Masada, Israel Travel Guide

On the Judean Mesa and the western side of the Dead Sea rise the cliffs of Masada. It is a plateau surrounded by a valley and was the location of the tragedy that happened in 73 AD to the zealots. Since then, Masada has been a symbol of National Union.

The Old Testament already mentions the lonely plateau that is located south from Ein Gedi, the kid’s spring and his name mean strength, rock castle, or fortress in Hebrew. The cliff that towers above the level of the Dead Sea with its 434 meters was first fortified by the king around 100 BC. Almost 60 years later, Herod the Great built one of the most significant fortresses of Israel – partly to consolidate his power, partly to protect his family. Later Masada became a Roman garrison that was captured in 66 AD by a group of Jewish rebels – the zealots, starting the first Jewish-Roman war.

The commander of the Legion surrounded the cliff with a wall to cut off escape routes then he constructed a huge stone ramp fixed by wooden stakes against the western face of the plateau allowing the soldiers to finally reach the inside of the fortress. But the Romans did not find anybody alive in the palace because the zealots had chosen freedom instead of slavery. The story is elaborated by Josephus Flavius in his book called “the Jewish war” which over the ages became the second Bible of the Jews. Today, young Israeli soldiers declare the following sentence at their graduation “Masada shall not fall again”.

The plateau is girdled by an almost one-and-a-half kilometer-long circumvallation wall following the winding line of the cliff. 38 watchtowers were built for the guard, their height exceeds 10 meters. A synagogue stood on the western side and different bathhouses were at all kinds of people’s disposal. The designations of the room of the ritual bathing complex can be recognized as follows: the changing room is known as the ippolitarium, the lukewarm bath as the tepidarium, the cold baths as the frigidarium, and the thermal baths as caldarium.

The Columbarium is a separate building on the plateau; it is storage for cremated remains of the deceased. The so-called Western Palace stood on the northwest side of the cliff. According to presumptions, it could be a multi-story building with the suites, rooms, assembly halls, and saloons of the royal family and the guests.

The most stunning buildings of the plateau can be found on the offset levels of the northern cliff – the Northern Palace. It is a breathtaking sight often called Hanging Palace and rightly so. The semicircular room lies on columns at the northern edge of the plateau. Here, you can admire the stones of the reddish rich topography of the desert that lies around the cliff while on the right in the distance the Dead Sea gleams. From here, we can also look down 30 meters below to the ruins of the Round Hill.

The millennium’s old ruins of Masada are still a real treasury for the archaeologists of the world. Hundreds of shards with Aramaic, ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Latin inscriptions were found that date from the time of the Jewish-roman war. These prove the truth of the words of Josephus Flavius who wrote about the events that happened in the fortress. Fourteen scrolls that were found in different corners of the fortress and belong to the books of the Old Testament hold a particular value among the findings. Their elaboration is still in progress, the work of archaeologists is followed with attention by those interested in the cultures of the world.

Las Vegas, Nevada Travel Guide

Las Vegas is located in western Nevada and has a population of about 1,ooo,ooo people. It enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year. If there was ever a city that shouldn’t be it is Las Vegas but it has managed to beat the odds continually. Its rat pack style and casinos have made this city become almost legendary.

As with any city, attractions, services and amenities are incredibly important to the success of that city. For example, north of the border, Edmonton, Alberta has some great places to visit like West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Valley Zoo and service providers like Performance Chiropractic + Sports Rehab to name a couple. Here are the top attractions in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Be prepared to be blown away if your ideas about Las Vegas still look like an old Super 8 movie. The Las Vegas of the 21st century is not just a city; it is like visiting a pleasure planet. It is a total escapist fantasy where everyone comes for a good time. If you are looking for a taste of classic Vegas, head downtown to Fremont Street and into a world of classic casinos, piano bars, and old school cocktail lounges.

Las Vegas Strip
If everything in Vegas is big, it is even a hundred times bigger in the strip. We are not talking about casinos but mythical cities where everything is geared around you having the time of your life. Whatever mood suits you best, you will definitely find it here. If you fancy 3 days of unbelievable indulgence, the Bellagio and her incredible dancing fountains are the perfect places to be. The Caesars Palace or the Luxor is reminiscent of what ancient Rome and Egypt might have been like if they had discovered happy hours, electricity, and cocktails a little sooner.

If you are feeling more tropically inclined, you can kick off your heels and feel the sand between your toes at the Mandalay and Mirage Bay resorts. These resorts on the strip are so self-contained and vast, it is possible to land in one and not want to step outside again for the rest of your stay. But you should step out to explore the unique themes of some other sampling this incredible city has got to offer from shows, dining, and shopping experiences.

Mother Nature still has a few surprises of her own if this neon paradise still isn’t enough for you as the Grand Canyon is a half-a-day drive away and the Valley of Fire is about 50 miles out of town. Las Vegas dazzles like no other City and she is here to remind us that we are here on earth not for a long time but for a good job. Las Vegas promises to be one of the best time you ever had.

Top 3 Ways To Maintain a Good Mental Health When Traveling

Traveling is known to be an exciting, relaxing, and energizing experience. Some people may even find it to be quite lucrative. Although traveling is pretty much always fun, some people may find it to be be quite stressful, which could lead to all sorts of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and even substance abuse. When you travel, you may find yourself in situations where you have to cope with different customs, unfamiliar people, and a new setting. But there is absolutely no reason to worry, because there are some things that you can do to maintain a good mental health, and what’s so good about all these things is the fact that they are pretty easy to pull off. For example, managing your stress and maintaining your treatment plan is very important for your mental health, even when you are on a trip. Another thing that you can do is actually use the trip to improve your mental health. Also, make sure to keep any potential mental health emergencies in the back of your mind at all times.

How To Manage Your Stress When Traveling
Maintaining a good mental health is very important for your overall well-being. This is especially the case when you are traveling – whether you are traveling alone or with a friend. However, traveling with a friend can help improve your mental health. With that said, try to travel with someone who you love and care about. Also, make sure to find someone who is both fun and trustworthy. Don’t travel with someone who you know will cause more harm than good.

Stay Physically Active
Staying physically active is one of the best ways to maintain a good mental health. It can also help you manage your stress, which is always a good thing. Physical activity can help relieve tension, boost your mood, and fill you with positive energy.

Keep in Touch With Your Family
Make sure to contact your loved ones every now and then. Being away from the people you love and care about for too long can cause you to feel anxious and depressed. However, you can overcome this negative feeling by staying connected with your loved ones.

What You Need To Know About Traveling To a Foreign Country

Traveling to a foreign country is one of the most interesting things that you can do in life. For some people, traveling to a foreign country can even be a life changing experience – it all depends on how you look at it. Traveling is the kind of thing that can overwhelm you with emotions and experiences. However, it can also turn you into a great storyteller, and that is never a bad thing. Although this is true in general, it is especially true when it comes to traveling to a foreign country.

Although traveling abroad may sound like a scary thing to you, it is actually much easier than some people may think. After all, everything is nice and simple when you are prepared, right? One important thing that you need to do before each trip is do some research on your destination of choice like the owner of LG Sports and Therapeutic Massage who is very diligent in her planning preparation. Also, don’t forget to take all the documents that you might need during the trip. And by the way, did you know that traveling by train is usually slower than traveling by car? With that said, here are some things that you need to know before visiting a foreign country!

Take Full Advantage of a Map
Make sure to get a reliable map of the area that you are going to, and try to memorize it. Another good thing that you can do is make a list of all the places that you would like to visit. Keep your map in a dry and safe place. If you have access to your laptop, you don’t necessarily have to use a physical map, but it is still a good idea to have one in your backpack, just in case you need it.

Try To Learn the Language
You should try to learn the language of the country that you are going to. Don’t worry, you don’t have to learn everything. However, it is always a good idea to learn some basic phrases.

Don’t Pack Too Much Stuff
One thing that you should never do when traveling is pack too much stuff. Extra bags and unnecessary items will cause more harm than good. That being said, you should only bring the things that you are actually going to need.

What to do in Bohol in 2 days?

The Philippines is composed of 7,107 islands and when it’s your first time to visit the country, it’s just so hard to choose which islands to visit. If you love the water, you can choose from the tropical islands like Boracay or Siargao. If you love hiking and nature in general, you can go to Sagada or Banaue to see the world-famous Rice Terraces. However, if you only have 2 days and you have to choose just one destination but you can’t decide if you wanted to get a gorgeous tan on the beach or a nice hike along breathtaking views of nature, then I’ll give you a good advice. Just come and visit Bohol because it’s the combination of the two and you don’t really need to choose one over the other.

DAY 1

From Manila, you can catch a flight to Tagbilaran City, Bohol’s capital and only city in the island. Choose a flight that would arrive around 8 in the morning so you still have the whole day to enjoy. Upon arrival in the local airport, you will be greeted by a lot of tour guides offering cheap tours. Instead of checking in your hotel, why not go directly with the tour so you can save more time. The best tour you can book for your first day is the Countryside Tour and experience the beauty and rich culture of Bohol in a fun whole day affair.

CHOCOLATE HILLS. One of the highlights of the tour is to see the most famous landmark of the island, the Chocolate Hills. These hills turn green during the rainy season and go back to being brown during summer. Climb atop the observation deck to get the best panoramic view of the landscape.

TARSIER CONSERVATORY. Another famous icon of Bohol is the world’s smallest primate, the Tarsier. The local government made a big sanctuary for these little animals because they are now an endangered species, but you can still pay them a visit and see for yourself how tiny they really are; they’re no bigger than an adult fist.

LOBOC RIVER CRUISE and BUFFET. Food is always part of the tour, and what better way to taste the local cuisine than to ride a floating restaurant and have buffet lunch while cruising the historical Loboc River. To complete the local vibe, a folk singer will serenade you with local hit songs while you enjoy the lunch and scenery.

After the whole day of visiting centuries-old churches, zoos, historical landmarks and adventure parks it’s time for you to check-in to your hotel, have dinner and book an Island Hopping Tour for the next day.

Bohol
Flights to Bohol

DAY 2

DOLPHIN WATCHING. 5:30 AM is the usual call time and that is because you are going dolphin watching first. It’s not like the shows you see on Sea World, you just wait for the dolphins to surface, swim around, jump and do natural acrobats out on the open sea.

BALICASAG ISLAND. The most famous marine sanctuary in Bohol can be found in Balicasag Island. You’ll get your eyes full with vibrant marine life bustling with different fishes and colorful corals, and if you’re lucky enough you’ll get to see giant sea turtles floating by.

VIRGIN ISLAND. The last stop is the long strip of pure white sand called the Virgin Island. It’s a picturesque sand bar where you can capture stunning photos of the pristine sand and blue seas. This would be a nice place to get that gorgeous tan you’ve been dreaming of.

ALONA BEACH. By afternoon, you can freshen up a little bit and prepare for a taste of the island night life in the famed beach strip of Alona. Prepare to feast on mouth-watering seafoods while watching a free for all fire dance show. Stroll around the beach, take a photo of  huge sand castles, or have a good beach massage before having a good night’s rest.

Time constraint is never an issue if you visit Bohol because you only need some research and good time management so you can see a lot with just 2 days of stay. If ever you decide to stay longer, though, there are so more activities that will keep you busy the whole day.

Why You Should Take a Kid-Free Vacation

Let’s face it – regardless of how many kids you have, every now and then, parenthood can be very draining. No matter how much you love your son or daughter, and of course you – just like any other parent out there – love your kid very much, being a parent is not an easy task. There is absolutely no doubt about it – being a parent can really take a lot out of a person (regardless of whether you are a male or female).

The reason why parenthood can be so draining is because you are constantly committing energy to this little guy or girl that needs so much from you, and sometimes you are just not able to give them everything that they want. You are willing to do some things for your baby even if it means that it is going to cost you not just your money, but your physical energy as well. Sometimes, you just want to lay down on your bed and get some sleep, but you can’t because your child wants to play with you. However, there is a solution, and it is a pretty easy one if you ask us. Maybe you just need to take a kid-free vacation every now and then!

Connect With Other Adults

More often than not, parents don’t even realize how many times they talk about their kids each and every single day. By taking a kid-free vacation, you actually get a chance to talk to your spouse about other things in life. This is very important, and the reason why it is so important is that by maintaining a healthy marriage, you become a better parent.

Remember Who You Are

A kid-free vacation gives you a chance to remember who you are outside of parenthood. This is one of the most important reasons why you should consider taking a kid-free vacation. After all, you are much more than just a parent to your child.

Let Someone Else Take Care of You

As a parent, more often than not, you take care of others. You are constantly thinking about your kid’s needs and requirements, and because of that, you rarely find the time to think about your own well-being. A kid-free vacation is all about reversing the roles, even if it is just for a day or two. Just let someone else take care of you for some time, and you will feel much better.