Cayenne is the French Guiana’s capital and largest city. It is thought of as a crossroads of several cultures, being located in the middle of the Caribbean and South America while still retaining the status of French territory. This blend of several cultures makes Cayenne an excellent destination. According to the latest measurement, Cayenne’s 9 square miles is populated with 50 thousand residents.
Not only is Cayennne known for being multicultural, it is also known for delicious dishes. With ethnicity’s such as European, Asian, Haitian and Brazilian among others adding to the Cayenne brew, the restaurants can offer so much. You need a belly full of Cayenne’s sumptuous dishes to enjoy the city’s colorful culture. To enjoy the stay to the fullest, you can be part of festival revelry during carnival and other festivals. This means that you have to visit on the first Sunday after New Year for the carnival and the week before Mardi Gras to enjoy costume balls, Cayenne-style.
You can reach the French Guiana by air through various stops in the Caribbean and South America. You can also reach the French territory from France via Air Caraibes or Air France. The French Guiana’s main airport is the Rochambeau International Airport. In the city of Cayenne itself, you can travel by bus, tram or taxi. However, you also have an option to rent a car or a motorcycle. If you are travelling with a companion or more and are planning to see a lot of the city, it is better for you to rent a vehicle. Renting vehicles will in the end be less expensive than going by public transport all the time. Cayenne’s climate is tropical. You can expect the temperature to range from low 70 degrees Fahrenheit to high 80 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.
Planning to visit the French Guiana? You need a passport good for six months upon entry. You also need to present your return ticket from the country. If you are from the United States, you do not need a visa unless you are going to work for a salary even for a short period of time.
Georgetown, not to be confused with other cities with the same name, is the largest and capital city of Guyana. It is called the “Garden City of the Caribbean”. Despite the name, do not expect sprawling lush gardens. Georgetown can be very businesslike and impersonal. It may be because it is also the center of economy and the seat of government; this means that in Guyana, everything that matters is headquartered in Georgetown. It is home to 230 thousand people according to latest count.
Formal Georgetown with its grid-like streets and government establishments can also be boisterous Georgetown with its noisy locals, densely-packed markets and traces of marijuana smoke. Despite the street chaos, you can actually get comfortable in Georgetown. The city’s accommodations offer superior amenities while the restaurants range from budget to fancy; there is always something perfect for anyone’s budget. If you can get past the seemingly dangerous quality of Georgetown’s streets, you will discover that the city does have an active intellectual scene and is populated with friendly locals.
Georgetown’s main airport is Cheddi Jagan Temeri International. You will have no problem getting a flight from the United States straight to Georgetown because there are available daily flights. Note that there is no ATM at the airport so bring along enough cash. In the city, you can get around by minibus or taxi. Ask your hotel for taxi recommendations just to be on the safe side. The whole of Guyana has a tropical climate, meaning that the temperature is constantly high; the range is from 68 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
To visit Guyana, you need a passport valid for at least six months. If you are an American, you can also stay for up to 90 days without a visa. Guyana’s visa requirement for some countries, including the United States, was abolished since 1993.
Astana may not be your typical capital city. Instead of having obvious charm and glamor, it is slowly being transformed to that idea of a modern city once it was already officially the capital. Announced by President Nazarbaev as the future capital of Kazakhstan by 1994, it did become the capital city by 1997. However, Astana is more like a rural area then just being developed into a city; it is also just the second, not the, largest city in the country. By name anyway, Astana is a logical choice. The name literally translates to capital in the Kazakh language. The capital’s 274 square miles is home to 700 thousand people according to latest count.
Today, Kazakhstan’s people are proud of their capital city. Billions of dollars spent on the city have managed to create a sophisticated new city. The building of this city is not without criticism, however. Surrounding the opulence of Astana are villages that are experiencing extreme poverty. So, knowing that the government is spending so much on providing fares for officials traveling to and from the former capital Almaty is unthinkable and considered cruel. The billions of dollars shelled out by the government are also completely directly towards architecture and not poverty alleviation.
Enter Astana by flying to Astana International Airport, only 9 miles south of the city center. Getting around the city is best done with a taxi ride. It may be for the best to be in the shelter of a taxi because Astana is the second coldest capital city in the world. Early winter temperature can be as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. You may want to visit during the summer, instead; July temperature averages at 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
To enter Kazakhstan, you need a passport valid for at least six months and a visa. A tourist visa can be good for 30 days or for 60 days. If you are visiting for business purposes, you can avail of a business visa which may allow you multiple entries of up to two years maximum. You do not need to present your return ticket though you should still keep one handy.
Port Moresby is the largest city in the South Pacific not to mention the capital of Papua New Guinea. Also called Pot Mosbi, the city is located on the Gulf of Papua. It is dubbed as the least livable city in the world. It was named in honor of the father of Captain John Moresby, the first European to have discovered the city. Though just discovered by Europeans in 1873, Motu-Koitabu had been living in the area for centuries. As of latest count, the city’s population is estimated at 260 thousand people.
Dangerous and in-your-face, Port Moresby can be a frightening city to visit. With its high levels of crime, you cannot help but wonder why you have decided to embark on such an adventure. The smoky haze coming from small lit fires can give the city an apocalyptic look. Remember that this is the city that has been dubbed the worst and the least livable. The crime may be due to the 60 to 90 percent unemployment rate it is suffering from. Yet a visit to the place can be surprising because of the people’s gentle manners. Just do not show off expensive stuff in the city and try to have a calm demeanor. You may enjoy taking pictures of orchids in bloom at the National Botanical Garden or bird-watching at the Varirata National Park.
If you are planning to visit other spots in Papua New Guinea, you will still end up in Port Moresby. It is the main point of entry and flights from there to other areas are scheduled far apart. You can get around the city by taxi. You can also rent a four-wheel drive or a car. Note that you cannot just walk the streets at night because it can be dangerous. In Port Moresby, temperature highs range from 82 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit while temperature lows range from 73 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
When visiting Papua New Guinea, you need a passport valid for at least six months, a return ticket and a visa. If you are a tourist, you can get a visa that will allow you to stay for 60 days. If you are there for business, you will be given 12 months. Still, you will have 60 days maximum per stay.
Colombo is the capital and the largest city of Sri Lanka. Found in the western coast of the country, Colombo is 14.4 square miles of colonial ruins and modern establishments. The name Colombo was given by the former Portuguese colonizers, in 1505. It is thought to have been derived from a classical Sinhalese word meaning “port on the River Kelani.” There are yet other theories as to how the capital city’s name came about. Colombo is home to 6.5 thousand people!
Colombo at present is a mix of several cultures and ethnicity. The most populous city in Sri Lanka, it is a real melting pot of races and cultural influences. This is because it has been under three countries at various points in history. It has been under Portugal, the Netherlands and the British Empire. The people of Sri Lanka were already made up of several ethnicity; the colonial periods added Europeans to the mix. In the end, it is great for tourists: modern and colonial thriving side by side. Though troubled in the past, Colombo now welcomes visitors; this is made possible by peace talks.
If you really want to visit Colombo, you will have to book interconnecting flights ending at Katunayake. From there, you can take a taxi to Colombo; the journey by land will last about an hour. To get around the city, you can travel by bus, train or taxi. Do not take the bus if you cannot understand Sinhalese, however; you may not get to where exactly you want to go. As for the weather, expect steady temperatures all year round ranging from 74 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit on average.
If you are visiting Sri Lanka, you will need a passport valid for at least six months. You also need to present your return ticket from Sri Lanka. Make sure you have other pertinent travel documents ready, just in case. However, you are not required to get a visa if you are from the United States and staying for only up to 30 days. If you want to extend your stay, you have to consult the nearest embassy for a visa.
Kashmir is found in the northwest of India. The word Kashmir means a land that has been dried off of water. This is because Ka means “water” while Shimir means “to desiccate” or to be dried off. There are other theories as to where exactly Kashmir got its name but cashmere is definitely a variant of the Indian region. The region is populated by approximately 13 million residents.
Moalboal may have a name that is difficult to pronounce but the town is familiar to scuba divers near the region. The name means “bubbling brook.” Located 55 miles away from Cebu City, the Philippines’ Queen City of the South, Moalboal is better known for its two beaches: Panagsama Beach and White Beach. Unfortunately, typhoons have made Panagsama a beach only by its former status because it no longer has sand. Moalboal is not exactly a tourist paradise except for serious scuba divers. The population of Moalboal is estimated at 27 thousand.
The town of Moalboal is better appreciated by actually trying scuba-diving. There are no longer bars around to cater to clubbers. Better stick to Cebu City if you are looking for busy urban life. However, if you enjoy natural wonders such as corals, anemones and other underwater life, you will discover that deeper into weather-beaten Moalboal there are treasures that have to be seen by your very own eyes. For a great beach experience, you may visit White Beach and have a barbecue with friends and locals alike.
To reach Moalboal, you first have to fly to Cebu City. From Cebu, you can only take a bus or rent a van. Buses are, of course, much cheaper. You have to take the bus at the Cebu South bus station just like locals. If you are willing to pay more, you can rent a van just for you and your companions. Because of the tropical weather, you can enjoy scuba diving all year round. Temperature is usually in the low 86 degrees Fahrenheit or high 68 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you do have to avoid typhoon season if you want to make the most of your Moalboal experience.
If you want to visit Moalboal, you have to follow general Philippine requirements. You need a valid passport. If you are from the United States, you can stay for up to three weeks without a visa. If you want to extend your stay, you have to consult the Bureau of Immigration. If approved, you may get two months extension every time; the total period of extension, however, should not exceed a year.
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the North Holland province in the west of the country. The city which on the latest count had a population of 800 thousand people, comprises the northern part of the Randstad. The 6th-largest metropolitan area in Europe, with a population of around 6.7 million people. Amsterdam is by far the most popular travel destination in the Netherlands, it’s charms, old fashioned streets and canals along with museums, cultural sights and many tourist attractions attracts tens of millions each year to this city. The legalization of window prostitution in the Red Light District and marijuana draws 4,2 million people a year alone to the city of Amsterdam.
Athens is one of the globe’s oldest known cities, its recorded history spans 3000 years B.C. The Greek capital is the largest city within the country and has a population of 780 thousand people according to the latest measurement. Athens is the center of economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural life in Greece and is rapidly growing to become the leading business center in the European Union.
While today’s Athens is a modern city, its a city to go, see and experience. It has a lot of unique experiences to offer for those who are ready, willing and able to understand and appreciate its unalterable beauty and history.
In the streets of Athens the signs of history are still visible. The city is full of medieval and 19th-century monuments as well museums of its history and national parks of surprising natural beauty. An appealing village feel city raises walking in the streets around Plaka with old cafes, restaurants, tavernas and markets. In a city with such culture and history even nightlife found its place, with many bars and nightclubs open during the weekends.
Travelers to Athens need a valid passport and visa. American citizens can visit without a visa for up to 90 days. For transportation within the city you can use the trolleybus, the tram or the underground metro system (known as; Attiko Metro). The best time to visit Athens is in the summer months which are June till August.
Tirana (Tiranë of Tirana) is the largest city of Albania. Even with its size and the fact that it has been a city since 1614, Tirana only became the capital city in 1920. It has also undergone a major transformation through the painting of its dreary streets and buildings with brilliant colors, such as purple and orange. Tirana went through its makeover despite the fact that it is not exactly wealthy. It even went on to be called Europe’s version of New York. According to the latest measurement, the city of Tirana has a population of 620 thousand.
What makes Tirana fascinating is its rich history. You can find not only signs of communism but also Italian and Ottoman traces. Though its history is definitely noticeable during a walk around the city, you do not have to look far for ultra-modern settings such as boutiques, bars, and clubs. These are the places where you can find the hip, newly-rich Tirana crowd. You can also enjoy the mix of old and modern in the city’s theaters.
You can reach Tirana through a final stop at the Nënë Tereza International Airport. This airport is a mere 25 km away from Tirana. Within the city, you can travel by bus or by train. You have to be extra patient with the various transportation modes, however. This is because the city’s mad traffic will ultimately decide the schedule of your travel. This means that if you do not want to miss a flight, you have to leave your accommodation early. Tirana is Mediterranean in climate. The temperature can dip as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit or rise as high as 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are an American planning to visit Albania, you need to bring along your passport. However, you do not really to need to have a visa if you are visiting for a short vacation. You also need to present a return ticket to be allowed entry into Tirana.
