5 Must do things on Ecuador Galapagos itinerary

1. Visiting Darwin island and find the whale sharks No. Ecuador Galapagos would be complete without a visit to Darwin travel island and time spent watching many whale sharks in the surrounding waters. This location is often referred to as the whale shark capital of the world. It is not uncommon to find at least a few of these sharks on the ground, if you take into consideration and according to them. In addition to the whale sharks, the total Ocean area is full of exotic and colourful tropical fish and other sea animals, which are fascinating to watch. This is also why diving and snorkeling are popular activities for visitors here.

2. Hiking in the Sierra Negra Vulkan -befindet located in the southern part of Isabela island, the Sierra Negra Vulkan is one of the top things must if you plan travel Ecuador Galapagos. You should be prepared, hiking, but if you have reached the crater every effort worth some distance companies. This volcano is active, and has a couple of times in the last fifty years, broke once in 1979 and then again in the year 2005. The caldera of the volcano is about 7 km out of ten kilometres away, and the profile of the volcano is very low at less than five degrees. During it no mountain is waiting, break out it is still a must if you are in the area.

3. Watch the sea iguanas on Dragon Hill – Dragon Hill is located at the Santa Cruz Island, and this place is a must you do experience due to the natural beauty and wildlife here. The Hill is named after the many iguanas, that are on the island and teaching purposes efforts of the Charles Darwin Research Station has helped the number of these lizards back to normal boost. In addition to the iguanas, you see many different exotic birds and other native animals. You are also a Scalesia display tree forest. These trees are some of the links only four hundred specimens of this species in the world.

4. Scuba diving in the vicinity of cousin rock - this is one of the top activities to if you are travelling on a Ecuador of Galapagos travel. From the island of Santiago located cousin is rock as an exceptional diving spot for everyone, the underwater life enjoys a worldwide reputation. This area is home to many spectacular fish and marine animals. Sea lions, sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, Octopus, eagle rays, sharks, Galapagos, Galapagos sea horses, black juvenile coral, Barracuda in schools and a variety of colourful fish can be experienced in this area.

5. Explore the Charles Darwin Research Center - your Ecuador Galapagos itinerary should include stops at the Charles Darwin Research Station, the institution that has helped, the natural beauty and diversity of land and marine species which these islands retain this area, famous for are. Visit Lonesome George, the Galapagos giant tortoise, which is the last of his specific genus. There are many extremely large turtle watching, and the Center offers conservation information to the these islands beautiful and remain in their current state for many decades.

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Secret fragrance

I never can imagine that a trip could literally change my life. It was ten years ago that I was hoping at this level to a third world country. I had never been outside the United States of America. I was so nervous at the level I found myself with Gin as a calming agent. When Ghana Airways we landed at the airport I could hardly contain my excitement. My goal was Krokrobite, where they have a hostel and drumming Academy. It was a bumpy streets of dirt and potholes, which easily each vehicle could have stranded, but the driver was familiar with this route.

It was in the early hours of the morning. We stopped at a very high fence and the driver announced that we arrived. The gatekeeper, he jumped was there with a shotgun on his page is, and from our arrival had been awakened to open the gate. I was friendly welcomed by a woman who accompanied me to a room. It was picturesque with a small bed, bedside table and table with a Bible. There was also a shower and a few lizards glow in the dark on the ceiling.

I decided, go for a walk, such as the sun began to rise, gave it a noise like nothing I've ever heard that before. I went in the direction, that a solid that thundering sound, which beckoned me. I was just in time, displayed a silver line with amazement, that across the landscape seemingly endless stretched as if it were the edge of the Earth. It was the meaning of life. It was the sunrise over the Gulf of Guinea, and as I stand resulted Sunrise, that I literally atop a cliff 200 feet stand, where the rock out carved a path, which led down to the sand and met the ocean.

My life changed immediately, I was home. My soul knew that it was my opinion with the thought of history, pain, ancestors, slavery and freedom. I had returned the spirits of my ancestors as long as this country which put forward with me leave had. It was a feeling of such Bliss, a release of which I can not explain.

The smell of fresh baby powder filled the air. Where could the of come? Is an American and have never outside of America traveled, I just realized that smell as Johnson's baby powder. To my surprise, it was a flower which grew from the Hill. It in the wind blew and revealed the truth of all my American-based illusions of the products that we use in life. It was no longer a secret fragrance!

Tips for traveling abroad:

Requirements check always immunization and get the corresponding images.Never venture out alone, always find a native escort, they are very friendly and willing to visitors in any way, especially in the translation to support prices and offers, so you on not charged due to lack of local know.Take some time before travelling to extensive research in the field in which you want to travel. (The Internet is the best source of information)If possible a heads up on the language and explains commonly used words. Scout from banks, foreign exchange and message before your Anreise.Dauern you sunscreen tropical places, which takes at least eight hours, days and nights are any longer!Just a tip from my personal experience, once you in the morning out of step-make sure, your sunglasses as the Sun seems so bright if you wake up before sunrise and go, you hide can be with the brightness of the Sun.

Happy travel.

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My outward bound experience

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Als ich in der Schule war war ich sehr glücklich, haben die Möglichkeit, an einem freien Kurs teilzunehmen. Wenn Sie nicht sicher was das ist dann lassen Sie mich erklären. Es ist ein Feiertag, das alle Arten von outdoor-Aktivitäten wie Kanu fahren, Klettern, camping und Wandern.

Jeden Tag begann sehr früh und wir wurden von Bett und Kopf geradeaus bis zum See für ein erfrischendes Bad zu springen. Ich sage erfrischenden aber um ehrlich zu sein es war alles andere als erfrischend. Es war so kalt, dass sobald Ihren Kopf das Wasser schlagen Sie eine massive Gehirnfrost habe. Wären Sie nicht vor dem Dip wach waren Sie sicherlich nach.

Frühstück hatte würde beginnen wir mit einer Aktivität, die wirklich die Pumpen von Blut erhalten würde. Klettern war einer meiner Favoriten und in diesem Teil der Welt war es die perfekte Landschaft. Der Lake District in England ist vieles, schöne, große und ein idealer Ort für outdoor-Sportarten. Es ist wirklich die erstaunlichsten Spielplatz, wenn es darum geht, abenteuerliche. Nicht nur haben wir nehmen Teil in Dinge, die direkt an unserer Hintertür waren, hatten wir Reisen, die für Übernachtungen in der Wildnis geplant wurden. Ich erinnere mich, herausgenommen und in der Mitte der Landschaft abgesetzt und erzählte Sie morgen sehen!.

Wir wurden voneinander aber innerhalb der gleichen Art von Bereich und nicht für die Kommunikation mit jemand erzählte. Wir hatten kein Zelt, keine Watch, keine Bücher und hatte nur einen Gaskocher, einige dicken Kunststoff und genügend Nahrung zu uns durch die nächsten 24 Stunden gegeben worden. Obwohl Sie wusste, dass Sie vernünftigerweise Nähe waren konnte nicht Filz sehr allein und sicherlich sehen, jemand aufgrund der Hügel und Felswänden, die Sie umgeben. Es gelang mir, meine Make einrichten Shift Zelt aus der Kunststoff bevor es dunkel bekam und eine ziemlich einfache Mahlzeit vor dem Schlafengehen hatte. Es war wirklich die längste Nacht der mein Leben und ich war erstaunt und dankbar zu wecken, am nächsten Morgen. Durchkommen, die Nacht war ein großer Erfolg für mich wie ich war kein großer Fan von wird links auf meine eigene in der Mitte des nirgendwo und ich der Dunkelheit hasste.

Rückblick besteht keine Möglichkeit könnte ich diese Art von Urlaub jetzt aber damals ich war ziemlich fearless und würde springen Kopf lange in alles und jedes. Die Reise wurde entworfen, um Sie aus mit der Mutter Natur und nehmen Teil als Team, wenn es um die verschiedenen Aktivitäten. Es würde verbessern nicht nur Ihre körperliche Fähigkeit, sondern auch Ihre geistigen Fähigkeiten und wie Sie unterschiedliche Situationen behandelt. Ich liebte meine freien Kurs absolut und landete gehen drei weitere Male danach.

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Travel to Bhutan

Have you ever wondered how it would be to go to Bhutan? My husband and I went in 2008 with our son, who was two years old at the time. Bhutan is a small country in between Nepal and China. If we were, were completing an advanced Highway, that make easier and safer Thimphu and Paro, Bhutan, travel two major cities between the two links.

Paro is the smaller of the two cities and where you fly in Bhutan. It has a quaint village atmosphere, with a small main street filled with shops and hotels. The flight from Kathmandu to Paro is amazing, with the most incredible views of the Himalayas. The airport is the architectural beauty, of the commercial airline Druk Air run. Paro's airport is listed as one of the 10 most extreme airports in the world, known for his dramatic fall in the Valley and the short start and runway. The flight is actually really smooth, you circle and drop-down-on the runway of the airport pretty fast, but to the truth to say, I never felt nervous. It's like landing in a fairy tale Valley - breathtaking views and ancient dwellings on the slopes.

We visited family so we stayed in our family resort that was beautiful with all the Bhutanese landscape and traditional architecture. For a few days, we spent time in a cottage, which was right in front of the hills of the famous Taktsang monastery. Can you dance the monastery way up in the mountains, it looks so majestic and distant with the clouds to it most of the time. It is a day hike, you can take to visit it, half of the hike is on horse back, and the other half on foot. We went with our children infant, and it was also worthwhile value.

We spent our time in Thimphu, which is about one hour drive from Paro much. Thimphu has approximately 80,000 people, not including the surrounding areas. It reminded me of Vail, Colorado, it is to protect as a small town with high peaks. We went in may, and the weather was perfect; Crisp evening sunny during the day, with occasional rain showers, which last for long - Colorado in may not like.

As a mother, travel was my initial concern with a baby, where do I get the things the I for my child? Fortunately they have grocery stores of ours comparable, some of the names are different, but disposable diapers are available. The only thing that I highly recommend bring with you from home children Tylenol and error is dismissive. Those are easy to get in adult forms in Bhutan, not so much in children doses. It was not buggy, where we were staying, but there are warmer areas of Bhutan and if you venture you to one of those places some bug protection. You have boxed milk, which secure, powdered formulas and baby foods.

The city of Thimphu has a main road, with interesting shops and all kinds of providers is filled. There are restaurants and bars, even some hotels in the city centre. It is a warm and friendly town where the locals used to tourists to and help you if they can. Immediately the children in their school uniforms or the formal dress code of Bhutan, dressed like large numbers on the main square after school or on the weekends collect note. There is a major Dzong (Fortress) in Thimphu called, during the early 1200's built Tashichoed Dzong.

I was caves in the location, some of the historical areas of Thimphu, an old medical school/library, retreat, and visit the main Dzong in Thimphu. They were all magic places filled with so much energy it really like that go back in time. I am a nurse, so I wanted to see the hospital in Thimphu and look at how they did things. The most important hospital was a little crowded but clean and relatively organized. My biggest curiosity has been on the N.I.C.U. (neonatal intensive care unit). The nurses were very friendly and let you sneak me a quick tip in their unit. It is very small, but had new equipment (medical care, incubators) sparkling clean and wonderful care of the premature, I was really impressed.

We have also a 4-day tour in Central Bhutan. A guide will take you to a mini bus to different cities, stop in the picturesque cottages on the way. The architecture is great, the gardens are like nothing you have ever seen bright colorful flowers and huge old trees. The small farmhouses to the large dzongs, that dot the hills and valleys, was it a for the eyes, surrounded by hundreds of huge rhododendron trees, which look like they there since been ago. The animal I saw was fascinating - colorful birds, grey faced langur monkeys and yaks. The southern part of Central Bhutan is balmy and hot with a different type of jungle foliage, which I had never seen, gorgeous purple flowering trees, and lush grassy hills. Punakha Dzong was spectacular, you walk around you feel joined in a kind of a time portal.

The people we met on our trips were very friendly and we were engaging, home with wonderful stories and warm memories. Questions people often, if I would live there, I would, but then I'm a big fan of small towns. Bhutan is one of the most beautiful places, I have always been, I hope you get a chance to visit, it is really an amazing adventure. If you wish to travel to Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and more about, please visit our website intrekasia.com

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Mean 1968 Grand Tour of Europe

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My parents gave me a Grand Tour of Europe as an initiation into life, back in 1968. The export model Volkswagen bus, which cost $1900 new, was a gift which would later be sent home and travel the United States with me. My friend Randy and I started our trip in Holland, where we saw Anne Frank's upstairs hidden apartment, the famous "red light" district, numerous canals and tulips and learned all about how Edam cheese was made. Most of our trip, we survived on Edam cheese.

Anne's place and the girls of the night made quite an impression on us. In the museums of northern Europe, we viewed the art of Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Raphael, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, etc., to C?zanne, Picasso, Fra Angelico, etc. - yada, yada, yada. Before leaving Germany, we visited a huge beautiful stone castle from 853 A.D., Burg Hohenzollern, complete with three drawbridges and a moat. This place fit every image I ever had of a castle. The doors were ten inches thick! But a day that I'll never forget was visiting Dachau concentration camp. It's now a fully restored museum, but you get the idea of what it once was- full on Hell.

After seeing the gas chamber valves at floor level, a beautiful butterfly crossed my path in front of the massive crematoriums. This was like seeing Beauty and the Beast at the same time. Walking through the yard, billboard-sized black and white photos captured images of emaciated Jewish prisoners piled, dead and rotting. How can men commit such atrocities? Is there any hope for mankind? Is there really a God, and, if so, how could He let this happen? These were some thoughts I had upon leaving Germany. I was only nineteen years old and seeing so much.

After trying spaghetti in northern Italy, which was nothing like Mom's, we ferried over to Greece, reaching the ruins and Oracle of Delphi as our first stop in this ancient land. Over a bottle of yellow wine that resembled piss, an ancient Greek mariner prophesized to me. He had traveled the world and said that I looked like I came from Chile.

After scaling the Acropolis, where the 5th Century B.C. Parthenon sits overlooking the city of Athens, we drove up the western side of Italy, stopping at Rome, Pisa and Florence. The coliseum in Rome seemed to house most of the city's feral cats, as we visited it in pre-dawn early light. At the Pope's house, the Vatican, we saw the Sistine chapel frescoes where Michelangelo had painted the ceiling from scaffolding lying on his fricking back! Again, we did yet more museums that left us exhausted. These museums are huge all day affairs.

We were getting callous and burned out to the Masters of Western art. The underground Christian catacombs, however, were haunting and fun to explore. This labyrinth of tunnels, eight miles long, contained tombs and secret meeting chambers. A spooky feeling unfolded for me there. These early Christian sure could dig! There were 174,000 Christians buried around the Apian Way and Saint Sebastian, Peter and Paul were all buried here too. Now that's far out!

After visiting the leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice with its black canal water and Michelangelo's David and Pieta in Florence, we spent a long day at the Pompeii ruins outside of Naples. Volcanic Mount Vesuvius still looms in the background. Vesuvius erupted on August 24, 79 A.D. burying Pompeii in ash. This archeological city was huge. We saw frozen bodies of humans and dogs, screaming, as the volcanic ash turned them to stone forever. Pompeii affected us much like Dachau concentration camp had- memories that leave a lasting impression with some even frozen in stone!"

After driving through the Italian Riviera, we sampled Monaco and the French Riviera, before heading on to Barcelona, Spain. Here, replicas of Columbus's ships, the Pinta, Nina and Santa Maria, were docked for display. We were amazed at how very small Queen Isabella's ships really were. And we heard flamenco music here, too. The guitars and flashing rapedo boot heels really stirred our Anglo blood. I've always loved Spanish music and in both Italy and Spain, we heard Tom Jones's Dear Delia sung by everyone and recorded in numerous languages.

In Barcelona too, we saw the famous ballet team of Rudolf Nureyev and Joan Fontaine perform at night, in a bullfighting arena. He held the record for high jumping, long distance style ballet and in '68 they were both world-famous superstars receiving a lot of media attention. We were very blessed and fortunate to have seen them. Also in the same bull arena, we saw six bulls killed in the matador's death dance before 34,000 people. This was sad to watch but the crowd greatly enjoyed it. At least this gruesome sport had a happy ending; the orphans ate freshly killed beef that night.

In France, anti-American sentiment was strong. The Vietnam War was the cause. Graffiti of "Yankee Go Home!" was everywhere. This was strange when I saw the French wearing what appeared to be American Civil War caps. Poor Randy, my traveling companion, stood out like a sore thumb. He had that blondish brillo crew cut and apple pie look. I was usually mistaken for French, English, Jewish or Canadian. We had a Canadian flag on the van's rear view window, German tourist license plates and a Netherlands decal near the exhaust pipe, so nobody knew quite how to take us. After four years of French classes, where I was called Robere Rideaux, I tried out my new tongue. The results were insane. They understood me perfectly, but their sexy-sounding replies to my standard questions were so fast that I shut down. Let's stick with English, damn it! It's the universal language and most Europeans speak it anyway, along with four or five other languages. I should be so lucky.

The Eiffel Tower, the Citadel of Love, was fairly impressive from a distance. Up close it was very rusty and in need of a paint job. The Louvre Museum was one of the biggest and best yet. Of course, we saw a lot more Flemish masters, Madonna and Child paintings, Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and a ton of French impressionism. All the best the world of art had to offer! How very fortunate we were. I was having so much fun. Despite their lack of affection, my folks had indeed given me a very great gift. When I finally got mail, I realized that I missed my family immensely. This was my first real time away from home for so long, and being only 19 years old, I couldn't wait to see them again- especially my sister, Joyce.

We also took in the Follies Bergere and Moulin Rouge- the prototype original semi-nude stage shows that would greatly influence Las Vegas. There was an authentic forty-foot tall waterfall on stage with beautiful topless ladies descending down on ropes from above, all in feathery costumes. This was a royal night out for us. We even wore ties, a first for me, as they enforced a strict dress code. After Paris, we ferried over to the iconic white cliffs of Dover, England. That August night we saw those infamous white cliffs gleaming under the moonlight. Now we couldn't wait to finally try British fish and chips. We luckily found a vendor still open late at night. What a disappointment! Our greasy meal was wrapped in newspaper and the added vinegar made the ink come off all over our fingers, lips and food.

In London, we came down with the Asian flu which was very popular that summer of '68 but a real pain in the neck, literally. Our eyes felt like we had knives stuck in them. We'd tie our black dress socks around them to keep out the piercing light. We both had very high fevers and probably should have seen a doctor. But we just sweat it out in the van, taking aspirin and hotter Kool-Aid and tea. As a result of this flu, we didn't see much of London. We didn't see much of anything for awhile with those socks wrapped around our eyes.

I remember wandering around Carnaby Street, all spaced out after our illness. Here we saw the Beatle's Apple store, which had been previously painted in beautiful psychedelic colors. Now, it was all whitewashed over and had the word Jude scrawled across the windows. Was this anti-Semitic graffiti? It certainly looked that way, especially after the concentration camp tour and Ann Frank's house still mentally on my mind. No, it was soon to be one of the Beatles most beloved songs, Hey Jude.

Returning back to Holland, we picked up Randy's Texas friend Paul for the remainder of our European experience. He was a Mobile oil kid too. Now, we headed north through Germany again to Copenhagen, Denmark. Here we saw the famous Little Mermaid statue seated on a rock in the bay. She was donated as an art gift by Carlsburg Brewery, and later some fool decapitated her bronze head off. Is nothing sacred anymore? Carlsburg was very wealthy and a patron of the arts. His brewery had life-sized elephant statues supporting the entrance and gold plated handrails on the guided, gilded tour. We got roaring drunk in the tasting room and smuggled beer out in our jeans. We were just beginning our youthful experiments with alcohol on this trip. Randy was dry-heaving in a five-gallon bucket, as I somehow drove us to our campground. We were very lucky not to get a DUI in Scandinavia. Even in '68, one could get imprisonment and loss of driver's license for life! Here, drinking people took cabs; responsible drinking. I sure didn't know then that drunken driving would be the demise of my golden years.

We drank heavily again at Touberg brewery. But this time, we knew well how beer was made and could have cared less about the damn tour. We only came for that one free hour of all we could drink. To double our fun, we then did both brewery tours again, back to back. More vomiting resulted, but this time Randy wasn't alone, as Paul and I retched right along beside him.

After passing through Sweden quickly at night, we went on to Oslo, Norway and the Norwegian fiords. The people had that Viking look and the natural topography reminded me of my area of Washington State. In Vigeland Park, we saw many naked statues by the artist of the same name. There was a monolith about three stories high composed of piled up, naked sculptured bodies. Another couple of aging crones were on their knees, breasts sagging, looking up at the sky. These strange stone people reminded me in some ways of the real stone bodies we'd seen in Pompeii.

Also in Oslo, we saw Thor Heyerdahl's Kon Tiki raft in the local museum. Downstairs, we could view the small raft from underneath, in an aquatic mural setting complete with mounted fish. This raft actually fell apart at the end of Thor's voyage between Peru to Tahiti. Here it was authentically reassembled for display. It's amazing such a small raft actually crossed that large body of water. Thor's diary was there too, from which he penned his acclaimed book, Kon Tiki! Across the Pacific by Raft. Real Viking ships were on display too, but not quite looking as glorious as the Hollywood versions.

After ninety days abroad, I arrived back home a seasoned traveler, with a taste in my soul for more foreign travel. I found out that traveling is the greatest education, as you see for yourself how things actually are, instead of someone else's interpretation in a book.

In 1968 our world was still rather innocent and safe for travel. Today's world for an American traveler is far different. Even by '69, things had begun to change worldwide, especially due to drugs. I was lucky to see Europe in that window of opportunity I had. I will always be thankful to my parents, forever, for my Grand Tour of Europe. It certainly opened my eyes to the world we live in.

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An experience in Fiji

After a recent divorce, I was definitely at a crucial turning point in my young life of thirty years. Beginning of October 1979 Bruce and I fourteen hours of Nandi, Fiji flew. We had included an incredible introductory flight on Continental Airlines for $500, and return, with Hawaii, and get good for up to one year. While ' 79, Brooke Shields was filming the Blue Lagoon in Fiji. She would soon be our neighbor island wise. The first thing we was heard in Nandi airport Bula, Fiji for Hello. We had just made the aircraft entered a different world. The warm tropical night air felt so good after the freezing cold in the Pacific Northwest. With Fiji, fifty percent is Hindu, it is not irony that this town Nandi is named after Lord Shiva Bull. Even the capital city of Suva sounds like much Shiva to me. But these are only observations of a Hindu spirit. Who knows my opinion actually beat Fiji could.

One day in Suva's marketplace, Bruce and I ran to the luck in a very friendly outer island native, called Joe. He offered to bring us in his village of Gunu on the Naviti island in the Yasawa group. At first, we do not believe him. We needed passports to visit Government get. We were also committed by the Government, to take grog or kava, rice, flour, sugar and salt, carrots, bread, jam and peanut butter. In this way, not we would pressure put on their low income subsistence farming village. After all, we were way for a five hour journey on a copra or dried coconut long twenty-four crowded boat, Joe's Iceland of Naviti in direction. The total cost was $5,50. splashed us cold waves all day, we were tropfnass and we both wind get sunburn, with no visible Sun in the sky. On this thirty mile trip got my fingers actually deaf. This was the first time I cold had been since leaving in the Pacific Northwest. Because the waves were splashing me and I was shaking over and over, all I could think of was the possibility of the Hindu wife. On the back of my head I heard my mother say her mantra "Oh God, Rob". This idea had already provided me many local friends here. Bruce had a similar idea also - possibly a Rotuman woman get married. Rotuma is an island 300 kilometers north of Fiji and is allegedly taken note of the most beautiful women and the sweetest fruits of the South Pacific. Now thats a good one. Earlier, we had taken a few Rotumans. One, named Julian, our friend, planting this idea and also suggesting, that we in any case its beautiful island on our trip should see had become. It seemed like a good idea at the time, that marriage, what I mean, already was spirit as I by Hindu. I expected that a nice boy East Lady is a hip guy like me a great mate would be likely. Now I was out of the idea of mirror. Then I may be in Fiji could perhaps, fully or part time life. This was actually on my head on the rebound from my divorce. And the Rotuman women and their island to see, like a bad idea sound either not.

Finally, we saw Naviti stands out in the distance. The water here was so blue, splashing against our waists, as we waded ashore. This was a vision of Hollywood dreams were made from. No wonder that they are the Blue Lagoon here filming! Where is the music? This beautiful tropical scene blew me away. I totally forgot, as I plan a few moments was cold. Most tourists in Fiji never see this page of native life, unless they were we are invited in you. But that's a price for it too, payable as the physical aspect. After catching our breath on the beach, we started hiking up to five miles of jungle trails, see incredibly Vista views of the other islands in the Yasawa group and numerous white sandy beaches scattered in every direction with no tourists - the real Fiji. Soon it got dark on the track and following Joe was no easy task. To slip and slide in the dark, we met an other native, who had the most incredible bananas, that, that I ever ate. After his sweet snack, we took a bath in a black salt water lagoon with lightning flashes overhead. My god! Where are the dinosaurs? Coconuts were in the dark and bananas scattered everywhere, blowing with a warm wind to beat the band. This bath felt refreshing but I wish it had clear water instead of salt water. The time we Joe's village are achieved, had risen the Moon, casting glow over the most beautiful Bay, I had seen in Fiji. Bruce and I already felt as we will be a view of the sky were on earth or at least a different culture of our own. Here was a real paradise.

The next day, we took our grog/Yongona root or kava Chief Johnny. He appeared serious prayers the gods mana and Dina or happiness and truth, followed by steamed handclaps ordained us permission as part of their village. Then, Johnny thanked us. You must bring always Yongona when staying in a Fijian village, are accepted. In the days that followed, we tasted coconut milk, Green was our first Sulu or wraparound rock and learned, rare such as Palm baskets with much difficulty to weave. Soon our began fishing classes in the Blue Lagoon. The spear weapons were in fact an inner tube Strip in combination with a coat hanger. You can imagine how difficult it must be, to shoot a fish! You need to calculate the refractive nature of water.

Joe had doctors, scientists, engineers, hippies, and God knows otherwise still here in his village Gunu who remain. Joe is a holy man and physically, he reminded me of Mahavatar Babaji in his former incarnation. 1974, When my wife Jolene and I took a pilgrimage to Ecuador, we held back a little book with us titled, Hariakhan Baba known, unknown by Baba Hari dass. The cover photo of Mahavatar Babaji strongly resembled Joe. Who was this guy, Joe, to give us such an incredible experience? Maybe he was Babaji, unnoticed by us. Ironically, eight years later than my house burned, not burn the cover of this book!

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Excerpt from a geocache journal

Previously we have written about Geocaching and the fun experiences and adventures that wait for all interested parties including the use of global positioning system (GPS) get. The pleasure of the binding with family members of all ages can not over emphasize. First-person experiences always are written in a journal or divided by e-Mail überzeugendsten. Dean and his son went on such a geocache trip. Here shares he research the Ontario McGregor Bay and Lake Huron as he and his son trek to looking after Frazer Hill Geocache.

"We have decided last summer to a geocache to do Frazer Hill Geocache." It was a boat ride from a 100 km drive, then 14 km and then a 800 M to 500 M mountain hiking. "I was son and 2 dogs with my." To navigate the various routes, brought his Garmin 60Csx GPS Dean.

The Garmin 60CSx is a popular outdoor and marine GPS. Encased in a waterproof, rugged housing, has the Garmin 60CSx removable MircoSD card for detailed mapping memory. The unit can find a signal in dense foliage or deep gorges high-sensitivity GPS receiver ideal for geocaching. The 60Csx provides extremely accurate elevation data by its barometric altimeter.

Dean and his son began their adventure with his GPS in the hand. Dean describes the journey from beginning to end "Car was a beautiful scenic ride through the heart of the Rainbow country." The boat ride along the North channel of Lake Huron and the walk was the quartzite mountains. Our trusty GPS led us from home directly into the cache. "We had lunch on the mountain with a beautiful view overlooking Manitoulin Iceland on the one hand and McGregor Bay on the other."

About ten years adventure involved in this high-tech game of hide 'n to search on their GPS devices. At last count, the one million mark passed the number of Geocaching. There will be played in more than 100 countries around the world, and this number is growing as the popularity of the games will take.

Readers are invited to their GPS history, geocaching adventure or pictures of your GPS or RAM to share mount in action! Entries are welcomed from anywhere in the world. Get a free T-Shirt for approved entries with images.

Bradley Jacobs is a GPS enthusiasts and promotes the benefits of Garmin, TomTom, Magellan, Lowrance and other GPS system with unmatched online store experience available. With over 20 years of direct technical, marketing and customer service experience in the GPS industry, he is uniquely qualified to offer top level support. His preferred Distributor, GPS city Canada, sold to thousands of customers in Canada, the United States and around the world. They range from small businesses to many Fortune 500 companies. Universities and universities of applied sciences at the Pentagon, Canada's DND, military and other State institutions.

By:Bradley_Jacobs

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My journey lives on a kibbutz and Israel

From a very young age, I had always a longing to travel and see other parts of the world. After leaving school and working for a while, to raise some cash it was time, fly the nest and start my new adventure. I had heard about the kibbutz from a friend and decided, it a great place would, to my travel trip.

I had exactly what was involved in and how fast I could login to London down where their was headquarters to find out. I had presented a very long time interviewing process, but to my surprise I was sat in a room to watch a video about the kibbutz way of life and then back to the Office directed and was quiet asked, when you want to go. I was anxious to leave as soon as possible and was after all necessary papers Finally I wanted to begin my adventure.

Flight over position to a place that I had was too anxious, when I was traveling with a group of people I had never, taken, never, not really know what to expect. We arrived late and were all loaded on a mini bus took us to our Kibbutz, about was, one hour's drive from Tel Aviv. It was dark as we arrived there were to be seen no views, and the drive from the airport was the scariest trip I had ever seen. Thank God could not I see drive includes in Israel allows to blind corners and going top speed which will be on your way no matter. Needless to say, it was a relief to arrive finally safely.

Grab our bags was heruntergenommen one each of their rooms on the voluntary blocks and told a meeting in the dining room for a late-night snack before bed. It had a long day and we were all ready for a night's sleep, curious to see what tomorrow would bring.

Kibbutz life is living together in a community that all work together to maintain community of people. There are many different Kibbutz in Israel, each with their own way of doing things but fundamentally these communities are all the same. Our Kibbutz had produced chickens, eggs with free range five massive chicken houses have been imported into other places in Europe. It also owned land which produce food not only for the kibbutz also sell managed, but the most important source of income was a factory that produced water heaters. All these orders were the people in the community depends on their age and associated with. As voluntary, we have been in return for our work in and free food and accommodation.

My first job was in the kitchen as a dishwasher and working server and although it was an early start I really enjoyed it. The indigenous were friendly enough, but getting a little guarded and I soon realized why how many travelers would come and go and people do not want, to make strong bonds, which they knew would be broken as quickly. Had been in the kitchen for a month I moved to chicken houses to collect and prepare the eggs. This was the work that I stayed for the rest of my stay and absolutely loved it, we had a large group of people, all along, and after each collection we get, which are always in an egg fight ended got.

At night we all gave up it a communal space where the daily activities and tell stories with each other would collect about our own lives and experiences. There were people from all over the world who for what ever reason worked at the kibbutz then moved to their next destination. My plan was to remain for a year here decide where I wanted to but unfortunately my timing wasn't big next.

I came in August 1990, and while there were political problems that would soon result in the Gulf war this time. From January the war had started and everyone on the kibbutz given gas masks and what to do and where you go, when an air strike imminent informed had been. I remember that fear, but will at the same time excited, all news reports showed attacks on the capital cities and how we some were far away, seemed a it much safer here than you might think. The sirens would go off and everyone would have to be confined in a closed room until the all clear was given.

In retrospect, I have no remorse and some great stories for my future grandchildren but have at that time there was a time, scary, and I made the decision to leave before my year was increased. I had the best time and met many amazing, interesting and sometimes a little crazy characters and went to travel those I could only dream about many different places in the world, the experience.

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The California has officially ends drought

What does this mean for us? It is also impressive waterfalls, swollen Lakes and class V rapids in addition to the lush green lawns and long hot showers for your enjoyment. Record snowfall has in this season of California 3 years drought ended. The resulting snow Lakes and tributaries strongly good flows in summer. Some ski resorts reports that they deep snow cover July to all-time record in operation up to 4 will be. This will be a year to remember for boat trips, fishing, Houseboating, white water rafting, waterfall display and panning for gold. If you have already made plans not to use this Aquabundance, now is the time, and here are some good suggestions.

There are so many waterfalls throughout California, I can not in detail, each of them in this article. But I can bring are reminded of some essential, a visit to the value. Of course if you think waterfalls in California, immediately you think Yosemite. Yosemite Valley alone has several large waterfalls, including Yosemite falls is the highest waterfall in North America. Yosemite and Bridalveil falls are disabled is only a short distance from a parking area. Consider a hike to the mist trail to the Nevada and vernal falls. Just outside of Lassen Volcanic National Park in the Shasta Cascade is region of Burney falls. Burney is fed by an underground spring, the alkalis from the face of volcanic rock. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in throughout California. Also, camp sites and a recreation Lake with small boat rentals are at Burney falls State. There are several waterfalls around Lake Tahoe and a few are easily accessible from Eagle Bay Road (Hwy 89) on the West side of the Lake. Pay car park between d.l. Bliss and Emerald Bay State Park on the Eagle Falls. Rainbow Falls is located in the hinterland of Mammoth Lakes, California and is one of our favorites for scope. A shuttle from the main ski lodge on the Devils Postpile/Rainbow falls to catch starting point. The Devils Postpile alone is worth seeing, but most do not continue to the additional 1.5 miles available at the beautiful Rainbow waterfall. The way is about 4 miles out and return. In Southern California, the small community of forest falls has two waterfalls within easy reach of a car park. The stuff has to big falls is a major producer in this year.

It is a perfect time to go Houseboating. Houseboats are kind of like floating mobile homes with amenities including private room & bathroom, kitchen, living room areas, sun decks, hot tubs, SAT-TV, and much more. Many Houseboaters rent ski boats or sea Doos behind drag Lake for fun in the afternoon. Lake Shasta is timber of Houseboating in California with a total of 8 marinas, the houseboats for rent. Lake Shasta has over 365 km of coastline and secluded coves galore. Some parts of the Lake offer surrounded by pine trees, views of the towering Mt. Shasta in the North. But Lake Shasta is not your only choice for Houseboating in California; also Lake Havasu on the border with California, Arizona, California Delta East of San Francisco and new Melones & Don Pedro located lakes in gold country Lake Berryessa in the heart of Napa Valley wine country. All these lakes have something unique to offer and are worth a visit.

Lakes are their fullest in years and ideal for cooling off on hot summer days. There are leisure lakes in California, all of the Oregon border in the Shasta Cascade to the Mexican border in San Diego. A few of our favorites in the Shasta Cascade part of Shasta Lake and Lake Britton. Lake Shasta is huge and attracts many visitors with its variety of amenities the smaller Lake Britton easily canoe is navigable. Lake Tahoe is the behemoth of all California Lakes and offers a wealth of activities, including parasailing, dinner cruises and much more. Plus, its location on the border with Nevada rewarded with gambling casinos for alternative fun. Next below Interstate 395 along the Eastern Sierras are several Lake destinations as June Lake, Mammoth Lakes, California, and one of our favorites for the most beautiful in the State... Convict Lake. Convict Lake also has a restaurant that rival any posh dining establishment in the State for taste.

With so much snow melting noise down from the Cascades and Sierras, be rivers whitewater roller coasters. Forget about six Flags Great America and Disneyland - this is the real deal. Take many tour companies in almost two dozen rivers, streams and ravines in throughout California on one. There is something for every skill level. All statement & security systems is before provided. Lumber of downstream scenic American historic gold country or on your own in a class V sections is take elsewhere in the State. For the experienced Navigator, this should be an incredible year, that will not soon forget.

Wet years are notorious for successful panning for gold. Soil stir River raging waters and rock move detection stored gold, that have been hidden for decades. Do not believe all the gold during the gold rush... has been that it is believed, that only 10% was found found, and the rest waits still, to be discovered. Gold is found still every year in the foothills of the Cascades and Sierras. Good places to the pan of the Shasta region would cascade around the paradise and anywhere in the entire gold along Highway 49 rivers are country. Hook tips and river locations, which are sharp with a guide in Jamestown. The trick in gold country is River Access find, is not private property. Who knows, with gold value to higher than ever before, you will receive may be even a free holiday out of it.

California revealed is Californians that long a life to explore travel and California have moved out. We can give you local insight on popular destinations, but also let you know about the obscure, less traveled destinations, the only native of this State would know. This is not the most comprehensive collection of California destinations but, an extensive listing of places and adventures that are sure to please. Simply put, would we have a fantastic, memorable time you in California.

California destinations, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, activities and more you will find our Web site. We offer everything you need, including website links, maps, and contact information. Lists all the hotels and restaurants on our website get top consumer reviews, which helps your choices limit.

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New Zealand's top hiking trails

New Zealand holds the top spot for hiking, the hiking trails if she are long, are short and everything in between. Each one is rarely the network breathtaking and best of all. You may find some more traffic during the high season and reservations for which accommodation has, but if that don't like you require there are many more quieter alternatives. So, Pack your backpack, grab all of your needs, your walking shoes you put together and get ready to hit the hiking trails.

If you throw yourself questions which New Zealand is beautiful walks for you right, you look this comprehensive list and see which sounds the best.

Routeburn trail
It takes your breath away with dramatic mountain scenery, waterfalls, birds, and the Bush. It covers thirty-two miles over three days on an alpine saddle. A South Island vision.

Abel hike
If you are the coast of love, this is the right choice for you. You can go from three to five days and covers fifty one km. It is forested hills, pristine beaches, easy terrain, beauty you will never forget. In the summer bookings for cabins and campsites are an absolute must.

Milford trail
This way could easily be called the world's most miraculous walk. It takes usually about four days with a fifth added, but with no walking required. It is 53 kilometers from unguided breathtaking landscape. Booking is a must for the hut has.

Keplar trail
Sixty kilometers, three to four days and pretty simple site. Enjoy beautiful mountain scenery, Buchenwald, Bush, birds, Lake Te Anau and dramatic glacial Valley on this hike. Campsites and cabins are available, however reservations are in the October to April high season is essential.

Lake Waikaremoana
Fifty one km, three to four days classic North Island mountain splendor. Pristine landscape Bush, wildlife and sea. Reservations are required for this little gem all year round.

Rakiura
Thirty-seven kilometers and three days of the picturesque beauty of Stewart Island. It is a journey of bluff or Invercargill made easy. It is the southernmost trail available and it is a must.

Cape Brett
You can in this way: If you are afraid of heights. But if you be not ready for eight hours and sixteen kilometres of beautiful views. There are some difficult sections of forested hills, cliffs and ridges, and all with stunning views of the coastline.

Tongariro Crossing
This is an a days-hiking tour is located in the Central of North Island, and can very well be its Green the best available on this earth. The landscape is amazing and includes three active volcanoes, stunning views and beautiful lakes. Guided walks are available for this a. You must be in pretty good condition because it requires 20 km and a whole day.

Queen Charlotte trail
This Trek takes you into the opposite region, northern South Island, and guides you through the fantastic landscapes of the Marlborough sounds. Seventy one kilometer long way for three to five days with private accommodations and camp sites available.

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Plettenberg Bay, best place for tourists

The Western is in South Africa, Plettenberg Bay (Plett) Cape near the Knysna. About 30 minutes drive from Knysna or a 2 hours drive from Port Elizabeth. Plettenberg Bay, there are large long wide and white beaches. It attracts many tourists and travelers from all over the world. Many activities are available nearby. Play with the elephant in the cliffs. Walk through the forest by a guide and all the monkeys are told. Walk sunset with wild cats. All of this is provided in Plett.

Plett offers fantastic accommodation to. Can find a few highly rated 5 star properties in the area for the discerning traveller. In machungen you a tent in one of many sites on. In the city, there are a few backpackers who need all the amenities that you on your travels in Plett.

Getting to Plett is very simple. Simply follow the N2 from Cape Town or Port Elizabeth. Plett is a very safe city on the garden route. People travel for charity events and mountain forest. A major activity in Plettenberg Bay is on a boat, view the whales or dolphins. Take their journey would nature reserve and you would see even the seals that can live in the shallow waters around the peninsula.

Diving is also a big adventure for the visitors of Plettenberg Bay. Diving courses are available and after your course, you can go and some off the coast of Plett found the wreck diving. Boating on the Keurbooms River is a great way to spend the afternoon. There are many Hephaestus and cob to catch in the River. Remember, your fishing licence from the post office or local Parks Board Office buy thinking. Take a walk through the picturesque town. Plett has to enjoy good restaurants. What's great about the most restaurants in Plett, that they all have great views of the ocean.

Seafood is available in Plett. Enjoy muscles, oysters, fish, squid, shrimp and crabs. Plett has a large winery, you can visit. Sit in the vineyard and try some of the most amazing fresh fresh wines.

Plett is a best destination, that the whole family can enjoy. With many villas are b & BS, hotels and self catering establishments, simply select it, find good accommodation. With all activities in the field of the children more than enough to do to have also.

All I can say is Plettenberg Bay in South Africa is a fantastic place. I went down the long beaches and felt completely calm and rested, way of all, that is employed.

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Hit the road on a Safari, Florida

A visit to Tiefdunkles Africa conjures up Safari - the term. To wander through jungles and savannas, crowds in the back of an open truck or Jeep, peering through binoculars. Excited, you expect your first insight into one of Africa's "Big Five": lion, elephant, Leopard, rhino and Buffalo. But in a very different kind of Safari, from the comfort of a family hotel, Florida, also can explore your Wildlife Safari style.

Wildlife Zoo and shrines

Florida sets zoos of the land claim, one of earliest to ' open '. In the lion country Safari the tables as the visitors sit rotate limited, free life during the animals. Lions, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, monkeys, antelopes, and water buffalo are on the ground. This same open cage philosophy is adopted and adapted by many zoos around the world. In Florida you witnessed in some cases, such as the Pensacola Zoo animals in their natural environment behind protective fences and glass. You can take a ride on the Wild Safari line, a train that chugs through 30 hectares where more than 100 animals roam free.

Consider for one more kind of Safari, very unique, sail! The sea life Safari is operated by Clearwater Marine Aquarium you closely and personally get up with small and large underwater world. Their goals are simple – to run in the local species and educate you about it, while you enjoy the ride. To understand more about marine life, might you want to the Manatee observation and education center in Fort Pierce, or Manatee visit world in Fort Myers. You can both see wonderfully gentle "manatees" under close.

For a taste of the local wildlife, consider heading to Merritt Iceland. The national wildlife refuge in Titusville is and offers miles of hiking trails. You can watch the wildlife from strategically placed observation platforms. The hut offers protection for a variety of species including the rare turtles, birds, and Manatee. It is green sea turtles, alligators, Eastern loggerhead turtles also possible, an American, to see Florida scrub Jays and Eastern indigo snakes.

When primates more your thing, easily accessible from the your family hotel, has the perfect place - monkey jungle in Miami Florida. Here it is more than 30 species, of Asian macaques, tamarins and gorillas to lemurs possible, Brazilian golden, to see all hiking freely on 12 hectares (30 acres) of land. You play in the wild monkey swimming is a very popular pastime for children and adults to watch pool.

While staying at the family hotel, Florida offers plenty of opportunity, on a Safari looking after local and exotic wildlife. For the less adventurous, or with younger children, are traditional zoos in Miami, Palm Beach (Palm Beach Zoo), Melbourne (Brevard Zoo) and Tampa (Lowry Park Zoo).

Stroll through the Everglades

If you choose Safari in the Everglades, you must be a number of options. The Everglades include 97 km (60 miles) of the most stunning eco-system in the United States. A huge amount and variety of wildlife consists of this region of water, saw grass, sedge, and cypress. It is accessible hotel of many a comfortable local family. Florida encourages visitors to this world heritage site awareness, and experience to visit about his role in the environment.

You can also participate in guided tours at different locations. You can check out wildlife refuge Loxahatchee national for an introduction to the Everglades, or spend some time on the Everglades holiday park. At Loxahatchee national wildlife refuge any of the various hiking trails meander Cypress swamp Boardwalk, foot or take the canoe. This refuge is home to the rare American alligator and snail kite. The Everglades National Park offers you the opportunity to consider their animals up close. You can arrange for a guided tour or explore the Park on your own. On foot, bicycle or canoe your way through this national treasure with the whole family.

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The irresistible lure of the great barrier reef

Almost 3000 km (1800 mi) of North-East coast of Australia, shows the great barrier reef, the world's largest collection of corals and marine. An impressive garden of coral systems and cays with over 400 coral species and an abundance of marine life of some 1500 species of tropical fish, sponges, molluscs, rays, dolphins and sea turtles make this amazing marine park a snorkelling and diving paradise.

We have our base on Heron Iceland to discover a coral Cay at the southern end of the great barrier reef and an excellent location of family, the wonders of this amazing place. Here loved the children the endless coral garden in the right of the beach and the vibrant kaleidoscope of marine life. Is a paradise for nature lovers with a wide variety of bird life, including herons, Petrels and terns flocking the island. It is also one of the few places that can walk guided Reef and learn more about the ecology at the unique for the great barrier reef. It was the perfect destination for us to start our adventure.

We have from us for a day snorkeling car on outer reef. Once in the water, the rewards are immediate and we spent our first hour to the surface only in awe of the amazing reef below paddle. The reef was affected only by a slight hint of blue ocean with the brilliant colours of the corals everywhere, flat and stunning. Hundreds of vibrantly colored fish crossed in and around us. These fish are certainly used to the people around them, not shy! Some of the larger are we even touch.

We discovered anemones with clownfish in their clutches and Parrotfish chase each other through and around the coral. With each corner a new wonder appeared – were neon - we close with the underwater world here a sea turtle, giant clam on the sand below, a spotted cod, a huge Batfish, a school of fish!

Our filling for the day snorkeling had, we were Iceland, back in the direction of Heron on the way to a sandy Cay, one who stop many of which run along the surface of the water here. On our own private small island, we enjoyed our picnic. After a day adventure full, we went back to our lush paradise.

The great barrier reef has an irresistible draw for snorkelers, divers, and only someone curious about the wonders of marine life. There is no end what holds this marine park in the store!

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A traveler, not a tourist.

May be questions you, what is the difference between a traveller and tourist? When I travel I am a tourist. Now, I'm here to say there is a difference. There is more to embarking on an adventure in another country for only viewing, souvenirs, or sunbathing on the resort. This conventional mentality of traveling robbed just one of a really exciting and unforgettable experience. So what is the difference between a traveller and tourist? Let us first address, which is a tourist? A tourist by definition according to dictionary.com, means a person, for pleasure, usually travels sightseeing and stay in hotels. A traveller, is according to my definition, a person, who takes great delight in coming in contact with other cultures. A traveler is always looking for and opened to explore some function of a different culture. If that means that they go to Granada or Madrid take for hours in the structures of buildings, are trying the local cuisine, or strike up a conversation with a new friend, they do. In this sense is another feature, the part of a traveller from tourist sets that they enjoy interacting with people in another country. You communicate no fear with the local. In addition, travelers are learning usually foreign languages because of their appreciation for other cultures. They enjoy imagine preparation on their time abroad because they handle themselves in the position in the culture. Also would I have to say this is caused by passion for other cultures.

It is also the mentality helps a traveler to learn more and to see, what a country has to offer that as a result has in their personal growth. It also their general world know added and makes them more knowledgeable and experienced travellers. Abroad, a traveller wishes to absorb the positive aspects of a new country and sees it not only as a learning experience but all as an adventure. What I my an adventure is that they are open to unexpected events can occur at any time. They can unexpected changes, perhaps because of the new people in their travel make adjust or change their plans just on a whim, because they discovered have to decide otherwise would be interesting to see or to explore. In short, they are not limited to trips or their immediate surroundings, but travel in a country distance to everything it has experience to offer. With this mindset, you are sure to be a traveller and not the normal tourists, that is just famous sights during the taking of hundreds of images. You are to busy, friends, enjoy a cultural event, may speak the language with native, sits on a hill overlooking a city, or someone, dancing with the special which crossed your path that will leave you with lasting and unforgettable experience I think in the coming years.

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Top seven activities in Costa Rica, you on the wild side

Concerned that a Costa Rican Beach break for you could be a bit dull? Think again! Looking for thrills will find that a Costa Rican vacation can offer only the adrenaline rush and excitement you're looking for. Check our selection of the best bottom out, but remember that this list by no means all that is what is to think!

1. Surfing: no matter whether you a novice surfer or experienced surf pro, Costa Rica beaches have much to offer. It was a must-surf spot for years, due to the numerous surf beaches on the Atlantic and the Pacific coast and warm water. Surfers flock to Pavones in the South for one the world's longest left breaks, time Pais/Santa Teresa for cool waves and also cool vibes, Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean for the infamous Salsa Brava and many other places, where waves and atmosphere for the perfect Surfers Paradise!

2. Canopy: that you've seen enough Rainforest on the ground along trudging? Then you try it high way and zoom together! ZIP lining through and in front of the Green will take away the breath you literally as you fly on miles of cables, see the landscape in a completely new and exciting way! Canopy tours have all across the country in recent years emerged as Costa Ricans have recognized that tourists enjoy the combination of fear, speed, and nature. We recommend the established Center in Monteverde for security and for the sheer amount of their cable frightening!

3. White water rafting: hurtle down fast-flowing rivers through jungle on an inflatable raft - what is not, how? Tours are offered throughout the country, but which are considered the best Ríos Paucare and Reventazon. Rivers in Costa Rica are depending on season and rainfall from class II to class V. Get the water in June or July for a really wild ride! You have to be super fit or have prior to 20.30, but this activity is not recommended for all, a fair swimmer, is not only in the event of capsizing.

4. Snorkeling: simply put his head down, breath through the tube and amazed at the variety of fish and other sea creatures, which you can see, stand in and out of the coral reefs. It is so easy and such a fantastic experience! Check out's Cahuita National Park and Playas del Coco for clarity and coral action! Don't forget scuba diving: Registered PADI centers on both coasts can organise your first lesson of diving or your 100th trip down deep! Who would want to not next to clownfish and nurse sharks swim? Do have a strong travel budget, check out the unique tour, Cocos Islands, to dive with hammerhead sharks before a real pirate treasure Iceland! Excellent dive sites are easily discovered less extravagant budget-, Playa Ocotal and Playa Hermosa to the Pacific and Manzanillo on the Caribbean are perfect spots, sharks, turtles, manta rays and colorful fish in crystal clear water to see. Try the Isla del Ca?o in Drake Bay - sometimes as Costa Rica's best diving spot - where you can swim with dolphins and other marine life in waters that have visibility of at least 80 feet!

5. Bungee jumping: be a human yoyo! If the idea of yourself from high-altitude save only an elastic cord you from certain death to throw your idea is a good time, then look no further. Costa Rica most popular and long-established bungee jumps are the 200 foot free-fall from River Bridge or the hair-raising catapult option from the missile launch old Colorado or the 180 degree big swing in Jaco, as if the traditional bungee jump not scary enough!

6. Deep sea fishing: a company for those with a hunting instinct favorite! Wind in a catch large enough to your entire hotel feed and have leftovers! We're talking big fish! Control of blue water hook Marlin, sailfish and Tarpon, among other things. Even after home with the story of 'one', the way is not so bad, after a day full of relaxing on a sunny, blue ocean!

7. Horseback riding: during an extreme sport by any means, in the Gallop along a lonely beach can certainly get your pulse racing! Arrival in a waterfall, trekking to the crater of volcano or discover the perfect spot jump into the ocean, feels like a far more authentic adventure from the saddle. Horses in Costa Rica are mostly very clean, so that not the terrible feeling of guilt Assembly one bag of bones. She will not ride given hat that you consider may want if you holiday with children. Eye for riding Ridingtours are numerous ways to up for information on travelling to catch the best offers and most interesting routes and destinations.

Holidays have not too boring, relaxing! Take in the adventure of their lives with these outdoor activities, right here in Costa Rica. Sponsored by Vamos rent-a-car Costa Rica, proud protector and supporter of the local wildlife. For your own safety and fun, we strongly recommend booking tours with reputable and experienced company with proven safety of records and maintained equipment.

 

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The joys of a day trip to sandwich harbour as part of your Namibia Safari

Meeting other travellers with the same aim in mind in a café, heralds the start of a fabulous day. To be informed by a tour guide, everyone gets in a specially designed 4 x 4 vehicle, and so it all starts.

You drive past the Walvis Bay Lagoon some spectacular BirdLife will be considered. Passing the salt continue to mine the journey to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Here, due South and head for sandwich Harbour turn the vehicle. When low tide, the Guide directly on the beach with the crashing waves will drive barely a stone's throw away. Once past the defined fence, you are now correct in the Namib Naukluft Park. Sandwich Harbour is located on the most Western side of the Park, and is the only marine reserve in this park. Further along the coast, you could Cape fur seals and the occasional Black-backed Jackal can see. In General, if such a review, is the leader to stop and discuss in detail what is observed.

Closer to sandwich Harbour enter the correct dunes. Usually at this time the leaders looks for a suitable place to lunch food. The guide will set up lunch while you some time you have to track your legs. Tables, white linen tablecloth, plates and glasses await you on your return. The ride goes after a light but delicious lunch.

The reason for the ride in the dunes is, get a nice elevated spot, from which you can observe the total space sandwich harbour or lagoon. This fantastic view gives you unreal sense fly, see your environment while on a 50 meter dune. The lagoon with its light blue water, white crashes on the beach and the orange sand dunes almost vertical way in the sea are the surf as the wave, offers all an endless supply of pleasure for your eyes. If some birds are lucky, some with the thermal designs from the dunes, fly, to stay in the background of glide.

Be on the way back a few more dunes crossed and go through, to give you a real sense of how it feels to drive in the dunes. Exceed the salt-works in the vicinity of long Dune, you can have luck, be some Springbok or Strauss on the ground.

Although it is almost the end of the journey, the area will fascinate even you. Not with the same way, be back to take a look at the Kuiseb Delta East you. The last stop will be on the dune overlooking the salt flats. This bird's eye view shows you the different evaporation ponds, green and red color, with white salt in the large Kontrastn.

The day ends, if you back to the coffee shop to stop. Amazed, you will notice that a full day be gone. For a long time yet this experience will remain in memory. Sandwich Harbour is a place that will fill with complete ease of mind and soul.

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Milos: Greek island from colourful array of beaches

MILOS, Greece – The Greek island of Milos is less well-known than some of the others in the Cyclades group of islands, such as the world-famous Santorini and Mykonos. But Milos, a volcanic, horseshoe-shaped island about 160 kilometers southwest of Athens, is a perfect beach destination, and with no major ruins of note, natural beauty is the main attraction.
Otherworldly rock formations decorate its coasts and the Aegean Sea provides a collar of the palest blue-green water on powdery white volcanic-ash beaches. Its most unusual feature is an array of colorful sand belts, running from cream to black, with pebbles of nearly every color.
Some are reachable after a long and bumpy adventure on dirt roads that stumble through the island's rugged western hills. Some are reachable only by boat, spread out at the base of a cliff. Yet another is reachable by land, as long as you're willing to clutch a rope as you scale a crease in the cinnamon-hued cliff above.
One guide book put the number of sand belts at more than 70.
The island is big enough to consume four days of solid exploration, but small enough at about 150 square kilometers to yield at least some of its secrets in that time. You'll find plenty of Greeks and other Europeans on vacation here but despite the thriving tourist industry, massive ocean liners don't call and the stream of tourists from the small airport and passenger ferries don't overrun the island. There is bus service on the island, along with beaches that are footsteps away from restaurants.
Greece has been hard-hit by financial crises in the last 18 months, with occasional strikes and protests in Athens over austerity measures, and some shops closed in popular shopping districts as locals cut their spending.
But life in the islands, at least for visitors, seems far-removed from all that, and tourists in beach destinations such as Milos are unlikely to experience any disruption in their holiday related to the country's larger economic struggles. Still, the island isn't a fantasy land.
The real lives of the 5,000 or so year-round residents are more clearly on display here than on bigger tourist islands. The island's long mining history (including the mining of two types of clay, bentonite and kaolin) still defines many hilltops and feeds many families.
My wife and I recently spent four days on Milos, finding ourselves exhausted in the evening by our pursuit of the beaches, but glad we also pushed ourselves to do a few other things. We clambered up the castle ruins atop the lovely whitewashed Cycladic village of Plaka at sunset and also took time out for a scenic drive to the laid-back northern town of Pollonia, where we lunched on octopus at Armenaki restaurant.
The sunlit alleyways of the village of Tripiti are gorgeous, as are the brightly painted fishermen's boat garages slung along the water at St. Constantine on the northern coast. We also visited the volcanic pumice dunes that surround a small beach at Sarakiniko. At times, it looked like the moon, or a landscape covered in hastily whipped batter.
We stayed at a clean, small hotel about a five-minute walk outside of the lively port town of Adamas called Hotel Ostria. It is newly built, friendly and comfortable, not to mention sharply decorated. Its breakfasts were notable for the locally made pastries.
We also found a terrific meal at O! Hamos — loosely translated, it means "What an uproar!" — along the marina a short distance from the center of Adamas.
It's pricey, and the servers struggled to keep up with the packed tables, but the bubbly atmosphere and big courtyard made it a nice place to sit and talk — and write on the chairs as previous diners have done, if you like. Tender lamb chops and goat in lemon sauce cooked in clay pots made it a memorable meal.
Two of our days in Milos we rented a car and set out for farther-flung beaches.
We spent one exploring the western hills to find the tiny beaches that are at the end of winding and dusty roads, and tucked in the folds of the rocky coast — practically invisible until you stumble onto them.
When you go, fill the tank, pack plenty of water and food and don't hurry: The spider-webbing roads are poorly signed and barely maintained in spots.
If you have the time, it's worth the adventure to find the small, pleasant beaches, such as St. John, where there's shade and room to swim, although no amenities.
One day, we drove along the southern coast to the black volcanic sand beach of Gerontas. It's easier than some others to find, but you'll need a sturdy pair of shoes for the walk. From a dirt lot above the coastline, we followed a mining company road before clambering down a ravine to this soft sand beach.

It's big enough to allow 30 or 40 people to feel secluded, while the rocky cliffs provide shelter and a little shade. The swimming is easy in the calm waters, and there are rocky caves, outcroppings and even an arch for entertainment.

Guided beach tours in Milos, some by kayak, some by boat, are big business. And for good reason — a lot of the beaches worth visiting are only accessible by boat.

After eating at one of the bustling tavernas that jostle for space around the marina in Adamas, we surveyed the many tour boat operators who set up their billboards side by side to market their services, all for about $72 (50 euros).

We were immediately attracted to Elias Xidous, a smiling, hardworking man who clearly took the quality of his clients' experience seriously, and it showed in the deliberate way he described his service.

Elias took us and about 15 other tourists, mostly Greek, on a beach-hopping tour of Milos' southern coast on his 15-meter sailboat, "To Oneiro," or The Dream.

We pushed off in the morning from the splendid, colored pebble beach of Paleohori on the island's southern coast (trips start at Adamas, unless it's windy, which it often is on the island's northern coast).

First, we stopped at Gerakas, reachable only by boat. The cream-colored kaolin cliffs pour into a smooth, narrow strip of beach, and the beach's shelter from the open sea makes swimming there a pleasure in gin-clear water.

We took about an hour there to frolic. If you decide to spend longer there, you have to be prepared for a lack of shade and a lack of amenities, other than peace and beauty.

We spent much of the day at Kleftiko, the southwestern point of the island where caves there were once used by pirates as hideaways, according to Elias and guidebooks.

Languid rock arches and other curious formations help create a dreamy, fantastical cove that, like Gerakas, has a narrow, pillowy strip of beach with opportunities for shade. You won't be alone: Tour boats come and go, each pulling up for an hour or two to take it all in. Elias even leads an entertaining, if unspectacular snorkeling jaunt.

Lunch was seafood in a red sauce over pasta — prepared in the boat's below-deck kitchen — and the evening snack included cheese, olives and ouzo. Not bad.

Along the way and back, there are tiny beaches, caves and strange noses of rock — not to mention mining operations that offload onto tankers that pull up next to the kaolin cliffs.

By the time Elias pulled the boat back into Paleohori, the sun was shedding a copper hue on the island, and a day in the sun and water left us drained and invigorated at the same time.

___

If You Go

MILOS: http://www.milos-island.com . About 100 miles off the coast of Athens, Greece.

GETTING THERE: Fly to Athens, Milos, or the tourist island of Santorini. Ferries or boats sail to Milos from the mainland port of Piraeus (near Athens), Santorini and many other Greek islands. Check boat and ferry schedules at http://gtp.gr or http://danae.gr . Flight schedules are at http://milostravel.com.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotel Ostria, http://ostria-hotel.gr or 011-30-22870-21920. Rates vary by season. 2011 rates for two guests: $129 (90 euros) for May 1-June. 15; $172 (120 euros) for June 16-July 15; $215 (150 euros) for July 16-Aug. 31; $143 (100 euros) for Sept. 1-30.

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Boston Science Museum offers Segway Tours

BOSTON-Boston Museum of science exhibits on natural history, dinosaurs, space and electricity, has included all four walls.

Paul Fontaine, Vice President for education, has for years wanted to expand on the brick and mortar addition. He got his wish Friday with the launch of the Museum of the science of Segway experience, an outdoor tour of the area near the Museum using the gyroscopic, two-wheel transporter, itself a miracle of science.

"We have all this science and technology of the human world packed within a few miles of the Museum," Fontaine said. "It was just a natural extension of what we already do."

The parks and coast around the building are full of native flora and fauna, and the Museum Institute directly across the street from the Massachusetts of technology in Cambridge, the birthplace of some of the greatest scientific achievements of the country, Fontaine said.

"There are surprisingly many species of birds, making their living space right in the city," said Fontaine.

The Museum a fleet of 30 Segways bought each with bright red wings and the Museum logo on the wheel covers,. It is planning as the weather improved and word out comes on four tours of six persons per day on the first, hopefully rising.

Employees have Segways for years inside the Museum as art mobile information kiosks used, but this is the first time they visitors available.

The tour, $60 for Museum members and $65 for non-members, was in the works for about a year.

"It was a natural fit," said Mary Beth Alosa of Segway of Boston, an authorized dealer. "they came to us and we said these two let us together and see how it is received."

The one-hour tour starts across the street from the Museum to the North Point Park, where guides of the flora and fauna including geese, coots and Red - tailed hawks point.

"Employees of the Museum a white bald eagle here fish saw," said tour manager Evan O'Brien.

He pointed out that the large tract of land in the area was colonial era and has been filled. In fact, said O'Brien, area as Lechmere was once a swamp of Cambridge known and is French for "Sea of leeches."

O'Brien enters another modern innovation, IOS, to illustrate his talks with pictures and historical maps at stops along the way.

MIT was not involved in the planning, but the tour has the University blessing. The leaders point out different locations on the campus, including the birthplace, of the building, the the cyclotron nuclear medicine and the 54 i.m. Pei designed building houses.

The tour of course is supposed to be fun, and is the site of many University pranks on to MIT on the famous dome,. Creative MIT students have in the past baffled the public by you somehow a replica of the lunar module, a fire truck and even the TARDIS time machine from the British TV show "Dr. Who" on the dome.

The tour highlights including American history, including the period in which British troops landed after crossing Boston Harbor before the long March to the battles of Lexington and Concord from their boats.

And of course the leaders talk a bit about the inner workings of Segways, seem remarkably intuitive machines that defy the normal rules of the balance.

In fact, before the Museum can someone on a Segway, they need a half hour training.

"The No. 1 priority is always safety," said O'Brien.

The tour is likely as Museum finds out what visitors like and staff develop aversion. But the ultimate aim is for visitors to enjoy themselves.

"Segways only really are fun," said Shad.

___

If you go...

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE SEGWAY EXPERIENCE: one hour Segway tour of Cambridge, mass., by the Museum of science, is located in 1 Science Park. Tickets from http://www.mos.org or 617-723-2500, $ 65. At 10 a.m., 11 a.m., lunch daily offered must 1 am participants at least 14 years old and weigh between 100 and 260 pounds. Persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

 

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Debt hit Ireland offers better deal for tourists

DUBLIN – When Kelly Tetterton went online to research her family's first big holiday escape from Chicago, her heart said Ireland. But her head worried it would involve too much hassle and money.
She got a pleasant surprise on both counts — and a weeklong vacation that earned rave reviews without breaking the bank.
Tetterton, her husband Peter and children Meredith and Alexander found their ample $5,000 budget stretched all the way to top-end seaside restaurants, a night in a five-star castle, even a walk through medieval woods with trained falcons at their beck and call. All was easily previewed on the Internet and confirmed by warm, welcoming hosts.
A few years ago, the trip could easily have cost 50 percent more, been harder to book, and been met with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude that characterized boomtime Ireland. But today's property-bust Ireland is the biggest financial disaster in Europe, a crisis that has hotel rates tumbling and the trip-planner in a position of strength not seen in Ireland since the early 1990s.
"We were offered a thousand choices of where to stay. Peter and I narrowed each location down to two or three choices, expecting to find the best places booked up. But everything was available. And wherever we arrived, everybody was expecting us," said Tetterton, an executive at a website design firm. "And staying in a castle was just freaking awesome."
Ireland's long been one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, particularly for Americans, some 40 million of whom have Irish heritage.
But as Ireland enjoyed unprecedented prosperity during its Celtic Tiger boom of 1994-2007, the tourist experience suffered. Particularly at the tail end of the Tiger, many tourists experienced sticker shock and agreed with acerbic locals that Ireland had become "the Ripoff Republic."
No longer — or at least, not necessarily.
Prices are still alarmingly high in tourist hot spots, like the castle town of Kilkenny and the pub-crawl paradise of Galway, and plenty of restaurants throughout Ireland charge way too much for second-rate fare. But visitors who do their homework can travel for a hefty discount versus the record-setting tourist year of 2007, when 9 million visitors came — double the population of Ireland itself — among them 1 million Americans.
Those willing to haggle by email will fare even better. Don't be shy. Ireland needs your business.
"We need to get the message out there that we're not as expensive as we were. Because of our difficulties, things will be a little bit cheaper and visitors will get a better welcome than in the past. And we have really good hotels at a very low price," said Ireland's brand-new tourism minister, Leo Varadkar, himself the Dublin-born son of an Indian immigrant.
The reason Ireland's hotels tend to be so new and competitively priced — the cheapest in western Europe, according to a March industry survey — is because of the nation's spectacular property boom and bust, which was more severe than any U.S. housing market.
The previous government offered excessive tax breaks to property tycoons to build hotels with millions borrowed too easily from Dublin banks. Hotels sprung up like mushrooms, often in the middle of nowhere special, and sometimes amid urban decay — dubbed "Hanoi Hiltons" by Dublin wits.
The property market has since imploded, with hotel speculators and banks in bankruptcy. More than 350 hotels now belong to the government and foreign banks, with below-market nightly room rates of about $71 to $114 (49 to 79 euros), even in the heart of Dublin.
This means opportunities for savvy travelers — and risks of disappointment for those who simply look for the cheapest price. Some of the seized hotels have creepy locations, few customers and iffy service. Others are the market-leading bargains they claim to be.
Telling the difference is easier with help from one of Ireland's established coach-tour operators, all of whom are engaged in a discount war. Tour buses are the cheapest way to cover the most ground without crashing into a hedge, sleeping sheep or another bus.
"Some of the bank-owned hotels are eerie. No service, no customers, just a rock-bottom price," said Terry Flynn, who has operated his own travel company for 46 years. "I wouldn't put my groups in any hotel or B&B I wouldn't enjoy staying in myself. If you want a cheap value, fine, but it's not my cup of tea."
Flynn, who is based in the southeast city of Waterford and has a U.S. office in Minneapolis, admits his bookings this year are "an absolute disaster."

Increased competition for less trade has obliged him to cut package prices for self-drive tours and chaperoned bus tours. His latest website deal offers a rental car and six nights' B&Bs across Ireland for two for $860 (596 euros).

Flynn thinks admission to some attractions like museums and country estates are still "over the top," but dozens of U.S. tourists interviewed by The Associated Press recently said they expected Ireland to be even more expensive — partly because of the exchange rate of the weak dollar against the euro.

"Prices aren't much different than downtown Chicago. But everything ends up 40, 50 percent more expensive right off the bat because of the exchange rate," said Linda LeMaster of Muskego, Wis., who spent a week traveling with her two daughters through Ireland by tour bus as a 30th-birthday present for one of them.

"Experience-wise it's totally worth it. But if prices were any higher, you probably would have to think hard about coming unless you're made of money," she said, standing outside the Guinness brewery, a top Dublin attraction.

In Milwaukee, for example, beer can be had for $2 a pint on tap — a third the going rate in Dublin.

But her birthday-celebrating daughter, Laura, who wanted to see Ireland because the movie "P.S. I Love You" was partly set here, was not disappointed.

"Ireland is just as beautiful in reality as it was in the film. Every time I look out the bus window, it looks like a postcard. It looks like `P.S. I Love You'!" she said as the group burst out in laughter.

Inside the brewery was another pair from Wisconsin, realtor Lisa Gramann and firefighter Joe Pluta. Gramann, who planned their trip online with a $3,000 budget, deemed the Guinness gift shop "certainly a ripoff. But I'm crazy jet-lagged and just had my first pint, so I'm easy prey."

The brewery tour costs about $22 (15 euros), capped by a lone pint on a rooftop glass-walled bar that offers Dublin's best panoramic view.

They were renting a car and had booked a cottage in the County Clare village of Corofin, midway between Galway and Limerick. The cottage was a bargain at just $289 (200 euros) for the week, but they had time to stay only three nights before heading south to County Kerry.

Up in the rooftop bar, Microsoft engineer Tom McCleery had finished the tour and his pint, and was futilely trying to order a second. Nearby, another tourist evidently with a low Guinness tolerance was walking straight into one of the glass walls.

"This must be the only bar in Ireland where they charge you 15 euros for a pint and then won't sell you another," said the Seattle man, who was in Dublin tagging along with his girlfriend on business. He'd been in Dublin in 2007, when the Celtic Tiger was still roaring and the city brimmed with confidence.

This time, he said, the taxi driver regaled them with tales of economic woe while driving in from the airport, on topics from the record-high cost of gas to unprecedented competition from immigrants and other jobless folks joining the cabbie trade.

"He really gave us an earful on the way in," McCleery, adding that "if nothing else, taking a taxi ride in Dublin is probably the cheapest theater ticket in town."

For Kelly Tetterton and Peter Byrnes, their weeklong tour from Dublin to Wexford, Kilkenny to Cork, Galway and back featured a series of moments and moods that will linger in their minds for years to come.

On the first day, they drove northwest of Dublin to Newgrange, a prehistoric underground temple designed to catch the winter solstice sun for a few fleeting minutes each year. Inside, they stood in pitch blackness as a local soprano sang a haunting Celtic ballad. The guide switched on a distant 40-watt bulb that simulated the moment when the sun crawls down the narrow corridor to the central chamber.

The $22 (15 euro) family ticket, plus gas, was money well spent.

"It was touristy, but it gave you chills all the same. We didn't think anything could top that, and it was the first day," Tetterton said.

Four days later they were on the far side of the island in misty Connemara, near the village where John Ford's "The Quiet Man" was filmed 60 years ago, taking a "hawk walk" — two hours hiking through the woods with trained falcons and a falconer — for $94 (65 euros) a head.

"It was super-crazy expensive, and worth every penny," she said. "Walking through the woods of Ashford Castle with a hawk on your arm, waving them off, calling them back ... was genuinely fun and unique."

___

If You Go...

IRELAND: Irish government's U.S. tourist discount site, http://bit.ly/5g7dYY

WALKING TOURS: Guinness podcast walking tours of Dublin, http://bit.ly/g4vN3A

IRELAND'S SCHOOL OF FALCONRY: Located at Ashford Castle, County Mayo, http://www.falconry.ie/. Videos: http://bit.ly/gYLpi1

DISCOUNT IRISH GOLF FEES: http://bit.ly/fkUk9H

TERRY FLYNN TOURS: http://www.terryflynntours.com. Suggested driving routes, http://bit.ly/epd9Sw

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Portugal's crisis could mean bargain for tourists

Covered ZWISCHENRUFE by HAROLD and BARRY HATTON, associated press Harold and Barry Hatton, associated press - APR Tue 12, 11:58 pm eastern standard time
Lisbon, Portugal Portugal, is one of the poorest countries of the eurozone, embedded in debt, barely has a functioning Government and is a common kind of rescue package one Greek received expected by June. But travelers ready to jump on board this economic roller coaster could find small enough to tour in a week bargains in a country.
While periodic strikes train and u-Bahn absorbed have disrupted transport in the last year as Portugal's financial problems, the work stoppages with much notice on known were given when they begin and end. And almost no one expects strikes in August, because the Portuguese even on vacation.
A week in Portugal is much travel port city to try Lisbon's historical wonders, then by train to Porto, an other Atlantic and press during a visit to a winery. Within this period, you could do Sun and sea on the beaches in the southern province of Algarve.
Arranging everything is pretty easy online because most sites English sections and the Portuguese usually decent English speak - in contrast to many of their neighbors in Spain. It is a part of the legacy of Portugal's historical links with Great Britain back centuries, and the fact that all movies and TV programs originally made in English Subtitled go and not synchronized.
"Portugal for a long time the ideal destination for U.S. travelers," travel said British writer Simon Calder. "It is the wild western edge of Europe, with a scattering of the Atlantic Islands, a fascinating history and beautiful landscapes." The kitchen is world-class, the climate benign, the warm welcome. And it is the ideal place for every American an European trade this summer.
Pousadas - villas and castles in this luxury hotel is in a chain of historical buildings palatial comfort easily accessible where online booking offers for as little as $108 (offers 75 Euro) per night with a discount of 15 percent for those 55 or older converted. Regular hotels charge less.
For hearty Portuguese meals with dishes such as Feijoada (bean stew) and Cabrito (goat) you basic local restaurants Tascas called up the best bargain lunch across the nation. The menus always have cod (stockfish) - a staple of Portuguese traditional Portuguese dishes with plenty of fresh fish from the Atlantic Ocean as well dried, salted.
Menus outside of meals of the day with Tascas are posted in Portuguese, but usually is a waiter or fellow diner who can help with a translation. If not, you get adventurous and choose only a few options. Lunch from 1 pm goes for about $10 (€7) for two courses plus dessert, includes a glass of wine, beer or water in bottles.
Lisbon itself is an architectural jewel, with old St. George's Castle (Castelo de São Jorge) and fortified medieval cathedral overlooking the beautiful estuary of the Tagus, one of the most powerful rivers of Europe. Christian soldiers, the castle of its long-time North African took Arab occupiers in the 12.
The Cathedral is a rare survivor of one of the deadliest earthquake in history - a massive Temblor of 1755 and subsequent fire which destroyed the city. As in Japan, threw a huge tsunami building back, on the River, killing tens of thousands of people and destroy to devour one of Europe's most prosperous cities of much of that time.
While one recently said tour of the Castle, Briton Laura Millward, 30, as it has Portugal and Lisbon deserve to be better known, are due to its cultural attractions and good food. "Compared to places like Italy, it is not really expensive at all."Even the not so expensive, she said tourist places.
The modified lower areas of the city, Baixa Pombalina, an atypical has to simply control grid pattern of streets with decent hotels from about $54 of a night (38 euros) per night, making it an ideal starting point for exploring the capital of a country the Romans once Lusitania called.
Lisbon, $30 (21 euros), and you enters the 318-kilometer (198-mile) train journey to Porto for about at the end of Portugal the second-largest city - 1996 a UNESCO World Heritage site explains. Highlights are its churches, a 14 Romanesque wall around the old town and its bridges over the river mouth of the Douro River.
There are port abundance in Porto, but wine lovers should to the actual wine region upstream centered in the town of Pinhão.
Trains go directly from Lisbon to Pinhão, but a relaxing and scenic route is due to the Porto Pinhao boat pass on the winding river the broken slate steep slopes where the grapes purple black used for port polka.
The ferry leaves every Saturday at 7:45 pm and breakfast, port and lunch the price served on board during the trip, which delivers you to the Kai Pinhao at 7 am is about $151 (105 euros) per person. Children travel for free until the age of 2 years and 50 per cent increase from age 3-11.
Pinhão contains the luxurious Vintage House Hotel in an exquisitely restored 18th century villa, a night offers the special offers from about $125 (86.50 EUR). Breakfast is available for about $74 (51 euros) per night, including cheaper accommodation in Pinhão.
To find an amazing example of the historic buildings the monastery Mosteiro is Batalha da about 150 kilometres (93 miles) North of Lisbon, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It of Lisbon and entrance is free for the one-way trains and buses head.
In Lisbon, travellers should the famous doll hospital in Figueira Square, head of the treatment with children, and especially girls, "dolls since 1830 of was has". Visitors see damaged dolls put a small elevator, which repaired about costs them down to a workshop for Basic $6 (4 euro). The dolls are later completely renovated on the elevator. Repairs of antiquity dolls are also offered.
After taking in as much of the history of Portugal, it is determined mainly by British tourists a time, head to the beach - in the last decades. The southern coast of the Algarve is the most popular where many hotels and basic hostels from around $36 (25 Euro) there is a night. Villa for rent in abundance, and tipi tents are available also for those, who want more contact with nature.
Arrival from Lisbon to the Algarve cost around $24 (16.50 euros) with the train.
____
Harold heckle reported from Madrid.
____
If you go...
PORTUGAL tourism: official website: http://bit.ly/gzS7EI
Lisbon: http://bit.ly/hghkJH
PORTO: http://www.portoturismo.pt/
ALGARVE: http://www.visitalgarve.pt/
POUSADAS: Converted country houses and castles, hotels: http://bit.ly/i9ttIq
Web: http://www.cp.pt

AP Travel Features

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Reconstruction of resorts Casino a hard and expensive task

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – In Resorts Casino Hotel's Superstar Theater, a rotating disco ball bathed the crowd of middle-aged women and senior citizens in dazzling shards of light as David Cassidy sang the Partridge Family hit "I Think I Love You."
Around the corner at the buffet, a simulated flash mob dressed as casino workers suddenly appeared, dancing around — and sometimes on — diners' tables while singing OutKast's "Hey Ya!"
These events marked two extremes of an effort aimed at the same goal: to win back business at the nation's first casino to open outside Nevada, one that came within days of closing last winter.
Rebuilding Resorts is proving to be a difficult, expensive proposition, even as it shows initial signs of success. The casino is handing out wads of cash to new customers, its hotel rooms are cheaper than discount motels during the week, and it's entangled in lawsuits with the former owners, a utility company who briefly cut off heat and air conditioning over a half-million-dollar unpaid bill from the old owners, and several cocktail servers who were fired after it was determined they didn't look sexy enough in revealing new costumes Resorts is making them wear.
"It's a great thing to bring additional business in, but you can see how costly it is for us," said Dennis Gomes, the veteran casino executive who bought Resorts with New York real estate magnate Morris Bailey. "The benefit is for the long term. Believe me, it's stressful."
Bottom line: the casino is still losing money, just not as much as before. Gomes predicts Resorts could turn its first monthly profit under his management in July, and expects to break even for the year.
When it opened its doors on May 26, 1978, Resorts became the nation's first casino outside Nevada. For years, it was fantastically profitable. But as more and more casinos opened in Atlantic City — there are now 11 — Resorts' share of the market fell. By the time casinos started opening in the Philadelphia suburbs in late 2006, Resorts was already in a steep decline, an afterthought for all but the bus-riding senior citizen slots player that remains its typical customer.
Gomes has a long career in the casino industry, with management jobs at the Tropicana Casino and resort (where he famously made a tic-tac-toe-playing chicken into a top draw), Trump Taj Mahal Casino and Resort, the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, and Hilton Nevada's properties. And his tenure as Nevada's top casino corruption investigator was chronicled in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film "Casino."
So when Resorts' previous owners, the Los Angeles hedge fund Colony Capital LLC stopped paying their mortgage and turned the casino's keys over to their lenders in 2009, Gomes saw an opportunity where others saw a money pit caught in a death spiral. He and Bailey, who had tried to open a casino in Pennsylvania, bought Resorts for $31.5 million, a fraction of the $140 million Colony paid for it in 2001.
The first thing he did was slash expenses, mostly payroll. The 2,000 workers on the payroll were all made to re-apply for their jobs. Ultimately, more than 200 were laid off, and nearly 500 others had their pay slashed by as much as 52 percent.
When Gomes took over, it soon became clear just how far things had fallen at Resorts. The casino's revenue from slot machines and table games was down 19 percent since the beginning of the year; it was taking in less than $436,000 a day, compared with $538,000 a day a year earlier, ranking it 10th out of Atlantic City's 11 casinos.
Resorts posted a gross operating loss of $18.5 million last year, a worsening of nearly 41 percent from 2009.
"It was like a ghost town," Gomes said. "On a Friday night, there was nobody in this place. On a Saturday, it looked like what you would see on a weekday. It was totally depressing. I thought, "How the hell am I gonna fill this place up?' "
The first step was dreaming up a new identity for Resorts, taking what was widely considered a liability — the building is 90 years old and smaller than the most successful casinos — and trying to turn it into a plus. Gomes and his staff rebranded Resorts in a roaring `20s theme, in part to capitalize on the success of the hit HBO series "Boardwalk Empire" about Prohibition-era Atlantic City. Because the place was built in the 1920s, it didn't need a makeover to fit in perfectly with the new theme: the marble floors and polished brass fixtures are luxurious reminders of that bygone era.
A strolling violinist was hired to serenade customers as they walk through the lobby, and a stilt-walker in a giant zoot suit reaches way down to shake hands and pose for pictures with bemused visitors. Blanche Morro, known as "The Singing Bartender," mixes drinks while belting out requests.
But the roaring `20s theme bought Gomes trouble when it came to the revealing flapper costumes that the cocktail waitresses soon must wear.
Fifteen female servers were fired after a modeling agency hired by Resorts determined they did not look sexy enough in the new outfits, and several of them sued, claiming age and sex discrimination. One of them claimed having to strip almost naked in front of female co-workers and squeeze into an ill-fitting costume for the audition "`was the most embarrassing thing I've ever had to do."
Gomes said the costumes are an indispensable part of Resorts' new image.

"We tell the employees it's like you're actors and actresses; you're performers and you've got to be onstage, helping customers feel like they've stepped back into the 1920s," he said. "If you took a survey, probably 70 percent would say this was done fairly, and that it should be the right of any business to try to maximize their profits. The fact that we offered (waitresses deemed unattractive in the new costumes) other jobs shows we were fair."

The next order of business was getting more bodies through the door, and Resorts opened the promotional spigots full-blast. It drove gamblers to the casino and back from New York City and Long Island in luxury mini-buses for $5. Hotel rooms went for $29 on weekdays during the winter. The casino gave away 150 free rooms to Philadelphia Phillies fans at a parking lot tailgate party before the team's season opener.

In keeping with the 1920s theme, Resorts prices its buffet at $19.20 seven days a week, including all-you-can-eat king crab legs and shrimp that still make Gomes cringe when he sees customers loading up their plates. And one of the casino's restaurants offers a full steak dinner for $2.99 after 11 p.m. — a meal that goes for $20 or more at other casinos.

One of the most successful promotions is also one of the costliest: Resorts will reimburse the first $100 of gambling losses for new club card members on their first visit. Gomes says the casino is adding 1,000 new card members a day, but won't say how many they have in total; that's information that casinos tend to closely guard for competitive reasons.

Resorts also is remodeling 480 rooms in its Ocean Tower. That's something Jake Brown of Alexandria, Va. feels is badly needed.

"Our room looks kind of old," he said during a recent visit. "The bathroom, especially. Old tiles, old tub. And the mattress is kind of hard, too."

But Garth Troescher of Bethany Beach, Del. liked his room.

"The price is right and the room was nice," he said. "I like when dealers talk to you a lot. They do that here."

The promotions are working, even as they deplete the casino's budget. Resorts posted Atlantic City's biggest increase in casino revenue in February, up 16.5 percent from a year earlier, and March, up 11.6 percent. Of course, some of that is due to having such a poor starting point in 2010. And much of the rest is due to the bargain-hunting nature of the Atlantic City casino customer, who wants the most comps and the lowest prices, and will abandon any place that doesn't deliver.

Many other Atlantic City casinos have given up on this approach, deciding it's simply too expensive to shower low-rollers with free food and drink, hotel rooms, show tickets or cash. Bob Griffin, CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts, calls it "over-incentivizing our customers."

Gomes is well aware of this. He also realizes that at some point, Resorts will need to raise its prices to a level where it can make a profit. The trick is to do that without losing the customer base it has worked so hard to regain.

"Acquiring lost business is a lot more expensive than just maintaining your existing customer base," he said. "Once you get the people back, then you look to see where you're inefficient. It's a stressful and frustrating experience, but it's something you have to go through. If people like what they experience, they'll keep coming back."

Michael Pollock, managing director of Spectrum Gaming Group, a casino consulting firm, said Gomes knows how to attract new customers, then eventually wean them off the comp gravy train so that a casino can survive.

"He has experience doing precisely that," Pollock said. "You want to build brand loyalty amid a customer base that's notoriously fickle. If you can build a sense of `home' for customers, it's not easy, but it can be done. But first, you have to get them into the building to try the product."

Despite the progress Resorts has made in rebuilding the business since December, it is still losing money.

"The revenues are doing great, but we are still experiencing losses," Gomes said. "Our improvement is the best in the industry, around a 40 percent operating improvement. But it's stressful during this period because losses are going to continue for a period. Everyone is calling me this turnaround expert, and I don't like that because I won't consider this a turnaround until we're making some good profits."

Nonetheless, many casino observers feel Gomes and Bailey bought low enough that if they can keep the doors open for the next four or five years until conditions improve, they could recoup their investment several times over.

"It could prove to be a very shrewd acquisition," Pollock said.

Gomes agrees.

"It could be incredible," he said.

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