Category: Travel

  • The Top 10 Haunted Places Around The World

    The Top 10 Haunted Places Around The World

    Prepare to be scared this Halloween

    From presidential palaces in Colombia to film centers in the Philippines, the most normal places are not always as they seem.In honor of Halloween, global real estate marketplace Lamudi guides you through the world’s top 10 haunted properties.

    1. Lawang Sewu, Indonesia

    A landmark of Semarang, Central Java, Lawang Sewu (which translates as “Thousand Doors”) is a former Dutch colonial era building, rumored to be haunted by headless ghosts. This large, deserted structure is open to the public 24 hours a day, so if you’re looking for a scare this Halloween, why not take a midnight visit?

    Image via Shutterstoc

    2. Manila Film Center, the Philippines

    A national building in Pasay City, Metro Manila, the Manila Film Center was built in 1981. During construction, on November 17th 1981, the construction collapsed, burying over 150 workers in quick-drying cement. It was believed that some of these workers were entombed alive in the concrete. However, records show that all bodies were retrieved from the site. Ghostlore says that those who died roam the film center to this day, making mysterious sounds.

    © Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) via Wikimedia Comm

    3. Mohatta Palace, Pakistan

    Located in Karachi, the Mohatta Palace is an elaborate, pink, and yellow stone building, consisting of 18,500 square yards. Legend has it that there is a superhuman presence at the palace, with guides believing the building is haunted. While on guard, workers are rumored to have felt the presence of spirits, and experienced objects moving without human touch.

    © Shahid A. Siddiqi via Wikimedia Commons

    4. The Tower of London, United Kingdom

    The former prison of some of England’s most renowned historical figures, the Tower of London is one of the most haunted places in the UK. Reportedly, the headless ghost of Anne Boleyn, one of the wives of King Henry VIII, still resides within the tower, following her execution in 1536. The oldest part of the building, the White Tower, is also home to the White Lady, who is said to have been seen standing at the window, waving to children in the opposite building.

    Image via Shutterstock

    5. Bhangarh Fort, India

    Legend has it that a black magic wizard named Singhiya, in love with the Princess of Bhangarh, cursed the fort with the death of all who lived there, following the Princess’s rejection of his love. The year following the curse, both war and famine broke out, leading to the death of the Princess. Tourists are unable to enter the building after sunset and before sunrise, so not to disturb the ghosts of Singhiya and other locals who haunt Bhangarh Fort.

    © Amlan Mathur via Shutterstock

    6. The Island of the Dolls, Mexico

    Xochimilco, a district just south of Mexico City, is home to a number of artificial islands and canals, one of which was owned by a caretaker named Julian Santana Barrera. When Barrera discovered the body of a young girl in one of the canals near his island, he began to collect dolls to hang around the island to ward off any evil spirits, and to make the young girl happy. The island, known as Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls), is now visited by thousands of tourists a year, who bring dolls to carry on Barrera’s work.

    © Cordella Person via Flickr

    7. Eltz Castle, Germany

    A medieval castle hidden away in the hills of Western Germany, Eltz Castle is one of just a few haunted castles in Germany. Allegedly, ghosts of medieval knights roam the grounds of the great 12th century castle, which has been owned—and haunted—by the same family for 33 generations. One of the more famous ghosts, Agnes, apparently died defending her honor, and her specter remains in the castle to this day.

    Image via Shutterstock

    8. Edinburgh Castle, United Kingdom

    The vaults of Edinburgh Castle are famous for the unsettling noises and movements that come from within. Constructed in the 15th century, the underground maze makes up 120 rooms, which were used to quarantine and entomb victims of the plague. Visitors can expect to see Lady Janet Douglas, who was burned at the stake following accusations of witchcraft, the spirit of a headless drummer, dogs wandering around the cemetery, and numerous prisoners roaming the labyrinth.

    Image via Shutterstock

    9. Marroquín Castle, Colombia

    This stunning mansion, built in 1904 near the Colombian city of Chía, was an asylum for several years. Allegedly, the castle is haunted by the ghost of a nun who once worked there, numerous patients who met their demise in the asylum, and “La Zancona,” a mysterious woman dressed in all black, who roams the building.

    © Brian Daniel Leon Machado via Wikimedia Commons

    10. Port Arthur, Australia

    Port Arthur is allegedly the most haunted place in Tasmania. During its almost 50-year history as a convict settlement, hundreds of men died at Port Arthur. Furthermore, the massacre in 1006 led to the death of 35 men, women and children. Tourists visit the port with the hope of catching a glimpse of the Lady in Blue—the crying ghost of a young woman, who reportedly died in childbirth—as well as over 2,000 ghosts that have apparently been seen over the past 20 years.

    Image via Shutterstock

    ABOUT LAMUDI

    Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 600,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online. For more information, please visit http://www.lamudi.com.ph

    Visit Lamudi Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

    REFERENCE & MEDIA CONTACT

    Rodel Ambas

    Content Editor, Lamudi Philippines

    Email: rodel.ambas@lamudi.com.ph

    Phone: +63 917 3015127

  • Christmas Decorations Around The World

    Take a world tour of how different countries prepare for Christmas.

    Trees covered in tinsel and baubles. Stockings hanging from the fireplace. Elaborate outdoor light displays popping up all over the neighborhood.

    Think of decorating your home for Christmas and at least one of these traditions will likely spring to mind. Yet all over the world, countries celebrating Christmas have their own set of customs for decorating their homes for the holidays.

    In Mexico, nativity-themed Christmas decorations are carved from radishes. In chilly Antarctica, fish heads hang in doorways to replace mistletoe. And in Ghana, palm trees decorated with candles replace traditional Christmas trees to suit the tropical climate.

    As the festive season approaches, global real estate portal Lamudi takes you on a tour of Christmas decorations to be found in houses the world over.

    Africa

    In Africa, Christmas dinners after the church ceremony are prepared on tables out the front of homes, inviting people’s family and close friends to share a meal together. For this reason, outdoor decorations are more important than the interior. You may see fake snow decorating store fronts in Nairobi, oil palms loaded with bells in Liberia, or palm trees laden with candles in Ghana.

    In Zimbabwe, Christmas is far from being a casual celebration. It is tradition for people to set up their biggest speakers in front of their house and play their favourite music as loud as they can. But don’t expect only Christmas tunes. You will likely hear everything from the latest pop tunes to more traditional African favourites.

    Latin America

    Christmas is the most important holiday of the year for most countries in Latin America. Cities are loaded with spectacular, colourful decorations, including lots of fairy lights. In Colombia, December 7 is Dia De Las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles) where the night is spent decorating all public spaces with paper lanterns and candles. Each household lights approximately 100 candles and places them outside their home in honour of the Virgin Mary.

    On December 23, just before Christmas, farming folk in Mexico celebrate Noche de rábanos, or the Festival of the Radishes. They carve the vegetables into human figures, including those from nativity scenes. On Christmas Day, children can be found in Mexican living rooms attempting to and break apart decorated clay piñata using a stick – while blindfolded. Inside are small presents and sweets.

    Asia

    Because fir trees are not common in India, mango trees are often decorated instead. In addition, the whole house is decorated with mango leaves in order to brighten up homes. Large star-shaped paper lanterns are also very popular.

    In the Philippines cities shine in colorful lights during Christmas. People decorate their homes with buntings, candles, and wreaths. The most popular decoration in the Philippines is parol (pah-role). This is a bamboo pole with a bright star on top. The pole represents the guiding star of Bethlehem. People also put numerous Christmas cards in the living room for family and friends.

    But one of the most original Christmas traditions comes from Antarctica. With mistletoe being in seriously short supply, residents will often hang up a fish head instead.

    ABOUT LAMUDI

    Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 750,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online. For more information, please visit http://www.lamudi.com.ph

    Visit Lamudi Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

    ABOUT ASIA PACIFIC INTERNET GROUP

    Asia Pacific Internet Group (APACIG) is a joint venture of Rocket Internet and Ooredoo. The group’s network consists of 11 e-commerce and online marketplace companies, operating across 15 countries. Since it was founded in 2014, APACIG has become the leading online platform in Asia, building top internet companies in the region. For more information, please visit www.asiapacificinternetgroup.com

    REFERENCE & MEDIA CONTACT

    Rodel Ambas
    Content Editor, Lamudi Philippines
    Email: rodel.ambas@lamudi.com.ph
    Phone: +63 917 3015127

  • Experience the 4th Bulihan Festival from April 23-26 at Sampaloc, Quezon

    Experience the 4th Bulihan Festival from April 23-26 at Sampaloc, Quezon

    Spirits are high as residents of Sampaloc town in Quezon Province lay the groundwork for the 4th Bulihan Festival scheduled from April 23 to 26.

    Thanks to Mayor Emmanuel S. Torres, who vigorously campaigned to highlight the Bulihan Festival. “This is something I want to highlight in our municipality: the importance of the Bulihan Festival. Through this festival, we give jobs to our residents, and we are able to promote tourism. There’s so much fun and excitement here. I hope they will visit us soon. Discover Sampaloc now!” Torres declared.

    There is a full list of exciting activities at Sampaloc beginning on April 23 with the display of native delicacies in a program dubbed “Lutuing Sampalukin.” 14 barangays from Sampaloc are taking part in the food show. On April 24, the Payas Contest will be held, wherein houses along the parade route are encouraged to decorate the exteriors of their homes with colorful buri and other indigenous materials. The theme for this year’s festivity is “Blooming Sampaloc,.’ Forty-six houses are vying for cash prizes. On April 25, the Paradang Bayan 2014 will take place, followed by the awarding of the Search for Natatanging Anak ng Sampaloc. On April 26 comes the Lunesan ng Fiesta sa Ilog to be held on the Maapon River in Kakati, where residents will join in a boat race and hold picnics by the river.

    Mayor Torres encouraged constituents to invite their friends from all over the country to join in the festival’s events. In promoting the fiesta, the local government has launched a homestay program where the residenst of Sampaloc “adopt” visitors for the duration of the event.

    Want to experience Sampaloc, Quezon? Tour packages are available. For details, call Tina Poblete of the Sampaloc Municipal Planning and Development Office at (042) 555-83-42 and (042) 716-0011, or e-mail sampalocquezon@yahoo.com, xtiantina@gmail.com.ph, and nabracia@yahoo.com.

    REFERENCE:

    Richard Mamuyac
    09088135326