Popping into St Petersburg, Russia

More and more people are opting to take a cruise through the Baltic Sea in Russia, not only because there is plenty to see and do, but also because visiting Russia on a cruise means that you don’t have to have a visa, even if you’re getting off the boat – which you’ll certainly want to!

St Petersburg, in particular, is a captivating city, from the Hermitage Museum to the Peter and Paul Fortress, there are plenty of historical and architectural wonders to keep you busy.

Exploring St Petersburg

Wandering around St Petersburg is a real treat; there are busy shopping streets, little restaurants that sit right next to decommissioned tanks, and you can pretty much spend all day along one of the main streets, Nevsky Prospekt. Make sure to stop in for a snack at Biblioteka.

Sidenote: expect to have vodka with lunch, which is usually Borscht – a beetroot soup – with mixed potato salads.

The Rasputin Cellar

This early 18th century palace is olden-day luxury in lavish buildings, and you can even enter the cellar where Rasputin was murdered. Take a tour and hear the whole very intriguing story of Rasputin. From here you can also easily view the grand gold-gilded theatre at Yusupov Palace.

See the Russian Ballet at the Alexandrinsky Theatre

You can’t visit Russia without seeing the world-renowned Russian Ballet. The Alexandrinsky Theatre is home to stunning performances of Swan Lake and other ballets, in one of the most famous theatres in the world, and the oldest professional theatre in Russia.

Visiting Peterhof

A quick visit to Peterhof, which is roughly a one hour drive from St Petersburg, will reveal the stunning grand palace of  Peter the Great. This epic property sits in a large park and also features various pavilions, cascades, bronze and gold-gilded statues and around 150 fountains, which you could easily spend a day wandering the grounds and admiring the amazing architecture.

You can even tour the inside of the palace, to view the many rooms which make up the interior and get an idea of what life was like for the upper-class in Russia. Aim for a morning visit as you will able to see the switching on of the Grand Cascade, the largest fountain ensemble in the world (turned on at 11 am only during the summer months).

St Petersburg is a dream destination for lovers of art and architecture; you’ll be in heaven when you attend the ballet and explore the majesty of the palaces that are still standing today. If you’re planning a cruise that stops at St Petersburg, be sure to take advantage and soak in the history while you take in the city and its sights.

Famous Food To Try When Travelling In Singapore

Singapore is not just rich in culture but is also rich in food dishes as they are mostly influenced by Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines. If you are travelling in Singapore better make sure to try their unique cuisine. Here are some of their most famous food:

Bak Kut Teh (Meat Bone Tea/Pork Ribs Soup)

Bak Kut Teh has long been in Singapore’s history and deserves its rightful recognition. It is a humble dish that is made of spices and herbs like star anise.

A common story to the creation of Bak Kut Teh is that it started with a poor starving beggar who came and begs at a street stall of a pork noodle store. The stall owner who was also in poverty still wanted to help and boiled the beggar his leftover pork bones and added whatever cheap spices he had left which included star anise and pepper to create the soup.

Wanton Mee

This noodle dish was probably influenced by Hong Kong cuisine but has integrated well into Singaporean culture over the years. The country’s version of this dish is commonly eaten dry, and then drenched with sweet sauce, slices of pork char siew and wanton dumplings.

Dim Sum

Dim Sum or Dian Xin is another inspired Hong Kong/Shanghai type of cuisine. This is not mostly one dish but is made of a set of small dishes that are to be eaten in a group.

Crabs

Crabs are popular in Singapore and are commonly savoured in two styles: sweet, spicy tomato-ish chilli sauce, or with black pepper sauce.

Places To See When Visiting The City Of London

London is one of the most diverse cities in the world and has one of the most outstanding cultures on the planet. Every year, almost 30 million tourists visit the city, which is why it is no surprise that it is still on the top list of many people’s travel plans.

If you are visiting the city of London, check our top list to see what you can do in the following places:


Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath is one of the largest parks in the city, which covers around 790 acres of land and is located atop one of the highest points in London. It offers a great view of the city from Parliament Hill.

The park provides the best place to experience nature in London as there is a lot of wildlife around, a number of large ponds, wooded around and grassy fields. You can also take a swim if you are brave enough to swim outdoors in the great British weather. Once done, visit the Kenwood house where you will find curated art collection.


BFI

The British Film Institute or BFI is a must see especially for travellers who love films. It is located on Southbank and is the perfect spot to relax after a stroll. The BFI show different types of films every day and reshowings of cult classics. For those who want to take their cinema seriously, there is also a library and shop to learn more about films. After you are done watching good films, visit their bar and riverfront restaurant where they serve delicious meals and chat with your friends about the films you saw.

Some Of The Great Things To Do When You Go To The Maldives

If you are planning to go to the Maldives and is thinking of some of the great things you can do there, here are our top picks:


Surfing

The Maldives is known to be a top-class surfing destination. The Cinnamon Dhonveli is popular around the world for its waves and is considered as one of the best in the world. The surfing is meant for pros and even if you cannot surf because it is way beyond your skill level, you will be able to enjoy watching the pros while sipping your morning coffee. If you still want to try surfing but is not confident enough to try the waves at Dhonveli, there are other islands in the Maldives where you can take surfing lessons.


Paddle Boarding

Most islands in the Maldives are surrounded by calm shallow waters, which is perfect for stand up paddle boarding. You can paddle along in safe bays and enjoy the clear waters while seeing different fish right below your boards.


Massage

The Maldives is made to make you feel relaxed and pampered which is why when on the island, you need to try a massage. If you are with your partner, you can even get a couple’s massage to up the romance factor.


Romantic Dinner

The Maldives is also a very romantic place where most honeymooners come to visit. If you are travelling as a couple, you want to make the night perfect by splurging into a romantic dinner. Take a break from the smorgasbord and enjoy the sunset at the beach with your loved one.

Ways To Find Cheap Accommodation When Travelling

One major expense that we need to shell out when travelling is our accommodation. We cannot get rid of this expense but we can find ways to save and still get the best experience while on our travel destination.

Good thing that there are a lot of website resources that can help us find practical, safe and value for money accommodation even if you are travelling alone, with friends, or with kids.

Here are some ways to find cheap accommodation:


Location

There is no point in booking a cheap hotel if it is still miles away from the town or your chosen destination since you still need to pay extra for transportation. Make sure to find a place that is close to local attractions, food outlets, the beach, the park, public transport and the likes since this will save you money and time.


Travel during shoulder-season

The shoulder-season is the period between the peak and off-peak season. One obvious reason why this is the right time to travel is that the accommodation cost is lower. Not only that since you will be able to enjoy favourable weather and avoid large crowds allowing you to appreciate your destination even more.


Stay in apartments

Apartments and rental homes are a great way to cut on costs. They are usually cheaper and more practical than a hotel. If you are travelling with other family members, you can easily share the cost which will let you save more. Check Airbnb and see its listing.