By: Art Mccarty
Published: April 30, 2007
Disney Area Lodging Specials
The Orlando area communities of Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee and Davenport all leave you very close to the Walt Disney World community, as well as offer you diversity in lodging deals for your vacation. Many times, through the use of booking your lodging in advance using the world wide web, you can find great lodging deals and hotel rates. Some hotels in the Lake Buena Vista area offering specials include Courtyard Lake Buena Vista, Best Western L.B.V. Resort and Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista.
Courtyard by Marriott conveniently has over 308 guest rooms. Each guest room includes a large desk and wireless, high speed internet access. The hotel, also, offers free transportation to all four Walt Disney World theme parks. Pricing ranges from $59.00 to $148.80 depending on the season. This is a perfect set up for a business traveler to the Lake Buena Vista area.
Best Western L.B.V. Resort, while being conveniently located right in the heart of the Disney action, offers a picturesque view of Florida’s lush, green, tropical landscaping and beautiful lakes. This Best Western location recently underwent a $4 million dollar renovation and your guest room is superbly decorated to satisfaction. Not only does the hotel offer lodging deals, but you will have access to discount green fees at breathtaking Disney World golf courses! Room rates start around $63.00 per night based on season and availability.
The Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista is ideal for families vacationing to Central Florida. The hotels has 640 guest rooms, including family fun suites, a video arcade, children’s playground and welcomes pets. The Comfort Inn, also, offers free shuttles to all four Disney theme parks. Semi-Suites feature two double beds, microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker. Family Fun Suites feature a queen bed with three junior bunk beds, microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker. Rates begin around $59.95 per night. Call for pet policy!
You can find these lodging deals and many other discount lodging specials in the Lake Buena Vista area by searching the internet via expedia.com, travelocity.com, hotelkingdom.com and kayak.com. Also, by using the internet to book your vacation to Central Florida’s Lake Buena Vista area, you can receive lodging deals that change, according to season. Check periodically for updated lodging specials.
Attractions and Activities Near Disney Area Lodging Specials You will never run out of things to do when taking advantage of great lodging deals in the Walt Disney World area. Aside from numerous theme parks to visit, the Disney area offers a wide variety of cuisine, shopping and nightlife. Visit Downtown Disney for shopping, dining or entertainment. Downtown Disney offers the highly acclaimed Cirque De Soleil show.
Kissimmee Lodging Specials Kissimmee is a haven for visitors to Central Florida by providing a variety of lodging deals, restaurants, activities and shopping. Choosing a lodging special in Kissimmee leaves you close to any attraction you choose to visit, whether it be the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, Wet N’ Wild Water Park or fun packed dinner shows. Kissimmee is home to three dinner shows, Arabian Nights, Capone’s Dinner & Show or the famous, Medieval Times. Kissimmee is ideal for a vacationing family because you will never run out of things to do. The possibilities are endless and you will want to stay forever. Lodging Deals are endless, also, and include motels, hotels, resorts, suites, condos, villas, cabins, cottages, bed & breakfast inns and campgrounds.
Check online at www.floridakiss.com for information on Kissimmee and the lodging specials it offers. You will find luxury resorts, as well as names you know and trust, such as Best Western at Osceola Heritage Park and Howard Johnson Enchanted Resort.
The Best Western at Osceola Heritage Park is conveniently located on East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, which is home to an unimaginable amount of shopping and activity. The hotel has 146 large guest rooms featuring 25” remote control televisions, data port phones and alarm clocks. The hotel, also, offers large executive rooms that include a large desk space, king bed and an extra, sofa bed. The hotel caters to a business traveler and offers over 6,000’ of space for your next seminar or business meeting. Reserve your room using the world wide web and you will find frequent lodging deals.
The Howard Johnson Enchanted Resort is located just three miles from the Walt Disney World resort and provides free shuttle service for you and your family to Disney, Universal Studios and Sea World. This resort, also, provides a name everyone can depend on. All guest rooms at the Howard Johnson Enchanted Resort include free cable television, including free HBO, safes, voice mail and coffeemakers. Also offered are accommodating are “Home Office” King Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Kid Suites, which come standard with a microwave and mini refrigerator. Rooms start around $56 per night, but check the internet for frequent lodging deals and discounts.
Attractions and Activities Near Kissimmee Lodging Specials Now that you have chosen your choice of lodging special, you can begin planning your activities for your stay. Of course, you will be near all the Orlando area theme parks, including Disney parks, Universal Studios and Sea World, but Kissimmee, itself, offers endless opportunities for fun and lodging deals.
Kissimmee offers dinner shows with nightly entertainment, including Capone’s Dinner & Show, Arabian Nights and Medieval Times. Capone’s Dinner & Show takes you back to a time of gangsters and flapper girls, while serving up a buffet style Italian feast. There is plenty of crowd interaction for a pleasing dining experience. Arabian Nights brings horses from around the world into an equestrian arena and brings to life a fairytale story featuring Kings and Queens. You will be served your dinner in the arena and interact with the show. Reservations can be made in advance online and Arabian Nights offers special group rates and discounts. Medieval Times is similar, in that it brings horses into an arena environment to showcase their talent for you, while you eat a delicious dinner. You will watch knights battle for the honor of their Kingdom and to win the heart of a certain maiden. Book your tickets online in advance for special rates.
Kissimmee, also, offers many shopping opportunities, such as Belz Factory Outlet World, The Factory Stores at Lake Buena Vista, Orlando Premium Outlets and the Mall at Millenia. Rest assured that your choice of lodging deals will leave you near all the shopping your heart could desire.
Davenport Lodging Deals Tucked away in a quiet area of Central Florida is Davenport, but don’t let that fool you. You will feel relaxed in a place far from the hustle and bustle of the everyday, but the exciting theme parks, shopping, dining and entertainment are just around the corner. Davenport offers laid back relaxation in an array of lodging specials, including Island Club West and Hampton Inn Maingate South.
Island Hideaway is a villa-style resort and spa offering a range of rooms up to a four bedroom suite. Two bedroom suites and larger offer guests living room and dining areas, fully equipped kitchens, spacious bedrooms, washer and dryer combos and Jacuzzi tubs. Island Hideaway offers 24 hour maintenance and security to accommodate your needs and concerns. The amenities include a bar and grill, billiard room, tennis courts, basketball court, fitness center, video game room and volleyball court. If you and your guests choose to spend a day unwinding, Island Hideaway is the perfect place to do that. The kids will never get bored! Check www.islandhideaway.net for frequent lodging deals.
Hampton Inn Maingate South offers 83 guest rooms with a tropical theme. This hotel is conveniently located in Davenport, offering a relaxing visit to Central Florida, but just around the corner you will find Walt Disney World theme parks, shopping and nightlife. Rates for this hotel start around $59.99. Check the internet for frequent lodging deals and availability.
Attractions Near Davenport Area Lodging Deals
Not only is Davenport, FL a quiet alternative that is only five miles from the Walt Disney World Resort, sixteen miles from Sea World and eighteen miles from Universal theme parks, but the area offers much more! Visit the beautiful botanical gardens at Bok Tower in Lake Wales, walk through the lush, tropical setting and famous ski show at Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven and treat yourself to a relaxing day of golf at Deer Creek Golf Club or Southern Dunes Golf Club. Visit www.city-data.com/city/Davenport-Florida.html for more information on Davenport lodging specials and Davenport activities.
Finding Lodging Deals
The ability to find great lodging deals is right at the tip of your fingertips. Using the internet to book your trip in advance is a very smart idea. You will find that many hotels offer discounts for booking in advance. Also, you can view upcoming deals, perhaps based on the season, that hotels will be offering. No matter what time of year you choose to visit Central Florida, the fun never stops. Central Florida is alive with entertainment year round. Visit www.flausa.com for Central Florida lodging deals. http://www.islandhideaway.net
Lodging Specials near Disney Expert
Air France
Monday, June 21, 2010
Go To Guatemala!
By: Matthew Keegan
Published: April 30, 2007
Does Mayan culture pique your interest? Do you want to see a live volcano? Does visiting a place called the Land of Eternal Spring interest you? If so, go to Guatemala!
Nestled in Central America, Guatemala is a land with an ancient history and an intriguing present. Long ruled by the Mayans, this people group suddenly died off well before the Spaniards conquered the land. Still, you see the "Mayan look" in the faces of many of the people.
Bright colors adorn much of the clothing, and villages are occupied by people who are hardworking and friendly. Because Catholicism is so strong, expect to see a huge cathedral in many of the larger towns.
Guatemala City is a modern, loud, noisy, and smelly place. Still, it is the seat of government for the nation and the place many tourists start their vacation. Tikal and other resorts are nearby and the one active volcano in the country is near Antigua, the ancient capitol of this Central American destination.
Why is it called the Land of the Eternal Spring? Well, this applies mostly to Guatemala City as its elevation of 4700 feet keeps it cool enough year round. Even in summer evenings you will reach for a sweater or jacket to ward off the chilly air. Contrast that with the coastal areas where year round heat and humidity is commonplace.
Here is an excellent site [Spanish] that will tell you more about this wonderful country:
http://www.terra.com.gt/turismogt/
Matt manages the Aviation Employment Board at http://www.aviationemploymentboard.com
Published: April 30, 2007
Does Mayan culture pique your interest? Do you want to see a live volcano? Does visiting a place called the Land of Eternal Spring interest you? If so, go to Guatemala!
Nestled in Central America, Guatemala is a land with an ancient history and an intriguing present. Long ruled by the Mayans, this people group suddenly died off well before the Spaniards conquered the land. Still, you see the "Mayan look" in the faces of many of the people.
Bright colors adorn much of the clothing, and villages are occupied by people who are hardworking and friendly. Because Catholicism is so strong, expect to see a huge cathedral in many of the larger towns.
Guatemala City is a modern, loud, noisy, and smelly place. Still, it is the seat of government for the nation and the place many tourists start their vacation. Tikal and other resorts are nearby and the one active volcano in the country is near Antigua, the ancient capitol of this Central American destination.
Why is it called the Land of the Eternal Spring? Well, this applies mostly to Guatemala City as its elevation of 4700 feet keeps it cool enough year round. Even in summer evenings you will reach for a sweater or jacket to ward off the chilly air. Contrast that with the coastal areas where year round heat and humidity is commonplace.
Here is an excellent site [Spanish] that will tell you more about this wonderful country:
http://www.terra.com.gt/turismogt/
Matt manages the Aviation Employment Board at http://www.aviationemploymentboard.com
Playing Your Cards Right -- Tips For Traveling With Credit Cards
By: Gail Corwin
Published: April 28, 2007
Using credit cards while traveling is a good idea for a number of reasons:
* You have a record of your expenditures for record-keeping and tax purposes (especially important if you travel for business)
* You may get a better exchange rate when obtaining foreign currency when using your credit card.
* Credit card companies can refund disputed charges and may offer extra guarantees, special deals or warranties.
* Your liability in the case of a stolen credit card is limited to $50
But, traveling these days is often a juggling act of luggage, boarding passes, identification cards, passports and a gauntlet of security measures. These identification acrobatics can leave you distracted and even a little bit addled, perhaps putting you more at risk of being targeted by an enterprising pickpocket or purse snatcher.
And, even though your liability is limited, costs can quickly add up if multiple cards are involved. Factor in the hassle and increased risk of identity theft, and it is apparent a few preemptive measures can save you from a boatload of heartache.
Consider the following tips as guidelines to traveling safely and affordably with your credit cards….
Plan Ahead:
Anytime you travel you should make photo copies of all of your credit cards airline tickets and documents, both front and back. You should leave these photocopies with a friend or family member.
Be aware that if you make copies of your cards and documents to take with you, you may be giving thieves another opportunity to rip off your personal information. Consider blacking out details such as expiration dates, verification codes and social security numbers.
If you decide not to carry photocopies of your credit cards, be sure to have the card cancellation numbers from the backs of the cards written down and stashed in your luggage.
Leave a Paper Trail:
Save receipts and keep track of the places you used your card. Make sure receipts are stored in a safe place so they can be checked against your credit card statement to ensure unauthorized charges have not been made and/or gone unnoticed.
His & Hers:
When traveling with other family members, even spouses, bring different credit cards that are on separate accounts. When a card is lost or stolen and must be cancelled, all cards on the account are cancelled as well. Having at least two cards from separate accounts will prevent the situation from leaving you stranded.
Lighten Up:
Carry only the personal information absolutely necessary for vacation, such as a passport or driver's license. The less personal information you have, the better off you will be if your purse or wallet is stolen.
When traveling by air, always keep copies of important documents in a separate part of your luggage, such as a carry-on bag.
Keep cards on your person. Most travel stores carry small bags that you can keep cards, cash, and other items you will need to access while out and about. Consider a money belt or security wallet.
Look out for fees:
When traveling abroad and using a credit card, watch out for the conversion fee that many banks levy to convert charges in foreign currencies to dollars, generally 1% of the purchase amount. Some banks charge a fee and some don’t so, if you have several cards, it's worth checking with the issuers to see which one has the best deal. Even with the conversion charge, many times ATM machines will have the best possible exchange rates and the lowest fees.
With proper planning, credit cards are a convenient, secure and cost-effective means of payment when traveling. Just keep these tips in mind, and the next time you’re balancing on one foot at the security gate, you’ll be glad you did.
About The Author
Gail Corwin is a successful author and publisher of http://www.luggage-n-travel-accessories.com. Your online resource for luggage and travel accessories, travel related information, timely articles and tips.
Published: April 28, 2007
Using credit cards while traveling is a good idea for a number of reasons:
* You have a record of your expenditures for record-keeping and tax purposes (especially important if you travel for business)
* You may get a better exchange rate when obtaining foreign currency when using your credit card.
* Credit card companies can refund disputed charges and may offer extra guarantees, special deals or warranties.
* Your liability in the case of a stolen credit card is limited to $50
But, traveling these days is often a juggling act of luggage, boarding passes, identification cards, passports and a gauntlet of security measures. These identification acrobatics can leave you distracted and even a little bit addled, perhaps putting you more at risk of being targeted by an enterprising pickpocket or purse snatcher.
And, even though your liability is limited, costs can quickly add up if multiple cards are involved. Factor in the hassle and increased risk of identity theft, and it is apparent a few preemptive measures can save you from a boatload of heartache.
Consider the following tips as guidelines to traveling safely and affordably with your credit cards….
Plan Ahead:
Anytime you travel you should make photo copies of all of your credit cards airline tickets and documents, both front and back. You should leave these photocopies with a friend or family member.
Be aware that if you make copies of your cards and documents to take with you, you may be giving thieves another opportunity to rip off your personal information. Consider blacking out details such as expiration dates, verification codes and social security numbers.
If you decide not to carry photocopies of your credit cards, be sure to have the card cancellation numbers from the backs of the cards written down and stashed in your luggage.
Leave a Paper Trail:
Save receipts and keep track of the places you used your card. Make sure receipts are stored in a safe place so they can be checked against your credit card statement to ensure unauthorized charges have not been made and/or gone unnoticed.
His & Hers:
When traveling with other family members, even spouses, bring different credit cards that are on separate accounts. When a card is lost or stolen and must be cancelled, all cards on the account are cancelled as well. Having at least two cards from separate accounts will prevent the situation from leaving you stranded.
Lighten Up:
Carry only the personal information absolutely necessary for vacation, such as a passport or driver's license. The less personal information you have, the better off you will be if your purse or wallet is stolen.
When traveling by air, always keep copies of important documents in a separate part of your luggage, such as a carry-on bag.
Keep cards on your person. Most travel stores carry small bags that you can keep cards, cash, and other items you will need to access while out and about. Consider a money belt or security wallet.
Look out for fees:
When traveling abroad and using a credit card, watch out for the conversion fee that many banks levy to convert charges in foreign currencies to dollars, generally 1% of the purchase amount. Some banks charge a fee and some don’t so, if you have several cards, it's worth checking with the issuers to see which one has the best deal. Even with the conversion charge, many times ATM machines will have the best possible exchange rates and the lowest fees.
With proper planning, credit cards are a convenient, secure and cost-effective means of payment when traveling. Just keep these tips in mind, and the next time you’re balancing on one foot at the security gate, you’ll be glad you did.
About The Author
Gail Corwin is a successful author and publisher of http://www.luggage-n-travel-accessories.com. Your online resource for luggage and travel accessories, travel related information, timely articles and tips.
Macau: a great attraction for travelers from all around the world
Macau, is a southern coast city of China. It is located at the south of Guangdong Province, on the tip of the peninsula formed by the Xijiang (West River) on the west and the Zhujiang (Pearl River) estuary on the east. Macau is situated 145 km southwest of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province and 60 km western side of Hong Kong. It is next to the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone.
Macau facing the South China Sea in the south and east has thriving industries such as electronics, textiles and toys. There is also a remarkable Macau tourism industry that features a wide range of hotels, resorts, restaurants, stadiums and casinos. Macau, one of the richest cities in the world, tempts all with the variety of entertainment.
The Templo de A-Má, a temple built in 1448 dedicated to Matsu - the goddess of seafarers and fishermen - has given Macau its name. The following are the must see places in Macau:
* Casino at Venetian Macao
* Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre
* Grand Prix Museum
* Leal Senado (Municipal Council)
* Cotai Strip
* Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral
* Lisboa Casino
* A-Ma Temple (Ma Kok Miu)
* Largo do Senado (Senate Square)
* Monte Forte (Fortaleza do Monte)
Macau, an enthralling tourist location with a cluster of entertainment facilities, famous for its locales, casinos and nightlife.
Macau Hotels have a huge spread as far as budget and location are concerned. Hotels in Macau possess a great range of diversity in facilities and entertainment options. Macau hotels range from exotic five star accommodations at Lisboa hotel to the very economical three star accommodations of Fu Hua hotel.
The costs of accommodation in Macau Hotels range from as low as USD 65 to USD 142. Most of the Macau hotels provide air condition, television, radio, telephone as basic room facilities and hotel facilities includes beauty parlour, fitness centre, and laundry cleaning service. Other important facilities available in most of the Macau hotels are sauna, conference facilities and car parking.
Hotels in Macau offer great food and beverages that suits both holiday and business travelers. Most of the hotels in Macau have restaurants and serve a range of dishes in Chinese, Japanese and Continental cuisines. Food in Macau interests foodies from around the world. Macau provides Italian, French, American, Brazilian, Japanese, Korean and Mozambique cuisine as well as dishes from Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Macau hotels offer a great array of entertainment facilities. Lisboa hotel, New Century hotel, Holiday Inn, Royal hotel and many other Macau hotels entertain with a scintillating nightlife.
The hotels in Macau also house busy casinos that are open on all days. Casinos are one of the big attractions in Macau.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Lizathomas
Macau facing the South China Sea in the south and east has thriving industries such as electronics, textiles and toys. There is also a remarkable Macau tourism industry that features a wide range of hotels, resorts, restaurants, stadiums and casinos. Macau, one of the richest cities in the world, tempts all with the variety of entertainment.
The Templo de A-Má, a temple built in 1448 dedicated to Matsu - the goddess of seafarers and fishermen - has given Macau its name. The following are the must see places in Macau:
* Casino at Venetian Macao
* Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre
* Grand Prix Museum
* Leal Senado (Municipal Council)
* Cotai Strip
* Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral
* Lisboa Casino
* A-Ma Temple (Ma Kok Miu)
* Largo do Senado (Senate Square)
* Monte Forte (Fortaleza do Monte)
Macau, an enthralling tourist location with a cluster of entertainment facilities, famous for its locales, casinos and nightlife.
Macau Hotels have a huge spread as far as budget and location are concerned. Hotels in Macau possess a great range of diversity in facilities and entertainment options. Macau hotels range from exotic five star accommodations at Lisboa hotel to the very economical three star accommodations of Fu Hua hotel.
The costs of accommodation in Macau Hotels range from as low as USD 65 to USD 142. Most of the Macau hotels provide air condition, television, radio, telephone as basic room facilities and hotel facilities includes beauty parlour, fitness centre, and laundry cleaning service. Other important facilities available in most of the Macau hotels are sauna, conference facilities and car parking.
Hotels in Macau offer great food and beverages that suits both holiday and business travelers. Most of the hotels in Macau have restaurants and serve a range of dishes in Chinese, Japanese and Continental cuisines. Food in Macau interests foodies from around the world. Macau provides Italian, French, American, Brazilian, Japanese, Korean and Mozambique cuisine as well as dishes from Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Macau hotels offer a great array of entertainment facilities. Lisboa hotel, New Century hotel, Holiday Inn, Royal hotel and many other Macau hotels entertain with a scintillating nightlife.
The hotels in Macau also house busy casinos that are open on all days. Casinos are one of the big attractions in Macau.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Lizathomas
Hotels in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is known, over the years for its scenic beauty and its culture, its mystique has always intrigued people. Hotels in Sri Lanka are nestled in and around the panoramic mountains, chaste beaches and in the lush green national parks. You will be lost in peace and bliss.
As the morning light travels through the mountain, touches the high end beaches and comes to your hotel window, throws light on you and takes you to a journey, an unforgettable journey of your life time.
In Sri Lanka you will encounter one of the finest cheap hotels. They are unique because they offer you the liberty of stress free stay and there discrete charm will make your visit a memorable visit.
Checking in Sri Lankan hotels, you will encounter a feeling like, morning will come close to you and the clouds will tinkle, wind will dance with you and you will reward you with breathtaking views and its scenic beauty.
The patchwork of the hotels in Sri Lanka is done in and around major cities and there tourist destinations like
Hotels in Bentota is famous for the luxury services, spas and overlooks the beautiful beaches. Hotels in Hikkaduwa; in the close vicinity have the coral reefs and has the entire diving infrastructure. Hotels in Gale; it’s known for the Portuguese, France and English influence, is reflected in the architecture and hospitality. Hotels in Ratnapura; is in the arms of the lush green leaves and under the shelter of the forest, wherein you can take bath in the waterfalls and have a glimpse of animals.
The next destination is Bentota, famous for the spas and beautiful seas. Near by to Bentota is Brief garden which has an extensive history and exiguities landscapes. Hikkaduwa as a destination is most sought after because of the coral reefs. Hikkaduwa, coral reefs off the shore are something to be watched. And for those thinking of some adventure Hikkaduwa has the entire diving infrastructure. The most incredible sight is the natural light and sound show by the sky and the clouds.
Sri Lanka Tourism at some point of time was in the turbulent waters. But things change drastically when the Sri Lankan government came to its rescue. Today Sri Lanka is an oasis of peace and tranquility. If you believe me, in Sri Lanka you will be bursting with verve and vitality. The void inside your heart will be complete by the invigorating mountain air. The serenity and the equanimity is something cannot be explained in words. You have to there to enjoy the breathtaking unrivaled view of Sri Lanka.
Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait separate Sri Lanka from the Indian sub contentment. It lies in the Indian Ocean to the south west of Bay of Bengal. The supremely majestic travel destination, as the morning light travels through the mountain and touches the high end beaches and comes to your hotel window and throws light on you and takes you to a journey, an unforgettable journey of your life time.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Smith Jhon
As the morning light travels through the mountain, touches the high end beaches and comes to your hotel window, throws light on you and takes you to a journey, an unforgettable journey of your life time.
In Sri Lanka you will encounter one of the finest cheap hotels. They are unique because they offer you the liberty of stress free stay and there discrete charm will make your visit a memorable visit.
Checking in Sri Lankan hotels, you will encounter a feeling like, morning will come close to you and the clouds will tinkle, wind will dance with you and you will reward you with breathtaking views and its scenic beauty.
The patchwork of the hotels in Sri Lanka is done in and around major cities and there tourist destinations like
Hotels in Bentota is famous for the luxury services, spas and overlooks the beautiful beaches. Hotels in Hikkaduwa; in the close vicinity have the coral reefs and has the entire diving infrastructure. Hotels in Gale; it’s known for the Portuguese, France and English influence, is reflected in the architecture and hospitality. Hotels in Ratnapura; is in the arms of the lush green leaves and under the shelter of the forest, wherein you can take bath in the waterfalls and have a glimpse of animals.
The next destination is Bentota, famous for the spas and beautiful seas. Near by to Bentota is Brief garden which has an extensive history and exiguities landscapes. Hikkaduwa as a destination is most sought after because of the coral reefs. Hikkaduwa, coral reefs off the shore are something to be watched. And for those thinking of some adventure Hikkaduwa has the entire diving infrastructure. The most incredible sight is the natural light and sound show by the sky and the clouds.
Sri Lanka Tourism at some point of time was in the turbulent waters. But things change drastically when the Sri Lankan government came to its rescue. Today Sri Lanka is an oasis of peace and tranquility. If you believe me, in Sri Lanka you will be bursting with verve and vitality. The void inside your heart will be complete by the invigorating mountain air. The serenity and the equanimity is something cannot be explained in words. You have to there to enjoy the breathtaking unrivaled view of Sri Lanka.
Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait separate Sri Lanka from the Indian sub contentment. It lies in the Indian Ocean to the south west of Bay of Bengal. The supremely majestic travel destination, as the morning light travels through the mountain and touches the high end beaches and comes to your hotel window and throws light on you and takes you to a journey, an unforgettable journey of your life time.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Smith Jhon
Hotels in France
France is adorned with divine art and beautiful architecture. It has quintessentially serene climate above all has cutting edge cuisines. The Hotels in France symbolizes its culture as well as its architecture. Let me ask you, what the first thing goes through your mind, when you visualize the picturesque of France. Rightly thought yes it’s the Paris, the Wine and the Landscapes but then the next thought immediately rushes, are there any cheap hotels in France. Humans are governed by individual difference so does their travel priorities and destinations. Some will prefer the resplendent Paris (city of lights), while others will go for tranquility of Brittany while a few will opt for timeless contemporary appeal of the Provence region. The grandeur of hotels in Paris, have the fusion of ancient and modern architecture. Paris hotels are known for there impeccable services, hospitality, comfort and luxury. They are in and around the close vicinity to the tourist destinations like the Eiffel Tower, the Centre Pompidou and the Louvre museum. The most sought after destination is the Disneyland Resort Paris, located at Marne-la-Vallée, 32km (20 miles) from Paris. The Disneyland Resort Paris is spread over an area of 1943 hectares. It includes benign hotels, quintessential restaurants, a campsite, shops and a golf course, and has the star attraction the Walt Disney Studios. Euro Disneyland houses all the famous Disney characters plus some new attractions especially produced to blend with its European home. The blithe sprit of the Hotels in Brittany comes from their fiercely independent culture that dates back to its Celtic period. Most of the hotels are nestled around the serenely beautiful coast Pointe du Raz and Perros-Guirec. The breathtaking view of the coast will simply stupefy you. Brittany’s main attractions are her wild beauty and the unique Breton culture. Most of the coastline is blighted by the holiday homes which have all the amenities like spacious rooms, lovely view and stress free stay. They have occupied every possible space. The perennial beauty of Nice is awe inspiring has beautiful beaches, lovely seaside promenade and intrigue museums. Likewise hotels in Nice have a discrete charm. They overlook the virgin beaches. After you ambled down to the beach, the invigorating air and the placid waters will surely mesmerize you. The resplendent Provence is like postcards made for fantasies. It is the acme of stunning cliffs, sand dues and windy beaches. Hotels in Provence are known for there grandiosity. They overlook the tourist destinations like , the old port, the hilltop church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, Le Corbusier Unite d’Habitation, the Hospice de la Vieille Charité and, of course, the Château d’If. All in all a traveler’s paradise, where in you can have the diversity of panoramic mountains to majestic architecture, from beautiful seas to breathtaking Landscapes. So are you looking forward to Travel to France, this is a guarantee that hotel in France will offer you a safe, secure and stress free stay.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?James Parker
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?James Parker
Tourist In My Own Hometown
By: Marcia Passos Duffy
Published: April 28, 2007
I lived in the suburbs of New York City almost all my life and it was only when I was in my 20's and working on 5th Avenue when I finally went to the top of the Empire State Building. It took me almost two decades as well to ice-skate at Rockefeller Center, browse the Museum of Natural History, and see a Broadway play.
Now living in New England I still tend to overlook the tourist attractions in my own backyard. It took us eight years after we moved to Keene, NH before we climbed the “most-climbed mountain in the world,” Mt. Monadnock, just a 15 minute drive from our house.
I once read a magazine article about a family that took a week-long vacation in their own hometown. They visited museums, ate out every night, and basically took in their surroundings with the new eyes of visitors. I didn’t have a week – but a few hours I did have. So when my neighbor suggested that we become tourists for a day in Keene I jumped at the chance. My neighbor and I planned a simple late morning excursion with our kids on the Keene trolley.
I have never been on the Keene trolley. I see it motoring around town every time I leave my house to run errands. It looks sweet, touristy, and fun. The windows are rolled all the way up in the warm weather. The seats are wood. The pick-up spot was a five minute walk from the house, so we all walked down to our local Hannaford’s to wait for the 11:35 a.m. trolley.
Why it seemed so exciting is beyond me. I knew where the trolley went and I’ve seen all those spots a thousand times. I knew our final destination was a mere one mile from our house. But somehow, shedding the car and climbing aboard the trolley made it all different. And the kids actually cheered (the younger ones) when the trolley made the turn into the parking lot.
I want to say it was a pleasant ride and wax philosophical about the wind blowing through my hair and seeing the familiar scenes through different eyes. And I would if my 6-year son had not had an intense attack of vertigo which made him exclaim (uh, shout) that the trolley was going to tip over with all of us in it with each turn the driver took. He insisted on sitting up front, where the windows were closed, with me glued to his side; I spent the entire 20 minutes of the ride trying reassure him that this was not a doomsday ride.
But hey, those are the chances you take traveling with children, even if it’s in your own backyard. The ride took us the “long way” past the hospital, toward downtown. “It takes a lot longer to get the Colony Mill on the trolley,” my son said when we finally got off, relieved to be on solid ground (the driver I’m sure was even more relieved).
The Colony Mill Marketplace is the Keene, NH version of a “mall,” – it is actually a renovated mill originally built in 1838 to produce wool garments, including uniforms for the Union troops during the Civil War and the Allied forces during the World World Wars I and II. And it housed scores of civilian companies and families until it closed its doors in 1953. It was completely transformed three decades later into a regional marketplace.
Today it houses quaint shops like Dilly’s for Kids, Mill Toy Works (my son’s favorite), Pocketful of Rye, Toadstool Bookshop (this is my favorite bookstore – no Borders for me!) and True Necessities (my daughter’s favorite). My kids, with their pockets jingling with birthday money from grandparents, made some modest but happy purchases – a few shorts and a shirt for my 12-year old daughter; a strap-to-the-head flashlight and a pull- back toy car for my son.
We had lunch at the mall’s atrium -- unlike your typical “mall” setting in both food and atmosphere. Sometimes they even have live piano music. Homemade arctichoke soup from Kristin’s Bakery, croissants stuffed with spinach and cheese; the other choice at the Marketplace is Chinese food and I ordered a plate of dumplings for us to share. It was good, satisfying; not a French fry or double cheeseburger to be seen yet all four kids ate heartily (maybe it was the thrilling trolley ride that made them so hungry.)
Our trip ended at another adjacent historic “mall” next door called The Center at Keene, originally a scenic railroad station in the 1800's that now houses several retail shops and a really good ice cream shop, Rick’s Gourmet Ice Cream. We ate our ice cream outside (I had chocolate custard with chocolate sprinkles – yum!). While we were enjoying our ice cream, we suddenly saw the return trolley go by. “Oh well,” my son said, “we can walk.” And we did -- bundles in hand -- on the bicycle path.
My friend and I looked at each other, pleased with the day. It was already past 2 p.m. “It wouldn’t have been the same if we took our cars,” she said. And I agree. There is really something special about being a tourist in your own hometown.
About The Author
Marcia Passos Duffy is the publisher and editor of The Heart of New England online magazine and weekly newsletter, which celebrates the unique character of the northern New England states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. To subscribe to her free weekly newsletter send a blank email to heartofnewengland-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
editor@theheartofnewengland.com
Published: April 28, 2007
I lived in the suburbs of New York City almost all my life and it was only when I was in my 20's and working on 5th Avenue when I finally went to the top of the Empire State Building. It took me almost two decades as well to ice-skate at Rockefeller Center, browse the Museum of Natural History, and see a Broadway play.
Now living in New England I still tend to overlook the tourist attractions in my own backyard. It took us eight years after we moved to Keene, NH before we climbed the “most-climbed mountain in the world,” Mt. Monadnock, just a 15 minute drive from our house.
I once read a magazine article about a family that took a week-long vacation in their own hometown. They visited museums, ate out every night, and basically took in their surroundings with the new eyes of visitors. I didn’t have a week – but a few hours I did have. So when my neighbor suggested that we become tourists for a day in Keene I jumped at the chance. My neighbor and I planned a simple late morning excursion with our kids on the Keene trolley.
I have never been on the Keene trolley. I see it motoring around town every time I leave my house to run errands. It looks sweet, touristy, and fun. The windows are rolled all the way up in the warm weather. The seats are wood. The pick-up spot was a five minute walk from the house, so we all walked down to our local Hannaford’s to wait for the 11:35 a.m. trolley.
Why it seemed so exciting is beyond me. I knew where the trolley went and I’ve seen all those spots a thousand times. I knew our final destination was a mere one mile from our house. But somehow, shedding the car and climbing aboard the trolley made it all different. And the kids actually cheered (the younger ones) when the trolley made the turn into the parking lot.
I want to say it was a pleasant ride and wax philosophical about the wind blowing through my hair and seeing the familiar scenes through different eyes. And I would if my 6-year son had not had an intense attack of vertigo which made him exclaim (uh, shout) that the trolley was going to tip over with all of us in it with each turn the driver took. He insisted on sitting up front, where the windows were closed, with me glued to his side; I spent the entire 20 minutes of the ride trying reassure him that this was not a doomsday ride.
But hey, those are the chances you take traveling with children, even if it’s in your own backyard. The ride took us the “long way” past the hospital, toward downtown. “It takes a lot longer to get the Colony Mill on the trolley,” my son said when we finally got off, relieved to be on solid ground (the driver I’m sure was even more relieved).
The Colony Mill Marketplace is the Keene, NH version of a “mall,” – it is actually a renovated mill originally built in 1838 to produce wool garments, including uniforms for the Union troops during the Civil War and the Allied forces during the World World Wars I and II. And it housed scores of civilian companies and families until it closed its doors in 1953. It was completely transformed three decades later into a regional marketplace.
Today it houses quaint shops like Dilly’s for Kids, Mill Toy Works (my son’s favorite), Pocketful of Rye, Toadstool Bookshop (this is my favorite bookstore – no Borders for me!) and True Necessities (my daughter’s favorite). My kids, with their pockets jingling with birthday money from grandparents, made some modest but happy purchases – a few shorts and a shirt for my 12-year old daughter; a strap-to-the-head flashlight and a pull- back toy car for my son.
We had lunch at the mall’s atrium -- unlike your typical “mall” setting in both food and atmosphere. Sometimes they even have live piano music. Homemade arctichoke soup from Kristin’s Bakery, croissants stuffed with spinach and cheese; the other choice at the Marketplace is Chinese food and I ordered a plate of dumplings for us to share. It was good, satisfying; not a French fry or double cheeseburger to be seen yet all four kids ate heartily (maybe it was the thrilling trolley ride that made them so hungry.)
Our trip ended at another adjacent historic “mall” next door called The Center at Keene, originally a scenic railroad station in the 1800's that now houses several retail shops and a really good ice cream shop, Rick’s Gourmet Ice Cream. We ate our ice cream outside (I had chocolate custard with chocolate sprinkles – yum!). While we were enjoying our ice cream, we suddenly saw the return trolley go by. “Oh well,” my son said, “we can walk.” And we did -- bundles in hand -- on the bicycle path.
My friend and I looked at each other, pleased with the day. It was already past 2 p.m. “It wouldn’t have been the same if we took our cars,” she said. And I agree. There is really something special about being a tourist in your own hometown.
About The Author
Marcia Passos Duffy is the publisher and editor of The Heart of New England online magazine and weekly newsletter, which celebrates the unique character of the northern New England states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. To subscribe to her free weekly newsletter send a blank email to heartofnewengland-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
editor@theheartofnewengland.com
Namibia – A Bountiful Harvest Awaits The Adventure Traveler
By: Andrew Muigai
Published: April 27, 2007
Namibia is a largely arid country of stark rough-hewn beauty. The most vivid images are those of a haunting technicolor landscape of swirling orange dunes, shimmering mirages and treacherous dust devils. The apparent desolation is deceptive and plant and animal life and even man has adapted to this environment. The country is designed almost specially with the active and adventure seeker in mind. Timeless deserts, thorn bush savanna, desolate wind ravaged coastlines, majestic canyons, and sun-baked saltpans are the bounty that awaits the traveler.
Namibia’s top draw is the Etosha National Park, rated as one of Africa’s finest game sanctuaries. The birding experience in the country is truly superior. On a Namibia safari, the range of activities you can indulge in the unsurpassable physical environment is truly impressive. Ballooning over the desert, skydiving over land and sea, paragliding, whitewater rafting and sand skiing along coastal dunes are good activities for starters. More fun games to pick from include abseiling – that most spectacular of rock sports, coastal and fresh water angling, desert camel riding, scuba diving, 4x4 desert runs, hiking and mountaineering.
Namibia has four distinct geographical regions. In the north is Etosha Pan, a great area for wildlife and heart of Etosha National Park. The slender Caprivi Strip is nested between Zambia and Botswana and is a wet area of woodland blessed with a few rivers. Along the coast is the Namib Desert, which at the age of 80 million years old, is said to be the world’s oldest desert. At the coast, the icy cold Atlantic meets the blazing African desert, resulting in dense fogs. The well-watered central plateau runs north to south, and carries rugged mountains, magnificent canyons, rocky outcrops and expansive plains.
Namibia, one and half times the size of France, is very sparsely inhabited and carries only 1.8 million souls. The people are as unique as the land they live on. The most intriguing are the San, otherwise known as Bushmen. These most hardy of people have a highly advanced knowledge of their environment. It is a marvelous thing how well they are adapted to their difficult habitat. Just pause and think that these are the only people in the world who live with no permanent access to water. In the Kalahari Desert, one of their domiciles, surface water is not to be found. Tubers, melons, and other water bearing plants as well as underground sip wells supply their water requirements.
In Namibia today, Bushmen number about 50,000. Historians estimate that they have lived, mostly as hunters and gatherers, for at least 25,000 years in these parts of the world. Bushmen speak in a peculiar click langauge and are very gifted in the arts of storytelling, mimicry, and dance. Namibia’s other people, who are indigenous to the continent, are mostly of Bantu origin. They are thought to have arrived from western Africa from about 2,400 years ago. The African groups include the Owambo, Kavango, Caprivians, Herero, Himba, Damara, Nama and Tswana.
The Africans aside, other groups comprise about 15% of the population and have played an important role in the emergence of the modern nation. White Namibians amount to about 120,00 and are mainly of German and Afrikaner heritage. Germans arrived in significant numbers after 1884 when Bismarck declared the country a German Protectorate. Afrikaners, white farmers of Dutch origin, moved north from their Cape settlements, especially after the Dutch Cape Colony was ceded to the British in 1806. This strongly independent people, who'se ancestors had lived in the Cape from 1652 resented British control.
Two other distinct groups complete the spectrum of Namibia’s people - Basters and Coloureds. Coloured in Namibia and southern Africa refers to people of mixed racial heritage, black- white for example. They have a separate identity and culture. This makes sense considering that Namibia was run by South Africa after the First World War. Even in pre-Apartheid South Africa, racial classification was a fine art. The Afrikaans-speaking Basters, descended from Hottentot women and Dutch settlers of the Cape. Alienated from both white and black communities, they trekked northwards, finally founding their own town Rehoboth, in 1871. Baster is actually derived from “bastard”, but it is not derogatory, and the Basters are indeed proud of it.
Namibia’s barren and unwelcoming coastlines served as a natural deterrent to the ambitions of European explorers. That was until 1884 when the German merchant Adolf Luderitz established a permanent settlement between the Namib Desert and the Atlantic seaboard that afterwards took his name. Bismarck subsequently declared the territory covered by Namibia a German colony and named it Südwestafrika or South West Africa. As German settlers moved into the interior, conflict was inevitable with the inheritors of the land.
The German occupation was a particularly unhappy experience for the Herero. The Herero resented the German’s harsh and racist rule and the effect of the encroachment on their lands on their livelihood and way of life. On the first day of the year 1904, the Herero led by Chief Samuel Maharero, rose suddenly and unexpectedly in arms against their colonial overlords. The Nama joined the insurrection and the authorities did not regain control even after six months of trying. Over 100 German settlers and soldiers died in the uprising. Historians now consider events that followed to constitute the first genocide of the twentieth century.
Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha was furnished with a contingent of 14,000 soldiers and tasked to put down the rebellion. The governor general of the territory was then Rudolph Goering -the father of Herman Goering, Hitler's right hand man. Lothar von Trotha was a generation ahead of his time and his kind of thinking was to become government policy under the Third Reich. He argued that the Herero must be destroyed as a people and he did not wince at the murder of women or children. At the end of it all, 100,000 Nama and Herero were killed. The survivors were herded in concentration camps where unspeakable things happened. The Herero fared very badly and 80% of her people perished. The population of the Nama diminished by 35-50%.
Windhoek, the capital of 165,000 people is the only true city in the country. For those traveling to more remote regions, this is where you settle practical matters. The positive aspects of the German period can be seen in the charming style of older buildings in the city. Places of interest in the city include the State Museum, State Archives, and the Namibia Crafts Centre. The Dan Viljoen Game Park lies 24 Km west of Windhoek on the gentle hills of Khoma Hochland. In this resort you find ostriches, baboons, zebras and over 200 species of birds. The Waterburg Plateau Park, located 230 km from Windhoek is popular with weekenders. This extensive mountain wilderness is home to cheetah, leopard, kudu, giraffe, and white rhino.
Etosha National Park is what brings wildlife lovers to Namibia. The park is comparable in size and diversity of species with the best in Africa. The unusual terrain of Etosha holds savanna grassland, dense brush and woodland. But it is the Etosha Pan, a depression that sometimes holds water and covers 5,000 sq km, that is the heart of park. The perennial springs around the pan, attract many birds and land animals in the dry winter months. The effect of this background is magical and some of the best wildlife photographs have been taken here.
There are 144 mammal species in the park and elephants are particularly abundant. Some other interesting wildlife here includes giraffe, leopard, cheetah, jackal, blue wildebeest, gemsbok and black rhino. The birding is great at Etosha and over 300 bird species have been recorded. You will get best value by spending at least three days here. There are excellent accommodation facilities at the three rest camps of Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo. The best time to see animals is between May and September, when water draws them in huge numbers to the edge of the pan. Etosha is 400 km to the north of Windhoek by road.
The Fish River Canyon is unrivalled in Africa and only the Grand Canyon in the U.S in larger. The Canyon runs for 160 km and reaches a width of 27 km and depth of 550 m. But size alone does not explain the appeal of the canyon. You experience incredible views at various points along the rim. Adventure lovers do not merely come for the views. Hiking through the canyon is the ultimate endurance adventure for hikers. There is an established 90 km hiking trail that will take you 4-5 days to cover.
The trail ends at Ai-Ais hot spring resort where you can unwind. You are allowed to hike between early May and end of September. The hike is quite strenuous and needless to say, you must be physically fit. The authorities disbelieve the capacity of most people to undertake the hike and will actually insist on seeing a medical certificate of fitness before allowing you to start off. Fish River Canyon is 580 km to the south of Windhoek.
The Skeleton Coast has been the graveyard of seafarers and whales and deserves that morbid name. The problem is the dense fogs. And woe to the ship wreck survivor who expects respite onshore! Ahead is the Namib Desert, one of the driest and most unwelcoming places. Adventure travelers love trekking along the coastline as they enjoy the stark beauty of the area. To the south at Cape Cross, you find a seal colony carrying tens of thousands of seals. The Skeleton Coast Park covers 16,400 sq km and begins at 355 km northwest of Windhoek.
The Portuguese explorer Diego Cao reached this part of the world in the year 1486. He is probably one of the people who'se experiences discouraged Europeans from venturing ashore until the arrival of the Germans 400 years later. Further south is the Namib-Naukluft National Park, a vast wilderness covering 50,000 sq km. The landscape is very diverse and covers mountain outcrops, majestic sand dunes, and deep cut gorges. For really spectacular dunes, the Sossusvlei area is unsurpassed. Here you have dunes rising to 300 m! The orange tint giants extend as far as the horizon and the area has an unreal, unforgettable atmosphere.
To the northeast of the country, the well-watered Kavango and Caprivi Strip region offers an unspoilt wilderness suitable for rugged game viewing and camping. The area also promises a feast for bird lovers. Game reserves in the area include: Kaudom, Caprivi, Mahango, Mudumu and Mamili. Poachers did great damage to wildlife during the years of the civil war in neighbouring Angola. Animal numbers are however building up rapidly. Some of the wildlife in the region includes leopard, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, lion and various antelope species. The Caprivi Reserve falls in an area of swamps and flood plains. Here you have an opportunity to partake fishing, hiking, game viewing safaris and river trips in traditional mokoro boats.
In Namibia you can enjoy up to 300 days of sunshine. The coast is temperate and thermometers run between 5C-25C. Inland, daytime temperatures range from 20C-34C, but can rise to 40C in the north and south of the country. Winter nights can be quite cold and frost occurs over large parts of the country. The rains inland fall in summer (November-April) and are heaviest in the Caprivi region. Rains do not much affect travel, but beware of flash floods in the vicinity of riverbeds. The best time to travel is over the dry months of March to October, when it is easier to see animals at waterholes. It is best to avoid the Namib Desert and Etosha between December and March when it can get unbearably hot.
You can get by wearing light cottons and linens in summer. Over winter nights and mornings, you need heavier cottons, warmer wraps and sweaters. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as the ground gets very hot. Some useful stuff to pack includes: camera, binoculars, sunglasses, sun hats, sunscreen and mosquito repellant. Be ready for dusty conditions and carry your clothing, equipment and supplies in dust proof bags. Do not be tempted to buy items made of ivory. You may not be allowed to carry them through customs at home. And it also good that you do not encourage the trade in ivory products that keeps poachers busy.
Copyright © Africa Point
Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of AfricaPoint.com- the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on Namibia safari and tours at the website.
Published: April 27, 2007
Namibia is a largely arid country of stark rough-hewn beauty. The most vivid images are those of a haunting technicolor landscape of swirling orange dunes, shimmering mirages and treacherous dust devils. The apparent desolation is deceptive and plant and animal life and even man has adapted to this environment. The country is designed almost specially with the active and adventure seeker in mind. Timeless deserts, thorn bush savanna, desolate wind ravaged coastlines, majestic canyons, and sun-baked saltpans are the bounty that awaits the traveler.
Namibia’s top draw is the Etosha National Park, rated as one of Africa’s finest game sanctuaries. The birding experience in the country is truly superior. On a Namibia safari, the range of activities you can indulge in the unsurpassable physical environment is truly impressive. Ballooning over the desert, skydiving over land and sea, paragliding, whitewater rafting and sand skiing along coastal dunes are good activities for starters. More fun games to pick from include abseiling – that most spectacular of rock sports, coastal and fresh water angling, desert camel riding, scuba diving, 4x4 desert runs, hiking and mountaineering.
Namibia has four distinct geographical regions. In the north is Etosha Pan, a great area for wildlife and heart of Etosha National Park. The slender Caprivi Strip is nested between Zambia and Botswana and is a wet area of woodland blessed with a few rivers. Along the coast is the Namib Desert, which at the age of 80 million years old, is said to be the world’s oldest desert. At the coast, the icy cold Atlantic meets the blazing African desert, resulting in dense fogs. The well-watered central plateau runs north to south, and carries rugged mountains, magnificent canyons, rocky outcrops and expansive plains.
Namibia, one and half times the size of France, is very sparsely inhabited and carries only 1.8 million souls. The people are as unique as the land they live on. The most intriguing are the San, otherwise known as Bushmen. These most hardy of people have a highly advanced knowledge of their environment. It is a marvelous thing how well they are adapted to their difficult habitat. Just pause and think that these are the only people in the world who live with no permanent access to water. In the Kalahari Desert, one of their domiciles, surface water is not to be found. Tubers, melons, and other water bearing plants as well as underground sip wells supply their water requirements.
In Namibia today, Bushmen number about 50,000. Historians estimate that they have lived, mostly as hunters and gatherers, for at least 25,000 years in these parts of the world. Bushmen speak in a peculiar click langauge and are very gifted in the arts of storytelling, mimicry, and dance. Namibia’s other people, who are indigenous to the continent, are mostly of Bantu origin. They are thought to have arrived from western Africa from about 2,400 years ago. The African groups include the Owambo, Kavango, Caprivians, Herero, Himba, Damara, Nama and Tswana.
The Africans aside, other groups comprise about 15% of the population and have played an important role in the emergence of the modern nation. White Namibians amount to about 120,00 and are mainly of German and Afrikaner heritage. Germans arrived in significant numbers after 1884 when Bismarck declared the country a German Protectorate. Afrikaners, white farmers of Dutch origin, moved north from their Cape settlements, especially after the Dutch Cape Colony was ceded to the British in 1806. This strongly independent people, who'se ancestors had lived in the Cape from 1652 resented British control.
Two other distinct groups complete the spectrum of Namibia’s people - Basters and Coloureds. Coloured in Namibia and southern Africa refers to people of mixed racial heritage, black- white for example. They have a separate identity and culture. This makes sense considering that Namibia was run by South Africa after the First World War. Even in pre-Apartheid South Africa, racial classification was a fine art. The Afrikaans-speaking Basters, descended from Hottentot women and Dutch settlers of the Cape. Alienated from both white and black communities, they trekked northwards, finally founding their own town Rehoboth, in 1871. Baster is actually derived from “bastard”, but it is not derogatory, and the Basters are indeed proud of it.
Namibia’s barren and unwelcoming coastlines served as a natural deterrent to the ambitions of European explorers. That was until 1884 when the German merchant Adolf Luderitz established a permanent settlement between the Namib Desert and the Atlantic seaboard that afterwards took his name. Bismarck subsequently declared the territory covered by Namibia a German colony and named it Südwestafrika or South West Africa. As German settlers moved into the interior, conflict was inevitable with the inheritors of the land.
The German occupation was a particularly unhappy experience for the Herero. The Herero resented the German’s harsh and racist rule and the effect of the encroachment on their lands on their livelihood and way of life. On the first day of the year 1904, the Herero led by Chief Samuel Maharero, rose suddenly and unexpectedly in arms against their colonial overlords. The Nama joined the insurrection and the authorities did not regain control even after six months of trying. Over 100 German settlers and soldiers died in the uprising. Historians now consider events that followed to constitute the first genocide of the twentieth century.
Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha was furnished with a contingent of 14,000 soldiers and tasked to put down the rebellion. The governor general of the territory was then Rudolph Goering -the father of Herman Goering, Hitler's right hand man. Lothar von Trotha was a generation ahead of his time and his kind of thinking was to become government policy under the Third Reich. He argued that the Herero must be destroyed as a people and he did not wince at the murder of women or children. At the end of it all, 100,000 Nama and Herero were killed. The survivors were herded in concentration camps where unspeakable things happened. The Herero fared very badly and 80% of her people perished. The population of the Nama diminished by 35-50%.
Windhoek, the capital of 165,000 people is the only true city in the country. For those traveling to more remote regions, this is where you settle practical matters. The positive aspects of the German period can be seen in the charming style of older buildings in the city. Places of interest in the city include the State Museum, State Archives, and the Namibia Crafts Centre. The Dan Viljoen Game Park lies 24 Km west of Windhoek on the gentle hills of Khoma Hochland. In this resort you find ostriches, baboons, zebras and over 200 species of birds. The Waterburg Plateau Park, located 230 km from Windhoek is popular with weekenders. This extensive mountain wilderness is home to cheetah, leopard, kudu, giraffe, and white rhino.
Etosha National Park is what brings wildlife lovers to Namibia. The park is comparable in size and diversity of species with the best in Africa. The unusual terrain of Etosha holds savanna grassland, dense brush and woodland. But it is the Etosha Pan, a depression that sometimes holds water and covers 5,000 sq km, that is the heart of park. The perennial springs around the pan, attract many birds and land animals in the dry winter months. The effect of this background is magical and some of the best wildlife photographs have been taken here.
There are 144 mammal species in the park and elephants are particularly abundant. Some other interesting wildlife here includes giraffe, leopard, cheetah, jackal, blue wildebeest, gemsbok and black rhino. The birding is great at Etosha and over 300 bird species have been recorded. You will get best value by spending at least three days here. There are excellent accommodation facilities at the three rest camps of Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo. The best time to see animals is between May and September, when water draws them in huge numbers to the edge of the pan. Etosha is 400 km to the north of Windhoek by road.
The Fish River Canyon is unrivalled in Africa and only the Grand Canyon in the U.S in larger. The Canyon runs for 160 km and reaches a width of 27 km and depth of 550 m. But size alone does not explain the appeal of the canyon. You experience incredible views at various points along the rim. Adventure lovers do not merely come for the views. Hiking through the canyon is the ultimate endurance adventure for hikers. There is an established 90 km hiking trail that will take you 4-5 days to cover.
The trail ends at Ai-Ais hot spring resort where you can unwind. You are allowed to hike between early May and end of September. The hike is quite strenuous and needless to say, you must be physically fit. The authorities disbelieve the capacity of most people to undertake the hike and will actually insist on seeing a medical certificate of fitness before allowing you to start off. Fish River Canyon is 580 km to the south of Windhoek.
The Skeleton Coast has been the graveyard of seafarers and whales and deserves that morbid name. The problem is the dense fogs. And woe to the ship wreck survivor who expects respite onshore! Ahead is the Namib Desert, one of the driest and most unwelcoming places. Adventure travelers love trekking along the coastline as they enjoy the stark beauty of the area. To the south at Cape Cross, you find a seal colony carrying tens of thousands of seals. The Skeleton Coast Park covers 16,400 sq km and begins at 355 km northwest of Windhoek.
The Portuguese explorer Diego Cao reached this part of the world in the year 1486. He is probably one of the people who'se experiences discouraged Europeans from venturing ashore until the arrival of the Germans 400 years later. Further south is the Namib-Naukluft National Park, a vast wilderness covering 50,000 sq km. The landscape is very diverse and covers mountain outcrops, majestic sand dunes, and deep cut gorges. For really spectacular dunes, the Sossusvlei area is unsurpassed. Here you have dunes rising to 300 m! The orange tint giants extend as far as the horizon and the area has an unreal, unforgettable atmosphere.
To the northeast of the country, the well-watered Kavango and Caprivi Strip region offers an unspoilt wilderness suitable for rugged game viewing and camping. The area also promises a feast for bird lovers. Game reserves in the area include: Kaudom, Caprivi, Mahango, Mudumu and Mamili. Poachers did great damage to wildlife during the years of the civil war in neighbouring Angola. Animal numbers are however building up rapidly. Some of the wildlife in the region includes leopard, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, lion and various antelope species. The Caprivi Reserve falls in an area of swamps and flood plains. Here you have an opportunity to partake fishing, hiking, game viewing safaris and river trips in traditional mokoro boats.
In Namibia you can enjoy up to 300 days of sunshine. The coast is temperate and thermometers run between 5C-25C. Inland, daytime temperatures range from 20C-34C, but can rise to 40C in the north and south of the country. Winter nights can be quite cold and frost occurs over large parts of the country. The rains inland fall in summer (November-April) and are heaviest in the Caprivi region. Rains do not much affect travel, but beware of flash floods in the vicinity of riverbeds. The best time to travel is over the dry months of March to October, when it is easier to see animals at waterholes. It is best to avoid the Namib Desert and Etosha between December and March when it can get unbearably hot.
You can get by wearing light cottons and linens in summer. Over winter nights and mornings, you need heavier cottons, warmer wraps and sweaters. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as the ground gets very hot. Some useful stuff to pack includes: camera, binoculars, sunglasses, sun hats, sunscreen and mosquito repellant. Be ready for dusty conditions and carry your clothing, equipment and supplies in dust proof bags. Do not be tempted to buy items made of ivory. You may not be allowed to carry them through customs at home. And it also good that you do not encourage the trade in ivory products that keeps poachers busy.
Copyright © Africa Point
Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of AfricaPoint.com- the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on Namibia safari and tours at the website.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
How Small Businesses Can Save Travel Expenses
By: Chris Linch
Published: October 1, 2009
As a business traveler you have many options in booking your travel. Large businesses use agents within their business who connect with large managed travel organziations to get the best rates. But what if you operate that small business and you just need a trip here an there. You don't book enough travel to qualify for your own personal travel department, but you still need to save money.
If you own your own small business then you know that even though things are business expenses and you can write them off, the fact is that money still comes out of your pocket. It isn't just the bottom line that is affected, it is your families welfare and your businesses future when you have to spend money to actually do business.
There is just a simple fact that the airlines don't cater to anybody. Contrary to popular belief large businesses pay the same airfare you do. You can find some airlines like Southwest that provide a cheaper flight to some destinations, but you really have to do your searching. Airlines are notorious for being greedy and they take the same from you that they do everyone.
To secure a great hotel rate you just need to locate a discount hotel reservations site that offers a prepaid booking. These are really sold for the same price as a large contract through a hotel chain like Hilton. You can book the same hotels that consumers do at deep discounts. Plus your receipts are always accessible when it comes to accounting periods.
Times are tough and your bottom line is important, but you still may need to travel to actually make money. Use a cheaper airline and a hotel site that offers great hotel rates to all consumers. This is your best bet for saving a lot of money when booking your travel.
About the Author:
Chris Linch has a website that has Great Hotel Rates. If you want to save a lot of money on your booking, follow the tips above and visit his website. They have the low price guarantee and all rooms are prepaid, save 40%!
Published: October 1, 2009
As a business traveler you have many options in booking your travel. Large businesses use agents within their business who connect with large managed travel organziations to get the best rates. But what if you operate that small business and you just need a trip here an there. You don't book enough travel to qualify for your own personal travel department, but you still need to save money.
If you own your own small business then you know that even though things are business expenses and you can write them off, the fact is that money still comes out of your pocket. It isn't just the bottom line that is affected, it is your families welfare and your businesses future when you have to spend money to actually do business.
There is just a simple fact that the airlines don't cater to anybody. Contrary to popular belief large businesses pay the same airfare you do. You can find some airlines like Southwest that provide a cheaper flight to some destinations, but you really have to do your searching. Airlines are notorious for being greedy and they take the same from you that they do everyone.
To secure a great hotel rate you just need to locate a discount hotel reservations site that offers a prepaid booking. These are really sold for the same price as a large contract through a hotel chain like Hilton. You can book the same hotels that consumers do at deep discounts. Plus your receipts are always accessible when it comes to accounting periods.
Times are tough and your bottom line is important, but you still may need to travel to actually make money. Use a cheaper airline and a hotel site that offers great hotel rates to all consumers. This is your best bet for saving a lot of money when booking your travel.
About the Author:
Chris Linch has a website that has Great Hotel Rates. If you want to save a lot of money on your booking, follow the tips above and visit his website. They have the low price guarantee and all rooms are prepaid, save 40%!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Explore Rajasthan With A Perfect Tour Package
Rajasthan is the largest and most colourful state of India. It is globally famous as tourist destination. There are many beautiful cities and tourist places to explore. The tourism department of the state is energy-boosted and offer tourists to savor lots of delights with excellent tourist facilities. Rajasthan is often called as ‘land of kings and monuments’. Pink city of Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Mandawa, Mount Abu, Jaisalmer, Kota, Chittorgarh, Ajmer, Pushkar, etc are major tourist places and cities in the royal and imperial state. This state is also rich and flora and fauna. This sandy land is perfect place to visit for wildlife expedition and gazing the historical fort of India.
The trio Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner (desert triangle) is a popular circuit among tourists. Mount Abu is the green oasis in this desert land. It is the only hill station in Rajasthan. To explore the beauty and tradition of Rajasthan you must make out your mind to take a tour package otherwise you may miss some interesting place there.
The culture and tradition of this state is amazing. Pushkar fair is the very popular and exhibits colorful Rajasthan culture. If you reach there at the season of Pushkar fair, then you must visit this fantastic cultural fair. It lasts for 5 days. Ajmer Sharif is also very famous. This Dargah is sacred for people of all religions. Golden Fort, Jain Temples, Desert National Park, Sand Dunes, Camel Safari, etc are key attractions of this land.
It is for sure that one can not visit all the places without proper tour package. Exciting ranges of Rajasthan tour packages are available in the market today to choose from. Tourists can choose one according to their choice based on targeted destinations in order to make their Rajasthan tours vibrant and lively.
Various packages based on interest are configured to help the tourist. Some most popular packages are:
City tour package: It offer a well-organized city tour in Rajasthan and takes tourists to various historical cities in hassle free way. Each city of the state has its own drawing cards like Jaipur (the Pink City), Jodhpur (the Blue City), Jaisalmer (the Golden City), Udaipur (the White City and the City of Lakes), Bikaner (Camel City), Mandawa (the City of Frescoed Havelis), etc.
Heritage tour package: With this package you will get a wonderful opportunity to visit forts, palaces, temples, havelis, castles, and mansions magnificent monuments of Rajasthan.
Wildlife tour package: Ranthambhore National Park, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Desert National Park, etc. are the places covered under this package.
You can find these packages in any Rajasthan Tour & Travel agency.
Author Bio:-
Rupesh Kumar is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel & Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for Rajasthan Tour Packages and Rajasthan Tours & Travels.
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