Bali has become the ultimate tourist destination for anyone looking to travel in the last few years. It has become the vision of perfection due to the several celebrities that have spent their vacations in Bali. Advertised unintentionally through every tabloid magazine, Bali has come into the lime light as one of the the best places to vacation in the world. It seems to be the ultimate combination of relaxation and tranquility. I’ve never been to Bali, but from what I’ve seen it is one of the most gorgeous places to be. As a sanctuary for meditators and a hot spot for celebrities, I can’t wait to see what Bali has to offer.

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful things to see in Bali are the rice paddies. Rice paddies are essentially rice fields, but in Bali they are tiered. One of the prettiest locations in all of Bali is The Jatiluwih Rice Fields. It has been quoted in several travel books as one of the top ten sites to see, however, people still seem to skip over it. In fact the rice fields are actually a UNESCO world landscape sight. As quoted by travel blogger Nomadic Matt, “…these rice terraces are stunning. They give new meaning to the word green. They crawl up the sides of the hills like steps leading you towards the sky.” He also mentions it is a must see if you go to Bali. You may be surprised to hear that if you go, you’ll find the fields to be mostly empty, but that’s part of the beauty. You get time to just be alone with nature. The terraces use the Subak irrigation system, which is a system that has been used for centuries. They span an entire mountain from the tip of the peak down to where it meets the sea. It’s so big it would take you days to hike through all the rice fields.

According to Travel and Leisure magazine and CNN travel, Tanah Lot Temple, is one of the best temples to visit in all of Bali. Bali is known for its beautiful architecture when it comes to its temples, and Tanah is one of the best examples. The temple is located on the Tanah Lot. The lot is a rock formation that is actually located of the island of Bali. The lot has been a part of balinese mythology for many centuries. I thought I would share the story that accompanies the myth.

“Legend has it that the site was founded by a roaming 16th century Brahmin priest from the Majapahit Kingdom in Java named Dahyang Niratha. According to the tale, during his travels along Bali’s coastline Niratha saw the rocky outcropping known presently as Tanah Lot and decided to stop there in order to rest and meditate. He was later spotted by some local fishermen, who brought the priest gifts. Niratha decided to spend the night on the little island, and subsequently told the fishermen that they should build a shrine to the gods and goddesses of the sea there because he felt it to be a holy place. Locals believe that small, poisonous black and white sea snakes (along with one very large snake) abound in the waters around the temple, protecting it from evil spirits and intruders. These snakes are said to be Niratha’s sashes, which fell into the sea when he left the sacred spot.”

Now there is a beautiful temple built on this island. Tourists flock to this sites every year to see the famous temple on water.

Many people believe that Bali has lost its charm and become too popular, but the natural beauty and architecture of Bali is still unsurpassed in many ways. It is an amazing place to escape to if you know where you’re going. I thought this would be a nice way to finish off my passion blogs, because Bali is a reminder that sometimes you just have to escape and explore, which is what travel is all about. It also enforces the fact that we need to relax, and as finals come up, remember one week will not be the end all be all of your life. So just breathe and think about the beautiful fields in Bali!

http://www.departful.com/2014/07/pura-tanah-lot-bali/

http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/escape/destinations/what-to-do-in-bali-641181

http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/bali

http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-jatiluwih-rice-terraces/

Kosovo is a western european country surrounded by Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Albania. However, the country is only eight years old! That’s right, the country separated from Serbia in 2008. The capital of Kosovo, Pristina, is actually a very modern city heavily involved in the idea of consumerism. In fact Travel and Leisure has Pristina on their top 50 cities to visit for 2015! There’s always something to do in Pristina, and today I’m going to highlight some of the main attractions.

Besides the wide array of cultural shops and restaurants, Pristina boasts one major museum worth seeing. The National Museum of Kosovo has over 50 thousand exhibits to view. Most of these exhibits revolve around seeing Kosovo through an anthropological and archaeological lens. This entails an extensive selection of pieces that detail Kosovo’s rich history; some pieces even go back as far as the Neolithic era around 8,000 years ago! One of the exhibits you can see is called The Neolithic Goddess of the Throne, or Hynesha ne Fron as the people of Kosovo have named it. This piece of terracotta was made around 6,000 BC and has always been an item of value in it’s time. It was found in Kosovo around 1956. Lonely Planet comments,”It’s well worth coming here to see how Kosovans perceive the past two decades of their troubled history.” The second museum is The Ethnological Museum Emin Gjiku is a sub-museum found in The National Museum and takes a unique perspective on it’s artwork. The Ethnological Museum Emin Gjiku has four major themes that focuses on the cycle of life: birth, life, dead, and spiritual heritage. One of the complexes involved in The Ethnological Museum is The Stone House, which contains some of the more contemporary artworks.

The Goddess of the Throne

The next major attraction to see in Kosovo is the Newborn Monument. After gaining independence from Serbia on February 17th, 2008, Kosovo unveiled the Newborn Monument. It symbolizes the newfound freedom of self-sovereignty Kosovo now exercises. It’s a typographic sculpture, much like the Hollywood sign in California. Originally painted a bright yellow, the Newborn Monument is now painted differently every year; they reveal the new design annually on February 17. This unveiling has become a routine part of their independence day celebration. In the first redesign of the monument, Kosovo painted the flags of all of the countries who have recognized their independence on the monument. This triggered international media attention, and was even featured on the front page of The New York Times. The monument weighs a hefty 9 tons! It’s dimensions are 10 feet by 79 feet by 3 feet. The Newborn Monument has received six major design awards and has sparked critical acclaim worldwide. The Kosovo Travel Blog states the monument is “One of the most historic places in the very recent history of Europa”. If you can, try to book a ticket sometime in February so you can participate in the unveiling of the monument!

The original unveiling of The Newborn Monument

Kosovo is an up and coming country that has a lot to offer. If you ever do end up visiting Pristina don’t just get lost in the endless array of cultural diversity it has to offer! Make sure you visit The National Museum and take a selfie with The Goddess of the Throne. Travel blogger Anwar exclaimed how Pristina, “From very friendly people, to its interesting yet tragic history, it really drew me in.” All in all, traveling is what you make it out to be. With that in mind, wherever you go in the world, and whatever you do, just have fun with it.

http://www.ancientcraft.co.uk/reenactment/pa_venus_vinca1.html

http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/best-places-to-travel-in-2015/35

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/kosovo/prishtina/sights/museums-galleries/museum-kosovo

http://www.beyondmyfrontdoor.com/wp/friday-photo-newborn-prishtina-kosovo/

http://www.kosovo-info.com/kosovo-tourism/newborn-monument/

I recently found out one of my friends is going to Spain for a study abroad trip, which is very exciting! So I started thinking to myself what if I did my blog on a city in Spain. The problem is everyone has heard of Madrid and Barcelona, and I promised a look into cities that people are more unfamiliar with so I did some research and I found out that not too far away in the country of Portugal is a very cool and actually quite popular city, Lisbon. Lisbon is pushing for recognition in the tourist world because the value for dollar in Lisbon is a great deal for tourists. Lisbon is taking advantage of this circumstance to promote their city to travelers looking for something a little different.

You might have heard of Lisbon before, I think I have heard the name on a few occasions, but I know nothing about Portugal in general.  Lisbon is an absolutely gorgeous city. The city is full of history, art, fashion, poetry, and so much more. There are castles and chapels. I’m only going to be able to discuss a few of the many things there are to do in Lisbon.

Lisbon has a great history that relates to royalty. One of the main attractions Castelo De Sao Jorge is a castle that was modified for the first King of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques. The building was initially a defensive stronghold for the Moors before the King conquered Portugal. The castle had several conversions over the years. However, it is now a national monument open to visitors. The castle is open all year. There is a museum where you can learn more about the history of the Castle and the city of Lisbon. You can also see the archeological site of a Moorish neighborhood. The Tower of Ulysses-Periscope allows you to take a look at the entire city of Lisbon from an amazing viewpoint. The castle also has beautiful gardens you can take a tour of. There’s a lot to do, but the castle is one of the most prominent sites in Lisbon. Elle has the castle on its list of top things to do in Lisbon, adding that is, “…a quite place to enjoy sensational views.”

Another must see site is the Jeronimos Monastery. The monastery is of the order of Saint Jerome and its located on the shore of Belem, which is only a few miles outside of Lisbon. It is a true piece of art. The south facade is covered in detailed sculptures of the Our Lady of Bethlehem with the child, apostles, prophets, and other religious figures. The beauty of the church isn’t just on the outside. The inside of the church is amazing. It has high vaulted ceilings covered in ornate detailing. On one side is a wall covered in stained glass windows. Then you can head out to the courtyard and walk around to see the peaceful cloisters and the old confessional doors. Even if your not religious this is one of the most architecturally astounding buildings in the Lisbon area. Travel blog, Hand Luggage Only, claims the monastery has, “…the most stunning gothic architecture in all of Lisbon!”

If you’re looking to just do a little shopping and find a good place to eat the best place to go is the Praca de Comercio. The square faces the water and a has a very iconic entrance leading into the square itself. Elle describes the arch as an “…impressive triumphal arch…”Once inside the square you can walk around on the old streets exploring shops and small eateries. There is also street performers around most of the time. A good place to enjoy the Lisbon life, Praca de Comercio is a good place to go after a long day of sightseeing.

Lisbon is actually a very diverse city. The sites I have talked about were mostly of historic significance. However, there is also a very famous museum of fashion in Lisbon, which holds creations by some of the biggest designers in the world. There is also many places along the shore where you can just relax. You can also take a trip to Cabo De Roca, which is the westernmost point in Europe. I know I had a lot of fun learning about Lisbon, I hope you did too!

http://castelodesaojorge.pt/en/plan-your-visit/

http://www.elle.com/culture/travel-food/g8752/lisbon-sightseeing-places-to-see/?slide=7

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189158-d195318-Reviews-Mosteiro_dos_Jeronimos-Lisbon_Lisbon_District_Central_Portugal.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189158-d199878-Reviews-Praca_do_Comercio_Terreiro_do_Paco-Lisbon_Lisbon_District_Central_Portugal.html

http://handluggageonly.co.uk/2014/07/15/12-things-lisbon/