-
Snapshot: reading has never been more fascinating
Resembling a magical, whimsical ancient library, the Livraria Lello & Irmão (Lello Bookstore) is arguably one of the most gorgeous bookstores in the world.
-
Alsace: Of medieval towns and idyllic vineyards
It’s like walking onto a set of a period medieval movie. With rustic medieval towns and villages, Alsace brings to life the intriguing Middle Ages of discovery, history and culture. Tucked in north-eastern France near Switzerland and Germany, the region is wrapped with rolling mountains, scattered with inviting vineyards and offers a medieval cityscape with a dash of old world charm.
-
Snapshot: Be with nature, with all the comforts
It’s one of the more unusual structures I’ve seen. At 13 feet wide and 10 feet high, it looks like it could burst in front of you. This bubble room is actually part of a hotel, a family of bubble rooms belonging to The Attrap’ Reves in Allauch, Montagnac- Monpezat, Puget Ville and at La Bouilladisse, all in France.
-
Snapshot: Stepping into Middle-Earth
Any Lord of the Rings fan would be ecstatic to know that a Hobbit-style bar called the Green Dragon Pub has opened in Hobbiton, near Matamata, where the LOTR films were shot.
-
Serendipity3, I’m finally here!
I remember seeing it in the movie Serendipity, but I thought it was a fictional place, just to complement the movie title. Then a few years later, I caught a show on the Travel Channel, highlighting the world’s most expensive dessert- Golden Opulance Sunday with its staggering price at the very same place- Serendipity3.
-
Trailing the Sound of Music
The opening scene was etched in my mind. Where Julie Andrews skipped and dance on the hills that sprung alive with her singing. I must have seen the movie over 20 times and the half day movie experience was like a dream fulfilled. That’s definitely one item off my bucket list.
-
Cancún Underwater Museum- a submerged world
From far, they rest on the seabed like an army of quiet terra cotta soldiers, as if ready to strike. You take a closer look and realise they are far from stoic warriors, but figures of normal beings like you and me.
-
Milan: A blend of fashion, culture and history
You know it as a fashion capital, giving Paris a run for her money as forerunner in the fashion world. But beyond its label of being a shopping paradise and vibrant nightlife spot, Milan offers a wealth of historical sights
-
Snapshot: The view from the Top
Bright lights, bustling traffic and faint sirens of police cars. These are the sights and sounds that greet you at the 86th floor observatory of the Empire State Building. At midnight.
-
Vernazza: taking it easy on the Italian Riveria
It’s one of those striking places you see on postcards- a tranquil coastal town with charming houses clinging to the side of cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea. This is the picturesque town of Vernazza, tucked away in the Liguria province of north-western Italy.
-
Pamukkale: pools with healing powers
A calming sight of Aegean blue against cascading stark white terraced slopes. This is the travertine hot springs in Pamukkale, Turkey. A UNESCO World Heritage site, people from far and wide have come to bathe in Pamukkale’s minerals rich pools. You have to visit the calcium cliff bathing pools overlooking the town.
-
Ten things to do in New York
I find myself in the middle of Times Square in New York City at midnight, marveling at bustling human traffic, glaring neon signs from giant billboards, and brightly lit stores. I feel a rush of adrenaline-my heart was racing, palms were sweating, thoughts scattered. It had just hit me that I’ve finally arrived in a city I’d always dreamt of visiting. After seeing it in countless movies and TV shows, it feels surreal to be finally here.
