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Bodhgaya India (also written as Bodh Gaya) is in northeastern India in the state of Bihar. It is thought that the Enlightenment of Buddha occurred here under an asvatta or bodhi tree (the Tree of Awakening) where the Mahabodhi Temple now sits. It is the most important Buddhist temple of the four holy Buddhist pilgrimage sites, one of which includes the temples and ghats of Varanasi on the mighty Ganges River where Prince Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon in nearby Sarnath.

“Bodhi” means enlightenment, and the tree itself was actually a kind of ficus (or pipal) tree, which has been propagated from a sapling of the original tree under which he sat. The current living tree is 80 feet high and about 115 years old. Under the tree is a red sandstone slab that is said to be the Vajrasana, the diamond throne that Prince Gautama sat on when he attained nirvana.

Singapore is the cleanest city in the world. Tourists will be surprised by the strict rules and regulations established by the Singapore government. The Singapore government wants to establish a clean and green country. If you are a tourist visiting Singapore, you should pay attention to your every action. There are many things considered normal in your country but illegal in Singapore.

Chewing gum is banned in Singapore but to bring chewing gum into the country in large numbers is illegal and the sellers of gum can be sent to prison. Therefore, be careful with what you bring to Singapore. Thanks to the strict laws of Singapore, the country is very safe and orderly. Every year a large number of tourists were fined for their stay in Singapore because they are not aware of the rules. (Ezinearticles)

The Ajanta Caves appear almost as a city carved right out of the rock.There are 29 caves, and in many of them you will find an Ajanta Temple dedicated to one of more of the aspects of the Lord Buddha.The older Caves of Ajanta date to the second century BC, and comprise both Mahayana (based both on the Buddha and other medicine Buddhas, with many rituals) and Theravda (based on the historical Gautauma Buddha, with few rituals) traditions.

Tourists who take Ajanta Cave tours also often visit the nearby Ellora Temples and Caves. As in the Ellora Caves, there are Ajanta cave paintings and sculptures that are masterpieces of Buddhist art. Used by Buddhist monks as monasteries (complete with residence halls), prayer halls, and temples for about nine centuries, they were mysteriously abandoned and lost until rediscovery in 1819 by English tiger hunters.

On the way to the top of Mount Koya (Koyasan), travelers journey through a cedar valley surrounded by eight mountain peaks. Once on top of the mountain, the highlight is spending a night at a temple. One of the most authentic Japan attractions, tourists can chose from about fifty temples in the area that function as shukubo (converted guesthouses) for overnight stays. A night’s accommodation includes vegetarian cuisine known as shojin ryori, prepared by the resident monks. Guests also have the unique opportunity to participate in the 30-45 minute morning prayer session that starts around 6 am. Read the rest of this entry »

China’s climate varies from sub arctic in the North (incredibly cold) to tropical (incredibly hot and sticky) in the South.

In general the best times to travel to the north and northeast part of China are early Spring and late Autumn. Summer is also a good time to visit this part of China if you can handle dry heat. The exceptions are travelling for skiing and the Harbin Snow & Ice Festival. Read the rest of this entry »