this is belgium

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Balmoral, Place Brugmann Posted: 27 Oct 2016 01:02 AM PDT The decor with its diner seats might be the nicest part of the Balmoral, Milk Bar, Diner on Place Brugmann, but you should try it... the atmosphere is great, the staff friendly, the terrace heated... just a fun place to be.http://www.lebalmoral.be/

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Key West itinerary

We're back in Key West for 10 days of fun and I thought it would be good to show you our itinerary as it happens. So here's what we got up to here in Key West.

Day 1 - Travel day - Wednesday 27 October 2016

10.40 plane from Heathrow. Picked up the rental in MIA and hit the road at just before 5pm. Heavy traffic through Miami but ok once we got onto Highway 1 at about 6pm. Good traffic through the 128 mile drive through the Keys, sunset at 6.30 and arrive at guest house at 8.45 - so good run of almost 4 hours. Took 10 mis to a find a non resident parking space.

In Virgilio's, with Chocolate Raspberry Bomb in hand, at 8.35.

Dinner at Virgilio's, our server was Catherine, a fellow brit. Most of the old guys still at Viriglios which is great, except Erin has moved on.


Day 2 - Thursday

Overcast and light rain on getting up. Drove car to Publix to get booze for tomorrow then dropped it off at rental office and walked back into Old Town. Lunch inside at Hard Rock which was a great decision as within 10 mins of sitting down, torrential tropical rain for 15 minutes.

Then walked to Fairvilla (local large fancy dress store) to get final pieces for Masquerade March costume tomorrow. While in store, starts to rain really, really hard again.

Wait for it to stop and then walk to 801 bar for some drinks. When it's raining in Key West - drink, as I advise in this post. Really miserable day today (if warm) but I think we made the most of it!

Meal tonight is in best veggie in town: The Cafe on Southard Street.

More as it happens.

Check back soon.




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US (Road or Air) Trip Ideas for December

My work closes from Christmas - New Years and I would like to utilize that opportunity to do a little travelling. I would like to travel after Christmas up until the 1st but I'm flexible on exact days.

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cheap safari to visit TANZANIA

Hello everyone, why spend too much while you can get a cheap safari according to your budget! visit the Northern Tanzania circuit and experience true wildlife and memories you will never forget, contact

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Sulphur Springs and volcano, St. Lucia

We have seen a few active volcanos in the world and most of them in the shape of a mountain with a wide crater. Here on the island of St. Lucia the volcano is flat but not less active. Between the green landscape, we see a brown grey surface smoking.

The active part of the volcano is releasing its heat, there are multitude of ponds with hot water geysers. It is actually boiling and dangerous. If you fall into one of these very active ponds, you burn alive. It makes you wonder, is there is any chance of an eruption. The guide of the park explained this is monitored closely and there is no danger.

We walk alongside the volcano towards the entrance of the park. It intensively stinks, just like rotten eggs. At the springs, where the temperature is lower, people are taking a relaxing bath. Wellness with a smell.

We hebben reeds vele actieve vulkanen gezien maar de meeste zijn in de vorm van een berg met grote krater. Hier op St. Lucia is de vulkaan vlak maar niet minder actief. In het groene landschap bevindt zich een rokende bruin grijze oppervlakte.

Het actieve gedeelte van de vulkaan stoomt en er zijn vele putten met geisers. Het water aan de oppervlakte kookt en het is heel gevaarlijk. Als je hier in zou vallen, verbrand je levend. We vroegen ons af of er een kans op een grote eruptie was. De gids van het park informeerde ons dat de activiteit van de vulkaan constant wordt opgevolgd en er geen gevaar dreigde. 

Langs de vulkaan wandelen we naar de ingang van het park. Het stinkt hier ongelooflijk hard naar rotte eieren. Verderop bij de warm waterbronnen is de temperatuur lager en aangenaam. Mensen nemen hier een ontspannend bad. Een kuuroord met een reukje. 
 

Previous St. Lucia article: The pitons and General Impressions of St. Lucia

Previous Volcano article: Cerro Dragon volcano with changing landscapes, Galapagos

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Modern flats.

Modern flats seen at Østre Bydel.

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Lakshmi Sharath

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Ten things to do in Siem Reap Cambodia Posted: 26 Oct 2016 11:17 PM PDT Ten Things to do in Siem Reap Cambodia Whenever I think of Siem Reap and Cambodia, it is the image of a tuk tuk that comes to my mind. It is not the gorgeous sunrise in Angkor Wat or the myriad faces of Bayon or the ageless trees of Angkor Thom or the larger than life trees that tell a tale at Ta Prohm – it is the tuk tuk, that little vehicle that took me to every corner of Siem Reap. My driver Ramaon and his cronies took me everywhere – driving at pitch dark to Angkor Wat,  the old butterfly park near Bantay Srei, ancient Rufous temples and to also Ton Le Sap lake. We were the lone guys in the tuk tuk as we made our way back to the city late in the evening . Memories flood me as I write this post. If you are planning a trip, here are my favourite Siem Reap attractions and ten things to do in Siem Reap Sunrise at Angkor Wat Sunrise at Angkorwat It is not just another sunrise. Even though I am not a morning person and I am largely wary of tourist traps, I will definitely recommend this . It is pitch dark and the silhouette of the trees greet me as I wade my way through the millions of tourists to see the sunrise. Despite the many heads that stand in your way, the first glimpse of light is beautiful. If you are lucky, then the sky is pink or purple, golden or crimson, depending on the season. I will also recommend that you stay back after sunrise and explore the temple in the morning as the crowds are less and the light is great for photography. To me this is one of the best things to do in Siem Reap. Sunset at Pre Rup There are several places where you can see sunsets in Siem Reap but my favourite is a small little temple called Pre Rup. It is even called the sunset temple although it may not be in the list of popular Siem Reap attractions. Watch the Vimanas or the towers glow in the rays of the evening light. I even found a lake close which was drenched in the shades of the setting sun. Just take a few minutes off your itinerary and soak in the moment here. It is one of the most beautiful things to do in Siem Reap. Sunset in Angkor wat A day in Angkor Thom If I had the ability to customise the itinerary then I will spend an entire day here. There are gates, temples, palaces, ruins, carvings that beckon you here. Bayon is one of the main temples. There is also Bapuon, the Elephant Terrace, the Leper King Terrace among several other monuments. However I am fascinated by the ancient trees that almost touch the sky and create a carpet of leaves beneath your feet and a canopy above my head. Personally, one of my favourites among the ten things to do in Siem Reap. One of the 200 faces of Bayon Be Lara Croft at Ta Prohm Pose like Angelina Jolie at Ta Prohm and listen to the tale that the trees tell you as they hold the monument in a tight clasp. Ta Prohm is not just a temple. It leaves you with a sense of mystery, a timelessness as I feel like I can spend an eternity here. Another temple that I will recommend is Preah Khan, though not one of popular Siem Reap attractions which was largely not yet restored when I visited over five years ago. However I suggest that you make time for this temple as well , just to see the beauty of nature – one of my favourites among the top ten things to do in Siem Reap. The Lara Croft site at Ta Prohm Rolous Group of Temples These are some of the temples off the tourist circuit and are not really in the list of key Siem Reap attractions.  It is on the outskirts of Siem Reap, about 13 kms away and it was believed to be the site of Hariharalaya, the oldest capital of Khmer . While Bakong is one of the main temples, Preah Ko and Lolie are the other two. It is also on the way to Ton Le Sap lake and you can combine a trip to the lake Floating villages on Top Le Sap lake Ton Le Sap Lake in Siem Reap One of the things to do in Siem Reap is to take a break from temple hopping and go on a cruise on Top Le Sap to see the floating villages. There are four of them including a bird sanctuary and depending on the time you can pick one or more. There is Chong Kneas, the most touristy of them all, Prek Toal the bird sanctuary, Kampong Phluk and Kampong Kleang . You can either go there early in the morning or for sunset like I did. Butterfly park at Banteay Srei The prettiest temple that I have seen is Banteay Srei which is very quaint, petite and is away from the tourist circuit. It is also called the pink temple or the citadel of beauty or citadel of the women. It is about 30 kms away from Siem Reap and I would recommend at least half a day here. There is a pretty butterfly park here as well, where you can spot several species. If you have the time then you must include this in your list of ten things to do in Siem Reap Kulen Mountain Buddha at Kulem Mountain A getaway from Siem Reap, Kulen Mountain is where the locals go as it is considered sacred . Phnom Kulen as it is referred to will be a day trip from Siem Reap as it is about 50 kms from the city. You can see a huge Buddha temple here besides several lingas carved in stone on the river bed. But the mountain itself is beautiful with streams and waterfalls and lush greenery carpeting its slopes as it is now a national park . Another of my favourites among top ten things to do in Siem Reap. Cambodian Ramayana and dances A trip to Siem Reap is not complete if you have not seen the graceful dances and shows. While Cambodians have their own version of Ramayana, you can also see some masked dances as well. Some restaurants in the evening give you an opportunity to watch a dance while you wolf down your dinner or you can head to some of the centres where these performances are held. Performance at Angkor Wat Markets at Siem Reap One dollar madam, is a chorus that I heard as I walked around the Angkor complex. I dont think you will get anything for a dollar now, not even a bottle of water. However the markets are bustling in the night with curios and clothes. You can also get some massages or shop for souvenirs. If you are not interested in shopping, then it is still great for street photography. There is a weekly night market as well. US Dollars are accepted, so keep some change handy with you. Hot air balloon ride in Angkor Wat These are just some of the experiences that I recommend. However there are many more things to do in Siem Reap based on your time and interest. You can also take a hot air balloon ride, visit more far flung temples like Beng Melea, located inside forests, more ruins or visit a landmine museum and listen to some gory stories of the past. I have been to Siem Reap twice and the first time was over five years ago with the husband when we planned everything on the go. That is the advantage of a customised trip. Travel I believe is not always about sights and sounds, sometimes you want to linger in a forest or chat with a local or even sleep in a temple or like this kid do his homework in the temple complex. A kid doing his homework in Angkor Thom And a customised itinerary allows you to do everything at your pace, based on your personal interests. If you are planning a visit to Cambodia, then do visit Gofro, where every minute detail of your itinerary can be changed to your convenience. So, if you want to take a nap in the morning at Angkor Wat after watching the sunrise then Gofro will ensure that it is added to your itinerary. A quick nap before continuing your journey Fact File Siem Reap Airport The Siem Reap International Airport connects to all major cities in Asia and South East Asia. India does not have a direct flight as yet and I flew via Bangkok and crossed the border by land the second time . Taxis are available to take you to downtown or ask your hotel to arrange transfers. USD is the preferred currency Siem Reap Hotels I prefer staying in bed and breakfast properties although there are so many resorts and luxury properties. Siem Reap city centre is about 10 kms from Angkor complex and plan your accomodation in such a way that you are not too far. Siem Reap Weather Do note that Siem Reap has just two seasons – the wet and the dry and your itinerary can be altered based on the seasons. The temples look very beautiful just after the rains and the water at Ton Le Sap is also full. However it can rain anytime and hence carry wet gear with you. The dry season however can be very hot in the day and it is not possible to visit many temples – so it is advisable to plan your trip accordingly. Angkor Pass The Angkor Pass is available for either 24 hours, three days or seven days and they were priced at $20, $40 and $60. You need to apply for one at the entrance of the Angkor Archaeological Park and carry it with you wherever you go. If you are planning to go for sunrise, then collect it on the previous day. I suggest a three day pass. Most temples besides Angkor Wat is included in the pass but do check the time they open and close. Some temples and places like Kulen Mountain are not included and you need to pay a separate fee for the same. More stories on Siem Reap and Cambodia The faces of Bayon The outer bass reliefs of Bayon A day in Angkor Thom Ta Prohm – Trees and trunks tell a tale Cruising down Tonle Sap      The post Ten things to do in Siem Reap Cambodia appeared first on Lakshmi Sharath.

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