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Posts Tagged ‘islands’

The Queensland Gets A New Slogan

October 13th, 2010 No comments

One of the quickest growing tourist areas on the planet is the Queenland in Australia, and the country is doing a great job of promoting this region out into the public eye. The Queensland has been being called the Sunshine State as is recieves a ton of sunshine. So they also don’t have very much rain which with the both aspects, it makes for a fantastic tourist area all year.

To push the tourism message even further Tourism Queensland will be revealing a new slogan for the area at a special event scheduled to happen on the Gold Coast. This new slogan, taking the place of the older slogan, Where Else But Queensland, will be, Queensland, Where Australia Shines. This slogan will be more indicative of the area and a better saying.

This change of slogan will be additionally supported by an investment of over four million dollars for a campaign. This push will help to propel this region to the top for sure in tourist destinations, in addition Oprah will be coming to visit here soon. so press coverage will help as well. The campaign will be comprehensive and stretch across the globe so that everyone will be aware of this area.

This region should recieve more visitors as it has fantastic beaches and weather which makes it a wonderful destination for tourists. This area also contains the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest so it has a fantastic natural importance also. The new slogan is a good informant for the visitors to tell them not only about the Queensland with all it sunshine but also about the natives who live here. There will also be new brand campaigns launched for the Sunshine Coast, Tropical North Queensland, Gold Coast and Brisbane in the year to come.

Australia now is about to have a new appearance for the rest of the world, and that will be announced on the beautiful Gold Coast. A number of people fee like it is good this is finally being done because the current Queensland slogan has ben being used for promotion for twelve years. So it is prime time for a change, the slogan of course, but also in the minds of the worlds people as they consider this fabulous area.

Before you create any online reservations for Australia hotels visit goldcoastinformation.com.au today to discover the region. Goldcoastinformation.com.au can assist you with many things including finding a Gold Coast accommodation if that region is attractive to you.

Friendly Belize

September 18th, 2009 No comments

Belize City. Most people picture run down buildings, crime and remnants of hurricane damage. Very few take anytime to actually explore the town instead choosing to hop on a water taxi and head out to Ambergris Caye.

Whatever your vision of Central America is, check it at the door before entering this beautiful and welcoming country. Many travel guides will tell you to “get out of Belize City and head for the islands.” It is too bad really, because they are causing people to miss out on meeting the very proud and helpful citizens of this vibrant town.

Cruise ships stop here regularly and whisk tourists off to Tikal in Guatemala, or to Amgergris Caye off of the coast. The port is well developed and you can spend time walking around the shops in the comfortable terminal. However, walking around the city is where you get the true Caribbean flare.

Settled by the English in the late 16th century, Belize City is a mix Colonial buildings and Creole Culture. Eat international cuisine, or enjoy the local fare at Jembel’s Jerk Pit or Big Daddy’s Diner. Music pumps from inside shops as smiling people great you speaking perfect English, only to turn to their companion and talk in rhythmic Creole. The official language of Belize is English, but you will often hear a mix of Spanish, Creole, Mayan and German throughout the land.

Now that you have actually explored Belize City and realized that it isn’t the big bad city that you thought it was, you can catch a water taxi with peace of mind. You aren’t running away from anything, you are simply moving on to see the rest of beautiful Belize. From downtown, you can catch a water taxi for $10 to take you out to the Cayes on the Caribbean Sea.

The laid-back vibe of the island has an air of Jamaica, and reggae booms from bars and restaurants. Walk along the dirt roads to look for a beach front hotel and you can spend as little as $20 for a room. Only golf carts drive on the island, so you won’t have to worry about exhaust pollution or noise. The resident’s work hard to preserve their culture and large-scale development is not in its future.

While there, you have to take in the sites and the number one excursion is to hire a guide and boat to take you out to Shark Ray Alley. Located 1 mile from shore is the Belize Barrier Reef. A protected marine preserve for since 1996, it has a healthy stock of marine life and coral. The highlight of the trip however is having the chance to swim with a group of nurse sharks and manta rays that inhabit the reef.

Many divers in the world travel to Belize for one reason only, and that is to dive the famous Blue Hole. Jaques Cousteau introduced it to the world and it is an awesome site. A collapsed cave in the middle of the sea attracts divers that want to go deep. Drop down to 150 feet and dive under overhangs as hammerhead and reef sharks swim in the chummed waters above. This dive is not for new divers.

If getting into the water with natural predators isn’t your cup of tea, take a sailing trip to visit other Islands. Belize has several islands and you can take a trip to have a picnic lunch on the beach or enjoy an island drink at an upscale resort on Ambergris Caye. You can find a company to go with by simply walking down the main sandy street where operations line the path.

Caye Caulker may not be overly developed, but you can still enjoy great food ranging from Seafood, to pasta and barbecue. The nightlife isn’t wild, but you can find a nice bar to enjoy a drink or two, look out over the water while swinging on a hammock or listen to some live music well into the evening.

There is so much more to do in beautiful Belize that you need at least two weeks to see it all. Jungles and caves, wildlife and sanctuary’s Belize has something for everyone. Even Mayan ruins can be found in the country and beaches aren’t only out on the islands, Placencia actually has the most beautiful beach in the country and it is located on the mainland.

It isn’t Mexico, The Dominican or Jamaica yet, but it won’t be long until everyone starts thinking of Belize as their vacation destination. So what are you waiting for, book your trip today and discover Belize.

Deb Corbeil and Dave Bouskill are an adventure travel couple from Canada. Together they have trekked, hiked, biked and climbed to over 30 countries all over the planet. Check out their website theplanetd.com for more tips, advice and information on travel and adventure locations. To view their photo gallery from their world travels go to picturetheplanet.com

Cozumel Island – Mexico

August 2nd, 2009 No comments
by Iman Smith

One of Mexico’s largest islands, Cozumel, is located 20 km (12 miles) from the mainland, and 60 km (36 mi) south of Cancun. It is a flat, limestone formation in the shape of a handgun, and pierced by dozens of cenotes (water-filled sinkholes), many with their own marine life, which are an extra attraction for swimmers and snorkellers who come to explore the island’s fantastic offshore reefs.

Jacques Cousteau first promoted Cozumel in 1960, when he fingered Palancar at the island’s southern tip as one of the world’s best scuba-diving locations. He triggered a growth in tourist development, only reined in with the establishment of the National Marine Park in 1996: but the reefs were badly damaged by the deepwater piers built for cruise ships to bring new tourists.

Attitudes changed quickly. Cozumel’s new islanders (the 40,000 Maya who welcomed Herman (‘Stout’) Cortes in 1519 were reduced to 30 by 1510, and Cozumel became uninhabited) realised the value, not just of their spectacular marine wealth, but also of the island’s unspoilt centre.

You’ll never get a better chance to appreciate Mayan culture so close to good beaches. The biggest Mayan site, San Gervasio (named much later), was for centuries sacred to lx Chel, the goddess of fertility, and one of the Yucatan’s most important sanctuaries. There are several others, recovered from jungle and swampy mangrove lagoons now teeming with cormorants, pelicans, primary-coloured tree frogs, iguanas and crocodiles.

These days, the duty of collective care is replacing the ecological mistakes of the 1970s. You can see 250 species in its clear waters, including the bright blue-and-yellow queen angelfish, the toad fish (unique to Cozumel), and enormous sponges like the barrel and elephant ear, which grows to 3.6 m (12 ft) across. Cozumel is fabulously pretty and exotic, and you should go there with someone you love and watch the sunsets.

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Things To Do In Le Touessrok

May 3rd, 2009 No comments

Le Touessrok is a wonderful destination for a restful holiday in tropical luxury. Le Touessrok has the status of being just the thing retreat, where you can overlook your routine life and fully loosen up. During your holiday at Le Touessrok, you can benefit from a lot of activities ranging from visiting the attractions to sitting at leisure and enjoying the laid back and relaxed atmosphere.

The beaches that you get the possibility to glimpse are really eye-catching and most of them have turquoise blue water and white sand. This augments the appeal of the resort all the more for persons from all around the earth. Holidaymakers from different parts of the planet go to Le Touessrok to relax and spend a holiday free of all the common worries and activities of life.

During your holiday at Le Touessrok, you not only get the chance to see the beautiful sunrise and sunset, but also the beautiful star-filled night. The setting of Le Touessrok is naturally beautiful, and the effect is furthered highlighted by the variety of activities that you can indulge in during your time at Le Touessrok.

The activity for which Le Touessrok is the most recognized is scuba diving and also water skiing. You can get top-notch classy treatment at the resorts and spas along with the hotels which have a modern-day style. The fascinating and tranquil environment of the place is like a topping that further augments the appeal of the resort which is precisely regarded as the finest in the world.

The dinning and sporting experience that you get during your holiday at Le Touessrok is really astonishing and one of its type. The resort is extremely stimulating not only in its naturally stunning surroundings, but also because of it’s structural design. For the most excellent dining experience, you should go to the French Les Paillotes. If you are an admirer of Italian cuisine, then the Giannino is ideal for you. If you want to experience some authentic Indian cuisine, you can go to the Khazana which is really a traditional restaurant.

The water sports that you can participate in are essentially scuba diving, parasailing, and there are also sailing cruises. There is also an amazing golf course. For those who think that they need stimulant courses in scuba diving, there are courses offered. You can also get some unswerving instruction lessons from the professionals in Yoga.

Le Touessrok is not just an amazing holiday spot, but is a perfect amalgamation of everything amazing and superb. The scenery is awe-inspiring, the food is wonderful, and the treatment that you obtain is truly lavish one.

Consequently, the clusters of islands that form the Le Touessrok significantly remind you of a strand of pearls. There are several pleasing attributes about Le Touessrok that swell its attraction all the more, and this is the reason why Le Touessrok has won a multitude of esteemed honours. Le Touessrok has beyond doubt done a lot in escalating its recognition all over the world.

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5 Amazing Nature & Wildlife Photo Contests You Simply Can’t Miss

April 12th, 2009 No comments

If you spend any time at all outdoors with a camera, you should try your luck in one (or all) of these contests. Even though the competition may be daunting, it’s always worth a try, and there are some really nice prizes up for grabs.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year This year marks the 45th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition held by the National History Museum in London and BBC Wildlife Magazine. The 12 categories (9 main and 3 special) are open to both amateurs and pros, and there are also 3 youth categories. You may enter up to 3 images for a fee of 20, and the jury selects one winner and one runner-up per category, all of whom receive cash prizes (500 and 250 respectively for the adult main categories).

Those under 18 may submit up to 10 photos, at no cost, in the youth categories (“10 years and younger”, “11-14 years”, and “15-17 years”). Acceptable subjects are wild animals, landscapes and plants, and the winner and runner-up in each category are awarded 250 and 100, respectively. The “Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year” gets to spend a day out with an acclaimed wildlife photographer, and also receives a cash prize of 500.

In the three special awards, the requirements are a bit more specific. For The Gerard Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife award, you need to submit photos of species listed as critically endangered, vulnerable or near-threatened on the 2008 IUCN Red List. The Eric Hosking Award is open to photographers aged 18-26, and participants are required to enter a 10-image portfolio. The One Earth Award focuses on conservation, and they are looking for images that encourages respect for nature. The winner of each category is awarded 1,000.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner gets 10,000, presented at a ceremony at the National History Museum in London. Deadline for 2009 is March 27, but if you don’t make it, don’t worry. Remember, it is an annual event, so you always have next year.

Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards Named in memory of photographer and conservation advocate Windland Smith Rice, this annual contest, held by Nature’s Best Magazine and the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History, is open to amateurs, pros and youths (under 18). The 16 categories include some that you don’t see in every competition: People In Nature, Small World Spectaculars, Zoos & Aquariums, Creative Digital, and Camera Club, where your club enter the contest as a group. The Grand Prize winner, category winners, and “Highly Honored Images” receive cash prizes and their photo(s) included in an exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. For an entry fee of $25 you may submit up to 20 photos, and the deadline is May 4, 2009.

National Wildlife’s 2009 Photo Contest Open to everyone over the age of 17, this annual competition is looking for photos of mammals, birds, people & nature, backyard habitats, landscapes & plant life, other wildlife and global warming & wildlife. Pros, amateurs and youths are judged separately. The winner of each category is awarded $1,000, and two Grand Prize winners receive $5,000 each. You can enter up to 20 images for $15, and that also gives you a year’s subscription to National Wildlife Magazine. The deadline for 2009 is July 20.

The Great Outdoors by PDN and National Geographic Open to both professionals and amateurs, this contest has a broad range of categories: Insects & Gardens, Outdoor Sports & Activities, Beaches, Underwater, Islands, Parks & Safaris, Animals, Plants, and Scenes of the Natural World. The cost to enter (per photo or photo essay consisting of up to 6 images) is $35 for pros and $12 for amateurs. There is one Grand Prize – a five-night stay for two at Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya Hotel in Mexico – and several other prizes, including a digital camera, gift certificates to B&H, etc. The deadline is April 20 (with an extension to May 4 for an extra $10/image).

EuroNatur In this contest – “Nature Treasures in Europe” – they are looking for photos of European animals, plants or landscapes. It’s free to enter and you may submit up to 5 photos. Prizes include trips and camera equipment, and the winning pictures will be part of an exhibit at Schloss Wolfstein (a castle in Bavaria, Germany) and printed in EuroNatur magazine and in a wall calendar. The deadline is March 31 2009.

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