Friday, December 28, 2012

A Caribbean Vacation

A typical vacation to Caribbean islands conveys a stereo typed idea of an exotic land remembered by images of blue sunny skies, carnivals, and palm trees! But there is more to this group of islands than just a conventional picture of booze and fun! Or those classical pictures of James Bond and Dr.No. It is just only one of many that make up the real Caribbean. One of the most striking and amazing things about the Caribbean region is its diversity and cultural speciality. Every island is unique and every region is special with contrasting landscapes, ecosystems, ethnicities, and foods.

Every Caribbean island has some thing of its own to offer to travelers! If you're looking for that special, erotic swinging nightlife, peaceful tranquility, golfing, diving, sailing, gambling or camping, some are found on a few islands while in others you do not find them. In total, the Caribbean islands are about 90,000 square miles of landmass of small islets, half of it hilly or mountainous and the other half flat land. Most of them are a great scenic combination of the water and earth, circled by sandy beaches, blue lagoons and pristine coves.
With more than 20 Island nations to choose and visit, one needs to be very wise and prudent in identifying. What ever the choice, this is a magnificent region overall, has a lazy paced life style, numbers of activities and recreation options to choose from and a year round tropical ambience. The more one knows about these finer details, the more one becomes infatuated with the islands! Caribbean vacation has thousands things to offer and million things to learn!

Caribbean vacation displays a benevolent Mother Nature who is extraordinarily diverse and a great artist. It is perfect picture post card sceneries all over the region, almost on the verge of the work of a Renaissance master! Back drop of cool mountains, like a drapery screen with tall palm trees to give company. Clear blue skies with occasional cotton like white clouds! Crystal clear seas with numerous bays, lagoons and shallow beaches with palm tress dotted all over!Which ever the region one chooses, get stunned by what is seen --from volcanic mountains to stretches of tropical forests, clear streams to wild ocean, mangrove swamps to sand dunes, huge rock formations to colorful coral reefs. Get excited by limestone hillocks and caves, rivers both over ground and subterranean, waterfalls, rainforests, lakes and teeming wild life. And always there is the ubiquitous sea. Spectacular is the metaphor for all encompassing seas and beaches!

Caribbean vacation can bring the other darker side of life too! Rare earth quakes and violent spewing volcanoes can make one tremble with fear up their spine, while gusty winds and torrential rains of a destructive hurricane can be a sight in fury! Look out for all those tiny sand islets created and destructed at the mercy of Mother Nature. The amazingly panoramic grandeur of the Caribbean defies one's imagination. One needs to be a true spectator to get immersed in the glory of the Caribbean vacation. The radiating beauty of the natural Caribbean is practically inescapable and beyond comprehension. No one is far from the panoramic sight of undulating hills, lovely gardens and clear blue seas. Just take a peep out of the window and take a look at the eternal sea. Or gaze beyond the wide expanse of lovely mountains! Most of the visitors get immersed in the splendor of these chains of exotic islands even before they know it.

A well earned Caribbean vacation is dream come true for nature buffs! Providence bestows its favor to all these lovely islands with what seems to be an endless number of species of plants and animals, many of them indigenous and more endangered! Myriads of varieties of plants and animals dot from high hills to low seas. Islands full of strange creatures; some exotic like butterflies and humming birds and others captivating like Sharks and turtles! Besides more well-known species like flamingoes, terns, and pelicans, bird watchers will have all the luck to have a glimpse of a Barrancoli, a Flautero, or a Bananaquit. Garden buffs might well recognize and relish Bougainvilleas, Hibiscus and Orchids, while food buffs will taste exotic tropical fruits and sea dishes. Due to paucity of information on the flora and fauna, it is best left to a traveler to do his own research and compilation and get ready for an experience of a life time.

Intriguing people, rich and diverse culture, exotic and delicious cuisine, and intoxicating reggae music; there's plenty to see and experience on the islands. While Grenada can be quiet and somber, lively San Juan can be too boisterous and active. The tiny islets of Barbuda and Barbados are full of sports while the sugar fields of Cuba can be a nostalgic colonial experience. The Caribbean vacation also offers a wide variety of physical landscapes; if one wants to relax on some of the prettiest beaches in the world, Aruba is an automatic choice, but if one wants to explore and trek the rain forests, Puerto Rico is the natural selection. The whole region has its own menu to offer! There are high mountains to climb and lush rain forests to explore. There are sandy deserts too sprinkled with scrub-trees, cacti, and boulders and that unbearable heat! Gently undulating hills covered with brilliantly colored grass and sugarcane fields surrounding those majestic 19th-century plantation mansions are like fresh whiff of wind.

A Caribbean vacation can be a visit to an unspoiled paradise full of vibrancy and life! Enchanting spots, lovely beaches, risky trekking trails, exotic food and gyrating reggae are all part of a heaven begging to be visited and explored! Lovely faces and cute braids are always high points of attraction. Home cottages, cold beer and delicious sea food are words of hospitality. The islands of Caribbean always remain the jewels in the crown of world tourism.

Thank you to Stein Ove Stien over at EZine Articles who wrote this great piece!

Monday, December 17, 2012

Florence in a day? It's possible!

Overflowing with history, art and culture, Florence is a city that's very hard to do justice to in a single day. A visit to the Uffizi museum alone could easily eat a day or two into any itinerary.

If you're fortunate enough to visit Florence for the first time, but unfortunate enough to have only a single day to savour the delights of this city, you will need to ensure that you have a plan.

The first thing you'll need before you start your tour is a map of the city. The center of Florence is pretty compact, so the best way to see it, without missing a thing is by foot. If you don't have a map or a guidebook and you're not the type that enjoys aimless wandering, make your first stop of the day one of the tourist offices where you can pick up a free map of Florence.

Starting off in the main Piazza, you'll easily spot the famous Duomo, with its magnificent terracotta coloured cupola. If you are there early enough to avoid the crowds and feel you can face the 463 steps climb up into the dome for a spectacular view of the city. The Duomo is probably the most distinctive feature of Florence's skyline and is the result of years of work spanning six centuries.

Once you've taken in the view, catch your breath with a leisurely stroll around the streets surrounding the Duomo, and then take a walk to the nearby Piazza della Signoria. Here you'll find a unique outdoor gallery of sculptures, including Neptune's Fountain and a copy of the famous Statue of David. You'll also find the Palazzo Vecchio (the Old Palace) here. This was built in the early 14th century and is still used today for its original purpose, as a Town Hall.

Just beside the Palazzo you'll find the Uffizi museum, with its unrivalled collection of Renaissance art. If you're an art lover, you don't want to miss the Uffizi, but it's not something that can be easily covered in a short 2-hour visit!

Alongside the Uffizi you'll find the River Arno, with its many bridges. If you take a right turn you'll arrive at the Ponte Vecchio, the famed bridge that houses a multitude of goldsmiths and jewellery shops, with its medieval workshops overhanging the bridge. The bridge itself was built in 1345 and is the only bridge on the Arno that wasn't destroyed in World War II.

Once you've crossed the bridge, you'll arrive in the area called Oltrano, which literally means "Over the Arno". Here you'll find the Palazzo Pitti - a large 16th century palace. The palace was originally home to the Medici family who ruled Florence almost continuously between 1434 and 1743 and it now houses several important museums and galleries.

And finish by taking a relaxing stroll in the Boboli gardens, accessed through the Palazzo Pitti. These gardens were laid out in 1550 for the Medici a year after they bought the Palazzo Pitti and were opened to the public in 1766. Many parts of the gardens give stunning vistas over Florence and make a welcome retreat after a day of walking round the city.

If you have the time, it's worth returning to view the Ponte Vecchio at sunset, followed by a walk along the bridge after dusk, when the lights on the bridge reflect on the River Arno and everything seems almost magical.

Finally, don't forget to take a break from your sightseeing - stop for lunch or a drink in a pavement café, take some time to soak up the atmosphere and do a spot of people watching.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Aussie Travel

If you haven’t been to Australia or are planning to visit it a second time, then you must have all the information about the places to visit so that you can fully experience the wonderful land that is Australia.
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world and is divided into 6 states and several territories. The 6 states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. The two major territories are the Northern Territory (NT) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
The largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid, but the south-east and south-west corners have temperate climate and moderately fertile soil. The northern part has tropical climate, which is part tropical rainforest, part grassland and part desert.
When you go to Australia, you just cannot miss seeing The Great Barrier Reef. It is the world’s largest coral reef and extends for over 1,200 kms! It lies a short distance from the north-east coast.
Another spectacular place to visit is Uluru. It is the second largest monolith in the world and is located in central Australia. You can also visit the Great Artesian Basin, which is the world’s largest and deepest fresh water basin. Along with its beauty, it also serves as an important source of water in the parched outback.
You sure can’t miss going to Sydney if you visit Australia. Sydney is located in a coastal basin situated between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Blue Mountains to the west. You can enjoy all the activities associated with beaches because there are more than 70 beaches in Sydney! If you have limited time, then you can only go to the famous Bondi Beach of Australia.
Sydney has more amazing landmarks for you like Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Both are located in Sydney Harbour. If you are interested in rowing, boating, recreational fishing, racing small yachts and Dragon Boat racing, then you can get all that in Sydney Harbour.
The city also boasts of musical, theatrical and artistic activities which come under one roof in the Sydney Festival which happens every January. More information can be found here - [http://www.australias.co.uk/sydneyaustralia/]
Melbourne is another major city of Australia which is situated in the south-east corner of the mainland Australia. It has a large and vibrant cultural life along with a chain of pubs, bars and nightclubs. Fashionable nightclubs, ubiquitous faux-Irish pubs, serious jazz venues on Bennetts Lane, massive pickup joints like The Metro on Bourke Street are all part of the city’s magic.
If shopping is what tempts you the most, then there are many reasonably priced shopping places where you can go and shop till you drop. Melbourne has innumerable clothing shops for every budget and various outlet stores in Bridge Road, Richmond for bargain hunters too!
Perth is a city known for the pristine quality of its beaches. Unbroken stretches of golden sands run through the entire length of the city’s coastal suburbs. If you are a nature lover, then you got to see this place.
Adelaide or the ‘City of Churches’, as it is often referred as, is a coastal city situated on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The name City of Churches is a reflection of Adelaide’s past rather than its present. The city has many wine growing districts such as the Baroosa valley.
Food lovers can taste traditional Australian cuisine which consists of grilled chops, Sunday roasts etc. Some English trends are still evident in domestic cuisine like hot roast turkey, chicken or ham with all the trimmings followed by Christmas pudding. Australia’s two most traditional takeaway dishes are the meat pie and sausage roll.

Orlando Sans Theme Parks

When you just can't take another day at the theme parks on your Orlando vacation consider:

Book a Spa Treatment - What better way to soothe fragile nerves and sore feet than a session at one of Orlando's resort spas. On Disney property there's the Grand Floridian Spa, the Spa at Saratoga Springs, and the new Mandara Spa at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, all offering luxurious treatments that are a perfect addition to your vacation. Off property you can't do any better than the ultra luxurious Ritz-Carlton Spa or the Gaylord Palms Canyon Ranch Spa. Those staying at a Universal Resort should consider an exotic Javanese treatment at the Mandara Spa at Portofino Bay Hotel.

Relax At Your Resort's Pool - Orlando's resort pools are justifiably renowned for their spectacular theming. Disney offers some of the best, particularly Stormalong Bay at the Yacht and Beach Club, a 3-acre mini waterpark, or the boulder lined beauty at the Wilderness Lodge featuring waterfalls and its very own geyser. Off property, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress' fantasyland pool is cooled by twelve waterfalls and at the JW Marriott's "Lazy River" you can float to your heart's content. And at Universal Orlando's Hard Rock Hotel is the coolest (and I don't just mean the water temperature) pool around with an underwater sound system, sand beach, and poolside cabanas.

Spend Time On Disney's Waterways - Disney has miles of lakes and lagoons to explore. You'll find that most Disney resorts have a marina where many types of watercraft are available for hire. Sailboats, pontoon and canopy boats, Sea Raycers, even a 52-foot yacht. Take your pick. Perhaps the biggest bang for your buck is to be had at the Contemporary Resort where in addition to the above you'll also find parasailing, waterskiing, tubing, and wakeboarding on beautiful Bay Lake.

Cool Off at a Disney Waterpark - Disney has two wonderful waterparks: Blizzard Beach, a perfect place for daredevils, and Typhoon Lagoon where you'll find a whopper of a surf pool along with tamer attractions. Spend your day hopping from one crazy waterslide to another or just kick back and relax on a lounge chair for the afternoon.

Shop Till You Drop in The Mall at Millenia - For one of Orlando's best shopping experiences head to this fabulous new mall just minutes from Universal Orlando. Here you'll find only the best with stores such as Neiman Marcus, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany. But fair warning: this trip could end up costing a pretty penny. Those with great taste but thriftier intentions will love the Orlando Premium Outlets Mall located just across I-4 from Downtown Disney where designer outlet stores such as Hugo Boss, Armani, Escada, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Burberry won't break the bank.

Head to Downtown Disney - For a change of pace there's Downtown Disney. Here you'll find over 70 shops, restaurants, and nightclubs plus a 24-screen theater, Disney Quest with five floors of virtual games and adventures, even a Cirque du Soleil. Adults will want to pick a great restaurant for dinner like Wolfgang Puck or Portofino Yacht Club and then head to Pleasure Island to party down until the wee hours of the morning.

Swim With a Dolphin - Perhaps the most unusual experience in Orlando is Discovery Cove. Spend up close and personal time with your very own dolphin friend, snorkel with tropical fish and rays, even feed birds right out of your hand. Then relax on a sandy beach with little or no crowds. Definitely a day to be remembered.

Make the Rounds Resort Hopping - Spend a few hours ogling at Disney's wonderfully themed resorts. And best of all, it doesn't cost a thing. Board the monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Center and hop off at each of the three Magic Kingdom resorts. First the Polynesian, a tropical wonderland, then the Grand Floridian, Disney's flagship resort, and lastly the Contemporary where you'll enjoy the Grand Concourse with the monorail silently gliding overhead. Out back you can catch a boat to the Wilderness Lodge, Disney's most beautiful resort modeled after an early 1900s national park lodge. Then catch a boat to the Magic Kingdom and a ferry to the TTC where you started. It's a grand circle that can't be beat.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Couple’s Romantic Australia



Travelling with a partner is an altogether different experience to travelling with your family, or with a group. The type of accommodation you require, the things you want to do and see and the type of places you wish to visit are all likely to be different for couples than for larger groups. Australia is a huge country with a large range of holiday experiences on offer from romantic beach getaways to city escapes. Below are five great holiday destinations for couples in Australia.

Esperance, Western Australia
If a beach holiday is what you are looking for, then Esperance can't be beaten. Nearby Cape Le Grand National Park is home to 27 of the most beautiful beaches in Australia including Lucky Bay, owner of the title 'whitest beach in Australia', and most of them are virtually deserted. The town of Esperance itself is a quiet coastal town located 720km south of Perth. The area has a moderate Mediterranean like climate year round ideal for enjoying the stunning natural surroundings and picturesque beaches. Couples will love the laid back atmosphere and secluded beaches and can choose from accommodation in Esperance ranging from private eco camping to luxury apartments and hotels.

Trawool Valley
For couples looking for a weekend escape from the city, Trawool Valley is only 75 minutes from Melbourne airport and a million miles from the hustle and bustle of city life. Trawool is a small rural town offering mountain views and the quiet seclusion of a country town. There's not much to do here except enjoy the peace, feast on the local produce and take advantage of the facilities at your Trawool Valley resort. Local Trawool accommodation is geared for couples looking for a romantic break and those that enjoy the country lifestyle.

Mildura
Not often thought of as a holiday destination on its own, Mildura surprisingly, has a lot to offer. With an active arts community, respected local wine industry and quality restaurants not to mention the mighty Murray River as a backdrop, Mildura will delight food and wine connoisseurs and nature lovers alike. Couples will love visiting the many cellar doors and sampling the local wines and gourmet food. Hot air ballooning, paddleboat cruises and exploring the Murray by canoe are other activities ideal for couples. Mildura accommodation is plentiful with everything from bed and breakfasts to farm stays and even luxury houseboats for the ultimate in flexibility and privacy.

Rutherglen
Another beautiful escape for lovers of good food and wine is the Rutherglen area. There are two major events in the area focussed around food and wine, 'Tastes of Rutherglen' in March and 'The Rutherglen Winery Walkabout' in June, both a celebration of local wine and produce with live music and entertainment. The Rutherglen Wine Walkabout has won three tourism awards including 'Best Festival in Victoria' and 'Best Festival in Australia'. The area is also home to excellent golf courses, sandy river beaches and shady billabongs. Rutherglen accommodation ranges from bed & breakfasts and pub-style hotels, to self contained cottages and 4 star motels.

Mount Gambier
With all the attractions and comforts of a city, Mount Gambier is also rich in natural beauty and unique geographical features. Couples who like to enjoy life's little luxuries such as five star hotels and fine dining restaurants by night and communing with nature during the day will love Mount Gambier. Located on the limestone coast in South Australia, Mount Gambier is surrounded by lakes, volcanic craters, limestone and underground aquifers. The famous Blue Lake changes colour dramatically each year around November, transforming from a cold steel grey colour to a vibrant cobalt blue until April when it returns to steel grey. The Cave Garden is another stunning local attraction and the ideal place to picnic. Once a limestone cave, the garden was formed when the roof of the cave collapsed onto the floor of the cave creating a huge sink hole. A nightly sound and light show in the cave is a unique experience to share. Choose from the many budget accommodation options or splurge and book a luxury Mount Gambier Hotel.