Churches

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon – Keep Calm and Wander

by
Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon - Keep Calm and Wander

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is pure bliss in the morning. Its serenity and the murmuring whispers of prayers are calming to the soul. At least that’s how I felt because I arrived there at 4:15 in the morning – earlier than most Buddhist worshippers. And way too earlier than most tourists, too. I highly recommend that you go early in the morning, for an obvious reason: it’s not crowded.

Your visit to Myanmar’s capital city won’t be entirely complete without getting a glimpse of this golden pagoda. 

Shwedagon is the most iconic landmark of the country that used to called Burma under British rule.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Myanmar Gay Travel Resources

Borobudur Temple: World’s Largest Buddhist Temple – Keep Calm and Wander

by
BLOG - Borobudur Temple

Borobudur Temple is the world’s largest Buddhist Temple. Judging from its massive size, artistry, handiwork, and significance, this temple deserves a UNESCO World Heritage Site status. 

Take a tour – that’s what I did. The van driver picked me up at 4:00 in the morning and we picked up four more passengers. It was an 11-seater van so it was not crowded at all. We slept all throughout an hour journey. By the time we arrived, some tourists were already ahead of us – in a busload!

Another way to go there is by getting a private car/driver. You can always flag down a taxi and negotiate with them. My hostel told me that IDR500,000 ($37) is a fair price. Take this option if there are 3 or 4 of you in a car.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Indonesia Gay Travel Resources

Karni Mata Temple in Udaipur – Our Taste for Life

by
Karni Mata Temple in Udaipur - Our Taste for Life

Karni Mata Temple in Udaipur overlooks the city of lakes and the surrounding landscapes. While the temple itself is only small and modest, the view from the fort is one of the best sunset points in Udaipur. After experiencing a magical sunset at Karni Mata Temple, we consider it to be one of the top places to visit in Udaipur in 2-days.

To capture awe-inspiring views of Udaipur, Karni Mata Temple is up there with the Monsoon Palace, as one of the best viewpoints in the city. Located on the Machla Magra Hills, east of Lake Pichola, you can access the temple via a short hike or ropeway.

In this guide, we advise everything you need to know ahead of visiting the Karni Mata Temple in Udaipur. Including entrance fees, opening times, what to expect & more.

Karni Mata Temple Udaipur

How to Get To Karni Mata Temple

Udaipur is an essential addition to any Rajasthan itinerary. It is one of the most popular tourist cities in the country and forms a part of our suggested one month in India Route. You can conveniently reach Udaipur via bus, train, or plane from all over the country.

Set East of Lake Pichola, Karni Mata Temple is accessible via foot if you don’t mind working up a bit of a sweat. From Udaipur City Palace, the distance is approximately 2km.  It’s a pleasant walk as you pass through various boutique stores and restaurants that you miss in the center of the town.

By Charlotte & Natalie – Full Story at Our Taste for Life

India Lesbian Travel Resources

The Stephansdom Cathedral in Vienna – Keep Calm and Wander

by

The Stephansdom in Vienna is, perhaps, the most-visited of all tourist attractions in the city. Apart from its towering Gothic tower, its multi-colored roof tiles are ones that you will recognize instantly. When I asked a friend who lives there now on where I can take a photo with my rainbow wig, she didn’t blink an eye to highly recommend this Cathedral. And being an obedient friend, I went there early morning to avoid the crowd. 

The Stephansdom cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Vienna. For visitors, they call it St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

As you can see from its facade, the Cathedral is obviously of a Gothic architectural style. 

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Austria Gay Travel Resources

These Meteora Monasteries Seem to Hover In the Air

by

Meteora monasteries

These Meteora monasteries are hovering in the air. On our way to see these monasteries, our jaws dropped as we passed by the towering rock formations. They are amazing geological formations that will never fail to make you wonder how they came into existence.

While these are marvels of nature, the monasteries on top of these rock pillars are themselves, marvels of human ingenuity. I declare that these natural and human-made wonders are one of the attractions that you have to see, to believe.

Who Built these Monasteries?

Meteora’s first Christian monks set up their monastic life here back in the 14th century. They constructed monasteries on top of these gigantic rock cliffs that must have been very difficult to climb. But, I guess, that was the point of putting these monasteries up there – to get away from worldly temptations and possessions.

And by looking at them, I have no doubt that the monks succeeded in their mission to practice their faith without much distractions from the outside world. They would do everything to live in unreachable places just to experience (or, maybe see?) God in their lifetime.

By Alain, Keep Calm and Wander

Greece Gay Travel Resources

 

The San Miguel de Allende Cathedral

by

The San Miguel de Allende Cathedral

The San Miguel de Allende Cathedral in Mexico is the most iconic landmark of this colonial city. This postcard-perfect town is located 170 miles north of Mexico City.

San Miguel de Allende was voted by the readers of Travel + Leisure Magazine as the “World’s Best City” in 2017 and 2018!

The old part of this town was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

San Miguel de Allende Gay Travel Resources

 

The Cologne Cathedral Facade – Keep Calm and Wander

by

Cologne Cathedral Facade - Keep Calm and Wander

I am going to show you the 360 views of the Cologne Cathedral facade in Germany – before I’ll take you inside. This imposing Gothic Cathedral is Cologne’s most famous landmark and the pride of its people – regardless of their religious affiliation. And true enough, from a glance outside, the cathedral is nothing short of stupendous and magnificent!

If you look at its sky-scraping spires, you feel nothing but like a tiny human in front of a towering giant.

Cologne Cathedral (aka Cathedral Church of St. Peter) stands right on Rhine River. You can’t miss its colossal structure which can be seen anywhere on almost everyone’s rooftop.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Germany Gay Travel Resources

 

Sedlec Ossuary: The Church of 40,000 Bones – Keep Calm and Wander

by

Sedlec Ossuary - Keep Calm and Wander

I’m gonna bring you with me to Sedlec Ossuary, a church with 40,000 human bones inside! It’s chilling, eh? Don’t worry – there’s nothing to be scared of. Hopefully, after seeing all these, you’d still be able to sleep well, without nightmares. Guess what; I was fine. I was able to sleep without monsters and ghosts in my dreams.

I’ve got to be honest though – I found it weird the moment I stepped inside. I was fascinated and overwhelmed by all the skulls and bones surrounding me like they’re trying to petrify me. I had goosebumps the entire time I was there, but I was not in a hurry to get out of that holy place; in fact, I was the last person in our tour group who went back to our bus.

How to get to Sedlec Ossuary. It’s an hour drive by car from Prague – and the best way to get there is by joining a half day tour to Kutna Hora. Every hotel and hostel in Prague advertise this tour, and they can also book this for you. Now, you might be wondering why on earth Sedlec Ossuary is decorated with 40,000 bones! It actually has a fascinating story.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Czech Republic Gay Travel Resources

 

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul – Keep Calm and Wander

by

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul - Keep Calm and Wander

Aya Sofia or Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is another must-visit attraction that would blow your mind away. It served as a Byzantine Cathedral from 537-1204; a Roman Cathedral until 1261; a Greek Orthodox Cathedral through 1453; an Ottoman mosque until 1931; and then, it became a museum which we enjoy until today.

I gasped when I visited the church turned mosque turned museum. It’s a mixture of historical and architectural wonders. It’s a wonderful blend of Roman, Ottoman, Islamic and Byzantine architectures – and I couldn’t help myself but gazed at every details of the interior that stood the test of history and war times. The towering dome is, in itself, a beauty that I’ve never seen anywhere – lightened up by its innumerable windows filtering the daylight.

Hagia Sophia is just across the famed Blue Mosque in Sultahnamet area of Istanbul. You can’t skip one in favour of the other. These two are inseparable tourists destinations that you must see – once in your lifetime!

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Turkey Gay Travel Resources

 

Baptistery of Pisa – Keep Calm and Wander

by

Baptistery of Pisa - Keep Calm and Wander

Located in the Piazza dei Miracoli (Miracle Square), on the west coast of Italy, the Baptistery of Pisa forms one of the four buildings. In fact, it comes second in the chronological order, neighboring the Duomo di Pisa, the cathedral, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

It is an ecclesiastical building, and throughout history, it has played a keen role in the religious scene in Pisa. This actually shows in the multiple architectural veils that it is draped in. The lower side has arches and pillars that hint towards the Romanesque style, but the upper levels show a stark Gothic style with pointed figures and closely spaced pillars.

The entrance to the edifice is covered with ornate pillars and reliefs, in which the upper one depicts the life of Saint John and the middle one shows Christ flanked by Saint John and Madonna and surrounded by several angels.

The Baptistery of Pisa – Where Galileo Was Baptized

This baptistery is famous for its architecture and also for the following things.

1. The Acoustics: Nicola Pisano and his son Giovanni Pisano have done an outstanding job by designing the interior that it facilitates reverberations or acoustics. Anyone standing below the edge of the dome can have his voice echoed. Every 30 minutes, one of the employees would sing loud to demonstrate the power of its acoustics.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Pisa Gay Travel Resources