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The “Changing of the Guard” is one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of London. The sense of tradition, the pageantry and music, and the setting - the Queen’s home, Buckingham Palace - all contribute to the popularity of this must-see event. Thousands of visitors attend each ceremony, so get there early.

Officially, it’s known as “Changing the Guard” or “Guard Mounting” and, simply, it’s a process in which the old guard leaves and the new guard comes on duty. The soldiers involved are from one of the regiments of the Queen’s Foot Guards, and the Guards band provides the ceremonial and often familiar military march music.

Most people know that when the Queen is at home, the Union Jack flag flies over the Palace. One of the other ways to know if she’s home is if there are four sentries at the front of the building. When she’s away, the flag disappears and there are only two sentries.

The 40-minute ceremony takes place at the forecourt of Buckingham Palace every day in May, June and July at 11:30 AM. It only occurs on alternate dates otherwise and never during a heavy rainstorm (a little rain is to be expected!). The alternating schedule is even-numbered days in August, and odd-numbered days in September and October. Schedules may easily be found at www.royal.gov.uk.

If you’d like to see a smaller ceremony, or you’ve already seen this famous one and are looking for something different, there are also regular “changing of the guard” ceremonies found at the Tower of London at 11:30 AM, and at Horse Guards Arch and Windsor Castle (approximately 45 minutes east of London) at 11:00 AM.

London Vacation Experts look forward to providing you with accurate, up-to-the-minute information about planning your London travel! Our website contains the most helpful tips, reviews, and resources for air travel, accommodations, ground transportation, sightseeing, restaurants, and entertainment.

Visit us online ==>http://www.londonvacationexperts.com

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In the recent years, South Korea has become a popular travel destination for many Singaporeans. We decided to give Korea a try after hearing praises about this “Land of the Morning Calm”. Well, I am glad to say that we made the right choice!

Jeju Island, also known as the “Honeymoon Island”, is a must-try in South Korea. We arrived at Jeju Island in the late morning of March, after an hour’s flight from Seoul. The weather in Jeju Island is usually about one to two degree Celsius higher than Seoul. Soothing weather, if you compare with the warm and humid climate along the equator.

Three things are plentiful in Jeju Island - the wind, the women and the rocks!

– The Wind –
You will regret if you decide to tuck away those windbreakers of yours. Although the temperature is supposedly warmer, the strong wind is sure to chill you to your marrows! So, wherever you go in Jeju Island, make sure you have your warm clothing (scarves, gloves, thermal wear, etc) with you. Warm water helps to combat the chills quite effectively. A thermo flask of warm water would come in handy. Make sure you put on moisturiser (preferably one that contains UV screen) before you leave the hotel, to protect your skin against the dry weather. Lip balm is another essential item to bring along, as it provides moisture to your lips. Do not attempt to wet your lips with saliva, it will only cause the condition to get worse!

– The Women –
In the olden days, young men left their families in Jeju Island to earn a living in the cities. Women stayed behind to work in the fields and look after the young and old at home. That explains why there were many more women than men in Jeju Island during those days. If the weather is calm and you are lucky, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the lady divers in Jeju Island. An extremely dangerous occupation, it is no longer a popular job amongst the younger Korean women. Increasingly rare, these divers consist of older women who earn a living by selling shellfish and marine products (such as clams, mussels and seaweeds) that they collect from the seabed.

– The Rocks –
It is interesting to know that Jeju Island was formed millions of years ago, as a result of volcanic eruptions. Try stamping your feet on its ground, and you will realise that it sounds hollow. Rocks in all shapes and sizes can be found everywhere in Jeju Island. The Yongdu-am (Dragon Head Rock) is a must-see in Jeju Island. The majestic rock that faces the sea can be found at the western end of Jeju Island. While most people felt that the rock resembles the head of a dragon, some people felt that it is more like the head of a horse. Well, I shall leave that to your own imagination! If you love seafood, you would be able to come across some older women selling fresh seafood around the area.

Visit South Korea, Jeju Island in particular. It is a trip that will take your breath away!

For more travel resources and information, please visit the Travel Mambo

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Cairo is the historian’s haven and an architect’s delight! And if you are not a historian or an architect but intrigued by all the different stories, movies and documentaries, that u you have come across about Egypt and are interested in living the experience what are you waiting for head off for a vacation to Cairo!

Cairo in Arabic is actually AL QAHIRA meaning “The Triumphant”, named by Al Muez one of her Babylonian rulers. The foundations for Cairo were laid by Al Muez’s aid Gauwhar in the tenth century.

Cairo is situated in the northeast part of Egypt. The great Blue Nile snakes through Cairo from the north to the south splitting her into two parts-east and west. It is home to one of the most famous gigantic Seven Wonders of the World “The Pyramids of Giza”.

To get there you can contact your nearest travel agent or book your tickets online. A number of renowned airlines fly to Cairo, such as Emirates, British Airways, Austrian, KLM, and Egypt Air.

Once there you can check into a five star hotel or hostel depending on your budget or of course if you have planned a package tour then its going to be the hotel booked by your travel agent! Inside Cairo, you can travel by air, bus or train. Egypt air and Sinai Air operate flights to all the important parts of Cairo. Some of the bus services in Cairo are Middle Delta Bus Company, East Delta Bus Company, International Service Station (Sinai), Upper Egypt, West Delta Bus Company. The Egyptian railways operate several ordinary as well as air-conditioned trains through out Cairo.

The Gastronome’s Delight - You can choose from traditional Egyptian cuisine consisting of kebabs- made from minced meat and a mix of spices roasted over coal or fried, fried and cooked beans is another traditional dish. If you are not a foodie and not very keen on teasing your taste buds you can settle for continental and a variety of international cuisine familiar to you.

Now that you have a roof over your head and know what to eat in Cairo, here is where you can spend your time and energy while you are there!
The Pyramids: The Egyptian pharos built the pyramids to preserve their mortal remains by mummification. They are symbols of the Egyptians’ belief in resurrection and the afterlife. The famous Pyramids of Giza are located at the western outskirts of Cairo.

There are three of them- the Small or First pyramid, the Second and the Great Pyramid. King Khufu also known as Cheops of the Fourth Dynasty built the great pyramid. Khufu’s son Khafre also known as, Chephren built the second pyramid. It is located to the south west of the great pyramid. The remains of Khafre’s mortuary temple, the Temple of the Valley, and rising causeway can be seen at this site. These temples witnessed the religious rites during the embalming of the body.

Menkaure or Mycerinus built the third pyramid. Although very small as compared to the first and second, its distinguishing factor is the original granite slab covering the lower sides. It is located to the south-west of both the second and the great pyramids.

The Sphinx: On the way to the Temple of the Valley, lies the large statue of the Sphinx. One of most famous monuments in the world, it is a legendary statue for it has the body of a lion and the face of a man. It is 70 m long and 20 m high. The face of the Sphinx closely resembles that of King Kephren.

The Museum at Tahrir Square: offers visitors a chance to acquaint themselves with Egypt’s ancient history over a period of 50 centuries. Its most significant artifact is the magnificent King Tutankhamen collection.

Religious monuments: Cairo is not just a confluence of great civilizations but also of the different religions that its people followed.
Churches: Most of the ancient churches are located in the Old Cairo, near the ruins of the Fortress of Babylon. Most of them were constructed around the 4th 5th and 6th century when Christianity spread in the area. Some such interesting sites are -
Al Muaallaqah or Hanging Church was constructed around the 4th or 5th Century, named “Al-Muaallaqah” because it was built on top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon.
Church of Abu Sergah (St Sergius) is built on the cave in which the Holy Family is believed to have stayed when they came to Egypt. It is regarded as a source of blessing. Church of Al-Adra (The Virgin) dates back to the 8th Century, it contains some precious icons and has three “haykals” behind ivory-inlaid wooden screens. Church of the Virgin in Zaytoon gained special significance after people reported the Apparition of the Virgin above one of its dome. It is located in Al-Zaytoon, in northeast Cairo.

The Cathedral of Al-Qiddis Morcos or St Mark is the largest church in Africa; it was built recently in Abbassia. The remains of St. Mark, the first to preach Christianity in Egypt, were moved to this Cathedral from Venice where they had remained since their transport from Alexandria in the Middle Ages.

The virgin’s tree and the Coptic museum are other interesting sites revealing the presence of Christianity in Egypt.
Mosques: The mosques of Egypt are testimony to the popularity of Islam in the country
Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas (Al-Fustat) was the first mosque built in Egypt and Africa.
Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulum is the third largest mosque built in Egypt. It has a spacious hall (saha), unique spiral minaret and a large collection of gypsum decoration.
AL Azhar Mosque was founded in Midan Hussein by Gawhar al-Sikilli in AD 971 as both a mosque and Madrasah (school). It is named after Fatma al-Zahraa, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. It is considered the oldest Islamic University
The Blue Mosque located in Tibbanah Street has one of the most impressive blue mosaics on its walls
The museum of Islamic art or Bab Al-Khalq is regarded as the largest in the Middle East. It houses 80,000 rare objects dating from early Islam to the Ottoman period.

Darren Panto sales & marketing manager for Peltours - a leading tour operator to Egypt and the Red Sea. For more information on Cairo city breaks and holiday excursions visit http://www.peltours.com/cairo/ Alternatively, for a full and comprehensive Egypt holiday search visit http://www.peltours.com.

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