BY Sarmind SafiDec 27, 2023

The holidays of Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's are all about happiness, family, and celebration. This entails engaging in festive customs and spending time with loved ones for the majority of people. However, these holidays have a whole new significance for cosmonauts and astronauts in space. Vacations in space were uncommon in the early years of space exploration. The first Christmas spent in space by astronauts was during the Apollo 8 mission in December 1968. Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, and William A. Anders read passages from the Bible's Book of Genesis while in orbit around the moon, broadcasting the scenes to an estimated billion viewers worldwide. Vacations in space increased in frequency and length as missions went on. Astronauts Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue observed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's in space during the 1973–1974 Skylab 4 mission. They watched a comet pass by, made a homemade Christmas tree out of food containers, and had a festive dinner that included fruitcake. For cosmonauts, the New Year's holiday was particularly important. Yuri V. Romanenko and Georgi M. Grechko were the first people to celebrate the new year while in orbit on the Salyut-6 space station in 1977 and 1978. In a broadcast on television, they raised a glass to the occasion. Astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman observed Hanukkah in 1993 while on the STS-61 mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. To celebrate the Festival of Lights, he spun a dreidel and carried a traveling menorah. Holidays were not only observed in space, but astronauts went above and beyond to make the occasion joyful. The 1999 STS-103 crew, who were entrusted with fixing the Hubble Space Telescope, celebrated Christmas with a special meal that included French specialties. Twelve Mir expedition crews, including NASA astronauts, spent their vacations on board the Russian space station between 1987 and 1998. Messages were exchanged and customs, like lighting Hanukkah candles and sending Christmas greetings, were demonstrated during these festivities. On board the International Space Station, holiday celebrations are still customarily observed. Whether it's through live broadcasts, symbolic decorations, or special food items, astronauts and cosmonauts find inventive ways to bring the joy of these festivities to the cosmic realm. Though they may be different, people who celebrate the holidays far above Earth still find great meaning and significance in them. Read Also: 6 Things Locals Wish Tourists Wouldn’t Do When In Iceland Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area Is Expecting Big Changes Bora Bora Is Shifting Its Tourism Policy, Aims To Double Tourists By 2033

BY Sarmind SafiNov 6, 2023

If you are looking to visit Mexico, chances are its capital Mexico City is pretty high up on your list. The best hotels that you can choose to stay here are listed below. The country is popular among tourists, and it's really easy to see why. In case you want to witness the real Mexico, which is away from the beach resorts (glamorous as they are), you must visit Mexico City. Getting a glimpse of the Mexico that Frida Khalo belonged to is a treat in itself. Her house is Casa Azul is in the Coyoacán locality. The blue house is one of the essential stops on any Mexico City itinerary. After you get your culture fix, Coyoacán is famous for its churros. Some of the best restaurants dot the sprawling city. The eateries are amazing too. Mexico City offers the best food, whether it is from the streets or the high-end establishments with elaborate menus. The usual neighborhoods that attract tourists are La Condesa, Colonia Roma, and Polanco. Colonia Roma is one of the coolest with buzzed bars and restaurants. It is also a great place to just take a walk around. Roma Norte is where La Valise Mexico City is situated. It is a boutique hotel that is simply waiting to become your pied à terre. It is home to the popular Brick Hotel, which has a local-approved restaurant and green rooftop. At the tree-lined La Condesa, there is the circular Avenida Amsterdam which used to be a horse-racing hippodrome at one point. It has now become a popular dog-walking spot for the city’s trendiest people. The hotels include shiny high-rises like the Mondrian and the Andaz. Some of the best hotels that you can lodge while feeling bougie have a great line-up in Mexico City. The Four Seasons Mexico City, Colima 71, The Red Tree House, Volga, and Downtown are essentially the most Mexican lodging you must experience while visiting. Read Also: Muslim Miss Universe Queens Are The New Faces Of The Philippines’ Halal And Wellness Tourism Campaign Singaporean Expert Says Vietnam Tourism Needs Better Destination Management: Report Glasgow City Council Moved To Offer More Bus Stops For Tourists

BY Sarmind SafiOct 31, 2023

When you are looking for places to visit, there are uncountable places that can be considered. But when you narrow your scope down to a slow-paced locality that has all the natural charms to get you feeling rejuvenated, the places become a lot less blingy and more earthy. The United Nations World Tourism Organization enlists all the names in world tourism. The organization has, in the past three years, recognized villages around the globe that "are leading the way in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values and culinary traditions." Here are some of them: Hakuba, Japan Hakuba may be famous for its winters, but it's worth a visit year-round. In the summer, he loves hiking up the mountains to lodges. In the autumn, it is popular with visitors who want to see the autumn foliage. And Hakuba's onsens – hot springs – are popular no matter the season. Lerici, Italy Unlike many other coastal Italian enclaves, Lerici has also kept up its traditional fishing industry. Among various sustainability initiatives, the town runs a pilot project called Smart Bay, which includes scientific research and monitoring of the bay and its ecosystems. It also introduced solar panels, banned single-use plastics, and prohibited cigarette smoking in coastal areas. Lephis, Ethiopia For natural beauty and wildlife, it's hard to beat the village of Lephis, located in Lephis Forest, around 160km south of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Travelers can trek or horseback ride past the striking Lephis Waterfall and through hills and valleys, catching glimpses of animals, including colobus monkeys, leopards, and mountain nyala. Birdwatchers are in for a particular treat, with species including the Abyssian oriole and white-cheeked turaco. Some of the other villages are Douma, Lebanon, and Zapatoca, Colombia. Read Also: 10 Best Restaurants In The US Glasgow City Council Moved To Offer More Bus Stops For Tourists Sri Lanka Has Approved Visa-Free Entry For Visitors From Six Countries Including India