Source: Thoughts and photos from Travel Blogger Elevator in Genova, Italy
Mauritania: Festival des villes anciennes gets final prepations; North Africa Post
Exploring Queensland’s rainforest hinterland; Olivia Pozzan; BBC
Beyond the bikini-draped shores of Australia’s Gold Coast is a lush, subtropical wonderland of cascading waterfalls, bioluminescent mushrooms and rainforest retreats.
Wandering Jew: Bukhara, the ancient silk way city; Tanya Powell-Jones; Jerusalem Post
The capital of Bukhara in Uzbekistan, once an enviable destination of many a traveler, still has plenty to offer.
Walk among 5,000 years of history on sacred Greek island of Delos; Janet Podolak; News Herald
The sacred island of Delos, legendary birthplace of Apollo and his twin, Artemis, is in the middle of the Greek island group called the Cyclades, which is Greek for “circle.”
Source: Walk among 5,000 years of history on sacred Greek island of Delos (with video)
The 46 Places to Go in 2013; New York Times
See New York Times list of destinations to visit, from No. 1 Rio to No. 46 Paris.
Source: The 46 Places to Go in 2013
Up Close with Hippos in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa; Laurel Robbins; Paperblog
Laurel Robbin’s hippo tour in iSimangaliso Wetland Park was one of the highlights of her trip to South Africa!iSimangaliso Wetland Park is South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 280km of coast line.
Source: Up Close with Hippos in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa – Paperblog
Mumbai Multiplex | The line starts here; Supriya Nair; Live Mint

India – Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)
The ‘heritage wing’ of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a railway enthusiast’s dream.
Visiting Russia’s Orthodox mecca; Vladimir Erkovich; RBTH
Sergiyev Posad is the closest to Moscow of all the ancient towns on the Golden Ring.
Source: Visiting Russia’s Orthodox mecca
A Modern Tourist’s View of Pergamon Museum; Catherine Tsounis; Hellenic News
“Absolutely everyone on my Kontiki Tour was heading to one place in Berlin: the Pergamon Museum which is the best Ancient Greek Museum in Europe,” said Despina Siolas, MD/Ph.D. “It is amazing how all the museums of Germany are East of the Brandenburg Bridge.”
Source: A Modern Tourist’s View of Pergamon Museum – Hellenic News of America
In pictures: Afghanistan’s ‘safest province’; Ali M Latifi & Abasin Azarm; Al Jazeera English
Bamiyan may not be wracked by violence, but it continues to suffer from poverty and years of underdevelopment.
Water, the power behind the Industrial Revolution – Western Arm, Cromford Canal; Daily Kos
Source: Water, the power behind the Industrial Revolution – Western Arm, Cromford Canal
A Christmas Tree In Bethlehem, Few Visitors In Jerusalem, Two Wars In The Holy Land; Gabriele Barbati; IB Times
Christmas in Bethlehem and Jerusalem is a high point for Christian pilgrims. This year, an old conflict and a new civil war are marring the joyful atmosphere and making Jerusalem feel like a ghost…
Source: A Christmas Tree In Bethlehem, Few Visitors In Jerusalem, Two Wars In The Holy Land
Photo Essay: Architecture and Buddhist deities of Kofuku Temple (Includes first-hand account); Igor I Solar; Digital Journal
The Kofuku Temple complex in Nara, Japan, includes several beautiful historic buildings and treasured Buddhist figures representing a fine example of the religious culture and the development of Japanese art and architecture over the past 15 centuries.
Source: Photo Essay: Architecture and Buddhist deities of Kofuku Temple (Includes first-hand account)
Best of Travelife 2012: Sri Lanka’s Dambulla Caves are our most memorable UNESCO heritage monument; Travelife Magazine

Reflecting at year-end on the wonderful TRAVELIFE that was in 2012, this is part of a series of blog entries that will look at the best aspects of Travelife never-ending, and never-endingly eventful travels. This year was so full of indescribable and inspiring experiences — and we’re certainly looking forward to an even more amazing Travelife in 2013. Happy holidays to everyone from all of us at Travelife Magazine. * * * In Sri Lanka last April, living a TRAVELIFE, the writer had one of the most memorable visits to a UNESCO World Heritage monument this year — the ancient Dambulla Caves in Sri Lanka’s Golden Triangle, which date back as early as the 2nd century.
We visit Charlemagne’s city of Aachen; Deutsche Welle
Aachen is first and foremost the city of Charlemagne. In the late 8th century, the Holy Roman emperor made Aachen his imperial residence and had the Palatine Chapel built there.
Gorilla Success Story in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; Environmental News Network
A global perspective on environmental issues. ENN mission is to inform, educate, enable and create a platform for global environmental action.
The Baha’i Gardens; Chloe Lew; Haaretz
Most tourists and pilgrims have their sights set on Jerusalem, but the Baha’i Gardens manage to lure them to Haifa and Acre as well.
Source: The Baha’i Gardens
In Zhivago’s footsteps; Paul Edwards; Traveller
Paul Edwards leaves Moscow for the sweeping flatlands that even today offer solace and romance in a time of upheaval.
Source: In Zhivago’s footsteps