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How much of a globetrotter are you? Guess this city? Hint: This city is an eclectic mix of old and new, East and West. It is a bustling metropolis and an epicurean paradise. Formerly, Constantinople, it is the only city in the world that bridges two continents – Asia and Europe. It is the largest city in the predominantly Islamic country of Turkey. Answer: Istanbul.

There is nothing like discovering or learning about a city and losing yourself in its irresistible pull. There is thrill in connecting with different cities and in the process having a better grasp of humanity, history, culture, geography of the world. We are in the threshold of a new millennium. With it comes globalization- a world without borders. This reality plus hunger for knowledge has served as a catalyst for people to venture forth and acquaint themselves with the cities of the world. Come let's take a sneak peak at some of these great cities. Let's discover diverse worlds as we tread from one city (familiar or newfound) to the next and be entranced.

Few places in the world have a bigger number of familiar landmarks than London. Whether it is Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham palace, #10 Downing Street or Harrods, the sights of London are legendary. London thrives as a collection of vibrant and distinct communities. There is West Hampstead, Kilburn with its Irish heritage, Hampstead Heath (a vast park in North London) and Soho Square. Take a virtual tour of London canals and discover a floating community of houseboats.

Paris is the City of Romance. Meander through the cloistered streets of Montmartre. Be awed by modern art and "hi-tech" architecture such as the Beaubourg Centre, the cultural heart of Modern Paris. This blending of old and new architectural styles adds up to the many reasons why most everyone ultimately falls in love with Paris.

New York is a city that never sleeps. Climb up the Empire State Building. Pass by the Chelsea galleries. Experience the sights and sounds of Brooklyn nightclubs. Take your fill of Broadway shows. Immerse yourself in the museums of New York. Truly, it is the 21st century city.

Reach for the sky. Hongkong's skyline is one of the most famous in the world. Take a tram ride up Victoria Peak and get a glimpse of the spectacular view of the territory. Savor culinary delights honed to perfection. And take out your credit cards and splurge. Hongkong is a shopping paradise.

Chiang Mai is paradise revisited. Just an hour's ride from Bangkok, Chiang Mai has charm, mountains, and greenery. Join in the festival of Songkran (New Year water festival) and the Loi Kratong (candle festival). Along with the showers of water and the twinkling kites that light the night sky, the city comes alive and molds the old with the new, eliciting a sense of nostalgia. Finally pay homage in the temples in Chiang Mai. Bask in the cooler climes of Chiang Mai. It can't get any better.

Dubai is a world on its own. It is a giant-sized playground for the whole family. It is the second largest of the seven states making up the United Arab Emirates. Luxury villas, theme parks and skyscrapers dot the desert and the coast. However, Dubai is not all glitz and glamour. For a glimpse of its past, visit Deira district – narrow alleyways, nondescript buildings, jewelry shops and spice souk and breathe in a variety of aromatic spices. Try skiing at the Ski Dubai, the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East. Dubailand is set to open. Suffice to say Dubai is giving Las Vegas a run for its money.

And the list goes on….. Unraveling the myriad cities of the world may take a lifetime but take the first step, you'll never regret it. Travel, read or surf, take your pick. Keep discovering… Keep learning.

The very thought of Rajasthan flashes through our mind the picture of vibrant people clad in bright coloured attire, riding camels through the sand, exotic palaces and rich architectural heritage dating back to the medival period. The picturesque sight of stretches of golden sand extending to miles is fascinating enough to make a poet out of an ordinary mortal. The magnificiant forts, opulent palaces, exclusively chiseled havelis, each a splendid example of the rich cultural heritage sings the saga of past glory, prosperity and chivalry.

In spite of the apparent impression of a dry and desert land, the slate abounds in astonishing range of vegetation and wildlife that makes it a favourite resort for nature lovers. Its a reservoir of a broad biological spectrum ranging from the hilly terrain of Mt. Abu to the heart land of the Thar Desert.

The uniqueness of the land lies in the lingering flavour of medieval times in the rich art and crafts, colourful Bazaars and vibrant people. The sight of camels, oxen, elephants on the road as common modes of transport adds to the medieval touch.

Tourist spots and must see in Jaipur:

Built in the year 1727 A.D by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur displays a ravishing architectural splendour. The only planned city of its time, it has many attractive monuments.

The city Palace: The former royal abode that has the touch of Rajasthan and Mughal styles. It houses a museum with super collection of Rajasthan's costumes and armour of Mughals and Rajputs. It also has an art gallery with excellent collections of miniature paintings, carpets, royal Paraphernalia

Jantar Mantar: Largest of Jai Singh's five observatories, this stone structure has scientifically desgined complex instruments that speaks about advanced Indian astronomy in the medieval times.

Hawa Mahal: This five storey structure along the main street of the old city was originally conceived to enable royal women watch the everyday life and royal processions of the city.

Govind Devji Temple: Located in the central pavillion of the Jai Niwas Garden, this spireless temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The image of the patron deity Govind Devji originally installed in a temple in Vrindavan was reinstalled by Sawai Jai Singh II as his family deity.

There are many things to consider when choosing your travel accommodations. The decision could make your trip fun or a disappointment. Choosing the right hotel is a must. Most travelers spend more time in airline ticket reservations and bargains but less time in choosing the right accommodations. Thus they may end up on the wrong side of the bed during their stay.

To get the most out of your hotel accommodations, remember to book as early as possible and make your dates more flexible. Hotels that cater to the business traveler will consider weekends as off season. Family vacationers could tap into these special packages during weekend times. Primarily, you should choose your hotel based on name, amenities, features, price, packages and location.

Here are some considerations in choosing your best travel accommodations:

Accommodations should be family-friendly. Always ask if your hotel offers children activity areas with educational and fun activities supervised by duly-trained care-givers.

Your hotel should provide a swimming pool for children, daycare service, crib rental and child-proof electrical outlets.

Stay in a hotel that has electronic room-key cards and has a security viewer installed on their doors.

Make it a priority to choose a room on the upper floor.
If you're the one who likes to spend more time in your hotel room and the balcony, you should ask for the available amenities and the conditions of the surrounding environment.

Depending on whether you're on a private or business trip, ask your hotel about the availability of laundry service, hair dryers, coffee makers, newspapers, free meals, fax machine, bar, cable television, parking, shuttle service, internet connection, etc.

The hotel property layout and its location may speak more of its surrounding environment. Noisy locations such as construction on adjacent property, car traffic and noisy waterfalls are not specified on hotel flyers. So be sure to ask about it.

Beautifully landscaped surroundings with trees, flowers and inner courts also enhance your travel pleasure. Moreover, gift shops and restaurants all add up to a wonderful travel experience.

The location of your hotel with respect to main attractions is equally important. It could save you money on taxi and bus fare.

If room service is important to you, make sure that it is provided 24 hours a day.

Check out the room itself. Is it brightly colored or classical? It sets the mood of your travel.

In order to get the most out of your travel, whether for business or family vacations, be sure to know everything about the hotel you are planning to check in to. Ask friends and relatives who have been there. Don't just depend on the hotel's webpage which is undoubtedly biased. Having to stay in a hotel which you don't like could ruin your trip.
With these tips in mind, a great stay is sure to come!

So you've finally decided to head to Walt Disney World. With so much to see and do, it's important to come prepared. Here are some excellent tips to make your trip one that will be remembered for a lifetime.

- Plan ahead. Decide ahead of time what your priorities are and make a plan of action.

- Get to the parks early! It's amazing, particularly in busy season, how many of the popular rides you can knock off before half the "World" gets out of bed.

- Take the time to rest in the middle of the day. Stay at one of the Magic Kingdom or Epcot resorts, allowing a return in the middle of the day for a nap or dip in the pool.

- Call exactly 90 days prior at 7 AM Orlando time for priority seating if breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom is tops on your child's list. The only way you might get away with sleeping in and booking a bit later for this highly coveted character breakfast is if you are traveling in extremely slow season.

- Come prepared for an afternoon shower during the rainy summer months even if the sky looks perfectly clear in the morning. Rent a locker to store your raingear and circle back if skies start to look threatening. However, if you're caught unprepared, just about every store in the parks sells inexpensive rain ponchos.

- Use Fastpass, Disney's free, nifty timesaving device. It's offered at all four theme parks and is a great way to save hours of waiting in line. Just insert your park pass in one of the machines located at each individual Fastpass attraction and receive a ticket printed with a designated one-hour window in which you may return and enter a special line with little or no waiting.

- Pre-arrange priority seating, Disney's answer to dining reservations, by calling 407-WDW-DINE. On arrival you'll receive the next table available for your party size, thus saving hours of frustration and waiting.

- Allow plenty of time to reach the theme parks each morning. It's easy to miss your breakfast priority seating is you don't allocate enough time.

- Be spontaneous. If something catches your eye, even if it's not on your daily list of things to do, stop and explore. If not, you could miss something wonderful.

- Realize the limitations of your children. If they're tired, take a break. If their feet hurt, get them a stroller (forget that they outgrew one years ago). If a ride scares them don't force the issue. Such precautions will make your day and the day of other park visitors a lot less stressful.

- Bring pagers, 2-way radios, or cell phones. If your party plans on splitting up, they are a perfect way to keep in touch.

- Wear broken-in, comfortable footwear. Better yet, bring two pairs and rotate them. Nothing is worse than blisters on your first day and then nursing them for the remainder of your vacation.

- Most importantly, slow down and enjoy the magic. Resist the urge to see everything at breakneck speed. You can't possibly cover it all, so think of this as your first trip to Disney, not your last. There will be time to pick up all the things you missed on the next go-round.