Travel Photos of the Day

Looking for a relaxing vacation in a beautiful natural setting? Then look to laid-back Laos. Landlocked by Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and China, Laos is accessible through all of these surrounding countries, making it a well-situated destination for visitors to Southeast Asia. Mountains, tropical forests, the majestic countryside, tiny villages and larger cities are just some of the attractions Laos has to offer. Although the city of Vientiane, the nation’s capital, is busy compared to the small villages found here, it remains relatively quiet for a large Asian city. Realtravelers Chris and Vee toured around northwestern Laos and share their adventures in Vietiane and Vang Vieng:

“What a week of contrasts we have had in northwestern Laos. From Luang Prabang we headed south, a spectacular mountain road to Vang Vieng, a small town set amongst rugged karst scenery by the Nam Xong . Our room, in a traditional Lao home perched high above the river, had fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. After a morning trek which had us wading through a flooded cave I drifted down the Nam Xong on a huge inner tube. Traditional village life interrupted by noisy riverside bars with bamboo towers where tourists leapt into the river on zip wires-bizarre! In Vang Vieng you can see locals fishing and washing in the river or watch continuous episodes of ‘Friends’ in the bars on the main street!” (more…)

Useful Resources
Laos Hotels
Vientiane Hotels
Popular Destinations in Laos

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Famous not only for its many celebrated archaeological sites, Jerusalem is also known for its beauty, culture and bustling activity which draws visitors of all types from around the globe.

On their round the world adventure, The Sherineau’s visited, among other destinations, Jerusalem, where they investigated the Old City, an ancient world filled with devout pilgrims and significant religious sites that takes visitors back not merely centuries but millennia. Their photo above showcases the Dome of the Rock, the third holiest site in Islam. In modern Jerusalem, the Sherineau’s discovered a cultural hub which has built up around the gates of the Old City. While in the holy city, the couple also took a side trip to the Dead Sea. As with their other adventures, including jaunts in Paris, Cairo, Alexandria and Petra, the couple describe the highlights of their trip to The City of God:

“As most people know Jerusalem is very important to Christians, Jews and Muslims. Seeing the city in person is intense. The ancient passageways of the old city crawl with Christians reenacting the crucifixion, Orthodox Jews wailing at the last remaining wall of their 2000 year old temple and Muslims heading to the Dome of the Rock. The streets are really narrow, to get through you have to elbow your way through everyone while dodging the tiny tractors and carts hauling merchandise into the market (no cars can get into the old city).

What amazed us about the old city was how lived-in and ungentrified it is. There’s no fancy cafes or luxury hotels, all of those are in the new city. We figure that with all the competing interests it is too difficult to develop anything trendy, so the city city stays in a neat, ancient bubble. If you ignore the satellite dishes you can imagine that the city looks almost as it did 500 years ago.” (more…)

Useful links:

Jerusalem Travel Guide
Israel Travel Guide
Jerusalem Travel Photos

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