These Cambodian Monks were captured during their lunch time. The vivid orange of their robes lining the floor whilst they ate their meals, together with the colours and patterns of the nearby pillar added to the cultural experience not readily seen in the western world.

Photo courtesy of Australian reader Julie.

We’d like to wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Thank you for your support during 2010!

We thought we’d share a Christmas Poem as retold by June Williams in Australian style and based on the traditional “The Twelve Days of Christmas” which is a cumulative song, meaning that each verse is built on top of the previous verses. There are twelve verses, each describing a gift given by “my true love” on one of the twelve days of Christmas. Each gift being an Australian bird or animal.

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me an emu up a gum tree.

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me two pink galahs.

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me three jabirus.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me four kookaburras.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me five kangaroos.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me six platypuses.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me seven koalas climbing.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me eight possums playing.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me nine wombats working.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me ten lizards leaping.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me eleven numbats bagging.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me twelve parrots prattling.

Gap Adventures is currently running a competition to design your own dream adventure. There are a number of requirements to be met and as I’m all for the adventure, dream, travel destinations, I set to work to create my custom design tour. The tour I have created takes in Senegal and Mali in the heart of West Africa, an area I’ve been longing to visit for many years, especially the amazing Djenne Mosque.

“Enjoy the sounds, colours and aromas of exotic Dakar, the home to the famous ‘Dakar Car Rally’. Take in Dakar’s markets, nearby ocean beaches and tropical rainforests. Enjoy a Senegal drumming class. Visit the first French settlement of Saint Louis, and like Île de Gorée, both were fortified collection points for slaves bound for the Americas…” – PLEASE READ MORE & VOTE

Bagan Skyline at Dawn

Bagan once known as Pagan, is centrally located on a vast plain in Burma in the region of Myanmar. The area is most well-known for the numerous temples and pagodas dotted around the area, creating a mystical skyline. Most of the temples were built between the 11th and 13th centuries A.D. by King Anawrathta who founded the Bagan Empire. The Bagan dynasty fell at the end of the 13th century and many pagodas were also lost.

With more than 2,200 temples and pagodas to visit that remain standing, covering an area of approximately 40 square kilometres, no traveller will have the same story to tell of their visit to Bagan, for no traveller will visit the same temples – there are too many to choose from! Bagan is a travel destination to rival the famous temples of Angkor, Cambodia.

The Weeping Goldsmith: Discoveries in the Secret Land of Myanmar (Hardcover)

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Bagan

One Great Reason to Visit

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the 2,200 temples that create an amazing skyline which is best viewed at dawn, creating magical silhouettes.

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TravelTipsPlus.com would like to take the time to wish everyone, the world over, a very happy and safe holiday season. We understand there are differing celebrations depending where you are in the world and where your cultural background lie. Your location can also vary the length of holiday season you experience.

We are particulary thinking of our friends in Europe and on the east coast of America that have been hit by harsh winter conditions during the past week and making it almost impossible for them to get to their travel destinations.

Photo by Joanna Young

Here in Australia we are about to celebrate our festive season and summer holidays. The school children will enjoy a good 5-6 week break and many families take the opportunity to have a summer holiday. Many flock to the popular beaches or large river systems that offer swimming, relaxing and many water activities.

Photo by Squirmelia

So, images of Christmas trees covered in snow and foggy windows donned with decorations are quite foreign here in Australia. No matter where you are this Holiday Season of 2009, enjoy it with your families, stay safe and all the best for a healthy, prosperous 2010.

Please leave a comment telling of your where abouts and what your Holiday Season plans are.

We’d love to hear!

Las Lajas Cathedral

Colombia probably has more inspiring highlights than Ipiales but this town found close to the border with Ecuador certainly has a prize not to be missed if arriving from Ecuador.

The magnificent, neo-gothic cathedral of Santuario de Las Lajas is located 7km from the town centre and was built early to mid last century. It was built in a deep river gorge and incorporates a bridge spanning the river, making it quite a spectacular travel destination.

Each year Las Lajas attracts pilgrims from all over Colombia and from abroad. Thanksgiving plaques and mementos are left along the pathway to the fairy-tale like cathedral.

Colombia – A Country Guide

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Ipiales

One Great Reason to Visit Ipiales

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to see the Las Lajas Cathedral that has been built over a bridge spanning a steep, river ravine.

Las Lajas Cathedral, Ipiales, Colombia

Las Lajas / Ipiales, Colombia from Jnp on Vimeo.

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Farming in Lancaster County

Lancaster County located in Pennsylvania, is the heart and soul of the Amish people. These people originated from Switzerland and Germany during the early 18th century and settled in Pennsylvania. Today they continue to speak their original language referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch.

They farm their fertile farming lands but not using any modern day equipment, in fact their beliefs are to keep their way of life as simple as possible and for this they are known as the “Plain People”. They wear plain, dark clothes, have no electricity or telephones in their homes, and use horse-drawn buggies and horse-drawn power for their farming.

This simple way of life encourages the people to pass on learnt crafts to each generation. The Amish people are well known for their fine quilts and quality furniture.

Lonely Planet Guide Book – Philadelphia & the Pennsylvania Dutch Country

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Lancaster County

One Great Reason to Visit Lancaster County

One great reason to visit Lancaster County is to learn about and experience the Amish people’s ‘simple’ way of life.

Explaining the Amish Way of Life

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Church in Old Goa

Goa is a small state located on the west coast of India, in fact it is the smallest state in terms of area. Panaji is the capital. Goa was a Portuguese colony from the time the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century until 1961, when the liberation of Goa took place.

Goa has been attracting national and international visitors for a long time. It is easily accessible and is often referred to as “India lite”, an easy-to-encounter version of India, than many of the larger Indian states and cities.

Goa offers lovely, relaxing beaches, historic architecture, sixteenth century churches, convents, monuments, temples and simply an array of exotic (but peaceful) sounds, smells and experiences.

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Goa

One Great Reason to Visit Goa

One great reason to visit Goa is for its pure sense of an ‘exotic’ destination.

Goa

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