Not all sightseeing goes as planned - for instance, seeing Taal Volcano on Luzon Island, Philippines, from People’s Park in the Sky, the highest observation point, was a complete disaster! Thankfully, we had a chance to observe the scenery from another spot, Twin Lakes Tagaytay. This is a redeveloped area with a vineyard, hotels, shops, cafés, and scenic views (and they have a Starbucks with the best views in the world, too!).
Don’t forget to check my guides to Manila and Luzon island, Philippines, at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎
Where to go in Venice? Save my list! Basilica St Marco Gran Canal Rialto Bridge Doge’s Palace Rialto Fish and Vegetables Market Saint Mark’s Square San Michele island Libreria Aqua Alta Bridge of Sighs Caffé Florian Galleria dell’accademia Venetian Ghetto Madonna Dell’Orto Church Fortuny palace Murano Island Scuola Grande di San Rocco House of Goldoni Museo Сorrer and National Archaeological Museum of Venice Burano Island Peggy Guggenheim Museum Lido of Venice Museum of Music Squero di San Trovaso Basilica Santa Maria della Salute Arsenal of Venezia Ca’ Rezzonico
Thank you @siberian_in_rome you make me feel the prettiest!
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The most burning question if you stay in Lusail, Qatar: the Raffles or the Fairmont?😱 [my guide to Lusail is live, link in bio]
Two hotels are located inside the iconic Katara Towers and are interconnected by a massive conference hall.
🔸Rooms at the Fairmont (photos 1-10) feature a unique mix of modern luxury and traditional Arabic golden elements, with subtle decor honoring pearling, the Gulf’s most famous historic craft. I even felt like the bed was shaped like an oyster shell! And just wait until you see the view from our room - there were also several great spots to sit and admire the panorama.
In the Fairmont lobby, there is an impressive pearl chandelier, and the entire interior glitters with golden panels. On top of that, the hotel features a fantastic Asian restaurant and bar on one of the upper floors with breathtaking views over the city!
🔸At the Raffles hotel (photos 11-20), the rooms are super modern, featuring an iPad to control the music and browse the digital bath menu. The interiors are absolutely breathtaking: both in our room and the hotel’s public areas, from the kaleidoscopic lobby with changing sky colors throughout the day, up to the breakfast area. Head up to the 36th and 37th floors to feel like you’re on top of the world; the views from up there are incredible! I’d also highly suggest having afternoon tea here: it’s served on a Katara Tower-inspired stand with Wedgwood tableware, along with an impressive selection of sandwiches and desserts. The cherry on top? The hotel even has its own private cinema!
🔸Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspiration and find more itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio #purpurpurpur_hotels
New article is live at purpurpurpur.co.uk: best sights to see in Lusail, Qatar 😍 I’m sure you’ve heard about Doha, the capital of Qatar, but what about Lusail? It is considered the second largest city of Qatar but feels like a part of Doha. It’s a satellite city with many buildings still in development, and it’s hard to notice where Doha ends and Lusail begins. However, it’s a different entity with its own attractions, don’t miss this fantastic spot!
Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspiration and find more itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎
Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspiration and find more itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio #purpurpurpur_eatinghabits
Looking to stay close to nature in Singapore? The treehouse of this hotel gives you access to what might be the coolest pool ever - it’s shaped like a bird’s nest and located right above the jungle canopy! 🌿🌿🌿 📍 @mandairainforestresort
[free stay] Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspiration and find more itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio #purpurpurpur_hotels
Save a list of dishes to try in Marrakech, Morocco!
🔸Tagine A slow-cooked stew with couscous served in tagine, a clay pot with conical upper part 🔸Tangia Marrakchia Slow-cooked lamb prepared in a clay pot (for instance, at Terrace Des Espices) 🔸Bessara Soup with beans or peas 🔸Kaab el Ghazal Crescent-shaped pastry alluring to the gazelle horns and made with almond paste (come to the Kasbah café with a panoramic view) 🔸Jawhara Pastilla Layered dessert made out of fried dough and sweet milk (we tried the best at Mamounia) 🔸Fresh Orange with Honey and Cinnamon 🔸Saffron Ice Cream (best served at the café in Anima Garden) 🔸 Moroccan Mint Tea Served throughout all cafés and riads in Marrakech, I liked the one at the House of photography’s rooftop 🔸Specialty Arabica coffees and desserts at Bacha Coffee café and shop
Video also features Fez, Meknes and Casablanca
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I’m sure you know about Marrakech and Fez, but what about Meknes, one of four imperial cities of Morocco?🇲🇦 It was founded in the 11th century and for centuries remained a military citadel until Moulay Ismail, the sultan from the Alaouite dynasty, made it the capital in the 17th century.
Save your list of what to see there: 🔸Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail 🔸Bab Mansour 🔸Royal palace and Agdal reservoir 🔸Place El Hedim 🔸Medina of Meknes: Museum of Meknes, Museum of Music, the former psychiatric hospital for women in Dar Chrifat, and the library and mosque of Jamaa Lakbir open to Muslims only
More activities: 🔹Learn about local artisans: Carpet weaving; Damascene technique of decorating metal objects with silver threads that came from Jews expelled from Spain; Christian and Islamic embroidery traditions 🔹Eat at Palais Ismailia 🔹Take a short trip to the Roman archaeological site Volubilis
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New guide is live at purpurpurpur.co.uk: Rabat, Morocco!
Rabat is located a bit far away from the usual tourist itineraries of Morocco. It’s the modern capital city and the main administrative center of the country for more than a century since the French transferred it here from Fez in the early 20th century. Besides that, Rabat is the cleanest and most organized Moroccan city of all we visited!
Rabat was founded in the 12th century by the sultans from the Almohad dynasty, thus it’s the fourth imperial city of Morocco (we visited all of them) alongside Marrakesh, Fez, and Meknes. Although its population is just below 600 thousand, together with Salé and Kénitra on Rabat’s sides, it doubles in size and makes quite a large metropolitan area.
It took us 1.5 hours by car to get here from Casablanca, but you can also go by train.
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A must-visit modern attraction in Manila, Philippines? 📍DNA Museum @dna.museum DNA stands for the Digital National Art Museum, and it has the same concept as the TeamLab museums in Japan, the art museums in Dubai, and the Art and Science Museum in Singapore. There are 12 immersive rooms with various installations, all dedicated to various natural objects or natural phenomena. Actually, all the graphics and music synchronization are really good, and you will definitely enjoy your visit. I was really surprised to see installations of this level in Manila. At the very end of your visit, you can participate in an immersive drink experience. I tried a similar one in Dubai, and I absolutely had to try this one as well. A bare branch starts blooming once you receive your chosen drink, and once the Sakura petals stop falling, a small fish appears in your cup. Absolutely magical! The DNA Museum is also located within the Ocean Park area. The majority of museums in Manila are closed on Mondays – keep this in mind – but the DNA Museum is an exception....