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Exploring Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet
I’ve heard about Marie Antoinette and her frivolous ways before, but Sofia Coppola’s rocked-out film version revealed a different side of the reluctant queen. Married into the extravagant lifestyle of French royalty, she sought to retreat to the simple life in a rustic village, in the middle of the Palace grounds. The Palace of Versailles may awe with its opulence and size, but it’s really the Hameau de la Reine (The Queen’s hamlet) that took my breath away. Designed by the Queen’s preferred architect, Richard Mique and painter Hubert Robert, the hamlet is self-contained, with a meadow filled with lakes and ponds, strewn with shrubs and flowers and quaint cottages…
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5 cities I would gladly revisit
Travelling is a form of escape, a way to experience diverse cultures and widen our horizons. I love how different places inspire, humble and excite me. There are some that leave a deeper impression on me than others, and I would gladly revisit them.
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Snapshot: Visit the Majestic Ruins of Monte Alban
Monte Alban, or the White Mountain, is the most majestic ancient ruins in Oaxaca. The flattened mountain top lends a panoramic view of the plunging valleys of Oaxaca with the city in the distance.
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Liechtenstein: soaking in the Alpine sights
Liechtenstein Are you ready for some Liechtenstein? Just barely bigger than Manhattan, this pint-sized country is filled with rolling hills, lush forests and quaint villages. Sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, this little piece of heaven is ideal for all seasons. Summer sees outdoor sports enthusiasts hiking rocky cliffs and cyclists zipping down winding paths, while winter welcomes skiers and ice-skaters ploughing the powdery snow. Vaduz City The nation’s capital, Vaduz is a collision of old and new. Home to the Prince of Liechtenstein who still lives in a castle, the city also houses modern structures like the Liechtenstein Museum of Fine Arts in a futuristic cube-like building. In the heart…
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Snapshot: marvel at the Leshan Giant Buddha
Carved out of a hillside that overlooks the convergence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers, the massive Buddha sculpture, built during the Tang Dynasty, remains the largest Buddha structure in the world.
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Snapshot: Explore the Moaning Cavern
First explored by gold miners in 1851, the Moaning Cavern near Vallecito, California is also an archaeological site where a few of the oldest human remains in America were uncovered.
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At the end of the Romantic Road- Fussen
Fussen is known for its castles, beautiful lakes and the ancient former abbey of St. Mang. Most importantly, the town is right next to the castle where fairy tales are spun from- the Neuschwanstein Castle.
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Gdansk: Beauty along the Baltic Coast
At the edge of the Baltic Sea, Gdansk is considered the most beautiful city along the Baltic Coast. At its prime, it was one of the wealthiest cities in Europe, evidenced today by its bourgeois architecture.
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Snapshot: Behold the Stone Forest
They shoot from the ground, these stalagmites-like spikes, as though they’re reaching for the sky. The Stone Forest, also known as Shilin, is a range of limestone formations found in the Yunnan Province in China.
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Snapshot: the intriguing Gardens of Bomarzo
In one corner stood the graceful Pegasus in mid action while in a clearing lies the imposing Neptune. Venture further and you’ll stumble upon a giant turtle carrying on its back a woman with wings on her shoulders.
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Snapshot: Escape to the Tianmen Mountain
The Tianmen Mountain is located inside the Tianmen Mountain National Park in Zhangjiajie, lying northwest in the Hunan Province in China. At its foot, trying to peer at the peak may be hard.
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Culinary Delights in the Napa Valley
Just north of California’s San Francisco Bay Area lies Napa Valley, a region more commonly known as Wine Country. While the sunny, Mediterranean climate allows for thriving expanses of vineyards, the pastoral scenery and the top-notch wines are complemented by a number of excellent restaurants.
