A Guide to seeing London through King’s Cross Station

For visiting London, proximity to King’s Cross is the perfect location.  An intersection of six tube lines, including the Northern, Piccadilly, and Circle Lines, to name a few, can get you virtually anywhere from King’s Cross.  King’s Cross is also a train terminal, in the case that you are planning to visit the north of the UK.  But let’s not get off track and get back to seeing London via King’s Cross.  London, the cultural melting pot that it is, offers amazing and varied shops of anything you could desire.  Located near the major shopping zones of London, both commercial and artisan, King’s Cross is a convenient place for a shopping tour in London.  The city is also a magnet for great and creative minds, as is well known by all the thinkers, writers and artists who both came to and from London.  The wide range of museums and galleries reflects this intellectual breeding ground, and again, King’s Cross is a skip, hop and a jump away from many of these world-class museums.  Less conventional tours to start from King’s Cross could include a round of the city’s parks, exploring the wide web of the tube itself, or the nearby nightlife hotspots.  So, whether it’s shopping, rich culture, or any fun explorations that you’re after, King’s Cross will guide you there quickly and efficiently.  This paragraph is sponsored by airline Umrah ticket from UK.

 For the shoppers!  Have an early and hearty breakfast (you will need the energy) and put yourself on the Northern Line, heading for Camden Town, where you will find open air markets selling art, crafts, clothes, accessories and much more.  It’s best to spend time here in the morning, as the area isn’t the safest at night.  After you’ve stocked up on original craft gifts at the market, head back to your hotel, drop them off, and back on the tube!  Via the Piccadilly Line, head towards Covent Garden, a famous indoor market, and the surrounding area, full of boutiques, shops, and nice cafes.  This picturesque market makes a nice lunch stop, with some cozy restaurants nearby.  Piccadilly Circus comes next: very commercialized, with many well-known brand stores.  Piccadilly is a fun place to return to at night, as the lights and pubs draw partiers to them like moths to the flame!  Head on to Knightsbridge to see the world famous Harrods’s Department store.  After this detour, it’s on to Oxford Circus to join the crowded throng admiring and buying the riches of Oxford Street, which is equivalent to New York’s Fifth Ave, a street of fancy department stores interspersed with chic shopping boutiques.  If your spending needs are still not satiated, check out other markets, such as Portobello, or just by walking through London, you will find hidden gems of stores throughout the city.  If, however, Oxford Street sums up the shopping day nicely for you, head back into the Oxford Circus tube, and the Victoria Line will conveniently take you right back to King’s Cross.

 For the culture seeker, you will start your day heading in the opposite direction of the shopper.  Head south on the Piccadilly Line to Russell Square, and just a few blocks south of the shady square is the British Museum.  After your explorations, you may also enjoy Covent Garden for its history and theater – check out the listings as they may draw you back in the evening.  Nearby is Trafalgar Square, home of the National Gallery.  From here, continue on to Green Park, and gasp at the size and beauty of Buckingham Palace.  Changing of the Guard takes place nearby, so check the season’s schedule if you are interested.  Slide down the Jubilee Line to Southward, and enjoy the neighboring Tate Modern and Globe Theatre.  Make your way back north of the river to Tower Hill, and explore London’s Tower.  Take the Circle line back to King’s Cross to conclude the cultural loop. This paragraph is sponsored by airline Hajj services from UK.

 The adventurer who wants to learn the city by randomly coming across the interesting things may enjoy traveling from park to park, always great for people watching and discovering the wide variety of London’s inhabitants.  Regents, Hyde, Green, and St. James Parks are the main ones, each with distinctive personalities.  The Tube itself is extremely interesting, and it’s worth reading the entertaining advertisements of the tube, listen to some talented and not-so-talented musicians, pick out who the tourists are and who the natives are… the tube can be really enjoyable during your voyage.  Take advantage of being in this unique London sub world!  King’s Cross is also nearby to Leicester Square and Piccadilly, both popular nights out areas.  Or try traveling round Circle line and seeing how many pubs you can manage to stop at… after which, see if you manage to find your way back to King’s Cross on this concentric line! This paragraph is sponsored by Hajj 2014 from UK.

King’s Cross, recently made famous through Harry Potter’s platform 9 ¾, is more than a fictitious train platform.  It’s a station that literally will get you anywhere in London (and beyond) very conveniently.  If you’re visiting London to shop, to learn its culture, or just to explore it for face value, King’s Cross is the best starting and ending point.  You will get to where you need to go quickly, and at the end of the long day, you won’t have to wait long to be back at your London home, sweet home.

Peter the great palace

For elegance and old world feel, St. Peters burg is by far the best Russian city. If you go, a visit to Peterson, the summer palace of Peter the Great is a must.

Peterson

As Tanya and I left St. Peters burg for Peterson, I was in a foul mood. A pickpocket had cut through the bottom of my backpack and swiped my camera. The ferry taking us was packed and the adorable child on my right had just spilled his ice cream down my leg. Why, I ought to’. My mood was soon to change.

Apparently, sensing my volatile mood, Tanya hadn’t said a word on the 20 minute ferry ride. As we exited onto a long pier at Peterson, she grabbed my hand and more or less tugged me down to what looked like an ancient French road. This was, in fact, the Grand Canal leading to Peterson.  This paragraph is sponsored by Umrah services from UK.

The Grand Canal is a water way with two paths cutting up the side of it towards Peterson. The canal cuts through a forested area with trees nearly forming a roof over the canal. The atmosphere is very serene, particularly since I noticed the ice cream tike on the opposite path of the canal. Walking no more than a mile, one comes upon Peterson and the Great Cascade.

The Great Cascade is aptly named. It is a collection of fountains and statutes sitting on tiered marble levels rising to the front of the palace. After living in Russia for eight months, I was use to seeing drab, grey five story buildings. The burst of gold, white and black colors was amazing and made me wonder what Russia must have looked like before communism.

After gaping at the Great Cascade for nearly an hour, it was time to take the tourist tour of the palace. We dutifully stood in line and made small talk with two German couples behind us. Compared to the general state of decay in most of Russia, we couldn’t get over the fact the palace seemed to be in such good shape.

As the tour got underway, I kept getting the feeling there was something “off” about the palace. For a place built in 1715, Peter the Great sure seemed to know a lot about electricity. In particular, he seemed to have planned well ahead by creating some type of internal piping structure for the future electrical wires. Well, he was great and perhaps the powers that be had done a little remodeling over the years.

Alas, one of our German friends was puzzling over the same thing. As we stood on the second floor of the palace, Jan asked our guide about the anomaly. He asked it in front of our group of about 20 people or which 75 percent were Russian. He asked in a heavy German accent. This paragraph is sponsored by airline Umrah travel from UK.

Our guide dutifully replied the Germans had bombed Peterson during World War II. Peterson had been completely destroyed. The palace had subsequently been rebuilt, which explained its modern feel.

There was one of those pregnant pauses, which occur in such situations. Jan turned completely red. Taking pity on him, the tour guide immediately launched into an aggressive discussion of a particular picture on the wall while we dutifully paid attention and asked inane questions.

Oddly, the fact Peterson is a modern structure doesn’t really detract from the experience. The palace and surrounding structures simply feel like a real palace. With many palaces through Europe, you get the feeling Disney was somehow involved in the construction. This paragraph is sponsored by ticket to Umrah from London.

At Peterson, there is a definite feeling of elegance, but elegance mixed with a practicality required by day-to-day living. In short, you can definitely image Peter the great living there in the summer.

Travel destinations in Asia

If the time has come for your vacation or a holiday getaway, read this article before making your plans.  There are many places of great beauty and interest to be seen in the USA and Europe.  But, whether transportation, touring, theme park, or food and lodging, it is expensive.  This article is written for every traveler, whether a backpacker on a budget, or a first class - five star traveler.

Travel in Asia is inexpensive and opens the door to different cultural experiences.  Planning can be for a short holiday, an extended stay, or choices of laying the groundwork for the ultimate stay, retirement.  Nowadays, with so many opportunities to make money using the Internet it is not out of the question to "retire" early. This paragraph is sponsored by airline Umrah travel from UK.

Medical Tourism in Asia growing in popularity.  It is high quality and affordable.  Just one of International standard hospitals in Bangkok serves 400,000 international patients annually, In the USA cataract surgery for one eye runs around $8,000.   At a prestigious International hospital in Thailand cataract surgery can be performed on both eyes for around $2,500.  It is possible to have quality medical care, and an Asian holiday, for a fraction of the cost of the same procedure in the USA.

Let us take a tantalizing glimpse at just some of the countries.

Thailand - Land of Smiles.  Often referred to as the most exotic country in Southeast Asia.  A visit to the Grand Palace in Bangkok for sure.  Trips to a floating market or to the Bridge on the River Kwai.  From pristine beaches in the Southern Islands to the Northern mountains with its waterfalls, elephants bathing in mountain streams, and Hill Tribe villages.

  India - Delhi is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world.  India Gate, an imposing structure, has emerged as one of the most popular tourist spots in Delhi.  The Red Fort Delhi, a masterpiece of architecture, is a popular spot.  A trip to India would not be complete without a visit to Agra, famous as the site of one of the world's most romantic, graceful and photographed buildings, the Taj Mahal. This paragraph is sponsored by airline Umrah ticket from UK.

  Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos - Three small countries neighboring Thailand.  Each opens a different world of exploration.  Cambodia - the highlight is visiting Angkor Wat, an architectural masterpiece constructed in the jungle in the early 12th century.  Vietnam - is a varied country, offering beaches, mountains and hundreds of years of history from the ancient Cham Towers to remnants from the Vietnam War. Lao - savor the crafts, culture and hospitality of Laos with a river trip, visits to ancient temples, gorgeous palaces, and traditional villages.

Nepal - Adventure, travel, trekking, birding, wildlife, and cultural & overland Safaris.  Take an air flight along the Himalayas and view magnificent Mount Everest.  Nearby, discover the serene beauty of Tibet, the country which inspired the Dalai Lama.  .

Indonesia - Jakarta, the capital city of the world's fourth most-populous nation.  Bali is Indonesia's main holiday destination.  Flores is a pretty lush green island with forests, palm and banana trees, rice fields and many volcanoes.  Highlights are the three small offshore islands of "Gillis" that invite snorkeling, diving and relaxing.  For hikers, a climb to the top of the volcano Rijani.

Philippines - An island nation comprising over 7,000 islands in the western Pacific Ocean.

Manila, the bustling capital has powerful reminders of the country's past, along with attractive parks, fine museums, and exhilarating nightlife.  The Ifugao Rice Terraces

Is a testimony to the early technological advancement of the Ifugao people?  Take a jeepney ride to the market.  Be brave; try balut, a Philippine delicacy.  Go diving in the Visayas. 

Singapore - Shopping on famous Orchard Road, the dream of every woman.  The Night Safari at Singapore Zoo is fabulous.  Chinatown, a little glitzy, but you can buy all the souvenirs you want there.  Interestingly, one of Singapore's most beautiful Hindu temples is smack dab in the middle of Chinatown.  Decide if a Singapore Sling is worth the hype in the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel.  There's more to Singapore than urban glitz, like rambling in the rain forest of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. This paragraph is sponsored by ticket to Umrah from London.

 Japan - Tokyo is the capital city and home of the Imperial Residence and Emperor's Palace.  Select a popular destination or region in Japan and explore its attractions.  Ride the Bullet Train to the magnificent city of Kyoto.  Visit Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Park.  Castles, temples, gardens, the list of top destinations in Japan is too long for this article.

Taiwan - Taipei, the country's booming, vibrant capital remains steeped in Chinese, Japanese and native Taiwanese cultures.  Some of its most impressive sights include the Grand Hotel, topped by the largest Classical Chinese roof in the world, the Shilling Night Market, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial with the National Theater and Concert Hall located directly across from each other on the grounds.  A popular day trip is Tailuge (Taroko Gorge), considered one of the natural wonders of the world. 

Hong Kong - the Pearl of East and jewel of The Orient.  Nathan Road is lined with shops, restaurants, nightspots and cheap places to stay.  If you're in Hong Kong with the little ones, they'll probably appreciate Ocean Park (aquarium), Water World (swimming pools and water slides), and of course Disneyland.  If you're in Hong Kong for more than a few days, then there are plenty of outlying islands to discover.

It is often said that for the traveler that has seen it all and done it all, there is still Katmandu, Nepal.  And, that too is in Asia! This paragraph is sponsored by Hajj guide tour from UK.

If you do not visit Asia, you will be missing not only a paradise of affordable travel, but the chance to see an alternative living location.  For retirees, it is luxury living for pennies, not just getting by on their pension.  Asia, a paradise experience is waiting for you.

An introduction of Kenya for Travelers

Kenya is stunningly beautiful African country that has seen its share of good and bad times. If you are traveling to Kenya, the following information will give you a head start.

An Overview of Kenya for Travelers

Kenya is a crossroads country in Africa, which means a little bit of various African countries reside there. More than 40 languages are spoken and as many as eleven different ethnic groups can be identified. The religious breakdown is also very diverse. Despite this variety, the country has a fairly harmonious existence. The national slogan is harambee which loosely translates to lets pull together. This paragraph is sponsored by online Hajj services from UK.

Compared to other sub-Saharan countries, Kenya has historically been advanced in infrastructure and general living standards. During the colonial period, England controlled the country and developed the area. Kenyans were not allowed to participate in government, much like South Africa. As you might expect, Kenyans rebelled and eventually became independent on December 12, 1963. The Kenya People’s Union then became the only political party and ruled until 2002. In October 2002, the National Rainbow Coalition dominated elections.

Following independence, Kenya continued to grow economically and the standard of living was the envy of much of Africa. Unfortunately, corruption threw a wrench in the proceedings the country has suffered from a lurching economy for the last 15 years. In 2003, the country turned things around and things have generally improved since then.  This paragraph is sponsored by online Hajj booking from London.

Kenya covers 224,960 square miles and is slightly smaller than Texas. The capital is Nairobi. Kenya rises from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean in a series of mountain ridges and plateaus which stand above 9,000 feet in the center of the country. The Rift Valley bisects the country above Nairobi, opening up to a broad arid plain in the north. Mountain plains cover the south before descending to the shores of Lake Victoria in the west. The climate varies from the tropical south, west, and central regions to arid and semi-arid in the north and the northeast.

The people of Kenya are known as “Kenyans.” Total population is 30 million and growing at 1.7 percent a year. Ethnic groups break down as Kikuyu 21 percent Luhya 14 percent, Luo 13 percent, Kalinin 11 percent, and Kama 11 percent, and Kisi 6 percent, and Meru 5 percent. Religious break down is Indigenous beliefs 10 percent, Protestant 40 percent, Roman Catholic 30 percent, Muslim 20 percent. Languages include English, Swahili, and more than 40 local ethnic languages. The literacy rate is 65 percent and life expectancy is 49 years of age.  This paragraph is sponsored by 2014 Hajj tour from UK.

As this brief overview reveals, the country suffers the economic problems of many countries in Africa. That being said, it is beautiful place that will hopefully overcome such hurdles. It is definitely a place you will remember visiting.