How to spend Christmas in Singapore

Christmas in Singapore may not be as cool as Christmas in many other Asian countries, but this year, Singapore outdoes itself, creating the merriest and brightest holiday atmosphere in all of Asia.

See the lights on Orchard road

The best place to marvel at pretty Christmas lights in Singapore is Orchard Road. Sporting a new theme every year, the most of Singapore's busiest shopping street is also its most dressed out at the holidays. The best-decorated portions of the road stretch from the forum on the West side of Orchard to Orchard gateway in the East. Make a night of it by walking the full length of the road, admiring the creative Christmas displays and dropping inside the malls to see who gets bragging rights for the biggest and best Christmas tree.

Go shopping at the Christmas markets

Tick off the items on your Christmas list at one of Singapore's pop-up Christmas markets. Here are a few of the best Christmas markets in Singapore.

Great Christmas Village: Located in front of Ngee Ann City on Orchard Road, the Great Christmas Village will be opened from 25 November to 25 December. Admission is free. Expect plenty of food vendors, Christmas concerts and stage performances, rides for kids, and several boutiques and brand name stalls offering unique Christmas gifts and treats.

Christmas in Queenstown Located at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Dundee Road, Christmas In Queenstown is open 15 to 17 December and 22 to 23 December. Admission is free. Expect one-of-a-kind handicrafts and artisan goods from local independent shops, live music, and a variety of food stalls.

Festive Market at Christmas Wonderland Located at Gardens by the Bay, the Festive Market is open 1 to 26 December. A ticket is required. Expect the closest thing to European Christmas markets that you’ll find in Singapore offering up tasty treats like fluffy Dutch pancakes and churros and chocolate, plus a wide variety of handmade crafts and gifts.

Indulge in a few Christmas-inspired treats

Walk into almost any luxury hotel cafe in Singapore this time of year and you’re sure to find a plethora of lavishly-decorated cakes and yule logs, delectable gingerbread men, and all sorts of other Christmas-inspired treats to tempt your sweet tooth. The Fullerton Hotel, Goodwood Park Hotel, and the Grand Hyatt are particularly well-known for offering some of the best, most extravagant Christmas delicacies.

Give ice skating in the tropics

Feeling brave this holiday season? Ice skating is one of the most popular holiday traditions in countries a little further north of the equator, and while you wouldn’t normally expect that tradition to carry over into the tropics, Singapore makes sure that if you want to make a fool of yourself on the ice, you totally can. There are two permanent ice rinks in Singapore – The Rink at JCube in East Jurong and Kallang Ice World at Kallang Leisure Center. Both rinks offer 2-hour skating sessions and the price of your ticket includes skates rental.

See more: Celebrating Christmas in Asian countries

Source: Internet

The useful tips to visit Goa, India

Planning to spend your vacations in Goa? Being one of the major tourist destinations in India, Goa is a perfect place to holiday. So if you have already packed your bags, just go through these useful tips to make your trip memorable.

1/ Do not stick to the popular beaches

With a huge coastline spanning 105 kilometres (65.2 miles), Goa is blessed with a plethora of beaches. Baga, Vagator, Candolim and Calangute are the popular beaches and crowded to boot, while there are plenty of unspoilt and unexplored beaches, where you can relax in peace and solitude. Some of them include Kakolem beach, Galgibaga, Hollant beach, Velsao, Ashwem beach, Mobar beach and Butterfly beach.

2/ Respect holy places and the Goan culture

• While visiting the places of worship due respect and proper decorum should be maintained. Always remove your slippers or shoes before entering any place of worship.
•  When visiting churches, temples and museums kindly switch off your cell phones or you may turn them on silent mode.
• Dress appropriately at all the holy places you visit. Also, it is advisable to cover your heads while visiting  Temples, Mosques and Gurudwaras.
• Don’t idolize the culture, but treat it with respect.

3/ Best way to explore Goa

If you like walking, you will only be able to explore your beach area and around. If you want to explore further, you should rent a scooter. Exploring Goa on a rented scooter is the best and the most affordable option. These scooters are usually available for INR 200 – 300 per day. Please make sure you carry your driver’s license because there are many check points. It is possible to rent cars too but many spots can only be accessed by scooters or on foot.

4/ Explore both North Goa and South Goa

Both North and South Goa have their own appeal. It is highly recommended to explore both the regions as they have plenty to offer visitors. You should move your way north to south. Tick off all the North Goa attractions, and then further move to the peaceful South Goa and make a trip to Vasco Da Gama and Old Goa that are home to centuries-old monuments, churches, temples, museums and islands.

5/ Be Safe in Goa

While Goa is safer than most of India and perhaps many parts of the world, it does not hurt to take typical safety precautions. Trust your instincts and do not accept drinks from strangers. When in doubt, head to the nearest shop and contact a local for help.

6/ Photography

• There are many places such as museums where photography may be restricted so before flashing your camera just look out for signs saying “No pictures” or “Photography Restricted”.
• If you want to click a photo of another person, kindly take his or her permission before. Most people do not refuse if you ask politely.
• It is advised while visiting the caves, temples, forts and churches take a photo of a sign board with the name of that place, as it would be hard to remember later when you reach back home.
• If there are sign boards saying “No Flash”, make sure to use camera without it.
• Charge your camera batteries every night.

See more: Lost in the most beautiful beaches of Goa, India

Source Internet

What to do in Hualien, Taiwan

Hualien city is a place of incredible natural wonders and home to one of Taiwan’s most beautiful National Parks, Taroko. While the county’s unrivalled scenery is an understandable attraction for tour groups and travellers, the city of Hualien itself also has a lot to offer. So next time, if you visit Taiwan’s East Coast, take some time to enjoy the delights of this relaxed coastal city.

Visit Taroko Gorge National Park

The undisputed king of Taiwan’s National Parks, Taroko Gorge is the quintessential destination on Taiwan’s east coast. Towering marble valleys, thundering waterfalls, forest hikes and mountain to mountain suspension bridges are just a few of the spectacular features of this grand park. Carved by the Liwu river over millions of years, the spectacular Gorge is the largest marble canyon in the world and boasts a wide variety of trails, temples and landscapes.

Sample street food at Dongdamen Night Market

You simply cannot visit any city in Taiwan without checking out the local night market. In Hualien that means heading to Dongdamen. The market is a hive of activity once the sun goes down. Take a browse around the stalls and be sure to sample some of the region’s most famous street foods. It does get busy at the weekends but half the fun of a night market is navigating the crowds while eating food on a stick.

Check out the beaches

Beaches in Hualien are uncrowded and fairly pristine. The water can be chilly, so if you want to go for a dip your best bet is to head to Jici (or Jiqi) beach airsouth of Hualien city as swimming is not allowed at the more famous Qixingtan beach.

Explore the East Rift Valley

As one heads south on Highway 9 or scenic Old Highway 193 from Hualien City, it becomes clear, quite quickly, what a spectacular day is in store for you. With the Coastal Mountain Range rising on your left, and the Central Mountain Range on your right, the green and fertile East Rift Valley stretches south, littered with glistening rice paddies, wild rivers, waterfalls, hot springs and more.

From the tranquil shores of Liyu Lake, to the tea fields and hot springs of Ruisui, there are tons of things to explore in this beautiful valley. Cool off under Fenghuang Waterfall, take a bike ride through Danong Dafu Forest Park, view countless orchids and critters in the Matai’an Wetlands, see many of Taiwan’s 450 butterfly species at the Fuyuan Forest Recreation Area and so much more.

Wander around Hualien Railway Culture Park

The Railway Culture Park is set in the restored grounds of an old railway depot. Originally built in 1932, this park is full of historical facts and information about the area’s industrial past. There is a fully restored machine yard which is something of a paradise for train lovers young and old, while the rest of the park features rustic buildings, great to take a wander around and the perfect photo backdrop.

See more: 7 must-try foods in Hualien, Taiwan

Source Internet