http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33764 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33764 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33756
This Unesco World Heritage Site is set in spectacular scenery and is professionally run, without any fuss. Please believe the hype and take an elephant safari. It's a humbling experience to ride these stoical and patient relics from prehistory. You'll see plenty of rhinos as you pass through the elephant grass swampland, and if you're very lucky you may see some of the fifteen species of India's most threatened mammals. We saw wild elephants, several dear species and fantastic birds, but you could see fish eagles, hornbills, King Cobras, tigers, bears, leopards, or more.

We stayed in pristine huts with new kids on the block, the Nature Hunt Eco Camp. Superb.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33756 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33744
]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33744 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33717 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33717 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33603 When visiting, you can walk up Namsan Mountain, get a bus, or take a cable car. My recommendation is to get the cable car up and enjoy a leisurely stroll down the mountain on your return. A daytime trip will give you a better view of the surrounding mountains, but visit between 7pm and midnight to see the tower light up in glorious illumination. There are a handful of restaurants at the tower, including a burger bar and the expensive N Grill, which slowly revolves and offers romantic panoramic views of the city as you eat. Booking a table for the latter is a must.
Tickets for the tower itself range from 3,000 to 7000 won. The cable car itself costs 4,800 one-way or 6,000 for a return ticket.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33603 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33579 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33579 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33572 Lightbox, an avant-garde cultural centre and home to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Opened in 2010, it houses a cinema complex, galleries, workshops, two restaurants, and a roof-top terrace.
With different events every day of the week, TIFF offers screenings, lectures, festivals, great food, special exhibits and, of course, great cinema. There are 5 public cinemas with insulated sound space and the first in North America to show 16 mm, 35 mm and 70 mm film in addition to digital movies.
I love brunching at LUMA restaurant. With attentive service and great food, this is the perfect spot for a small or large group. LUMA also has a great dinner and cocktail menu. The Canteen restaurant, located on the ground floor, is a great spot for more casual and quick dining.
My favourite films to watch are those offered by the Contemporary World Cinema programme, where you can see some of the best films from around the world, many of which are unlikely to be widely released.
Ever since its opening last year, the space has featured outstanding exhibits, from Tim Burton to Federico Fellini and now the Grace Kelly exhibit.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33572 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33547 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33547 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33546 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33546 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33533 The collection includes everything from microscopic slides to mammoth skeletons, a dinosaur gallery to Darwin’s work on natural selection and an enormous life-size model of a blue whale.
The National History Museum also offers special exhibitions, an outdoor ice skating rink (in winter) and a wildlife garden. Admission to the permanent collection is free.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33533 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33520 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33520 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33515 There is a vast array of pickled body parts, the skeleton of a 7’ 7” ‘Irish giant’, the tooth of an extinct giant sloth, and a slightly grisly display of pickled foetuses. More recent additions include Churchill’s dentures.
There is also the opportunity to try your hand at simulated keyhole surgery, and watch footage of brain surgery. Educational and fun at the same time!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33515 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33396 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33396 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33390 On Saturday nights the bar is packed as they have live music. Even when it is quieter it is nice to sit down with a nice pint.
Family friendly.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33390 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33365 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33365 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33362 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33362 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33281 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33281 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33110 The mining industry in Canada is extremely important, and it’s only fitting that a large part of the second floor is devoted to such exquisite treasures. The exhibits showcase wonderful specimens of minerals in a variety of colours and shapes, including fluorescent green. There are several cases filled with gold, diamonds, garnets, opals, and jade, as well as exquisite pieces of jewellery. Throughout the exhibits, there are about 40 interactive touch stations that provide in-depth information on several specimens. I can spend hours browsing here, admiring the beauty of so many pieces, all while learning so much about geology.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33110 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33045 throughout the year, and starting November 26 until the middle of March, the famous outdoor skating rink will be open to the public.
Visitors can rent skates, get them sharpened, and have access to the indoor changing rooms.
This is the perfect way to end a winter day in the city. Skate rental includes 2 hours of skating. Adults = $10.00, and children = $5.00.
If you’re in town on November 26, be sure to attend the Cavalcade of Lights, beginning at 7pm in the Square. The event features the official lighting of the city’s Christmas tree, fireworks at 8pm, live musical performances by award-winning Canadian artists, and a skating party on the rink.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33045 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33034 The Centre has several hundred interactive exhibits, featuring everything in science and nature, including geology, astronomy, human anatomy, communication, Toronto’s only planetarium, and KidSpark, a play area designed specifically for kids aged eight and under.
Until November 30, there is a special exhibit of Leonardo da Vinci’s workshop, with 20 scale physical models of his inventions, including a mechanical lion, a robot soldier and the self- propelling cart. Visitors can also interact with his famous paintings by zooming into details on the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. There are also interactive touch-screens to help you turn the pages of his notebooks, with sketches and 3D models leaping from the page.
The IMAX has some great screenings, too. Catch “Rocky Mountain Express”, where you take a steam train through the Canadian Rockies, learning about train travel while seeing spectacular mountain scenery and gorges along the way. Also on IMAX, “Under the Sea” where spectators visit the beautiful underground world of the Great Barrier Reef.
Finally, there are various food options, from snacks to beverages to full meals, ranging from fast food to healthy options.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33034