Kerala, The God’s Own Paradise is truly a charm of the southern part of India and is the perfect place to visit this season if you wish to get rejuvenated amidst picturesque landscapes, relish wonderful Keralite delicacies and pick up fresh spices right from the plantations.

We will be taking you through 6 wonderful hill stations in Kerala Kera which are a must on your bucket list if you are planning to visit there.

6 Exotic Hill Stations in Kerala Kera That Will Mesmerize You

1. Munnar

Photo by Dinesh Kumar (DK), CC BY-SA 2.0

This splendid hilly town, standing proud at an elevation of 1600 meters above sea level, located in the invigorating district of Idukki is an absolute favorite for most of the travelers.

• Located in Kannan Devan Hills, the Top Station situated at 1700 meters above sea level is the highest point in Munnar. Top Station is blessed with the rare Neelakurinji plants, that blossom once in every 12 years and impart bluish color to the terrain and you must take a glimpse at night and you will feel you have landed somewhere in space.
• To take a tour around this town, you must take an entire week off to enjoy the serene surroundings. Munnar a quaint little town is a home to many scenic villages and waterfalls and one of them is the Kundala Village and the amazing Kundala Lake is an absolute treat for eyes. Other places that must be on your bucket list is the Mattupetty Dam, The Tea Museum, Chinnakanal and Anayirangal Waterfalls, the mighty Anaimudi peak at the southern area of the Eravikulam National Park, which has also been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• This rugged town is surrounded by rivers namely – Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. As you enter Munnar, you will find large tea cultivations spread across the mountainous terrains and a walk through the tea estates or biking across the sloping roads covered with varieties of plants of cardamom, vines of pepper, other spices and medicinal plants is highly recommended.
• Ever heard of a Tea Museum? There is one which is a must visit sight in Munnar, the Tata Tea Museum, dedicated to the history of growth of the Tea Industry in the gorgeous town. It showcases photographs and ancient machineries of tea processing and how it all began and rose to this huge sector in Kerala which now exports to various countries.

2. Wayanad

Photo by Sarath Kuchi, hill stations in kerala kera CC BY-SA 2.0

In the north-eastern region of Kerala, lies this beautiful town of Wayanad.
Kerala is synonymous with tranquility and you can get a refreshing experience if Wayanad is on your mind.

• Adventure lovers will enjoy a trek to the spectacular Meppadi hills and you can capture brilliant photographs of the scenic view. Extremely wondrous picnic spots such as the Chembra peak located near Meppadi town and the Soochippara waterfalls are the most famous places in Wayanad.
• If you are craving for an experience to watch endless stretches of waves, then you must pack up your bags and head straight to the Kuruva Island in Wayanad. Filled with greenery, this less explored island lies about 17 Kms to the east of Mananthavady. Not many people reside here and you will find rare species of flora and fauna but if you haven’t seen this place before, ensure to go together in a group.
• Another interesting thing you can do is stay in a tree house and feel like a free bird.
• There are endless places to visit and do not miss to see the ancient Edakkal caves. The rock wall is carved with human and animal paintings which are an evidence of existence of life since the pre-historic age.

Enjoying India? Read about Mumbai, Goa and other adventure destinations in India

3. Ponmudi

Photo by Maheshsudhakar, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Golden Peak, an exhilarating section of the Western Ghats, lies 55.2 Kms to the north-east of the Trivandrum city. Ponmudi is a green hill station and is surrounded by mountain peaks with streams flowing across gorging valleys takes you to your imagination of a town as you must have seen in a painting.

Visitors have loved few destinations and we will talk about them.

• Menmutty falls, located amidst dense forests can be spotted 3 Kms away from the main road of Kallar. These cascading falls look brilliant and trekking can be undertaken with special permission from the forest department.
• There is also a beautiful and holy temple dedicated to Lord Shree Krishna. The temple area is easily accessible by road and is just 6 Kms from Trivandrum Central bus stand.
• Wherever you are in Kerala, you must try the food and especially so for the meat eaters, it is delightful.

4. Athirapally

Photo by Ashwin Kumar, CC BY-SA 2.0

Do not worry if you yearn to see the Niagara Falls and haven’t been able to make it but India does have its contemporary falls, the mighty Athirapally Falls.

• Pouring from a height of 80 feet, these falls can be spotted near Vazhachal forests in the district of Thrissur.
• Known for their picturesque beauty, few Bollywood movies have been shot here and is a favorite destination of the talented director, Mr. Mani Ratnam. He has shot his movies Roja, Dil Se, Guru there and the best time to visit is during the monsoons.

5. Vagamon

Photo by Anoop Joy, Vagamon – hill stations in kerala kera CC BY 2.0

On the border of Kottayam and Idukki, there is a small and blissful hill station known as Vagamon with presence of pine woods, green valleys, tea gardens, waterfalls etc. Quite popular with the mountaineers, there are plenty of exciting activities you can indulge in, when you are in Vagamon.

• Long walks across the pine forests, amidst the colorful orchid gardens, hike and bike amidst the aromatic tea and coffee cultivations.
• Vagamon is also a religious town and every year thousands of Christian pilgrims travel to the holy Kurismala, climbing the peaks with wooden crosses.
• Summer is the best season to explore this colorful hill station of Kerala.

6. Thekkady

Photo by Thierry Leclerc, Hill stations in Kerala Kera CCBY-ND2.0

Situated in the district of Idukki and noted for its Periyar National park, is our very own city Thekkady. The lush green Thekkady is around 114 Kms from Madurai Airport in Madurai city and easily accessible by road.

• Highly visited for its sanctuary, you will find dense forests filled with deciduous trees and you can bathe an elephant if you haven’t done it before. Animals like elephants, bison, deer, sambar, tigers, Nilgiri, langurs etc. are being tamed well here.
• Thekkady is a paradise for Safari trips and Elephant rides are quite exciting here. Its loved so much that you can go for an hour program where you will not only get to ride on the animal’s back but you can also bathe and click photographs with the friendly creature.
• A lot of tourists enjoy Bamboo Rafting in the lake and get to spend an entire day with your fellow travelers.
• Go for a spice shopping spree, ayurvedic garden trips and capture the gorgeous Chellarkovi falls, which are cascading in the northern part of Thekkady.

Kerala offers a serene and rejuvenating travel experience and will leave you smitten by its beauty and you would wish to visit next time again and relive those memories. Take a chance to come by and visit these 6 lovely hill stations in Kerala Kera.

Read more about other parts of India like Goa and Mumbai.

Not the Red Sea, not the Dead Sea,  but the Black Sea…

The Black Sea Region of Turkey – for all the mystery and enchantment in its name, is one of the 7 regions of Turkey, and possibly one of its more untouched parts that few from Asia Pacific has explored.

The Black Sea Region – What’s the mystery behind this alluring part of Turkey?

Turkey has always been regarded a captivating destination for people all around the globe, whether it is for its iconic hot air balloon scenic rides in Cappadocia, salt lakes or rich religious/ historical places like Ephesus, Troy and Amazon.

However just further northeast of Turkey fringing the borders of Georgia is a barely touched but very beautiful part of Turkey – named ‘The Black Sea Region’.

Why called ‘Black Sea’?

It got its name from the distinctively darker colours of the water, due to the colder sea water temperature found in this part of Turkey. This region is also often set in a foggy cloudy atmosphere given it has rain 9 out of 12 months of the year, hence gives it its mysterious allure and mood.

Zil Kale on a hill in Rize – Found in the Black Sea Region of Turkey

You can enter the Black Sea Region via a couple of ways. But the route we took was:

Istanbul Airport –> Hopa (INTERESTING FACT: Arrive at Batumi Airport at Georgia Border with a 15-20 minutes shuttle to bring us back to Turkey Border) –> Rize –> Giresun –> Amasya –> Samsun Airport –> Back to Istanbul

So here’s a bird’s eye view on what are the best sights in the Black Sea Region and why it is a beautiful part of Turkey definitely worth its exploring.

The 5 Best of the Black Sea Region of Turkey:

1. Hop into Hopa

All landed safely in Batumi Airport via Turkish Airlines. Smooth and comfortable 1+ hour ride.

We had a relaxing and smooth 1+ hour flight on Turkish Airlines into… Batumi Airport. Interesting fact – while our domestic flight destination is Hopa, we were actually touching down in Batumi, which is Georgia, another country altogether. Turkish Airlines is just using their airspace/ grounds to land the aircraft, and when we disembark, there will be 2 signs spotted– one indicating ‘HOPA’ and the other ‘BATUMI’. Once we walk into the HOPA gate, we will basically just have to take a bus/ shuttle which will bring us on a 15-20 minutes coastal route till we reach the Turkish Border of Hopa.

2. The origins of Crazy Honey – Rize/ Ayder Yaylasi

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Rize is the tea-land of the black sea region.

It has plenty of tall lush forests and trees of green gold and brown, homes of the black hives where the bees cultivate their precious honey – and sold as Anzer Honey in the stores. This little town set in the Ayder Plateau, also known as ‘honey forest’ is also popular for fishing, hot/ cold crystal clear springs and having tea gardens that sells organic black tea.

ONE trademark of Rize is its long winding fast moving waters, where the current and fast moving waters make it a perfect draw factor/ iconic destination in Turkey for whitewater rafting in the months of Jun – Aug. It’s such a waste that we weren’t there in the right season to experience this thrilling adventurous activity.

Staying in the lovely cosy cabin of Ayder Doga Resort in Ayder Yaylasi

Things to see in Rize:

• Zil Kale Castle or ‘Kalesi’

Pretty iconic preserved castle in Rize to visit. Walking on the edges of Zil Kale is not advisable, but the stunning view from there is – breathtaking sight.

• Kackar Mountains

These snow capped mountains are perfect for heli-ski in winter, and some good hiking in summer (months of June – Aug). This iconic mountain range attracts a lot of avid European skiers and snowboarders to Turkey just to conquer its slopes.

On the way departing from Rize towards Giresun, we went pass Trabzon and stopped at a stunning lookout point.

Uzungöl or ‘Long Lake’, the lakeside mosque and forested mountains that some call ‘The Switzerland of Turkey’. So idyllic

3. Oh Pretty Town of Giresun

The view of Giresun city from their highest look out point at Giresun Castle, or ‘Kalesi’

The locals here have claimed proudly that some of the best cherries in Europe and hazelnuts in the World come from none other than Giresun. One interesting thing about this city with its 400K population is Kuskoy – ‘Bird village’ in Turkish. In here, you can watch how the locals learn to communicate with each other with bird sounds, whistles and tunes, NOT words. They even have a school to teach people how to ‘speak’ it. It is so fascinating!

We had the privilege to take a stroll around the old housing area of the locals followed by a cruise around the coast of Giresun with Altin Post ferry. The little ferry visit to Giresun island was absolutely beautiful, with great weather that day and the sea gulls flying alongside the ferry. We got to Giresun little island, or what I like to call it ‘The Seagull Haven’ about 30 minutes later. This 4-hectare little island has some amazing old stone ruins which used to be monasteries and some really rich flora and fauna. The stunning sea breeze and foamy waters alongside the beautiful coastal cliffs with seagulls flying in the wind and nesting just made it so magical and untouched. I later found out this little island is ironically the ‘biggest’ island in the Black Sea Region of Turkey.

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I could not bear to say goodbye to those seagulls and the beautiful coastal cliffs.

Some little trails to explore on the island is Hamza Stone, Monastery Ruins and Firin Oven.  The origins on this island use to comprise of  a stone temple, fortifications and ramparts, and two wine or oil presses. The now roofless stone temple was in the ancient times attributed to the fearless Amazons who held religious rituals on these cliffs.

Other parts of Giresun that I would love to visit and explore the history more of if I had more time:

• Cave churches
• Amazon Women – Women Warriors

 –> Read on to Black Sea Region in Turkey –  What’s the Enchantment? Part 2 (Amasya/ Samsun)

Feeling a bit low? Has your work life ceased to being challenging and exciting? Do you finally need a break, want to spend some time away and give yourself some me time? But you haven’t gone on an excursion since ages and got no idea about which places to visit.

Well then you are at the right place, reading the right thing.

Here are Top 5 Secrets in India That Will Leave you Speechless and Inspire you to Travel

1. Ladakh, the Surreal Movie Set

Photo by Dan Tasse, CC BY 2.0

If we had the pleasure of the company of a few good friends in our student life, then almost for sure at one time we’ve all made plans for trip to Ladakh or Goa. Well then what might be the best time other than this instant to respond to that thought. Get up, fill up that empty tank, turn on the ignition and kick-start the two-legged animal. Get ready for the ride, put a pair of aviators on and give some throttle in answer to the meandering curves of the tortuous path of Khardung La and embark upon a journey of self-discovery and self-actualization.

2. Go to Goa

Photo by Ramnath Bhat, CC BY 2.0

Welcome to India’s smallest state as well as the richest one. Goa is known for its sun-kissed beaches, quality nightlife, palpable food and chic fashion. In the city, you are never really far off from the beaches and wild nightlife. A hot spot for foreigners, it offers a wide range of site-seeing in Goa along with many adventure sports. The beaches of Baga and Calangute offer jet-skiing, parasailing, water scooter rides and much more. The state is a former Portuguese Province which you can truly sense in the architecture. Bom Jesus Basilica and convents of Old Goa are a couple of examples which are World Heritage Sites of the state declared by UNESCO.

But above all, you will find true calmness and serenity while sunbathing on the beaches of Goa. Hear the splashing sounds made by Arabian Sea, catch that breeze of fresh air coming from the palms while you take a sip from your coconut and rest on that swinging hammock.

3. Bengaluru, the ‘Silicon Valley’ of India

Photo by Masaru Kamikura, CC BY 2.0

Known as ‘Silicon Valley of India’, the city is a bustling centre for Software & IT Industry. Every year thousands of freshers’ flock to the city to kick-start their career. But little did you know that the city is the “Pub Capital of India” and is ranked 3rd among the world’s top 10 cities to visit by Lonely Planet. A cosmopolitan city where you can truly find yourself in the huge expanses of Cubbon Park or on the sacred floors of ISKCON Temple or in the architectural immensity of Bangalore Palace or maybe by the shimmering waters of Lal Bagh. There is plethora of tourist attractions in Bangalore and you wouldn’t want to miss any of them.

4. The Royal Rajasthan

Photo by Divya Thakur, CC BY-SA 2.0

The royal Rajasthan is home to countless historical places such as Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer and Mount Abu. If the sanctity you long for lies in history then the state of Rajasthan is the right destination for you. Have a look at the Pink City from atop the Amer Fort; gaze at the street festivals from a screen behind the wall of Hawa Mahal; have a look at the glimmering waters of Man Sagar Lake from the Jal Mahal, where you can witness the Aravalli Hills dotted with ancient forts and temples with the bustling Jaipur City on the other side and veil over your face as you climb the dunes of Thar Desert in Barmer.

5. Darjeeling the ‘Toy Train’ founder

Photo by Dan Tasse, CC BY 2.0

When the word ‘toy train’ is uttered, two hill stations come to our mind i.e. Shimla and Darjeeling. But Darjeeling should always take the upper hand with its noted tea industry, breath-taking views of Kangchenjunga and Darjeeling Himalayan Railway which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Queen of the Hills is located in the Lesser Himalayas at an elevation of 6700 ft. While strolling through the market you can feel that the air has a nip to it, that the clouds are at a touching distance and the serenity of the snow clad white mountains is slowly clearing the haze away. Hop aboard the famous Darjeeling Toy Train and experience the true vibrancy of this cute little hill station.

So here concludes the Top 5 Secrets in India That Will Leave you Speechless and inspire you to Travel. What are you waiting for?

Love India? Read more about Mumbai and the other adventure spots in India

 

Dubai, blessed with golden sunshine, silvery beaches and enchanting history attracts tourists from all over the world. The city’s endless array of man made monuments vies with one another for architectural originality and magnificence. The sheer number of museums, beaches, resorts, parks and eateries just blow one’s mind. From the desert’s timeless tranquility to the old souk’s hustle and bustle to the Bollywood magnificence of the Rajmahal Theatre Dubai, Dubai invites, entices and romances us all. Here are 9 interesting places in Dubai – all conceptually unique and simply marvelous!

9 Intriguing Places in Dubai and All of Middle East

1. The Hajar Mountains

The 10,000 feet Hajar Mountains are a definite must-visit during your trip. The beautiful, ancient, towering limestone crags have the most exciting natural rock formations. Each one is a photo opp. If you want, you can climb the various foot routes up higher peaks such as Jebel Misht. There’s plenty of bouldering and rock climbing to be had as well. You can even go deep-water soloing (climbing cliffs above the sea) around Dibba on the east coast. If you’re not a climber, enjoy some challenging hiking, admiring the old settlements and spectacular views of the plains below. When you get to the upper reaches, you’ll see lovely wadi pools, waterfalls and remote villages set in protected little crags.

Dubai is an enchanting mix of the old and the new – the manmade marvels and the historical uniqueness. The desert beckons the wanderer in all of us with its mystical aura and age-old call of nature. The nightlife is vibrant and filled with endless options. Each monument in Dubai is constructed with an eye to beautify the city’s already glorious skyline. We hope you will enjoy our recommended interesting places, and also discover your own.

2. The Rajmahal Theatre

The Rajmahal Theatre, part of the Bollywood Parks collection is a magnificently executed building, designed to resemble an Indian royal palace. The grand theater can seat 856 people. The Rajmahal Theater is a notable Dubai landmark that combines the romance of Indian Cinema with new-age technology to bring Bollywood to life in Dubai.

The Indian royal palace design creates a luxurious backdrop for the several live Bollywood shows that take place each week. The world’s first Broadway-style Bollywood musical Jaan-e-Jigar will also be performed at the Rajmahal Theater. If you’re on the lookout for the most lavish wedding or corporate event hall in the world, the Rajmahal is just absolutely the ticket.

3. The Palm Jumeirah Island

When innovation meets hard work and money is no object, the results are spellbinding. The manmade Palm Islands are made of sand reclaimed from the sea, concrete and steel. The island is shaped like a 16-frond palm tree topped by a crescent. The whole island can be viewed perfectly from outer space. Plus, the island’s construction has added 78 kilometers of beach sands to Dubai’s coastline!

4. Dubai Creek

The natural seawater Dubai Creek that cuts through the city is an ancient harbor for trading vessels. Bur Dubai and Deira are two towns that lie on either side of the creek. Grab an abra (water taxi) and take a romantic ride along the creek. Explore the souqs of Deira and Bur Dubai for fragrant saffron, gold and nuts. Walk through the old Bastakiya region and admire its Arabian architecture, wind tower houses and old shopping alleys. Don’t miss the historic Al Fahidi Fort museum and Sheik Saaed’s House.

Read more about the markets and culture of Dubai here 

5. The Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is a hard to miss sight, either from the ground or the sky. At 828 meters, the world’s tallest tower dominates the Dubai skyline. The building has 57 elevators and 8 escalators. You can see the whole of Dubai, and the ocean, the manmade islands and the red desert dunes from the observation deck on the 124th floor. At night, the view from the observation deck takes on magical proportions. The whole of Dubai is laid out like a flower for you to savor. A meal in the Atmosphere hotel on the 122th floor makes you feel like you’re floating along with the clouds themselves!

6. The Ancient Dubai Desert

The beautiful, tall red sand dunes of the desert attract both adventurers and romantics.  Sign up for a day or night safari, and you can have unlimited adventures. Dune bugging on a 4×4 SUV is one adventure that’ll have your adrenalin levels up. Then there’s riding a tall camel up and down the shifting sand dunes – a definite high. Sand boarding on ATVs is an adventure that’s for the adrenalin junkie in you. If that’s not enough, ride a hot air balloon over the desert dunes, enjoying the sunlight glimmering on ancient red sands. If you don’t mind the heat, you can even slide down tall dunes, screaming all the way. It’s up to you. You can also sign up for off-road desert adventures to experience the desert more in full.

7. Ski Dubai

Imagine tall ski slopes in the middle of Dubai, which burns at 55 deg. Celsius during summer? Yes – it blows the mind. Ski Dubai is maintained at 0 deg. Celsius during the day and 6 deg. Celsius during the night to give you perfect snowy conditions. Enjoy skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, skating and play with precious little snow penguins. Roll down the Giant Ball run; you’ll need to jump a 10ft. ramp and spiral down tube slides to get to the bottom. Go up in the chairlift and enjoy watching the whole of Ski Dubai while enjoying hot chocolate at minus 4 degrees.

8. Dubai’s Coastline

Dubai aerial View

Dubai’s coastline is ancient and steeped in history and modern magnificence. Go kayaking among the mangroves around the island, watching out for crocodiles hiding under the roots. Kayaking at night amidst the mangroves is a real test of your expertise. Take dhow, houseboat or yacht cruises along Dubai’s fabulous coastline. You’ll get to weave in and out of the Palm Islands and the Map Islands, enjoying views of Dubai’s marvelous architecture.  Or, you can just Jet Ski or water ski along the coastline, stopping where you want to!

9. The Lost Chambers Aquarium

Imagine Lost City of Atlantis discovered under the sea. What would it be like? Well, for one thing, it would be surrounded by water, with marine creatures of every description swimming around it. The Lost Chambers Aquarium in the Palm Atlantis hotel brings the charm of the lost city to life. Gear yourself for a mind-blowing walk through the glass tunnels of the lost city, coming face to face with sharks, piranhas, stingray, tiny seahorses and giant lobsters in this magnificent underwater world.

It’s an immersive experience into a world that’s been lost – its shipwrecks and ruins details in 10 spellbinding underwater chambers.  Join the ‘Behind The Scenes’ Tour to find out how the 65,000 plus marine creatures are maintained. It’s amazingly educational – you’ll get to know how the water filtration systems work, how the fish hospital operates and more.

Concluding the 9 marvelous wonders of Dubai and All of Middle East.

To read more stories about Dubai, explore here

Lush green terraces of tea plantations, bustling chaotic streets of traffic, singing sri lankans as they clamber up Adam’s peak, these are just some of the vivid memories I have of the rugged green country of Sri Lanka.

Get a car and driver to get around sri lanka is the best option

Ely and I made a trip up to Sri Lanka over christmas and new year’s, spreading across 10days to cover the following route:

Sigiriya ( 2 Night)  >>Kandy (1 Night) >> Nuwara Eliya (3 Nights)>> Galle (1 Night)>> Hikkaduwa ( 2 Nights)

Sri Lanka had open up more in the past 10 years, and have been receiving a surge of tourist arrivals. Some of these places that are visited are rather accessible and maintained well, making it a bit safer as well. So here’s listing some of the fun and adventurous activities to immerse in during your time there:

Top 9 fun and adventurous activities one can embark on in Sri Lanka:

1. Crazy crowded but scenic train rides from Kandy –> Nuwara Eliya/ Elle

Crazy train rides with scenic views from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya/ Elle.

2. Hiking and Trekking at the best Nature Spots

Climbed Adam’s Peak and witnessed the sunrise view from the temple top. Did I mention I climbed it with a sprain ankle.

One of the trademark beauty of Sri Lanka is its lush greenery. We got to enjoy a lot of it by visiting the 2 UNESCO World heritage sites – Horton’s Plains and Adam’s Peak.

Come prepared with good waterproof clothing and proper hiking boots. Though both places are relatively easy to walk without too much scrambling on loose rock/ jagged edges, but the weather here proves volatile, so the ground will be slippery if there is rain or morning dew gathered. Also, Adam’s peak is quite dark while hiking up at night and I actually injured my ankle stepping into a porthole ( how unexciting). So I would recommend one to be ready with proper hiking boots all the time.

Adam’s Peak hike

Head off to Adam’s Peak starting ground as early as 11pm might be a bit extreme, depending on your speed of staircase climb up the mountain. Most fit people will take 2-3 hours to get up to the top.

There are plenty of rest points in between to get chips, hot drinks and some sri lanka street snacks.

Enjoy hiking? Find out the other hiking/ climbing spots in Asia

Horton’s Plains

Definitely a must visit for those who love nature and scenic walks. Though the ride and entry in the park costs us as much as US$90 (which is a bit insane for a natural scenic place like that), it was nonetheless a very beautiful and relaxing trail with the cool fog following us around.

Going past the iconic World’s End before ending up on these orangy fields of horton’s plains

If you managed to break away from the noisy groups, you might have a higher chance bumping into animals like sambar deer. It was an absolutely astonishing sight to see it running across the walkway.

Sigiriya Rock World Heritage Site

Sigiriya Rock aka ‘Lion Rock’

A unique shaped piece of rock with no other high elements around it, this UNESCO world heritage site is truly surreal to look at, and turns out to be quite a relaxing climb as well. Its mostly stairway all the way up, with handbars to grip also. Very friendly for younger ones to less fit folks as well.

3. Tea, Spices and everything nice

The trademark of Sri Lanka is also none other than their – black tea. Once you enter the zones of Nuwara Eliya, the temperatures here at night drops and you immediately feel the need to whip out your warm jackets and long pants to replace the t-shirt and shorts from Kandy. The cool air was quite lovely in the day though, hence making it such a conducive climate for tea to grow.

Lush vivd yellowish green tea plantations at Nuwara Eliya. Ely and I stole a quick photo with these lovely local tea pickers

Ely going down the trails of the tea plantations. We had 2 boys following us around during that trail.

4. Visiting historical monuments of Ceylon

Exploring the Polonnaruwa Ancient City by foot

The country of Sri Lanka, on top of its scenic nature routes, is also very rich in history, religious roots and culture. We visited a couple of the really beautifully preserved heritage sites, and I would strongly recommend them for your consideration.

Polonnaruwa Ancient city

I have forgotten the name of this animal, but it is of certain significance as it is commonly seen at the entrance of a lot of these old ruins

We got around Polonnaruwa Ancient city by foot and renting a bicycle at one of the main entrances, which speeds up the time needed to get around. It costs about US$12 to rent a bicycle for 2-3 hours.

Enter the Grand Cave temple of Sri Lanka – Golden Temple of Dambulla

Not named a UNESCO world heritage centre for nothing, this iconic massive temple houses hundreds of buddha statues, and the paintings on the walls have been preciously restored and redone.

Indiana Jones Edition: Temple of the Tooth at Sri Dalada Maligawa

This place houses the sacred tooth relic that hundreds of people flock here yearly to receive blessings

Walk the old fort of Galle by the coast

Walking along the old fort of Galle

Enjoying reading about Sri Lanka. Visit another popular destination in the area – Mauritius

Among the many stunning climbing spots in Asia, lies one hidden slightly higher up the hemisphere – Welcome to Yangshuo, the mountainous beauty of China.

Yangshuo Rock Climber’s Haven | Photo credited to Raymond Liew

YANGSHUO, or 阳朔县 in simplified chinese is made up of hundreds of beautiful small mountains called Karst peaks, all made of limestone rock, dolomite and gypsu. The climate here in Yangshuo gets colder as Nov comes with temperatures dropping to 15 degrees at night. This destination attracts both domestic tourists as well as tons of rock climbing enthusiasts around the world.

1. Karst Peaks and Little Mountains

Yangshuo Rock Climber’s Haven

The most unique thing about Yangshuo is their karst peaks, which greets you the moment you touch down at the train station and board the bus to the town of Yangshuo. This iconic landmark of Yangshuo with the Li River is the most common image you see online, and can also be found on the 20 Yuan note.

Yangshuo Rock Climber’s Haven

Sunset at Yangshuo

2. Hiking in Yangshuo

There are many interesting trails one can explore in Yangshuo. Whether it is just a bypass to a crag for climbers, or a lookout point to catch the sunset, this place has so much to offer.

Hiking into White Mountain climbing area

We hiked for 15 minutes to a look-out point at Moon hill. The 360 view was absolutely breathtaking that photos can’t do justice to it. I dare not imagine how much more amazing it would be at sunset.

At the top of the world

3. Rock Climbing in Yangshuo

Yes, Yangshuo is indeed known to attract hundreds of climbers around the world to conquer it’s iconic rock formations. From climbing spots at Moon Hill to Swiss Cheese and many more.

Always do a bit of research beforehand on which climbing spots gets the morning/ afternoon sun, before you head over. You also don’t want to be staying here any time after 6pm and risk getting lost in the groping dark.

A post shared by ~ Lydiascapes.com ~ (@lydiascapes) on Nov 14, 2016 at 12:49am PST

Interested in rock climbing in other parts of Asia?

More pictures below of our climbing experience, with a group as big as 10 people on some days.

Best to enjoy this destination with friends, who can help spam more photos for you.

4. River Cruise down rafts on the Li River

One of the most tranquil activities to do in Yangshuo is to take a lovely river cruise down the Li River with the beautiful rock features to your left and right. It even gets a bit exciting when you come to a bridge, where there will be a miniature flume ride, and you get splashed on your bamboo rafts.

Definitely something worth experiencing and a great photo spamming opportunity.

Bustling streets of Yangshuo at night

5. Exploring the old preserved villages

Exploring the old preserved villages of Yangshuo

This is a must-try when you are in Yangshuo. Drive around on a motorbike with some of the locals and check out these lovely old heritage houses preserved amidst the stunning mountain backdrop. The weather was absolutely amazing during our excursion – cooling and plenty of sunshine. So word of advise, late Oct/ early Nov is a nice time to do that.

6. City tour in Guangzhou and eat steamboat

Walkabout Guangzhou shopping district

And yes, with every trip all the way here in Guangzhou district, maybe you can just squeeze in a day to shop/ browse around and get some Hai Di Lao, the famous hotpot restaurant that originated from here.

However, us not being the shopaholic sort, ended up just wandering around aimlessly without buying much.

So what else can people do in Yangshuo?

1. Mud Bath in Cave
2. Liu Sanjie Light Show
3. Bike or Cycling Tour around Yangshuo

Yangshuo Rock Climber’s Haven

Hence I conclude my post on Yangshuo. Is there anything else about Yangshuo that you enjoyed that wasn’t mentioned?

Feel free to share!

Love rock climbing? Then check out the list of top destinations in Asia to climb

Slacklining in Yangshuo China

Selected photos featured in this trip are credited to Raymond Liew, one of our fellow trip mates.