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New York City, a symbol of Liberty, and one of the most iconic destinations in the world. Subject of many romance, horror, thriller, action and comedy movies. Site of many popular television shows such as Sex and the City, Friends, and Seinfeld.

The city was once called New Amsterdam as it was originally founded under Dutch control in 1624. Then after British colonisation in 1664, it was called New York. The modern New York is made up of Upper West Side, Soho, Greenwich village, Little Italy, Chinatown, Harlem, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. Each little district is like a small cultural hub in itself and each has its own unique qualities. 

New York city was also once host to the famous Twin Towers world trade centers, and now there is a Ground Zero site dedicated to the events on September 11th. If you go on the Ground Zero Workshop Tour, you will be able to have an educational and respectful experience via video, images and guided tours explaining the rescue efforts after the 9/11 attacks. New York city is also the headquarters of the United Nations and Wall Street, the financial capital of the world.

One of the most classic romance films which features a New York city architectural monument may be An Affair to Remember, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, where they agree to meet at the top of the Empire State Building. The same tradition would then be repeated decades later in the popular film Sleepless in Seattle, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. During which time and since, many lovers, families, students and tourists have enjoyed visiting the Empire State Building and basking in the glory of the city that never sleeps.

Other widely recognised buildings which exist in New York include: Trump Tower, Rockefeller Centre, Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall. The two greatest department stores, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s are also New York and world shopping icons. 

The greatest icon of New York City, however, is the Statue of Liberty, and there is a free Staten Island ferry which takes you there daily. 

The popular culture references are almost infinite when it comes to a particular New York tourist or local attraction. For example, one may choose to enjoy a helicopter tour over the city, and see what the view is like for anyone on a reality TV show which provides a helicopter ride over New York as one of the prizes of its weekly challenges.

There is even a Central Park movie sites tour, which allows you to re-live all the magical memories from your favourite classic Hollywood flicks. Central Park is the hub of New York city living, and is a total of 341 hectares. And if central park isn’t enough for the most particular movie buffs out there, try the Showbiz Insiders Tour.

In terms of Broadway shows, well, New York is the world epicentre. Choose from Mama Mia, Chicago, Mary Poppins, Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and much, much more! The quality of New York stage theatre is the best in the world, as all the world’s best dancers and actors flock to New York in search of center-stage glory. Tickets can be purcahsed from the TKTS outlets in Times Square or at Getaroom.com.au. 

For more musical fun – and this is for the hard core rockers – there’s a New York City Original Rock and Roll Walking Tour, which takes you to the favourite places of some of the world’s most legendary rockers. From Led Zeppelin’s favourite place to perform, to Madonna’s first New York city apartment. This tour will open your eyes to what life must have been like for the rising rock stars.

Of course, New York city is not only famous for rock and roll. Many Hip-Hop and R & B stars grew up from the streets of New York and became world-wide music sensations. Now you can learn even more about the history and rise of Hip-Hop by joining a New York Hip-Hop Tour. It’s a four hour experience taking you through to the birthplaces of Hip-Hop: Manhattan, Harlem and the Bronx. There’s also a Rapper’s Tour in Queens which explains how rap is an art form, not just a fad.

For a more soothing music experience, you obviously have to visit a jazz bar in New York – any jazz bar. Live music is possibly one of the best experiences to be stumbling upon in New York, and what’s great is that it pops up often. Even when it doesn’t, jazz clubs are almost as abundant as MacDonalds in New York, and each has its own unique sense of musical sensuality. It’s a must-do experience not to be missed.

NBC studios is also headquartered in New York city, and provides an informative studio tour which explains the television stations growth from a small radio station to one of the world’s most recognised and widely-viewed television stations. There is also a general TV and Movie Sites Tour which takes you to the places where they filmed such popular shows as Friends, Will & Grace, the Cosby Show, and movies such as Devil Wears Prada, Men in Black and Ghostbusters.

For the sporting fans, of course, New York is home to many major basketball (Knicks), baseball (the Yankees and Mets) and football (Giants and Jets) league games, as well as other popular sports. Bike ride tours are also available, for those who love to mix exercise with sightseeing. Others who come to New York specifically for the iconic red bus hop-on, hop-off adventure, then, well, there are heaps of variations of the hop-on, hop-off tours. You could mix in a visit to the Empire State Building, or add in a good dose of shopping. There is also a heritage hop-on, hop-off, for the most enthusiastic history buffs.

One of the best features of New York city life is that it is filled with art and culture. For excellent family fun, visit the Museum of Natural History – setting of the popular children’s film, Night at the Museum starring Ben Stiller. Other great museums and galleries to visit include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum. 

For the Fashionistas and fans of such shows as Sex and the City, New York city is a must-visit shopping destination. It is so magical to be following in the footsteps of your favourite characters Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha in a Sex and the City Hotspots Tour. And to add the cherry on top, join the SoHo and NoLita Shopping tour, two of the most hip and popular fashion districts in New York city.

New Years Eve in New York city may be one of the biggest celebrations that the city is host to. And aside from the cliched lining up in the middle of Times Square, many other luxurious options are also available, such as a romantic dinner cruise around New York harbour. Other popular cruises available include the Harbour Lights Cruise and the Twilight Cruise.

New York city is an ever-evolving buzz of commerce, entertainment, sport, art, culture, fashion and more. There is always something new to discover upon each re-visit, and many people become enchanted with the energy and spirit of the city and never want to leave! There is obviously a reason why so many movies, television shows, books and other events have all been based on and in New York city, and it’s truly a city that wouldn’t sleep if given the choice, because there is simply too much fun to be had at all hours of its days.

- Nicole Chiu 

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Gold Coast is the most populated non-capital city in Australia, and is visited by around 10 million tourists a year, all searching for the surf, sun and fun which the city offers as a major holiday destination.

Situated in the southern-east end of Queensland, and just above the border of New South Wales, Gold Coast weather is very comfortable with a subtropical climate throughout the year. December through to March is storm season, however the storms pass quickly and sunshine is abundant very soon after some rain.

Surfers Paradise is the tourist center of the city, with a skyline of high-rise hotels and apartments. Many popularised attractions within Surfers Paradise includes the Gold Coast Meter Maids – girls in bikinis who originally went around helping people place coins in their parking meters. Now the meter maids’ main purpose seems to be to look pretty and accept gold donations for a photo taken with them. Even in the colder months of June, July and August, they will be in their gold bikinis and some furry boots and jacket.

Surfing lessons are hosted all along the coastal area, and there are many brochures and information booths advertising various surfing coaches and surf schools. A great introduction to getting used to boards and the water, however, may be Boogie Boards or Body Boards, which do not require you to stand up straight on a board when riding the waves.

Some people like more of a motor thrill with their water sports, however, and a really fun activity for them may be the Extreme Jet-Boat Thrill Ride, which allows you to do slides, turns and all kinds of tricks, as well as soak in the grandness of some of Gold Coast’s most expensive real estate and super yachts along the broadwater.

Scuba-diving, skydiving, bungee jumping and pretty much any other extreme thrill or water sporting activity you can think of, Gold Coast will have it. The city practically exists to ensure that you have the kind of holiday where you can just have fun and feel alive. Other less thrilling yet equally recreational activities available are golf, mini-golf, tennis, horse-riding, and many other leisurely activities.

For a full day of rollercoasters and the like, you can choose from theme parks: Seaworld, Movieworld, Dreamworld, White Water World, and Wet ‘n’ Wild. There are also plenty of Fun Passes or Super Passes to obtain which allow you access to the parks for 5 days or 14 days at discounted prices.

Seaworld has magnificent dolphin and water sport shows, and Movieworld allows you to join tours which explain to you the ‘behind the scenes’ of moviemaking. Dreamworld has been the host of Australian Big Brother since its first season, and has many major thrill rides, as well as the famous Tiger Island, where you can take a photo with a tiger. (It’s always most exciting when there are a litter of new cubs!) White Water World and Wet ‘n’ Wild are both water parks, which are excellent in the scorching summer heat.

For the really little ones, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a great animal sanctuary where you will be able to get very close the kangaroos and pet them as if they were your family pet. Really fun little train ride that goes around the park and some traditional Aboriginal dance shows.

Next door to Movieworld, is the Australian Outback Spectacular, presented by R.M. Williams. It’s a dinner and show package which features some of Australia’s finest stunt riders and horsemen, and includes a free souvenir Stockmen’s hat! The show provides a great sense of the Australian bush culture, and serves traditional Australian BBQ food as part of the authentic flavoured meal. (Yes, Kangaroo meat and other interesting flavours are featured on the menu).

As well as water sports and theme parks, Gold Coast has a beautiful, lush hinterland and mountain range area, including Springbrook National Park, which has an impressive 100 metre high waterfall nestled in the heart of an hour-long bushwalk trail. The national park also has amazing 2000 year old Antartic beech trees. In the evening, the grotto hosts tours to see beautiful glow worms light up the night like moving stars.

For more hardcore bushwalking, try a Lamington National Park Full-Day Tour, which takes you on 6 kilometre trek through the World Heritage rainforests of Lamington and Mt Tamborine National Parks. As the largest area of protected subtropical rainforest in Australia, Lamington National Park is pristine with lush greenery and a gorgeous variety of native Australian wildlife.

Four-wheel drive eco tours or outback eco tours are also available, which take you through Tambourine Mountain, and some shorter bushwalks. Kangaroos, koalas and other native Australian animals may also be spotted throughout the journey. Some tours offer other novel activities such as a lesson in boomerang throwing, or a refreshing swim in a cool mountain stream.

Another four-wheel drive tour that is really worth considering is the 2 Day Moreton Island 4WD Camping Tour. Moreton Island is renowned for sand tobogganing, as it has vast beach areas of sand hills which provides hours of entertainment for the young and young at heart. There are also beautiful rainforests to discover on the island, as well as lookout points with views of the Glasshouse Mountains.

The best views of the Gold Coast, however, may be from up above, in the delightful comfort of a hot air balloon. Always scheduled at sunrise, and dependent upon on the weather, when you’ve got the o-kay to go onboard, it is magnificent and extremely worth the wait. A luxurious champagne and breakfast package awaits you upon set down as well, which is a perfect finish to a truly romantic and fun-filled activity.

With all the fun of surfing, rainforests and outback spectaculars, however, naturally one may visit Gold Coast with the intention to shop til they dropped. And there are plenty of major shopping centres on the Gold Coast for all sorts of shopping styles. There is luxury shopping at Marina Mirage, which is also next to the famous six star Versace hotel; discount shopping at Harbourtown, and many other shopping centres such as Pacific Fair, Robina Town Centre, Oasis Shopping Centre, and Australia Fair Shopping Centre.

Whatever your preferences for a fun-filled or relaxing holiday, Gold Coast, with its beautiful, warm climate throughout the year, is sure to satisfy your holidaying needs and desires.

- Nicole Chiu

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Hong Kong is a city of 7 million people in an area of just above one thousand kilometres squared. Once a part of the British Commonwealth, Hong Kong is now one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, with a world-recognized local cinema culture, plenty of high and street fashion, as well as luxurious hotels and magnificent ancient culture and history throughout its streets and surrounding territories. 

Some of the most well-known tourist activities to do in Hong Kong include: climbing to Victoria Peak on the tram to enjoy the spectacular views, going for a ride on the Star Ferry, enjoying a decadent High Tea experience at The Peninsula, and of course, shopping! From awesome local markets to boutique luxury shopping, Hong Kong is a shopper’s paradise. 

For a first-time traveller to Hong Kong or even Asia, Hong Kong may seem a little overwhelming with its hustle and bustle. Yet there is a contagious energy about the hustle, and that is what many travellers have grown to love about this vibrant city.

A great way to start with your Hong Kong introduction is to join a general tour, such as the Hong Kong Island Tour, which covers a thorough overview of all the hot spots and picturesque destinations that will surely inspire a second-visit.

Hong Kong harbour is one of the most happening districts, and is a great place to start your Hong Kong journeys. Enjoy a romantic Harbour Night Cruise and Dinner on top the revolving restaurant, to marvel at the energetic city below, or enjoy the lights from a seafood dinner cruise. There is also the option of joining a cruise with the famous floating restaurant, featured in many a Hong Kong action or comedy flick, as well as in Jacky Chan movies such as Rush Hour 2.

Dim Sims are one of the world’s most widely-recognized foods from Hong Kong culture, and a trip to Hong Kong would not be complete without a taste of Dim Sim the authentic way. For a great food tour, try the Cheung Chau (Long Island) Tour with Dim Sim Lunch, which takes you along the island to visit many enchanting temples, as well as experience the local palette.

For the mystical experience of ancient Chinese culture and Buddhist zen philosophies, enjoy a Cultural Heritage Tour of the Buddhist Monastery and Big Hat Mountain. On this full day tour you will be escorted to Hong Kong’s New Territories, where there are ancient Buddhist temples, monasteries and quaint village life, as well as local markets. The greatest feature of the Buddhist history, art and architecture is of course, the three ‘Precious Buddha’, the largest Buddhist statues in Hong Kong. When you then arrive on top of Big Hat Mountain, you will be able to soak in the amazing panoramic view of Hong Kong city.

If the Precious Buddhas haven’t yet been enough, and you want an even bigger Buddha to worship, you must go see the Great Buddha, near Po Lin Monastery. The Great Buddha is 34 meters in height, the world’s largest, seated outdoor Buddha. The Po Lin Monastery is situated in Lantau Island, which also hosts many delightful markets, beaches and pristine mountainside scenery. A great place filled with plenty of opportunities for spiritual enlightenment.

Families with small children – or, simply, the young at heart – will surely enjoy a trip to Hong Kong’s Disneyland Theme Park. The best way to find your way to the park is to book yourself in for a transfer service, which ensures that a driver is there and ready from your hotel to take you to the park – no need to worry about intimidating traffic conditions that come with the hassle of renting a car. Though if you find the thought of intimidating traffic conditions exciting, then, by all means, rent a car in Hong Kong and have a field day navigating the narrow the streets and exploring the hot spots on your own.

When in Hong Kong, not many people realise, there are also magnificent Dolphin watching cruises to join, which provide a scenery of breathtaking animals and, most significantly, the world’s pinkest dolphins. The dolphins, found only in the waters between Hong Kong and Macau, are pinker than the Boto dolphins which can be found in South America in the Amazon river. These tours are also very conservationalist-minded, and therefore have been designed to cause minimal disturbances to the dolphins in their natural habitat.

More ocean-related fun can also be experienced at Ocean Park, which is an oceanarium with the world’s largest marine theatre. With 870,000 square meters of entertainment in total, many visitors will tell you that it’s barely possible to finish enjoying the whole park in just one day! At the park you may see sealions, dolphins, sharks, penguins, killer whales, as well as giant pandas An An, Jia Jia, Le Le and Ying Ying. There are also extremely fun roller coaster rides which will have you literally screaming for more!

With the influence of British occupation as part of Hong Kong’s modern history, the Hong Kong Jockey Club is now world-renowned in the racing world, and an exclusive tour is available to visitors over the age of 18, between September and June. The tour includes drinks upon arrival, buffet dinners, a general tour of the grounds and winner’s post, and, of course, really exciting horse-racing.

Given the fact that Hong Kong has 7 million residents in such a small area of land, it is a real marvel to be admiring the architectural geniuses that arise in such circumstances. Many architectural fans thoroughly enjoy the Western Shoreline of Hong Kong and Tsing Ma Bridge Cruise. The cruise is a showcase of Hong Kong’s greatest architectural achievements and town-planning strategies, from the Bank of China building, to Exchange Square, Hong Kong Bank, IFC (International Finance Centre) and Central Plaza.

As I mentioned earlier, Hong Kong’s night life and cityscape is vibrant, energetic and filled with mesmerizing beauty. All these characteristics of Hong Kong as a city can best be appreciated through the art of lights laser shows, in the form of the Symphony of Lights Hong Kong Harbour Cruise. It glorifies the already glorious atmosphere that Hong Kong creates for the first or returning visitor. The lighting show includes laser beams which bounce off of 33 skyscrapers, forming their own elegant little ‘dance’, with symphony orchestral music as accompaniment. It’s also a most romantic experience for couples on their Honeymoon.

Hong Kong is a great city for food, sights, shopping and excitement, and provides a marvelous scope of ancient Chinese culture and traditions, as well as modern technological entertainments and plenty of universally welcoming hospitality.

- Nicole Chiu

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