OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO
Oh, the places you'll go - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Oh, the places you’ll go | |||||
| By: Martha Azzi, Issue 48 – Spring 2011 | |||||
| ON AN URBAN WALK THE IDEA IS TO LET YOUR FEET DECIDE WHERE THEY’RE TAKING YOU. DON’T FOLLOW A MAP. GLANCE UP AN ALLEYWAY AND IF IT LOOKS INTERESTING, GO UP IT. YOU’LL FIND YOURSELF IN PARTS OF TOWN TOURISTS PROBABLY NEVER SEE. IF YOU DO IT WELL YOU MIGHT EVEN GET LOST, BUT YOUR HOTEL WILL ONLY EVER BE A TAXI RIDE AWAY. | |||||
| 1 Paris | |||||
| A stroll in Paris will take you past ethnic markets, historic monuments, intriguing buildings and manicured parks. You’ll see not only historic buildings, but historic street lamps, pavements, fountains and large gothic cathedrals. There’ll be artists painting, chic cafés serving the classic ham and cheese baguette and you can pop into any of the numerous museums along the way that might take your interest. | |||||
| 2 Tokyo | |||||
| If you’re a history buff kick off your walk in the district of Asakusa, one of the few districts to have preserved a sense of Old Tokyo. Or an area easily explored on foot is Kaminarimon, where there’s a large 1,000-year-old gate that leads to a well-known Buddhist temple, Sensoji built in the 7th century. There’s an open-air traditional shopping street at Nakamise where you can buy traditional souvenirs and local snacks along the way. | |||||
| 3 Barcelona | |||||
| Start at La Pallaresa on Carrer de Petritoxol 11, one of the city’s renowned chocolaterias and fuel up with a hot chocolate and some churros before heading off into the streets of Barcelona, a city known as an outdoor museum. Don't miss the designer boutiques along the Passeig de Gracia, but the best streets to walk in Barcelona are those known as La Rambla from the Plaça de Catalunya heading toward the harbour. | |||||
| 4 New York | |||||
| A walk through New York’s central business district, Midtown Manhattan, takes in the tallest and most famous buildings including the Empire State, the Chrysler building, the Rockefeller Centre and Broadway. If you take Sixth Avenue you’ll see one of the few global centres of news and entertainment including the four major television networks in America and Times Square is one block over at the junction of Seventh Avenue and Broadway. The walk is flat with cafés on almost every corner. | |||||
| 5 Melbourne | |||||
| It’s easy to lose yourself in Melbourne” so the advertising campaign says as it invites us to explore the intricate network of laneways, staircases, arcades and doorways in this European-like city. You’ll pass concealed bars, art galleries, basement bookshops and boutiques stocking everything from vintage to designer. Cosy cafés along Flinders Lane near the heart of Melbourne will give you a chance to refuel in among the city’s contemporary art scene. | |||||
| Martha Azzi scans the globe for the best of the best high adrenalin action. 1 Ice Climb | |||||
| NEW ZEALAND | |||||
| Encounter the exhilarating sport of ice climbing in Fox Glacier, New Zealand. Accompanied by professional guides, you receive the necessary equipment including boots, crampons, ice axes, technical gear and the necessary skills are taught. With a maximum guide to customer ratio of 1:4 you are sure to pick up a few things while you climb vertical and, at times, overhanging ice walls. | |||||
| Prices: the eight- to nine-hour climbing adventure begins at NZ$245 (about A$193) for adults. Visit foxguides.co.nz for more information. | |||||
| 2 Mountain Trek | |||||
| JAPAN Climb to the summit of Mt Fuji in Japan and back within 24 hours. The climb up the mountain, accompanied by a bilingual guide, is through the night so that you reach the summit in time to watch the sunrise. After a hot Banzai breakfast in a mountain hut, participants will begin the journey down the mountain. The trip ends with a hot bath at a nearby hot springs resort in Shinjuku. Two-day tours are also available if you wish to stay overnight on the mountain in a mountain hut. | |||||
| Prices: start from JPY40,000 (about A$495) per person. Visit fujimountainguides.com to make reservations. | |||||
| Glacier Hike | |||||
| ICELAND Go on a half-day glacier hike and a Jökulsárlón boat trip in Iceland. Walk on ice towards an icefall accompanied by a guide and witness up close how the ancient ice crawls from the mountains towards the ocean. After the hike, a short drive will take you to the world famous Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon where you’ll take a boat trip among enormous icebergs with a backdrop of Europe’s largest glacier mass. | |||||
| Prices: start from ISK13,490 (about A$111) for adults. Visit glacierguides.is for booking information. | |||||
| Manta ray night dive | |||||
| HAWAII This night dive in Hawaii is an unforgettable experience. On the two-tank charter you begin your first dive at Keahole Bay in the late afternoon. Participants complete a full tour of the reef to become oriented with the site in preparation for the night dive. A detailed briefing from your guide and a chance to have some food follows the first dive. The night dive begins after the sun sets and is conducted in 35 feet of water while kneeling on a sand bottom with mantas swimming directly overhead. You have to be a certified diver to take part in the night dives however snorkelling at night is another option. | |||||
| Prices: start from US$80 (about A$76) per person and a complete equipment set can be rented for approximately US$30 (about A$28). Visit konahonudivers.com for reservations. | |||||
| White water raft | |||||
| USA There’s no better place to go on a white water rafting and helicopter ride than the Grand Canyon. With an experienced guide you begin the day over the white water rapids of the Colorado River. Then hike up to Traventine Falls, a natural waterfall, while observing the local wildlife and listening to a talk by your guide on the history and culture of the Hualapai people. Explore the intricate and colourful landscape as you go along the Colorado River on a smooth water ride. Then end the day on a helicopter flight to the top of Grand Canyon West, home of the Skywalk. | |||||
| Prices: start from US$249 (about A$236) per person. Visit grandcanyonwest.com to make reservations. | |||||
| Shark dive | |||||
| USA There’s no better place to go on a white water rafting and helicopter ride than the Grand Canyon. With an experienced guide you begin the day over the white water rapids of the Colorado River. Then hike up to Traventine Falls, a natural waterfall, while observing the local wildlife and listening to a talk by your guide on the history and culture of the Hualapai people. Explore the intricate and colourful landscape as you go along the Colorado River on a smooth water ride. Then end the day on a helicopter flight to the top of Grand Canyon West, home of the Skywalk. | |||||
| Prices: the trip starts from ZAR1,450 (around A$193) for adults. Visit sharkcagediving.net for more details. | |||||
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