Author: Astone Miya
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What to do in India
India has a wealth of opportunities for adventure sports. Such thrills can be combined with more conventional sightseeing. Apart from the activities listed here, you can also try ballooning, heli-skiing, hang-gliding, mountain or rock climbing and even motor rallying. There are even ski resorts in Himachal Pradesh. Birdwatching The country’s diverse and rich natural habitats…
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Best of India
1 Delhi India’s capital city is dynamic, chaotic and a perfect introduction to the country. From the labyrinthine streets of Chandni Chowk to the serene Lotus Temple and the colonnades of Connaught Place – it is a city of magical variety. 2 Taj Mahal The romance of the world’s most famous building still astonishes in…
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The Art of Chos Khor Gompa
Founded in AD996 as a scholastic institution, Chos Khor Gompa is found in the region of Spiti in Himchal Pradesh. It is the oldest living Buddhist establishment in this part of the world and its original layout was planned as a mandala centred around an Assembly Hall. It comprises nine temples, four stupas and some…
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Best of Vietnam
1 Hanoi Vietnam’s capital city is one of a kind. Chaotic it may be, but its charms far outweigh the traffic, with peaceful lakes, crumbling colonial buildings, narrow streets of the Old Quarter and one of the best street food scenes in the world. There are also plenty of great day trips to be made…
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Best of Brazil: 12 Places to Visit
1 Rio de Janeiro Known to the locals as the City of Marvels, no city on earth has a setting to compare. Rainforest-covered mountains rise sheer from a bottle-green ocean and a vast wine-glass bay. The beaches and music are wonderful, and the carnival is one of the world’s greatest spectacles. Sugarloaf Mountain 2 São…
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Best of Costa Rica
1 Volcán Arenal After decades of almost constant violent eruption, Volcán Arenal, one of Costa Rica’s most iconic attractions, fell into a slumber in 2011. Activity may or may not resume soon, but until then, you can hike through diverse ecosystems in the day, then bask in nearby hot springs. 2 Monteverde Monteverde provides a…
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Best Treks in India
Valley of Flowers (Uttarakhand) As the rains start, this high-altitude valley bursts into colour with a stunning array of flowers. It’s best to visit in August, starting this gentle trek from Govindghat. It was discovered in 1931 when a group of British mountaineers got lost. You will find rare flowers and valuable medicinal plants (Ayurvedic).…
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12 Ways of Christmas: How to Celebrate Christmas Around the World
Discover a dozen unusual yuletide celebrations and traditions, from rollerskating to, er, a pooping log… Krampus, Germany In Austria and Bavaria you might… offer schnapps to a demon On 5 December (the night before the Feast of St Nicholas) Krampus – a chained, hairy, demonic creature with goat’s horns, fangs and hoofed feet – chases…
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Mayan America: 3 dream trips
You’ve got two or three weeks to spare, and you want to see the best of southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize – what can you do? We’ve created three itineraries linking ancient sites, gorgeous beaches and encounters with indigenous communities. The Yucatán, the Petén and Belize Star gods and pyramids Ever since the intrepid 19th-century…
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Best Surf Breaks in Costa Rica
Surfing is popular on the Pacific and southern Caribbean beaches of Costa Rica, attracting professionals who follow storm surges along the coast. Beginners can take classes in some resorts like Tamarindo, Jacó and Dominical, and proficient surfers can get advice on waves from surf shops in these areas. 1 Pavones Hidden away on the south…