Tunstall is located in the West Midlands of United Kingdom. It is one of the bigger towns of Stoke-on-Trent. Tunstall is accessible by air and land transportation. If you are traveling by coach, it will take you less than 4 hours from Victoria Station in Central London. If you are flying in from another country, use Manchester Airport as your entry point. From the airport, it will take you about 40 minutes to Tunstall.

A little over a year ago, I visited some friends and relatives in England who are working in Stoke-on-Trent and nearby cities in Staffordshire. One of my nephews who live in Tunstall volunteered to show me around town and I found some interesting places to visit.

Here are some of them:

Tower Square

Tower Square was built in 1893. It has a clock at the center and built with a yellowish brick. It was built through public subscription in honor of Sir Smith Child, former member of the Staffordshire Parliament.

At the east end of the Tower Square is another historic place, the Tunstall Town Hall which was built in 1885 to replace the old town hall that was demolished in 1882.

Tunstall Town Hall built in 1885

Tunstall being part of the then federated towns of Stoke-on-Trent, now a city known the world over as the pottery capital of the world. A trip to England is not complete without visiting the places where the best pottery products are produced.

Pottery Museum & Art Gallery Hanley Shopping Center

The most progressive among the federated towns of Stoke-on-Trent is Hanley as shown in the above photo. Hanley is about 3o minutes away by coach from Tunstall.

Terraced Housing Tunstall Railway Station

Built in 1848

The terraced housing design as shown in the photo, were used by pottery workers as their housing accommodation during the pottery boom that started in the 17th century. Some of these housing units are still in use today in their original form.

Staffordshire University Campus, Stoke-on-Trent

It took us three hours to reach Sabang, riding on the roof of an overloaded jeepney with chickens, palay, three bicycles, ice blocks, mats and cartoons and cartoons of vinegar and gin and as much people on the roof as it is in the inside. It's a wonder how this local vehicle managed to carry as much load and passengers. Every now and then, the jeepney will stop, usually on store fronts to unload the commodities from the roof.

The road to Sabang is a terrain of cemented, rocky, muddy and rather bumpy but riding on top of the jeepney offers a diverse view of the distant islands of Honda Bay, lush forests abundant with ironwood trees that look anaemic from afar, rows of other sturdy trees, the magnificent panorama of the Sulu Sea and the local villages with their rusting roofs and cogon huts. The little town of Sabang is said to be the gateway to the Subterranean River. This is where the Central Park Station of the Subterranean River National Park is located.

We arrived exactly 6 in the evening and the first guy to approach us led us into the second farthest cottage from the pier via a carabao ride. Mary's Cottage, just like the other lodging places you can find in Sabang has a number of nipa huts situated at the beach front. Accommodation in these cottages ranges from P300 for communal bathroom and P500 with a private shower and toilet but don't expect hot and cold shower because the bathroom is really so modest. If you opt for a sit down toilet, big airy windows and much bigger balconies and single cottages, you can also try Taraw Lodge for P550. Just make sure to check the ceiling. One of our friends got his clothes and things soaked because of the leaking ceiling.

Tired as we are from the bumpy ride, we immediately had our dinner of chicken barbeque, pancit canton and rice right after we put down our things. Mary's Cottages offers one of the best chicken barbeque in Sabang and it is very affordable. A sound sleep should precede a hearty dinner and a long trip but since it was the night of the full moon, we decided to stay in the beach's hammock and watch the moon until the morning. The seclusion of our cottage is a big advantage since we rarely get other tourists walking in front of the beach or noisy dogs barking at anyone that passes by. It was a very quite night, with the moon peeking through dark big clouds and towering coconut and acacia trees. It was a sight straight out of a horror movie, with the stillness of the night, the breaking of the waves in the rock and some distant dog howls, but I was far from feeling afraid. Serenity like this can rarely, or not all experienced in the city, so I took advantage of the night.

Aside from moon watching during its fullest and eating barbeque chicken at Mary's, there are a number of activities that Sabang has to offer. So whether you are on vacation there for the beach, the river of the swamp, Sabang takes you to a journey to the waters of Palawan in any way that you like it. Below are some of the activities that should be enjoyed while you are staying in Sabang:

Cruising the Subterranean River

Of course you don't want your friends to give you that I-cant-believe-it sarcastic look when you brag about going to Sabang and missing what it is famous for, so before going to any place or activities listed here, first book a bangka ride to the Subterranean National River, said to be the longest navigable underground river.

All tour permits can be acquired from the Tourist Information and Assistance Centre near the pier of Sabang. Permits costs Php150 for local tourists and P200 for foreigner but it already include the boat ride inside the river. After getting your permits, hire a boat from the nearby booking center for Php700 pesos. The boat can load up to six persons so if you are travelling only with your partner, better look for other tourists to ride with you. The booking centre can also arrange that for you but during peak season, you cannot rely on their efforts. The boat ride from the pier to the National Park takes about 15-20 minutes depending on the current. The boat ride offers a spectacular view of rock formations, blue green waters and rocky beaches with waves breaking into the rocks. During rainy months, the waves are much bigger and the chances of getting drenched in the boat are higher. To save precious pictures and expensive equipment, put your cameras in waterproof bags or plastic containers. The boat will drop you off in the beach around 5 minutes walk from the mouth of the river and will wait for you there. During that walk, you'll be lucky to see monitor lizards walking around the trail with you or nasty monkeys snatching your food bags. For people who always needs to go to the comfort room, don't expect a clean fragrant toilet or clean water if you need to take a leek because the toilets in the park is far from clean and decent. Before jumping in the boat which fits 9 people, don't forget to wear the helmets and life jackets given by the boatmen slash care takers slash tour guides of the river.

The Subterranean River used to be called as St. Paul Subterranean River until it was changed to its current name in 1971 during the expansion of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. The river extends up to 8 kilometres and can be as deep as 20 feet in some parts. But because the farther part of the rivers gets shallower, the tour can only reach up to the 5th kilometre. Around the mouth of the river are rows of century old talisay and balete trees and other kind of forest trees that survived logging through the initiative of the local government to turn the park into a protective area. The blue green waters, towering rock formation with vibes and plants hanging from it, create scenery straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. The water is so cool but swimming is not allowed.

The journey inside the undeground river can take up 45 minutes. Boatmen are a little too enthusiastic, sometimes giving unappreciated (and often corny jokes) but they are also very efficient in giving informations about the Subterranean River. During the trip, you cant help but be amazed witht he stalactites of varied forms which took hundreds of years to develop. Almost each and every stalactites have names often inspired by religious figures, fruits and vegetables, even animals and ordinary things like candles etc. According to our boatman, visitors are not allowed to touch the stalactites because our body produces a certain jkind of oil that can hinder their growth. Stalactites can grow up to .08 inches yearly and the tallest in the Subterranean River is 65 meters, dripping down from the area called High Ceiling. The inside of the cave echoes with the chirping of the swiftlets and the flapping of bats seeking their way inside the tunnel through reverberation. There's a portion in the tunnel called the Bat Cave where 9 of the 7000 kinds of bats in the whole world inhabit this place. While cruising the underground river, there are portions where the water is leaking down from the ceiling so be aware of this to protect your cameras.

Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour

Also not to be miss in Sabang is the Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour, a one hour cruise in the Bakawan (Mangroves) reserve in Poyuy-poyuy River. Unlike in the SUbterranean River where you would hardly see the area deserted, the Poyuy-poyuy is usually very quiet that you can hear every birds and insects singing in the nearby mangrove forest. There are only two paddle boats docked there when we arrived and a couple of tourists, taking the Jungle Trail, passed by to be transported to the other side of the river since the bridge was damaged by the recent typhoon. The tour fee is P100 and two paddle boatmen will take you to a journey of surreal tranquility that rarely occurs in city living.

Along the trip, the boatmen efficiently identifies male and female mangroves for us, based on the shape and sizes of their leaves. In Palawan, 48 thousand out of the 100 thousand mangrove kinds in the Philippines can be found since the whole province is declared a Mangrove Protected Area, and in Poyuy-poyuy River, the oldest tree is a centry old. I noticed some dead tree trunk along the way and the boatmen said that 56 trees was recently destroyed by woodworms or lighting.

Despite my efforts to listen to the informations from our old guide, my thoughts drifted to the stillness of the whole area. The 1.2 kms of brackish water of the river, the huge rocks at the end of the river and the towering mangrove trees creates a background that is perfect for a romantic movie scene, almost dreamlike yet you can feel the cool breeze touching your skin and hear the waves and splashes made by the wading paddles. I almost fell asleep during the short tour, which feels like a forever cruise to the peacefulness of a beautiful dream.

Sunbathing and Swimming

For the beach person and the more laid back, Sabang is also a good place to hang out, yet its not as good as the more famous El Nido or Honda Bay if you are aiming for a still sea.

Since it is facing an open sea, without so many islands near the area, the waves in Sabang are generally bigger than other beaches in Palawan especially during the the Ber-months. It actually reminds me of the surfing waves in San Juan, La Union where i did a couple of surfing tries a few months ago. I almost wish I can rent a surf board or even a skim board. Still, swimming is still enjoyable, escaping the big waves which will eventually cover your body and wash away your swimsuits.

A good place to sunbath, if you dont want waves crashing on your body, is on top of the rocks at the north end of the beach, especially during the low tide. Hike a little bit to where the rocks are even, spread your big towel and enjoy the sun warming your whole body. From the eleveated rocks, you can actually see the waves crashing on the rocks up close, instead of watching it from a distance.

Dinner at Daluyon Restuarant

Opened last November, Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort is the newest and probably is the only luxurious hotel in the Sabang, built by the owner of Puerto Pension. Although the rates, both accomodations and food is a bit pricey for this kind of beach, the quality of service and food is excellent.

On our last day in Sabang, we decided to indulge in a little bit of luxury with food. The “posh place” as we call Daluyon, is the restaurant of choice since there werent any other option for splurging for dinner in that area. As soon as you enter the restaurant, which is facing the swimming pool with the background of the mountain, you already know that the place is worth your money. The crew are dressed appropriately and the place is clean and well maintained, to the point of elegance. There's even a lounge area where you can hang out after a full meal, to drin kyour coffe or tea. The choices is mouth-watering, intensified by the pictures of the food in the menu. We decided to go for Grilled Fish Fillet and Roat Herb Chicken, the most tempting of the picture gallery.

We dont know if its just the hunger or its really our taste bud speaking, but the food is Daluyon Restaurant is heavenly. My Roast Mustard Herb Chicken is a fusion of different flavours in an elegant presentation. The golden brown chicken, sits on layers of potato gratin comes with the Julienne salad and glazed with red wine capar sauce. The taste is intoxicating, probably with the presence of red wine on it, succulent tenderness of the chicken paired with the freshness of the salad. All for P300, a treat that you will get in Manila for double the price.

We also had Grilled Fish Fillet in Saffron Cream Sauce, which also came with Potsto Gratin and Juliene Salad. As with the chiken, the grilled fish was plated gourmet like, topped with slices of carrots and green beans. It is glazed by Saffron sauce, that serve more like a dip for the perfectly grilled fish. The fish is also very fresh, and you can tell it from the whiteness of its flesh and way it melts in your mouth.

The food was so good that we denied ourselves of being satisfied, so we stick around the restaurant for four more hours, read the arts magazines ont he coffee table in the lounge, smoke ti kill time and wait for dinner. As expected, it was excellent.

Daluyon Restuarant also has a complete bar list, a rare find in Sabang because other restaurants only offers the usual drinks and cocktails. Indeed, our bill is quiet painful in the pocket since we are on a budget trip, but it was all worth it, especially as a fitting goodbye to the getaway in Sabang.

There are also other activities to do in Sabang like walking in the Jungle/Monkey Trail, Caving and Trekking but those we werent able to try. So we leave to you to experience.

We left Sabang just as the rain stopped pouring. There's still some dark clouds hovering in the sky. The trip is bumpier now because of the wet road, we were seated now in a van with other tourists, the travel is still not as comfortable, but my memories of Sabang will always be a relaxing,peacefull communition with nature and myself.

Going There:

From Puerto Princesa, Sabang can be reached by a three hour jeepney or bus ride for P150 but for a more convenient and rather expensive trip, hired vans also travel from Puerto Princesa to Sabang for P3000 to P4500. You can also split it with other tourists who also opted for the less cramped ride especially if you are carrying a lot of luggage.

Accomodations:

Lodging rates in the cottages ranges from P350 to P550 pesos. In the more expensive Daluyon Restuarant, a room cost fromn P2500 and up. Better see the cottages first before deciding which one to take.

Travel Tips to Sabang:

It is advisable though to bring only a few light clothes since your usual activities would be walking, swimming, river and cave exploration. A comfortable pair slipper would be better rather than bringing rubber shoes because it will surely get wet somewhere in the river or at the beach especially if you are taking the walking trail to the Subterranean River. Also don't forget the insect repellent especially if you are staying in the cottages because mosquitoes can get really nasty during the evening.

The town is powered only by generators so the electricity supply is scheduled from 6pm to 10pm only, though there are resorts which offer 24 hours electricity, so make sure your equipments are charged. As of writing, the only network provider that works there is Globe and Touch Mobile.

Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills are probably Bohol's most famous tourist attraction. The Philippines' 3rd National Geological Monument, they look like giant mole hills. Most people who first see pictures of this landscape can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact. It is composed of not less than 1268 hills. Aesthetically extensive, they are scattered throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan in Bohol. They are very uniform in shape and mostly between 30 and 50 meters high. They are covered with grass, which, at the end of the dry season, turns chocolate brown. From this color, the hills derive their name. At other times, the hills are green, and the association may be a bit difficult to make.

Mayon Volcano

The Mayon Volcano is an active stratovolcano in the province of Albay in Bicol Region. It is situated 15 kilometres northwest of Legazpi City.

Mayon is classified by volcanologists as a stratovolcano, or composite volcano. Its symmetric cone was formed through alternate pyroclastic and lava flows. It was known and famous as a "Perfect Cone" volcano because of it's almost perfectly shaped cone. Truly, nature is a great architect.

Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. Rising from the volcanic depths of the Sulu Sea in the western Philippines, these magnificent atolls encompass an astonishing diversity of marine life. The reef is composed of two atolls, North and South Reefs. Each reef has a single small islet that protrudes from the water. The atolls are separated by a deep channel 8 km (5 miles) wide.

Over one thousand species can be found in the reef; many are already endangered species. Animal species found include manta rays, lionfish, pawikan or tortoise, clownfish, and sharks.

The park is the Philippines' only National Marine Park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site being preserved for generations to come.

From majestic whale sharks to elusive seahorses - Tubbataha supports an unparalleled variety of marine creatures. Colourful reef fish crowd corals growing in the shallows while sharks and manta rays haunt the steep drop offs to the open sea.

Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean River

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 kilometers north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. It is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the northern coast of the island. It is also known as St. Paul's Subterranean River National Park. The entrance to the Subterranean River is located a short hike from little town of Sabang.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with its underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it flows directly into the sea, and the lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full mountain to the sea ecosystem and protects forests. The underground river is reputed to be the world's longest.

It was inscribed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site on December 4, 1999.

Danjugan Island

Lying in the Sulu Sea, 3km west of Negros Occidental, Danjugan Island rises steeply to 80m and is covered in rainforest - home to a nesting pair of sea eagles, rare pigeons and doves, threatened Tabon scrubfowls and coconut crabs, fruit and insect bats and many other wildlife species that struggle to exist in the mainland.

Danjugan has five lagoons, two of which are open to the sea and four of which have surrounding mangrove stands. The island has a broken shoreline with numerous inlets of coral rubble and coarse sandy beaches. One of the sandy beaches is a confirmed nesting site for green turtles (Chelonia mydas). There is no permanent freshwater on the island.

Danjugan is rich in vegetation including plants like Pandanus spp. (screw pines), Veitchia merrilii (previously only known to occur in Palawan) and the threatened Pemphis acidula. The sub-tropical rainforest is an important bird nesting and feeding site for at least 55 resident and migrant avifauna species. The small limestone caves throughout the island act as important refuges of at least six bat species.

The island is completely encircled by fringing coral reef descending to a depth of approximately 30m. Seagrass beds occur along the western and eastern margin of the island.

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Boracay Island is paradise Philippines located off the northwest corner of the island of Panay, and belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, or Region 6, of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers.
South-facing Cagban Beach is located across a small strait from the jetty port at Caticlan on Panay island, and the Cagban jetty port serves as Boracay's main entry and exit point during most of the year. When wind and sea conditions dictate, east-facing Tambisaan Beach serves as an alternative entry and exit point.

Palawan, Philippines

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When Chinese explorer Chao Ju-Kua stumbled upon Palawan in 1225, he dubbed the 270-mile-long (435-kilometer-long) island the "land of beautiful harbors" where "lofty ridges and cliffs rise as steeply as the walls of a house." Today, one of these beautiful harbors-Bacuit Bay-is home to El Nido Resort's Lagen lodge, an environmentally friendly property situated on a sculpted island inside the bay. The resort's 18 cottages rest on stilts right next to El Nido's marine sanctuary, where towering limestone cliffs jut from the shimmering surface and unspoiled coral reefs lie just below it. In a single day, guests can scuba dive, kayak, rock climb, and trek-returning just in time to witness a Gauguin-inspired sunset from their cottage's private balcony. Rather take it easy? Just spend your day relaxing on the beach. You certainly won't miss the sunset that way.

The Big Island of Hawaii

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Ever dream of the perfect Hawaiian Island vacation? The Big Island of Hawaii is a tropical paradise that offers hundreds of miles of unique coastline, volcanic black, green gemstone and powdery white beaches, incredible Kona Coast oceanfront resorts, lush jungles, obsidian lava fields, humpback whales wintering and a multitude of fun Hawaiian adventures…from thrills to true bliss.

Sydney, Australia

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Sydney is Australia's largest city with a population of almost 4 million, and is the primary port of entry for international visitors. Most recently renowned as host city of the 2000 Olympic Games, Sydney is also the business and tourism hub of the nation, and is increasingly a major centre within the Asia-Pacific region. Blessed with a wonderful setting on Sydney Harbor, and a benign climate, Sydney is a great tourist's city. Although not the first point at which Europeans landed in Australia, it was the first permanent European settlement, and is Australia's oldest established city.

Today, Sydney is recognized as one of the "lifestyle" capitols of the world; it's melting pot of cultures has given the city a multitude of international restaurants and eateries to choose from; the compatible all year round warm weather; the spectacular harbor views, makes Sydney the ideal city for outdoor bars and cafes which can be found all over the city; this could also be the reason for the friendly outgoing and open attitude of "Sydneysiders" - instantly recognizable by visitors.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

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Myrtle Beach might be the most desirable vacation spot on the entire East Coast. Located at the center of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of dreamy beaches that attracts millions of tourists every year, Myrtle Beach is the largest resort community in that famed stretch and home to activities that can satisfy any vacation desire. Between its amazing beaches, a wide range of recreational possibilities and primo shopping opportunities, this primary vacation hub on the shores of the South Atlantic is one of the top stretches of oceanfront the country has to offer.

Phan Thiet, Vietnam

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Vietnam's Most Beautiful Beach and Bay City. The capital of Khanh Hoa Province, Nha Trang has a full-time population that stands at about 200,000 people, but it far exceeds that with the heavy local and international tourist influx, especially in the summer months. While it's not a particularly charming town, its surf isn't bad and the beach is a breathtaking setting, with views of the more than 20 surrounding islands. There are a few very nice places to stay, and dining is about good fresh seafood.

Phuket, Thailand

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Thailand is the real vacation destination everything is there for you to have a good time. Just choose the right Thailand vacation package or do appropriate Thailand vacation deal and a good time is almost for sure. This can be a Thailand beach vacation, maybe in Phuket with a boat vacation on the sea around or a vibrant nightlife vacation. A Chiang Mai vacation or Kanchanaburi vacation could easily be turned into a adventure vacation with challenging river rafting, hiking and trekking in the mountain jungle. Or maybe Thailand culture tour vacation to Sukhothai, Ayutthaya Thailand and plenty of other places, there plenty of Thailand attractions. A very attractive vacation deal in Thailand is scuba vacation in the Andaman Sea and in the gulf of Thailand.

1. Boracay

   
   
   This place is famous for its white sand beach, and also for the coral reefs and the sea creatures. Last Year, Yahoo announced that Boracay Beach is the most popular beach all over the world and the 7th best beach among beaches. When I went there I was surprised that it is even better than those pictures I have.

2. Bohol

   
   
   Bohol is found In the Central Visayas Region. This place is famous for its Chocolate Hills. The smallest primate is also found here.

3. Cebu

   
   
   I can tell you that this place is beautiful because this is where I live. The beaches, hotels, malls are all amazing.

4. Zamboanga

   
   
   Zamboanga is a corrupted word for the Bahasa Sug jambangan, which means garden. This is considered to be the 6th largest island of the Philippines. The most visited place here is the Santa Cruz Island for it pink Coral Sand.

5. Ilo-ilo

   
   
   Ilo-Ilo is formerly known as the Queen City of the South because of the big profits that this profit gain. This Province is famous for the old style Churches. This is the place where our famous national hero Jose Rizal bought his hat.

6. Guimaras

   
   
   This place is just northwest of Ilo-Ilo. This is one the greatest rival of Boracay for its beaches also have white sand.

7. Palawan

   
   
   Palawan is considered to be the “last frontier” of the Philippines. This place has UNESCO WORLD Heritage Site, and these are the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

8. Davao

   
   
   Davao is from the word “daba-daba” which means fire. Five of the major fishing sites are found here in Davao. This place is also famous for its durian fruits.

Biyahe tayo sa Pilipinas!

The United States Mint

Independence Mall
Philadelphia, PA 19019
usmint.gov

No money of your own, check out America's first production facility for the nation's coinage where you can see money actually being made. Why not learn about the history of the monetary system and the role of America's bank, the Federal Reserve. Free of charge public tours are available everyday.

Elfreth's Alley

Old City
Philadelphia, PA 19106
elfrethsalley.org

Opened in 1702, Elfreth's Alley is one of oldest surviving streets in the city. For 300 years, this neighborhood was home to the working classes and immigrants who eked out an existence in the conditions of 18th & 19th century urban life. Walk down the alleyway to see 32 homes restored by the Elfreth's Alley Association. There is a fee to go inside the homes but the stroll down the street scattered with artisans and street performers is free.

Love Park

15th St and JFK Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19102
ushistory.org/lovepark

For love or money? You can decide by the fountain at JFK Plaza located in the heart of Center City's business district as you gaze up at Robert Indiana's famous Love Sculpture. The iconic image has been photographed and replicated the world over from the skateboarders, now banned, who used the park to practice their high-flying tricks to the cover of the Erich Segal classic, “Love Story.”

Tall Ship Gazela

301 S Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19106
gazela.org

Along the Delaware River at North Penn's Landing you can visit the tall ship Gazela Primeiro. Built in 1883 in a shipyard in Portugal, the non-profit organization Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild are the owners of this once seafaring vessel among others. Free to visit, donations are accepted. If you drive there, you may have to pay for parking

Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site

532 N. 7th St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
nps.gov/edal

Fans of the author Edgar Allen Poe will get a rare treat visiting the home where he published a number of his widely read stories. At the entrance to the museum, you are greeted by a statue of a raven, an obvious reference to the famous poem. Inside, the house is maintained to look decadent and eerie an homage to his literary legacy.

Eastern State Penitentiary

22nd St and Fairmount Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19120
easternstate.org

Not free but worth the $7.00 admission fee, the Eastern State Penitentiary was built to rehabilitate its inmates using solitary confinement and hard-labor. Once there, you can tour the cell block that once was the home to gangster Al Capone. Closed in 1971, the abandoned prison stands as a reminder of America's early penal system.

Al Taneem (Masjid-e-Ayesha)

A beautiful mosque located in "Al Hil", and it is about four miles away from the Holy Kabba between Mecca and Medina, and it is the Miqat for Mecca people and those coming to Mecca whether for Hajj, Umrah or residency. This is quite a big mosque with superb facilities for bath, ablution and changing, available for pilgrims and those who come to offer regular prayers. Once we went there our taxi driver charged as 25 royals for a round trip and waiting for us outside the mosque.

Arafat

It is a very large yard outside the boundaries of Al Haram Mosque, and is situated about 25 kilometers from Mecca. The pilgrims go there on the 9th day of Zil-Hajj until the sunset, and then they go to Muzdalefah. Standing in Arafat is one of the main pillars of Hajj, and it is considered that those who do not stand in Arafat did not do Hajj. Several mountains from east, north and south surround Arafat, and the most famous of them is Al-Rahmat Mountain, on its foothill, the Holy Prophet, may the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, stayed in his farewell Hajj. Here in this yard we found a lot of people selling low quality cheap priced merchandise, mostly these people were Africans and Pakistanis. We also found camels and horses available for riding, mostly foreigners were found riding these animals and price for a single ride was quite high.

Mina

A valley between two mountains east of Mecca, it is situated about five kilometers from Al Haram Mosque, where the Satan showed up three times to misguide Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) from sacrificing his son. Here in Mina the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) threw stones at him, thus starting the obligation and ritual of stoning the three Jamrahs (stone pillars indicating places where Satan appeared). Muslims go to Mina to throw stones at these Jamrahs, slaughter animals, and stay there during the Hajj.

Al Muzdalefah

It is a place between Mina and Arafat where people come to, after standing in Arafat. It has a small mountain called Qazah that is shaped like a horn, where the Imam of the Hajj stands and speaks to the people as the Prophet did, and it is called Al Masha'r Al Haram, and a mosque has also been built here.

Masjid-e-Masha'r Al Haram

This Al Masha'r Al Haram mosque is also called Qazeh, and is the place where the Prophet (PBUH), gave his sermon, which became a must follow practice after that. The Imam of Hajj stands in the Masha'r and gives the Hajj sermon.

Birthplace Of The Holy Prophet (PBUH)

The house in which Holy Prophet (PBUH) was born is situated very near the Al Haram Mosque towards Marva gate. It is almost at a walking distance of 5 to 6 minutes from the main mosque and one can easily reach there. At present the house is not there but a public library has been established there. On the front door of the library a signboard has been erected indicated the name of the library as “Maktab Al Mecca Tul Mukarrama”.

Jannat Ul Mua'lla

It is the cemetery of the people of Mecca, and it is on the way to Mina, The grave of Um-Al-Momeneen Bibi Khadija (the first wife of Holy Prophet) and that of,Prophets's son Qasim, Asma Bint AbuBaker, Abu-Talib, Abdullah Bin Zubair, and other members of the Holy Prophet's family, may Allah be pleased with them all, are located in this cemetery. This cemetery is located near the Al Haram Mosque and one can easily go there to pay homage and respect to the people buried there. There are two sections of this cemetery. One section contains old graves while the other contains new graves and these are the graves of ordinary citizens. This cemetery is also known as Al-Hajun. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to visit it frequently. It is the 2nd holiest graveyard of Islam after Jannat-ul-Baqi (Baqi Graveyard).

After visiting Jannat ul Mualla we came back to our hotel and had rest, our trip was over in just above two hours time. We had also planned to visit the old graveyard of Mecca where daughters, young and new born, were buried alive in old ages but we both were not able to find enough courage to go there, therefore we cut our visit short and came back.

Ever wondered what would one of the beautiful cities in the world look like from above?! No, you don't need to board the plane now! All you need to do is to board the London eye sponsored by British Airways and enjoy the rare treat of seeing the best of London right below you!

Route: London eye is pretty near to the Waterloo underground station. Westminster would also prove to be near and lots of people do alight at the Westminster underground to visit this place!

Admission fees: 15 GBP per person.*

2. Greenwich:

Experience the nature right where the time starts! Located on the eastern side of London, Greenwich, popular for housing the Prime meridian, is also quite popular for the lush green parks! It strongly reminds you of country life and quite a respite from the busy London crowd! There are host of places to visit in there like Royal naval Academy, the cruise, the Royal Observatory. Remember this is your only chance to be in two hemispheres at the same time!

Route: Board the DLR to Lewisham and alight at the Cutty mark. You will find the fun starts as soon as you come out of the station!

Admission fees: Free

3. Madam Tussauds:

Ah! So you watched them on TV! Now watch your favorite stars come alive in their wax figures at Madam Tussauds! Talent abounds in there with the work of perfection staring at you on the form of celebrities around the world! The dome shaped building houses movie stars, sports stars, politicians and lot of others who shine our lives with their stardom! Click snaps with all your favorites and flaunt them in style!

Route: Alight at the Baker street underground. The place is left to the station and is just 2 minutes walk away!

Admission fees: 25 GBP per person.*

4. Tower of London:

Welcome to the British Empire and to its riches! Find yourself lost amidst the glitter of crown jewels that has been the shining glory of the Royal Family. A unique museum, take a peek at the jewels including the famous Kohinoor and also treat yourself with the various myths and brave stories of the great empire. Highly recommended!

Route: It is in heart of the city! Alight at either the Tower Hill underground or Tower gateway DLR and find yourself staring at the grand tower as soon as you come out of it!

Admission fees: 16 GBP per person.*

5. Oxford Street:

What is a visit to London worth if you didn't shop at the Oxford Street! Yes, visit the most popular market in London and shop till you drop at the best of brands all along the street! Find yourself pampered by choice and enormity! A small hint - try walking from Bond Street to Marylebone - You are in for a shopping surprise!

Route: You can alight either at Bond Street, or Oxford Church or Marylebone. All would lead to the famous Oxford Street!

Admission fees: It's free!

* Visitors are requested to confirm the pricing before visiting.