When in Orrisa, you have to visit the Jagannath Temple in Puri. This famous temple is devoted to the great Hindu God, Vishnu. It is a very prestigious temple to many Hindus and many people come to pray to the temple all throughout the year. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple. Even Hindus who are not Indians are denied entrance in this temple. Tourists can visit the temple to admire the structure. The temple covers an area of 400,000 sq. feet. There are hundred small temples in the premise. The architecture is completely Odisi style. The chariot festival which happens in June is worth watching.

Built in the land of temples, the Konark Sun Temple is also called the Black Pagoda. This monument is a World Heritage site. This temple was built in the 13^th century by King Narshimadeva. He dedicated this temple to the Sun God. He built this temple as a mandap (the place to perform rituals, mostly marriages). That is why the name of the temple is Konark, Sun Temple. This monument is located near the sea at Konark. There are intricate designs on the main chariots as well as the pillars which are seen on the sides of the main chariot. Many designs and sculpting on the stones are similar to Khajuraho temple in Madhya Pradesh. In the night, the beauty of the temple becomes more evident due to the brilliantly placed lights in the temple.

If you look forward to relaxing on a beach, then the Puri Beach is a definite ‘must-see’ for you. The beach is located near the Jagannath temple and hence, the beach is meant to be a sacred place. The tourists flock the beach after visiting the holy Hindu temple. Otherwise, the beach looks pristine and clean. Also, the annual Puri festival is held on the beach. The state tourism also promotes the annual sand creativity festival. During this festival many artists come to the beach and make sand structures and sand art.

You could also plan a trip to Talasari Beach which is located in the district of Baleswar. The beach is surrounded by palm trees and so the name Tala (Palms) sari (rowing). The beach is untouched and looks virgin. There are no hawkers on the beach. Thus, you can enjoy a peaceful morning or evening just lying on the sand. In order to get to the beach, you have to sit in a small boat which will take you through the backwaters of a small river. If the river is dried up, you can walk through the wet sands. This is one of the most unique features of the beach.

If you’d rather be in a space covered in greens, visit the Nandankanan zoo. This zoo is located in Bhubaneshwar and is spread over 900 acres. Along with a zoo, there is a large sanctuary attached to it. There are about 1600 species of animals in the zoo. It is home to the largest population of white tigers in India. The zoo started with two white tigers in 1980 and today the zoo has 34 white tigers in its premise. The zoo also has some other unique animals like the Langur, crocodiles and the Asian lion.

1. Bom Jesus Basilica: It is a huge Basilica which is located in Old Goa and is listed as a heritage site by the United Nations. It is home to the preserved body of St. Francis Xavier, who was responsible in spreading Catholicism in India. The architecture of this church has influence of old Italian buildings and churches also called as baroque architecture. The church was completed in 1605. It is regarded as the oldest church in India. The body is preserved in a silver cascade and is removed every 10 years for viewing. Besides this church, there are many old churches in Old Goa.
2. Calangute Beach: It is located a few kilometers away from Panaji. Calangute beach is known to be a very busy beach with tourists and hawkers thronging the area. It is a must visit for the tourists because one can buy beautiful things for less price. One can buy trinkets, souvenirs, clothes, hats and many more souvenirs. Along with the shopping, there are many food stalls which serve great food and cheap alcohol. You can soak in the sun while sipping on some good locally produced beer.
3. Chapora fort and Anjuna Beach: Besides the sun and the beaches, Goa is also known for its forts. Chapora fort is located near Mapusa. The fort is located on a height and it gives a great view of the Arabian Sea. Historically speaking, it was built by AdilShah. Later, when he was defeated, the fort was destroyed. But during the Portuguese rule in 1600s, they rebuilt it. Next to Chapora fort is the beautiful Anjuna beach. This beach is also known for its flea market and eating and lodging shacks.
4. Shantadurga Temple: Though Goa is dominated by Catholic population; there is trace of Hindu population. The Shantadurga temple is located at Kavlem, Phonda. The temple was constructed during the rule of Chatrapati Shahu Raje of Satara. It is one of the picturesque temples in west India and has a flavour of both, Konkan and South India.
5. Santa Monica jetty: Located in the Patto colony in Panaji, it is a must go for all the tourists for some reasons. Firstly, you can see the sea and the beauty and lights surrounding it in the night. Secondly, you enjoy local music and entertainment in the cruise. There is a lot for the family and kids too. Thirdly, you can spot dolphins if you are lucky. It is a perfect way to end the day and your stay at Goa.

Goa does not only mean soaking in the sun and drinking pints of beer together, it has a lot more heritage and culture to offer. So make sure you see all these places when you step in the magical land of Goa.

1. Gulmarg:  Gulmarg is a beautiful hill station in Kashmir located in the district of Baramulla. It means Path of Roses, literally. Most of the people in this town are tourists and tourism is the main industry in Gulmarg. The tourism reaches peak in winter, that is December and beyond till March or so. It is the heart of winter sports in India. Skiing is a largely loved pastime for tourists here. Besides these activities, Gulmarg is a paradise for photographers. The picturesque sceneries from the mountain top are worth capturing. There is a cable car on the mountain top too.
2. Dal lake:  Dal Lake is one of the largest lakes in Jammu and Kashmir in the capital (summer) of the state, Srinagar. The coast of the lake is around 15 Kms. You can see beautiful Mogul Gardens on the shore of the lake. The Shalimar Baug and the Nishat Baug are the two Mogul gardens on the sore of Dal Lake. Tourists are offered rides on the local boats called shikaras. They can take a peaceful round of the lake admiring the beauty of Kashmir.
3. Leh Palace:  Leh palace is located in Leh, a town in Ladakh, Kashmir. This Palace stands tall on the rocky hill and resembles the Potala Palace, Tibet. This palace thus, indicates Buddhist influence in Kashmir. The Palace is in ruins and is currently restored by the archeological survey of India. But, the beauty of the palace also lies in admiring the exterior and the other buildings around it.
4. Pangong Tso: Pangong Tso means Pangong Lake. This is a beautiful blue water lake located in the scenic region of Ladakh. The lake is surrounded by mountains on all the sides. This means it has no source of origin; neither the water can go meet some other water body. Previously, it did have a river connecting to it, but that source got closed due to some geological changes. It is considered of be one of the highest lakes in India. Some part of the lake is in Tibet and thus, it is a territory under dispute. But, as a tourist, you will be amazed to see the clear water and pristine blue water of the lake. It is a must see for all the tourists visiting Ladakh.
5. Amarnath Temple:  This temple is one of the most famous Hindu pilgrimage centers in India. It is located at a height in a cave. The cave is famously known as Amarnath Caves. People walk to the caves from Pahalgam which is roughly about 90 kilometers. There is a huge ice Shiv Lingam inside the caves which is very unique and devotees believe it too be very auspicious. What is more intriguing is that the Lingam never melts, not even in the summers.

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Terms and Conditions* Payment required in full by credit card at time of booking. No refunds. Date may be changed subject to availability and within the sell period timeframe. Surcharges apply for room upgrades, Qld School holiday periods and Gold Coast 600 Race week. Price includes entry for 2 adults to Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild Water World until 30 June 2011 for stays prior to 30 June 2011. VIP Passes valid to 30 June 2012 for stays from 1 July 2011 to 31 March 2012. Additional adults/children 3yrs+/pensioners $100.00 each. All packages are subject to availability. VIP Passes are provided on checkin and cannot be redeemed prior to your stay.

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Laundry is for suckers

Pack a heavy duty plastic sack in your suitcas along with some brown packing paper and tape, then mail your dirty washing home the day before your holiday is over. You’ll arrive home before it does, and it makes your luggage so much lighter to carry, leaving you extra room for souvenirs.

The web we weave

Try the ‘Interweaving Method’ of packing on your next trip. Drape longer garments (trousers and dresses) across the suitcase, with the ends hanging over the sides. Then, fold smaller items like jumpers and singlets around the longer garments. The clothes will cushion each other, and by placing a piece of tissue paper in between each layer of clothing, it will prevent wrinkling.

Divide and conquer

This trick works for any size of suitcase. First, put your luggage over a large piece of cardboard, trace the outline then cut it out so you have a divider that fits your suitcase. First pack shoes, toiletries, hard items – anything except clothing, then put the divider on top of these items and pack your clothes on top of it. This way you can lift the divider and clothing neatly away to pack or unpack more things, and you can present your belongings for airport inspection without hassle.

Get stuffed

Shoes are a pain to pack because of their bulk and weight. But the hollows of your shoes are an underused packing space. Try filling them with rolled socks or sandwich bags containing small and easily lost items. Combine with the above for Ikea-level space maximization

Don’t bring the whole thing
If you’re traveling with a guide book, consider either cutting out the pages you need or making a photocopy so you don’t have to lug around the entire thing when you only need one chapter.

Declared  a national monument, Toledo, a small city found on a Castilian hilltop overlooking the Rio Tajo (River Tagus), was once the Spanish capital under the Visigoths (567 to 711) and again when Felipe II moved the Court of Spain to Madrid (1085 to 1561). It is still the religious centre of Spain. Locals often refer to Toledo as ‘La Ciudad Imperial’ (The Imperial City).

Getting Info
The tourist information office in Toledo is located on the Carretera de Madrid, next to the main gate officially known as the Puerta Nueva de Bisagra. An additional tourism kiosk resides on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, close to the cathedral.

What to see
The top attractions in Toledo do of course include the city’s magnificent cathedral, which houses some beautiful stained glass, delicate wood and stone sculptures and a large collection of paintings. Also of note is El Alcázar (the Alcázar), a fort that was founded almost 1,000 years ago, while for Spanish art, the Museo de Santa Cruz (Holy Cross Museum) boasts an extensive collection, including a wide selection of paintings by famous Renaissance artist, El Greco. Relatively close by is the Museo de Taller del Moro (the Taller del Moro Museum), where you can learn more about the construction of Toledo’s cathedral itself.

Where to Stay and Eat
Toledo is situated near to Madrid, the capital of Spain, and is full of many charming narrow, winding streets which are almost like a labyrinth. Most of the Toledo hotels are located at the Plaza de Zocodover, which is known as Zoco to the locals, and there are also a good number of excellent restaurants and bars in this area.

The diverse architectural styles that traverse the centuries from Gothic to Baroque have benefited from the city’s ties to the Christians, Moors and Jews. Boasting a plethora of fine arts and including works by the likes of El Greco, Goya and Velaquez, Toledo is one of Europe’s most visited sites and very accessible on foot.

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When it comes to public holidays, Australia seems like it’s missing out a bit. After all, pretty much every holiday activity comes down to: have a barbie. Of course, so does pretty much every day that ends in ‘y’. But a quick look around the world reveals some of the craziness you can get up to, holidays that pack an element of danger to liven them up.  After all, the worst you get in Australia is some singed eyebrows. Note: everyone knows about the bloody running of the bulls, so we’ll skip it, shall we?

Songkran – Thailand
Thai new year started out as a quiet, dignified event where small cups of water were respectfully poured on the shoulders of neighbours, family and buddhas. Then super soaker technology arrived in Southeast Asia and Songkran would never be the same. Now it’s a raucous, nation-wide waterfight complete with Thais by the ute-load chucking ice-cold water on anyone in sight, up to and including passing motorbike drivers doing 70 kph. Bring an underwater camera, you won’t want to miss this one.

Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling Contest – Gloucester, England
Ever had a real serious craving for a Babybel? How about one that weighs 350+ kilos? Sounds great, right? Now imagine chasing said cheesy comestible down a near vertical hill with dozens of other blokes hot at your heels. For two centuries the pommies have been doing just that every final Monday in May.

Beehive Rockets Festival – Yanshui, Taiwan
Shooting fireworks into the air is for wimps. In Taiwan they know that they best vantage point for a fireworks show is at the business end. At the end of Chinese New Year, the locals and visitors in this small farm town down protective gear that never fully works and are pelted with tiny rockets from 4 meter tall launching platforms.

There you have it. If self-preservation isn’t your thing, these three festivals might be.

Vegas is all about getting you to come back. The casinos make so much money from you gambling that they can afford to give a little back. Usually that ‘little’ comes in the form of comps. Comp is short for ‘complimentary’ and comps range from free food and drinks to T-shirts and other souveneirs, all the way up to free hotel suites.  Unless your last name is Sinatra, however, they won’t just offer you this stuff, you have to ask.

The first step in getting comps is to obtain a slot club card. There is usually a slot club window in the casino and all you have to do is fill out a card with your personal information. A slot club card is about the size of a credit card and is used to track your gambling habits within the casino. The card can be inserted into slot machines or given to a dealer at a table game so that your gambling can be ‘rated’. The machine or dealer will then track your average bet and how much you’ve bet. Some casinos have formalized the process somewhat and reward you with points as you gamble that can later be redeemed for a variety of free stuff.

You should also make an effort to meet the host of the casino section that you’re in. The host used to be called a pit boss and their main job is to make sure you have a good time and that you keep gambling at their casino. It’s a good idea to introduce yourself to them when you start gambling as they’re more likely to be generous with you.

Once you’ve been gambling for a while, its okay to start asking for stuff – try starting with a ‘line pass’ to the buffet. It won’t pay for your meal but it will get you to the front of the line. If you’ve spent a fair amount, go ahead and ask for a free pass to the buffet. A good rule of thumb is that you can be expected to be comp’d about 20-40% of what you’d be expected to lose.

Of course, the drinks are the main form of comps. You’ll often see waitresses wandering around, taking orders. Well spirits and tap beers are free, but you should always tip your waitress, especially if you want her to remember you.

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Blackjack has the best odds for the gambler of any game in Vegas; the house edge is only .5%. That means that over time, if you bet 100 dollars on blackjack, the casino will end up with a measley 5 cents. But wait, you ask – if the odds are so good, why do most people lose all their money? It’s because the house edge is based on how much you gamble, not how much you bring to the table. As you win, you play more, out of your own winnings. If you bring 100 dollars to a blackjack table and bet $5 per hand, you’re betting about $150 per hour – more than you actually brought. After 13 hours you’ve bet $1950 and 5% of that is $97.50, meaning that at the end, you’re left with $2.50 and another Vegas story. The other catch is that the house edge is only small if you’re playing with the right strategy. If you do it wrong, you’re playing at a much higher disadvantage. So learn to do it right.

The operating principle in blackjack is simple – there are more cards that are worth 10 than any other value. Keeping that in mind, assume that any card you can’t see – the dealer’s down card or your next hit – is a 10. It’s also important to remember that the dealer has to hit on anything less than 16 so if you’ve got a 14 and his up card is a three, you should stay, since he probably has a 10 and will have to hit and likely bust. It’s not about getting the highest total, its about beating the dealer.

Splitting and doubling down are your two other strategic options. If you have two of the same card you can split them by putting an amount equal to your originial bet next to the cards.  You then play two hands, hitting or standing on each one independently. It’s a good idea to split when you have two aces or two 8s. The former, because of the rule of 10 above and the latter because two 8s are 16, one of the easiest hands to bust.

Doubling down means you double your bet and get dealt exactly one more card. Doubling down is a good bet when you have either a 10 or an Ace.

Two things to avoid are tables where blackjack pays 6:5 and insurance. Without going into why, just remember that these are sucker bets.

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