Goa: Beyond the Beaches

Goa, the beach capital of India, is the most-talked about holiday destination in the country. With lush wet beaches swarmed by water sports & trees, the place is a blissful paradise for any tourist. There are over 40 beaches flanked in various corners of the state. But an ideal tourist should not limit himself to the beaches, even though their fascination can make one rooted! Goa tourism has scaled unsurpassable heights of popularity for quite a few other things. Those who dare to travel beyond the beaches inevitably come across the state’s heritage sites and serendipitously bump into the history & culture which the place silently holds on to its cusps.

Here are a few attractions (outside the beaches) offered by Goa packages:

i.    Churches: Se Cathedral, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of Immaculate Conception, Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and many more- Goa is a trove of a huge galore of cathedrals most of which are a few centuries old.

ii.    Wildlife sanctuaries: Goa tourism has also climbed the popularity charts amongst the wildlife lovers, thanks to its slew of sanctuaries including the Salem Ali Bird Sanctuary and the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary! If you have a fetish for birds & beasts, then the state has the perfect ingredients to keep you going!

iii.    Historic sites: Other than the churches, Goa packages also establish your rendezvous with forts (like the Aguada Fort), mansions (like the Braganza House) and old cemeteries and museums.

iv.    Nightlife: Though, the beaches too are known for their exciting party-life, Goa brews up a delicious concoction of bars, restaurants, casinos and clubs to leave you shaken & stirred!

Waterfalls, seafood, luxurious resorts, spa parlors, swamps, aquariums, malls, markets and the Portugal-Indian culture- the real ‘Goa’ lies outside the turf of the beaches!

The best Beaches in Kerala

Kerala, one of the most hypnotic states in the world, is bejeweled with lagoons, lakes and, of course, beaches. Since, it shares it neighborhood with the Indian Ocean, the state boasts of a number of exotic beaches which are a heady mix of green and blue!

Kerala tourism has always enjoyed a high reputation which keeps growing as it rides on the ever-scaling popularity of these 5 beaches:

i.    Kovalam Beach: With the sun-kissed golden-blue waters making their presence felt under your feet and with the tall palm trees swooning wildly in the mild breeze, Kovalam Beach is the best beach in Kerala. Most Kerala tour packages make sure that the tourists get to spend a few memorable hours on this heavenly shore line!

ii.    Varkala Beach: A pleasant fusion of rock and sun, this beach takes the cherry when it comes to the most photogenic beach of Kerala. The place is enveloped by a number of attractions including temples in the vicinity. The beach has made it to the posters of a number of advertisements promoting Kerala tourism.

iii.    Payyambalam Beach: This is one beach which will transport you into the bygone times. Its tranquility and nostalgic romance will creep into your veins and travel within your memories till the rest of your life.

iv.    Kozhikode Beach: Kozhikode Beach stands out for its exuberant sunsets and for its historical significance. It is also noted for being the site of landing by Vasco Da Gama.

v.    Bekal Beach: If you are itching for solace, then Bekal Beach, under the Kerala tour packages, is the ultimate place of quiet, seclusion, serenity and romance. It is also studded with a historic fort which adds another feather to its heavily-laden cap.

Things to do in Lucerne and Geneva

Whenever you ask a girl about her dream honeymoon destination, most of the times, the instantaneous reply is Switzerland! Lucerne, Geneva, Zurich etc. are not only naturally picturesque, but they are also replete with historical and religious architectures that will stun you.

Sightseeing in Geneva

Geneva has the second highest population in Switzerland. There are a number of monuments and sites in the city that the Geneva Tourism department recommends you to witness.

• St. Pierre Cathedral- It is a part of the Swiss Reformed Church in Geneva and was constructed in the 12th Century. A recent excavation has revealed that the premise was developed by the Roman Empire.
• Jet d’Eau- Touted as the world’s highest fountain, it shoots up water up to 140 metres at a speed of 200kmph. At a go, close to 500 litres of water is thrown up. The best time to visit is in the evening when it is lighted.
• Place de Neuve houses three halls- the Grand Hall or Opera House, Rath Museum and Conservatory of music.

Touring Lucerne

Lucerne has a lot to see and do as well. The Lucerne Tourism sightseeing list includes:

• Chapel Bridge on the River Reuss: It has a water tower too which adds to its beauty.
• The Lion of Lucerne: This is a monument made to commemorate those soldiers who lost their lives in the French Revolution.
• The mountain Pilatus, 15km south of Lucerne: Climbing the mountain is a popular excursion.  You need to descend by way of cog railway, cable car and gondola. The bookings can be done through the Lucerne Tourism office.

These sights and landscapes are breath- taking and are sure to make you fall in love with Switzerland!

Sydney Opera House

Australia has a lot to offer to any visitor. Good shopping destinations, scenic beauty, adventure sports are some of the things that makes Australia a hot tourist destination. Sydney is one of the cities that you should make a point to visit. And if you are visiting Sydney, the Sydney Tourism department always recommends that you don’t miss out on visiting the Sydney Opera House.

Touring the Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House was designed by a Danish architect, Jorn Utzon around 50 years ago. The tour conducted through the Opera House is covered in Australia tour packages. A guide will take you around and explain the different sections. You will be taken through the various halls and rooms. There are 1000 rooms and 300 corridors in the Opera House. More than 1600 performances take place in the theatre throughout the year. Shakespearean theatre, classical music concert and other popular forms of art are showcased here as well. When you come here with your tour group, you can also book a show.

Backstage Tour of the Opera House

The backstage tours will reveal to you what goes on behind the stages. You can get to know the different secrets, tricks and tales of the industry from the guide who steers you through the tour. This is usually not included in the Australia tour packages.

The Sydney Tourism office will give you all the needed information for the tour although you will have to buy the tickets from the Sydney Opera House. So, don’t miss out on this opportunity as you can trace the footprints of Ella Fitzgerald, Pavarotti and others stalwarts here!

Italy – A Honeymoon Destination

Considered to be one of the most romantic countries in the world, Italy is a destination where every second spent with your beloved is either etched into eternity or time here stops to flow. So if it’s a honeymoon trip that you are looking for, place your trust in Italy tourism and waste no time in booking your package tour to Italy! Though the nation in its entirety brims with love, these are a few of the Italy tourist attractions you can head for on your honeymoon:

Tuscany – If classic old romance of poetry is what you seek, Tuscany is the place for you. Sun-bathed countryside, vineyards, villas with sweeping driveways, smaller hill towns and the beautiful sea coast will leave you in bliss. Or you could choose to ski on the snow-covered slopes of Garfagnanain in the winter months. Being Italy’s art capital, the cities of art in Tuscany – Florence, Siena, Pisa being popular Italy tourist attractions will fulfill your craving for art and architecture more if you enjoy it with your spouse. Not to mention that the gourmet and wine of this region are simple yet delectable.

Lake Como – George Clooney settled for a property here for good reason. The Y-shaped lake is a weekend getaway for the Milanese so if you can get here on a weekday you’re in for a treat. Set amidst the hills and resembling a river, it has inspired poets for generations. What better than taking a cruise in these romantic waters with the love of your life!

Amalfi coast and the Isle of Capri – A honeymoon stands for romance, excitement and being alone with your soulmate! This is exactly what the Italy tourism guarantees with AmalfI. Full of sparkling beaches, islands and caves off the coast where you can experience the most unforgettable moments of newly married bliss, Amalfi is a must for a honeymoon amidst nature’s beauty.

Venice – if your idea of a honeymoon is a romantic gondola ride with the gondolier serenading you and your spouse, then Venice is the destination of choice! St. Mark’s Square has been the setting for innumerable romantic rendezvous – you could arrange to ‘meet’ your spouse here for coffee!

Sicily – If you’re wondering what the tour-guides of Italy pick as their favorite spot then it is Sicily. It’s an experience of the ‘real’ Italy minus the crowds and one of the most private spots for a honeymoon destination. You can also soak in some of the sun and see majestic Greek and Roman ruins with your beloved while you’re at it!

Cinque Terra and Liguria – Even though this place is minus the art and architecture which the rest of Italy tourism attractions stand for, there’s a reason for it to be one of the top honeymoon destinations in Italy. The Ligurian coast forms an elegant arc rising into the foothills of the Appenines which gives dizzying views of the sea embracing the shores making the medieval villages up on these jagged hills a perfect honeymoon destination. Everything about these villages speaks of a time standing still and what else is to be desired when you are here with the one you are spending your life with!

Book online honeymoon tour packages at lowest price with WAH Holidays

Volcano Tours in Bali

Volcanoes, even though destructive, haven’t stopped fascinating people. Tourists to Bali can now check out either the scenery around the Batur Volcano and its neighbouring lake or the volcano at Mt. Agung and its lovely surroundings. Bali Tourism offers Bali packages that include tours to the different volcanic regions. These are reasonably priced and do not take much time up.

Visit the Fuming Mount Batur

Mount Batur is one of the famous volcanos in Bali and it is still very active. You can see smoke emanating from its crater. You can opt for the guided treks included in Bali packages for volcano tours, up to the mount to watch the mesmerising sunrise from there. The best time of the year to witness the sunrise from Mt. Batur, is the when its comparatively drier, that is between April and September. Wet seasons make the trek a bit risky due to the slippery paths. From the Kintamani hill, the view of the volcano and its lake is splendid. The volcano last erupted in 2000.

Agung: the Highest Volcanic Mount

Being the top most point in the Bali Island, this active volcano influences the surrounding climate quite a lot. While the western part of it is thriving with vegetation due to the rain clouds that shower water there, the eastern part is arid. You can avail the Bali tourism department’s guided tours for a trek to the top of this mount too. A view of the entire island of Bali from the top of the mount will make you spellbound.

A Venetian Holiday

I have always envisaged Venice as the most feminine city – perhaps because the city floats on water, perhaps because hundreds of canals move in and out through the city giving an image of a beautiful beguiling woman or perhaps because the city has often been called a jewel city. Standing on one of Venice’s bridges in the evening when the lights from the buildings make fascinating reflections in the water and one murmurs goodbye to the last gondola which silently passes by, it is then when the impact of being transported to this fantasy world where time seems to stop, where one can’t differentiate between the past and the present or even dream and reality seems to strike; what one knows is that the city is drugging us by its cadence of charm.

Although Rome tourism might boast of a greater line-up of things to visit and do, Venice tourism matches up to it with its fashionable charm and intriguing city structure.

On a holiday in Venice, one starts with the magnificent piazza San Marco first from where you can catch a three-in-one glimpse of St Mark’s Basilica (reminiscent of the country’s ties with Byzantium), Doge’s Palace (a former political hotspot) and Torre dell’ Orologio (Venice Clock Tower). One can sit down at Europe’s oldest café, the Florian on the Market Square, listening to a cellist. Or one can wander to where the gondolas are tied; ebony colored and shiny and rocking on the green-blue water of the lagoon, pompous but with unsurpassed elegance. The afternoon end can be spent on a satisfying gondola ride accompanied with gelato ice cream from Boutique del Gelato, a perfect way to end the evening.

The dazzling theatre of the city is showcased at Gallerie dell Accademia, Scuola Grande di San Rucco and Teatro de Fenice but this is not all. The art scene visit is incomplete without a taste of the backstage experience. The crammed calli (streets) to San Marco are brimming with all kinds of behind-the-scenes creativity that keeps the art scene of the city afloat: it is here that the artisans are sweating at work in their tiny studios and the Venetian chefs are whipping out hot plates of cicheti. Many of the small plazas that lie in front of one of the hundreds of ornate churches offer outstandingly good morsels of food – Venetian delicacies like Fegato alla Veneziana are very enticing.

Venice tourism guarantees that a visitor is going to go around all the islands. Vaporettos (water buses) constantly make trips to the cemetery island of Isola di San Michele – and to Murano where glassblowers create extremely delicate artifacts or to Burano – where the houses are painted in spectacular colors. Or one can take a trip to the Lido with its sophisticated colors that is a hotspot for painters and film directors. Then there is the charming degenerate Venice, particularly during carnival; carnival was rekindled in the 1970s and has held its space since then as a third season; Carnevale is the world’s largest masked ball and one can pick up carnival paraphernalia before going there.

Answering the dilemma faced by tourists to choose either Rome or Venice, Rome tourism will excite if you are interested in history, monuments and a full-plate trip but if you want to spend quality time just relaxing on the banks of Venice canals and watching time sway past, you know the place to choose.

Where to find Penguins in New Zealand

Penguins are fascinating creatures, aren’t they? Their manners and habits are unparalleled, not to mention their cuteness. Penguins are found in the southern half of the world. You can see penguins in the Antarctic, South Africa and most popularly in New Zealand.

There are three different kinds of penguins in New Zealand. They are bred by the ecological departments of the country. New Zealand Tourism Department allows New Zealand Visa holders to visit the national parks to observe and mingle with the penguins.

Kinds of penguins found

New Zealand has three kinds of penguins- the little blue penguins or the Korora, the Hoiko or the yellow eyed penguins and the Fiordland Crested penguins.

The Kororas are the world’s smallest penguins and they come out at night. You can see them wade by the shore.

The Hoikos have a bright yellow band around their eyes. They have been termed to be endangered because of the loss in their habitat. Farmlands, introduction of predators and poor breeding in recent times have led to their dwindled numbers.

The Fiodland Crested Penguins or Tawaki make their nest deep in rainforests.

Where to find them?

For penguin lovers, there are a number of places that the New Zealand Tourism Department have marked for observing penguins.

The Korora breed can be found in the Marlborough Sounds, Akaroa Harbour Stewart Island and Oamaru. You need to visit at night to see them.

The Hoiko type is found in the Otago peninsula, south of Dunedin, just along the South Otago Coast.

Lastly, the Tawaki class can be found in the rainforests of Stewart Islands and Fiordland.

So what makes you wait? Apply for your New Zealand Visa and be off to play with the cute penguins!

Goa’s most eagerly awaited Events – Goa Carnival

Nobody can ever accuse Goa of not being fun! And the place only more exciting as the month of February draws closer and leads us to the Goa Carnival. The event reinforces the fun-loving culture of Goa, where social conventions are relaxed, and people wearing masks toss flour and sawdust at one another and squirt each other with colored water! The celebrations are much like what goes on during the Hindu festival of Holi.

In Panaji, a massive parade is held in honour of King Momo – the head of the festival. All around you can see floats and bands and dancers and stilt-walkers dressed up as colourful Walt Disney characters and figures in African masks. The procession finally comes to an end at the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Afterward, there is a lot of dancing in the town squares, public halls, and on the beaches, with the Tango and Waltz being the most preferred choices! The festivities finally end at dawn on Ash Wednesday, when most attendees head for church services.

Goa Carnival is indeed a legacy of the Portuguese which is preserved till date. People would throw old pans, pots, and other kitchen utensils out of the windows as a symbolic gesture to discard the old and dirty before the 40 days of Lent. There are feasts galore, and delightfully tasty pastries and cakes being distributed by convents. People, literally, gorge on food for these three days of Carnival. Although many rituals and traditions of the festival are no longer followed, and some have been changed over time but the spirit of the carnival still is the same in essence.

This year, the Carnival will begin on 9th February 2013 and go on till 12th Februar. A visit is therefore highly recommende, if you really want to get a first hand taste of Goanese culture. One of Goa’s most eagerly awaited events, the carnival gives people just another excuse to let their hair down! The fact that veteran actor Chiranjeevi is expected to open the event only further boosts the interest it piques in all travel lovers!

Best Eating Out Places in Paris

The French think chiefly of two things – their two main meals. So, everything else can be put in brackets. For a nation whose people spend a large chunk of their time planning, cooking and talking about their food (needless to say consuming), it’s only fitting that Paris is considered to be the Everest in the gourmet world.

The first thing that comes to one’s mind on hearing French cuisine, apart from cheese and French fries (however, much the Belgians can whine that it was their recipe first, the name remains) is variety. The French consider eating of their food as more than just a gastronomical tendency, for them it is taking part in an activity involving logic and order with the cuisine. A few of the cafes, bistros, brasseries (a café cum restaurant with an informal setting) and restaurants serving as popular Paris tourism attractions:

La Maison Stohrer: One of the oldest and most prestigious of Paris’ patisserie shops dating back to 1730 located in Rue Montorgreil, its exterior looks like a fairytale shop with fascinating glass displays of pastries arranged like jewels. A thing to note is that photography of these displays is prohibited but you can buy a pastry and photograph it at home. (Talk about French laws and all) This shop is the birthplace of “Baba Rum” and delicious classics like the réligieuse à l’ancienne: a pile of cream puffs designed to look like a nun can be sampled here.

Le Cremerie: Saint-German guarantees us Paris’ most charming streets lined with quaint shops, patisseries, wine shops, bakeries and cafes – this is Paris tourism at its quintessential best. A cross between a restaurant and an organic wine shop, La Crémerie has the most delectable French produce that you can either eat in or take home with you. The place is almost as if a bread shop/milk shop has been converted into a restaurant cum wine bar with painted glass ceilings harkening back to a forgotten era. It’s a hotspot for couples due to the intimate setting and beautiful tiles.

La Coupole: This place is what would describe a brasserie best – a cavernous spot with Art Deco murals. Popular amongst Paris tourist attractions since the time it was the major hang-out place for Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, it still manages to attract a chunk of tourists and bourgeois families. Recent specialties in the classic brasserie menu include caramelized apple tart and panfried foie grass, beef fillet flambéed with cognac and profiteroles made with Valrhona chocolate.

Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots: These age old rival cafes on the same street in Saint Germain have hosted intellectuals, writers, artists and musicians while they interacted amongst each other through and post the war years becoming an integral part of Paris tourism. Is there any better way to engage with the intellectual and literary hub of Paris than by having espresso in one of its cafes on Saint German?

Le Jules Verne: Le Jules Verne, Alain Ducasse’s fine dining restaurant may be the most thrilling venue on Earth to have your dinner as it is located on the platform above Eiffel Tower’s second tier.

Street Food: Crepes (spread with butter, sugar, even with Nutella), a classic street food in Paris is available at almost every stall on the street corner but the most famous Paris creperie is the Breizh Café in Cancale.

Get the best Europe tour packages at WAH Holidays. Hurry – book today!

Things To Do In Paris – WAH Holidays

Hemingway describes Paris as a ‘moveable feast’. This description of Paris couldn’t have been more apt, no other city is so exuberant and vivid and crazily loved as is Paris. Nor does any other provide such a thrilling trip away from mundane reality and sends the visitor on a roller coaster ride through art, literature, history, food and music. From a visit to the opera to a picnic by the Seine, lunch at a chic brasserie to basking in the sun on the Sacre-Couer’s steps, Paris tourist attractions exude pleasure in plenty.

Sight-seeing: A trip to the soaring Eiffel Tower, majestic Arc de Triomphe from where 12 grand avenues radiate to form a star shaped structure and mammoth cathedral of Notre Dame is one of the first things one shoulf do.

Engagement with Art: Even though the whole city brims with art, The Louvre, transformed from a chateau to a museum, overshadows everything else. It plays host to an unrivalled collection of French paintings, sculptures from the Italian Renaissance era, including the most famous Mona Lisa, of course. Other Paris tourist attractions amongst art galleries worth visiting are the Orangerie – displaying Monet’s masterworks and Centre Pompidou, Paris’ cultural hub and a node of the city’s contemporary art collection.

Cafe Rendezvous: Part of the baggage that comes with being a Parisian is taking out a few moments of your day and sitting down with an espresso in one of the thousands of bustling cafes in the city. Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore played host to a number of Postwar Left Bank intellectuals, most popular amongst them being Sartre and Beauvoir and many visitors indulging in Paris tourism love to engage in heated existentialist debate in these cafes till date.

Walks, Tours and Shopping: These constitute a major portion of Paris tourism, one is to undertake a medieval meandering through the Marais region – which is currently the hub of gay nightlife in Paris but was once the residence of Monks and Knight Templars. This historical area is characterised  by golden and cream colored brick buildings. The Marais also doubles as a major shopping with its boutiques and kitschy shops hoarding Paris’ most beautifully done simple things – dresses, fresh-minted stationery, paper mache products.  Paris’s Montmartre neighborhood with its neon boards, peddlers selling Paris souvenirs and hawkers selling excellent Paris street food also is worth taking a tour.

Bookworming through Left Bank: The relationship between literature and Paris’ Left Bank hasn’t been marred by time. A series of bookshops line this side of the Seine, the most famous being The Shakespeare and Company bookstore, bookstands adorn the front of these bookshops while the backside provides a bargain ground for second hand books and is a popular hotspot amongst tourists.

Cruising along the Seine: A trip to Paris remains incomplete without a river cruise taking us lazily across Seine to offer the most popular Paris tourist attractions on view. Types of boat tours include a descriptive one focusing on sight-seeing and city history or an epicurean one serving you Parisian gourmet delights along the way with entertainment shows.