If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? What would you do? These are questions you’ve probably asked yourself at least once or twice over the past few years. When given the opportunity to get away from your regular life, planning a dream vacation is the best way to spend your time. The skies are literally the limit to where you can go.
No matter where you decide to go, proper planning can be the difference between the dream of a lifetime and a total disaster. Below are some things you simply don’t want to forget.
Choosing a Destination
Choose Your Path Quotes | by Charm2010
You could just research the most popular places to visit around the world and select the best option. You could also just as easily spin a globe and travel to wherever your finger lands. There are several ways you can select a place to go on a dream vacation, but if you’re going to be happy with your decision it’s best to do a little digging.
Time of year – are you looking to travel when there are fewer tourists or do you prefer to go during a popular month? The time of year and where you choose to go will impact your budget. If you want to save money, plan your vacation for the off-season. If you want to be part of annual events then you may have to travel during peak season.
Things to do – A place can look really nice on postcards, TVs, and movies, but you should never select a destination for travel on just looks alone. Find out what there is to do that aligns with your interests or things you’ve always wanted to do.
Safety – Some countries are very risky to travel to. Visiting these areas could put you in danger. With your safety in mind, you should check with your local state department to find out about travel bans or security risks.
Setting a Budget
Balancing The Account By Hand | by kenteegardin
Even if you have the funds to splurge on your dream trip, budgeting helps you to stretch your vacation dollars even further. When creating a budget you should remember to include things like the hotel, transportation (flight, rental car, and/or public transportation), and entertainment. You should also have a little cushion for emergencies. Should something go wrong (like the things discussed below), you’ll want to be prepared. Having a backup plan like services like the Ria Money Transfer Spain, Japan, or Australia offer so someone you know can send you money if you’re in a jam is recommended as well.
The Unexpected on a Vacation
No one plans for trouble to happen while they’re on vacation, but sometimes trouble just happens. If you’re not prepared for it, the consequences could be severe. Here are some of the most common unexpected things that could happen while on your dream vacation:
Getting sick – you’re going to be in a new area partaking in different foods and cultures and encountering all different kinds of insects and wildlife. You could easily get sick due to something you ate or a bug bite. That’s why you should get checked up prior to leaving for your trip and also make sure you have your insurance card with you to cover the medical costs.
TeroVesalainen / Pixabay
Getting lost – a GPS could take you down the wrong path, a drunken night could turn into you walking the streets with no clue where you are, or a taxi could drop you off at the wrong location. Getting lost is no fun, especially when you’re in a foreign place. Not only do you not know your way around but you don’t speak the language and getting back can prove difficult. It’s a good idea to have a fully charged phone with GPS. This way you can get back to your hotel. You should also set limitations on your drinking and try to stay in heavily populated areas so you don’t get lost.
There are many elements to planning your dream vacation. Whether you decide to go to India, Spain, or Japan, you need to do your due diligence to ensure that your trip isn’t filled with unexpected and unfortunate events. Lastly, make sure you’re prepared for anything. The hope is to have an awesome time, but you can never be too sure.
‘North East India’ popularly known as ‘seven sisters state’ is a treasure trove for travellers, with lush green mountains, mystifying viewpoints, lavish tea estates and quirky tourist spots. This part of the subcontinent is extremely underrated but has a lot to offer for people looking for some peace of mind and to get away from the teeming city crowd.
Sikkim Darjeeling travel enthusiasts will definitely be encapsulated in North East India’s splendid rolling slopes of the mighty hills along with the unparalleled tranquillity and its rich ethnic diversity.
Here are some destinations in North East India which cannot be missed out on:
Pelling, Sikkim
Pelling, West Sikkim
Also known as the ‘jewel of Sikkim’, this small hill town of Pelling is nestled comfortably at an elevation of 2,150 metres. Set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains, and surrounded by impressive and colourful plants Pelling is the ideal tourist spot for families and people looking for some peaceful time. Tourist spots include spiritual local monasteries, cascading waterfalls, shimmering lakes and compelling trekking routes. One can witness the Mighty Himalayas and the majestic Kanchenjunga closely from this impressive hill station which is home to the traditional North Eastern tribes.
Places to Visit in Pelling – Khecheopalri Lake, Kanchenjunga falls, Pemayangtse monastery, Rimbi falls, Darap village.
Bes Time to Visit – September to May
Shillong, Meghalaya
Popularly nicknamed as the ‘Scotland of East’ Shillong is home to some of the most picturesque and mesmerizing tourist spots in India overall. This city is slowly yet steadily attracting a huge number of tourists from not just other parts of India but across the globe as well. One can visit various intriguing canyons, colourful blossoming parks, impressive lakes and towering peaks, on their visit to Shillong. With the temperature remaining constantly cool throughout the year, Shillong is an oasis for people looking to beat the harsh heat.
Places to visit in Shillong – Elephant Falls, Umiam Lake, Don Bosco Museum, Phan Nonglait Park, Wards Lake.
Best time to visit – all year round
Kohima, Nagaland
This second largest city in the state of Nagaland was founded by the British’s in the year 1878. Currently, it is one of the most vibrant cultural North Eastern centres in India, with the organization of the unique Hornbill festival Kohima is not only a paradise for nature and adventure lovers but is also a haven for fashionistas. Still known for being one of the most offbeat travel locations Kohima has managed to stay close to its traditional roots. The primary occupation for the people of Kohima still remains agriculture and farming while their humbleness has started to attract a lot of tourism.
View of Kohima City
Places to Visit in Kohima – Kohima war cemetery, Nagaland state museum, Sakhrie Park, Naga heritage village.
Best time to Visit – October to May
Haflong, Assam
Haflong is the one and only hill station in Assam, which attracts a number of tourists from across the subcontinent and the map throughout the year. Haflong boasts of a rich cultural heritage which remains untouched. Often referred to as the White Ant Hillock Haflong consists of mesmerizing lakes where one can have some quality time with their family and enjoy a picnic, picturesque green rolling hills and numerous other viewpoint sites where you can witness the sheer grandness and purity of nature in all its forms and vigour. This tiny hill town is a prime and one of the pristine spots for getting away from the busy city life.
Beautiful view of Haflong
Places to visit in Haflong – Haflong hill, Jatinga, Maibong, Haflong Lake
Best Time to Visit – October to April
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
This enchanting valley town is located at an elevation of 3,048 metres and has always been inhabited by the Monpa people. This town is extremely religious in its Buddhist pursuits hence it is home to numerous calming and beautiful monasteries. Tawang is comfortably nestled on the lush green mountains and is increasingly becoming a safe haven for individuals looking for some adventure as well as for families looking to spend a memorable vacation. It is the perfect combination of rich tradition, a hub for Buddhist religion and of course, mesmerizing surroundings.
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
Places to visit in Tawang – Tawang monastery, Shonga – Tser Lake, Nuranang Waterfalls, Pankang Teng Tso Lake
Art has always been an element of life which makes everything different when it’s there and also turns everything so different when it’s not. You could say that art is everything, and it is everywhere. Well, that’s true. In every corner of this world, art has a space that only it can fill. One of the world’s places showcasing some wonderful kinds of art is Melbourne in Australia.
Whenever you travel to a place near or far from your own, you surely always want to find out the kind of art it has and where it could be found. There’s something in you that craves another kind of art that varies from what you know — everybody knows each country has unique ways of bringing art to life. This piece you’re reading is a friendly guide that briefly introduces you to 10 destinations in Melbourne where you can spend some time with the beauty of its art.
1 – SEVENTH GALLERY
Are you into discovering new stuff and making something unique out of anything? If you are (or even if you aren’t!), Seventh Gallery is just the right place! It embodies diversity and unpredictability in its artistic procedures. Out of the box is its game. This gallery leads you to an experience of experimentation in the world of art in many forms and practices. They also present solo and group exhibitions, wherein many amazing works of art are showcased for the guests to see and of course, experience. Various curators and artists hold performances and talks in the gallery. Aside from those, out-of-the-conventional pieces of work are also accepted and launched there.
Together with its concerns in contemporary art, Seventh also encourages collaborations. If you don’t just want to be a visitor or a spectator, you can also conduct your own event in the gallery. Seventh Gallery is also a good avenue for you to share your love for the arts. It also values growth and progress as it offers great opportunities for artists to develop their skills and present their work through mentoring which includes feedback and helpful professional advice. Seventh has a program for writers wherein they can enhance their skills and set their passion for writing and art ablaze.
2 – CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY
The Centre for Contemporary Photography, as its name says, puts under the spotlight the masterpieces of Australian lens-based arts. It emphasizes contemporary Australian photography and video in a meaningful connection with history — the connection leading to expansion and more recognition for the art of photography in the country. Exhibitions in CCP show several works of photo-based art created by numerous artists at all levels of skill.
In CCP, you can witness a wide range of showpieces extending from local to international division photography. It is definitely a place that will fascinate you because as you know or know not, photos always have something to say and to make someone feel. Different people and different nations coming together for a single contemporary photography exhibition?! That sounds exciting! This place is to be appreciated because passionate hearts and wild imaginations were combined to capture moments, make moments, and give moments meanings of themselves.
3 – FLINDERS COURT
Looking for some super affordable art spaces to have your Instagram-worthy photos taken? Well, here’s one of them. Flinders Court is a laneway in Melbourne where the walls and the ground are filled with paintings of various images. Your eyes will really glow seeing the huge realistic paintings along the laneway. There are cartoon and caricature-styled artworks that will definitely get the WOW out of you! On a daily basis, artists do their masterpieces there, and you can still smell the paint as they are newly painted.
Awesome graffiti can be seen wherever you turn your eyes to, but it’s not tiring to witness the inviting vibrancy of the paint and the interesting stories the images create or created using the images. Street art is one of the unique art forms presented in and by Melbourne, and Flinders Court is one of its best avenues.
4 – COMEDY THEATRE
The Comedy Theatre was built-in 1928 with 1000 seating capacity, structured in Spanish elegance. Since then, its stage has been home to many outstanding and remarkable performances. In 2011, it has been classified by the Victorian Heritage Register which means it is recognized as a heritage place under legal care and protection.
The Comedy Theatre houses great talents for making people laugh ‘til they drop during their live performances. The theatre, however, does not only give you shows to laugh about but to feel a lot of mixed emotions also from musical plays and drama. It allows you to watch multiple stretches of live entertainment and to witness the theatre in different lights (literally and not) and designs, thus, in the sundry atmosphere and feels.
5 – FORUM THEATRE
A theatre of exceptional and multifaceted performances is the Forum Theatre. It has been renovated for a new and better venue for a more comfortable and more compelling venue.
It is very much well-known since its establishment in 1929. The Forum Theatre has been divided into subdivisions, being the largest seating capacity among all the theatres in Australia. Bands, comedians, and singers perform in the Forum in many famous events and festivals annually. There also are function rooms (areas) designated for launches and cocktail parties. Time and time again, the Forum delights lots of guests of all ages, which only proves that “beauty and originality are timeless”.
6 – RUSSELL PLACE
The Russell Place is an old (said to be the oldest) laneway in Melbourne. In this laneway, street art is used by the artist as an outlet for people when it comes to sharing their emotions, feelings, and thoughts too. What’s really interesting here is that looking at the art formed along that laneway, its history as a small street in Australia is somehow narrated by those illustrations. Nowadays, the laneway is associated with fashion boutiques and restaurants. The Russell Place is an old (said to be the oldest) laneway in Melbourne. In this laneway, street art is used by the artist as an outlet for people when it comes to sharing their emotions, feelings, and thoughts too. What’s really interesting here is that looking at the art formed along that laneway, its history as a small street in Australia is somehow narrated by those illustrations. Nowadays, the laneway is associated with fashion boutiques and restaurants.
The Russell Place is an old (said to be the oldest) laneway in Melbourne. In this laneway, street art is used by the artist as an outlet for people when it comes to sharing their emotions, feelings, and thoughts too. What’s really interesting here is that looking at the art formed along that laneway, its history as a small street in Australia is somehow narrated by those illustrations. Nowadays, the laneway is associated with fashion boutiques and restaurants.
7 – HEIDE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
For families and children, the Heide Museum of Modern Art is a must-visit museum in Melbourne. It offers an encouraging and engaging experience — yes, experience and not just witnessing! — of art in many forms. It is into modern and contemporary Australian art.
A rare feature found in museums, delightful gardens are also present in the museum. In those pleasant spots, you can bond and spend some relaxing time with your family or contemplate things all by yourself. There is also a sculpture park measuring about 15 to 16 acres where many sculptures made of different and unconventional materials for sculpting like welded steel and galvanized iron sheet are placed.
8 – AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR THE MOVING IMAGE
A museum of video games?! Am I the only one who heard such for the first time? The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is the country’s national museum of film, video games, and digital art. It is really ideal for people who love everything about films, those who are techy and into “the digital”.
Even if that’s the name, not only film-inclined people will appreciate AMCI, but also those who are interested to know more about them and probably even those who are not into films at all. Both classic and modern local and international films are shown. Talks are also done to educate the guests about the museum and the incredible workmanship too since, I believe, it’s really great to know their background first so you can fully enjoy and grasp its beauty. Because it is said that the artist says what it is, then it’s pretty hard to describe it or feel something about it if you, as a spectator, don’t even know or don’t have even an idea of what the artist says about his/her art.
ACMI offers this of kind of art in moving images. People might think that art is limited to painting and sculpture alone, but nope! Not all art is stationary, some also move.
9 – MALTHOUSE THEATRE
Malthouse Theatre is into artistic and cultural diversity. Dedicated to Australian playwrights and their plays, Malthouse Theatre presents several play productions including drama, music, and dance. The theatre gives way for local and international artists to work together in the formation and production of fresh and groundbreaking presentations that reveal the reality of the human experience. Malthouse takes a look at the world in the personal, social, and political facets of it as these three are among the central aspects of human life including self, relationship, and being part of a nation.
If you are craving live experiences (stage plays and performances), Malthouse is the place you should note down. You will not only be able to watch actors perform on stage with their grand costumes but you will also be engaged in interactive (direct or indirect) conversations with them as part of the play. The plays they perform will surely entertain you and will make you talk about them again even outside the theatre.
10 – STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA
Built-in 1856, the State Library of Victoria is another beautiful place of art and of wonderful minds. It’s a library, but it’s more than just a library. Of course, the books and all the reading materials there in a collection is art already, but the whole place itself is an art as a whole too.
A tour guide can also bring you around the place and introduce it to you in a clear and better way unlike if you’re just roaming around the area and making some wild guesses regarding things and history. One of the library’s noteworthy features is the Chess Room, a special room exclusive for this board game. People come to read anything about Chess — game mechanics and techniques and also its interesting history– and also to play with their fellows and even strangers maybe. There are Dome Reading Rooms where silence is a pleasant sound to the ear. It’s a place where you’d have to go to if you love to read pages and sniff the wonderful smell of books, especially the old ones. There are also exhibitions constantly set out and actual workshops held in the library for children and students aged any.
Many people visit the library to step into a world of awesome information and to unfold stories yet to be discovered as the library itself is a great structure of notable olden days. It looks very classic, giving everyone who goes there, an amazing feeling of the past.
ART-FILLED MELBOURNE There you have it! — 10 destinations in Melbourne where its art–in several distinct forms–is housed. You see how Melbourne has abundant riches in its art ranging from visual arts to performing arts — both also arraying from one kind to another. Hopefully, you have now gotten this list as a chance to get chance to save some time wondering where to go to see some art and the chance to make a worthwhile and art-filled trip to Melbourne, Australia.
Nicole Ann Pore is a daytime writer for Holiday Inn Parramatta, a five-star hotel is located in Parramatta, New South Wales (Australia). For Nicole, the beauty of this world is just breathtaking, astounding and something worth sharing. Because of the course, she took up in college, she has become interested in film critiquing and filmmaking. She is into events hosting and voice over acting and hosting. | Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University-Manila, the Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts. “To God be all the glory
