Mediterranean sunset in Alexandria is, oh boy, breathtaking. While I was in Alexandria last month, a local couchsurfer (Thanks, Abdulazziz!) brought me to Montaza Palace Gardens. This park is huge and there were only few people when we were there. Its lush green, well-manicured gardens are good for an afternoon walk or picnic. This is a great place to escape from the crazy, busy streets of Alexandria. When the weather gets too hot, this is your cool refuge.
The best place to watch the sunset here is by going to the red, Victorian-styled bridge. The setting sun is right in front of you and it makes a perfect backdrop for the old light house.
By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander
San Jose is a great place for a weekend getaway. As the center of Silicon Valley, the city is packed with surprises you’d never experience in other California cities. San Jose offers more than the prestige of Silicon Valley, though. It’s a cultural hub, too. If you go around the city, you’ll find interesting historical gems that make the city culturally unique. Here’s how you can spend your perfect weekend escape in vibrant San Jose, California’s first state capital.
A great way to start your weekend is a visit to the Tech Museum of Innovation in Silicon Valley, the most innovative place on earth. Whether you’re a geek, a nerd, or somewhere in between, this museum is for both children and adults. It’s educational, informative, interactive, and entertaining. You’ll have so much fun here that you won’t notice how fast time flies. For lunch, fill your tummy with glorious seafood at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant and enjoy the spectacular view of the city and surrounding hills from the sixth floor.
After lunch, visit the Winchester Mystery for its bizarre architecture. It’s said that the house is haunted, and to understand the house’s history and intriguing fame, you should join the Mansion Tour. From there, take a lift to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph which has been rebuilt five times. Even if you aren’t religious, you’ll be amazed looking up at the stained glass windows and antique pipe organs.
Before sunset, take a stroll through Willow Glen, with tree-lined streets, cafés, and bars. Take notice of the charming architecture here, too. In the evening, check out the Original Gravity Public House if you like beer. There’s a rotating menu of both local and international craft beer. This place also serves high-quality gourmet sausages.
The Ganges River in Varanasi is everything to the Hindus who live in the city. They consider it holy but they don’t treat it like one. It’s murky and polluted. For a visitor like me, I see the flowing river crying for help. Strolling along the banks, I saw a lot of things that’s not normal in many ways. I guess, it’s just the foreign eyes in me, eh?
There were things that crept me out. But,one particular incident was when I saw a dead body wrapped in a cloth floating in the river. The boat man pointed this to me and I was mortified! Why? Because few meters from us were people bathing and swimming like it’s the most natural thing to do in the world.
Ok, well, it’s a very natural thing to do for them, at least, right? I talked to my fellow travellers at the hostel – and they, too, have seen a floating body or two. One guy told us that he saw a dog devouring a human hand. “I could never unsee that in my lifetime,” he said.
Jaipur City Palace is your window to royal extravagance of ancient India. The complex is a maze of courtyards, palaces and architectural beauty, ready to blow your mind away. And oh, it’s super pink, too, like the rest of the city. This Palace was used as a royal residence of the Singh family who ruled the city for a long time. This isn’t just huge but it’s also a marvellous place to learn history and admire its architectural designs.
It’s right in the heart of the old city surrounded by pink buildings. Thus, it got its monicker, “The Pink City.”
The City Palace in Jaipur is a mix of Mughal, Rajput and European architectural influences.
As soon as you enter the courtyard, Mubarak Mahal greets you in all its splendour. In Urdu, Mubarak can be translated into auspicious. Today, it’s a textile museum with great collections of royal clothes.
There’s a Persian inscription on a slab inside Isa Khan Tomb which says, “This tomb, which is an asylum of paradise, was built during the reign of Islam Shah ….. by Masnad Ali Isa Khan, son of…”
It is said that Isa Khan built his tomb in his entire lifetime. He died at the age of 95! Can you imagine living your years building your own resting place? Perhaps, in modern age, this is like working your ass off while young to prepare for your golden years. But, I do admire those who are really working hard to survive and save. Nowadays, we’ve got to do things we need to do.
When you visit Humayun’s Tomb and as soon as you get your ticket, follow the footpath on your right. This leads to Isa Khan Tomb.
The might of Qutub Minar in Delhi can be felt once you see it up close. The closer you are with this lone brick minaret, the smaller you become. However, there’s something about this ancient piece of masonry that makes it worth a visit when you’re in Delhi.
Aside from the towering minaret, there are other things around that could be of interest to you. Don’t look at the ruins from afar, but see them closer and you’re in for a surprise. The intricate carvings on columns and walls would leave you speechless. They’re works of talented people from the past who might have considered these as their masterpieces.
Qutub Minar is the world’s tallest minaret made up of piled bricks. It stands at 72.5 meters.
Hawa Mahal is a pink-washed “Palace of the Wind” in Jaipur, India. It was built as an extension of the nearby City Palace. Both of these palaces should be visited, one after the other. While the City Palace is used as a residential area for the royal families, Hawa Mahal wasn’t built to have that same purpose. It was used for lady members of the royal family to see the excitement on the streets below during festivals – without being seen from the public.
Jaipur is aptly called as the “Pink City.” If you go around the old city, the buildings are painted in pink and most ancient fortresses and palaces here are made of pink-washed sandstone. Despite the conspicuous filth and the unbearable traffic from all sorts of transport, the city has a unique presence of regal splendour. Haha Mahal carries that timeless splendour of Rajasthan.
The best time to see Hawa Mahal’s imposing beauty is in the morning. When the soft rays of the sunrise lit the palace, it’s a kind of beauty you’re never forget.