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Kathmandu Nepal – A glimpse of the Himalayas
Nepal is a landlocked country situated in South Asia bordering China in the north and India in the south, east and west, with Kathmandu as its capital. It has its share of the Himalayas where the highest mountains on Earth are found. On the mountainous north of Nepal is found the highest point on Earth, the prestigious peak in the Himalayas – Mount Everest, which has been the biggest challenge for trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts from all over the globe. It is known as High Asia, metaphorically described as the “Roof of the World” or “Top of the World”. It is still growing as it is pushed up higher by…
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GUM Department Store, Red Square
Moscow Gum Department store in Kitai-gorod facing the Red Square is the most glamorous and expensive shopping mall in Russia. Gum literally mean “main universal store“, was originally built in 1893. With its sky-high prices, to me it’s an excellent place to window shop and its collections of hundreds of exclusive boutiques and have a feel of being in this lavish shop for the rich and fortunate beings. This three-level glass-roofed state of the art building is quite exquisite and is well worth exploring even if you’re not literally buying anything. All the while, I had the impression that everything inside this enormous shopping mall was expensive until our eloquent…
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Immense Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg
Peterhof Palace, also called the “Russian Versailles” is famous for its series of palaces, beautiful gardens, fountains and museums. Laid out on the orders of Tsar Peter the Great, it was officially opened on August 14, 1723. The palace-ensemble along with the city center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Peterhof is a Dutch/German word meaning “Peter’s Court”. Peterhof Palace is a product of one man’s fascination with beauty and an obsession with greatness and grandeur apparently intensified after visiting and getting inspired by Versailles in France on 1717. More exquisite statues and fountains are along the axis from the palace to the pier. The truly imposing view of…
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Experiencing the excitement of being at the “Top of Europe” – Jungfraujoch Switzerland
One of the highlights of visiting the Swiss Alps was to be able to reach the top of the Jungfrau mountain which is called the ” Top of Europe”. Standing on the Jungfraujoch 3,454 metres above sea level. I remember after suffering from a lack of breath at such a high altitude I had to rush to the covered area to breath normally again. Aside from that, my outfit that day wasn’t appropriate enough for such extreme cold weather. Next time, I will make sure that I will be fully geared up with proper winter clothing to fully enjoy the experience.
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The Rose City: Petra Jordan
Petra, also known as the Lost City, is a famous archaeological site located in the southwestern desert in Jordan dating back to around 300 B.C. Famous for its rock-cut monumental buildings; it was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. This was once the setting for a thriving Christian community. With churches, tombs and temples carved into the pink sandstone cliffs, earning its nickname, the “Rose City“. A City that is said to be “half as old as time”. There is another way to explore this magnificent City and that is by hiring a horse that takes you through to the left side of the canyon across the mountain top. This…
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Jerash City Jordan
Jerash is one of the best preserved classical Roman cities in the Middle East. It is said to be one of the largest Roman ruins and interesting cities beyond Italy, located in the north of Jordan. Archaeological evidence indicates that it was inhabited at least 5,000 years ago. The Jerash Temple of Artemis dominated the whole city which was built on one of the highest points. The most beautiful and important Temple of ancient Jerash with its ruins is still one of the most remarkable monuments left to this day to admire. Here are the other blogs about my visit to Jordan. Amman Citadel
