Travel Blog

4th George Town Festival Commemoration in Month-long Celebration

On July 7, 2013, George Town, the capital of Penang State in Malaysia, will be commemorating its 4th year of being included in the UNESCO World Heritage Listing. Through the month-long George Town Festival (GTF) which began in 2010, people from all walks of life throughout the world will be coming together to this place to witness amazing performances in the fields of arts, music, dance, theatre, and opera. The GTF is also attended by international media giants like CNNgo, The New York Times, and Wall Street Journal who cover it for the world to see.

This year, a lot activities and exhibits have been prepared for everyone to witness. The following are the highlights and the dates that they will be featured:

Sihanoukville – Southeast Asia’s Up and Coming Tourist Mecca

Sihanoukville, the jewel of Cambodia’s coastline, has in recent years become a lure for travelers to Southeast Asia. It’s not the most convenient place to get to, with no international flights or ferries, and only a long bus ride from the Thai or Vietnamese borders, yet it has become the trendsetting capital of hedonism in the region. No self-respecting backpacker has passed it by.

It is divisive, of course. The town is home to numerous long-term expat who visited and never left, but of course there are those who swear they’ll never return. Sihanoukville is reminiscent of Phuket prior to its boom, with all-night parties, $1 dorm rooms, and copious amounts of drink and drugs.

The American History of Miami, Florida

Port of Miami Florida One of the largest tourist destinations in the United States used to be little more than a small trading settlement. The history of Miami, Florida stretches back several centuries back to the very first days when Indian tribes traded with the Spanish who settled the southern tip of Florida. At first, Florida was little more than a stop-over point for the huge Spanish gold ships to put in for water and repairs. As Florida became an American colony and then a state, however, Miami became far more productive as a city.

In The Beginning

As soon as the colonists won the American Revolution and the United States became its own country, America began to look around to expand their country and develop new states. Florida was a natural choice, even though it belonged to Spain after the Revolution.

Whisky Tours - A Taste of Scotland

Scotland - Whisky Tours Scotland is renowned for its rugged mountains, misty glens and historic castles - and what better way to view these sights than warmed with a dram of whisky whilst making your way along the Scottish whisky trail.

The origins of whisky

Originally known as the ‘Water of Life’ in the ancient Gaelic language, whisky has been distilled for hundreds of years. Each distillery has its own unique and different tasting blend, as varied and interesting as the surrounding countryside. It's thought that whisky has been distilled as far back as 1494 when it was used for medicinal purposes as a reviver or stimulant as well has being enjoyed as a beverage. The government noticed its growing popularity and imposed the first tax on the spirit in 1644. As these taxes increased producers rebelled and production moved underground, with whisky smuggling becoming commonplace.

Tips for Packing Light

Tips for Packing Light Remember the old days when you could check a bag at the gate free of charge? Yeah… that does not happen anymore. Most airlines have a bag check fee and it goes up depending on how many bags you have. So, in order to avoid this bag fee, the solution is to carry-on. Sometimes this is not so easy. If you are going on a week-long trip, it is tough to pack a carry-on, but I have listed below several tips to help you pack lighter and avoid checking your bag.

Make a List

I always make sure to make a list. This ensures that I do not forget anything, but it also helps you realize what you do not need. This helps you avoid over packing for your vacation or business trip. My list consists of the things I need to bring, along with the number of that specific item I need to pack. Make sure you are thinking smart and not over packing just to be careful.

Beauty of Rome

Rome What I love most about Rome is that it is so different to the other capitals of the world. Walking around Rome is like walking around an outdoor museum, every square and each corner is full of rich art and archaeology. The past and present blend into each other, you have Roman columns and buildings over 2000 years old which can very often be situated next to modern buildings.

Many shops are located inside monumental palaces which were built in the 15th and 16th century, these palaces used to be occupied by rich and noble families of the city. Today those palaces have been turned into shops and beautiful apartments which are still partially preserved with their original decoration, often being with the coat of arms of the family. Additionally, some of the greatest gardens in Rome have been converted into public parks, with lakes and family friendly areas.