Destinations

How To Do Amsterdam Right

Published

11 months ago

May 28, 2023

Don’t fret, we’re here to help. We want to make sure that you get the most out of your time in this wonderful city. So if you’re planning on visiting Amsterdam anytime soon, read through this article to learn everything you need to know!

WHERE TO STAY

THE ALBUS

The Albus, located right in the city center of Amsterdam, perfectly combines comfort and modern style. Everything you may need is within walking distance, including Rokin, the main shopping drag in the city. And there’s plenty of other museums and exciting attractions within a ten-minute walk. This is a great place to start when looking for accommodations in Amsterdam.

THE AMSTERDAM CANAL HOTEL

This charming little hotel is tucked within some beautiful houses on the Reguliersgracht canal, which puts it right on the border of the city’s center and the De Pijp neighborhood. The De Pijp neighborhood is a wonderful little place full of cozy cafes, friendly bars, and delicious food options from all around the world. So if you’re looking to really explore the city, but want to avoid the really big crowds, this is the perfect spot to stay.

WHERE TO EAT

’T SMALLE

This spot has been a local favorite since all the way back in 1786! So you know it’s worth a visit. It’s right in the heart of the popular Jordan neighborhood, and it’s the perfect place to get a proper taste of Amsterdam. They serve primarily locally made beer and gin, and the food is almost entirely traditional Dutch dishes. This certainly falls under “doing Amsterdam right.”

WARUNG SPANG MAKANDRA

Little known fact: the tiny and almost unknown country of Suriname was formerly a Dutch colony. So Amsterdam is actually chock-full of great Surinamese food! And Warung Spang Makandra in the De Pijp neighborhood is one of the best Surinamese spots in the city. The food is truly unique and combines various flavors and styles found in Creole, Indonesian, and Chinese foods. You simply must try it.

D’VIJFF VLIEGHEN

If you’re looking for an especially exquisite dining experience in Amsterdam, then D’Vijff Vlieghen is the place to go. The restaurant includes multiple dining rooms that are spread out through five former canal houses that date back to the 17th century. Each dining room has its own unique design and every one of them seems more extravagant than the last. This place is definitely worth a visit just to see the different dining rooms!

WHAT TO SEE, WHAT TO DO

THE CANALS

This should really be the first thing you do when you get to Amsterdam. So much of this city’s charm lies in the canals that run throughout it, and they’re also the perfect way to take the whole city in quickly without rushing or stressing about traffic. There are plenty of wonderful and cheap boat tours available in the city. So take your pick, really. It’s a great way to start off your time in Amsterdam!

THE MUSEUMS

Amsterdam is practically overflowing with museums. Both Van Gogh and Rembrandt have their own museums (Rembrandt’s is actually set in his old home), the Rijksmuseum has a breathtaking sculpture garden, and if you don’t mind the lines, there is, of course, the Anne Frank House. And those are just the first few we can think of. There are so, so many more amazing museums that are worthy of a visit. So you might want to set a couple days aside for just museums!

GOUDA

No, we’re not telling you to simply eat some gouda. We’re telling you to take a short trip outside of Amsterdam and visit the town of Gouda. Which is, as you might have guessed, where the wonderful cheese was born and gets its name! It’s only about an hour away and the cheese markets there are really something to behold. Even if the weather isn’t great and the markets aren’t active, stop by the Gouds Kaas-en Ambachtenmuseum to learn more about the history of this wonderful town and their wonderful cheese.

Destinations

6 Heavenly Places For Photographers In Yunnan Province China

If you are searching for new photography subjects or ethereal places to capture, Yunnan province is a catch basin for it all.

Published

5 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Owen Gardocki

Many of China’s hidden wonders are found in its provinces like Yunnan Province. Yunnan’s breathtaking sceneries and dreamlike landscapes have made it every photographer’s dream destination. It is no surprise that many professional photographers consider Yunnan Province as one of the most photogenic places in China.

Meili Snow Mountain

Famous for its 13 Prince Peaks, Meili Snow Mountain has an altitude of more than 6,000 meters. The most popular peak, Kawagebo, is considered the highest peak in the Yunnan Province, with a height of 6,740 meters. Many mountaineers and hikers have climbed these mountain ranges, but until now, they were unable to reach the mountain’s summit.

Speaking of hiking, one of the most favorited routes up to the top is a very scenic route through the Feilai Temple to Yubeng Village. From here, you will be able to pass through the Ice Lake and Holy Waterfall.

Best Time to Visit: October to May

Dongchuan Red Soil Land

Dongchuan Red Soil Land, as per its name, is famous because of its unique red-colored soil. Dongchuan a tourist favorite is due to its magnificent sceneries – such as the sunrise and sunset, for example, as they cast their glows across the fields.

Dongchuan is also famously called “God’s pallet” because of how the crops and plants’ colors create a beautiful contrast to the red soil in which they grow. Some tourist even call the landscape photos taken at Dongchuan “as beautiful as a painting on canvas”

Best Time to Visit: It is said that there are two sets of months that are considered to be the peak time to visit because these are the times when the colors of the crops are in perfect contrast with the red soil: golden wheat, the white potato, and rape flowers and green crops. The first one is from May to June, the other is September to December.

Jiangdong Ancient Gingko Village

Jiangdong is a beautiful village situated near the Volcano Geopark and Tengchong county’s Prismatic Joint. The village becomes a tourist spot because of its Gingko trees, thus the name. Based on estimation, it is said that the village has almost 33,000 Ginko Trees growing around them, with around 270 of them to be at least 200 years old!

Best Time to Visit: October to November, when the Gingko Trees leaves are in a beautiful golden color.

Luoping Sorghum

Famously known for its breathtaking views of fields of Canolas! It is considered the most stunning view on all of Luoping. It is mostly composed of a wide field full of yellow Rape flowers, but recent developments also give way to fields of Red Rape flowers as well.

Best Time to Visit: August to November

Cherry Blossoms at Wuliang Mountain

Just like the Luoping Rapeseed fields and the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, the Wuliang Mountain Cherry blossoms are also a must-see when visiting Yunnan province. It’s one of the most beautiful places to admire the cherry trees with branches heavy with pink flowers. If you are someone who loves to appreciate the beauty of nature, Wuliang mountain is the place to be.

Best Time to Visit: Months of November and December

Luoping Rapeseed Flowers

One of the most visited places in Yunnan during the Spring season, Golden rapeseed flowers bloom and cover around 39,000 acres of land. From a far view, it looks like a golden sea that spreads up to the horizon. It is beautifully paired up with the primitive houses from the villages, the clear blue sky, beautiful karst peaks, and the crystal clear river.

Best Time to Visit: Early Spring, Months of February to September.

Well, Then!

So, there you have it! Have you copied the list? One of the aspects that make traveling to Yunnan more enjoyable, aside from getting your memory cards full of wonderful images, is that you become incredibly close to nature and its beauty. Capturing these spectacular sites makes you feel blessed to be able to immortalize these sceneries in photographs. The world may be changing quickly and turning into a concrete jungle, but places like Yunnan still exist to give you a quick escape.

Destinations

Tourists Keep Getting Stranded In This Italian Village – The Culprit Turns Out To Be Google Maps

Sardinia’s Mayor the mayor has taken steps to get the navigation app blocked on the mountain village known for its hiking.

Published

19 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Owen Gardocki

Travelers often like to venture off the beaten path. But needing to be rescued as a result is a whole different story.

Leaders of the village of Baunei, on Sardinia’s eastern coast, say that’s just what’s been happening to travelers following the popular Google Maps app. And they’re trying to put an end to the misdirection that has prompted a reported 144 emergency calls from drivers and hikers over the past couple of years, according to CNN.

Misleading The Tourists

“Too many sedans and hatchbacks are getting stuck on unpassable tracks — sometimes off-road vehicles, too,” Baunei Mayor Salvatore Corrias told CNN. “All because they follow Google Maps, whose instructions are often misleading on our roads.”

So the village is urging people to use local tour guides or paper maps instead — just definitely not the technology they may be used to in their everyday lives.

The Baunei Facebook page shows roadside police signs that say in Italian and English: “Do not follow the directions suggested by Google Maps.” It also includes images of vehicles on rocky paths, including some with ropes attached for apparent towing.

#Blocked

According to the Daily Beast, the mayor has taken steps to get the navigation app blocked on the mountain village known for its hiking. He has also asked managers of tourist sites such as hotels, restaurants, and museums to use paper maps, the publication reported.

“We’re aware of an issue in Sardinia where Google Maps is routing some drivers down roads that can be difficult to navigate due to their terrain,” a Google statement said. “We’re currently working with the local government to resolve the issue, and are investigating ways we can better alert drivers about these types of roads.”

International Road Blocks

Other destinations have had their own Google Maps mishaps in the past. Between 2015 and 2017, tourists looking for the Blue Mountains in Australia were directed to a dead-end road more than 20 miles away, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Occasionally, those visitors would knock on residents’ doors looking for a restroom. In March 2017, a woman driving to the Grand Canyon followed Google Maps’ directions down a road in Arizona and ended up stranded for days when her car ran out of gas, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Tourists in Italy blamed the navigation app in 2016 when they drove over a pedestrian bridge and along the Grand Canal in Venice, according to the Local. That same year, some tourists searching for Mount Rushmore were led by Google Maps instead to a church camp, the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal reported.

A woman who worked at the Storm Mountain Center camp about 13 miles from the national memorial, Ashley Wilsey, told the newspaper that she often had to break the news to visitors that they were in the wrong place.

“For the most part, people have been very friendly, but some people are very insistent that this is where Mount Rushmore should be,” she said.

Destinations

Appreciating America’s Natural Wonders

There might be places in the US that you haven’t visited yet. Don’t miss out on the fun and check out these awesome places!

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Owen Gardocki

With the current technological advancements in the world, lots and lots of new attractions are now being developed. Whether it be a new amusement park or a mall, we sure are always looking for a place to be in awe.

However, are you aware that apart from man-made attractions, we also have a lot of natural wonders here in the US that are a must-visit for everyone? Sit back and relax while we take a quick road-trip across some of America’s must-visit attractions, thanks to Mother Nature.

Death Valley

Just because Death is part of its name, doesn’t mean that you need to run away. Though considered as an extreme place due to its weather condition, it is a beautiful place to visit and favorite places to conduct activities to test yourself.

Grand Canyon

One of the most famous attractions, not only in the US but also in the world, is the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is a breathtaking place, not only by its beauty but also by its scale and its terrain and landscape.

Hawaii Volcanoes National park

When you say Hawaii, the first things that come to mind are the beach, coconut, hulas, and volcanoes. Hawaii is known to be the home to many volcanoes, including Mauna Loa, the largest volcano in the world.

Great Lakes

Great lakes are inter-connected lakes, know for its beautiful surroundings and uninterrupted habitat. The best way to explore them is thru guided boat trips.

Monument Valley

Come and wear your cowboy boots when you visit Monument Valley. Seeing the beautiful and picturesque landscape of red-sand dessert makes you wanna feel like you are staring in one of your favorite wild, wild west movies.

Niagara Falls

Want to be in two different countries in the same exact time? It’s easy to do that when you are having a boat ride in Niagara Falls. Situated right between the border of Ontario, Canada and the US, the place offers you a breathtaking view of three waterfalls.

Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

The old faithful geyser had been a favorite attraction since 1870. It is a cone geyser that spews out vapor as high as 180 feet every 35-120 minutes.

Mississippi River

Let’s all be Tom Sawyer just for once and explore the beauty of the longest river in the world. Spanning across 10 states, it is best to enjoy while having a smooth cruise on steamboats.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

If you are someone who loves to get the chills when seeing surreal landscapes, it is best to visit the Great Smokey Mountain, National Park. Perfect for biking,hiking and simply taking in the view. The best place to explore and experience the great outdoors.

There you have it. I hope you got your camera loaded with amazing shots of these natural wonders. If not, I wouldn’t mind coming back for another tour.