The island of Mallorca is a popular tourist spot in Spain. The Mediterranean climate boasts low rainfall, mild temperatures, and lots of sun. As a result, the beaches of Mallorca host thousands of tourists every summer, looking to enjoy the water, the sun, shopping, food, and nightlife while staying at one of the islands many hotels and inns, including the luxury Mallorca five star hotels.

Mallorca is also home to a number of beautiful and mysterious limestone caves. Many are open to the public and are scheduled as part of bus tours. The Coves del Drac are the most well known on the island and were discovered in 1896 just south of Porto Cristo. The caves feature a series of underground lakes, including Lake Martel, which is one of the largest underground lakes in the world. The caves are also home to a large auditorium that is the site of a daily classical music concert. Since special lighting was designed in 1934, it has become a popular tourist destination.

The Coves d’Arta can be found near Capdepera. These stunning caves are surrounded by mountains and feature some intriguing lighting effects. The caves have interesting names, Queen of the Columns, Chamber of Hell, Chamber of Purgatory, and the Chamber of Flags. The Diamond Stones are earily reminiscent of the gemstones due to their carbon composition. Other items of interest include The Elephant and a 22 meter stalactite.

The Coves dels Hams are also famous. They feature amazing arborescent formations and also have an underground lake with another daily concert. These caves were discovered in 1905 by Pedro Caldentey. The name translates roughly to “fishhooks” which refers to the shape of the caves’ stalactites. Other caves include the Campanet caves, Cova Blava, and the Genova caves.

One of the few surviving city-states in the world, Singapore is an exotic destination known as much for its fabulous food as its tourist attractions. The people of Singapore love food and enjoy the dining experience. This is no more in evidence than in the annual Singapore Food Festival held every July. It celebrates the various culinary influences and dishes of Singapore.

Because Singapore was a melting pot of Asia, no one cuisine dominates. Chinese, Indian, and Malay flavors and techniques are prevalent, but they have merged over the centuries into wonderful hybrid concoctions. Some argue that the most identifiable cuisine in Singapore is Peranakan cuisine, also known as Nonya. This fusion of Chinese and Malay traditions is responsible for some of the favorite foods of Singapore.

Visitors to Singapore are advised to sample the famous chilli crab. The East Coast seafood restaurants are famous for this whole crab covered in tangy chilli. Black pepper crab is an equally delicious alternative that is less messy to devour. Laksa is another seafood dish popular in Singapore. It consists of a coconut curry soup with noodles and topped with shrimp or cockles.

In Singpore, spring rolls are known as Popiah and can be either fried of fresh. Popiah are made with fried tofu, fried shallots, boiled turnips, chopped stir fried long beans, chopped omelette and garlic. Chilli sauce is optional. Mee siam is a dish of rice noodles with a sour gravy consisting of fermented beans, dried shrimp, and tamarind. This is usually served with hard boiled eggs and tau pok (bean curd).

Rojak, which in Malay means a mixture of everything, comes in two different types, so make sure you know which you are ordering. The Chinese version is salad with fried bean curd, pineapple, cucumber, bunga kantan (torch ginger flower buds) and white turnip tossed in sugar and shrimp paste sauce. The salad is then topped with crushed peanuts. In the Indian variation, fried fritters are pulsed with tofu and cucumber and served with spicy and sweet sauces.

Visitors will find they can enjoy the wonderful foods of Singapore in a variety of environments. Sample a local breakfast of kaya (a coconut and egg spread served on toast) with coffee and eggs at a small cafe, order satay bee hoon from a hawker stall (rice vermicelli with satay chilli and peanut sauce), or finish off a meal at one of the Singapore fine dining restaurants with an exotic dessert topped with red bean ice cream that can only be found in this region.

Barcelona is an enchanting, beautiful city known equally for its vibrant culture and its stunning architecture. A charming blend of historical sites, cultural venues, and modern entertainment, it has become one of the top tourist destinations in Europe. Visitors can choose from accommodations ranging from small, quaint lodgings all the way to 5 star Barcelona hotels and enjoy the variety of traditional Spanish eateries as well as restaurants offering cuisines from around the world.

The city has a number of incredible museums. In fact, it is possible to spend an entire vacation in Barcelona just exploring these delightful venues. You can even purchase an “articket” that gains admission to eight museums at a considerable discount. One of the premiere attractions of the city is the CosmoCaixa. This is Barcelona’s science museum and in 2006 it was named the European Museum of the Year.

The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in the Palau Nacional is recognized for having the world’s best collection of Romanesque art. Other art museums include the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona which features Spanish and Catalan art from 1945 through the present. Visitors can also visit Centre d’Art Santa Mònica or the Caixa Fòrum. The city is also the proud home to the Picasso Museum, the Fundació Antoni Tàpies and the Fundació Joan Miró which house important collections of the world-renowned artists.

To explore history, the Museum of the City of Barcelona is a great place to start. In addition to the regular exhibitions, the museum offers access to historic buildings in the center of the Gothic Quarter and to underground Roman ruins. The Museu d’Història de Catalunya offers insight into Catalan history. Barcelona also offers Catalan museums of Archaeology and Ethnography as well as a Natural History museum.

Hyderabad is one of the cutting edge cities that has found a way for technology to co-exist with tradition, instead of overtaking it. Gaining a reputation as the Indian silicon valley, the city is more traditionally known as the City of Pearls. Contrasts such as these have come to symbolize this meeting point of North and South Indai, of history and modernism. Even the Hyderabadi cuisine is a mixture of Persian and Mughal flavors.

Home to the world’s largest film studio, Hyderabad has the second largest film industry in India. Tollywood, The Telugu Film Industry, is second only to the famed Bollywood. The city also draws athletes and sports enthusiasts by hosting many international and national games.

Throughout the city, visitors will find Heritage monuments, historic landmarks, and architectural wonders. Palaces, mosques, tombs, and ornate homes offer glimpses into the rich and multicultural past of this modern city of contrasts. The culture and heritage of this city blends Hindu and Islamic influences to provide a truly unique destination.

If you travel to Hyderabad, be sure to experience the fabulous shopping. The city is world famous for not only pearls but for its incredible diamond markets. Shoppers can also choose from textiles, ethnic clothing, traditional arts and crafts as well as the modern designer boutiques and malls of the Golden mile of Hyderabad.

There is a range of accomodations available to the savy traveler. Staying at a modern resort or one of the five star hotels in Hyderabad will provide the comfort and conveniences of the West while you immerse yourself in this amazing Eastern world.

On the banks of the Manzanares River sits Europe’s third largest city: Madrid, Spain. The capital city of Spain, Madrid is also the financial center of the Iberian Peninsula. It’s rich history is preserved amongst the city’s modern infrastructure creating a vibrant and exciting landscape. In addition to historic neighborhoods and landmarks, the city has skyscrapers, factories, and a vibrant business center.

Visitors to this city of over three million can sample the culture, history, and art of this European hotspot while staying in one of the many five star Madrid hotels and enjoying the legendary Madrid nightlife. (It is believed that Madrid has the most bars per capita in all of Europe.)

For the more daring tourist, a visit to Las Ventas, the largest bullring in Spain. This arena holds nearly 25,000 spectators and is thought to be the world’s center of bullfighting. The season runs from March to October every year.

Madrid’s architecture spans centuries, with medieval cathedrals sharing the city with modern edificies. The city is home to many galleries and museums as well as opera and classical music. Whether sampling some of the local Castille cuisine, dancing all night in a modern club, or simply enjoying the slower pace (and siestas!) of this charming city, visitors will find much to enjoy in Madrid.

Bangkok is the 22nd largest city in the world. For over two hundred years it has served as the economic, social, and political center of Thailand and much of the region including South East Asia and Indochina. This global city is a mix of Thai, Chinese and Indian people as well as being home to a large influx of westerners. This blending of cultures makes it a vibrant and exciting location for business travelers to explore once they have completed the work of the day.

Bangkok offers world-class business facilities, resources, and services.  Most major international consulting, legal, and financial firms have a Bangkok base and Embassies, Chambers of Commerce, and other public institutions have headquarters in the city. To support the needs of these institutions, Bangkok has built a communications network that includes internet, fax, and telephone services as well as international mail services.

Visitors can investigate Bangkok business hotels which cater to the needs of business travelers in this bustling center of commerce and finance.  Once the deals are closed, the magical culture of the city beckons.

Long an influential center for arts, fashion, and entertainment, Bangkok has been rated a top tourist destination and was named the best city in the world in 2008. It includes numerous parks to balance the urban environment and historical attractions such as the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho. A truly cosmopolitan city, Bangkok also provides shopping and dining for those seeking traditional, local experiences or those wanting a more modern, international excursion.
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