Austria: unravel the enigma

The country of Austria is enigma personified in every sense of the word. Be it the fascination of the jewel box palaces and Mozart's melodious music in Vienna, the beauty of the Alps, or for that matter many of the lesser known virtues; indeed, it is a destination that heralds a new tomorrow for the explorer tired of the known. Experiences like backpacking through the lunar landscape of Tennengebirge, enjoying a cider drink in the Mostviertel orchards, bathing in the lakes of Salzkammergut and catapulting through Harakiri in Mayrhofen are things that one would not normally do on a vacation, and that's exactly what makes Austria such a special destination. The spa town of Bad Ischl is also worth a visit, even though it is not much talked about. Vienna, for instance, also has the enchanting Habsburg palaces, while Salzburg’s baroque splendour gives way to Stone Age settlements, in conjunciton with Roman archaeological sites located at Carnuntum. Culture runs in the veins of this country.

Bregenzerwald: A rather silent town compared to the rest of Austria, the only sounds one would most often hear when he/she is out and about is the shaking of cow bells and the swoosh of the skis, in their respective seasons, of course! The city's landscape is interspersed with picturesque villages, sprawling green pastures and limestone peaks. After one has had a fill of the fresh air and awesome cheese in the alpine dairies, one could not want anything more than to just stick his feet up and relax by the fires.

Salzburg: Also known as a shrine to Mozart's ever-lasting melodies, Salzburg can also be described as being the perfect sojourn for tourists wanting to see something unique, and is extremely 'theatrical' with snow-capped mountains and a mammoth fortress. The Festung Hohensalzburg on top of Mönchsberg and the spires that seemingly touch the sky at more places than one give even more reasons to visit. The Schloss Mirabell paves the way for thousands every day to walk into the world of Mozart with his symphonies being played, mesmerizing one and all. Searching for lederhosen during a shopping sojourn on Getreidegasse or going for a horse-drawn carriage ride passing the cobbled streets, although rather normal for tourists in any part of the world, is surprisingly more enjoyable, owing to the atmosphere of this great destination. Also, in case one has had an overdose of the classical music scene, the unknown contours of Museum der Moderne have bars lined up across the right bank, besides the pleasant loneliness of Kapuzinerberg. The fast flowing Salzach provides a splendid view of the sun setting over Salzburg, and one is forced to wonder, whether the city really misses Amadeus or not!

While in this splendid country, keeping in touch with friends and family to share the numerous experiences is something one would most certainly desire to indulge in. By subscribing to Matrix international sim cards, lower calling rates and fantastic network coverage is assured, so that there are no concerns regarding long bills and dropped calls.

The wonder island: Hong Kong

At the first glance, Hong Kong can be a bit of a domineering force, with the jam-packed pedestrian sidewalks and multitude of signages, canteens brimming with steam and a perpetual rush hour during most of the day. However, once a person has 'overcome' this, the destination is a one of a kind experience that will be cherished for many years to come. Not only is it among the safest places in the world, it is also among the most organised. The country has the penchant for dragging a person out of his/her comfort zone, albeit it also rewards the endeavour handsomely. Some exotic examples of this are the shredded jellyfish and the beancurd, the dawn tai chi, and the incessant crowds at the horse-racing circuit. Even on the outskirts, watching the sun rise from a mountain peak or exploring remote locations. Also, for those who like undiluted pampering, money gets all its worth, but that does not mean that the simple pleasures of life get nudged out, for the local population has a tendency to enjoy the latter as much as the former.

Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple: In simple terms, the temple is a colourful kaleidoscope of brilliant hues on the roofs & pillars, along with flowers, incense and lattice work. Everyone, from the elite businessmen to the pensioners, and old parents to youngsters, visit this temple on a regular basis. Some of them come for offering prayers, while others offer the chim (bamboo 'fortune sticks') that are shaken out of a box for a fortune-teller to read after they fall on the ground. The temple complex was built in 1973 for honouring the god after whom it is named. At the age of 15, an immortal taught Wong Tai Sin the procedure to prepare a herbal potion to cure people of their illness. Since that day, he was worshipped by people around him, and is the favourite god of businesspeople. His image present in the temple was brought to Hong Kong from the Guangdong province in 1915 to be installed in a temple in Wan Chai, before being moved to the present location in 1921.

Temple Street Night Market: This place is easily the most populated night market in Hong Kong. The Temple Street stretches from the Man Ming Lane towards to north to the Nanking Street in the south, intersected by the Tin Hau temple complex. To be honest, there are better bargains in New Kowloon as well as over the border in Shenzen, but the atmosphere at the Temple Street Night Market is something that makes shopping here worthwhile! The street food from the dai pai dong (open air street stall) adds to the magic, as hordes of people shop for all kinds of clothes, music, footwear, cookware and things of everyday use.

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