Travel World

A Sample of London Night Life

2010-11-13T19:14:00.003-08:00

A Night out in London offers more than theatre, pubs, and clubs, but an all inclusive list would take a night out just to read it all. Here you’ll get a feel for the Clubs, Pubs, and theatre available in greater London. Other forms of entertainment are plentiful but we’ll stick to clubs, pubs, and dining, and theatre for now.
When it comes to live music, theatre, pubs and clubs, London compares favourably with any city in the world. Whatever your goal for a night out, you can find the perfect venue to achieve it in London. London’s theatre rivals Broadway and some current popular shows include The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, and Spamalot.
Other theatrical productions include a show by The Blue Man Group at the New London Theatre. Reviews of this show include one from the Chicago Tribune, “So much fun it must be experienced to be believed”. Another said, “The Blue Man Group ran around on the stage last night for several hours. No one knows why”. OK… I wrote the second one! For reasons passing understanding The Blue Man Group packs in the crowds, and with the exception of my panning, consistently receive rave reviews. Blue people I find more entertaining are The Smurfs, and the fat kid from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, although he may have been more of a purple.
If you like clubs and can do without dining there are numerous clubs for nearly every musical genre. If you’re a hip-hop fan, Vibe Bar, or Plan B may suit you. Indie Pop fans will like Club Silver at Underworld. Retropop is available at Pump up the Volume at Underworld. Jazz fans will enjoy Ronnie Scott’s, House Music, Techno, Jazz, Swing, and Funk music can all be found along with virtually any other type of music at clubs in London.
Themes or Club Nights are popular in London Clubs, and descriptions can be found online, on the U.K. Clubbing Directory for the hundreds of different themes available in the city on a given night. A good example of a club night is the Notting Hill Arts Club whose club nights include Beachclub, billed as “A Smorgasbord of London Creativity & drunken Scandinavian snow urchins” with cheap beer, mulled wine, pretty ladies, great bands, DJs, art, and meatballs every second Monday of the Month. Other club nights include Disco Death, and Craft Night.
If you’re not into the club scene, but still like a drink or two, London has some 5,000 pubs and bars. If you want to go to the coolest bar in London, try Below Zero and the Absolut Ice Bar London. Of course Absolut Vodka is best served on ice. This place takes it a little farther as the glasses, bar, chairs, walls, ceiling are all made from clear ice from the Torne River in Sweden. The entire place is kept at -5 degrees to keep it from melting. It doesn’t say which scale that temperature is measured in, but it couldn’t make the least bit of difference as it is freezing. Your admission entitles you to the use of a reindeer cape and mittens, forty-five minutes at the bar, and an Absolut drink. The menu is traditional Swedish fare featuring seafood like halibut, prawns, and mussels. If you are looking for the polar opposite of this mega igloo, try Bar Aquarium. The club with a swimming pool.
A traditional English Pub is what visitors look for on their trips to London, but why not visit one with a little history. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese may be London’s oldest Pub… and then again it may not be. Some London Pubs are partial survivors of the last “Great Fire”, and it’s not clear when some were built. This pub; built in 1667 after “The Great Fire II” replaced another pub, but has the original cellar dating back to the 13th century. The Anchor survived the fire, but burned down 10 years later and was rebuilt. The Old Bell Tavern and Ye Olde Waiting are said to have been built to provide masons, and labourers working on St. Paul’s Cathedral during its construction a nearby watering hole.
Many London Pubs are historic for the deeds of their patrons, or were the “scene of the crime” in some cases. Having famous patrons seems to make a pub famous. Places like The Dove in Hammersmith which served literary legends Graham Greene and Ernest Hemmingway. It was a rarity that Ernest Hemmingway passed by a pub without stopping so this claim is far from unusual. The French House was the unofficial headquarters for the French Resistance in WWII and counted Dylan Thomas among its regulars. It is also thought to be the spot where James Thomson wrote “Rule Britannia”.
Some pubs are famous for their famous patrons, and some for their infamous patrons. Magdala is where David Blakely was murdered by Ruth Ellis in 1955. Ellis was the last woman to be executed in Britain. The Blind Beggar was the scene of a fatal shooting in 1967 when Ronnie Kray killed George Cornell after upsetting the Kray twins. There is no shortage of pubs in London that have an historic claim to fame, but with notoriety comes popularity and the good ones get crowded.
If you don’t enjoy pubs or clubs and only want good food you should re-examine your priorities, and after that, there are about 6,000 restaurants in and around London if you don’t have a change of heart about pubs. Start with one of the many Gastro Pubs in case you come to your senses. If not, you can get a great meal at some upscale restaurants in London, and you may spot some celebrities. The Ivy, Yauatcha, Nobu Berkeley, and Sketch are eateries where celebrity sightings are possible, and they have excellent food.
Like the famous Mark Twain quote “I wouldn’t join any club that would have me as a member”, the really good restaurants are the ones you can’t get into, unless you enjoy sitting down to dinner at midnight on a Tuesday. Gordon Ramsay’s at Claridge’s recently completed some renovations. Good luck getting inside to see them. It is the only restaurant in London to achieve three of the coveted Michelin stars, and is considered by some to be one of the top five restaurants in the world. Other London restaurants with Michelin stars are, The Greenhouse, Hakkasan, and Locanda Locatelli.
With a population as diverse as London’s, it’s no surprise that ethnic restaurants saturate the lengthy menu of London dining establishments. British, Caribbean, Mexican, Chinese, and Lebanese restaurants are just a few of the ethnic themed eateries in greater London. Whether your night out in London will have you eating, drinking, or seeing a show, you should have an easy time finding the perfect spot for you.

Kameha Grand Bonn – Hotel for a New Millennium

2010-11-13T19:14:00.001-08:00

When the Kameha Grand Bonn hotel opens its doors this fall, it will boast 254 luxurious rooms and suites as a unique counterpoint to the old-world charm and history of its setting in the heart of western Germany’s Rhineland. This palatial glass oasis will feature designs by Dutch native Marcel Wanders, a preeminent figure in styling modern products and interiors with visionary artistry and grandeur.
Bonn is an important setting for the new hotel, along the Rhine riverfront that winds its way through six European countries. The beautiful hills and valleys that spread for miles still contain fortifications and battle scars from the wars of nations and states that fought over this vital trade route from the Roman Empire through the Second World War.
Among Kameha’s most treasured planned amenities, a comprehensive spa and fitness center will include four treatment rooms and two relaxation rooms, a steam bath, two saunas, a heated outdoor pool, and a fitness center with first-class facilities. The complex has a number of conference and event halls as well as a 208-car parking garage, two restaurants, five lounges, and three terraces for special events.

Hotel Puerta America – The Latest Silken Experience

2010-11-13T19:13:00.001-08:00

Occasionally, the talents of several leading figures in architecture combine forces to create a totally unique property that defies logic in a beautiful way. The Silken Hotel Puerta America Madrid (HPAM) is one such property, mobilizing a cluster of great architectural minds like Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid, Ron Arad, and Jean Nouvel to fashion an extravagant $100 million oasis that must be witnessed to appreciate fully.
Visitors in Madrid are treated to a luxury five-star hotel with twelve unique floors, each designed by one of nineteen legendary firms who added their best efforts and unique styling to make this by far the most unique of the Hoteles Silken chain of Spanish world-class hotels. At one time employing 650 workers in building these magical accommodations, HPAM is an awe-inspiring display of the best design technology money can buy.
The hotel offers guests a selection of 342 stunningly original rooms, including junior and full-size suites. HPAM also features a comprehensive list of amenities and facilities, including a sauna, indoor pool, underground parking deck, restaurant, garden, and business center.

Eiffel Tower Paris France

2010-11-13T19:12:00.003-08:00

MTW-DVD-109 – Named after its creator, Gustave Eiffel, the Tour DEiffel has adorned the French capital of Paris for more than a century.It was erected in 1886 in record time and can be seen from almost every square and tiny lane in Paris.
The eye is first drawn to its sturdy steel girders and weight-bearing transverse poles which are held in place by about 2.5 million rivets, an amazing technical achievement of its time.
From the airy heights of the first viewing platform, there is a wonderful multi-directional panorama across Paris.On the higher viewing platforms the air is thinner but the views are increasingly spectacular.The Trocadero, Arc De Triomph, and Sacre Coeur, indeed, the whole of Paris are the distant earthbound stars of this visual experience which towers over one of the mostbeautiful and charming citys in the world. Buy this film on DVD in a collector souvenir case or download. Great for memories of trip taken, educational tool for the classroom, library, and more at TravelVideoStore.com

Where to Stay in Rome with Luxury

2010-11-13T19:12:00.001-08:00

Rome… Yesterday I made a lot of thinking and still couldn’t define the best place in Rome or its the most fascinating feature. I really love every single place: the magnificent Vatican, the adorable and always alive Forum, the glory of the Colosseum, numerous cafes …

Rome is adorable in the literal meaning of this word. It is full of pleasures and temptations. It may seem unbelievable but only in Rome you can drink a cup of hot cappuccino, then buy fruits at a market and afterwards have a meeting with the Pope…. and everything in the same morning. Isn’t is great???

What is more, apart from recommending you to visit Rome, I would like to tell you about Rome luxury hotel, that is definitely worth checking. Actually, there are a lot of them, but I would like to propose you the only one.

La Posta Vecchia that is: “Aristocratic Roman palazzo overlooking the Tyrrhenean sea outside Rome”. And this description is completely true. The only one thing, the hotel is not for students and budget-travellers.

Nikko Tosho-gu, Japan

2010-11-13T19:11:00.000-08:00

With thick culture, history and traditions of the natural life, Nikko is a famoustourisim city in the land of flowers. To visit the temple Nikko Tosho-gu, one of the temples belong to populations, Nikko pagoda belongs to this beautiful city. Images on Terragalleria.

Spring cherry Blossom Festival flower viewing

2010-11-13T19:09:00.001-08:00

Hot Spots in Japan – Travel in Japan
Hanami “flower viewing” is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, “flower” in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms , or ume blossoms
From mid January to early May, sakura bloom all over Japan. The blossom forecast is announced each year by the weather bureau, and is watched carefully by those planning hanami as the blossoms only last a week or two. In modern-day Japan, hanami mostly consists of having an outdoor party beneath the sakura during daytime or at night. Hanami at night is called yozakura .
In many places such as Ueno Park temporary paper lanterns are hung for the purpose of yozakura.
This is Cherry Blossom Festival held in Japanese Chiba Castle.
Questa è Festa del Fiore della Cherry tenuta in Castello di Chiba giapponese.
Das ist im japanischen Chiba Schloss gehaltenes Fest von Cherry Blossom.
C’est le Festival de Cherry Blossom tenu dans le Château de Japonais Chiba.
To je Češnjev Rascvjetati festival v japonski Chiba grad.

Seoul in Sunlight

2010-11-13T19:08:00.001-08:00

Symbol of Peace in President Resident

Cherry blossom bloom in summer

Korean folk Museum

Royal Palace

The entrance of Royal Palace

Tulips are grown everywhere

Model Seoul

Lanscapes in Korea

2010-11-13T19:07:00.002-08:00

Mystery statues, cherry blossoms bloom or row of trees which are symbols of love in Nami island are some of the impression in South Korea. Here are photos of Thu Phuong, a tour guide, recorded on the chance to land this beautiful country.

World Heritage Sites in Japan – Shiretoko

2010-11-13T19:07:00.000-08:00

A new heritage site just registered in 2005 The area features an ecological system with few equals in the world

Places:Shari-cho, Shari-gun / Rausu-cho, Menashi-gun, Hokkaido
Shiretoko, a new natural heritage site registered only in July 2005, is considered to be the last pristine wilderness remaining in Japan. Shiretoko is a long narrow peninsula located in northeastern Hokkaido. The volcanic Shiretoko mountain range runs down the center of the peninsula and includes the highest peak of the range, Rausu-dake (1,661 m above sea level) and the active volcano Iouyama. The Sea of Okhotsk lies on the western side of the range and the Nemuro Straits on the eastern side. The coastline cliffs facing the Sea of Okhotsk rise up more than 100 m high, and you can glimpse waterfalls large and small cascading directly into the sea, and colonies of seabirds.

The salmon and trout that breed in the sea off Shiretoko are an important food resource supporting the terrestrial ecosystem with rare birds such as Blakiston’s fish owl, Steller’s sea eagle and the white-tailed sea eagle, as well as brown bears. The Shiretoko ecosystem is a dramatically clear example of the linkage between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and it is considered an important wildlife reserve, with unique features unlike any other in the world.
Shiretoko, blessed with mountains, lakes and an abundance of plants and animals, offers many places of interest throughout the seasons. A good example is the Shiretoko Goko or Shiretoko Five Lakes, situated on a lava plateau surrounded by old-growth forest. The five lakes don’t have individual names; they are referred to by number from Lake No. 1 to Lake No. 5. If you take a stroll along the walking trail (takes approximately 1 hour), you may see wild animals and will certainly enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons.

In the fall, when the mountains are adorned in red and yellow, the hoards of salmon and trout swarming up river to spawn are an incredible sight. In winter, there is also beautiful scenery as the drifting ice changes the Sea of Okhotsk into a white snowfield. There are various nature experience programs available at the site such as night tours for animal watching under wonderful starlit skies, daytime treks for alpine plant spotting while surrounded by birds singing, or nature watching enjoying waterfalls and wild animals while walking along the trail. It is highly recommended to contact Shiretoko Nature Center before departing.
*Shiretoko Nature Center
website available in Japanese only: http://www.shiretoko.or.jp/
Tel: 0152-24-2114/Fax: 0152-24-2115
E-mail: mat0946@shiretoko.or.jp
*Rausu Town
website available in Japanese only: http://www.aurens.or.jp/~rausukan/
*Shari Town Office Commerce and Tourism Section
Japanese website: http://www.town.shari.hokkaido.jp/shiretoko/

Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato) – Chubu, Takayama

2010-11-13T19:06:00.001-08:00

Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato) is an open air museum exhibiting over 30 typical farmhouses and other traditional buildings from the Hida region, the mountainous district of Gifu Prefecture around Takayama.
The museum’s main attractions are a number of gassho-zukuri houses. The massive farmhouses with their steep, thatched roofs which look like praying hands (“gassho-zukuri”) were moved here from the nearby Shirakawa-go region.
All exhibited buildings are carefully preserved, display everyday utensils and are open to the public to explore. Last but not least, the buildings’ indoor fireplaces are lit every morning, making this outstanding open air museum a treat not only for the eyes but also for the nose.

Nishioka’s House

Attic of a gassho-zukuri farmhouse

The Hida Folk Village is a 30 minute walk or 10 minute bus ride from Takayama Station in the opposite direction of the city center. The “Sarubobo Bus” provides connections every 30 minutes for 200 yen per ride or 550 yen for a one day pass.

Hours and Fees

Hours:	8:30 to 17:00
Closed:	No closing days
Admission:	700 yen (Parking: 300 yen)

Popularity of Hida Folk Village:
Users who have been to Takayama: 523
Users who have been to Hida Folk Village: 251
2nd of 7 most visited sights in Takayama.
142nd of 650 most visited sights nationwide.

India Tourism: Chandigarh

2010-11-13T19:05:00.001-08:00

Chandigarh is situated in the northern part of the country India and is very popular for tourism. The place attracts a lot of people all around the world. In recent times the tourism in the city has gone up by leaps and bounds. Biologists, environmentalist and nature lover flock to the city to sock in the artificial greenery that the place offers. There are many theme gardens situated in the city of Chandigarh and is a delight for plant and bird lovers. Many photographers come to capture the beauty through their lens and people enjoy a lot of flora and fauna in the city. The cuisine that the city offers is mind blowing. Chicken butter masala is top draw for all Indians and foreigners alike.
If you are planning a visit to the city then you must remember that the place has many budget hotels so accommodation will not be an issue and hence you can look to enjoy the place without having to bother about the issues of booking a hotel and managing finances. The botanical garden at Chandigarh is a popular tourist place because of the diversity of plants that you can get to see. The garden boosts of a lotus lake and people and tourist get mesmerized by the amount of cleanliness that the organizers have maintained. The city of Chandigarh is extremely well maintained and the roads and lanes are neat and tidy. The city ranks first, among all other cities in India, in the aspect of cleanliness and hygiene. The hygiene is indeed well maintained and any people visiting the place will simply love the culture and cuisine that it has to offer.
Apart from the garden the place also has some of the holy places. One among such places is the Chandigarh Nada Sahib Gurudwara. This holy shrine is located at the banks of the river Ganga in the Panchkula district. This Gurudwara is situated 15 km from the main city of Chandigarh. People from all the community flock this place to offer prayer to the lord all mighty.

How to Plan a Trip to London

2010-11-13T19:03:00.000-08:00

London has many attractions to offer to a visitor. It is one of the largest cities in the world and a very popular destination with travelers. And so, some planning is needed to enjoy the city the most. Though, a few days are not really enough to explore everything.

If you are buying a package from a tour operator, then many of your difficulties are solved. They will plan and schedule your itinerary. They will map out the major landmarks that you will want to see. They will get the best deals in hotels and provide transport too.
However, if you are venturing out on your own, make some pointers beforehand.
First, make a list of all the places you want to see in London. Map out the distances between them. Find the modes of transport that will help you get across.
Four locations have been labeled as World Heritage Sites in London. These are:
1)    The Settlement of Greenwich
2)    The Tower of London
3)    The Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, and
4)    The site that contains the three structures of Westminster Abbey, St. Margaret’s Church, and the Palace of Westminster.
These are very popular as far as sightseeing is concerned.
London is well-connected to almost all the world. The Heathrow Airport here is the busiest one in the world by international flights.
London is steeped in history. London houses several museums like the Imperial War Museum Cabinet War Rooms, the British Museum, Science and Natural History Museums, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. Much of London’s appeal lies here. They are open on all days but it is better to visit them on weekdays when they are less crowded.
The city possesses some beautiful parks where the weather can be enjoyed. The Hyde Park forms amongst largest green open spaces in London and it is one of the Royal gardens. The St. James Park is also one of the oldest Royal parks in London. Another is the Green Park.
The easiest way to travel around the city is with the London Pass. It is a pass that is used for sightseeing at a fixed rate. This is a one-time payment that you can make and this includes 55 places. It also comprises of a river cruise. This way you can visit and revisit museums and other places. You will also receive a free guidebook for London. You will also get discounts at some restaurants and cafés.
The primary shopping area is the Oxford Street. It possesses several designer showrooms and department stores. Apart from these, street vendors are also located here. Popular shopping malls are situated here as well. Plays, operas, exhibitions, and shows are regularly organized at the Covent Garden and the Leicester Square.
The weather in London is rather erratic. It, of course, is primarily rainy. But sometimes, the weather turns sunny just as suddenly. The months of September and October are usually ideal. Summer is over by then and the weather is pleasant and not too cold. There are several plays scheduled around this time. If it’s the Wimbledon you want to catch, then is suggested you drop by in June. Lots more happens in June too, like the Covent Garden Festival and City of London Festival of theatre and music, as well as the Derby and Ascot horseracing. July is just as good too, because there are open-air plays at the Regent’s Park. The Albert Hall hosts concerts.
London has something going on every month, but check which weather suits you the most.

Hotel Sausalito – Paradise in California

2010-11-13T19:00:00.001-08:00

Today I would like to tell you about one of the most charming hotels I have ever visited – hotel sausalito. It belongs to such places you fall in love from the first sight. I mean it. So some facts I liked the most about it:

the Hotel is a three-story, 102-room California Craftsman style building
all rooms are not very spacious but stylish and beautifully furnished
the rooms are cleaned daily
friendly staff and the owner

most rooms have large towels, a view out to the bay and a flatscreen tv with cable
the location if perfect for shoppers, people in love, friends, party-goers. It is located within walking distance of numerous shops, restaurants and night attractions
this place has everything even the most demanding traveler needs: markets, transport, friendly people, nature sightseeings
perfect for active people, because here they will find great opportunities for hiking in Muir Woods, sailing and ocean kayaking
great for honeymoons, picnics, small and long vacations

Love this hotel and the contrast of really chilling and peaceful atmosphere in it and hustle-bustle of the Bay out of it!

9 Day: Fish River Canyon Hiking Explorer

2010-10-10T03:34:00.000-07:00

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Windhoek

Meet and greet by our representative. We proceed to your guesthouse and after some time at leisure an afternoon township tour is scheduled to be concluded with an optional dinner with a local family, an experience that will last with you for many years. Accommodation - Guest house. Includes: (A), (D), (B&B).

Day 2: Gondwana National Park

Your journey takes you to the Gondwana National park only a stone’s throw away from the second largest canyon in the world. Accommodation - Lodge. Includes: (B&B).

Day 3: Fish River Canyon Hike

After a short drive we reach the Main Viewpoint, which marks the start of the hike. We will be on the move for about 8 hours each day. The 500m descent into the Canyon takes us about 2 hours due to the steep route and loose rocks. However the view into the canyon landscape is spectacular. Finally we reach the bottom and our route continues for 13 km through boulders and rough sand. The water in the canyon is drinkable (Microspore or similar purifying tablets can be used as an additional precaution). Exhausted we reach “Palms Springs” with its thermal sulphur pools, an enjoyment for our tired muscles. Walking time: 7-8 hrs. Overnight under thousand stars; 500m descent; Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 4: Table Mountain & Three Sisters rock towers

Today our route takes us along the riverbed, which we cross several times, depending on the water level. It is advisable to take trekking sandals along for river crossings. The ground consists mostly of gravel, pebbles and deep sand. About 15 km from Palm Springs we will pass the “Table Mountain” named after its “mother” near Cape Town. We will sleep close to the “Three Sisters rock towers”, which are illuminated red by the setting sun. Walking time: 7-8 hrs. Overnight under thousand stars. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 5: Four finger rocks

After breakfast we climb a hill from which we have a beautiful view of a rock formation consisting of four thick pinnacles, known as the “four finger rocks”. Another highlight for today is the Von Trotha’s grave; second Lieutenant Thilo Von Trotha, a nephew of the well-known Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha died here in 1905 during a confrontation between German soldiers and native Namas. Fish River was always been considered an oasis of life being a reliable source of water. We spend another night under the overwhelming African sky. Walking time: 7-8 hours. Overnight under stars. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 6: Fish River Canyon Hike

As we carry on along the riverbed walking gets easier, but remains sandy and rocky. The canyon widens out. Legend has it that a fleeing dragon left behind him the 160 km long and 450m deep furrow, which is now the second largest canyon of the world. Another adventures day slowly comes to an end. Walking time: 7 - 8 hrs. Overnight under stars. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 7: Ai Ais

After 10 km we reach Ai Ais (Nama word meaning very hot). The hot water from the natural spring is pumped into a swimming pool, which we will take advantage of. We will wash off the dust of the previous days with a cold beer and a swim before we get picked up and transferred to our lodge. Accommodation - Lodge. includes: (B&B).

Day 8: Windhoek

After breakfast we will head back to Windhoek, where we will have the evening at leisure or have dinner at the Joe’s beer house the most famous restaurant on the African continent. Accommodation - Guesthouse. Includes: (B&B).

Day 9: Departure Day

After breakfast have time for some shopping before transfer to the airport where your explorer ends!

African Deserts - A Caving and Desert Exploration Camping Safari

2010-10-10T03:33:00.000-07:00

This desert camping safari is guaranteed to run, even with a minimum booking of only two guests! The safari will start in Windhoek and end again in Windhoek - 10 days later. Your itinerary will include the well-known Sossusvlei - some of the world's highest sand dunes are found here; other venues within the Namib-Naukluft Park - largest Nature Reserve in Namibia; caving in the longest cave of Namibia in the Kalahari Desert, while viewing mind boggling, panoramic vistas.

The basis of this desert camping safari is that we shall provide you with the necessary transport, fuel and driver, as well as tents and roll-up mattresses; all accommodation and entrance fees as well as guidance, leaving you the choice of activities and bodily nourishment requirements. You are thus under no obligation to partake of any meal that was pre-arranged at a set venue - you eat what you want, when you want it. Maybe organize your own "food-kitty" or something similar. Either dining establishments and/or self-catering facilities are available at most camping venues.

Your Itinerary:

Day 1: Meet your host at Namibia's International airport and transfer to a comfortable bed & breakfast in Windhoek to relax from your flight and acclimatize to Namibia. Time available for obtaining camp provisions.

Day 2: Via the Khomas Hochland to the escarpment, descend into the Namib desert towards your first desert venue - a Namib guest farm.

Day 3: Entire day at own leisure for exploring your new environment, or join in some of the offered activities - excellent hiking opportunities.

Day 4: Hugging the Naukluft Mountains, keep an eye out for the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, as you continue towards your campsite in a valley between the Naukluft- and Tsaris Mountains.

Day 5: Be woken before sunrise to travel along the Tsauchab River Valley towards some of the highest sand dunes in the world at Sossusvlei. Experience the ever-changing earth-tone hues as the sun rises. After a short rest from climbing the dunes, explore the geologically historic Sesriem Gorge, before returning to camp.

Day 6: Cross over from the Namib desert in the west to the Kalahari desert in the east. Tonight you camp in a "street" between two linear, orange-red Kalahari dunes.

Day 7: Entire day at own leisure for exploring your new environment, or join in some of the offered activities - excellent Game viewing opportunities.

Day 8: Move further north into the east-central Kalahari, out of the dune belt to experience another face of this very early habitat of the human race.

Day 9: After breakfast, you may join the owner on a caving expedition into the longest cave yet found in Namibia, un-developed and un-commercialized.

Day 10: Subject to flight departure time, you may have all morning to enjoy nature walks, or fill those last exposures on the film/ memory disc. Transfer to Namibia's International airport to arrive in time for your departure flight.

Please Note: If a minimum number of guests are stated, we can unfortunately Not Respond to an inquiry for less than the required minimum.

Hot Rock Africa 2010 Climbing Expedition: Stage 6

2010-10-10T03:30:00.000-07:00

Tour Itinerary:

Malawi.

Rock climbing in Malawi starts on the beach! but this is not the ocean; the beach bouldering of lake Malawi awaits. Arriving there after a long day trip we will spend a few days at the campsite. From here we can head out on boats to explore heaps of deep-water bouldering, or head out on foot to find a plethora of land-bound boulders and inland crags. There are amazing scuba-diving and snorkeling sites, and with a Carlsberg costing just 30p (50c) life doesn't get much better.

Tearing ourselves away from the beaches for a little while, we will continue to head south to the biggest wall of them all – Mt. Mulanje. The sheer rock walls of Mt. Mulanje rise to over 3000m. Boasting Africa's longest route (Chambe West face, E1/5.10, 1,700m) it has adventure climbing and stunning trekking throughout the rarely visited massif. Rock climbing developed here in the 70's and has sporadically continued until the production of the guidebook to the mountain. The highest peak, Sapitwa means 'do not go there' in local language and the mountains certainly have a serious and challenging feel to them, no matter what grade climb or trek you take on high above the Rift Valley floor.

We'll spend some time on Mulanje chatting to the cedar plantation workers who each carry 50+kg planks on their heads, barefoot from the plantation at 2000m down to sea level. In colonial days there was an electric cableway to take these down; when this broke the local council made the decision not to repair it as manual transportation provided employment opportunities for the whole area. I guess only the machine operator would have been cheesed off. Not a western mindset but certainly a civilised one. After the rigours of Mulanji we head back to Blantyre to relax at Dougal's campsite pool for a day or so before heading along the 'Tete corridor' through Mozambique and into Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe.

Entering Zimbabwe we are immediately confronted by the amount of rock. From the truck we will see huge granite domes, low crags and boulders stretching into the distance for as far as the eye can see. We will spend a week or more on the 100km section of road that takes us from the Mozambican border to Zimbabwe's capital Harare and in due course to one of the natural wonders of the world, the magnificent Victoria Falls.

Mount Dema, our first destination, is one of many 120m-high domes in the area with immaculate granite walls and cracks. Previous trips have established more than 15 routes from VS to E4. These include a spectacular 115m bolted line that takes a featured wall and goes at f7a, and 4-pitch "Flash" HVS 5a which takes a Yosemite-style crack line from bottom to top, finishing through a cave! Repeating these routes and adding many more will keep us entertained for a good few days. We will camp just outside a village, and experience the overwhelming hospitality of the Zimbabwean people, as they bring us their locally brewed beer, and sit with us to watch the setting sun.

The next destination along the road is Sharmu, which has been fairly well developed by the rock climbers in Zimbabwe (all 30 of them), and has also received a few visitors from overseas, including Chris Sharma. With about 70 routes from VDiff-E4 on the slabs and steep crack systems, and the potential for many more new sport and trad routes, we won't get bored. Pick of the bunch in the lower grades is probably Moonwalk at HVS 5a. Climbing above the grass huts next to which we'll camp - it's a truly memorable African bush experience.

From Sharmu, we will make our way to Harare, the very pleasant capital city, and stay in a campsite that is aptly named 'The Rocks'. Sivvy and Elise’s campsite is covered with 2-10m boulders, which makes it perhaps the ultimate campsite for lazy climbers. The bouldering is outstanding, and we have previously put up over 30 quality boulder problems, which once formed the basis for a bouldering competition in the friendly campsite for a day. We will also arrange a day at an excellent climbing area to the north of the city called Ngoma-Kurira. In an area decorated with ancient cave-paintings, you’ll find perhaps 90 bolted routes, both single and multi pitch, on lovely solid granite that is punctuated by the odd pocket of some conglomerate-type rock.

The views are lovely, the climbing excellent, and it is definitely worth a visit for a very relaxing day of bolt clipping. There is other climbing near the city, and we will try to meet up with some Zimbabwean climbers at their local crag – a small quarry just outside the city limits – for some climbing and a BBQ. When not climbing we can enjoy Harare, which has cinemas and some great nightlife, real African drum clubs and good restaurants. Once again we will have a last night meal and party for the people that are leaving and others that are joining.

Faasai Tours

2010-10-10T03:29:00.000-07:00

Boat trip visiting mangroves and a marine sanctuary, forest and Sea nature walk including birdwatching, monkey caves at the temple of the Golden Bell, Naiyaiyarm, national maritime museum, French cathedral, historic ship building yards, Chantaburi mat weaving, forest and mountain treks including visits to waterfalls and wildlife sanctuaries, dolphin including Iriwaddy dolphins, elephant show and tiger sanctuary, Royal Thai massage and herbal steam therapy, Ayurveda healing treatments.

Full Day Adventure

2010-10-10T03:28:00.000-07:00

Tour Itinerary:

08:00 Pick up your hotel and wheel north to Phang-Nga Province.
10:00 Stop at Phang-Nga Wildlife Breeding center.
11:00 Arrive at Tone Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary Station. Starting for Whitewater Rafting Activities.
12:00 Enjoy lunch at Songpreak Restaurant.
13:00 Elephant trekking through the intact nature.
14:00 Get on 4 WD drive for jungle walking and refreshing breeze at waterfall.
15:00 Soft drink, coffee or tea is serving before good bye.
17:00 Arrive your hotel by safety.

Schedule
Patong Beach 07:45 - 08:00 AM
Kata, Karon Beach 07:30 - 07:45 AM
Phuket Town 08:00 AM
Kamala, Surin Beach 08:15 AM
Bang Tao Beach 08:30 AM
Cape Panwa 07:45 AM.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Round Trip Transfer
- Professional teams
- Whitewater rafting
- Phang Nga Wildlife Breeding Center
- Tone Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary Station
- 4 WD adventure
- Elephant Trekking
- Junglewalking & Waterfall
- Introductory paddle center
- Rafting check point
- Lunch, soft drink, coffee or tea
- Fresh fruits in season
- Safety box
- T.A.T Award Winner
- VIP Insurance coverage.

Mae Taeng Trek In Depth: 4 Days/ 3 Nights

2010-10-10T03:27:00.000-07:00

Destinations to Visit: Chiang Mai - Mok Fah - Mae Jok - Pa Khaolam - Pong Ngan- Sop Kai.

Explore the beauty and culture of Thailand's mountainous north on this three-day trek into the jungles surrounding Chiang Mai. You'll head off the beaten path, a rewarding experience that will allow you to get in touch with the people and natural wonders of the region. This region of Thailand has long been known for its fantastic trekking. The chance to interact with the local hilltribes of the area enhances the experience. Along the way you will stay in different villages, learning about the tribe's traditional culture and way of life.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Chiang Mai - Mok Fah - Mae Jok

Journey north into the mountains, stopping en-route at the Mae Malai local market to browse the colorful stalls with their exotic products. After a visit to the Mok Fah waterfalls and a tasty picnic lunch, drive to Huay Nam Dung National Park and visit the Shan village of Mae Sae where you'll start your hike to the Karen village of Baan Mae Jok. In the evening, enjoy an authentic jungle dinner hosted by your trekking guide. Overnight in Mae Jok. Includes: (L), (D).

Day 2: Mae Jok - Pa Khaolam

Watch the cool breeze sweep away the morning mist as you enjoy breakfast before resuming your walk toward an elephant camp. Relax and enjoy a picnic lunch at the camp as your elephant is prepared for your journey, which will be led by skilled Karan mahouts. Climb on to your elephant's back and traverse deep into the dense jungle toward the Karen village of Baan Pa Khaolam. Overnight in Pa Khaolam. Includes: (B),(L), (D).

Day 3: Pa Khaolam - Pong Ngan

Today's trek is the most ambitious, but also the most spectacular. The Huai Nam Dang National Park is filled with virginal forests, wildlife, and several streams. Trek through this pristine wilderness stopping for a picnic at the waterfalls before reaching Pong Ngan, a Lahu village, for a unique home stay experience. Overnight in Pong Ngan. Includes: (B),(L), (D).

Day 4: Pong Ngan - Sop Kai - Chiang Mai. After a lazy breakfast, you'll journey on a bamboo raft along the Taeng River to the Shan village of Sop Kai, passing other hill tribe villages along the way. Enjoy a local lunch in Sop Kai before heading back to Chiang Mai in the afternoon, bringing your trekking adventure to a close. Includes: (B),(L), (D).

Markha Valley Ladakh Trek

2010-10-10T03:26:00.000-07:00

Tour Details:
- 2011 Tour Dates: July 11 – 29, 2011.
- Trip Difficulty Rating: Moderate
- Maximum Group Size: 8

Tour Itinerary:

Starting point in New Delhi, India. Join us for this challenging and inspirational trek though "little Tibet", the Ladakh region of India. The trek consists of remote, rugged hiking over two major passes on the high–altitude plateau north of the Himalayan range. It is appropriate for experienced hikers in good health. Be prepared for "roughing it" as conditions are as variable as the topography. Remote alpine hiking on this high–altitude wonderland north of the Himalaya reaches an altitude of 16,730 feet.

This moderate trek offers an unforgettable opportunity to enjoy unspoiled Tibetan culture against the backdrop of magnificent scenery. Ponies carry our gear and our staff prepares savory meals. There will be time to relax and sightsee in Leh before and after the trek. This isolated area has only been open to outsiders for about twenty years and is infrequently visited due to its location near the border between India, and Tibet. Although careful to retain their cultural heritage, the Ladakhi people are open and friendly to visitors.

There will be time to relax and sight-see in Leh before and after the trek. This isolated area has only been open to outsiders for about twenty years and is infrequently visited due to its location near the border between India, and Tibet. Although careful to retain their cultural heritage, the Ladakhi people are open and friendly to visitors. This trip starts and ends in New Delhi, India. After our orientation in New Delhi and Leh we spend nine days on the trail exploring the stark beauty of Markha Valley. On our return to Delhi, we'll also enjoy a relaxing train trip to Agra and a tour of the famous Taj Mahal before returning to Delhi to complete the program. There are many custom options available if you would like to add extra days and tours at the start or end of this trip. Ask us about the options to extend your visit!

Your Own Custom Himalayan Trip!

2010-10-10T03:25:00.001-07:00

We create, organize and produce dozens of independent Custom Treks, Tours and Trips each year throughout the Himalayan region in Northern India (areas such as Ladakh, Sikkim, Spiti, Garhwal, Himachal Pradesh), Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. These custom trips are custom-designed to your needs, interests, schedules and any other requirement you might have. We have created organized (scheduled) and custom Himalayan trips since 1988 and have provided itineraries and full support for hundreds of clients (groups, families, individuals). You supply the parameters for your trip (dates, routes or areas of interest, participants, and level of support).

We work with you throughout the process to further define your needs, apply our long experience in the area (suggest options) and refine the daily events - to transform the trip of your dreams into reality. Available support can range from simply a local guide and urban cultural or religious tours - to breathtaking, high-altitude Himalayan trekking with full trail support (guides, ponies, yaks, porters, cooks and helpers). Likewise, lodging can range from ***** Luxury Hotels, simple Guest Houses, rustic Tea Houses and tents! It's your trip, your way!

This is a great way for school groups, family groups, good friends (how about a high-altitude birthday party - we have done those too) or even individuals to have the exact itinerary for that once-in-a-lifetime Himalayan adventure. Costs always depend on the specifics of your trip, but we can usually give you a fair estimate quickly - based on the information you provide. Once you approve the final itinerary, you'll have a final cost too!

We ask for a $200USD development fee to create your custom itinerary. Once you approve your itinerary and 'join' your trip, that development cost is deducted from the land cost of your trip. So, if you follow-through with your trip, the cost of developing your own Custom Trip is free. Because it's custom, contact us with some preliminary information and we are happy to help get you started on a trip you'll long remember! We know where you're going and we're happy to help turn your ideas into reality.

Tribals of Bastar

2010-10-10T03:25:00.000-07:00

Though Gonds can be found almost in all the districts of the state, there are two important concentration regions. The first is the central Madhya Pradesh and the other region is the southern part of the Chhattisgarh state - ie Bastar Division. More than 20% of the Gonds in Chhattisgarh state are in Bastar district. In Bastar the three main sub castes of Gonds are Maria, Muria, and Dorla. The name Gond is extracted from the Telugu word 'Konda' which means hill. Agriculture, collecting minor forest produce, forging metal goods in cottage industries, fishing, hunting, other primary sector activities are the main activities of Gonds.

Marriages are preferred within the blood relations mostly according to Hindu rites and customs. Sometimes mock elopements are also arranged. Gonds have pro-fertility mentality. Divorces, remarriages, widow marriages, marriages with the wives of the brothers and between brothers and sisters are common. In the event of the death of the husband the widow can marry the younger brother and in all cases he need not be unmarried. She also can marry the elder brother of the deceased husband or any one else. Dowry system is also existing among them. But the groom has to pay bridal price to the father of the girl and this system gives respect to women and held their position on top.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival at Raipur. Transfer to Kawardha Palace. Overnight at Kawardha Palace.

Day 2: Visit the Villages of Gond Tribe around Kawardha and drive to Bhoramdev. Overnight at Bhoramdev jungle retreat.

Day 3: Visit of the Bhaiga tribes villages and market.

Day 4: Visit of the Gond tribes villages and market.

Day 5: Drive to Raipur. Excursion to Sripur Buddhist excavated site. Overnight hotel at Raipur.

Day 6: Visit of Rajim, Champaner and drive to Kanker. Overnight at Kanker Palace.

Day 7: Visit of Kondagaon and Kumbharpara. Later on drive to Jagdalpur on the way visiting Muria tribe's villages. Overnight in hotel at Jagdalpur.

Day 8: Visit the Kanger Valley National Park and Dhuruba villages. Chitrakoota Water Falls.

Day 9: Visit the Maria tribal villages in and around Jagdalpur.

Day 10: Drive to Raipur. Overnight Hotel at Raipur.

Day 11: Fly for onward connection.

Adventure Trails in Sikkim, Goecha La Trekk

2010-10-10T03:24:00.000-07:00

For those who are looking for excitement plus adventure nothing can match the view of the Himalayan Mountains, which seem to touch the sky. As the adventurer passes his way through a mountain trek, he establishes an easy relationship with nature. Trekkers in Sikkim will be spell bounded by the profusion of plants and flowers. Great tracts of virgin forests and deep river valleys, offering views of ancient monasteries such as Pemayangtse and Tashiding and the attractive but rapidly developing hamlet of Pelling, characterize the beautiful region of Western Sikkim. The old capital, Yoksum, lies at the start of the trail towards Dzongri and Kanchenjunga.

On the far west, along the border with Nepal, the watershed of the Singalila range rises along a single ridge, with giants such as Rathong and Kabru culminating in Kanchenjunga itself. Although only one high altitude trek is currently available, several low altitude treks, free from trekking restrictions, provide tremendous opportunities for trekkers to enjoy the terraced landscapes, waterfalls and forests. No more than a few dozen Americans trek in Sikkim each year. Tucked between Nepal and Bhutan. Trekking by foreigners is strictly limited to only a few routes, in guided groups only. The best (and most popular) trail leads from the village of Yuksum to a 16,400 foot pass, Guucha La, which lies directly beneath the main summit of 28,000-foot Kanchenjunga, third highest peak in the world. The out-and-back route, which takes about ten days to negotiate, passes through Phedang, Dzongri, and Jemathang.

Your Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Kolkata. Get Connected to Bagdogra. Upon
arrival, transfer to Gangtok. Overnight at Gangtok.

Day 02: Drive to Yuksum & Check in to Hotel. Walk around visiting
the area around. Overnight at Yuksum.

Day 03: Trek to Bakhim (2,743metres or 9000ft).
Overnight at Trekkers' Hut

Day 04: Bakhim - Dzongri (4,030 meters or 13,221 ft)
Overnight at Trekkers' Hut

Day 05: Dzongri

Day 06: Dzongri- Thangsing (3,800metres or 12,467 ft).
Overnight at Trekkers' Hut

Day 07: Thangsing - Samiti Lake (4,800metres or 15,748 ft)
Overnight at Trekkers' Hut

Day 08: Samiti Lake - Cheemathang - Goecha - La (5000metres) -
Samiti Lake.Overnight at Trekkers' Hut

Day 09: Samiti Lake - Kokchu Camp.
Overnight at Trekkers' Hut

Day 10: Kokchuhong Camp to Tshoka. Overnight at Trekkers' Hut

Day 11: Tshoka- Yuksom. Overnight at Yuksum

Day 12: Yuksum - Gangto. Overnight at Yuksum.

Day 13: Sight seeing of Gangtok. Drive to Kalimpong.

Day 14: Drive to Bagdogra Airport. Fly to Kolkata. Fly International.

20 Days Hike Your Way Through South-Korea

2010-10-10T03:22:00.000-07:00

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul. Arrive in Seoul at Incheon International Airport. You will be met by local guide and transferred to hotel. After check-in the balance of the day and evening is at leisure. Overnight at Hamilton hotel in Seoul.

Day 2: Seoul. Breakfast at the hotel. AM city stroll through Insadong Antique District, Jogyesa Temple, and Nadaemun Market. PM visit Gyeongbokgung Palace passing by Blue House (Presidential Residence) and National Folk Museum (closed on Tuesdays. Deoksugung Palace and Royal Museum on Tuesdays) and Changdeokgung Palace (closed on Mondays. Changgyeonggung Palace on Mondays). Overnight at Hamilton hotel in Seoul.

Day 3: Seoul - Mt. Seoraksan National Park. Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to Mt. Seoraksan National Park. By cable car to the top and by foot to Gwongeumseong Fortress. After visit back to hotel. Overnight at Kensington Star hotel at the foot of Mt. Seoraksan.

Day 4: Mt. Seoraksan National Park. Breakfast at the hotel. Trekking through Cheonbuldong Valley (with visits to Sinheungsa Temple, Yang Falls, Geumgang Cave). At the late afternoon transfer back to the hotel. Overnight at Kensington Star hotel at the foot of Mt. Seoraksan.

Day 5: Mt. Seoraksan National Park. Breakfast at the hotel. (Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking). Trekking to Heundeul Bawi Rock to Gyejoam Hermitage to Ulsan Bawi Rock. Then transfer Osaek Green Yard hotel for Hot Spring treatment. Overnight at Osaek Green Yard hotel at the foot of Mt. Seoraksan.

Day 6: Mt. Seoraksan National Park - Samcheok. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Hwanseon Donggul Cave via Samcheok. Then back to Samcheok where the rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight at Samcheok Palace hotel.

Day 7: Samcheok - Mureung Valley. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Mureung Valley. Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking. Upon arrival make a trekking through the valley (Mureungbanseok – Gwaneumsa Tmeple – Yongchupokpo – Mt. Cheongoksan – Mt. Dutasan). Then transfer to hotel. Overnight at Mureung Plaza Motel.

Day 8: Mureung Valley - Busan. Breakfast at the motel. Transfer to Busan. Upon arrival visit Beomeosa Temple. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Commodore hotel in Busan.

Day 9: Busan. Breakfast at the hotel. Very early visit to Jagalchi Fish market. Then back to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast visit UN Memorial Cemetery and Dongnae Hot Spring for treatment. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Commodore hotel in Busan.

Day 10: Busan - Mt. Jirisan National Park. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Mt. Jirisan National Park. Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking. Dinner will be on your own at the shelter. Start trekking from Hwaeomsa Temple to Nogodan Shelter. Overnight at Nogodan Shelter.

Day 11: Mt. Jirisan National Park. Breakfast on your own at the shelter (there are cooking place and eating products on sale at the shelter). Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking. Dinner will be on your own at the shelter. Nogodan Shelter – Byeoksoryeong Shelter (Baemsagol Shelter is closed). Overnight at Byeoksoryeong Shelter.

Day 12: Mt. Jirisan National Park. Breakfast on your own at the shelter (there are cooking place and eating products on sale at the shelter). Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking. Dinner will be on your own at the shelter. Byeoksoryeong Shelter – Jangteomok Shelter. Overnight at Jangteomok Shelter.

Day 13: Mt. Jirisan National Park - Yeosu. Breakfast on your own at the shelter (there are cooking place and eating products on sale at the shelter). Very early wake up to see sunrise at Cheongwangbong Peak. Jangteomok Shelter – Jungsan-ni, then transfer to Yeosu. Overnight at Bellagio Tourist hotel in Yeosu.

Day 14: Yeosu. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Odongdo Isle, Dolsandaegyo Bridge & Dolsando Isle. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Bellagio Tourist hotel in Yeosu.

Day 15: Yeosu - Jejudo Island. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Jejudo Island (Weekly only two days flights on Fridays & Sundays Yeosu Jeju 13:35 14:20 only one flight). Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Jeju Oriental hotel in Jeju city.

Day 16: Jejudo Island - Mt. Hallasan National Park. Breakfast at the hotel. Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking. Trekking Mt. Hallasan National Parl. (Ascend: Gawneumsa trail, descend: Seongpanak trail). Transfer back to the hotel. Overnight at Jeju Oriental hotel in Jeju city.

Day 17: Jejudo Island. Breakfast at the hotel. AM Free at leisure. PM city tour (Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum, Samseonghyeol Holes (Ancestral Spirit Holes), Yongduam (Dragon Head Rock). Overnight at Jeju Oriental hotel in Jeju city.

Day 18: Jejudo Island - Seoul. Breakfast at the hotel. AM Transfer to the airport for flight to Seoul. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. PM Free time for shopping, etc. Overnight at Hamilton hotel in Seoul.

Day 19: Seoul - Demilitarized Zone & 3rd Tunnel - Seoul. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Demilitarized Zone (North Korea’s 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory and Dorasan Railroad Station). Rest of the day free. Overnight at Hamilton hotel in Seoul.

Day 20: Departure. Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until check out. Transfer to Incheon International Airport for flight to next destination.

Notes:
- This tour is your own Private Tour, not to join other persons as group on the specific dates
- Local 4* and 5* Hotels:
* Seoul: 4 Nights at Hamilton hotel or similar (local 4*)
* Mt. Seoraksan: 2 Nights at Kensington hotel or similar (local 5*)
* Mt. Seoraksan: 1 Night at Osaek Green Yard hotel (local 4*)
* Samcheok: 1 Night at Samcheok Palace hotel (local 5*)
* Mureung Valley: 1 Night at Mureung Plaza motel
* Busan: 2 Nights at Commodore hotel or similar (local 5*)
* Mt. Jirisan National Park: 3 Nights at Shelter
* Yeosu: 2 Nights at Bellagio hotel or similar (local 4*)
* Jejudo Island: 3 Nights at Jeu Oriental hotel or similar (local 5*)
- 3rd Person for extra bed or children under the age of 12 at the time of travel will have 10% discounted price from the rates on double/twin-share basis.
- Children under the age of 12 at the time of travel who are 3rd person for extra bed will have 20% discounted price from the rates.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices:
- 2 Travelers: $6485 p/p
- 3 Travelers: $5129 p/p
- 4-5 Travelers: $4178 p/p
- 6-7 Travelers: $3227 p/p
- 8-9 Travelers: $2750 p/p
- Single Supplement: $865 p/p.

Price Includes:
- 19 Nights accommodations on double or twin-share basis
- Daily buffet or American breakfast at hotels (16)
- All transfers and sightseeing tours as per itinerary by private appropriate vehicle
- Demilitarized Zone & 3rd Tunnel, cable car riding & trekking at Mt. Seoraksan, hot spring for teatment in Busan, cup of tea & green tea bath in Boseong.
- English speaking local guide.

Price Excludes:
- International airfares
- All lunches and all dinners
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Insurance.

Notes:
- The above prices are valid from March 1 - February 28, 2011
- Please contact us for a quote for your own larger group.

Saba Nature - Trekking

2010-10-10T03:21:00.000-07:00

Saba´s tropical climate affords flower dream-scapes bursting with oleander and hibiscus and an interior tropical rain forest. Hiking and diving are definitely amongst Saba´s highlights. Seven well-marked main trails and various interesting side paths provide spectacular views. The climax is of course a climb to the peak of The Mountain.

Mountain palms, huge tree ferns, wild flowers and orchids are found here. Shortly before reaching the top you will enter an enchanted forest. Tall moss-covered trees with exposed roots curling in all directions together with wisps of fog create a bizarre surreal atmosphere.

This eco system provides a home for a variety of tropical flora and fauna. All of Saba and its underwater world is protected as a nature reserve and marine park.

There are no dangerous animals or insect-borne diseases -such as malaria- on Saba Island.

Saba Trails

1) The Flat Point Trail:

Walking Time: 20 minutes, round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Description: A road just before the airport goes down to Cove Bay and Flat Point. From the old leather factory, walk out to the bluf overlooking the ocean. Follow white marks painted on the rocks. No trail.
Highlights include: Tidepools, remains of a sugar cane boiling house, views.

2) The Sulfur Mine Trail:

Walking Time: 45 minutes, round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: As you come down on the main road after the church at Hell`s Gate, make a sharp left at the second road on your left. The trail begins at the end of the road. A rough path comes up after passing a green wooden house and connects with the original trail, which heads across the hillside to another house and then steeply down. At a trail junction continue down the trail, to the left you will see an old part of Mary`s Point.

3) The Sandy Cruz Trail:

Walking Time: 1 hour, round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: The trail begins above upper Hell`s Gate. Follow the road that takes off from the main road going to the airport and continue up to a rock wall with a white square painted on to it. Turn left and continue up past the houses. The trail begins on your left near the end of the road.

4) The Old Booby Hill Hike:

Walking Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes, round trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Description: In English Quarter, take the concrete footpath to the right of the Agricultural Center. Follow the route out through more or less open country, watching for the remains of the Spring Bay Flat Boiling House along the way. Just before the final ascent to Old Booby Hill, tracks will lead to Spring Bay and right to Cove Gut Bay. It is suggested that you hire a guide before attempting these.

5) The Mount Scenery Steps:

Walking Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, round trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Note: Proper footwear is a MUST, rubber-soled tennis shoes are best as the steps are often slippery
Description: The stairway to the top of the Mt. Scenery begins near Windwardside. A shortcut is possible by arranging for a taxi to drop you off at Rendezvous, which will take 15-20 minutes off the hiking time. Highlights: Secondary Rainforest, abundant bird-life, the Elfin Forest (remnant cloud forest at top), views of the surrounding islands.

6) The Maskehorne Hill Trail:

Walking Time: 20 minutes, round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Description: Short trail can be reached by either the Crispeen Trail or the mountain road. Offers nice views of Windwardside

7) The Crispeen Trail:

Walking Time: 1 hour to Rendezvous
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: The Crispeen Trail begins short after the last house in the Bottom. The trail to Rendezvous begins above the last house on the left. The trail enters a rainforest and breaks out into fields. Continue through the fields and over a forested ridge. The trail continues into pastureland and on to the junction with th Mt. Scenery Trail. Highlights: views of the Bottom and secondary rainforest.

8) The Bod`s Mountain Trail:

Walking Time: 35 minutes, round trip, not including 30 minutes on The Crispeen Trail to reach trail beginning.
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: Diverging from The Crispeen Trail, this trail ascends from an open meadow and past a small farmhouse to enter a rainforest of tree ferns, mango, and balsam trees on Mt. Scenery`s western slopes. The track ends on a small knoll overlooking the southwestern portion of Saba.

9) The Bottom Mountain Trail:

Walking Time: 20 minutes, round trip, not including 30 minutes on The Crispeen Trail to reach trail beginning.
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: The Bottom Mountain Trail diverges to the west from the Crispeen Trail. It passes through open, pleasant grazing land and a fern-covered forest floor to end in an overgrown field.

10) The Thais Hill Trail:

Walking Time: 25 minutes, round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: Going towards The Bottom, this easy and enjoyable walk leaves the main highway to the left of the last house in St. Johns. The obvious open country route (no trail) leads to one of the better outlooks on the whole island. With views up to Troy Mountain and down to Fort Bay, Thais Hill is a great place to be for sunset.

11) The Paris Hill Trail:

Walking Time: 50 minutes, round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Description: On the road leading to Fort Bay is the JPF Radio Station. The Paris Hill Trail begins here and works its way to a popular spot in an open pasture. Although the pathway is steep, it is surprisingly easy walking. The excellent scenery is well worth the little extra effort.

12) The Tent Bay Trail:

Difficulty: Strenuous
Description: This hike leaves the Paris Hill Trail and heads down toward Tent Bay. However, the route soon becomes tough and should be used by only those employing a guide and are ready for a physical challenge.

13) The Ladder:

Walking Time: 1 hour, round trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Description: At the end of Ladder Bay Road in The Bottom, the more then 400 steps of The Ladder begin on the left. These steps lead down to the old anchorage. Before the harbor and pier were built at Fort Bay, all cargo (and visitors) had to be brought up these steps. Wildflowers are plentifull in the winter month, growing amid hundreds of mahogany trees and seedlings. Note: These steps are quite steep and could present a physical challenge to those not used to climbing stairs. Also, they are almost always wet and slippery.

14) The Mary`s Point Hike:

Walking Time: 1 hour, round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: The Mary`s Point Hike follows a pathway leading to the now abandoned Mary`s Point settlement. Passing through a stand of mahogany trees on its way to a view of Diamond Rock, the route now sees little foot traffic, so a guide is an absolute must. Bird watchers may be interested to know that, in the past years, the track was a popular place for observing frigatebirds. A guide is recommended.

15) The Road:

Difficulty: Easy
Description: The Road should not be overlooked as an unique opportunity to walk and explore. It is only nine miles (about 15 km) long and, except in the villages, motor vehicle traffic is light. The Road is an easy hike. Even though it climbs from sea level to over 2000 feet (700 m) and then down again, it is well graded and not strenuous as long as you walk at your own pace.

More about the Netherlands –Keukenhof (from 18.03 -16.05)

2010-10-10T03:18:00.000-07:00

7 days / 6 nights

Hotels	DBL	SGL	Child till 12 years old.
Hotel***	520€	600€	300€
Hotel****	630€	750€	400€

Prices in euro for one person

1 day Arrival Amsterdam. Transfer to hotel.
2 day Excursion the world-famous “Keukenhof” gardens
3 day Excursion to Zaanse-Schans and Volendam (there are more than 1000 windmills and you can try cheese in the cheese factory)
4 day Excursion around Amsterdam and visiting diamond factory and museum of Anna Frank, boat excursion along channels of Amsterdam.
5 day Free day
6 day Free day
7 day Transfer to airport

Inclusive of the tour:

Transport
Service of guide
Hotel with breakfast
Transfer airport-hotel-airport

Does not include:

Air tickets
Insurance
Visa

3rd Infiltration Tunnel

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Tour Operator:	ICSC
Departure Location:	Seoul City
Duration:	1 day(s)
Prices not currently available

Tour Information

You can take the monorail of the 3rd Tunnel.
There are shuttles in the tunnel area to travel much safely. Only within limits can persons use the monorail into the tunnel. We secure to take the monorail under the tunnel with assistance from Paju City and North Gyeonggi Tourism Conference.

Special Feature

Departure from Donghwa Duty Free Shop everyday at 08:20 (except Mondays and National Holidays.)

Koreans may join.

The shuttle bus appointed by Paju City comes to the Donghwa Duty Free Shop

You do not need to transfer another shuttle bus, so more safer and more convenient.

Capacity of application

All foreigners who have a foreign passport can apply up to 1 day before.

We need your full name and passport number on your passport for foreigners and ID number for Koreans.

Itinerary

07:50-08:20	Check your passport at Donghwa Duty Free Shop
08:20~09:30	Departure from Donghwa Duty Free Shop
09:30~10:00	Freedom Bridge (Imjingak Park)
10:00~11:00	The 3rd Tunnel (monorail) & DMZ Exhibition
11:00~11:30	Dora Observatory
11:30~12:00	Dorasan Station
12:00~12:20	Move to restaurant
12:20~13:20	Lunch (Bulgogi)
13:20~14:30	Travel to Seoul
14:30	Arrival in Seoul
Remark	* Schedule may be changed by military conditions or natural calamity.

Notice

You should come to the tour desk before 20 minutes.

You have to bring your passport on the tour day.

You should not drink before the tour.

You should follow the tour guide while your tour.

There is no Dress code.

Please reconfirm because of it may change by military conditions, visit of VIP and military training.

Shopping in Korea

2010-10-10T03:09:00.000-07:00

Korea is a shopper's paradise! Great prices can be found for shoes, clothes, handbags, suitcases, leather goods, silk, antiques, reproductions, and all kinds of souvenirs. You can easily find makers of custom-made clothes and shoes of varying quality. Although department stores and most shops have fixed prices for items, bargaining can usually get a lower price with street vendors and in the major open air markets such as Namdaemun and Dongdaemun. However, do not expect the same level of haggling conditions that exist in Thailand. Also, do not forget about Korea's duty-free stores and Life in Korea's own Online Shopping sections for Products and Services and Online Reservations.

For any major problems with merchants, the Korea National Tourism Organization investigates complaints through its Tourist Complaint Center in Seoul. Telephone them at (02) 735-0101.

Hotels in Holland

2010-10-10T03:02:00.000-07:00

During your stay in Holland you may choose from a range of accommodations. If you opt for hotels, your choice ranges from basic to deluxe. You can also select by location. Do you prefer a castle in the country, a monumental building, or a trendy hotel in the heart of a city? As Holland has an abundance of water, it will not come as a surprise to you that there are also hotels situated on the water, the so-called Botels. You name it, Holland has got it!

Book your hotel

As in other countries, the room rates vary per hotel and you choose the hotel that fits within your budget. We recommend that you book your hotels prior to arrival. Especially in the major cities, hotels are often fully booked.
If you stay in a countryside hotel and you wish to visit a nearby city, you can either rent a bike or travel by public transport. It is easy to park your bike, while parking a car can sometimes be a hassle.

Macau Shopping

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The main shopping centers are scattered around Av. Almeida Ribeiro (New Road), Av. Infante D. Henrique, Rua Pedro Nolasco da Silva and Av. de Horta e Costa.

Stores in Macau Street

Senado Square Area
Senado Square is the main bustling area in central downtown on the northern side of Av. Almeida Ribeiro (New Road) where a great number of shops and food stalls line the streets. The best buys here are fashionable clothes.
Running north from Senado Square is the Rua S. Domingos with its abundance of clothes, shoes and cosmetic shops. It is very reminiscent of the Causeway Bay in Hong Kong for this reason. Brand-label clothes shops selling U2/ G2000, STACCATO, NINE WEST and others on this street are very popular with young people in Macau. Another feature of this street is the various cosmetic stores such as Body Shop, Sa Sa, Angel, H2O+ and others which are usually packed with young girls and female office workers seeking the latest and best in cosmetics in the summer months. Further east to Rua S. Donmingos is Rua Pedro Nolasco da Silva where a copious display of fashionable clothes, bags and sportswear can be found. The largest shopping center in this area has a wonderful selection of men's and women's clothes, jewelry and fashion accessories on each of its three floors. Take a left turn in a northerly direction just before going onto the Rua Pedro Nolasco da Silva and you will find a short street called Rua da Palha. This street has a number of shops selling glass ware as well as an artwork shop selling all manner of delicate porcelain water lily ornaments. (The water lily is the municipal flower of Macau)
On the other side of the New Road are two rows of traditional Chinese buildings. It was a red light area in old days but is now occupied by pastry shops and souvenir shops. In the Rua da Felicidade, you can find bakeries and pastry shops that sell many Macau-style Dim Sum. Here you can sample many of the goodies on offer before deciding on your purchases and is an ideal place to buy gifts that are a unique memento of the region.
At the end of the New Road, there are snack stalls and pastry shops that are noted for the excellence of their local specialties. You can find the best of these and avoid the less desirable ones by people watching. The longer queues are a sure guide to the good ones - remember the local people always know best!
Getting there: TCM 10, 10A, 11 and 21A or TRANSMAC 3, 3A, 5, 6, 8, 8A, 26A and33 reach the Senado Square Area
Red Market& Av. de Horta e Costa
Red Market is now as a pedestrian street at the intersection of Av. do Almirante Lacerda and Av, de Horta e Costa. The street owes its name to a range of red buildings constructed by the Portuguese in the 20th century. At present, it is a well-known shopping street with all sorts of stalls selling fruits, vegetables, flowers and clothes. The fruits here are best in the city and are inexpensively priced.
Starting from the Red Market to the Flora Garden at Guia Hill, Av. de Horta e Costa is another of the city's main shopping streets with a focus in what is called the Three Lamps District. Streets and lanes radiating from this square accommodate a selection of shops selling jewelry, clothes, shoes, cameras and electronic gadgetry.
Getting there: Buses 1, 1A, 3, 4, 5, 8, 16, 17, 23, 25, 26, 26A, 32, 33 and 34 go to the Red Market
Rua de S.Paulo Area
The most popular piazza is located close to the Ruins of St. Paul's. A dozen or so furniture and antique shops can be found along the Rua de S.Paulo with authentic antique porcelain, ancient coins and rosewood reproductions of traditional Chinese furniture. Most shops offer good delivery services at reasonable prices. Rua de N.Srå do Amparo nearby is a gravel road and here various peddlers set out all kinds of pottery, figurines and Chinese paintings as well as secondhand articles on the ground. This area is also well-known for its variety of pastry shops and dim sum bakeries, among which Koi Kei is the best. Several featured shops sell various souvenirs for tourists. You can bargain for the goods in all shops in this area.
Another piazza worth visiting can be found near Hong Kung Temple on the Rua Cinco de Outubro.
Getting there:
Buses nos. 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8A, 10, 10A, 11, 18, 19, 21, 21A, 26, 26A and 33 can take you to the AV. Almeida Ribeiro and then a walk northern ward along the Rua Mercadores can lead you to the area.
New Yaohan& Macau Landmark
New Yaohan, opposite to the reclaimed land of the Macau Ferry Terminal is the most popular shopping center in the city with a full range of electronic appliances and cameras varieties from Japanese.
Getting there: TRANSMAC1A, 3, 3A, 5, 8, 28A, 28B, 28BX, 28C, 32, AP1 or TCM 10, 10A, 10B, 12, 23 and AP1 reach New Yaohan.
Macau Landmark, as it is named, is a landmark in the Reclamation Area. This is a new tourist attraction established in the southern part of the Macau Peninsular with fashion shops, dining center and top-rank entertaining facilities catering for tourists.

Shopping Mall

Pawnshops
Pawnshops are ubiquitous in Macau, especially near area around the Lisboa Casino. Good deals can be made on watches, jewelries, and other precious items. However, always be sure that you can recognize the difference between the genuine article and a fake before parting with your money!
Bus 3, 3A, 8, 10, 10A, 10B, 12, 22, 23, 25, 28A, 28BX. 28C and 32 will take you to the Lisboa Casino.
Outlying Islands
Taipa Village
Taipa Village is the old town area of the outlying island of Taipa and now very much a tourist area. The Rua de Cunha flanked with numerous pastry shops and street vendors. It has a great reputation as a dining street in Macau with several well known places where you can buy Macau dim sum and snacks.
TCM 11, 21, 21A and 22 or TRANSMAC 28A, 33 and 34 go to this street.
A bazaar is held in the Taipa Village from 11:00 to 20:00 on Sunday. A wide selection of handicrafts, souvenir items, clothes, toys and other interesting things can be found. A convenient car park is available for those who drive to the market.
Bus 11, 22, 28A, 30, 33 and 34 from the Macau Peninsular reach the market and Bus 15 from Cotai can take you there as well.
What to Buy
Antiques& Furniture
A selection of reproduction traditional-style rosewood Chinese furniture, porcelain wares, lacquer, bronze wares, wood carvings and Chinese paintings can be found in Rua de S.Paulo Area.
Tips:
All authentic Chinese antiques will have certificates confirming their provenance. In piazza venues, bargain as much as you like to get the best prices.
Wine
Of course, Macau is a good place to buy aromatic authentic Douru or Alentejo wine imported from Portugal at duty-free prices. Vinho Tinto in Portuguese on wine bottles indicates the red wine and Vinho Branco the white. Macau Wine Museum is the best place to sample different types of wines and get professional advice on how to buy wines. Well-packed wine products are available at all supermarkets.
Jewelry
Gold, pearl and crystal jewelries can be found either in credit standing jewelry shops and souvenir stalls on the antique street near the Ruins of St. Paul's. The credit standing jewelry shops are mainly located near the New Road Area, Av. de Horta e Costa and the region close to Hotel Lisboa.

Macau Snack Store

Gifts to Tempt the Taste-buds
The Macau-style Dim Sum is well-known throughout South East Asia. Pastry shops and dim sum bakeries in the Senado Square Area and Rua de Cunha offer ideal gifts for families and friends. For details, please see our page on Macau Snacks.
Duty-free Products
Numerous world-famous fashion brands have stores and outlets in the city providing all the latest styles and fashions. Top of the range fashion shops can be found around the areas close to the New Road and Av. Infante D. Henrique. The luxury hotels such as Hotel Lisboa, Mandarin Oriental, Sintra and New Century in Taipa have boutiques selling fashion clothes, duty-free perfumes, cosmetics and electronic accessories.
Tips:
It is always best to purchase brand name cameras and electronic appliances in shops of good standing (Certified Shops) and remember to ask for the quality certificates and receipts in event of any after sales problems.
Clothes
In addition to top-ranking fashion shops housed in luxury hotels, there are many clothes and footwear shops that sell both formal and casual wear ranging from men's suits to women's summer accessories. Traditional styles of Chinese clothing are very popular with many tourists. You can find shops that sell Chinese style clothing in the area around Rua Mercadores in the Senado Square Area or the Red Market Area.
Tip: Small shops do not have fitting room facilities for Customers, so it is vital to make sure you choose your correct size because refunds are not given on items of clothing.
*Certified Shops
The Consumer Council of the Macau government has launched a quality initiative program in the city by granting 'Certified Shop' status to those who have a record of no customer complaints since 2001. Customers buy goods in the shops that participate in this program can obtain free arbitral service at the Customer Arbitral Center in the event of any disputes over purchases.

Kuala lumpur Travel

2010-10-10T02:55:00.000-07:00

Malaysia's colourful capital Kuala Lumpur is a beguiling mixture of old and new and is possessed of a remarkably harmonious atmosphere. This is due to the friendly mix of many ethnic groups that make up its population; it's a distillation of modern Southeast Asian city life.
Turn one corner and you could be in the smartest part of Singapore, turn another and you are either transported into the Chinese hubbub of deepest Kowloon, or you find yourself beholding the ornate facade of a Hindu temple.
The speed of recent change has resulted in traditional Chinese and fading ex-colonial houses being flanked by gleaming skyscrapers, while hawkers and fortune tellers share the streets with besuited businessmen and often bewildered-looking tourists.
And therein, for the visitor, lies the charm of this richly rewarding city. 'KL' as it is locally known, offers an awesome range of experiences and is the gateway to a wonderfully diverse and bountiful country.

Sipadan

2010-10-10T02:50:00.000-07:00

Sipadan Island is the only oceanic island in Malaysia. It is well-known for its international diving fraternity as one of the world’s five best dive sites. Rising 600 meters from the seabed, Sipadan Island is located in the Celebes Sea east of the major town of Tawau and off the coast of East Malaysia on the Island of Borneo. This beautiful oceanic island was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop.
Sipadan Island is located in the centre of the richest marine habitat in the world, the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin. In this ecosystem, over 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified.
In the waters around Sipadan, rare diving scenes are frequently seen such as schools of green and hawksbill turtles nesting and mating, schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally in tornado-like formations, pelagic species such as manta rays, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. Therefore, Sipadan is popular with its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles which gather there to mate and nest. And it is not really rare for a diver to see more than seventy turtles on each dive.
Besides that, there is a mysterious turtle tomb lies underneath the column of the Sipadan Island. The turtle tomb was formed by an underwater limestone cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that have become lost and drown before finding the surface.
Currently, this beautiful island is in the care of Wildlife Department. The Wildlife Department has stationed several park rangers to oversee the state of nature of the island. In order to protect the world’s unique flora and fauna on the island as well as the underwater world, the Malaysian Government has made a decision that from the year 2005, no more overnight facilities shall be on the Sipadan Island itself. This implies that all dive operators on the Sipadan Island have to move and diving at Sipadan will be conducted from other destinations likes Mabul and Kapalai.

Why Not Go

You really shouldn’t go to this place for holiday unless you are a scuba diver or you like snorkeling very much. There is nothing much to do on this island except enjoy yourself on the beautiful sandy beaches and watching the coral reef with its rich marine life. Besides that, there is no resort and nothing to buy on the island.

Why Go

The name of Sipadan is a legend in the diving circles, conjuring the images of patrolling hammerhead sharks, millions of colorful reef fish and, above all, dozens of sea turtles swimming peacefully everywhere. As one of the five top diving destinations in the world, Sipadan, the small rainforest-covered tropical island rising from a 700 meter abyss in the Celebes Sea, is an ultimate diving spot that a committed diver cannot miss.
Diving at Sipadan is certainly world class, so this place has attracted many diving lovers. It is well-known that divers are able to see about 150 species of butterfly fish within a single dive in Sipadan. Utilized by marine biologists as the indicators of coral reef health, a great number and species diversity of butterfly fish implies the abundance and diversity of corals. Pristine coral reefs are also landlord to other reef dwellers such as angelfish, snappers, wrasse, sweet lips, and parrotfish as well as the larger pelagic, barracudas, mantas, whales, dolphins and schools of hammerhead sharks.
Besides that, Sipadan Island is well-known with its vast numbers of Green and Hawksbill turtles which feed and breed within its waters before the females climb ashore to lay their eggs in the white sandy beaches. Others than that, diving near the coral reefs surprises you with incredible phenomena likes thousands of schooling chevron barracuda and big-eye trevally or ‘Jacks’. Moreover, floating inside such a tornado of fish is a truly breath-taking experience that is hard to beat.
On the other hand, Sabah is becoming one of the world famous location for ‘muck diving’. ‘Muck diving’ is used by divers to describe the search for rare and exotic small marine animals. Numerous rare and newly identified gobies can be found living in the corals, sand, mud and mangroves of Sabah, along with the rarely seen mimic octopus, neon patterned blue-ringed octopus, delicate flamboyant cuttlefish, psychedelic mandarin fish and ghost pipefish.
It is really worth to have a dive at Sipadan. Generally, the rate for three dives at Sipadan is just around RM260, plus RM40 for equipment (if required). Perhaps the rates might vary slightly among different operators. Boat transfers and packed lunch are included as well. Therefore you no need to worry about the food as there is no restaurant on the island.
It is vital to note that you need to have a permit from Sabah Parks in order to access the island, which will cost you RM40. Only 120 permits will be given out every day and they are typically obtained by the dive operators. You must make sure that the diver operator you choose is diving at Sipadan with permits, as some companies have been caught diving at the island without permits. You should check diver reviews of dive operators in the area before choosing as there are many have had customer complaints regarding faulty equipment.
Besides that, another tourist attraction of Sipadan is snorkeling. Eventually from the beach, the reef is easily accessible and parts of the reef further out can be reached by boat. There are a few dive tour operators bring snorkelers to the island at an all-inclusive rate of around RM170.

Best Time to Visit

You may make your way there any time all around the year but due to Sipadan is now a protected site, there is only 120 dives are allowed on Sipadan in a day. Therefore, it is highly recommended to dive as early as possible to beat the crowds and increase your chances of getting on the roster to dive.

Where to Stay

Previously, Sipadan Island was used to have resorts. In order to protect the environment, all the resorts were forced to close down around the year 2002. Hence, to dive on Sipadan, you have to stay somewhere nearby. There are resorts on the nearby islands likes Mabul which is 25 minutes away by boat and Kapalai which is 15 minutes away by boat.
As recommended, Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is the best place to spend your night. It is just a few minutes by boat from the islands of Sipadan. Planned and built in full style as an airy, comfortable, sunny water village with no land in sight, Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort boasts a mile-long sandbank of powdery white sand where you can suntan at complete leisure while gazing out to the miles of brilliant turquoise stretching into the horizon offering the purest image of natural serenity. With the combination of sun and water in a unique and serene setting with friendly staff, Sipadan-Kapalai is an ideal stopover for you to have a great holiday experience.

Where & What to Eat

There are no restaurants on the island. You have to bring your own lunch and snacks there. Besides that, you are reminded to bring along your own water and drinks with you.

Nightlife

There is no nightlife on the Sipadan Island as it is not allowed to stay overnight on the island.

My to do List

- Diving
- Go to sandy beaches
- See the coral reef
-‘Muck diving’
- Snorkeling

Stay Away From

You should stay away from those companies that diving on Sipadan without permits from Sabah Parks. Make sure the diver operator you choose has diving permits from Sabah Parks.

Getting There

Getting to the Sipadan Island requires some effort. The best way for first timer is that by plane. At first, you may fly to Tawau from either Kuala Lumpur which is about three hour’s flight or from Kota Kinabalu which is about 50 minutes flight. Then, continue your trip by minivan or taxi to the port town of Semporna which will take you about one to two hours. And from there you may go to Sipadan itself by fast boat, which only spend one hour.

Shibuya

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Shibuya is a famous fashionable shopping district of Tokyo, with department stores and shopping malls filled with boutiques.

Shibuya is a shopping and eating district popular with the younger people of Tokyo. In common usage, Shibuya refers to the area directly around Shibuya Station. However Shibuya is technically much larger than this. Shibuya is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo which includes the famous Harajuku with its shopping streets Omotesando and Takeshita-Dori, Yoyogi Park, Meiji Jingu shrine and Sendagaya.

Shibuya Crossing

Picture above: Shibuya crossing is one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world.

Ski Japan

2010-10-07T23:28:00.000-07:00

Ski Japan Guide - Ski Japan: best places to ski Japan, where and why. Ski Japan discount accommodation.

WHY SKI JAPAN

For Australian's there are many advantages to skiing in Japan:

Reliability - With climate change the ski seasons in Australia are becoming less reliable in terms of the arrival of the season, the quantity and the quality of the snow. The Japanese resorts have a much greater snow fall to start with, so any loss is much less noticeable.
Better Experience - The superior snow, better facilities in terms of lifts, higher levels of customer service and the added cultural experience.
Longer Japanese Ski Season - The ski season is longer in Japan because of the climate and geography of Japan. This means there is greater flexibility about when you take your ski trip.
Off Season Skiing - When there is no snow in Australia, there is a good chance it is the ski season in Japan. Snow enthusiasts can now ski in the Australian summer months.
Closer than Europe/USA/Canada - Japan is much closer to Australia in flying time (around 9 hours) and some resorts don't require a second internal flight. Japan is only one or two hours different to Sydney by time zone so you don't suffer from one the major factors of jet lag.
Combine Skiing with a Japan Tour - While you are in Japan you can take the opportunity to see some the unique sights and experience the Japanese culture.

Niseko ski facilities cater to the English language market with bilingual signs making life very easy for first time visitors to Japan. Niseko Grand-Hirafu Lift Ticket Office. Picture Oga

SKI JAPAN - TOP LOCATIONS

There are over 500 ski locations in Japan. We have listed some of the best of these:
Hakuba - One of the best ski resorts in Japan. Hakuba features 14 ski areas joining together to form six large ski resorts. Hakuba is ideal for skiing and snowboarding. Hakuba is located an hours drive west of the 1998 Winter Olympics host city, Nagano and 350kms from Tokyo.

Shiga Kogen - Consisting of over 21 ski fields and 70 plus lifts, gondolas, ropeways and tows, Shiga Kogen is by far the largest ski resort in Japan. Located 30 minutes from Nagano.

Nagano on the island of Honshu, in the Chubu region of Japan. Nagano was the host city to the 1998 Winter Olympics and thus is clearly related to winter tourism activities. The Olympics also brought with them new infrastructure including a Shinkansen link to Tokyo.

Niseko is a town and ski resort located in Hokkaido, Japan. Niseko is sometimes regarded as the best ski resort in Japan for three main reasons: weather, size and infrastructure. Niseko is particularly popular with Australian skiers. The disadvantage of Niseko is its location which requires in-direct flights with a domestic to international transfer at different airports.

Venice Travel

2010-10-07T22:57:00.000-07:00

Venice is a dream that shines on the waters, a city of painted palaces and serene churches. This unique urban masterpiece has canals instead of streets, boats instead of buses, and ornate bridges instead of subways. A trip to Venice provides an unforgettable glimpse of life's defining moments played out on watery avenues: weddings, funerals, carnivals and regattas. Yet, in these opulent surroundings the daily grind continues: commuters pack on to the rush hour vaporetti (waterbuses), dustmen collect rubbish in their refuse boats and fishermen deliver their catch to the market.

Particularly tourists visit Venice to experience its inimitable charm. The inconvenient of this can be felt in the narrow streets and cramped piazzas of its sought-after areas. A good way to get to know a more personal side of Venice is to saunter through its romantic back streets and residential quarters.

Maybe the only ways of getting around Venice are walking and paying up for the 'expensive-but-worth-it' gondola, water bus/taxi or a regular taxi is officially banned in the lagoon city, a bicycle won’t help you much.

The classic gondola ride with the opera-warbling operator is pretty touristy and expensive but the traghetto is a commuter gondola that crosses the Grand Canal at strategic points. It's entirely a balance test for newbies, as you have to stand. Water taxis (motorboats) are almost as expensive as gondolas, but their pilots don't wear stripy shirts and bellow out 'O Sole Mio'.

If you are looking for the cheerful bars and restaurants, you can't go wrong with the area surrounding Campo di Santa Margarita in San Polo. There you will get an Irish pub, trendy bars that do the limbo, and just plain fun. The area is visited by students from the University and is buzzing with life during the weekends as market stalls of fish and vegetables open up.

The City of Venice

Venice

Florence Travel

2010-10-07T22:56:00.001-07:00

Florence is considered one of the most magnificent cities in Italy, as well as the world. Located in the heart of Tuscany, the tourist can find fields of sunflowers, miles of vineyards, rolling hills and mountaintop castles. This place is the Renaissance capital of the world, its famous sons are Leonardo Da Vinci, Dante Alighieri, Machiavelli, Fra Angelico and Michelangelo. It is a destination not to be missed.

Florence has an exceptional artistic patrimony, celebrated testimony to its secular civilization. Cimabue and Giotto were considered the fathers of Italian painting, they lived in this place, along with Arnolfo and Andrea Pisano, reformists of architecture and sculpture; Brunelleschi, Donatello and Masaccio, founders of the Renaissance. The Italian Renaissance, Europe's richest cultural period, began in Florence when the artist Brunelleschi finished the Duomo, with the huge dome. Ghiberti and the Della Robbia; Filippo Lippi and l'Angelico; Botticelli and Paolo Uccello; the universal geniuses Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Their works are exhibited in the city's many museums and known around of the world. Boccaccio wrote his 'Decameron' in Florence. From the 13th to the 16th century it was a seemingly endless source of creative masterpieces and Italian genius. During the Italian Renaissance Florence constructed its renaissance palaces and squares, turning it into a living museum. Many squares, such as Piazza della Signoria exhibit famous statues and fountains.

Probably Florence is a city of incomparable indoor pleasures. Its chapels, galleries and museums are an incomparable treasure, apprehending the complex, often elusive spirit of the Renaissance more fully than any other place in the country. The most famous museum in Florence is the Uffizi which houses works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian and Rubens. Other great art museums include the Pitti Palace, Galleria dell'Accademia and Palazzo Vecchio. Florence is also home to some of the biggest churches in Italy, including the famous Duomo of Florence, San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce.

The surroundings of Florence have many things to offer to the visitor. You can explore this region for weeks without being bored. For these day trips the city of Florence is the perfect starting point.

Florence

Naples Travel

2010-10-07T22:56:00.000-07:00

Naples is located between the world's most famous volcano and the deep blue sea, is beautiful and ugly in same measure. It can be an intimidating place, anarchic and occasionally law-abiding. The traffic is severe and the peace and the quiet is hard to find. But it's an extraordinarily vivacious city, the food (especially pizza) is great, opera, classical music and jazz are ingrained in its culture and the treasure trove of sights hidden away here is at times overwhelming.

The city, the volcanos and its surroundings are also geographically blessed, the ever-present giant of Vesuvius bears down on the city, with the fruitful hills of the Sorrento Peninsula plunging to the well-endowed Amalfi Coast on one side and the ornamental beads of Capri, Ischia and Procida out to sea on the other, you’re never far away from captivating scenery. Towns and villages cling to cliffs or cluster around harbours in true picture- postcard style and views are colourful and panoramically spectacular. And if it’s history you’re after, the once-buried wonders of Pompeii and Herculaneum to the east are only slightly more amazing than the ruined marvels of the Campi Flegrei to the west, while to the south, crumbling Paestum is the most majestic of them all.

Naples has a lot of history to get over before it can feel properly at ease with itself. It possess a strong but also confused sense of civic pride and tradition: its dialect betrays its mixed parentage, particularly its Spanish and French influences. For hundreds of years it was tossed from one set of rulers to another, and still has a profound anti-establishment feeling, and a distrust of outsiders.

Contrasted to other European cities, Naples is an ample, chaotic and sometimes "overbearing" city, but in all these things lies the city's charm. It has its share of petty crime, and derelict areas that visually detract a tourist's point of view. In spite of this, most of Naples' inhabitants know how to enjoy the joys of life. Naples has been compared to Marseilles and referred to as the "Bombay" of Europe. This reputation should not deter potential travellers from visiting Naples, as it is safer than most large American cities and the chaos has been steadily subsiding over the last few years.

Naples

Pisa Travel

2010-10-07T22:55:00.000-07:00

Pisa, known worldwide for its Leaning Tower, absolutely deserves more than the habitual day stop which traditionally occurs on tourist routes. The construction started about 1170s and took 200 years to complete. As the ground on which the Tower was built on was not firm, the tower tilted. As the centuries passed, the tilt became more and more. In order to save the tower, in 1988, the tower was closed to visitors and with the help of skilful engineers, the tower now leans about 6 degrees and was reopened in 2001. This freakishly beautiful building is only one part of Pisa's breathtaking Campo dei Miracoli, or Field of Miracles, where the Duomo, Baptistry and Camposanto complete a dazzling architectural ensemble, which belong to Pisa's "Golden Age".

The city has an ancient history which was at its most excellent period during the era of the Marine Republic. For the tourists, Pisa is considered as a treasure chest full of surprises; from the bright Lungarni quays walled by noble buildings, to the web of narrow, medieval alleys leading to the famous Piazza dei Miracoli. Home of Galileo Galilei, Pisa is today an important university city and offers a lively student lifestyle.

Pisa is located in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its Leaning Tower (the bell tower of the city's cathedral), the city of over 87,500 residents contains more than 20 other historic churches, several palaces and various bridges across the River Arno.

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The City of Pisa

Pisa

Milan Travel

2010-10-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

Milan is a city that evokes extreme feelings; the city lifestyle is extreme too. A frenetic, restless rhythm is an element of work and leisure, so much so that it is difficult to stay unmoved and not get overwhelmed by the entire cultural and social stimulus. Perhaps to this reason, Milan makes itself indispensable, because it is impossible to stay so alive and full of energy when you are away from the city.

Milan is always one step ahead: a laboratory of artistic experiments and a building site for social behavior that is continuously changing. City full of contradictions, ancient and modern trends and counter-trends, fashion and underground, middle class and working class, but always simply “cool”.

This city is whole about worldly pleasures. Theatre and cinema prosper in this fashionable milieu, as does a hopping club scene and a slew of tempting restaurants. Apart from a few gems, the city is not renowned for its looks; it's lifestyle that counts. Shopping is of quasi-religious significance.

Milan is one of the principal artistic centers of Italy of the north.

Some cultural centers of Milan:

The Duomo, the second largest cathedral of the world and the world's largest collection of marble statues.
The Castello Sforzesco
The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
The Palaeo-Christian Basilica of San Lorenzo
The Biblioteca Ambrosiana, containing drawings and notebooks by Leonardo da Vinci among its vast holdings of books, manuscripts, and drawings, and is one of the main repositories of European culture. The city is also the home of the Brera Academy of Fine Arts.
The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, housing one of the most famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper
The Pinacoteca di Brera, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Poldi Pezzoli, the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum and the Musei del Castello galleries, which host a great number of pictorial masterpieces.

Milan is also one of the most important centres in the world for Opera lirica, with its famous Teatro alla Scala (La Scala).

Milan

Rome Travel

2010-10-07T22:53:00.000-07:00

Rome Caput Mundi, Rome the ageless City. A different city around the world because of the absolutely opposite styles of art and life that manage to live side by side there: Imperial Rome and Baroque Rome, sophisticated Rome and working-class Rome.

Rome has a long and tempestuous history. No other city had the attention center of the world for such a long period. The city more loved of the Roman Empire, lavished with architectural jewelry by her emperors, but also often seized raided and destroyed. Also fires and earthquakes left their scars, but each time the eternal city recovered from her injuries. Cheap flights to Rome.

Rome's history is strongly related to the history of Europe. Not just the Roman emperors, but also medieval emperors and kings like Charlemagne or Otto I saw Rome as the true seat of power. They confronted the new rulers, the popes for the supreme power. It was the dispute about who was the true representative of God. Both emperor and pope claimed to be true inheritors of the Roman Empire.

It is said that one life is not enough to get to comprehend Rome. Maybe you'll require about ten, as much as the countless stray cats that also occupy the city, but a week will do for a first introduction. At each corner of each street there’s a story to tell. Thousands of stories together tell the history of a three thousand year old city. Two weeks may be enough for a hasty tour through most everything; a month would be better. Fortunately, Rome (population 2.900.000) is compact enough to skim the best in three (full) days, and if you have more time we guarantee you will find delightful and fulfilling ways to use it.

The most impressive features in Rome comprehend the Trevi fountain (remind Anita Ekberg in the classic scene in La Dolce Vita) and the Spanish Steps, the Roman heritage sights such as the Pantheon, the Colloseum and the Forum Romanum, at least some of the world famous churches such as Il Gesu, S. Giovanni in Laterano or Sta. Maria Maggiore. Make sure not to miss a stroll through the Vatican City with the incredibly huge St. Peter's Cathedral and the unrivalled Vatican Museum.

The City of Rome

Rome

Cardiff in a day

2010-10-06T02:59:00.000-07:00

Home to the Welsh national opera and other Wales’ major cultural institutions, the Millennium Centre was opened by the Queen in 2004. Drop in for a free performance that can be jazz, classical, choir or even hip hop at the Glanfa Stage.

Further down, you would come across an intriguing building with a wave-like roof and see-through glass walls overlooking the bay. It’s the Welsh Senedd (Parliament) Building. Through the glass walls, everyone can see a clear view of the debating chamber and this reflects the encouragement of the involvement of public participation. The eco-friendly building incorporates natural ventilation and interestingly, when the locals express that it allows hot air to be drawn out of the debating chamber, you know it can be synonymous with heated debates!

Back in the olden days, seafarers and immigrants from across the world settled near the bay and the population grew. The bustling scenes of port activities were long gone and replaced by holiday-makers relaxing around the bay. Nonetheless, the modern Cardiff Bay still retains the old charm that speaks of its glorious past as a major coal exporter to the world in the 19th century. Established in 1897, the Pierhead still stands elegantly at the waterfront. Originally the headquarters of the Cardiff Railway, the red terracotta building of French-Gothic Renaissance theme is now a Welsh history museum and exhibition centre. It’s affectionately known as the “Baby Big Ben” of Wales. In the foreground, the sculpture of a face combines with a ship hull is the Merchant Seafarers War Memorial that commemorates the seamen of Cardiff who perished during World War II.

Did you know that the world famous author Roald Dahl was born in Cardiff? He was christened in the former Norwegian Sailors Church, presently known as the Norwegian Church Arts Centre that holds exhibitions, concerts and events. To try some Norwegian flavours, dine in the centre’s coffee shop that offers a range of food and drinks.

The old lightship Helwick LV14 is a floating chapel for worship and doubles as a tourist attraction where visitors can tour the vessel and enjoy refreshments with a bay view.

To get tourist information, souvenirs and understand more about Cardiff through videos, exhibitions and interactive displays, look for the “squashed toilet roll” structure. Locally known as “the Tube”, the design of the visitor centre is so “unconventional” that I nearly missed it!

There are plenty of shops, restaurants, bars and cafes at the Mermaid Quay. Stroll along the boardwalk and greet the People Like Us. The bronze sculptures reflect the diverse culture and attributes of the world major coal exporting port in the olden days.

The Celtic Ring on the boardwalk with tidal charts, maritime instruments and docks indicated on its bronze surface.

If time permits, drop by Doctor Who permanent exhibition at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay where you can find props, costumes and monsters featured in the latest series. Cardiff is home to Doctor Who, a science fiction TV series filmed in the city. Open 7 days a week till 6.30pm. An adult’s ticket costs £6.50; a child’s ticket costs £5.00.
We travelled to Cardiff Bay by the bendy bus and decided to take a different route to Cardiff Castle at the city centre by Aquabus, Cardiff’s water transport service. The designated waterbus departs hourly from Mermaid Quay to Cardiff Castle and a single adult trip costs £3 and £5 for a return trip. Kick back and enjoy the smooth sail along River Taff with a whiteness of swans swimming graciously in the waters.
Cardiff Castle sits in the heart of the cosmopolitan city. Very deep in history, it’s the leading heritage attraction in the centre and you shouldn’t miss it. Well, you can’t miss it too! Remember I mentioned in my previous post that it’s just right across the road of Hilton Hotel where we stayed? The medieval Castle was originally constructed as a Roman fort and evolved into a variety of architectures over a period of 2000 years. It was refashioned into a neo-Gothic castle in the 19th century by the 3rd Marquess of Bute and the renowned Victorian art-architect, William Burges. In 1947, the 5th Marquess of Bute presented Cardiff Castle to the city.

Admission fee to enter the castle is £10.50 for an adult and £7.95 for a child. This includes an audio guide (with several language options) of Castle grounds, Norman Keep and Battlement walk; entry to some Castle apartments; Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh soldier; the Interpretation Centre with exhibition and film show.
Note: If you wish to join the 45-minute guided tour, arrive at the Castle before the tour starts at 1.40pm. The premium tour adult ticket costs £13.50 and £10.00 for a child. The premium tour will include additional Castle apartments with a guide.

Make an easy climb up to the Norman Keep for a panoramic spectacle of the ancient Castle grounds and buildings in juxtaposition with the urbanized city. The 12th century Keep used to serve as a secure residence for the lord and his household as well as a prison and armoury. Look out for the iconic Millennium Stadium with four huge masts. Featuring a 72,000-seater capacity with a fully retractable roof, the famous sporting arena will host football competition in the London 2012 Olympics.

Adjourn to the Castle apartments to appreciate the opulent interiors and be awestruck. Highlights include the Library with a red and gold canvas adorning the walls and intricately carved furniture produced by Lord Bute’s own workshops, as well as the Arab Room with a stunning interior of Egyptian-inspired stained glass windows and Italian marble walls and floor. The medieval-themed Banqueting hall decorated with murals is the impressive centerpiece of the castle built to accommodate Lord Bute’s guests.

One of the world’s most exotic locations

2010-10-06T02:55:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of decades Thailand has become one of the most loved travel destinations in the world. Each year many thousands of people visit Muang Thai (as it is known locally) for a travel experience they do not easily forget. Why though is Thailand such a popular destination? Why do visitors love this country so much? Perhaps the main reason for Thailand’s popularity is its diversity – it doesn’t matter which aspect of Thailand you consider, you are confronted by extremes wherever you look. Although there’s no snow (unless of course you count, Thailand has many types of landscape on offer. The mountainous regions of the north with its valleys filled with swirling fogs and mist agriculture, and as with southern Thailand, offers some of the most attractive beaches and islands on the planet. Of course, all this nature is set against Thailand’s metropolitan areas; Thailand is home to some major cities, Bangkok, the country’s capital, certainly the largest and the most formidable.
Culturally, Thailand is equally diverse as its geography. Unlike other countries in the region, Thailand has never been colonized and its history and culture have remained intact to develop a natural course. A predominantly Buddhist country, Thailand is a place of ritual and practice that are unfamiliar to most visitors and enhance the country’s exotic appeal. Influences throughout the country (Chinese influence in the north; Islamic influence in the south, etc.) add further to the intrigue Thailand generates. Many parts of country are home to hill tribes and traditional peoples whose traditional ways of life remain untouched and present a fascinating insight into the development of this country.
Of course, Thailand’s nightlife is legendary and a major attraction for visitors. The risqu? nightlife (go-go bars, etc.) on offer about the country has its place, but doesn’t constitute even a fraction of what’s on offer. Cabaret Shows and entertainment areas abound, even in the country’s less touristy areas. Of course, Thailand’s restaurants and bars help complete an irresistible package with some of the best cuisine and entertainment available.
Another reason for Thailand’s popularity as a travel destination is likely its accessibility. Although steeped in tradition, history and culture, Thailand’s infrastructure is one of the most modern in the region. Transport, banking, and telecommunications are all world class and help make even Thailand’s remotest of regions convenient and easy places to visit. This accessibility helps Thailand draw a very diverse group of visitors to Thailand – budget travelers, business people, people taking training courses… they are all here in their masses!
By far one of the key reasons Thailand is such an attraction to visitors is the Thai people themselves. Thai people are blessed with a character and temperament that are often the exact opposite of those found in the ‘west’. You see little in the way of confrontation between people here; the famous Thai smile replaces the temper and aggression that might be shown elsewhere. Despite the furry of modern life, Thais remain placid and calm amongst the turmoil creating a tranquility many visitors find infectious and an important part of their Thailand experience.
Whatever your reason for visiting Thailand, DiscoveryThailand.com hopes to give you the information you need to get the very best out of your trip… Get the most out of your Thailand experience with DiscoveryThailand.com… Kick Start a New Career
World-class English teacher training in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket with ECC.

country Japan

2010-10-06T02:44:00.000-07:00

The Korean peninsula is located in Northeast Asia, where it is bordered on the north by China and Russia and faces Japan to the southeast across the Sea of Japan. Since 1948 the country has been divided along the 38th parallel, with the Republic of Korea to the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the north. The Republic of Korea, the subject of this country page, is made up of nine provinces with Seoul, in the northern part of the country, as the capital city. Other major cities include Pusan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju and Daejeon.

Dragon on drum. Photo courtesy of Brian Flynn.

Much of the country is extremely mountainous with a temperate climate. The alpine environment in the north includes many fir and beech trees. There are cultivated plains along the coast and several major rivers. The vegetation is especially lush along the south coast, where Korea grows its ginseng supplies. There are twenty national parks in Korea, including the popular Seoraksan, Hallasan and Jirisan parks.
It is believed that Korea was first inhabited during the Neolithic Age (c. 5,000-1,000 B.C.), when tribes from central and northern Asia came to the peninsula. From 18 B.C. to A.D. 668, three highly centralized kingdoms thrived. The Koryo Dynasty that followed saw a flourishing of Buddhism. The Choson Dynasty (1392-1910) later took power and adopted Confucianism as the state ideology, which resulted in a very structured, hierarchical social system. Choson instituted political and economic reforms and pursued a rigorous isolationist policy until the late 19th century, which earned the country the nickname of "the Hermit Kingdom."

Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910 and liberated at the end of World War II, only to become involved in the Cold War struggle that resulted in the formation of the two separate states and the Korean War, lasting from 1950-53.

Pilbong dancers. Photo courtesy of Brian Flynn.

Korea's two principal religions today are Christianity and Buddhism. Only three percent of the population identifies itself as Confucian, though Confucian beliefs and values, such as respect for family and elders, as well as for authority in general, remain a strong influence in Korean society.
Korea's population is one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogenous in the world. Except for a small Chinese community, most Koreans share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Korea also has one of the world's highest population densities. Major population centers are located in the northwest and southeast and in the plains south of Seoul-Incheon.

Bulguksa. Photo courtesy of Brian Flynn.

The Fulbright Program in Korea includes awards for distinguished lecturing, lecturing, lecturing/research and research in a wide variety of fields in the humanities, fine arts and the social sciences. Lecturers who can offer courses on the study of the United States are especially in demand. Fulbright grantees to Korea report very positive experiences there and praise the seriousness, politeness and dedication of their Korean students.
CIES encourages interested applicants to make use of the following links to complement their research into potential opportunities in Korea.

Thailand Tours

2010-10-06T02:40:00.000-07:00

This 92-metre hillock on the northern approach to Phetchaburi provincial capital (some 36 kilometres north of Cha-am), supports the Phra Nakhon Khiri palace constructed in 1860 by King Rama IV (King Mongkut). Phetchaburi residents refer to it as Khao Wang, literally Palace Hill.
The style is mainly European with some Thai and Chinese influences. Sitting on three peaks the temple of Wat Phra Khew is to the east; the main stupa of Phra That Chom Phet in the middle and the residential Grand Palace to the west.
Both Kings Rama IV & V used the palace at their leisure and to entertain their visitors. After the death of King Rama V it was used less and less and sadly slipped into a state of decay. In 1935 it was registered as a national monument by the Fine Arts Department and was restored to be a National Museum and National Park. Open daily 9am-4pm it can be conveniently reached by funicular railway round-trip 40 Baht. Once at the top entrance to the Museum is 30 Baht for foreigners and 10 Baht for Thais. It is an excellent half-day excursion and takes a couple of hours to walk the path linking the three peaks. The views are spectacular.

Ponte Vecchio

2010-10-06T02:24:00.000-07:00

A view of Ponte Vecchio from the next bridge east [Ponte alle Grazie] on the River Arno, Florence, Italy.

Built originally by the Romans at the river's narrowest point, Ponte Vecchio was washed away in a flood in 1117, then rebuilt in 1345. During World War II as the Germans retreated from Florence in 1944 all bridges were destroyed, except the Vecchio, supposedly on Hitler's orders.

Florence Travel Guide | Florence Map

Click top or bottom images to see Piazza dell Signoria, or Santa Croce, Duomo, Baptistry

Entering Ponte Vecchio from the south side. This doesn't much look like a regular bridge from any angle!

A bust on the bridge of one of Firenze's most famous and controversial medieval artists, Benevenuto Cellini, looking west from the bridge. Born in 1500 in Firenze, Cellini was a famed sculptor, silversmith, soldier and hooligan.

Travel Netherlands

2010-10-06T02:23:00.000-07:00

Italy is one of Europe’s most attractive and complex countries, crammed with thousands of years of turbulent history encompassing among other evocative names: Hannibal, Julius Caesar, the Roman Empire, Nero, gladiators, Anthony and Cleopatra, Charlemagne, St Peter, the Vatican, Popes, the Borgias, the House of Medici, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo, Mussolini and the Mafia. No other country can get even close to that many historically important figures or self-indulgent nouns.

The country embraces some of the world’s most fascinating ancient cities, with Rome, Venice and Florence topping a global list of ’see before you die’ candidates, as well as an unbeatable collection of art treasures led by Rome and Vatican museums.
Throw into the tourist pot cute hilltop villages, rolling golden vistas, good wine, opera, predictable sunshine, a serious attitude towards food with always edible, good value cuisine and you have one of the world’s most attractive destinations.

Roma
Upsides:
- summer sunshine is pretty well guaranteed and the Mediterranean is warm and inviting.
- the food and wines are superb and good value compared to most of Europe.
- anybody with a camera cannot fail to go home with stunning pictures of Italy.
- the law is generally considered to be an ass in Italy and Italians frequently disregard it, so anti-establishmentarians [always wanted to use that word] will enjoy life here.
- train and bus services are frequent and cheap, though frequently late too.
- the sights, large and small are unbelievable.
- there’s so little rain in summer that mosquitoes don’t breed.
- roads have posted limits but no apparent police control on them.
- Italians seeing a powerful car in the rearview mirror will let it pass as soon as practical.
- town centres are very walkable even if you do have to lurch deliberately in front of moving vehicles in order to cross a road at a pedestrian crossing. They won’t stop if you just stand there hoping.
- English has many similar roots to Italian via Latin so some bits of the language are kind of understandable.

Vatican City, Rome
Where to go:
The lakes and good value ski slopes of far north Italy, the Italian Riviera coast for summer beaches though they’re many are small and stony, visiting a couple of little hill towns – but most tourists would want to spend at least a few days in the magnificent cities of Rome, Florence, Venice, Genoa, and perhaps Pisa or Bologna before worrying about the smaller places like Verona and Lucca.
In the south of Italy – which starts below Rome – the coast of Amalfi is stunning, as are the two ancient sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. From there things get very unsophisticated and tourism drops off dramatically, but the scenery of the Gargano peninsula is lovely while distant Sicily offers a Afro-rustic version of traditional Italy along with a couple of excellent beaches and ancient Greek sites. And then there’s Sardinia island, offering Italy’s best beaches and a delightful capital, Cágliari.

Venice, Venezia, Veneto
Downsides:
- Italian cuisine is excellent – pasta, pizza and risotto. Then more pasta, pizza and risotto, hmm. Then more of the same – if you are in a tourist area and on a budget or elsewhere and don’t read Italian [No, knowledge of French or Spanish is surprisingly not going to help with menus]. Nor is international cuisine readily available. Chinese? Mama mia!
However, if you can unleash a fat wallet or have studied up on Italian food words then the cuisine can be superb.
- directional signs for pedestrians have the same lack of continuity [or just lack] that road signs have. GPS, map-reading skills, patience, imagination and/or a grasp of Italian language will be essential to successful navigation in Italy.
- roads between magnificent towns are often sadly drab, garbage-strewn and bordered with concrete excrescences.
- while some Italians are cheerful, welcoming and speak English not a lot of those types work in the service sector so don’t expect to see a smile or hear ‘Have a nice day’ from your waiter or ticket collector. Never mind, you don’t have to tip them!
- mainland Italian beaches are frequently small, stony and packed or large, sandy and pay-your-way.

Genoa, Genova, Liguria
Best time to go to Italy:
The shoulder months April-June and Sept-Oct generally have the best weather and fewer tourists or cars on the road. The latter months are also good for swimming.
Winters will be decidedly chilly in north Italy but bearable in Florence, Rome and further south.
July and August are the worst months for tourism due to excessive heat, crowds and busy roads, though the sea will probably be delightfully refreshing.

Category: Europe Tours 0 comments

September 12 undefined

Travel Netherlands

The Netherlands vs Holland:
The correct term for this country is the Netherlands [Nederland in the Dutch language means low lands], or more formally ‘The Kingdom of the Netherlands’ [which includes Aruba and the Dutch Antilles].
The reason for the Netherlands/Holland confusion is that the two most important of the country’s twelve provinces – historically the most powerful and still hosting the most important Dutch cities of Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam – are called North and South Holland; those were the places that made the country great and those were the places everyone talked about.
Even the Dutch people [aka Nederlanders] call their country Holland from time to time, including at international soccer games.
The origin of the Dutch name/language is a combination of German deutsch and Dutch dietsch meaning language of the common people – as opposed to the Latin language that the posh folk spoke in medieval times.

The Netherlands:
Flat packed is one way to describe this low lying snooker table of a country at the centre-west of Europe, with the North Sea on one side, Belgium and Germany on the others.
Half of the Netherlands lies below sea level and is saved from inundation and infertility only by dykes [huge, sloping grassy walls]. Survival of so many large people in such a small, endangered location is thanks to the creativity, stamina, organisation and efficiency of the Dutch people.
Visitors to Holland tend to enjoy the stimulating urban life rather than trying to find wild things on Netherlands nature walks, though the 300 km [200 mile] long coast offers several scenic trails through sand dunes and nature reserves. However, biking from town to town through damp and sunken fields is as close to a Dutch wilderness as most tourists experience.

A traditional grassy sea wall, also known as a dyke, protecting low-lying Dutch land.
Travel Safety:
Theft is not common in Holland and generally confined to bike ‘borrowing’, bag snatching or pickpocketing perpetrated by non-Dutch nationals. Be especially careful with bags on commonly travelled tourist trains such as those to and from Schipol Airport.
Another Netherlands scam involves two or three men of probable east European extraction pretending to be ‘undercover’ police, showing fake IDs and searching tourists in remote locations. In the process valuables magically disappear. The best response to this harassment is either refuse point blank to be searched or if the men are are pushy demand to be taken to the police station for the search.
Real police are concerned, reliable and mostly speak good English.
Biking or inline skating:
Holland is one of the most cycle friendly countries on the planet as the land is almost flat, about 85 % of Dutch people travel regularly by bikes and most of the time bikes have priority over other vehicles.
There are said to be more bikes than inhabitants [16 million] in the Netherlands. It has about 17,000 km [including 20 long distance routes totalling 6,000km] of well-marked cycling paths/lanes and every local VVV will provide appropriate information.
Commercial cycling packages/tours are frequently on offer, too. Detailed cycle maps are available at book stores. Netherlands Railways are cycle friendly as bikes can be carried on trains or rented/ parked/ repaired or even bought at more than 100 stations throughout the country. Check out bike-rental vouchers at the station.
Try the windmill trail, the flower bulb trail, North Sea and Wadden Sea, long coastal routes or riding white bikes in Hoge Veluwe National Park.
Destination information:
Some of the Nederland’s biggest tourist attractions are Amsterdam, Leiden, Haarlem, Delft, The Hague, Rotterdam and Maastricht.
When to go to the Netherlands:
Best: May-September.
n.b. weather conditions can change rapidly and dramatically in the Netherlands so always carry warm/cool and wet gear with you on your Dutch trip.
Worst: Winters are cool, December-February, but when winds start to whistle across the flatlands, the chill factor freezes your blood and bicycles are not on the menu du jour – a warm, dry taxi will do nicely. However, if you’re visiting for purely urban life and wrap up well then winter can be interesting and is naturally less touristy.
Spring and Autumn involve a lot of rain so grey skies sometimes seem to be Holland’s default setting.

The look of leaves: a New England autumn tour

2010-10-06T02:17:00.000-07:00

Touring through small-town New England in search of autumn’s changing colours has become such a popular activity, it has sprouted its own enthusiastic subculture of ‘leaf-peepers’. But this trip is about much more than just flora and fauna: become immersed in the bountiful harvest spirit that envelops the entire region each fall.
Peak fall foliage season starts at the beginning of September and runs through to the end of October. To get yourself in an appropriately autumnal frame of mind then, plan a trip to Clyde’s Cider Mill in Old Mystic. Visitors can watch the cider mill in action – this is the only such mill in the country still powered by steam – and then purchase alcoholic or nonalcoholic cider in plastic jugs. As soon as you’re properly hydrated and fortified at the mill, head west to the town of Essex where the Connecticut River Expeditions runs a Fall Foliage Cruise aboard the RiverQuest.
About 30 miles north of Mystic, the Blue Slope Country Museum in Franklin is essentially a celebration of all things bucolic. During the fall season, life at the museum gets even more interesting: how about pie-eating contests and Amish outdoor furniture for sale?
On the opposite end of Connecticut, the Litchfield Hills region is the state’s other major destination for serious leaf-peeping. Incidentally, it’s also a popular region in which to visit one of Connecticut’s sugar houses, producing Connecticut’s famous maple syrup. Tours are given daily at Lamothe’s Sugar House in Burlington.
About a half-hour drive to the west is the fifth-generation Bunnell Farm where you can pick-your-own flowers or embark on a horse-drawn hay and tractor ride. Both these trips lead to a PYO pumpkin farm, which is naturally at its peak during fall foliage. And like many PYO farms, Bunnell is solidly in on the corn-maze craze as well – if you happen to arrive after sunset, they’ll even loan you a flashlight and let you stumble around in the dark.
Before venturing north into Massachusetts, stop by one more of Litchfield County’s PYO farms, the Ellsworth Hill Orchard & Berry Farm. This farm is home to a particularly challenging six-acre corn maze. And naturally, berries, plums, peaches, and apples can be snapped right off the vine by your very own hands.
Continue heading north, and cross the state border to reach this trip’s next stop, which is in the northern Massachusetts town of Deerfield. The historic Deerfield village itself is a collection of 14 houses, all decorated in the popular styles of the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors are led from house to house by a well-informed guide, and for those without a strong grounding in American history, a larger building known as the Flynt Center for the Study of Early American Life does a decent job of explaining it all in smaller and more easily digestible chunks.
Travel north for about 90 miles along I-91 to reach the town of Woodstock, VT, and the Billings Farm and Museum. Billings is a working dairy farm, and visitors who tour the grounds here are taken to a horse barn and a calf nursery before going on a self-guided tour through a series of 19th century barns.
From Woodstock, hop right on I-89 north and take it all the way to Burlington, which sits directly on the shores of Lake Champlain; the Adirondacks of New York are located on the opposite side of the lake.
Burlington, of course, is home to a wealth of indoor and outdoor activities, so if you’d like to briefly get off the cycle of country farm- and fall foliage-specific activities, the Lake Champlain Valley, as this area is known, is a great place to do that.
One of Vermont’s most unusual and most visited attractions, the Shelburne Museum, is seven miles south of Burlington and right in the heart of Lake Champlain valley. Founded in 1947 by Electra Havemeyer Webb, a woman with a truly unique artistic vision and a serious shopping compulsion, the museum is home to nearly 200,000 pieces of distinctive American folk art and crafts. But Webb also collected buildings and historic structures, and her art is now housed in literally dozens of them, including a jail and a 220ft-long steamship.
Drive east – I-89 south, then Rte 100 – to Stowe, where anyone in search of a truly unforgettable culinary experience should run directly to the Trapp Family Lodge. This Austrian-style alpine mountain resort is still operated by the same von Trapp family that inspired the musical and movie The Sound of Music.
You’re now about 120 miles away from this trip’s next stop, which happens to sit atop New Hampshire’s Wildcat Mountain: the zip cable ride known as the Wildcat Express Gondola is well worth it, and the views of Mt Washington will blow your mind. And no, you won’t be hanging on with your fingers: the Wildcat is essentially a cross between a hammock and a chair. It does soar at speeds of up to 45 mph, though, and the trip is a half mile long.
Hiking or driving to Mount Washington State Park is a popular activity, and reaching the peak via the 7.6-mile Mt Washington Auto Road makes for one of the most remarkable drives in New Hampshire.
This trip comes to its decidedly laid-back conclusion in the resort town of Kennebunkport, Maine, where generations of writers, artists, and even world leaders have come for a mix of inspiration and down-time. Kennebunkport is about two hours by car from North Conway. When you arrive, check into one of the 16 designer Cottages at Cabot Cove, which, yes, actually are lined up inside a breathtakingly gorgeous tidal cove. And while the prices are admittedly high, they graciously include beach passes, a fully equipped kitchen, and the use of kayaks and rowboats. In fact, the only serious downside to staying at the cottages is that you probably won’t ever want to pack up and leave.

Shopping Spree in Virginia Outlets!

2010-10-06T01:34:00.000-07:00

For the last three days, we were crazily shopping at the nearby Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets (or factory outlets, er… not like Singapore Factory Outlet hor =P). The famous brands were cheap and nice! We bought from Polo Ralph Lauren, Nike, DKNY, Coach, Esprit, Levi’s, Timberland…couldn’t recall more.

We also went to Tyson’s Corner Center, the largest mall in the D.C. area. I exchanged my Coach bag for a different model after I realised that I was not used to hand-carry bag. No question asked and their customer service was so good. We bought many chocolates from Godiva and they were a lot cheaper than those in Singapore too!
And we love the big and yummy cheese cakes at The Cheesecake Factory!

I bought a few tops from Mango and they were really cheap. I saw the same top in Singapore after I returned and it was selling at 2 times more expensive.
We bought a talking toy for Devin on the last night of our stay and coincidentally, the family was celebrating Devin’s 9-month-old birthday; so the talking toy became the birthday present for Devin. The birthday cake was a big ice-cream cake filled with chocolate, strawberry and vanilla flavours. Connor hates chocolate and he spat out the chocolate when he tasted it in his cake. This was the first time we saw a kid who hates chocolate so much!

DaLat Travel guide

2010-10-06T01:33:00.000-07:00

Dalat Travel ( Dalat Tours ), spelled Đà Lạt in Vietnamese pronunciation is the capital of Lam Dong Province in Vietnam. The town is located 1500 m (4,920 ft) above sea level on the Langbiang Plateau in the southern parts of the Central Highlands (in Vietnamese – Tay Nguyen). According to a myth from the French colonial era, the name derives from the acronym of the Latin phrase ‘Dat Aliis Laetitiam Aliis Temperiem’ (“Giving Pleasure to Some, Freshness to Others”), which the French colonial government used in their official emblem of Đà Lạt. In reality, the name derives from the language of the local ethnic group Lạt and its original meaning is “Stream of the Lạt,” and the acronym above is in fact a backcronym. In Vietnam, Đa Lat is a popular tourist destination – highly appreciated for its temperate climate, beautiful sights such as waterfalls and lakes and its abundance of flowers and vegetables. It is the location of the Novotel Dalat (formerly Dalat Hotel) and Sofitel Dalat Palace (formerly Dalat Palace built in 1922).

Summer 2010 reveals strong performance gains in the US hotel industry

2010-10-06T01:30:00.000-07:00

The U.S. hotel industry reported increases in all three key performance metrics during summer 2010, according to data from STR. Overall, summer occupancy rose 6.8 percent to 65.6 percent, average daily rate increased 1.3 percent to US$98.76 percent, and revenue per available room was up 8.2 percent to US$64.78. The summer season comprises June, July and August.
Demand rose 8.8 percent to 293,077,058 rooms sold, the highest summer room demand since STR started tracking hotel performance during 1987.
"The industry achieved an all-time high for absolute room demand during the June-to-August time period, which was a welcomed surprise," said Chad Church, director of special services at STR.
In summer weekly performance, 13 of 14 weeks reported positive RevPAR year-over-year percent change, hampered only by a shift in Memorial Day in late May/early June that drove the comparison week down 1.2 percent, Church noted.
July reported the largest occupancy increase among the three months, rising 7.0 percent to 67.9 percent. July also experienced the largest RevPAR growth, up 8.5 percent to US$67.35. August reported the largest ADR increase, rising 1.5 percent to US$98.69.

Halong Bay on Ginger Junk 2 days / 1 night

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Day 1: Hanoi- Halong

12h30: Welcome on board of Halong Ginger and set sail through bay while lunch is serverd. Please into the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’teeth. Opportunity to visit beautiful limestone grotto, go swimming or sunbathing. Enjoy cocktails while watching sunset and later unwind at Ginger restaurant. If weather permits a short night cruise could bring you a nice discovery of the sea life by night.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Halong - Hanoi

6h30: Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay.

7h30: Breakfast

After breakfast, a short trek to a nearby summit.

9h30: Return on board for a final glimpse of the Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock.

Meals: Breakfast

Cost in USD per person
From 1st of May 2008 to 31th of Aug 2008
No. of pax	1	2	4	6
Superior ( 9)	320	175	170	165
Deluxe (6)	345	205	200	195
Kayaking	35
Child from 5 – 10 years old	US$ 90
Child under 4 years old	Free of Charge

Rules for kid:

Children under 5 year old. Free of charge
Children from 5 to 11 years 75% of adult tour cost
Above 11 year old the same adult tour cost
01 child maximum per cabin. Child reduction applicable only if sharing a cabin with maximun of 02 adults

Please contact us if you want to Charter this cruise for your group.

Services included:

Accommodation (double/twin sharing)
Meals specified in tour program
Boat trips specified the tour program
All entrance, permission and visiting fees
Welcome cocktail on arrival, Vietnamese sea food lunch and dinner on first day.
International buffet brunch in the next day.
Entrance fees to Halong Bay.
Free use of swimming equipment, rowing boat, Tai Chi Class

Services excluded:

Meals which do not specify in the program
Personal travel insurance
All personal expenses
All gratuities and tips to driver
Everything not mentioned in the program
Pick up and transfer (A/C van)

What to bring:

Sun block
Camera + Film
Insect repellent
Original Passport
We brim hat
Swimming clothes
Sun glasses

Evason Ana Mandara & Spa

2010-10-06T01:28:00.000-07:00

Evason Ana Mandara & Spa

Address: Beachside Tran Phu Boulevard, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam
Tel: (84-58) 3524 705 ; Fax: (84-58) 3524 704
Email: reservations-anamandara@evasonresorts.com
Location: Tran Phu Boulevard
Room rates from: $

Resort Overview

Ana Mandara means "beautiful home for the guests". Reminiscent of an old Vietnamese village, and furnished with native woods and rattan, the Resort reflects the real image of Vietnam, with its warm hospitality, rich culture and unique tastes.

From the moment you step foot in this your 'home away from home' a truly unforgettable sense of warmth can be felt from the welcome alone. This warmhearted Ana Mandara hospitality combined with the stunning architecture and peaceful surroundings will ensure an unforgettable experience from which a lifetime of fond memories can be taken with you.

Located directly on the beach off the most famous thoroughfare, Tran Phu Boulevard, the resort rests comfortably on 26,000 m² of private tropical gardens overlooking the sea. The delicate blend of graceful architecture and gracious service, peaceful atmosphere and captivating scenery, Ana Mandara offers a unique experience in simplicity, serenity and refinement. Relaxing on the white sandy beach, listening to the lapping of the waves will soon make any worries disappear.

To some it is a chance to witness raw beauty, to others a place of tranquility for pure relaxation, where it is possible to let life's problems pass them by. For all it is an escape to paradise. Such an exotic destination can only be seen by some in their dreams.

Accommodations

Evason Ana Mandara comprises of 17 villas containing 74 well-appointed guest rooms. Making up the 74 rooms are 35 Garden View rooms, 11 Seaview rooms, 24 Deluxe rooms, and 4 Suites - Ana Mandara Villas. Rooms are either situated in the plush tropical gardens or with spectacular views of Nha Trang Bay. All rooms have their own private terrace along with all amenities and comforts of a five star resort.

Each room features king-size or twin beds, full size bath, remote control air-conditioning as well as ceiling fan, IDD telephone, in-room safe, satellite colour television, HBO channel, 24 hour room service, mini-bar, coffee/tea making facilities, hairdryer, stationery kit as well as daily newspapers.

Leisure Activities

Evason Ana Mandara not only offers the perfect location for relaxation and tranquility but many activities and excursions on the water and overland which can be tailor made to suit the requirements of each individual. The versatility of the city of Nha Trang enables the Ana Mandara to offer a wide range of different opportunities to ensure our valued guests fully enjoy their stay and experience the unforgettable.

Swimming Pools
Tennis Court
Pool Tables
Table Football
Pool Tables
Beach Volleyball
Activity / leisure centre
Private Picnics

Organized local and city tours
Evening entertainment with local performances and traditional music.
Moonlight cruises
Mountain, culture and river excursions
Children's activities
Motorbike & mountain bike rental

Dining & Entertainment

At Evason Ana Mandara & Spa, you will discover a diverse choice of dining alternatives. Our chef and his team work to produce a selection of dishes that allow east to meet west, while providing endless culinary experiences.

To compliment the dining options, we offer a wine list that covers many recognized wine producing regions plus some new world sources. This selection offers the opportunity to fulfill your dining experiences.

Pavilion Restaurant:
A choice of indoor and verandah dining, with spectacular panoramic views of Nha Trang Bay. The restaurant is open 24 hours, and offers Vietnamese and International specialties. Commence your day with a bountiful buffet breakfast. Extensive a la carte menus are presented for lunch and dinner together with daily specialties.

Lobby Bar:
Located beside the Pavilion Restaurant, this is a comfortable indoor bar extending to a bamboo courtyard sheltered by a banyan tree. This is an ideal setting for a relaxing beverage with wines by the glass, international beer selection or an old fashioned cocktail. The Lobby Bar remains open until the last guest leaves.

Pool Bar:
Whether catching some sun at the beach or lounging around at the poolside, The Pool Bar offers a wide variety of exotic drinks to quench your thirst, complimented by delicious finger food.

The Beach Restaurant & Bar:
Located beside the stunning infinity pool, The Beach Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day. Enjoy a la carte dishes at lunch with additional market-style selection of seafood at dinner. Have it cooked to your liking, or leave it to our chefs to create a dish especially for you. Colourful buffet evenings will introduce you the subtle flavours of Asia. The Bar offers day-long drinks service, complimented with snacks served poolside and on the private beach.

Villa Dining:
Sample our unforgettable ‘Villa Dining’ experience during you stay. Dine in the privacy on your terrace overlooking the gardens or Nha Trang bay. Perhaps a champagne breakfast to surprise your loved-one or for an alternative lunch, let us arrange a picnic in your garden or let us take you to an alternative location. Enjoy evening cocktails on your terrace before indulging in a specially prepared dinner. The options are endless.

Room rates: (16 Jan 2007 - 19 Dec 2007)

Room type	Single (USD)	Twin/Double (USD)
Gardenview Villa	252	266
Seaview Villa	324	339
Deluxe Villa	396	409
Ana Mandara Suite	495	515

* Extrabed adds USD 30++ per person per night (exclusive of breakfast)

Notes:
Compulsory Gala Dinner on nights of 24^th December and 31^st December
Prepayment for full guarantee required to confirm bookings during this peak period
For Group and Long Term stay, please contact our Reservation Hot Lines
Check in time 1300 hours
Check out time 1200 noon
There is no additional charge for children under 12 years of age who accompany their parents in the same room provided that an additional bed is not required
Required a minimum of 5 nights stay on period of Jan 01-15 & Dec 20-31
All reservations must be guaranteed by a credit card
American Express, JCB, Visa, Master cards are accepted
All rates are in US Dollars and are subject to 5% service charge and 10% government tax and exclusive of breakfast

Meal Rates:
Breakfast: USD 20++ per person
Lunch: A la carte menu
Dinner: USD 25++ per person
Compulsory Gala Dinner: 24^th December @80 USD ++ per person per meal
Compulsory Gala Dinner: 31^st December @80 USD ++ per person per meal
All meal rates are subject to 5% service charge & 10% government tax (subject to change without notice)

Wellcome to Viet Nam

2010-10-06T01:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Vietnam travel, The Vietnam Travel has been built and developed as a mean to propagandize and promotion the Vietnam tourism and Vietnam tourist with a view to meeting the demands for online travel seeking and booking in all city and provinces of Vietnam. The leading Vietnam travel guide and Vietnam travel information provider in Vietnam, Travel Directory in all the World regions. We offers a wide variety of Vietnam travel, Vietnam tourist, Vietnam tourism, Vietnam hotels, Vietnam resorts, Vietnam tours, Vietnam visa, Vietnam Airline, Luxury travel. Top destinations with comprehensive and helpful travel information to assist you in making up your mind as where to travel, stay or visit while you are in Vietnam. So you can find Vietnam travel information quickly and easily and make online reservations.

Vietnam Travel VietnamTravelco.com. Conical hats emerging from lizard green rice paddies? Grainy black and white colonial-era photographs of slender. dark-haired women in flowing white Ao Dai dresses? Shinning exotic white-sand beaches fringed with coconut palms? Luxurious Asian style resorts and golf courses? Saigon, the exciting southern city, or Hanoi, the northern Vietnamese capital. Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam to Dalat, the romantic city, fabulous sites as the World Heritage, Halong Bay. Vietnam is all these things and more, a country with a past as rich as the Soil in the blazing green deltas. This past reads like a romantic legend full of heroic struggles and astounding victories, whereby this small country retained its culture, absorbing and adapting the strengths of its foes but never losing its traditions or its sense of history. With 54 ethnic groups, most of whom live in remote areas and follow age-old customs, Vietnam offers unparalleled opportunities for cultural exploration in Asia.

Vietnam is most commonly divided in to three regions, each of which has distinctive geographical features and travel options. The North - Central - The Southern

The North

Most visitors to the North arrive in the country’s capital, Hanoi - the city is abuzz with sights, sounds, smells, and fabulous food - a delight to the senses! Narrow laneways lead to hidden cafes, ancient temples sit beside towering modern buildings, and swarms of motorbikes zip around serene lakes. Hanoi also has dozens of museums as well as the mausoleum and former home of Ho Chi Minh, the country’s most important political figure.

Escaping the busy capital, travelers are treated to some of Vietnam’s most stunning landscapes. The Northwest is full of mountainous terrain inhabited by several ethnic minorities. This area is well known for its trekking and is also home to Vietnam’s highest peak, Mt Fansipan. To the east of Hanoi lies the fertile Red River Delta and endless miles of farmland. Further afield is Halong Bay, a remarkable section of the Gulf of Tonkin filled with emerald waters and limestone cliffs.