Travelling Companions

Guangzhou is a real fusion of old and new China

Alan — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:42:09 +0000

Guangzhou is a prosperous city in China that has a very metropolitan feel and can be found right in the centre of the Guangdong Province. This is one of the first cities in China that is ‘open’ and because of this both its economy and population of grown enormously in recent years.

The city is not just impressive in modern times however and it has a great deal of history. It was the capital city for three of the Chinese dynasty’s and because of this tourism to the area is very popular. There are numerous cultural and historic sites throughout the city which attracts visitors from all over the world.

In the north of the city is where you will find the most interesting tourist attractions and the most metropolitan part of the city. There are numerous temples, mosques and churches here that are well worth a visit is time exploring. One of the temples here, the Guangxiao Temple is a site where Buddhists go for pilgrimage.

One of the most beautiful areas of the city is the flowering pagoda which can be found at Liurong Temple. This is a very popular destination for tourists and it is around 1500 years old. It is an incredibly well preserved building given its age and the pagoda is astoundingly beautiful.

A very interesting site to see would be the Chinese Medicine Market which takes place in the city. From the outside this looks like any other market, but when you go inside you will find a huge number of narrow alleyways and ancient buildings. Inside these shops and stalls, you will find numerous people selling all sorts of ancient Chinese remedies. For whatever reason you come into Guangzhou, the city will have plenty to keep you entertained, and you will have a delightful stay.

Visit Western Ukraine to see the real culture of the country

Alan — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:39:05 +0000

If you head to the west of Ukraine you are going to see the country at its most raw. You will be able to see the Ukrainian culture and language everywhere and there are many monuments to historical figures and other heroes from Ukraine’s past in this part of the country. The main city in this part of the country is Lviv, which has many attractions for tourists.

One of the most interesting things to visit in the city as the Old Town. This is a part of the city that dates back over 700 years and it has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The town was originally founded by a prince and soon after its formation it became a trading centre that became very wealthy.

Traders came from all over and there are still influences in the buildings which show how other cultures had an effect on the city. For example, there are 16th century buildings which are in the Italian Renaissance style.

The city once had a thriving Jewish population, and it is a grim reminder of history to see that there is almost no Jewish population in the city now, and all that remains of their influence is the street names. There is a walking tour that runs around the Old Town, and if you are staying in the town this is something that is definitely worth doing. It will take you through all the oldest parts of the city and it is manageable walk that is filled with fascinating attractions.

There are numerous beautiful monasteries and churches throughout this part of the city and other sites of historical importance. However, remember that this is not all there is to the city, and there are plenty of fascinating attractions that will not be included on the walking tour.

Welcome

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:40:42 +0000

Welcome to travellingcompanions.co.uk Travel Blog.

The border province of Alberta has something for everyone

Alan — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:18:51 +0000

Situated between British Columbia and Saskatchewan is the Province of Alberta. This beautiful Province with incredible scenery and natural resources is approximately 255,200 square miles in size. The Northwest Territories are to the North and it borders with the USA state, Montana.

To the North is the Provincial Capital, Edmonton, whilst in the South is the other main city in the province. There is a healthy rivalry between the two cities, though there is 300 kilometres between them. Other towns and cities in the Province are worth a visit, including: Brooks, Fort McMurray, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Red Deer.

With the landscape of the Province so varied there are a wide range of recreational possibilities. Sights to see include the fabulous beauty of the Canadian Rockies, majestic glaziers, open prairies, turquoise lakes and raging rivers.

The National Parks of Banff and Jasper are surely the most prized assets in the province, along with the perfection of Kananaskis Country. The most commercial is Banff, with the ski slopes of Lake Louise, Mount Norquay and Sunshine close by. The town gets crowded during all seasons as the skiers and tourists flock to this beautiful place. A common sight there, are bears and deer.

One of the most spectacular drives on earth is on the Ice Field Parkway, as you wind through mountain passes, past emerald blue lakes and enormous Glaciers. To appreciate the area fully you must simply stand and take it all in.

There is a rich history in Alberta, going back to the prehistoric days of the dinosaurs. Several heritage sights are situated in Alberta and tell the tourists about the history and the fight for independence. Royal Tyrell Paleontology museum, close to Drumheller is worth a visit, as is the site near Lethbridge.

Lebanon has a lot to offer the tourist

Alan — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:20:41 +0000

Despite recent political unrest, Lebanon is a great place to visit. It is particularly popular with tourists from the Arabic Gulf regions, who visit on a regular basis for tourism. People visit for a variety of reasons; there is certainly a lot that this country can offer. There is a sense of history in the country, with ancient monuments like the Baalabek.

For great nightlife, you must visit Downtown Beirut; you can sunbathe in Bhamdoun or Broummana; or go skiing in the mountains, in places like Faqra. Tourists have been visiting for centuries, and still are. No matter what your preference, you will find something here for you.

Of course, tourism is affected by the political unrest, however as soon as things calm down, the tourists come flooding back. The main season is throughout the summer when Temperatures are cooler than in other parts of the Middle East, so in the summer time visitors come from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia etc, often for about three months to escape the heat. In fact many people have bought holiday homes and houses in the mountains. The weather is generally mild, snow only falling in the mountains where skiing is perfect.

A great place to visit at any time of the year is Downtown Beirut. The centre has recently been rebuilt and most people, who visit, end up in this area of the city. There are many delightful cafes and restaurants to eat in, or one could simply soak up the atmosphere.

When visiting this beautiful country, visitors quickly discover how good the food is, thought to be the best in the Middle East. Restaurants usually offer a high quality of service, with dishes not normally found elsewhere. It is no wonder that the food is something tourists return for again and again.

The cultural side of Turkey

Alan — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:52:08 +0000

Located in West Asia is Turkey, which also shares borders with Iraq, Syria, Greece and Bulgaria. To the north of the country is the Black Sea and altogether the country has a population of over 70 million people. The country also has a very diverse climate and in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean the weather is very warm. Around the Black Sea, there is a subtropical climate and as you tend to head west in the country, the weather gets colder.

The largest city in Turkey is Istanbul and it is also the cultural and financial hub of the country. There are many famous tourist attractions in the city including the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. As well as these there are many museums, churches, and other cultural attractions to visit in the city.

There are a wide range of hotels available in Istanbul, from the very luxurious to the very affordable. One of the best mid-range options is the Armagrandi Spina hotel, but the Armada Hotel should also be given consideration. One of the reasons these two hotels are so popular is because they both enjoy spectacular views over the blue Mosque and some rooms also enjoy a view over the Hagia Sophia.

After Istanbul, the second-largest city in Turkey is Ankara. The city is located in the centre of the country and one of the main reasons that tourists come to the city is to visit the Anitkabir. This is a fascinating mausoleum that is known to be the burial site of Mustapha Kemal Ataturk, the man responsible for founding Turkey. There is also a fascinating museum nearby to this mausoleum which contains many artefacts related to the founder of the country. This museum is thought to be the best in all of Turkey.

Kortrijk castle is well worth a visit

Alan — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:49:05 +0000

One of the oldest buildings in Kortrijk, Belgium is the church which was established by Count Baldwin, who was the original Emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople. The church was first constructed around 1200 AD and since that time it has played an important part in the history of the region.

It was first part of the castle and this was an important part of its history and the role it played throughout the centuries. It is found in the centre of the city and will be easy for any tourist to visit because it is close to most of the major hotels in the city centre. The closest hotel to the church is the Damier hotel.

Later in its history, the church became a part of the defensive wall of the city and a special chapel was constructed inside it in 1307. This construction was destroyed however 80 years later during the Battle of Westrozebeke. The church was later reconstructed but was done so in a very different style from the original construction. The subsequent construction was much more of a 15th century style.

This building fell into disrepair however and was later repaired in a completely different style, the baroque style. Today the chapel contains many paintings of all the rulers of Flanders in the past. This is going to be something that will be particularly interesting to tourists and they will also enjoy being able to see one of the most famous paintings by A. Van Dyck, the Erection of the Cross.

There are many reasons why you would choose to visit this church while you are on holiday in the area. Its long stretching history provides a fascinating insight into the past of this area of France and much of this can be seen through the buildings spectacular artwork

The shopping opportunities are endless in Dubai

Alan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:47:04 +0000

If you come to Dubai, one of the main activities that you’re probably going to want to take part in his shopping. There are enormous shopping malls which offer all of the products you could find at home, often at more favourable prices. Dubai has been called the Middle East’s shopping capital and anyone who visits here will soon realise why.

Every year, the Deira City Centre shopping centre brings in over 20 million people and the range of shops here is quite extraordinary. Inside the shopping centre there is even a Lexus dealership just in case you needed to buy a car. It is really a location where all the top designs from the latest designers can be bought, and also a place where you can find items from all over the shopping spectrum.

Dubai is a location that has adopted shopping as something of a national pastime. In fact, during the year, there is an entire month devoted to a shopping festival and during this, bargaining and haggling for products is a completely normal process.

There are a huge number of marketplaces in the city and here being able to bargain is an essential skill. There are a huge number of products available at these markets and if you are able to negotiate, then you are going to be able to get far better prices.

One of the most famous marketplaces in the city is the gold market. Here you will find every sort of gold jewellery you can imagine and there is really something to suit every taste. Always remember though, when you are in this marketplace, that the first price is not going to be a fair one, so continue to negotiate until you get a price that suits you rather than the seller.

Tourism in Colombia is booming thanks to much improved safety

Alan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:37:18 +0000

Columbia was once a country which was not considered a particularly safe place to travel. However, in recent years the situation has greatly changed and many people will now be considering visiting the country for the first time. This South American country was previously avoided by even the most adventurous travellers because of the security risks.

This country has an enormous amount to offer visitors and now that it is regarded as a safe place to travel, they are going to be seen by many people for the first time. In the capital city there are numerous galleries, museums and theatres. Further away from the city you will find snowy mountains as well as beautiful beaches.

There are parts of Colombia that are still worth avoiding due to drug smugglers and various guerilla wars. However, these tend to mostly take place in the south of the country and the majority of tourist locations are not found here. It is also important that visitors avoid the area that borders Venezuela as there is often fighting along the border.

It is important to realise that Colombia is a very big country, and just because one part isn’t safe, doesn’t mean the whole country isn’t. Of course, you should always exercise caution when travelling, but in this case it is not necessary if you are visiting safe areas. Colombia has plenty to offer without having to visit the more conflicted areas so there is simply no need to take the risk.

Statistically, the capital of Colombia, Bogota, is safer than many other capital cities and the rest of South America. In fact, the crime in the city is actually lower than the rate of crime in the capital of the United States, Washington DC. Don’t let unnecessary safety concerns put off an incredible holiday.

The dual coastline of Colombia makes it a great country to visit

Alan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:33:31 +0000

Geographically, Colombia is a very fortunate country as it has coastlines which border the Caribbean Sea as well as the North Pacific Ocean. If you’re coming to Colombia then it is likely you are going to want to visit the capital city, Bogota.

The city is home to around 8 million people and there are many wonderful places to visit in the city. One of the most impressive museums is the Gold Museum, which as its name might suggest, houses many fascinating gold artifacts.

There are also excellent art galleries in the city and these house paintings from such famous artists as Monet, Picasso and Botero. If you are interested in coins then it is also worth visiting the city’s excellent coin museum.

A smaller city in Colombia is Baranquilla but despite its small size it does have a lot to offer visitors. It is particularly well known for its vibrant nightlife and there are many party hotspots in the city which are going to appeal to younger visitors. There are many bars and restaurants here to be enjoyed and if you are looking for Colombia’s party city, then this is it.

Cartagena is a city that is famous for its extensive history and it is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. There are many forts in this walled city and one of the most magnificent is the Castillo de San Felipe. As well as the spectacular sights are numerous churches and historic museums for visitors to enjoy and explore.

If you are looking for picturesque parks and a wonderful city to just explore on foot then you should head to Pereira. There are many nature walks which visitors can take in the city and many of these happen in the stunning parks. There is also an ice skating rink here if you fancy something a bit different.