Lisbon

We recently took a trip to Lisbon, Portugal and enjoyed it very much.  We arrived in the evening and took the funicular up to Bairro Alto for dinner.

Funicular

At first we were a bit hesitant to explore the back streets of Bairro Alto, and wondered if we had made a bad decision to come to Lisbon.  The streets were dark, run down, and unsafe looking.

Back Streets

However we quickly realized that although the buildings were in a serious state of disrepair, the people were friendly and the area was safe.  The next day we were able to get a few pictures showing the various states of buildings in Lisbon.  You’ll see many that are falling apart, such as in this picture:

Dilapidated Building

But even the dilapidated buildings are covered in beautiful tiles.  Here’s an image with a number of different tiles, all typical on Lisbon buildings:

Tiles

In the light of day, the state of disrepair of many of the buildings actually adds to the character of the city.  Not only are the tiles interesting, but there are plenty of other great architectural features.  Here are a few images of cool doors, for example:

Interesting Door

Another Door

And Yet Another

The history of Portugal is also fascinating.  You can clearly see that it was once a very rich country, profiting greatly from the spice trade.  But as spices went from being worth more than gold to being very cheap, Portugal began loosing wealth and doesn’t seem to have recovered.

Mosteiro dos Jeronimos

The Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, an incredible church, was build in honor of Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India.  And there are loads of interesting architectural and historical features throughout the city.  However, perhaps our favorite part about the trip was eating!  The pastries in Lisbon were outstanding, particularly the pasteis de nata:

Pasteis De Nata

We ate 5 or six of these delicious treats each day, sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon:

With Sugar and Cinnamon

It seemed there was a pastry shop on nearly every corner, with unique and tasty specialties in each one.

More Pastries

If you have the chance to visit Lisbon, I’d highly recommend it.  You can see nearly all of the sites in 3-4 days…and don’t forget the great pastries!

The Main Drag

View from Mountain in Flachau

I haven’t posted in a while and have been meaning to get back to it.  I recently returned from a ski trip in and around Flachau, Austria, and it was terrific.  If you’re considering a ski trip in Europe, Flachau should be at the top of your list!  I stayed in a very nice “apartment” I found on this Flachau hotels site (where you can find plenty more info on Skiing in Flachau if you speak/read German), and the entire one week trip cost less than a couple of days in most popular US ski areas.  With a single lift ticket you have access to huge area.  I’d highly recommend it.

On the subject of vacation and skiing, I’ve just started an “active travel” section that I’ll try to post to more often.  Enjoy the rest of winter!

Lets admit it, Iceland does not sounds like your typical destination for a golfing holiday, but put aside your preconceptions and you will find that the pure air and peace of the Icelandic countryside make it a truly unique golfing experience. Against a backdrop of dramatic mountains, rugged lava fields and magnificent ocean views, golfers can enjoy 24 hours of daylight during the summer – and there is no other place in the world where you can indulge in a round of golf under the midnight sun! » Continue reading “Golfing in Reykjavik, Iceland”

Cesky Krumlov

Everyone’s heard of Prague, the alluring capital of the Czech Republic, but what about Cesky Krumlov? You’ll find tourism companies in Prague advertising day trips to see the Cesky Krumlov Castle, and the city does have a significant number of tourists. But it warrants much more than “day trip” status, and we’re not the only ones who think so!

Old Pharmacy

Cesky Krumlov is an old Medieval town dating back to the 1200′s, and has the second largest castle in the Czech Republic.  It’s a small town, with a population of about 14,000, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere.  Walking along the old cobblestone streets of Cesky Krumlov, you can easily imagine yourself there centuries before.

Painted House

There are beautiful painted houses lining the streets, plenty of little cozy restaurants, and loads of fun shops selling everything from antiques to toys.

Toy Store

If there’s one thing you must sample in Cesky Krumlov, it’s Trdelnik…an absolutely delicious treat!  You’ll get whiffs of cinnamon before you see them, as they’re made fresh all day.  And once you try one of these warm delicacies, you’ll no doubt be back for more.  Here’s another post with a description of Trdelnik, including pictures.

Trdelnik

While there’s certainly more ground to cover in Prague, if you have the time you should spend at least one night in Cesky Krumlov.  It will give you a deeper appreciation for the Czech Republic, and you’ll have the town nearly to yourself when all the day trippers leave in the evening.

Cesky Krumlov

If you’ve got your own car, there are also a couple of great sites around Cesky Krumlov that make staying for two or three nights a great option, including Ceske Budejovice and the Hluboka Castle:

Hluboka Castle

So if you’re planning a trip to the Czech Republic, don’t forget about little Cesky Krumlov!

France is a golf enthusiasts’ heaven. Why not combine a round of golf with wine tasting in the chateaux. What more could you want from a holiday? A round of golf followed by a nice glass of wine. Culture, art, gastronomy, history and scenery, all of these attractions are extremely appealing, particularly for the non-golfers. So yes you can even take your wife or girlfriend …… » Continue reading “Golfing in Southern France”

Wat Xieng Thong

Luang Prabang is one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast Asia.  It sits at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers…and the location couldn’t be more spectacular.  The rivers are full of life, from fisherman to kids and monks playing in the water.

Nam Khan

The old part of town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with more than 30 temples still occupied by Buddhist monks.  Everywhere you turn there is another incredible temple, some dating back more than 500 years.  Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham for instance, has stunning gold bas reliefs lining the front outer wall:

Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham

The inside of these temples are equally impessive, often filled with statues of the Buddha:

Buddha Statues

But Luang Prabang isn’t just incredible scenery and amazing temples.  The food is insanely good, whether you get it at a nice restaurant or a market stall.  The Apsara Hotel is one of the nicest places to eat, right on the Nam Khan, and every dish they serve is unbeatable.  Here is there dried beef salad:

Dried Beef Salad

In addition to what the town of Luang Prabang has to offer, there are numerous side trips to incredible destinations.  Check out Exotissimo Travel for the best trips available.  One of the best half day trips from the town are to the gorgeous Tat Kuang Si waterfalls:

Tat Kuang Si Falls

The Tat Kuang Si falls are truly spectacular.  The pools of water are a cloudy turquoise color (and yes, you can swim in them!).  They’re so amazing they actually look fake!  Some of the falls are multi tiered:

Tat Kuang Si Falls

And when you get to the top, you arrive at the huge and very impressive source:

The Big One

Another great half day trip in Luang Prabang is a boat trip down the Mekong River.  You can visit the amazing Pak Ou caves, or just slowly cruise into the sunset watching the monks go for their evening swim:

Monks in Mekong

Luang Prabang is definitely a must see destination in Southeast Asia.  Book your hotel, and get on your way!

Here are a couple of great deals just in:

Travelocity is offering last minute round trip flights this weekend, starting at $108, and next weekend starting at $94.  Here is the offer.

Hotels.com is having a Labor Day Sale with hotels in Chicago from $62 and hotels in Los Angeles from $50…both offers expiring on 9/7.

Get them while they’re still available!

Bayon

If there’s one place you must visit before you die, it’s the temples of Angkor.  Many people haven’t even heard of these temples, others have only heard of Anchor Wat (the biggest religious structure in the world), but what relatively few people know is that there are dozens of these stunning temples scattered over approximately 70 square miles.  The Lonely Planet gets it right when it states, “there is no greater concentration of architectural riches anywhere on earth.”

Apsara at Bayon

The temples of Angkor date back to the 800′s, with the last great structures built during the 1200′s.  Angkor Wat is the most well known, probably because it’s the largest of them all…and using the word “large” to describe Angkor Wat is an understatement.  It’s MASSIVE.

Walkway to Angkor Wat

The moat surrounding the complex is 190 meters wide!  And this isn’t just a gigantic stone temple.  The inner and outer walls are completely covered in the most amazing bas reliefs you could imagine.  Here’s an apsara or “heavenly nymph” from the outer wall:

Apsara at Angkor

Angkor Wat was built at the end of the 11th and beginning of the 12th centuries, and roughly translates to “temple that is a city”.  No doubt.  The outer walls are 1025 meters by 800 meters.  Unfortunately a very large amount of the complex was built of wood and has not survived, but what has is simply staggering.

Angkor Wat

But Angkor Wat is just the beginning of the temples of Angkor!  Other massive temples include Bayon, with 216 gigantic, stunning faces:

Faces of Bayon

To get to Bayon, you pass through the gates of a temple complex called Angkor Thom.  The gates alone are magnificent:

Angkor Thom

After driving through the beautiful jungles inside Angkor Thom, you arrive at Bayon.  From a distance it looks more like a massive pile of rocks.  But as you get closer, the faces emerge from the stone:

Bayon

And if 216 serene and exquisitely carved faces are not enough, don’t worry.  The outer wall of Bayon is covered with beautiful bas reliefs and apsaras.  You could literally spend days examining them.  Then there’s Ta Prohm, another massive temple taken over by tropical trees:

Ta Prohm

While Ta Prohm isn’t in great condition compared to many of the other temples of Angkor, the atmosphere is unbeatable.  The carvings are covered with lichen, and the trees make shadows creating mysterious and awesome sites:

Apsara at Ta Prohm

Parrots fill the trees, and their cries make you feel as if you are deep in the jungle discovering the temple for the first time:

Trees at Ta Prohm

Then there’s Ta Keo, Thommanon, Preah Khan, Banteay Kdei, the Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King, and on, and on, and on…  Angkor is probably the most amazing place on earth.  Book the next flight out.  You won’t regret it!

For much more on Angkor and Cambodia, check out Andy Brouwer’s excellent Cambodia blog.

Kuching, Malaysia

Malaysia is a fascinating country with a colorful mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous people.  In the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, you can go from the incredibly modern Twin Towers to the bustling Chinese markets of China Town, to the Malay markets of Kampung Baru in just a few minutes.  The contrasts couldn’t be more extreme.  Cities like Melaka and Georgetown are also destinations that shouldn’t be missed.  But Kuching, on the island of Borneo (East Malaysia), is a paradise for culture and the best base for adventure in the country.

Taoist Temple Roof

The old part of town is lined with Chinese shop houses, temples, and restaurants.  If you want to try the best Sarawak Laksa in town, a VERY good and spicy “noodle soup” of sorts, head down to James Brooke right off the Main Bazaar on the Sarawak river…and don’t forget to order a delicious glass of calamansi juice along with it!

Kuching Sunset

On the Main Bazaar you’ll find shop after shop selling goods made by the indigenous people of Borneo…the Iban, Bidayu, Orang Ulu, and others.  This one of the best places in Malaysia to find both “souvenirs” and high quality, authentic tribal art.  Past the Main Bazaar, you’ll come to India Street, a very colorful street with even more colorful drinks:

Drinks on India St.

At the end of India Street you’ll get your first glimpse of the beautiful Kuching Mosque:

Kuching Mosque

If you head out to the Sarawak river near the mosque, you’ll come upon the outdoor market selling everything from meat and fish to the infamous durian, king of the fruits.

Kuching Market

Where else can you see great markets, Chinese Temples, mosques, and incredible tribal art all in one place?  But that’s just the beginning of what Kuching has to offer.  On day trips from Kuching you can see Orang Utans in the wild and visit beautiful jungles by foot or kayak.

Batang Ai National Park

Bako National Park

If you’re ready for a serious adventure, you can also make a trip down rivers less traveled into the heart of Borneo.  Malaysia is a fantastic country, and Kuching might just be your best next destination…

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is considered to be one of the best in the world, if not the best, and getting tickets to a performance can be both difficult and expensive.  But each year the Vienna Philharmonic gives a free concert at Schoenbrunn, the imperial summer palace.  So if you’ve been unable to get a ticket, consider visiting Vienna when this terrific, free concert is held.