Oct
28
Going to L.A.? Don’t miss the Getty Museum
Filed Under Travel, USA, Los Angeles | Leave a Comment
When the Getty Museum first opened in 1997, the museum’s parking and transportation system were quickly overwhelmed to the point that anyone thinking about visiting the museum had to make parking reservations months in advance. Those unwilling to wait hoofed it for miles and then waited up to four hours just to take a tram ride to the museum’s spectacular hillside setting west of downtown Los Angeles.
What a difference a decade makes. Today no reservations are required and it’s possible to drive right to your parking spot, grab a tram and be on top of the mountain just a few minutes Read more
Oct
28
Bonaire: Diver’s Paradise
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Here it is, the admission, I am a scuba diving addict, and I have no intention of changing! There, with that said, let me tell you about my latest experience of a lifetime, yes there are many.
This time I have ventured with my wife, Karen and 6 new friends, to a desert island in a foreign country where cactus, brush and weeds grow abundantly and the donkeys roam wild. Read more
Oct
28
A Perfect Getaway In Canada
Filed Under Travel, Canada | Leave a Comment
Looking for a great vacation spot and love to fish? Then do a little searching on the Internet. Type the following: Canada Fishing Lodge. You’ll uncover a multitude of options. From rustic to family-orientated, these lodges offer you the perfect getaway. You can spend time fishing in some of the best spots around. You also can spend time with your friends and family.
Start by exploring what British Columbia has to offer. This western province of Canada has excellent freshwater and fly-fishing lodges. You can catch trout, pike, salmon, and sturgeon in this diverse area of Canada. Not only can you fish in freshwater lakes and streams, you also can experience saltwater fishing. Some lodges offer salmon fishing in the coastal areas.
Oct
28
A romantic Hawaii vacation rental makes a great place to stay during a Hawaiian honeymoon. Vacation rentals make you feel at home, yet far away on a tropical island. It is like having the best of both worlds! Many couples who wed in Hawaii stay at a Hawaii vacation rental afterward to relax and unwind.
Imagine candlelit dinners in your own kitchen, curling up by the fireplace in a spacious living room, and going to sleep at the end of the day in a soft, cozy bed. With hotel rooms, this just isn’t possible. A hotel is cramped and has many limitations, while a Hawaii vacation rental is roomy and comfortable.
If your family is traveling together, then Big Island vacation rentals could be just what you are looking for. They will allow the kids to have fun running around while adults are free to do what they like and soak up the island air. Staying in the right place can turn a good vacation into a great one, and a vacation rental is much better than a cramped hotel room.
There are several types of Hawaii vacation rentals from which to choose. Many part-time residents of the islands of natural beauty will rent out their condo or home during the seasons they are not there. There are beach-front properties, homes in the hills, condos in the heart of the action and more. You will have to do some research online to find the rental that truly suits your style and budget.
You will enjoy that you feel safer renting a home rather than staying at a hotel. For example, you will be the only person with a key to your room! No one else will have the ability to enter your rooms or gain access to your property. It will be like your own room in your own home, but much, much more relaxing! You’ll still have to be responsibility for cleaning the house at the end of your stay but you have the luxury of enjoying a home that you have no other responsibility for. It’s a wonderful place to escape from reality for a little while.
There are numerous Maui rentals available for tourists and vacationers to make themselves comfortable. Call your local travel agent or look for rentals on Maui online, and you will see that many people are quite happy to rent you their homes for the duration of your vacation.
A Hawaii vacation rental is a good choice for a honeymoon or a family vacation. It has allows the comfort of home while experiencing a relaxing time on Hawaii’s beautiful beaches. Maui rentals allow for more space to spread out in. They are available in a variety of areas in the area, from coast to hills, so make sure to do some research before picking your rental.
Oct
28
A real slice of Italy
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A short hop away from Milan, lies an area of Italy little known by tourists, yet resplendent in culture and beauty. Having discovered this oasis of tranquillity some 18 years ago I moved my family to the area and for many years have savoured the delights of ski in the winter, lakes in the summer and street parties with an honest Italian welcome throughout the rest of the year. Even though Ryanair and many other low cost airlines fly into Milan Bergamo airport (barely 20 minutes away), the area still remains mainly undiscovered and unspoilt.
The area encloses Lake Iseo, Valley Camonica, Montecampione ski resort and the lower Alps. To understand better the fascination of this area, I’ll take you on a virtual tour of discovery and the first place of call has to be the City of Bergamo, not only because of the airport, but also because I would rate it up there with the best in terms of culture, sites and experience. High claims I admit so I’ll explain why.
The train and bus station sits like a pedestal to the expansive central avenue with some excellent shops and restaurants but the cream on the cake is the fortified old medieval high town (Città Alta) reachable by cable car at the top of the main street. It is still today one of only four Italian cities (with Ferrara, Lucca and Grosseto) with the old town centre still totally surrounded by the walls that have maintained intact their original aspect over the centuries. The lack of cars is a blessing although scooters wizz past you at regular intervals. Standing on the old cobbled streets looking at the Old Square (Piazza Vecchia), with the Contarini Fountain and Palazzo della Ragione (the Reason Palace), you can still hear every evening at 10.00pm the ‘Campanone’, or bell tower, ringing out to recall the past when these bells announced the nocturnal closing of the fortified doors of the city.
On the other side of the Reason Palace there is the large white building of the New Palace that hosts the Angelo Mai Library. For the energetic, you must climb the Torre del Comune (City tower) as the views are worth the hard work but careful of the narrow steps as it’s a long way down. Nearby the famous Romanesque Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica holds the tomb of Bergamo’s favorite son, the musician Donizetti.
Bergamo Città Alta also hosts a Botanic Garden and is the centre of the prestigious university faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature, and there resides a sort of Italian Cambridge antmosphere as students bussle past, late for their classes.
Before descending, I recommend a visit to the Rocca (old castle) as there are also beautiful views from the castle walls and a large cannon reminds you of the real reason for this hilltop walled town. On the way back to the station, stop in the Accademia Carrara Gallery in Piazza Giacomo Carrara 82. you will be surprised to find such a variety of masterpieces, from Botticelli and Raffaello to Bellini and Donatella, all illuminating these ancient walls .
The bus station has handy buses every 30 minutes to Lovere port on Lake Iseo. The lake surprises most people as it winds majestically for over 18kms through the lower Alps and hosts Europe’s largest inland Island, Monte Isola, with it’s characteristic Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Ceriola sitting like a beacon on the highest elevation of the Island.
Lovere was recently voted as one of Italy’s prettiest borghi (picturesque villages) and apart from the obvious bars and restaurants, I particularly recommend a walk along the bank of the lake down to the port with the odd duck or swan to accompany you on your way. The ferry point in the centre is a great place to set off on a trip around the lake or take an evening cruise with live music to accompany an evening meal onboard.
Next stop is a 15 minute bus hop north to Boario spa town in Val Camonica, famous for it’s bottled mineral water and used by many as a central location to explore both the lake and mountains of this idyllic location. Boario’s name is thought to derive from an ancient Celtic word for “ancient water” and the valley itself has the unusual fact that it contains the highest concentration of ancient rock carvings in Europe and is indeed a UNESCO World heritage site. At the head of the valley on the western side is The Alps largest national park, Parco dell’Adamello, rich in flora and fauna with numerous lakes and valleys. Staying in one of the many parks lodges is back to nature at its best.
Just above the town is Lake Moro. Unspoilt and nestled like a cup in the palm of the mountains. Walking round the edge of the lake is a favourite past time of many and the occasional Otter or Kingfisher are a reminder of the natural beauty of this area. Waking up in the morning wondering what to do is not a problem as the area is teaming with activities, places of interest and history. Activities include the usual canoeing, windsurfing, ferry boats, multi pool complex and horse riding but also the more exhilerating treetop rope parks, indoor go carting, paragliding, canyoning and rock climbing ! To get the most I recommend hiring a car locally for a couple of days and bringing health insurance !
The rich history of the valley is reflected in its castles and villages with their quaint churches centrally located as if the villages themselves were but an afterthought. There are many stories abound the valleys dramatic past. One story recounts that in the time of the “witch hunt” in 1510 the bishop Paolo Zane came to the valley and accused hundreds of witch craft with the subsequent sad consequence. In fact the then rulers (Venice) sent another Bishop to investigate…not the numerous witches but Bishop Zane himself !
Excellent pasta, pizza and wine are a staple of the Italian cuisine but digging deeper their are some exquisite local delicacies to discover in every region. In the Camonica valley it’s Casoncelli (A home made type of Raviolli), wild boar stew with Polenta, Strinu (a type of sausage) and Tagliata, delicate slices of lightly cooked beef often served with rocket salad and Parmesean cheese. Every village in the summer has a weekend street party where they serve these dishes along with music and barrels of wine. Fortunately there are a lot of villages so summer seems an endless festival of food!
Winter calls for a trip up to the Montecampione Ski resort situated just above Boario and lake Iseo. The trip itself is a discovery, as between the tree lined roads appear spectacular glimpses across the lake and over the valley and Alps beyond. The resort, although large and stretching over 3 stations with some 80kms of piste, is mainly used by Italian day trippers from Milan which leaves most weekdays surprisingly quiet and ski passes much lower than some other “famous” resorts. Even better there is available locally, snow mobile hire, snow shoe excursions , ice climbing, Heliski etc
Our trip ends with a picturesque train journey from Boario down to the bottom of the lake to the actual village of Iseo. Also voted amongst Italy’s top 20 villages, it sits along the lake with a large pedestrian area behind. Many people from the surrounding area go down to sit outside a bar sipping a cocktail and watching the sun set behind the mountains reflected in rays of orange and red across the lake…unforgettable.
For my work I have travelled extensively throughout Italy and personally the “branded” locations like Lake Garda, Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome, I find much the worse for wear from over development of tourism, sometimes to the detriment of their local culture. They remain “must-see” places, yet, for a real “slice of Italy”, I’d head for the hills and the lesser known Lakes of Lombardy.
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Oct
28
Give Earth a break: eco-tourism is the way forward
Filed Under Travel, Environment | Leave a Comment
It’s only natural to be shocked by the latest findings of climate scientists at the Centre for Alternative Technology and elsewhere, as we gradually start to understand the impact that our privileged lifestyles have upon the planet and its people.
Disturbing predictions include doomsday situations such as rising sea levels, flooding, chaotic and destructive severe weather causing crop failures and the spread of water-borne diseases, and skin cancers from heightened UV exposure. Such nightmarish scenarios are all too likely to become reality, within our lifetimes, if our energy consumption and pollutant emissions are not seriously curbed.
The aviation industry is the fastest-growing source of climate-changing ‘greenhouse gases’, and Britain is responsible for more emissions from air travel per head than any other country. We love to travel, but with these facts in mind, it’s becoming difficult to imagine jetting off on a ‘well-earned’ foreign holiday without serious cause for concern. However, the growing industry of ethical and ecologically sustainable tourism offers diverse, exciting, adventurous holidays which can minimise impact or even benefit the environment rather than wasting resources and causing harm. Guided walking and cycling tours, for instance, are a great way to see stunning landscapes and learn more about wildlife and plants whilst contributing to the local economy in a responsible, non-exploitative industry.
Solar-powered, self-sufficient B&Bs are springing up in dreamy destinations like Portugal and Normandy. If you’re looking for something more adventurous, how about cross-country skiing in Norway, dog-sledding in Finland or sea kayaking and diving off Croatia? There are hundreds of inspiring destinations in Europe which can be easily reached by Eurostar and train or sea. A night in a cabin on a ferry crossing to Scandinavia, or on one of the luxurious ‘trainhotels’ which cover France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and beyond, can be an exciting, fun experience bringing back some of the traditional romance of travel. Longer-haul overland travel affords unique opportunities to see the world – if you’ve got a backpack and a tent, you’re free to stop off and linger anywhere you please along the way. And anywhere really could be anywhere: there’s even an ‘adventure travel company’ offering a 12-week overland voyage through 20 countries, from London to Sydney, Australia!
For the serious ethical traveller, voluntary conservation projects in beautiful locations, such as Iceland’s National Parks, offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to enjoy and learn about these amazing landscapes while making a real, positive difference for their future.
Eco-tourism and responsible, sustainable living is not necessarily expensive, either; you may actually be pleasantly surprised by the low financial cost of living at a low environmental impact. Consider a cheap and cheerful InterRail pass for total freedom to travel by train, either within one country or the whole of Europe, when compared to the prices of destructive short-haul flights (not to mention getting to and from provincial airports). Still, like any holiday, getting everything booked at once may mean taking a painful bite out of your cashflow, in which case manageable loans could help to spread the cost of your unique adventures. Once you’ve started to explore, you might just find yourself hooked on the feel-good thrills of travelling off the beaten track.
Oct
28
Travel to India
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Tourism in India has been showing continuous growth since the last decade or so. This is because of the new destinations coming in picture which has for long been hidden and unexplored. Tourism in South India in particular has been growing exponentially, reasons being so many.
If North India is blessed with Himalayan attractions and Hill stations, South India is blessed with beautiful sea beaches, backwaters, great jungles, temples etc. The beaches in this part are famous worldwide for their beauty. Kovalam beach, beaches of Goa, Marina beach and so on, there are so many.
Kerala, southern most state of India, is blessed with natural beauty which makes it one of the most sought after tourist destinations of Asia. There are so many things which attracts visitors from all over the world, tranquil backwaters, azure beaches, lush hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries, ayurveda etc.
Temples of South India are not only for religious interests, but it has become integral part of society, it is no more a place only for worship, but it has become a life style of South Indians. The temple architecture of the South Indian is very different from the temple architecture of the rest of India. Lavishly built and aesthetically designed, the temples of South India are unmatched in architectural brilliance.
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Oct
28
Adventure Trip to Tanzania
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A holiday in Tanzania offers the one of the most adventurous and thrilling safari trip for every one who loves to see the jungle beauty and enjoy the encounter with wild beasts in their natural habitat. Holiday in Tanzania offers a unique journey into deepest and darkest jungles of Tanzania where the most sought animals live enjoying their open space. Tanzania safari gives you the most enjoying and thrilling time of your life that will remain in your memory for long. Imagine the lions, the leopard, the rhinoceros, the buffalo, and the elephant relaxing in the sun and you are hunting with your camera and catching their actions and earning lifetime memories.
On your Tanzania holidays safari, you can actually get the best time in Africa. Tanzania safari can compel you to return and cherish your unmatched experience life time. The country offers bets views of Serengeti, the stunning and unique Ngorongoro Crater and many other extensive parks and game rich reserves. Enriched with natural wildlife, Tanzania safari can give you a chance to hear loud roar of beasts that will make you scared.
So, next time when you plan an African safari, make sure you include Tanzania as your one of your destinations. While planning to African holidays, use your personal preferences to get the maximum pleasure and enjoyment. You can also fly to many remote places, if your budget allows. Tanzania offers world class accommodation on the African safaris like stylish private camping concessions, luxurious mobile camping or elegant permanent tented camps, anything that you will desire.
African safari holidays are the best way to relish your holidays and collect some great memory to share with friends and family. You will get to know more about the wild animals that have always been a point of study and reveals a new face every time you meet them. No doubt, safari holidays Africa gives you the time of your life with exoticism and class experience.
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Oct
28
Get Information on Arkansas Airports
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Locating in the southern region of the United States of America, Arkansas is one of the most picturesque states in the country. The state is equally divided between lowlands and highlands, making it an idea location of those believe in living close to nature. Traveling to Arkansas for the first time? No problem, the article provides you best information that will help you to reach to your destination in an easier and in a short span of time.
Still the automobile is the most popular mode of transportation in Arkansas, you could choose other ways to travel and enjoy your journey to the state of Arkansas. Choosing Arkansas airline to travel is one of the comfortable and stylist ways to reach to your favorite destination within Arkansas that too in very short time. Plan your Arkansas flights that are scheduled everyday to meet your requirement and give you the most pleasant trip of your lifetime.
For a personalized trip, you could take a next step by hiring Arkansas charter airlines to take you to favorite destination for your work matters or personal reasons. Hiring air charter travel can give some of the additional advantage that may give you one of the finest experiences of flying. Air charter services are the best when it comes to business people. These people have to fly to the entire world to for attending their business meetings and others. Hiring a personal corporate air charter travel may help you to relax and plan your business meetings. You can also increase the time of your travel and take a short holiday with near and dear ones and just refresh your senses.
For better information on Arkansas charter airline and Arkansas airports, try searching through the internet and get some useful and appropriate information on the same.
Oct
28
Travel Secret - Why Slow Is Better
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Our top travel secret isn’t really a secret at all, but it takes a while for some of us to learn and apply it. Here it is: Slow down. Slowing down and spending more time in each location is not only a secret of cheap travel, but in our experience, it means more fun.
Slowing Down For Cheap Travel
We returned yesterday (August 13, 2007) from a ten-day road trip, and I can report that going slower saved us money, as it usually does. This isn’t just about driving less, though when we started driving 200 miles in a day instead of 600 we certainly saved on gas. However, we also found that with time on our hands, we could do a better job shopping for a New York Hotel to stay or to eat.
Make the big mile days the ones that pass through the boring stretches. Then when you come to an interesting place, find nice, affordable lodging and stick around a while. Once, while driving around the country camping in our van, we discovered hot springs in a wild part of Arizona, with picnic tables and bathrooms and desert hills to explore - everything we needed at the time. It cost just $3 per night, so it was easy to stay a while.