Things to Do in Anaheim & Buena Park

Medellin, birthplace of Botero, loves modern art. And though the tiny original museum (which still hosts some exhibits) was nice, in 2009 the city decided to remodel the fashionably industrial Talleres Robledo Steel Mill in Ciudad del Rio, near the posh Poblado District, as the new and improved home of the Medellin Museum of Modern Art.

The cement-floored structure offers significantly more space to show off the museum's growing collection, and also holds a small cinema and event space. The new building, however, will soon be augmented by an annex, designed to resemble a challenging game of Jenga. The gift shop is inspired and surprisingly affordable.

Located on Egypt's Red Sea coast, the port of Safaga has a small but lively tourism industry, primarily centered on scuba diving and surfing. For most cruise passengers, the port will serve as an entry way to visit Luxor several hours away. It is also a port for ferries to and from Saudi Arabia, just across the Red Sea.

How to get to Luxor

Luxor is about a three and a half hour drive from Safaga, so you will likely visit as part of an organized shore excursion, often one that includes an overnight stay in Luxor.  If you prefer to go independently, a taxi may run as much as $100 each way and must be arranged in advance. Either way, you will travel as part of a police-escorted convoy through the desert to Luxor.

One Day in Luxor

Most shore excursions will include Luxor's three must-see sights: Luxor Temple, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. Visiting all three will easily fill up your entire day.

Located in the heart of the city on the east bank of the Nile, Luxor Temple was built by pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II in the 14th and 13th centuries B.C.  Entering the temple, you will pass between two enormous seated statues of Ramses II on your way to the courts of the two pharaohs. Don't miss the chapel of Alexander the Great toward the back of the temple, which includes images of Alexander as an Egyptian pharaoh.

Egypt's second most visited tourist site, Karnak is a vast complex covering 2 square kilometers, making it the largest ancient religious site in the world. The primary temple, the Temple of Amun, is the largest religious structure ever built "“ St. Peter's, Notre Dame and Milan Cathedrals would all fit inside. You will likely feel overwhelmed as you enter the complex through the massive Hypostyle Hall, lined with 134 columns, the largest of which are 21 meters tall and over 3 meters in diameter. Spend an hour or two at the complex exploring the array of smaller temples, sanctuaries and shrines.

The Valley of the Kings is located on the west bank of the Nile and contains the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs and nobles from the 16th to 11th centuries B.C. Many of the tombs were opened and robbed in ancient times, but extensive hieroglyphics and colorful frescoes remain in some, giving visitors an idea of how they may have looked centuries ago. An entry ticket to the Valley of the Kings generally allows you to enter three tombs of your choice, although they are not all open at the same time. Visiting the tomb of King Tutankhamun costs extra. No cameras are allowed inside the tombs, a rule that is enforced very strictly.

If you are staying in Luxor overnight, try a felucca ride on the Nile just before sunset and then head back to Karnak for an evening sound and light show. Alternatively, you might try your hand at bargaining in the market before returning to Luxor Temple to see it lit up at night.

Set within the compound of the old Monte Fort, the Macau Museum was opened in 1998 as a means of educating visitors on the fascinating history of the Special Administrative Region of Macau. As Macau is one of the first areas in the Far East to experience a blend of European and Asian rule, the museum chronicles the curiosities and struggles of this tiny peninsula attempting to live under two distinct governments and cultures.

The first two floors of the museum are located in the subterranean tunnels of the old Monte Fort and primarily highlight Macau's cultural and political past. First floor exhibits known as the "Genesis of Macau" provide visitors with an understanding of the history of the peninsula and focus on the fusion and friction of the Portuguese and Chinese cultures. The museum's second floor shifts more towards the everyday lives of the people of Macau with exhibits covering daily customs, artwork, and traditional Macanese festivals. There is even a fully reconstructed Macanese street which depicts daily life in old Macau, replete with Chinese storefronts and colonial European architecture. Finally, on the third floor, with a view stretching out towards Macau's modern skyline, visitors can peruse the exhibits which point towards Macau's contemporary present and the prospects for a prosperous future.

The largest museum in Macau and undoubtedly the most popular, the Macau Museum is an easy place for history buffs and inquisitive visitors to lose themselves in the storied history of one of colonialism's longest lasting endeavors.

Doubling as the HQ of the many-stranded Stadtmuseum Berlin, the Märkisches Museum stands on the banks of the River Spree and backs on to the pretty Köllnischen Park. It is housed in a Neo-Gothic collage of monastic buildings designed by famous German architect Ludwig Hoffmann and opened in 1908. Inside the ecclesiastical theme continues with airy, light-filled interior punctuated with arched windows and a sprinkling of religious statuary. The displays showcase the history of the city and the Märkisches has several thoughtful permanent exhibitions, including "˜Here is Berlin!', which takes a chronological look at the evolution of the city, and "˜Wall | Pieces' exhibits several graffiti-ridden pieces of the Berlin Wall. Temporary displays might cover black-and-white images of the destruction of Berlin in World War II, while kids can have fun with the collection of automated pianos and organs, puppets, the 3D 19th-century camera and the mock-up of a barber's shop. 

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum is a good time anywhere, but where it is always fun to see the likeness of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the Bangkok branch also includes sculptures in the shape of some regional favorites.

Meet Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Dalai Lama and Chairman Mao Zedong, among several other current and historical political figures, or if you are an arts and science buff, Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso and even the father of modern art in Thailand, Silpa Bhirasri, are on display. Among the museums large cache of wax pop stars, take your photo with Michael Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber or shake hands with sports icons Muhammad Ali, Yao Ming or Serena Williams.  

Madame Tussaud's in Bangkok is located on the 6th floor of the recently refurbished Siam Discovery in the heart of town.