Posts Tagged ‘Captivating’

The Sky is the Limit at Hong Kong?s Captivating Central Business District

Spread across 1100 square metres of a prime trading hotspot, Hong Kong is a Westerner’s dream of an Asian city. Singular, independent and thriving, Hong Kong is at once associated and disassociated with its Chinese heritage. An eastern city with a decidedly western ambience and cultural preference, it enjoys a global reputation of being a financial and a tourist Mecca for the masses.

A food connoisseur’s dream come true, Hong Kong is not only the home of Lantau Island, Hong Kong Disneyland and the Ten Thousand Buddha’s Monastery, it has also one of the most vibrant central business districts in all of Asia.

As the political and economical epicentre of the island, the Hong Kong business district is also where Government Hill, Legislative Council Building and Far East’s oldest Anglican cathedral are also located. With a myriad of historical constructs in residence, the business district also plays hosts to some of the nation’s most recognizable landmarks such as the iconic Bank of China Tower, the International Finance Centre and the towering HSBC building.  Originally part of Victoria City, the central business hub is located on the northern shores of the island. Having served as a bustling capital since colonial rule the city is best viewed from the Central Pier or aboard the Star Ferry.

With its fair share of funky neighborhoods, visitors really should stroll down Hollywood Road , Cotton Tree Drive Street and Soho, Hong Kong to get a true feel for the colour and diversity this futuristic landscape has on offer. Other points of interest include the Peak, Tsim Sha Tsui, stunning Causeway Bay, Stanley Street Market and the Temple Street Night Market. Connaught Road Central with its neon lights and sky-piercing building is breathtaking sight while the Galleria, Prince’s Building, Citibank Tower, the  Entertainment Building and the AIG Tower also scamper for attention in this modern day metropolis.

The island nation’s best shopping centres are also situated along the city’s central business district and visitors will find luxury items and global brands galore at locales such as Pacific Place, the Landmark, Causeway Bay Shopping Area, the IFC Mall and Sogo. Lined with the town’s premier restaurants, cafes and bars, a food and wine connoisseur will hardly be disappointed at the choices available to them at the CBD.

Must-visit landmarks in the CBD include the Hutchison House, Alexandra House, Jardine House and The Centrium in addition to The Cenotaph and magnificent City Hall. Not just a hotbed of financial giants and skyscrapers, Hong Kong ‘s central business district also houses a number of stunning churches including the First Church, Church of Scientology and  the Union Church as well as several captivating Buddhist temples as a testament to the country’s all- inclusive approach to cultural identity.

Knee deep in MRTs, minibuses, trams and trains, the Hong Kong central business district is one of the most accessible areas in the entire island. Best explored on foot, the sights and sounds of its breathtaking landscape are just as intoxicating as its cultural diversity.

Eaton Hotel Hong Kong is perfect for travellers who are looking for hotels in Kowloon that gives easy access to the Central Business District of Hong Kong.  Comfortable and luxurious it enjoys a well-deserved reputation as one of the premier hotels in Hong Kong.

Explore the White, Sandy Beaches of Paradise in Captivating Maldives

Set on the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean lies the archipelago of islands that is often compared to paradise that is only possible in literature. A collective of nearly 1200 islands surrounded by pristine beaches, it is no surprise that the country is one of the globe’s premier beach holiday destinations. Pure, unspoilt and exotic to the core, the tropical islands that make up the island nation of Maldives is a treasure trove for beach lovers with luxurious beach resorts located in nearly all of the islets.

If one simply wants to laze around in the sun, soaking in the glorious atmosphere islands like Cocoa Island and Kuda Bandos Island are among the finest although almost all of the islands are flanked by idyllic beaches perfect for sunbathing. Being a country of 26 atolls with over a thousand islands, the population of Maldives only inhabit 200 of these breathtaking paradises, leaving innumerable uninhabited islands for the use of tourists and beach lovers worldwide.  One such locale is Veligandu Island which has been tipped to have one of the finest beaches in all of Maldives. With an 80 meter beachfront covered in golden tinged sand, the island also comes complete with a stunning reef full of vibrant fish varieties. Swimming in the lagoon and snorkeling across the inner reef are popular activities here while a variety of beachfront activities such as diving are on offer in the islet  which is also an ideal venue for tanning.

Sun Island or Nalaguraidhoo is also among the nation’s best beaches as this isle comes with a brilliant lagoon within swimming distance of the barrier reef. Brimming with colorful fish, coral and underwater life, this island is ideal for snorkeling and canoeing enthusiasts although the grand reef is visible from the island’s beachfront as well. Just 74km from Male, the beaches of Nika Island are also worth exploring as the venue is a hub for windsurfing, canoeing, and snorkeling, sunset fishing activities. Located on a grand lagoon, this island resort is only second to The Banyan Tree Island where sun soaked beaches are the highlight in an itinerary that include catamaran sailing, water-skiing, scuba diving, deep sea fishing and night-fishing. Other captivating beaches include Kanifinolhu Island and Lohifushi where avid surfers are likely to be found engaged in their favorite past time.

For an unforgettable time in Maldives, depend on the John Keells Hotels Group to provide premier accommodation with contemporary amenities and facilities. With a myriad of luxury Maldives hotels to its name, the hotel chain provides a host of Maldives travel packages to suit your budget.

<input id=”gwProxy” type=”hidden” /><input id=”jsProxy” />

<input id=”gwProxy” type=”hidden” /><input id=”jsProxy”>

The Captivating Greek Island of Crete

The world has always rejoiced visiting Crete, the largest of Greek islands and also the fifth largest in the whole of Mediterranean. The island is spread over an area of 8,336 km² (3,219 square miles) in the Southern Greece, and forms one of the thirteen Greek peripheries we know about. It is also believed to have played a key role in the Greek nation’s history, something quite evident even today, as we go through its archaeological past. There is a rich marine life, fine sea beaches and a great hospitality – of which the Crete hotels make up a key ingredient – to be explored and enjoyed by anybody willing to spend some quality time on this island.

Crete is land where the first great civilization of Greece, the Minoan, happened about 4600 years ago; more precisely between 2600-1400 BC. The Minoan archaeological remains at Phaistos and Knossos are two well known tourist attractions. Apart from that, the archaeological sites at the Samaria Gorge, Rethymno and Gortys do also describe a significant amount of the Cretan history. Most tour operators will cover these sites and offer you a great stay at one those well-administered Crete hotels.

Although, there is hardly any written record of the Cretan history available today, one can still gauge its immensity by visiting the remains of palaces, sculptures and paintings from that era. The capital city of Crete, Heraklion, accounts for about fifteen percent of all the tourist arrivals in Greece, and there were about 20 million visitors recorded in Crete alone last year. No doubt the local tourism has been the mainstay for many Cretans for long now, with jobs at the Crete hotels, in airlines, marine operations and those in the supporting roles falling on their sides.

The number of hotel rooms in Crete grew by 53% between the years 1986 and 1991, when the same was 25% for the whole of Greece. This should itself speak about the kind of bullish growth the Cretan tourism has witnessed over the last two decades. A majority of the Crete hotels will provide you with all those facilities, which are ascribed only with the luxurious brands. The facilities may include pools, chance to take part in sports, camping, living in serviced apartments and traveling by air or sea routs etc. Thousands sail into Crete on yachts every year as part of their holiday rituals.

A voyage to Crete may be summarized as the discovery of the ancient Greek civilization, its present-day beaches, sea resorts, flora and fauna, and also that of its five-star hospitality. You can select to either fly in or sail through the Mediterranean into the Cretan periphery depending on the kind of tour package you may have chosen to buy on any given day. There are more than a dozen locations to travel out to once you had finally started to settle in. More information could be gathered by checking out various Greece related websites, some of which are the facilitators of hotel rooms and private apartment bookings.