Fuzzy Bus

India’s smallest state, Goa, is known more for its village life and its beautiful beaches than its many cities. While it’s commonly believed that most Goans live in villages and small towns, the state has a number of thriving cities that are worth exploring. Half the state is urban rather than rural.

Four of Goa’s cities are so close to each other to create a mostly continuous urban area. These are Panjim, Mapusa, Mormugao and Margao. Here is where you’ll find many of the five star hotels in Goa as well as other urban conveniences such as nightclubs, shopping malls, and fine dining restaurants. Lucky for visitors, few of the cities exceed populations of 100,000, making them easier to navigate and experience than the megacities of India.

Goa’s capital is Panjim, which was called Nova Goa during Portuguese colonialism and has been known as Pangim, Ponn’je and Panaji. It is known for its beautiful scenery, including stunning gardens with fine statuary and wonderful views of the Mandovi River and the city from the Altinho. Panajim holds the distinction of being the oldest Municipality in all of Asia.

Perhaps the most important city in South Goa is Margao or Madgaon. It is an important cultural and commercial center for Goa. Margao boasts historic colonial mansions featuring western-style architecture and important rail and highway connections to neighboring states.

Other Goan cities of interest include Old Goa, Vasco De Gama, Ponda, and Mapusa. These feature Hindu temples, beautiful mosques, and other historic sites in Goan history, including the unique Portuguese influence in the area.

Ibiza is known as one the party capitals of the world. Every summer, millions flock to this Mediterraraen island to enjoy huge parties and perhaps soak up some rays on Ibiza’s stunning beaches (though many partygoers rarely see the light of day, after staying up all night partying). While the party atmosphere remains a feature of the island, in recent years the government has worked to make Ibiza more family-friendly and has had a measure of success. Luckily, whether visiting Ibiza to enjoy the culture, history, and family-oriented activities or to dance all night in the clubs and at beach raves, all tourists can enjoy the incredible food that is unique to the island.

For the party crowd, many of the Ibiza restaurants offer non-traditional meals. This would include breakfast served in the afternoon for those who sleep most of the day and dinner served as late as midnight for those who start their partying later. Most of the bars and clubs offer limited menus as well, with tapas being a popular option.

The range of eateries on Ibiza is vast. The beaches have food stands where you can buy a meal and enjoy it on the sand as well as more traditional sit down restaurants. Many of the beaches offer multiple restaurants and the stunning views of a harbor at sunset can make a meal that much more enjoyable. Those willing to venture away from the beaches and into the island’s interior will find a number of rustic eateries with views of mountains and rolling hills.

The food itself is usually high caliber. Many of the dishes reflect the Spanish locale, though there are a number of restaurants that serve cuisines from other parts of the world. Local favorites include seafood stews and paella. As an island, the seafood is usually incredibly fresh and local herbs are used in many of the dishes. Other traditional Ibiza recipes feature lamb, chicken, and lamb.

Bangkok offers a one-of-kind melting pot of Indian, Chinese, and Western influences. While the city retains much of its traditional heritage and culture, it is also a very modern, urban center of commerce, finance, politics, and entertainment. Visitors, whether business or leisure, will find the city an enchanting and exotic representative of Thai culture, cuisine, and history.

Bangkok is comprised of fifty khet or individual administrative districts. The districts are further divided into khwaeng. The 154 khwaeng aren’t that relevant to tourists, as they are mostly used for determining addresses and for administrative business. Most people think of the city in terms of six general areas and the outlying provinces.

Bangkok’s commercial center is known as Sukhumvit. It is comprised of Sukhumvit Road and is populated with fashionable shopping, five star Bangkok hotels, as well as many restaurants and shopping malls. While the city doesn’t have an official center, the intersection of the Skytrain at Siam Square is part of the Sukhumvit area and serves many of the functions of a traditional city center.

“Old Bangkok” is located between Sukhumvit and the Chao Phraya river. It is also known as Rattanakosin. This densely populated area includes some of the best-known wats in the city. Here you’ll also find Chinatown (Yaowarat). Some of the popular river sites are part of Rattanakosin as are Khao San Road (a favorite of backpackers) and the district of Banglamphu.

Silom is Bangkok’s main party district, though in the daytime it is home to Thailand’s main financial hub. Thonbuir is located on the west bank of the river and is much quieter, with some of the city’s more offbeat sites and small canals. Phahonyothin is the location of the popular Chatuchak Weekend Market and also home to the Don Muang Airport. Ratchadaphisek centers around the road of the same name and is located north of Sukhumvit.

New York is the blueprint for a cosmopolitan city. With its dozens of famous landmarks and instantly-recognizable skyline, New York City is the top tourist destination in the U.S. and a global center for finance, fashion, art, theater, commerce, and food — to name just a few areas in which the city exerts its considerable influence. The Big Apple is a microcosm of the American “Melting Pot” with a history of immigration that has resulted in over a third of its residents being foreign-born and a population that speaks in 170 different languages.

Iconic landmarks in New York include the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and Times Square. The city was also home to the World Trade Center and its official site is still a popular destination for visitors. Other tourist attractions include the UN headquarters, Central Park, Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, the Brooklyn Bridge, Carnegie Hall, and the theater district of Broadway.

New York is easily the arts capital of the world. In addition to the world-famous art collections housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art, the city is home to other reknowned museums and galleries such as the Guggenheim and the Whitney Museum. For performing arts, the city is home to the New York City Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic as well as “Shakespeare in the Park” and the many theaters of Broadway, Off-Broadway, and even Off-Off-Broadway. Famous performance venues include Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, which is the largest US performing arts center, and Radio City Music Hall.

In terms of luxury, little can match the options available in New York. Shop on 5th Avenue’s many designer and top-flight stores, indulge in world-class restaurants offering decadent meals, and stay in the many luxurious New York hotel suites throughout the city. Then top it off with a night at one of the premiere lounges, bars, and nightclubs in the city. For those with tighter budgets, there are plenty of bargains to be had in the city, from street vendors and mom-and-pop stores to youth hostels and neighborhood bars.