Must-visit markets in Goa, India

Goa is a thriving city in India. Therefore, its markets are must-visit sights that cannot be ignored once you step a foot onto this colourful destination.

Saturday Night Bazaar at Arpora

Open every Saturday from 6 pm until late night, the Saturday Night Bazaar is located at Arpora. This bazaar is divided into three zones: the Lower Field is peppered with kiosks featuring local and international clothes, accessories and knick-knacks; the Central Field houses an array of food stalls serving heavenly food from around the world; and the Upper Field features designer stalls and boutiques.

Calangute Market Square

Located in Calangute town, the Calangute Market Square feeds swarms of visitors every Saturday from 6:30 am until 12 pm. It is lined with food stalls and restaurants that sell delicious seafood snacks and other cuisines. You can get all kinds of seafood items along with chilled beer and other beverages. You can also buy fresh seafood, fish and meat from here. Not only food, this market is home to a variety of shopping stalls selling everything from textiles, carpet to accessories, leather items and souvenirs.

Mapusa Friday Market

The Mapusa Friday Market is a weekly market held in Mapusa, open from 8:00 am until 6:30 pm. This market sells fresh local produce, clothes, accessories, pottery and handicrafts. The Mapusa Friday Market also features food stalls serving up authentic Goan food. Chorizos (also known as pork sausages) are a must try!

Alankar Food Street

Located right in front of Alankar Theatre, the Alankar Food Street is a buzzing street featuring an array of vendors selling everything that is related to food. Its open from 6pm every evening. From mouth-watering Goan food to tandoori and Chinese, along with milkshakes and juices, you will find it all here. Wondering about the prices? Fret not, the food served here will definitely not burn a hole in your pocket and if you’re on a budget, the prices will really bring a smile to your face.

Anjuna Flea Market

Open every Wednesday from 9 am until 6 pm, October-April, Anjuna Market is always bustling with tourists. Though it is popular for shopping, but it also houses numerous food stalls that sell some of the delicious street food. Grab a bite while enjoying people-watching and then wrap up your evening with a walk along the beachside.

See more: Visit India's most spiritual cities

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The best 5 weekend getaways in Japan

Even if you only have a couple of days to spend, it’s definitely worth getting out of the city to explore other unique and beautiful parts of the country too. Here are some of our favorite weekend getaways from for your next trip to Japan.

Nara

Best known for its resident deer population and beautiful temples, you can reach Nara from Tokyo by train in about four hours. The Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Todai-ji Temple is a prime attraction here, as well as the deer roaming around Nara Park. It’s also nice to take a stroll through the Isui-en Garden to see the lovely flowers and pond, and the Kasuga-Taisha Shrine is worth a visit as well to see the forest, lanterns, and pathways. Stop by the Nara National Museum to learn about local history because the exhibits are bilingual in both Japanese and English. The Mt. Wakakusa area is great for longer hikes as well.

Read more: The land of cultural heritage, visit Nara in Japan

Kyoto

Japan’s ancient capital, Kyoto, was also the country’s official capital for over 1,000 years. The city is home to a number of important cultural sites, including over 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Kyoto is the place to go to experience geisha (or geiko, as they are known in Kansai) culture; the annual geisha dances held each spring are one of the city’s highlights. Kyoto is also known for its kaiseki (elevated Japanese cuisine), ryokan (traditional Japanese inns), and historic architecture.

Kanazawa

With beautiful temples, ancient shrines and a range of fantastic museums, this charming city lying on the Sea of Japan is not to be missed on your list. Wonderfully preserved, its ancient neighborhoods are lovely to wander around, with the old geisha and samurai districts being particularly delightful. In fact, Kanazawa rivals Kyoto in the number of historical and cultural attractions that it has on the show. Although seldom visited by westerners, Japanese tourists flock to this city. The highlight is undoubtedly Kenroku-en, an impressive castle with idyllic gardens surrounding it.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park draws in crowds from all over the globe. The site commemorates the victims of the 1945 bombings, when it became the first city to be attacked with atomic weapons. Today, Hiroshima is a lively, vibrant city, home to a number of historical sites, gardens, and parks. It is a great city for live sports and home to several national teams, including the Sanfrecce Hiroshima (soccer) and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (baseball). The main stadiums are the Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima and the Hiroshima Big Arch.

Fukuoka

The largest city in Kyushu, Fukuoka used to be two towns before the different areas joined to form the city we know today. A friendly and welcoming place, what Fukuoka lacks in terms of actual sights, it more than makes up for in its charm and pleasant atmosphere. With a couple of great museums, some great architecture, delicious ramen, and the chance to see their famous baseball team in action, Fukuoka is well worth a visit for all that it has to offer. Lying on the banks of the river running through it, there are some lovely temples dotted around the city and its surroundings. Many people use Fukuoka as a base from which to explore the rest of Kyushu.

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24 hours in Hua Hin, Thailand

Hua Hin, a popular beach resort, lies in the north of the Malay Peninsula and is a district of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province in Thailand. Blessed with a tropical climate and warm temperatures throughout the year, Hua Hin offers travelers a multitude of wonderful attractions and thrilling activities.

Exploring Hua Hin

A perfect way to start the day is with a visit to Wat Tham Khao Tao. Going in the morning is best as there is a bit of a climb to the top, it is more than worth it. At the top, there is not only a large statue of Buddha but also breathtaking views of the ocean and the fishing villages below.

After this, you will be taking a trip back to the middle of last century by visiting Plearn Wan shopping centre. Roughly translating to ‘pleasant past’, Plearn Wan is a cool, vintage shopping destination designed to look like Hua Hin in the olden days, complete with wooden buildings, old cars and period-style shops selling food, treats and clothes. It is a unique experience and a great way to imagine what life was like before the tourists came and brought their multi-story hotels with them.

A walk along Hua Hin beach

Stretching for some six kilometres southward towards Kao Takiap, where a lovely Buddhist temple awaits to be explored, Hua Hin Beach is a great place to watch the sun rise and build up an appetite for breakfast. Go for a swim or simply walk along the fine sandy beach and look forward to a spiritual visit at the temple.

Sail to Sam Roi Yod National Park

There are several different boat trips on offer at Huan Hin - Pranburi. Cruise the Gulf of Thailand in a traditional boat, have a refreshing dip in the water, go fishing or simply save your energy for Sam Roi Yod National Park, the trip's ultimate destination. Bring a bag of peanuts or some fruit so you can feed the park's greedy little monkeys.

An evening stroll to Hua Hin Railway Station

Arguably Thailand's most beautiful railway station, this wooden building was once the royal pavilion in Sanamchan Palace in the Nakhon Pathom Province. It was moved to Hua Hin in 1968 to become one of the world's most romantic railway station buildings. There is always something interesting to watch and it is a great place to soak up Hua Hin's atmosphere before turning in for a nightcap.

Finish the day with a stroll in Hua Hin Night Market

Hua Hin's famous Night Market is located between the railway line and Petchkasem Road. The market springs to life around 6.30pm, when traders begin to set up their colourful stalls. The street food is amazing here and there are plenty of opportunities to find a few gifts for family and friends back home. You will also find some of the town's best seafood restaurants in the market area.

See more: Top 10 destinations in Hua Hin, Thailand

Source Internet