Have you been searching for the perfect place to spend a family vacation where everyone in the family will have a great time? It is often a challenge to find a place that entertains the entire family from ages 3 to 103. Fortunately for you there is one such place that is centrally located to most of the eastern United States. Pigeon Forge, TN is nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in East Tennessee and within a day’s drive of most of the East Coast and Midwest.
Pigeon Forge, TN is an incredibly unique town filled with Appalachian history and modern entertainment. Children will have a blast at the various attractions that offer go-carts, miniature golf, laser tag, arcades, and more. The adults will love the variety of theaters showcasing country music, bluegrass, gospel, impersonations, comedy, etc as well as the incredible value in dinner shows where the entire family can eat and be entertained for at least two full hours!
Some of the best entertainment for the entire family can be found for free. There are numerous hiking trails, rivers for fishing, nature loops to drive and see all sorts of wildlife, scenic views for amazing pictures, and more. Be sure to stop by the official welcome centers to get maps and information from the locals who know the best places to visit and times to go.
If shopping is your thing, then you will absolutely love what Pigeon Forge, Tennessee has to offer. The area has become known as the outlet capital of the United States and is home to numerous chain stores that you will be familiar with as well as unique shops that cannot be found anywhere else. Whatever your shopping pleasure is, you’re bound to find great bargains on your trip to Pigeon Forge, TN.
When it comes to food, Pigeon Forge has a wide variety of options that will appeal to the entire family. You will find familiar restaurant chains if you’re not willing to take chances on something new, but if you’re looking for something unique and delicious then the choices are great! There are plenty “one-of-a-kind” restaurants in the area that serve some amazing food guaranteed to leave you full and drooling for more once you return home. The best tip is to ask the people that work at the attractions and shops you visit during your first day there. This will give you a great assortment of restaurants to try during your vacation.
Finally, you’re going to need a place to sleep! Pigeon Forge, TN has plenty of options from campgrounds all the way up to massive cabins that can accommodate an entire family reunion! Cabins have become an extremely popular lodging choice among visitors as the cabins offer the quiet, rustic feel of staying in the Smoky Mountains along with the conveniences of home, which include: kitchens, laundry rooms, fireplaces, and even game rooms with pool tables, pinball, arcades, and more.
Pigeon Forge, TN is the perfect destination for your next family vacation. There simply are no better places to bring the children as well as the great-grandparents where everyone is guaranteed to have a great time. There are events throughout the entire year so do not worry about which season is the best. Pigeon Forge, TN offers you and your family an amazing experience all year long.
Published At : www.articlecity.com
Monday 29 December 2008
St Lucia Vacation
St Lucia is one of the Windward Islands in the middle of the Eastern Caribbean, south of Martinique and northwest of Barbados. The capital is Castries in the north west of St Lucia, which is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide with a central mountain range the whole length of the island with peaks as high as 3000feet plus.
It is the combination of mountains, forests, low lying land, small coastal fishing villages, and beaches that makes a lot of people choose a St Lucia Vacation. The mountains are forested and the lush lower slopes have splashes of colour thanks to the jasmine, scarlet chenille, and wild orchids.
Probably the most famous landmarks in St Lucia are the two towering volcano cones on the south west coast called the Twin Pitons which are the most incredible sight especially at dusk.
St Lucia’s climate is obviously tropical with temperatures varying between 70 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with rain from June to November and fairly dry between December in May.
St Lucia has a lot of accommodation choices to suit most pockets and tastes. There is everything from all-inclusive resorts, and large deluxe hotels to luxury villas. You will also be able to find lovely small hotels, traditional inns, and apartments and guesthouses. You will find accommodation on the beach or inland, in the north which is completely different in characteristics to the south.
A St Lucia Vacation is for pleasure seeking people, for people who like unspoiled undiscovered places. It is for people who want to celebrate their wedding on a Caribbean Island and for honeymooners who are looking for a tropical island paradise, because St Lucia is all of these things.
St Lucia is a great place for a family vacation which can include any number of land and water sports, including but not restricted to golf, tennis, cricket, table tennis, biking, horse riding, and deep sea fishing, windsurfing, sailing, para sailing, and waterskiing. Water sports are definitely a large part of any St Lucia Vacation, especially when you think about the white sand beaches, and beautiful inviting turquoise blue sea.
In addition to all of that there are places to visit like the beautiful Marigot Bay, Maria Islands Nature reserve, Whale and turtle watching, to name a few.
Dining out in St Lucia is a treat because St Lucians enjoy their food, so this logically means there are a large number of restaurants on the island. The cuisine is best described as a combination of International and Creole, where fresh local produce plays a huge part.
Now you can sea what a great place St Lucia is for a vacation, the only question left to answer is how to get there. You can reach St Lucia by air or by sea. You can arrive at airports in the north or the south with many popular airlines, and you can travel on to your final destination by helicopter or ferry. You can fly into a neighbouring island like Martinique and then catch a ferry to St Lucia. You may also arrive on a cruise ship or a yacht.
It really doesn’t matter which way you choose to arrive in St Lucia, because you will find a Caribbean Island paradise unlike any other and you won’t want to leave
Published At : www.articlecity.com
It is the combination of mountains, forests, low lying land, small coastal fishing villages, and beaches that makes a lot of people choose a St Lucia Vacation. The mountains are forested and the lush lower slopes have splashes of colour thanks to the jasmine, scarlet chenille, and wild orchids.
Probably the most famous landmarks in St Lucia are the two towering volcano cones on the south west coast called the Twin Pitons which are the most incredible sight especially at dusk.
St Lucia’s climate is obviously tropical with temperatures varying between 70 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with rain from June to November and fairly dry between December in May.
St Lucia has a lot of accommodation choices to suit most pockets and tastes. There is everything from all-inclusive resorts, and large deluxe hotels to luxury villas. You will also be able to find lovely small hotels, traditional inns, and apartments and guesthouses. You will find accommodation on the beach or inland, in the north which is completely different in characteristics to the south.
A St Lucia Vacation is for pleasure seeking people, for people who like unspoiled undiscovered places. It is for people who want to celebrate their wedding on a Caribbean Island and for honeymooners who are looking for a tropical island paradise, because St Lucia is all of these things.
St Lucia is a great place for a family vacation which can include any number of land and water sports, including but not restricted to golf, tennis, cricket, table tennis, biking, horse riding, and deep sea fishing, windsurfing, sailing, para sailing, and waterskiing. Water sports are definitely a large part of any St Lucia Vacation, especially when you think about the white sand beaches, and beautiful inviting turquoise blue sea.
In addition to all of that there are places to visit like the beautiful Marigot Bay, Maria Islands Nature reserve, Whale and turtle watching, to name a few.
Dining out in St Lucia is a treat because St Lucians enjoy their food, so this logically means there are a large number of restaurants on the island. The cuisine is best described as a combination of International and Creole, where fresh local produce plays a huge part.
Now you can sea what a great place St Lucia is for a vacation, the only question left to answer is how to get there. You can reach St Lucia by air or by sea. You can arrive at airports in the north or the south with many popular airlines, and you can travel on to your final destination by helicopter or ferry. You can fly into a neighbouring island like Martinique and then catch a ferry to St Lucia. You may also arrive on a cruise ship or a yacht.
It really doesn’t matter which way you choose to arrive in St Lucia, because you will find a Caribbean Island paradise unlike any other and you won’t want to leave
Published At : www.articlecity.com
A Tobago Vacation Guide
Tobago is often known only as the little sister of Trinidad, as in Trinidad and Tobago, and this doesn’t in any way do it justice. A Tobago vacation is a vacation on a unique Caribbean Island, still relatively unspoilt by mass tourism.
It lies some 20 miles to the north east of Venezuela and around 150 miles south of Barbados.
What this means is an island that has white sand beaches, perfect little bays, turquoise blue clear and unpolluted seas. Tobago has colourful undamaged coral reefs teeming with fish, and alongside that waving palm trees by by luxuriant tropical rainforest.
Its size at around forty one kilometres long and eleven kilometres wide means it isn’t too big to get lost, nor too small to be bored. The sun shines year round with an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, falling to seventy three degrees at night, with the rainy season from June until November. Persistent rain happens only rarely, what it normally means is brief bursts of heavy rain followed by sunshine. The dry season is December to April which unsurprisingly is also high season and correspondingly higher prices.
You might need some good reasons to persuade you to take a Tobago vacation, and one very good reason especially if your vacation has to be taken during the summer months is the fact that Tobago is south of the hurricane belt.
Another outstanding feature of Tobago, and this isn’t something you will see often if at all on your Caribbean Island Travels, and that is empty beaches and no skyscraper tower block style hotels in sight.
There are many things to do on your Tobago Vacation, including fabulous snorkelling and scuba diving under the water, with lovely coral reefs and multicoloured fish, but no dangerous sharks, and great fishing in the seas around Tobago.
If Golf is your fancy there is championship golf and you don’t have to worry about there being any poisonous snakes on the course, but you may well get a glimpse of some of the large number of bird species.
To see some of the abundance of wildlife you can visit the oldest protected rainforest in the western hemisphere, containing such amazing wildlife that it has been called the Galapagos of the West Indies.
The people and the food you will meet and find on a Tobago vacation will be a major part of your enjoyment. The local people are very friendly and have a certain unique dignity to them that isn’t found anywhere else in the Caribbean. In terms of the food, there is a lot to choose from at extremely reasonable prices. You need to look out for local cuisine such as Curried Crab and Dumpling, perhaps Callaloo a coconut and spinach soup, or roti a thick chickpea and potato curry with either beef chicken or lobster wrapped in a kind of flour tortilla.
Any tropical island, any Caribbean island must have great beaches, and on your Tobago Vacation you are going to find some beaches you will love. Amongst Tobago’s best beaches are Englishmen’s Bay right on the edge of the rainforest, no hotels, no crowds. Mount Irvine beach, small and pretty with great snorkelling. Castara is another unspoilt beach, and then there is Pigeon Point, the classical tropical island beach with white sand, turquoise water, a wooden jetty, and thatched roof huts. The other quiet often deserted beaches worth a visit are Canoe Bay, Charlotteville and Man O War Bay.
The Tobago Hotels such as at Grafton Resort, Courland Bay, and Turtle Beach all have facilities including Bars and Cafes, and are much larger and very popular.
There is plenty to do when you take a Tobago vacation, lots to see as Tobago is rich in history, and lots to do. Go whilst it remains relatively unspoilt.
Published At : www.articlecity.com
It lies some 20 miles to the north east of Venezuela and around 150 miles south of Barbados.
What this means is an island that has white sand beaches, perfect little bays, turquoise blue clear and unpolluted seas. Tobago has colourful undamaged coral reefs teeming with fish, and alongside that waving palm trees by by luxuriant tropical rainforest.
Its size at around forty one kilometres long and eleven kilometres wide means it isn’t too big to get lost, nor too small to be bored. The sun shines year round with an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, falling to seventy three degrees at night, with the rainy season from June until November. Persistent rain happens only rarely, what it normally means is brief bursts of heavy rain followed by sunshine. The dry season is December to April which unsurprisingly is also high season and correspondingly higher prices.
You might need some good reasons to persuade you to take a Tobago vacation, and one very good reason especially if your vacation has to be taken during the summer months is the fact that Tobago is south of the hurricane belt.
Another outstanding feature of Tobago, and this isn’t something you will see often if at all on your Caribbean Island Travels, and that is empty beaches and no skyscraper tower block style hotels in sight.
There are many things to do on your Tobago Vacation, including fabulous snorkelling and scuba diving under the water, with lovely coral reefs and multicoloured fish, but no dangerous sharks, and great fishing in the seas around Tobago.
If Golf is your fancy there is championship golf and you don’t have to worry about there being any poisonous snakes on the course, but you may well get a glimpse of some of the large number of bird species.
To see some of the abundance of wildlife you can visit the oldest protected rainforest in the western hemisphere, containing such amazing wildlife that it has been called the Galapagos of the West Indies.
The people and the food you will meet and find on a Tobago vacation will be a major part of your enjoyment. The local people are very friendly and have a certain unique dignity to them that isn’t found anywhere else in the Caribbean. In terms of the food, there is a lot to choose from at extremely reasonable prices. You need to look out for local cuisine such as Curried Crab and Dumpling, perhaps Callaloo a coconut and spinach soup, or roti a thick chickpea and potato curry with either beef chicken or lobster wrapped in a kind of flour tortilla.
Any tropical island, any Caribbean island must have great beaches, and on your Tobago Vacation you are going to find some beaches you will love. Amongst Tobago’s best beaches are Englishmen’s Bay right on the edge of the rainforest, no hotels, no crowds. Mount Irvine beach, small and pretty with great snorkelling. Castara is another unspoilt beach, and then there is Pigeon Point, the classical tropical island beach with white sand, turquoise water, a wooden jetty, and thatched roof huts. The other quiet often deserted beaches worth a visit are Canoe Bay, Charlotteville and Man O War Bay.
The Tobago Hotels such as at Grafton Resort, Courland Bay, and Turtle Beach all have facilities including Bars and Cafes, and are much larger and very popular.
There is plenty to do when you take a Tobago vacation, lots to see as Tobago is rich in history, and lots to do. Go whilst it remains relatively unspoilt.
Published At : www.articlecity.com
Why Not Take A Cuban Vacation
A Cuban Vacation is something more and more people take with every passing year. Cuba and its capital Havana have become one of the top tourist destinations in the Caribbean.
What is there to do on a Cuban Vacation apart from sit on a beach, and drink rum and relax?
The fact is that holidays in Cuba are very much what you make of them, because apart from the beach and the rum, a Cuba vacation can be also cultural, exhausting, even breathtaking, but one thing is sure your visit to Cuba will be absolutely unforgettable.
To start with a Cuba vacation based on beaches, because Cuba has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. When you realize there is an almost six thousand kilometer coastline, with 289 natural beaches you will understand why there are several that are an outstanding place for a Cuba Family Holiday Package and Vacation Deal. At the north end of Cuba you find powder sand and a turquoise sea with waves from the Atlantic Ocean. In the south there is the warm Caribbean Sea with virtually untouched beaches. The more popular Cuba becomes as a tourist destination the more difficult it is to find quiet tourist free beaches.
The following are well worth trying on your Cuban Vacation
Cayo Santa Maria on the north east coast is a small island surrounded by coral reefs and seven miles of very quiet and untouched beaches.
Cayo Levisa is accessed by boat from a place about two hours west of Havana, and is covered by jungle surrounded by white sand beaches, protected by coral reefs and very picturesque.
Playa Ancon is to the south nine miles from Trinidad, has six miles of soft sand, is very sheltered and perfect for families. This is more popular but still uncrowded.
Cayo Largo is on the east side of the island and has some of the best diving reefs and white sand beaches. It takes a flight or a six hour boat trip to get to, so not touristy at all.
Playa Santa Lucia is a thirteen mile beach, with calm water due to the reef, and turquoise sea. Probably the most popular of the beaches mentioned but never feels crowded due to its size.
All of these beaches feature hotels eminently suitable for a Cuban vacation and certainly a Cuba Vacation Package can be arranged.
For those tourists who are looking for more culture, then culture vultures will love Havana. There are museums, and then for the music lovers there are salsa clubs and live jazz.
On the other hand you can take to the open road and discover open roads, classic cars, and breathtaking landscapes. As an example might be the breathtaking landscapes and charming caves at Vinales Valley.
For goodness sake hire a car, the roads are deserted, or perhaps do some horse riding. On the other hand there are significant numbers of wrecked ships to scuba dive and explore.
Cuba is exciting, and an amazing place considering it is still Communist, but nevertheless a Cuban Vacation will open your eyes to a perfect tourist destination, and you should be able to enjoy a great Cuban Vacation Deal.
Published At : www.articlecity.com
What is there to do on a Cuban Vacation apart from sit on a beach, and drink rum and relax?
The fact is that holidays in Cuba are very much what you make of them, because apart from the beach and the rum, a Cuba vacation can be also cultural, exhausting, even breathtaking, but one thing is sure your visit to Cuba will be absolutely unforgettable.
To start with a Cuba vacation based on beaches, because Cuba has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. When you realize there is an almost six thousand kilometer coastline, with 289 natural beaches you will understand why there are several that are an outstanding place for a Cuba Family Holiday Package and Vacation Deal. At the north end of Cuba you find powder sand and a turquoise sea with waves from the Atlantic Ocean. In the south there is the warm Caribbean Sea with virtually untouched beaches. The more popular Cuba becomes as a tourist destination the more difficult it is to find quiet tourist free beaches.
The following are well worth trying on your Cuban Vacation
Cayo Santa Maria on the north east coast is a small island surrounded by coral reefs and seven miles of very quiet and untouched beaches.
Cayo Levisa is accessed by boat from a place about two hours west of Havana, and is covered by jungle surrounded by white sand beaches, protected by coral reefs and very picturesque.
Playa Ancon is to the south nine miles from Trinidad, has six miles of soft sand, is very sheltered and perfect for families. This is more popular but still uncrowded.
Cayo Largo is on the east side of the island and has some of the best diving reefs and white sand beaches. It takes a flight or a six hour boat trip to get to, so not touristy at all.
Playa Santa Lucia is a thirteen mile beach, with calm water due to the reef, and turquoise sea. Probably the most popular of the beaches mentioned but never feels crowded due to its size.
All of these beaches feature hotels eminently suitable for a Cuban vacation and certainly a Cuba Vacation Package can be arranged.
For those tourists who are looking for more culture, then culture vultures will love Havana. There are museums, and then for the music lovers there are salsa clubs and live jazz.
On the other hand you can take to the open road and discover open roads, classic cars, and breathtaking landscapes. As an example might be the breathtaking landscapes and charming caves at Vinales Valley.
For goodness sake hire a car, the roads are deserted, or perhaps do some horse riding. On the other hand there are significant numbers of wrecked ships to scuba dive and explore.
Cuba is exciting, and an amazing place considering it is still Communist, but nevertheless a Cuban Vacation will open your eyes to a perfect tourist destination, and you should be able to enjoy a great Cuban Vacation Deal.
Published At : www.articlecity.com
Wednesday 5 November 2008
Volunteer Abroad in Cambodia, China or Vietnam Now!
Volunteer Travel is getting more and more popular. Travellers are looking for an experience these days rather than for a trip. People are getting tired of the sightseeing holidays where they just go an see the sights but do not get to know the country and its people in depth.
This is where volunteer travel comes in. It is a great way to really get to know the country and the people. Not only is this for many people a fulfilment of a dream to volunteer abroad and help people who need it, also it offers you a great experience of a new country and culture in a much more meaningful way.
Who does this volunteer travel ? Well, everyone ! Since these volunteering holidays can be from one week up to several months, this volunteer program is available to everyone and as a result people from all backgrounds are joining these volunteering opportunities. Many people on a gap year or sabbatical do this kind of travel. But also many professional people from all industries join these programs.
What do you do during your volunteering programs ? Well the main thing you will be doing is teaching English. To teach English as a volunteer is a lot of fun ! You usually do not need previous experience. The main thing is to have the right attitude to want to help the children whilst teaching English. You can also do help in the kitchen, take care or play with the children. Volunteers usually volunteer during weekdays and have the weekend off to do some sightseeing.
Where to go on your volunteer trip ? Well you can go around the world really. The most popular areas are Africa, Asia and South America. In Asia for example the countries that are getting very popular are Cambodia, China and Vietnam.
Cambodia is a very interesting country. After all the problems in the past, this country is rising up and developing. It is still a very poor country and needs a lot of volunteers. China is enjoying an economic boom but there are many people that get left behind. Those people very much need the help and support of volunteers from abroad.
Vietnam is becoming the jewel of Asia. A lot of tourist go to Vietnam but the country is very difficult to get to know. Volunteer travel will give you the opportunity to really experience and understand this wonderful country.
Volunteering Abroad Programs are organised by volunteer agencies. There are many volunteer agencies so you need to find the right one for you. There seems to be a trend between the costly and affordable agencies. And overall when joining both types of agencies people can have a good experience. Usually the more expensive agencies have very nice offices, brochures and open days which off course reflects in the price they are offering.
On volunteer agency that is getting fantastic reviews on a consistent basis is WLS International. WLS is a British medium sized agency mainly focusing on Asia. Their volunteer programs in Cambodia, China and Vietnam have been recommended as the best volunteering programs in that area of the world.
This is where volunteer travel comes in. It is a great way to really get to know the country and the people. Not only is this for many people a fulfilment of a dream to volunteer abroad and help people who need it, also it offers you a great experience of a new country and culture in a much more meaningful way.
Who does this volunteer travel ? Well, everyone ! Since these volunteering holidays can be from one week up to several months, this volunteer program is available to everyone and as a result people from all backgrounds are joining these volunteering opportunities. Many people on a gap year or sabbatical do this kind of travel. But also many professional people from all industries join these programs.
What do you do during your volunteering programs ? Well the main thing you will be doing is teaching English. To teach English as a volunteer is a lot of fun ! You usually do not need previous experience. The main thing is to have the right attitude to want to help the children whilst teaching English. You can also do help in the kitchen, take care or play with the children. Volunteers usually volunteer during weekdays and have the weekend off to do some sightseeing.
Where to go on your volunteer trip ? Well you can go around the world really. The most popular areas are Africa, Asia and South America. In Asia for example the countries that are getting very popular are Cambodia, China and Vietnam.
Cambodia is a very interesting country. After all the problems in the past, this country is rising up and developing. It is still a very poor country and needs a lot of volunteers. China is enjoying an economic boom but there are many people that get left behind. Those people very much need the help and support of volunteers from abroad.
Vietnam is becoming the jewel of Asia. A lot of tourist go to Vietnam but the country is very difficult to get to know. Volunteer travel will give you the opportunity to really experience and understand this wonderful country.
Volunteering Abroad Programs are organised by volunteer agencies. There are many volunteer agencies so you need to find the right one for you. There seems to be a trend between the costly and affordable agencies. And overall when joining both types of agencies people can have a good experience. Usually the more expensive agencies have very nice offices, brochures and open days which off course reflects in the price they are offering.
On volunteer agency that is getting fantastic reviews on a consistent basis is WLS International. WLS is a British medium sized agency mainly focusing on Asia. Their volunteer programs in Cambodia, China and Vietnam have been recommended as the best volunteering programs in that area of the world.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
Vietnam Travel: A glimpse of Quy Nhon
Away from the noise and bustle of Highway One, away from the crush of development, Quy Nhon offers the peace and tranquility of bygone times. As I walk down a side street I hear a song emanate from a radio and its lyrics engrave the essence of Quy Nhon in my memory:"...Today the streets are encased in sunlight, I am alone on an empty street. Far away, waves sing softly the song of my longing for you...".
I've been drawn to Quy Nhon for a long time. In my imagination, this is the place of the ruined Do ban citadel from which the rulers of Chiem Thanh city ruled unchallenged for so many years. In my mind I can hear horses neighing and solider shouting as they fight the deadly battles between Cham soldiers and those of the Vietnamese dynasties that imposed their might from the north. Later, once the area came under Vietnamese control, it gave birth to powerful military heroes (Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue and Nguyen Lu all hailed from this region).
There were artists too. Van Cao, a famous poet, painter and composer, came from here and wrote about the Cham towers that "take cover under the blue sky". His poetry inspired me to visit some of the towers, which draw thousands of tourists every year.
The twin granite towers in Thap Doi, just outside Quy Nhon, are as red as lipstick. They're relatively small and are humbled by the powerful sunlight that beats down on them, but they are unique from other towers in one way: their creators were heavily influenced by Hindu architecture and each tower is carved with Garudas, mythical birds still revered in Indonesia. North of the towers are two bridges where lovers have traditionally opened their hearts to each other with poems like this:
Two towers stand together,
two bridges stand together,
So why can't I get close to you?
Like the Egyptian pyramids, no one knows how the Cham were able to build these towers. Each brick was compacted tightly next to its neighbor before another was added above, yet none were tied with mortar. Without this glue, how did these monuments withstand the test of time and survive hundreds of years of rain and heat? The secret of their resilience increases their appeal.
Out of the city and along Highway One, four more beautiful towers come into view. These are the Banh It towers, named after a type of rice cake whose shape they resemble. The main tower is to the East because the Cham believed that an island in South China Sea (known in Vietnam as the Eastern Sea) was home to their gods. From the top of a nearby hill you can see each tower clearly. They are like four sunbeams falling from the sky, each one mighty in its lonely solitude.
Not far away are the Duong Long towers, a group of three exquisite buildings. They stand close to each other, with the tallest reaching 36 meters (120 feet) into the sky and the others an impressive 29 meters (95 feet). Some say they are the most beautiful of all remaining Cham towers, made so by the plethora of engravings that depicts gods, dancing girls, elephants, dragons and nagas (mythical snakes).
Quy Nhon is the capital of Binh Dinh province; know for its martial arts prowess. But from here too have come poets. One of its best known was Han Mac Tu, who died of leprosy in the early 20th century. I visited Quy Hoa hospital where he ended his days in peaceful repose, creating his life's last masterpieces. One night, as he gazed at the shimmering moon, he wrote this tribute to love:
Far away, a girl sits by the Nhan River washing silk dresses.
Water becomes the moon and the moon becomes water.
The silk is dampened by the watery moon.
The girl is wrapped in moonlight,
Only her cheekbones shine red.
I want to hold the moon in my arms,
I dream of the moon and pick at the moonlight.
When Han Mac Tu died, his remains stayed in Quy Nhon and his grave became a place of pilgrimage for many people. I visited it at nightfall, as the fading sunlight fell behind a mountain and splashed its dying golden rays over the sea around Quy Nhon. It was to the sound of waves crashing on these beaches that Tu was lulled into his unbreakable sleep. Behind his grave a painter, Dzu Kha, engraves Tu's poems on wooden palates for visiting tourists.
I had only a glimpse of Quy Nhon but I won't forget its pull; the ancient moss-covered towers, the gentle sounds of Tu's resting place in Gheng Rang, and the quiet rhythm of the sea.
I've been drawn to Quy Nhon for a long time. In my imagination, this is the place of the ruined Do ban citadel from which the rulers of Chiem Thanh city ruled unchallenged for so many years. In my mind I can hear horses neighing and solider shouting as they fight the deadly battles between Cham soldiers and those of the Vietnamese dynasties that imposed their might from the north. Later, once the area came under Vietnamese control, it gave birth to powerful military heroes (Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue and Nguyen Lu all hailed from this region).
There were artists too. Van Cao, a famous poet, painter and composer, came from here and wrote about the Cham towers that "take cover under the blue sky". His poetry inspired me to visit some of the towers, which draw thousands of tourists every year.
The twin granite towers in Thap Doi, just outside Quy Nhon, are as red as lipstick. They're relatively small and are humbled by the powerful sunlight that beats down on them, but they are unique from other towers in one way: their creators were heavily influenced by Hindu architecture and each tower is carved with Garudas, mythical birds still revered in Indonesia. North of the towers are two bridges where lovers have traditionally opened their hearts to each other with poems like this:
Two towers stand together,
two bridges stand together,
So why can't I get close to you?
Like the Egyptian pyramids, no one knows how the Cham were able to build these towers. Each brick was compacted tightly next to its neighbor before another was added above, yet none were tied with mortar. Without this glue, how did these monuments withstand the test of time and survive hundreds of years of rain and heat? The secret of their resilience increases their appeal.
Out of the city and along Highway One, four more beautiful towers come into view. These are the Banh It towers, named after a type of rice cake whose shape they resemble. The main tower is to the East because the Cham believed that an island in South China Sea (known in Vietnam as the Eastern Sea) was home to their gods. From the top of a nearby hill you can see each tower clearly. They are like four sunbeams falling from the sky, each one mighty in its lonely solitude.
Not far away are the Duong Long towers, a group of three exquisite buildings. They stand close to each other, with the tallest reaching 36 meters (120 feet) into the sky and the others an impressive 29 meters (95 feet). Some say they are the most beautiful of all remaining Cham towers, made so by the plethora of engravings that depicts gods, dancing girls, elephants, dragons and nagas (mythical snakes).
Quy Nhon is the capital of Binh Dinh province; know for its martial arts prowess. But from here too have come poets. One of its best known was Han Mac Tu, who died of leprosy in the early 20th century. I visited Quy Hoa hospital where he ended his days in peaceful repose, creating his life's last masterpieces. One night, as he gazed at the shimmering moon, he wrote this tribute to love:
Far away, a girl sits by the Nhan River washing silk dresses.
Water becomes the moon and the moon becomes water.
The silk is dampened by the watery moon.
The girl is wrapped in moonlight,
Only her cheekbones shine red.
I want to hold the moon in my arms,
I dream of the moon and pick at the moonlight.
When Han Mac Tu died, his remains stayed in Quy Nhon and his grave became a place of pilgrimage for many people. I visited it at nightfall, as the fading sunlight fell behind a mountain and splashed its dying golden rays over the sea around Quy Nhon. It was to the sound of waves crashing on these beaches that Tu was lulled into his unbreakable sleep. Behind his grave a painter, Dzu Kha, engraves Tu's poems on wooden palates for visiting tourists.
I had only a glimpse of Quy Nhon but I won't forget its pull; the ancient moss-covered towers, the gentle sounds of Tu's resting place in Gheng Rang, and the quiet rhythm of the sea.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
An excursion by road to Dalat
We were driving around probably not too sure where to go. We must have been heading to Saigon when I saw this sign post on the right saying Dalat. I had heard the name. It was an old French hill station far to the north of Saigon.
It had the good reputation of an agreable place to go. It brought to mind tales of one of the old British hill stations of the RAJ. Simla? Anyway my curiosity was roused and I asked PB if she had been there and she said no. I turned right and off we went.
We were able to come to these decisions without any discussion which was good. On the other hand we didn't know how far it was. It certainly wasn't near. We didn't know what the road was like. I am not giving distances. I would have to check them on a map. I had no map then. Anyway even with a map I would not have been much better off.
A detailed military map was the last thing one wanted to be caught with and anything else was worse than useless. The conditions on some of the roads were appalling and it was not unknown to travel mile after mile on second gear. Traffic jams in Saigon were monstrous and in the country side a blown bridge could cause a bottle neck with traffic three lanes deep on either side and no way for any vehicle to get through to clear the bridge. Or for that matter just a blown bridge and not a soul about.
To compare a journey then with whatever distance is marked on a map today has no bearing on the reality of the situation as it was then .
What perhaps was surprising was the fact that the Vietnamese continued to travel the roads. Their driving was appalling. Driving licenses could be bought. If you were a foreigner you were always wrong. You could, had to, buy your way out of any accident. I read that coach drivers drove at high speed in the hope that if they set a mine off their speed would carry the driver over safely and only blow the rear end off the bus.
The accidents were horrific. The Viet Cong set up road blocks and took away whoever they considered an enemy. I remember reading that a French consul in the highlands had his car break down, got a lift on a passing bus, was taken by the Viet Cong at a road block and reportedly died in captivity. The French usually considered themselves above this war and therefore immune. It is possible that having known war for twenty five years when I arrived in 1965 the Vietnamese had developed a certain fatality to it
I switched the number plates of my car and then we continued through an area of rubber plantations. By the time we reached rolling grass covered hills it had begun to enter my somewhat sluggish mind that there was no traffic on the road. I also knew by now what no traffic meant. I hid my identity papers and threw away my X numbered plates. The few villages that there were seemed lacking in activity. Once we passed a lonely catholic priest on a motor scooter. The road climbed steadily and we talked a little. PB was from Hanoi. They had also had a house in the country and been relatively well off. Her father, a nationalist, had been taken away by the Viet Minh one night and never seen again. The family moved south after Vietnam was divided. There was an uncle, a colonel, who had been a province chief. I think all province chiefs were military, possibly with one exception to try to prove the country was not exactly a military dictatorship or something. He had been on the wrong side in one of the numerous coup d'états. There was another tragedy in her life, but it is not for me to talk about here. Every Vietnamese had his own share of tragedies linked to the war. Her English was excellent and she had this delightful habit of mixing her adverbs and adjectives up.
We decided I needed another identity. I suggested being a French catholic priest. I was often mistaken for one in the province where I worked. PB pointed out that her presence didn't lend credence to that. I suggested being a press reporter. We rejected that, but later I was to join an obscure press agency, get the necessary papers, and use that cover in my off duty time. I would also work as a freelance. We settled on my being a teacher.
I was to become one at some future date. Once when we were driving in the delta, I think near My Tho, and had stopped to buy some pineapple from a young boy by the road he had remarked that I was English. He had a brother studying in England. I worked with, was paid by and had a lot of friends who were Americans, but alone in the countryside they were the last people I wanted to be associated with. The road started to climb again and still no traffic.
We now looked out on the most beautiful green I had ever seen. Below us there was wave after wave of all the shades imaginable, forest or jungle, I can't remember, but it was utterly lovely. Whatever shade of fear we were suffering from also disappeared.
I think we had just put it away and pretended to ourselves it wasn't there. In any case we were committed now and it was too late to turn back. At one point I saw the backs of soldiers looking into the forest, and the sound of bursts of machine gun fire, and then nothing. Next we reached a high plateau with gently rolling hills covered with tea or coffee plantations.
I should know which, but this is written after a forty year interval and although some of my memories are crystal clear as though they happened yesterday others are blends of colours and some only grey.
To digress. The old plantations had been owned by the French. I was to get to know a Vietnamese woman whose family owned one. I remember being given large bags of coffee grains freshly roasted, black and small, glistening with butter. The coffee in Vietnam was the Robusta variety. Very strong.
It was usually drunk out of small glasses with lots of sugar but no milk. I used to drink far too much and my nerves suffered accordingly. The tea was drunk from large glasses, without sugar or milk, thank god. Outside Saigon at least it was usually free and accompanied whatever one was eating.
On the rare occasions I stopped somewhere just to have a glass it was always given, so I usually bought a small cake or something. Anyway the water was usually of dubious quality and tea was safer.
We arrived at the civil airfield serving Dalat. Very small. No sign of any activity or any planes. I was to get used to, indeed to take part, in this Vietnamese habit, of going to an airfield for a flight and sit down and wait hopefully, looking up into the sky for hours for the sight of a plane.
When no plane appeared that day they would go away and come back the next. The patience of the East. From here the road climbed steeply and the scenery changed again. One could have been in the Alps.
The forest was now evergreen and there was a magnificent mountain off to our left. Unknown to us this was quite the most dangerous part of the journey and that mountain was full of tunnels infested with the Vietcong.
We finally arrived in Dalat. We had not seen a single motorised vehicle the whole journey, save for that lone catholic priest. I will deal with this town later when I was to get to know it much better. For us it was just a question of finding a hotel , a quick walk around, food and bed. The town maintained a rather French air. With my beard I easily fitted in.
It was the one place in Vietnam where I was never exploited. There was no United States presence at all. In all my visits there I never saw more than one or two Americans. I do not want to criticise Americans in these articles. The problem was, the fighting aside, there was often an unfortunate relationship between the two peoples, both seeing the other's faults and never the qualities.
There was a curfew at eight o'clock. It was a town that had seen its heyday years before. Now it had the South Vietnamese military and police academies. It had the Couvent des Oiseaux. It was known for its vegetables which were sent by road to Saigon. Its girls had a lovely healthy glow to their cheeks. All of this for later. We spent a rather restless night.
There were continual bursts of small arms fire throughout the night. Will I ever tell of any happy one's. There were many, but evidently not at the end of our excursions. We had to return the next day. I only ever had two days off unless arranged otherwise and as all my trips were unauthorised I preferred not to talk about them.
The following morning I filled the car up with petrol, lit my pipe and we began the return trip. It was a lovely day, the air fresh and pleasant but not another car on the road. We descended what I would call the alpine part of the journey, past that imposing mountain now on our right, to the small airfield. We then continued across the area of what must have been a high plateau of plantations.
I took some photos of PB, I still have them, at one point we stopped so she could buy some meat, buffalo(?) off a montagnard woman we came across, but we only had notes and the montagnard would only accept coins. Descending through the lovely green forests PB slept beside me. I was brutally awoken myself when the car hit a pothole, struggled to regain control of it and then continued wide awake. I dread to think what would have been the result of even a minor accident.
The drive was eventless and we passed again through rolling hills of tall grassland. As we approached the rubber plantations we stopped for a coca cola at some village. I have always found it the most refreshing of drinks on such occasions and gives one the force to continue. Then, surprise, a column of South Vietnamese armour approached from the south. The first vehicles we had seen in two days.
I don't know what the US advisors made of me quietly sitting at a table with PB. Actually they gave a most friendly smile. Perhaps not for me. Driving on we were stopped two or three times in the rubber plantations by Regional Force soldiers who wanted to be recompensed for guarding the road for us! I always kept a carton or two of cigarettes for that and usually two or three packets would suffice.
Reaching the Baria Saigon road PB wanted to go to Saigon, so I had to drive there and then back to Van Kiep. I think I must have driven a good eighteen hours during those two days. I could hardly move a muscle when I got back.
Three days after our trip the Viet Cong attacked the road in six places and held control of it for five days. Some time later two Decca employees driving in a jeep from Phan Rang on the coast up to Dalat went missing. In 1971, the British Vice-Consul, a certain Adrian, one of those very rare but most likeable of people was around at my house in Saigon and he told me that he had been interviewing a Viet Cong defector who said they had been stopped at a road block, taken prisoner and died in captivity.
One was British and one American. On the other hand in the same period fourteen unarmed US civilian personnel in a US truck under I think Korean army escort were all killed on the same road when their convoy was ambushed. One had to use one's judgement whether to be armed or not, and if possible what means to travel by. One should also pray not to have been born under an unlucky star.
It had the good reputation of an agreable place to go. It brought to mind tales of one of the old British hill stations of the RAJ. Simla? Anyway my curiosity was roused and I asked PB if she had been there and she said no. I turned right and off we went.
We were able to come to these decisions without any discussion which was good. On the other hand we didn't know how far it was. It certainly wasn't near. We didn't know what the road was like. I am not giving distances. I would have to check them on a map. I had no map then. Anyway even with a map I would not have been much better off.
A detailed military map was the last thing one wanted to be caught with and anything else was worse than useless. The conditions on some of the roads were appalling and it was not unknown to travel mile after mile on second gear. Traffic jams in Saigon were monstrous and in the country side a blown bridge could cause a bottle neck with traffic three lanes deep on either side and no way for any vehicle to get through to clear the bridge. Or for that matter just a blown bridge and not a soul about.
To compare a journey then with whatever distance is marked on a map today has no bearing on the reality of the situation as it was then .
What perhaps was surprising was the fact that the Vietnamese continued to travel the roads. Their driving was appalling. Driving licenses could be bought. If you were a foreigner you were always wrong. You could, had to, buy your way out of any accident. I read that coach drivers drove at high speed in the hope that if they set a mine off their speed would carry the driver over safely and only blow the rear end off the bus.
The accidents were horrific. The Viet Cong set up road blocks and took away whoever they considered an enemy. I remember reading that a French consul in the highlands had his car break down, got a lift on a passing bus, was taken by the Viet Cong at a road block and reportedly died in captivity. The French usually considered themselves above this war and therefore immune. It is possible that having known war for twenty five years when I arrived in 1965 the Vietnamese had developed a certain fatality to it
I switched the number plates of my car and then we continued through an area of rubber plantations. By the time we reached rolling grass covered hills it had begun to enter my somewhat sluggish mind that there was no traffic on the road. I also knew by now what no traffic meant. I hid my identity papers and threw away my X numbered plates. The few villages that there were seemed lacking in activity. Once we passed a lonely catholic priest on a motor scooter. The road climbed steadily and we talked a little. PB was from Hanoi. They had also had a house in the country and been relatively well off. Her father, a nationalist, had been taken away by the Viet Minh one night and never seen again. The family moved south after Vietnam was divided. There was an uncle, a colonel, who had been a province chief. I think all province chiefs were military, possibly with one exception to try to prove the country was not exactly a military dictatorship or something. He had been on the wrong side in one of the numerous coup d'états. There was another tragedy in her life, but it is not for me to talk about here. Every Vietnamese had his own share of tragedies linked to the war. Her English was excellent and she had this delightful habit of mixing her adverbs and adjectives up.
We decided I needed another identity. I suggested being a French catholic priest. I was often mistaken for one in the province where I worked. PB pointed out that her presence didn't lend credence to that. I suggested being a press reporter. We rejected that, but later I was to join an obscure press agency, get the necessary papers, and use that cover in my off duty time. I would also work as a freelance. We settled on my being a teacher.
I was to become one at some future date. Once when we were driving in the delta, I think near My Tho, and had stopped to buy some pineapple from a young boy by the road he had remarked that I was English. He had a brother studying in England. I worked with, was paid by and had a lot of friends who were Americans, but alone in the countryside they were the last people I wanted to be associated with. The road started to climb again and still no traffic.
We now looked out on the most beautiful green I had ever seen. Below us there was wave after wave of all the shades imaginable, forest or jungle, I can't remember, but it was utterly lovely. Whatever shade of fear we were suffering from also disappeared.
I think we had just put it away and pretended to ourselves it wasn't there. In any case we were committed now and it was too late to turn back. At one point I saw the backs of soldiers looking into the forest, and the sound of bursts of machine gun fire, and then nothing. Next we reached a high plateau with gently rolling hills covered with tea or coffee plantations.
I should know which, but this is written after a forty year interval and although some of my memories are crystal clear as though they happened yesterday others are blends of colours and some only grey.
To digress. The old plantations had been owned by the French. I was to get to know a Vietnamese woman whose family owned one. I remember being given large bags of coffee grains freshly roasted, black and small, glistening with butter. The coffee in Vietnam was the Robusta variety. Very strong.
It was usually drunk out of small glasses with lots of sugar but no milk. I used to drink far too much and my nerves suffered accordingly. The tea was drunk from large glasses, without sugar or milk, thank god. Outside Saigon at least it was usually free and accompanied whatever one was eating.
On the rare occasions I stopped somewhere just to have a glass it was always given, so I usually bought a small cake or something. Anyway the water was usually of dubious quality and tea was safer.
We arrived at the civil airfield serving Dalat. Very small. No sign of any activity or any planes. I was to get used to, indeed to take part, in this Vietnamese habit, of going to an airfield for a flight and sit down and wait hopefully, looking up into the sky for hours for the sight of a plane.
When no plane appeared that day they would go away and come back the next. The patience of the East. From here the road climbed steeply and the scenery changed again. One could have been in the Alps.
The forest was now evergreen and there was a magnificent mountain off to our left. Unknown to us this was quite the most dangerous part of the journey and that mountain was full of tunnels infested with the Vietcong.
We finally arrived in Dalat. We had not seen a single motorised vehicle the whole journey, save for that lone catholic priest. I will deal with this town later when I was to get to know it much better. For us it was just a question of finding a hotel , a quick walk around, food and bed. The town maintained a rather French air. With my beard I easily fitted in.
It was the one place in Vietnam where I was never exploited. There was no United States presence at all. In all my visits there I never saw more than one or two Americans. I do not want to criticise Americans in these articles. The problem was, the fighting aside, there was often an unfortunate relationship between the two peoples, both seeing the other's faults and never the qualities.
There was a curfew at eight o'clock. It was a town that had seen its heyday years before. Now it had the South Vietnamese military and police academies. It had the Couvent des Oiseaux. It was known for its vegetables which were sent by road to Saigon. Its girls had a lovely healthy glow to their cheeks. All of this for later. We spent a rather restless night.
There were continual bursts of small arms fire throughout the night. Will I ever tell of any happy one's. There were many, but evidently not at the end of our excursions. We had to return the next day. I only ever had two days off unless arranged otherwise and as all my trips were unauthorised I preferred not to talk about them.
The following morning I filled the car up with petrol, lit my pipe and we began the return trip. It was a lovely day, the air fresh and pleasant but not another car on the road. We descended what I would call the alpine part of the journey, past that imposing mountain now on our right, to the small airfield. We then continued across the area of what must have been a high plateau of plantations.
I took some photos of PB, I still have them, at one point we stopped so she could buy some meat, buffalo(?) off a montagnard woman we came across, but we only had notes and the montagnard would only accept coins. Descending through the lovely green forests PB slept beside me. I was brutally awoken myself when the car hit a pothole, struggled to regain control of it and then continued wide awake. I dread to think what would have been the result of even a minor accident.
The drive was eventless and we passed again through rolling hills of tall grassland. As we approached the rubber plantations we stopped for a coca cola at some village. I have always found it the most refreshing of drinks on such occasions and gives one the force to continue. Then, surprise, a column of South Vietnamese armour approached from the south. The first vehicles we had seen in two days.
I don't know what the US advisors made of me quietly sitting at a table with PB. Actually they gave a most friendly smile. Perhaps not for me. Driving on we were stopped two or three times in the rubber plantations by Regional Force soldiers who wanted to be recompensed for guarding the road for us! I always kept a carton or two of cigarettes for that and usually two or three packets would suffice.
Reaching the Baria Saigon road PB wanted to go to Saigon, so I had to drive there and then back to Van Kiep. I think I must have driven a good eighteen hours during those two days. I could hardly move a muscle when I got back.
Three days after our trip the Viet Cong attacked the road in six places and held control of it for five days. Some time later two Decca employees driving in a jeep from Phan Rang on the coast up to Dalat went missing. In 1971, the British Vice-Consul, a certain Adrian, one of those very rare but most likeable of people was around at my house in Saigon and he told me that he had been interviewing a Viet Cong defector who said they had been stopped at a road block, taken prisoner and died in captivity.
One was British and one American. On the other hand in the same period fourteen unarmed US civilian personnel in a US truck under I think Korean army escort were all killed on the same road when their convoy was ambushed. One had to use one's judgement whether to be armed or not, and if possible what means to travel by. One should also pray not to have been born under an unlucky star.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
Vietnam Tour
Wondering where you can find a trip that encompasses a little bit of everything? Are you looking for tropical rain forests filled with animals and lush, green plant life? Do you prefer the tranquility of the clean mountain air?
Perhaps you’re a gourmet connoisseur and like trying out new and different cuisines, or your shopping sprees are looking for a little spice to make them more entertaining and enjoyable? Where can you find all this while enjoying a relaxing and healthy bicycle trip?
A Vietnam tour can give you all this and more. A Vietnam cycling vacation will lead you through peaceful villages, Buddhist temples, conservation lands with animals unfound in any other part of the world and will expose you to food dishes prepared fresh every morning and shopping in some of the world’s biggest and most well renowned shopping cities of the world.
Experience a Vietnam bike tour today. Asiana Travel Mate offers specialized guided cycling holidays to Vietnam.
A Vietnam vacation involves an intense and enriching atmosphere of changing climates and temperatures. Depending on the area of Vietnam you are traveling to, you may find variances among the weather, with it being generally dry or rainy but always within a comfortable and warm temperature bracket.
Vietnam travel is an experience for all the senses, with a Vietnam tour giving you the chance to experience freshly prepared cuisine influenced with a sweet, sour, spicy or fish sauce. Enjoy the pleasant company of the locals, or cycle through the peaceful villages sprinkled across the country. A Vietnam tour can take you across beautiful, natural beaches with white sand and clear, blue water and islands teeming with wildlife and exotic birds.
Take your Vietnam excursion through captivating rain forests, or up and down the natural highlands of the country. Nowhere else in the world can you find so much to do and so many different experiences. In fact, a Vietnam tour could be one of the most memorable trips you’ll ever take.
Take your Vietnam tour through one of the three divisions of the country; North, Central or South. Experience the mountain ranges and the famous Red River Delta of the North, and stop in the city of Hanoi to experience an unparalleled shopping experience. Stay in a Vietnam hotel in the central part of the country or take a Vietnam cruise across the beautiful and exquisite lagoons.
Explore the island of Southern Vietnam and take a Vietnam tour through Ho Chi Minh where you will find a shopping haven filled with the country’s well known silks, woodwork and embroidery. Best of all, you can enjoy all this while bicycling. A cycling trip not only allows you to stop and take in the sights at your leisure, but allows you to be integrated into the surrounding environment.
You’ll hear the birds singing, feel the peacefulness of the mountainside, and enjoy a sunny day on the beach. Don’t let a trip to Vietnam pass you by; experience something new and memorable.
Perhaps you’re a gourmet connoisseur and like trying out new and different cuisines, or your shopping sprees are looking for a little spice to make them more entertaining and enjoyable? Where can you find all this while enjoying a relaxing and healthy bicycle trip?
A Vietnam tour can give you all this and more. A Vietnam cycling vacation will lead you through peaceful villages, Buddhist temples, conservation lands with animals unfound in any other part of the world and will expose you to food dishes prepared fresh every morning and shopping in some of the world’s biggest and most well renowned shopping cities of the world.
Experience a Vietnam bike tour today. Asiana Travel Mate offers specialized guided cycling holidays to Vietnam.
A Vietnam vacation involves an intense and enriching atmosphere of changing climates and temperatures. Depending on the area of Vietnam you are traveling to, you may find variances among the weather, with it being generally dry or rainy but always within a comfortable and warm temperature bracket.
Vietnam travel is an experience for all the senses, with a Vietnam tour giving you the chance to experience freshly prepared cuisine influenced with a sweet, sour, spicy or fish sauce. Enjoy the pleasant company of the locals, or cycle through the peaceful villages sprinkled across the country. A Vietnam tour can take you across beautiful, natural beaches with white sand and clear, blue water and islands teeming with wildlife and exotic birds.
Take your Vietnam excursion through captivating rain forests, or up and down the natural highlands of the country. Nowhere else in the world can you find so much to do and so many different experiences. In fact, a Vietnam tour could be one of the most memorable trips you’ll ever take.
Take your Vietnam tour through one of the three divisions of the country; North, Central or South. Experience the mountain ranges and the famous Red River Delta of the North, and stop in the city of Hanoi to experience an unparalleled shopping experience. Stay in a Vietnam hotel in the central part of the country or take a Vietnam cruise across the beautiful and exquisite lagoons.
Explore the island of Southern Vietnam and take a Vietnam tour through Ho Chi Minh where you will find a shopping haven filled with the country’s well known silks, woodwork and embroidery. Best of all, you can enjoy all this while bicycling. A cycling trip not only allows you to stop and take in the sights at your leisure, but allows you to be integrated into the surrounding environment.
You’ll hear the birds singing, feel the peacefulness of the mountainside, and enjoy a sunny day on the beach. Don’t let a trip to Vietnam pass you by; experience something new and memorable.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
Friday 31 October 2008
The Ancient Quarter of Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi and Hoi An are perhaps the only two urban centers of Vietnam where an ancient quarter is still preserved. Due to the impact of climatic conditions, the construction materials and wars, the present physiognomy of the ancient quarter only dated back to the end of the 19th century. But according to various historical sources, this area was the core of Thang Long, the capital, since its establishment in the 11th century. This means that this area has existed for nearly one thousand years.
The ancient quarter has the form of an isosceles triangle the top of which is Hang Than Street, the Eastern side is the Red river dyke, and the Western side is hang Cot, Hang Dieu and Hang Da Street, while the base is formed by hang bong, Hang Gai, Cau Go Streets. Prior to the arrival of the French, the ancient quarter had this common feature: criss-crossing streets like on a chess board, most of the streets bearing the name of the products made or traded there.
Sugar Street, Silver Street, Bamboo Basket Street etc. "Tube-house" line both sides of the streets: They are long, narrow shop houses which sometimes and on another street; the front room is a shop for selling or producing goods, behind it is an open -air inner courtyard which provides light and ventilation and which is also used for raising decorative fish or ornamental plants and supplementary area.
Most are none-storey house, with up-turned roofs covered with small red tiles, the two walls surpassing in height the roof to be built in the shape of steps and the edge of roof being two strange pillars. Some houses have second storey but it is usually low, and seldom does be very small, because the population was forbidden, under the feudal regime, to look at the face of the Emperor, particularly from above, when he was passing.
These days, the Ancient Quarter becomes "must see" destination for every tourist visiting Hanoi - The Capital of Vietnam.
The ancient quarter has the form of an isosceles triangle the top of which is Hang Than Street, the Eastern side is the Red river dyke, and the Western side is hang Cot, Hang Dieu and Hang Da Street, while the base is formed by hang bong, Hang Gai, Cau Go Streets. Prior to the arrival of the French, the ancient quarter had this common feature: criss-crossing streets like on a chess board, most of the streets bearing the name of the products made or traded there.
Sugar Street, Silver Street, Bamboo Basket Street etc. "Tube-house" line both sides of the streets: They are long, narrow shop houses which sometimes and on another street; the front room is a shop for selling or producing goods, behind it is an open -air inner courtyard which provides light and ventilation and which is also used for raising decorative fish or ornamental plants and supplementary area.
Most are none-storey house, with up-turned roofs covered with small red tiles, the two walls surpassing in height the roof to be built in the shape of steps and the edge of roof being two strange pillars. Some houses have second storey but it is usually low, and seldom does be very small, because the population was forbidden, under the feudal regime, to look at the face of the Emperor, particularly from above, when he was passing.
These days, the Ancient Quarter becomes "must see" destination for every tourist visiting Hanoi - The Capital of Vietnam.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
Vietnam Travel - Den Gion Ninh Chu Resort
Spread over more than nine hectares, the resort is perfectly suited to its environment. Statues of Cham dancing girls, carved stone panels, and clay water jars reminded us that we were in the territory of the former Cham kingdom, which flourished in central Vietnam from the second to 15th centuries. Like the Cham towers scattered throughout this region, the resort was decorated in soft shades of red and brown.
Most of the statues in the resort were made by Dang Nang Tho, a master potter from Bau Truc village. Inspired by ancient Cham designs, Mr. Tho uses local materials to create unique sculptures. Like the statues, the rooms combined traditional motifs with modern touches. While we checked into a small villa, some adventurous guests chose to sleep in tents. Following a swim and walk on the while sand, we joined a party grilling fresh seafood over a campfire on the beach.
The sunset transformed the waves into a tapestry of colors: pale blue, green, indigo. Starting out to sea I saw a flock of
Mai fish leaping above waves, as if to welcome me to Ninh Chu Beach.
Come dark, the atmosphere was romantic. The lights from the Sakaya Restaurant were reflected on the sea, while the clay lanterns that lined the resort's paths gave the scene a cozy glow. We sat near the sea and ate fresh prawns and sashimi, washed down with wine. The lights of the squid fishing boats sparkled offshore, forming a glittering string on the horizon.
Listed as a three-star resort, when finished, Den Gion will feature 100 rooms, 36 bungalows and a campground big enough to hold 40 tents. While many visitors will be content to spend their time swimming and sunbathing, various interesting day trips are available.
Day trips
Ninh Chu Beach is surrounded by historic and scene sites - perfect for excursions should you tire of sea and surf.
Vinh Hy Bay
Visitors to Vinh Hy bay can explore the culture of the Raglai people, visit an ancient Viet fishing village, and feast on fresh seafood.
Po Klong Gairai Tower
Delicated to King Porome (1627-1651), this tower is the site of the annual Kate festival, which attracts thousands of worshippers.
Bau Truc Village
Using local clay and outdoor kilns, potters from Bau Truc village have been making jars and pots for centuries.
Ngoan Muc Pass
Ngoan Muc pass provides travelers with stunning views over Phan rang and its environs.
My Nghiep Village
East of national Highway 1A, the Cham village of My Nghiep still produces traditional Cham brocade. Visitors may watch the women working at their looms.
Nam Cuong Sand Dune
Located near the Cham village of Tuan Tu, this immense and dune is the site of various festivals. Visitors coming during Muslim holy month or Ramadan will witness colorful celebrations.
Most of the statues in the resort were made by Dang Nang Tho, a master potter from Bau Truc village. Inspired by ancient Cham designs, Mr. Tho uses local materials to create unique sculptures. Like the statues, the rooms combined traditional motifs with modern touches. While we checked into a small villa, some adventurous guests chose to sleep in tents. Following a swim and walk on the while sand, we joined a party grilling fresh seafood over a campfire on the beach.
The sunset transformed the waves into a tapestry of colors: pale blue, green, indigo. Starting out to sea I saw a flock of
Mai fish leaping above waves, as if to welcome me to Ninh Chu Beach.
Come dark, the atmosphere was romantic. The lights from the Sakaya Restaurant were reflected on the sea, while the clay lanterns that lined the resort's paths gave the scene a cozy glow. We sat near the sea and ate fresh prawns and sashimi, washed down with wine. The lights of the squid fishing boats sparkled offshore, forming a glittering string on the horizon.
Listed as a three-star resort, when finished, Den Gion will feature 100 rooms, 36 bungalows and a campground big enough to hold 40 tents. While many visitors will be content to spend their time swimming and sunbathing, various interesting day trips are available.
Day trips
Ninh Chu Beach is surrounded by historic and scene sites - perfect for excursions should you tire of sea and surf.
Vinh Hy Bay
Visitors to Vinh Hy bay can explore the culture of the Raglai people, visit an ancient Viet fishing village, and feast on fresh seafood.
Po Klong Gairai Tower
Delicated to King Porome (1627-1651), this tower is the site of the annual Kate festival, which attracts thousands of worshippers.
Bau Truc Village
Using local clay and outdoor kilns, potters from Bau Truc village have been making jars and pots for centuries.
Ngoan Muc Pass
Ngoan Muc pass provides travelers with stunning views over Phan rang and its environs.
My Nghiep Village
East of national Highway 1A, the Cham village of My Nghiep still produces traditional Cham brocade. Visitors may watch the women working at their looms.
Nam Cuong Sand Dune
Located near the Cham village of Tuan Tu, this immense and dune is the site of various festivals. Visitors coming during Muslim holy month or Ramadan will witness colorful celebrations.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
Peace Brings Treasured Travel To Vietnam
Vietnam is a paradise for both the outdoor adventurer and city explorer alike. Winding down 3,444 kilometers of coastline from the northern Red River Delta near the Chinese border to the Mekong Delta at the southernmost tip of the Southeast Asian peninsula, Vietnam is a splendid blend of picturesque coastline and lush inland terrain. The region's history of conquests and wars makes travel to Vietnam today a rich and rewarding experience during this time of precious peace.
During the 20th century, Vietnam was at war for nearly 45 consecutive years with different countries. After French and Spanish forces ravaged the area, most of the south became a French colony by 1867.
Finally in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam's independence, sparking a French rebuttal and attracting international interest of U.S., Russian and Cambodian forces. Minh's dream of an independent (communist) nation was not realized until 1989 when the U.N. subdued the conflict with Khmer Rouge and pulled Vietnamese troops out of Cambodia.
Urban and Pristine Wonders of Vietnamese Travel
National identity has become an integral part of life for this war trodden state and today the proud Vietnamese are more willing to embrace foreign travelers and share their magnificent cultural history as their economy begins to mature. Visit the economic capital of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the south to witness the vibrant and progressive culture that has taken root in Vietnam.
While there, explore the extensive botanical gardens, Buddhist monasteries, and stop by the Binh Soup Shop, which was the secret Viet Cong headquarters in Saigon during the Vietnam War. In the far north, the capital city of Hanoi is a bit more relaxed, speaking to ancient Vietnamese culture and 1000 years of history along the streets of the Old Quarter. Visit the intriguing One Pillar Pagoda build by Emperor Tong in the 11th century and replenish your spirits in the Bach Ma Temple, the city's oldest and most revered.
Retreat to the captivating beauty of Vietnam's wilderness for a more tranquil portion of your journey. Tropical rainforests abound in the protected area of Ba Be National Park, located close to the Chinese border in the north. The local Tay people live in stilt houses and contribute cultural significance to the area.
Take an elephant ride through the expansive Yok Don National Park for a chance to see monkeys, birds and even leopards. If confined spaces don't trigger nightmares, the Phong Nha Cave is a must see. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was created 250 million years ago and boasts a cavernous entanglement stretching thousands of meters below ground. Portions of this natural wonder are open to the public daily.
For the claustrophobic, travel to Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin, another World Heritage Site, which is dotted with more than 3,000 tiny islands with cliffs and white sand beaches that cascade into the surrounding sparkling waters.
Due to the country's broad north-south range, Vietnam is a wonderful country to explore any time of year. The sheltered forests and increased speed of the coastal cities offer an invaluable variety for a perfectly balanced journey. Travel to Vietnam to discover this underestimated Southeast Asian gem.
During the 20th century, Vietnam was at war for nearly 45 consecutive years with different countries. After French and Spanish forces ravaged the area, most of the south became a French colony by 1867.
Finally in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam's independence, sparking a French rebuttal and attracting international interest of U.S., Russian and Cambodian forces. Minh's dream of an independent (communist) nation was not realized until 1989 when the U.N. subdued the conflict with Khmer Rouge and pulled Vietnamese troops out of Cambodia.
Urban and Pristine Wonders of Vietnamese Travel
National identity has become an integral part of life for this war trodden state and today the proud Vietnamese are more willing to embrace foreign travelers and share their magnificent cultural history as their economy begins to mature. Visit the economic capital of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the south to witness the vibrant and progressive culture that has taken root in Vietnam.
While there, explore the extensive botanical gardens, Buddhist monasteries, and stop by the Binh Soup Shop, which was the secret Viet Cong headquarters in Saigon during the Vietnam War. In the far north, the capital city of Hanoi is a bit more relaxed, speaking to ancient Vietnamese culture and 1000 years of history along the streets of the Old Quarter. Visit the intriguing One Pillar Pagoda build by Emperor Tong in the 11th century and replenish your spirits in the Bach Ma Temple, the city's oldest and most revered.
Retreat to the captivating beauty of Vietnam's wilderness for a more tranquil portion of your journey. Tropical rainforests abound in the protected area of Ba Be National Park, located close to the Chinese border in the north. The local Tay people live in stilt houses and contribute cultural significance to the area.
Take an elephant ride through the expansive Yok Don National Park for a chance to see monkeys, birds and even leopards. If confined spaces don't trigger nightmares, the Phong Nha Cave is a must see. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was created 250 million years ago and boasts a cavernous entanglement stretching thousands of meters below ground. Portions of this natural wonder are open to the public daily.
For the claustrophobic, travel to Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin, another World Heritage Site, which is dotted with more than 3,000 tiny islands with cliffs and white sand beaches that cascade into the surrounding sparkling waters.
Due to the country's broad north-south range, Vietnam is a wonderful country to explore any time of year. The sheltered forests and increased speed of the coastal cities offer an invaluable variety for a perfectly balanced journey. Travel to Vietnam to discover this underestimated Southeast Asian gem.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
Travel Asia
Traveling Asia is something that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. When you travel to Asia, there are so many things to see and do; make sure that you plan your trip in advance. However, remember to leave some free time in you itinerary, because when you travel Asia, you want to make sure that you have the flexibility for an occasional adventure.
As the largest continent on earth, Asia offers travelers a huge variety of places to visit, things to do and, cultures to see. For first time visitors who travel Asia, we recommend the following:
Island Nations-
Indonesia:
One of the most diverse destinations for travelers to Asia, the Indonesian archipelago can provide enough exciting destinations for a complete trip. Whether you are seeking relaxation, natural beauty, cultural diversity or all of the above, Indonesia will show you an exciting and wonderful Asian travel destination.
Philippines:
Comprised of over 7000 islands, the Philippines has become on of Asia's forgotten travel destinations. Due to a recent history that includes martial law and economic corruption, the Philippines has lost much of its previous tourist activity to its more stable neighbors. Those who do visit will enjoy beautiful spots like the Boracay beaches and Lake Sebu.
Japan:
For decades, the island nation of Japan has been a favorite destination for travelers to Asia. From amazing Zen temples to kitschy reproductions of western monuments like the Eiffel Tower, Japan has something for every traveler who visits. The hardest thing is fitting it all in.
Southeast Asia
Thailand:
The Kingdom of Thailand is the most popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia drawing more visitors than its neighbors. With both mountainous regions and a beautiful coastline dotted with amazing islands Thailand is one a must see for those who travel to Asia. The city of Bangkok, the largest in Thailand is one of the most popular in all of Asia, as well.
Vietnam:
A quickly emerging destination among travelers to Asia, Vietnam is reshaping its image among world travel destinations. From the beaches along the coast, to its soaring inland mountains, Vietnam offers travelers to Asia with a sublime experience.
Mainland Asia-
China:
Too vast for words alone, China is rapidly emerging as the top destination for travelers to Asia. As China continues to modernize both economically and socially, it is becoming easier for those who travel to Asia to visit one of the largest and most populous countries in the world. If you travel to China, follow a loose itinerary and try to see as much as you can.
Korea:
South Korea is one of the most westernized of all Asian nations. Travelers to Korea can enjoy the modernity of the capital city, Seoul; or they can try visiting beautiful natural wonders like Songnisan National Park.
India:
Another of Asia's largest and most heavily populated countries, India is a complex and diverse nation unlike any other you will experience when you travel throughout Asia. Visitors to India will be enchanted by its unpredictability and surprising cultural dramas that exist among its inhabitants.
As the largest continent on earth, Asia offers travelers a huge variety of places to visit, things to do and, cultures to see. For first time visitors who travel Asia, we recommend the following:
Island Nations-
Indonesia:
One of the most diverse destinations for travelers to Asia, the Indonesian archipelago can provide enough exciting destinations for a complete trip. Whether you are seeking relaxation, natural beauty, cultural diversity or all of the above, Indonesia will show you an exciting and wonderful Asian travel destination.
Philippines:
Comprised of over 7000 islands, the Philippines has become on of Asia's forgotten travel destinations. Due to a recent history that includes martial law and economic corruption, the Philippines has lost much of its previous tourist activity to its more stable neighbors. Those who do visit will enjoy beautiful spots like the Boracay beaches and Lake Sebu.
Japan:
For decades, the island nation of Japan has been a favorite destination for travelers to Asia. From amazing Zen temples to kitschy reproductions of western monuments like the Eiffel Tower, Japan has something for every traveler who visits. The hardest thing is fitting it all in.
Southeast Asia
Thailand:
The Kingdom of Thailand is the most popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia drawing more visitors than its neighbors. With both mountainous regions and a beautiful coastline dotted with amazing islands Thailand is one a must see for those who travel to Asia. The city of Bangkok, the largest in Thailand is one of the most popular in all of Asia, as well.
Vietnam:
A quickly emerging destination among travelers to Asia, Vietnam is reshaping its image among world travel destinations. From the beaches along the coast, to its soaring inland mountains, Vietnam offers travelers to Asia with a sublime experience.
Mainland Asia-
China:
Too vast for words alone, China is rapidly emerging as the top destination for travelers to Asia. As China continues to modernize both economically and socially, it is becoming easier for those who travel to Asia to visit one of the largest and most populous countries in the world. If you travel to China, follow a loose itinerary and try to see as much as you can.
Korea:
South Korea is one of the most westernized of all Asian nations. Travelers to Korea can enjoy the modernity of the capital city, Seoul; or they can try visiting beautiful natural wonders like Songnisan National Park.
India:
Another of Asia's largest and most heavily populated countries, India is a complex and diverse nation unlike any other you will experience when you travel throughout Asia. Visitors to India will be enchanted by its unpredictability and surprising cultural dramas that exist among its inhabitants.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
Saturday 25 October 2008
Alaska Luxury Cruises – For Those Who Enjoy Nature
Have you been heading to the same places over and over again? Tired of the same places and the same faces? Want some change?
Do you dare to be different? Then why not head to test the Alaskan landscape and feel the difference. Are you hungry for some pure fun? Do you have the burning desire to do something different? Want a chance to do that? Here you go – the Alaskan adventure. Everything to suit your need, a perfect getaway, for a short excursion or for a long vacation, Alaska is the answer.
If extravagance is your middle name, there are cruises that offer just that, a little more of pampering. The Jacuzzi or the massage, you name it you have it on cruises-everything at your disposal .a complete wine and dine experience that will make you shout out for more! Cruises rule the roost when it comes to class, comfort and luxury , and this Alaskan cruise is no different.
If it is adventure is what you are looking for then this is the answer. if you feel you are tired of relaxing then you have a perfect date for you in the form of Alaska .the natural habitat to some of worlds rarest animals like otters, sea lions and humpback whales, Alaska lets you get close to their homes. To experience this you will have to get up from your seats and head straight to the land to be, Alaska.
Just to feel the difference, head to the whole new world of Alaska and trust us that the experience is once in a lifetime one – be it adventure or luxury a complete answer to your long awaited break. Once you get going, you will have to fasten your seat belts as everything you see will make you jump in joy. Experience to enjoy.
Do you dare to be different? Then why not head to test the Alaskan landscape and feel the difference. Are you hungry for some pure fun? Do you have the burning desire to do something different? Want a chance to do that? Here you go – the Alaskan adventure. Everything to suit your need, a perfect getaway, for a short excursion or for a long vacation, Alaska is the answer.
If extravagance is your middle name, there are cruises that offer just that, a little more of pampering. The Jacuzzi or the massage, you name it you have it on cruises-everything at your disposal .a complete wine and dine experience that will make you shout out for more! Cruises rule the roost when it comes to class, comfort and luxury , and this Alaskan cruise is no different.
If it is adventure is what you are looking for then this is the answer. if you feel you are tired of relaxing then you have a perfect date for you in the form of Alaska .the natural habitat to some of worlds rarest animals like otters, sea lions and humpback whales, Alaska lets you get close to their homes. To experience this you will have to get up from your seats and head straight to the land to be, Alaska.
Just to feel the difference, head to the whole new world of Alaska and trust us that the experience is once in a lifetime one – be it adventure or luxury a complete answer to your long awaited break. Once you get going, you will have to fasten your seat belts as everything you see will make you jump in joy. Experience to enjoy.
5 Places NOT To Go To For Vacation
Some vacations aren’t as good as they are made out to be; maybe it’s a case of false advertising or maybe the locals just take advantage of you just because you have “tourist” stamped on your forehead. Or maybe your luggage arrived from the airport a day or two after you did? In any case, it’s hard to pinpoint the worst vacation destinations without taking into consideration all the things that can happen. Most disappointing vacations can usually be prevented.
To keep you from making a bad choice twice we are going to give you our list of the top five bad vacations.
1. A lot of popular vacation spots in the United States are suffering from unhealthy smog levels. Ozone smog exposure has a cumulative long term effect on your body especially in the elderly and in children.Believe it or not these popular holiday hot spots have high ozone smog: Cape Cod National Sea Shore, Boston, Maine’s Acadia National Park, Philadelphia, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Washington D.C., Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indianapolis, and Lake Michigan,
Pennsylvania (including the Amish farmland and the city of Lancaster).
2. Orlando looks beautiful when you are looking at brochures like the ones for the Nickelodeon Family Suites, but once you have arrived you have to spend hours standing in line just to check in and to top it off, when you do finally get to the desk clerk your room probably won’t be ready. Now, you get to your room and half the stuff in your
room is dirty and the microwave doesn’t work and the remote for the TV is missing. So you call down to the desk to report the problems which they assure you will be taken care of. While you are waiting you decide you will go down to the pool to distress but when you get there its so crowded you can’t even sit down. I’ve seen better accommodations at a Motel 6.
3. Intercontinental Hotel and Conference Center in
Cleveland, Ohio. Beware: The bed bugs really do bite!
4. New Orleans, Louisiana. Even before the terrible tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has been one of the hottest spots in the country, despite the fact that they have one of the country’s highest crime and murder rates. It will be a long time before it is back in condition to accept visitors, though I think it will be a different city once it is rebuilt.
5. Iraq. Self-explanatory. You can travel to the most wonderful vacation destination in the world and have things go wrong. Get complete details in writing about your vacation arrangements prior to making a payment. These details should include the total cost, including taxes, service fees, surcharges, port charges; including the terms and conditions, restrictions and cancellation penalties.
To keep you from making a bad choice twice we are going to give you our list of the top five bad vacations.
1. A lot of popular vacation spots in the United States are suffering from unhealthy smog levels. Ozone smog exposure has a cumulative long term effect on your body especially in the elderly and in children.Believe it or not these popular holiday hot spots have high ozone smog: Cape Cod National Sea Shore, Boston, Maine’s Acadia National Park, Philadelphia, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Washington D.C., Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indianapolis, and Lake Michigan,
Pennsylvania (including the Amish farmland and the city of Lancaster).
2. Orlando looks beautiful when you are looking at brochures like the ones for the Nickelodeon Family Suites, but once you have arrived you have to spend hours standing in line just to check in and to top it off, when you do finally get to the desk clerk your room probably won’t be ready. Now, you get to your room and half the stuff in your
room is dirty and the microwave doesn’t work and the remote for the TV is missing. So you call down to the desk to report the problems which they assure you will be taken care of. While you are waiting you decide you will go down to the pool to distress but when you get there its so crowded you can’t even sit down. I’ve seen better accommodations at a Motel 6.
3. Intercontinental Hotel and Conference Center in
Cleveland, Ohio. Beware: The bed bugs really do bite!
4. New Orleans, Louisiana. Even before the terrible tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has been one of the hottest spots in the country, despite the fact that they have one of the country’s highest crime and murder rates. It will be a long time before it is back in condition to accept visitors, though I think it will be a different city once it is rebuilt.
5. Iraq. Self-explanatory. You can travel to the most wonderful vacation destination in the world and have things go wrong. Get complete details in writing about your vacation arrangements prior to making a payment. These details should include the total cost, including taxes, service fees, surcharges, port charges; including the terms and conditions, restrictions and cancellation penalties.
Thursday 23 October 2008
The Forbidden Island
If you love a mystery, consider a vacation on Kauai, Hawaii.
Here's the mystery: what's it like on the neighboring Hawaiian island of Ni'ihau? This 550-square-mile island is the westernmost of the main Hawaiian islands and has been privately owned since 1864 by the Robinson family, which forbids tourists.
Ni'ihau (Nee-ee-how) is visible from the southwest shore of Kauai, lying low on the horizon 17 miles away. There are 200 or so native Hawaiians who live there and speak the Hawaiian language. In fact, it's the only place the language is spoken any more. It is taught in the island's only school, which goes K-8.
Islanders of course are free to leave and come back, so many of them do. They need to in order to get provisions from Kauai to live on the dry island, which is in the rain shadow of the ancient volcano cone on Kauai, Wai-ale-ale, "the wettest spot on earth" at 460 inches per year of rainfall. The Robinson family, which owns Ni'ihau, has maintained sheep ranches there.
A stunning form of folk art comes from Ni'ihau. These are Ni'ihau shell leis, tiny shells strung from many strands. These tiny luminous shells come in various colors, and so whole families collect them and sort them for size and color. Then the artist, usually a woman, sets to work, punching a hole in each shell using an awl often made from a bicycle spoke (there are no cars on the island). About half the shells shatter at this point. She chooses colors in such a way as to make a final product that is textured with color.
These tiny shells are still found on Ni'ihau, but not on neighboring Kauai where agricultural runoff has tended to kill off the shell-makers. The resulting shell leis are rare, hard to find, and precious. But if you look hard on Kauai, you can find them!
Hawaiian legend has it that the volcano goddess Pele had her original home on Ni'ihau. Then she traveled to Kauai, Oahu, and moved eastward until she found the Big Island of Hawaii, where she is today. Scientists say that the Hawaiian islands were formed as a plate of earth's crust moved slowly across an active lava vent. But Kauai was formed before Ni'ihau, which is sort of a side vent from the volcano that formed Kauai. As the crust moved slowly, Kauai was formed, then Oahu, and so on. Ni'ihau's current form is as an eroded lava dome on the eastern side of the island. Much of the rest is flat and sandy, with a couple of freshwater lakes.
It's possible to find a map of Ni'ihau, and pictures of its rock formations. But how can you go and see? In fact, the Robinson family is allowing a few forms of tourism now. Some helicopter tours from Kauai are allowed to land on remote beaches. And you can take a hunting safari, to control populations of feral bighorn sheep and Polynesian boars. In addition, scuba divers regularly dive off Ni'ihau.
All that is available from Kauai, Ni'ihau's big sister island 17 miles away. Kauai has immense charms of its own; not only does it have the usual beaches and surf, but it has incredible beauty on its northwest coast, called Na Pali, or The Cliffs.
Here's the mystery: what's it like on the neighboring Hawaiian island of Ni'ihau? This 550-square-mile island is the westernmost of the main Hawaiian islands and has been privately owned since 1864 by the Robinson family, which forbids tourists.
Ni'ihau (Nee-ee-how) is visible from the southwest shore of Kauai, lying low on the horizon 17 miles away. There are 200 or so native Hawaiians who live there and speak the Hawaiian language. In fact, it's the only place the language is spoken any more. It is taught in the island's only school, which goes K-8.
Islanders of course are free to leave and come back, so many of them do. They need to in order to get provisions from Kauai to live on the dry island, which is in the rain shadow of the ancient volcano cone on Kauai, Wai-ale-ale, "the wettest spot on earth" at 460 inches per year of rainfall. The Robinson family, which owns Ni'ihau, has maintained sheep ranches there.
A stunning form of folk art comes from Ni'ihau. These are Ni'ihau shell leis, tiny shells strung from many strands. These tiny luminous shells come in various colors, and so whole families collect them and sort them for size and color. Then the artist, usually a woman, sets to work, punching a hole in each shell using an awl often made from a bicycle spoke (there are no cars on the island). About half the shells shatter at this point. She chooses colors in such a way as to make a final product that is textured with color.
These tiny shells are still found on Ni'ihau, but not on neighboring Kauai where agricultural runoff has tended to kill off the shell-makers. The resulting shell leis are rare, hard to find, and precious. But if you look hard on Kauai, you can find them!
Hawaiian legend has it that the volcano goddess Pele had her original home on Ni'ihau. Then she traveled to Kauai, Oahu, and moved eastward until she found the Big Island of Hawaii, where she is today. Scientists say that the Hawaiian islands were formed as a plate of earth's crust moved slowly across an active lava vent. But Kauai was formed before Ni'ihau, which is sort of a side vent from the volcano that formed Kauai. As the crust moved slowly, Kauai was formed, then Oahu, and so on. Ni'ihau's current form is as an eroded lava dome on the eastern side of the island. Much of the rest is flat and sandy, with a couple of freshwater lakes.
It's possible to find a map of Ni'ihau, and pictures of its rock formations. But how can you go and see? In fact, the Robinson family is allowing a few forms of tourism now. Some helicopter tours from Kauai are allowed to land on remote beaches. And you can take a hunting safari, to control populations of feral bighorn sheep and Polynesian boars. In addition, scuba divers regularly dive off Ni'ihau.
All that is available from Kauai, Ni'ihau's big sister island 17 miles away. Kauai has immense charms of its own; not only does it have the usual beaches and surf, but it has incredible beauty on its northwest coast, called Na Pali, or The Cliffs.
Source: Free Articles
Holidaying in Broome: The Hidden Pearl of Western Australia
If you want to experience another facet of Australia, head for Broome, an exotic oasis in the heart of the country's last great wilderness area.
Broome is an exotic blend of seaside resort and frontier town with and colourful mix of architectural styles. Add in a delightful beach and a rich and unusual history all in a tropical climate, and you've got the recipe for a great vacation.
Broome's exotic nature stems from its history. Its location on the Indian Ocean made it a perfect spot for pearling and it attracted people from all over the world, especially Japan.
Today's Broome is a chic modern town with art galleries and jewellery shops chic cafes with a wide range of attractions. You can see the pearling luggers at the wharf and in the bays, and buy pearls in Chinatown. For a taste of history, there's a Japanese cemetery, the last resting place of over 900 pearl divers.
Other than the city, the big attraction is the famous Cable Beach, a 14-mile stretch of pristine sand washed by a limpid blue sea. To truly appreciate the magic of Cable Beach, take a camel ride at sunset. The swimming is good too. Roebuck Bay on the eastern side of the town is also popular.
Broome is also a delight for ornithologists as flocks of shorebirds land at Roebuck Bay on their annual migration from north Asia. Summer is the peak time to view them but fledglings often remain there for the first two years of their lives.
Transport: getting there and getting around
Broome International Airport provides transport to several regional and domestic towns and cities.
Public transport in Broome is minimal but there's an hourly bus service to Cable Beach. The flat terrain makes it fine for cycling and rental bikes are readily available.
Climate:
Broome has a tropical climate with basically two seasons - dry and wet. During the dry season from May to November, temperatures peak at around 30 C. Most days are clear and sunny. In the wet season, temperatures get up to around 35 C. Humidity is high and heavy downpours are sporadic. The area can get hit by cyclones and summer storms.
Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts
Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Hotels in Broome
Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Broome hotels
Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Broome accommodation
Events:what's on and what's hot
*Broome's flagship event is known as 'Staircase to the Moon'. It occurs when a full moon reflects off mudflats in Roebuck Bay during low tide. The effect is like a glorious set of stairs reaching up to the moon. Occurs March through to October.
*In September, the importance of the pearl industry is captured in Shinju Matsuri, which started in 1970. The name means 'festival of the pearl' in Japanese and the event is an extravaganza which includes an opening ball, carnival and float parade, mardi gras, together with many cultural activities.
*Opera Under The Stars is held in Broom and Kimberly in August.
Source: Free Articles
Bhutan Travel Guide
Nestling in the Himalayas, the kingdom of Bhutan is bordered by China in the north and India in the south. It is roughly the size of Switzerland. With its closely guarded culture and traditions, and well-conserved pristine natural environment, Bhutan is unique and fascinating in many ways.
Bhutan is the last surviving Mahayana Buddhist kingdom in the roof of the world. Religion has shaped the nation's history, and it still plays a vital role in the everyday life.
Bhutan has a wide range of climates, from the hot and humid jungles of the southern foothills to frigid snowcapped peaks in the north which rise to 7,700 metres. This has made it possible for a lot of unique and rare plants and animals to thrive.
Realizing that uncontrolled tourism can have devastating and irreversible effect on the local environment, culture and the identity of the people, the Bhutanese government has introduced fixed 'daily tourist tariff' to limit the number of tourists visting Bhutan per year. The tourists are charged a fixed rate per night halt during their tour in Bhutan. This rate includes meals, accomodations, transport, services of guides and porters, supply of pack and riding ponies and cultural programs when and where available. Please see 'Getting There' section for details.
There are two ports of entry into Bhutan: by Druk Air via Paro Airport or by road from India via the southern gateway city of Phuentsholing. Either way, a trip to Bhutan must be planned in advance because tourist visas can only be processed through a registered tour operator in Bhutan after full payment of tour price.
Although it is more expensive than visting another South Asian or South East Asian country, you will find Bhutan very different from any other country you have visited. You will find a country where all people in villages as well as in cities still wear their traditional dress. A country whose past is still the present, a country where TV and the Internet have not changed the people's age-old traditions, a country which is rightly called by some as "The Last Shangrila".
Public add : http://www.world66.com
Sunday 12 October 2008
Ideas for Winter Vacations
When it comes to winter vacations, you have many options from which to choose. Some love to partake in winter activities like skiing or snowboarding during the winter months, while others like to get away from it all and head off for sunnier climes. No matter what you want to do, there are packages available for all types of winter vacations and shorter getaways. All you have to do is decide where you want to go, and then shop around for the best price.
When winter comes, many people get the winter blues, and winter vacations are often a great cure for this. Some people like to take vacations exclusively in the winter months because they know this is when they need it the most. Christmas is a popular time. Some like to visit family and sneak in a vacation all at the same time. This is a great time to do it if your job will allow you to take off during this hectic time.
January is another great time to take winter vacations. Usually many businesses slow down during this time, and it's easier to get time off. This is also a great time of year for winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and tubing. You may find great deals on winter vacation packages to any number of ski resorts throughout the northern part of the US. For many, this is their peak season, and they will offer deals to get you to come and enjoy their facilities.
You may also find great deals on tropical getaways. For many, winter vacations are when they take the time to visit the warmer parts of the world. They may just take a short trip to Florida or California, or they may go to the Caribbean. When it is cold in the US, it is summer in Australia.
If you ever wanted to go visit Australia, this may be the perfect time to do so. Australian Christmas is warm, sunny, and usually celebrated with a barbeque. That may be the most memorable of all of your winter vacations if you choose to go.
Lastly, another good spot for winter vacations might be Europe. It is still cold over there, but there are far less people traveling. This will give you smaller crowds when seeing sights, and in most cases, a chance to find great deals on airfare and hotel reservations. Look for package deals, and talk with a travel agent about winter vacations if you aren't sure which way to go.
Source: Free Articles
Inclusive Resort Vacation Mexico The Key Benefits
1. Inclusore resort vacation Mexico
You can really enjoy using Inclusive resort vacation. You can have an awesome escapade with the inclusive resort vacation Mexico; whatever your interests and expectations. Inclusive resort vacations Mexico are reasonably priced and the packages include many services. You can experience the beach, historical locations, dining and wining, sports, and relaxation using the inclusive resort vacation Mexico.
2. Stress-free, well planned holiday
Inclusive resort vacation Mexico is probably something you should use. You can get a stress-free, well planned holiday with inclusive resort vacation Mexico.
3. Who benefits from inclusive resort vacation Mexico
Inclusive resort vacation Mexico meets all needs for anyone. Whatever your situation and plans are whether you want accommodations for families, adults-only, adult-oriented, couples, or honeymooners; you can get all that with inclusive resort vacation Mexico.
4. Trabvel to inclusive resort vacation mexico
You can arrive at the inclusive resort vacation Mexico simply via air or cruise from the US. You will find that it is well worth the trip.
Source: Free Articles
Fly from UK to Turkey for an excellent holiday
Are you planning to take your family to Turkey for a cheerful holiday? Turkey, the combination of Western and Eastern culture and tradition, is a dream destination for many people like you. If you want to make your summer or Christmas holidays' trip successful, you have to make an actionable plan within the limitation of your budget. In the recent past, there has been a steady increase in air fares, making it necessary for you to look for affordable holiday deals.
You have to look for online family vacation packages so that you can take your entire family to the places in which they are more interested. As you are always busy with schedules and preoccupation of your profession or business, it becomes difficult for you to spend the time with your beloved family. By planning holidays with your wife and kids you get a definite break from your routine and get recharged when you are back to work.
Going to Turkey from UK on a holiday is not only going to be a pleasant experience for your entire family but is also convenient and comfortable to plan such a vacation as a choice of many direct flights are available to you. You can reach the main Antalya Airport from Stansted, Manchester and Gatwick within 4 hours by taking a Turkish Mediterranean direct flight which is available all over the year.
If your journey period falls in the seasons between springs to autumn, you can consider taking charter flights which directly flies from Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, New Castle, Stansted or East Midlands. Also, you have the option of a direct scheduled flight from Stansted to your destination via Istanbul.
You can even fly in 5 hours time with the help of a scheduled flight which operates daily from Heathrow and Manchester. The time that you spend at Istanbul for holidaying is really worth the money that you have spent.
For visiting the Aegean Coast in your summer holidays, you can board a charter flight at a nearby regional airport to arrive at Dalaman or Bodrum. If your holiday plan falls in winter, you have to catch direct flights only from Izmir Airport, due to the restriction imposed on direct flights during this period.
If you still feel that arranging a perfect holiday program is not your cup of tea, you can seek the professional assistance of a travel agent at the nearest international airport of UK who will be willing and pleased to tie up all the arrangements for your pleasant stay. The package offer includes the responsibilities of pick up at Turkey and arrangement of a car to a hotel at discounted rates.
To make your holiday plan more comfortable, you can also informally discuss with the English speaking staff of the travel agent and can describe your needs and also give them the maximum limit your budget can hold.
Before your arrival at Turkey, you should ensure that you have a tourist visa which lasts for 90 days and a valid passport. To make your trip to Turkey more peaceful, you can also take travel insurance before the visit.
To make your family holidays a memorable one, you can find online travel agents at the click of a mouse that will take care of your food, accommodation, sight seeing and all other necessary arrangements.
You can take advantage of the competitive environment prevailing in the holiday tourism industry as you are placed in a win-win situation with more offers of cheap family holidays, that are worthy of your hard earned money.
You have to look for online family vacation packages so that you can take your entire family to the places in which they are more interested. As you are always busy with schedules and preoccupation of your profession or business, it becomes difficult for you to spend the time with your beloved family. By planning holidays with your wife and kids you get a definite break from your routine and get recharged when you are back to work.
Going to Turkey from UK on a holiday is not only going to be a pleasant experience for your entire family but is also convenient and comfortable to plan such a vacation as a choice of many direct flights are available to you. You can reach the main Antalya Airport from Stansted, Manchester and Gatwick within 4 hours by taking a Turkish Mediterranean direct flight which is available all over the year.
If your journey period falls in the seasons between springs to autumn, you can consider taking charter flights which directly flies from Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, New Castle, Stansted or East Midlands. Also, you have the option of a direct scheduled flight from Stansted to your destination via Istanbul.
You can even fly in 5 hours time with the help of a scheduled flight which operates daily from Heathrow and Manchester. The time that you spend at Istanbul for holidaying is really worth the money that you have spent.
For visiting the Aegean Coast in your summer holidays, you can board a charter flight at a nearby regional airport to arrive at Dalaman or Bodrum. If your holiday plan falls in winter, you have to catch direct flights only from Izmir Airport, due to the restriction imposed on direct flights during this period.
If you still feel that arranging a perfect holiday program is not your cup of tea, you can seek the professional assistance of a travel agent at the nearest international airport of UK who will be willing and pleased to tie up all the arrangements for your pleasant stay. The package offer includes the responsibilities of pick up at Turkey and arrangement of a car to a hotel at discounted rates.
To make your holiday plan more comfortable, you can also informally discuss with the English speaking staff of the travel agent and can describe your needs and also give them the maximum limit your budget can hold.
Before your arrival at Turkey, you should ensure that you have a tourist visa which lasts for 90 days and a valid passport. To make your trip to Turkey more peaceful, you can also take travel insurance before the visit.
To make your family holidays a memorable one, you can find online travel agents at the click of a mouse that will take care of your food, accommodation, sight seeing and all other necessary arrangements.
You can take advantage of the competitive environment prevailing in the holiday tourism industry as you are placed in a win-win situation with more offers of cheap family holidays, that are worthy of your hard earned money.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
Holiday Accommodation in Prague
Prague has a lot to offer its tourists. It is the most popular place in Europe. UNESCO has listed Prague as the world heritage site. It is the capital city of Czech Republic. It is popularly known as "Jewel of the Crown" among the central Europe. All these qualities have made Prague a tourist place.
Though the main occupation of this city does not depend on tourism only, but tourism has an impact on the city. It is preferred by almost all aged people to spend holidays, but being beautiful and romantic place, it is preferred mostly by youngsters. Peace, culture, stunning sightseeing attract almost everybody.
Once if somebody visited Prague it's not possible for him or her to drive its memories from mind. People who love to visit cannot help themselves to visit Prague and once if somebody has visited, feels like coming here again and again.
There are number of hotels and apartments to accommodate. You can also find luxury hotels and apartments to accommodate in Prague. Some famous luxury hotels are Hotel Corinthia Towers, Hotel Corinthia Panorama, and Hotel Hilton Prague etc. Here you can also find apartments where you can feel at home because there you are provided with all facilities you avail at your home.
Moreover you can invite your friends and other additional person to accommodate with you. You can also hold business meetings there within same charges. Hotels are also worth accommodating with trained staff speaking different languages. Services provided by hotels in Prague are satisfactory. One can choose to accommodate anywhere out of hotels and apartments and many more other places according to his requirements and wish.
Some of the attractions in Prague are as follows- Astronomical Clock and Old Town Hall Tower, Bertramka Mozart Museum, Charles Bridge, Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, Dancing House, and Estates Theatre. When you decide to spend holidays in Prague and you are a foreigner, you are advised to enquire about the accepted currency in the particular place where you are going to accommodate.
Tourists should also inquire about the language spoken by the staff of the hotel because it would be difficult for him or her to communicate with them, if they speak any other language. This makes you to enjoy and relish the moments. You are also advised to arrange the accommodation that can arrange transport facilities for you.
You should also enquire about the tariffs, taxes, correspondence options and payment plans. There are some other accommodation options in Prague like resorts, timeshare accommodations and family vacation homes. Student hostels, villas and star rated accommodation.
Though the main occupation of this city does not depend on tourism only, but tourism has an impact on the city. It is preferred by almost all aged people to spend holidays, but being beautiful and romantic place, it is preferred mostly by youngsters. Peace, culture, stunning sightseeing attract almost everybody.
Once if somebody visited Prague it's not possible for him or her to drive its memories from mind. People who love to visit cannot help themselves to visit Prague and once if somebody has visited, feels like coming here again and again.
There are number of hotels and apartments to accommodate. You can also find luxury hotels and apartments to accommodate in Prague. Some famous luxury hotels are Hotel Corinthia Towers, Hotel Corinthia Panorama, and Hotel Hilton Prague etc. Here you can also find apartments where you can feel at home because there you are provided with all facilities you avail at your home.
Moreover you can invite your friends and other additional person to accommodate with you. You can also hold business meetings there within same charges. Hotels are also worth accommodating with trained staff speaking different languages. Services provided by hotels in Prague are satisfactory. One can choose to accommodate anywhere out of hotels and apartments and many more other places according to his requirements and wish.
Some of the attractions in Prague are as follows- Astronomical Clock and Old Town Hall Tower, Bertramka Mozart Museum, Charles Bridge, Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, Dancing House, and Estates Theatre. When you decide to spend holidays in Prague and you are a foreigner, you are advised to enquire about the accepted currency in the particular place where you are going to accommodate.
Tourists should also inquire about the language spoken by the staff of the hotel because it would be difficult for him or her to communicate with them, if they speak any other language. This makes you to enjoy and relish the moments. You are also advised to arrange the accommodation that can arrange transport facilities for you.
You should also enquire about the tariffs, taxes, correspondence options and payment plans. There are some other accommodation options in Prague like resorts, timeshare accommodations and family vacation homes. Student hostels, villas and star rated accommodation.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
Singapore - The Best Holiday Destinations
Singapore - The Best Holiday Destination
Singapore is one of the most amazing places in the world to go on a vacation with incredible tourist attractions, great nightlife, awesome cuisines and effective SPA treatments.
What makes Singapore a famous holiday destinations as it has a great deal to offer to its visitors. The major tourist attractions will leave you bewitched with its charm:
A lot of people like to go on a Singapore holiday in order to make the best of their vacations and have a great time with their friends and family. It is a shockingly modern city and a fantastic place to visit during the holidays.
1. Geylang Serai
It was earlier known as the Geylang Kelapa; Geylang Serai was an abode to many of the Malay Kampongs. It is famous for the exquisite quality of lemongrass that grows here in abundance. There are traditionally made Malay-Kalimpong houses and a cultural museum as well.
2. China Town
China Town was historically the home to Chinese population who lived here. The place can be best explored on foot and can be marveled at the various interesting areas of Chinese worship. The main places of worship include the Thian Hock Keng temple, Sri Marimman temple and the Buddha Tooth Relic temple. The China Town market is very popular for its cheap bargains where you can buy a lot of stuff like the textile, medicinal herb and Chinese handicraft.
3. Little India
Little India is a district endowed with Indian culture's ethnic elements. The most attractive features of here are Sri Veeramakaliamman temple and Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple. The latter is known more for its massive Buddha statue. Exquisite Indian silk, brassware, gold jewelry and trinkets can be bought from the exotic market. Little India's cuisine and henna are also very popular.
4. Arab Street/ Kampong Glam
The colorful district of Kampong Glam got its name from a local tree, Gelam. It has a Malay Heritage Centre and Sultan Mosque. Also known as the Masjid Sultan, the mosque excels in architectural splendor. The textiles, fabrics and the baskets made of cane, straw and rattan of the market, trinkets, and perfumes are very famous here.
The nightlife of Singapore is absolutely amazing and rocking. It has some of the most amazing pubs, clubs, discos and bars. Some of the iconic hang out spots include:
- Zouk, which has one wine bar and three clubs with international DJs.
- Clark Quay, which is counted as world's biggest establishments of sound ministry.
- St. James Power Station, a coal-fired power-plant turned into a giant entertainment-complex.
- Small pubs along Singapore river
- Plenty of karaoke pub-chains like the Party world KTV and KBox.
Further, Singapore is a place that has a wide range cuisine to offer to its visitors. A massive variety of Malay, Chinese, Indian and other international cuisine is easily available here. Being a gourmet paradise, you will find the best of the food from everywhere, ranging from the restaurants to small shops to the roadside hawkers. The best local dishes that leave the tourists craving for more are the Carrot Cakes, Bak Kut Teh, Laksa, Rojak, Satay, Roti Prata, Chicken Rice, Char Kway Teow and Indian dishes.
Singapore is also famous world wide for the best recreational and beauty SPA treatments that it has to offer. So, when you travel all the way to Singapore on a holiday, you can avail some of the world famous SPA treatments here.
You can be absolutely tension-free and safe while holidaying in Singapore as it has the lowest crime rates in the world.
Singapore is one of the most amazing places in the world to go on a vacation with incredible tourist attractions, great nightlife, awesome cuisines and effective SPA treatments.
What makes Singapore a famous holiday destinations as it has a great deal to offer to its visitors. The major tourist attractions will leave you bewitched with its charm:
A lot of people like to go on a Singapore holiday in order to make the best of their vacations and have a great time with their friends and family. It is a shockingly modern city and a fantastic place to visit during the holidays.
1. Geylang Serai
It was earlier known as the Geylang Kelapa; Geylang Serai was an abode to many of the Malay Kampongs. It is famous for the exquisite quality of lemongrass that grows here in abundance. There are traditionally made Malay-Kalimpong houses and a cultural museum as well.
2. China Town
China Town was historically the home to Chinese population who lived here. The place can be best explored on foot and can be marveled at the various interesting areas of Chinese worship. The main places of worship include the Thian Hock Keng temple, Sri Marimman temple and the Buddha Tooth Relic temple. The China Town market is very popular for its cheap bargains where you can buy a lot of stuff like the textile, medicinal herb and Chinese handicraft.
3. Little India
Little India is a district endowed with Indian culture's ethnic elements. The most attractive features of here are Sri Veeramakaliamman temple and Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple. The latter is known more for its massive Buddha statue. Exquisite Indian silk, brassware, gold jewelry and trinkets can be bought from the exotic market. Little India's cuisine and henna are also very popular.
4. Arab Street/ Kampong Glam
The colorful district of Kampong Glam got its name from a local tree, Gelam. It has a Malay Heritage Centre and Sultan Mosque. Also known as the Masjid Sultan, the mosque excels in architectural splendor. The textiles, fabrics and the baskets made of cane, straw and rattan of the market, trinkets, and perfumes are very famous here.
The nightlife of Singapore is absolutely amazing and rocking. It has some of the most amazing pubs, clubs, discos and bars. Some of the iconic hang out spots include:
- Zouk, which has one wine bar and three clubs with international DJs.
- Clark Quay, which is counted as world's biggest establishments of sound ministry.
- St. James Power Station, a coal-fired power-plant turned into a giant entertainment-complex.
- Small pubs along Singapore river
- Plenty of karaoke pub-chains like the Party world KTV and KBox.
Further, Singapore is a place that has a wide range cuisine to offer to its visitors. A massive variety of Malay, Chinese, Indian and other international cuisine is easily available here. Being a gourmet paradise, you will find the best of the food from everywhere, ranging from the restaurants to small shops to the roadside hawkers. The best local dishes that leave the tourists craving for more are the Carrot Cakes, Bak Kut Teh, Laksa, Rojak, Satay, Roti Prata, Chicken Rice, Char Kway Teow and Indian dishes.
Singapore is also famous world wide for the best recreational and beauty SPA treatments that it has to offer. So, when you travel all the way to Singapore on a holiday, you can avail some of the world famous SPA treatments here.
You can be absolutely tension-free and safe while holidaying in Singapore as it has the lowest crime rates in the world.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
Points to Consider When Contemplating Bulgaria Holiday Homes
Bulgaria as a nation has undergone a significant transition in recent years that will culminate in 2007 when the nation becomes a full member of the European Union. As a result, real estate in Bulgaria literally is becoming hot property as far as international investors are concerned.
In addition, houses for sale in Bulgaria to be used for holiday or vacation purposes are trading rapidly on the market today. If you are interested in Bulgaria holiday homes opportunities, you may be interested in finding out a bit more about the country as whole and the real estate market specifically.
Geographically, Bulgaria is located in southeast Europe and has a land mass that is about the size of England. The population of the country is at about eight million people. Over the course of many years, Bulgaria -- with its Black Sea resorts -- was a popular holiday destination for people from throughout Eastern Europe.
In recent years, a growing number of people from different points around the globe are considering Bulgaria as a holiday destination. As a result of this increased interest in the country, and a growing number of tourists to Bulgaria, houses for sale in Bulgaria have become solid investments.
In looking for Bulgaria holiday homes that might meet your objectives, geography is not the only issue at hand. You necessarily need to determine the primary use you will make of your Bulgaria holiday homes. For example, if you intend to settle in the country to take advantage of the new opportunities that are arising in that nation, you may want to purchase a residence for your personal use and for that of your family.
On the other hand, you may want to otherwise take advantage of the changes in the nation by taking advantage of a Bulgaria holiday homes to invest in a property that you can turn around and rent to holiday travelers and others who find themselves in Bulgaria.
Source: Free Articles
Thursday 9 October 2008
Traveling To India
One of the most exiting tourist destinations in the world is India. Situated in the perfect climatic zone, the country offers such diversity that no other country of the world can offer. The country has three major geographical features that make it an ideal country for habitation and travel. The great Himalayas of the north protect the country from the chilling winds of China.
They also offer spectacular scenic places and one of the most challenging adventures outback. The great plains of central mainland is fed by some of world’s most prominent rivers. The Ganges runs across the country providing food to almost the whole country, as well as offering challenge to the rafters for white water excitement. Then there is the Deccan plateau of the South and the Indian Ocean. They complete the topographic scene of India.
Historically India is perhaps the richest country in the world. It was home to the oldest civilization of the world the Indus Valley. The civilization dates back to almost 3000 BC. India has given birth to two of the worlds biggest religions. Every now and then the scientist and anthropologists discovers new evidences, which fortify India’s claim of being culturally most advanced in the ancient times.
The Taj Mahal is the embodiment of love built by the great Mughal ruler Shahjahan for his departed wife Mumtazmahal. It has found its place in the seven wonders of the modern world. India has many historical monuments aptly notified as world heritage sites. The country has a diverse culture and it is evident by the fact that the monuments of hinds and Muslims are in equal numbers.
The political scene of the country is controlled by the capital city of the country – Delhi. It has been a historic city, home to the red fort, which is the embodiment of the Moughal rule in India. Delhi is also famous for its bazaars and monuments. It is a must visit to the tourists as the embassies and high commissions are situated here. To day delhi is the hub of urbanization.
From the multinational s to the domestic giants of the world all have their headquarters in Delhi. It is also highly urbanized and it homes many universities for higher education. The city is well connected to the whole country through rails and air and the domestic transportation is also very smooth as there is a well-laid network of metro trains.
If Delhi is the political capital then Bombay can be easily termed as the business capital of the country. The city is a mixture of various religions and nationalities. The life of Bombay, now called as Mumbai, is very fast and the schedules are always full. It has the most prized possession of the country the Bollywood (the Indian film industry). It also has the Wall Street’s Indian counter part the Dalal Street. It is the witness to the countries economic ups and downs.
India is definitely a place worth visiting and the best time to come to India is in the months of September to April when the country is booming with all kinds of activities and festivities. The colors of the country are surely goanna take you over.
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=29093&ca=Travel
A Bhutan Vacation In The Himalayas
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked haven between India and China , and it is often described as the last place you will find traditional Himalayan Buddhist culture. It is virtually surrounded by the Himalayas, and for centuries has been a difficult place to visit.
Bhutan opened its doors to tourism on a limited scale over thirty years ago, so now it is possible to think in terms of a Bhutan vacation.
The Kingdom of Bhutan is known locally as The Land of The Thunder Dragon, and it is one of the most isolated and least well developed nations in the world.
It is difficult to comprehend a place like Bhutan which is a kingdom whose main issue is with happiness. Everybody seems happy, cultural values and traditions remain unchanged since Buddhism began to be the dominant religion in the 7th Century. In other words the world that we live in today has left Bhutan largely untouched.
You will fall in love with the beauty of Bhutan, the lack of pollution, be it 21st century rubbish, or the noise of pop music machines. The scenery and architecture will hold you spellbound, and you will find the people quite the most charming, and very hospitable.
A Bhutan vacation will normally begin by entering the country by air using the national carrier Druk Air. The airline flies into Paro from Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, and Kathmandu every week, and it is the only airline that flies in and out of Bhutan. If you fly from Kathmandu ensure you get a seat on the left hand side of the airline, because the views of the Himalayas are exceptional. Departure tax is included in the ticket price, and you must ensure you have a visa organised before you set out from home.
You can enter by road through Phuentsholing on the southern border with India, and you could have a fantastic trip from Kathmandu to Darjeeling then to Sikkim prior to entering Bhutan.
To get around in Bhutan you need to hire a motor vehicle or walk!! There are no railways, no helicoptors, and public transport is packed and uncomfortable.
The entire country of Bhutan is mountainous apart from a small sub tropical plain area in the south. The mountains rise to as high as 7000 metres, so the climate has enormous variation. The rainy season lasts from May to September, and visits to altitude are at their best in October and November.
Apart from the sheer beauty of the Himalayas there is much to see and enjoy on your Bhutan Vacation, and space precludes large descriptions, but you ought to visit.
Bumthang which is the spiritual epicentre of Bhutan and home to its most ancient and precious Buddhist sites.
Thimpu is the only world capital without traffic lights, has a real medieval feel to it. Dechenphu Lhakhang at over 8000 feet this imposing chapel is accessed by a stone staircase Taktshang Goemba is the most famous monastery in Bhutan on the side of a cliff 2925 feet above the Paro Trongsa Dzong is the most impressive fort monastery in Bhutan and can be seen from far away.
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=192316&ca=Travel
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