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The spectacular seascape at Ha Long Bay can stun the most powerful into humility.
This UNESCO World Heritage site is in northeastern Vietnam’s Gulf of Tonkin, in Quang Ninh Province. The lush emerald and turquoise waters harbor over 1,600 mostly uninhabited—and thereby undisturbed—islands and islets, according to UNESCO.

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Even in a country with the diversity of Vietnam, the spectacular seascape at Ha Long Bay can stun the most powerful into humility.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is in northeastern Vietnam's Gulf of Tonkin, in Quang Ninh Province. The lush emerald and turquoise waters harbor over 1,600 mostly uninhabited-and thereby undisturbed-islands and islets, according to UNESCO.

In Vietnamese, Ha Long means "descending dragon." Dragons play a prominent role in Vietnamese culture, and the most popular legend has it that one such creature and her children descended from heaven to defend the Viet people from invaders, spraying fire and emeralds or jade. She and her children then stayed on Earth.

The jewels eventually formed towering limestone formations, and over millennia, their protective crags and jagged edges evolved into the backdrop of green islands, towers, and water relished by visitors. A nearby bay, Bai Tu Long, refers to the children of the dragon.

"These legends strike a chord with Vietnamese beliefs and history in two ways," says Hanh Tran, lecturer of South and Southeast Asian studies at the University of California, Berkeley. "First, the history of fighting against invaders. Second, the belief that Viet people are descended from a dragon father (Lac Long Quan) and a fairy mother (Au Co), and that there is a sacred, hidden power to support them in their war efforts."

That's not to reduce the charm of Ha Long Bay to the fanciful. From a scientific viewpoint, it's remarkable as "a very evolved, very advanced, unusual looking karst landscape," says Robert Brinkmann, professor of geology, environment, and sustainability at Hofstra University in New York. Most such formations are on land, such as in Florida or Puerto Rico, and not on the water.

"What's unusual about the karst towers at Ha Long Bay is that such a beautiful place inspires not just geologists, but artists, science, and painters to come together to understand the landscape," Brinkmann adds.

Ha Long Bay is 103 miles (165 kilometers) from Hanoi (formerly known as Thang Long, "Ascending Dragon.") It's accessible by bus, taxi, motorbikes, ferry, hydrofoil, and private tour companies. You can also take a Ha Long Bay transfer directly from the airport. To cut the journey from up to four hours down to about 45 minutes, consider a helicopter or seaplane. A tour company from Hanoi is highly recommended, as most people at Ha Long Bay will be on tourist boats anyway.

Most visitors take an overnight boat tour of Ha Long Bay to experience at least one sunset and one ethereal sunrise. "You can stay closest to the water and the limestone islets as well as do activities such as kayaking, swimming, and visiting fabulous caves," says Tran Trong Kien, CEO of TMG, a travel company in Asia.

Megan Hardesty, co-founder of Cohica Travel, seconds kayaking. "Many boats offer this as part of the cruise, but a lot (especially the big ones) do not. It was amazing-one of those experiences that forces you to be completely in the moment. The limestone cliffs just tower above you when you're floating alone on the calm water."

To get off the beaten path, Kien recommends taking a seaplane, which are run by Hai Au Aviation, a TMG subsidiary. "At the moment, cruising in Ha Long Bay is limited to just five routes, but flying with seaplanes, you get to view the whole bay and admire its grandness and the amazing formations of the islets."

The best time to go is from March to May or September to November, which is generally a good time to visit Vietnam to avoid the extreme heat. Vietnamese summers bring monsoons, and winter can be cloudy and cool (50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit).

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Sail Through Ha Long Bay's Dreamy Seascape

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Even in a country with the diversity of Vietnam, the spectacular seascape at Ha Long Bay can stun the most powerful into humility. This UNESCO World Heritage site is in northeastern Vietnam's Gulf of Tonkin, in Quang Ninh Province. The lush emerald and turquoise waters harbor over 1,600 mostly uninhabited-and thereby undisturbed-islands and islets, according to UNESCO.

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If you have the opportunity to visit Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, I suggest that you should go to The Grand Palace. It is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam 1782. The king, his court , and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925.  Within the palace complex are several impressive buildings including
Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which contains the small, very famous and greatly revered Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century.

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Sigiriya is a rock built by the King Kasiyapa during the ancient era. Its has astonishing painting inside the wall. You may see them when you visit to Sri Lanka.

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Tokyo is capital city of Japan. There is many various tourist attractions in Tokyo. If you come to Tokyo, You should go to Skytree. You can see breathtaking views from observation room. I recommend you to go there at night! It’s so nice!!!

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If you go to Kyoto, I really want you to go to Kiyomizu temple. It’s  stunning view and you can see many historical buildings. Especially, autumn leafs is match the temple very much. Even on the way to the temple , you can enjoy a lot of souvenirs shop or sweets restaurant.  I’m sure you’ll have great time !

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CARTAGENA - COLOMBIA
Cartagena is a port city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. By the sea is the walled Old Town, founded in the 16th century, with squares, cobblestone streets and colorful colonial buildings. With a tropical climate, the city is also a popular beach destination. Reachable by boat are Isla de Barú, with white-sand beaches and palm trees, and the Islas del Rosario, known for their coral reefs.

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saudi arabia

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saudi arabia

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Komodo - The Largest Lizards in The World

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Komodo - The Largest Lizards in The World

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Komodo dragons are the largest, heaviest lizards in the world — and one of the few with a venomous bite. These stealthy, powerful hunters rely on their sense of smell to detect food, using their long, forked tongues to sample the air. They can spend hours waiting for a sizable meal to wander within range before launching a deadly attack with their large, curved and serrated teeth.
Located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores in the East Nusatenggara province.

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China

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Looking for something to do on the weekend? Catch a bus, get a lift with your homestay or share an Uber with your friends. Use all your senses and smell your way around a rainforest, see amazing Aussie flora and fauna, hear the birds in the tree tops, taste the fresh air, and feel your stress melt away.

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10 Best Short Bush Walks | Must Do Brisbane

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10 scenic and easy bush walks of an hour or less in and around Brisbane

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Places to go swimming within 1 hour of Brisbane

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Places to go swimming within 1 hour of Brisbane

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Kondalilla Falls near Montville (Sunshine Coast hinterland) and Cedar Creek at Mount Tamborine (Gold Coast Hinterland) are my favourites!

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Best Swimming Holes Around Brisbane | Must Do Brisbane

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Here's 7 of the best bush pools and swimming holes around Brisbane

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This has a link to some basic information (click on headings to access more information) that students of mine have put together over the years. They are recommendations of places these students visited while living in Australia and loved.

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Prolific Explorer Lisa Owen has been scouring the Queensland countryside in search of waterfalls and boy did she find some beauties. Check out her seven favourite waterfall hikes near Brisbane.
Put your hand up if you love a waterfall! Let's be honest, who doesn't love a waterfall? Luckily, after some pretty solid exploring over the last year, I've managed to suss out some of the best near Brisbane.

Cronan Creek Falls - Mt Barney National Park

Cronan Creek Falls is a hidden gem of south-east Queensland - and it's accessible for beginner hikers. The falls are located in the foothills of the magnificent Mt Barney.

To get there, you'll pass Mt Barney to your right and Mt Ernest on your left as you traverse the fire trail up to the falls. The trail follows Cronan Creek, which also makes for some scenic photo ops.

The falls sit off the fire trail and you'll need to do a short bush bash to get to the base.

Plan for around 4-5 hours for the 13km round trip, starting from the Yellow Pinch Reserve carpark.

Warrie Circuit - Springbrook National Park

Along the Warrie Circuit you'll come across not just one waterfall, but up to 10 if there's been recent rain. My favourites along the track are Rainbow Falls and Goomoolahra Falls.

It's best to do the circuit anti-clockwise. The return hike from Tallanbanna Picnic Area - bypassing Twin Falls on the way back - is nearly 20km in total.

You should allow up to eight hours to complete the circuit. Because the hike is so beautiful, you're sure to be stopping to take in the views all the time!

Another great waterfall hike in Springbrook National Park is to the base of Purling Brook Falls. The circuit is 4km return.

Coomera Circuit - Lamington National Park

The Coomera Circuit was the first waterfall hike I did and left me craving more! It's a great one for hikers wanting to get some more distance on the legs - as well as take in the beautiful scenery in Lamington National Park.

The hike is 17.4km return and starts from the Border Track in the Binna Burra section of the National Park.

You'll pass the beautiful Coomera Gorge and Coomera Falls along the track, as well as the Bahnamboola and Neerigomindalala waterfalls. Allow about six hours for the return hike.

Green Mountains Section - Lamington National Park

Coomera Circuit isn't the only fabulous waterfall hiking trail in Lamington National Park.

On the Green Mountains side, you're spoilt for choice and I can't pick just one trail. Choose your own adventure from the Box Forest, Albert River or Tooloona Creek circuits.

These hikes vary in distance from 10.9km to 21.8km return, and all start on the Border Track near O'Reilly's Guesthouse. Be warned - watch out for leeches in these parts. You'll need to bring insect repellent with you and it's a good idea to wear long pants and sleeves.

Larapinta Falls - Lamington National Park

Larapinta Falls rates high on my list of the best waterfall hikes near Brisbane - but this hike is harder than the rest. The trail is not maintained and is hidden in a remote section of Lamington National Park on the Christmas Creek side.

It will take you about three hours one way to get to the falls, which includes a one kilometre rock hop. The trail follows Christmas Creek most of the way, however you may have to divert occasionally due to tree falls and erosion.

The waterfall is worth the effort, and the walk in is equally as scenic as the destination. As you make your way up Christmas Creek, you'll pass glistening cascades among the lush rainforest.

To get to the base of Larapinta Falls, drive to the end of Christmas Creek Road, follow Christmas Creek for about 90 minutes, then start the rockhop upstream. The rocks can be really slippery (which makes the hike hard work) so extra care needs to be taken.

Allow at least 5 - 6 hours for the return trip.

Minyon Falls - Nightcap National Park

Across the Queensland border, but still only a two-hour drive from Brisbane is Minyon Falls.

The 7.5km circuit route to the base of the 100 metre Minyon Falls starts from the falls lookout. The trail then heads down the ridge through beautiful rainforest. There's a short rockhop to reach the base.

The return routes takes you up the other side of the ridge, passing the Minyon Grass Lookout and its distant view back to the falls.

Allow about three hours for the return trip.

Queen Mary Falls - Main Range National Park

Standing at the base of Queen Mary Falls is a must do for any outdoor lover. You'll be in awe of the striking falls as they cascade 40 metres down the cliff face.

The circuit to the base of the falls is only short at 2km, but you can also get some more waterfall action at nearby Daggs Falls and Brown Falls.

Queen Mary Falls can be accessed off Spring Creek Road at Killarney, about a two hour drive south-west of Brisbane.

The Best Of South-East Queensland
Sunrise Without The Crowds // Mt Cordeaux (QLD) The Best Of The Granite Belt // QLD and NSW 10 Peaks in 10 Weeks (South East QLD) Beyond The Lower Portals // Barney Waterfall, Mt Barney (QLD)

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7 Best Waterfall Hikes Near Brisbane - We Are Explorers

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Prolific Explorer Lisa Owen has been scouring the Queensland countryside in search of waterfalls and boy did she find some beauties. Check out her seven favourite waterfall hikes near Brisbane. Put your hand up if you love a waterfall! Let's be honest, who doesn't love a waterfall?

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This facebook page hosts a range of topics on languages around the world (including English), and info related to Brisbane... what's on.

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Learning English in Bris Vegas, Oz. 92 likes. Interested language, culture and things to do in and around Brisbane and Australia. Here are some resources...