Trout Lake in Costa Rica

I’ve been trying to find some romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day. I’ve seen a few but this one has captured my interest and roused my imagination. It’s the Trout Lake in Vara Blanca, Costa Rica.

Trout Lake

Rainbow Trout

It’s a fresh water lake where guests can fish. Every month, they fill the lake with rainbow trout. They provide fishing rods and you can have your catch cooked in any way you want either for lunch or dinner. Just thinking of having such a Valentine getaway is already thrilling to me. You can even order a cocktail while casting a line. It’s cool! You can have a refreshing swim in the lake and enjoy a dip into their two Jacuzzis.

Trout Lake

The Trout Lake is a part of the La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park. It’s a privately owned and managed ecological attraction in Vara Blanca, Costa Rica. It boasts of a 120-feet waterfall, a wildlife sanctuary with about 100 species of crawling and flying animals, a butterfly observatory where you can see 25 different species of butterflies numbering to about 4,000 flying creatures, and a hiking trail. It would be a breathtaking experience for a couple, definitely.

120-feet La Paz Waterfall

For more information about Trout Lake, try to check out their site. I’ve provided a link below.

Image courtesy of:

http://www.waterfallgardens.com/index.php

The Gondolas of Venice

It’s Valentine’s Day in a few days. It is a special day for lovers and it is not unusual for them to look for a romantic getaway to celebrate the special occasion.

If I can afford it, I would love to take a gondola ride with my girlfriend around Venice but unfortunately I don’t have one and I can’t afford it.

A gondola ride around the Great Canal in Venice Italy would be a delightful experience. I remember when I’m in pre-school; our music teacher has taught us a song about the gondolas in Venice and the dashing gondoliers although I can hardly remember the song now. Since then, I’ve been so interested about the romance that the gondolas of Venice promise. I can say it is one of my romantic fantasies.

According to an article, a 40-minute gondola ride around the Great Canal in Venice would range to about €80 plus another €40 for a 20-minute extension. So roughly, an hour ride would cost €120. I guess, it’s all worth it! 

Images courtesy of the following:

(check out the sites for additional information about Venice and the Gondolas)

http://www.visit-venice-italy.com/gondola-venice-italy.htm

http://www.excellent-romantic-vacations.com/romantic-venice-italy.html

Taj Mahal: India’s Pride and Legacy

One of the most visited I guess of the wonderful and amazing structures in the world is the Taj Mahal in India particularly in the western region of Uttar Pradish, in the city of Agra near river Yamuna.

Taj Mahal is a mausoleum that remains to be one of the great wonders of the world. In fact, it is a Unesco World Heritage Site. The Persian Architect Ustād 'Īsā, has designed the monument for king Shah Jahan who has built the enthralling structure in 22 years, from 1630 to 1653 utilizing 20,000 workers, masons and jewelers.

The Tāj Mahal’s is actually a complex with many structures but the most prominent is the Dome, measuring 60 feet wide and 80 feet tall. Under the dome is the tomb of Mumtāz Mahal and later on, Shah Jahān's tomb has been built right next to hers after his death.

However, the thing that has struck me is the inspiration for its creation. King Shah Jahan has built it for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal who has died. Her memory has been so precious to the king that 22,000 men worked for it in hard labor and not withstanding using such a great amount of treasure and 22 years to complete it. It is an expression of an eternal love. It has been 380 long years since its ground breaking but the love that has brought it up remains and refreshes the hearts of those who come to see it.

Indeed, it is a masterpiece of love and devotion by a wealthy Mughal king to his beloved wife.

Info and Images courtesy of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal

Panoramic View of Taj Mahal courtesy of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra#T.C4.81j_Mahal

Bran Castle of Transylvania

Bran Castle

Whenever the legendary principality, Transylvania is mentioned, inevitably the first thing that comes to mind is Count Dracula. Perhaps, one of the most interesting attractions in Brasov is the Bran Castle. It is a stone citadel, which the Saxons has built by a decree of Louie I of Hungary in 1377 as a defense fortification against the Ottomans.

Many connect the castle to the legendary vampire Count Dracula as they would say that it is Dracula’s Castle. Although, according to experts, there is no indication that the creator of the legendary vampire story has known about this castle. The only connection that they see is that the prince of Wallachia, Vlad III, or most commonly known as Vlad Tepes or Vlad Dracul has used the castle as his headquarters for his assaults into Transylvania against the Ottoman Empire. 

Vlad Tepes

Bram Strokers’ Dracula is said to have been inspired by the story of Vlad Tepes. Of course, it is not because he is a vampire, but because of his cruelty against his enemies particularly the Ottoman Empire. Perhaps, many have considered him “blood thirsty” because of his ruthless killings.

Execution by Impalement

He is famous for torturing and killing his enemies through impalement, a form of execution during the middle ages. It is piercing a person’s body with a long stake or pole with a rounded end. Commonly, it is through the area between the genitals and the anus going up then out of the body through the lower part of the neck and rests below the chin to prevent the body from sliding down the pole when it is raised from the ground. It is a way of inflicting a long and painful death.

Anyways, the Bran Castle is now a museum that exhibits the art and furniture of Queen Marie. It aims to preserve the historical and cultural value of the castle. Tourist can see the castle with a guided tour.

Images and Info:

Wikipedia

The Principality of Transylvania

Brasov, Transylvania

As a child, I have been terrified by the story of the lord of the vampires- Count Dracula. It’s funny because while I want to watch Dracula films, my eyes are close most of the time. However, as a Sesame Street kid, I also remember Count Dracula teaching us to count from 1 to 10.  Ha-ha...

In my younger years, I’ve always thought that Transylvania is just a mythical place until I’ve heard that it’s actually a region in central Romania. I guess, if anybody would pay Romania a visit, it’s impossible not to visit Transylvania.

Lake in Carpathians

Transylvania is said to be the heart of the kingdom of Dacia, which ruled the region from 82 BC until the Roman Empire conquered the territory in 106 AD. By 271 AD, the Romans started to withdraw from the region and several tribes gained power and influence over it successively. Toward the end of 900 AD, the Hungarians took control of the region and became an administrative division of the kingdom of Hungary by 1003 AD up to 1526.

In 1526, the Ottoman Empire defeated the Hungarians in the Battle of Mohacs, which divided the kingdom of Hungary between the Ottoman Empire and Habsburg (Austrian) Monarchy. In 1571, Transylvania was declared an independent principality. While enjoying relative autonomy, the region was under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire.

Transylvania landscape

However, the Ottomans lost the region to the Habsburgs in 1683 after the battle of Vienna. The Habsburgs began to establish its rule over the region and in 1711; the Hungarian princes that governed the region were replaced by Habsburg Imperial governors.

Some say that this mixture of influences from the Muslim Ottomans and the Catholic Habsburgs including perhaps the Calvinist Hungarian princes’ influence might have caused considerable effect on Romanian culture, which made them eccentric in the eyes of Victorians (British). This perception might have influenced Bram Stroker’s novel, Dracula, which was first published in 1897, but of course I’m not writing that as a matter of fact.

Transylvania is a great place to visit especially for its fascinating landscape and scenery.

For information about traveling to Transylvania, you may visit:

http://www.traveltoromania.co.uk/transylvania/

http://www.outdoorholiday.com/mountain/Hiking_Carpathian_Mountains.php

Photos: "Brasov" and "landscape" from traveltoromania.co.uk; 
"lake in Carpathians" from outdoorholiday.com

Info: wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Whitby Abbey Ruins

The Ruins of Whitby Abbey from Whitby.Co.UK

While I was surfing the net, I noticed a photo of what seemed like an old ruins of a castle or an age old, basilica or monastery perhaps. It intrigued me so much and I noticed the name Whitby Abbey Pond at the caption. It was something I thought, I would like to see in person.

So, I tried googling for Whitby Abbey.

Well, I found out that Whitby is a town in Yorkshire, Northern England UK. It is where Whitby Abbey had stood. It was one of the twelve monasteries that the king of Northumbria, the medieval kingdom of the Angles during the post Roman period (presently northern England to southeast Scotland), had built in 656 AD after defeating the pagan king of Mercia, (one of the kingdoms of the Anglo Saxon Heptarchy). He even consecrated his daughter to serve God and became an abbess.

The first abbess of Whitby Abbey, Hilda, became a saint. Whitby became a center for Anglo-Saxon literature, a royal nunnery and burial place for the royal family. One important historical stamp of Northumbria was the Synod of Whitby in 664, which established the date of easter in the Catholic faith.

In 867, the Vikings destroyed the monastery. It was rebuilt by William de Percy in 1078 in honor of St Hilda. It was then called St Hilda Abbey but in 1540, Henry VIII destroyed it again and left it in ruins until today.

As a trivia, did you know that Bram Stoker wrote his famous book while at the churchyard of Mt. Mary’s parish church, which is on Whitby’s east cliff? The famous book- Dracula. I wonder how such a place with a holy background had born a vampire story; seems absurd. Haha... 

Whitby Abbey had a colorful story and had etched its place in the annals of English history. How I wish I can visit it in the future.

Image and Info Sources:

Whitby Tourist Accommodation and Travel Information, Whitby.Co.UK, No Update data; Available at: http://www.whitby.co.uk/ Accessed October 16, 2010.

Wikipedia contributors. Whitby. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. October 10, 2010, 00:49 UTC. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Whitby&oldid=389799040 Accessed October 16, 2010.

Wikipedia contributors. Northumbria. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. September 11, 2010, 13:21 UTC. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Northumbria&oldid=384195963 Accessed October 16, 2010.

Malapascua Island, Philippines: A Popular Diving Site

While watching GMA-7s late night program “Born to be Wild”, hosted by Doc Ferds Recio and Kiko Rustia, I got to see a wonderful island in the Philippines, the Malapascua Island, which is eight kilometers off the province of Cebu. It has a white sand beach, similar to Boracay Island although I can say that it is not as popular yet. Many say that it is going to be the next Boracay in terms of being a tourist attraction.

One of the most popular attractions of the island is its rich diving spots. You can observe from below different species of fish and corals and the breathtaking Thresher sharks moving around its deep blue waters. It is becoming very popular among diving enthusiasts.

Another interesting place to see in Malapascua is the Calanggaman Island, which is around an hour or so by boat. There you can snorkel or just simply swim around while enjoying the ambience of a virgin paradise. Maripipi is also a wonderful destination for those who want to explore volcanoes.

Put Malapascua Island on top of your list if you plan to go around the Philippines. 

Pix: http://malapascuaislandsite.info/2010/05/malapascua-island/