Athens; the dream place of every art lover

If you love art, myth,architecture and the mysteries of the ancient civilizations then Athens should be on top of your bucket list.

 

Athens, the city with the most glorious history in the world. a city of Gods and deities, a magical and mythical city.The enchanting capital of Greece has always been a birthplace for civilization.It is the city where democracy was born and most of the wise men of ancient times.The most important civilization of ancient world flourished in Athens and relives through some of the most formidable edifices. 

Places worth visiting:

Acropolis:

The Acropolis hill, so called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens is the most important site of the city.It contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance.It is the most significant reference point of ancient Greek culture, as well as the symbol of the city of Athens as it represents the apogee of artistic development in the 5th century BC.

Archaeological remains on the Acropolis

Parthenon:

The Parthenon, is the most important and characteristic monument of the ancient Greek civilization and still remains its international symbol. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of Athens.The Temple's main function was to shelter the monumental statue of Athena that was made by Phidias out of gold and ivory.The magnificently built temple by the famous architectures of that era is a site that you would remember as long as you live.

Erechtheum:

Erechtheum is an ancient Greek temple located in the north of the Acropolis, dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon. The entire temple is on a slope, it was built from marble and black limestone.The Porch of the Caryatids or the famous "Porch of the Maidens" with six draped female figures as supporting columns giving the view of the mythical city of Athens is a site worth seeing.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus:

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone structure theater located on the south-west slope of the Acropolis. It was originally a steep sloped theater with a three story stone front wall and a wooden roof. it was used as a venue for music concerts, with a capacity of 5000. It has been reconstructed and now again is used as an open air theater.

Other Sites to be visited on the Acropolis 

• Old temple of Athena 
• Propylaea
• Temple of Athena Nike
• Eleusinion
• Sanctuary of Artimes Brauroniaor Brauronieon 
• Chalkotheke
• Arrephorion
• Sanctuary of Pandion 
• Stoa of eumenes
• Theater of Dionysus
• Odeon of Pericles
• Aglaureion

Plaka:

Plaka is the oldest district in Athens, built at the foothill of Acropolis, with picturesque neoclassical houses and mainly pedestrian streets. Plaka is also known as the "Neighborhood of Gods" due to its proximity to the Acropolis and its many archaeological sites. While taking a tour of Plaka you can shop, dine and visit the archaeological sites like Tower of the Winds or the Lysikrates monument. Distances are short so one day would be enough for you to experience Plaka.

Plaka's Best Historic Attractions 

Lysicrates monument

Metochion of the Holy Sepulcher

Ancient Agora

Saint Nicholas Ragavas  

Athens and Epidaurus Festival

Athens and Epidaurus festival is held every year from may to October and artists from all over the world gather in Athens to become a part of the magical summer nights, full of music,theater and dance. The festival's program involves open-air theater, opera, classical music and dance at various locations in Athens, However the festivals top venue is the 2nd century BC Odeon of Herodeon Atticus. Watch an ancient Greek tragedy, opera or ballet against the magical backdrop of the Acropolis.

Accommodation and Ticket fare:

If you are on a luxury vacation in Athens and want nothing but the best then Hotel Grande Bretagne is the place to stay. The prices of one room start from 290$ (29,870PKR) and onwards.

If you are on a budget holiday like i am most of the times and want a well furnished Hotel in a good vicinity then Adonis Hotel Athens is the place to crash. its costs around 50$(5098PKR) per night.

Ticket fare from Lahore,Pakistan to Athens,Greece starts from 77,300 to 97,041 PKR.

Recommanded websites:

http://www.greece-athens.com/

http://ancient-greece.org/architecture/parthenon.html

http://www.10best.com/destinations/greece/athens/plaka/

http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/culture/events/athens_epidaurus_festival

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g189400-d198715-Reviews-Hotel_Grande_Bretagne_A_Luxury_Collection_Hotel-Athens_Attica.html

Holi: The Festival of Colors

if you want to let loose and enjoy the beauty of love and color and there perfect amalgamation, then Holi is the perfect festival for you.

The Holi festival has an ancient origin and commemorates the victory of good over evil.Holi celebrations begins with the lightening up of a bonfire on the Holi eve.Numerous stories and legends associated with Holi celebrations make the festival more exuberant and vivid.

How is Holi celebrated:

Holi celebrations begins as soon as the sun rises, it is a free-for- all carnival of color, where participants play, chase and color each other with dry powder and colored water.The frolic and fight with colors occurs anywhere and everywhere and by the end of it everyone looks like a canvas of colors. this is why holi is given the name "Festival of Colors".

When is Holi celebrated?

The festival marks the end of winter and the abundance of the upcoming spring harvest.It is celebrated the day after the full moon in March each year.

In 2016 Holi will be celebrated on March 24th.

Where to celebrate Holi:

You will find the Holi festivities taking place all over India.However, they are more exuberant at some places than others.

Mathura and Vrindavana: traditional Holi

Here the celebrations get underway 40 days before the main Holi day. This place is 4 hours from Delhi and a main tourist attraction for this festival. The main venue for Holi celebrations in Mathura is in the vicinity of Holi gate. A long procession of colors and music takes place on Holi at this gate.

Popular tour companies Viator offers a two day exclusive  Holi festival trip to Mathura from Delhi.

Accommodation:

Hotel Birjwasi Royal is the most popular hotel in Mathura. Booking starts from 50$ per night (5,150prs). Shabnum Hotels and resorts charge 20$ (2,060prs) per night.

Recommanded website:

http://goindia.about.com/od/festivalsevents/p/Holi.htm

Maldives; the Indian ocean paradise

Unrivaled luxury, stunning white sand-beaches and an amazing under water world makes the Maldives an obvious choice and a true contender in anyone's Bucket list.

Unbelievable beaches 

Maldives is the world's most dispersed country, having 1,192 of total coral islands and each coral island is worth seeing. The Maldives is home to perhaps the best beaches in the world, you will find white powder sand and luminous cyan-blue water like this almost no where else on earth. This fact alone is enough to bring over a million tourists every year to this beach heaven.

Ultimate luxurious resorts

Every resort in the Maldives is its very own private island, and with over a hundred to choose from the only problem is selecting where you want to stay. At the top end, world's most exclusive hotel brand compete with each other to attain ever-greater heights of luxury, from personal butlers treating you like kings and queens to lap pools to pillow menus, you get it all. This is one of the few reasons why it's on my bucket list and should be on yours too.

Under water world

With some the best diving and snorkeling in the world, the clear waters of the Maldives are a magnet for anyone with an interest in the marine life. The richness and variety is astonishing, dazzling coral walls, magnificent caves and schools of flamboyant tropical fish await you when you get down to the reef.

Things to do;

There is a long list of things to do when you get to the Maldives but on the top of your list should be; scuba diving, snorkeling, water sports, experiencing the night life, outdoor sports, seaplane photo flight, tasting the divine island cuisine,big game fishing, submarine dives,manta and whale shark watching,dolphin and whale watching, sunset cruise and of course shopping.

Accommodation and Tickets 

One of the most luxurious resorts in the Maldives is Soneva Fushi, its rates start from 2,476$ (255,028rs) per nigth.

if you are on a budget and are a backpacker than the place you should go is hotels Dhaalu Atoll starting from 19$ (1,957rs)

Ticket prices from Karachi,Pakistan to Male, Maldives starts from Rs52297.

Recommended websites;

The website that I will recommend my fellow adventurers for getting to know the Maldives and for booking and searching for good packages are

http://www.visitmaldives.com/en

https://www.mrandmrssmith.com/destinations/maldives/maldives-islands/hotels

http://www.trivago.co.uk/dhaalu-atoll-sued-nilandhe-486033/hotel

La Tomatina

There are somethings that you just can't die without experiencing and La tomatina festival is one of those things. 

La Tomatina  is a festival that is held in the Valencia town of Buñol, a town located in the East of Spain. Tens of thousands of participants come from all around the world to participate in the worlds biggest food fight, in which they throw tomatoes purely for entertainment and fun purpose. Since 1945 it has been held on the last Wednesday of August, during the week of festivities of Bunol.

The week long festival features music, parades, dancing and fireworks. On the night before the tomato fight, participants of the festival compete in a paella cooking contest.
The tomato fight takes place between 11am and 1pm on that day.Many trucks haul the bounty of tomatoes into the center of the town, Palaza del Pueblo.The signal for the beginning of the fight is firing of the canon, and the chaos begins. somewhere between an hour and two hours , the fighting ends and the canon is fired once more to signal the end.

Rules of the festival

• The tomatoes must be squished before throwing for safety precautions.
• It is illegal to bring any kind of bottles or any such object that could cause an accident.
• Avoid the lorries that bring the tomatoes.
• as soon as you hear the second canon stop throwing tomatoes.
• have tons of fun.

Tickets and Accommodation

Accommodation: Bunol is a small village and there is hardly any accommodation there, so the visitors have to stay in hostels or hotels in Valencia.

Another option is to head for the small family-run campsite called La Granjita in Chiva, which is only 10km north-east of bunol.

The cheapest hostel that one can find near Bunol is around PKR 2,206 or 19 Euro per night.

for further information check http://www.hostels.com/bunol/spain

There are many 3,4 and 5 star hotels located in Bunol as well and can be booked online before the festival.

for further information check http://www.hotels.com/de456908/hotels-bunol-spain/

La tomatina's Ticket: Tickets cost 10 euro (PKR 1,170) each and can be reserved and printed out on the Bunol Town Council Website.

Recommended website:
After searching countless sites and reading pages after pages, one site that I will recommend the adventure junkies and the people who want to put another check in there bucket list like me is ; http://www.latomatina.org/tomatina-festival/
Book the package that they are giving and be on that plane next year.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure it makes you happy, and take a chance because you never know how absolutely perfect something could turn out to be.
La tomatina is absolutely worth your Time, Money and The Bucket List.