DUBLIN: DUBLIN CASTLE AND CHEASTER BEATTY LIBRARY

image via commons.wikimedia.org

Dublin Castle was formerly the center of Administration during 700 years of British rule in Ireland. Today, the castle is a popular venue for ceremonial occasions, exhibitions, and concerts.

DUBLIN: KILMAINHAM GAOL

Located in Kilmainham, Dublin, this forbidding gaol (jail) was in used to imprison and execute the leaders of 1916 rebels. It is now a museum run by the Office of Public Works, an agency of the Government of Ireland. 

RUSSIA: 10 Best Kept Secret Destinations Revealed

Teriberka, Russia. IG: @littlemisshappyfeet

Spanning 9 time zone and 2 continents, the overwhelming uncertainties imposed by this oversized unknown land may intimidate you, not to mention the complexity of visa applications and the seemingly impossible language barrier!

RUSSIA: Elbrus, your solution to overpriced ski-trips

Tucked in the most rugged mountain ranges of Caucasus, Mt. Elbrus represents Europe in the Seven Summits (highest mountains on each of the seven continents). That being said, it is the highest peak in Europe, not Mount Blanc as most people believed it to be. Situated between the Black sea and the Caspian sea, it is a dormant volcano with 2 summits, West and East, standing proudly at 5,642 meters and 5,621 meters.  

RUSSIA: Dombay, Karachay-Cherkess Republic (Домбай).

photo credits: Dr. Golden Molling

1st thing 1st, Apple, stop changing my "Dombay" to "Bombay"!

Woke up to the most picturesque view, snow-capped mountains, fresh cold air, and we knew an amazing autumn day awaited. ~ Aisswaria Anandha 

RUSSIA: Sergiev Posad

photo courtesy of www.moscow-driver.com

About 70km north-east of Moscow, there lies an ancient small town right out of the fairy tale, Sergiev Posad. The town is famous for Troitse- Sergiev Monastery, once the religious center of Russian Orthodox Church, equivalent to Vatican City of Roman Catholic, before the honour was bestowed on Danilo Monastery in 1988.  

RUSSIA: Kamchatka, Land of Fire and Ice

Kamchatka, some called it the Valley of Volcanos, some say it is the Valley of Geysers, some say it deserved to be called the "Land of Fire and Ice"... turned out, it is all of that. People seems to find something new from time to time in the mysterious far East of Russia. If you think it is hard to find a place as exquisite as Iceland, you've never seen Kamchatka. And hold on, these photos only show a fraction of the peninsular, the tip of an iceberg, since the region is so less traveled. 

  

Photo by Dennis Budkov

RUSSIA: 12 photos to show you why you should go to Lake Baikal

Photo by Alexy Trofimov. sun-surfer.com

Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal, the pearl of Siberia is the largest freshwater lake on Earth, containing approximately 20 percent of the Earth’s freshwater. On 6th September, Russia marks Lake Baikal Day, a celebration of the world’s deepest lake and one of the world’s greatest natural monuments.

RUSSIA: Sochi, Pearl of the Black Sea

Sochi is not just another city in Russia. Apart from it being the host of 2014 winter olympics games and a leg of Formula 1 race, Sochi is dubbed the “Summer Capital of Russia”, some call it the Russian Riviera. Yes, imagine long stretches of picture perfect beaches, waterfront board way, palm trees, bustling nightlife and you will pretty much get the point. However, Sochi is not just about sun-kissed perfection. It is also a fascinating destination for winter sports enthusiasts, foodies and Yoga masters. Read on to find out what makes Sochi special!

RUSSIA: Saint Petersburg, the Majestic City of Canals

petersburgcity.com

Saint Petersburg is nicknamed the “Venice of the North”, it is one of the most mesmerizing canal-cities in the world . Since the breakup of USSR in 1991, the city took the World by storm, springing into the A-list of world-class destinations in a fairly short time. People generally loves the picturesque canals dotted with baroque bridges, the Winter Palace of the Romanov Dynasty, the arrays of impressive treasure housed in the Hermitage…. and the list goes on and on. 

RUSSIA: 10 things to tick off your list when you are in Moscow

@littlemisshappyfeet

Moscow is exciting, but you have to know where to head to! Here are 10 reason why I stop by in Moscow 2 times annually, and still planning on doing so for the years to come. One will never run out of things to do in Moscow, this list below is still expanding...

RUSSIA: leafing the pages of Volgograd

Russia is a very big country. A big country comes with more unexplored land and more hidden gems dotted across the country. Volgograd is definitely one of those. If you’ve seen the movie “Enemy at the Gates”, you might remember the name "Stalingrad". Now let me tell you, Stalingrad is Volgograd. The city actually went though 3 name changes, from Tsaritsin to Stalingrad and then Volgograd. The city was completely destroyed during the Great Patriotic War (WWII), but then it proved itself to be a survivor, a true “City of Heroes” when it was successfully rebuilt from the ruins. Today, Volgograd is bustling with energy with a very compact city center. Here is my favorite places to escape to when I have the time (and the will).  

Turkey: 2 days in Selcuk

@littlemisshappyfeet

We planned a 2 days stop in Selçuk because of its close proximity to Ephesus. Initially we thought of staying in the beautiful Greek Village of Şirince. However, due to shortage of budget, Selçuk was our best bet to score a good deal on accommodation. 

Turkey: 2 days in Pammukalle

@littlemisshappyfeet

We scored a cheap last minute bus ticket at Goreme bus stop and here we go-- off to the cotton castle! Bus company: Metroturizm

Quick Guide: Cappadocia, Turkey.

image via reddit

When travelling to the moon is impossible, travelling to Cappadocia, Turkey is perhaps the best alternative available. The bizarre landscape in Cappadocia is out of this world, you might find yourself wide-eyed-bewildered, repeatedly questioning yourself: "Am I still on the surface of the earth?"

Travel 5 days (hunting Aurora) in Arctic under $225

Total spending: 17870 Ruble/ $225 excluding flight tickets

I've set my eyes on Murmansk since last year when my friends introduced Murmansk to me. I had to go... For the sake of Aurora Borealis, for the sake of a "Scandinavian" experience which I couldn't afford.

Turkey: 3 days in Cappadocia

@littlemisshappyfeet

Cappadocia is located in Anatolian Region, Turkey. Besides its otherworldly landscape filled with unusual rock formations that look like mushrooms, cones and heads, this is a region with rich historical value. During the Roman era, early escaping Christians took shelter in various Cappadocian mountains and underground areas, creating the eerie underground cities.