of the jungles instead of regular airstrips. There are professional handlers to manage your luggage. All this knowledge comes from the right agent which would otherwise bleed you a lot of money trying to do it on your own.
Another advantage of relying on a great agent for your African safari holidays is you get an all-inclusive price. Hidden costs take you all by surprise that can be avoided here.
A lot of money can be saved doing African safari packages on land trips. Being a part of a large group can minimize your share of expenses. They put you up in cozy lodges.
African safari costs come cheap with South African safaris because the rand and dollar conversion rate works in favor of the tourists.
All-inclusive African safaris have a wide choice of accommodation. They include super-luxury lodges to romantic honeymoon suits. Private island villas are amazing; they take your breath away. You will hardly find any hotel offering you all-inclusive African safari rates. Safari lodges and resorts are the places to look for such rates embracing a wider service range on safari. These rates normally take care of the following :
Room, tent, or suite rate.
All meals.
Viewing wildlife and non-mechanised water sports.
You can have an all-inclusive African safari at a very friendly budget given you abstain from lavish tips, imported drinks, activities like deep-sea fishing and hot air ballooning, and buying souvenirs like exquisite and expensive African crafts.
Luxury African vacation Safari packages
P.C. luxuryafricansafri.com
Luxury resorts are found in many places in the world, but luxury African vacation safari packages mean something special which only Africa can present to you. Here the connotation is entirely different. The entire safari package comes luxury and would not be confined to your accommodation alone. You get to meet with the wildlife up close. You receive your morning greetings straight from them and Zambia is one place to look for. There are certainly other Luxury African vacation safari packages.
South Luangwa Mfuwe Lodge
P.C. southluangwa.com
This lodge in Zambia is famous for its elephant visits with regularity, besides being close to nature where Africa is right around you with its wild magic. Lodges are plush meeting your fancied desires to the point of pampering you. The contemporary interior décor and the matching comfort keep you very happy.
Botswana, South Africa
P.C. andbeyond.com
Here the packages come with excellent guides with long experience in the bush safari. They are resourceful and witty and at the same time very dedicated to their clients.
They make your safari memorable and an amazing one. It would be an eye-opener for you to really know what a luxury African vacation safari would mean. Its overall tourist value is overwhelmingly positive.
East African luxury safaris
Campi Ya Kanzi on LuxurySafariCamps.com
In East Africa, the Kenyan safari of Masai Mara is unbeatable. It is unmistakably the best African safaris for families. Here you see the great migration. Herds of wildebeests and zebras cross over a hostile country infested with the fiercest of fearsome predators. Whether you choose to camp under the open and romantic African sky or spend your vacation in a luxury lodge on the fringes of a national park, you get more than what you have invested over days of effort and planning.
Serengeti national park, Tanzania
P.C. serengeti.com
This East African luxury safari experience in Serengeti will give you awesome feelings. It is the right place to be with your kids. In fact, Serengeti national park is one of the best African safaris for families. Here you have your dream choices for stay. Desert camps under a starry night sky or lodges close to the national park are experiences to carry for life. It turns all the more exciting to hear your wild neighbors not very far away from you.
This is the right time to visit Africa as it is a vast continent with immense open spaces and a thin population density. You need not feel a threat from the virus raging in other parts of the world that is crammed with people and the concrete jungle and deprived of free air and space. Best African safaris for families are immune to such threats.
The meaning of virtual tourism entails to be understood before you embark on such a trip. This is a highly skilled simulation done on software to replicate a destination in reality bringing out its features and charms as if you were making a real journey.
Could virtual travel be a substitute for the real thing coming live! Obviously, this would be the first suspicious reaction of a travel enthusiast not acquainted with the meaning of virtual tourism. When he has had it on the monitor his verdict will change, and he would want a repeat experience.
Technically the entire setup is a continuous run of videos or still photos. Added frills come in the form of music and sound that is natural to the site you are viewing. Background description with elaborate commentary makes your trip interesting and very close to materiality.
The meaning of virtual tourism is perhaps never sought after as it is done under the current state. Our feet yearn for moving out and seeing the world but the virus lurking in the air necessitates us to stay indoors. Virtual tourism during Covid-19 brings in a solution that we stay safe at home and enjoy the bliss of travel all from home itself.
Virtual tourism online
With the pandemic wreaking havoc, the hotels exist without customers. The airlines have no one to fly. The travel agents have all but business and the ministry of tourism awaiting the last nail to be hammered in the coffin shutting down their department. Tourism without the tourists is as good as the flower without color and fragrance.
In the wake of the dry spell, an alternate mode of tourism is gaining ground. Though in a nascent stage, virtual tourism during Covid-19 will be very much an alternate and equally exciting means to release the euphoria among travel buffs.
So far, before even anyone heard of the coronavirus, virtual tourism online was some sort of stunt that is now becoming a very much serious tourism option so long as the pandemic doesn’t release its claw. And the tourists’ desire to travel, needs to be given a wing.
For the mutual interest of tourists and the revival of the declining tourism industry, many countries are promoting virtual tourism. Soon this will be a very normal mode of enjoying travel and the tourists get to turn savvy so far as the technical part is concerned. Among countries backing it up Germany is in the lead.
Soon the whole idea would be just as simple as downloading the virtual tourism apps and going for it.
While it is true that real travel is unique in its own way, the 360° videos or virtual tourism and augmented reality is a way into unknown worlds when travel restrictions bind you in shackles. They keep your interest expanding the more you travel to foreign countries you have read about in books only. And yet there is a big difference between seeing a country through a TV channel or in movies and doing a virtual tour of it. In the latter format, you get a three-dimensional feel that you are moving forward, turning left and right and the concept of height and depth is far pronounced and real.
The eventual payback
Virtual tourism online is a platform where the service providers need a lot of investment to make which may not be linearly identified with the rise in the number of virtual tourists. The only answer to this could be heard with patience and keeping an eye on the customer behavior.
In some countries, virtual tourism aids the browsing consumers to have a three-dimensional view of various facilities offered and potential activities. This includes yoga and meditation sessions. Basking in the beaches, underwater diving, and culinary tutorials.
However, experts are optimistic about the return on investment. Whichever medium is selected, be it in the websites or in print and in travel conferences, virtual tourism would set the ball rolling.
The amazing experience of travel without moving from your seat
Virtual tourism during COVID-19 could be a substitute for the real.Simply have a virtual trip to the following places and you know it’s worth:
The Louvre, Paris
Without jostling in the crowd and maintaining the almost impossible protocol for social distancing you can well cherish the beauty of the Mona Lisa from close quarters. Virtual tourism opportunity on Louvre’s website takes you close to the museum’s archives. It is a lifetime experience.
San Diego Zoo, California
Here you have the fantastic chance of meeting your favorite animals round the clock through virtual tourism live-streaming. To catch these awesome creations of nature in their own habitats designed by brilliant minds is a treat. When you have this kind of treat sitting in your room all secured and cozy, the flavor simply multiplies.
Disney World, Orlando
Aren’t you getting the thrill of having the opportunity to travel to Disney World through virtual tourism during Covid-19? The legendary characters, Mickey and Minnie, Donald Duck and Goofy are right in front of you.
You can have plenty of fun exposure getting a 360° view of the streets inside the amazing theme park. The Virtual theme park rides on its YouTube channel sets you wild with the rush of adrenaline.
The Great Wall of China
If you are keen on seeing one of the greatest architectural human feats sitting from the comfort of your room you got to have a virtual tour of The Great Wall of China. The important and interesting information, the anecdotes and stories revolving around this wall comes without travelling all the way. It is lively and plain fun that is never to be missed!
London’s National Gallery
This mammoth cultural exhibit offers a vast array of visual delights to the audience. Each and every work of art is unique in its own spell. Virtual tourism across this prestigious gallery is itself a traveling landmark. You should count yourself lucky you are doing it without actually having to travel to London when the second wave of pandemic is very much a lethal threat.
Virtual tourism apps
This is an immersive experience, a marvel at its best the way virtual tourism helps us explore the world with the application of computer-generated videos and simulated real life trips. Several virtual tourism apps are available that make your travel experience as close as possible to reality. These apps merit an evaluation and here we go:
Google Cardboard
P.C. Pocket-lint
This is an inexpensive kit where you have a slot for your holding the smartphone. You can have an unrestricted view of the world from your perspective and you can do it hands-free. All you need is download Google Cardboard VR apps on your iOS or Android phones.
Ascape VR, the virtual escape
PC. AppAdvice
This is real fun and having just built in excitement for those looking for a wild adventure. You can race with the antelopes, swim with the barracudas and jump off airplanes. This gives you that thrilling physical experience with your Android VP apps you were looking for, chartering flights and taking all the expenses and pains that go with it.
You Visit, for college goers
This is for those buffs who like hopping famous college campuses, viewing the libraries, basketball courts, study halls, and other facilities. This is so real it helps make a decision which college to choose for future. The free iOS and Android apps include a number of videos on college campuses throughout the nation.
Qantas- virtual travel to Australia and New Zealand
P.C. Airline Suppliers
With these free iOS and Android apps, you can have a virtual trip to the Down Under. Aerial flicks have been inputted into the system for you to enjoy the travel. How exciting would be to locate the Ayers rock and the Great Barrier Reef from the top! Equally interesting would be to see kangaroos on the run.
VeeR, Get an interactive experience
These apps would brilliantly suit the imaginative consumer, especially if his mind is fired by creativity. Amazing dreamscapes would take you places you like to stay for eternity. It offers a wide array of 4k videos, photos and interactive platforms. You can contribute your own content for others to savor and there lies the beauty of this app.
How to become a virtual tourist?
Virtual tourism apps would for sure take you a step closer to virtual tourism, but how to become a virtual tourist still needs some information to get access.
In the pandemic dominated world, armchair travel is what we are looking for and for your pursuit, you need to know the right places. Here we go:
Scandinavian virtual tourism
The entire television channel has devoted much space to virtual tourism. Escape to wonderful landscapes and fjords and to the Nordic seascapes has a terrific tourist attraction, all from sitting back in your room.
The British virtual tourism
P.C. Youtube
Get in touch with the British National Trust to get the amazing digital escape to the British countryside and cityscapes from your living room.
Enchanting Japan
Get acquainted with the Japanese websites offering digital tourism. The virtual world of breathtaking gardens, lakes, and temples is in front of you. They are just as real as the beautiful island nation and just as mesmerizing.
For the answer to how to become a virtual tourist, it is all there on the internet. Engage your search engine, access the websites and the rest is all marvel and bliss ! Go ahead and don’t forget to share your experience as a virtual tourist in the comment box.
The mercury is rising and every day the sun is getting stronger. Travel bugs are feeling the itch down on their feet. From whatever angle target destinations merit a worth in their plans, taking off the heat is the prime consideration. The breezy sea beaches are well worth an evaluation as are the snow-capped mountains. Of course, we don’t rule out forests, brooks, and waterfalls, they provide the right kind of cool and shady environment to die for in summer.
Preparations for the travel for the best summer vacation destinations
Now another important factor has complicated the evaluation process. The coronavirus pandemic had had its reach in almost every place under the sun. Whatever be your travel selection it needs to be tested for health, security, and sanitation ratings. Many of the summer destinations may have run dry. Chief attractions, like a confined snow world theme park, may haven’t yet opened their gates. Keeping in mind their popularity and safety protocols we select here the best summer vacation destinations for 2021:
Shimla, the queen of hill stations, India
Shimla in Himachal Pradesh is rated among one of the best family summer vacation destinations. It was definitely for some sound reason the British colonials had made it a frequent haunt every summer. The cool Himalayan climate will bring you much relief from the summer scorchers. Lots of good hotels are available and I suggest you shouldn’t leave Shimla unless you have visited these attractions.
The thrill of white water rafting at Tattapani is a lifetime experience.
Toy train trips from Kalka to Shimla will take you along lush valleys, pine-fringed rail routes, cold and dark tunnels, and amazingly beautiful meanders along the hills.
Climbing to Jakhu Hanuman temple at hilltop is a splendid experience.
You get fabulous eateries and shopping plazas along Mall road.
Not very far are the picturesque landscapes of Chail, Kufri, and Mashobra for you to visit.
You have great photo opportunities wherever you go around this amazing hill station.
Besides the toy train, there are bus and cab services to reach here. The airport nearest is Chandigarh. However, do not forget to check the pandemic situation and traveling conditions while planning for this destination in India.
Munnar, Kerala, one of the best summer vacation destinations in God’s own country
This is another immensely appealing top summer vacation destination in India known for its cool and serene character. Perched on the Western Ghats mountains this exquisitely beautiful spot is known for rolling acres of tea gardens, lush forests and a wealth of animal life. The weather in summer couldn’t be any better offering you the much needed relaxation you were looking for.
A distinct aroma of spices fills the air as Munnar is also the spice hub. I would strongly recommend doing the following sites or else you haven’t really known this enticing tourist spot although visited it. Here we go :
Making it to the lofty Anamudi peak the highest point in southern India. Trek is full of adventure and great photo opportunities.
A part of the vacation spent in a treehouse. It is probably one of the most exciting things happening to you.
For wildlife enthusiasts and others, an Elephant safari at the Carmelagiri Elephant Park would slowly build the excitement rush. The sylvan forests and its towering trees set up a visual treat just the lush tea estates on the surrounding slopes.
Scaling Eco Point and Shikara ride in Kundala lake are fun summer pursuits. You will love them for sure.
Access is easy, you have Kochi international airport with wide connectivity and not far from Munnar. The nearest rail head is Ernakulam. Covid-19 safety protocols are adequate, and they are strictly adhered to resulting in safe travel. Munnar can be most assuredly rated as one of the best family summer vacation destinations.
Mauritius, its windy beaches and sapphire waters, Africa
Mauritius has one of the lowest coronavirus infection rates in Africa, a little over 1100 cases in the first week of April’21. The Vaccination program is on a full rollout and the good news is that the people are actively inclined to be vaccinated. The summer ends here in April, and we are to take advantage of the clear weather. The temperature however doesn’t shoot over 30° Celsius, strong ocean winds offset any unpleasant heat in the air.
Trou Aux Biches is an ocean-facing quaint little town known for beautiful white sand private beaches. You can take a trip to Lle Aux Cerfs for its exotic panorama. A number of water sports are available including snorkeling.
If you choose to swim the turquoise waters are safe and soothing. You may even take a glass-bottom boat ride and have a fabulous glimpse at the underwater garden of Eden. Never miss out on Black River Gorges National Park. It is thickly wooded, the right place for trekking.
It is also a paradise for bird watchers and features cascading waterfalls and diversity in flora. More than 300 species of flowering plants are a feast for the eyes. The Tamarind waterfalls holds a special treat. The 290 meters high gift of nature is in fact a series of seven falls adding a new definition of bewitchery to the island.
Scuba diving, rambling, shopping, tea garden visits, and sampling the local produce are some outdoor fun that will keep you in tight pants.
However, you are allowed to get to Mauritius only after the second week of this April. Possessing a certificate of COVID-19 negative is compulsory. Together with it a PCR test done between 5 and 7 days before the date of boarding is mandatory. It has an international airport.
One of the best summer vacation destinations in Africa, the fairyland of Seychelles
This beautiful island is hardly marred by pandemic, with around 4300 cases in the first week of April’21 only. Although, the area is small too there isn’t much to fear. The amazing beaches and the turquoise waters should not be missed. April is quite hot, so resting by the beach, laid back in a hammock is the ideal vacation concept. Great scope of diving exists and you can explore the undersea paradise. The coral reefs encapsulate you in a wonderful stranger than dream reality. Swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving are some exciting water sports that will make your summer trip a well spent quality vacation. You have a never-ending view of the placid ocean, the deep blue waters will put you in a trance.
Now that the island of Seychelles is remote, even mainland Africa is quite far, the schools of fishes are plenty and diverse. They are yet to swim away fearing habitat loss that is claimed by humans. If you can catch them in a feeding frenzy you have something to collect and tell it back to your friends. It is one of the most popular summer vacation destinations off the coast of East Africa.
The island has opened its gates from 25th March’21. All you need is to submit proof that you are Covid-19 negative. PCR test to be done 72 hours prior to boarding. The international airport is well-connected across the world.
Magic of Mykonos, Greece
Folks! You have tolerated the lockdown banishment enough, have some more patience because Greece is set to open its gates of heaven on May 14th this year. Count on my words it is one of the best summer vacation destinations in Europe. The Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea are in front of you, so there will be a cool and gentle breeze to take off the summer heat.
Tiny islands are scattered in the seas. They look distant and promising and practically compete with each other over their idyllic charm. These can be reached by motorboats. The ancient Gothic architecture is an all-time legend and their presence is felt in Mykonos.
There is a surprise for you this summer. Kelesma Mykonos instigates in May. This is a plush hotel, an epitome of modern design. Suites are all complete with high-end furnishings and aesthetically pleasing artwork.
Getting here is not a big issue. Proof of Vaccination and negative PCR reports needs to be produced as a check against the release of infection here from the visitors.
Anguilla, East Caribbean, a safe and serene getaway
This paradise of an island has been taking commendable action in handling Covid-19andemic. Safety protocols are very structured and everyone here is strictly abiding by the rules. It is one of the top summer vacation destinations with luxurious beaches caressing your barefoot.
Waters around this are crystal clear offering you a range of water sports. Snorkeling, scuba diving, and sailing in the open bay will keep you full of pep. Efficient and experienced guides are available to keep you close company. Good staying options exist for you to explore the most fabulous stay and there are hilltop hotels with great amenities.
Crocus Bay is just amazing. Vast and glassy, the bay is the source of frequent cool drifts that is very refreshing. Resorts at Anguilla are well-equipped to take care of tourists’ summer needs. Most of them have infinity pools, volleyball, tennis, and golfing facilities.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, US
P.C. Wikipedia
This is one of the best family summer vacation destinations for sure with the presence of two world-famous national parks: Yellowstone and Grand Teton. A diverse range of outdoor sports awaits your participation including whitewater rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, paddle boarding, hiking, biking, fishing, camping, and wild safaris.
These all are high-calorie burners but you don’t feel exhausted. The cool climate takes care of your contentment. It is a mountainous country and the overall scenery is breathtaking. In fact, this is an adventure country and there is more to your summer vacation. You can have a cable car ride to the mountain top and get a spectacular view down.
There is a fantastic Lake Jenny to take a boat ride across. A rare opportunity for trekking in the wilds and it is strongly recommended you take it and go up to the cascade canyon. All along the way, it is untouched verdant nature keeping you cheerful. If luck stays on your side you may encounter brown bears, elks, and herds of bison.
They are trying hard and have been successful in evening out the infection curve. Both the Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are opening to the public from 1st May this year. Keep in touch with Jackson Hole travel websites. They will update you on travel restrictions and the places that are safe from Covid-19 in matters of staying and eating.
Copenhagen, Denmark
This is cold Northern Europe and shouldn’t trouble you in consideration of unpleasant summer heat. You require the vaccine passport and a certificate vouching that you have been tested negative. Here there is a lot of sunshine for you and the days become longer as the city slowly moves ahead through time.
The city has a network of tidy canals and you can navigate those and enjoy the ride in accompaniment to beautiful pieces of rock art and relics. You get enchanted by the Little Mermaid sculpture and the fascinating Christiansburg Slot. The boats have an arrangement for a table in the center for you to enjoy a feast onboard.
There are plenty of food kiosks at the waterfront for you to savor Danish food, especially their fabled pastries. They are safe and follow protocols for sanitation. Take a restful green space in the King’s garden. Inside is lush with a soft carpet of grass for you to have your feet get the sweet summer kiss. You may take a walk along tree-lined avenues inside the garden. The air is heavy with the fragrance of summer flowers and gives you the exact feel you were dying for.
Malta, Europe
The Republic of Malta is made up of a group of islands on the Mediterranean Sea between North Africa and Sicily. White sandy beaches and crystal blue water are its tourist attractions. It features vast and stunning pasture lands grazed by sheep and goats. Its beaches are open to tourists from the start of June this year and the visitors should have both the vaccine jabs.
Vaccination cards to be shown prior to boarding. Dotted with ancient temples Malta echoes history and has citadels and churches that take you back in time. What makes it one of the most popular summer vacation destinations in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the remains of Hypogeum temple.
It is the only prehistoric edifice below the ground with an eerie whisper from the past. Stay in a group while exploring this spooky place that is sure to give you thrills this summer.
Canary Islands, Spain
Canary Islands trip is open to tourists vaccinated or those producing negative Covid-19 test proofs. A group of beautiful islands off the Southernmost coast of Spain and receives cool winds from the Atlantic Ocean, they are designed to relax you.
The islands boast of four national parks with diverse flora and fauna. Two of the parks are declared UNESCO world heritage sites. Don’t miss visiting Teide national park. Here stands the Teide volcano to a height of 3715 meters. It is a big crowd puller. Canary has it all to be one of the top summer vacation destinations.
God’s own country has braced itself to shield us from pestilence. Now it is the social-media influencers’ campaign My First Trip 2021 to take Kerala Tourism out of troubled waters. If the land is graced with God’s presence, tourists are the pilgrims. Kerala’s tourism department is all bent on giving a hygienic refuge and selling its fascinating culture, cuisine, picturesque villages, and last but not least it’s a fabulous blend of the sun, surf, and magical sandy beaches.
Kerala has reached out to the right people with a huge social media fan following hoping to pull the money-spinning Kerala tourism from its lows. With domestic tourism to rule for some time, this could be the opportune moment to lure tourists.
Pioneering steps showcase that a holiday in Kerala is unmatched
Holidays in Kerala are all roaring just as the rolling surf break against its shores. When the country has been banished with lockdown shackles, Kerala has opened its gates to travel enthusiasts and it is picking up steam for the past six months.
Needless to say, from what I have seen of Kerala from different visual media, I would love my first trip 2021 to start the process with Kerala topping the bucket list.
The world awaits an amazing holiday in Kerala when the situation becomes more favorable, and much of the credit goes to an initial drive taken by ten Indians from different parts of the country. Influencers as these travel buffs are called have planned an itinerary over a span of five days and six nights. The idea is to showcase the magic of the “God’s own country” in a range of visual formats. Photos, video snippets, and highly illustrated and informative texts would be shared over various social networking sites.
COVID-19 had ruined tourism pushing it on the edge of a sunk industry. Kerala was no exception, but it bounced back with much of its original charm and promises that would hold a tourist spellbound. In fact, my first trip 2021 was a little surprising to see a start in the influx of tourists from November 2020- December’2020 onwards. It consolidated the faith in Kerala’s legendary tourist worth.
Domestic bloggers do it in a great way :
The Kerala blog express has formally announced the Kerala tourism promotional campaign named ‘ My First Trip 2021’ that was programmed to wind up by the 29th of March’21. The uniqueness of this move lies in its ten flag bearers who are Indians from different states. In early campaigns, global bloggers were the show stealers, of course in their own rights and potentials.
Our very own Indian influencers have done a great job. They have with their much-lauded efforts and innovations have spread the encouraging message that Kerala is a safe travel destination, post-COVID-19 pandemic.
Having said all about Kerala tourism travel safety it comes as a natural sequence the state’s fame in matters of hospitality and customer service. Destinations are handpicked, and they will be covered by10 cars uniquely designed for the purpose. Proposed travel sites would include:
Jatayu Earth Center at Chadayamangalam in Kollam
P.C. DNAIndia
This is a sprawling piece of the breathtaking park extending over 65 acres. You get a wide panoramic view and the stone sculpture of the mythical bird Jatayu famed for its loyalty in the epic Ramayana would enchant you by its awe-inspiring size and sheer presence. Well managed and spotlessly clean, this is a must-see!
Thumboormuzhi Garden in Chalakudy
P.C tripuntold
Thumboormuzhi garden and the Dam would come with stealing beauty. Although the water level in summer would be shallow, it will not rob the place of its pristine charm. Athirapally waterfalls is close by, the whole drenching sheet cascades with a massive splash! A place of excellent photo opportunities and hovering butterflies that come in myriad colors. A hanging bridge adds to the overall natural aesthetics.
Guruvayur Temple, Thrissur
P.C. Indian Express
A holiday in Kerala remains an unfinished sojourn unless you do Thrissur. The revered Guruvayur Temple is right here known for its sacred status in the hearts of devout followers. Snowstorm amusement and theme park is a stunning mix of modern technology and landscape architecture. It is designed to lift your spirits.
Pambumekattu mana has a different kind of thrill in store for you with a combination of romantic and religious connotations. This is the abode of the Snake god where you can make your charities.
Kauthuka park is another gorgeous attraction. A natural habitat with ample space and greenery where nature lovers enjoy interaction with diverse flora and fauna.
Vazhachal
P.C. Holidify
This spectacular waterfall is a powerful crowd-puller. It looms over the Chalakudy river and the vazhachal forest is not far off which promises close contact with the wilds. Located in the Thrissur district it lies in proximity to both Athirappally falls and Sholayar chain of mountains. This is a not-to-be-missed destination ranking high on a tourist’s popularity scale. It is a mystic unspoiled paradise on earth.
All these tourist destinations highlighted by the influencer campaign are the core attractions in Kerala. As an additional and essential measure, the Kerala tourism department has taken its best foot forward to keep coronavirus transmission miles away from the tourists. All the protocols are forcefully put in place without violation from other ends!
My first trip Kerala would bring God’s own country closer to the world of the travel-hungry crowd. The group of influencers has done a job that’s something groundbreaking in its own special way. Brilliant ideas fused and innovative marketing exercises were carried out. It’s not hype but something very genuine and traditional that these campaigners have been trying to project.
They have been cut out for the mission and have most successfully placed Kerala before the international travelers’ forum. The Ayurvedic spas and wellness resorts here have been world-class experiences. The message was spread far and wide in bold.
Coronavirus can be reined with some self-restraint and by carefully following guidelines from experts. In fact, the disease and its threat is transient. With the advent of vaccines, it is expected to be a thing of the past. However, the wellness and Ayurvedic therapies are to stay here for good, working its way towards the benefit of mankind.
The message was clear and concise. Kerala has been promoted as a very important and popular tourist destination ranking at par if not higher with many world-famous tourist spots. It looks like the fading gloom of pandemic threat has served as a canvas for portraying the brighter, blissful, and healthier side of my first trip 2021. And that is none other than my first trip to Kerala.
Ready to make Kerala my first wellness tourism choice
A trip to the land of Kerala is synonymous with wellness. The backwaters and the thick coconut groves would work wonders for your aesthetic side to bloom into a rapture of delight. The tea gardens of Munnar at the slope of hills are no less enticing. So are the Malabar hills and the dense forest cover which is home to diverse wildlife.
The visual treats are wonderfully blended with an investment in your health and happiness. Kerala has done it and with a meticulously researched industry it has combined travel with health in a big way. Given a choice between Kerala and other destinations, my first wellness tourism would certainly go with the former.
The resorts are designed with a lot of deliberation so that you can draw the most of the health benefits from their positional leverage. Mostly they sit with a circle of coconut trees around creating a natural perimeter of soothing vibe. You can get a full blast of the sea breeze should your resort be a seafront repository of tranquility.
A range of traditional therapies is available. They come from experienced and qualified therapists with a history of sound credentials. Spa treatments and body massage alone comes in a multifarious form and with multiple benefits. The entire package is carefully crafted to bring you out with a renewed and recharged mind and a feel of physical well-being.
You will see the incredible range of body oils for massaging, with the masseur’s magic touch how well they seep through your skin to do you a world of good. Coming to spas and floral baths, my first wellness tourism had a stunning impact by the assortment of herbs and flowers that go into the process.
How closer can you be to nature and all her fresh green feel than being coated with herbs and flowers? You feel the caress and it unwinds you. You feel refreshed and it reconnects you with yourself.
You may as well lie down on a beach on the Kerala coast with the shady groves around and the receding waves lapping at your toes! This is something sublime, it takes you far away from the city grind and the summer blaze. With some coconut water inside you feel rejuvenated and prepared to handle the toughest of times. You will willingly love to waste your time here!
Wellness resorts here are the pillars of Kerala tourism. These are collection points for revenue generation from tourism. The worth of these resorts is honestly matched with every tourist dollar. They offer a wise conglomerate of a relaxing vacation and a range of health therapies and wellness.
They are the goldmines of a trip to Kerala. The influencers of the visit Kerala campaign this summer have rightly put across the worth of these resorts before the world. They offer services to the tourists far beyond the normal hotelier- guest relationship.
Their kitchen cooks nutritious food, their sessions include yoga, meditation, and exercises having roots in the Ayurvedic school of thought.
Their spas and saunas are designed to give you the best value for money. All in all their entire service module is amazing and a lot of thought goes into it making it a seat of learning for developing your creative side, spiritual upliftment, and self-actualization.
The resorts are more than vacation rentals. They bring out your positive self that you didn’t know. They teach you to think and adapt to a healthier, better, and greener lifestyle that is so close to nature.
Few popular wellness resorts in Kerala
Mekosha Ayurveda Spa Suites Retreat
P.C. Mekosha.com
This is a very homely kind of wellness resort right in the heart of the capital, Trivandrum. Inaugurated in 2018 it sells Ayurvedic therapies and formal medical treatments of global quality. You have the service and close monitoring by experienced and qualified physicians.
Niraamaya Retreats, Kumarakom
P.C. Realtyplusmag
This refuge is located in an idyllic setting on the banks of Vembanad Lake. The place is exquisitely beautiful and nature has been generous in endowing it with lushness. Here you cherish a staycation experience in the lap of nature. A mix of service packages is offered which can be very flexible and customized to customer requirements. Some of the facilities include Yoga, sunset boat rides, cycling amid nature, duck feeding, and other traditional Ayurvedic therapies.
Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort
P.C. Somatheeram.in
This the oldest Ayurvedic village cum resort in Kerala and earns the distinguished title of ‘ the world’s first Ayurveda village which is also a resort ‘. Facilities offered include yoga, meditation, and Ayurvedic treatment. Amenities feature a combination of traditional and current paraphernalia.
Carnoustie Ayurveda and Wellness resort
P.C. globalspasonline.com
This property is located on Marari beach in the Alleppey district and has won many awards. The unique character here is they have a holistic approach to therapies. They offer an amazing blend of Ayurveda, Mantra, Yoga, and Naturopathy.
Villas are oceanfront and have a breathtaking view of the garden. These are luxury villas with private pools. This property has been ranked number one Ayurveda Spa and Wellness resort by the Geo Asia awards continuously from 2013 to 2018.
Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village
P.C. youtube vlog
They put sincere emphasis on Ayurvedic therapies. It is not that its competitors are casual. It has an edge over the others in matters of treatment. Nestled right in the middle of vast rice fields, it lies in absolute rustic solitude. They specialize in detoxification of the mind and body. You get farm-fresh vegetarian food and cigarettes and alcohol is a strict NO. A vacation at this resort would change your perception of life. You feel there is still a lot to contribute to yourself and society.
The travel buffs are just craving to step out. They haven’t been relishing the charm of travel for the past year. A lot of pent-up desire is brewing for release and accomplishment.
The covid-19 vaccine has been in circulation, and a lot of countries, some of them amazingly beautiful are lifting the tourism embargo. Experts exchange a very positive view favoring international travel that it would be as exciting as in the past without losing its massive appeal the least in the wake of the virus going on a rampage for the past year. There isn’t much to panic about if you carefully follow the summer vacation planning tips, you will have a big summer 2021 armed with dos and don’ts in the light of the coronavirus that has lashed out with its second wave.
There is some change however that the safety stipulations would be modified. Let us have a closer glimpse into this.
Travel rules are a little modified to incorporate new summer vacation planning ideas :
For public transports like aircraft, buses, trains the passengers are to compulsorily wear the face mask. This preventive step holds for the crowds in train stations, airports, and bus terminus.
Road trips aided by AAA Covid 19 maps:
For traveling by car some new rules of planning are seen. These commuters are advised to take help from AAA’s Covid 19 travel restriction maps and TripTik. AAA.com for the new changes that have come up. They indicate the motels, restaurants, gas stations, and hotels that remain operative in their travel route.
For summer 2021 trips being more informative is imperative
Planning summer holidays isn’t a new concept. Only this year you need to be a little more informative about regulations and help manuals released by the authorities to present you a gift of safe travel.
Check out whether the properties you plan a stay are operative
Summer vacation plan ideas cannot go without a thought on accommodation availability and the quality of overall stay. Many hotels have shut down for trimming variable expenses like power, which isn’t taken care of too well as there is no matching revenue from the business. It’s important to find out if they have opened.
Sanitization and social distancing in hotels
Other significant queries coming in would involve the steps they are taking to sanitize and put enough space between a guest and the other. Arrangements in bistros, bar, and amenities must ensure social distancing.
We see a similar situation with flight services. Operational status of flights, availability of food in flights, on-board sanitization, blocking the middle seat and the face mask protocols come under obvious customer probe.
Even with the cruise lines, it is needed to find out which ships have resumed sailing since many of them have suspended their operations.
After the pandemic era, the functional responsibilities of travel guides have multiplied. Your summer vacation planning tips should ensure that all the finer points of the trip rules are clearly explained by the guide.
Summer holiday destinations 2021 in the world are plenty. You need to evaluate their worth to you and this is where these agents play a key role. They guide you through your travel and it is just right for them to be in answering all the queries in the light of the following contexts:
Alternate travel insurance policies with their merits and demerits.
Decide on what’s hot in the market and their accessibility in the background of the pandemic.
Information on testing and quarantine protocols each country is having for the tourists.
To assist tourists with last-minute changes and see that they don’t panic and everything is taken care of smoothly.
If you have made up your mind for travel and have not been vaccinated yet, here are your summer vacation planning tips regarding vaccine requirements :
Let your body pick up the necessary protection before travel and that requires a wait period of 4-6 weeks of cushion between your second vaccine and the date of travel. This is according to the CDC guidelines.
As regards testing according to CDC recommendations a viral covid19 test to be taken between 1 and 3 days before you board. In case you have tested positive the question of travel doesn’t arise.
In case you are tested negative, you need to carry the report during travel. On your return a repeat test to be done between 3 to 5 days from the day you touch home soil. This is followed by a week-long self-quarantine even if you are tested negative. If you don’t have testing facilities self-quarantine extends to 10 days.
In planning summer holidays, road trips will likely take on major traffic
The new rules for American road trips 2021 would ask you to carry more face masks than one. Now that you are doing long distances in the car and staying overnight, masks need to be discarded after use over a reasonable time.
Limit your gas take to a quarter of your tank. Get acquainted with the road map for the availability of gas stations that aren’t shut down. However, your planning may have to be amended from time to time keeping it flexible enough to accommodate the local mandates. They could change when you cross over from one state to another.
The travelers would do better by getting coronavirus tests while driving through high-risk zones. One of the important summer vacation planning tips advice keeping in touch with Curative, having well over 10000 testing sites, and the Same day health for testing requirements when you are driving cross country. Health department websites exist to help you with open arms.
Summer vacation planning ideas would face a tricky and sensitive area of sanitization rules. It is practically impossible to be over cautious and start sanitizing every space you walk into including your own body parts. This is not only tiring and time-consuming, preoccupied with sanitization you will soon feel all your vacation fun gone.
What is recommended is hand hygiene and preferences for contactless check-ins and check-outs. One important summer vacation planning tip to note is that vaccination doesn’t absolve you of wearing the mask and doing away with social distancing norms. These rules to be stringently followed even if you are vaccinated.
The all-important and much-awaited vaccination passports – Will you get one? And when?
The joint vaccination passport for the EU has just been introduced for its 440 million population. The effort had been a closely monitored process which is itself a risky road dance bringing three distinct elements in focus. Sluggish vaccination drive and loss of business from prolonged lockdown and mobility embargo have been further worsened by social prejudice.
Among summer vacation planning tips acquisition of vaccination passports cannot be understated. Experts believe that electronic “green certificates” would come to the rescue of the failing tourism industry. This model would be hopefully exported to the US and other countries. But the digital passports are afraid to be issued too fast without taking proper stock of a complete and satisfactory vaccination process.
This is a major area of concern because the EU is rather slow in taking the vaccination process ahead. In comparison, the US is doing much better.
In a nutshell, the vaccination passports, whatever be their format, digital or hard documents, enable travelers with trustworthy evidence that they have been vaccinated.
That they have pulled around from the dreaded virus and have tested negative as per the fresh tests. The primary advantage of this passport is that travelers need not be bound by the quarantine mandates.
Travel restrictions for British and American tourists to the EU would be released provided the vaccines okayed by these two countries are also permitted by the EU. Meanwhile, the restrictions on British tourists are already lifted by Cyprus, Greece, and many other EU nations.
But the Americans are still not in the clear and the EU borders will be closed to them until the travel restrictions are completely dispensed with. This holds even for the Americans who got the shot. It will take some more time.
The spirit of a vaccine passport is to gain unrestricted movement within the continent of Europe in a safe, responsible, and trusted manner. The vaccine passport proposal would embrace a few non-EU States like Norway for their citizens to have freedom of travel throughout the continent. The pressure of this document would have 70 % of the adults get the shot or else the roadies would find their feet tied to shackles.
The vaccination passports do bring in the silver lining. Even the worst affected Spain and Greece are hoping much for a rush of tourists to their sunny beaches once the passport gets a full-fledged rollout.
All in all the notion of a vaccine passport would see an amended format of the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, also known as the Yellow Card which, in fact, is a WHO-approved document having the history of your inoculations since birth.
A lot of exercise on the search engine has revealed places top on the global bucket list once the vaccination covers all and the severity of the virus comes down. Out of the 131 countries, the most sought-after vacations are UAE, Qatar, the US, Canada, and Egypt.
If you break down the preferences continent-wise, in Europe the Maldives tops the list. In Asia, UAE ranks number one while Canada turns the most popular in North American travel. In South America, the charming Adean appeal of Peru rules. Now, these names are not to be taken as high preference unanimously applicable destinations. Individual globetrotters should weigh their feasibility and choice while finally deciding on their summer fairyland.
While planning for the summer holidays, how family-friendly would our selection be is an obvious factor. A vacation rental would be a safer choice over a normal hotel. The former offers more private space with other facilities like full kitchens and pools and game rooms.
Moreover, importantly they ensure an innate social distancing as there is hardly any contact with staff and other guests. The selection of summer hotspots is founded on the following yardsticks and arguably the most reliable family-friendly services of Airbnb:
The properties have provided ample outdoor space for the guest that automatically incorporates social distancing.
They rent out the entire home and that again puts a wall between you and the other guest.
Rental is wallet-friendly.
Ideal for families with several bedrooms and facilities that your kids would love.
The ratings of Airbnb are pretty high which is 4.88 and above that vouches for the quality of service.
You look for top summer holiday destinations 2021 in the world and there won’t be any Airbnb present is unthinkable. Here we go with the select destinations as revealed by the summer vacation planning tips as well:
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
It is right at the center of the Great Smoky Mountains National park and endowed with amazing natural beauty. Here you have access to skiing. Cabins are spacious with spectacular views of the mountain country. Amenities are complete with a gourmet kitchen with a socially distanced seating arrangement. An indoor climbing wall and a game room for children. A large private hot tub exists to keep you relaxed and insulated from any foreign contact.
Wedged between Santa Monica and Huntington Beach, this space is a dream for a family vacation. Oceanfront cottages welcome your family with enough facilities to keep your kids jump around with fun. This property strictly follows Airbnb’s enhanced clean program. This is a meticulously researched five-step cleaning program in close consultation and collaboration with health and hospitality professionals.
Richmond, Virginia
This is one awesome place perched on the lap of nature. Richmond is a unique break for rafting, historical attractions, and art. The best part of the entire trip is staying in a treehouse. Hammocks and other exciting paraphernalia make it a dream vacation for you. It follows the strict sanitization rules and not just a routine service. Airbnb’s enhanced, five-step clean programs are adhered to. It is a high-volt fun in the jungle with safety measures against virus infection completely kept at bay.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
This carries a strong western cowboy vibe and is a ranch town known for high-end skiing resorts. Fabulous chalets with large space and first-rate amenities wait for you. You can spend a memorable vacation here with your family. Spectacular panoramas across the valley keep you enchanted and a private hot tub keeps you unwind. There is enough social distancing inside and outside the property as it is just lush sprawling. When it comes to a clean program, chalets treat it as sacred as religion. Airbnb’s five-step clean program is strictly followed.
Summer holiday destinations 2021 in the world have massive Covid control measures on the rollout and Galveston, Texas is one. What makes it sensational is its white sandy beaches and crystal waters. This place offers a Historic Pleasure Pier all set for keeping you and your family a fun experience full of adrenaline rush. A 100 foot Galaxy Wheel is installed to give you a ride to remember for the rest of your life.
Clean beachfront homes are available. They are family-friendly providing you with an undistracted private space. Airbnb’s enhanced five-step clean programs are strictly adhered to.
The concept of travel bubble
Since you are all set for a trip, this summer vacation planning tip introduces the concept of a travel bubble. Also called the green corridor where two countries affected by similar Covid 19 infection rates partner together. The collaboration sets up a free channel of travel between the said countries in either direction allowing travelers a quarantine-free trip. We have examples here to cite.
Australia and New Zealand had formed such a partnership when both had very low Covid 19 infection rates. But things didn’t work out as Australia registered a spike compared to New Zealand. Travelers from New Zealand to Australia didn’t have to quarantine but the reverse was not true.
A travel bubble existed between the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania that merged into a quarantine-free bubble of Europe in May’2020.
It is prudent for travelers to know if your country is having a bubble with one or more countries. This knowledge could save you quarantine and of course, fourteen days of precious time and money drained out to sustain you those confined 14 days without enjoying the trip.
Summer vacation planning tips strongly advocate work and holiday combined. This was unthinkable prior to the pandemic assault.
Coronavirus transmission sped up when aided by thick crowds. The closer the distance between people higher was the infection rates. People were discouraged by mandates to work in the office. Work from home concept turned into a necessity, perhaps a blessing in disguise. Vacations and hotels shut down to the tourists.
But another opportunity came up for the hotels and resorts. To convert this opportunity into a reality, certain conditions needed to be taken care of. Larger spaces to be ensured between one guest and the other obeying social distancing norms. Thorough sanitization programs should be launched. If the above requirements are met, resorts can well convert into long-stay workstations minting money. The guest would check-in for a long stay with their laptops and phone so that they can work during the stay and earn. Two options were open. Stay confined at home and starve, covid19 may spare you. Be a little bold and visit a long-stay resort with ample natural scenery and space. Rest and relax and stay quarantined and work to earn a living. It will meet your resort bills, bring you the much-needed break amid nature and show you a way to invest in health and happiness.
While planning for the summer holidays this year it is prudent to look for workations. Of course, a laptop and phone are a must and in addition, if you feel some other device would help achieve your goals take them along!
A Grecian holiday is the perfect definition of the Mediterranean charm, and in summer the magic is even further heightened by the sun ushering in all its generosity and warm grace.
You have it all here under the bright azure sky, be it the pristine sandy sea coast, the vineyards full and ripe, and the wineries to give you the tastiest of wines. The remote destinations in Greece offer virgin beauty and many of them are fresh and clean and not crowded much by travelers’ footprints.
There are still many surprises to a Grecian summer holiday. The enchanting landscapes and its spectacular mountainous terrain will enthrall you as much as its gastronomic delights. Then you cannot write off its rich history and culture and an elaborate gallery of artworks and one of the most flamboyant architecture. The people are always merry and smiling and mean you a warm reception.
The hospitality comes straight from their core and all these incredibly wonderful features go a long way making this land washed by the sea on its southern part, a tourist’s dream destination. In fact, the quiet islands of Greece get you in a spell. They are a secret rendezvous with the god of beauty itself.
Summer confers upon the Grecian islands some added charm that is missed in other seasons. The right time to cherish the warm summer bliss starts from April and it runs for months until October when you would find the magic hasn’t faded a bit. Then of course with the winter approaching you have these islands bloom into a different definition of enchantment but certainly not what you get under a bright summer sky.
There is ample breeze fanning from the Mediterranean to cool off the sweat in case the hot summer sun wrings up a few beads. The secluded islands of Greece pack a lot of potentials and they are an ideal location for tourists desiring solitude and marvel combined.
Now we have had enough of the preamble, it is time to cut straight to the chase.
Santorini is stealing beauty by the Mediterranean sea. The beach sand is a long smooth carpet of black and red. It literally caresses your feet before you get a wash of the blue and foamy surf. The spectacular seascape from the beach itself gets you riveted with even bigger fun waiting once you get into the water. The bright and sunny sky above and the cool and pampering waters all around you give a feel that you recall for the rest of your life for its sheer rapture.
People have strong national pride and a unique character acquired from their classical heritage.
The hallmark of this exquisitely remote destination in Greece to visit this summer is the rows of whitewashed houses. This is an iconic architecture typically very Grecian and very Sartorinian to be precise. As if the sunshine and the white settlements are a perfect mix that gives the place a magic vibe.
There is more to Santorini than just the exotic beaches. Dormant volcanoes and pulsating nightlife are other attractions. That said, good food and the headiest of drinks add a whole new chapter to your summer Grecian holiday.
If the beaches and the sea and the silent white beachfront houses have fascinated you, a Santorini sunset is entirely a different story. It sets the sky in a surreal canvas! No, words aren’t enough, come along and see it for yourself !!
This large Grecian island is one of the most pronouncedly bewitching secluded islands in Greece. It is a complete package by itself for travel aficionados. Quaint little hamlets with their traditional charms would beckon you over and over again as much as the lush green valleys. This is a mountainous terrain with deep gorges and rugged landscapes. Crete’s edifices are known throughout the globe among tourist circles for their romantic connotations.
They have a distinct design philosophy and can fire a passionate medieval nostalgia. Sometimes it is purely Greek and sometimes it is an intricate mix of Greco – Roman style, nevertheless whatever display of monuments you are looking at, they are an absolute pleasure. A piece of frozen melody! The relics of a rich and refined civilization make Crete one of the most sought-after tourist hot spots in a Mediterranean vacation. When it comes to culinary delicacies, seafood rules with all the generous spread of olive and cheese.
This is a sprawling acre, full of ancient ruins, and takes you through a sojourn into another time manned by another culture. It is silent, and yet the imposing presence of the grand monuments is intensely felt. While watching the mammoth structures such as the Parthenon on the Acropolis you are transported in time. The trance is powerful and alluring and it takes a bit of loud diversion to bring you back to the current time. It is an archaeological site mounted atop a majestic piece of cornerstone making it one of the most frequented tourist attractions. Acropolis is as popular with the laymen as it is with historians and archaeologists. It is sunny and serene. The huge statue of Goddess Athena is awe-inspiring and somehow its enormous size accentuates your feeling of being right in the middle of an ancient and one of the most celebrated civilizations ever.
The unforgettable Shipwreck bay, Zakynthos, a breathtaking scenery
This is a marriage between the sea and the hills. High vertical cliffs overlook the Azure sea and a fall through a sheer drop of several hundred meters touching the white sand below. And finally rolling into the deep blue sea! From the top, it’s almost vertigo as it is a thrill as well as setting up your adrenaline on a wild race.
You name it, Zakynthos has it. From the mind-blowing beaches to exciting nightlife and from the sun, sea, and surf to its luxury cruises, it is truly a vacation planned in paradise. If you are looking for the most touristy remote destinations in Greece and if you have any appreciation for beauty, leave it to the amazing Zakynthos. It will do the rest. The place is madly popular but all of the travel is within sustainable tourism norms so that the nubile appeal is retained.
Also famed as the ‘ White Island ‘, Mykonos is one of the tiniest islands in the eastern Cyclades. Its cosmopolitan character makes it unique and much of the island’s revenue comes from tourism. Owing to the infertile ground and a dearth of irrigation water, there isn’t much choice left other than to depend heavily on the influx of travelers from abroad. A common sight typical to the island is the cruise ships moored at the pier just bordering the coastline. It has an efficient airways and ferry network with mainland Greece for its tourism significance.
Mykonos is the most happening and colorful island of Greece, a favorite haunt for young people looking for round-the-clock fun though older groups are as much welcome.
Some of the spellbinding tourist spots here on this beautiful island are the sunset from Little Venice and a wide-angled panorama from the windmills perched on the higher grounds.
It has all the elements to be one of the remote destinations in Greece to visit this summer. It is spiritual and quiet, miles away from the hustle and bustle. Meteora Monasteries are set in diversity. While the imposing structures are laid out along a high-altitude rocky bed, a view from the top gives you an astounding glimpse of the surrounding green belt. It is a rare setting where history, architecture, and divinity are all wonderfully blended in a crucible to invoke respect and spiritualism all of it directed towards a force supreme.
Epidaurus Theatre- a classic specimen of Greek architecture
This building is well conserved and well thought out while translating the blueprint to execution, maintaining harmony and aesthetics. The interiors are well laid out to give the best sound effects and to accommodate a large audience with the most fastidious having no room to grumble. The theatre has a splendid surrounding all thick with lush woods well-groomed. You can have a jaw-dropping glimpse of the valley far below which is another treat in its own right.
Summer shows are brilliant, the theatre stays packed staging a plethora of colorful stage shows many of which are from ancient Greek mythologies.
Kefalonia, the place of sandy coves and arid topography
If you are all out on a hunt for serenity and looking for some of the quieter islands in Greece, put Kefalonia in your bucket list without further delay or doubt. This beautiful destination sits on the Ionian sea and boasts of some of the most popular beaches. Its clear water washes the shores and landscapes offer a magnetic charm. The hamlets come straight out of a picture postcard. They throw a vibe of simple and unspoiled rustic life. The villages of Agia Efimia, Fiscardo and Assos are not to be missed. They are irresistible and in summer they bloom to their rustic best. The story of Kefalonia doesn’t end here unless the two cave lakes of Drogarati and Melissani are done. Their magic is incomparable.
This tranquil island is marked for its medieval value. The setting is enchanting and the beaches are lovely. The island ensures some private space where you are not troubled by distractions. This is one of the primary reasons why it is a lovers’ paradise. No one interferes and still, everyone proffers their helping hand. The beaches are very clean and organized. They remind you of being far from the madding crowd.
This island is located on the Northern Ionian sea. It has been the first to recognize its tourism potential and has been milking the revenue from travel since then. The resorts are highly developed suiting the needs of an ever-expanding crowd. However, growing tourism has never been a nuisance. All fronts are managed efficiently and with enough foresight and dedication to give the travelers value for every dime they spend.
Sunny Greece has always been in a globetrotter’s head. Now that the Covid pandemic imposing worldwide travel restrictions, there is a lot of constrained demand. Lift the flood gate and it will rush into a surge in inflow of tourists crowding the beaches and the monuments.
How far is Greece prepared for this? Are its borders still shut down for the tourists?
The country has certainly weighed out outcomes for chances of further tourism-triggered spike against loss of business.
Tourism has been one of its mainstays and the nation just cannot afford to sit back. There must be some action. Some major effort to guarantee safe travel into the country with necessary precautions and protocols keeping the crowd insulated from coronavirus.
Remote destinations in Greece place you right in the middle of a culture and art seasoned by the summer sun. It has indeed been seasoned well!
The nation has already started to press vaccination passports into a strict mandate to be rolled out soon.
Tourists who have been vaccinated against Covid will have a hassle-free entry. This holds for travelers having antibodies or been tested negative.
The bar has been lifted for the bordering nation of Israel. It can’t just afford to keep off the crowd and lose the summer Euro. Sanitization is in full swing covering restaurants, hotels, spas and public places. Facilities are touchless so far as feasible, the tourists reach out for the services and get them without physical contact.
It is typically a Mediterranean spread with a lot of olive oil, meat, seafood, bread, and cheese. The most food-friendly wine and music will keep you company along your gourmet adventure.
A typical Grecian food draws on Persian and Turkish influence and a lot of herbs go with the ritual to give it its a basic flavor. Oregano, basil, thyme, and fennel to name only a few which give the Grecian food so delectable taste!
Greek summer cuisine packs a punch! For the food lovers, there is quite a lot to celebrate on the table. Shrimp saganaki, dolmadakia , gemista, Mpriam simply stay with you long after they have conquered your palate. Wash them down with your favorite mead and wine. They are healthy and have been farmed, prepared, and bottled from the best of vineyards nurtured under a Grecian summer sun.
How do I get there?
Accessibility isn’t an issue at all. Getting from one island to the other and even plying across to mainland Greece you may avail of ferry service. If you make it a little private you can even charter a yacht. Optional flight services exist as well for getting to and from the mainland. Ferries come cheap and book it online at your leisure. Main Greek islands like Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu have an international flight network.
A phenomenon typical to the Northernmost part of the Northern Hemisphere also known as Aurora Borealis, named after the Roman goddess of dawn gives a surreal ambiance to the sky and everything in the vicinity.
This is a must-see and should be included in the bucket list of nature aficionados.
The interaction between highly charged electrons and atmospheric particles triggered by solar winds causes a riot of colors. They stupefy you with a spectacular vision across the sky. It is the glimpse of the paradise that you see that is nowhere else visible.
Every year a global rush to see the Northern Lights sweeps across the continents. As if you are having a secret rendezvous with the god himself and getting the sublime feel is a lifetime experience that is guaranteed. So folks keep traveling and make up for the lost time surrendered to lockdown banishment:
Although it is hard to pinpoint the exact coordinates of the Northern Lights, a few places faring better than others in terms of sightings are crowded by travel enthusiasts.
A lot of research goes on over the probable sites of visibility that prompts the hotels and resorts to arrange adequate tourist facilities promising a cosy stay. Besides Aurora Borealis forecasts come up and tourists are advised to keep in tune not to miss the heavenly glimpse.
•Best places to see Northern Lights :
Some of the classic Northern Lights viewing sites are right with a greater chance of sighting than other places in the far Northern latitudes :
Northern Lights can be viewed way better in locations with higher latitudes and Svalbard, Norway is ideally situated for a great view.
This is one of the most pronounced spot for Northern Lights, Europe attracting a massive influx of tourists for getting a vista of another spellbinding cosmic phenomenon- the Polar Night. Truly a sky gazers paradise Svalbard is an island with freezing cold temperatures set in the middle of the Arctic circle. The ideal to visit is between the months of November and February.
Between the months of mid November until the end of January this place is completely devoid of daylight turning it into a high probability zone for Northern Lights to catch your eye.
This is a really wild way of doing it, to see mystic lights from an Igloo with a see through roof . For a bonus you are lodged in a log cabin . Dream facilities include a sauna bath and a fire-place. The arrangement is very carefully conceived to give you a close to nature feel without foregoing even an iota of comfort level. Kakslauttanen Arctic resort is a head turner with plush amenities even here in remote habitat. Other fun- adventure includes skiing and reindeer safari amid the exotic Urho National Park. Russian border is close by and you can do it on a dog sled and get the traditional charm of the ride along the freezing cold terrain. You can even meet Santa at Koryatunturi and exchange greetings.
This had been a famous place in Sweden for the first ice hotel in the country was opened here. The Northern Lights visible from this quaint little village take the entire sojourn to a whole new dimension. In case if by some misfortune the famed Aurora Borealis doesn’t show up, there isn’t a reason to despair.
You can have a spectacular view of Sweden’s star studded sky from Esrange Space Center. Snowmobiles are available on hire for you to get around the place and enjoy it’s surreal ambiance.
The capital of Iceland, Reykjavik is easy to travel and consequently a very favourable destination for Aurora Borealis viewing. Attractions are at galore here other than the mysterious light at dusk phenomenon.
This is a fairyland and features amazing lakes, roaring volcanoes and the exquisite blue Ice. The famed geothermal spa called the Blue Lagoon is just on the route between Reykjavik city and the airport. The sky offers a brilliant canvas in the backdrop of a very different twilight zone that you will recall for the rest of your life.
Northern Lights Canada is a sensational phenomenon that drives tourists crazy with its sheer beauty. A greater portion of Canada is encompassed by the Aurora Oval which is a ring of light over the geomagnetic field of the earth at the North Pole. Chance of viewing Aurora Borealis is greater as a result.
Canadian provinces eclipsed by the Oval includes Yukon, Northern Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. A word of advice is to go for other attractions once you have viewed the Canadian Northern Lights. They include skiing while staying at fabulous skiing resorts, whale watching, braving the stiff mountains for the magnificent waterfalls and traveling the marvelous Canadian cities.
For Brits this is an easy access Aurora Borealis visual treat taking hardly any travel time or expenses for that matter. In the northern part of the country finding the magic of Northern Lights against a dark sky is quite possible. Apart from the celestial bliss Cairngorms and Aviemore National Parks hold a breathtaking charm for the tourists. Glenshee is a great treat as well considering its snowy marvel. Hiking , biking or nature walking whatever you think of doing this part of Scotland has it ready for you to explore.
Recommended months
It is difficult to forecast even with the latest meteorological gadgets and data the precise time when Aurora Borealis will be visible. It defies a timetable. The magic light is ‘ alive’ all round the year. During the summer days starting from April till August it is hard to locate for the glaring summer sun . The ideal time to spot the surreal light is from September to March of which emphasis may be put on Autumn months for beautiful weather conditions. However if you can brave the freezing cold and withstand the dark winter nights you have a lifetime of happiness. Northern Lights are not as magical as the colder months.
Northern Lights Canada :
Since Canada is a vast nation in terms of area and located in very high latitudes, Northern Lights in this large country is a much discussed subject with romantic connotations among tourists, geographical societies and enthusiastic aurora hunters.
One element definitely goes in favour of visibility of the Canadian Aurora Borealis apart from a rise in the latitudes is its pollution free environment. The best sightings are between October and March .
The night sky turns into a brilliant palette of colours with a beautiful blend of yellow, green and pink giving an alien glare to the even more mysterious sky. Here are some of the remarkable Canadian sites for viewing the Northern lights :
Come here during the winter and feel the extreme of the darkest and coldest of cold nights. That Northern Lights here is magical would be too weak a word to describe its charm. It is divinity glorified. As a bonus you can dip yourself in the Takhini hot pools and unwind. Whitehorse is a marvelous city , unique in its own charisma.
An observatory exists here called the Athabasca University Geographical Observatory which is a study centre exploring if Aurora Borealis generates a magnetic field. However this centre is not for public access. Take a trip around the boreal forest in snowshoe or cross country skis. It’s worth a visit . Even the south bank of the Athabasca river and Muskeg Creek trail have a powerful tourist appeal.
∆ Lake Superior, Ontario ( near Thunder Bay ) :
This super lake is wedged between the Canadian shield and vast water body, it’s Northern shore offering a stunning setting for gazing at the Northern Lights for hours with dumbfounded bewitchment. The Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is a strong temptation you are bound to yield to. From here you can get a mesmerising view of the night sky and it’s enthralling reflection caught in the crystal waters of Lake Superior directly below.
∆ Yellow knife, Northwest Territories :
This is simply the axial point directly below the Northern lights visibility in North America. A vast table land running along long stretches makes an uninterrupted viewing of the mystic lights . Moreover the precipitation is low on atmosphere making the sky crisp and clear. It lies in the auroral zone striking the maximum probability of viewing the aurora borealis. There are arrangements of jacuzzi in resorts , a lounge chair with temperature control or you can even see them while riding on a dog pulled sledge from Beck’s Kennels.
∆ Churchill, Manitoba :
Locational advantage of just beneath the Auroral Oval makes it a splendid Aurora Borealis viewing site. More surprises await your itinerary and the most commendable one is the Tundra Buggy which is a multi terrain transport that takes you across an amazing journey along Churchill’s Northern terrain . It is a once in a lifetime experience that offers a terrific view of the Northern lights. The trip may cross you paths with Canadian wildlife of which the chance of bumping into a polar bear is highly possible.
The renowned Northern Lights viewing spot in Alaska is the Fairbanks. The mode of viewing this miracle in the sky ranges from Yurt staying, heated aurorium cabin , dome or lodge . On the mobile mode you can have a glimpse of this great celestial phenomenon while riding a dog sledge or even while ice fishing or a snow cat tour. While sitting on a plane flying over the Arctic circle can also get you this million dollar spectacle.
The freezing winter chill and the clear sky is an ideal mix for the visibility of these lights and Alaska is very popular with the American tourists for the simple reason of its easy access and some great viewing.
The best time is March for viewing Northern Lights Alaska for those who are in a mood for an immediate visit. Have patience and wait till Spring, it’s hardly two months away !
Here goes the scientific reason :
Northern lights are at their dramatic best during the equinox months of March and September. The earth’s inclination at equinox relative to the sun brings up a condition where the earth’s magnetic field and the solar winds are in perfect concord.
This celestial effect together with the clear autumn and spring sky makes March and September the ideal months .
Dark and crystal sky at dusk is an indication for the tourists to see the Northern lights at this side of the world. Best sightings come by around midnight a study at the Geographical Institute has inferred this.
∆ Fairbanks :
Fairbanks which had been a sort of a legendary town in the days of gold-rush is the cynosure of frequent chance of Aurora Borealis viewing in Alaska.
Interesting destinations for the tourists are not far off. Cleary Summit is one place where you have enough car parking space and a brilliant view of the sky magic. Similar good Alaskan Northern Lights viewing sites are the Haystack mountain, Ester, Wickersham and Murphy Domes.
You can get reflections on the still waters of the Chena Lakes Recreation Area . The captivating sky with even more captivating riot of colours simply gets their image mirrored on the lake. There is a spacious wharf where you station your vehicle.
Other recreational activities include ice fishing and cross country skiing that sets your adrenaline racing with thrill. Some of the other places worth mentioning for the Alaskan Northern lights goes here :
∆ Coldfoot :
This was once a settlement for gold miners now turned into a very prominent Northern Lights viewing site hugely popular among Aurora hunters. This is a wild country in the Brook’s Mountain range area with spectacular panoramic views.
∆ Utqiagvik :
Northern Lights viewing has made this place popular as has the Inupiat Alaska Native culture. A visit to Inupiat Heritage Centre is worth taking for its educational value. The thrill and adventure of hunting the bowhead whales can be literally felt as it is vividly demonstrated by the staff.
∆ Wrangell- St Elias National Park :
This sprawling park covering about 13.2 million hectares is the largest protected reserve forest in the US.
Excellent lodges exist with comfortable staying arrangements. Northern Lights here are a dance of a myriad of colours that will take your breath away.
Outdoor adventure opportunities are plenty including white water rafting, glacier trekking and angling in Lake Tebay. It’s truly a wild and exciting fun chasing the heavenly lights.
•Prediction of NorthernLights spotting in Alaska :
Short term prediction of Northern Lights visibility is done at The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . The bureau has a facility, Space Weather Prediction Centre which is engaged in the job.
There are forecast apps too for travelers guiding them on the precise chance of viewing. A three day geomagnetic prediction is delivered by Solar Ham which gives a trustworthy data and direction to Aurora hunters.
The northern latitudes of the continent of Europe is the most coveted place on earth for viewing the greatest show on Earth in terms of natural sunlight and it’s brilliant hues that dance across a dark sky. Legend goes back to a conviction held by the sea faring Vikings that these mystic brilliance was sunlight mirrored off in captivating shades from the armour of Gods.
The age of the Vikings have been lost in history but the glorious sheen of the Northern Lights is very much alive. They can be seen, felt and absorbed with a lot of bliss preserved for us till this day.
Pitch black nights that don’t seem to end is typical to Northern European winters. In some European locations still over higher latitudes, there is no sunrise. The phenomenon is known as ‘ Polar Nights’
It is a very weird celestial feature that gets you spellbound and yet it’s lure is irresistible that Aurora Borealis hunters make a rush in the Nordic countries in Northern Europe between December and February.
Besides the Northern Lights, other activities that keep the crowd in hyperdrive are snowmobiling and dog sledding.
As to the timing of sightings, Aurora Borealis is hard to forecast, they can happen anytime.
The reason why people prefer the colder months is that the winter sky is darker, offering a better background for the colorful display of Northern Lights compared to other seasons when the sky is not so dark . Hence the contrasting background is absent to catch a better view .
Best North European countries offering fabulous Aurora Borealis
•Iceland :
The amazing country is within the Northern Lights belts being located at 65°N latitude.
The play of lights across the sky and above a spectacular landscape horizon would leave you agape. The scene is absolutely mind blowing ! The entire spectacle becomes even more betwitching owing to minimum light pollution and presence of a dark sky to give the effective contrast.
The Icelandic plains are vast helping you get an uninterrupted viewing of the eruption of colours against an inky sky.
The capital Reykjavik is a modern city with amenities and tourist friendly. Fjords and dark sand beaches are an added bonus.
Norway :
This Nordic nation makes for an excellent aurora borealis spotting zone in winter against a dark sky. Now this magic does happen in all the parts of Norway given its vast area. You need to know the exact location of viewing before leaving for Norway.
Various options exist, you can traverse the Norwegian villages to have a satisfying glimpse of the show. An alternate is to take a cruise in the sea and view the coveted greatest light show on earth.
Tromso is a place that gets a long stretch of polar nights in winter and consequently a prolonged dark sky to bring the Aurora Borealis glory in vivid colours.
Other notable Aurora sighting locations in the country are Lofoten Islands, Kirkenes, Svalbard and Nordkapp. They all hold you taut with the mind-blowing colour show against a dark sky.
This Northern Lights viewing zone in Europe spreads across a part of Finland and a part of Sweden bounded by the Arctic circle.
Primary conditions are all set for you to achieve an amazing view of the Northern lights here. Light pollution is minimal, winter sky is dark enough and solar activity is at its best. All these factors blend together to bring out the best display in the sky .
•The Isle of the Skye, Scotland:
Now that the North Pole is in its immediate vicinity, Scotland offers a great location for having an enchanting view of the Northern Lights. It is worth mentioning the Isle of the Skye offers nine dark sky discovery spots for stargazing buffs together with the dance of the mystic lights. Put Glendale beach in your top priority bucket list. Between December and February it could be one of the best places on earth you have made. Wrap up in linens and mugs of English tea could do the rest. You can get some terrific Scotch Whisky from Talisker, the oldest functioning distillery in Skye. Lot more surprises await you as you bump into archeological finds. Dinosaur footprints are carefully conserved for you to see in An Corran beach in Staffin.
Dalgona coffee rocked in lock-down, a hot-spiked revelation amid testing times. How about getting further insights into exotic and top quality brews through coffee tourism where every sip instills fresh vigor? Yes, coffee addicts care a darn paying $35-$100 for a cup worth a sip!
You enjoy coffee while on a trip but not the other way round , perhaps you don’t travel for coffee! It might have never struck your mind. Beaches, mountains and other exotic landscapes beckon but yes coffee tourism destinations arrest as well. Just reset your mind and your travel lens and you can be in another world demanding a revisit to your idea of holidaying .
It is no wonder people drink a few billion cups of this beverage everyday! Amazing is the worldwide demand of those tiny brown beans and awesome is the power they pack in. Cappuccino, mocha, latte whichever name you call, the flavor is captivating and hard to get over.
Well, it was a very humble start for coffee to make it to new heights of farming and processing as of now. Take it with milk or without it, sip it raw and sugar-free or add a spoonful, frothing hot or iced, the impact unfolds new surprises every time. The beans had been through an ever-expanding market cornering major shares in consumer preference. Its appeal has been immense cutting across cultural and language barriers.
Coffee tourism – A first rate expedition
Do you know coffee is linked with the volcano? Volcanic soil is ideal for growth. Coffee being a mountain plant, the elevation of volcanic terrain helps it survive well . Heavy rain is essential yet the plant shouldn’t get waterlogged. Conical summits interact with moisture-laden passing clouds. The rock and cloud contact brings in heavy precipitation.
Mountain slopes (the ideal gradient is around 15°) drain off the water. Drainage is an important condition for coffee plants to thrive. A mountain slope assures that. Coffee also grows in other terrains but volcanic soil suits it the best. The irony here is the best farming areas keep the plants under constant threat from eruptions and flowing hot lava.
Zeroing in on the best coffee growing regions, they are all located in areas prone to volcanic eruptions. This list is however not exhaustive:
Country Volcanoes
Ethiopia Erte Ale, Nabro, Tat Ali
Japan Fuji, Asama, Ontake
Indonesia Krakatoa, Merapi, Sinabung
Costa Rica Arenal, Irazu, Poas
Brazil Nova Iguacu, Trindade
Colombia Nevado Del Ruiz, Galeras
Sweden Rallate, Gallabjar, Knosen
Turkey Ararat, Hasan Dagi, Nemrut
Tanzania Kilimanjaro, Ol Doinyo Lengai
India Deccan plateau made up of
volcanic soil
People are into coffee tourism, you might be missing it
The term is elaborated in the Collins Dictionary as a “Tourism which involves visiting countries where coffee is grown and tasting different types of coffee or just concentrating on consuming different coffees in countries renowned for its production and consumption”.
Coffee tourism is gaining popularity especially in Asia and Latin America with coffee farm hotels and home-stays churning up good business. Many coffee farms are offering tourism with a dual-pronged intent : assure a source of size-able revenue earnings and to build a brand.
Since modern-day travelers are taking interest in authentic tourism experience, coffee tourism is a great way into the lush coffee country. Coffee tourism goes beyond the buyer and seller relationship. The guest feedback and suggestions are important tools to improve quality that ultimately cements the bonding with customers improving the brand image.
Whether all these tourism ingredients add to the sustainability of coffee farms is debatable. But well-managed coffee farm tourism can create jobs and contribute to community development.
The journey from volcanic Ethiopian soil is a great history; the route had not been exactly a unilateral win-win channel of consumer acceptance. Coffee, the black beverage has collected assorted opinions from occasional consumers to connoisseurs.
Unfortunately, it earned negative marks too. Accusations come from medics that it causes a spike in blood pressure.
The anti-doping watchdogs from the world of sports level another set of allegations. Brewed beans are latent performance boosters. It can finish an athlete’s career! For a coffee addict, these slurs are not enough to kick the habit. The system won’t simply respond for the day without downing a cup of the bitter drink, the least to go with. Defamation of the beans has been far outweighed by its huge esteem and each cup of joy it brings.
Drinking coffee socially can reach you lengths in the discussion, drifting from politics to world economic policies. From weather to soccer and from nuances of art to wonders of modern hi-tech gizmos, the beverage helps you fight your arguments and deliver your judgment. Crafting the perfect cup from perfectly roasted beans is a treat before you. It can fetch you all the bliss you can think of.
Coffee trail
Coffee culture and the destinations
Coffee and its consumption have a substantial cultural involvement manifested in diverse expressions and ruling memes driving nations crazy. It has gone deep into traditional values across the world and coffee tourism could take you places of origin of these magic beans. Destinations known for cultivation are themselves known for exquisite scenic appeal.
Here we go with a virtual exploration of coffee countries:
Bonga Coffee town, Ethiopia
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The first country to farm coffee, the homeland of Arabica strain the beans have a unique flavor. In fact, if you travel in Ethiopia, the volcanic plateaus would enthrall you. The country is mostly land locked within the Great Rift Valley. Here lies a coffee town called Bonga, a quaint little place with beautiful coffee gardens. Bonga is also known for its wild honey and wonderful panorama.
An enchanting place is the hamlet of Sidano perched atop an elevation of 1900 meters above sea level that would fascinate you. The Ethiopian countryside has its own charm very distinct from the rest of the world. It is very African in its own way although much of it is hot and arid.
Encounter with wildlife is possible, Ethiopian wolfs, wild dogs and elephants are a source of tourist attraction. Hamars and Mursis are the chief ethnic tribes among others. They have a strangely appealing culture in which body art and lip piercing is an important feature. How about watching a Mursi dance over a mug of locally brewed coffee? Take a flight to Addis Ababa and then into the interior exploring the country with a licensed travel guide. You won’t regret the trip even if it appears treacherous at any point.
Kopi Luwak, Indonesia producing the most expensive coffee, 5th largest exporter of coffee in the world
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You enjoy resplendent beaches, infinity pools, cruise flanked by rain-forests , the magnificent Borobudur Stupa and also get to taste the most expensive coffee, $35-$100 a cup. The eastern corner of Java is noted for wet-hulled coffee estates. These are vast and photographic. In fact today Java is a universal term for coffee and those farmed in the Island have a rich and strong aroma.
Heavy bodied beans come with a sweet chocolaty taste, the specialty Indonesian coffee known as ‘ Kopi Luwak ‘ is one of the most expensive breeds in the world. What is more interesting is, it is the defecated output of the Asian palm civet. This makes it more expensive than others. Kopi Luwak is also known as ‘civet coffee’.
The ingested and partially digested coffee cherries come out with civet poop. While passing through the digestive canal, the cherries are fermented by specific enzymes that add to its flavor. The defecated cherries are picked, processed and marketed worldwide. Be ready to shell out $100-$600 for a pound. Coffee producers here have been claiming for generations that this process creates the best coffee flavor in the world!
Set out for a coffee trek in Sumatra, Bali and Sulawesi. The landscape would enthrall you as would the fuming brew. The yummy combination of skewered satay and coffee would do well to get along with a live show of Serimpi, the signature Javanese dance ritual.
Other notable coffee tourism destinations in Indonesia are Takengon, Lampung, Ambarawa (Banaran Kopi Village), Bali, Toraja, Manggarai, Wamena, etc. Indonesia has been putting in its best foot forward to promote indigenous coffee culture in different tourism fairs all over the world.
Vietnam
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Vietnam has recently made her presence strongly felt in the global coffee market. Coffee with condensed milk is a Vietnamese treat you would remember for the rest of your life. Most of the coffee is grown in the Central Highlands contributing to the inflow of foreign exchange. Coffee culture in Vietnam revolves around the bold Robusta flavor.
Take a trip to Da Lat, it is a mountain retreat with breathtaking scenic spots and cool climate. Spectacular lakes, dense greenery, thrilling treks, splendid waterfalls, beautiful flower gardens and last but not the least the roof top and train cafes will keep you absorbed in the hot frothing cuppa you were looking for.
Da Lat is known for coffee gardens. You can have an educational coffee tour here, sample coffee and learn farming methods. Strains are countless and they taste delicious. Vietnamese iced coffee called Ca’phe’ da’ is thoroughly worth sipping.
Though coffee was introduced in Vietnam by the French, the country has earned the fame of creating some specialist Vietnamese coffee like egg coffee prepared with egg yolks, smoothie coffee with bananas and avocados, yoghurt coffee, coconut coffee and the classic Vietnamese drip.
Brazil
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Brazilian coffee has earned a dominant position in the global market. Brazilians are regular coffee drinkers and consume coffee any time of the day. Cafezinho is the most common type consumed and people prefer drinking it very hot in small cups.
A trip to Brazil is always a highly desired tourist preference. Not only the seductive beaches and the daring Amazon navigation, but the Brazilian cuppa would add to the sweeping Latin charm. Passion for soccer and week-long carnivals are equaled by the nation’s wild penchant for music and some top-grade coffee.
The frenzy is viral and it infects the tourists who happily yield to the craze. If you are looking for premium coffee don’t miss visiting Sul de Minas and Cerrado de Minas, only a 5 hours car ride from Sao Paulo or Rio De Janeiro. All along, the ride takes you through a verdant outdoor landscape.
The local plantations offer sampling freshly brewed Brazilian coffee. Guides are on deck for you to give you a clear and detailed picture on the history of coffee grown here. You get to know about means of farming and tricks of handling a complex supply chain making it hassle-free . The endeavor is channeled along a route in which future of the beans is bound. They will guide you to the best coffee picks at cut back prices.
Costa Rica
You name it, Costa Rica has it. From rolling beaches of white sand to tropical jungles and from yoga sanctums to organized mountain treks, Costa Rica is endowed with all the bounties of nature making it a tourist’s paradise. If you are a true blue cafephile, the Costa Rican trip would offer you the much-coveted cup full of fire-roasted beverage.
Some of the ruling coffee bowls include Valle Central and Tres Rios hardly any distance away from International San Jose Airport. It is strongly recommended you go adventurous exploring the farms in Brunca, Orosi, Guancaste, Valle Occidental, Turrialba and Tarrazu.
Produce from these estates have a universally trendy flavor with a coffee house classic lemony tang. Beans pass through an acid test making selection process passionate and fastidious. The country has a broad spectrum of weather and terrain profiles. Each is capable of producing coffee with characters diverse and sharp cut. Costa Rican coffee tours are tailored and quite easy to reserve.
India
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Indian coffee estates are located in the southern half of the peninsula known as the Deccan plateau. Particularly Coorg, in the state of Karnataka is the hub of coffee production. It features scenic places, lush forests, waterfalls and rolling acres of coffee plantations. Coffee farms and homestays and the unmatched Coorgi hospitality make a unique blend.
Roughly four hours drive from Bangaluru International Airport, you cross Madikeri to reach the splendid coffee farms spread over several kilometres. If you are lucky, you will enjoy the soothing aroma of blooming coffee flowers all along the drive to coffee farms.
Coorg gets heavy showers and it is green with rain-forests. Coffee grows here under cool and green shade. A visit to coffee estate called Flying Squirrel owned by Indian professional tennis player Rohan Bopanna would be a good idea. His estate’s master blend coffee processed from smooth beans tastes delicious.
Turkey
This country bordering on a mix of Middle Eastern and European customs has been a great admirer of coffee. Coffee house culture and backgammon boards keep the Turkish souks live with high energy. Spirited conversation over nargile (smoking Hookas )and coffee is an important part of the Turkish way of life, relaxed and complacent.
Turks love to talk and that can go to great lengths even in the most unpredictable callings. Coffee fuels conversation and cupfulls are consumed with undiminished gusto.
The long tradition of Turkish coffee culture has bred countless customs traced back to the elegant functions of the Ottoman courts. Amazing facts come up ,it takes forty coffee makers to make a brew for the Sultan. Little does it surprise us to learn that a Turkish female is selected as a bride based on her coffee-making skills. Failure to brew a perfect cup would lead to a break up as well.
Turkish coffee is not a drink to be sipped slowly rather it is gulped down in a few short slurps. Later the thick dark slimy leftover is put on the plate to draw fate lines of co drinkers. Which way their wheel of fortune turns could be as sweet or bitter as the beverage itself .
Turkish coffee tasting tours and learning the tricks of a perfect Turkish brew are popular among overseas travelers. The guided tours are highly interesting and educative. They take you to famous Turkish coffee houses.
Japan
When the Japanese refer to the first wave, in the instant coffee era, Kissatens were what they usually meant. Those were local coffee bars introduced much before the western Cafe culture had started growing roots into the nation’s beverage consumption profile. Coffee helped people get social connect.
In the early 20th century, the launch of Kissatens in Japan was a route to an outlandish cult seen with suspicion. Hanging around geisha houses or tipping a waiter would receive a similar social response. Today, however, cafe culture has won a new height of respect in the country. It is considered a habit in good taste and creative values that predates the influx of commercial networks.
Amid the exotic origami or mingei decor, coffee is prepared cup by cup with carefully studied pour over (frequently a funnel is applied). The domestic concoction (buendo kohli) is a deep roast, offered in a frail-looking tiny cup, invariably with a cute little saucer to go with, teaspoon and a pint-sized pitcher of cream that precisely takes in enough to make your single-serving match the exact tone of deep buff.
Jun Kissa, a unique style of having coffee in special places (cafes) evolved after the war and still appeals the young generation. The added nostalgic flavor perhaps enhances the coffee drinking experience. Coffee may not be the traditional beverage in this country, but it has gained more acceptances leading to innovations in the drink.
Columbia
There is more to this beautiful country than narcotic bosses and underworld warlords.
Columbia produces some of the finest coffee in the world and traveling to this country is absolutely safe. No big cheese would ever poke his nose they are far too busy tied up in their own business. Regions of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindio known as coffee triangle presents guided tours to coffee plantations.
Sampling and exploring the farms are definitely value-adding and you can take an extended ramble to the picturesque Valle Cocora. Cloud forests ending in sheer drops into the Pacific Ocean and wax palm plantation are intensely gripping. Hot springs of Santa Rosa del Cabal and the city of Salento with a clear outline of majestic mountains are fascinating in one word! Good hotels are around and it takes a rough 5 hours ride from Medellin to make it to the triangle.
Sweden
Did you know Swedes are the heaviest coffee drinkers only to be beaten by the caffeine freaks, the Finnish consumers? Drinking coffee is favorite pastime among Swedes and coffee time is a compulsory break. They have a name to it and call it ‘ Fika ‘ which connotes relaxed hours relished over coffee in the company of friends and close acquaintances. Usually, sweet cinnamon bread rolls go with coffee.
This was a beverage, a prerogative of the elite society back in the late 18th century. Coffee and pastry houses called Kaffeehus and Konditon were in vogue. Stockholm, Gotenburg and Malmo are dotted with coffee houses. Some of the top-notch Scandinavian coffee joints are here. Swedes are as proud as punch about their top grade coffee shops and state of the art brewing methods. Drinking coffee is a big time socialization among Swedes.
Dos and don’ts in coffee tourism
Whether you visit a coffee farm or enjoy the special coffee drinking culture in cafes and bistros, you need to be aware of specifically permitted practices to make your coffee tourism memorable.
Study about the coffee culture of a particular coffee tourism destination before the visit. Know the etiquettes like how to hold the cup and drinking process and follow it accordingly.
Check the weather condition of the place and coffee harvesting season.
Know the details beforehand from your travel booking agency or the guide before setting out for the trip.
Strictly follow the rules and regulations while you are on the trail.
Take interest in every detail right from coffee bean harvesting, picking, packaging and grounding.
Take part in coffee-making classes wherever possible. You will enjoy it more.
Put on suitable clothing while venturing into the farm to prevent insect bites.
Buy local produce to support the local community.
Do not touch coffee beans or pluck flowers without any permission
Take care not to spoil the natural environment by littering it with plastics and other garbage. You may end up paying heavy fines.
Do not disturb the locals busy plucking. If you want to be a part of the bean plucking process, take necessary permission.
The sands of Rajasthan must have something special, the rugged countryside and hostile climate in some way have a role in toughening up Rajput mettle.
No other Indian state features a desert, the eastern most extension of the world’s largest arid region stops here. No- where else palaces are so elegant, a lot of them have been turned into star hotels though. Contacted a travel agent and planned a trip to Jodhpur .
The impressive Mehrangarh , itstowers looming over the Blue City of Jodhpur offered a fine view . Around Mehrangarh’s base , the old city a clutter of blue cubes , extends to 10 km . It is the 16th century city wall. The name Blue city looks appropriate ! Most of the buildings here are painted blue. The city has a web of winding old streets.
They are the most mysterious walkways ever and beat your wit so much as to put you at places you have never imagined to be. Drift of aromas good and bad included fresh flowers, burning incense sticks and stopped up drains. Shops sell everything from trumpets and temple decorations to snuff and brocade.
Antiques are in plenty, the range of smoking hookas alone would leave you agape. The modern part of Jodhpur is just a fraction of a medieval city where high walled forts echo life connected with valor and legends born to be remembered by generations.
The city is a blend of history , art and cultural milestones impressing the visiting tourists. A popular hub,vibrant with life that would continue to be a source of making a living out of tourism for some .And a place of cultural passage for many . The western part of the city like Navchokiya, is more scenic . Rubble-strewn landscape seamlessly meeting limits of vision and relatively scanty crowd set you in a detachment from the mundane world.
We traveled through the Jodhpur city over a 4 day vacation covering the following:
Mehrangarh
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The construction materials were mined from the rock quarries close by. Administration of Mehrangarh is with the Royal family and the fort is rich in history. We entered the fort , spellbound by its sheer size and splendor. Very few trips can be as informative probing into the lives of Rajput kings.
Our guide spoke with authority and held us in rapt attention. From the Fort itself, the Blue City was clearly visible, a vista unparalleled and enchanting .Moving sea of tourists moved in and out. Plainly amazed at the architectural excellence echoed off every pillar and stone their cameras clicked non stop .
Mehrangarh Museum
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Moving on, I stopped at the Fort museum enclosed within the palace. The muddle of courtyards and halls had delicately carved stone work with stunning symmetry ending at sharp edges.The artwork was more like done in soft wood than in sandstone.
The exhibition centers at Srinagar Chowk (Anointment Courtyard) offered exquisite collection of ” Howdahs”(the seat on an elephant’s back ) and Jodhpur’s royal palanquin collection. The mode of transport was in tune with the status of people they carried. Those with blue blood lineage enjoyed luxury rides.
Mandore Gardens:
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Mandore, located 10 km north was the capital of Marwar before its strategic importance shifted to Jodhpur. Rock terraces and sacred edifices added to the beauty of the garden where troops of langurs went monkeying around. The garden is a graceful combination of patches of green and temples were chiseled with intricate design.
Dark red monoliths of Jodhpur rulers were installed. They watch in silence, their glance held the posterity who stared back at the statues with awe. Sometimes words aimed at statues come with a hint of ridicule as it was a mixed crowd of tourists with diverse taste and humor. A rickshaw ride to the Mandore gardens from Jodhpur center takes around ₹ 300. The ornate temples carry statues of human and animals in congress. What is obscene could be interpreted as a valuable piece of art. Strange are the ways the human mind works and stranger are the benchmark for a fair evaluation. The garden features a museum too; it is unique in its own way so far Rajput cultural sides are in spotlight.
Guides explained heirlooms and images in a non stop litany, keeping the visitors engrossed. It is a habit, turned resident in their streak,they can recite it anytime anywhere blindfolded.Continuous rehearsals never fail them in their profession.
Waterways along parts of the garden have been turned into morass of synthetic reeds making them favorite haunt of water birds, glowing bee eaters and buzzing dragon flies.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
PC tajhotels.com Umaid Bhawan palace had received a major coverage in my travel agents recommendation, so it is not to be missed. But the tourist’s access is restricted to only a part of the palace, a portion of it is the residence of the Royal family. A part has been converted into a hotel. We visited the palace and were bemused by its luxury.Fleet of vintage cars used by the Royal family was nice to watch. Machines from yesteryear’s stood in silence only to roar and take off at the turn of an ignition key.
Gaj Singh II resides in part of the hilltop palace, erected in 1929 for Maharaja Umaid Singh. Designed by the British architect Henry Lanchester, 3000 workers toiled for 15 years to finish the project. Project cost ran into ₹11 million. This magnificent edifice has more than 300 living rooms. A museum adjacent to the site looked interesting. It was an elucidating trip around a photo and artwork gallery.
What fascinated me most was an amazing collection of antique clocks. They have stopped breathing but continue to enchant the visitors with precision design details.
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park:
PC inspirocks
This 72 hectare open land, ideal for ecotourism and perched in the slope of Mehrangarh is a nice example of conservation of flora and fauna. Rich in biodiversity, the park carries numerous trails made by travelers and animals. Devkund Lake, a prime spot in the park is very popular, crowded with tourists for bird watching.
Besides migratory birds, a variety of reptiles and butterflies keep wildlife buffs occupied. We made it to the park when the sunlight was still soft. Our local guide was resourceful with good credentials. But we could not spot any animal. Otherwise, the park safari was exciting.
Absence of animal encounter was not frustrating at all as the guide kept us occupied with equally riveting eerie tales bordering on the supernatural. His stories were real and in desolate sands of Jodha Desert Rock as was claimed by him, you face strange incidents that do not offer an explanation.
Here stones whisper and winds throw up fire, air turns thick and uncanny feelings take over. To an atheist, the validity of such stories is open to question. But his tone of delivery at the fall of dusk,separated the spectral and the natural world by only a weak barrier. The region is a bed of 600 million years old volcanic rocks; it is all barren although not entirely void of life.
Jaswant Thada : Overlooking a lake stands a marble tomb in tribute to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Just 1 km northeast of Mehrangarh, it is a showy masterpiece. A peaceful deviation from the bustling city rush that offered a fabulous glimpse of Rajput art. The monument was built back in 1899 featuring sculpted marble fretwork. The interior displays a row of oil on canvas. Portraits of Rathore Kings stare at you whatever angle you stand. You cannot escape their gaze.
This feeling mounts whenever you are alone in a one to one eye lock. The inside is immaculately conserved as you probe deeper into design, the magic turns more fascinating. It was unfolding slowly. The building is complete with antiquity and allows a breathtaking vista of the city through arched windows.
But something was amiss I could not figure out what it was. Then it popped in a wink. It was the portrait of Queens. There wasn’t a single female portrait. Was the route to Sati pyre easier than making it to the photo frame through a bureaucracy of male approvals?
Clock Tower The famous Clock Tower had come a long way over a century since it was built. It is a unique location and talked about so often by pedestrians, cab drivers and two wheeler riders making it an important reference point in the city’s map.
Located close to the Sardar Market, the Clock Tower is a meeting place, its air a mixture of whiff, sound and glimpses of life pouring in and out of the market itself. On the way to clock tower, a line of sweet shops drew men and animals. While men paid, the cows were fed free as a token of charity.
Milk, the main ingredient can turn so tasty you won’t believe. Churned for hours in large cauldrons sitting on low fire frothy hot milk turns light saffron giving off sweetened rich flavor. Milk and sweets were sold on a frenetic pace. Sellers were happy with cash flow and buyers were happy as if they have just had ambrosia straight from heaven.
The market had gateways forming an arch, another signature design motif of Rajput architecture. From here, the twisty and broken roads radiate out in all directions reaching most of the landmarks of the Blue City. We moved west and reached a trading hub featuring separate sections for vegetables, spices, tobacco, utensils, wood , brass crafts and jewelry.
People young and old were busy in a potpourri of engagements. Some were too young, toddlers on an apprenticeship to the skills of walking. Some were way too old, wrinkles around eyebrows marking the number of years they have lived past. Strange flavor of water filtered tobacco smoke from hookkas filled the air. Long leisurely pull on the pipe and the facial wrinkles folded deeper into flesh !
Toorji Ka Jhalra Located within a walking distance from the Clock Tower lies an ancient step well locally known as Baori or Jalra. Communal bathing formed a part of social custom as revealed by archaeological digs in many ancient civilizations.
Toorji Ka Jhalra however met irrigation needs here, fed by water aided by gravity along stone launders. Legend goes the ruler had decided to move the capital to higher altitude on hills fearing enemy attack. A curse fell warning famine, following shifting of capital. The need for a water reservoir to water the crops seemed necessary.
This architectural wonder had been a site of sheer neglect and used as a garbage disposal yard for years. Only recently it has received attention, renovated and turned into a tourist attraction. Toor ji ki Jalra is a visual treat today, we spent long hours in a cafe here gaping at the geometry. What a gifted mind can think of such a design and what hard toil can execute the physical part with meticulous wrap ! The coordination within the team must be perfect.
Fateh Pol This super gate stands south-western side of Mehrangar Fort. It was erected by Maharaja Ajit Singh to celebrate victory over the Mughals. We approached Fateh Pol from Navchokiya side to avoid crowd. Once elephants stood guard at the gate.
They were the trusted giants who you cannot bribe to make an entry. Fateh Pol gate is impregnable, a reliable protection to residents inside. Here we had delicious paranthas and saabzi to sustain further travel for the day.
Chamundaji Temple
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A temple of goddess Durga Maa enclosed Her idol, the image is in all wrath , here the feminine force of shakti is immensely revered . It becomes a little hard to accept the same cult promoting burning of sati with her dead man on pyre. May be there are higher truths in life that make physical pain look insignificant ! However, life is more complex and its equations often contradict with what is apparently logical.
The temple yard was thick with tourists, Indians and foreigners enchanted by sublime overtones. Participation in chants obsessed the enthusiastic foreign tourists and entrance to the temple had a male – female divide for darshan.
Jodhpur camp sites
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The best part was the last part and it was the popular Jodpur desert safari. We did it in Osian desert campsite, a night spent in a tent. It was a different kind of feeling in general and calling it just amazing won’t be a fair description.
Call it touching a congruence where exploring self finds an extension into wandering the vast ocean of barren nature. It is so vast that you and your pad are only a small micron of existence.
The evening camel ride in the dunes added to a new kind of feel. Had no previous experience of riding humped transporters fueled by super endurance. Unfortunately most of the dunes were gone, still whatever remained could hold you back for eternity.
Camps were complete with communal kitchen, toilet and a reception desk, tourist’s needs were answered well. Cabins and caravans were other staying options. Facilities included wifi connection too.
Sunset was spectacular and even stronger was the spell of folk music played under a starry night. Traditional musical instruments and the passion-driven high pitched tune were a source of bread in the backdrop of terrain, challenging and sterile.
Ambiance somewhat resembled a stage set from the Thuggee days except for the horrible curtain drop. It was just a thought in a flash. Nothing serious and nothing threatening. Folk singers performed late into night followed by candlelight sumptuous Rajasthani dinner .
The conflict of political interests had spewed venom, but not enough of it to make this beautiful country accept defeat. Neither could Covid 19 pandemic. Vietnam with one of the least infected cases in the world and zero mortality till today when the write up is being created has started easing social restrictions from 23rd April. Many sites of attraction have opened or are about to reopen. There might be some entry restrictions allowing a fixed number of tourist footfalls per day to avoid any new surge of infections. This would be the new normal for every tourist destinations and is likely to stay for the next couple of years or so.
Non-essential services have also opened barring the discos and parlours. Although international flight operations are yet to resume, vacationers can plan in advance to visit this country after lifting of international travel restrictions.
A mountainous terrain sharing borders with China, Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam had its blueprint drawn up in heaven no doubt. Tourism in Vietnam saw record highs last year with a 20% rise in foreign tourists.
I was fortunate enough to get hooked on a 4 days tour package. From what I could gather tourism here is undergoing a massive transformation. What attracted me most is the beautiful fusion of Western offerings with authentic Asian aesthetics. This is what I have been looking for since long! Sand and sea continue to be huge crowd pullers. If you are looking for a luxe touch, recent developments will give you the feel.
Arrived at
Noi Bai International airport, Hanoi and met the cab driver holding a sign
with my name on it. The cab was fine but a little cramped without much luggage
space to boot. He had packed the car with his chattels and drove me to the
hotel.
Day 1:
P.C. hanoifreelocaltours
My first visit was to Ho Chi Minh Complex, a place of social gathering. Vietnamese people pay respect to Uncle Ho, the founder of the Vietnamese communist party. It’s almost a pilgrimage attended with fervor. The complex is captivating with prim garden, memorials, pagodas and their elegance making a lasting impression on the mind.
The house
where he stayed is a typical traditional Viet living unit raised on
stilts; a simple structure reflecting modest lifestyle. This house has a garden
and a small tidy pool where a koi family swims in grace. In the complex stands
the one pillar pagoda, in the centre of a lotus pond.
The
structure, the quintessentially sacred entity in the country is symbolic of the
lotus flower. The sanctum inside the pagoda is dedicated to Vietnamese Buddhist
goddess Quan Ann. She has an image built inside a tiny temple. Leafing through
guidebook I was reassuring if I was missing any spot. A monk was studying me from
a small distance and came closer, asked my nationality in fluent English.
A
conversation started, he took to Monkhood at 11. A pack of Mevius he carried
apparently did not matter with the potentially delicate issue of smoking among
religious people. I was about to ask but checked my curiosity I may be invading
privacy. We walked and crossed the complex fringes; I admitted how amazing his
country was. Nothing compared to what it used to be, was his reaction.
Pain
in his voice indicated wound in the heart. The war had left a legacy of damage
on crop, infrastructure and life. The road to recovery seems long but not
endless. Viets have iron grit, they have proved it and they will prove again!
He lit a Mevius cigarette, puffed a long drag and bade goodbye. The man was
lost in the crowd.
Visiting time: All weekdays except Monday and
Friday
Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday: 7.30 AM- 10.30 AM
Saturdays,
Sundays and Holidays: 7.30 AM-11.00 AM
Winter
Season time (from 1st Nov-31st March of the following
year): 8 AM- 11 AM
Fares:
Ho Chi Minh
Complex: Free
Ho Chi Minh
Museum: 40.00 VND
Ho Chi
Minh’s House: 40.000 VND/adult
Dress Code:
sleeveless shirts, tank tops, shorts, miniskirts not allowed.
Camera,
mobile phones and video recording not permitted. Children below 3 years are not
allowed.
The Temple of Literature:
P.C. culturetrip.com
My next stop, the Temple of Literature. My guidebook was the only trustworthy companion, didn’t go experimenting for a hired guide. Things can go tricky. People pose for photographs and demand money. In Coliseum in Rome, I have heard, dummy gladiators pose for photographs, they look amusing. You never know if there is a string in between at the other end lies a motive for money extortion. Any discord may invite a fight with the gladiator and that is very real. Quick conversion of amusement into threat takes you by surprise!
Built in
1070, it was a recognized seat of learning and one of the most appealing spots
in the country. The building gets a clean up on a regular basis and much of the
knowledge shared with students was on the premise of Confucian philosophy.
Perhaps proximity to the Chinese border in the north could be an explanation.
Architecture belonged to traditional Viet School, its patios, galleries and causeways were used by the nobility. At the outset the doors were opened only to aristocrats’, later merit took over class. The Temple of Literature is set in a pristine stretch of turf with rows of trees and peppered with applause in travel magazines. The trees are very old and offered relaxed shade to students.
Opening hours:
All days of
the week except Saturday
From
April-October (summer): 07:30- 17:30
From October
– April (winter): 08:00 – 17:00
Entrance fee
as on 2017:
Adults
nearly $ US 1.3/head
Students: $
0.7/head (student ID required)
Children
below 15 years: Free
Dress Code: Sober and casual; no short skirts,
pants or tank tops
The Museum of Ethnology:
P.C. Holidify.com
My next drop-in was to the Museum of Ethnology. It is a wonderful journey into the culture and lifestyle of ethnic tribes of Vietnam. A potent canvas in color and a revelation of untouched areas of civilization left me spellbound. Exhibits ranged from stuff of everyday use to tiny models of dwelling houses reflecting a sense of aesthetics among different ethnic tribes.
It included
an auditorium, a library and a research centre, all of them focused on a crucible
of cultural blend in regional diversities. The museum showcased around 15000 artifacts
including photographs and audiotapes. It supplied an effective and
interactive link with the museum visitors. The display boards were in English and
French. In the evening I was scheduled for a Cyclo ride in Hanoi. You
experience the traffic and the fun of it as you hit the roads.
A
tight knot inside me was building up in the first few minutes of ride and it rang
a bell. Almost the same feeling that I had in a ‘giant wheel ride’ back home in
a neighborhood carnival! At least that was what I recall. That was Kolkata and
this is Hanoi. Kolkata feelings chased me to Hanoi. After some bargaining
we settled at a price, the Cyclo driver looked very clever. A glint in his eyes
assured an exciting jaunt. But an artful smile somehow betrayed a vulpine craft
I needed to guard.
Fate has made him learn from life, bitter
lessons in his struggle for survival. Rush hours in Hanoi saw stifling
heat going up a several notches. Unpleasant experiences may come in between you
and the joy of travelling. Overcharging for rides, sale of street food at a
price like highway robbery is not uncommon. It would be unwise to agree to
prices quoting numbers alone. The mention of currency is important. Don’t be
surprised if you hear him say “I have asked my price in USD”. And you have
been figuring out your budget in Viet Dong. (1USD = 23000 Dong approx)
Just think of the enormity of rip off!
You feel so
obviously cheated and barely can ever conceive that the ploy could be so blunt
and yet forceful. The crook shouts out, giving a sticky slant to the event,
forcing you to agree to spare a bad scene. Not knowing the language is a handicap!
It was a
strange paradox that I felt vulnerable and yet cool on the cyclo. It’s usually
the driver who is in front of you in a ride. On a cyclo the scene is different;
he operates from the rear as if putting you up as a shield. I felt open to
traffic rushing in! Hardly any road rules exist here in busy streets, scooters
run in all directions without any rhyme and reason. The moment you fear a
collision the cyclo driver saves you from disaster.
His control
over the ride is par excellence, steering the cyclo smooth and easy winding
through a rush, mad and all screwed up. Yet no road accidents happen my salams
to his skill! Vehicles shot at us and we dribbled past, soon I was quite
enjoying the ride. The Old quarter of Hanoi is amazing and dotted with restaurants,
colonial buildings, parks, schools and market places.
The driver
was bubbling with energy and would stop at places educating me on the history
of Vietnam, edifices and memorials. A little English and the rest in sign
language worked for us. He knew the Old Quarters like the back of his hand.
Opening Hours:
Daily from
08:30-17:30. Closed on Mondays.
Hoan Kiem Lake and Water puppet show
P.C. Vietnamtravelguide
Centrally located this lake is a cynosure vibrant with life. When I reached, the sky had turned red. Tourists at waterfront bars were busy with sundowners. The lake shelters soft-shelled turtles. They are revered here and just about lauded to a status of celestial entities. The water was a shimmering gold in the dying rays of the sun disguising its actual color. A dark green sheet with ripples lapped the banks, it was a treat!
Thang Long Water
Puppet Theater is a much sought after tourist haunt. It is a rich Vietnamese
folk art of the Red River Delta and connected with rice farming and harvest.
The sheen of light and fireworks added more flux to the puppet dance. Bought
tickets and occupied seats, wished the gap between rows were wider, not enough
leg space to relish a relaxed evening.
Puppets
looked amusing in color and action. They danced to folk music, the puppet
masters hid behind curtain maneuvering the rope- tied puppets with surprising
adroit. One end of the rope had the puppets and the other end tied to poles
worked from behind the curtain. Cute little dancers were made from some light
wood else they would sink like dead weight.
Day 2: Hanoi – Ha long overnight
cruise:
Itinerary included a trip to Halong Bay on an AC minivan. On the Bay, the cruise was on ship Athena. We reached Ha Long in 3 hours. The view was breathtaking. Rock formations broke water and the cruise was in the surreal waterscape. The horizon was a thin line between the sky and placid water. Athena was a dream ship lithe and streamlined!
I had booked
an Executive suite with balcony on the first deck. The suite was well
furnished; had a wonderful time spending 4 hours on the Bay. The sail was
breeze along water corridors in between limestone karsts. Junks and sampans
moved past us, they must be sailing to preset appointments. The ambiance was too
good to be true exalted by scrumptious Viet cuisine served on board. Much
of it was seafood caught fresh from the Bay.
Small bamboo
boats were dwarfed by Athena. Boatmen alternated use of limbs working the oars.
Sometimes it was both the hands and sometimes they rowed with legs alone
relieving shoulders .Must be hell of an effort, the expressionless faces did
not show any fatigue though. Bay eagles occasionally dived for a living.
It is not
easy in the sky, not easy on the boat either. Struggle for existence is
everywhere and from the privileged luxury suite I felt a little guilty. The
cruise continued to the second day and had an amazing stopover. Before that it
was a pulsating night with booze and band, DJ’s and dance on the floor
whoopee.
Rounds of
onboard games made the holidaymakers high and happy. The late night ball ended
in a hearty dinner and some quality sleep on a snug king size bed. Sung
Sot cave in Bo Hon Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ship docked on
the pier, we set foot on the rock. Way to the cave was lined with trees the
atmosphere was serene with an exotic appeal.
It was way
cooler inside the cave; stalactites and stalagmites fell and rose responding to
dictates of the geological clock. Hundreds of neons lit them up in an alien luster.
Cruise ship Athena cut across emerald water further east towards Bai Tu Long
Bay. Here tiny islands are scattered and the beaches are lonely and tranquil. The
rush of tourism is low and the impact of commercialization negligible. The
islands are thick with rainforests and the habitat remote and wild.
Day 4: Cu Chi Tunnel:
Arrived Ho
Chi Minh City last night. Cu Chi Tunnel is rich in history marred with war
casualties and gun smoke. The incredible web of tunnels has a significance
being witness to the war. As much as the infamous Tet offensive being a
turning point for the country. Guerrillas of Vietcong fighting an uphill battle
against South Vietnamese troops were episodes of epic scale.
Now, the US
and Alliance forces stepping in, the war took a more violent form. Hideous
throwback inside Cu Chi was in the vibe. Conversation between tourists fell to
whispers who were introduced to brief video snippets of painstaking tunnel
construction. A lot of blood and sweat had been shed, a ceasefire was certainly
imperative.
An
underground bastion for arsenal, supplies and infirmary, it was a one-stop
cover for Vietcong troops. Endurance and launching counteroffensive was the key
to staying alive. A quaint river close to the tunnel had ducks and water
buffaloes in peaceful coexistence. Neither the serene rice fields echo the
shriek of carnage nor do lush woods remind us of defoliants used to devastate
the land. The tunnel trip ended with tea and cassava, the frugal diet soldiers
ate. Retired to Saigon hotel and more trips waited post lunch.
Independence Palace:
P.C.Nickswandrings.com
The Reunification Palace built as a renovation on the site of the erstwhile Norodom Palace, the imposing building is a grand affair; its design is the brainchild of architect Ngo Viet Thu. During the war, the president of South Vietnam resided and functioned from here. Its historical significance marking the end of war had been theatrical when a North Vietnamese army tank crashed through its gate.
It is hot
and humid out here making beads of perspiration on the eyebrow. The sprawling
lawn and fountain went well with the overall grandeur. The crowd was
cosmopolitan, tourists and locals were in a tension-free slow motion footslogs
approaching the palace interior. The interior featured luxury with decorative.
Separate rooms for conference, office work, living, dining and corridors were
all spick and span. Visitors were flocked around mementos and exquisite
furnishings with a European influence.
Notre Dame Cathedral:
P.C. atlasobscura.com
Trip to Notre Dame Cathedral was preceded by an incident. Honesty in crowd is rare but not unlikely depending upon chance factor. My lost wallet was handed over to me by a local. Didn’t realize when it slipped out, he stared at me and smiled. A silent communication bridged our thoughts. He looked happy having helped a stranger and the man found a room of respect inside me.
The Cathedral
is a goliath edifice ringing somber tone of faith and its twin spires stood
high in the sky. The foundation was strong enough to support ten times the
weight of the cathedral itself. No wonder it had lived through the ravages of
war. But much of the tiles, originally French, could not escape damage.
They were
later replaced by products of Saigon kilns. As a consequence of the French
subjugation of the region, the Roman Catholic Church had set up a religious
base for the French people here.
In 1962, Pope
John XXIII blessed the Saigon chief Cathedral and the status of basilica was
bestowed. We have the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica since then. Arches
and glass panes are an epitome of French art they shot back the evening sun in
a sublime tapestry of color.
The Central Post Office:
This
imposing building is the largest post office in South East Asia close to
Notredame Cathedral. A reminiscent of French colonialism, the post office is an
example of careful conservation. Though very much oriental in essence in few
pockets in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), the echo of French occupation is strongly
felt. The building’s arched windows with wooden shutters bore a sharp contrast
with Oriental upward-curving roofs.
The post office looked like a huge cathedral and a big portrait of Ho Chi Minh hung at the far end of the building. Glazed flooring, panels and sleek looking counters and benches amazingly stood in a great visual balance with medieval arched ceilings. The interior captured a bygone era featuring old phone booths, letter writing desks and glue pots.
The atmosphere had an old European charm only if not the large portrait had been a grim reminder that I was at the heart of a strife-torn nation. The sun had touched the rim of the world soon dusk will be all-pervasive. The temperature started to wane as I made headway towards Saigon hotel.
Mekong Delta cruise:
My last day
of stay in Vietnam was kind of a hurry exploring the Mekong Delta.
This is a big river with tributaries emptying into the South China Sea.
Started at
6.30 morning, a bus ride from hotel reached us to Delta port of My Tho. To call
Vietnam tour super without doing Mekong cruise is underselling its tourism
potential. The small fuel-powered boat cut across smoky water. After a while,
we got somewhat used to the chug of the engine. Herons flew low over us letting
out squawks.
We left My
Tho far behind and moved into a more scenic landscape. Viet rustic setting is
splendid, vast stretch of paddy fields seemed never ending. Houses along banks
were built on stilts giving them an iconic look. A very familiar construction
identity in Southeast Asia but why on stilts, there aren’t any threatening
wildlife in this region except Mekong crocodiles. Flooding could be a
reason. River water overflows banks in monsoon causing havoc.
We touched
the mooring at Kimmy chocolate factory supposed to be the largest in South
Vietnam. Chocolates are handmade and delicious, a little bitter though and
capable of matching strength with the branded ones.
We sailed on
low tide keeping close to the left bank. Biodiversity is amazing with a large
number of animal species. Vietnam tigers are up north and on a steady march
towards extinction. Low water level exposes more of the bank leaving rotten
fruits, plants and dead matter that may have been washed ashore. It becomes a
feeding ground for scavengers. We skimmed the bushes, a fishing cat came in
view.
Next, we
came up to a fishing village. Houses were erected on stilts! Nets were
stretched taught, fastened to poles and hum of flies went on and off in a
rhythm. Children flocked around tourists with expectation in their eyes.
Unfortunately, I had nothing to share except smiles and a brief photo session.
They weren’t a bit camera shy.
The heat was
slowly rising it was noon. We were treated to Viet lunch rounded up with fruit
and honey. Lunch done we were sailing towards Bang Lang stork sanctuary. This
is a peaceful refuge for birds located in Thoi Bin hamlet. Our boat hit
the jetty and from here we were to go walking.
P.C. Alotrip
We crossed a wooden bridge and went through orchards; trees were laden with ripe fruits. Felt like scrumping a few if not the guide had warned us against grove centipedes. These insects must be very repulsive although fried versions in Saigon street food kiosks didn’t look bad. Twenty species of Storks and we could see only a few of different sizes. Not only the storks, herons, egrets, ibises and flamingos had made a large and noisy rookery.
Before
sunset, more storks were foraging the marsh for evening grub. Shutters clicked
and treasured images captured. This sanctuary is a natural development in the
early 90s. More birds started inhabiting getting signals of security and
assurance of food. Storks find a position among locals. The birds are a
symbol of hard work and integrity. My thought chain was broken our guide had
asked us to call it a day; walked backed to the jetty carrying wonderful
memories and heart full of love.
simplyroam 