Tags: Asia, Indonesia, Yogyakarta
By Off the beaten track
Indonesia is a beautiful country that I regularly fly to. Whether it’s for the bustling city life in Jakarta or the serene Balinese islands that constantly lure my physical and spiritual self to visit, I love Indonesia and never fail to recommend it to people who want an experience of a lifetime. But for seasoned travelers who have been to Indonesia and want an out of the ordinary vacation, why not take an hour’s flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta and visit the Borobudur Temple?
Also known as Candi Borobudur, this magnificent temple was literally carved out of volcanic stones during the reign of the Sailendra dynasty, which is estimated to be around 700-850 AD. Historians are clearly awed at the majestic structure but was baffled as to how and why the temple was erected. They were also puzzled how the temple was abandoned and was consecutively covered by thick layers of ashes (there were lots of volcanoes in the area). The Borobudur temple was rediscovered by the British as they came to Indonesia for the first time in the 1800’s.
Visiting China soon? Have you got the Great Wall of China and Beijing as part of your itinerary during your travels? Why not indulge in some off-the-beaten-track things to do when you’re in this beautiful country. It would certainly be most interesting and make your trip a most memorable one. You don’t want to have only photos of you and a giant panda to show off upon your return, do you? 
Check out this short list that I compiled which should give you a little hint to live on the wilder side of life!
Krakow is Poland’s fourth largest city and has been a popular tourist destination for many years, as it is has some of the best preserved medieval buildings, churches, abbeys and streets in Europe.
Much of Krakow has barely been changed since 13th Century and this has meant that there are some beautiful, unspoilt medieval areas still almost intact, such as the Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square), which is one of the largest medieval market squares in Europe and Old Town, which has achieved UNESCO world heritage site status.
There are many top attractions in Krakow, both historic and modern and here are just a few of the best:
- Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) – this is in the beautiful main market square and is an original building dating back to the 16th Century. These days it is filled with market stalls and cafes, and is very popular with both visitors and locals.
Having a holiday is like seeing an oasis in the middle of the desert that is your busy schedule everyday. A vacation is always welcome be it on a summer, winter, or just a long weekend.
No matter how you love your job, everyone deserves a break. Sad to say, studies show that about 25% on a holiday tend to keep in touch with their work. About 9% have to check their email or voicemail since they are expected to by their boss to report.
Sales workers check in with their work 50% of the time while financial services and IT professionals do the same at about 37%. Some 7% of workers going on a holiday declare that they can not be contacted while on vacation.
Worse, about 15% of employees who went on vacation in 2008 had to give up on trying to enjoy their holiday because of the demands of their work.
For years, eco tourism was something that no one has heard of, but today thanks to increased pressure by world governments to reduce carbon emissions and become more environmentally friendly, responsible tourism is becoming a big issue for both tourists and also tour operators.
The World Famous Floating Market
Hidden away in a corner of Southeast Asia is the wonderful and rather unique country of Thailand. Often a much over-looked holiday destination, one can be assured of a once in a lifetime experience when visiting this award winning holiday destination.
The capital of Thailand is a city known as Bangkok and it is the largest Southeast Asia and one of the largest cities in the world. There is nothing like quite like a trip to this amazing metropolis which seems to be a sprawling mass of building after building.
Paris doesn’t mean only Tour Eiffel or luxury hotels, but much more than that. At your second visit in Paris (or even at your first, if it is longer, or you are a skilled traveler) you must strive yourself to know Paris like a pro. I found myself a few hot spots in Paris, which are not very well renowned, but are definitely worth your visit, if you really want to round your imagine about the Ville Lumiere (The city of light), as the local tenderly nickname their flamboyant residence.
1. La Defence is one of the the newest quarters of Paris. Simultaneously La Defence is very spectacular with its skyscrapers and the underground circulation. You will be amazed first time you see La Defense: it is too silent to be in Paris. You need only to take care to the hurdles of skaters, who simply love this part of the city.
Mauritius is a beautiful mountainous island, with stunning beaches, fertile plains and some of the best resorts and hotels in the world, and is located just off the southeast coast of Africa in the tropical Indian Ocean.
The map of Island Mauritius
The main languages in Mauritius are English and French, but there is also a diverse mix of cultures on this island, and Creole, Hindi, Urdu and Chinese are also widely spoken. The main religion in Mauritius is Hindu, but Christianity (mostly Roman Catholic) is also well represented. The currency is the Mauritian Rupee (Rp) and you can change money and travelers cheques at mainland banks and wherever you see the sign ‘bureau de change’.
Mauritius has a number of top class facilities, including excellent hotel spas, golf courses and restaurants, and the landscape is truly stunning, with beautiful tropical sandy beaches and turqouise lagoons. Mauritius also has one of the world’s largest coral reefs, and this is a popular spot for diving.
