The most important thing for one who is travelling across the country is to save his fortune and useful stuff from pickpocket.

>/. Don't or avoid using your purse or money bag in a crowded place.


>/.Avoid using big notes(i.e., $100, $1000, etc.) try to use change as much as you have.


>/. Avoid using or traveling silent road or street especially in night time.


>/. Keep your Passport handy with you.


>/. Split your cash in a multiple pocket.

>/.  Try not to keep faith on strangers.


>/.Try to use zippers bags or bags which has lock or clasps.


>/.If you are the victim of a pickpocket, alert everyone you can in the immediate area and call the        police immediately.


>/. Carry a cheap wallet with a few small bills in it in an obvious place like your hip pocket.

>/.Sew a zipper on the inside of a belt to make a money belt.

>/.Pickpockets may try to slash the straps of bags, purses, and cameras. Be alert.

The Famous Moss Temple of Kyoto

Commonly known as Kokedera, or the Moss Temple, Saiho-ji is home to one of Kyoto’s most famous tourist attractions, the moss garden. Over 120 types of moss cover the garden grounds, creating some of the most beautiful and relaxing sights in Japan.

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The origins of Kokedera can be traced back to the Nara Period (710-794 AD), when it operated as a temple of Amitabha, the first Buddha of Western Paradise. Legends say famous priests, like Kukai or Honen, served at Saiho-ji temple, but this didn’t prevent it from eventually falling into ruin. In 1339, the famous Japanese gardener Muso Soseki was summoned to restore Saiho-ji, as a Zen Temple, and his design is a major inspiration for modern Japanese Gardens.

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Located in the eastern area of Saiho-ji Temple, the moss garden is centered on the Golden Pond, a body of water shaped like the Chinese character for heart or mind. There are three islands inside this sacred pond (Horai, Tsuru, and Kame), and the Japanese people believe they symbolize the Buddhist idea of paradise. Ironically enough, the moss had nothing to do with the original design of Muso Soski, it settled in on its own, after a flood, and kept spreading because the locals didn’t have enough money for upkeep.

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Famous for its moss-covered soil, trees and rocks, Kokedera is also known as one of the most exclusive destinations in Japan. In order to protect the delicate moss garden from the countless curious tourists that traveled to Kyoto from all over the world, temple regulations were changed in 1977, so that visitors may only be admitted by prior application. Each tourist has to send his application via return postcard, 20 working days before the desired visit date.

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But that is just part of the admission process at the Moss Temple. Upon arrival, visitors must pay a 3,000 yen entrance fee (the highest in all Kyoto), and then head over to the temple, where they will be directed to a low writing desk for the chanting and copying of sutra. This can take up to three hours to complete, especially for those unfamiliar with Japanese calligraphy. But while Japanese visitors have to copy the entire sutra, Buddhist monks often show compassion to foreigners, allowing them to proceed into the garden, if they make a valiant effort handling the ink brush.

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Only after these challenges are completed, can tourists finally take a stroll though the spectacular Saiho-ji moss garden. With green moss covering every inch of the forest floor, Kokedera is unlike any other garden you might have visited before. Most of the old structures have either disappeared completely or have been covered by the centuries old moss, making the garden a true natural paradise. In autumn, the orange-brown leaves of the Japanese maples set against the dominant green, and the sun rays coming through the canopy create a unique scene that stays with you long after you’ve left this place.

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One of Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Saiho-ji and its marvelous moss garden, are not to be missed, despite the strict entry conditions.

5 Underground Churches from Around the World

5 Underground Churches from Around the World

In the past we’ve taken a look at impressive places of worship built in the most precarious places, on top of mountains or on the sides of steep cliffs. This time, get ready to check out five unique churches located beneath the Earth’s surface.

Blessed Kinga Chapel

Located only 20 km from Krakow, Bochnia is the oldest salt mine in Poland and one of the oldest in the world. It has been functioning for 750 years and the salt extracted from it has contributed to the development of Bochnia County. Nowadays, salt extraction is ceased and Bochnia operates mainly as a tourist attraction and a sanatorium.

Wazyn Chamber, considered the heart of the mine, houses one of the most unusual sacred places on Earth, Blessed Kinga Chapel. It was founded in 1747 and features a pulpit carved in salt, various salt sculptures and salt altars. On Christmas Eve and Patron’s Day, high masses are conducted in this main chapel of Bochnia Salt Mine.

Catacomb Underground Church

Named after the catacombs of Rome, where the people used to bury their dead and meet in times of persecution, the Catacomb Underground Church is one of the main attractions of Coober Pedy, in the Australian Outback. Unlike the Romans, Aussies use this underground sanctuary to get away from the scorching sun.

There are five underground churches in Coober Pedy, a town famous for its beautiful opals and known as the Underground Town. Catacomb Underground Church was carved in the shape of a cross, into a giant sandstone rock.

St. Kinga’s Chapel

Located 101 meters underground, in the Wieliczka Salt Mine, St. Kinga’s Chapel is considered the most impressive salt-carved sanctuary on Earth. Carved from a block of salt, by a group of self-taught miners, St. Kinga’s Chapel has acted as a place of worship ever since 1896.

The salt decorations spread all over the chapel were created over a period of 100 years. Even today, the artworks are made by a new generation of talented miners. One of the most impressive things found in St. Kinga’s Chapel are the chandeliers carved from blocks of salt.

Zipaquira

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One of Colombia’s most important pilgrimage sites, the cathedral of Zipaquira lies 200 meters underground, in an old salt mine. Zipaquira attracts around 3,000 Roman-Catholic followers every Sunday, but it is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

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The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira began as a small praying sanctuary carved by the hard-working miners. It had three naves and a giant cross, but was shut down by authorities, for safety reasons. After a complete redesign, a larger, more beautiful Salt Cathedral was reopened in 1995 and began attracting an even larger number of tourists.

Church of Saint Jean

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In southern France, close to the picturesque village of Aubeterre, lies one of religion’s hidden gems, the underground Church of Saint Jean. The village itself is charming enough, traversed of cobbled alleys, full of friendly people and located in a verdant setting, but the true treasure of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne can be found beneath.

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The centuries-old Church of Saint Jean was hand-carved out of a rock hanging above the river Dronne. This monolithic structure is 88 feet long, 52 feet wide and reaches 20 meters at its highest point. Saint Jean Church is available for tourist visits seven days a week.

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