Globe Trips Travel Blog

The Incomparable Penguin Parade – and Other Phillip Island Attractions

1st March 2012

The Unforgettable Spectacle of the Penguin Parade

A Philip island tour makes for a welcome retreat from bustling Melbourne, which can be, at times, overbearing in its sheer vibrancy. If you are looking for an adventure and wildlife tour from Melbourne that will indelibly imprint itself in your brain, a penguin parade tour will not disappoint. Take a bus tour from Melbourne, travel up the Yarra river and witness the remarkable occurrence of the little penguin parade.

Although penguin parade tours are undoubtedly the most popular reason for visitors to Phillip Island, there are nonetheless other sightseeing tours you can embark upon that hold their own charm. You can go on a guided tour of the world renowned Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, home to the motorcycle version of the Grand Prix.

Or, step back in history when you visit Churchill Island, with its historic working farm, dating back to the 1800s, which even includes peacocks.
The Koala Conservation Centre is sure to capture your attention, and its two elevated boardwalks allow you to see koalas at close range. It is also home to over 150 species of birds, as well as possums and wallabies.

Experience the natural phenomenon of the ‘penguin parade’ on a tour. There is an area set aside especially for viewing at Phillip Island Nature Park. Just after sundown, you can witness the charming, alluring appeal of the little penguins, standing at a minuscule 33cm, waddling ashore. Australia holds the privilege of being one of the rare places on earth where this species of penguin is found. Elevated boardwalks help you to make the most out of your viewing.

For an adventure and wildlife tour from Melbourne that is genuinely exceptional, take a Phillip Island tour, complete with an essential viewing of the little penguins. This is a sightseeing tour very much out of the ordinary, and bound to leave a lasting impression.

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Spectacular Sakkara and Magical Memphis

23rd February 2012

Sakkara and Memphis indisputably hold the enviable accolades of being two of the most renowned cities of Egypt. It is not difficult to uncover why. Their especial highlights are the temple of Ptah (Memphis) and step pyramid of King Zoser (Sakkara). Take a Memphis and Sakkara tour from Cairo and delve into the many attractions in these two very remarkable places.

A sightseeing tour from Cairo must first include a visit to the awe-inspiring Giza Pyramids before progressing onwards to the sites of Memphis and Sakkara. It is a challenge to find any other structures in the world that are quite as formidable in their grandeur and as enduring in their fame as the pyramids of Giza. The Giza pyramids have given rise to extraordinary debate: they exert a powerful pull upon the imagination. How precisely were they built?

Since 1979, the grandiose ruins of the former ancient capital, Memphis, have been preserved as a World Heritage Site. The temple of Ptah is the most famed of all the attractions of the city. Ptah was the god believed to be its ancient protector. The Memphis Museum is also well worth exploring on your day tour, and is home to a momentous limestone statue of Ramses II.

Continue your sightseeing tour with an exploration of Sakkara, most celebrated for its step pyramid of King Zoser. This grand step pyramid is the oldest of Egypt’s pyramids. Three key discoveries have also lately been made at Sakkara – a queen’s pyramid, a prime minister’s tomb, and the tomb of a dynasty-founding king’s son. Each discovery comes with its own enthralling history.

Embark upon a Memphis and Sakkara tour from Cairo – both abound with attractions. Delve into the captivating narratives of ancient Egypt as you are transported back in time, for an inimitable experience.

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Beguiling Lisbon, A Remarkable Fusion of Past and Present

16th February 2012

Lisbon is home to an intriguing intermingling of old and new, contemporary and archaic. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, but is equally a cosmopolitan capital. Certain must-see sights of Lisbon include Belem Tower, its prime landmark, and Jeronimos Monastery, both of which are designated World Heritage Sites. Besides these astounding landmarks, there are many attractions and things to do on a Lisbon sightseeing tour. Become immersed in the myriad charms of the capital, as its entrancing sights and sounds unfurl before you.

The most important of all attractions in Lisbon, Belem Tower primarily and undeniably merits exploration. One of the major attractions of the city, this stunning white stone tower was built in the sixteenth century and holds significance as a relic of a bygone era, one of the last examples of Manueline architecture in the city, along with Jeronimos Monastery. Significant personages of Portuguese history are entombed within the monastery, including King Sebastiao and King Manuel.

On any hop on hop off bus tour of Lisbon, the National Park and St George’s Castle, as well as various museums, warrant discovering. Walk the ramparts of this castle for incredible city views, and uncover its historical narrative. Olissiponia, a fascinating multimedia exhibit about Lisbon’s history, is sure to intrigue you. Immerse yourself in the peaceful, tranquil aura that emanates from the National Park of Lisbon and delve into the museums of this culturally vibrant city – merely some of the most renowned include the Gulbenkian Museum, the Ancient Art Museum, and the Tile Museum.

Take a hop on hop off bus tour of Lisbon and explore this extraordinary city’s many famous districts and landmarks.

The combined grandeur of Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery are bound to leave an enduring impression, and St George’s Castle is another architectural marvel well worth uncovering. Explore the different facets of the city through the spectrum of its most celebrated museums on a Lisbon sightseeing tour.

Lisbon awaits, in all its charm and splendour.

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Explore the One and Only Big Apple: Entrancing Architecture, Eminent Museums

9th February 2012

An Enchanting View of New York from 'The Top of the Rock'

Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to uncover the majesty of New York? Just to begin with, there are an astounding 150 museums alone in the city. It is difficult to think of a city that is as immersed with as many attractions and options for entertainment as New York.

There are so many remarkable potential New York attractions to visit that embarking upon a NYC tour is a judicious decision to make. Indeed, bus tours of New York are an exceptional means of delving into the highlights of this somewhat overwhelming city.

Museums

The Museum of Natural History is one of the most eminent of all New York’s museums. This immense museum is home to an array of thrilling dinosaur skeletons, as well as a striking planetarium. Continually developing, the museum holds something for everyone – fairly recent expansions include a Hall of Biodiversity, opened in 1998, and the outstanding Rose Center for Earth and Space, which opened in 2000, covering an extensive 333,500 square feet.

Other noteworthy museums well worth visiting include the Guggenheim Museum, Brooklyn Museum and, of course, the inimitable ‘Met.’

Architecture

What visit to New York is complete without a trip to the Statue of Liberty? Famously a gift from the French government for the 1000^th birthday of American independence, the Statue of Liberty has come to epitomise New York like no other building.

The only other building that perhaps contends with the Statue of Liberty in terms of repute is the magnificent Empire State Building, called the ‘eight world wonder’ in the 1930s. Other landmarks that must be seen are the formidable Brooklyn Bridge and the Chrysler Building.

You could never get lost for things to do in New York. If anything, the issue with New York sightseeing is that it can be difficult to know where to begin, with so many options to choose from. It is prudent to take a New York tour in order to experience just a select, yet worthwhile, measure of the intimidating array of culture this truly exceptional city has to offer.

What have your experiences of the Big Apple been like? Any recommendations for sites of culture and particular attractions that you feel others should uncover?

Hockney’s A Bigger Picture: The Exhibition of the Year

1st February 2012

David Hockney is a phenomenally successful artist who has also nurtured achievements in many fields other than painting; he is regarded as an eminent stage designer, photographer, draughtsman and printmaker.

His artistic work has continually defied conventional categorisation and classification; at different stages in his career he has moved seamlessly from cubist-inspired works to intensely abstract paintings, from multiple perspective photographs to bleaker, darker expressionist work, at times recalling Francis Bacon, another modern master.

He has often courted controversy and invited contention; he was a conscientious objector, he declined a knighthood in 1990 (yet, interestingly enough, he chose to accept an Order of Merit at the beginning of this year), and he has protested at cutbacks in arts funding.

Hockney’s current exhibition, A Bigger Picture, has sold four times as many advance tickets as that of The Real Van Gogh exhibition, which was in itself a record-breaker last year.

The 150 works on display at the Royal Academy’s Hockney exhibition are, in many cases, vast, impressive pieces, vivid and colourful evocations of nature. Many of the paintings, you will notice, include trees – indeed, a series of seven focuses on trees from Wolgate Wood. Similarly, one entire room is devoted to paintings of hawthorn blossoms in bloom, stunningly bedecking local roads.

Spend some time analysing The Sermon on the Mount series, named after the celebrated seventeenth-century painter Claude Lorrain’s composition of the same title. This series was motivated by Claude’s expert handling of the representation of space, which Hockney attempted to emulate.

Visit the David Hockney exhibition, A Bigger Picture, and marvel at the works of a man voted Britain’s most influential living painter. You will certainly not question why he was bestowed with such an impressive accolade.

A Bigger Picture runs until 9th April 2012.

Acquire your tickets to the exhibition of the year here.

Antwerp, Home of Rubens: A Unique Day Tour From Brussels

26th January 2012

Alluring Antwerp

Antwerp has been the capital of Europe’s diamond industry since the fifteenth century, and, as is befitting, abounds with a range of cultural and historical treasures. An Antwerp day tour from Brussels is consequently a superior choice for a day trip.

There are a striking range of Antwerp attractions and things to do. One of the most renowned museums in the city is that of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts. This museum is home to not only the works of world celebrated artists from the ‘old school’, but also approximately 1500 modern painters. One of the largest collections of Rubens paintings in the world is held here, in the eminent Rubens Room. Also well worth exploring are the Museum of Modern Art and, for something that bit different, the National Maritime Museum.

Antwerp is, of course, famed as the residence of Rubens, and if you do not get your fill of the works of this genius at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, several other options are open to you. A visit to Our Lady’s Cathedral will leave you overwhelmed. Amongst other works, two of the highlights of the cathedral are Rubens’ ‘The Elevation of the Cross’ and ‘the Descent from the Cross’. Delve into the past of this prodigious genius when you explore the House of Rubens, which atmospherically recreates the baroque era in which he lived.

Your sightseeing tour from Brussels to Antwerp will, however, reveal to you that there is much more to the city than merely its Rubens legacy. There are exceptionally diverse Antwerp attractions and things to do, and Antwerp Zoo, the Middelheim Sculpture Museum, City Hall, St Paul’s Church, the Beguinage, and Central Station are merely a few of the most extraordinary attractions of the city.

A day trip from Brussels to the small yet incredibly picturesque city of Antwerp is sure to leave you intrigued. Take a coach tour and marvel at the beautiful scenery of Brussels, travelling from Belgium to Antwerp. A sightseeing tour from Brussels to Antwerp will not fail to leave you enraptured.

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Captivating Munich By Night

19th January 2012

Captivating Munich

A night sightseeing tour of Munich is notably different from a daytime tour of the city. Munich is granted with a certain special effervescence by night. Munich’s attractions, floodlit in the dusk, come to possess a serene, tranquil majesty all their own. The city comes alive at night and the things to do in Munich abound. Just some of the experiences you must indulge in at twilight include a dinner at Hofbrauhaus, a visit to a Munich nightclub and a trip up the Olympic Tower.

Illuminated Munich will ensnare your senses. Embark upon a night sightseeing tour of Munich that will immerse you in Bavarian culture, as you begin with dinner at Hofbrauhaus. Hofbrauhaus is a beer hall with a formidable, long-standing historical and cultural reputation. Take in some authentic Bavarian music as you dine on a delectable feast.

The Olympic Tower offers the perfect vantage point for stunning panoramic views over the whole of Munich, and as such is an alluring Munich attraction. As well as having an observation platform that grants breathtaking perspectives over the city, the Olympic Tower is also home to a revolutionary revolving restaurant and a charming small rock and roll museum.

You cannot explore Munich by night without going to a lively Munich nightclub. One of the most renowned and vibrant nightclubs in the city is Max-Emanuel-Brauerei. There are also an excellent range of pubs in Munich, as would be expected. The Schwabing district is home to many, including the ever-popular and buzzing Shamrock Irish pub and the equally vibrant Schumann’s.

As much as there are a great range of things to do in Munich during the day, these seem to somehow expand further as soon as night falls. Munich by night pulsates with energy. It’s lively atmosphere can be felt in vivacious pubs and clubs around the city, and will not fail to entice the visitor. Begin your night with a traditional dinner at Hofbrauhaus, complete with captivating Bavarian music, before marvelling at all-encompassing views over the city from the Olympic Tower. Finally, dive in to the nightlife of the city – visit just one of the extraordinary Munich nightclubs that abound.

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Spectacular Singaraja and Bewitching Bedugul

12th January 2012

Singaraja and Bedugul are two stunning treasures that must be visited above others on a Bali mountain tour. Take a Singaraja and Bedugul sightseeing tour from Bali and uncover the grandeur of these two exquisite places. For the especially intrepid explorer, a mountain bike tour is a viable option – otherwise, take a bus tour to these two captivating areas.

The Ulun Danu temple is a striking attraction located in Bedugul and a must-see on any tour. The image of the temple is arguably more emblematic of Bali than any other architectural or natural landmark on the island. A water temple, it is located on the shores of the magnificent Lake Bratan.

The Bali botanical gardens cover an immense 160 acres, and offer an inimitable display of natural beauty. Ensure you explore Jatiluwih, with its lush rice paddies. Understand why it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

For a welcome escape from hordes of visitors, explore the stunning, yet surprisingly rarely visited Munduk Waterfall.

There is something about Singaraja that sets it apart from other cities in Bali. Perhaps this is because it still maintains some of the marks of its history as the colonial capital. Home to an array of cultures, it is markedly multiethnic, which makes it particularly intriguing to explore. A fascinating attraction to visit on a day tour is the grand Yudha Mandalatama Independence Monument, which holds a prominent position along the seafront, and memorialises a freedom fighter killed fighting against the Dutch.

Two other key Bali attractions in Singaraja that you must find time to delve into on your adventure tour are Pura Agung Jagatnatha and Gedong Kirtya. Pura Agung Jagatnatha holds the accolade of being the largest temple in Bali, as well as the most crucial temple in Singaraja. Marvel at its sheer majesty and imperiousness.

A museum and library which is committed to the preservation of traditional old lontar paper scripts, a visit to Gedong Kirtya will give you an impression of the rich cultural background of Singaraja. Gedong Kirtya is truly one of a kind and is celebrated around the world.

Take a sightseeing tour from Bali to uncover the splendour of Singaraja and Bedugul, two remarkable sites to visit. Both possess some of the very top attractions in Bali. For your day tour, choose between a bus tour or a mountain bike tour. Whichever you decide to embark upon, you can be sure that your discovery of Singaraja and Bedugul will be an experience you will never forget.

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Delphi’s Most Exquisite Attractions

5th January 2012

Delphi, the archeological site, cannot be overvalued in terms of its importance to Greek history and legend. It was, of course, deemed especially sacred in ancient times as the home of the most significant oracle in classical Greece, the Delphic oracle. It was also in Delphi that the Greek god Apollo was worshipped, in the grand temple of Apollo.

The town retains its cultural vitality and importance to this day, and teems with striking archeological remnants of its past, as would be expected. Therefore, if you wish to experience something different from the many potential things to do in Athens, a day tour to Delphi is the ideal option.

On a sightseeing tour of Delphi, some eminent landmarks and cultural attractions merit visitation more than others – these include the Naxian Sphinx, the renowned museum of Delphi, and, of course, the captivating ruins of the temple of Apollo.

An eternal flame was said to have burned in the inner hearth, or ‘hestia’, of the temple of Apollo. According to legend, Apollo slew the Python, a god who lived in Delphi. Unfortunately, little remains of the once imposing temple today. It was destroyed by Christians following the anti pagan decrees of the Emperor Theodosius in the 4th Century AD. Yet, undeniably, its ruins are imbued with a certain faded splendour. It is not difficult to imagine the temple of Apollo’s past, its spectacular former glory, when you visit. Indeed, the ruins of the temple are impressive in themselves.

The Naxian Sphinx is a truly remarkable sculpture; it must be seen as part of any exploration of Delphi. The Naxian Sphinx once stood below the terrace of the temple of Apollo on an Ionic column and is now one of the major attractions of the Delphi museum. The archaic, elegant artefacts at this museum are second in renown only to the internationally celebrated Acropolis museum in Athens. Comprising of thirteen rooms, you are sure to become enraptured by much more than merely the Naxian Sphinx when you visit the museum of Delphi.

The temple of Apollo once held vital significance in ancient Delphi – it is no exaggeration to state that it was considered one of the most important architectural landmarks in the city. The museum of Delphi, with its extensive, exquisite collection of ancient artefacts, including the enigmatic Naxian Sphinx, is equally well worth exploring. The temple of Apollo and museum of Delphi are merely two of the most vital attractions to visit in charming Delphi. Why hesitate? Explore this historical and cultural treasure of a town.

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A True Wonder of the World: the Wieliczka Salt Mines

29th December 2011

The Wieliczka salt mines are a genuine wonder, and entirely unique in the world. A trip to explore the salt mines cannot fail to leave you enchanted. Entering the salt mines is like entering a vast, cavernous city, complete with salt sculptures and enigmatic, immense chambers. Enter a surreal world, home to a series of chapels, all hand carved by miners. A one of a kind Krakow sightseeing experience.

Krakow attractions do not get better than this. The Wieliczka salt mines have been in operation since prehistoric, ancient times and thus carry a profound history. This is one of the oldest operating salt mines in the world. Immerse yourself in the fascinating atmosphere that emanates from the salt mines – each chamber comes with its own extraordinary legends and entirely unique objects.

View an underground salt mining exhibition and get to grips with the enthralling past of this momentous UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most impressive and imposing chapel in the Wieliczka salt mine, which must be visited above all others, is the chapel dedicated to St Kinga. This is indeed one of the great marvels of Poland. Prepare to be amazed as you marvel at striking religious figures and sculptures, and even chandeliers, all fashioned from salt by the exceptionally skilfull hands of miners.

A visit to the Wieliczka salt mines of Krakow, Poland, makes for an outstanding experience. The mines are something you will not witness the like of ever again. Take a guided tour, and explore an underground salt mining exhibition. You will really be able to delve into the thrilling, unusual narrative behind this unique landmark. For an inimitable experience, visit Wieliczka salt mine: you will not regret it.

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