SDF - A Lifestyle Element

🇨🇴 4K Gold Museum Pre-Colombian Gold Relics! El Dorado Legend! Bogota, Colombia 2021

Discover The "El Dorado" Legend! WHEN IT COMES TO GOLD, few museums on earth can rival the Museo del Oro in Bogotá. Its spectacular collection of more than 34,000 pre-Columbian gold artifacts is the largest in the world, with relics from the various cultures that inhabited Colombia before the Old World collided with the New. Since the 1930s, Colombia’s Bank of the Republic has helped to preserve, catalog, and exhibits some of the country’s most treasured historical artifacts. Among these is a vast collection of gold, housed in the Museo del Oro in Bogotá. The absolutely stunning piece is the Muisca Raft (Which was the reason why I wanted to visit the Gold Museum, well also thanks to Josh Gate from Expedition Unknown on his El Dorado episodes intrigued me so much that I had to come visit!) Back to the Muisca Raft, it portrays the ritual that brought about the famous legend of El Dorado. Legend says that there was once a place in the South American continent where everything was made of gold. Many 16th-century, Europeans, obsessed with the legend of El Dorado, traveled great distances searching for its hidden treasures. Of course, they never did find it. However, they did find many indigenous chieftains adorned with nose rings, breastplates, and other metal accessories. They also heard rumors about a chieftain so rich that he used gold powder to adorn himself in place of baubles. It was said that he shone like the sun. This legendary, gold-coated chieftain who sailed a raft to the center of a lake, was the one from Guatavita. And that, it seems, was the El Dorado sought for so desperately by explorers, and so masterfully represented in the Muisca Raft gold figure that you can view in the Gold Museum. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm. FREE to enter! Touring the whole museum will take about four hours. Remember that all of the exhibits are in English and Spanish, and that you can rent an audio tour that will help you delve deeper into the remarkable histories of these indigenous groups. Address: Cra. 6 #15-88, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Phone: +57 601 3432222

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, by Jessica Sophia Wong

Coffee

🇨🇴 Horseback Riding Cocora Valley Colombia Coffee Region 2021 Salento Quindio HD Solo Traveler

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, by Jessica Sophia Wong

Blogger

🇨🇴 Custom Emerald Ring Making Airbnb Experience and History Walk 2021 Bogota, Colombia 4K

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, by Jessica Sophia Wong

Airbnb

On this YouTube channel, you'll find artisan crafts/travel/arts/NYC life/food/startup life/photography.

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, by Jessica Sophia Wong

Travel Log

Dive In to These Great Underwater Experiences

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If you’re planning a vacation and you’re trying to come up with something different to do, take your head out of the clouds and place it firmly in the ocean! Did you know that over 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is water? Yet, how much time do we take to explore its depths? The average person spends very little time in the water, which is a shame because it is home to some very unique sights and amazing experiences.

If you’re interested in exploring underwater, here are some of the best aquatic experiences on the planet:

See Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park

The best thing about exploring underwater is, of course, the beauty of nature that we don’t usually get to see in our everyday lives. That being said, us humans have a good track record of creating our own beauty, and that is very evident at the Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada. Founded in 2006, the park, which is located underwater at Molinere Bay, is basically an artificial reef created out of various unique sculptures, which also attract plenty of natural wonders, including fish and dolphins, too! It’s a seriously magical place that everyone should make the effort to see at least once in their lifetime!

Go Scalloping in Florida

If you want to stay in the United States, but the pull of the ocean is too much for you to ignore, one rather unique trip you might consider taking is open to Homosassa, where you can partake in one of the many scalloping excursion trips that take place there. You’ll need nothing more than a good bathing suit, and snorkelling mask, which will enable you to explore the warm under waters of the state, where as well as seeing and collecting your own scallops, which you’ll be able to eat later, there’s a good chance you’ll see plenty of other aquatic animals too!

Stay at Fiji’s Underwater Resort

If you want to spend more than a couple of hours enjoying the exotic sights of the underwater world, then you simply must fly out to Fiji where you can stay at The Poseidon Undersea Resort in a hotel room that is actually located right down on the seafloor. Imagine laying in bed watching all manner of tropical fish float by - you’ll feel like you’re in your very own Disney movie! Even better, by pushing a button in your suite, you’ll be able to feed those beautiful fish for a once in a lifetime experience that you’ll never forget! It really is an amazingly magical place.

Make Friends with Great Whites

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Great white sharks are equally magnificent and terrifying, so if you’re the adventurous type and you’re looking for a unique underwater adventure that you’ll be able to dine out on for years to come, why not book yourself onto a Great White dive? There are numerous places in the world, including California, where you can go down into the water and get up close and personal with the beautiful beasts (don’t worry, you’ll be safely sequestered in a cage) and that is sure to get your heart pumping!

Get Your History Buff on in Israel

If you like the water and you love your history, then it might just be time to start planning a trip to the Caesarea National Park in Israel. There, you will find the Old Caesarea Diving Center, which is basically an underwater archaeological site, where you will be able to see Sebastos, which was built by none other than King Herod himself, over 2000 years ago, in all of its glory. You’ll also see sunken ships, drowned docks and long-lost cargo amongst other things!

Eat Dinner Underwater in the Maldives

If sleeping with the fishes in Fiji isn’t your thing, what about dining down there instead? You won’t have to spend quite so much time under the water, but you will get to experience its delights close up and personal, and you’ll get a good meal into the bargain too. Where can you do this? At the Conrad Maldives Rangali undersea restaurant - which is the only one of its kind - that’s where!

See a Shipwreck in Australia

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The Yongala is an amazing shipwreck located off the coast of Queensland. Teeming with manta rays, sharks, coral and lots of colorful fish, it is an amazing sight to dive down and explore.

There really is so much beauty to see and so many things to do in our oceans that you’d be remiss not to give at least one of these great adventures a go!

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, by Jessica Sophia Wong

Travel Log

Ooh-La-La! The Ultimate Way To Spend A Weekend In Paris

Ah, the weekend break. It's become synonymous with modern day culture, as more and more of us jet off for a couple of days in paradise at the end of a working week. Whether you leave on Friday and come back on Monday (technically a 'long weekend') or simply stay for one night, one thing is for sure: it's hard to see all the things your destination has to offer in a matter of hours. Thankfully, if you plan your trip in advance, you should be able to truly make the most of your time there. Take a city like Paris, for example. Culture, food, arts, history - the French capital has it all. Take a look at our picks for the best things to do on a weekend break to beautiful Paris.

Catch a sports game at the Stade de France

If you really want to feel immersed in the pride of the French, there's no better way to do it then to see the French soccer team play on home turf. Book your trip in line with a big match and head down to the huge Stade de France for a couple of hours of the beautiful game. It is the largest stadium in the country and plays host to many important matches, so you are likely to see something pretty impressive. If you're struggling with how you're going to get there, don't panic - just make use of the secure car parking in Paris.

Visit the Palace of Versailles

If you're a history buff of any kind, it would be a crime not to visit the stunning Palace of Versailles. Built by the legendary French monarch Louis XIV, it is a mere stone's throw away from the centre of Paris - 20km, to be precise. It is home to many beautiful grounds and gardens, and also the famous 'Hall of Mirrors'. As well as looking around the historic chateau, why not add to the experience by seeing an event there? The Palace of Versailles also puts on guided tours, film screenings, and concerts, so check their calendar to see what's on.

Get arty at The Louvre

France has, for many years, been a country synonymous with the arts. Legendary painters Monet and Rosseau both hailed from the country and some of the most famous French artwork is now displayed in The Louvre. It is located on the banks of the Seine right in the centre of Paris and is a notable landmark as well as a museum.

Catacombs of Paris

If you fancy something a little more morbid (some people will!) the Catacombs of Paris offer a sombre yet fascinating look into some of the city's darker history. They are said to hold the remains of over six million people and were built in the ancient mine tunnels that ran under the city. They were established in the 1700s when there was a shortage of cemeteries in the city. Not the most uplifting of activities for your weekend away, but you'll certainly have a story to tell when you come home!

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, by Jessica Sophia Wong

Caribbean

The Caymans Are The Idyllic Islands You've Been Dreaming Of

It’s the once-in-a-lifetime kind of holiday you would save and save just to enjoy. Some of the most gorgeous natural beauty in the Caribbean. True luxury experiences under the shining sun. A fusion of cultures and tastes the world over mixed with some of the most exotic ingredients you can find locally. It’s all at the Cayman Islands. Visit and you’ll be convinced it’s the ideal holiday you’ve been dreaming of.

Sun, sea & sand

The jaw-dropping coasts are something that everyone wants to travel to the Caribbean for and there’s definitely no lack of them on the Caymans, either. No tourist rush could ever stop you from finding a beautiful, quiet spot to enjoy at the Seven Mile Beach, for instance. If surfing is your thing, then you might not find as fantastical waves as you would see in Australia for instance, but you will find a thriving community at places like Manners Cove.

The lap of luxury

If the Caymans ring a bell, it’s probably because you’ve heard they’re a haven for the rich and influential. That haven is to be found in George Town in particular. If you’re willing to splash some cash, you’re going to be rubbing elbows with millionaires at luxury hotels with all the spa delights you could ask for at places like the Ritz-Carlton. There’s a thriving retail center here, but, given the local clientele, you want to make sure you have the padding in the wallet to really be able to enjoy it.

The depths of nature

Despite the live-it-up nature of George Town, when you take a few steps off the beaten track, you’ll get reminded that the Cayman Islands are a Caribbean destination and they have all the kind of natural beauty you’d expect to see there. Stingray City, despite the dangerous-sounding name, is one of the most beautiful spots with shallow reefs and the animals of those waters are actually a lot friendlier than you would imagine. You’re even allowed to pet them.

Something to salivate over

Another wonderful thing about the Caribbean is the cuisine. Asian, English, European, Indian, cultures of foods from all kinds come together and get mixed with fantastic local seafood and some of the sweetest fruits as the most available produce of the day. Restaurants like the Grand Old House offer all of those fresh in truly luxurious dining experiences. Don’t be afraid to visit some of the homes of that all-famous Caribbean rum like the Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery either. The distillery tours are fascinating enough, but you might get a little taster at the end of them to enjoy as well.

There’s something for just about everyone on the Caymans. If you want to be pampered and treated like a king, you’ll find plenty of company rubbing shoulders with the millionaires. If you want to get away from everyone and see the sublime beauty of Caribbean nature, you’ll find it. If you want nothing but a cocktail and a beach to enjoy it in, there’s plenty of that, too.