Rotorua, New Zealand Travel Guide
Rotorua is positioned among some of the most volatile and stunning landscapes on the planet and is now a prime spot for adventurers. Its volcanic activity makes it a prime spot for geysers and hot springs, and subsequent geothermal movement has helped carved fascinating landscapes out of the earth.
To truly experience the history of this region, your tour should include a stop at the Buried Village, also called Te Wairoa. When Mt. Tarawera erupted in 1886, it was engulfed in ash and soot, and many of the buildings and artifacts that were buried have been extracted and now on permanent display.
Visit the Tamaki Maori Village to take a journey back in time. In the forest’s depths, you will get a clear picture of Maori traditions and lifestyles. At the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, appreciate, view, and learn more about the traditional arts preserved here. Speak with expert weavers and carvers and learn the processes and history of each art form. Watch a film show that brings the 1866 eruption of Mount Tarawera alive at the Rotorua Museum of Art and History.
Take a trip to Blue Baths to bathe in a crystal clear hot spa. There is a museum in the old changing rooms that showcases the colorful past of the building. Dine upstairs in the tearooms, with views over the manicured Government Gardens. Enjoy a Maori concert and hangi food at one of the city’s hotels or on Mokoia Island.
The scenery in Rotorua is an adventure in itself. Volcanic cones, lakes, and forests make this region a brilliant destination for hikes, bikes, and walks. Visit the Californian redwoods to horse trek, bike, jog, or walk on the forest trails. Choose from the wide range of river and lake excursions – raft, kayak, cruise, or go white water sledding.
Expect the unexpected in Rotorua. The natural assets of the region provide a great scope for entertainment. Experience a highly amusing, action-packed farm show featuring lamb feeding, cow milking, sheep shearing, and trained rams. The ponds at Rainbow Springs are full of wild trout. Here you can encounter conservation in action as you get to study the tuatara, watch native birds, and feed the fish.
Test your nerves in the rapids of Kaituna River or hop into a boat for a cruise through the gorges. Mount Ngongotaha is great for those looking for an easier adventure. From here you get a spectacular view of Lake Rotorua and for a 360° view of the area, you can take a gondola ride up to the mountaintop.
Best Things to Do in Malta
Malta is not a very popular tourist destination but that doesn’t mean a tourist won’t enjoy this beautiful country. This Mediterranean archipelago sandwiched between Sicily and Libya flourished in the medieval times, as evidenced by fortresses, burial chambers, temples and structures that is thought to be dated around 4000 BC. So if you plan to visit this European city, here’s the list of the best things to do.
Walk the medieval streets of Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta and is the site of many forts, strongholds, palaces and their impressive cathedral. You can walk your way through the beautiful winding streets of this fortress city and discover some of Europe’s finest arts, medieval statues and niche, colorful balconies and little quaint cafes.
Visit the impressive St John’s Co-Cathedral
The masterpiece of the Baroque art in Malta is none other than the St John’s Co-Cathedral, built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century. The indoor design will impress any visitors and devotees, alike. The ceiling, walls and pillars are elaborately designed with Baroque style; even the cathedral floor features marble memoirs to honor the each knight that built the structure. Another thing to note is the cathedral houses the famous Carravagio painting, Mattia Pretti.
Explore the Neolithic Ggantija Temple
Ggantija comes from the Maltese word “ggant” meaning “giant” and as the name suggests it is indeed a gigantic structure that pre-dates the Pyramids of Egypt. Exploring this megalithic complex would surely leave you in awe just by thinking how on earth did the ancient civilization in Gozo carry the colossal limestone blocks that make up this temple.
Swim in the Blue Lagoon of Comino
This piece of paradise called the Blue Lagoon is so popular because of its shallow, azure colored waters. Comino maybe the smallest inhabited island in the Maltese archipelago but it draws hundreds of crowd especially during summer. Sun, sea and sand all in one little island.
Try traditional Maltese food
The national dish of Malta is Stuffat tal-Fenek or rabbit stew and is best paired with pasta. If you’re into pizza you need to try the Gozitan Pizza, Ftira Ghawdxija, the distinctive thick dough with potato toppings will get your tummies full in no time. And since Maltese are cheese lovers, the ġbejniet or goat cheese is a favorite inclusion to every meal, be it fried, in a salad, pie or pasta.
Things to See and Do in Dallas, Texas
Dallas is located along the Trinity River with Oklahoma to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Many TV shows and Hollywood films have painted Dallas as a desert city ruled by cattle barons and oil magnates. But despite this image of “Wild West”, Texas is not all deserts and Dallas isn’t a rural city. Friends of mine who run a roofing company up in Canada (https://www.roofingalbatross.ca/) had an absolute blast on their trip to Dallas and shared some of the best things to see with me. The sight of the Reunion Tower will welcome you if you fly into this city. The Reunion Tower is a historical landmark of this southern city. Here are the top must see attractions in Dallas, Texas.
The Art District
Visit the downtown galleries and theaters in the art district to explore the cultural side of this city. At the Dallas Museum of Art, you will see famous European paintings and American designs. The Nasher Sculpture Center is next door and it mixes the contemporary with the traditional in a tranquil setting. You can also enjoy the masterpiece of nature in the Botanical Gardens and Arboretum. They feature colorful displays of European flowers and native plants.
Dallas World Aquarium
You can observe some remarkable creatures from up close by exploring the underwater passages of this aquarium. The Dallas World Aquarium is more like a zoo, so if you like monkeys don’t miss the jungle walk. On a hot day, enjoy lunch on the lawn by ordering a treat from a food truck.
Perot Museum of Science and Nature
Children can feel an earthquake, witness a tornado, outrun a dinosaur, and fly like a bird at the Perot Museum of Science and Nature. They can also hand feed giraffes, see cuddly koalas, while also admiring other giants of the savanna at the nearby Dallas Zoo.
Six Flags Over Texas
For even more family fun, you can visit the Six Flags Over Texas. It is a theme park in Arlington that features more than 100 rides. Try a hot dog for lunch, roll a ball, and ride on the Rock n Rocket. Grab a 10 gallon hat and some boots to explore the Heritage Village.
Southfork Ranch
The Southfork Ranch is the film set of the very popular Dallas Soap Opera. This is the estate where Sue Ellen and J.R. played out their sad marriage. This family drama is still being followed by many fans across the world after almost four decades.
The Sixth Floor Museum
One of the most unforgettable events in the history of America took place here. You can stand at the same location where the shot that killed John F. Kennedy was fired. The Dealey Plaza at the Sixth Floor Museum documents the assassination of this great president.
Texas BBQ
Make sure you taste Texas BBQ before leaving Dallas. You can order sushi if you prefer fine dining. End your day in a cocktail bar with lounging or dancing.
In Dallas, the modern meets old and their friendly locals will welcome you to this beautiful southern city.
Things to do in Kathmandu, Nepal
Kathmandu is right at the foothills of the Himalayas separating India from the rest of Asia because of that the people and food in Kathmandu are an amazing mix of the two. It has the intensity of India but borrows some of its food and customs from China. I will take you through my favorite ways to experience Kathmandu.
Durbar Square
Durbar square is located in the heart of Kathmandu district, in the location of the royal palace which used to be the home of the King until 2008 when Nepal abolished the monarchy in favor of democracy. Unfortunately, most of the palace was damaged in the 2015 earthquake. The square itself though remain largely untouched including its famous pigeon temple.
Swayambhunath Temple
Swayambhunath Temple otherwise known as the monkey temple is an ancient religious site built on top of a mountain in Kathmandu Valley. The temple is widely considered being the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. It takes 365 steps to get at the top and gives you some of the best panoramic views of the entire city. It is best to go at dusk or dawn to get the full effect.
Food
If you are like me, food is one reason you travel and Nepal has some amazingly cheap dishes are to die for. Because of its location, its food is influenced from all over Asia. Its most popular dish the Momo is like a Chinese dumpling but they also have Samosas and Pokhara which is like a fried potato.
The Boudhanath Stupa
This ancient stupa is one of the largest in the world and supposedly houses the remains of one of the original Buddhas. It cost about $10 but it also gives you access to some small street markets surrounding the stupa.
Thamel
Thamel district is the setup for tourists. Even though it remains a popular destination, it wouldn’t even be on my list except for some areas around Thamel are really interesting. If you wander away from the heart of the market and spend about an hour or two, you can find some really cool neighborhoods real quick. Getting around can be of tricky because you don’t have a ton of options. If you are feeling adventurous locals will generally give you rides if you are going the same direction. You can also just take cabs but know that if you are not using the meter you are probably getting ripped off.
Kopan Monastery
The Kopan monastery sits in the outskirts of Kathmandu and is one of the most peaceful places in the entire city. It is famous for teaching Buddhism to foreigners and they hold yearly month-long courses. Keep in mind though, if you are just visiting for a day make sure you go on Saturday because the Kopan monastery isn’t open other days of the week and don’t forget to try to talk to some monks they are friendlier than you might expect.
Nightlife
Despite its appearance, Kathmandu is a pretty lively city and there are tons of really cool bars and clubs you can check out. Some notable places to try are Jazz Upstairs, Sam’s bar which is the oldest and probably most popular and Rum Doodle. Sam’s bar is more like a club than a bar but either way, it’s a fantastic place. They have decently priced drinks and there are usually lots of travelers so you can meet people and have a good time.
The Asan Bazaar
The Asan Bazaar is famous in Kathmandu because six streets converge onto one square giving it a perpetual sense of bustle that stirred up the Wikipedia page. The Asan Bazaar is a pretty amazing market with an insane range of products being sold. Everything from fish to leather jackets is sold here.
When in Nepal, don’t be afraid to talk to locals and you’ll find that almost all of them have something interesting to say. Nepal is a surprisingly interesting place with a complex culture that made everything about it seem awesome, it’s a must if you are in Southeast Asia.
Things to do in Dubai
There are so many things to see and do in Dubai but it’s hard to know which are the best things you need to do when you are there. When I am in Dubai, there are certainly a few things that I make sure I do and I am going to share those with you.
Desert Safari
A desert safari is a must-do activity in Dubai and there are different desert safari companies you can choose from. I would recommend you go for those companies that do their desert safaris in beautiful vintage land rovers and in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve instead of dune bashing which is environmentally damaging. You can also do wildlife drives on set tracks where you can spot Arabian oryx gazelles and other animals in their natural habitat. You can also attend a falcon show which is truly amazing and then after that, you can go to an authentic Bedouin camp where the entertainment is Emirati and the food is exquisite.
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building. You can go up there to the viewing platform right near the top and get a really great view of Dubai. My tip for this one is to book in advance because it is sometimes almost a quarter of the price than if you just turn up there to go up.
Hot air Balloon
My favorite way to see the desert is floating 1,000 feet above it in a hot-air balloon. Not only do balloon adventures do hot-air balloons over the Dubai desert, but you also get to do the world first phenomenon of flying with falcons. These magnificent creatures are the fastest animals in the world and you get to do this as well as enjoying a delicious breakfast afterward.
Dubai Fountains
One of my favorite free things to do in Dubai is the Dubai fountains. It can get a little crowded in the evenings but during the day at 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m you can get some screenings or you can catch them every 30 minutes from 6 o’clock onwards. When you are at the Dubai Mall, it is definitely worth checking out the Dubai aquarium.
HERO OdySEA
One of the most fun things to do is get out on the water on the HERO OdySEA boats. You can look at the Burj Al Arab, Atlantis and they go up to 50 kilometers an hour.