BALI THE TOURIST PARADISE -II

I have given a brief account of my Balinese food , culture, Dos and Donts in Bali and beautiful Bali temples. In this blog , I will give describe my experiences of visiting world famous beaches of Bali , its waterfalls , springs and volanoes.

 Beaches

Bali is renowned for its beaches and has some of the most pristine beaches of the world. The beaches itself offer a great variety ranging from palm-fringed white sand coasts on the island’s south such as Kuta, Nusa Dua and Sanur, to the cliff-guarded ‘hidden’ shores of Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Dreamland and Bingin. Bali beaches also comprise striking black sands on the north and western shorelines, with sleepy undisturbed coves in-between. Once the haunt of surfers, Bali's beaches now welcome visitors in search of paradise with superb hotels and excellent facilities. Browse through our Bali beach guide, and discover your own favourite coast in Bali.

Nusa Dua, was designed to be an ‘all-inclusive’ type of tourist destination. The Indonesian Tourism Development Centre or ITDC is a main enclave of world-class hotels. Onsite is an upmarket shopping complex with well-maintained facilities and a luxurious 18-hole golf course. Visitors here enjoy Nusa Dua's stretch of white-golden sandy beaches and many other nearby highlights. The name 'Nusa Dua' is after the two small islands on its eastern shoreline. Though it’s the most developed area in Bali, it still offers cultural attractions. These include several temples, a museum, and landmarks that you can see and visit. The enclave is an idyllic place for honeymooners. You can also bring the entire family for a memorable Bali holiday to this calm beach resort area.

Kuta Beach is on the western side of the island's narrow isthmus. It's considered Bali's most famous beach resort destination. Kuta Beach is also minutes away from the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Tuban. The nearby resorts of Tuban, Legian and Seminyak are all within close walking distance.  Once a simple, rustic and quiet fishing village, Kuta Beach has witnessed a transformation over the past years. This is due to the rise of various accommodation options, dining and shopping scenes. The rapid growth owes much to visitors, beachcombers and art lovers from nearby Australia. Expatriates also helped pioneer surfing in Kuta, as well.  A rather frenzied traffic scene has become commonplace here. Even so, Kuta Beach continues to attract thousands of visitors every year with its unique charm. Kuta Beach is regularly fully-booked over the peak seasons. This is usually from July to August and the holiday season for Christmas and New Year. Travellers look forward to visiting Kuta for a pleasant and affordable Bali escape.

Tanjung Benoa, like many other beachside destinations in Bali, used to be a fishing village and an old dock. The development of the peninsula has been very significant as most of the shore-side properties are now hotels, resorts and water sports operators. The remaining mangrove marsh still lies at the western side of the entrance. Tanjung Benoa is located 15 kilometres from the international airport but if you are already staying within the Nusa Dua cluster, it is just few steps away from the west gate.

Jimbaran beach and the famous Jimbaran Bay are on Bali's southwestern coast. The beach is part of the narrow isthmus connecting the Bali mainland and the Bukit Peninsula. The beach and the bay of Jimbaran offers small secluded areas. The tranquility and peace you can find here can be a perfect antidote to a stressful world. The land gently slopes away from the beach revealing exclusive celebrity haunts. Some are hidden under a canopy of leafy coconut palm groves. Jimbaran Beach is also known as the home of luxury hotels. These include the likes of the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay and the InterContinental Bali Resort & Spa. Find out about all the great Jimbaran hotels, dining spots, attractions and nightlife right here.

Geger Beach is a kilometre stretch of fine golden sand in southern Nusa Dua, which is also the shared beachfront of the Bali National Golf Club, The St Regis Bali and The Mulia Bali Resort. Most of Geger is open to the public, and it offers picturesque seascapes, calm waters with some patches of seaweed farms, and a clifftop temple of the same name, Geger Temple, as its unique backdrop. The beach is rather secluded, but nevertheless accessible. The waves are pleasant for swimming, and the beach has long been a favourite paddle out point for experienced surfers.

While hotel guests, such as at the Mulia Resort can enjoy great privacy before the bordered beachfront footpath, as a regular visitor you can stroll along most of the length of Geger Beach. Most of the time, you can get to a smaller solitary beach behind the rocky promontory under the temple during low ebbs. You can also get to this ‘secret beach’ via the tiny dirt footpath that is somewhat hidden by tall plants, right next to Geger Temple. In the midsection of the coast, you can find a cluster of local beachfront restaurants selling a good mix of local and international cuisine, ranging from nasi goreng fried rice to burgers. 

Pandawa Beach, locally referred to as ‘Pantai Pandawa’, is a great addition to Bali’s collection of gorgeous beaches, located on Bali’s southern Bukit Peninsula. The fine, one-kilometre coastal stretch is located in the village of Kutuh, only five kilometres west from the Samabe Bali Suites & Villas and eight kilometres south from the main hub of the BTDC complex in Nusa Dua.  ‘Hidden’ behind large carved limestone cliffs that reveal wide views to the Indian Ocean, Pandawa Beach was once also dubbed as ‘Secret Beach’ and it was officially opened in 2012, fast-gaining popularity among local weekenders and international visitors.

Besides its impressive natural sea panorama of white sand, blue sky and surf, Pandawa Beach is also best known for its impressive terrain and manmade limestone features that serve as a one-of-a-kind welcome into this coastal area. Huge cliffs were cut through to make way for its winding and smooth asphalt roads which lead down to the beach. The sides remained as high walls, while the ocean-facing cliffs midway down the slope feature deeply carved arches installed with large statues. They each depict the hero characters from the Mahabharata epic, known as Pandawa Lima or the ‘five Pandawas’, hence the name of the beach.

Lovina Beach is a combination of smaller beaches spanning several local villages between two districts in the North Bali regency of Buleleng. The beach is a great alternative to the highly popular (and often crowded beaches of Bali's south, the likes of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak. Calmer waves, serene black-sand shores, thrills in the offing, and a nightlife scene, are just a few things that sum up this quaint north Bali coast.

Beach spans two kilometers east to west, with a small area in the Kalibukbuk village as its main focal point. Sunsets are quite the highlight here, with rather subdued nightlife after dusk. A large parking space borders the beach with rows of cafés and trendy seafood restaurants at its sides. Near the sand, a single towering dolphin statue stands as an official landmark. Walk to the east and you will encounter further rows of art shops and small warung traditional stalls offering snacks and refreshments beside an airy boardwalk.

Dream Beach is a secluded 115-metre stretch of white sand on the southwestern coast of Lembongan Island (the most popular holiday destination of Bali’s 3 Nusa Islands). The beach is one among Lembongan’s collection of beautiful and quiet beaches, with a landscape that’s mostly comprised of low-lying limestone cliffs and dramatic rock formations. You can enjoy the breath-taking seascapes with bird’s-eye views from above the nearby cliff edges, or head down to the small cove and dig your feet into the soft sandy coast.

While Lembongan’s most popular side is its western coast with sea-view hotels and villas set along the village of Jungutbatu, Dream Beach is well far-off from the crowds. Overlooking the secluded beach nearby is the thatched roof, castaway-style Dream Beach Huts and nearby is the Dream Beach Kubu, among a few others. The blue waters are clear and great for swimming during low tide, however, extra care must be taken as it can get pretty rough since it faces directly to the Indian Ocean. Parts of the beach also have rocky features. A few spots offer cocktails and local light bites at Dream Beach, such as the Dream Beach Huts’ own Café Pandan, with its cliff-top pool and loungers (happy hours are between 16:00 and 18:00 with ‘buy-1, get-2’ deals on specified beverages). Towards the end of the year, as the sun leans slightly south during the southern equinox, you can expect Dream Beach to be another great spot for staying on after a day out on the coast for Lembongan Island’s wonderful sunsets.

Padang Padang Beach, locally referred to as Pantai Labuan Sait, is one of Bali’s most famous surf spots, located on the north-western coast of the island’s Bukit Peninsula, and just a kilometre southwest of the Anantara Bali Uluwatu. This beach features an exotic setting; a simply stunning one hundred meter-long stretch of sand that is accessible down a flight of stairs through a unique hollow rock entrance. The surf has a steady set of barrels during good weather, attracting wave riders from around the world. Part of the group of world-class surf spots that line the coast of the southern peninsula, Padang Padang Beach lies several kilometres in between Bingin and Uluwatu, among which surfers usually hop to interchangeably for a different set of challenges and another thrill for the day. This beach is also a regular spot for international surfing events, the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang being the most frequent.

Once you reach the bottom of the stairs, you are greeted by a gorgeous sight: a fringed beach with fine, white sand, blue waters and a distant horizon. There are board rentals here provided by the locals if you don’t have your own but would like to try (warning: the waves here break over shallow coral and are not suitable for beginners). Although the big waves beyond the reef breaks are limited to advanced surfers, the shore is great for family fun and leisure, and there are local warungs on Padang Padang Beach serving light meals and refreshments. Sand castles, splashing, sunbathing, lying down with a good read under a parasol, or simply sitting back to enjoy the exotic views… all are welcome.

Waterfalls

Tegenunagan waterfall: The waterfall is half an hour driving distance from Ubud. Getting to the falls is a pleasant drive down paved village roads lined with stretches of green rice fields on both sides. The fall vicinity has a well developed parking area . There is an entry fee of IDR 10,000 .  The approach road towards the waterfall is lined with art art and souvenir shops, together with small local ‘warung’ stalls selling snacks and cold drinks. The largest restaurant here, Bebek Tamarind, which ,serves great local dishes such as its signature Balinese style crispy fried duck, and is a good spot to hangout before or after going down to Tegenungan Waterfall. The falls are only several minutes’ walk down the trail beyond the shops, where you’ll enjoy the impressively green valley panorama with cascading water as a centrepiece. Dense foliage frames the falls, and the water volume is impressive at almost any time of year, but normally at its strongest during the wet season (October to April). You can go down to the vast pebbly base and enjoy a dip in the plunge pool. Unfortunately we could not get opportunity to swim as the same was prohibited at that time due to muddy waters because of the previous night rains.

Volcanoes: Bali has two active volcanoes, namely Mount Batur and Mount Agung . We could visit Mount Batur only as there was an imminent warning of eruption in Mount Agung and the area was prohibited. The mountain looks very scenic and conical . The caldera and the lake adds to the beauty of the area. Batur has had a number of small eruptions every few years. There are several good restaurants facing the volcano .One can simple chill out there and enjoy the scenic beauty of the volcano. Those very adventurous could also plan an early morning trek to see the breath-taking view of sunrise from the peak of Mount Batur.

Hot water springs: There are couple of hot water springs in Bali, some of them are regarded holy. We visited Toya devasya. It is located in Kintamani region of Bali and is not less than a luxury resort with several hotwater pools . The landscape and aesthetic of the area makes the dip into the springs memorable. There is also an Olympic size cold water pool , which is very good for those who love to swim. Banjar and Titha empul are other popular springs. The latter is regarded holy  but is crowded and water is not very clean.

BALI-THE TOURISTS PARADISE-I

Bali is located at the western most end of lesser Sunda island of Indonesia between Java and Lombok. Denpasar is the capital of Bali and is predominantly Hindu dominated province of Indonesia. About 83% population of Bali consists of Hindus while Muslims, Christians and Buddhists constitute the rest. Over the years Bali has emerged as one of the major tourist destinations not only of Asia but of the world.  It has been rated amongst the top tourist destinations by many agencies including TripAdvisor. Today, 80 percent of the business income of Bali comes from tourism.

Climate and Best time to visit:  The island has a fairly even climate throughout the year with an average temperature around 30 degrees. While Bali could be visited any time of the year, July-August and December-January are generally considered to be high season when number of tourists visiting Bali rises significantly and there is hike in hotel and villa prices.

We planned to visit Bali immediately after Diwali festival on 21^st of November 2017. End of November was just start of the high season.

Ethnicity: Hindus comprise 83.5% of Balinese population followed by 13.4% Muslims, 2.5% Buddhists and 0.5% other ethnic group.

Gourmet:  Bali has good variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods. Typical and most famous of Balinese food include Pisang goreng (desert made of fried banana), Mie goring (fried noodles), Nasi goring (fried rice with egg n veggies), Sate (mashed chicken blended with spice), baby Guling (suckling pig), bebek betutu (smoked duck) and Gado gado (mixed salad with tofu, beans, eggs etc). Besides, Bali has array of sea food being a popular beach tourist place. One can get Indian, Chinese and continental foods also in Bali.

Bebek betutu

Pisang gorung

Baby guling

Stay Options: Bali has diversified stay options ranging from luxurious hotels and resorts, villas , budget hotels and home stay. Depending upon ones budget, one can go for any of these options. If you are reasonably well placed financially, my advise would be to go for a 4 star hotel and try atleast a couple of days in a villa with independent pool.

Dos and Donts : a) Be careful while money changing. You will find money changers every 50 to 100 meters and each showing different exchange rates some of which are tempting. Some of these money changers are not recognised and are good in the art of cheating. Since you get millions of Indonesian rupee in exchange of your currency, they hypnotise you with some kind of card game while counting and dupe 50-100 dollars easily. They will make you believe that the count is correct but when you go back to your hotels and count it again, there will be shortfall. Better go for a recognised money changing outlets like Western Union even if the exchange rate is less than what is offered at these petty money changers. b) While hiring a taxi service, do use your bargaining skills to get a better price. c) Don’t walk in bikinis on streets but you can wear bikinis on beaches even if it’s the skimpiest one. d) Respect local culture and wear appropriately while entering a temple. e) Tipping is welcome.

Sightseeing: Temple

Tanah Lot is one of the most famous and must see temples in Bali. It is about 45 minutes by car north west of the main southern tourist areas of Kuta, Legian and Seminiyak  and is enroute for those heading towards west of Bali. From Ubud it can reached in about 30 to 40 minutes by car. A taxi from Kuta charges about   300,000 Indonesian Rupee and could be brought down using one’s bargaining skills.

The word of “Tanah” means isle and “Lot” means sea, so Tanah Lot means small island floating on sea . The location dates back to Megalithic period and the structure of Tanah Lot Temple is built at irregular reef plain. Inside the actual temple compound are tiered shrines that follow the fundamental elements of Balinese design where the number of levels constructed are symbolic to the complexities of the faith. There are other formations within the area that indicate that the site is not only of great religious importance, but also maintains archaeological value. The temple is located on a rock just offshore. It is said to be the work of revered 15th century Hindu priest Nirartha and forms an important element of Balinese spiritualism and mythology.

Tanah Lot is an extremely popular tourist destination and a must see in Bali and therefore it is busy and crowded especially in the evening when tourists numbers soars to witness the famous sunset. The approach road to the temple area has a lot of souvenir shops selling just about every Balinese trinket imaginable. The area has sufficient parking space available for a parking fee of 5000 Indonesian Rupee.

At low tide visitors can walk to the base of Tanah Lot. The temple on top is closed for visitors. However, for a small donation you can be blessed and taste the holy water at the base of the temple and also take pictures with the priest. The area is a photographer’s delight especially the sunset.

Sunset at Tanah Lot

  a)    Batuan temple : is located on the main road to Ubud and is the oldest temple in Bali. It was founded in the year 1020 AD. The temple is based on the philosophy of “tri murty” consisting of three temples namely Desa or village temple as a place of worship of Brahma-the creator , Pusehthe temple to worship Lord Vishnu –the preserver and Dalem-The temple to worship Shiva-the destroyer.

At temple parking area, there is an ancient building called Wantilan, which is used as a meeting hall and to practice any kind of Balinese dances. Before one enters the temple one has to wrap around a ‘kamben’ (a traditional Balinese costume). It is a must for you to wear ‘Balinese kamben’ to show your respect and honour about the holiness of “Puseh Temple of Batuan Village”. It’s all free, however, the local people expect every tourist who visited to this temple can donate in any amount of money to support the maintenance of the temple. There is provided a simple donation box. Every donation that you give should be based on a sense of sincerity, where Balinese people know it is called “medana punia”. 

There are many stunning ancient relics from prehistoric times in the temple and plenty of  ancient and unique statues. Based on a number of statues found in this Puseh Temple, it can be grouped into several types. They are Dwarapala Statue, Embodiment Statue, Animal Statues, The Status Figure of Holding the Chicken, Phallus, Demons (Time), and many more.

c        c)  Uluwatu

Uluwatu temple is must see temple next only to Tanah Lot. ‘Ulu’ means top and ‘watu’ means rock. Locally the temple is known as Pura Luhur Uluwatu. The temple is located on a cliff top and is surrounded by forests which are home to grey long tailes macaques.  The temple offers a great view of the surf break and the sunset . The temple is also famous for the kecak dance performance during the evening.. Several archaeological remains found here dates this temple to 10^th century. Its primarily a Shiva temple but Balinese Hindus believe that the three divine powers of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, become one here. Visitors have to wear a sarong here just like many other temples in Bali. Uluwatu beach below the cliff is one of the world famous surfing spots.

There are no public transport available to reach here and one has to arrange private vehicle or hire a taxi. Beware of monkeys here, who are trained pickpockets and specifically trained to snatch cameras and sunglasses.

       d)   Besaikh.    Besaikh temple is known as Bali’s mother temple for over 1000 years and is considered the holiest of all the temples . The temple complex comprises about 85 temples which include the main Pura Penataran Agung –the great temple . Besaikh temple is located on the south western slope of Mount Agung –the active volcano that erupted recently. The temple is a world heritage site. The temple complex is dedicated to the trinity-Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.Early morning is the best time to visit when its is less crowded. Wearing sarong is a must . Hiring a guide is also recommended to understand the history and religious importance of the temple. Good place for photography. Only bad thing about the place is forced donations , forced selling and lot of cheats and touts in the area.

PLACES AROUND THE WORLD WORTH VISITING DURING CHRISTMAS

1) SANTA LAND (Rovaniemi)

There is no better place than the Santa land in Rovaniemi in Finland to celebrate the Christmas. Santa Claus’ original home lies in the mysterious Korvatunturi (“Ear Fell”) in Finnish Lapland. Since the exact location is a secret only known to a chosen few, he decided to establish an office in Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, in 1985. Rovaniemi received the status of the Official Hometown of Santa Claus in 2010.Santa Claus spends his time at the Santa Claus Village every day of the year to take care of his mission in life; to enhance the well being of children and the kindness of grown-ups, as well as spreading the message love and goodwill of Christmas Spirit throughout the globe.

Santa Village

A month before Christmas, the eyes of the world turn to Rovaniemi as Santa Claus declares the Christmas season open in Santa Claus Village. It also marks the start of the busy season in Rovaniemi, as numerous visitors are keen to experience the true magic of Christmas in the Official Hometown of Santa Claus. Another highlight of the year is December 23rd, when Santa departs on his mission to hand out presents to children all around the globe.

Santa Claus Village is open every day of the year, and getting there is easy with local bus number 8 that leaves hourly from Rovaniemi city centre. Alternatives include taxi, car or walking – the distance is eight kilometres and just 3 kilometres from the airport.

The main building of Santa Claus Holiday Village or “Christmas House” hosts unique Christmas-theme exhibition and a photography service with Santa Claus. The exhibition includes Finnish Christmas, Christmas traditions and Lapland’s Santa Claus, “Joulupukki”. Most recognized Christmas traditions around the World is another popular exhibition. At Christmas House one gets the opportunity to meet Santa Claus, and take pictures with him.

Holiday Village

The stores of the Santa Claus Village are open every day. The range of products includes local handicrafts from artisans that have been working for decades in Rovaniemi. Affordable giftware for international shoppers and top Finnish design products can be found from dozens of different giftware boutiques.

Reaching Rovaniemi: The Rovaniemi is well connected by Air from Finnish capital of Helsinki.  The ground distance between Helsinki and Rovaniemi is about 810 kilometres and it takes about one hour to reach by Air. Finnair, Blue air and Norwegian have regular flights. Another alternative is to travel by train. VR, the national railway company, operates several trains a day. VR also offers a night train option between Helsinki and Rovaniemi. Sleeping-cars ensure that passengers have comfortable overnight journeys. Duration of the train trip varies from nine hours up to thirteen hours. Lapland express- a high speed train takes about 8 hours to reach Rovaniemi from Helsinki.It is also possible to travel to Rovaniemi by road by car or long distance buses. The E4 highway leads directly from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. The distance between is about 800 kilometres and it takes 10–12 hours to drive to Rovaniemi.

Stay in Rovaniemi: The Rovaniemi region offers quite the range of accommodation: in the city centre, there are several hotels, guesthouses and a hostel. The Ounasvaara and Santa Claus Village resorts boast hotels, glass igloos, holiday villages, B&B’s and more.From December to March, you can even sleep in a snow hotel or a snow igloo – a genuine Arctic experience! Individual cottages and other small-scale accommodation can be found in the villages around the city.

2) BETHLEHEM

Visiting Bethlehem during Christmas would be anyone’s dream. The thought of being at the birthplace of Jesus and that too on his birthday is an amazing feeling. Christmas festivities in Bethlehem are both festive and spiritual. The festive part includes decorated streets, illuminations, special Christmas markets, street plays and carols everywhere.  The spiritual part includes special mass and processions led by many different Christian denominations, including Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, Ethiopian, Armenian and more.Most Christmas processions pass through Manger Square, the plaza outside the Basilica of the Nativity, which stands on the traditional site of Jesus' birth. Catholic services take place in St. Catherine's Church and Protestants often hold services at the Shepherds' Fields. Star street is another place where much of the activities take place.Bethlehem Christmas celebrations stretch for a long period, as different denominations celebrate Christmas on different days. Roman Catholics and Protestants celebrate Christmas on December 25; Greek, Syrian and other Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 6; and Armenian Christians celebrate Christmas on January 18.

Reaching Bethlehem from Jerusalem: The municipality of Jerusalem offers FREE buses to Bethlehem for Christmas. The buses drop visitors to Rachel's Tomb with a view to attending midnight mass. The last bus (route 163) leaves Jerusalem at 18:57, arriving Rachel's Tomb at 19:55. It’s advised to check timings and route number as they may vary. There are also special Christmas tours operated by private tour operators, which include many more sightseeing in and around Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

3) SAN FERNANDO PHILIPPINES:

Plan visiting San Fernando –the Christmas capital of Philippines for the great Lantern festival, if you happen to be in Philippines in December.

Location: San Fernando, Pampanga is about 70 kms from Manila-the capital of Philippines. The competition is held at Robinson’s Star mills in the San Fernando City.  Robinson’s Star mills is very near the San Fernando Toll gate of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).  From Manila, one can take a bus bound to Pampanga or Bataan from Cubao, Monumento-Caloocan or Pasay.  Make sure to ask the conductor if the bus makes a stop at SM Pampanga.  SM Pampanga is right across Robinson’s Star mills. The ride to San Fernando costs about 120 PHP each and is about 75 minutes long.

The Lantern festival: All villages participate in the festival, in which elaborate and beautiful lanterns are made. The parol of star lantern is perhaps the paramount Filipino Christmas symbol. The word parol derives from the Spanish farol, meaning lantern or light. Filipinos place much significance on the symbolism of light, the star regarded as a fount of light and a sign of hope in the predominantly Christian country in Asia. “Ligligan Parul” (Lantern Competition) was said to have started in San Fernando in the year 1904Originally these lanterns were built by using Japanese origami paper and lit by candle. But now a days it’s very elaborate and illuminated by lights.

Other attractions in San Fernando:. If time permits visit the famous Crucifixion site in barangay san Pedro cutud which is about 16 kilometres from Robinson’s starmills. The site is where enactment of crucifixion is done on good Friday. People crucify themselves in the same manner as Jesus was crucifies.

4) SINGAPORE

You might not get real snow or reindeers, but Christmas in Singapore is as big as any other celebration during the year. Christmas in Singapore is a big celebration that gives the locals another excuse to do what they love most: eat and shop. Christmas spreads and Yuletide menus pop up at restaurants across the island, giving a festive twist to an already impressive dining scene.

The shopping districts of Orchard Road and Marina Bay explode in a shower of light, while adjoining malls and shopping centres put on extended hours and special deals to attract sightseeing tourists.

The Orchard Road is spectacularly lit up every December to ramp up the festive mood, and serves as a blazing reminder to hit the malls. The Orchard Road light-up - a spectacular street-length light show - stretches about two miles down from Tanglin Mall to Plaza Singapura. Working with the theme “Spread the Joy”, the light-up works revered Christmas iconography – reindeer and glittering stars among them – into the light-up's overhangs, sidewalks and Christmas trees, bathing the street in blue, turquoise and sapphire light.

Glimpse of Orchard Road Christmas

Key Orchard Road mall ION Orchard adds its own Christmas cheer with a 20-meter-tall Christmas Tree with over 2,000 custom-designed tree ornaments provided by renowned jeweler Tiffany & Co. Visitors can actually walk inside the tree and interact with the interior, crafted to look like the New York skyline at night!

Reaching Orchard Road : The Orchard area is most accessible via MRT; disembark at the Orchard MRT Station (NS22).

The countdown party at Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay has become the highlight of the year-end festive calendar. Join with thousands of others to bring in the New Year with music, live performances and the one of the best fireworks shows in Asia.

The Gardens by the Bay's climate-controlled Flower Dome becomes a setting for floral Christmas cheer, putting Christmas plants like amaryllis, Christmas roses and poinsettias at work in charming Yuletide tableaux.The Merry Medley Floral Display lasts from November 11 to January 5, and shows off the Christmas experience from a decidedly plant-based perspective.Live Christmas trees – evergreen conifers that thrive in the Dome – stand in the background of sculptures that evoke the season, including ballerinas in glass globes; angelic choirs; and nutcracker soldiers.The Dome turns even more gorgeous as night comes on, with Italian Luminarie lights transforming the Flower Dome's interior into a magical Christmas wonderland.

Reaching Marina Bay/Garden by the Bay : Alight at Bayfront MRT Station and take exit B and follow the underground linkway. Exit and cross the Draconfly bridge or Meadow bridge into the Gardens by Bay. Alternately, alight at  Tanjung Pagar MRT Station (EW15).Take Exit C and head towards bus stop no. 03223 located at International Plaza, Anson Road. Hop onto bus no. 400 and alight at bus stop no. 03371 along Marina Gardens Drive.

5) Santa Claus, Indiana

Santa Claus is a town in southwestern Indiana. It's known for its Christmas theme. Santa Claus Museum & Village is home to the 1880 Santa Claus Church, Santa Claus Post Office and a tall, 1935 Santa Claus statue. The museum traces local history and the origin of the town's name. Holiday World & Splashin' Safari offers themed roller coasters and a water park. Jim Yellig Park has sports fields, trails and a playground.

Christmas is a year-round occasion in this town of fewer than 3,000 residents. Santa Claus, Indiana, gets thousands of letters a year from children trying to reach St. Nick himself. A group of volunteers called Santa's Elves was set up in the mid-1930s to reply to each letter. The Land of Lights display is a 1.2-mile drive around the Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort.Among various Christmas-themed events, Santa hosts buffet dinners at Santa's Lodge the first three weekends in December.

SCENIC BHUTAN : PHUENTSHOLING

Phuentsholing is the Indo-Bhutan border town and a thriving commercial centre of Bhutan. Being the border town, it serves as a convenient entry/exit point for Bhutan and an important link to the Indian states of west Bengal, Sikkim and Assam. The town has cosmopolitan character with people belonging to various ethnic group from India, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Hasimara, in India is the nearest train station to reach Phuentsholing. From Hasimara it takes about 30 minutes to reach Phuentsholing by Bus. Jaigaon is the border town on Indian side. There are plenty of Budget hotels there in case on decides to halt there. Since I spent two years in Hasimara, I had plenty of opportunities to visit Phuentsholing.

Not much to see for the tourists in Phuentsholing but the town offers a neat ,clean and scenic environment away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. The town is safe and could also be covered over by foot. Enjoying the sight of picturesque Torsa river and walking through the clouds on a hill is a sheer experience of cool , calm and peaceful surroundings of Phuentsholing . Adding to the serenity is the majestic sound of the bells ringing at one of the nearest Gompha.

Bhutan Gate : Depicting traditional Bhutanese architecture, Bhutan Gate is the main gateway for entry from India and is one of the most photographed attractions, the gate demarcates the Bhutanese and the Indian territory with adjoining cities, Jaigaon and Phuentsholing. The gate has a catching architecture.

Zangtho Pelri Lhakhang is small temple of attraction in the city and is the heaven of Guru Rinpoche. The temple houses eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche and paintings of Buddha’s life. The temple also houses the statues of eight Bodhisattavas and statues of Avalokiteswar and Sharbdrung Ngawang Namgyal .The main statue of Amitabh is on the top floor of the temple.

Kharbandi  Goemba :   Founded in 1967 by Royal Grand Mother, Ashi Phuntsho Choedron and situated at the altitude of 400m, this beautiful monastery contains paintings on the life of Buddha, statues of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Guru Rinpoche. From the monastery garden there is a fascinating view of Phuentsholing town and surrounding plains. According to legend, an Indian pilgrim couple visited this place and prayed for a child. The wish was granted, and since then, couples have been visiting this place in hopes of a better future.

Amo Chhu Crocodile Breeding Centre:The Amo Chhu Crocodile Breeding Centre is undisputedly one of the most popular places to visit in Phuentsholing .. With various species of crocodiles and alligators, it’s the place to be if you’re an animal lover.

The Chhukha Hydropower project is Bhutan’s oldest mega power project. Out of the country’s several major river basins, the Wangchhu, which uses the discharges of Thimphu, Paro and Haa valleys, was chosen as the project site as it offered the best scope for constructing the first power project due to the existence of road links and other infrastructures. If time permits one can visit the project , which has a good scenery.

Tashi: Tashi is one of the biggest commercial groups in Bhutan. Tashi building in Phuentsholin is the prime shopping and departmental store in the heart of the city. One can find virtually everything here. So if you don’t have much time at disposal then this is the good place to do shopping.