Top Five Countries I Dream To Visit

I have not traveled much for I can't afford such luxury. Even going on Cheap holidays to Turkey are trips I couldn't afford. Even here in my own country, there were only few places that I have visited. I was just fortunate enough to have stepped on the crystal white sand of Boracay and sailed on the wide Honda Bay in Palawan. Still, there are more places that I longed to explore here in my country and hopefully I'll be able to do so before my age hinder me.

To travel abroad was and still my dream. It's everyone's dream I believe. If given the opportunity, I would enjoy and explore five countries that I've dreamed of visiting.

1. Thailand. 
The first in my list would be Thailand. I missed the opportunity given to me last 2006 to visit and explore the said place. Hopefully, before I retire, I would be able to enjoy a trip there even for a day or two. I've heard the beaches there are nice but I know fore sure there is a lot more to see and experience. I am curious about how friendly are the people there being known as the Land of Smiles. Also I'd love to experienced Thailand Cuisine to the extreme and to shop riding a paddled banca.

Ko Khai Beach 

(photo not mine)

Wat Arum, Temple of the Dawn

(photo not mine)]

Shopping fresh produce on paddled banca.

(photo not mine)

2. Italy.
The second country in my list is Italy to visit the Eternal City Rome. After I finished watching the complete seasons of the HBO series Rome, I wished I have lived during ancient times of Rome, during the times of the Caesars. I could be a Caesar's mistress wearing those noble women's clothing in the series; the long silk gowns with matching sparkling gold accessories and sporting a long, curly hair. Lol!  Seriously, I would love to see before my eyes the amazing architectures of Rome that I only see on books and on TV. I would love to visit all its ancient sites and experience this eternal city's history.

Amazing architectures or Rome.

(photo not mine) 

3. Jordan. 

The main reason why I like to visit Jordan is to learn more of Christian tradition. I would love to see the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. Also, I would live to swim in the Dead Sea that is said to be the world's first health resorts. How true is it that the Dead Sea won't drown you and instead, due to its high salt content, you can effortlessly float on the water. That's what I hope to find out.   

The Jordan River

(photo not mine)

The Dead Sea

(photo not mine)

4. Spain.

I would love to rub elbows with my ancestors. Lol! The history buff in me wished to learn more of their history, language and culture. Spain, having once colonized our country majorly influenced our culture, language and religion. And even it happened decades ago, their cultures that my grand grand folks have adopted were passed down to me. Apart from that, there are nice places to visit and explore in Spain. I am curious of their Naturist or Nudist Beaches where you swim...well...nude. : )

Costa del Sol, the famous attraction in Spain.

(photo not mine)

Nudists in a beach in Barcelona

(photo source)

5. United States of America.

Aside from the wish to experience the what they called "living the American dream"...(hopefully), if it can be done for a day or two, the first reason would be to meet my in laws there. And if given time and dime, I would explore the must-visited sights like the Grand Canyon, Time Square, Disneyland Park, Niagara Falls and Las Vegas Strip. I dream on!

Grand Canyon, Arizona

(photo not mine)

Las Vegas Stip

(photo not mine)

So there you have my list of top five countries I dream to visit before I retire. What are yours? Pushing these travel to reality is quite possible but it isn't bad to dream.

The Eternal City Rome

It is one of the world’s great cities and was once the center of the greatest Empire the world has ever known. So it’s no real surprise that Rome has been a magnet for tourists for centuries. There is plenty to do when planning a vacation in Rome .

The eternal city’s long list of attractions reflects its spectacular history. Since the days of the Emperors and the gladiators themselves, the Colosseum, Pantheon and the Roman Forum have been at the heart of the city. To walk in these amazingly well-preserved buildings, is to take a step back in time. It was here that the legendary names of the Empire carved their names in history, from Julius Caesar and Nero, to Caligula and Claudius. You can walk many of these areas free of charge, but a tour guide is often a good idea. Their grasp of the history and drama of the locations and the general information they provide on Rome and its fascinating - often bloody - history can really bring the city to life.

Rome has been an artistic capital for centuries too, a home to some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance. Its art and architecture reflects this with such famous landmarks as the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, both immortalized in the famous movie Roman holiday starring Audrey Hepburn. And then, of course, there is the magnificent St Peter’s, home of the Catholic Church, and the Vatican. The Sistine Chapel with its world famous ceiling by Michelangelo is trip one should not miss but there are countless other churches filled with masterpieces by such artists as Raphael and Caravaggio.

In many ways, Rome is too much to take in during one trip, so it’s important to pace yourself and enjoy it. Fortunately, Rome’s restaurants, bars and - above all - wonderful cafes offer the ideal place to soak up the Roman lifestyle. As you head home at night, of course, don’t forget to throw a coin in the Trevi fountain and make a wish. You never know it might come true.

For more information on Rome as a holiday destination visit HolidayCheck.com.

Your Jordan Holiday

One of the most modern and progressive Middle Eastern countries is Jordan, it’s an often over-looked location for luxurious vacations. This country is surrounded by land on all sides including the countries of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iraq. Because of the country’s age, there are many diverse places to visit in this desert country.

One of the cities that is host to many amazing features is the capital, Amman. These attractions range from ancient to modern. These are:

•  The Roman Theatre that was built around 150 B.C. during the reign of Antonius Pius. It was located in the downtown area and was one of the places in the ancient world where 6,000 people could watch a theatrical or musical performance.
• The Dead Sea. This lowest place on earth straddles the border between Jordan and Israel. During your holiday you can take a short bus ride from Amman for a relaxing float in its mineral laden waters.
• The Souk. This is a modern commercial district that is located downtown Amman and is a great place to walk for shopping, dining, and meeting people.

Not only is Amman one of Jordan’s largest cities, but also the city of Irbid is quite large. This modern city is built on top of the ruins of the ancient city of Arabella. It is a great place to shop, eat delicious Arabic food, and enjoy the nightlife. It is also home to the Museum of Jordanian Heritage where guests can study and learn about the history of Jordan. There is also the Archaeological Museum where visitors can see the remnants of the ancient civilizations, and the Natural History Museum where you can study artefacts representing the flora and fauna of the region.

Another place to visit during your tour of Jordan is Jerash. This city, known as the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa, is one of the ten ancient Roman cities known as the Decapolis. It is now one of the most popular places for visitors to tour in Jordan because of its well-preserved ancient ruins. One of the best times to visit the Jerash area is during the annual festival, which lasts for three weeks in the summer months and includes dancing, theatre, music, and army and chariot exhibitions.

The only place in Jordan that is more popular than the city of Jerash is Petra. This hidden city made of pink sandstone was built in the 500s BC by the Nabatacans and is one of Jordan’s most popular places to visit and on BBC,s list of top 40 places to visit in your life.

The history of the region surrounding Jordan and its ancient diversity, makes it a great place to take your family on your holiday to the Middle East.

Rizal Park and Rizal's Last Farewell

Rizal Park which also called Bagumbayan (New Town) and later known as Luneta (lunette - small moon shape) Park is one of the historical places in the Philippines. It is an urban park located at the northern part of Roxas Boulevard, overlooking Manila Bay. This park holds some of the most significant  moments in Philippines history. One is the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal by Spanish military firing sqaud  at dawn on December 20, 1896 that made him our National Hero hence, named the park after him.

On the eve of his execution, he wrote his famous poem, My Last Farewell or "Mi Ultimo Adios" in Spanish. According to what I heard from our tour guide in Fort Santiago, Dr. Jose Rizal wanted to give that poem to his mother but the Spanish soldiers didn't allow his mother to even see him. It was on the declaration of the Philippine Independence that Dr. Jose Rizal was officially honored (as you can read in the photo above).

Big War Babies In Fort Santiago

I thought of sharing these photos of me and hubby below taken at Fort Santiago, Manila back in 2008. It was an unplanned visit to Fort Santiago. Our purpose actually was to get paper works for our wedding but since Fort Santiago was quite close to the hotel that we were staying, we just gave Fort Santiago a quick visit. 

For an average Filipino like myself, seeing these big war babies in actual was cool because I do not know what and how these were used back in World War II. I was not able to ask the guide where these things that surrounded the Spanish war cannon came from; if these are bombs that were not able to explode during war or if these are sort of artillery pieces that have killed lots and lots of Filipinos. 

For my husband, seeing these artillery pieces is just a usual thing. He have seen  lots of these war pieces  already and even have used some of its kind but I know he was amused by learning about some of the Philippines history.