Come and Visit Baku!

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Baku is the capital city of Azerbaijan and it is construed as the “wind blow”, “city of winds” or “hill”, “city on the hill”. It is the largest industrial, cultural and political center in Azerbaijan. It is also has a historical center that reveals its unrestrained past, from its roots as a Persian capital to its oil boom on its Soviet occupation. Baku is also a place of national theatre, the first in Muslim East that lifted the curtain for the first opera that was performed.

Today Baku is known to have 30 museums, 7 theatres, 11 institutions of higher education, philharmonic, opera theatre, film studio, cinema theaters and libraries housed in the city’s most beautiful buildings having an amazing interior decoration which is every bit as good as their interior cultural content.

Location

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Baku is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the capital of Azerbaijan and it is located in the shared continent of Europe and Asia. It is also the largest city in the Caucasus. Baku is on the coast of the Caspian Sea and on the southern tip of the Abs heron Peninsula.

There are three major divisions in Baku, first is the İçəri Şəhər which is the Ancient City, Second is the Soviet built city, and third is the newest part of the city. Baku consists of 11 administrative districts and 5 townships.

Climate

Baku has the average temperature of 14.2C (57.6°F) all year round that matches the average temperature of the entire landmass of the earth. Summers are hot and humid while winters are cool, wet and breezy.

Transportation

Heydar Aliyev International Airport is the main airport in Azerbaijan and it is located 25 km from Baku city center. It is served by major airlines including Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) their national carrier, Austrian Airlines, Aeroflot, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways, and a whole lot more of other smaller airlines.

What to See

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The Ancient Zoroastrian Temple Ateshgah “Fire Temple”

This Fire Temple is an authentic Azerbaijani bizarre. It is very famous all over the world. This territory is known for its distinctive and unique natural phenomenon as burning natural gas, the fire is going out from the ground, generated from the natural gas coming out from the ground. The temple was constructed in the 17th-18th centuries. It was built by the Baku-based Hindu community.

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Puppet Theatre

This theatre was formed in 1931. It has a theatrical representation that operates puppets driven by actor-puppeteers, hidden from viewers in fronts.

In this Theatre it displays and shows many forms of puppets that are determined by their types such as the puppets that are dolls in threads, crown dolls which are the puppet gloves, and other type of dolls that come in different sizes from a few centimeters to double human growth.

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Carpet Museum

This Museum exhibits Azerbaijan’s carpets and rug items with various weaving techniques and materials from different periods. It has the largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets in the world.

Tourists can spend their hours doing activities, events, workshops, watching videos and learning how carpets are made.

Not only carpets can be seen in this Museum but also Azerbaijan’s local national clothes.

For more information about Baku and Azerbaijan you can visit:

http://exploreazerbaijan.com/

http://laurenceourac.com/come-and-visit-baku/

Images:

(1) www.skyscrapercity.com
(2) www.123rf.com
(3) www.geolocation.ws
(4) www.eurasia.travel
(5) www.exploreazerbaijan.com

When the light strikes: The beauty of the Antelope Canyon

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Do you see that picture above? Looks familiar? When your answer is yes, it is either, you’ve been here or there was a time when it is your desktop background. Yes, Antelope Canyon is famous wallpaper when selfies isn’t dominating your background wallpapers yet. It is no wonder.

The place is just begging to be captured and displayed for the world to see its majestic beauty. So if you haven’t seen it yet (pictures from other source not included), be sure to ready your backpack and add it to your checklist of must-sees.

LOCATION

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Antelope Canyon is divided into two parts; the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. The Lower Canyon is located north of the Upper Canyon. The canon is located at the Navajo Nation near Page, Arizona in the southwest of America.

The canyon is located specifically at the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation extending to a river on the north near Utah.

The canyon runs deep as 37 meters and extends at a length of 200 meters (Upper Antelope Canyon) and 407 meters (Lower Antelope Canyon).

CLIMATE

Summer is hot, while winter is cold in the canyons and the seasons of fall and spring are pleasant. However, it can be cooler when you’re down in the canyons, especially in the early mornings.

The months of April to October and mid-March until the early October are the good times to visit the canyons. Monsoon seasons are highly discourage due to the dangers of flashfloods.

TRANSPORTATION

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To go to the area, there is an airport on Page, which is just a few minutes away from Antelope Canyon. It only serves Denver and Phoenix flights, so you can opt for Phoenix and Las Vegas International is just 5 hours away from Page.

However, the entry to the canyon is restricted to those who have authorized guided tours due to the dangers of flashflood, which has been the source of numerous accidents in the area.

There are online reservations available in which you can specify the tour you want. The tours start at an early morning around 9 am and ends at noon. Photography tours usually start on at noon until afternoon. The fees range from $30 to $80 per person depending at the type and length of tour.

4X4 trucks will transport you at the entrance of the canyons, where the tours last for around two hours, still depending on what kind of tour you booked.

ATTRACTION

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Visiting the Lower and Upper Antelope Canyons requires climbing though stairways and narrow spots, where one slip is dangerous and with the sandstones in whirling formation towering over you at each side.

However, once you’re already inside, it’s a beautiful reminder why you risk it in the first place.

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The early mornings are already an opportunity to get acquainted on the beauty the canyons has to offer.

The bright sky is a wonder contrast to the prehistoric sandstones, creating silhouettes of golden browns and russets on the grooves and edges of the canyons.

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Exploring the canyons is like walking on a living art masterpiece. Each towering stones are like are perfectly sculpted by the skilled of nature. The beams of light passing through the opening above bring the place alive. Each reflections bounces through the maze of sandstones. It’s like being in an abstract paint.

All throughout the tour, the sight isn’t the only thing that will satisfy you. There are a lot of information, courtesy of your guides, that will fill your appetite for knowledge.

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Perhaps the most fulfilling of all is when you finally see the transition of colors commanded by the sun’s rays.

The sharp russets in the morning are softening in the afternoon, creating hues of crimsons and mauves clashing and blending with each other. It is truly a paradise.

However, such paradise is hard to believe to be the result of violent force of nature.

http://laurenceourac.com/when-the-light-strikes-the-beauty-of-the-antelope-canyon/

Images
(1) http://www.milespartnership.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/82239_CAVE_CTP_SW300_07-copy.jpg
(2) http://www.dreamflagstaff.com/gfx/maps/antelope-canyon-map-lg.jpg
(3) http://taketothehighway.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/DSC_0125.jpg
(4) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Lower_antelope_stairs_md.jpg
(5) https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7337/9288500619_bbb37eb19a_b.jpg
(6) http://planetden.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Antelope-Canyon-%E2%80%93-A-Dreamy-but-Dangerous-Place-in-Southeast-America-1.jpg
(7) https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8O-ZfAeLCbVGOakmYUak3i4yWUa3f2pxjSk2Ys_NY5VXWH3EGn9EwgtF3ZxuGPFAb6l15n1hJzxYOegpemimmA3YMiK1DhBE2hchR3ZXkedq5qPNopzILQle0UH2CRRGJk4Lz3OWhEk/s1600/Lower+Antelope+Slot+Canyon%252C+Arizona.jpg

Temple off-shore: Tanah Lot

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When talking about temples, a lot of countries would pop up on your search results.

But when it’s an off-shore temple where talking about, you will pay homage not just out of respect, yet out of awe as well in Bali Indonesia’s Tanah Lot Temple.

LOCATION

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The Tanah Lot Temple sits on a massive rock shaped by years of constant ocean tide a few meters out on the sea. Tnah Lot meaning “Land in the Sea” in the Balinese language has been an important part of the Balinese culture.

The temple is located in Tabanah near the Denpasar temple. This coastal temple is conveniently located near the southern Bali main tourist places such as Seminyak and West Bali.

CLIMATE

Tanah Lot has distinct weather each month. They also follow a different calendar called Caka Calendar.

The first month in their calendar falls in July in. The wind this month is especially strong. Their second month (August) is the coldest while the third month (September) is the hottest. Spring time occurs in October, where the places are bathed with lush scenery.

The rain also starts pouring at this month; however, it is not until November that the transition to rainy season starts. There’s also some heavy downpour during December, which happens mostly at night.

Daytime at December is a considerably hot, that’s why this month is marked with inconsistencies in the weather. January is where gale and heavy storms usually occurs and extends until February.

March on the other hand marks the end of the rainy season and the start of the dry season. The month of April is the clearest month, washing away any remnants of the wet season. May is considered a “bad month” by the locals due to unfavorable weather condition: high humidity and raising temperature. June is the last month in their calendar where you will feel the dry season at its peak.

TRANSPORTATION

Going to Tanah Lot Temple is easy. It conveniently sandwiched by Southern Bali’s main tourist spots. When you’re from Kuta or Seminyak, you can stop by at the temple. It is just a 45-minute ride by car. After a day in Tanah, you can proceed to West Bali or go back to your hotels.

Once you’re in Tanah Lot Temple, there’s a parking area that you have to pay that costs Rp 5,000. 

You can walk on foot from there to get around the temple.

ATTRACTION

Tanah Lot Temple

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The Tanah Lot Temple is a favorite tourist destination. On the way to the temple is a riot of colors and noise from the vendors selling souvenirs. The early mornings to noon are like a feast on the area. The blue-green water sparkles under the sun and there are a lot of people milling about perfecting a picture a little bustling spot.

The pre-sunset, however, is where the noise died down together with the going down sun. It is actually the favorite time of many people visiting the area where photo-ops can’t be passed up especially in the backdrop of a stunning sunset.

Nirwana Golf Course

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Anyone fond for this sport will be impressed at Nirwana Golf Course. It is a Greg Norman designed Golf course, which always tops the list of best golf course in Asia.

Indulge…

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Not only can you indulge in the scenery, but in the food as well. There are arrays of restaurant set atop the cliffs. You can eat from there or just order a drink (try the chilled young coconut) then walk around the area.

http://laurenceourac.com/temple-off-shore-tanah-lot/

Images:
(1) http://balidriverandvilla.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/bali-tanah-lot-1.jpg
(2) http://www.balambalivilla.com/medias/images/map_excursion_4.jpg
(3) http://anekatempatwisata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Tanah-Lot-Bali-2.jpg
(4) http://www.ultimatebali.com/sites/default/files/Tee%20Shot.jpg
(5) http://www.twostupidamericans.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/NEM_2525.jpg

Crater Lake, like no other!

The captivating beauty of Mother Nature is undeniable. And, many of us just don’t know that there are places like this that really do exist.

Like this magical scenery called Crater Lake, a lake in Oregon.

1) Crater Lake

Location

This lake is a caldera lake located in the western of the United States. This natural beauty is known to be the deepest lake in the United States, while the seventh deepest lake in the whole world.

And, it is also popular because of the lake’s clarity. Lake’s clarity is mainly because it’s isolated from surrounding streams and rivers, there is no inlet or outlet to the lake.

Climate

In this captivating nature scenery, weather plays and important role as this will give you an indication whether it’s the best time to visit the place or not.

Especially in winter, as winter shapes the landscape of the lake, in October that when the snow starts to accumulate and will not melt until the following June in some places.

Summer weather is uncertain, thus it can have warm, dry days and blue skies and cool nights.

3. Crater Lake in winter

Transportation

Since this is a national park the main focus here is the direction on how to get the park. There are different ways on how to. For those, who will use Airplanes the nearest airport is in Medford that’s 80 miles from the park, of course car rentals are available after the ride from the plane.

The train is also one of the options there is a service provided by Amtrak to Klamath Falls that’s 60 miles from the park, car rental is available as well. For those, who will bring their car with them, the roads close to the park are standard mountain roads with many curves and drop-offs. But car drivers should be careful if they’re not used in mountain driving.

Attractions

What should you do in Crater Lake? Of course, there is hiking, boat tours, trolley tours, swimming, fishing, camping and much more those activities are best in summer season, but winter season activities are limited to the safety of the people.

But there is a new attraction offered in this great place, usually beginning in late November and running until late April, this is what you called the ranger-led snowshoe hikes, but this is just being offered during weekends. So what are you waiting for nature lovers! Come and visit this place and you’ll surely love it!

4. Crater Lake with Rainbow

http://laurenceourac.com/crater-lake-like-no-other/

Images:
(1) http://traveloregon.com/see-do/oregon-heritage/history-heritage/native-american-heritage/crater-lake/
(2) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crater_Lake_National_Park_map.jpg
(3) http://nature.besthdwalls.com/crater-lake-in-winter/
(4) http://lensluggers.com/2013/06/10/2013-outdoor-photographer-landcsape-winner-crater-lake-national-park/

Bermuda Island, not the triangle

Want some summer adventure to the beautiful island of Bermuda? Are you ready to discover the gift of Mother Nature? Suit up and pack your bags and head to North Atlantic, off the eastern of the United States.

1. Bermuda Island

Location

This island is not situated in the Carribean, it rests hundreds of miles north of the Bahamas, in North Atlantic. Planes from New York and mostly from eastern US cities reach the Bermuda Island shore in less than two hours.

If you will notice the structure of Bermuda it may seem like it’s just one continuous landmass but in fact it is made up of 181 islands, islets and rocks.

Climate

The unique location of Bermuda in the North Atlantic provides a remarkable nice climate that rarely gives extremes of either hot or cold. May to mid-October is the hottest part of the year, while the winter month’s temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or 21 degrees Celsius.

2. Bermuda Island Map

Transportation

Bermuda offers an excellent public transportation system using buses and ferries, a reliable, clean, convenient, well maintained and most of the time air conditioned and inexpensive way to travel to this place.

They have this “Transportation Pass” with an option of one day pass or multi day, this will allow you to visit near to almost anywhere visitor would like to go to.

Attractions

Numerous motorized and non motorized water sports are available in Bermuda. There are also guided island tours like sailing and boating, cultural & heritage tours and nature walks.

The island has numerous great places to visit like caves, museums lighthouses, churches and many more. Hope you can all do these activities in during your stay in this place.

3. Bermuda Island Aerial

So many activities to do on this island, do you have something in mind already? But most of the tourist who visits this place kept on wondering if they really made the most out of their time.

So book a flight now or plan your vacation and you know what to do and where to go. Good luck and enjoy!

http://laurenceourac.com/bermuda-island-not-the-triangle/

Images:
(1) http://paradiseintheworld.com/bermuda/ 
(2) http://rwarrior.com/best-of-bermuda/
(3) https://bearboat.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/bermudas-400th-birthday/

Exploring the stunning peak of Mount Roraima

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Mount Roraima is a placed dubbed as the “Lost World,” and there’s nothing more fitting than that title.

It ascents towards the sky, a stunning blend of earth and sky; and descends vertically towards the sweeping green-hugged terrain. Truly, it is a lost place you won’t mind finding.

LOCATION

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Mount Roraima belongs to Pakaraima chain of tepui plateaus. Soaring at around 2,810-meter high, it is the highest chain in Pakaraima.

While the plateau is the borderline of three countries – Guyana, Brazil, and Venezuela – it is mostly located at the side of Venezuela where it is a part of the Canaima National Park.

CLIMATE

If you’re planning to spend some time here in Mount Roraima, it is better to do it during the dry months of December to March. It is safer to trek the place, as it is less slippery and wet.

Apart from that, it will be also hard to cross rivers and waterfall when there is a heavy downpour. The torrential rain can affect the water level of the rivers, while the heavy rain clouds can affect the visibility.

When you’re on the peak, expect that the nights to still be cooler despite the dry season. The altitude compensates for that. The notable varying weather is also responsible for heavy rain to slight drizzle you will experience once you embark on the tour.

It is advisable to bring raincoats and other protection from the wet climate.

TRANSPORTATION

You can fly to Santa Elena de Uairén and ride the bus from there to the trailhead. However, there are only few flights available being served in there. You can opt for the San Francisco de Yurani. It can be reached through bus from Caracas, Ciudad Bolivar, or Ciudad Guyana. Take note that the bus ride may be cold and some drivers might refuse turning up the heat.

Tha trailhead is 22 kilometers east of San Francisco de Yurani in Paratepui. Paraetepui Route is the most used route for trekking the peak. The terrain is rugged and slippery. You also have to cross rivers by foot, since there are no bridges. The climb can take around two days, as well as going down from the peak – that’s why travel guides are recommended!

Only expert climbers explore the routes in the Guyana and Brazil side of Roraima, which is still seldom.

Permits are also needed before you climb. Those with guided tour will have their travel guides handle it for them.

ATTRACTIONS

Roraima Summit

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Letting loose of your worries isn’t hard to do once you reach the summit of Roraima. The stunning sight of over the impressive cliffs is refreshing. The landscape also offers roc formations of quartz and sandstone, unique flora and fauna, and eroded spots that create ponds and pools of clear rainwater.

However, just be sure to be careful in exploring the summit. With near constant clouds and uncanny rock formations, it isn’t hard to get lost.

Triple

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The Tripoint is a popular place in the Roraima summit. The triangular stone marks the spot where the tree countries of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana meet.

Near Tripoint is also a labyrinth of rock formations.

El Foso

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El Foso is a sinkhole a lot of tourists visit not only to refresh, but also for the small underground, which is a result for the centuries of constant rain in Mount Roraima.

El Foso extends to 10 meters in diameter. There is also another body of water located in the summit called Lake Gladys.

Flora and Fauna

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Flora and fauna has evolved on its own for millennia. Due to its remote location and climate, there are many endemic species living in the summit.

http://laurenceourac.com/exploring-the-stunning-peak-of-mount-roraima/

Images:

(1) http://i.imgur.com/owwJO.jpg
(2) http://imageshack.com/f/811/roadworksbrasilamazon.jpg
(3) http://img.gagdaily.com/uploads/posts/edu/2013/000092a8_big.jpg
(4) https://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/tripoint-monte-roraima-brazil-guyana-venezuela.jpg?w=800&h=600
(5) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/EL_FOSO_in_Mt_Roraima_001.JPG
(6) http://www.theorangemango.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC04742.jpg
(7) http://www.redfernnaturalhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/0.-Orchids-of-Mount-Roraima-51.jpg

Be immersed in Adelaide’s modern take in city life

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Aside from a city’s natural wonders, we sometimes want to submerge ourselves into the ‘technical’ and more serious aspect of the place we would be visiting. We have this little sense of awe when we see tall buildings and towering skyscrapers, the bustling automobiles dominating the beautifully-paved streets and the modern wonders of technology being scattered all over the city.

While it is refreshing that we smell the clean breeze fluttering from a group of flora and experience primitive living when surrounded by numerous animals, witnessing a modernized and up-to-date environment is close to Utopia as we can get. And have you ever heard of Adelaide? Then satisfy thy craving for everything steel and concrete on this urban jungle.

Location

Located in the giant suburb of South Australia, Adelaide is considered to be the suburb’s capital city. With an estimated population of 1.30 Adelaidean inhabitants, this city boasts as South Australia’s seat of power and government. The general feel of the city would be that of a New York vibe, with people clad in formal suits filling the streets and the mobility of those who’re living in their talks of serious business tone.

Totaling of 3,257.70 square-kilometers in land measurement, Adelaide is located north of Fleurieu Peninsula which is situated on the Adelaide Plains in the middle of Gulf Saint Vincent and the Mount Lofty Ranges. On its’ south, in an estimate of 90 kilometers away is Gawler and Sellicks Beach is on Adelaide’s southern end.

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Climate

Located in the middle part of South Australia, Adelaide’s climate vary from dry and hot in its inner portions to mild and wet on its coastal outskirts and regions. Generally, the city has wet and mild winters with warm, dry summers. Adelaide is dubbed as the driest of all Australian capital cities.

Best months to visit Adelaide would be on its autumnal season of March to May for the sunshine is of abundance and the weather is warm for city skimming. Autumn’s minimum temperature is at 12.5 degrees to 22.4 degrees. June is the wettest of all months, with 80 millimeters as its average rainfall. 

Adelaide’s maximum temperature during winter is at 29 degrees with a low point of 15 degrees.

During April and May, the city is boasting their annual harvests of produce and a great way to enjoy Adelaideans reaping their crops. September to November are the months to see colors of flowers abloom and wildlife flourishing on this wonderful patch of land.

Transportation

When circling through Adelaide’s veins, the best form of transportation would be their public bus system. There are three lines of operators keeping the bus lines alive in Adelaide which are Torrens Transit (travels East to West), SouthLink (travels Outer South, Outer North and the Hills) and Light-City (travels north to South and Outer North areas).

If you’re lucky, you would also see the Tindo buses roaming the city streets which is a solar bus and is currently a government experiment for battery electric vehicles.

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Getting in Adelaide would be through the Adelaide Airport, situated in the West Beach area and is considered as the whole continents’ most advanced and updated airport terminal. On this airport, one can get international and domestic flights together with the 6.8 million passengers careening inside annually. For general aviation, Adelaide also has a secondary airport which is the Parafield Airport.

Trams, or trains, or railways are also present in Adelaide, connecting the city into different and nearby suburbs and cities. Taxis and car rentals would also be a more expensive option in traveling within the city, and make sure to make reservations even before setting foot on this modern land.

What to See

Adelaide Oval

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Adelaide’s main sport is cricket and it is in the Adelaide Oval that they held most awaited games. 

Dubbed as the world’s most well-manicured and maintained cricket ground, this sports complex hosted numerous cricket matches during summer and state football games in winter.

With a whopping seating capacity of 50,000, being a spectator of a game you aren’t rooting for will be worth the dollar.

Art Gallery of South Australia

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Housing the most famous names in Australian art, roam this parquet-floored gallery while taking in all of Australia’s most celebrated works of art. Here you can see exhibitions of Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Asian, European and even North American art.

One thing that you might want to celebrate about is the gallery’s free guided tours daily (11AM to 2PM) and lunch talks during 12:30 PM on Tuesdays.

Central Market

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Feast your eyes on local produce and weird culinary items on Adelaide’s main market which is home to 250 stalls of various genres.

It is here where you can see creative attacks and approaches on the usual Adelaide cuisine and be sure to come in here all hungry so as you can take in as much food as you can from Adelaide cooks and kitchen geniuses.

Adelaide Zoo

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Amidst the megalomania in concrete and cemented pavements, Adelaide would not let go of their natural roots with the majestic Adelaide Zoo. Dating back from 1883, the Adelaide Zoo is well-kempt by the government and is fully operating with an enchanting list of 1800 exotic and native animals under its care.

As what a usual zoo would offer, day tours are available, feeding sessions with the animals and children’s zoo is open to the public. Be amazed with the Wang Wang and Funi, Adelaide Zoo’s giant pandas and main attraction to tourists.

Cooper’s Brewery

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What is a trip without a tour on the city’s main watering hole? Be informed on how Adelaide’s alcoholic beverages are being made from the crop to the bottle through Cooper’s tours inside the brewery.

If you want to take a deeper research on how Adelaidean beer are being made, take a walk into Cooper’s Brewery’s bottling hall and museum. From Islington Train Station, which roughly 1 kilometer away, trek the road and be sure that you’re 18. Reserve a slot to experience the wonder which is Cooper’s Brewery.

Penfolds Magill Estate Winery

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Home to Aussie’s best-known wine legend Grange, make some time into visiting this centennial-old wine field and be in touch with your wine connoisseur alter-ego.

Also be ready in shelling out some money into eating on its home restaurant and replenish with their cured wines.

http://laurenceourac.com/be-immersed-in-adelaides-modern-take-in-city-life/

Images:

(1) www.at4.swwwipe.com
(2) www.adelaidesightseeing.com.au
(3) www.watpac.com.au
(4) www.hindmarshplumbing.com.au
(5) www.ournakedaustralia.com.au
(6) www.campingforkids.com.au
(7) www.trevorstravels.com
(8) www.thescreamingartichoke.com
(9) www.lonelyplanet.com