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Archive for October, 2009

Travel To New Zealand – Land Of The Long White Cloud

October 30th, 2009 No comments

While it is located at the bottom of the world, New Zealand is one of the world’s top travel destinations. Known as the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand is filled with great travel experiences including extreme sports, rich Maori culture and divine food and wine. Planning a trip to this beautiful country? Here are the top picks of places to go and things to do when you travel to New Zealand.

Most visitors who travel to New Zealand start their journey in Auckland. The waters around Auckland are considered one of the most biologically diverse marine areas is the world. One of the best ways to get up close and personal with some New Zealand natives is by taking a whale and dolphin cruise in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. For a bird’s eye view of the city sign up for the Auckland Harbor Bridge Climb – guaranteed exhilaration and Auckland from an entirely different perspective.

Think of the bridge climb as an appetizer for the adrenaline rush that is Queenstown. If you are an adventure lover, then this is your Mecca. Queenstown is in the business of serious fun. Here you can try bungee jumping, skiing, snowboarding, jet boating and many other activities not for the weak of stomach.

So much adrenaline makes a person thirsty, so it is handy that the Queenstown Wine Trail is right near by. This is a great way to let the nerves wind down and sample some of New Zealand’s best wines.

From Queenstown you can travel through the beautiful scenery of Otago to New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mt. Cook. Taking a helicopter ride over the mountains is a once in a lifetime experience and a chance to appreciate the magnificent beauty of New Zealand.

The Maori people are the country’s indigenous group and they have a proud heritage and rich culture that is very much alive and well in contemporary New Zealand. When you travel to New Zealand there are plenty of opportunities to get to know the Maori, their customs and traditions.

Ko Tane is a living Maori village located inside the Willowbank Nature Reserver outside of Christchurch. This is the perfect place to see how Maori lived before the Europeans arrived. Here you can see many Maori ceremonies, dance and traditions come to life before your eyes.

Rotarua, on the north island, is a hot spot for geothermic activity. At Wai Ora natural hot springs you can experience the healing mud baths that have been invigorating visitors to the area for around a thousand years.

New Zealand has so much to offer a visitor: fun, action, great food and wine, natural beauty and rich culture all rolled into an accessible and cost effective location. Travel to New Zealand and you will arrive home with lifelong memories.

Learn more about New Zealand holidays. Stop by Dorcas Chras’s site where you can find out how you can travel to New Zealand and have a great vacation.

The Cocos Islands

October 30th, 2009 No comments

Stick a pin in a globe through the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and it emerges almost exactly through the Cocos in Costa Rica.

Discovered in 1609, these islands were settled and owned by a single family from 1827 until the Australian Government forcibly acquired them in 1978 for a payment of over $6 million.

Lying 2,770 km (1,732 ml) northwest of Perth, the 27 coral islands are formed into two large, heavily vegetated atolls. Not only are they the only atolls that Darwin ever visited, but the coral ecosystem remains intact and you can still see in their pristine condition exactly why they played such an important part in his theory of evolution.

North Keeling, set apart from the other islands, isn’t even inhabited; but you can see extreme rarities like the Cocos buff-banded rail, robber land crabs, and both green and hawksbill turtles among other wonders, under its protection as Pulu Keeling National Park, covering both North Keeling and its surrounding waters.

The 600 or so Cocos (Keeling) islanders live on Home and West Islands, both given over to copra and coconut plantations that only add to their tropical glamour. There is no tourist industry at all. Instead, there are facilities for visitors, sponsored by islanders who take an almost personal interest in everyone who comes.

If you happen to be there, you’re genuinely welcome to participate in the school fete, sports day, or concert night; and you’d be unwise not to join in quiz night at the Cocos Club, or not to watch the annual Ardmona Cup Aussie Rules football match. The tradition of hospitality is both Australian and Malay, representing the origins of the tight-knit community.

The islanders, as much as the islands themselves, have retained a form of unpolluted innocence, and share a mutual respect that visitors immediately respond to. These islands are a dreamscape worthy of Gauguin.

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Pearl of the Indian Ocean – Sri Lanka Profile

October 30th, 2009 No comments

The Pearl of the Indian Ocean lies only 31 km (19 ml) off India’s south coast. Its modern name is taken from the Sanskrit ancient Indian epics Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and means resplendent land.

Sri Lanka’s chief characteristic is intensity …of colour, of beauty, of religious belief, of sectarian commitment, and of affection it inspires in everyone who goes there. The first to stay became the stuff of legend: the 2,500 year-old Mahawamsa chronicle describes the arrival of the ‘Sinhala’ (lion race), and the island’s history since has been a series of shifting kingdoms, each leaving a treasury of ruins and literature, and a tangle of relationships that are still being decoded in its modern political life.

When you go to Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambullal Sigiriya, you see the architectural glories of the past, but they are living history. They are active religious sites, not floodlit movie sets.

The island has the perfect set-up. At any time of year you can lounge on immaculate beaches, and cool off in the hills when you get hot. Colombo, the capital, is a chaotic modem city, and an appropriate synthesis both of Sri Lanka’s indigenous cultures and its Portuguese, Dutch and British influences.

Tropical beaches stretch north to the bustle of Negambo, a characteristic fishing community; and south in a chain of pink and white arcs, past turtle hatcheries (Indurwa), masked carvers (Ambalangoda), and the coral reefs of Hikkaduwa.

Go to Yala West National Park, a teeming rainforest of elephants, leopards, buffaloes, monkeys, crocodiles, deer, sloth bears and a galaxy of birds, on your way to the lush, lakeside hill resort of Kandy.

It’s Sri Lanka’s exotic spiritual centre, and its spectacular parades of frenetic dancers, firewalkers and pounding drummers are, in fact, often a signal to prayer.

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VaporPak Electronic Cigarettes

October 29th, 2009 No comments

The VaporPak Electronic Cigarette looks,feels and tastes like a real cigarette but its not a cigarette. These are the same ones seen on MyFox New York and CNet. Using these incredible gadgets, you can smoke just about anywhere. In Restaurants

These electronic cigarettes are great for traveling, since you can use them in the airport, or even on the plane, to get your fix of nicotine on those long flights. If you’re a smoker, then this might be your only choice to relax on your trip.

Why Mexico is the Perfect Holiday Destination for a Family Holiday

October 29th, 2009 No comments

Vacationing with your relations in Mexico offers several benefits. Though loads of cities are associated with constant partying, there is also loads of fun stuff that are designed for young children and teenagers. Many children receive discounts at many trendy tourist attractions. Selecting an all-inclusive vacation package for the whole family is one of the best methods for every person to enjoy their holiday in Mexico, without having to worry about the money.

If you are interested in visiting Mexico with your family, you will want to examine some of the many attractions that are specifically geared towards children. These attractions and activities are ideal for making the most out of your family vacation. Below is a summary of just a few of the many attractions and resorts that you may find exciting in Mexico. For additional information, you are encouraged to contact your local travel agent or use the internet to guide you in your search.

Located on the Mayan Riviera is the Xcaret Theme Park. The Xcaret Theme Park is a extra ordinary attraction for those who are looking for a lovely family resort. Located in Cancun, Mexico, the Xcaret Theme Park is a theme park that is often compared to Disney World or Disneyland. Similar to Disneyland and Disney World, you can expect to enjoy a fun filled day at Xcaret, thanks to brilliant rides and the fun things to do.

A deep underground river is a popular feature of the Xcaret Theme Park. You and your family can see plenty of beautiful tropical plants as you enjoy the river. Xcaret is also host to many wild and exotic animals. There is a butterfly pavilion, a coral reef aquarium, and you are given the chance to swim with dolphins. Many children, as well as adults, will be thrilled with this theme park. In addition to the Xcaret Theme Park, Cancun offers many family friendly resorts. To find a luxury resort that offers family oriented activities you may want to check on the internet or speak with your local travel agent.

Cozumel also offers many great attractions and activities that are designed for individuals of all ages, including children. Cozumel is ideal for family vacation, especially because it has one of the lowest crime rates in Mexico, as well as the world. Cozumel is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs. This often creates an incredible adventure and learning experience for children. If your children will enjoy scuba diving or snorkelling, then you will want to plan a trip to Cozumel.

With so many options for families, choosing a Mexican all-inclusive holiday is a great idea. The vacation package may also include items such as snacks, drinks, meals, as well as hotel accommodations and airfare. Teaching children about various cultures and customs and letting them view the Mayan ruins first hand is an brilliant lesson in geography and history. While education is nice, the above mentioned locations do not completely just focus on it. There are so many fun filled activities such as snorkelling, diving, swimming, hiking, fishing, sailing, and parasailing. These activities are terrific for families with active children.

In addition to the above mentioned popular Mexican destinations are that are designed for the whole family, you may want to consider additional sights and attractions. Mexico has so much to offer you and your family. In fact, you and your family may wish that you could stay in longer.

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