The RTW-Ticket (Round the world ticket) offers you the oppurtunity to choose. This is the ticket for the traveller whose feet quickly get itchy or who can’t control the overwhelming sensation of wanderlust within them. This ticket allows the you to consider and pick out and plan a route that will take them on the journey of a life time. You can also adapt their travel plams so that it comes within the realms of affordabilty. If you don’t want to spend too much that you can just select a few destinations or stay on the same continent so this trip shouldn’t break the bank. If however you are looking for that full on world tour, you can do so with this ticket. The world truely is your oyster.
Europe is always an interesting destination and a good starting point for a world tour. The relative smallness of the european continent means that you can visit a large number of different countries, with vastly different cultures, languages and histories just by getting in a car or onto a train and travelling a short distance. Why not visit London to kick off your tour? Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and then pop in to see her Majesty for afternoon tea. Go to the palace of Westminster to hear the chimes of Big Ben.
Another interesting destination would be Beijing, the capital of the Peoples Republic of China. Visit this vast and mysterious countrys wonders and sights. Go to the Temple of Heaven, the 15th century landmark that highlights the imporatance of the relationship between heaven and earth in Chinese culture. Check out the Forbidden City (that is luckily no longer forbidden). This was the palace of the Emperors, a huge vast complex of palaces, courtyards, classical Chinese archietecture and gardens. The importance and significance of this sacred place to Chinese cannot be underestimated. They used to beleive this complex was at the centre of the world. Also, don’t forget to bring your hiking boots! No trip to the Peoples Republic would be complete without a walk along the Great Wall.
Down under for our next visit. Get a taste for Australian life and culture by visiting Sydney. Sydney harbour shows off the beautiful skyline in all its glory. After embarking, be sure to go along to the world renowned Sydney Opera House, listen to the orchestra playing a number and enjoy a drink it its impressive bar. But you can’t leave Australia without having seen a few kangaroos, be sure to take a look at the Tarango Zoo and get close to the unique creatures that inhabit this vast island.
If you’re too cool for any of this then maybe a more chilled out destination would be the right one for you. A unique travel destination would be the ceremonial South Pole. Although its exact location is relatively difficult to determine due to shifting ice sheets, maybe you can catch up with some of the scientists that live here all year round. Failing that, consult an Emperor Penguin, they’re always here!
Off to north Africa now, the location of one of the wonders of the world. Cairo, the capital of Egypt a city brimming with ancient treasures. Visit the Citadel if you want to have a look at some of these wonders of antiquity while getting a full panoramic view of the city. Take a look at the Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx, very well known egyptian images but extremely different and special in real life.
Off to capital hill next and its Washington D.C where we’re stopping. The Museum of American History on the mall is worth a look if your interested in finding out everything about America’s relatively short modern history. This musuem takes us on an adventure from the time of Columbus up to the modern day. A short mile walk to the south and you can get a few snaps with honest Abe, before setting of the short distance to the White House.
Our last stop take us to South America and to Machu Picchu, the ancient village of the Incas high up in the mountains. A must-see if you take an interest in Inca history. Tour some of the modern markets for amazing produce, blankets and pottery before carrying on to take a tour of the Temple of the Sun to get a taste of how they practiced the ancient relgiion of sun worshipping. Before you leave you should hed up to the pyramid paltform known as Intihuantana, this is where the ancients beleived that the sun was held in its orbit.
One last thing to remember is your camera. Your friends will not beleive that you’ve been on such an amazing trip if you leave it at home!

Picture: Rainer Sturm/ pixelio.de

If you’re looking for something different from the usual Christmas this year

Although you won’t find any snow, the Christmas festivities here are felt just as much as they are back home. People all over the island celebrate this holiday, even if the country’s main religion is Buddhism. Come December in Thailand, you’ll start to see Christmas decorations, lights and trees just about everywhere.

This year, why not jingle bells Thai style! Christmas on an exotic island is a dream come true for many; you won’t have to shovel your driveway nor will you have to take care of the holiday preparations yourself, you’ll just have to enjoy sipping on cocktails in your Santa hats on one of Thailand’s numerous exotic beaches. Christmas is a joyful time of the year for everyone, so why not gather your family and friends this year and share that joy on the wonderful islands of Thailand?

Even if Jolly old Saint Nicholas might be chanting Ho Ho Ho in a totally different language, the love and great pleasure of this festivity is heartfelt the exact same way it is in any other country.

There is an infinite choice of beach villas in Thailand you can accommodate yourselves in during your stay or one of the astonishing Samui villa resorts which will really give that extra touch of heavenly luxury to your Christmas vacation.

Start wrapping up your presents, pack everything in your suitcases, and come to Thailand where every holiday, including Christmas is an unforgettable experience!

The exotic Palms of Thailand lit and decorated by Christmas lights and ornaments are waiting for you…

On the 5^th December this event will be hilighted with a big firework and a Candle Lighting Ceremony.

This event is very successful in Thailand: indeed it attracts between 150 000 and 300 000 visitors and millions of people are watching it on Thailand’s Tv channels.

This event is held up to help stressed people to get out, get free, take some fresh air, get amazed and get thrilled. Thanks to this event, they can take a break, take some time, take a weekend to have an adventure. For the 1^st time many of the minority sports practised by groups of enthusiasts throughout the country are collected; hugely entertaining just to watch or in which to participate. All the activities take place in one of the 4 elements Earth, Water, Wind and Fire.

Thailand International Balloon Festival is supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Indeed this Tourism Auhtority expects that this events is going to generate a good image of the country and it’s going to benefit the tourism sector. It will generate income for the local community and thereby contribute to the country’s economic growth.

If you want then to take part to this event, you can find accomodation in Thailand. If you want to enjoy this festival, you can visit Bangkok with Dao Holidays.

If you are a lover of history and art, then I’m sure you would want to snap up the chance to buy an historic piece of Paris. On December 14th several pieces will be for sale at auction including stairs from the Eiffel Tower and street lights from the Champs Elysees. These pieces will form part of the Paris Mon Amour (Paris my love) sale to celebrate 120 years of the Eiffel Tower and ‘pay homage to Paris’, according to auctioneer Christophe Lucien. Forty steps of the Eiffel Tower staircase are expected to reach between 60,000 and 80,000 euros, while an oak public phone box is estimated at 1,000 euros. There’s also the opportunity to buy old rubbish bins, street benches, 18^th century tourist maps of Paris and ancient books. Basically there’s something for everyone and I would love to have some of this stuff in my house or garden!

Last Thursday, 65 pieces of antique china from the Chinese Empire went on show at the Ceramics Museum in Barcelona. Now you may all be wondering why this is so exciting…. Well, not only is this the first time that the pieces have been shown in Spain but it is also the first time that they have been exhibited outside Japan. Therefore I’m sure many people will be flocking to Spain to see them. Whilst the pieces were in Japan, there was an earthquake which caused considerable damage to one of the pieces but thankfully the others were left unscathed and in excellent condition. The exhibition is called “Elegancia y minimalismo. Porcelana imperial china de las colecciones Baur de Ginebra” and includes pieces such as teacups, jugs, vases and pots to clean paint brushes in. According to the chief curator of the Barcelona Ceramics Museum, Toni Casanovas, and Monique Crick, director of the Baur-Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva, the exhibition shows how “porcelain objects are just as important as paintings and sculptures” to the chinese. The pieces were collected by Swiss merchant Alfred Baur between 1907 and 1947 and the exhibition runs until January 31^st.