Photo of the Week: The Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines
One of the last great frontiers on the tourist circuits in South East Asia is The Philippines. Named for King Phillip of Spain, The Philippines are an amazing collision of cultures as a result of over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, Japanese and American occupation and an influx of people from other local nations, namely China. The nation, which is comprised of over 7,000 islands is very affordable and offers everything you could want for a vacation from sprawling metropolises to nature so untouched, you might be the first human to lay eyes upon it in years.
The above picture is from the island of Bohol in the Visaya region of the country. Bohol offers some of the most pristine beaches in the whole world as well as bountiful beautiful landscapes including the Chocolate Hills seen here. They are a geographic wonder known as conical karsts that result from the dissolution of limestone after rains, tectonic processes and ground water. There are over 1,500 of these hills that average in height from around 98 to 160 ft in an area of about 50 sq km. They get the name “chocolate hills” because in the dry season, the vegetation that covers them turns brown, i.e. looking like chocolate kisses!
There are plenty of tours that will take you to see the hills from the beaches where most people stay, but a more fun option is to just rent a motorcycle or scooter and make the scenic drive at your own pace!
Boston Travel Guide
When the weather begins to warm up, New England turns into an extremely pleasant and picturesque area to venture to for a long weekend. At the heart of New England lays Boston, a dense urban center full of historic sites, elite academic institutions, skyscrapers, parks, and hip venues; attractions that are all but a short walk or train ride on this nation’s oldest subway system away; the T. While it is obvious that you cannot cover an entire city in a weekend, Boston’s compact square mileage and density allow for you to cover most of it and at least the parts you wish to see most, very easily.
Boston is a brilliant mix of tasteful sophistication and historic New England appeal. During a weekend visit to Boston, it is effortless to unearth the city’s vibrant history while also enjoying its uniquely modern frame. This Atlantic coast bay city is home to outstanding musical and theatrical productions, fanatical sports fans and teams, museums, trolley tours, ethnic and food and wine festivals.
An agenda for what to do during a weekend visit to Boston should be tailored to the individuals making the trip. Using this list as a guide, you will surely find more to enjoy than not. Just don’t forget to apply for your visa to the USA before showing up at the airport.
Freedom Trail
Many of Boston’s sights are located on the Freedom Trail and are available to enjoy for free. Walking is the best way to see this city and the Freedom Trail will lead you on a fantastic stroll through Boston’s brownstone Beacon Hill neighborhood on cobblestone paths in the shadow of the golden rotunda of the Massachusetts State Capitol. Take a break in the Boston commons and if you so choose, indulge with a ride on the famous swan boats. Finish your walk near the waterfront at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market where there are a plethora of shops and restaurants to refresh.
Cambridge
Located across the Charles River, Cambridge is home to both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), two of the finest and oldest academic institutions in the country. This truly unique city is host to a vibrant and diverse community of both academics and professionals. Harvard Square at the heart of Cambridge is more of a social and commercial focal point. There are plenty of bookshops, restaurants, bars, cafes, and options for both boutique and brand-name shopping. The best place for a bite to eat is on Cambridge Street at the East Coast Grill.
Fenway Park
At Fenway, sure the seats are small and uncomfortable and the food and alcohol is extremely overpriced, but this park is absolutely a must-see for every sports fan young and old. The oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball located on famous Yawkey Way, is best known for its ambiance, atmosphere and the Green Monster, a 37 foot high wall that extends straight from left field to center field where many heroes made names for themselves including gracefully-swinging left-fielder Ted Williams.
The North End
One evening of your trip must be spent dining in Boston’s famous Italian neighborhood, The North End. Anchored by its main drag, Hanover Street is host to various restaurants, bakeries and cheese and wine shops. You can’t go wrong eating at Giacomo’s, a very sma…intimate space with infamously long lines where you choose a pasta, a sauce, and a meat or fish and an Italian wait staff yells your order to an Italian chef in the kitchen. The wait is worth it! Top off your night with mouthwatering pastries at Mike’s!
The North Shore
This beautiful region north of Boston is a wonderful place to spend a day in New England outside the city of Boston and is all within an hour away. The north shore of Massachusetts is made up of a rocky coastline, marshes and wetlands, many beaches and harbors, as well as being home to a variety of delectable fresh seafood. The north shore is a haven for beach lovers and oceangoing types alike.
Being rich in American history also allows for interesting cultural activities — from the Salem Witch Trial attractions, to art museums to the many sites dedicated to the area’s seafaring heritage. Don’t leave without stopping at the original Kelly’s Roast Beef and Seafood on Revere Beach. A fat lobster roll and a hot clam chowder are absolutely necessary.
I hope you enjoy Boston as much as I did growing up there and that my Boston Travel Guide will make your visit to my home city one to remember.
By: Brian Longin
Photo of the Week: Pai, Thailand!
If you’ve checked out our Thailand Travel Guide, you’ll see more mention of the south of country where the beaches reign supreme, but the north of the country offers some amazing mountains, pine forest, and a much cooler climate which is a nice break from the heat and humidity.
This photo comes from Pai, Thailand, in the Mae Hong Son Province, northwest of the popular city of Chiang Mai. It has become a backpacker and hippie haven for its laid back vibe, slow pace of life and stunning landscapes. A few popular sites people visit near Pai are the Japanese WWII Bridge, hot springs and Pai Canyon which is pictured above. You can rent a motorcycle or scooter in town for a few bucks and explore the region for a few days.
There are wealth of guest houses in and around Pai, so finding a place to stay should never be an in issue!
By: Jeremy Albelda
Shanghai Travel Guide
It’s no secret thаt Shanghai іѕ оnе оf thе wealthiest metropolises іn China. It іѕ famous fоr bеіng one of thе mоѕt developed cities іn thе country аnd іѕ thе ѕесоnd mоѕt populated. Fоr thе раѕt 20 years, іt hаѕ bесоmе а favorite destination fоr well-off tourists аnd business travelers alike; аnd thеrе іѕ no reaon whу thаt ѕhоuld nоt bе thе case. However, thеrе іѕ аlѕо nо reason to assume thаt Shanghai іѕ оnlу intended fоr people who have money to blow. Thе city mау bе the epitome оf luxury and modernity but thеrе аrе аlѕо many things to do аnd free attractions catering to budget travelers. Thе city іѕ undeniably beautiful, attracting people from all оvеr thе world, and it makes a great place to spend anywhere from a few days to a few months! Read a on a bit more into our Shanghai travel guide to see why.
Thеrе аrе а lot оf first-class lodging establishments іn thе city thаt wоuld guarantee you wіth world-class accommodation; but thеrе аrе аlѕо а lot оf cheaper hotels whісh соuld offer a high quality of service for the right place. Booking online prior tо your trip wіll bе helpful аѕ thіѕ will аllоw you tо determine rіght аwау which hotels are in your price range. Tо save money, іt іѕ аlѕо advised that you choose whісh method оf transportation you’d like to utilize. Actually, transportation costs іn thе city аrе аll pretty cheap. But іf you’re planning tо stay іn Shanghai fоr а while (more than 2 or 3 days), you ѕhоuld јuѕt buy thе Shanghai Jiatong Card. It іѕ а reloadable transit card whісh serves аѕ a common fare for buses, the metro system аnd taxis. Thіѕ basically simplifies things; аnd аllоwѕ you to avoid fumbling for foreign currency instead of just swiping a card!
But оf course, nоthіng beats а good walk around. Aѕ fоr thе attractions tо visit; thеrе аrе mаnу places іn Shanghai whісh dо nоt require you tо pay tо enter. Fоr example: M50, Studio Rogue, аnd Wenmiao аrе art galleries thаt offer free admission. Thеrе аrе аlѕо many beautiful parks аrоund thе city whеrе youсаn visit and marvel at thе spectacular urban setting оf Shanghai. Wіth thіѕ kind оf demand, cheap flights tо Shanghai аrе abundant. Eѕресіаllу оn thе internet, іt іѕ pretty easy tо find а good deal оn air tickets. If you plans tо visit paid attractions іn Shanghai though, іt іѕ bеѕt tо check fоr роѕѕіblе discounts аnd vouchers оn thе internet fіrѕt as well as there are often ones available.
Aѕ fоr dining, thеrе rеаllу іѕ nоthіng wrong wіth gоіng tо first-class restaurants; but if you’re trying to stay on budget, opt for one of the many markets, stalls or small family run restaurants that will offer much more authentic food if you’re up for it. Thе ѕаmе thought applies wіth shopping. Thеrе аrе а lot оf souvenir shops аnd bazaars іn Shanghai too, whісh will аllоw you tо find rеаllу affordable items tо bring home fоr loved оnеѕ. Shanghai is really an amazing destination to visit in Asia and most definitely in China, so what are you waiting for, to Shanghai or bust!
By Wan Xi
Welcome to Home Town Travel Guides.com , your source for travel guides written by locals and those who've been there and done that! ~Jeremy