tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44872108561336849252024-03-25T00:32:15.675+01:00All About Travel - New Ideas, Great Places Around The World!I write my blog for everyone interested in travelling. You will find here hotel descriptions, sightseeing information, top destinations and much more. All around the world.MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-71261483660389862602011-06-27T20:53:00.003+02:002011-06-27T20:53:00.319+02:00Bangkok in Brief<div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Welcome to Bangkok : The city of culture.</span></b></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Welcome to the metropolis of Bangkok, one of Asia's most thriving commercial centres. Many first-time visitors to Bangkok have little idea of what they'll actually encounter, Bangkok metropolis, accommodating around 8,000,000 residents, is a sophisticated, fast-growing and occasionally traffic-jammed city.</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <br />
<a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Referred to today as the City of Angels (<i>Krung Thep</i> in Thai), Bangkok was once called the Vanice of the East because of its many canals. Although many canals have been filled-in, taking away some of the city's old-world charm, it's still one of the most intriguing places worth visiting in Asia. Numerous visitors keep coming back to the city, some for vacations, some for business and some even to settle down here. Without doubt, modern-day Bangkok is a tourist destination of the East offering a greater variety of things to see and do than any other city in Asia.</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Established in 1782 as Thailand's capital, the official full name of the city is probably the longest in the world:</span></div><blockquote style="color: black;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Maha Sathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathatthiya Witsanukam Prasit.</span></i></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPmResz2-cI/AAAAAAAAAUw/yaZIdNatbNY/s1600/the_grand_palace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPmResz2-cI/AAAAAAAAAUw/yaZIdNatbNY/s400/the_grand_palace.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bangkok (City of Angels) offers an abundance of sites and attractions for tourists and is famous for its Buddhist Temples (Wats) including the famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo), adjacent to the Grand Palace. This temple and other beautiful examples of carefully-preserved Thai architecture are referred to in more details in the following section. Bangkok, located in the center of the country, is also an excellent stepping-off point for visiting other parts of Thailand. Although the measured pace of old Siam is now a thing of the past, the country's rich cultural and natural heritage still survives.</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Accommodation in the city covers a variety of price ranges, but all offer high standard of service presented by friendly staffs. The city probably has the highest concentration of luxurious hotels in the world.</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Currently, hotels and shopping venues offer amazing bargains, following the depreciation of the Thai baht currency in 1997. And for those in search of bargains, Bangkok has excellent examples of Thai handicrafts, Thai antiques, paintings, T-shirts in-fashion accessories, high-grade Thai silks and high quality jewellery.</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The city also boasts a cornucopia of inexpensive restaurants featuring mouth-watering dishes from all regions of Thailand and international cuisine from just almost everywhere in the world. Many gourmets of Thai food, now rated No. 5 in the world's culinary top ten, considering Bangkok to be on a par with Hong Kong for gastronomic experiences.</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPmR1u2qS3I/AAAAAAAAAU0/dhgxC9Tl2vQ/s1600/thaifood.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPmR1u2qS3I/AAAAAAAAAU0/dhgxC9Tl2vQ/s400/thaifood.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The city offers a broad variety of restaurants, ranging from simple noodle stands to the most elegant dining rooms. Visitors from Europe and North America who consider themselves connoisseurs of Thai food will find Bangkok a gastronomic paradise. Despite the country's economic downturn, Thai people continue to be outwardly friendly, greeting visitors with their usual gracious hospitality and sincere expressions of friendship-traits which have earned Thailand the title of <i>"Land of Smile"</i>. </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And that is no gimmick as you will discover by the time you have to leave Thailand. When the time comes, we hope you will leave the city of Bangkok feeling a deep warmth for its many charms and find it fascinating enough to enable us to welcome you back again and again.</span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</span><br style="color: black;" /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPmUtrPMhMI/AAAAAAAAAVA/AUGHCa8qRv0/s1600/Bangkok_Map.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPmUtrPMhMI/AAAAAAAAAVA/AUGHCa8qRv0/s1600/Bangkok_Map.gif" /></a></div><b style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bangkok Geography:</span></b><br style="color: black;" /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Located in the center of the country, quite close to the Gulf of Thailand, the greater Bangkok Metropolis (including the former capital of Thonburi on the other side of the Chao Phraya River) covers an area of 1600 km2.</span><br style="color: black;" /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span><br style="color: black;" /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The city is situated right in the middle of the rice bowl of Asia, also known as Chao Phraya River Delta.</span><br style="color: black;" /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</span><br style="color: black;" /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPmVtLWmn5I/AAAAAAAAAVE/oem5wMdVlro/s1600/average-bangkok-temperature.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPmVtLWmn5I/AAAAAAAAAVE/oem5wMdVlro/s320/average-bangkok-temperature.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Bangkok Weather:</b></span></span><br style="color: black;" /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you like the hot weather, Bangkok is the place for you. Average temp. rarely dip below 25 degree Celsius during the city’s 3 seasons. Between Nov. and Feb. the weather is warm and dry with temp. from 19 – 33 degree Celsius.; Mar – May is hot with temp rising to as high as 42 degrees, and from Jun – Oct (rainy season) it is warm and sometimes wet, but never cold. Even the rain is warm.</span></span></span>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com159tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-54927969709354532002011-06-20T10:55:00.000+02:002011-06-20T10:55:53.920+02:00Cities in Thailand to Savour<h1></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="google_rect"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eBLUgsH4lo0/Tf8KGxDKqNI/AAAAAAAAVQQ/YlGufnqh7Ew/s1600/Bangkok_at_Night.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eBLUgsH4lo0/Tf8KGxDKqNI/AAAAAAAAVQQ/YlGufnqh7Ew/s400/Bangkok_at_Night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The tourist in Thailand can probably trip a carillion of famous Thai cities off their tongues although their claims to fame may well be more notorious than famous and remembered for reasons that may well be better forgotten. Clearly Bangkok, being the capital city, holds its own claim to fame. Chang Mai, being the ancient Siam capital, also holds a claim to fame. Thailand's peninsula offers names to travellers to Thailand that many know by heart, whether they have visited Thailand or not: Phuket, Pattaya, and Koh Samui.<br />
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Udon Thani, to the north-east of Thailand, amidst the Isaan countryside, is really only a town but it has a couple of claims that ought to bring it to the attention of the traveller to Thailand. Hua Hin, Krabi, Khon Khan and Surat Thani are all cities in Thailand and known to a greater or lesser extent. Other famous cities in Thailand include Koh Phangan, Koh Phi Phi, <a class="kLink" href="http://www.content4reprint.com/recreation-and-leisure/travel/cities-in-thailand-to-savour.htm#" id="KonaLink1" style="font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: static; text-decoration: underline ! important;"><span style="color: orange ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="color: orange ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: relative;">Kanchanaburi</span></span></a>, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Ratchasima although these are lesser known to the international world outside of Thailand.<br />
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<b>City of Angels and Rose of the North</b><br />
The city of Bangkok, is the capital city of modern Thailand, colloquially known as the City of Angels. Meanwhile, Ayutthaya and Chang Mai each share historical claims to being capital cities from ancient Siam. Rose of the North is the title given to the ancient city of Chiang Mai. As with any capital city Bangkok reveals a cosmopolitan diversity, five star hotels rubbing shoulders with dilapidated roadside food-stalls. <br />
This diversity is further exhibited in Bangkok's wide range of excellent hotels and <a class="kLink" href="http://www.content4reprint.com/recreation-and-leisure/travel/cities-in-thailand-to-savour.htm#" id="KonaLink2" style="font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: static; text-decoration: underline ! important;"><span style="color: orange ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="color: orange ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: relative;">restaurants</span></span></a> offering a truly international range of cuisine. Shopping offers the tourist a truly absorbing pastime, especially as Bangkok lays claim to some of the biggest shopping malls in Asia. If shopping malls seem rather tame, you can always visit Chatuchak, a particularly large outdoor market held at weekends, or other outdoor markets with similar characteristics.<br />
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The famous Thai city of Chiang Mai lies along the Ping River. It has long spread its suburbs out from around its original 700 year old limits. Apart from being the old capital city of Thailand, Chiang Mai is particularly noted for its innumerable Buddhist temples, each one surpassing the previous one in exquisite decor. The oldest of Thailand's temples, Wat Chiang Man, is located here. Another 'must-see' for any visitor to Chiang Mai is the lake, Huay Tung Tao, nestling amongst a mountain-bound terrain. There is also a zoo which cares for the welfare of more than 7,000 animals.<br />
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<b>Pearl of the Andaman Sea and other Coastal Cities</b><br />
Phuket has the honour to be known as the Pearl of the Andaman Sea. Other coastal cities include Hua Hin, Krabi, Pattaya Beach, Patong Beach, Rayong, Chumphon: in <a class="kLink" href="http://www.content4reprint.com/recreation-and-leisure/travel/cities-in-thailand-to-savour.htm#" id="KonaLink3" style="font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: static; text-decoration: underline ! important;"><span style="color: orange ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="color: orange ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: relative;">fact</span></span></a>, with Thailand having 3,219km of coastline there are far more cities than could possibly be included here. Much of Thailand's coastline could be designated as areas of outstanding beauty, especially Hua Hin and Krabi. Many beaches cater for the family; there are some areas where young people party all night and sleep all day, however.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GV24iZQ0xnw/Tf8KICE_YmI/AAAAAAAAVQU/XxEaasP9-Zs/s1600/village.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GV24iZQ0xnw/Tf8KICE_YmI/AAAAAAAAVQU/XxEaasP9-Zs/s400/village.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b>Different Cities Reflect Diversity of Provinces</b><br />
Thailand has many different provinces, each one different from the next. Some of this difference can be due to a range in temperatures, some due to specific handicrafts being traditional to that village or province: there are silk villages where silk material is produced and woven and other villages where this silk is tailored into beautiful garments. The temperature in Chiang Mai is vastly different to the temperatures experienced in the <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: relative;">beach </span><span class="kLink" style="font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: relative;">resorts</span></span> to the south of Thailand so naturally this would be reflected in how different the cities in the north are to those in the south.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QEUFyGnWoMg/Tf8KF1TASDI/AAAAAAAAVQM/JX538a5I5iQ/s1600/_standard_thailand-boats1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QEUFyGnWoMg/Tf8KF1TASDI/AAAAAAAAVQM/JX538a5I5iQ/s400/_standard_thailand-boats1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eBLUgsH4lo0/Tf8KGxDKqNI/AAAAAAAAVQQ/YlGufnqh7Ew/s1600/Bangkok_at_Night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Nevertheless, regardless where tourists to Thailand go, they cannot fail to be moved by the beauty and history each of Thailand's famous cities evokes. Busy these cities might be, but the evocative aura experienced as travellers visit each city is something that will always remain in their memories: these cities will provide the traveller to Thailand with a lifetime of never-to-be-forgotten reminiscences to savour in the future.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> by Soophott Lert</span></i>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-59732552702651889132011-06-19T08:25:00.035+02:002011-06-20T11:38:22.773+02:00New Layout, New Destionations and More!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GIBUzT6BrNI/Tf8SeupDR0I/AAAAAAAAVQs/V-PQhrPlZMk/s1600/travel-business-hammock-beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GIBUzT6BrNI/Tf8SeupDR0I/AAAAAAAAVQs/V-PQhrPlZMk/s320/travel-business-hammock-beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b> Summer Vacations 2011 are finally here!</b><br />
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Isn't it a great occasion to introduce a few changes on my blog? As you have probably already noticed, the website has undergone a major redecoration. I hope you will like the new layout as well as new navigation and search options.<br />
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Additionally, several new articles appeared in the <a href="http://worldwide-travelling.blogspot.com/search/label/Asia">Asia</a> section, as it is one of the most popular travel destinations. I'm sure you will find something just for you among all the new resources. Don't be surprised if it inspires you to plan new trips!<br />
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Remember, any feedback is welcome. If you have any suggestions, do not hesistate to write.<br />
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Oh, and one more thing... happy reading!MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-65696799910514575692011-03-18T15:44:00.006+01:002011-06-20T12:26:26.699+02:00Top Fascinating Attractions to See on Malaysia Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X8oT5G9CrJ4/TYNszHjyAwI/AAAAAAAAU_g/7yY-1H43jbk/s1600/malaysia%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X8oT5G9CrJ4/TYNszHjyAwI/AAAAAAAAU_g/7yY-1H43jbk/s640/malaysia%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small; line-height: 125%;">Malaysia is no doubt the most beautiful country in South East Asia. It is one such country where you will find multi cultural attractions, rich heritage attractions, blissful ambiance, warm hospitality and on top pleasant climatic conditions that are worth to visit and explore. Truly speaking you will be spell bound by the enchanting tourism attractions and destinations which are one of its kinds in the whole of Asia. So due to all its multicultural attractions, it is lovingly called "Malaysia it's Truly Asia". <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 125%;">Some of the top attractions to visit on Malaysia Trip are listed below: </span></b></span><br />
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Kuala Lumpur is one of the most beautiful places of tourist's interest that is visited by thousands and hundreds of tourists from across the world. It is one such place in Malaysia whose unfathomable attraction is going to leave very visitor spell bound. Some of the most entrancing tourism attractions that are worth to visit and see during visit to Kuala Lumpur are Petronas Twin Tower, Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower, China Town, Batu Caves, little India, Thean Hou Temple and Kuala Lumpur Bird Park. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DARobVHJkic/TYNt-oaaibI/AAAAAAAAU_o/B6fy34Uw_RI/s1600/StevenYee-CameroonHighlands_07071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DARobVHJkic/TYNt-oaaibI/AAAAAAAAU_o/B6fy34Uw_RI/s320/StevenYee-CameroonHighlands_07071.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small; line-height: 125%;"><b>Cameroon Highlands </b> <br />
Cameroon Highland is one of the wonder in Malaysia which is visited by swarm of tourists all the year round. This beautiful place in Malaysia is amazingly blessed by the Mother Nature and has appealing attractions that are simply beyond visual delights. Its well organised tea gardens, misty hills dotted with evergreen natural wonderments, cool amiable climatic conditions and the well decorated small house, truly enhance the beauty of Cameroon Highlands. It is the destinations of all season and you truly speaking if you want to experince the bliss of haven in Malaysia, you can surely </span><br />
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Malacca is an interesting place in Malaysia that is marvelously influenced by the Chinese, British, Dutch and Portuguese culture and traditions. It is one such place where you will find abundant of historical attractions that depicts the rich culture and tradition of Malacca and at the same time Malaysia. The most interesting place to visit on visit to Malacca are massive Pink Town Hall, Ethnographic Museum, St Paul's Church, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, antique shops, Chinese Street and many other interesting attractions. Melacca tourism attractions are sure to leave everyone spell bound and offer wonderful experience of Malaysia visit. </span><br />
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Apart from these there are many other tourism attraction in Malaysia that include the <b>Penang Island, Sarawak, Sabah, Tioman Island, Taman Negara National Park, Langkawi, Sandakan and many others.</b> So book one exciting Malaysia package tours from the travel and tour management companies and enjoy vacation in this beautiful country of South East Asia, Malaysia in a delightful and memorable way. </span><br />
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Malaysia trip is also made more delightful by the blissful ambiance, warm hospitality, well organised tourism attractions, friendly environment, world class accommodation facilities and the irresistible Delicacies that every tourism destination of Malaysia offer. So come to this beautiful country of Malaysia also tagged as Truly Asia and enjoy remarkable moments to relish in the memories forever. </span><br />
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<b>About Author / Additional Info:</b><br />
Stive writes about various beautiful tours and travel destinations of the world. He is providing valuable information on Malaysia Tour and Kuala lumpur Genting Tours, etc. For more information visit <u><a href="http://www.malaysiatourpackages.org/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #990000;" target="_blank" title="External link">http://www.malaysiatourpackages.org</a></u></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small; line-height: 125%;"><i><b>Article Source:</b> http://www.saching.com/ </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small; line-height: 125%;"><i>To visit the Tourism Malaysia Official Website, go to: <a href="http://www.tourism.gov.my/">www.tourism.gov.my</a></i></span>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-44551432885129673182010-11-20T10:55:00.029+01:002011-06-20T11:10:36.542+02:00Honeymoon in Thailand and Best Time to Visit Thailand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Awadg_zFCQ8/Tf8N7O5CllI/AAAAAAAAVQg/Lx2zu0OGAVM/s1600/Most-Popular-Thailand-Honeymoon-Destinations-Honeymoon-Vacation-Guide-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">A vacation in Thailand is an ideal way to use a holiday. Starting your holiday in Bangkok, you can travel around other regions in Thailand counting Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The world's most romantic hideaways are to come in Thailand. Discover our luxury honeymoon options that encompass the stunning scenic and cultural delight of this unique country. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Thailand has a natural asset in breath captivating scenery, feature spectacular green mountain, white sandy beaches, and sparking blue sea. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Combine that with our world class range of complicated somewhere to live options, elegant dining and diversity of activites and you will experience Thailand at its greatest.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">The peak months for tourism are August, November, December, February and March, with inferior peak months in January and July. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You should consider traveling during the least packed out months (April, May, June, September and October) if your main purpose is to avoid holiday makers and to take advantage of inexpensive rooms and other low-season rates.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b>Honeymoon Hotels in Thailand</b><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Thailand offer a wide range of globally acclaimed hotels and resorts for a contented accommodation. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />All hotels and resorts in Thailand from high-end to low end hold out an array of amenities to make your honeymoon the most brilliant event of your life. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The Hotels in Thailand offer private honeymoon suites and wedding suites for a dream honeymoon.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPkHGJp46vI/AAAAAAAAAUM/vTK97H2wTA4/s1600/_standard_thailand-boats1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPkHGJp46vI/AAAAAAAAAUM/vTK97H2wTA4/s400/_standard_thailand-boats1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b>Honeymoon Beaches in Thailand</b><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Nature has bestowed this entire honeymoon beach in Thailand with all stunning hues and fragrance. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Once to visit these honeymoon beaches in Thailand, you will certainly feel like coming here once more and again.<br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Most of honeymoon beaches in Thailand are located in the places like Pattaya. Some of the honeymoon beaches in Thailand can be name here. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />They are Ao Phang Nga Beach, Haad Rin, Hat Chaweng, Hat Mai Khao, Ko Pai, Pattaya Beach, Rawaii, Ao Phra-Ae, and many others. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Apart from these beaches the beach like Ao Nang, Karon Beach, as well as the Railay Beach are also just right for the cause of honeymoon. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pihiRIEyVQM/Tf8OJxdfhVI/AAAAAAAAVQk/ibEAnRifuEY/s1600/rejser-thailand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pihiRIEyVQM/Tf8OJxdfhVI/AAAAAAAAVQk/ibEAnRifuEY/s400/rejser-thailand.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPkHYoShqcI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/o7ToJihZ9TE/s1600/thailand-honeymoon_000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b>Honeymoon Thailand Package</b><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />From the mountains in the north to the beaches in the south, there is no place in Asia that can offer such a diverse blend of top-notch experiences. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Furthermore, the Thais are renowed for their graciousness and charm that makes every visitors feel at home. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Our Amazing Thailand package is the result of 15 years of explorations and refinements and what you see is completely the best high-end Thailand route available.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Awadg_zFCQ8/Tf8N7O5CllI/AAAAAAAAVQg/Lx2zu0OGAVM/s1600/Most-Popular-Thailand-Honeymoon-Destinations-Honeymoon-Vacation-Guide-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Awadg_zFCQ8/Tf8N7O5CllI/AAAAAAAAVQg/Lx2zu0OGAVM/s400/Most-Popular-Thailand-Honeymoon-Destinations-Honeymoon-Vacation-Guide-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P_uX_-a7s4I/TPkHwdXKXRI/AAAAAAAAAUU/FTRg8323mYE/s1600/Most-Popular-Thailand-Honeymoon-Destinations-Honeymoon-Vacation-Guide-6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b>Best Time to Visit Thailand</b><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Looking for the best time to go to Thailand? Wherever you travel in the world, it is significant to get the time right. <br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />As far as Thailand is worried, there are no absolute extremes. If you can avoid the rainy season (July to October), it would almost surely be best, but if you can't, the rain isn't permanent - it comes in bursts and cools belongings down after it has gone!<br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The weather in Thailand is rational most times of year, although it certainly gets hot during the summer! November from end to end February is the coolest times of year and there is definitely less rain then than at other times in the year.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/honeymoon-in-thailand-and-best-time-to-visit-thailand-2882822.html"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Source</span> </i></a></span></span></span>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-55983977597615101032010-03-23T16:25:00.000+01:002011-06-20T11:56:34.814+02:00South Africa Safari Top Five National Parks and Game Reserves<h2 style="text-align: center;"></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y8yqJPSdwSs/Tf8WeeXzOsI/AAAAAAAAVQw/m4YU3L_N0QM/s1600/southafrica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y8yqJPSdwSs/Tf8WeeXzOsI/AAAAAAAAVQw/m4YU3L_N0QM/s400/southafrica.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
A South Africa safari is the ideal wildlife trip to go on because the infrastructure and accommodation is superb in all the wildlife parks there and it is still highly affordable in comparison to other African countries.<br />
But given a choice some of the national parks and game reserves are better than others.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sl5Rizz6pBw/Tf8YmSZfbLI/AAAAAAAAVRE/nR5_f0B0UuQ/s1600/The-Kruger-National-Park-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Here is a top five list ranking them according to travel reports received at the African Safari Journals website, my safari experience of twenty plus years, industry forums, magazines and the general consensus of the experts. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sl5Rizz6pBw/Tf8YmSZfbLI/AAAAAAAAVRE/nR5_f0B0UuQ/s1600/The-Kruger-National-Park-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sl5Rizz6pBw/Tf8YmSZfbLI/AAAAAAAAVRE/nR5_f0B0UuQ/s400/The-Kruger-National-Park-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b> </b><br />
<b>1. <a href="http://www.african-safari-journals.com/kruger-national-park.html" target="_blank">Kruger NP</a></b><br />
The Kruger National Park has to rank as one of the best South Africa safari destinations, only slightly behind the Masai Mara and Serengeti when it comes to wildlife viewing because the vegetation in Kruger can be dense and sometimes mars the ability to see longer distances.<br />
But the variety of animals, birds and ecosystems that you can experience here are unparalleled anywhere else in Africa and the accommodation, roads and facilities are top notch and all at a very affordable price.<br />
It's not unusual to see lion, leopard, cheetah, a pack of wild dog, rhino, elephant, buffalo and a whole host of antelope, crocodile and hippo in the course of a single trip including a variety of insects and reptiles.<br />
On the bird front you will be spoiled with a seemingly never-ending supply of eagles, hawks, water birds and a host of migratory and indigenous species to the tune of about 510 different varieties.<br />
You can easily do a self drive safari here and still see a decent amount of wildlife especially if you stick to the central and southern portions of this massive park (larger than Ireland). The north has fewer animals due to dryer conditions but also less tourists which makes for a more isolated and intimate wildlife experience.<br />
If variety is the spice of life then a South Africa safari in the Kruger National Park is a rich dish indeed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KT07zRBqm6c/Tf8Yk1kY0JI/AAAAAAAAVQ8/802QRlWmGRk/s1600/Kruger-Cheetahs-Sabi-Sands-GR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KT07zRBqm6c/Tf8Yk1kY0JI/AAAAAAAAVQ8/802QRlWmGRk/s400/Kruger-Cheetahs-Sabi-Sands-GR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<b>2. Sabi Sands GR</b><br />
Sharing a fenceless border on the western side of the Kruger National Park is the Sabi Sands game reserve which has a number of world famous private concessions like Mala Mala, Sabi Sabi and Londelozi.<br />
The removal of the fence between the two parks allows the animals to move around freely and the game viewing experience is just as in the Kruger National with one important difference. Because this reserve is privately held, off road game tracking is allowed which improves your chances of finding the elusive big cats, elephant, rhino, buffalo and wild dog to a large degree. They also make use of two way radios in each safari vehicle so that if one finds something noteworthy the others can be alerted.<br />
The sand and sabi rivers which bisect the reserve provide the focal point which attracts the wildlife to the area especially in the dry season.<br />
So viewing the big cats on a South Africa safari here is virtually guaranteed and the accommodation is some of the best in the world as illustrated by the Singita lodge which was the first and only accommodation in the history of the Conde Nast Gold List Reader Poll to get a perfect 100 score, an honour it has held for three years. There are about thirty different top class lodges situated in the reserve.<br />
But this all comes at a price and unless you have reasonably deep pockets this fantastic reserve will be out of reach which is why it doesn't get the Nr one ranking for South Africa safari national parks and reserves.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l01rlJ3aG5Y/Tf8Yj0W4eXI/AAAAAAAAVQ0/Aa56C09j0bo/s1600/HI+rhinos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l01rlJ3aG5Y/Tf8Yj0W4eXI/AAAAAAAAVQ0/Aa56C09j0bo/s400/HI+rhinos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<b>3. Hluhluwe Umfolozi NP</b><br />
If you want to see the endangered black and white rhinos in the wild then this is the park to head for because this is where the inexorable tide to extinction for the white rhino in Southern Africa was stemmed.<br />
It now boasts the largest population of white rhino in the world numbering over 1600 and also a slowly increasing population of black rhino at just over 400.<br />
on a South Africa safari here you will also be able to see lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and cheetah in this park and more than 400 bird species have been recorded. Due to the large number of resident elephants you might have some close encounters with them on the roads as they cross in front of you.<br />
You can go for a daily walk in the park in the company of an armed ranger or you can do a several day extended hike in the southern umfolozi portion.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIxmJtgfIXU/Tf8YkLXxBQI/AAAAAAAAVQ4/a0fxTLBrFUU/s1600/kalahari-male-lion-ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIxmJtgfIXU/Tf8YkLXxBQI/AAAAAAAAVQ4/a0fxTLBrFUU/s400/kalahari-male-lion-ready.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b>4. Madikwe GR</b><br />
This is a latter day Noah's ark story because most of the wildlife contained in this park was relocated here from other areas in 1991.<br />
Twenty seven different species amounting to over 10 000 head of game were re-introduced into this area where they once thrived but had disappeared because of hunting and habitat destruction.<br />
A huge advantage of taking a South Africa safari in this park is that it is not situated in a malaria area so you don't have to bother about taking malaria tablets as you do in most other reserves.<br />
All of the big five are on view here as well as cheetah and the rare wild dog packs which are the stars of the show here being regularly sighted patrolling their huge territories. Your chances of seeing them seem to be better here than most other parks.<br />
Rare antelope like the eland, gemsbok and sable put in an appearance here too and you will be able to enjoy your wildlife viewing in relative peace and isolation because not many tourists know about this excellent game reserve.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zPiuTYbfBxQ/Tf8Yl7bKTtI/AAAAAAAAVRA/gGrRwZtAJok/s1600/Springboks%252C+Kgalagadi+Transfrontier+Park%252C+Kalahari%252C+South+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zPiuTYbfBxQ/Tf8Yl7bKTtI/AAAAAAAAVRA/gGrRwZtAJok/s400/Springboks%252C+Kgalagadi+Transfrontier+Park%252C+Kalahari%252C+South+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<b>5. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park</b><br />
The locals know that this is an excellent game park and it falls into that "best kept secret" category that each country seems to have where for some unknown reason a reserve doesn't get the notice from tourists and safari companies that it deserves.<br />
Maybe it's because this reserve is set in the Kalahari desert and people don't normally associate deserts with lots of wildlife but there are always exceptions to the rule and this South Africa safari park qualifies.<br />
You can see some pretty specialised and very interesting game here such as the gemsbok antelope which can go for months without water, springbok, blue wildebeest, eland and red hartebeest.<br />
And wherever there is a good supply of antelope, the predators are never far away such as the black maned lions which this area has a disproportionate supply off, leopard and cheetah which can make full use of the wide open spaces to chase their prey at top speed.<br />
The meerkat (suricate) is also regularly seen here and bat eared foxes contribute to the scavenging duties.<br />
This South Africa park is famous for birds of prey such as the pygmy falcon and the sociable weaver which builds nests which are the bird equivalent of apartment blocks that are sometimes so big they break the branches they rest on.<br />
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There are hundreds of companies offering safari trips to South Africa. This <a href="http://www.african-safari-journals.com/safari-in-south-africa.html" target="_blank">Top Three safari in South Africa operators list</a> helps you choose effectively between them.<br />
<a href="http://www.african-safari-journals.com/south-africa-safari.html" target="_blank">South Africa safari trip reports</a> give you a great idea of what to expect from a trip like this by learning from other peoples travel experiences.<br />
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<div style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.websition.com/"><br />
</a></span></div>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com72tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-42199539249371275152010-02-22T11:57:00.009+01:002011-06-20T10:27:29.432+02:00Breathtaking Lakes - pictures from all around the world!There are many marvels of nature Mother Earth has in store for us. Let's take a look at some of the most beautiful lake landscapes - maybe you'll get inspired by those spectacular views and include those lakes in you future journeys? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JfnpELrDI/AAAAAAAASgg/j8gpf2khvDQ/s1600-h/amazing_lakes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="459" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JfnpELrDI/AAAAAAAASgg/j8gpf2khvDQ/s640/amazing_lakes1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpn/621080473/">Grinnell Lake by James Neeley</a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JgeFro-oI/AAAAAAAASgo/w6e6t_TLP1U/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JgeFro-oI/AAAAAAAASgo/w6e6t_TLP1U/s640/amazing_lakes+%282%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/benheine/3530581332/">The Eden of that Dim Lake by Ben Heine</a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JgrAMTTkI/AAAAAAAASgw/z9ktwnXO-yE/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%283%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JgrAMTTkI/AAAAAAAASgw/z9ktwnXO-yE/s640/amazing_lakes+%283%29.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jup3nep/364030499/">Yamdrok Tso (Turquoise) Lake, Tibet by Katarina 2353</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4Jg2PHNAdI/AAAAAAAASg4/hnTj5pzRLXw/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%284%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4Jg2PHNAdI/AAAAAAAASg4/hnTj5pzRLXw/s640/amazing_lakes+%284%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35663537@N00/85220431/">Reflection in Saif-ul-Malook Lake by meansmuchtome</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JhZHfFr3I/AAAAAAAAShA/KGvA9byh6xs/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%285%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="584" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JhZHfFr3I/AAAAAAAAShA/KGvA9byh6xs/s640/amazing_lakes+%285%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/c-s-n/282718936/">Mirror Lake… no, Kinney Lake! by Claude@Munich</a></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JhmPqI6-I/AAAAAAAAShI/aCBYDKOT3XU/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%286%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JhmPqI6-I/AAAAAAAAShI/aCBYDKOT3XU/s640/amazing_lakes+%286%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JhmuigCaI/AAAAAAAAShQ/x_Znu-8YNws/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%287%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JhmuigCaI/AAAAAAAAShQ/x_Znu-8YNws/s640/amazing_lakes+%287%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://terre.sans.frontiere.free.fr/page_a_voir_a_faire/top_100.htm">The Baikal Lake</a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JhyKT0k5I/AAAAAAAAShY/ULJ7q6mq53Y/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%288%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JhyKT0k5I/AAAAAAAAShY/ULJ7q6mq53Y/s640/amazing_lakes+%288%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://rohanfelix.blogspot.com/2008/04/todays-feature-lake-baikal-russia.html">Lake Baikal, Russia</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4Jh7pbKGzI/AAAAAAAAShg/jE9Jd7SPSQI/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%2810%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4Jh7pbKGzI/AAAAAAAAShg/jE9Jd7SPSQI/s640/amazing_lakes+%2810%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sasuhaib/2478179022/">Rush Lake (4700m) - Highest in Pakistan by windinhishair</a></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JiF_JCwOI/AAAAAAAASho/UbY8vnEh_Gg/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%2811%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JiF_JCwOI/AAAAAAAASho/UbY8vnEh_Gg/s640/amazing_lakes+%2811%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tropicaliving/4007698102/">Twin Lakes by tropicaLiving</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JiHGrX6iI/AAAAAAAAShw/q3FjdyUKJtA/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%2812%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JiHGrX6iI/AAAAAAAAShw/q3FjdyUKJtA/s640/amazing_lakes+%2812%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ennor/748410098/">Wast Water by Ennor</a></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JiX5TBcsI/AAAAAAAASh4/FJ4r2x5GjWE/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%2813%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JiX5TBcsI/AAAAAAAASh4/FJ4r2x5GjWE/s640/amazing_lakes+%2813%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.zmag.org/zspace/groups/M">Lake Michigan</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JiYZStEQI/AAAAAAAASiA/2EXcoAl_ZvQ/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%2814%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4JiYZStEQI/AAAAAAAASiA/2EXcoAl_ZvQ/s640/amazing_lakes+%2814%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9835782@N08/2937841586/">Black Lake, Pass of Dunloe by kaysare</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4Jiz922pBI/AAAAAAAASiI/34cmlDMPKk8/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%2815%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4Jiz922pBI/AAAAAAAASiI/34cmlDMPKk8/s640/amazing_lakes+%2815%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35614822@N08/3902571169/">Sparks Lake, Oregon by David Gn Photography</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4Ji0VQILuI/AAAAAAAASiQ/E8viHwSszrc/s1600-h/amazing_lakes+%2816%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/S4Ji0VQILuI/AAAAAAAASiQ/E8viHwSszrc/s640/amazing_lakes+%2816%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/janetfo747/4047673423/">Mono Lake by janetfo747</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>And now - some facts about lakes on our planet Earth:</b></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">The majority of lakes on Earth are <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_water" title="Fresh water">fresh water</a>, and most lie in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hemisphere" title="Northern Hemisphere">Northern Hemisphere</a> at higher <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latitude" title="Latitude">latitudes</a>. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">More than 60 percent of the world's lakes are in Canada.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finland is known as <i>The Land of the Thousand Lakes</i>, (actually there are 187,888 lakes in Finland, of which 60,000 are large).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">the U.S. state of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a> is known as <i>The Land of Ten Thousand Lakes</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">The license plates of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian" title="Canadian">Canadian</a> province of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba" title="Manitoba">Manitoba</a> used to claim <i>100,000 lakes</i> as one-upmanship on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a>, whose license plates boast of its <i>10,000 lakes.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Many lakes are artificial and are constructed for <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydro-electric" title="Hydro-electric">hydro-electric</a> power generation, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreation" title="Recreation">recreational</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry" title="Industry">industrial</a> use, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural" title="Agricultural">agricultural</a> use or domestic water supply</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">purposes. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Large lakes contribute to the area of standing water with 122 large lakes of 1,000 square kilometres or more representing about 29 percent of the total global area of standing inland water.<i> </i></span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"></ul><i> </i></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Sources:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake"><i>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake</i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/">http://www.flickr.com</a></span></i></div><br />
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</script>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-51199840773874098922010-01-14T11:48:00.003+01:002011-06-20T12:03:31.495+02:00Dakar Rally 2010This year's 31st running of the Dakar Rally is being held in South America for the second year, instead of the traditional African route. The reason is - growing issecurity and possible terrorist attack concerns. This year's race began and will end in Buenos Aires, covering a looping 9,000 kilometers between Argentina and Chile over 14 stages. 362 Teams began the race with 176 motorcycles and quad bikes, 134 cars, and 52 trucks. The race is just over halfway completed now, the winners expected to cross the finish line on January 16th.<br />
Below - several photographs from the first half of the rally.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d01_21614403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d01_21614403.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Spain's Gerard Farres Guell kicks up sand with his Aprilia during the 4th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Fiambala, Argentina, and Copiapo, Chile on January 5, 2010. Spain's Marc Coma won the stage, France's David Casteu took the second place and France's Cyril Despres the third. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d03_21588225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d03_21588225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Volkswagen Touareg of South African driver Giniel De Villers and co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz of Germany attends the symbolic start of the Dakar 2010 in Buenos Aires on January 1, 2010. (ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty Images)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d05_21591449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d05_21591449.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Poland's Krzysztof Holowczyc in his Nissan passes race fans on a hillside during the Dakar 2010 between Colon and Cordoba, Argentina, on January 2, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)</i></span><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
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</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d06_21591813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d06_21591813.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo guides his Aprilia through water during Stage 1 of the Dakar 2010 between Colon and Cordoba, Argentina, on January 2, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d07_21591809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d07_21591809.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i><i>People watch Nissan's Jean-Pierre Strugo and co-driver Yves Ferri, of France, splash their car through a river crossing during stage one of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 in Rio Cuarto, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d08_21597369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d08_21597369.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>France's Jean Claude Mazet falls from his KTM during the 2nd stage of the Dakar 2010 between Cordoba and La Rioja, Argentina, on January 3, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d09_21640201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d09_21640201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Manuel Jamett of Chile climbs a rocky road on his Yamaha motorcycle during the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally 2010 from Antofagasta to Iquique January 7, 2010. (REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d12_21649667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d12_21649667.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> BMW's driver France's Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret cross a valley during the seventh stage of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)</i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d13_21651097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d13_21651097.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Russia's Leonid Novitskiy crosses dunes in his BMW during the 7th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, on January 8, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d14_21638255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d14_21638255.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Volkswagen's Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz, of Spain, compete during stage six of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d25_21669945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d25_21669945.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Helder Rodriguez of Portugal rides his Yamaha motorcycle during the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally from Antofasgasta to Copiapo, January 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer/Pool)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d26_21607229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d26_21607229.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> An aerial view shows the site where a Robinson 44 helicopter crashed in Fiambala, Catamarca province, January 4, 2010. The pilot, co-pilot and two reporters who were following the Dakar Rally sustained injuries when their helicopter crashed, local media reported. (REUTERS/Gendarmeria/Handout)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d28_21614197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d28_21614197.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> China's Wenmin Su rides his Jincheng past cheering onlookers during the 4th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Fiambala, Argentina, and Copiapo, Chile on January 5, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d30_21625815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d30_21625815.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Dakar encampment is seen during stage five of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 in Antofagasta, Chile, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Frederic Le Floc'h)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d32_21626601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d32_21626601.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Foggy clouds cover part of the area where the 5th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Copiapo and Antofagasta, Chile, is taking place on January 6, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d34_21649613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d34_21649613.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Yamaha's rider Argentina's Alejandro Patronelli climbs a dune on his quad bike during the seventh stage of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d35_21669493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d35_21669493.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>South African Giniel De Villiers drives his Volkswagen during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile, on January 10, 2010. (NATACHA PISARENKO/AFP/Getty Images)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d36_21625719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d36_21625719.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Italy's Silvia Giannetti falls from her KTM during the 5th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Copiapo and Antofagasta, Chile, on January 6, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)</span></i></div> <i> </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d37_21672653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/dakar_01_11/d37_21672653.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>France's Cyril Despres crosses a wide plain his KTM during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile, on January 10, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>SOURCE:</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://www.dakar.com/">The Dakar Rally Official Website </a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Dakar_Rally">Dakar 2010 at Wikipedia</a><br />
</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.boston.com/%20"><i>http://www.boston.com/ </i></a></span><br />
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</script></div>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-18409534623032774942009-12-23T08:16:00.002+01:002011-06-20T10:25:18.626+02:00Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year All Over The World!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/e/en/enimal/905450_merry_christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/e/en/enimal/905450_merry_christmas.jpg" /></a></div><span id="goog_1260530154889"></span><span id="goog_1260530154890"></span>It doesn't matter where you are now, whether you're at work, resting at home or maybe travelling...<br />
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It doesn't matter what your skin color is, what's your religion and what are your beliefs. All the same - I wish you all the best during this special time of the year, whether you call it Christmas, Hanuka, Kwanzaa, Solistice, or else.<br />
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Lots of happiness and new travel ideas for the upcomming New Year 2010 for all of you! :)MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-56052609750308039362009-12-19T14:05:00.002+01:002011-06-20T12:22:02.240+02:00Arabian Holidays - An Introduction<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Arabian Holidays - An Introduction</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>by David Price </i></div><br />
The Middle East has become one of the most exciting tropical holiday destinations during the recent decades. Holidays to the Middle East are exciting because the geographical area called the Middle East combines the age-old civilization with the most modern of cities. It boasts some of the greatest modern structures like the Burj al Arab. This part of the earth has a rich historical as well as mythological background. This article aims to review the major holiday destinations in the Middle East.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.globalenvision.org/files/dubai%20towers%20at%20night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.globalenvision.org/files/dubai%20towers%20at%20night.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by twocentsworth</i></span></div><br />
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<b>Major Middle East Holiday Destinations</b><br />
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The major Middle East holiday destinations include Oman, Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi etc. All of these places have excellent infrastructure for visitors to make the most of their holidays there. If you are planning a holiday to the Middle East, you can go through the following review to learn what each of these astonishing places offers.The major Middle East holiday destinations include Oman, Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi etc. All of these places have excellent infrastructure for visitors to make the most of their holidays there. If you are planning a holiday to the Middle East, you can go through the following review to learn what each of these astonishing places offers.<br />
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<a href="http://www.happytellus.com/img/oman/080316-38-oman---wadi-shab_4338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.happytellus.com/img/oman/080316-38-oman---wadi-shab_4338.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>Oman</b><br />
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Oman, the most traditional country of the United Arab Emirates, offers everything from rugged coasts, to the peak of Jebel Akhdar at 2980m, to the salt flats and deserts. If you go to Oman, the beautiful and varied terrain of the country will amaze you. Here you will meet an Orient that has a vibrant fusion of cultures taken from India, Africa and the ancient Orient. If you are in Oman, do not miss a tour to the capital Muscat, which is rich in gold and silverware, Bedouin rugs and antiques.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by By: Andries3</i></span></div><br />
If you want water fun, you can have it in the north of the country where lies the dazzling beaches of the Batinah coast.Oman, the most traditional country of the United Arab Emirates, offers everything from rugged coasts, to the peak of Jebel Akhdar at 2980m, to the salt flats and deserts. If you go to Oman, the beautiful and varied terrain of the country will amaze you. Here you will meet an Orient that has a vibrant fusion of cultures taken from India, Africa and the ancient Orient. If you are in Oman, do not miss a tour to the capital Muscat, which is rich in gold and silverware, Bedouin rugs and antiques. If you want water fun, you can have it in the north of the country where lies the dazzling beaches of the Batinah coast.<br />
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<a href="http://gridskipper.com/uploads/qatar100208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://gridskipper.com/uploads/qatar100208.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>Qatar</b><br />
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Qatar is another destination for a typical Arabian holiday. The country combines the charms of old Arabia with exciting modernity. If you visit the country, you will get a fantastic travel experience. Here you will be able to visit the historic forts, expansive desert landscapes, and beach resorts. In Qatar you will also meet a rich, cultural heritage. There are some finest hotels and the world-class shopping centers for the visitors.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Shenghung Lin </i></span><br />
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The capital of Qatar is Doha, which has some interesting places like the city museums<br />
and the Doha Fort.Qatar is another destination for a typical Arabian holiday. The country combines the charms of old Arabia with exciting modernity. If you visit the country, you will get a fantastic travel experience. Here you will be able to visit the historic forts, expansive desert landscapes, and beach resorts. In Qatar you will also meet a rich, cultural heritage. There are some finest hotels and the world-class shopping centers for the visitors. The capital of Qatar is Doha, which has some interesting places like the city museums and the Doha Fort.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2640/4147705461_f7be7041d7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2640/4147705461_f7be7041d7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Dubai</b><br />
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During the recent years Dubai has become the most popular holiday destination in the Middle East. Almost everybody knows about the country’s finest hotels. Apart from this there are also amazing shopping opportunities in Dubai. There are plenty of water funs in Dubai. So, experience Dubai with its beautiful beaches, friendly people and markets. During the recent years Dubai has become the most popular holiday destination in the Middle East.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Wintersun24/7 </i></span><br />
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Almost everybody knows about the country’s finest hotels. Apart from this there are also amazing shopping opportunities in Dubai. There are plenty of water funs in Dubai. So, experience Dubai with its beautiful beaches, friendly people and markets.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.happytellus.com/img/abu-dhabi/view-from-abu-dhabi-mall_52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.happytellus.com/img/abu-dhabi/view-from-abu-dhabi-mall_52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Abu Dhabi</b><br />
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Abu Dhabi is another wonderful place for your holidays and vacations in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Middle East. Thousands of visitors flock Abu Dhabi each year round from all parts of globe. Abu Dhabi offers large gardens and parks, green boulevards lining all the streets and roads, and sophisticated high-rise buildings.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by: Jon Rawlinson</span></i><br />
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You can also enjoy tranquil beaches, oasis, and sunny weather in Abu Dhabi. So, come to Abu Dhabi anytime of the year and experience the charm of this magical city. Thus, plan your holidays to the Middle East anytime of the year and experience the magical charm of this part of the world. The holiday packages to the Middle East are available throughout the year. There are many travel agencies who organize the holiday packages. You can select your own Middle East holiday packages according to your time and budget.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>About Author: </b>David Price writes about Arabian holiday. For more information on Middle east holidays visit <a href="http://www.bestatarabianholidays.co.uk/">http://www.bestatarabianholidays.co.uk/</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Photo source:</b> <a href="http://flickr.com/">flickr.com</a></i></span></div><br />
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</script>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-6688885314906382009-12-14T17:35:00.000+01:002009-12-14T17:35:09.572+01:00Time-lapse video of Mt Fuji, Miyajima, IwateThe latest time-lapse video by Tokyo-based photographer <a href="http://www.samuelcockedey.com/">Samuel Cockedey</a> features captivating views of Mt. Fuji, Miyajima (Itsukushima Shrine), and Iwate prefecture.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8146313&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8146313&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/8146313">(autumn)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1535794">Samuel Cockedey</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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</div>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-17779527125512753262009-12-11T11:49:00.000+01:002011-06-20T12:04:35.927+02:00January in New York City<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>January in New York City </b></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>by Rosalie Scott</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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From cheaper flights and hotels to discount shopping and dining, travelling to New York after the holidays is a perfect way to see the city for a fraction of the regular price. It may be windy and cold in January, but the culture and excitement of New York City is always hot!<br />
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<b>Ice Skating in New York City</b><br />
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When you think about lacing up your skates and gliding around a New York City skating rink, the iconic image comes to mind of skaters circling the rink at Rockefeller Center. But if you are curious to try something different and explore other New York City skating rinks, check out the Pond at Bryant Park. As the only free outdoor skating rink in New York, the Pond is a popular winter destination nestled in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Skate rentals and lockers are available.<br />
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Other outdoor venues for ice skating in New York City are located in picturesque Central Park at the Wollman Rink (east side between 62nd and 63rd Streets) and the Lasker Rink (between 106th and 108th Streets.)<br />
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</div><b>NYC Restaurant Week</b><br />
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Curious about Cafe Boulud, Mesa Grill or Gramercy Tavern? NYC Restaurant Week is the best way to eat at some of the most renowned restaurants in New York City without breaking the bank. This week of delicious dining on a dime takes place twice a year and visitors travelling to New York City in January should plan to take advantage of this wildly popular event.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by plate of the day</span></i><br />
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Participating restaurants offer a set menu for lunch and dinner at a fixed priced, typically offering customers two or three choices for each course. This event allows foodies a chance to try out some of the most talked about eateries in the city, including many helmed by celebrity chefs, at far less expensive prices.<br />
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<b>Reserving a Table During NYC Restaurant Week</b><br />
For information on participating NYC Restaurant Week eateries, their special Restaurant Week menus and dates of the event, visit www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek. Call your dining destination of choice well in advance to reserve as tables book up very quickly. Reservations can also be made for several of the restaurants at Open Table, which is a free site where diners can book their reservations online. With each reservation made, points are accrued towards gift certificates at participating eateries.<br />
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<b>Martin Luther King Jr. Day in New York City</b><br />
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. holiday commemorating the great civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968. Each year the holiday falls on the third Monday of January, close to his birth date of January 15th. There are numerous celebrations, events and tributes organized throughout the five boroughs of New York City on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.<br />
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The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service</b><br />
Every January, thousands of community service projects take place across the U.S. in honour of Dr. King’s teachings on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The slogan of this national day of community service is “Make it a day ON, not a day OFF” and the goal is to empower individuals to work together to strengthen their communities.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by kugelfish</span><br />
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There is plenty to see and do in New York City in January, so bundle up and enjoy!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>About the Author: </b><a href="http://newyorkjourney.com/">http://NewYorkJourney.com</a> will give you a comprehensive look at several hotels, attractions, shops and more in the Big Apple. Get the information you need to know before you travel and make sure you get to see and stay at the best of the best in New York City.<br />
<b>Article Source:</b> ActiveAuthors.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Photo Source:</b> <a href="http://flickr.com/">flickr.com</a> , <a href="http://wikipedia.org/">wikipedia.org</a><br />
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</div>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-47850139516979775022009-11-30T13:08:00.000+01:002011-06-20T12:22:53.340+02:00Amazing Tilt-Shift Video of Swiss Landscape and Trains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of you, amateur world photographers, have probably heard about "tilt-shift" photography. It's a special technique, which allows you to focus only on specific parts of the picture, to emphasize its particularity. And the results, well - you can see an amazing example here:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SxOzj7bnyJI/AAAAAAAARX0/izzJ-c6ZVTo/s1600/tilttrain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SxOzj7bnyJI/AAAAAAAARX0/izzJ-c6ZVTo/s640/tilttrain.jpg" /></a><br />
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First time I saw it, I thought: "Hey, those are toy trains!" and I bet I'm not the only one to think this way.<br />
The truth is, this is a photo of a real train made using the "tilt-shift" technique.<br />
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This movie project is particularly interesting - it's all about beautiful Swiss countryside (villages of Sisikon and Göschenen) and its magnificent, legendary trains. If you had any doubts whether you should visit Switzerland and take a ride - I think the short movie below might be a nudge in the right direction for you. it is a project filmed by Andi Leemann and Jeri Peier (if you're interested in technicalities: they used two EOS 5D Mark II cameras, a Canon 90mm TS-E f/2.8 and a Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 combined with a 1.4x converter, woohoo!). <br />
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And now, sit back and enjoy the amazing views of Swiss Trains from an amazing perspective:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4946315&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4946315&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/4946315">gottardo nord</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/fb1visuals">fb1 visuals</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Hope you like it as much as I do :)<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.geeksaresexy.net/">http://www.geeksaresexy.net/ </a></span></i><br />
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</div>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-6252956348631657092009-11-11T10:55:00.000+01:002011-06-20T12:22:53.341+02:00What to do in Grampian Scotland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/images/SPF/13/SPF50313Svs/YQYUTSRVIBa_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What to do in Grampian Scotland </b></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>by Stig Johanson </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SyIfDuBZPsI/AAAAAAAASLw/f_-2SO5QTGA/s1600-h/Scotland+castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SyIfDuBZPsI/AAAAAAAASLw/f_-2SO5QTGA/s320/Scotland+castle.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div>Have you been pondering lately the possibility of maybe taking a trip to a foreign country? If so, I would highly recommend that you look into going to either Grampian, Scotland or Aberdeen, Scotland as there are so many fun things to see and do there!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SyIdD8XNw7I/AAAAAAAASLo/9Ql1EkYn1uA/s1600-h/aberdeen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SyIdD8XNw7I/AAAAAAAASLo/9Ql1EkYn1uA/s320/aberdeen.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> For starters, while staying in the Aberdeenshire area that encompasses the cities of both Aberdeen and Grampian, you should definitely look into going on one of their hot air balloon rides! This is a fantastic experience that you will not soon forget! Do you love castles and all things having to do with royalty? If so, I’m sure you will be thrilled to hear that famous landmarks such as Crathes Castle and Castle Fraser are just a few of the gorgeous sights that you can expect to see while on your ballooning trip!<br />
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Also, are you a big fan of the performing arts? If so, I would highly recommend that you check out His Majesty’s Theatre while visiting Scotland! Every night, there are top notch actors and actresses here that put on a great show doing everything from opera, pantomime, and musicals, just to name a few.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/files/codonas_050__custom__214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/files/codonas_050__custom__214.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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If you happen to visit Scotland during one of their warm seasons, going to Codonas which is located at Beach Boulevard would be great fun for the whole family! At Codonas you will find an outdoor amusement park that offers not only rides such as roller coasters, but they also offer arcade machines, bingo and ten pin bowling!<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo By: Divv3k </i></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/images/SPF/13/SPF50313Svs/YQYUTSRVIBa_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/images/SPF/13/SPF50313Svs/YQYUTSRVIBa_1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Another great activity in Grampian is quad biking. This can be enjoyed by anyone over the age of 16, this is for insurance purposes. Whilst better in the summer with dryer weather it can be done all year round. For the speed freaks amongst us, this is a lifetime must do. With the freedom of the track and in the company or your friends this is an great way to spend an afternoon or morning. I say afternoon or morning because youd have to be super fit to do a day of it, its very tiring. Do a search for Howie Irvine or House of Mulben. Both centres offer quad biking.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/192/472754334_26351d9467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/192/472754334_26351d9467.jpg" width="305" /></a><br />
</div>If you are an animal lover, and do you especially love marine animals? If so, you will be sure to enjoy going on a dolphin watching cruise trip through Aberdeen Harbour during your stay in Scotland! The view of the harbor is simply spectacular, and the dolphins themselves are quite stunning! Watching the dolphins play together as they swim near the boat is not only fun to watch, but it is also a very relaxing experience. Many times, the dolphins will even decide to do some acrobatic tricks which really are a fantastic sight to behold! Also, if you look closely during your dolphin watching cruise, don’t be surprised if you happen to spot a few other marine animals such grey seals and possibly even a minke whale!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by: Almac555</i></span><br />
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I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that you and your family have a wonderful time while vacationing in Scotland!<br />
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<i><b>About the Author:</b> http://www.kirktowngm.co.uk<br />
<b>Article Source:</b> ActiveAuthors.com</i><br />
<i><b>Photo Sources:</b> flickr.com, visitscotland.com <br />
</i>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-28422428365025691432009-11-05T11:30:00.000+01:002011-06-20T12:22:53.343+02:00Sweden: A Mythical Lesbian City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anthromodernity.com/wp-content/uploads/Warrior-214x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.anthromodernity.com/wp-content/uploads/Warrior-214x300.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>There is a wide range of reasons to visit Sweden: beautiful nature, friendly people, mooses and other wild game... the list is unending. But there is another, and a very curious one, reason to visit this Viking country: a hidden city of Swedish Amazones!<br />
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If you are a tourist planning to visit Sweden, you shoud be aware of this story. There have been rumors of a city dwelled by 25,00 lesbians somewhere in the northern parts of the country. The Swedish tourist authorities (not to mention the Internet queries) are being swarmed with questions about this intriguing topic.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source: anthromodernity.com </i></span><br />
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The story has been spreading in Asia - in Chinese media, for example, you can find some information about a city called "Chako Paul City", supposedly founded in 1820 in northern Sweden by a wealthy man-hating widow who banned all males from entering the settlement. After some time, all of the women were to become lesbian, “because they could not suppress their sexual needs,” reports China’s Harbin News service. The city can be recognized by an medieval castle built there to protect the city, as well as tall, blonde and strong women guarding the premises.<br />
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Needless to say, the Swedish tourist authorities are as surprised as the rest of the nation. Claes Bertilson, the spokesman for SALAR, says: “I've no idea where this came from, but it's not true. At 25,000 residents, the town would be one of the largest in northern Sweden, and I find it hard to believe that you could keep something like that a secret for more than 150 years.”<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Mountains in Lappland, Sweden. </i></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Wikimedia Commons/Alexandre Buisse (Nattfodd)/"GNU Free Documentation License")</i></span><br />
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Although Per Wilhelmsson of the tourist office in Umea in northern Sweden said he had never heard of Chako Paul City, he did confirm that tourism in the area is bustling. <br />
“Our tourism industry is doing quite well, among the best in northern Sweden,” he said.<br />
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<span>He also confirmed that no “women-only” city existed in northern Sweden, but the story reminded him of an 30-year old stunt carried out by Pajala, a northern Swedish town suffering from a different problem: </span><br />
<span> “They arranged for bus loads of women to come up to this town because there weren't enough of them,” he explained.</span><br />
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<span>When asked what else might be drawing tourists to northern Sweden besides the chance to visit an isolated town filled with sexually frustrated females, Wilhelmsson had a theory of his own.</span><span> <br />
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<span>“It’s hard to say for sure, but I think part of it might be increased interest following our designation as Europe’s Cultural Capital for 2014,” he said.</span><span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source: </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://www.newser.com/">http://www.newser.com/<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://www.thelocal.se/22476/20091005/">http://www.thelocal.se/22476/20091005/</a></i></span><br />
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</div>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-83601399683918134312009-10-29T13:26:00.000+01:002011-06-20T12:22:53.344+02:0014 Breathtaking Castles - A Must See!In my journeys, very often I like to plan the route considering the castles or palaces I can find along the way. Some of them are hidden in old forests or placed on top of a hill mysteriously covered with fog. Others - built on islands - seem to float on the water, guarding the city nearby. All of those spectacular buildings, most of them still remembering the medieval times, are certainly worth seeing. Each of them has their own story to tell, filled with mystery, ghosts and treasures...<br />
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<b>Mont Saint-Michel</b><br />
Mont-Saint-Michel is is a rocky coastline island located in Normandy, France. This majestic castle is one of the first places to obtain UNESCO World Heritage listing. It is also one of the most frequently visited castles in France.<br />
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<img alt="mont-saint-michel_castle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-253" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/mont-saint-michel_castle.png" title="mont-saint-michel_castle" width="620" /><br />
<a href="http://www.la-france-vue-du-ciel.fr/images/lieux/mont-saint-michel_1280x1024.jpg" target="_self">Source</a><br />
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<b>Neuschwanstein Castle</b><br />
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of a kind in the world. It was built in 19th-century in Bavaria, situated on a rocky hill near Hohenschwangau in southwest Bavaria, Germany. You can see that the design of this castle is breathtaking: arched portals, all the arcade windows and high towers, columns and pinnacles. It looks like a fairytale castle. Rumor has it, that it has been an inspiration for Walt Disney and the famous castle in Disneyland.<br />
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<a href="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Neuschwanstein-Castle.png"><img alt="Neuschwanstein-Castle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-262" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Neuschwanstein-Castle.png" title="Neuschwanstein-Castle" width="620" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ravensburger.com/produktseiten/normal_q/16236.jpg">Source</a><br />
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<b>Matsumoto Castle</b><br />
Matsumoto Castle is one of the unique four japanese castles, which are listed as national treasures of Japan. Next to Himeji-jo, Matsumoto-jo, this was the next best existing castle donjon (a tall and sturdy defense and observation tower) in Japan. Built by Ishikawa Kazumasa and his son Yasunaga in the year 1590.<br />
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<a href="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Matsumoto-Castle.png"><img alt="Matsumoto-Castle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-268" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Matsumoto-Castle.png" title="Matsumoto-Castle" width="620" /></a><br />
<a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1228/701816373_f56cbb3cdc_o.jpg">Source</a><br />
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<b>Castle of Coca</b><br />
Castle of Coca was built in the 15th century for Archbishop Alonso de Fonseca I. It is considered as one of the best castles in Spain, definitely worth seeing. The castle's characteristic turreted structure of plaster and red brick is surrounded by a deep moat. In spite of this defensive traits, the Castle of Coca has been more of a palace than a castle.<br />
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<a href="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Castillo-de-Coca.png"><img alt="Castillo-de-Coca" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-275" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Castillo-de-Coca.png" title="Castillo-de-Coca" width="620" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fuentesauco/3041800240/sizes/l/">Source</a><br />
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<b>Isola di Loreto</b><br />
Isola di Loreto is a neogothic castle, which has been rebuilt around 1910, being based on the fortified structure of the castle dating further back than 15th century. This castle was built on island L’isola di Loreto, the smallest island of the lake Iseo. It is located on the north side of Montisola, Italy.<br />
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<img alt="Isola-di-Loreto-castle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-276" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Isola-di-Loreto-castle.png" title="Isola-di-Loreto-castle" width="620" /><br />
<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2852231727_3de35441b2_b.jpg">Source</a><br />
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<b>The Potala Palace</b><br />
The Potala Palace is located on the Red Hill of Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. It was originally built in the 17th century by King Songtsen Gampo. The Potala Palace was a winter palace and the main residence of the Dalai Lamas until the 14th Dalai Lama had to escape to Dharamsala, India (he resides there until now).<br />
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<img alt="The-Potala-Palace" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-260" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/The-Potala-Palace.png" title="The-Potala-Palace" width="620" /><br />
<a href="http://www.absolutechinatours.com/UploadFiles/ImageBase/Tibet-Lhasa-Potala-Palace-on-Marpo-Ri-Hill-1-CKB.jpg" target="_self">Source</a><br />
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<b>Predjamski Grad</b><br />
Predjamski Castle is a suprisingly placed renaissance castle built within a cave mouth in southwestern Slovenia, with lots of natural tunnels and smaller caves existing underneath, being a safe haven for many centuries for people living nearby. It is located approximately 11 kilometres from the famous Postojna Cave.<br />
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<a href="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Predjamski-Castle.png"><img alt="Predjamski-Castle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-257" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Predjamski-Castle.png" title="Predjamski-Castle" width="620" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Slovenia/West/Notranjska/near_Postojna/photo323037.htm">Source</a><br />
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<b>Hunyad Castle</b><br />
Hunyad Castle was originally built as a fortress in 1212. Many believe that this castle is the place where the unfamous and terrifying Count Dracula was held as a prisoner for 7 years after he was overthrown in 1462. The castle is situated in Hunedoara, Romania.<br />
<img alt="Hunyad-Castle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-270" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Hunyad-Castle.png" title="Hunyad-Castle" width="620" /><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39780581@N08/3828280424/sizes/o/">Source</a><br />
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<b>Malbork Castle</b><br />
The Malbork Castle’s construction began in 1275, along the river Nogat in Poland. This castle was made from red brick and became the world’s largest brick gothic castle. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997. Today, it is well-preserved medieval gothic castle and a museum.<br />
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<img alt="malbork-castle-picture" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-271" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/malbork-castle-picture.png" title="malbork-castle-picture" width="620" /><br />
<a href="http://mi9.com/datawallpaper/data/22/2864/1245842892/malbork-castle-wallpaper_size_1024x640.jpg">Source</a><br />
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<b>Prague Castle</b><br />
Prague Castle is the Czech Capital City's premier tourist attraction. It was largest medieval castle complex in Europe and the ancient seat of Czech kings throughout the ages.<br />
<a href="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/prague_castle.png"><img alt="prague_castle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-274" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/prague_castle.png" title="prague_castle" width="620" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.prague.net/gallery/st-vitus-cathedral/pic4.php">Source</a><br />
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<b>Eltz Castle</b><br />
Eltz Castle is a medieval castle placed in the hills above the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier, Germany. This castle is still owned by a branch of the same family (for 33 generations!) that lived there in the 12th century.<br />
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<img alt="Eltz-Castle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-278" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Eltz-Castle.png" title="Eltz-Castle" width="620" /><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/molinarius/2062246084/sizes/o/">Source</a><br />
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<b>Palacio da Pena</b><br />
Palacio da Pena is one of Europe’s most magnificent and uniquely designed palaces. It was built on the top of a hill above the town of Sintra, Portugal.<br />
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<img alt="Palacio-da-Pena" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Palacio-da-Pena.png" title="Palacio-da-Pena" width="620" /><br />
<a href="http://deborahrey.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/4-pena.jpg">Source</a><br />
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<b>Löwenburg Castle</b><br />
Löwenburg Castle was built around 1800 as a country residence for Count Wilhelm IX (Germany). This castle was intentionally designed to look like a medieval castle.<br />
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<img alt="Löwenburg-Castle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-273" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/L%C3%B6wenburg-Castle.png" title="Löwenburg-Castle" width="620" /><br />
<a href="http://concursofoto.edreams.es/files/galeria/Castillo%20de%20L%C3%B6wenburg-Kassel%20AlemaniaR.jpg">Source</a><br />
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<b>Bodiam Castle</b><br />
Bodiam Castle is a quadrangular castle, surrounded with a huge moat, located in East Sussex, England. It was built in the late 14th century by a veteran of King Edward III’s wars with France. The purpose of this castle was to be a strategical point of defense from a possible french invasion and also - a peaceful and quiet homestead for its owner.<br />
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<img alt="Bodiam-Castle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-277" height="440" src="http://pixzii.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Bodiam-Castle.png" title="Bodiam-Castle" width="620" /><br />
<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2063/2345645865_df8416085e_b.jpg" target="_self">Source</a><br />
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If you find any other castles you've seen or feel they should be mentionned here - write a comment, please! :)<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://pixzii.com/">http://pixzii.com/</a></span></i><br />
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</div>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-63193785257734765982009-10-27T00:04:00.001+01:002011-06-20T12:22:02.243+02:00Stone Tree Forest - Yakutsk, RussiaI'm sure that after looking at those magnificent pictures, you will aggree with me when I say that this stone forest (called locally "Lena's Stone Forest") is one of the most amazing places on our planet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://englishrussia.com/images/stone_trees/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://englishrussia.com/images/stone_trees/1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo: A. Butorin</i></span><br />
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</div>These magnificent natural stome formations are placed near a city of Yakutsk, located in the Asiatic part of Russia. It's a breathtaking experience to see them with our own eyes, so the place is very popular among scientists (geologists, paleontologists) and tourists alike. One "tiny" problem with this place is its location. It takes about four days to get there from Moscow: a very long flight and then a three-day-long boat ride, which costs "only" $500 if you're lucky. But once you get there - it's certainly worth seeing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SuYpX02SDeI/AAAAAAAARQc/A-6NLJBlFyY/s1600-h/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SuYpX02SDeI/AAAAAAAARQc/A-6NLJBlFyY/s640/2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo: V. Grigoriev<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SuYpZ6-b_GI/AAAAAAAARQk/ZkS1kWUoqK0/s1600-h/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SuYpZ6-b_GI/AAAAAAAARQk/ZkS1kWUoqK0/s640/3.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SuYpoKpuUAI/AAAAAAAARQs/066UJDEIAuE/s1600-h/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SuYpoKpuUAI/AAAAAAAARQs/066UJDEIAuE/s640/4.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SuYppBi2Z8I/AAAAAAAARQ0/5ohRnzyxzIw/s1600-h/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SuYppBi2Z8I/AAAAAAAARQ0/5ohRnzyxzIw/s640/5.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://media.englishrussia.com/stone_trees/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/stone_trees/6.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SuYptuRUM4I/AAAAAAAARRE/1aOR7rwlsYg/s1600-h/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SuYptuRUM4I/AAAAAAAARRE/1aOR7rwlsYg/s640/7.jpg" /></a><br />
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You can check the location of the Stone Tree Forest on Google Maps - <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5+%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B1%D1%8B&sll=61.372265,128.86508&sspn=0.002586,0.007843&ie=UTF8&ll=61.162781,127.687225&spn=0.083293,0.250969&t=h&z=12&iwloc=A&lci=com.panoramio.all,org.wikipedia.en">here</a>.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://englishrussia.com/?p=5202">English Russia</a></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Photo Credits: A.Butorin, V.Grigoriev</i></span><br />
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</div>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-56264857440965317222009-09-30T08:12:00.000+02:002009-09-30T08:12:00.748+02:00Tunisia - A Short Break in Sousse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnpipY6OtI/AAAAAAAARB4/RK9Pc8553F0/s1600-h/Sousse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnpipY6OtI/AAAAAAAARB4/RK9Pc8553F0/s400/Sousse1.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sousse is the third largest city in Tunisia</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>and it is one of the better places to visit in Africa as well as in Tunisia. Getting around the city should not be difficult and it is an ideal city for the independent minded tourist who wants to both experience a wonderful holiday and also take in many pleasing sights to see. You will like the working port in the center of the city as also the Medina that is rich in history and which has some very nice fortifications surrounding it. There is also an exciting beach where tourists and the locals mingle together and if you want to see the rest of Tunisia, you will easily get rail connections to the north and also the south.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnpreF-plI/AAAAAAAARCA/e4NdH6DDn-A/s1600-h/sousse3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnpreF-plI/AAAAAAAARCA/e4NdH6DDn-A/s400/sousse3.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sousse is also the capital of Sahel </span>with olive groves that take up more than two hundred and fifty thousand hectares of land and which is a treasure which contributes immensely to the economy of Sousse itself as well as to the rest of the country. A visit to the Sunday market will afford you opportunity to buy everything from a mule to a motorcycle and if you are feeling hungry, head down to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Route de la Corniche</span> where you will find amazing places to eat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnptnmKP0I/AAAAAAAARCI/BHLRzjPCE70/s1600-h/sousse_bazar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnptnmKP0I/AAAAAAAARCI/BHLRzjPCE70/s400/sousse_bazar.jpg" /></a><br />
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Sousse is a city that has many things of interest which is why tourists flock here from all around the world though main attractions are centered on<span style="font-weight: bold;"> the Medina</span> that is famous for its ancient ramparts. Within is <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Khalel Al Fata Tower</span> that is a lighthouse dating back to 859 AD, and you will also get to see the eight century fortress named<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Riba</span>t that was used to defend the country against foreign enemies. You will also be impressed by the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Great Mosque</span> that has many arches shaped in the form of horseshoes which surround a regal courtyard built in 850 AD by the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Afhlabid Emir Abou El Abbes Mohammed</span>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/Srnpw77wTfI/AAAAAAAARCY/nvpfUAEhJfw/s1600-h/sousse_ribat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/Srnpw77wTfI/AAAAAAAARCY/nvpfUAEhJfw/s400/sousse_ribat.jpg" /></a><br />
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Another interesting place to visit in Sousse is<span style="font-weight: bold;"> the Sousse Museum</span> that contains a very attractive garden along with many <span style="font-weight: bold;">Roman mosaic collections</span> that are as good as any you will find anywhere, especially such as those found in Bardo.<br />
If you are not averse to visiting nearby places of interest you could head down to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Port El Kantaoui </span>that is just fifteen minutes away by taxi or Noddy train. There is also the birthplace of former leader <span style="font-weight: bold;">President Bourguiba</span> that is located in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Monastir</span> that you may want to visit as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/Srnpvc0ivXI/AAAAAAAARCQ/rvT8qSy9PQc/s1600-h/sousse_1101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/Srnpvc0ivXI/AAAAAAAARCQ/rvT8qSy9PQc/s400/sousse_1101.jpg" /></a><br />
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In any case, once you are in Sousse you will find many resorts as well as beaches and also many orchards and olive groves. You will especially like <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Mediterranean climate</span> and in spite of the fact that Sousse is closely associated with olive oils, tourism is a major activity here and there are more than one million visitors coming here each year just to relax in the many fine hotels and savor the cuisine in comfortable restaurants as well as enjoy the nightlife and gamble at the casinos.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnpyWY4raI/AAAAAAAARCg/VK2tPfl0In8/s1600-h/sousse_m.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnpyWY4raI/AAAAAAAARCg/VK2tPfl0In8/s400/sousse_m.gif" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Map of Sousse<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic;">Source: <a href="http://www.sunny-holiday.pl/">www.sunny-holiday.pl</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic;">Pictures: <a href="http://www.yahodeville.com/">http://www.yahodeville.com </a><br />
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</div>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-32815082028453445792009-09-23T11:59:00.002+02:002011-06-20T12:04:02.067+02:00Aruba's Hotel Absurd Ads: Get Pregnant, Get $300 Voucher!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/Srnsn35hLqI/AAAAAAAARCo/I9K_gepseC4/s1600-h/westinaruba.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/Srnsn35hLqI/AAAAAAAARCo/I9K_gepseC4/s400/westinaruba.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;">First, let's take a closer look at Westin Aruba Resort. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">That's what you can read in Frommer's Review:</span><br />
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<blockquote><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Built in 1975, the hotel was renovated in 2006 when it went from being a Wyndham to a Westin. Olive, beige, and mustard fabrics accent the cherry wood furniture. Subtle carpeting, flatscreen TVs, and modern rectangular lamps add more Miami style. The trademark Westin "heavenly" beds are indeed a white fluffy retreat from the world.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>>> Read more: <a href="http://www.frommers.com/destinations/aruba/H61163.html#ixzz0Rv43HCGo">http://www.frommers.com/destinations/aruba/H61163.html#ixzz0Rv43HCGo</a></i></span></div></blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnxKRPSMzI/AAAAAAAARCw/NvwjrFW4-SI/s1600-h/westin_aruba_SPA_02_J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnxKRPSMzI/AAAAAAAARCw/NvwjrFW4-SI/s400/westin_aruba_SPA_02_J.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Fluffy retreat, indeed. The newest controversial Press Release by Westin Hotel PR specialists claims that if a couple can prove thay they have conceived a child during their stay at this Aruba Resort, they will get a $300 voucher for their next vacation. Oh, and the child has to be conceived during, uh... "coral spawning season".<br />
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A joke, you say? Not at all. Don't believe me? - Let's read their original Press Release:<br />
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<blockquote><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Romance Is in the Water in Aruba: Celebrate Coral Spawning Season with Escape at The Westin Resort<br />
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$300 ‘Conception Credit’ for Couples Who Conceive During Getaway; All-Inclusive Fall Rates Starting at $199 Per Person<br />
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Romance fills Aruba’s waters each fall during coral spawning season, when millions of coral reproduce, forming pink and white clouds that delight underwater enthusiasts. With love in the water, romance-inducing coral spawning season is a fitting time for lovers to escape to the island of Aruba, with its ideal location outside the hurricane belt and year-round sunshine. The Westin Resort, Aruba invites couples to prolong the relaxing beach days of summer with the all-inclusive experience, with rates starting at $399 per room, based on double occupancy (that’s less than $200 per person, per day, including meals & alcohol), for travel through December 18, 2009.* As an added bonus, couples who book prior to September 30, 2009 will receive a $100 resort credit, which can be used towards activities such as an in-room massage or other spa services.<br />
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Couples who were inspired by Aruba’s coral mating ritual during their fall getaway (September 1 – December 19, 2009), and can prove they conceived during their stay, will receive a $300 ‘Conception Credit’ towards a return visit to the resort in 2010. With all the stress of preparing for a new arrival, the expecting parents will surely be in need of a pre-baby Caribbean retreat.<br />
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The Westin Resort, Aruba’s all-inclusive package takes the stress out of planning daily meals and activities and allows couples to focus on the most important thing: each other. A new twist on the all-inclusive vacation, without sticker shock – or the wristbands and endless buffet lines typically associated – the package includes accommodations, three meals daily, unlimited drinks (yes, beer, wine and cocktails, too), a $25 dining credit for the resort’s fine dining establishments, non-motorized water sports, tax and service fees and more.<br />
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For resort reservations or further information, call (877) 782-0149 or visit www.westinaruba.com/allinclusive. When booking, please ask for rate plan CLASSIC.</i><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnxLhnZGpI/AAAAAAAARC4/DY4BpyIghRM/s1600-h/westin_aruba_pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B646WyeFpxQ/SrnxLhnZGpI/AAAAAAAARC4/DY4BpyIghRM/s400/westin_aruba_pool.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maybe we should ask some questions to the hotels' Manager:</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Are those colorful clouds of coral sperm a real aphrodisiac? Wouldn't you rather go and take a shower after swimming in those "pink and white clouds" floating around in the seawater?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. How many of kitchen staff members would laugh every time the Chef says: "put the buns in the oven"? How soon these and similar jokes will become obsolete?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Will the hotel supply the visitors with free pregnancy tests? How about a fertility pill or viagra instead of regular "goodnight mints" on the pillow?</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. What kind of papers, forms and test results would the hotel staff require to have proven the fact of conception? How about some forensics, photos, or maybe even videos from that special day? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. What about the future of the resort? Will the hotel in 2010 transform from "fluffy retreat from the world" to "crying-and-wet return to reality"? Maybe the managerial staff should start making decisions about transforming that modern-style hotel into a "Family Village"? You wouldn't like to loose your customers and their new families, would you? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">6. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I suppose there may be already some trying-to-get-pregnant couples who would accidentaly choose this hotel with its offer over some other destination. In that case, maybe you should think about putting the money into the college fund of their child instead?</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">7. And finally - do you really think that a mere $300 voucher would make anyone think of conceiving a baby? Is that how low you estimate the miracle of birth? Is starting a new life worth only $300 to you? Come on...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source: <a href="http://www.frommers.com/destinations/aruba/H61163.html">frommers.com</a> , <a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/">http://www.starwoodhotels.com</a>, <a href="http://westinaruba.com/">westinaruba.com</a></i></span><br />
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<div><a class="addthis_button" expr:addthis:title="data:post.title" expr:addthis:url="data:post.url" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4487210856133684925"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border: 0pt none;" width="125" /></a><br />
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</script></div>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-88008843215093725722009-09-19T10:19:00.002+02:002009-09-19T10:19:00.276+02:00Mauritius Vacation Guide<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Mauritius Vacation Guide</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />by Andrew Muigai</span><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.buttertrips.com/packages/mauritius.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 387px;" src="http://www.buttertrips.com/packages/mauritius.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mauritius has successfully managed to position itself as an exotic beach destination. </span>With beach destinations so plentiful, this has been sustained not by mere hype, but by the substance there is to this claim. Visitors are drawn to Mauritius by the reputation of its 140 km of white sand beaches, and the superb opportunities for water sports. Swimming, beach combing, sailing, surfing, kayaking, diving and deep-sea fishing - there is a sport for almost everyone.<p>Arab traders discovered the then uninhabited island in the 10th century. But they were not charmed sufficiently to consider permanent settlement. The Portuguese early in the sixteenth century landed, but they too passed over the chance to lay claim for their king. But in 1598 the Dutch finally seized the opportunity. The island was grabbed for and named after Maurice, Prince of Orange and Count of Nassau -then ruler of the Netherlands.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.teleservices.mu/tourist/images/hist1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 253px;" src="http://www.teleservices.mu/tourist/images/hist1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>In the century that followed, the Dutch established settlements and devised means to live off the land. They introduced sugar and tobacco, which they farmed using African slave labour. Sugar is today still an important part of the economy. The Dutch were insensitive to the extremely fragile ecosystem that makes up an isolated island such as Mauritius. On their watch, most of the islands' indigenous forests were felled, and lost. The bird known as dodo was also shot to extinction. Thus did the trigger-happy Dutch give life to the expression "as dead as a dodo".</p><p>The Dutch courage that had made them pioneers was however not to last. They were subjected to many trials by the forces of nature - cyclones, droughts and floods. And also by the forces of man, for pirates were a constant headache. In 1710, they fled to the more hospitable Cape of Good Hope, at Africa's southern tip. A short five years after the Dutch left, the French claimed the island, and renamed it Isle de France.</p><p>The French were much more successful than the Dutch in harnessing the potential of the island. They maintained law and order and laid the foundations for administration of society. Under the celebrated French Governor, Mahé de Labourdonnais, real nation building began. The French brought in more African slaves and expanded further sugar farming. They also laid out some social and economic infrastructure to support the settlers. Port Louis, named after King Louis XV, and today the capital of Mauritius, dates back to this period.</p><p><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.teleservices.mu/tourist/images/hist3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 194px;" src="http://www.teleservices.mu/tourist/images/hist3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p>Though the French had introduced systems of law and order, Port Louis turned out to be a favourite of corsairs. Corsairs were mercenary marine who specialised in the plunder of ships on behalf of a client country. The British, a great sea power at the time, had a vested interest in terminating the power of these mercenaries. And that is how Mauritius, so far away from Europe, got involved in the Napoleonic wars. In 1810, the British backed by superior force of arms, persuaded the French to leave the island.</p><p>In the 1814 Treaty of Paris, the British - magnanimous victors indeed, allowed the French settlers to remain in Mauritius. They too were allowed to retain their property, language, religion and legal system. The British reverted to the name the Dutch had given the island, but Port Louis retained its name. But in the century and a half that the British ruled, they were never really as grounded as the French had been.</p><p><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.teleservices.mu/tourist/images/hist4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 210px;" src="http://www.teleservices.mu/tourist/images/hist4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Franco-Mauritians prospered on an agrarian economy based on slave labour. But in 1835, they felt the capricious hand of a great power when slavery was abolished. This is perhaps the single most important measure carried out under British rule, and the consequences had a far-reaching effect on the evolving demographics of the nation. India, a British colony greatly abundant in human resources was the answer to the labour problem that arose. In the years that followed, the descendants of the Indian labourers who came to work the sugar fields greatly multiplied. The Chinese also came -as labourers and traders.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Today, Indo-Mauritians constitute close to 70% of the population. </span>As in other colonies in that historic period, and upto the 1930's in Mauritius, non-whites had very limited say in the running of the country. And that is why Gandhi - that great liberator of men's minds, came to Mauritius in 1901, in particular to give heart to Indo-Mauritians. After years of protracted concessions to democratic rule, the British finally bowed out in 1968, when finally granted independence.</p><p>The events we talk about above are however very recent. About eight million years ago, the island emerged from the depths of the sea as result of volcanic activity. Occupying 1860 sq km, it is situated just above the Tropic of Capricorn, 890 km to the east of Madagascar. Rising from the sea, the central plateau formation is about 400 m above sea level. There are mountains scattered in the island, and a few peaks, the highest of which reaches 820 m.</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">As a country, Mauritius includes the islands of Rodrigues and Agalega, the Cargados Carajos Shoals and a few smaller mostly uninhabited islands. </span>Mauritius is almost wholly ringed by a coral reef that is reputed to be the worlds third largest. Both the Dutch and the French were extremely reckless in allowing the uncontrolled invasion of indigenous forests. Today, less than 2% of these forests remain. Many of the nearly 700 species of indigenous plants are threatened with extinction. Starting from the late 1970's, a belated but systematic effort has been underway to conserve the unique flora of the island.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.iho-ohi.org/wp-content/mauritius.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 621px; height: 421px;" src="http://www.iho-ohi.org/wp-content/mauritius.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">The wildlife </span>faces similar dangers. In the first place, animal migration to this isolated island was by air or sea only, greatly limiting the diversity of species. The animals the Dutch found included out-of-size reptiles and flightless birds. But except for bats, there were no mammals and no amphibians at all. The animals brought aboard ships by man include monkeys and rats - thanks to the Portuguese, while the Dutch take credit for deer and wild boar. Some of these animals threaten to choke the life out of indigenous species - they eat their eggs, and even their young.</p><p><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/3881696.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 137px;" src="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/3881696.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p>Mauritius is not all bad news for nature lovers' - there are plenty of birds and marine life is abundant. However, some of the endemic bird species, such as Mauritius kestrel, echo parakeet and pink pigeon number not more than a few hundred. Such are now under some form of captive breeding program, with the hope of raising their numbers.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">The island's maritime zone</span> boasts more than 1,000 species of marine life- fishes, shells and mollusks, in numbers beyond count. The spectacular way to explore the spectacular underwater world is onboard a submarine. The sub also allows you to see some ship wrecks dating back to the Dutch period.</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">You can swim at various places at beaches, lagoons and inlets. </span>Swimming beaches are best to the north, though there are other good sites to the southwest and to the west near Flic en Flac. The west coast offers good sites for surfing at Tamarin, and diving at Flic en Flac. At Grand Bay beach, you get good shopping, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants and the chance to interact with locals. In addition, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the swimming, surfing, sailing and angling</span> is good. From here, you can also make a boat excursion of the islands to the north.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://keenookevin.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/1_3_mauritius_mountains.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 592px; height: 442px;" src="http://keenookevin.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/1_3_mauritius_mountains.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p>In the islands' interior, there are good opportunities for <span style="font-weight: bold;">hiking and trekking</span>. Black River Gorges National Park has excellent walks, and at the same time you can see some endemic plants and birds. The Réserve Forrestičre Macchabée and Rivičre Noire National Park are also good for hiking. In addition, captive breeding to raise the numbers of Mauritius endangered endemic birds is underway here. For trekkers, you will do well at the plateau at Curepipe and at the island of Rodrigues.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://keenookevin.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/1_3_mauritius_mountains.jpg"><br /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://keenookevin.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/9323427.jpg?w=300&h=225"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://keenookevin.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/9323427.jpg?w=300&h=225" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Royal Botanical Gardens of Pamplemousses </span>are very popular with visitors. The gardens date back to 1735, during the French period. Here you will see a large collection of exotic and indigenous plants in excellent surroundings. Among the most peculiar specimens are the giant Victoria regia water lilies, whose origins are in the Amazon, and the talipot palm- known to bloom once every 60 years before dying. At the Casela Bird Park, you can see some of its 140 bird species, including the rare Mauritian pink pigeon. Some of these excursions are included in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.africapoint.com/tours1/mauritius.htm">Mauritius tour packages</a> offered by the various vendors.</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mauritius offers some excellent golf courses</span>, and visitors are increasingly aware of it. There are at least three hotels with 18-hole courses and another five with 9-hole courses. The Ile aux Cerfs course, which sits on its own tiny island is the most spectacular. For honeymooners, the island is very welcoming. Almost all hotels offer a special honeymoon package. As a non-resident, you can easily tie the knot here. But a few formalities must be completed with officialdom; make sure you comply before arrival.</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mauritius is at the cultural cross roads of Europe, Africa and Asia. </span>The Dutch, French, Africans, Indians, Chinese and British came under one guise or another and have today influenced the character and cultural life of the island. Though the island is closest to Africa geographically, culturally it is much closer to Asia.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.homesgofast.com/images/mauritius.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 586px; height: 468px;" src="http://www.homesgofast.com/images/mauritius.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p>The biggest racial groups are Indo-Mauritians who constitute about two thirds of the nations 1.2 million peoples, followed by Creoles - Afro- Mauritians who are just over a quarter of the population. Franco- Mauritians and peoples of Chinese origin combined make up about 5% of the population. While English is the official language, French, Creole, Bhojpuri and Urdu are widely spoken. Religion is the other factor defining the people of the island, with Hinduism (51%), Christianity (30%) and Islam (17%) leading.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mauritiustravel.co.za/images/screenshots/114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 189px;" src="http://www.mauritiustravel.co.za/images/screenshots/114.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">The cuisine of the island reflects the diversity of its people.</span> French, Creole, Chinese and Indian foods - with local variations are all found here. Wherever you stay, you will most likely be able to watch or even dance the Sega. This energetic and erotic Creole dance has origins in the sugar fields, in the days when African labour was captive. You may also be fortunate to encounter any of the various festivals celebrated in this multicultural country. Only the most widely traveled however, will be prepared for the Cavadi. On this Tamil festival, penitents pierce their bodies, tongues, and cheeks while some march on shoes of nails.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tourism is one of the main pillars of the economy of Mauritius. </span>The bulk of visitors come from South Africa, Germany, France, Australia and UK. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.africapoint.com/hotels/mauritius.htm">Hotels in Mauritius</a> are plenty, and they range from 5-star luxury to those with just basic amenities. Budget stay comes in the form of bungalows, guesthouses and self-catering apartments. The period June to September and around Christmas is the busy season and if you plan to travel then, you are advised to book your accommodation in advance. Mauritius is still relatively affordable, though there has been talk of turning it into an up market beach destination.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.conuscollection.cz/seashelltrips/01_destination/mauritius/mauritius_basic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.conuscollection.cz/seashelltrips/01_destination/mauritius/mauritius_basic.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mauritius is a year-round destination. </span>The best times to visit however, are the periods April-June and September- November. These are the months when it rains least and the temperatures are moderate. January to April is hottest, and daytime temperatures can reach 35°C. Temperatures tend to be lower inland, away from the coast. The main rains come between December and April, though there are light rains year round. November to February is when cyclones are most likely to occur. But do not be deterred; chances of meeting cyclones are not very high, and it is estimated that they hit the island about once every 15 years.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.buttertrips.com/packages/mauritius.jpg"><br /></a></p><p>If you are keen on <span style="font-weight: bold;">water sports</span>, beware that diving is best December to March, and surfing between June and August. For big game fishing, come between October and April. You should be comfortable with light clothing suitable for the tropical climate. But you need warmer clothing for evenings and the southern winter months between July and September. Whatever time of year you travel, do carry some rainwear. In the summer months between November and April, you are advised to bring along sunglasses, sun hats and sunscreen.</p><p>Copyright (C) <a target="_blank" href="http://www.africapoint.com/">Africa Point</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.africapoint.com/"><br /></a></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Andrew Muigai</span> is editor of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.africapoint.com/">AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter</a>. It is part of AfricaPoint.com - the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on Mauritius Hotels at the website.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: <a href="http://www.websition.com/">http://www.websition.com/</a>, <a href="http://keenookevin.files.wordpress.com/">http://keenookevin.files.wordpress.com</a><a href="http://www.websition.com/"><br /></a></span></p>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-15863498662740833152009-09-18T17:41:00.000+02:002009-09-18T18:32:48.845+02:00Tunisia - A Historical Tour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/maps/images/maps/tunisia_map.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 370px;" src="http://www.merriam-webster.com/maps/images/maps/tunisia_map.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunisia is a very popular tourist destination</span>, even though it's one of the smallest countries in North Africa.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>This country offers many attractive sights to see including those of historical and cultural importance that are more than a match for anything that can be found in any other North African country. One of the factors that contribute to its historical and cultural charm is the fact that it has been occupied by many great Mediterranean Empires at different times, so those turbulent events are embodied in its history and have given this country a unique as well as interesting way of living that is quite unique in it and not at all like that of its neighboring countries.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tunisia may be small in size but it has a lion sized number of important places to visit and many interesting activities to do which is why many Europeans flock here to sample the outstanding Islamic architecture and also to take in the sights of ancient Roman as also Carthaginian ruins. Given the friendly nature of its peoples, Tunisia is deservedly a hotspot as far as tourism goes and along with lovely sandy coastlines and the extraordinary deserts, you can be assured of an outstanding holiday and an enervating visit to this Islamic country.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.iho-ohi.org/wp-content/sousse-tunisia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 564px; height: 340px;" src="http://www.iho-ohi.org/wp-content/sousse-tunisia.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you want to get the most from your visit to Tunisia,</span> then plan your holidays to fall within the months of March and May which is when the temperature is ideally cool and suitable for sightseeing trips and excursions. You can also keep September and October in mind, the latter being a bit mor windy in some parts of the contry. The warm summers attract most Europeans, so, in the summer months (June - August), be prepared to pay premium money for decent accommodation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2757384-Camel_trek_in_the_Sahara_near_Douz_Tunisia-Tunisia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 530px; height: 399px;" src="http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2757384-Camel_trek_in_the_Sahara_near_Douz_Tunisia-Tunisia.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Even though Tunisia is a country of modest size, you will find many interesting places to see, not far away from wach other. A visit to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunis - the capital city</span> - will provide you with relaxation and then you can venture not far from here to visit <span style="font-weight: bold;">the ruins in ancient Carthage</span> as also <span style="font-weight: bold;">Utica</span>.<br /><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/voyagetunisiecarthage2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 451px; height: 305px;" src="http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/voyagetunisiecarthage2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><br />You may consider a visit to a small, yet thriving village of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sidi Bou Said</span>, called "a pearl of Tunisian seaside" because of its spectacular blue-and-white architecture and almost magical atmosphere. You would also appreciate <span style="font-weight: bold;">the oasis town of Tozeur</span> that has breathtaking scenery as well as an outstandingly thriving market and the best way to enjoy the scenery would be atop a camel where you should try the camel safaris, which is a wonderful and amazing experience in itself.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://szubjektiv.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/nearby-sidi-bou-said.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 349px;" src="http://szubjektiv.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/nearby-sidi-bou-said.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">You will be simply spellbound</span> with your first glimpse of Tunisia with its<span style="font-weight: bold;"> golden beaches and wonderfully blue waters</span>. A coastline of more than twelve hundred kilometers provides you with ample opportunity to take in the paradise-like attractions of this Mediterranean land. So, take in some of these places of interest such as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sousse, Monastir, Hammamet</span> as well as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nabeul, Djerba as also Tabarka</span> where there are many waterfront hotels for you to relax in and also enjoy sea sports as well as windsurfing and sailing.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.soussetunisia.com/UserFiles/sousse-plage-A%281%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 423px; height: 295px;" src="http://www.soussetunisia.com/UserFiles/sousse-plage-A%281%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p>There is also another equally enchanting side to Tunisia where you can view the <span style="font-weight: bold;">ancient Roman</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Arab</span> as also <span style="font-weight: bold;">Berber</span> or <span style="font-weight: bold;">Phoenician</span> sites and here you can get a good reminder of the multifaceted historical past of this wonderful country.</p><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Source: </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.sunny-holiday.pl/">www.sunny-holiday.pl</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> , </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/">www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/</a></span><br /><br /><div><a title="data:post.title" url="data:post.url" class="addthis_button"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" alt="Bookmark and Share" style="border: 0pt none ;" height="16" width="125" /></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js?pub=midmad"></script></div><br /><!-- AddThis Button END -->MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-7820242726829740112009-09-17T13:39:00.001+02:002009-09-18T18:49:44.663+02:00New layout, new destinations!<!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->As you may have probably already noticed, the website layout has been changed - hope you'll like it as much as I do. It certainly gives you more of that travel&vacation feeling.<br /><br />On the right, you will find a new element of the blog - a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Skribit.com</span> module. If you'd like to read something particularly interesting here, something I should, in your opinion, write about - just click and suggest me something. Go ahead, I'm really curious about your ideas :)<br /><br />Also, prepare for the next travel destinations: <a href="http://worldwide-travelling.blogspot.com/search/label/Tunisia"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunisia</span></a> - thriving cities among Sahara sands and <a href="http://worldwide-travelling.blogspot.com/search/label/Mauritius"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mauritius</span></a> - great place for hikers, water sports and golf fans and everyone else who enjoys breathtaking views of its amazing coastline.<br /><br />In the meantime - if you like my blog, don't forget to<a href="http://worldwide-travelling.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default"> subscribe to RSS Feed</a> or follow my newest posts with Google Friend Connect!<br /><br /><br /><div><a title="data:post.title" url="data:post.url" class="addthis_button"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" alt="Bookmark and Share" style="border: 0pt none ;" height="16" width="125" /></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js?pub=midmad"></script></div><br /><!-- AddThis Button END -->MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-78490725926533882742009-09-10T14:43:00.008+02:002011-06-20T12:23:35.960+02:00The Marble Cave - a breathtaking visual experienceIn answer to <a href="http://worldwide-travelling.blogspot.com/2009/09/11-breathtaking-underground-lakes-and.html">my recent blog post</a>, one of the regular readers (thanks, G!) sent me some informations about an another underground "natural miracle", which can be found in Eastern Europe. It is situated in the Crimea region, in Ukraine and called <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Marble Cave"</span> by the locals.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 642px; height: 425px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_002.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>You can visit this extraordinary cave any time you want and admire the amazing natural formations, which are subtelly punctuated by carefully situated artificial light sources.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 646px; height: 428px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_008.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The beauty of the Marble Cave is unique, making the location very popular among tourists. It is already said to be the second most visited place of this kind in Europe and one in the top five world's most amazing caves.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 637px; height: 419px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_003.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This crimean landscape above the cave, although rich in hills, rocks, and interesting mountain formations, doesn't match the beauty of the underground jewel hidden beneath the surface.<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 424px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_013.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 424px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_015.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Some of the most interesting places in the cave are marked with labels giving a clue to what the particular formation resembles. You can find trolls, flowers, elephants... and even a Santa Claus among them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 637px; height: 422px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_011.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This one looks like a mammoth, doesn't it?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 465px; height: 700px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_007.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 636px; height: 421px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_022.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Some formations resemble underground ancient cities and castles, built and dwelled by mysterious creatures...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 639px; height: 423px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_006.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 638px; height: 454px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_004.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 634px; height: 419px;" src="http://media.englishrussia.com/marble_cave/1_016.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Have you visited the cave yourself? If so, feel free to share your experiences and photos! :)<br /><br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br />Source pictures: <a href="http://englishrussia.com/">http://englishrussia.com</a><br /><br /><div><a title="data:post.title" url="data:post.url" class="addthis_button"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" alt="Bookmark and Share" style="border: 0pt none ;" height="16" width="125" /></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js?pub=midmad"></script></div><br /><!-- AddThis Button END -->MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-22489730807020417722009-09-03T08:43:00.000+02:002009-09-03T08:43:00.275+02:0011 Breathtaking Underground Lakes and Rivers<span><a href="http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/wp-content/plugins/obsocialbookmarker/include/obsocialbookmarker_redirect.php?site=obsocialbookmarkerslashdot&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.environmentalgraffiti.com%2Ffeatured%2Funderground-lakes-river%2F2190&title=10+Incredible+Underground+Lakes+and+Rivers+%5Bpics%5D" target="_blank" title="Slashdot It"> </a>We often think that the most wonderful places to see are above our planet's surface. Not many people know that there are some real gems hidden underground. Calm waters of underground rivers, tranquile cave lakes, their tranquile surfaces untouched by human hand.<br />You can see some of those most spectacular Mother Earth's Underground Crown Jewels below:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Reed Flute Cave in Guilin</span>, China was discovered during the Tang Dynasty almost 1,300 years ago.<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"></span></span><em style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128);"></span></em> <p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/15347/2057841650103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Reed Flute Cave" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em><span style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128);"><a href="http://www.ianandwendy.com/slideshow.htm?files=OtherTrips/ChinaVietnamCambodia/China/Guillin#id=952&num=3">Image by Ian Sewell </a></span></em></p> <p><br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">2. </span>Cheddar Gorge </span>is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Britain</span>’s biggest canyon and is found within the Cheddar Caves, where the UK’s oldest complete human skeleton was found in 1903. Known as the Cheddar Man, the remains were estimated to be 9,000 years old.<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/44314/2482394340103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Cheddar Gorge" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/snowman-1">Snowman-1</a></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">3. </span>Hamilton Pool Preserve, in Austin, Texas</span>, was created quite naturally when the dome of an underground cave collapsed revealing this stunning natural pool. It is now frequented by day-trippers and naturalists. That’s naturalists not naturists, although no doubt someone has tried to go skinny dipping at one point!</p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/43141/2480457030103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Hamilton Pool" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/geolobo">Van Sutherland</a></em></p> <p>Hamilton Pool from another perspective. When there’s been heavy rainfall, 45ft waterfalls cascade from the rim of the cavern. It must be pretty spectacular when you’re bathing.<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/24630/2369151110103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Hamilton Pool" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /><br /><em><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms">Stuck in Customs</a><br /><br /></em></div> <p><span style="font-size:130%;">4. </span>Stalagtites adorn the roof of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Luray Caverns, Virginia</span>, the still waters throwing a perfect reflection.<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/44957/2058771690103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Luray Caverns" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/adinges">Ashley Dinges</a></em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/adinges"><br /></a></em></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span></span> Legend has it that early cavemen inhabited <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wookey Caves in Somerset, England</span>.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/43366/2373817100103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Wookey Hole" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em><a href="http://www.wookey.co.uk/caves-large-image.htm">Wookey Caves</a></em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://www.wookey.co.uk/caves-large-image.htm"><br /></a></em></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6.</span></span> This underground lake in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mellisani Caves,</span> near Kefalonia, was found when the roof of the cave collapsed after an earthquake in 1953.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/44828/2288512480103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Mellisani Caves" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em><a href="http://www.lianasbananas.com/2007/07/castles-saints-caves-wineries-fishing.html">Liana Photography</a></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">7. </span>Lechuguilla Cave, in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico</span> <a id="KonaLink1" target="undefined" class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline ! important; position: static;" href="http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/underground-lakes-river/2190#"><span style="color: blue ! important; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Tahoma,Verdana,Sans-Serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12px; position: static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="color: blue ! important; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Tahoma,Verdana,Sans-Serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12px; position: static;"></span></span></a>is the fifth longest cave discovered yet at 120 miles (193 km) long and measures 489 metres (1,604 ft) deep, making it the deepest in continental United States.</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/43998/2274789180103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Lechuguilla Cave" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Caves">Dave Bunnell</a></em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Caves"><br /></a></em></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. </span></span>This underground lake near <span style="font-weight: bold;">Macan Ché on the Yucatán Peninsul</span>a is one of many that are considered to be gifts from the gods by the Mayans, and therefore sacred.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/43945/2964118750103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Macan Che" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em><a href="http://sanghavedanta.com/macanche/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=45">sanghavedanta</a></em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://sanghavedanta.com/macanche/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=45"><br /></a></em></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">9.</span></span> The limestone flow feeding into this <span style="font-weight: bold;">underground lake in Mexico</span> resembles a waterfall turned to stone. Maybe the Ice Queen is privy to this particular cavern?</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/44378/2332337390103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Cavern Lake Mexico" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/nyctrip/633220715/">Adam</a></em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/nyctrip/633220715/"><br /></a></em></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">10.</span></span> How long must it have taken for this little waterfall in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Banff, Canada</span>, to make this underwater lake?</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/43953/2662211970103830173S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Underwater Cave Banff" title="10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers [pics] featured" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/pvanb/783825695/">Petr</a></em></p><p><br /></p><p><style></style></p><div style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Source:</span></div> <div style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://flickr.com"><span style="font-family:Arial;">flickr.com</span></a></span></div> <div style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/">http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com</a></span></div><p></p><p>If you know of other spectacular underground natural formations or if you have any pictures to share - go ahead, and write.<br /><em></em></p>MidMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391603692099582727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487210856133684925.post-40514108995503451972009-08-26T12:44:00.003+02:002011-06-20T12:23:35.961+02:00Latvia - Sun City, A Hobbit Dwelling Place<b>Latvian millionaire started near the town of Cesis (Latvia) a fantastic project.</b><br />
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<span style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;"></span>He purchased over 3000 hectares of wild forest, a terrain rich in hills and water. And that's how this spectacular "Sun City" was built. When I look at the pictures, it reminds me of Hobbit Village from Tolkien's "Lord of The Rings". The area is full of lush green nature, serenity seems built into the landscape.<br />
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If you want to live at Sun City (which is as away from the concept of "Sin City" as possible), there are special rules to go by, including a routine different from a common life.<br />
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<span style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;"></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">First,</span></span> three-storey houses are made of environmentally friendly materials constructed in a manner, which takes the terrain into account. The specific design of the houses makes the windows of each house not visible to other houses.<br />
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<span style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;"></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Secondly,</span></span> near each of the 300 houses there is a small lake and forest, all of it included in cost of land (from 0,4 to 1,3 ha each).<br />
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<a href="" name="cutid1"></a> <span style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;"></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thirdly, </span></span>all houses are equipped with central sewer (there is a special equipment laid under the roots of pine and fir trees!), High-speed Internet, electricity, and each house has a geothermal heat pump with borehole 90-100m deep, which converts the energy of the earth into the heat. <span style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;"></span>The amound of heat produced is enough to provide enough energy to heat the house (and water) all year round. The need for using additional traditional firewood heating may only occur during some severe winter days. Of course, a fireplace is also available in every home. <span style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;"></span>Additionally, garbage collection and other urban amenities are also available.<br />
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<span style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;"></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fourth,</span></span> in this unique forest city, there are some more special rules - for example, it is forbidden to build a fence and have a guard dog (even if it's a chain dog). Dogs are allowed only in the houses. <span style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;">The reason for this rule is because of r</span>oe deer and other wild animals roaming freely in this "city", and barking dogs simply would chase them away.<br />
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<span style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;"></span>For the Russian and Belarusian consumers, owner of Sun City offers special conditions - the sale of land with the house and unique postal address, the plot can be issued as a "production area" This entitles those customers to having a year-round "Schengen area" (very handy for those businessmen, who have their companies outside the EU).<br />
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<span style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;"></span>Just an example for land and house pricing: plot <span style="font-style: italic;">Tilbites</span> with a three-story house which includes all the necessary amenities, and also has a lake and forest area of 0.44 ha costs as much as 94000 Euros. The design of each house is unique, there are no identical buildings in there.<br />
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The Sun City lies in Cesis, about 80 km from Riga, the Latvian Capital City (about 50mins by car).<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">LINKS:</span><br />
</a></span><a href="" name="UPD">The "Sun City" website: </a><a href="http://74.125.79.132/translate_c?hl=pl&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http://www.amatciems.lv/rus/ideja.html&rurl=translate.google.com&usg=ALkJrhhagdQPvtbnUAein7jkQyVGaNDTIw">http://www.amatciems.lv/rus/ideja.html</a><br />
More information and source pictures: <a href="http://ochag7.narod.ru/351.htm">http://ochag7.narod.ru/351.htm</a><br />
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