Things to Do in Kelowna & Okanagan Valley

Matira Beach is the only public beach on Bora Bora. Although it's not associated with any resort, it still boasts 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) of bright white sand, coconut groves and lapping waves. The beach opens onto a shallow, sandy bottomed lagoon with perfect snorkeling conditions. Swimmers can see colorful corals and the huge variety of tropical fish which give the area its nickname: “The Aquarium.”

The beach stretches from the Hotel Bora Bora to Matira Point, which is a low sandy peninsula that juts into the lagoon. At low tide you can wade from here all the way out to the coral reef.

The only downside to Matira Beach is that it can get somewhat crowded and hectic, particularly on days when a cruise ship is docked nearby. Nonetheless it's still a beautiful (and free) attraction. In the evenings this west-facing beach is perfect for watching the sunset.

Matthias Church, with the bright color of its tiled roof and its fantastic Neo-Gothic ornamentation, is one of the stand-out attractions of Castle Hill. Most of it dates from the late 19th century, but parts of the church are much older than that. It's named the Matthias Church because King Matthias I married Beatrice of Naples here in 1474.

It was here, in 1867, that Franz Liszt's Coronation Mass was first performed, and the church still has a strong musical tradition; try and catch a concert here if you can.

On the exterior of the church, check out the unusual diamond-patterned tiles of the roof and the Matthias Tower, which bears the king's crest animal, a raven with a gold ring in its beak. Also look out for the medieval columns on the bottom of the Béla Tower, with their studious monks and devilish animals. 

Inside the church you'll find rich frescoes and a legendary Madonna statue - this Virgin is said to have saved the Castle from Turkish invasion when her face, revealed by a demolished wall, frightened them into retreat.

The oldest mosque in Singapore, the Masjid Sultan, is located in the Malay-Muslim quarter of town. The sheen of the two distinguished golden domes that top it, as well as its colorful yet tasteful façade, has made it one of the premiere destinations for visitors of any faith.
    
Standing on a site totaling 44,228 square feet (4,109 square meters), the massive interior two-stories high can hold about 5,000 faithful Muslims, with separate conference rooms and auditoriums to seat many more. It is also decorated with handcrafted motifs, golden floral patterns and calligraphy to top it all with intricate design.

Having long been a hub for local commerce and art, the mosque is also known to have been the place of several historic events, including where several racial riots took place in the 1950s.

These days, planners organize frequent seminars here for prominent theologians and scholars. There are also occasional art showings, charity events and blood drives as well as opportunities to have an in-depth look into the Quran with novice level classes. Check the Masjid Sultan website ahead of time to see what might be happening when you are in town.

Located within walking distance from Victoria Street and Ophir Road, the mosque is accessible by the 7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145 buses, or a short walk from the MRT station Bugis (EW12).

At the far southeastern corner of Trinidad, Mayaro Bay is a large, sand-fringed bay where you can escape from the bustle of Port of Spain and enjoy the more laid-back side of Trinidad. The beach here is the longest stretch of sand on the island, and it’s a popular spot among locals during public holidays and long weekends. Come during the afternoon, and you can watch as the local fisherman pull in their seine nets to catch a glimpse of the day’s catch. This is a secluded and rural part of the island, but the small town of Mayaro has a handful of guesthouses and restaurants available. Also nearby is the Nariva Swamp, the largest freshwater wetland in the country, where you can spot local flora and fauna among protected lowland tropical rainforest.

Guides like to say that Tikal was the New York City of its time, while Copan was its Paris. Full of artists and intellectuals for hundreds of years, Copan was a city where what was on the pyramids was more important than how high they rose. So you don’t come here to be wowed by the scale, rather to take in the beauty and skill of the Mayan people.

This site offers the best chance in the Maya world to go back in time to an age when the buildings were covered with stucco and painted with lively scenes: you can still see the original pigments.

Also unusual for Mayan sites, this one has an attractive colonial town near enough for walking, Copan Ruinas, full of good-value hotels and restaurants.

The Main Site
Several grassy plazas and a ball court are surrounded by pyramids and other temples, many decorated with lively carved stone symbolic figures and former kings. Nearly every surface is covered by some relief or carving. Stone stelae illustrate the various rulers over the centuries and tell stories spanning more than 600 years.

The Tunnels
Two tunnels under one pyramid provide a view into how one pyramid was built on top another, as well as how the civilization evolved over time and became more sophisticated. The tunnels are only open to a few people at a time.

Sculpture Museum
To understand what the temples looked like in their heyday, enter here to so a reconstructed pyramid that is brightly colored and covered with painted figures. Original sculptures and painted sections are on display showing what is often missing from visits to ruins now.

Las Sepulturas
This site a little more than a kilometer from the main archeological park, included in the admission, is where the elite lived and buried their dead. It contains tombs—some elaborate, some simple depending on rank—for the city’s royalty and spiritual leaders.

The oldest mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Masjid Jamek, is also its most delightful. Large cream onion domes and red-and-white-striped minarets stand among a palm tree grove at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers. This was the site where Kuala Lumpur’s first settlers had their settlement.

It was built by the English architect Arthur Bennison Hubbock who was inspired by the Moorish style of Moghul mosques in India. It was opened in 1909.  

When visiting the mosque it is important to respect the rules of dressing, make sure your limbs are covered and women must wear a headscarf.