The capital of the Emirates, Abu Dhabi is a charming city built amidst a stark and picturesque dessert. A great way to explore this landscape is by embarking on desert walks which gives one the chance to get a firsthand experience of the city’s environs. Such tours let visitors appreciate the natural setting and the lifestyle of the Bedouin’s who call the desert home. Offering desert walks, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is a luxury Abu Dhabi hotel that gives one the chance to explore the nearby Empty Quarter. One of the best Abu Dhabi hotels, this stylish and modern desert resort also offers such outdoor activities as camel trekking and mountain biking amidst rolling sand dunes.
A city famous for excellent shopping opportunities, glittering temples, a vivacious nightlife and hospitable people, Bangkok is an exotic destination ideal for a memorable honeymoon. Couples can embark on a delightful shopping excursion, experience a revitalizing Thai massage or sample delicious Thai cuisine. Whether you are planning a long or short honeymoon vacation, the city will not disappoint owing to its wide range of attractions and accommodation options. Among Bangkok serviced apartments, the ones at Anantara Baan Rajprasong, Bangkok exceptionally elegant. With an array of additional leisure facilities, this residence is the best choie for the traveller seeking a serviced apartment Bangkok.
Rich in history, China boasts a wealth of cultural traditions and beliefs that can be seen even today. Weddings in China are an example of a cultural event that provides fascinating insights into the traditional practices.
A traditional Chinese wedding begins with the proposal, usually facilitated by a matchmaker who acts on behalf of the families of both the potential bride and groom. The main parties in these negotiations are the parents rather than the couple. Once the prospective parties are in agreement, the betrothal process begins. When an agreement is reached and engagement tokens have been presented, the families would then decide on the most favourable auspicious day for the wedding ceremony.
Two important rituals take place on the wedding day and they are both symbols of the bride and groom’s progression into adulthood. The ‘hair dressing’ ritual concerns the bride who on the dawn of her wedding bathes with water that has been mixed with pumelo that is believed to purify her from evil influences. This is followed by the bride being attended to by a person referred to as the ‘good luck woman’, who styles her hair in a traditional manner while speaking words believed to bring about good fortune. The ‘capping’ ritual involves the groom who puts on a red sash and a pair of red shoes before going and kneeling at the altar of his family. The groom’s father then places a cap adorned with cypress leaves on his son’s head. Since red is symbolic of joy, the bride and groom usually have a lot of red in their attire.
The wedding itself is a simple ceremony which centres on paying homage to family ancestors, ‘Heaven and Earth’ and ‘Tsao-Chun’, the Kitchen God. The ceremony also includes the offering of tea with two lotus seeds or red dates to the parents of the groom. An important element of the wedding is the subsequent banquet where family and friends join together to celebrate the union.
Travellers looking for luxury accommodation can stay at such Shanghai five star hotels as Millennium Hongqiao Hotel Shanghai which offers the very best in facilities and services. Located in the Hongqiao area, this luxurious Shanghai hotel caters to business and leisure travellers alike.
Popularly referred to as “the palace of love and hope”, the Maruekhathaiyawan Palace was built back in the early 1920’s to serve as the summer palace of King Rama VI. A majestic two storied pavilion made of golden teakwood; the palace consists of a long corridor and a series of hall. Although various Hua Hin hotels are available, one can never go wrong by choosing Anantara Hua Hin, Thailand for their accommodation needs. A gem among Hua Hin luxury hotels, the stunning hotel is surrounded by lush tropical gardens.
Sprawling over three provinces Doi Luang National Park covers three leading watersheds, Payao Lake, The Lao River and The Wang River. The majority of the visitors to the park come to behold the magnificent waterfalls amidst lush greenery. An exemplary out of Chiang rai hotels for the ardent traveller is Anantara Golden Triangle. Offering an array of modern facilities it is one of the finest Chiang Rai resorts.
Acres of greenery, well-pruned shrubs, gurgling rivers, trees overflowing with blossoms and fluttering butterflies; the Hyde Park in Central London has all the ingredients for tranquility. Its origin dates back to the 1600s and has been modified over the years. Today it’s a key attraction and is popular throughout England.
Hyde Park rose to fame in the year 1851 when it hosted the Great Exhibition, which was the first in a line of international fairs of culture and industry. Ever since then, it has gradually metamorphosed into a spectacular park, where people laze, lounge and feast. There are designated spots in the large grounds for different activities. The North Eastern end is adorned by the glitzy white marble arch, and just opposite it is the Speakers’ Corner, where mass demonstrations are held and political activists deliver speeches. People pile into solar powered ferries and pedal boats that cruise through the Serpentine River, which ripples in from the West, while some choose to sun bathe, or plunge into the river for a refreshing swim. There are fields where one can engage in an informal game of tap rugger, football, rounders or soft ball cricket. The specially allotted cycle tracks draw heavy numbers to cycle, skateboard and roller blade. The tennis enthusiasts have an entire centre to themselves, where they can even get professional assistance.
Tucked away in the South East of the park is the rose garden, where many varieties of roses, herbaceous plants, bulbs and hellebores are in full bloom. Don’t forget to grab a bite to eat from the modern ‘Bar and Kitchen’ on the shores of Serpentine or stroll down to the ‘Meadow Wildlife’, where you will find birds, butterflies and moths dancing on the flowers.
One of the most recent additions to the park is the Diana Memorial Fountain, completed in 2004 in memory of the late Princess of Wales. Sculptured with Cornish granite in the shape of an oval, the fountain is unique in design. Water surges in two directions and meets again in a serene pool and is meant to reflect Princess Diana’s spirited openness and love for children.
London serviced apartments provide a strategic base to facilitate your wanderings around the large metropolis. Ascott London Mayfair is a fully-serviced luxury serviced apartment in London located in the heart of the city’s most exclusive Mayfair district, offering easy accessibility to the area’s most scenic attractions
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The city of Auckland is a city that offers a vast wealth of attractions to visit that have increasingly made it a popular tourist destination. With museums, zoos, amusements parks, dining options and more, it’s hard to go wrong when holidaying in Auckland.
For travellers only having the weekend sampling all that the city offers will prove somewhat difficult or impossible. Still, there is plenty that can be visited in the limited span of two days ensuring a rewarding visit.
The Auckland Botanic Gardens is a destination that is ideal for relaxation. Visitors to this destination can indulge in a relaxing stroll amidst a serene locale. Plants in the gardens originate from all around the world creating a strong amount of variety while there is also a visitor’s centre that showcases art pieces relating to botany in addition to a café that offers wide spanning views over the entire area.
The Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tamaki is the largest art institution in all of New Zealand and is well worth a visit when travelling to the city. Visitors will find housed inside, a staggering collection of over 12,000 works that collectively forms a robust artistic portfolio. In addition to the permanent collection, various exhibitions with temporary art from other institutions and contributors are also regularly held here.
For those wanting a slightly faster paced attraction, the Auckland Bridge climb presents a formidable choice. With the help of a tour guide, visitors will embark on a venture that will take them under, around and over the city’s famous bridge. The tour guide will provide insightful information while visitors will also be privy to fabulous views of the city’s skyline. A special bungee spot is also to be found here providing the ultimate thrill.
The Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari takes travellers to the Hauraki Gulf which is one of the leading spots in the world for marine mammals, which includes over 22 species of whales and dolphins. Going on board such a cruise will provide ample opportunity to catch glimpses of these majestic marine mammals.
During a weekend trip, travellers will have to find a suitable hotel in Auckland city for their stay. Copthorne Hotel Auckland City offers a hotel Auckland surrounded by the ever popular Marlborough Sounds.
One of the great metropolises of the world, London
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, or the Great Spring Show as it is officially called, is the red-letter event of the world’s leading horticultural organization, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). This gargantuan enterprise is one of the highlights of London ’s social season, being the gardening equivalent of the Milan London
The cream of the world’s garden designers, landscape artists and nurseries come together to compete for the medals awarded to the best creations and “show gardens” (small delightfully imaginative inspirational gardens), introduce new varieties of flora and revive the appeal of older varieties. The centerpiece of the show is the Grand Pavilion, which is a vibrant floral marquee showcasing the best in horticultural achievement of the most elite names in the world of gardening.
Despite being televised by the BBC and receiving a lot of press, only around 150,000 visitors can be admitted to the show each year due to the limitations of ground capacity and tickets are sold out well in advance. Children under the age of 5 are not admitted. It can take a full day of walking to explore the numerous gardens, so visitors are advised to plan their day ahead of time using the show catalogues which are issued with the tickets, wear comfortable shoes and bring umbrellas in case of rain. Those unlucky enough to miss out can buy the official DVD of the event which is issued by the RHS.
For visitors staying at a luxury serviced apartment in London, especially in the exclusive district of Mayfair, this is the must-not-miss social event of the season. Ascott London Mayfair is highly recommended for seekers of luxury
This island nation has also come to be famous for its exquisite dining experience, offering its visitors palatable delicacies from around the world. Furthermore the shopping available is every shopaholic’s dream come true. During recent times
All these attractions and wonders can be experienced during the day; however a Night Cruise is an experience that the traveller is sure not to forget.
There are many kinds of Singapore Night Cruises that can be arranged, ranging from one night to even a week. The type of cruise will depend on the traveller’s convenience and what the traveller wishes to see. The whole experience will definitely include a bumboat ride, scrumptious cuisine, an art work centre and a stroll through the heady quay area with its pulsing night life. If you are a wildlife enthusiast then the Night Safari can also be included in your Night Cruise itinerary.
For the traveller seeking to explore