5 Days in Beijing
As the capital of modern day China and many of its past dynasties, Beijing has a long and rich history dating back over 3,000 years. Constantly reinventing itself over the centuries, this great city is as compelling as it is complex.
Amazing Salar de Uyuni
Salar de Uyuni in the Bolivian Andes, the world’s largest salt flat, is an other-worldly experience that has to be seen to be believed.
8 Days in Morocco
Morocco, also known as the Western Kingdom, is a fascinating country with a blend of Arab, indigenous Berber, Sub-Saharan African, and European culture.
2 Days to Phang Nga
Phang Nga Bay (Thai: อ่าวพังงา) is in the Strait of Malacca between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Malay peninsula of southern Thailand. Since 1981, an extensive section of the bay has been protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park. Most of the park consists of an area of the Andaman Sea studded with numerous limestone tower karst islands. The best known of these islands is Khao Phing Kan.
3 Days in Sydney
Sydney, Australia’s largest city, is known for its beautiful harbors, relaxed lifestyle, ideal climate, and friendly locals. The city is a multi-ethnic hub of business, culture and creativity. The Opera House, Sydney Tower and the Harbour Bridge have become the city's famous landmarks to international visitors.
3 Days in Sapporo, Hokkaido
Sapporo (札幌市) is the largest city on the Hokkaido island, located north east of Japan. Before its establishment by the Meiji government in the late 1800s, the area was home to a number of indigenous Ainu settlements. Today Sapporo is known outside Japan for having hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics and home to the famous Sapporo Brewery.
4 Days in Tanzania Safari Wilderness
Tanzania is a country in Eastern Africa. Its unspoiled national parks rival any in the world. On Tanzania's Serengeti plain, white-bearded wildebeest and other mammals participate in a large-scale annual migration. This itinerary includes Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
2 Days in Da Lat
Known to the early residents as "Little Paris", Da Lat (also spelled as Dalat) is a blend of hillside rural Vietnam and European alpine town. It is the capital of Lam Dong Province, the local weather stands in contrast to the country's tropical climate. Mist covering the valleys almost year-round leads to its name "City of Eternal Spring".
1 Day in Kandy
Kandy is located at the centre of Sri Lanka 125 km away from Colombo and is generally recognised as the island nation's cultural capital. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
A Long Weekend in Toronto
Toronto, also known as T.O. or Queen City, is the largest city in Canada and widely recognized as one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in the world.
Belgium's second largest city, Antwerp blends modern style with a medieval character. The city hosted the 1920 Summer Olympics. Today it is a major trade and cultural hub. Antwerp is sometimes nicknamed "diamond capital" for its large diamonds trading volume.
Antwerpen
Antwerpen-Centraal (Antwerp Central) is the main railway station of Antwerp and a major transit hub. The original station building was constructed between 1895 and 1905. The building is now widely regarded as the finest example of railway architecture in Belgium with the extraordinary eclecticism in its style. It has been ranked as one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world.
The Rubens House (Rubenshuis) is the former home and studio of Peter Paul Rubens (the most influential artist of Flemish Baroque tradition) in Antwerp. It is now a museum. Rubens designed the building himself in 1610, based on studies of Italian Renaissance palace architecture that also formed the basis of his Palazzi di Genova.
Meir is the main shopping street in Antwerp. It is the most important shopping area in the country, both by number of shoppers and by rent prices. The name comes from the old Dutch word "meere" (lake). In this area, two important historic buildings can be found: Royal Residence, built in 1745, served as the Antwerp residence of the Kings of Belgium; the Osterrieth House, built in 1746 in full rococo style.
The Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) is a Roman Catholic cathedral. Although the first stage of construction was ended in 1521, has never been 'completed'. It was built in Gothic style and contains a number of significant works by the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Grote Markt (Great Market Square) is situated in the heart of the old city quarter. At walking distance, the Scheldt river flows alongside the city. It is a town square with many guildhalls. There are many restaurants and cafes around. In winter time, it houses a Christmas market and an ice rink.
Erected between 1561 and 1565, the City Hall (Stadhuis) incorporates both Flemish and Italian influences. In the 16th century Antwerp became one of the busiest trading ports and most prosperous cities in Northern Europe; a more imposing structure befitting the prosperity of the city was conceived. The Antwerp Stadhuis later became an exemplar for the new renaissance style in architecture in the Netherlands and Northern Europe. The Brabo's Monument based on a mythical story stands in front of the City Hall.
Antwerpen
The Red Star Line Museum is the former warehouses of the Red Star Line ships. It was designated as a landmark and reopened as a museum in 2013. The Red Star Line was an ocean passenger line founded in 1871 as a joint venture between a company in Philadelphia. The museum's main focus is the travel stories of the some two million Red Star Line passengers. A quarter of those passengers were Jewish migrants largely from Eastern Europe until the exodus driven by the rise of Nazi Germany. Among them were many famous persons, including regular passenger Albert Einstein. The area is served by Tram Line 7 at Sint-Pietersvliet Station.
The Museum aan de Stroom (MAS; Dutch for: Museum by the River) is the largest museum in Antwerp. The museum's focus is the city and its many aspects including Antwerp's long history as a major international port. The building's façade is made of Indian red sandstone and curved glass panel construction. It is an example of postmodern Art Deco architecture.
Zurenborg is a historic area largely developed between 1894 and 1906 that features a high concentration of townhouses in Art Nouveau and other fin-de-siècle (end of the century) styles. The development of Zurenborg coincided with the peak of Art Nouveau popularity, which had the greatest impact on the style of the area. However, many other styles are also represented: Gothic Revival, Neo-Renaissance, Greek Revival, Neoclassical, and the "cottage style" that coincided with British Tudorbethan architecture. Today, the area is popular with artists and entrepreneurs. Many houses have become listed monuments.
De Koninck Brewery (Brouwerij De Koninck) is a Belgian brewery based in Antwerp. It was established in 1833 when Belgium as a country was barely three years old. By 1845, the brewery's name was successful and its beer had become well known.
The Middelheim Open Air Sculpture Museum is a sculpture park of 30 acres and it is part of the Middelheim Nachtegalen Park. Hundreds of sculptures are laid throughout the park and the collection includes works by many leading sculptors of modern and contemporary visual art.
