Perched at the meeting point of Lake Como’s three branches, Bellagio is often called the “Pearl of Lake Como” for its spectacular setting and timeless elegance. This Italian village has been a retreat for centuries, drawing poets, aristocrats, and travelers alike with its harmonious blend of natural beauty, refined architecture, and relaxed sophistication.
A former trading port and now a fascinating itinerary stop for any Vietnam traveler, Hoi An's illuminated lanterns beckon you. Each lunar month on the 14th day, electric lights are turned off in favor of traditional lanterns. Must-sees in this well-preserved locale include Quan Cong Temple, the 1700s-era Japanese Covered Bridge, An Bang Beach with its white sands, and Hoi An Night Market, abuzz with local sellers offering food and unique wares.
The next boom city in China. It's already been pegged. Xiamen, China, is the closest point on the mainland to Taiwan, and there is a great deal of investment flowing into the city. You'll enjoy the city mainly for its colonial mansions, twisting streets, turn-of-the-century Latin quarters, and balmy breezes sweeping across its palm-fringed beaches.
Espiritu Santo, one of the largest islands of Vanuatu off the east coast of Australia, is a popular destination for divers. Famous Champagne Beach, as one might guess from the name, offers crystal clear waters and powdery white sands, while the western side of the island is dotted with caves to explore and reefs team with marine life just offshore.
Philae Temple Complex sits on an island in the Nile near Aswan, where calm water and granite hills create a setting that feels carefully placed in the river. The temple buildings rise from the island like carved stone reflections of the cliffs around them, and reaching the site requires a short boat ride across still waters. This approach is part of the experience, as visitors leave the shore behind and glide toward an island that seems built for slow discovery.
Photo Credit: Photo by Dustin Balictar on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Martin Adams on Unsplash
Switzerland's daily life appears to be full of contradictions: the old and the new, natural beauty and industrial production, neutrality and international frankness. These sharp contrasts go hand in hand, and this unity is the real reason that this small country in the heart of Europe has developed into such an important communication and trading partner in the world today. It is Switzerland's contrasts - its diversity which attracts both the businessman and the tourist alike.
Lofty alpine landscapes, splendid ski-fields and crystal clear mountain lakes contrast with the Mediterranean ambience of the south; an internationalism that is well and truly practiced, the fascinating heritage and rich traditions of a remarkable people, the patrician old world standing proudly side-by-side a modernity that is quite avant-garde.Switzerland is so much more than the innate pragmatism of such superior inventions as banking, life insurance and timeless timekeeping would
suggest. After all, the same practical minds concocted the world's most delectable chocolate.
In an effort to protect its traditional rights and foster a national identity, Switzerland established a democracy, nearly seven hundred years ago. Today, this tiny land-locked country has the world's oldest democracy and its mechanisms have become a blueprint for the free world.
The constitutionally authoritative network of 24 cantons is further divided into self-administrative regions known as communes. The whole seemingly complex system actually translates into a working democratic tradition in its purest form - government by the people for the people. Neutrality - declared as a means of self-preservation in the 16th century - may be the foundation of the Swiss politic and an unequivocal stance that has prompted many worldwide humanitarian organisations to base themselves there, but multi-culturalism is the way of life. This is revealed in an enormous, dynamic diversity within Swiss borders in part due to the regionalisation and their respective traditions, customs and festivals and to the predominance of three strong cultures - German, French and Italian. The delightful characteristics of each permeated the individual villages, cities and towns of each canton creating a unique national culture. There are four national languages: Swiss-German, French, Italian and the rare Romansch whilst over 700 dialects add even more colour to the mix.
No matter where the location from rustic villages high in the snow-capped Alps, to the majestic shores of picture perfect lakes, the pure mountain air and fresh vistas of the Jura, bustling Zurich and rarefied Geneva, the warmest of welcomes awaits. Swiss hospitality is legendary.