Travel Australia Guide: Tram Trip in Melbourne

Please don’t tell anyone that you’ve already been in Melbourne without hopping on its city's tram network. The Melbourne tram network is regarded as the largest tram network in the world. This public transport service was firstly introduced on 1885 and has become an icon, a part of Melbourne’s character ever since. The Melbourne trams can take you from the downtown’s busiest areas to most of the inner suburbs. Well, a tram trip in Melbourne can considerably be one of the best and easiest ways for you to feel people, roads, buildings and the lives of this gorgeous city.

However, working out routes, stops and timetables isn't always straightforward if you're from other countries. Try Tramroute.com where you can find further information on the Melbourne trams service from Google Maps with its timetable information. This website is also allowing you to enter an address, identify the nearest tram stops, and then view timetable and real-time running information for that route. There's also a feature to find trams near popular attractions such as national parks, famous beaches, historical buildings and lots more.

In fact, you can simply use the information on Tramroute.com to plan your trip, select place to stay or find where to visit and choose destination to spend time in each travel moment.

It’s easy to travel on Melbourne’s extensive transport network. Just get a ticket called Metcards, validate it and travel. With this one ticket you can flexible travel between trains, trams and buses. Starting with a Zone 1 daily ticket and you will be able to spend the entire day seeing tourist attractions with unlimited train, tram and bus travel for a day within the entire city center.

Travel Japan Guide: Cherry Blossom Festival

If you’re seeking somewhere to travel and spend your holidays for this month (March), Japan can be a decent choice as the cherry blossom viewing season, draws near. A huge event throughout Japan, the festival celebrates the blooming of cherry trees at around the end of March and generally lasts until early April. Even though, for this year, because temperatures in February were above average in most parts of Japan and similarly mild temperatures are forecast for March, the cherry blossoms are expected to open a few days ahead of their average schedule.

Cherry blossoms, also known as Sakura, bloom simultaneously in the spring for one week. Recognized as Japan’s unofficial national flower, Sakura have frequently been used to establish diplomatic ties between Japan and other countries. The flowers reach full bloom and flutter to the ground gracefully during their final stage. The Japanese believe that these blossoms symbolize human life, transience and nobility. The blossoms begin in the southernmost island of Japan, Okinawa, in January and reach Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in late March with Peak Bloom Period is predicted for April 3 - April 9, 2009.

Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are the most popular cities to witness this spectacular natural event and to ensure everyone gets a chance to view the delicate pink and white blossoms. Tokyo’s busy Ueno Park, with 1,500 cherry trees, can be one of the best places to view Sakura. Cherry blossoms in Kyoto and Osaka tend to bloom several days later. The Arashiyama Mountain, with the Togetsukyo Wood Bridge, and Kyoto’s Imperial Palace provide beautifully picturesque scenes. Four thousand Sakura trees around Osaka Castle are illuminated at night for one week at the end of March and beginning of April, while Osaka Expo Park with over 5,500 cherry trees is a great place to have a picnic while viewing the cherry blossoms.

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