The wonders of the physical world never cease, the Earth still remains a frontier that man has barely conquered. Here are a few awe-inspiring spots around the world that will surely intrigue and tickle the imaginations of the adventurous and challenge the more adventurous into seeing or experiencing the breath-taking places with their own eyes.
Atacama Desert of South America. While the Sahara is the largest desert in the world, this desert near Chile is the world’s driest desert.
Caspian Sea. This is the largest lake in the world. The lake is 760 miles long, 3,264 feet deep and 92 feet above sea level.
Cerro Aconcagua in Argentina. This dormant volcano located on the Argentina side of the Andes is the highest in the world with a height of roughly around 23,000 feet high.
Mt. Aso in Japan. This active volcano located in the island of Kyushu in Japan has the largest crater in the world measuring 114 kilometers.
Greenland, Denmark. With an area of 840,000 square miles, this is the world’s largest island.
Basilica of St. Peter in Rome. This famous place of worship located at Vatican City, Rome is the biggest church in the world. It is 116 feet long, 458 feet tall, and has an area of 18,110 square yards.
M.V. Lomonosov State University in Russia. Constructed from 1949-1953, this university found on Lenin Hills at the northern part of Moscow, Russia is 787 feet high containing 32 stories making it the biggest university in the world.
The capital city of The Netherlands is unmistakably the dream destination for party people anywhere in the world. Aside from the notoriously infamous red light district of the city, breath-taking sceneries and city beaches, Amsterdam boasts of unique bars and drinking holes that would surely heighten the thirst of liquor-philiacs.
Gollem. This is the place for beer lovers. With stocks of over 200 bottled beers, this is the first bar to serve imported beer in Amsterdam. The drinks are usually served in special glasses specific for each kind. A detailed menu of all beers served in the bar complete with a short description of each beer is available in Dutch as well as in English.
De Admiraal. This is a liquor tasting house that features the liquors of Van Wees, the last of Amsterdam’s independent distilleries. The place is like a museum showcasing a lot of brewery utensils. It is also wonderful to note that it stays open until late in the evening, contrary to the common practice of an ordinary tasting house. style, De Admiraal stays open until late in the evening.East of Eden. It effectively lives up to its name with its yellowish walls, cane furniture, painted elephants behind the bar and high windows that let in a lot of light through. The large terrace provides its customers with a good view of the Royal Tropical Institute located nearby. The tropical feel of the place attracts a mixed crowd of locals and visiting tourists of the Tropenmuseum.
Now gaining recognition among day-trippers and nature lovers, Pundakit in San Antonio, Zambales offers you a treat unequaled by any run of the mill vacation destination. Flanked by a luxuriously green landscape on one side and white sand shores on the other, the sights are enough to wash away any fatigue experienced from the long drive to the place.
The verdant mountains both majestic and mysterious in their beauty offer an adventure both challenging and peaceful to trekkers and climbers. The attractions include magnificent trees and foliage, hidden springs, streams, waterfalls as well as a huge variety of bird species.
The beaches are clean and the shores are perfect for lying under the sun because of the fine, smooth white sand. Nearby islands like Anawangin and Capones may also be reached by a boat ride from Pundakit. Capones features a historically significant lighthouse and an exquisite beach that has served as shooting locations for several advertisements and TV programs. Anawangin is like an enchanted land, this is the go-to place to witness water from land flow into the sea . The river that streams to the sea is very calm and relaxing. Lined with pine trees and seemingly untouched by anything artificial, the scenic view is reminiscent of the enchanted forest in the animated film “Princess Mononoke”.
At present, the place shows very little signs of commercialization; the people are very friendly and life remains simple. So if you want to see the beauty of nature at its purest, better catch the wave now.
Things to consider before donning your special “I am a tourist” costume and waltzing your way out of the airport and smack into a foreign land.
Your budget. Never neglect to take into account the fact that the cost of living in the country you’re visiting may be a world apart from the cost of living in your own home. Refer to currency exchange rates and even as you get taken in by the beauty of the sights and the whole experience, try to put a tight grip on the hand that cradles your finances. Bumming cash from fellow tourists isn’t part of your vacation plans after all.
The language. Take the time to arm yourself with a few common words of the native language of the place you will be visiting. This is of enormous importance especially if you plan to travel around without a tour guide. Also, do not forget the universal language- smile!
Public transportation. If you will be going around on your own, make sure you are familiar with the system of public transportation. Not everything can be as convenient as a cab or bus ride. Be prepared for appallingly crowded trains and unconventional means such as boatrides, cars attached to bicycles or even animal-pulled carts. If you will be driving, be aware of any special traffic rules or conditions like bike lanes, speed limits and right-of-way.
The food. While it is your golden chance to be adventurous and try new things, be careful with the food you shall be trying especially if you have food allergies.
How far would you go (literally) to satisfy your cravings?
Chocolate. While it is true that one would probably see heaven in a ditch just as long as chocolate is present, there is no doubt that the best dark chocolate would be found in Costa Rica. If a more adventurous taste is sought, the tangy exotic chocolates all the way from Sri Lanka would definitely satiate the longing for chocolates with nuts and fruits.
Beer. At the risk of being too mundane, the best choice would still be the obvious choice in this case- the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany! The most fitting place to drink the finest dark beer or a light weiss beer would be among respectable professionals who transform into rowdy crowds of beer-bellied men in Deutschland.
Sushi. Where else but at the sushi capital of the world?!
Spicy noodles. The Chinese and the Japanese have definitely taken the art of making noodles to the ultimate level but it is the Koreans who have perfected the art of blending the spices, mushrooms, herbs and other essentials to produce the unequaled flavor of a steaming hot bowl of the Korean ramen they call ‘Ramyun’.
Espresso. The origin of the coffee does not really matter, as long as it is strong, velvety and full-bodied. The craving that really needs to be satisfied is that of the alfresco cafes in Paris complemented by a delightful conversation, street musicians and warm sunshine.
Isaw with Dirty Ice Cream. In the Philippines and everywhere else, streetfood would most likely take the closest distance to travel in response to a certain appetite. You need only to travel one block and voila! Twenty sticks of chicken guts and a cone of street ice cream are waiting to be gobbled up.
