When it comes to Bangkok, Thailand, there are dozens of interesting streets and alleyways to visit and explore. But the most happening place in the city is the Khaosan Road, hands down. Everything takes place here and you can be assured you can always find what you’re looking for, even though it’s not a very long street.

The road is situated in the centre of the city inside the Rattanakosin district. It’s quite close to some of the major attractions, such as the Grand Palace and Chao Phraya River. This means you can get there by road and water.

The name of the road basically means ‘milled rice.’ This is because it used to be the home to one of the city’s largest rice markets.

But now it’s overflowing with an assortment of restaurants, hotels, shops, money exchanges, internet cafes, tattoo parlours, massage parlours, travel agents, cafes, bars, nightclubs, food stalls, as well as Muay Thai and boxing gyms. The street is also home to a synagogue and Bangkok’s small Jewish community.

The road is full of locals and visitors every day and night because of the variety and excellent prices it offers on just about everything. You can purchase almost anything imaginable there.

Locals love it as a popular meeting place for artists and students, while backpackers converge there to share stories of their adventures.

Khaosan Road is an ideal place to mix in with the local way of life free of charge.

Photo Credit: Kevinpoh

Tobago is the lesser known section of Trinidad and Tobago, and is often overlooked by visitors who are looking for a perfect island escape.

Tobago sits just a short 20 miles from the coast of Venezuela, and you can reach it by small airplane and ferry. It’s quite easy to get to from Trinidad and the Barbados, which is located about 150 miles to the north of Tobago.

Tobago still gets its fair share of tourists, but not as many as the other islands in the area receive. This makes it an attractive place to spend a relaxing holiday without having to fight the crowds at the beaches, resorts, and restaurants.

Many visitors stay for extended periods of time because the real estate and rental prices are relatively low in Tobago.

The island is about 26 miles long and six miles wide and has a population of about 17,000. The country is separated into seven parishes and offers a tropical climate.

The capital city is Scarborough, but many visitors head to Tobago for the beaches and scuba diving. The Tobago Forest Reserve is also a popular spot as it features a wide assortment of wildlife. There’s plenty of fresh seafood as well as other culinary delights.

Tobago may not be as well known as its close neighbour Trinidad, but it has just as much to offer visitors.

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It doesn’t really matter how old you are or where in the world you live, amusement parks are great fun for individuals and families. These are the best of the best.

1. Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida:

Walt Disney World in Florida attracts the most visitors in the world and it’s also the largest as its set on 27,443 fun-filled acres of land.

The location features four different theme parks, which include Epcot and Magic Kingdom. There are also 24 resort hotels along with two water parks to keep yourself cool in.

2. Everland, South Korea:

This is the 10th most-visited fun park in the world and the biggest one in South Korea. Everland features a water park, five roller coasters, and five different themed areas, which are Zoo-Topia, Global Fair, European Adventure, American Adventure, and Magic Land.

3. Tokyo Disneyland:

Walt Disney is popular all over the world as this 115 acre park proves. It was the first Disneyland to be opened outside of America, but showcases several of the same popular attractions and themed areas that can be found in Disneyland in California. These include Adventureland, Tomorrowland, and Fantasyland.

4. SeaWorld, San Diego, California:

This popular marine park also has locations in Florida and Texas. It allows visitors an excellent opportunity to get close to sea life such as Dolphins, Orcas, Beluga Whales, and Sea Lions.

5. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Great Britain:

This is the most popular amusement park in the United Kingdom which typically attracts several million visitors a year. The park in the seaside town of Blackpool houses four water rides and 10 roller coasters, which includes the steel Pepsi Max Big, which is the tallest roller coaster in Britain.

6. Europa Park, Germany:

This is the largest amusement park in Germany and it comes with 15 unique themed zones, with several of them being named after European countries. It’s the second most-visited park in Europe as it attracts several million people a year. It also features a campsite, a guest house, and four hotels.

7. PortAventura, Spain:

This amusement park is situated in the resort town of Salou, which lies about an hour to the south of Barcelona. It’s southern Europe’s biggest theme park/resort and features three water rides and six roller coasters.

8. Canada’s Wonderland, Toronto, Ontario:

This popular Canadian park has about 200 different attractions, which includes 15 roller coasters. This represents the most roller coasters of any amusement park outside of America.

9. Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio:

Cedar Point has the most roller coasters in a single amusement park numbering to 17. It houses a total of 75 rides on the 364 acre park, including three water rides.

10. Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida:

There are two different theme parks housed here, which are the Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. There are also three hotels along with the Universal CityWalk Nightlife Area.

The Islands of Adventure Park features a Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction, the Harry Potter universe, and a re-creation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft.

One of the most unlikely, but beautiful spots on the planet to visit is the Asian country of Laos, especially for those who love the outdoors.

Laos is a relatively small country of just over six million people and is surrounded by some of the continent’s more well-known nations, such as Thailand, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

While there are a few large cities in Laos, such as Vientiane, the capital, most travelers prefer to roam the countryside and take in the tranquil settings that are provided by the rugged mountains, thick forests, and peaceful rivers.

In fact, one of the best ways to enjoy a holiday in Laos is to sail up and down the rivers to visit nearby villages and soak in the scenery. This is why it’s becoming a popular destination with hikers, backpackers and nature lovers.

Most of the residents make a living by farming their land, so it’s no surprise that rice is the main agricultural product and the most common food.

The country has a lot to offer historically and culturally and there’s plenty of evidence of both. The Buddhist religion is also evident by the number of temples and shrines to visit.

Laos also offers festivals, dance, performing arts, and folk music throughout the year and is a very interesting location for those who prefer to stay away from crowds of tourists. Visiting Laos will allow you to explore one of the most scenic and interesting countries the world has to offer.

Photo Credit: jondeeley

The Prinsengracht Amsterdam concert is one of the most popular events of the summer in Holland as it is an outdoors classical music concert that comes with a long tradition. The event is staged on a series of pontoons that float in the water in a canal in front of the Hotel Pulitzer.

Many members of the audience arrive to the concert in boats, as thousands of others stand and sit on the banks of the canal and sit around the podium.

The music fills the air and the concert also becomes quite an amazing visual spectacle once the sun goes down. This is because the whole setting, including the stage, are illuminated and lit up by a series of strong reflectors.

The Prinsengracht Concert is just one show in the event known as the Grachtenfestival. This is a series of concerts that are held in a variety of locations in Amsterdam and can attract up to 80,000 fans.

The Prinsengracht concert is free of charge, however, if you want to enjoy it from a boat on the canal, you will need to obtain a special pass.

The concert takes place every year during the third weekend of August at Prinsengracht 315-331, Amsterdam, while the whole festival runs from Aug 14 to 22.

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The DLR Festival of World Cultures will be holding its 10th celebration in the summer of 2010 from July 23-25. The festival features a wide variety of folk, eclectic, traditional, digital, tribal, and experimental music.

It also showcases a kaleidoscope of club nights and concerts, markets and fairs, street events, performances, workshops, and much more. In fact, it’s known as Ireland’s first Global Carnival.

The event is held in Dún Laoghaire, a historical port and seaside down that offer visitors an array of performance locations such as pubs, clubs, bars, theatres, hotels, piers, plazas, and parks. These fantastic venues make it a natural home for the DLR Festival of World Cultures.

The event is committed to offering a series of world-class music performances for all tastes in an intimate setting.

The festival is known as a yearly international arts event that’s aimed at celebrating the world’s cultural diversity. It prides itself on featuring accessible performances along with other types of activities for people of all ages.

The international food vendors will guarantee you can taste food from around the world as well as music.

This year’s event will feature many performers from around the world, including Trinidadian singing legend Calypso Rose as well as Malian star Rokia Traoré.

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If you love beer, you may want to consider heading over to Munich, Germany in the fall for the country’s wildly-popular Oktoberfest event.

This is largest fair in the world and easily one of the most popular ones in Germany. It’s held every year and attracts about six million visitors from across the planet each time as they flock to the area to drink beer, eat, dance, and sing with each other.

The Oktoberfest festival is well known for its beer tents and huge beers that are served in heavy steins. However, you’re sure to enjoy the party even if you don’t like beer as there is lots more going on during the Bavarian festival.

You will be able to enjoy carnivals and rides, the local bands, and folk dancing, admire the traditional dress, enjoy the hearty food that’s served and be treated to the fantastic German hospitality.

The dates for the 2010 festival are Sept. 18 to Oct. 4. The official opening ceremony takes place on Sat. Sept. 18th in the Schottenhamel tent. The mayor of Munich will tap the first Oktoberfest beer keg at 12 noon.

The Oktoberfest Costume Parade is also a highlight and this colourful event that features local culture and history will take place on the first Sunday of the festival.

There are over 30 beer tents at the event and visitors are allowed to reserve tables ahead of time. However, you don’t need a reservation to get in.

You should get there by about 2:30 pm during the week though as the tents can get quite full pretty early in the day. If the tent’s full, you’ll have to enjoy mingling with people in the line up.

If you have children they will be able to enjoy the various entertainment such as, Ferris wheels, fun rides, roller coasters, parades, and music. There’s also a family day every Tuesday when carnival rides are discounted.

Children are also able to visit the tents with their parents, but those under the age of six need to be taken home by 8 p.m. The ideal time for children to visit the festival is during the week before 5 pm.

The first ever Oktoberfest festival took place in October, 1810 as it was held to celebrate the wedding between Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese.

Munich is very easy to reach from most areas of the world via direct flights. You can also get there by train, car, and bus, from most of Europe and once you’re in Germany.

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There are so many wonderful places to visit in Britain, but one of the most overlooked could very well be the Isle of Wight, which is the largest island in the nation with about 140,000 inhabitants.

The Isle is well known for its annual rock music festival, which attracts some of the biggest names in the music business as well as hundreds of thousands of fans. However, there’s so much more to see and do there.

The island has been a popular holiday spot with Britons for over 100 years as it features numerous interesting cities, resorts and natural beauty with its wide variety of rock types. It’s also quite popular with sailors from all over the world and is home to several sports teams.

Some of the most popular towns to explore are Ventnor, Ryde, and Shanklin, Newport, and Cowes. The island has a very rich and storied history. Queen Victoria had a summer home in East Cowes and the island has been home to many other famous historical figures. The wildlife in the area is some of the most interesting and rarest in Britain.

The bays, cliffs, and sea make for some fascinating scenery and the milder weather make it an ideal seaside resort area.

The Isle of Wight is situated in the southeast of England in the English Channel and is easily accessible by ferry from cities such as Southampton, Portsmouth, and Yarmouth. There’s also a hovercraft service from Southsea. Once there, it’s easy to get around by car and buses. There’s one railway line on the island.

Photo Credit: Simon Rich – aka Mr Monts

More and more people are becoming aware of Thailand as a great vacation spot due to its weather, food, culture, history, shopping, scenery, beaches, and people. However, there are still some ideal secluded spots where you can enjoy your holidays in relative anonymity.

If you’d like to relax on the beach or a tropical island, there are plenty of them to choose from and these are some of the most hidden gems in Thailand.

One of these is Ko Tarutao National Marine Park, which is made up of 51 separate islands that are situated in the Andaman Sea.

The main island is Ko Tarutao, and this is where the offices of the marine park are located. This place allows you to enjoy the island’s natural resources as there are no resort hotels, restaurants, and bars on the island.

There is a canteen at the park and a small shop that sells necessities. You sleep in tents or bungalows and just enjoy Mother Nature as it was intended to be.

There is another tropical marine national park called Ko Chang, which sits near the border with Cambodia. This is actually the second largest island in Thailand, next to Phuket. Ko Chang is starting to become popular with tourists as it offers sandy beaches and coves, adventurous rain forests, fascinating animal life, mountain peaks, coral reefs, and waterfalls.

It also comes with a lively and vibrant great nightlife. However, if you travel to the eastern region of the island, you’ll find you can get away from the crowds as there’s not as much development there.

Surin National Park is a great place to relax without the crowds as it’s about 35 miles from the west coast of Phang Nga province. This park features snorkelling, diving, game fishing, and hiking and is a nice quiet escape from the tourist traps. The park is made up of islands and they can only be reached by using an organized tour company. This is what keeps the crowds to a minimum.

One of the best hidden spots is Ko Mak. This is a fine spot for those who enjoy tranquillity and no crowds. Ko Mak is home to about 10,000 palm trees, a temple, a rubber plantation, three fishing villages, and two secluded beaches.

The only visitors are usually sea divers and couples. It’s an ideal place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty that it offers.
These islands in Thailand should allow you to enjoy some of the world’s finest beaches and crystal clear water in relative peace and quiet.

Photo Credit: MyBukit

When visiting Barcelona, Spain, you should try to take a short trip down the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the town of Badalona.

Here you will find an intriguing city of just over 200,000 that’s located right on the beach, between the mountains and the sea with plenty of activities to do and sites to see. This also includes a wide variety of restaurants and shopping options along with a small harbor.

There are “seven wonders” in Badalona: Dalt la Vila, Sant Jeroni de la Murtra, Patín a vela, Roman City, Anís del Mono, Giants Anastasi i Maria, and La Rambla.

Badalona is among the oldest centres in the Catalonia region and features just over three miles of beach for water activities and swimming. The roots of the town can be traced back over 2,000 years. There are several Roman ruins to visit, including baths, as well as dozens of artifacts in the city’s museum.

Badalona is also the home to one of the most famous monasteries in Spain, the Sant Jeroni de la Murtra, which was constructed during the fourteenth century. This is where the country’s Catholic Monarchs spent their summers and where Christopher Columbus was received after his initial trip to America.

Badalona can easily be reached from Barcelona in about 20 minutes on the RENFE train system and there are several underground stations. One of the best times to visit is in May as the city has several festivals in honour of the patron saint of Badalona.

Photo Credit: badafar