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A must see, the temple is made out of mirrored glass. Thousands upon thousands of pieces of mirrored glass inset into the walls - if you have ever been to the Amber Palace in Jaipur.
Off Ras Dinendra St and down Badr Das Temple Rd
Otherwise known as Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep - the temple affords amazing views of Chiang Mai and can be reached by driving up a 12km winding mountain road.
Stay at the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion if you like quaintness and history, stay at the g Hotel if you prefer hip and contemporary lodging.
Also, tour the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, eat at the Gurney Drive food stalls and sample everything.
Don't try to take out illegal CDs or DVDs. Read The Star. Visit Kek Lok Si temple. Take the cable car, but arrive early: the lines are awful. Walk the canopy walk. Buy a Makansutra food guide. Indulge in a MacWaffle at Red Garden.
Trip report, with photos, at www.travelmusings.net
Trip report, with photos, at www.travelmusings.net
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion:
www.cheongfatttzemansion.com/
g Hotel: www.ghotel.com.my/
Makansutra: www.makansutra.com/index.php
Travelmusings: www.travelmusings.net
The Tiger Temple is a Buddhist temple about 38km from Kanchanaburi. The monks look after numerous animals, among them several tame tigers that walk around freely once a day and can be petted by tourists.
Chuncheon, The City of Lakes, is a typical Korean city with a host of beautiful scenery surrounding it.
I enjoyed a visit to the park near Soyang lake, which is an artificial lake created by a large dam. You can catch a boat (be sure to have your alien card/passport details) and then take a short hike up to a temple.
There is a slightly hidden trail past the temple where you can walk up the mountain and find secluded hermitages and a seven-story stone pagoda waiting to be discovered.
Before you take the boat back, try the deep fried fish in one of the many restaurants - but watch out because the last boat leaves at 6:30!
You can get to Chuncheon from Seoul via a bus or train. You can catch the bus from Dong Seoul station and the train from Dongamak (I think).
This small relaxed town was, for 150 years, the capital of Japan and is just 50 km and one hour from Tokyo Station. Today it draws thousands of tourists and pilgrims to its many shrines and temples.
Many suggested itineraries are available online, I have visited Kamakura about 10 times, generally with students in tow. Here is an abbreviated itinerary that is a little different.
Train to Kita Kamakura. As you leave the station stay on the left-hand side of the tracks. About one minute to Engakuji Zen Temple (allow about one hour). Be sure to visit the Bell (1301) and adjacent tea room (about 140 steps - look for sign) to the right of entrance. Next walk 250 metres south to the Jochiji Temple (on right). Small and quirky, allow 30 minutes.
Now look for the sign to the Hiking Trail to the Great Buddha (Kamakura Daibutsu) at Hase. This takes about 90-120 minutes, the trail is, at times, a little rugged and needs good hiking shoes.
After visiting the Great Buddha (30 minutes) walk to the Hase rail station and take the small, single track train to Kamakura. Now you have time to explore the shops and sites from the station along Komachi Shopping Street to the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Make your way back to the station for your return to Tokyo. You have experienced a little bit of the real Japan.
If you run out of time there is a youth hostel in Hase - Tel: 81-467-243390, Fax: 81-467-243390, Email: info@jyh.or.jp
Kita Kamakura:
www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/foreign01_english/index.html
For more information see the official tourist site:
www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/foreign01_english/index.html
Get the very detailed Hakone & Kamakura information sheet (PG-307) from your local Japan National Tourist Organisation.
For a comprehensive view of Chinese history encompassing its trinity of influential philosophies, take an afternoon to visit Beijing’s Taoist and Confucian temples, finishing up at the Buddhist Lamasery. Far more enlightening than a tiresome push and shove round the Forbidden City or the Great Wall at Badaling.
Best itinerary is to take a taxi to Baiyun Guan (White Cloud Tao Temple) on Baiyun Guan Lu. Then taxi it to Kong Miao (Confucian Temple) and finally cross the road to Yonghe Gong (Tibetan Lamasery) - both are on Yonghe Gong Dajie, close to Yonghe Gong Metro.
Face it - you might think you're going to visit every far-flung corner of the Middle Kingdom but if you're only in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics, forget it. Instead head for this Tibetan Lamasery. The largest of its kind outside the real deal, with its aroma of incense and yak butter, it’s a brief taste of the roof of the world.
Yonghe Gong Dajie 12
Yonghe Gong Metro Station
The kingdom of Lan Xang (Laos) was founded in the mid-14th century and ruled by Buddhist Thai. At the northern capital, Luang Prabang, the influence of the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai predominated; in the southern capital, Vientiane, a mixture of Ayutthaya and Khmer motives prevailed.
www.traveltolao.com
www.dulichnoidia.com
www.dulichnuocngoai.biz
www.bienngoccruise.com
www.easyvietnamadventures.com
www.easyvietnamtravel.com
If you stay in Mykonos, make a day trip to the island of Delos. According the Greek mythology the island was the birthplace of Artemis and Apollo.
Many historic temples, monuments and sites are here, such as the Lions Terrace with the famous statues of the lions, and the House of the Dolphins with amazing mosaics.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus is one of the landmarks of Athens like Acropolis and Parthenon. Its construction began during the 6th century BC and finished in the 2nd century AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. The temple of Zeus is situated next to Zappeion at the junction of Vasilissis Amalias and Vasilissis Olgas Avenues, the main entrance is at Vasilissis Olgas Avenue 1. On the same field you can visit Hadrian's Arch.
www.britannica.com/eb/topic-427981/temple-of-Olympian-Zeus
www.in2greece.com/english/places/summer/mainland/athens.htm
Portara is a landmark and one of the main historic site of Naxos. You can see it entering the port of Naxos.
In antiquity it used to be a temple dedicated to Apollo. Amazing sunsets can be photographed from here.
Asklepion in the most important historic site of Kos island, it used to be a therapeutic centre in the antiquity and a temple dedicated to the God Asklepios. It is built on 4 levels and is a fine example of Greek architecture of the 4th century BC. Here taught the famous Hippocrates of Kos.
2-3 miles southwest of Kos town.
www.greekisland.co.uk/kos/kos.htm
www.hotelara.com/kos/
travel.guardian.co.uk/article/2003/jun/19/greece.restandrelaxation
One of the most famous historical places in Greece is Delphi. If you stay in Athens you can take a day trip to Delphi. Visit the museum to see the statue of the Charioteer of Delphi, the temple of Apollo and enjoy the mountain view.
Information and more about Greece:
www.in2greece.com/
What's the unlikeliest thing you'd expect to come across in sleepy coastal Cumbria? A world-class Grand Prix track, perhaps? A herd of wild rhinoceros? How about the European headquarters of Manjushri Mahayana Buddhism?
The Conishead Priory became just that in 1976 when the New Kadampa Tradition sect took over a 19th century mansion and made it their base. As well as the formidable old buildings and picturesque grounds, squatting beneath the Lake District scenery is a huge Buddhist temple.
Guided tours are available only during the summer, though the grounds and temple are open all year round - check the website for more details, or ask at the World Peace Cafe on Cavendish Street in Ulverston.
Off the A5087 Coast Road
info@manjushri.org
www.conisheadpriory.org
Lovely island just off the coast near Pattaya. No commercial pressures or cars, just lots to explore in peace and quiet, including the ruins of a royal palace, a Chinese temple and great views of the sunset. Eat at Pan and David restaurant.
Boat from Si Racha, Chonburi
A beautiful temple like many in Kathmandu but this one is inhabited by hundreds of monkeys that will jump at you and bite you if you catch their eye or annoy them as you try to climb the many steps on the way to the top. It is great fun and the views from the top of the city are breathtaking. Ask a rickshaw driver to take you there.
Swayambhunath temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
It is part of the Angkor temple complex, one of the smaller sites that is far less known by the casual tourist.
Anyone planning on visiting Siem Reap and going to experience the treasures of Angkor needs to know that Angkor Wat is just one of dozens of sites in the immediate vicinity - it is the biggest and undoubtedly the most impressive, but is also incredibly crowded and not particularly relaxing.
Many of the other temples - such as Ta Prom - are far smaller, but also far less busy - when we went to Ta Prom, we had it to ourselves for about an hour, and wondered around Indiana Jones style and were blown away by the serenity and beauty - highly recommended.
Everyone identifies Angkor, and indeed Cambodia, with Angkor Wat, but in my view the piece de resistance is The Bayon.
Famed for its dozens of carved faces looking east, west, north and south, The Bayon is perhaps the most enigmatic ancient relic in the entire continent of Asia. Don't forget to examine the story-telling murals that encircle it either.
Even after a few hard days of wat-hopping in the heat and dust, The Bayon is one place that will draw you back to consider its mysteries one more time.
Dead centre of the ruined city of Ankgor Thom.
Pass required to vist temple complex at Angkor Wat. Passes are available for a variety of days with some visitors spending considerably more to visit for anything up to 5 days. Despite the obvious attractions of the temples etc anything more than a day can become very repetitive... seen one ruined temple you have seen them all.
Impossible not to find it as it is the only reason that you will be there.
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