Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting my website. I'm Wing Wang, a travelling Hong Kong girl. My journeys so far have taken me to over 70 countries across all 7 continents. I Love to travel!
Wing
On my European trip in 2012 I got to experience Amsterdam for the first time. But really, there is so much to see and do in Amsterdam that I’ve still only scratched the surface. Here are 5 of the highlights from Amsterdam.
1. Try Cannabis
OK so I’m a girl and I don’t like smoking or drinking but when you are in Amsterdam it’s a good chance to try some weed and even buy cannabis seeds. Cannabis/Weed bars are everywhere so you might as well indulge into it – my boyfriend actually tried it but I just went to see the bars that sell it.
Cannabis in Amsterdam.
2. Canals I loved the canals of Amsterdam, simply beautiful for a walk. And you can’t miss them – they are everywhere and you can even get a boat cruise.
Canals of Amsterdam.
3. Anne Frank’s House
Anne Frank’s House is very touristy but has to be seen to be believed. Such a history here with this lady who hid from the German Nazis during the War. A really inspiring story.
Anne Frank’s House in Amsterdam.
4. Red Light District
Amsterdam’s Red Light District is notoriously famous and is worth a night time stroll.
Red Light District, Amsterdam.
5. Cheese Museum
I love to sample different foods on my travels and Amsterdam is famous for cheese so head to the Cheese Museum for samples ands demonstrations on how the cheese is made.
Cheese Museum in Amsterdam.
So that’s my Amsterdam tips – I hope to return to Europe in December this year!
Guatemala is one of my favourite countries. As it is cheap, lots of thing to see like Mayan ruin sites, waterfalls and volcanoes. Guatemala is properly one of the most touristy countries in central America which also means people there are in it for the money. Anyway, I still like it.
Visiting the hot spring waters was one of my unexpected highlights in Guatemala. To get there you need to go to Rio Dulce first. In Rio Dulce, I stayed in hotel Kangaroo, a river side hostel. It cost US$8 for a dorm bed. It is an Okay option. The owner will give you lots of useful advice. But on the other hand, he is running a business so expect to spend some money here. Expect to pay something on top, e.g. extra boat ride, kayaking, water and food when you are there. To save some money, buy some snacks and drinks in town before you go to the hostel.
No matter where you come from (Tikal, Lake Atitian or Lanquin). The shuttle bus should stop you at a parking lot which is near the riverfront. There is a restaurant called Sundog Cafe. If you want to stay in Hotel Kangaroo, you could ask the staff in Sundog cafe to call Hotel Kangaroo to pick you up. The boat ride for check in should be free.
By the way, if you have time, eat in Sundog cafe. The food there is very delicious, no matter the pizza or the sandwich. Much better than in the hostel. As once you arrive in the hostel you can really only eat in the hostel.
The Hostel owner is from Australia. his name is Gary who comes and talks to you and give you advice of what you could do around Rio Dulce. For me, the first day, I was kayaking with 3 other Czech Republic travellers to the castle nearby. The second day, I went with of group of multi national travellers ( Dutch, England, US, Canadian ) to Finca El Paraiso and El Boqueron Canyon.
The second day morning at 8.30am, we took the boat from the hostel to the town. The boat ride at 8.30am is free. At other times, the hostel will charge you 20Q per person. We first stop in a supermarket to get some food and drink for our day. Then we got on to a mini bus, we told the driver where we want to go (Finca El Paraiso). The ride cost 15 Q and took us 45~60 min.
When we were nearly there, there is also a road side stop called Aqua Caliente ( Hot Water). The mini bus drops us off at a cafe. From there it is a 5 minute trek to the waterfall. The woman in the cafe stopped us and asked us to pay an entry fee 10 Q per person. But later we find out she is a scam. She wrote us a piece of paper and pretend this is a ticket. After we pay the ENTRY FEE to the woman, we walk through the trek. So be careful please!
After 5 minutes walk, we meet a REAL person who we should pay for. And once he find out the women take money, he cycle back to the cafe and talk to the woman. And we just go to the waterfall without paying extra.
On the way to the waterfall, I could smell the hot spring. If you been to the hot spring then you know what I mean. After a short walk, we arrive at the hot spring waterfall.
Here is the Hot Spring waterfall. Water is hot. I cant describe how amazing it is in words. May be the photos could tell you you more. I loved it!
You could climb up and jump to the water, in one point the water is 3~5 meters deep. Of course I wont do that.
You could also go to upstream to get some mud to put on your face and body. I did not climb up, but one of the gusy in our group took some mud back for us. So I could put them on to my face. It was similar to when I was in the Dead Sea.
In the mean time, we have our snacks there. We spend around 2 hours relaxing in the hot spring waterfall. At around 1.30pm, we head to our 2nd spot of the day El Boqueron Canyon.
When we left, I saw the REAL ticket man who sat near the cafe. I think he is trying to ensure the woman in the cafe doesn’t charge other tourists. So beware if you go to Finca El Paraiso, do not pay to the woman in the cafe. She is a scam.
I love this Hot Spring waterfall so much. First time I have ever been a waterfall with hot water. The best part of this trip is, you do not need to go with the tour, you can go there easily yourself with public transport and spend as much as time you want. The last mini bus back to town is around 4.30pm. If you ever have a chance come to Rio Dulce. Don’t ever miss this waterfall! You will love it!!
After my time backpacking through Belize, here is my review of the caves at Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize. This was an excellent day out.
Ready for the cave tour in Belize!
Recently my boyfriend and I were in Belize and lucky enough to go to a very unique and special Cave. A cave complex that was once used by Mayan for sacrificial rituals, Actun Tunichil Muknal. Which is near Belmopan, Capital City of Belize. We based ourselves in the excellent El Rey Hotel and headed out on tour with Hun Chi ik Tours.
Tour company Hun Chi’ik Tours
To make things clear for you, here are some simple facts about the cave tour.
You need a guide to lead you into the cave and only around 20 guides in the country are allowed to take tourists into the Cave
No cameras allowed, this is due to some stupid tourist (!) who dropped the camera and broke a skull a few years ago. Which is a bit sad as I do not have much photos of the tour and you know how much a Hong Kong girl loves photos!
You will get wet and need to swim a bit. As the cave is along the river. This is not deep and you can don a life jacket if you don’t feel confident (Well I have my life jacket on)!
The cost for the whole day out can be around US$150 to US$170 : to break that up – Tour price US$100, park Entree fee US$15, Private transport between Belmopan and Teakettle (US$40) , Tip to the guide US$10 (Optional and base on the budget). You can save money by going in a group and asking for discount or by not getting private transport – we took the chicken bus which was only a few dollars from Belmopan to Teakettle.
So the day began and we needed to meet our tour guide at 9am in the town called Teakettle. Meeting place is outside a Chinese grocery store (felt at home) which is a green building. There is also a road sign nearby mentioning directions to the ATM cave. From there , it is around 7 miles from the park.
To Teakettle, we could either get private transport or take a local bus from bus station. As we love to budget, we picked local bus. The bus cost 2 Belize dollar per person. It takes 20minutes for the bus ride. The bus normally run every 15 minutes. But it was a holiday that day, so we waited almost an hour 🙁
Bus to ATM
We told the driver and bus assistant we were going to ATM cave and wanted to get off by Chinese grocery store. Our guide was there already when we arrived, his name is Gliss. We jumped into his car and he drove us to the park. It took around 25 minutes to get to the entrance.
Driving in Gliss’s car to ATM
We had to pay for the park fee, which is US$15 per person. Then we leave our personal stuff locked in the car, including our wallets – don’t take too mich cash out with you… Gliss has prepared all the gear for us which included Helmet and headlight. For me, I specially requested the life jacket :).
Ticket for ATM – 15 US Dollars
Once we were ready, we left the carpark and walked along the trail. We had to cross the river 3 times, the water is not particularly clean and clear 🙁 . It takes about 45mintues for this trail before arriving at the entry of the Cave. We left our drinking water in the rest area and enter into the cave.
The day we went is a holiday, so there were not many tours. Otherwise, there can be long queues. To enter the cave which started up with a short swim, I had my life jacket on, so I am more than happy to do that swim – it’s a bit cold at the start! We turn our headlights on and our adventure starts in earnest. After a short swim, it was continuously walking through the water. Most of the time the water level is around waist high. The water is very clear and fresh. There is some climbing inside the cave too, but not difficult. There are loads of fish too!
Cave entrance
On the walk/swim, we see the lime stone formations, as well as crystal. To protect them, Gliss kept reminds us not to touch it. After some walking, we reached the a place that was used by Mayans for sacrificial rituals (as least that’s what our guide told me and how Jonny my boyfriend helped explain it to me). There were some pots and skulls. The cave is very huge, we only could walk some part of it. We spend around 2 hours inside the cave in total.
Stalagmites and stalagtites
My highlight was the swimming part and admiring all the cool stalagmites and stalagmites in the cave. The only sad part is that cameras are now banned so I dont have any photos of me in there. But also because of no photos, this gave me more time to admire and enjoy the cave instead of keep taking photo on the way : )
When we head back to the carpark, we quickly take a cold shower and get changed. (There are shower facilities in the park). Since we needed to walk into the river, our shoes are totally wet too. But we are smart enougth to bring the flip flops with us. So if anyone plans to take this tour, make sure to bring a spare shirt, short , shoes or flip flops to change after you finish the tour. After this, we were ready for our lunch. Gliss brought us ham , tomato, cheese, tortilla, cucumber and some spicy sauce for our lunch.!We just put the ingredients that we like, wrapped them with tortilla and eat. Simple but satisfaction.
After lunch Gliss drove us back to the Chinese grocery store where we met in the morning. We said thanks and goodbye to him and wait for the bus back to Belmopan.
However, we were waiting for an hour, no bus arrived (due to the holiday) . No one knew when the bus will come or even if it will at all. We decide to try hitch hiking for the first time since Iraq or Armenia. Luckily, the second car we hail stops right away. The driver is a Taiwanese gentleman which his nephew!! He told me that he saw us before when we were waiting for the bus. He just returned home after buying cattle from another town. The cattle is in another truck. He dropped us in Belmopan at the bus station and we walk back to our hotel.
It is really a fun day, we both enjoyed it a lot. Thank for Hun Chi’ik Tour. It is a great day out and well recommended. My boyfriend wrote a load of other articles on this too – backpacking in Belmopan and touring Actun Tunichil Muknal.
Thanks to Ray Wiecha of The World According to Weech for the use of his photos in this article, you can read Ray’s stuff on that link. Ray toured ATM before the camera ban.
Living in Hong Kong never grows old. However, for the native girl like me, there are times when you want to break from routine and experience something new. There are also times when it is just good fun to play tourist in your home town. The following five ideas are great ways for native HK girls to relax and play a bit!
1) Shopping in Hong Kong
Sure it’s an old standby, but how long has it been since you’ve been to Mong Kok? Fa Yuen Street is one of the best places in HK to buy sportswear and electronic equipment. If you’re a photographer, you will love the camera supplies that are available at reduced prices. Continue on to the Langham Place Mall just a short distance from Mong Kok’s MTR. Causeway Bay, Harbour City – Tsim Sha Tsui, and Elements Mall – West Kowloon are other great shopping areas for HK natives. Remember not to forget your credit cards for Hong Kong citizens so that you can take full advantage of AMEX discounts and rewards on your purchases!
Shopping in Hong Kong
2) Temple Street Night Market
Take your friends and enjoy an evening under the lights at the Temple Street Night Market. A flea market par excellence, Temple Streets is one of the most exciting places to find real bargains in HK. There’s so much to see and eat! Have your fortune told or purchase a cool new gadget, then stop off for a meal on Arthur Street.
3) Ride the Cable Car and Visit Ngong Ping 360
Be a tourist for a day in HK. Enjoy an almost half-hour cable car trip up to one of HKs most popular visitors’ attractions. Located on Lantau Island, you can visit the Po Lin Monastery and the Giant Buddha. What’s more, you can relax and have something to eat at one of the diners or you can go to the Monkey’s Tale Theatre. Just take the Ngong Ping cable car from the Tung Chung Station and get ready for a day filled with adventure.
4) Hit One of Hong Kong’s Beaches!
Summer is one of a Hong Kong girl’s best friends. It’s possible to visit any one of a hundred beaches. (It may be worth renting an apartment near the beach in Cheng Chau.) Or, ride on over to Big Wave Bay, or Tai Long Wan for a little surfing. You might want to visit the Cheung Chau Windsurfing Centre or rent a kayak for the day!
5) Rent a Boat for the Day
If kayaking isn’t quite your style, Aberdeen Boat Club provides sailboat rentals and lessons. Or rent a ‘junk.’ Find a hidden cove and escape for the day, or lease a larger party ‘junk’ for yourself and a couple hundred friends! If you’re into power-boating, check out the ‘Black Mamba’ for the thrill of the season!
If these five suggestions haven’t quite got your attention, maybe a day spa, beach volleyball, a helicopter ride or paragliding are more your style. Whatever you choose, get out there and have some serious fun!
I’m in Guatemala backpacking at the moment by the way and hope to have more stories to come soon!
I stayed in the city of San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico for my birthday and was treated by my boyfriend to a wonderful 4 star hotel and with some surprises. We stayed in the totally fantastic Hotel Villas Casa Morada for a night of luxury. Check out my awesome photos from a special night in a really really top hotel!!
On arrival at the hotel we got a welcome drink!! A special Mexican cocktail.
In the afternoon the staff at the hotel decorated the room by surprise for me with flowers on the bed, decorations everywhere and a candle with sweets! It was amazing!
Here are the details for the awesome Hotel Villas Casa Morada where I stayed:
Contact Villas Casa Morada Hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas is very quick and easy. Just fill out the online contact form or use the following information:
Avenida Diego Dugelay No. 45,
Barrio El Cerrillo, CP 29220
San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
Phone numbers: (967) 678 4440 and (967) 674 5449
Fax: (967) 678 1859
E-Mail: [email protected]
My boyfriend Jonny told me about his trip to Suriname in 2011 and I was intrigued to visit too. So we both agreed to go there this year. I didn’t need a visa (HA!) but my boyfriend had to get one in Cayenne as we backpacked our way to Suriname! The former Dutch colony of Suriname is famous for its sugar cane plantations. However the glory days of sugar cane plantations have gone here in Suriname, but as a keen backpacker we decided to get booked onto a Sugar Trail Tour. I will also mention that aside from sugar cane, in general there were a lot of different kind of plantations that flourished in different times in Suriname. So not only sugar. (Also cotton, coffee, cocoa etc) But over a certain period, sugar was the main thing. When the sugar beetroot was discovered in Europe this changed things a lot in Suriname.
On my Sugar Cane Tour in Suriname.
How to book a Sugar Trail Tour in Suriname – Waterproof Suriname
To book a sugar cane tour in Paramaribo use Waterproof Suriname and they also have their website in English. They are experts at organising tours within Suriname and the Sugar Cane Trail comes highly recommended. You can book your tour by email, by phone or call into the office in person. The cost can vary of course, but as of July 2014 is 65 Euros per person. Payment can be in Surinamese Dollars, Euros, US Dollars or PayPal.
Waterproof Tours, Suriname.
The Beginning of the Sugar Trail Tour
We meet at 8.30am at the reception of Hotel Krasnopolsky in central Paramaribo on Domineestraat. We were greeted by our guide for the day. Her name is Njoek and she is local therefore her main language is Dutch. The tour will be conducted in both Dutch and English, not Cantonese, I can only dream!!
Driving out of Paramaribo
We board our mini-bus and it’s just my boyfriend Jonny and I with a lot of Dutch tourists. Understandably most of Suriname’s tourists tend to be Dutch! We leave behind Paramaribo and are given a full introduction from Njoek, with expert quirky facts during the journey, including pointing out “hammock” street, the sunken German war ship in the Suriname River and lots of details about Surinamese history. It’s completely informative and fascinating. Suriname is not a common backpacking destination and you’ll really enjoy it.
In our minibus, we cross the bridge over to New Amsterdam and on route to the plantations at Concordia we are also given a soft drink. I choose mango juice.
A drink on the way to the sugar cane trail
Coffee Morning by the Commewijne River
We arrive at this village on the other side of a bridge, it’s morning coffee and biscuits time. We have a choice of tea or coffee and snack on some biscuits. We are given a short introduction about Concordia and where we are heading next. We put our lifejackets on and board the boat and I am excited.
The Boat to Concordia Plantations
We all board a speedboat to take us along a cruise on the Commewijne River. It’s a really cool and relaxing journey. We are given a bottle of water each. The sea spray cools us down a notch. Bring some sun cream and insect repellent here. Njoek our guide gives us more anecdotes and stories along the way as we arrive in a custom made jetty in the middle of the jungle. This is the Concordia Plantations.
Cruising the Commewijne River, Suriname.
Touring the Concordia Plantations
This is a fascinating walk through the jungle at the Concordia Plantations. After the sugar cane industry died in Suriname, this place is no longer in use, the glory days were from the late 1880s to the latter part of the 20th Century. My first quick tip is to make sure you bring some insect spray we sprayed a lot on but still picked up some bites – spiders, mosquitoes and ants are quite common in this part of the jungle. First of all we are shown some trees which have fruit. Then we hear some howler monkeys, but we can not see them. There are lots of unusual plants and trees, at least for me being from Hong Kong, including “the parrot plant” which when you move it up and down squawks like a parrot! So funny la. The walk through the jungle leads us to some mills and abandoned engines.
On the sugar cane tour
Abandoned Mills and Engines
Right in the middle of a forested jungle sit some remains of old mills and engines that were once used in the harvesting and refining process for sugar cane in Suriname.
We also saw/heard Wildlife at Concordia
– Lots of birds
– Small frogs/toads
– Spiders
– Howler monkeys
Remains of old mills.
We board the boat back from Concordia and are given some of the local Suriname snack Borrell Chips to share on the journey. We see some odd looking animals including one pictured below which is called a Capybara. These were in cages at the base before getting the minibus to Tamanredjo. There was also a baby jaguar there.
Some strange animal I saw!!
Lunch at Tamanredjo
After Concordia Plantations we drive to a village called Tamanredjo where we stop on the main road for lunch. The restaurant for lunch is a typical Javanese style cuisine – roots from Indonesia of course, somewhere the Hong Kong Girl has been before and loved. We have a choice of lunch and we choose a tofu, chicken and vegetable meal plus a chicken and rice meal. We drink Coca Cola as well. It’s all included in the tour cost. For extra you can have an alcoholic drink or some chicken satay sticks but my boyfriend doesn’t need a beer as he will drink later, but I choose the chicken satay sticks. The restaurant was called Warung Toucha.
At lunch on the sugar cane tour.
Driving to Marienburg
We then have a short drive through the countryside to arrive into the village of Marienburg. On route our guide Njoek gives us lots of information about the area, the sugar plantations and the housing style plus the current vegetation and agriculture. Most houses along the way grow their own vegetables and fruit.
Touring Marienburg
Marienburg is kind of like a custom built village just for the sugar cane plantations. And that’s essentially what it was. It’s a bit sad that trade has died away here – the last sugar cane was refined in Suriname in 1998 but Marienburg itself closed way back in 1986. Now Marienburg serves as a museum and a glimpse of the past. Here are some photos I took, which also includes the only train line that Suriname ever had. For the transport of Sugar Cane of course!
Touring Marienburg.Touring Marienburg.
New Amsterdam
We have a quick stop in New Amsterdam and see a war memorial by the river before it’s time for the grand finale – a boat trip back to Paramaribo. We leave our driver here and I am surprised to see some Chinese writing and learn there were a lot of Chinese here.
The Boat Back to Paramaribo!
At New Amsterdam just before the sun is setting we board a boat back across the Suriname River to Paramaribo. It’s a journey to remember.
The cocktail menu on the party boat.
Njoek dishes out some local snacks including Borrell Chips and grapefruit. Then she hands out a drinks menu! There are four choices of drinks all including and made with the Surinamese Rum! Despite having been to Suriname in 2011, I never tried the local rum before so this was a first for me.
I opt for the Surprinha, a cocktail made with lime and Surinamese Rum. We all raise a toast as the sun sets we sail back to the capital city. It is truly inspired.
We say our goodbyes on arrival back into Paramaribo and as the sun sinks, I bid a fond farewell to the capital city again. I highly recommend hooking up with Waterproof Tours in Suriname. They also do some awesome river tours and dolphin watching.
Here are some videos mostly taken by my boyfriend from the tour:
Here are some of my videos from what was a great day in Suriname:
About 10% of Brunei’s entire population lives in Kampong Ayer, known as the ‘Water Village’ in English. (Note that the Malaysian spelling drops the double o, making it Kampong Ayer). Having begun its existence 1,300 years ago, it’s a very special place, where all of the buildings hover over the Brunei River, held up by stilts. It’s a spectacular sight and, if you’re spending any time in Brunei – be it just a quick stay at a Brunei hotel or a longer holiday – a day trip should definitely be on the itinerary. Depending on what kind of experience you prefer, you can travel on your own or opt for a guided tour.
Strictly speaking, the ‘Water Village’ is not just one village, but a group 42 separate villages, joined together by more than 29,140 metres of foot bridges. In excess of 4,200 structures make up the area, including not only residences, but also shops, restaurants, educational institutions, places of worship and even a hospital. Even though, from a long way away, it looks a bit like an impoverished socio-economic area, it’s actually pretty impressive in terms of 21st century facilities. It might not be as quaint as Venice, but you’ll certainly find all the mod cons, including electricity, plumbing, air con, television and access to the internet. 30,000 people live in Kampong Ayer altogether, making it the biggest water village on the planet.
How to get there
To get to Kampong Ayer from Brunei, you’ll need to catch a water taxi. They depart every day from the middle of town (from Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah to be precise). If you’re travelling independently, you won’t be able to see inside people’s homes, but you will be able to visit the Kampong Ayer Cultural Centre, a US$2.4 million facility dedicated to the history and importance of the area, built especially for curious visitors. Expect to spend at least 30 minutes there, if not much longer. There are both enlightening, educational displays and an excellent viewing platform providing some interesting perspectives.
Travelling on an organised tour
Another way of experiencing Kampong Ayer is by taking an organised tour. For fiercely independent travellers, this isn’t always especially appealing, but, in this particular case, it’s actually a great idea, as it’s the only way of seeing inside houses. Many tour operators have friends and associates in the village, so they’re usually able to organise home visits without too much trouble. Some might even include a bite to eat with some locals. That said, don’t expect tours to be super cheap. Prices have responded to increasing demand, so don’t be surprised to pay US$25 or so per hour.
What you need to know
First and foremost, it’s important to be respectful of those who call Kampong Ayer home. As you can imagine, having hordes of tourists passing your house every day and finding it an utter novelty isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, so do try to be discreet when looking around. Remember, too, that Islam is Brunei’s official religion, so all people – visitors included – are expected to dress modestly. That means keeping flesh covered as much as possible.
Also, whenever you’re day tripping in Brunei, you should be prepared for rain. It won’t necessarily pour every day or anything like that, but you can certainly expect scattered showers. So pack a rain coat and/or umbrella. Thankfully, temperatures are usually rather warm, varying between 22 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees, reaching their peak between May and August and cooling down between January and March.
Even though Hyderabad is often thought of as one of India’s most technologically advanced cities, and is known for its forward thinking, eco-friendly urban initiatives, it is also overflowing with significant historical sites and amazing temples. So, for travellers with an interest in architecture or spiritual matters, it should be definitely be on the itinerary. What’s more, there are many hotels in Hyderabad India that make for a lovely stay.
Of all the sacred places in the city, the Hindu temple Birla Mandir is arguably the most renowned. Completed in 1976, it took ten years and two thousand tonnes of white marble to complete. Dravidian, Utkala and Rajasthani architectural influences combine in the various rooms and features, the most striking features being a 13-metre tall flagstaff, made of brass, and a 3.4-metre high sculpture of Lord Venkateswara, made of granite. Birla Mandir was constructed by the Birla Foundation, a Hindi organisation responsible for constructing several other temples in India. You’ll find it perched on top of the Kala Pahad, a stunning hillock, which has a nearby twin by the name of Naubat Pahad. Opening hours are 7am to midday and 3pm to 9pm every day of the week.
For a contrast, take a visit to this temple. While Birla Mandir is one of Hyderabad’s newer additions, the Hanuman Temple at Karmanghat is one of the city’s oldest temples. It was built around 1143 AD, when the Kakatiya Dynasty wielded power over the region, and is devoted to Lord Hanuman, whose spiritual presence is believed to be exceptionally powerful. In fact, thousands of devotees visit the temple every day to experience it, and the name of the area – ‘Karmaghat’ – translates as ‘Make your heart strong’. Opening hours are 6am to midday and 4pm to 8pm every day, except for Tuesday and Saturday, when they extend to 5:30am to 1pm and 4pm to 9pm.
Sanghi Temple
For one of the most beautiful views in the Hyderabad area, head to Sanghi Temple. Located about 35 kilometres out of the city, it requires at least a few hours to visit, but it’s absolutely worth it. Its special location atop Paramanand Giri hill offers panoramas of the surrounding region and sunsets are particularly spectacular. The building itself is heavily influenced by South Indian architecture and pretty much every important Hindu god is represented. Opening hours are 8am to 1pm and 4pm to 8pm every day.
The best time to visit Peddamma Temple is during June or July, when the colourful Bonalu Festival is in swing. For two months, Hyderabad and its twin city Secunderabad become devoted to worshipping the Hindu goddess Mahakali and Peddamma Temple is the centre of much of the action. Expect music, flowers, bucket loads of incense and delicious feasts. That said, Peddamma is interesting to visit at any time of year – there’s a constant stream of devotees visiting to make offerings to the ‘Supreme Mother’ to whom the temple is dedicated. Located in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills, Peddamma is open between 6am and 1pm and 3pm and 8pm daily.
Another temple that really comes to life during special occasions is Shyam. On the 11th and 12th days of every ‘bright month’ of the Hindu calendar, thousands of devotees come to pay respects to Lord Shyam, also known as Barbarika and considered to be a reincarnation of Lord Krishna in Kalyuga. The temple stays open all night long with devotional singing sessions. You’ll find Shyam at 3-4-1079 Kachiguda, just opposite the police station.
This week I visited the awesome Kaieteur Falls in Guyana! When we arrived in Georgetown we booked with Dagron tours who are an excellent company who organise and specialise in tours in Guyana.
The next day we headed to the Ogle International Airport and boarded a small plane bound for the jungle! I was very excited! My boyfriend was with me as usual and we got a view of the waterfall from the flight before we landed in Kaieteur National Park.
View of Kaieteur Falls on the plane journey in.
Once we arrived we had a quick lunch and then headed on our walk to a total of four amazing viewing points. The view of Kaieteur Falls is just amazing as you can see!
The amazing Kaieteur Falls in Guyana
Here is a photo from each of the four viewing points.
1. Johnsons Viewing Point
2. Boy Scouts Viewing Point
3. Rainbow Viewing Point
4. Top of Kaieteur Falls
It was such an incredible experience and I recommend everyone to go to Guyana and se the Kaieteur Falls – and please book through Dagron – they are a very friendly and welcoming tour company.
Hi everyone, I am now on Twitter! I look forward to interacting with you all on my Twitter feed. I am new to it, so I will put my posts up there and follow others.
