5 best golf courses for your next vacation

Golf is an excellent game for the mind, body, and soul, and those who play this game with complete heart and soul will surely agree with us. But golf will be a completely different experience if you play it on the best courses.

A trip around the globe promises some best golf courses but we have listed 5 of our favorites.

Algarve

Algarve Golf Holidays is the ultimate destination for any golfer. Algarve has everything to be voted as the best golf destination. The picturesque nature, the professional 18 holed courses, the world’s best luxury resorts, and ultra-best holiday services are some of the top features to mention.

Every resort in Algarve is made to give an authentic golf experience. Algarve even has golf courses wherein you can play golf at night. So, a true golf fan must visit Algarve for an amplifying golf experience.

Valderrama, Spain

This golf course gained its popularity by hosting the Ryder Cup Matches. But besides that, it is one of the best golf courses that you will find in Spain. If you are visiting Spain a visit to Costa del Sol is a must.

This professional golf course has hosted innumerable golf tournaments and has been praised by the best players. A real golf lover is surely going to include this course in the ‘to be visited list’ when in Europe.

Budersand, Germany

Here the challenges thrown to a golfer are not by any competitor but by nature. Situated alongside the North Sea, this golf course has the most unpredictable climate which throws numerable challenges for a golfer. Sometimes the sea is calm with silent breezes and sometimes it is rough throwing away the wind.

No matter what the mood the sea is in, you are sure to have a splendid experience. The designers have managed to put 90 bunkers for the players to avoid. So, this is one course where a real golf game can be played actively.

Biella, Italy

Welcoming its guests from April to November, this golf course is accommodated within nature. At an altitude of almost 2000 meters, this 18-holed golf course provides a feeling of peace and serenity while playing the game.

When there is so much stillness around, you can enjoy the game without any disturbance. The resort of this course provides the best hospitality and mouth-watering cuisines. So, head off to Italy, and do visit the best golf course in the country for playing a peaceful and interesting game of golf.

Victoria Golf Course, Portugal

The famous Arnold Palmer has given his art life, by designing this best golf course. The golf masters never miss a visit here when in Portugal. Spread over a whooping arena of 90 hectares, this golf course is one of the best golf courses you might see in your lifetime.

Preservation of the wetlands and properly placed bunkers add to the aura of this place. A true golfer finds his paradise here and will not want to leave the place easily.

These are some of the riches from the world’s bounty. No matter which of the above places you plan to visit first, you will be mesmerized by the beauty and aura of the courses. These courses are every golfers’ dream come true. So, pack your bags, and give yourself an ideal golf vacation.

Pickpockets in India, How to be Careful

Imagine yourself walking up to the counter at McDonald’s looking at the menu with you hungry eyes, you order your hearts out and are ready to gorge on burgers and fries but hold on a second. You need to pay the fellow behind the counter before that; but horrors of horrors you cannot find your wallet! It’s gone and along with it the credit cards, driver’s license and more! The pickpocket has robbed you off the joy of the burgers and more!

How would you get it back? Lodge a complaint at the police station you would think. Well that could hardly be of any use as the person who performed the little magic trick on you may have long disappeared into the crowded streets and also because you may have a jam packed itinerary!
Want to avoid the above situation then read on!

It is very difficult to spot pickpockets in India; you could be extremely careful but still they may hit you. But again it’s always better to be careful and at least make it very difficult for them to make you a victim. Pickpockets generally disguise themselves. They may appear as wealthy businessmen and women carrying babies, or even impersonate tourists to strike unsuspecting targets.

How protect your valuables from the pickpockets in India

Never carry your wallet in your back pocket, as it’s very easy then for a pickpocket to sneak it away from you. The safest options are Front pockets or money belts or bags under your clothes. Backpacks and purses also draw the attention of pickpockets. If you need to carry them, you should hold it under your arm, cover it with your hand and never ever carry it on your back.

You could also actually carry an easily accessible “mock” wallet in your pocket so pickpockets never hunt for your real wallet.

Also remember do not look like a target to them. They generally hit tourists or people who look lost, bewildered, unfocused or distracted. If you seem sure of yourself, your surroundings and have an air of someone who knows what he’s doing then there are less chances of you being hit. Remember, most pickpockets want to avoid altercation. If you don’t look like the safest mark in a crowd, they would most likely let you be.

However as I said before; you could take all the precautions and still fall victim to the pickpockets of India. To minimize the damage keep a separate list of everything in your wallet or purse, especially all credit card numbers and the customer care numbers you could call to block the cards. This makes it a lot easier to straighten everything out if somebody does dupe you. You could stash your money, credit cards and identification in different places, so you’re less likely to lose it all at the same time.

Such steps however small they may be actually help you have a holiday free from rogues in India feasting on your money at the expense of your vacation and peace of mind. Remember pickpockets in India is everywhere and are well trained. They use their trade to steal every single on unsuspecting tourists.

7 Places to jump off for an adventure in New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the few island countries, which offers you the impressive topography of high mountains, mighty rivers and captivating glaciers- all at the same time. It is considered to be one of the most attractive & adventurous countries. As a result, the instructors and guides for the various adventure activities are highly qualified, with impeccable knowledge of the safety protocols.

So, are you adrenaline-pumped about the breathtaking yet safe adventures that New Zealand provides? Then let’s talk about the best places to jump off for an adventure in New Zealand. Here, I suggest 4 best Skydive sites and 3 best Bungy jumping sites in New Zealand.

Skydives:

Sure, the thought is scary to some, but what is an adventure, without an unnerving hint of excitement? Just imagine the excitement of free falling at 150+ km/hr. Harness the thrill and enjoy it for about a minute, and then slowly parachute down with an enthralling view all around you, that will make you come back again! No doubt it’s among every youngster’s to-do (and to-repeat) lists. Here, I’m presenting the best sites for skydiving in New Zealand.

1. Glenorchy, Near Queenstown

If you go a bit further from Queenstown, you reach Glenorchy, a beautiful town next to the gorgeous Lake Wakatipu. Just as you go up, and get near the drop zone, your tandem jump master will take you to a whole new level of an incredibly scenic view of dramatic mountains and Lake Wakatipu. Be it a 9000 ft (20 secs freefall), 12000 ft (30 secs freefall) or 15000 ft (50+ secs freefall) jump, these jump photos and videos would a moment of laughter and happiness in future. I enjoyed Skydiving at Glenorchy and loved the view while free-falling. You actually jump over the lake and the experience is a complete stunner!

Watch Glenorchy Skydive Video:

2. Franz Josef

What if you jumped off the plane, and saw NZ’s biggest glacier, its highest mountain ranges and the Tasman Sea in your view. And what if you glided you way down between lakes and soaring peaks. If you let out a gasp, then Franz Josef is open all days with excellent skydiving operators. There are options to dive from 20,000 ft (85+ secs freefall), 16,500 ft (70 secs freefall) and 13,000 ft (25 secs freefall). Highly specialised jump masters will make you feel at ease, thus your only confusion should be between a tandem or solo skydive. We wanted to opt for skydiving at the Franz Josef site, but the weather didn’t allow us. So we finally jumped over Glenorchy.

If you are able to get a slot at Franz Josef then don’t opt for the 20,000 ft. It gives you 15 seconds of extra free fall as compared to 16,500 feet. The view is more or less the same and you end up shelling more money! Moreover, you might need an oxygen cylinder if you are jumping off 20K feet. I’d strongly recommend jumping from 16.5K feet as I feel it’s more value for money.

3. Wanaka

Skydiving in New Zealand is also famous at Wanaka. With tandem skydive options at 9000 ft, 12000 ft and 15000 ft, jumps will involve the breathtaking experience of free-fall and gliding down among clouds, glistening lakes, the Clutha River, vast expanses and the magnificent Southern Alps right below. Wanaka is on the to-do list of skydives in New Zealand, and the perfectly qualified instructors ensure that once you jump off that plane, you get the adrenaline rush of your dreams!

4. Auckland

This is one of the lesser-known places for skydiving in New Zealand; a few divers consider it even better than Wanaka! Enjoy the black sand beach view along with Mt Ruapehu and Mt Taranaki peaks and forests in the backdrop of the largest city of New Zealand, as you perform this high-altitude thrill! Jumps ranging from 9000 ft to 20,000 ft, Auckland offers a wide range for both solo and tandem jumpers.

Being the largest city in New Zealand, Auckland is also a cultural hub, where adventurers can also do other things after or before this incredible jump!

Watch Nevis Bungy Jump Video:

Bungy Jumps:

The other jump that can be as exhilarating, if not more than a skydive, is bungy jumping. Tie a rope to your leg and waist, give a thumbs up to your self and jump off among the epic scenery around you. It’s a solo adventure, and that leap-of-faith into sheer depth is the adrenaline-rush you would want on your bucket list. So, Kia Kaha and gear up for yet another gift from New Zealand!

CAUTION: If you have a history of spinal or cranial bone problems, consult your doctor first.

1. Nevis Bungy

Probably the ultimate bungy jumping destination in New Zealand, Nevis Bungy jumping, swinging and catapult at Queenstown is the third-highest Bungy jump spot in the world, with 134 m height. Above a rather thin flowing Nevis River, shut off your fear and take the leap-of-faith at around 130 km/hr freefall. Not for the faint-hearted, these captivating mountains and valley of excitement are on the to-do list of every adrenaline junkie. It leaves you with remarkable memories. Along with Bungy jump, we also experienced the Swing at Nevis. The swing at Nevis is actually world’s biggest Swing! Worth visiting, isn’t it?

Watch Nevis Swing Video:

2. Kawarau Bungy

Yet again in Queenstown, experience the thrill with the iconic Kawarau Gorge Jumping Bridge. This is the second-most popular bungy jumping destination in New Zealand and offers options for every budget. From a 43 m height jump solo or with your partner, into the glacier-fed Kawarau River amongst natural scenery and experience what is called the other side of fear! Photos, videos and T-shirts are available for you to have a sweet memory of it.

3. Taupo Bungy

Taupo presents you a high cliff-top Bungy jumping and swinging in New Zealand. Experience overlooking a crystal clear Waikato river between towering cliffs, taking an exhilarating jump, and touching the freshwater before hanging or swaying from a height of 154 ft. You can either choose to fall off solo or a tandem partner in crime. This beautiful site is also a sight to sore eyes, especially for those who are yet to overcome their fear.

New Zealand is indeed an adventure enthusiast’s paradise and we had a lot of fun while indulging in these nerve-wrecking, adrenaline pumping activities!

Lotus Temple – The Bahai Temple in Delhi

In a country of more than a billion people where close to 70% people are Hindus and nearly 28% adhere to Islam, the Bahá’í form only a small community, less than five million. Despite their small numbers, the followers of this one of the newest religions in the world have built one of the largest temples in the world which due to its magnificent architectural design has compelled many to term it as “the Taj [Mahal] of modern India.” Officially known as the Bahai House of Worship, this structure in New Delhi is more famous as the Lotus Temple or the Bahai Temple, because of its partly-opened Lotus shaped praying hall. It’s one of the six major Bahai houses of worship in the world. The other five are in Apia, Western Samoa; Sydney, Australia; Kampala, Uganda; Panama City, Panama; Frankfurt, Germany and Wilmette, USA.

Architecture of the Lotus Temple

Award Winning Canadian architect Arthur Erickson has described the architecture of the Lotus Temple as “one of the most remarkable achievements of our time, proving that the drive and vision of spirit can achieve miracles.” The temple is so excellently designed that it’s discernible at a distance of more than a kilometre at night. The 27-petal, half-opened lotus is surrounded by delicately kept lawns and nine pools. The 40 m tall temple was opened to worshippers on 24 December 1986. Since then it has attracted over 70 million people. Currently an estimated 10,000 people visit the temple everyday. The base of the lotus spans approximately 70 m and the hall inside can accommodate over 1,300 people.

The Bahai Religion

One of the most remarkable things about the temple is that although it’s been made by the Bahá’í community, the temple is open to worshippers from all over the world irrespective of their religion, nationality, ethnicity or colour. A 19th century Iranian spiritual leader named Bahá’u’lláh is the founder of the faith which recognises Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed and now Bahá’u’lláh as one of the messengers of god. Bahá’u’lláh took traditions from Abrahamic religions and combined them with Eastern religions to create this new faith. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá’ís in the world, of whom 3.6 million live in Asia. The Bahá’ís call theirs a global religion. The core believes are: monotheism, oneness of religions and oneness of mankind.

Bahaullah, the founder of Bahai Religion

Portrait of ‘Abdul-Baha taken in Paris, France, October 1911

Bahá’u’lláh was born in Iran in 1817. As a young man he was deeply impressed by a new religious movement in Iran known as Bábism. The moment didn’t differentiate between humans as regarded them all as a big family. Bahá’u’lláh deeply believed in it, declared himself a prophet and that that the time had come for the humans to unite. He was exiled for his beliefs. He went to Palestine where he died at the age of 74.

Panorama View of the Lotus Temple, the Baha’i House of Worship

The Lotus Temple in the 21st century

In the 21st century the temple serves as much a place of worship as a famous tourist destination. According to some estimates it’s one of the most visited buildings in the world. In 2002, more people flocked at the Lotus Temple during that year than at any other building excluding the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal.