The overwhelming majority of Thailand’s prostitutes of both sexes (estimated at anywhere up to 700,000) work with Thai men, not farangs (Europeans). If you’re determined to buy precious stones, check that the shop is a member of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association, by visiting their website which has a directory of members (wthaigemjewelry.or.th). To be doubly sure, you may want to seek out shops that also belong to the TGJTA’s Jewel Fest Club (wjewelfest.com), which guarantees quality and will offer refunds; see their website for a directory of members. Gem scams are so common in Bangkok that TAT has published a brochure about it and there are several websites on the subject, including the very informative w2bangkok.com/2bangkok-scams-sapphire.html, which describes typical scams in detail.

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Don’t miss local island specialties – like Assyrtiko wines on Santorini or cheeses from Naxos. Seek out family-run tavernas (often a bit off the main streets or outside the most popular towns) for the most authentic meals. Choose Islands That Fit You.Greece has hundreds of islands, and they are not all the same. A great all-rounder with fantastic beaches, charming towns, and mountain villages? An island that feels like a mini-country with diverse landscapes and history? Research beyond the big names and pick 2-3 islands that truly match your travel style.

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• They are also always improving it and are very responsive to questions and suggestions.
• The main inland route southwest from Iráklion climbs through the mountains before winding down to Áyii Dhéka and the Messará plain.
• Trace the genesis of the artist’s genius in the city that Picasso liked to call home.
• A dark passage leads around to the queen’s bathroom and a clay tub, the famous “flushing” toilet (a hole in the ground with drains to take the waste away – it was flushed by throwing a bucket of water down).
• Discover tiny islands like Formentera with white sand and clear oceans, the world-famous nightlife and bohemian culture of Ibiza, or the sheer cliffs and narrow mountainous roads of Mallorca.

Just a reminder – if you delete your account, you won’t be able to post in Community. Tell us when you are travelling to Ireland and we’ll show you tailored reccomendations during of your trip. New travel reccomendations will only show up once you’re back online. Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley and other cast members visited Ireland’s unique filming location… Whether with or without a disability, we want you to explore Berlin comfortably.

Dwarfed by Tate Modern, but equally remarkable in its own way, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is a more or less faithful reconstruction of the polygonal playhouse where most of the Bard’s later works were first performed. The theatre, which boasts the first new thatched roof in central London since the Great Fire, puts on plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries, using only natural light and the minimum of scenery. To find out more about Shakespeare and the history of Bankside, the Globe’s stylish exhibition is well worth a visit. You can have a virtual play on medieval instruments such as the crumhorn or sackbut, prepare your own edition of Shakespeare, and feel the thatch, hazelnut-shell and daub used to build the theatre.

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Another notable feature is that shophouses were built narrow and surprisingly deep. Behind the ground-floor shop or reception hall there might be a small courtyard, open to the sky, then yet another room; this layout can be seen at the Baba House and the Katong Antiques House. Also, shophouses were usually built back to back, with tiny alleyways separating the rear sections of adjoining rows; it’s down one such alleyway that the brothels of Desker Road are tucked away. Chilli crab Whole crabs wok-fried and served in a gloopy gravy made with tomato, chilli, garlic and a little egg. It’s mainly served at seafood outlets, though some ordinary Chinese restaurants offer it too. Cruise through the iconic Halong Bay, where towering limestone cliffs rise from emerald waters.

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The vast majority of exhibits post-date the Commonwealth (1649–60), when many of the royal riches were melted down for coinage or sold off. Among the jewels are the three largest cut diamonds in the world, including the legendary Koh-i-Noor, which was set into the Queen Mother’s Crown in 1937. At the centre of the Inner Ward is Tower Green, where ten highly placed but unlucky individuals were beheaded, among them Anne Boleyn and her cousin Catherine Howard (Henry VIII’s second and fifth wives).

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The site is a great place to head on Thursday and Friday evenings. At this time, large crowds gather around the promontory to watch the sunset and listen to live qawwali music. If you lose your bearings, the best way out is to ask someone to wave you in the direction of Mohammed Ali Road, the busy road through the heart of the district. Lining the jumble of streets beyond Lokmanya Tilak Road hosts Mumbai’s bustling Central Bazaar District. This serves a fascinating counterpoint to the wide and Westernised streets of downtown Mumbai.

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The e-visa process typically takes 3 to 4 working days, costs 25 USD, and allows a stay of up to 30 days in Vietnam. Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam, is renowned for its historical significance and majestic citadel. Visitors come to Hue to explore its UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Imperial City and the royal tombs, and to experience the city’s rich cultural heritage, traditional music, and delicious royal cuisine.

Any thoughts that this represented a more enlightened stance on homosexuality were, however, crushed in August 2016, when police officers set upon the second Gay Pride rally, beating several participants and arresting 16. Subsequent Gay Pride marches have been cancelled due to threats of similar police intervention. More mundanely, tampons are not readily available in smaller towns, though you can easily locate them in Kampala, Entebbe and Jinja, and in game lodge and hotel gift shops. When travelling in out-of-the-way places, carry enough tampons to see you through to the next time you’ll be in a large city, bearing in mind that travelling in the tropics can sometimes cause heavier or more irregular periods than normal. Private clinics, hospitals and pharmacies can be found in most large towns, and doctors generally speak good English. Consultation fees and laboratory tests are inexpensive when compared with most Western countries, so if you do fall sick, don’t allow financial considerations to dissuade you from seeking medical help.

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Fly Uganda operates thrice-weekly flights from Kajjansi Airfield near Kampala to Kihihi. Of these, many visitors cross in or out of Uganda overland from Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, but the DRC and South Sudan are largely off-limits to casual travel. Uganda’s land borders are generally very relaxed, provided that your papers are in order.

• Summertime in Scotland brings big dreamy skies, the perfect backdrop to our ancient attractions.
• Recently recognised as being one of the top 10 gardens in the world, Mount Stewart is a rich tapestry of planting plant life and stunning walking trails.
• Houses were cleaned from top to bottom, debts were paid and quarrels made up, and, after the bells of midnight were rung, great store was laid by welcoming good luck into your house.
• Soak up naval history at the National Maritime Museum, and climb up to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park to enjoy the view over the river.
• It’s a place where history and nature intersect in spectacular fashion.
• The five largest cities in Greece are Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Larissa, and Heraklion.
• Advance booking is recommended for all tours, and for the specialist tours in particular.

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Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are great starting points for a late afternoon / early evening soiree. Explore this historic and artistic neighborhood with its cobblestone streets and colonial houses. Every February, Rio’s world-famous carnival kicks into action, with floats, extravagant outfits and often an important message about years behind and ahead. Although now more inclusive than ever, the carnival has famously welcomed people from all walks of life to participate and celebrate.

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Our week in Athens and Crete last week could not have gone more perfectly. With a very limited time period and the wanting to accommodate the needs of teenaged grandchildren and grandparents in our eighties, I felt there was no room for error. Working closely with Julia produced an exciting, comprehensive experience none of us will ever forget. Our expectations and needs were fulfilled, under the guidance of Julia’s patient, kind expertise. The original 1,259km² reserve was upgraded to national park status following independence in 1962, and extended to its present size of 1,442km² seven years later. Altitudes range from 914m above sea level to the 2,750m peak of Mount Morungole, the highest point on an extinct volcanic range running along the park’s southeastern border.

Well researched and structured, they’ll give you in-depth information on destinations and sights to see as well as practical tips to help you plan. Even after 30+ trips to Italy, we still consult guidebooks for new destinations we want to visit. You will find hundreds of hotels offering wellness centres for truly relaxing holidays for the whole family in some of Italy’s most beautiful villages, set in unique landscapes. Visitors will spend more money here than elsewhere in China, though public transport and food are good value – even if accommodation is always pricey for what you get.

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Home to the prestigious Accademia Gallery and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, this neighbourhood attracts art lovers from all over the world. Settled by the very first refugees from the mainland in the fifth century, it became the seat of the bishop of Altinum in 638 and in the following year its cathedral – the oldest building in the lagoon – was founded. Re-enacting the return of Caterina Cornaro to her native city in 1489, the opening parade is a spectacular affair and is followed by a race for young rowers in two-oared pupparini. The women come next (in boats called mascarete), followed by a race for canoe-like caorline; and then it’s the men’s race, in specialized two-man racing gondolas called gondolini.

He hopes his adventures will continue for many more years to come. As an avid outdoorsman and automotive enthusiast his interests are far-reaching, and he possesses hands-on knowledge in his topics of expertise. He contributes his extensive travel and outdoor experience to much of the editorial topics and content on World Guides To Travel. In 1998, he survived in the wilderness for over a week without food or specialist equipment. He was stranded on the northern coast of Honduras following Category 5 Hurricane Mitch.

Much of this expanse is sparsely inhabited and the majority of the 35 million Canadians live in its southern half, relatively close to the US border. Like its neighbour to the south, Canada is a spectrum of cultures, a hotchpotch of immigrant groups who supplanted the continent’s many Aboriginal peoples. She helped us on the fly when unexpected situations happened and we had a great trip. Our accommodations, transportation, and destinations that she arranged couldn’t have been better.

Its green valleys and fairy-tale castles make the Aosta Valley an enchanting place to experience all year round. Since 2008, when China hosted the Olympics, athletic passion has become almost a patriotic duty. But the most visible forms of exercise are fairly timeless; head to any public space in the morning and you’ll see citizens going through all sorts of martial-arts routines, playing ping pong and street badminton, even ballroom dancing. Set off on a day trip from Rome across the Italian countryside to discover the birthplace of St Francis in the charming town of Assisi. With its unparalleled history, Rome is the 3rd most visited city in Europe and the 14th worldwide. It attracts visitors from all over the world who come to discover the city’s impressive monuments and archaeological sites; not to mention its renowned cuisine and its lively atmosphere.

Despite https://softfootprints.com/ a 1.30am curfew (only clubs within hotels are allowed to carry on later), Mumbai’s clubbing scene remains the most full-on in India. Door policies and dress codes tend to be strict — “no ballcaps, no shorts, no sandals”. Mumbai is crammed with interesting places to eat, from glamorous rooftop lounge bars to hole-in-the-wall kebab shops. The cafés, bars and restaurants of Colaba encompass just about the full gamut of possibilities. A “British” lion and Indian tiger stand guard at the entrance, and the exterior is festooned with sculptures executed at Bombay Art School by Indian students of John Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard’s father.

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Exactly two hundred years after its birth, Joseon was invaded by Japanese forces from 1592 to 1598 under the control of warlord Hideyoshi; Seoul was pillaged in the course of the battles, and many of its most beautiful buildings lay in ruins. Though the country survived this particular struggle, mainly thanks to the heroic Admiral Yi, the Japanese proved more obdurate on their return in the late nineteenth century. During this time, Japan tried its best to erase any sense of Korean nationality; part of this was a drive to wipe out the Korean language, and earned Seoul yet another name – Keijo, which roughly translates as “Walled-off Capital”. The city was to suffer greater indignity when its beloved palaces were modified in an attempt to make them “more Japanese”; a few of these alterations are still visible today. After the war, peninsular infighting and global shifts in power and ideology resulted in the Korean War (1950–53). Seoul’s position in the centre of the peninsula, as well as its obvious importance as the long-time Korean capital, meant that it changed hands four times, coming under North Korean control twice before being wrested back.

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You can reserve hotel accommodation online with the city tourist board or make same-day bookings in person only at their tourist offices. If Barcelona sounds a bit too much like hard cultural work, then simply look instead for entertainment to the city’s harbour, parks, gardens and beaches. But endlessly fascinating as these districts are, Barcelona is so much more than just its old-town areas. With its growing infrastructure and vibrant cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is an enticing destination.

Join my monthly newsletter for 5 free templates to plan, pack, and budget like a pro. Find more things to do in your destination on Google Travel, then record where you want to visit on a custom Google Maps list. For hotel and rental bookings, I appreciate its flexible cancellation, candid user reviews, discounts, loyalty program, and easy-to-use interface. Due to its upscale focus, Fodor’s guidebooks may be less budget-friendly than other series.

Commonly required medicines such as broad-spectrum antibiotics, painkillers, asthma inhalers and various antimalarial treatments are widely available over the counter. If you are on any short-term medication prior to departure, or you have specific needs relating to a less common medical condition (for instance if you are allergic to bee stings or nuts), then bring necessary treatment with you. Sensible preparation will go a long way to ensuring your trip goes smoothly. The Bradt website now carries a health section online to help travellers prepare for their African trip. A selection of superior plonk-quality South African wines is available in most tourist-class hotels and bars, as well as in some supermarkets, generally starting at around US$10–20 per bottle. Local gins can be bought very cheaply in a variety of bottle sizes or in 60ml sachets – very convenient for hiking in remote areas or taking with you to upmarket hotels for an inexpensive nightcap in your room.