The three Art Nouveau kiosks by architect Ernesto Basile appear like unexpected gems along the buzzing streets of Palermo. Built about the end of the 19th century, the kiosks once hosted the traditional Sicilian vendors of soft drinks and refreshing beverages but are today converted into tobacconists. Chiosco Ribaudo located in Piazza Verdi, the most famous one, is a crimson and wrought iron building adorned with golden letters. The second Ribaudo kiosk in Piazza Castelnuovo is decorated with colourful majolica and mosaics while the Chiosco Vicari, in front of the Teatro Massimo, is a triumph of Moorish, Islamic, and Colonial architecture.

Located in the Capuchin Monastery since 1599, the Catacombe dei Cappuccini houses 8,000 mummified bodies and skeletons of former residents of Palermo who died between the 17th and 19th centuries. It's a somewhat macabre insight into the customs and traditions of the Palermitan society of the time, with gender, religion, profession, and social status rigidly applied to the disposition of the bodies.

The dazzlingly colourful Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the cultural and religious hub of George Town’s ‘Little India’ quarter, home to immigrants from the subcontinent for more than a century. Encrusted with garishly painted statues of deities, demons, and mythical creatures, the Sri Mahamariamman is the oldest of the city’s Hindu temples and is still in daily use. Inside stands a valuable statue of the Hindu deity Lord Subramanya, lavishly embellished with gold and precious stones.

Of course, not every trip to Nepal must include the arduous and dangerous hike to the world's tallest mountain. However, you can embark on a mountain flight from Tribhuvan Airport for a panoramic encounter with the highest peaks on earth. Witness majestic views of Mt. Everest, as well as Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kantega, Lhotse and Nuptse. A short but memorable flight over the clouds. Mark the occasion with a glass of sparkling wine.