Trivia

It is said that there are at least 61,000 people airborne over the USA at any given time.
Did you know it is illegal to name a pig 'Napoleon' in France?
Tea is an important part of Azerbaijani culture, and is always served during a matchmaking meeting. It is said that if the tea is served without sugar, than chances are that the alliance will not go through!
The deepest subway station in the world is at Kiev. The Arsenal’na metro station on the Red Line is built at a depth of 105 meters.
The Sri Lanka national flag is said to be the oldest flag in the world.
Sri Lanka was one of the first countries in the world to have a woman as a democratically elected Prime Minister.
Chicago is unmatched in many ways: the Sears Tower with 110 floors, is one of the highest building, the Shedd Aquarium is the largest indoor one, and the Art Institute holds the largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of France.
Chicago is unmatched in many ways: the Sears Tower with 110 floors, is one of the highest building, the Shedd Aquarium is the largest indoor one, and the Art Institute holds the largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of France.
In Spain, it is not Friday the 13th, that is considered unlucky, but Tuesday the 13th, that is considered to bring bad luck!
The Kalahari Desert covers approximately 84% of Botswana.
Famous traveller of the 14th century, Ibn Battouta was born in Tangier, where his tomb is a well-known tourist attraction.
Do you know? It was unlawful to sell a Date Palm tree in Morocco, because it was considered as an important source of family food.
Remember the movie The Black Hawk Down that was released in 2001? The movie was shot in the striking locales of Rabat!
While in Morocco, keep loose change in your pocket – you will need it to tip – and there will be a lot of that, as you are expected to tip for any small service rendered!
The city of Casablanca gained popularity because the Oscar winning film of the same name that was released in 1942.
If you are offered mint tea by your host or even a shop keeper in Morocco, accept and enjoy the drink. The offering of mint tea is a sign of hospitality – so do not rebuff it! By the way this mint tea is also known as 'Moroccan whisky' - we assure you there is no alcohol in it, just plain mint tea!
The 380 meters high Krimmler Waterfalls in Austria are the highest in Europe and fifth highest in the world. A hiking trail built by the Austrian Alpine Association makes it possible to get very close to this breathtaking nature spectacle.
In the year 2006, the Business Week rated Bhutan as the happiest country in Asia and the eighth happiest country in the world!
Do you know what a resident of Sydney is called? Sydneysider!
“The city that would not die”, goes aptly with Beirut. Beirut has been destroyed and rebuilt 7 times, keeping pace with its glorious past!
Did you know? Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel in the year 1952. However, he declined the invitation.
The entertainment scene in Wellington, NZ is quite eclectic, so it is called the 'culture capital'. It is home base for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet companies as well as multiple national level dance, theatre, opera and chamber music groups.
Legal at the age of 14? In Venezuela, South America the legal age of marriage for girls is 14 and that for boys is 12. Most of the girls even have their babies by the time they are 16. Quick going, isn’t it?
In for a game of Football? Surprisingly in Venezuela, it does not mean ‘football’ but soccer. So be sure what the Venezuelans really mean when they invite you for a game!
The girls in Venezuela, South America are amazingly beautiful. No other country in the world has had more Miss Universe and Miss Worlds than Venezuela. The country is proud to be home of the beauty queens!
Smoking in public places is banned in Uruguay, South America and the fine is heavy – so be careful and stub those cigarettes out.
Suriname in South America surely has a high rate of literacy – 93%!
In downtown Lima, Peru there is a large statue of the friendly bear Winnie the Pooh, dedicated to all the children.
Because of the Humboldt Current, Lima in Peru is covered in fog seven months of the year. Lima gets very little rain throughout the year and the sky is almost always overcast.
Did you know that duelling between two people is legal in Paraguay, South America but both parties have to be enrolled as blood donors and medical staff has to be at hand!
Guyana is the only English speaking country in South America – the basis probably being that most of the people here are immigrants.
The equator got its name from Ecuador in South America – the Spanish word for equator is Ecuador and it straddles the imaginary line of the equator. Go figure!
Quito in Ecuador has a nickname, 'the eternal spring’. Arguably, Quito has the best weather in the world with day temperatures between 47 - 70 degrees F. Afternoon showers are common, but they tend to be short and the evenings are cool. Absolutely glorious!
The Galapagos tortoise in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador is the largest in the world and can weigh up to a gigantic 1/4 of a tonne!
A strange belief: In Ecuador, South America every year on June 29 - the night before the San Pedro and San Pablo festivals, don’t be surprised to see women jumping over bonfires. It is said that women who want to conceive should jump over them and maybe nine months later they would produce a baby!
Bet you always thought the Panama hat was named after Panama – Surprise, surprise! The straw hats actually came from Ecuador in South America and were shipped to the US through the Panama Canal.
The citizens of Bogota in Colombia certainly are trying to do their bit towards the preservation of environment. Every first Thursday of February the streets are devoid of cars as it is "El Día sin Carro" or The Day without Cars. People either walk or use bikes – no cars are on the road that day.
Did you know 12% of the world's coffee is produced in Colombia?
Chileans use a lot of slang - for instance “Chao pescado!” And no it does not mean you go looking for fish – the person is simply saying goodbye or see you later.
Chile in South America has the distinction of being the longest country in the world as also the narrowest - it is 4300 km long and just 175 km wide.
When in Santiago try their famed drink Pisco, a grape drink, but bear in mind it is heady and too much of it can have you wooly headed in no time!
Sao Paulo in Brazil is the third largest city in the world. With its trade and tourism, the city attracts nearly 17 million people every year.
The towering statue of Christ the Redeemer at Rio De Janeiro in Brazil that watches over the city is deemed as one of the seven wonders of the modern world and was created by French sculptor Paul Landowski.
Did you know that Brazil got its name from the nut and not the other way round?
Make a short trip to the local markets near Plaza San Francisco in La Paz in Bolivia – one of them, called 'Witches Market' sells herbs and potions to cure all ills! Sounds straight out of Harry Potter, doesn't it?
Bolivia in South America has the largest deposit of salt on this earth.
Don’t be surprised if in Buenos Aires you see waiters whizzing past you on the streets, precariously balancing trays of coffee - people here love their coffee, and it is cheaper to order out than brew at home or in the office. Café owners offer free delivery to perk up city residents!
While in Buenos Aires, Argentina take a lesson or two in learning to tango – there are many dancing schools in the city where you can enroll for a class or two.
The original name of Bangkok is a real tongue twister - ‘Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit’. Much simpler to call it Bangkok!
Argentina is so expensive that Argentines delight in taking a holiday in cheap destinations such as the USA!
Bangkok is often compared to Venice. It is sinking at a rate of 2-5 cm every year - the heavy construction coupled with the rising sea levels may see the klongs or canals being used for getting around!
The well known Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, is one of the largest markets in the world. It covers an area of 27 acres and one can buy anything from a pin to an elephant here. Oh, and as the name suggests, it is open only on the weekends!
The Golden Buddha in Bangkok weighing in at a whopping 5.5 tons, is the largest statue of Buddha made of solid gold!It also happens to be the most valuable or expensive religious symbol in the world.
The elephant is a symbol of Thailand, and it is said that some 200 years ago the Prince of Krabi founded an Elephant Farm and it is from here that the elephant got it's exalted place Thai history.
Chiang Mai in Thailand, is rated among the top 10 cities in Asia that is suitable for perfect and peaceful living. If you wish to seek peace and solitude then Chiang Mai is the place where you should be.
Though the famous English film 'The Killing Fields' was set in Cambodia, the hotel scenes in this 1984 movie, were shot (pun intended) in the Railway Hotel in Hua Hin, Thailand.
Rama VII built a summer palace in Hua Hin and His Majesty King Bhumipol of Thailand, now lives here full time.
The hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in South America have occurred in Argentina – no wonder then that it is called, the Land of Fire and Ice!
Ladyboys or 'Katoeys', as they are popularly referred to in the Thai language, are a huge phenomenon in Thailand. They are basically transvestites and some of them so beautiful and convincing, it’s hard to tell them apart from a woman.
Whatever you do, do not yell or raise your voice while talking to a Thai - it is considered very bad manners and will not get you anywhere! A smile will take you forward.
The national language of Singapore is not Chinese or English (those are the official languages) as one may think - it is Malay. The National Anthem is in Malay and it is also the language in which commands are given in the military – yet only 15% of Singaporeans speak Malay!
The largest fountain in the world – the Fountain of Wealth as it is called, is in Suntec City Singapore.
The Night Safari located in Singapore was the first night zoo in the world!
The hot water from the Hulu Tamu Hot spring in Selangor, Malaysia is said to have medicinal properties to heal skin ailments and rheumatism.
Take a spin on an ice skating rink: Toronto has at least a hundred of them around and its free – so take a spin and twirl!
Toronto. No, it is not pronounced 'tuh-ron-toh'. If you want to get the pronunciation correct, say 'Tronno' - coz that's how the locals say it!
Go pub crawling in Halifax, Canada – the city boasts the highest number of bars and pubs serving just about anything heady – from wine to stout to beer and everything in between!
Though the Canadian Rockies are just 300 kms away from Edmonton, yet one cannot see any of the mountains in the Edmonton skyline; even from the top of the tallest building of the city.
The second largest country in the world by total area, including land and water bodies, Canada has little over 3 people per sq km, which is one of the lowest densities of population in the world. To top it all Canada has one of the highest standard and quality of living too!
With close to 3 million lakes, Canada is reputed to have the maximum number of lakes in the world!
Genting Skyway, a mono cable car transit network in Genting Highlands runs the fastest cable cars in the world at a speed of 21.6 kms per hr over a distance of 3.38 km.
Canada has the world’s longest coastline at 202,080 kms.
Mexico City is the largest city in North America and is built over a river. The city is said to be sinking 6 to 8 inches every year because of the large amounts of water that is pumped out to meet the needs of the growing population!
The Mayan word Cancun means ‘pot of snakes’ – but you can be sure that on the glistening beaches of Cancun in Mexico, there are no snakes – only aquamarine waters, golden sand and sun worshippers!
Acapulco is a popular honeymoon destination and some well known presidential couples who have honeymooned there are the Kennedys and the Clintons.
Chocolate was introduced to the world by Mexico, as was Caesar's salad!
The smallest volcano, albeit inactive, in the world the Cuecomate is only 43 ft tall and happens to be in the Mexican city of Puebla. One can actually climb down a spiral staircase into the bottom of the volcano!
The most popular museum in the world is in Washington DC — the National Air and Space Museum, which in the first 25 years of its existence, received a whopping 219 million visitors!
The National Mall in Washington DC is 1.4 times bigger than the Vatican City.
Voted to be the number one tourist destination by The New York Times in the year 2008, Luang Prabang in Laos has no modern buildings at all, which makes the town a perfect place to enjoy the natural culture and heritage of Laos.
The Pentagon is one of the most interestingly shaped buildings in Washington DC. The hallways of the Pentagon are 17.5 miles long!
A tidbit about the White House - it was originally called the President's palace until a Baltimore reporter once called it 'white house'. The name stuck, and in 1901 the then President of the United States, officially named it the White House!
The 'Plain of Jars'is located in Laos where thousands of enormous jars believed to be 2000 years old, sit in empty fields. Each jar is big enough to hold a person in it, and while some experts believe that the jars were used in burial rituals, the main purpose of these jars still remains a mystery.
Surabayan is the dialect that most people in Surabaya, Indonesia speak - it is known for its no-nonsense directness of speech!
The largest and smelliest flower, Rafflesia grows at Sumatra in Indonesia and is said to bloom once in 20 years!
All you coffee lovers - Seattle is the home of Starbucks Coffee!
The first revolving restaurant was built in 1961 atop the Space Needle building in Seattle.
Considering it's reputation as a wet city, (has more rainy days then dry ones) Seattle, sells more sunglasses than any other major city in the USA!
San Francisco is home to the largest Chinese population outside of China, of course! By the way the Chinese Fortune Cookie was invented here.
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is painted almost constantly- it's so big that by the time the painters get from one end to the other, it's time to start again!
When in San Francisco, do visit Lombard Street, one of the crookedest streets in the world.
It is believed that Java in Indonesia is the place where the first ape man lived. To prove the point, a skull of the said ape man was found buried in ice!
Did you know that denim jeans were invented in San Francisco for Gold Rush miners across California, because the miners needed rough and tough clothing that would protect their skin.
Go whale watching if you happen to be in San Diego, USA mid-December to mid-March. At this time over 15000 whales swim their way down from freezing Alaska to the warmer waters of Baja California.
Visit Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio and try the Superman Krypton Coaster – it takes you 16 stories high and then swooshes down in a vertical loop at 70 kmph – thrilling to say the least, but not for the faint-hearted!
Guess how much snowfall Salt Lake City in the USA receives? The average snowfall around Salt Lake City is 500 inches (over 40 feet!) - that is nearly five times the average snowfall of Juneau, Alaska and this is why the mountains surrounding SLC are great for skiing.
Portland, Oregon, in the USA boasts the smallest park in the world – measuring in at 24 inches only, the Mills End Park can hold only one visitor at a time!
It is quite an exercise to buy a six pack beer in Pittsburgh. First, find a shop that sells ‘beer on the go’, then you can buy only one pack at a time, so you will have to go out of the store and return to pick up another pack. And you can only do this up to a maximum of four packs a day!
Pittsburgh in the USA, is a city of bridges – more than 700 of them within city limits!
That yummy, pungent spread, mustard has its origins in Philadelphia - it was first produced in 1768 by Benjamin Jackson in Philadelphia.
The first zoo in America, the Philadelphia Zoo was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1874.
The 2,080-pound Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, is cracked and that happened the very first time it was rung in 1776 due to a casting flaw.
Get in touch with your wacky and insane side at the ‘No Pants Day’ that is celebrated by New Yorkers, usually in May and January. Hordes of people, without pants get in to the subway and roam all over the city!
Did you know that New York subway performers actually have to go through an audition process? So, expect to hear some quality music while on the subway - with some of the singers even having performed at Carnegie Hall!
Besides music, Nashville TN, USA is also known for coffee that’s ‘good to the last drop’ – Theodore Roosevelt actually coined this phrase while drinking locally produced coffee at Maxwell House Hotel, and the coffee was Maxwell House Coffee.
In Bali, during the Hindu festival- Nyepi, almost everything from shops to restaurants shut down for a day, and there is total peace. This is because the inhabitants believe that the evil spirits passing by will leave the island unharmed thinking nobody to be there. Eerie, isn't it?
If in Minneapolis, USA, you are offered a Juicy Lucy (no, it’s not a girl!) in all probability it’s a cheeseburger with a difference - the meat is on top of the burger instead of between the bread!
Indonesia lies on the Pacific belt referred to as the 'Ring of Fire'. Indonesia is home to over 100 volcanoes and lots of them are active!
The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is Russia's best gallery of world art. The museum was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great purchased a collection of 255 paintings, and today the museum houses over 2.7 million exhibits that are worth admiring!
Miami Beach has a huge number of shipwrecks and so is known as the 'Wreck Diving Capital of the Americas’.
It is so apt that the first suntan lotion was invented by Miami Beach pharmacist, Benjamin Green in 1944.
The specialty of Milwaukee is the “frozen custard” – try it, you won’t be disappointed!
Bet you didn't know that Miami Beach is home to the largest snow skiing clubs in the US!
Miami's Art Deco District is an architectural delight and features more than 800 building built in that style.
Life’s a beach – quite literally in Miami, which boasts of 35 beaches along the coast. Spend the day sunbathing and swimming but sorry, beer- read alcohol and glass bottles- are prohibited on the beaches. Sorry to be such a wet blanket!
Los Angeles' full name is rather a tongue twister: "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula." Aren't you glad it was shortened to Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has more stage theaters and museum than any other city in the United States, with 80 stage theaters and 300 museums!
Don’t be surprised to find local wine topping the wine lists in trendy restaurants and bars in Long Island, NY. There are more than 50 vineyards in the area and they produce some real good wine - 500,000 cases of the red and white heady liquid stuff!
The Texas Medical Center in Houston is the largest medical institution in the world. It is the number one cancer hospital, the hospital performs the most heart surgeries here than anywhere else in the world and it was also where Dr Denton Cooley performed the first successful heart transplant.
In 1969,when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, the first word uttered from the moon was 'Houston' when he made his historic statement: “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”
The world’s largest pineapple plantation is located in Hawaii.
The lush green valleys and plains of Hawaii abound with over 2500 species of flora –shrubs, trees, plants and different types of grass all grow abundantly in this beautiful state.
Snakes abound in the Everglades National Park,USA - but be aware that a snake will rarely strike or bite you unless you aggravate it. Believe it or not snakes are more scared of humans than you are!
Bet you didn't know that lightning ignited fires are a common occurrence in the Everglades National Park in the USA.
Did you know that Chicago has the only river that flows backwards? The flow was reversed by engineers about a hundred years ago for sanitary purposes.
Chicago is unmatched in many ways: the Sears Tower with 110 floors, is the highest building, the Shedd Aquarium is the largest indoor one, and the Art Institute holds the largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of France.
Education in Brunei is free and literacy rate is very high. Amongst the youth the literacy rate is a staggering 99%!
With around 200 active museums and 80 theatres, St. Petersburg is known as the city of museums and theaters.
St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia from 1712 to 1918.
Samarkand is over 2500 years old and in the medieval period it was the meeting point of merchants’ caravans from India, Persia, and China because of it's central position on the Silk Route between China and the West.
Lake Baikal in Siberia is known to be the deepest lake in the world with a depth of 1637 metres and it also contains 20% of all the world's fresh water.
In the nineteenth century a punishment for Russian criminals was an exile to Siberia. Dostoevsky, the famous Russian author was exiled to Siberia for five years for his revolutionary activity.
There are 14 universities and 100 research centres in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, making it an important educational centre.
Murmansk situated on the Kola Peninsula, off the freezing cold Barents Sea north of the polar circle, is the northernmost city in Russia.
You will be forgiven if you think you have double vision in Moscow, as 7 of Moscow’s buildings - 2 hotels, 2 administrative buildings, 2 blocks of flats, and the Moscow State University - look exactly the same!
Amazingly, you will never come across any street that has any address in Dubai. Probably because construction is so prevalent here that the roads are ever changing and it becomes difficult to keep a track of street numbers.
Doesn’t this sound crazy to you? At the annual Mongol Rally- London to Ulaanbaatar- people drive 18,000 kilometers in a car to get to Mongolia. The rally finally finishes at a pub with a nice cool beer waiting.
Lake Issyk Kul, meaning ‘warm lake’ in the Kyrgyz language, is the largest mountain lake in the world. Though the lake is enclosed by snow-capped peaks, surprisingly the lake never ever freezes.
Saudi Arabia is the world's largest producer of desalinated water - 33 plants produce nearly two million cubic meters of fresh water from the sea.
Kyrgyzstan has two official languages: Kyrgyz and Russian.
Abraham Lincoln, Jack Daniel, Howard Huges, Tom Cruise, Catherina Zeta Jones, Anthony Hopkins and Richard Burton have Welsh descent.
Welsh alphabets do not have the alphabets K, Q, V and Z.
There are more sheep than humans in Wales. Sheep population is four times greater than the population of humans in Wales.
Isn't it funny that the Prince of Wales is not even Welsh?
Did you know? Oman gained independence from the Portuguese empire in 1651 and till date it follows the system of 'Absolute Monarchy.'
Did you know? Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch is the world’s longest railway station name in Wales.
Kiev, the capital of Ukraine is the greenest city in the world with an average of about 20 square meters of greenery per resident.
Did you know that the Ukrainians were the first people to have lived on Earth? Trypillia, a village that is situated in Ukraine, is believed to be the most ancient civilization in the world. Trypillians lived on the Earth in the period 5,400 - 2,700 BC!
Agatha Christie wrote ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ at Pera Palas Hotel in Istanbul.
Grand Bazaar located in Istanbul, is the oldest and biggest covered bazaar in the world, with more than 4000 shops!
Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continent - Asia and Europe. The city was found on seven hills, just like Rome.
Did you know that pigeons are a source of fertilizer in Cappadocia? Yes, the use of pigeon droppings as fertilizer is the secret behind the famed reputation of Cappadocian fruits as the sweetest and most succulent in Turkey.
Cappadocia in Turkey, was once known as Hattie in the late bronze-age, and the underground city of Cappadocia was built to protect the locals from wild animals.
Turkish coffee and Turkish tea are well known but you need to acquire a taste for the coffee that can be a very bitter experience if you have it in a gulp!Interestingly, it was Turkey that introduced coffee to the Europeans.
You will definitely have a hard time deciding where to eat in Zurich - on offer are more than 2000 eating and drinking establishments. The city has one restaurant for every 180 inhabitants.
Hordes of travellers are attracted to St. Moritz every year for its 3,000 year old mineral springs - well known for their curative effects. Of course, it is also home to the best ski slopes in Europe!
The birthplace of the Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee headquarters are based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Tourists can avail of free travel within Interlaken. On check-in at your hotel, just ask for your Interlaken 'Guest Card' - this allows you to travel on the local buses completely free of charge.
Interlaken in Switzerland, derives its name from the Latin phrase, Inter Lacus, meaning ‘between the lakes’. The town is situated between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun.
Did you know that Interlaken in Switzerland has a population of about 5700 people, of which 24% are foreign nationals!
Did you know that a chestnut tree declares the coming of the spring season in Geneva? Since 1818 the appearance of the first leaves on the official chestnut has been used to decide officially that spring is here!
Davos in Switzerland plays host to the World Economic Forum every year since 1971. At this time, the who’s who of the finance world including world leaders descend on Davos!
Chocolate lovers – Bern in Switzerland is the home of Toblerone chocolate!
Basel in Switzerland, has been a center for learning in Europe. The universities have attracted many famous scholars such as Eramus, Euler (native), Calvin, Froben and Nietzsche.
For such a small country Switzerland has four official languages – French, Italian, German and Romansch.
The Swiss are the largest consumers of chocolates. The average Swiss eats 23 lbs of chocolates per year compared to the 11.7 lbs consumed by each American annually. “Lindt” is the most famous Swiss chocolate known worldwide.
Do you remember Julie Andrews yodelling in Sound of Music? Yodelling originated in Switzerland when one farmer wanted to communicate with the other on the next mountain!
Seems like the Swiss have penchant for time – some of the renowned luxury watch brands, like Baume et Mercier, Piguet, Breitling, Chopard, Franck Muller, Audemars, Longines, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Rado, Rolex, Tag heuer, Tissot are all Swiss.
At the Absolut Ice Bar in Stockholm the temperature is controlled to remain -5 ° C at all times. Warm capes are given to guests on entry and everything in this Ice Bar is made from crystal clear ice, right from the bar stools you perch yourself on to the glasses you drink from! How cool is that?
Stockholm’s metro system, with 90 of its 100 stations being filled with fine works of art like mosaics, sculptures and paintings by over 150 artists, is famous as the world’s largest underground art gallery!
The longest bridge in Europe- the Oresund Bridge connects the city of Malmo with the city of Copenhagen in Denmark. The bridge is built at a height of 1,624 metres and took four long years in its construction.
Did you know that at one time Gothenburg in Sweden, was known as 'Little London'? In the 1800s, many Scot and English traders moved to Gothenburg to take advantage of the high density of trade between Britain and England and many of these traders became very wealthy men in the bargain.
Sweden is a safe place for travellers- as long as you keep a watch out for moose who love to take a stroll on the highway!
The famous artist Goya was born just east of Zaragoza in Spain, and the city is proud to call him their son.
Remember Don Quixote? Miguel de Cervantes who wrote the book lived in the city of Valladolid in Spain.And you would have to pronounce it ‘bah-yah-doh-leed'!
Did you ever watch the movie El Cid? Well this Spanish hero waged the war against the Moors in Valencia way back in the 11th century.
Famous navigator and explorer Christopher Columbus’s final resting place is Seville, Spain. His tomb is in Seville Cathedral and is surrounded by the statues of four kings that represent the four kingdoms of Spain- Aragon, Navarra, Leon and Castilla.
Did you know? Pablo Picasso, one of Spain’s greatest artists was born in Malaga.
The world’s oldest restaurant is in Madrid, and even got itself a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records. The ‘Casa Botin’ has been around since 1725!
The early Phoenicians believed that Ibiza was a magical isle blessed by the Gods. This was because the rich and red soil of the isle was said to be non volcanic and not conducive for the survival of any reptile, animal, insect or plant that could harm human beings.
Did you know? Barcelona is the chocolate producing centre for Spain.
Did you know? The mayonnaise of Menorca is popular for good reason...the well-loved and badly-abused sauce actually originated on this Balearic Island!
The Spanish flag is two red stripes and a yellow stripe in the middle with the Spanish coat of arms on the yellow stripe. Legend has it that the yellow stands for the sand of the bullfighting arena and the red represent the bull’s blood.
In Spain there is a tradition to eat twelve grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve. It is believed that whoever would eat the ‘lucky grapes’ will enjoy good fortune for the rest of the year. Each grape represents a month of the year.
Enjoy Tapas when in Spain. Contrary to popular belief Tapas is not a type of food but a way of eating it. 'Tapa' actually means cover and was conventionally a slice of cheese or ham placed over a drink, probably to keep the flies away!
One in every ten people in Ljubljana is a student, making it a 'young city'!
The biggest ski jump – Planica is located in Slovenia. Visitors to this ski jump have witnessed over 60 world records in ski jumps.
Bratislava is often known as 'the little big city'. Why? Because it is the smallest capital in this part of the world, making it a small city but one that has huge offerings - thus big city!
When in Slovakia take a dip in the natural curative springs that are believed to cure a variety of diseases and ailments. The springs therapeutically effective for the treatment of some allergic diseases and non-specified upper respiratory tract ailments.
Slovaks believe in giving and receiving flowers in odd numbers, except for 13 which is considered unlucky by them. Moreover, chrysanthemums or calla lilies wrapped in purple ribbon are considered inauspicious, as they are reserved for funerals.
When in the Outer Hebrides, make a day trip to St Kilda's - a World Heritage Site. This nature reserve is an important seabird breeding station.
Westray and Papa Westray, two of the Orkney Islands with a population of 700 and 85 respectively, have the shortest scheduled air route in the world. The flight time between the two islands is just 1.5 minutes!
Did you know that the first international football game was played in Glasgow? The game was played between England and Scotland at the West of Scotland Cricket ground in Patrick in 1872.
It was commonly believed in Edinburgh that applying the burnt ashes of dove’s dung would help grow hair on your head. It was widely practiced by the people of Edinburgh to cure baldness in the 17th century.
Isn't it strange but there are about 30 places named Aberdeen throughout the world? Eight of them being in USA alone! Of course the original Aberdeen is in Scotland.
Aberdeen is well known as the “Granite City”. The name holds true for Aberdeen as many of the buildings are made up of pale grey granite whose mica deposits sparkle like silver.
Scotland is well known for its whisky- commonly known as Scotch whisky. In Britain, when one orders for whisky it means Scotch unless specified. Scotch whisky is further classified into two categories - single malt and blended!
A country within a country, San Marino lies totally within the borders of Italy. It is third smallest country in the world; the oldest republic in the world; and a nation that has managed, despite all odds, to maintain its independence.
Did you know that that the Parliament Palace in Bucharest is second in size only to the Pentagon in the USA, as far as office buildings go?
Romania is one of the largest producers of wine in Europe with an annual production of 5 to 6 million hectolitres. Taste some of the finest wines of Romania, Murfatlar and Zarea being the finest ones!!
The famed Madeira wine from Portugal is like no other wine on earth – a very distinct nutty flavor and best when coupled with chocolate, crème bulee or blue cheese!
The world’s earliest recorded hot-air balloon model invented by Father Bartolomeu de Gusmao was flown indoors at the Casa da India, Praca do Comercio in Lisbon, Portugal on 8 August, 1709. He later ran away to Spain for fear of being accused of performing black magic.
Lisbon's favorite attraction the Torre de Belem (Belem Tower) has worn various hats. In the 15th century the tower was built to safeguard the harbor, then in 16th century it served as a prison and today, the tower serves as a monument giving its visitors a panoramic view of the city.
Vasco da Gama Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge, is located just outside Lisbon in Portugal. The bridge is 17 km long 10 km of which pass over water, making it the longest bridge in Europe.
When in Portugal, make sure you have enough change - no one breaks a twenty Euro bill easily here!
You have to be careful while dining in Portuguese restaurants- they will serve you appetizers you haven’t asked for and later present you the bill for them! So make sure you act in a firm manner if you don't want to order any appetizers.
Did you know? Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries - Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Portugal, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Príncipe and Macau.
The metropolitan city of Krakow is also known as the city of churches, and used to be the capital of Poland from 1038 till 1596.
Kraków in Poland, is known by many names:Krakov in Czech and Slovak;Krakko in Hungarian;Krokuva in Lithuanian;Cracovie in French;Kroke in Yiddish and Krakiv in Ukrainian. But who cares? Didn't Shakespeare say 'a rose by any other name would smell as sweet'?
Before 1972 Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon.
According to a legend Krakow, Poland is named after a mythical ruler Krak, who built the town above a cave occupied by a ravenous dragon.
Experience spectacular scenery, ice-choked fjords and wildlife, all under 24 hours sunshine from April 20 to August 23 in Svalbard, Norway. Conversely, December and January are the darkest and coldest months, where literally there is no difference between night and day.
Oslo is called the ‘Tiger City’ because of a huge tiger sculpture in front of the central station, but there are actually no tigers in the city!
Lay your hands on one of the finest liquor in Latvia….Riga Balsams! Liquor made of herbs, flowers, juices and various roots is a must try with coffee, tea, cola, ice cream, or with some tasty cocktails!
Did you know that the taste and aroma of Darjeeling tea vary from season to season, according to the plucking period of the tea leaves?
Bishnupur in West Bengal is the manufacturer of one of the most expensive saris in India - Baluchari Saris. These saris are created by the artistic craftsmen of this city and on one sari you may have an entire episode from the Mahabharata woven into its border or pallu!
India as a country has the largest number of post offices in the world!
The game of 'chess' was invented in India and 'zero' in the number system was also invented here by the renowned mathematician Aryabhatta!
The glorious Taj Mahal of Agra changes its colour several times during the day. In the morning it appears pink, turns white during the day and in the moon light it appears golden. Isn't it amazing?
Sangam at Prayag in Allahabad, India is at the confluence of river Yamuna and Ganga and is a sacred holy site for Hindus. Legend has it that it is called Triveni Sangam because three rivers meet up here - the holy Ganga,Yamuna and mythical Saraswati that is believed to be flowing beneath the surface.
The well-known Ramanathaswami Temple in Tamil Nadu, India is known for its 22 wells. The strange thing about these wells is that the water of each well is different from the other in terms of taste, salinity and temperature. The water of these wells is supposed to have medicinal properties.
In South Korea, the traffic police are required to report all the bribes that they receive from the motorists!
So you haven’t been to the Great Wall of China? Worry not – the second longest continuous wall on earth is right here at Kumbhalgarh, located at a distance of about 64 kms from the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan, India.
Owing to 'no pants' on the legendary cartoon character, Donald Duck cartoons were once banned in Finland!
The holy Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan, India is believed to have sprung up when a lotus petal fell from the hand of Lord Brahma, the Creator.
Did you know that when King Charles II of England married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal in 1661, he was offered Mumbai as a part of dowry, but he refused?
For centuries, the Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra lay hidden, known only to the local tribe people and were discovered by accident only in the 19th century by a British army officer John Smith when he was out hunting.
The gates of the Lalbagh Palace in Indore, India are an exact replica of the gates of London’s Buckingham Palace. They were actually made in England and then shipped to Indore.
Isn’t it strange that the sun never fully sets during the summer months in Norway? You can even witness sunlight until midnight! Because of this, Norway is known as “the Land of the Midnight Sun”.
Rotterdam was originally a town called Rotter built upon which a dam was built, hence the name!
Painters Rembrandt and Frans Hals lived and painted their masterpieces in Haarlem in Holland.
Despite the fact that prostitution is considered a legal profession in Amsterdam, the women engaged in the business aren't allowed to leave the red light district to accost customers.
Amsterdam isn't just famous for its culture or museums; Amsterdam was also the centre of world economy in the 17th century and therefore, the oldest stock exchange in the world is also located here.
Holland is perhaps the only country where soft drugs are legal - there are over 300 coffee shops in Amsterdam which can legally sell up to 5 grams of soft drugs.
If global warming continues to raise the sea level, it won't be long before Amsterdam turns into another Atlantis and is lost forever. It would be one of the first cities to be flooded as most of the city is completely flat and the lowest point in Amsterdam is 6.7 meters below sea level.
In Amsterdam there are more bikes than people - 1 million bikes as opposed to 7,00,000 people!
Did you know that when you land at the Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, you’re actually 4 meters below sea level!
Luxembourg in Europe, happens to be the smallest independent country in the world and the only Grand Duchy state.
In Riga, Latvia there is an interesting restaurant called Hospitalis - it was conceived by doctors, the dining room replicates an operation theatre and the waitresses wear nurse’s uniforms. The cutlery are shaped like syringes and operating tools and test tubes and beakers replace wine glasses!
Venice has no sewage system - all the waste flows into the canals and gets flushed into the ocean with the tide!
Underneath the streets of Siena in Italy, is a 25 km system of tunnels (known as Bottini) that has been a source of water for the houses around since the 12th century.
Rome has a museum which is entirely dedicated to pasta. The Pasta Museum is a one of its kind around the world and showcases different pasta-making machines, as well as paintings related to pasta by contemporary artists.
The St. Peter’s Basilica inside the Vatican City is the largest church ever built.
Mini skirts are banned in Naples!
The word ‘Napoli’ literally means ‘New City’, which is ironical as Naples is one of the oldest city in the world.
The first ever pizza was made in Naples in the 16th century. It was a flat bread covered in oil, white sauce, cheese or fish and was used to check the oven temperature.
In 16th century Naples, kissing was an act that was punishable by death!
Naples is home to Europe's oldest aquarium - The Stazione Zoologica in Villa Communale, which was founded in 1877!
Did you know? In Milan, Italy, there is a law that requires a smile on the face of all citizens at all times. Exemptions include time spent visiting patients in hospitals or attending funerals.
Florence is known as the ‘art capital of Italy’ due to its long association with great painters and sculptors.
Florence was the first city in Italy to mint its own gold coins in 1252.
'All roads lead to Rome' is how the popular saying goes...but did you know that it was Florence, and not Rome that got first got paved roads? Florence got its paved roads in 1339, making it the first city with these roads not only in Italy, but in all of Europe.
The name ‘Capri’ is derived from the Greek word Kapros, meaning wild boar.
Did you know Italy is the world’s largest Kiwi producing country in the world?
Many of William Shakespeare's plays like Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, The Winter’s Tale and The Two Gentleman of Verona, were set in Italy.
Italy is home to some of the greatest fashion houses like Dolce & Gabbana, Georgio Armani, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Ferragamo Salvatore, Gianni Versace, Valentino Garavani any many more.
You will find more masterpieces of art per square mile in Italy, than any other country in the world.
Italy has three volcanoes that are active and the country experiences more earthquakes than any other European country.
With almost 40 million tourists every year, Italy has the most hotel rooms in Europe!
There are more grandparents than grandchildren around in Italy - the birth rate in Italy is one of the lowest in the world.
Italy has many firsts to its name - the Italians were the first to invent ice cream, the thermometer, the typewriter and the eyeglass.
In Italy, they sure drink a lot of coffee and eat pasta - 600 cups of coffee and 25 kgs of pasta per person per year!
Limerick in Ireland, is known as ‘Stab City’ as all criminals here carry knives because guns are not easily available.
Everyone has at some point heard and laughed at a Limerick or two. Limerick poems which have been popular with kids and adults alike, get their name from this Irish city, where such five-lined songs or ‘limericks’ were sung.
Kilkenny is Ireland’s only inland City, starting with the letter ‘K’. All others are situated on the coastline.
Galway in Ireland, is known as the ‘City of Tribes’ because of the 14 tribes that once ruled here and the fourteen roundabouts in the city are named after each of these tribes.
Dublin has produced many a literary writer like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and not to forget George Bernard Shaw.
Do you know Dublin was actually called Dubh Linn meaning Black Pool. This pool refers to the oldest known natural treacle lake in Northern Europe that at present forms the centre piece of the penguin enclosure in Dublin Zoo.
In Dublin there is the U2 wall at Windmill Lane Studios, where graffiti is pencilled all over in tribute to this famous band who have done a major part of their recordings here. Dublin is home to other musicians like Sinead O'Connor and Thin Lizzy too.
Cork in Ireland, is also known as ‘The Rebel County’ because of its radical people who participated vehemently in the War of Independence.
Have you heard of the Blarney Stone and its magical powers? It is said that whosoever kisses the Blarney Stone in Cork, Ireland is endowed with the ‘Gift of the Gab’ meaning the power to speak in a persuasive and flattery way.
Eat 'champ' when in Belfast. Champ is just good old creamy mashed potatoes - they say when champ is coupled with a pint of beer and some fresh oysters or sausages, it is truly an Irish meal to die for!
Are you aware of the fact that the famous ocean liner Titanic was built in Belfast? Yes, it was built here in 1911 and Belfast also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's maiden voyage in 2012 with the opening of an interactive Visitors Centre.
Ireland has a young population - more than half the population is under 30 years of age!
Ever wondered why do most of the Irish and Scottish surnames start with the prefix “O’ or Mac”? Well, O’ in Gaelic means the son of and Mac means the Grandson of/ descendant of or to that of an earlier ancestor.
Do you know what “Pet Day” means in Ireland? No, it has nothing to do with pets. When a day of good weather pops up after a long stretch of bad days in Ireland, it is called “Pet Day”.
Have you heard of Muckanaghederdauhaulia? A real tongue twister – it’s the longest place name in Ireland. Try saying it!
Did you know that beer was banned in Iceland for a good 74 years and was lifted only on March 1, 1989. Beer day is now celebrated on March 1 and bars celebrate this day by serving the best of Icelandic beers. Aptly, the next day, March 2, has officially been declared as the National Hangover Day!
Iceland is one of the few countries on earth that has no defence force – no army, navy or air force! But they do have coast guard service.
Icelanders do not have surnames. They carry forward the names of their father and add “son” or “daughter” to it as their surnames. Thus: If Hinrik had a son named Pala, it would be Pala Hinriksson. If Hinrik had a daughter named Anna, it would be Anna Hinriksdottir.
Budapest is famous for its underground thermal springs which claim to have a lot of therapeutic benefits. The largest medicinal bath in Europe, Szechenyi Medicinal Bath and the Gellert are said to relieve everything from skin disorders to joint problems.
Find a little bit of India and Krishna consciousness in Hungary! Krishna Valley near Balaton, is a refuge of peace and serenity run by ISKCON devotees of Lord Krishna. The residents follow a simple lifestyle and indulge in sustainable organic farming. The credo here is: simple living, high thinking.
Some 3,600 years ago, a great volcanic eruption blew Santorini in Greece to smithereens, leaving a caldera- a volcanic crater lake - in the centre of the isle. Some people believe that this calamity gave rise to the legend of the lost continent of Atlantis.
The Colossus of Helios at Rhodes in Greece, was among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A huge bronze statue, comparable in size to the Statue of Liberty, was toppled by an earthquake in 224 BC. It lay in ruins for nearly 900 years, before it was rebuilt.
Mykonos in Greece has a whopping 300-odd churches; locals say that Mykonos has 365 churches, one for every day of the year!
Did you know that Jennifer Aniston who stars in the US sitcom Friends, can trace her ancestary to Crete?
Crete is the island where Nikos Kazantzakis wrote his masterpiece 'Zorba the Greek'.
Have you ever wondered where were the first modern Olympic Games held? It was in Athens, the largest city of Greece, in the year 1896.
On the way up to the Rock of Gibraltar you will pass Apes’ Den. Yes, it houses apes, and there are many of them! There is a popular saying that Gibraltar will cease to be British on the day there are no apes left in the Rock.
Did you know? Stuttgart State Opera won so many awards because of its extraordinary choir and its innovative staging. Stuttgart ballet has been one of the leading ballet ensembles of the world for more than forty years!
The inventor of the first pocket clock in the world was a native of Nuremberg, Peter Henlein. Nuremberg in Germany was also home to some other great personalities like the poet Hans Sachs, the painter Albrecht Dürer and Martin Behaim.
Did you know? In the Middle Ages, Nuremberg housed 30 to 40 breweries and beer was considered a very important source for the people as the drinking water from springs and fountains was mostly contaminated. Beer was heated and sterilized before consuming.
Remember Hansel and Gretel and the edible witch house? Nuremberg in Germany, is famous for "Lebkuchen," a honey-flavored Christmas cookie filled with nuts and candied fruits which is akin to gingerbread. This was what the 'witch house' in the fairy tale was built with.
The Hofbrauhaus, a traditional Bavarian brewery in Munich, is five centuries old and was opened in 1589. Even today there is an Oompah Band that plays traditional Bavarian songs and wears lederhosen, a traditional Bavarian dress.
The popular mobile company Siemens has its headquarters in Munich and was established in 1847. In 1848 the company built the first long distance telegraph line in Europe, which went from Berlin to Frankfurt am Main.
The roots of the Revolution of 1989, which saw the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany, can be traced to Leipzig. The movement began here and later spread all over the country.
Leipzig derives its name from the Slavik word ‘Lipsk’ meaning ‘settlement where the linden trees stand’.
Did you know? The bicycle was first invented in Heidelberg, Germany by Heidelberg University student Karl Drais.
Take a do-it-yourself tour in Hannover, Germany. Follow the Red Thread painted on the pavement, as it weaves its way through the city taking you to 36 prime attractions. Now that's what we call an interesting way to see the city!
Visit the European Cheese Center in Hannover, Germany - there is a Cheese Village there for you to stroll along and you can find out all that you ever wanted to know about cheese. So head to Hägenstraße 13 to see who moved your cheese!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, novelist, playwright and one of the greatest figures in Western literature was born in Frankfurt.
When in Essen, Germany visit the Alte Synagogue. Built the early twentieth century, this building survived the Third Reich and serves as a living testament on the anguish faced by the Jews under the Nazis regime.
You might be forgiven if you think you have mistakenly landed up in Japan when in Dusseldorf, Germany. There is a very large presence of Japanese people settled here and they even celebrate Japan Day. Needless to say there are number of sushi bars around-so all you sashimi and sushi lovers-enjoy!
Dresden in Germany, is known for its porcelain - this is the place where you get the most beautiful porcelain figurines and china.
Dresden in Germany has a Hygiene Museum – a first of its kind actually!
While in Cologne, Germany you must visit the Roman-German Museum that houses exclusive Roman antiquities from the first through fourth centuries. There is also a 230 foot long mosaic showing Dionysus, the Roman god of wine.
Did you know? The word ‘cologne’ that denotes scented toilet water has its origins in Germany and not France – it gets its name from the German city of Köln or Cologne, where ‘cologne’ has been made since the early 18th century.
The German city of Bremen is the home of the distinctive Becks beer.
They are pretty conservative and conventional in Berlin and Germany when it comes to baby names. You cannot 'invent' a name nor can the name be gender ambiguous! By the way, that is a law and we did not make that up!
In the 18th century Friedrich II banned imported coffee to encourage sales of the local beverage of Berlin: beer!
To own a dog in Berlin you have to shell out an annual tax of €150! It’s an expensive proposition for all you dog lovers out there!
Germany has given the world many important people who impacted the world- from composers like Bach, Handel, Schumann and Beethoven to philosophers like Kant and Hegel, to Albert Einstein to Adolf Hitler to name a few.
Georgia grows some 521 original varieties of grapes, and wine making has been perfected to an art in this country.
A floating post office? Find it on the Dal Lake, Srinagar in Kashmir. Besides selling stamps and doing the regular stuff post offices do, letters posted from here carry a special design that have the picturesque scenes of the Dal Lake, hence promoting Kashmir as a tourist destination.
Panamik, a region in Nubra Valley, Jammu & Kashmir is a popular hot spring of India. The hot spring is believed to cure certain skin diseases only if one is brave enough to immerse in its remedial waters.
It is interesting to know that Ladakh in India does not receive any water from the rain for almost 300 days in a year. The main source of water in the region is the melted water from the snow which is carried down by smaller streams and is used for irrigation.
Khardung La (la means pass in Tibetan) in Ladakh, India is regarded as one of the highest motorable road in world, with an estimated elevation of 5359 meters or 17,582 feet.
Scandal Point a place in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India got its curious name after the daughter of a high-ranking British officer eloped with a Patiala prince from here.
Remember Brigitte Bardot, the beautiful blonde Hollywood actress? Well, she was responsible for putting St. Tropez in France, on the international jet-setter's map!
Provence is among the 8 historic cities in France to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In case you are short on time in Paris, a good way of seeing the sights is to take a cruise on the Seine as almost all the main sights are on the banks of the river.
Check out the Smallest House in Paris is in Quai Voltaire – it is barely one meter wide!
Arrondissements are what the districts of Paris are called and the city has 20 of them. Remember they follow a spiral pattern in clock direction with no. 1 arrondissement being on the right bank and housing the Louvre – so don’t be surprised if you find no. 8 adjoining no. 1!
Did you know that Paris was known as Lutetia (a Latin word meaning simply ‘Midwater Dwelling’) in ancient times?
Nice in France, has a language all its own - Nissart.
Did you know Jules Verne the well known science fiction writer of Around the World in Eighty Days fame was born in Nantes, France? Make it a point to visit the Jules Verne Museum when in Nantes.
Pastis, the famed drink of the Marseille region was invented by a monk in a monastery kitchen. Apparently the monk was trying his hand at making a drink that would be the elixir of life'. So Pastis was concocted as the story goes!
Many of the bars in Marseille are also known as glaciers and are in fact ice cream parlours, and going out for an ice cream here is as popular as going out for a drink, especially in the hot summer months!
Lyon in France is a great place to buy silk and is known as the Silk Capital - many designers have their outlets here, so who knows, you may pick up a bargain!
When in Cannes, if you are planning on attending a public screening of any of the films at Palais de Festivals, men - be sure you wear a tuxedo and bow tie and ladies, you will have to don a full length gown! So come prepared.
Bordeaux is wine country! There are more than 500 vineyards that produce some of the best red wines in the world. Besides the wines there are also over 10,000 chateaux in this region.
In France, a kiss or kisses (on the cheek) is the common way of greeting between family and friends, and even between men. The number of kisses varies – if you are in Brittany then it is 1 kiss, 4 kisses if you are from Paris and up to 5 in Corsica!
Turku is one of the oldest cities of Finland founded in the 13th century and was the capital city till Helsinki took over.
Till the late 1800’s almost all the houses and buildings in Tampere, Finland were a fire hazard having been built with wood. Today, fortunately building materials are fire resistant.
Helsinki has the wettest season and therefore you can enjoy the wet experience with 121 days of rain throughout the year!
Believe it or not - in Finland, mosquitoes are quite a menace in the summers especially just after the rains. Thankfully they are not the malaria kind - the mosquito bites just cause some redness and itching.
Blowing hot and blowing cold can be justified in Finland when, according to custom, people after a hot and steamy sauna bath tumble out in the snow for icy somersaults. Well, you have to try it to believe it!
Marijuana, commonly known as Charas is grown in plenty at Kheer Ganga, Himachal Pradesh in India.
Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh, India was named after Lord Dalhousie who was the British Viceroy in India.
The highest cricket ground in the world is at Chail in Himachal Pradesh, India. It was built in 1893 by leveling an entire hill and is perched at a height of 2,144m. Even today, the cricket ground is well maintained and is surrounded by towering deodar trees.
Surat in Gujarat, India is the world's largest market for diamond polishing and cutting. Diamond traders in Surat operate out of a building, interestingly, called the Belgium Tower.
According to the scriptures it is believed that Soma the moon God, built the first Somnath temple in Somnath, Gujarat in gold, then Ravana built it in silver and Lord Krishna made it in sandal-wood. Finally King Bhimdev of Gujarat rebuilt it in stone.
Did you know that the Darshani Deori gates of the Golden Temple in Amritsar are believed to be originally Somnath Temple gates in Somnath, Gujarat?
Did you know according to the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna had 16108 wives and each one of them had their own palace in Dwarka at Gujarat, India?
It is believed that due to the damage caused by sea, Dwarka in Gujarat, India was submerged six times and the modern day Dwarka is the seventh such town to be rebuilt in the area.
Dwarka in Gujarat, India derives its name from Sanskrit as ‘Dwar’ means a door and ‘ka’ means Lord Brahma, the whole name Dwarka literally means a gateway to Brahma or Moksha. It is also known as Dwarkamati and Dwarkavati, Kushsthali and Mokshapuri.
Lace knitting is a traditional handicraft of the people of the Faroe Islands.
Shawls from the Faroe Islands are unique. The shawl consist of two triangular side panels, one trapezoid, also known as the gusset and an edge treatment. The way these shawls are designed make them cling from the shoulders and can also be tied around the waist
The houses in the Faroe Islands blend in with the scenery – their roofs actually green grass and change colours with the season - brown in autumn, white in winter and a lush green in the summer. Interesting, wouldn’t you say?
Beer is very cheap in Estonia, and so ferry loads of Finns descend into Tallinn to take advantage of the low prices here!
The Estonian language spoken in Tallinn is one of the most difficult languages to learn, being a mix of Finnish and Hungarian.
Estonia is a very forward thinking country and all schools in Estonia today are connected to the internet. 47% Estonians are computer literate and a whopping 38% of them own computers. It is even possible to vote over the internet in this country.
Sheffield in England, is known for the silver and steel cutlery produced there. But did you know it was also known once for it's many breweries? Sheffield is a town filled with pubs that serve all types of ale.
Europe’s oldest working clock was once located in the Salisbury Cathedral in England, and has so far ticked more than 5 million times!
Oxford University established in the 13th century, is made up of 39 independent colleges. Colleges were male dominated, and it was only in 1878 that women were admitted, and much later in 1920, when they were awarded degrees. The last all-male college at Oxford became co-ed as late as 1974.
Amul (Anand Milk Union Ltd) Dairy, situated at Anand in Gujarat, India, was established in 1940, has grown to become one of Asia's biggest dairy companies and is still jointly owned by more than 3 million milk producers and farmers of Gujarat.
The Midland Hotel in Manchester, England has a lot to claim for fame… It was in this hotel when Rolls met Royce in 1904 and started the famous Rolls Royce Company. The Hotel was also the choice of Hitler who set up the Nazi headquarters in Britain here.
Due to the historic past of London that witnessed a number of invasions on its home front, the city was at different times known as ‘Londinium,’ ‘Lundenwic’ and ‘Lundenburg.’
The origin of the popular nursery rhyme – ‘London Bridge is falling down’ is believed to be 1000 years old when Saxons damaged the London Bridge.
If you are a theatre enthusiast, London is the city for you. The city is home to more than 100 theatres, keeping the craft of acting alive.
The London Underground is reputed to be one of the first and amongst the largest metro systems in the world!
There are over 300 languages that are spoken in London owing to the fact that it is a multi-ethnic city and about 25% of the people living in London are not born here.
Most people believe that the ‘Big Ben’ in London, is the name of the world famous clock or the tower that houses it. Well, this is not true. ’Big Ben’ actually refers to the 13- ton bell and the tower that houses it, is known as St. Stephen’s Tower.
Language will never be a problem when in Liverpool, Engaland as there are more than 60 languages that are spoken here.
Liverpool in England was the home of the Beatles, who were the number one band from 1962-1970. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Liverpool has produced the most number one records in the world.
Do you know what the natives of Leeds in England are called? Loiners!
Checkout the history of toilets at the 'Sulabh International Museum' of Toilets in New Delhi, India. The museum, dedicated to toilets, is a must-visit for its weirdness, if nothing else.
Ironic that Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and Syd Barret grew up in Cambridge, considered to be Britain’s seat of learning – Pink Floyd went on to break records with their all time favourite ‘We don’t need no education’!
Incidentally the name of Silvassa in Dadra & Nagar Haveli, India is derived from the Portuguese word ‘Silva’, which means woods.
Founded in the year 1209, the University of Cambridge is the second oldest university in the UK - Oxford being the oldest, and is made up of 31 independent colleges.
Did you know? Joseph Fry who went on to create the mammoth company Cadbury, created the first chocolate bar in the world in Bristol in the year 1720. Joseph Fry is long gone, but Cadbury remains and is world famous!
The Theatre Royal in Bristol, is the oldest working theatre in the UK, and has been staging plays since 1766.
The trademark of the dialect spoken in Bristol is the addition of the letter "L" to the end of words. For instance, "area" becomes "areal." In that scenario, it is not surprising then that Bristowe became Bristol!
Chines - beautiful sharp-sided valleys running down to the sea- is what Bournemouth in England is known for. The most impressive of these are Boscombe Chine and Durley Chine.
Did you know? Blackpool Illuminations, the famous lights festival held in Blackpool, England, encompasses a remarkable one million lamps in various types and styles and cost £2.4 million to stage. No wonder millions of people swarm the city during the festival!
Though the industrial importance of Birmingham has declined in the recent past, it was once the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in England. For the very same reason Birmingham came to be known as "the workshop of the world" or the "city of thousand trades".
The Windsor Castle in England is believed to be haunted by the ghosts of King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, King George and Charles I.
Surprise! French was the official language of England for about 300 years, from 1066 till 1362.
The Windsor Castle in England, often regarded as one of the oldest royal residence in the world, is still the official residence of Queen Elizabeth 11.
The world renowned River Thames that flows through Southern England, has more than 200 bridges and 20 tunnels.
Watch out for the three “W’s” when in the UK: Women, Wine and Weather. All three are unpredictable!
Did you know that in England they consume more tea than anywhere else in the world? Their well known breaks are called “tea times”. The phrase that the English use for tea is: ‘Shall I put the kettle on…. Would you like a cuppa’?
It is said that Mermaids live for 300 years before they turn into sea foam. Copenhagen’s most famous attraction “The Little Mermaid”, sits there on a rock since 1913, so we need not worry as we will see this little sculpture for many more years to come.
Aarhus in Denmark, is known as “The City of Cafés”, because of the large number of cafes there are in the city.
Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh is also known as “Mini India” as you are sure to find people of all castes and communities from all over the country who live here in harmony.
The most powerful lighthouse on the coast of India is situated on Dolphin's Nose, Visakhapatnam. Ships out at sea up to 65 kms can spot the light from this beacon.
Also known as the 'city of destiny', Visakhapatnam in India has a Submarine Museum - the only one of its kind in Asia.
Indonesia lies on the Pacific belt referred to as the 'Ring of Fire'. The most active volcanoes in the region are found in Indonesia. Indonesia is home to over a 100 volcanoes!
One of the strange laws of Denmark is that the restaurants cannot charge you for the water unless you order some other item with it, such as ice or lemon slice.
Denmark was the first European country to legalize same-sex marriages and also to provide equal rights to gay couples as for heterosexual couples in 1989.
The Prague Castle is listed by Guinness World Records as the largest castle in the world covering an area of 18 acres!
The Czech Republic is the number one beer-brewing nation in the world with its people being the heaviest consumers of beer with the average person drinking 43 gallons of beer annually, which is more than any other country in the world.
While in Cyprus, don’t forget to sip the intoxicating red wine- Commandaria, which is produced here and is also said to be one of the oldest wines in the world.
The White House was built out of Croatian stone, from the island of Brac. This same stone had been used to build Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia.
Did you know that the Dalmatian dog, also known as the Dubrovnik hunter, originally came from the Dalmatian coast?
It is believed that the currency of Croatia – the Croatian kuna has been named after a tiny rodent which when translated in English means Marten. Marten is an forest mammal whose fur was highly sought after and valued, and during the Middle Ages was used as a form of payment.
Croatia is made up of over 1000 islands, of which only 66 are inhabited.
The neck tie was invented in Croatia – it is called cravat here and comes from the word ‘croat’.
Ramoji Film Studios in Hyderabad, India is in the Guinness World Record for being the largest film studio in the world - covering over 1600 acres.
The Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, India is the single largest collection of art and artefacts by just one person.
Interestingly the villages at the Havelock Islands, Andaman & Nicobar don’t have names and are recognised by their numbers.
The flag of Tenerife and Scotland appear to be identical. Some say it is because they share the same patron saint - St. Andrew.
Las Palmas in the Canaries is often called La Isla Bonita ( the beautiful island) - remember the Madonna song that was a huge hit in the 1987?
The Canary Islands are not named after the bird, as one would think. Instead the literal translation of the Latin 'Islas Canarias' is Island of Dogs!
Bulgaria is one of the oldest countries in Europe and holds a vast number of archaeological treasures, ranking third after Greece and Italy.
Bhutan is considered to be one of the most isolated and least developed nations - television and internet were introduced here only in 1999!
Did you know that there is not a single traffic light in Thimphu the capital city, or in fact in the whole of Bhutan!
Bhutan must be the only country where it is compulsory for citizens to wear their national dress when in public.
In Bhutan everyone mostly is known by their first name, as traditionally only the Royal family can use a surname.
Non-verbal means of communication is a big no-no when you are in Bulgaria, as when the Bulgarians waggle their heads Indian style, it means yes, and when they nod, they actually mean no. So, to avoid any confusion it is always better to talk!
Bhutan has been given the name - ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ – as a result of the violent storms that often occur in the country.
Ghent in Belgium, was where German Shepherd police dogs were first trained – this was somewhere around 1900, more than a century ago.
Want to know how much Belgians love chocolate? Belgium produces 220,000 tonnes of chocolate annually, which amounts to 22 kgs of chocolate per inhabitant per year! Now seriously that's a whole lot of chocolate!
The Royal Palace in Brussels is bigger than even Buckingham Palace, by almost 50%!
Belgians love chocolate! The Brussels National Airport is the biggest selling point of this sweet treat!
When you are in Brussels the aromatic whiff of freshly baked waffles is never far. After all this is the place the world famous Belgian waffle was invented.
The people of Belgium love animals and you will find that most households have at least one pet animal.
When in Brugge, Belgium be sure to view the marble statue of Madonna and Child sculpted by Michelangelo. This is the only sculpture to have left Italian shores in the artist's lifetime.
Antwerp is the diamond capital of the world. Almost 85% of rough diamonds and 50% of the world diamonds are traded through Antwerp.
The painter Rubens lived in Antwerp, Belgium, and his house has now been converted into the Antwerp-Rubens House Museum. It is here where he and his students churned out over a mind boggling 25000 paintings!
There are 800 kinds of beer brewed in Belgium with an average consumption of 150 litres per person per year. The Belgians really know their beer and sure can down the mellow yellow liquid!
The first known fireplace construction, which is dated back from 700,000 to 500,000 years ago, was discovered in Azikh Cave, the largest cave in Azerbaijan.
In Azerbaijan, guess what is the most popular drink? Tea! 'Chaikhanas' or tea houses are a popular meeting place for people.
Ever wondered who is the versatile artist behind the comic characters in Adventures of Tin Tin? It was Belgian called Herge. This comic strip has kept readers enthralled for over 80 years and continues to do so even today. Incidentally, Belgium is the largest producer of comic books!
An interesting bit of trivia about the Maiden’s Tower in Baku, Azerbaijan – its walls are 5 meters in thickness.
Andorra does not have its own military. The security of the country is the responsibility of it's two neighbours - France and Spain.
The national airport of Albania is in Tirana and named after 'Mother Teresa'. The full name of the the airport is Tirana International Nene Tereza.
Nodding the head in Albania is a disagreement, while shaking the head means 'yes'. Confusing to say the least!
The Victoria Falls in Zambia, Africa are locally known as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” meaning the smoke that thunders. The mist (smoke) from the falls can be seen from kilometres away and the sprays can even be felt on the Zambian border point.
The world’s largest emerald is displayed in the Imperial Palace, in Vienna.
Vienna’s central cemetery- Zentralfriedhof is the second largest cemetery in Europe covering 2.5 square kilometers. Twice as many people are buried here than actually residing in Vienna!
Salzburg is best known for being the birthplace of renowned composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Innsbruck in Austria served as a host to the Winter Olympics in the year 1964 and again in 1976. In 2008, Innsbruck was host city to the European Soccer Cup. Seems that Innsbruck has a lot to do with sporting activities!
It is interesting to note that Adolf Hitler was born in a small village in Austria called Braunau Am Inn.
If you are fond of cars then you will be interested to know that the founder of German sports car company ‘Porsche’ and the designer of Volkswagen, Ferdinand Porsche, was an Austrian.
Austrians are a very musically inclined people. Apart from the famous von Trapp family of Sound of Music fame, Austria has also given the world composers like Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, J. Strauss, Mahler and Bruckner.
Did you know that croissants aren't French and neither are Danish pastries from Denmark? They both originated in Austria!
The German name for Austria is Osterreich that means the Eastern Empire.
The Austrian flag dates all the way back to 1230 making it the second oldest national flag in the world, the oldest being the Danish flag!
One of the oldest cities in the world, Yerevan the capital of Armenia is believed to have been founded some 2800 years ago.
It is recorded in the scriptures that after the flood waters receded, Noah's Ark perched itself on the Mount Ararat, the highest mountain in Armenia.
Armenia is one country where it is the tradition for the groom's family to pay for the wedding, and not the bride's as is the norm in the rest of the world.
Polokwane is the land of the upside down tree known as ‘Baobab', which is the biggest tree in Africa.
Johannesburg in South Africa is a gold digger's dream come true! Forty percent of the world's gold is found in the Jo’burg area. This is also the reason why Jo'burg is nicknamed ‘egoli’, which means place of gold.
Did you know that political icon and India’s ‘Father of the Nation’ Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi started his career in Durban, South Africa? He worked here as a lawyer for over 20 years before returning to India to take part in the political scenario there.
Cape Town has another name – Mother City. The derivative of the nickname apparently comes from the fact that in the 1930s Cape Town was declared a metropolis – metro coming from the Greek word meaning ‘mother’ and polis meaning ‘city’ and viola! Mother City was born!
Did you know that Cape Town still maintains its old tradition of firing a cannon known as the Noon Day Gun that is fired everyday barring Sundays to indicate that it is 12:00 pm?
The city of Bloemfontein is not only South Africa’s breadbasket, producing over 70 percent of the country’s grain but is also home to the most productive gold and diamond mines in the world.
The word ‘Augrabies’ in Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa is derived from a Khoi Bushman word that means ‘great noise’, referring to the Orange River as it thunders down 191 mt, to fall in a cascade of foaming white water. It is one of the highest cataract type waterfalls in the world.
Mahe was named after the French governor of Mauritius Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais and is the largest island of Seychelles!
Did you know Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles is the world’s largest coral atoll and is home to over 100,000 giant land tortoises, millions of birds, fish and sea turtles?
The female Coco De Mer nut found in Seychelles, Africa is said to be the world’s heaviest nut.
Seychelles was once known as a pirates’ hideout. In fact the Anse Forbans on Mahe Island means Pirate’s Cove.
The capital of Seychelles is Victoria and is so small that one can cover the whole place on foot in less than a day!
Rwanda in Africa is commonly known as the Country of Gorillas.
Interestingly, due to the combination of Islamic personal law in the Nigerian Constitution and certain matriarchal tribal traditions, polygamy is fairly widespread. It is also equally acceptable for a woman to have more than one husband in Nigeria!
Maputo in Mozambique, Africa is also known as the 'City of Acacias' as acacia trees are a common sight in the city!
The tower of Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, Morocco is adorned with four copper globes. Originally there were only three globes, and the fourth one was donated by Yacoub el-Mansour’s wife when she failed to keep the fast for a few hours during Ramadan.
Marrakech in Morocco got its nick name of the ‘Red City’ because of the red sandstone used in the construction of its buildings.
The Fez hat originated in Morocco and more so, in Fes. The hat is normally red in colour, brimless and has a tassel dangling from the top. The Fez hat has been adopted by Muslims all over the world and was worn by even leaders like Jinnah of Pakistan and Gaddafi of Libya.
The phrase ‘Fes Blue’ comes from the cobalt blue which is the trademark colour of the famed ceramics of Fes in Morocco. The colour mix to obtain this brilliant blue is a secret not shared easily by the potters.
Casablanca means white house in Spanish. As you roam around the city of Casablanca in Morocco, you will notice that the city dons a white look with white buildings engulfing it.
Creole is the language spoken in Mauritius by nearly all the people who live there. Creole is a French based language with a sprinkling of Chinese, African and Bhojpuri words. Interesting!
The sensual ‘sega’ dance is very popular dance in Mauritius. Legend has it that after a hard day’s work in the fields the slaves let their hair down at night and danced to the beat of the music as a form of relief. Today the sega dance is performed at weddings and other happy occasions in Mauritius.
Ever wondered where the phrase ‘as dead as a Dodo’ originated? Mauritius. The Dodo was a bird in Mauritius and lost the power to fly as there was no need to hunt for it – there was an abundance of food available. The Dodo has now been extinct for over 300 years, but the catchy phrase lives on!
Timbuktu, a name that has become synonymous with far and remote places, is actually an isolated city in Mali, Africa. It was awarded the status of World Heritage Site in 1988.
In Seoul the taxis are colour coded! If you hail a grey and white taxi, then you will get the basic comfort. If you are looking for a more luxurious experience be sure to hail a black taxi, as these are better fitted out and have more experienced drivers!
It is customary for members of villages in Mali, Africa to have only one or two family names; because of this it is common for several children in the house or locality to have the same name. Quite confusing!
The name Bamako, a city in Mali, Africa, means "crocodile river" in the local language Bambara!
'The city of a thousand',which is what Antananarivo in Madagascar means, is said to refer to the 1000 soldiers that were supposed to protect the city during the reign of the King Andrianjaka.
Gwangju in South Korea, is famous for the white porcelain it produces. Buy some to take home with you!
Look out for the women divers in Cheju – traditionally these women dive in search of seashells, abalone and other marine life. These women are pretty amazing as they are trained to dive from a very early age and they do so without any diving apparatus staying underwater for three to four minutes!
Locally known as the Island of the Gods, Cheju Island in South Korea is a very popular honeymoon destination for Koreans and Japanese. Very often you will see couples wearing identical tee shirts – stop them and congratulate them and see the beam on their faces!
As far as food goes, South Koreans love Spam and sweet potatoes!
In South Korea be sure to never use a red ink pen to write with, as they consider it a sign of death.
The number 4 is considered to be unlucky in South Korea. Most buildings here do not even have 4th floor!
Are you a noodle fan? If yes, then when in Yokohama, Japan visit the famous Ramen Noodle Museum, called the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum.
Madagascar is also known as the Red Islands due to the red color soil.
Vending machines are very popular in Japan and are found almost everywhere. They dispense soft drinks, food, beer and even women's underwear at times!
The Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo is the world's largest wholesale fish market and handles over 2,000 tonnes of seafood on a daily basis.
Tokyo has the most extensive railway network with 503 stations spread over the 23 wards. Shinjuku station in Tokyo is rated as the busiest in the world servicing over 3 million passengers per day.
Don’t be surprised to spot chameleons in Madagascar, Africa. You will see chameleons of all sizes - smallest to largest, as the islands are home to almost half of the world’s chameleon species!
Tripoli in Libya,is known for its fragrant olive-oil based handmade soap. The art of this handmade soap was introduced some 1000 years ago and the Badr Hassoun family has been involved in the craft for 800 years and even today sells out of shops in the Soap Khan.
When in Shizuoka, Japan buy the special green tea produced here.
The Snow Festival held in Sapporo, Japan is a must visit - huge structures shaped out of ice are on display!
Did you know that the Sahara Desert forms more than 95% of Libya in Africa? The desert is about the size of the USA and is not all sand. There are large areas of gravel, clay, rock and several mountain ranges.
Although Sapporo is the fifth largest city in Japan, it is regarded as pastoral destination by the Japanese!
Calling all Beatles fans!The John Lennon Museum in Saitama, Japan is a must-visit.
The capital city of Liberia, Monrovia was named after U.S. President, James Monroe.
Osaka's Kansai International airport is built on an artificial island. This airport also happens to be the second busiest airport in Japan, after Narita airport in Tokyo.
Maseru in Lesotho, Africa is one of the least populated capital cities in the world.
Lesotho in Africa is the only country where the lowest point lies at a record setting of 4593 feet above sea level.
Oita in Japan has a Fragrance Museum, where a visitor can make one's own perfume!
Noritake, the world’s largest producer of porcelain in the world has its factory in Nagoya, Japan. The factory has guided tours, and their shop has some excellent pieces- many of them impossible to find elsewhere.
Lesothosaurus - herbivorous dinosaurs - are named after Lesotho in Kenya. Watch out for the Dinosaur footprints that can be traced in number of sites in the country.
The atomic bomb nicknamed 'fat man' was dropped on Nagasaki at 11:02 am and it exploded 1650 feet above the city on August 9, 1945.It was a sad day in history and the massacre claimed the lives of at least 150,000 people by December 1945.
Nairobi in Kenya has been dubbed ‘Nairobbery’ by its citizens due to crime and thefts being rampant. But seriously don’t let that put you off from visiting Nairobi – it’s not that bad!
If you are fond of beef, Kobe is the place for you. Kobe beef is undoubtedly the best in Japan (it also ranks high in the world- in fact, a lot of it is exported), and beefsteaks rarely come better than in Kobe.
The highest sacred mountain called Mt. Yamizo at 1022 mts is in the Ibaraki prefecture in Japan.
Did you know that Mombasa in Kenya is a popular place for deep sea diving? Get up close and personal with the dreaded barracuda, a ray-finned fish, here!
On the fateful day of August 6, 1945 in Hiroshima, Japan when the dreaded A bomb was dropped, some 80,000 people died on the spot and then 60,000 more. Till today the effects of the bomb exists. It was the saddest day in the history of the world.
Known for the popular ramen noodles, most restaurants in Fukuoka, Japan serve their version of Fukuoka ramen noodles – so do be sure to order and sample this.
Fukuoka is known for its beautiful women – so keep a look out and spot the loveliest of Japanese beauties here.
Rice is a staple food in Japan and is eaten at almost every meal, including breakfast. Raw horse meat or 'basashi' as its called, is a popular food here.
Japan is regarded as the most earthquake prone region in the world and experiences up to 1500 earthquakes in the year.
Education is an important part of a Japanese person's life and therefore the literacy rate in Japan is almost 100%!
Macau’s Cotai Strip will give Las Vegas’ Strip a run for their money. With more than 30 casinos operating in this little city, Macau is definitely the casino capital this side of the Pacific.Gambling is legal here and the casinos contribute largely to the economy.
Beijing has a very large number of bicycles and consequently has the largest number of bicycle parking lots!
In the times of yore, silk making was a closely guarded secret in China. Anyone who gave the secret away could be killed!
Red is considered a lucky colour in China, resulting in New Year's banners, clothing, and lucky money envelopes to be in red.
Did you know? Ice cream is said to have been invented in China around 200 BC, when soft milk and rice mixture was packed in the snow!
Interestingly, the mortar used to bind the stones of The Great Wall of China was made of sticky rice flour!
The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world! It is not a single, continuous wall at all, but made up of wall segments.
The most powerful man in the world, US President, Mr Barack Obama is of Kenyan descent. Though Barack Obama has never lived in Kenya his father was very much Kenyan. The Kenyans are justifiably very proud of this fact.
Ivory Coast is the richest country in West Africa. Minerals, oils and many agricultural products especially coffee are the main source of income. Today, Ivory Coast accounts for more than 8% of the world’s coffee.
When in the US Virgin Islands, watch out for the famous 99 steps of Charlotte Amalie. The stairway that gets you around the town’s hilly terrain are actually 103 in number and not 99.
If you are visiting Port of Spain during carnival time, watch out for the natives dressed in the traditional characters of Jab Jab, a small devil, or Dame Lorraine, a well endowed woman!
While in Guinea, Africa you will find sheep and goats meandering on the streets of the city and they often get in the way of cars. So be careful while driving!
In Trinidad and Tobago, custom has it that when you look at a person’s shorts, it simply means you are asking for a dance!
Trinidad and Tobago are known for creating famous dances called the limbo and calypso!
The name of Accra in Ghana is believed to be derived from the word 'Nkran' in Akan language meaning "ants", in reference to the numerous anthills seen in the countryside around Accra.
The natives of Trinidad and Tobago smoked a lot of tobacco pipe, locally known as tavaco- no wonder the country got its name Tobago!
Take home the famous Castries Peanut Rum Crème – a blend of roasted peanuts, cream, aged Rum from St. Lucia!
Ever seen the Kouwes Snake and the Zandoli Ground Lizard? Sure you have not. These are the rarest species found only in Saint Lucia in the Caribbean and nowhere else in the world.
Look out for the “blue bricked streets” on the island of San Juan. These blue cobblestone bricks were originally used as ballasts in ships and some say the color comes with age and moisture.
Rum, rum and more rum! There is plenty of rum in Puerto Rico. White, amber or gold are the different shades of rum. White rum is the lightest while gold or amber can be effective substitutes for whiskey. No wonder then, that Puerto Rico is also known as the Rum Capital of the World.
Croissants, coffee and Parisian haute couture. If you ever wondered what ‘a tropical France’ would be like, you will find it in the Caribbean island of Martinique!
People of Ghana in Africa don’t like to waste any part of their food. Even when they have chicken they make sure that everything is eaten and nothing is wasted. This includes the bones!
Montego Bay is a tourist hub in the Caribbean and is popularly known as 'Mobay'.
Remember one of the top hits of the 80’s – 'Buffalo Soldier' by Bob Marley? Kingston is home to the Bob Marley Museum, located in his former residence here.
Jamaican art is regarded as one of the best from the Caribbean. Moreover, works of well known artists like Edna Manley and Ronald Moody are exhibited and collected all over the world.
Jamaica was the first country in the Western Region to build a railway system, even before the United States!
While in Tegucigalpa, don’t miss the opportunity to shop for stylish Panama hats and the well-known Honduran cigars. Tobacco lovers will find the aroma of spicy and woody finish of the cigars completely irresistible.
Honduras grows and exports a lot of bananas…. Guess this is the reason that it has got its nickname ‘Banana Republic’!
Guatemala means the “Land of Trees” in the Mayan language.
Surprise! Guatemala was the country where Blue Denim material actually originated.
Did you know? Guatemala is a well known producer of the world’s finest coffee.
With over 450 species of birds, Gambia in Africa has one of the highest concentrations of birds in the world. This place is indeed an attractive destination for bird watchers.
The name Banjul, a place in Gambia, Africa, has been derived from the word Bang Julo meaning rope fibre in Mandinka language that was spoken by Mandé who used to gather specific fibres on the island, which were used in the manufacture of ropes.
It seems like all the African Gorillas have come to live in Gabon. Four out of five African Gorillas are believed to reside in Gabon.
Despite the fact that El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, the region is densely populated with 6 million inhabitants and offers the best surfing spots in the world. Moreover the country has the third largest economy in the whole of Central America. Seems lot for the small country!
El Salvador is also known as the ‘land of volcanoes’ with about 25 active and recurring volcanoes.
Did you know that there are no flies or mosquitoes in Havana?
Be careful when you set out on the streets of Havana as you are most likely to get confused - most streets have two names and most houses have two numbers.
Cuba is the largest island in the West Indies and therefore Cubans refer to their island as 'El Cocodrilo' -when viewed from above, Cuba is believed to resemble a crocodile!
Cuba is well known for producing some of the world’s finest cigars such as Monte Cristo, Romeo y Julietta and Cohiba.
Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Africa is the center of ethnic arts in this region and also contains some good museums housing amazing archaeological exhibits, notably the 3.5 million year-old remains of our oldest-known ancestor 'Lucy'.
Asmara in Eritrea, Africa is known for its numerous sidewalk cafes, plush gardens and overflowing bougainvillea which gives the city a pleasant Mediterranean feel, making it a complete soothing destination!
The longest reigning king in Egypt was Pepy II. He became King when he was only six years old and ruled until he was 94.
Driving in Costa Rica is a hazardous task as the country’s roads record numerous accidents in a month. If you come across a big yellow heart with a crack in it painted on the road in Costa Rica, it means someone has died in a road accident there. So be extremely careful and drive cautiously.
In ancient Egypt, a cat was a symbol of fertility and sexuality, because of which Egyptians painted their eye to mimic those of cats. They used to love their pet cats so much, that if a cat died they would shave off their eyebrows and mourn until their eyebrows grew back.
Bug-phobists look out! There are about 7,50,000 species of insects that live in Costa Rica, including about 20,000 different types of spiders!
Egyptians were the first to use pigeons as messengers.
In ancient times the houses of Egyptians were made up of dried mud bricks, only the temples for gods were made out of stone.
Silver was considered more valuable then gold in Ancient Egypt.
The Sphinx in Egypt lost it's nose in 1798 when Napolean soldiers used it for target practice.
The city of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt is known as "The City of Peace" due to the large number of peace conferences which have been held there over the years.
Sharm El Sheikh is Egypt’s biggest resort city. About 86% of all the housing here is in the form of hotels, and only 3% houses the original Bedouin population of the area.
When in the British Virgin Islands you would ask for a Pain Killer not at any chemist, but at one of the beach bars on the island. Why? Because it is a popular rum cocktail that is served with a delicious mishmash of Pusser’s Rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and coconut cream!
While in the diving town - Hurghada in Egypt please be aware that is forbidden to take, sell and buy shells, seastars, corals or any creature dead or alive from the Red Sea. Heavy penalties and fines may be levied if you are found breaching this law.
The graceful pink Flamingo is Bonaire’s signature bird. Flamingos are very sensitive to disturbances but have little or no sense of smell.
The mystifying Bermuda Triangle is where more than 100 ships and planes have vanished. Though several scientific and mythological explanations have been offered for these disappearances, the mystery of this zone remains unsolved!
Bermuda Shorts- the national dress of Bermuda, is the business attire for men. No we are not joking. You will see men in Bermuda shorts made of suit-like material, dressed with a shirt, tie, blazer and knee length socks usually adorned with the Bermuda Crest.
See the Sound and Light Show at the Sphinx in Giza, Egypt – it will transport you to another world!
Luxor in Egypt is dubbed as the 'greatest open air museum' in the world!
San Ignacio is more often than not, known by it's nickname - Cayo which means 'island'.
While visiting pyramid in Cairo, Egypt, make sure that you do not suffer from claustrophobia. Also you need to be quite fit as the climbs are steep.
While shopping in the souks of Cairo, Egypt – especially Khan-el-khalili, watch your wallet and purse as there are plenty of pick pockets around.
Watch out for the Jabirus stork - the largest flying bird in the Central America, at nature preserves throughout Belize. Belize boasts of nesting the largest population of Jabirus in Central America!
Belize has 43 airports- 5 paved and 38 unpaved runways. Seems a lot for the tiny country!
The Aswan Dam is one of Egypt’s biggest engineering triumphs and has been used as a symbol on one of their coins.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt is a new library since 2002. It was built in hopes of reviving the Royal Library of Alexandria. The Royal Library, known as the ‘Pearl of the Mediterranean’, was the largest in the world and was one of the original Seven Wonders of the World.
Alexandria in Egypt was the locale where the stormy relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony was played out in the times of yore.
Fancy a Chattel House in Barbados? These are wooden ‘movable houses’ with ornate designs that are unique and attractive dwellings to Barbados.
Do not hesitate to try the delicious dolphin available on the local menus in most restaurants in Barbados. Quite delicious!
When in the Bahamas, be entertained by smart dolphins in Nassau’s Blue Lagoon Island- the dolphins are like trained pets that you can ride, play and swim with!
The 700 islands in the Bahamas are dotted with spectacular bays and coves where frothy waves wash over white soft sparkling sand. The azure waters are amongst the clearest in the world and the marine life absolutely spectacular!
Treat your sweet tooth with a guava duff, a popular sweet in the Bahamas.
Antigua and Barbuda boasts of 365 beaches -a beach for every day of the year… But be careful of the shiny black urchins on the beaches- its spines can prick you and be painful.
When in Aruba, try some ‘Aruba Ariba’- one of the best cocktails of the Southern Caribbean! The drink is a mix of vodka, 151 proof rum, fruit punch, orange liqueur and banana liqueur. Cheers!
In Vanuatu there are 115 distinct languages spoken besides the many off shoot dialects. The main language spoken here is a pidgin English called Bislama.
When in Bangui, Central African Republic in Africa, don't forget to buy a Malachite necklace at Central market to take home. Malachite, a gemstone, is believed to be a strong protector of children and it is said to protect the wearer from accidents.
With small communities of French, British, Australian, New Zealanders and Chinese living here, Tonga has to be one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world.
Obesity is a common occurrence in Tonga with a record 90% Tongan being obese. Put it down to their natural love of food – by the way, to be obese in Tonga is not looked down upon in anyway!
In Cape Verde, Africa a small group of about 50 members known as the 'Cape Verdian Society' meet every first Sunday of the month. The Society makes annual charity donations for good causes in Cape Verde. It seems Cape Verdeans are extremely generous!
Skilled hunters from all over the world fly to Cameroon in Africa risking malaria, filaria and any other tropical disease just to shoot a Bongo- an antelope, found only in Cameroon.
Two thirds of all orchid species in the world are found in Papua New Guinea and 450 species of butterflies flit their little wings over the islands.
Many have travelled to the Pitcairn Islands through the pages of ‘The Mutiny on the Bounty’ but few actually get there. The Pitcairn Islands are amongst the most remote in the world - they lie approximately halfway (4800 km) between New Zealand and the Americas.
Not for nothing has Wellington in New Zealand, acquired the cachet of 'café capital' - it has the more than 450 pubs, bars and restaurants.
On occasion when the natives of Burundi in Africa get together with the close ones, they drink Impeke, a beer, from a large container with the help of straws. They do so, to symbolize unity in them!
Lake Wanaka in New Zealand, has been consistently on the ten most romantic places on the world – so plan your wedding or perhaps your honeymoon here!
The blockbuster film The Lord of the Rings was filmed in Queenstown, New Zealand.
The Waikato River in the North Island is the longest (425 kms) river in New Zealand.
75% of the population of New Zealand live in the North Island with the bulk of them in Wellington and Auckland.
New Zealand’s only native land mammal, the long tail bats live in the forest surrounding Cascade Creek near Milford Sound.
People of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Africa speak French as this place was once a French colony.
Respect forms a very important part of the culture in Burkino Faso, Africa. So it is proper to greet someone even on the road as failure to do so is considered very rude.
At Milford Sound the cascading waterfalls multiple when it rains and is a sight to behold!
The national motto of Burkina Faso, Africa is 'Unity, Progress, Justice' and the country is known as the "land of the honest people."
The flag of Burkina Faso in Africa has two equal horizontal lines of red and green and a five pointed yellow star with a meaning. The yellow symbolises guiding light. The green represents richness. The red symbolises socialism.
The spectacular beauty of Milford Sound in New Zealand prompted Rudyard Kipling to call it the eighth wonder of the world.
Gaborone in Botswana, Africa has a nickname and it is lovingly referred to as Gabs or GC - short for Gabs City.
Diamonds were discovered in Botswana, Africa only after it gained independence and today accounts for nearly 76% of it's exports.
Though Lake Taupo in New Zealand is the trout fishing capital of the world, it is not possible to actually buy the fish here. If you want to eat it, you got to catch it, take it to the restaurant and get them to cook it for you!
When in South Africa, make it a point to go take a trip on the Garden Route –all down the route encounter beautiful beaches, towering mountains and gushing rivers, not to mention the profusion of flowers.
Drink water from the tap in South Africa - yes, it is very safe, South Africa is one of 12 countries in the world where the tap water supply is clean.
Kahurangi is the last bastion of the Great Spotted Kiwi, the giant carnivorous land snail, the Powelliphanta and the enormous Nelson cave spider. 18 varieties of native birds like the falcon, rock wren, kiwis and blue ducks can be seen here.
A romantic Maori legend has it that Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are 'Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere' translated to 'the tears of the avalanche girl' who lost her lover on the mountain slopes.
Dunedin is best known for its Royal albatross and Yellow-eyed penguin, which have achieved icon status nationally and even internationally.
Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand is the steepest street in the world.
Dunedin in New Zealand, is interestingly the Gaelic for Edinburgh. Even today the Scottish flavour persists and bagpipes and haggis make their appearance quite regularly!
Doubtful Sound in New Zealand, has two layers of water-the top layer is fresh water whilst the bottom layer is cold sea water and that is why perhaps the water sometimes appears muddy. But come to Doubtful Sound on a clear sunny day and the reflection of the surrounding hills is something to behold!
When in Christchurch in New Zealand, go punting on the River Avon – you might just think you are in Cambridge, England half way across the world!
When in the Bay of Islands, all chocolate lovers should visit the Makana Chocolate Boutique in Kerikeri. Watch how chocolate is made and then feast on it!
Auckland was originally known as 'Tamaki Makau Rau,' which means a maiden with 100 lovers! Interesting.
The Frying Pan Lake near Rotorua in New Zealand is one of the world's largest hot water spring.
New Zealand is one of the countries that has more golf courses per capita of population.
Did you know that world's smallest marine dolphin Hector's Dolphin and the world's rarest sea lion, the Hooker's, are only found in New Zealand?
Interestingly, the Kiwi bird found in New Zealand, is a bird that does not fly! It hardly has any bird like qualities even in appearance – squat body, very short wings that are more hairy then feathery.
Contrary to popular belief the Kiwi fruit which most people think is from New Zealand, is actually a Chinese gooseberry that originated in China!
The word Kiwi denotes a fruit, a bird and a New Zealander!
Set in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean, the Taongi (Bokaak) atoll, is said to be possibly the only example of a completely natural, unaltered, semi-arid atoll ecosystem remaining in the world today.
Kiribati is one of the most easygoing countries there is. This is a casual country and the people are pretty laid back – so it is customary to address a person by their first name.
Kiribati is a bunch of 34 coral atolls that sit bang over the equator and the territorial waters are large, almost the size of Argentina and Chile combined!
In Independent Samoa, tattoos are a very common practice and it is not uncommon for men to have tattoos done from their back down to their knees. Women also have tattoos but not quite as extensively as the men.
Robert Louis Stevenson the well known author settled on the island of Independent Samoa and is even buried there on Mt. Vaea.
The people of Independent Samoa are known for the perpetual smile on their faces and are ‘happy’ people.
In Independent Samoa you are not expected to bargain or ‘haggle’ as anyway things are priced quite reasonably!
Moorea in French Polynesia, is known as the Island of Love, so be sure to go with that someone special!
It is believed that Bora Bora is the most perfect setting in the world to unwind and relax!
Did you know that there are no snakes in Bora Bora?
The letter ‘B’ does not exist in Tahitian, the native language of French Polynesia, and Bora Bora is actually pronounced ‘Pora Pora’ which means first born.
French Polynesia is an expensive destination – the cost of living here is second only to Japan. So be prepared to shell out a good amount on your holiday.
Tahitians are very friendly, but somewhat shy. Greet a Tahitian with a first smile or "ia ora na" (hello), and they will reciprocate two fold by showering you with warm Tahitian hospitality.
The native people of Tahiti have the whitest teeth on earth and it is natural. Put it down to their diet which is rich in fluoride!
Black pearls are only found in Toumotu Islands in French Polynesia, and are valued by natives and visitors alike.
In French Polynesia it’s common to put a fragrant white flower behind one’s ear - left side signifies you’re taken, right if you’re looking!
If you are visiting a Fijian village, remember that only the chief of the village is allowed to wear a hat and sunglasses!
The Outback is not a specific area but refers to any sparsely populated regions of Australia. All of inland Australia and most of north and north-west Australia is generally known as the Outback.
The Tasmanian Devil is an endangered species of a living marsupial carnivores. Despite its robust physique that resembles a dog and its bloodcurdling screams and fierce growls, the animal is actually quite shy and docile and an antithesis to it name or demeanor!
Manly Beach one of the most popular beaches of Sydney, got its name because of the ‘manly’ physique of the aborigines that Captain Arthur Phillip saw there in 1788.
Interestingly the Coathanger is the local nickname for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The world’s first society of cartoonists -- the Black and White Artists Society was formed in Sydney.
The Snowy Mountains also known as ‘Australian Alps’ are said to receive more snowfall than even Switzerland!
Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns to Kuranda – besides the fact that the rail track is an engineering feat, it affords absolutely breathtaking views around.
Melbourne is a city of tunnels – more than 50 tunnels run underground criss-crossing all over the city – almost like a parallel road system!
Be careful when you go down the sidewalks of Melbourne - you might unknowingly step into dog poop. About 90 tonnes of poop is left on the streets every day. A Melburnian would know this!!
The national religion of Benin in Africa is Voodoo, which is still practiced. You will find the heads and skins of every animal that you can probably think of in most markets of Benin. The city Allada is the cradle of "voodoos".
Detroit has a lot of firsts to it's name - the first to have a paved road, the first to install traffic lights, and the first to build a freeway.
With the oldest ecosystems in the world the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Africa is famed for its annual wildebeest migration and is best to visit between July and November. The word ‘Serengeti’ actually means ‘endless plain’ in the language of the native Masai people.
Luanda in Angola, Africa has been ranked as one the most expensive cities in the world! Cost of living is certainly a surprise for many.
Did you know that Sea Turtles found in the Great Barrier Reef do not have a sex when they are laid; their sex is determined by the heat of the temperature of the sand on which they are laid. The hotter it is - temperature of more than 27ºC it will turn out to be female and cooler sands produce males!
Great Barrier Reef can actually been seen from outer space!
Flinder's Range in Australia covers an area of 83 sq kms of rock and was formed some 640 million years ago by sedimentary deposits under the sea. The chiseled,carved formations we see today, are actually deposits that have folded and creased into mountains over millions of years of erosion.
In Flinder's Range in Australia, experience the intriguing culture and life of the oldest inhabitants of this land through the Aborigine Dreaming!
Darwin is the proverbial melting pot where you will find people of 54 different nationalities all living together in perfect harmony!
Coober Pedy has some 70 opal mines which is the largest concentration of largest opal mines. Ever since a small boy discovered opals here in 1915, the town’s main occupation is opal mining. People of more than 45 nationalities have made Coober Pedy their home.
An interesting tidbit about the suburbs of Canberra is that they all follow themes. For instance, Giralang is suburb of Canberra and is an Aborigine word meaning 'star'. So all the streets in this suburb are Aborigine names of constellations.
Did you know that after much tussle and debate over whether Sydney or Melbourne should be the capital of Australia, in 1913 it was decided that the honour should go to Canberra - and Canberra happens to be located between the two cities!
Watch out for the stingers (jellyfish) November to May whilst swimming in the sea off Cairns.
Brisbane's coat of arms features two gryphons - mythological creatures. They were chosen to represent the city because of their spirited nature!
Cheeky nick names for Brisbane - Brissie, Brizzy, Bris Vegas and Brisneyland!
The Scenic Railway that chugs through the Blue Mountains takes you 415 meters down into the rain forest. Hang on tight – you feel like you’re going down head first!
In Alice Springs, to meet the criteria of being known as a ‘local’, one would have to have see the river Todd flow three times – and that legend has it, can take up to 20 years! Obviously the Todd river is dry for the most part.
Adelaide is also known as the ‘city of churches’ and is the capital city of the only state said never to have received convicts!
It is interesting to note that there are more than 150 million sheep in Australia, and only some 20 million people!
While dining in Korea,do not leave the chopsticks sticking out of the bowl, since it again signifies death and is considered to be a bad omen.
The ecosystem in Serengeti National Park is the oldest one in the world, and has been around for many thousands of years.
Niigata in Japan is known for rice and sake – the quality of both are the best in the country.
The Geisha culture is still alive in Kyoto, Japan. The Geisha girls are present in tea houses, where they sing, dance, and play traditional instruments to entertain their patrons.
Only 0.4% of the Antarctica continent is not covered in ice.
Seals discovered Antarctica’s most popular drink - the Antarctic Old Fashioned! The recipe? Add two cherry Life Savers to equal amounts of snow and whiskey, and serve over glacier ice. Bottoms up!
Antarctica is the driest continent, hardly receiving 2 inches rainfall annually. In fact the "Dry Valley" region has not received rainfall in over 2 million years!
See a rainbow of a different kind in Charleston! Rainbow Row is one of Charleston's most renowned sights, and lies along East Bay Street. There is line of houses that are colored in the hues of a rainbow - purple, pink, yellow, red, blue and green. A pretty picture indeed!
Detroit is not known as the Motor City for nothing - it is home to Ford, Cadillac, GM and Chrysler.
The White Magnolia flower, adopted by Shanghai as its official flower,always points upwards towards the sky.
There are no time zones in Antarctica. Instead, most research stations just agree to use their home country's time zone or the time zone of the nearest landmass, such as South America or New Zealand. Scientists sending data to the rest of the world use Greenwich Mean Time.
Two million years of earth history resonates in the Grand Canyon which is one mile deep and seventeen miles wide.
Did you know when Paul Anka, the legendary singer with a golden voice, first performed at Vegas he was too young to enter a casino!
Kansas City has the most number of barbeque restaurants than any other city in the United States.
Houston is home to a spine chilling museum – the National Museum of Funeral History! Plan your own funeral with a fantasy coffin and all.
There are over 100 world class beaches in and around Honolulu, so all you sun worshippers, rejoice!
It is quite strange for Warsaw to have its symbol as a Mermaid even though the nearest sea coast is about 200 miles (300 km) away. “Syrenka” (little Mermaid) symbol can be found everywhere with a sword in her hand indicating the fighting spirit of the citizens.
The old town district of Krakow in Poland, has about 6000 historic sites and more than two million works of art. So culture vultures will surely have great time here.
A special tip for anyone who likes a tipple: Gdansk is the home of the famous- and pricey- Goldwasser, sweet, unctuous vodka which has flecks of real gold of 22 or 23 karat floating in it. It’s widely available in pubs and bars all over Gdansk and is immensely popular, especially among tourists.
While in Bergen, in Norway, don’t be surprised if you spot a red deer nuzzling on the roses and apples in somebody’s backyard- the city has a large red deer population and so to maintain the number at an acceptable level, the Government carries out extensive hunting!
Oslo is ranked as one of the world’s greenest and most livable cities.
Serengeti is actually a word for ‘endless plain’ in the language of the native Masai people. It is famed for its annual wildebeest migration. The migration season is between July and November and a visit during these months is a must!
The elephants in Tsavo National Park in Kenya, Africa are often referred to as ‘Red Elephants’ as they do appear red sometimes. The color of their skin is no different than that of other elephants, it is due to the red soil of Tsavo that covers these elephants during their dust baths.
Fort Lauderdale is sometimes called Venice of America – with over 300 canals and waterways, it certainly deserves the name!
Art aficionados will love this - a whole district in Riga is dedicated to art! Over 800 art noveau building and a number of art works here and the best examples are to be found on the main street Elisabetas lela.
The people of Des Moines sure have penchant for potato chips – they munch more potato chips per capita than any other metro area in the USA – about 11 lbs a year !
Want to be exactly 1 mile high above sea level? Stand on the 13th step of the state capital building in Denver which is exactly 1 mile high above sea level
The name 'Langkawi' means 'Strong Eagle' and legend has it that it was the final resting place of Garuda, a large mythical bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.
Kuala Lumpur literally translates ‘muddy confluence’ and is named such because of its location in the southwest Malaysia Peninsula, at the confluence of Klang and Gombak rivers.
The Cheju Island in Korea has more than 60 lava caves discovered till date, making Cheju-do the best place in the world to visit these natural wonders.
Who hasn't heard of the 7 Eleven convenience stores that have a presence all over the world today? Well the 7 Eleven chain has it's origins in Dallas and was started here in 1927!
The national state song of Ohio is "Hang on Sloopy, Sloopy hang on!"
Cincinnati has quite a few firsts to it's name: the first ambulance service was started here as was the first City Fire Department.
Most people of Luxembourg are linguists - the natives speak Luxembourgish, the first language taught in schools is German and businesses are conducted in French!
If you are in Osaka in Japan, be sure to pack extra pairs of socks as you may have to remove shoes at some restaurants, as well as if you visit a private home or a temple.
The literal translation of Hong Kong is ‘fragrant harbour’.
Hong Kong is the most densely populated place in the world, with the most skyscrapers and the most Rolls Royce cars per person.
Cape Cod is a favorite haunt with pensioners – almost 25% of the population that live in the Cape are retired folk.
The Taj Mahal was crafted artistically and it is believed that its pillars are slightly titled outwards so that if an earthquake occurs the pillars won’t fall on the tomb.
Macau is one of the richest cities in the world with the lowest infant mortality rate.
The glorious Taj Mahal of Agra has numerous interesting facts to its credit. One such is that it changes its colour several times during the day. In the morning it appears pink, turns white during the day and in the moon light it appears golden.

Discover interesting facts about places and destinations around the world: some fun facts, some travel trivia and other tidbits that are amazing or just plain crazy!


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