For all his mesmerising, colourful pieces of art, who knew such a tortured soul hid behind all these masterpieces?

I knew little of Vincent van Gogh before his exhibition. I knew he died young and had mental issues, but the severity of it was news to me until I went to Van Gogh- The Immersive Experience.

I caught glimpses of the exhibition in the first season of Emily in Paris. Emily seated in the expansive room with Van Gogh projections at the end of one of the episodes was magical and unforgettable. So when the exhibition rolled around, I had to catch it.

Here’s a guide to Van Gogh- The Immersive Experience.

Location:

The Van Gogh Immersive Experience is located in several cities worldwide, including Paris, Amsterdam, London and New York. I missed the one in New York during my visit, but I managed to catch the current one in Singapore.

What to expect:

The exhibition features a combination of light, sound, and projection, creating an immersive and interactive experience that brings Van Gogh’s art to life. Visitors will be transported to some of Van Gogh’s most famous works, including Starry Night, Sunflowers, and The Bedroom.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors will be surrounded by stunning visuals and music that capture the essence of Van Gogh’s art. The experience is designed to be educational and entertaining, making it perfect for art lovers of all ages.

Interactive elements:

The Van Gogh Immersive Experience is not a traditional art exhibition. Instead, visitors are encouraged to interact with the exhibits in a variety of ways. This includes:

• Walking through a recreation of Van Gogh’s famous painting The Bedroom
• Standing under a starry night sky and feeling as though you are part of the painting
• Walking through a field of sunflowers, just like those that inspired Van Gogh’s famous paintings
• Listening to stories and letters from Van Gogh’s life, narrated by actors
• Creating your own digital artwork inspired by Van Gogh’s style

Insider tips:

• Book your tickets in advance to avoid long lines and ensure you can visit at your desired time.
• Allow plenty of time to explore the exhibition – there are many interactive elements and it’s easy to lose track of time!
• Wear comfortable shoes – there is a lot of walking involved in the exhibition.
• Take advantage of the interactive elements and create your own artwork – it’s a fun and unique way to engage with Van Gogh’s style.

Even if you are not an ardent Van Gogh fan, this Immersive Experience is still an interesting insight into the world of art. For his fans, this is a must-visit, allowing you to dive deeper into the tortured mind of a tortured soul, showing you the anguish of VanGoh, beyond the artist. With its stunning visuals, immersive sound, and interactive elements, this exhibition is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who visit.

There is also a tidy little cafe beside the gift shop that serves up pretty pastries and much-needed coffee.

There’s something striking, in the neighborhood.

Discover the legendary Ghostbusters’ Firehouse, a New York City landmark located at 14 North Moore Street in the trendy neighborhood of Tribeca. This iconic building was erected as the headquarters for Hook and Ladder fire company 8, following the creation of the FDNY. It was one of the first firehouses built in the Beaux-Arts architectural style, designed by Alexander H. Stevens, the city superintendent of buildings. Initially featuring two vehicle doors, the building underwent a reduction in size in 1913 due to the widening of Varick Street.

The 1984 Ghostbusters film brought worldwide fame to the firehouse, as it was transformed into the fictional headquarters for a team of quirky paranormal investigators we grew to love. The movie and its sequel made this historic building an instant pop culture icon, drawing fans worldwide.

Remarkably, the building was in disrepair when the filmmakers discovered it, but they saw its potential and renovated it to its former glory. Today, the firehouse is not just a fire station but also a must-see destination for those who love Ghostbusters and historical architecture.

The brave firefighters of Hook & Ladder No. 8 were among the first to respond to the September 11, 2001 attacks. However, in 2011, the beloved firehouse faced the threat of closure due to city budget cuts. But thanks to a heartfelt public campaign supported by Mayor Bill de Blasio and actor and former New York City firefighter Steve Buscemi, the firehouse was saved and remains in service today. Recently, from 2016 to 2018, the firehouse underwent a much-needed renovation, costing $6 million, to ensure it can continue to serve the community for years to come.

While it’s unlikely that visitors can tour the firehouse due to its active status; you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the fire engines racing out on a call and get a peek inside.

I didn’t see the fire station in action on the day of my visit, but it still gives me the thrill to be up close to the fire station. Visit in the morning to capture unobstructed views of the station—crowds mushroom after 10:30 am. But most are pretty polite, taking turns to take pictures.

To take the station in its entirety, stand across the road and set your camera mode to a wide angle. Then cross over to the station and grab some closeups of the facade’s details and the floor graffiti.

It’s easy to get to the Ghostbusters HQ. The nearest subway station is Franklin Street Station, only 98 m from it. After you exit the station, take the route via Varick Street, which will take approximately 1 minute.

Surrounded by lush forestry and sitting atop a precipice overlooking the town of Eisenach in the Thuringia state in Germany, this well-preserved medieval castle with Romanesque architecture throws us way back to the Middle Ages.

The Wartburg Castle is the first German castle to be designated as a UNESCO Heritage site and the hilltop castle is a prime example of a fortress during the feudal period in Central Europe. With improvements and additions throughout the years, it serves as a window into over a thousand years of German history.

The Wartburg castle was said to be first constructed in 1067 and calls the Neuenburg in the Freyburg town as sister castle. What remains of the castle now are remnants from the 12^th to the 15^th century, and the19^{th C}entury, where it underwent reconstruction. During this period, the medieval architecture was restored and complemented with new additions.

Did you know: The great German professor of theology, composer, priest, and monk, Martin Luthor was exiled at the Wartburg Castle that he translated the New Testament into German.

Today, the fortress is a showcase of strength during its peak as a military stronghold. Visitors can also go on a guided tour of the castle’s vast number of rooms to take a peek into life back then, and the must-visit room in the castle is the 12^th century Palais (the great hall) that still bears traces of its former glory in Romanesque architecture.  The ceremonial hall in the main castle building now serves as the backdrop for the famous Wartburg concerts during summer, as well as other events organized here.

Art lovers can also take a detour to the castle museum, where fine arts are celebrated. There are famous paintings, glorious sculptures, exquisite tapestries and furniture of splendid workmanship. Its art collection was set up 200 years ago, at German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s recommendation, and spans eight centuries.

Did you know: During the festive December period, the castle comes alive with its historical Christmas market, reminiscent of its medieval days.

There’s no charge if you just wish to visit the castle grounds, but entry to the rooms within the castle comes with an admission charge, which varies depending on the season. Give yourself around two hours to explore the castle.

How to get there: You can get to the town of Eisenach, where the Wartburg Castle is located, in just three hours by train from Berlin, and less than two hours from Frankfurt and Leipzig.

Image credits: Wikipedia, Wartburg Castle, UNESCO

It makes a surrealistic first impression- vast green bubbly moss-covered fields stretching to the distance before it meets the sky. What’s ironic is that this vision of other-worldly beauty was born out of one of the most catastrophic natural disasters to hit us in the 18^th century.

The Eldhraun Lava Field was formed after the eruption of the Laki Volcano (Lakagígar) in 1783 that almost wiped out the entire Iceland. Lava and poisonous gas blanket the nation, causing not just nationwide famine, but affected countries in Europe as well. For eight months between 1783 and 1784, lava flowed through Iceland, covering 600 square kilometres, and was recorded as the third largest flow of lava after the end of the Ice Age. Countries like Great Britain experienced a Sand Summer because of the ash, and during this period, the eruption blocked out much of the sunlight in Europe.

After the ash and lava settled, the Eldraun Lava Field emerged, a vast 218 square miles (565 sq kilometres) of land covered with nothing but asphalt and Woolly Fringe Moss on bumpy mounds.

Tip: If you’re visiting the alien-like field, be careful not to damage the moss, which takes decades to grow.

Did you know: The field doesn’t just look unusual, it actually has a unique texture as well. In fact, it was the training ground for the Apollo 11 crew to prepare for their moonwalk.

Where to see it:
The Eldhraun Lave Field and its over 200 caves are located north of the Lake Laufbalavatn, on the south coast of Iceland, right before you reach the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur. You can self-drive there and head to the village to check out the exhibition Mosar (Moss) to learn about the birth of this unusual lava field.

It’s a vision of blue, with the hues’ vividness differing one shade or two depending on the amount of sun rays hitting the water. Also known as the Blue Pond, this water feature in Biei, Hokkaido came about as a result of works carried out on the nearby Biei River following the 1988 eruption of Mount Tokachi. To protect the Biei town from the overflowing of volcanic mudflows, a dam was erected on the Biei River, with the Blue Pond, one of many, forming as a by-product of the change in the river dynamics.

Its current shape and form have evolved since its accidental formation, and its gorgeous shades of colors are derived from natural sources. The waters of the Biei River are streamed down from the cliffs where the Shirahige Falls flow. The waters of the Shirogane Hot Springs from Mount Tokachi mix with the aluminum from the cliff to reach a bluish tint that only brightens or deepens depending on weather and seasons. Other elements like sulfur and lime play their part in the mesmerising hues of the pond. These substances make their way into the pond’s waters and whiten the rocks resting at its bottom, providing the blank canvas to the pond’s waters to shine.

What adds to the Biei Pond’s allure are also the partly submerged trees that envelop the pond. These trees are known as the Japanese Larch and Silver Birch trees, while some are a lush green, there’s a substantial number that has withered, which strangely add to the stunning sight of the Biei Pond.

When to visit:

It really depends on what shade of blue you prefer. For a bright cobalt blue, then the period between May to June, the turn of Spring to Summer, makes the perfect time to visit. The weather during this period makes it ideal for photography, with clear blue skies and lack of rain. On some days, the waters here may be so still that it offers a stunning reflection and a great photo op.

Otherwise, the pond changes into a dreamy emerald at the hint of Spring, when melting snow and rainwater infuse with the ponds waters. While the waters remain an intense shade of blue, autumn injects a pop of orange/red in its surrounding trees, creating a vibrant picture.

If you love yourself a frosty pale blue, year end is the best time to visit. The white withering, snow-covered trees and the pastel blue of the pond transport you to a dreamy, fairy-tale like landscape. It’s almost as though you’ve entered the frosty world of Narnia, when it was controlled by the white witch.

How to get there:

There are tour buses from Sapporo that visitors can take to visit the pond. Alternatively, you can always do a self-drive here while touring central Hokkaido.

It’s like a little slice of charm amidst old, grey buildings in Fairfax, Lose Angeles. Any visit to the City of Angels should include a trip to the Original Farmer’s Market and The Grove outdoor shopping mall adjacent to it.

The historic landmark of Farmer’s Market is one of my favorite places in the city. With its origin dated back to the 1880s, it has evolved through the decades to become a shopping and dining spot for both locals and tourists. What makes it appealing is how it fuses the old and new. While it retains its original charm of a farmer’s market with produce stalls offering fresh fruits, greens, cheeses and meats alongside grocers, it now features and extensive dining area with over 40 restaurants featuring cuisines from all corners of the globe.

Back in 1880, Arthur Fremont Gilmore and his partner from Illinois arrived in Los Angeles and bought two dairy farms, with Gilmore owning the current Farmer’s Market and his partner taking the plot that’s now called The Grove. They split after a decade’s partnership with Gilmore taking over the two plots of land, combining The Farmer’s Market and Grove. The area started to attract nearby farmers who sell their fresh produce to local residents, planting the roots of the market we know today. In 1934, farmers, grocers and restaurateurs moved into their permanent stalls and the new Farmer’s Market was established.

If you visit the Farmer’s Market today, you’ll spot a Gilmore Oil Station near its entrance, an oddity among grocers surrounding it. Back in early 1900s, oil was discovered beneath the land and the Gilmore Oil Company was established. No longer functioning, this oil station is now a popular photo opp for visitors.

Did You Know: The Farmer’s Market has close ties with Hollywood. Ave Gardner was known to pop by to try on summer hats, while Marilyn Monroe was on hand for the opening of one of the stalls back in the day- Michael’s Cheesecake. Frank Sinatra and even The Beatles dropped by to visit its food outlets.

The iconic Clock Tower at the Farmer’s Market is noticeable from a distance. Erected in 1948, it now sits atop Starbucks and is a nod to 20 original tenants who shaped the heart and soul of the market into what it is today.

There are really three main activities to engage in at this landmark- Dine, shop and relax. If you’re here to eat, never just settle on one place. Walk around to survey the options and pick a few to try out their food. There are pizza joints, hot dog stalls (selling gourmet hot dogs!), coffee havens and dessert paradise. Eat your way through the area before popping by The Grove for some shopping (and possibly more eating).

While the Farmer’s Market has shops selling interesting trinkets, handmade products and souvenirs, it’s The Grove that you’ll be spending most of your time at. The Grove is an outdoor shopping mall that’s designed with a garden concept in mind. Here, you have all the brands you’re familiar with- Gap, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Nordstrom and more. There’s even a cinema, Cheesecake Factory, and other small dining outlets.

What makes it different from other shopping malls despite its similar offerings is how the entire area is themed. With its center featuring an animated fountain, The Grove fans out into its numerous retail, dining and entertainment options with paths in all directions.

Its fountain features a water show themed to music that plays every hour. Linking the shopping strip from one end to another is an old-fashioned trolley that transports shoppers tired from all that walking.

With its outdoor concept, The Grove makes the perfect spot for a morning of relaxation and people-watching. There’s nothing better than to have a cup of coffee in your hand, and settling down on a bench in front of the fountain and soak in the bustling atmosphere. You might even find yourself being drafted to be an extra on the show “Extra” by E! Television. Hosted by Mario Lopez, The Grove is the filming spot of the program and shoppers often get invited to be part of the show.

They look like wizards’ pointed hats from far, jagged cone-shaped mounts blanketed with greenery, soaring as high as over 60 meters. These are the Duncansby Stacks of the most north-easterly part of the Scottish mainland.

You can admire these stacks from the adjacent Duncansby Head, where there’s a Highland Walk that you can take to soak in the picturesque seaside view. The cliffs around the area are a result of eroded red sandstone from the harsh environmental conditions, and its closeness to the sea. The Duncansby Stacks were once part of these cliffs, but the erosion shattered these sandstones and washed away parts of it, with the remaining stubborn structures now protruding from the sea as the Duncansby Stacks, looking as though they have risen from the sea.

Apart from the Great Duncansby Stacks, you’ll be able to come across (depending on what season), a wide range of sea birds like the Puffins, Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Great Skuas, Fulmars and more at the Duncansby Head, which is near John o’ Groats, a popular village, because it’s at one end of the longest distance between two inhabited British points on the mainland, with Land’s End in Cornwall lying 876 miles (1,410 km) to the southwest. However, John o’ Groats isn’t exactly the northerly point on the island of Britain, nearby Dunnet Head, where Duncansby Head is, is further north. But few will make the visit to the extreme end, which is a mere few miles east from the village.

From John o’ Groats, you can easily drive to Duncansby Head (if you choose to walk, its three km per way), where the Dunnet Head lighthouse, built in 18231, is indicative of the start of the Highland Walk. There’s a map you can grab to indicate the different features you’ll encounter during you walk. The sea view is to your left, and you don’t have to walk for long before you encounter the Duncansby Stacks. People typically turn back here, but you can actually venture further, where you might meet more creatures, and definitely more sea.

Tip: wear durable shoes and prepare for funky weather with raincoats. Being so close to the sea means the weather can change almost instantly.

It’s like an unspoiled paradise you only see in movies, a surrealistic set erected for a scene where it’s being discovered for the first time by accidental adventure seekers. Except that this isn’t make-believe. The Baatara Gorge Waterfall is a natural wonder in the village of Balaa, between the Laqlouq and Tannourine cities in Lebanon.

The Waterfalls flow into the Baatara Pothole, a cave carved out of ancient limestone melted by winter’s drops over millions of years, at the Lebanon Mountain Trail. The area is commonly known as the “Cave of the Three Bridges” or the “The Three Bridges Chasm”.  The waterfall gushes into the chasm, falling over 837 feet (250 meters) and creating an otherworldly sight.

The cave was discovered in 1952 by French bio-speleologist Henri Coiffait, and was only fully mapped in the 1980s. What makes the waterfall such a magical sight is how it flows behind three natural bridges, with one hanging over another in a magnificent natural formation.

Tip: The waterfall is made from melting snow from the peak of Mount Lebanon, and the best time to catch it is between March and April, where Spring overtakes Winter, and the waterfall is at its mightiest.

You can visit the cave with easy drive from nearby towns like Byblos or Batroun. There are hotels in these towns, or you can always camp at the area if you’re feeling adventurous. There are a handful of sporting activities you can engage in, or if you’re up for it, go for a climb. You can climb to different levels of the cavern without using special equipment, but be careful of the slippery surfaces.

Always be mindful of where you step when visiting the area. There are signs at the cave to discourage people from standing on the bridges for fear of its collapse from the sheer weight of the visitors. At the same time, also steer clear of the edges, it could get pretty slippery.

Tip: Because of the terrain, make sure you wear comfortable shoes with good grip so that you can tread confidently without worrying about slipping.

If you’re visiting, do it in the afternoons. Morning may not be as warm, but the waterfall back faces the morning sun, you’ll have a hard time with great shots.

It makes an arresting sight, a tiny speck of an island rising from the middle of the ocean blanketed with lush greenery and topped with a jagged sloping rock, to a peak that sometimes may be hidden behind cloud cover.

This breath-taking vision makes its appearance at the last scene of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Rey lands on the secluded island and negotiated with a precarious rock path that leads her to the top, where she came face to face with vanished Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. Cutting a lonesome figure at the peak, the aged Jedi stares pensively out to the sea while battling blistering winds.

The Skellig Michael, the bigger of the two Skellig Islands, lies west of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. Over 350 million years of Devonian Sandstone form the volcanic looking Skellig rocks, giving it the rugged, uneven look. The glimpse we got from The Force Awakens hints at an island almost inhabitable (except if you’re a Jedi), and it was, for a long time until a monastery, believed to the one of Ireland’s earliest monastic settlements, was founded on the island.

Once a mating ground for birds, a Christian monastery and settlement sprung up between the 6^th and 8^th century. Abandoned in the late 12^th century, the St. Fionan’s monastery is today, still very well preserved. The island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, because of its unique environmental setting and cultural significance.

Visitors to the island can explore the monastery and the settlement at the summit, which takes 670 steps to reach. The monks of the monastery lived in beehive shaped huts made of stone. Round on the outside, the huts are rectangular on the inside, built in a manner where not even a drop of rain can enter. Do venture into a hut to admire the layout. After the monks left the island, it once again flourished with birdlife, and is a favorite place of puffins, which often visit in late Spring.

Visitors can assess this far-flung island during the summer (May to October), where boat licences are granted to tour operators who ferry visitors to Skellig Michael. Island exploration is strict, during bad weather, climbs up to the monastery are forbidden because the timeworn steps are steep and rocky.

With the island showing up in the Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer, you can bet Skellig Michael would be hot property very soon, flooded with legions of Star Wars fans.

Pre-book a boat trip to the Skellig Michael here

It’s like the type of gardens that only appear in your dreams, an explosion of colors and blooms that stretch and fan out to as far as your eye can see, creating a visual paradise. The Keukenhof Garden, also known as the Garden of Europe, is one of the world’s biggest flower gardens. Located in Lisse, the Netherlands, there is a staggering amount of seven million flower bulbs planted here annually, over an area of 32 hectares (79 acres- around 38 and a half football pitches).

Every year, the Garden is open for only a brief period, from mid- March to mid-May (23 March to 21 May in 2017), where the blooms are at their prime during the Spring to Summer season. Tulips are best viewed in mid-April, where they are at their most vibrant.

The Keukenhof Garden is sited on hunting grounds dating back to the 15th century. It served as a source of herbs for the Countess of Hainaut’s kitchen, hence its name- Keukenhof, which actually means Kitchen Garden. It was in the 19th century that architect Jan David Zocher and his son were commisioned to design the garden, which opened in 1949. It was intended as a flower exhibit where flower enthusiasts from not just Netherlands, but around Europe could share their love of flowers and share their blooms.

Netherlands is home of the Tulips, and the Keukenhof Garden houses 800 tulip varieties of all sizes and colors. Beyond that, there are themed gardens, flower shows, creative art displays and events galore. There’s an English Garden where visitors can find winding paths surrounded by flowers, the Historical Garden is home to old types of bulbs and the Nature Garden sees shrubs and bulbous plants sprinkled about.

Flower shows are a big deal at the Keukenhof Garden. Up to 500 growers typically come together to showcase their prized blooms in floral arrangements for each show. The variety is astounding; there are flowers in pots, growing on the ground, cut and displayed and more. There are different pavilions that visitors can admire the kaleidoscope of floral displays. The Orange Nassau Pavilion boasts of displays that are changed out weekly, the Willem-Alexander Pavilion is the place to visit if you’re a Tulip lover, while the Beatrix Pavilion is a paradise of Orchids and Anthuriums.

If you intend to visit, do keep a lookout for events happening on different days that the garden is open. You can check them out at the Official Keukenhof Garden website. There’re events like the Keukenhof Dutch Design Week this April where visitors can get a taste of Dutch contemporary design and innovations, with workshops and presentations that you can take part in to get better acquainted with Dutch Design. There are also events catered to the little ones. Also in April, Shaun the Sheep arrives in Keukenhof. There’s an egg-hunting game, a sheep race, long jump and more. This will keep the kids entertained thoroughly at expansive, colorful fields. End the visit with an appearance by the Easter Bunny over the Easter Weekend. There’s also a flower parade on 22 April this year, expect colorful sea of flowers on display.

Visitors can take boat rides to explore the garden with the whisper boat- an electronically-propelled boat that meanders through the river flanked by the Dutch flower bulb. A 45-minute journey through the garden, the ride is an upcharge of €8,00 for adults and €4,00 for children between four to 11.

If you’re not up for walking through the vast garden or fancy the boat ride, you can choose to cycle instead. Bicycles of all sizes are available for rent outside the park, and there’s a specially designed track- the ‘Bollenstreek route’ that covers 35 km for you to take your time in exploring the beauty of Keukenhof.

Just across the road from The Keukenhof Garden is the Keukenhof Castle, and if you’re visiting the during off-season period, you can still admire the blooms outside of the Garden, where there are flower beds surrounding the castle and garden, and tour the centuries old castle rooted in history dated back to the Golden Age.

Admission prices for Keukenhof Garden 2017
Adults (incl. 65+) € 16,00
Children (aged 0 to 3) Free of charge
Children (aged 4 to 11) € 8,00
Groups (20-200 people) € 13,50
Park guide € 5,00

Images Source: Wikipedia