Englischer Garten Muenchen - The English Gardens in Munich Germany

Munich’s Largest Park The "Englischer Garten" (English Garden) is Munich's largest park. In addition to its beer gardens, this location is a recreational dream for all hobby athletes: cyclists and joggers who have a great chance to use paths spreading across seventy-eight kilometres. In spring, summer and fall, tightrope walkers stretch their slack lines between trees, Frisbee players throw their discs and amateur kickers meet for soccer games. Kleinhesseloher See The Kleinhesseloher See (lake) at the border of the northern English Garden is a fine place to relax. It has to be remembered that the lake is not suitable for swimming, but you can spend a calm day on the water with a rowing or pedal boat. Hundreds of people like to sit at the shore during summer and look the swans and Mallard ducks that glide through it. These swans, geese and Mallard ducks also fearlessly move out of the lake and have a gala feeding time across vast expanse of fields and lawns. Monopteros Temple No matter what time of the day or year, the Monopteros offers a spectacular view of streams and trees, making you feel fine. It is no wonder then that the temple in the English Garden has come to embody the cosmopolitan nature of the city of Munich. The Monopteros is about fifty-five feet in height and reaches almost as deep into the ground. The stylish temple is built upon a strong brick foundation that is elegantly hidden by a man-made hill. This gives the Monopteros a secure base while offering a superlative view of the city and makes it a part of the English Garden that can be seen from afar. Along with the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower), it is one of the best known locations in this world-famous park. History King Ludwig I specially ordered his court architect Leo von Klenze to build a Greek-style temple. The Monopteros was constructed between 1832 and 1837 in honour of Elector Karl Theodor and King Maximilian. A green dome with a red top was supported by ten columns made of Kelheim limestone. The construction of a temple was first suggested by the urban planner Friedrich Ludwig Sckell, who proposed the idea of a pantheon in a specially designed wooded area in 1807. It was visualised as a place to honour Bavarian personalities. His nephew, the landscape gardener Carl August Sckell, managed to convince King Ludwig I to put those plans into action. Sckell Jr. spent many years designing the embankment around the firm foundations and planting trees in certain areas. Ludwig I of Bavaria modeled Munich into his own “Athens on the Isar” thought and many of the city buildings still are evidence of his undertaking today.

Tashkent

Tashkent was built around 190 B.C. It has grown from a small ancient settlement to become one of the largest metropolitan areas in Central Asia. The freedom loving population of Uzbekistan has fought for its independence continuously against all foreign invasions throughout the centuries. It emerged as an important trading center after the campaigns of Alexander the Great as it was located on the crossroads of the Great Silk Route. The earliest known people who settled down in Tashkent were the Indo-Iranians. Buddhism had also reached and made its mark in the middle ages but after the Arab campaigns of the eighth century, Islam replaced Buddhism as the dominant religion. By the tenth century, Tashkent had become an important center in the Muslim world. In the fourteenth century, Timur Lang created a vast empire around Tashkent. After his death, Shahbani Khan took over and the rule of the Uzbeks started until the Russians dominated in the middle of the nineteenth century. It has now gone back to the Uzbeks after a long struggle. The Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri, died here while visiting for a conference in January 1966.

Ngorongoro Crater Safaris

Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) has been declared as a UNESCO site of world heritage thirty nine years ago. The Northern Safari Circuit in Tanzania includes a safari to the Ngorongoro Crater. It is hailed as a beautiful and natural safari site for experiencing wildlife. It is also marked as a unique place for tourists to interact with the Masai tribe. The Ngorongoro Crater came into being when there was a giant volcano explosion thousands of years ago. The volcanic caldera’s cone collapsed inwards and brought about this exceptional safari park in Tanzania. Many visitors to this place consider it as one of the best safari destinations that are on offer in Africa. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a park which allows habitation of humans within the protected area perimeter of wildlife present here. This Crater Park shares its boundary with the Serengeti National Park and visitors to that park have to drive through this Conservation Area to reach Serengeti. Tourists on safari to the Ngorongoro Crater prefer to stay in hotels on the rim of the park in order to gain access to stunning views of the Park. Some tourists like to stay in Karatu which is a little away from this crater. The reason why they go here is to avoid crowds and accommodation is cheaper as a result of intimate and smaller lodges that provide safari activities like mountain biking and walking tours. Another famous place is the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge but its rates are very expensive, stretching to almost $3,000 per night. It is the best safari for visitors who want to experience the Big Five. You will come across a large population of black rhinoceros and will also see some of the largest tusker elephants in the world at this place. They are the prize attraction in the wildlife on offer here. The crater is home also to leopards, lions, wildebeest, hyenas, buffaloes and zebras. Other wildlife that can be seen here includes sighting of cheetahs, serval cats, jackals, Grant’s gazelles, flamingos and foxes with ears like bats. There are about four hundred species of birds that could be spotted in this Conservation Area. As the wildlife tends to stay all the year round in this crater area, any time of the year is a good time for visiting the place. Lake Magadi helps in making the water levels high in the Crater’s centre and this allows for a big concentration of flamingos. Safari Facts The Ngorongoro Crater offers a breathtaking setting for viewing the Big Five in Africa. This Crater is considered as an amazing natural wonder by the visitors. People like to come here for an overnight stay and some of them stay for a couple of nights. They move on to the Serengeti National Park from here. Depending upon the size of the touring party, it is better to drive to this place from Arusha. It is cheaper to share a four-wheel drive along with a guide and you can be picked up from Kilimanjaro Airport as soon as you land there. It is better to arrive at the gates early enough so that you can avoid the crowds. Safari activities here are restricted to game driving. There are many picnic spots in this area. You can alight from your vehicles only in these limited areas. In the vast Ngorongoro Conservation Area, visitors who have taken the safari tours can expect trekking, walking, excursions to the Olduvai Gorge and visit to the Masai tribal villages. During the game drives, you can expect to see elephants, lions, giraffes, black rhinos and wildebeest against a stunning backdrop of the Crater wall that reaches up to six hundred metres. You can see the Big Five in one day alone. People love to come to the Ngorongoro Crater to experience the dense wildlife concentration in Tanzania with a unique volcanic landscape on offer. Budget safaris to the Ngorongoro Crater allow tourists to reduce their expenses. These safaris offer affordability and ease of access to the national parks. Accommodation, meals and entrance fees to the parks are included in the safari package rates.

Le Parc National du Serengeti Safaris

The Serengeti National Park covers the Simiyu and the Mara ecosystem regions in Tanzania. The Park has become famous for the sights it offers involving the migration of over a million wildebeest and about a quarter of a million zebras. The park is also well known for its honey badgers and Nile crocodiles. It was given its name by the Masai tribe to describe the place in their tribal language idiom, meaning “a place where the land runs on, forever.” This is the oldest national park in Tanzania and has remained an icon of the tourism industry in this country. It has always provided a major attraction to the tourists taking the Northern Safari Circuit which encompasses Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Arusha National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Serengeti National Park covers more than fourteen thousand square kilometres of savanna, woodlands, grassland plains and riverside forest. It is located in the northwestern part of Tanzania. It has the Kenyan border to its north and it is continuous here with the Masai Mara National Reserve. To its southeast, you will find the Ngorongoro Conservation Area; to its southwest, you will find the Maswa Game Reserve; to its west are the Grumeti and the Ikorongo Game Reserves; in the northeast, you will find the Loliondo Game Control Area. These places are all part of the larger ecosystem of Serengeti. Fauna and Wildlife The Serengeti Park is divided into three separate regions - • Serengeti Plains – This area includes grassland with almost no trees and this is the defining topographical characteristic of this division. This is where you will find gigantic herds of wildebeest breeding from December for a period of six months. • The Western Corridor - This region is defined by black clay soil which covers the savannah. Grumeti River and its forests have become home to the patas monkeys, hippopotamus, Nile crocodiles and martial eagles. Huge herds of wildebeest can also be found on its main highway. • Northern Serengeti – This landscape offers hills and open woodlands, ranging from the Mara River on its Kenyan border to Seronera in its south. The prominent wildlife at Serengeti National Park offers • You will find the largest population of lions in the entire continent of Africa in this Park. This is because of the abundance of prey species in this region. More than three thousand lions could be found, living in this ecosystem. • Leopards – These are considered reclusive predators and are distributed densely in the Seronera region. You will find over a thousand leopards in this region. • Bush Elephants – Despite the dangers of poaching, visitors can come across more than five thousand bush elephants in this region and they are densely distributed in the park’s northern region. • Visitors taking the safaris will also come across Eastern Black Rhinoceros and the African Buffalo that make up the Big Five in Africa. • Serengeti National Park is also of great interest to safari seekers who maintain an ornithological interest. This park is home to more than five hundred species of birds and that includes Secretary birds, Masai ostriches, helmeted guinea fowls, kori bustards, and crowned cranes; storks with yellow bills, lesser flamingos, lovebirds and several kinds of vultures. Safari Facts Safari packages to Serengeti National Park feature game drive for experiencing wildlife, walking safaris, hot air balloon safaris, picnicking, lodging, camping, cultural tourism through visiting neighbouring villages; Ngorongoro Crater, Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano, Olduvai Gorge and those famous flamingos at Lake Natron. Game drive seekers will come across over two hundred thousand zebras in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem plains along with Grant’s gazelles, Coke’s hartebeest, waterbucks, Masai giraffes, warthogs, impalas and hippos. You will also come across rare species of antelopes in this park and they include klipspringers, elands, bushbucks, roan antelopes, fringe-eared oryx, lesser kudus and dik-diks. Game driving is still the main safari activity in Serengeti National Park. Night safaris are not allowed inside this park but there are various lodges in the reserve, adjacent to Serengeti where night driving is permitted for safari seekers. The notable among such alternatives are Grumeti and Loliondo Reserves. You will not come across boating or canoeing safaris here as in Lake Manyara National Park. Walking tours are very much possible outside this park and some camps in the northern side of this park permit walking tours within their boundaries. Majority of areas in the park do not allow guided walk tours because of the prevalence of wildlife. Package rates include game drives, fees for guide and driver, four-wheel drive vehicle, guided walking tours, meals, soft drinks and mineral water bottles.

Le Parc National du Tarangire Du Nord de la Tanzanie

Tarangire National Park is in the Manyara region and is the sixth largest among all parks in Tanzania. It got its name from Tarangire River because this river crosses through the park. It is the main source, for all the wild animals in this park, of fresh water. The whole Tarangire ecosystem thrives on account of this river during the dry season of the year. This park and its ecosystem are well known for the migration of zebras and wildebeest into it from long distances. Hundreds of other animals also concentrate in this park from all surrounding calving and wet season dispersal areas. It is situated between the Great Rift Valley Lakes to its west and north and the Masai Steppe meadows to its southeast. Tarangire National Park occupies the region, covering two thousand six hundred square kilometres. The Tarangire River takes up most of its northern part. The river flows upwards through all cut ditches, leaving the park corner in the northwest region and falling into Lake Burungi. There are several wide swamps, as a result and they dry up into greener plains in the south when the dry season approaches. Flora and Fauna found in Tarangire National Park The park has gained its recognition because of the high density of baobab trees and its elephant population. Visitors that take safaris to this park prefer the dry season between June and November for the reason of spotting huge herds of elephants, zebras, cape buffaloes and wildebeest. Other animals that can be found in this park are giraffes, impalas, waterbucks, dik-diks, Grant’s gazelles, elands, banded mongooses, Vervet monkeys and olive baboons. You can also see a fair number of leopards, lions, caracals, cheetahs, African wild dogs and honey badgers. The oldest known elephant that has given birth to twins in Africa is found in this park. The park has become famous for its elephants and during dry season, you can view herds of over three hundred elephants as they love to dig in the Tarangire River’s dry bed. They are keen on exploring underground streams. The landscape here is made up mostly of granite ridges, swamps and river valleys. You will find a mix of Acacia woodland in its vegetation along with Baobab trees and grassland which is seasonally flooded. Tarangire National Park is home to over five hundred species of birds and has become a haven for keen bird watchers. The park is also known for huge termite mounds which dot its landscape. Abandoned mounds have become homes for dwarf mongooses. Visitors have also been able to spot white giraffes here and their complexion is a result of leucism. The Park management has started many wildlife research projects such as the Tarangire Elephant Project, the Tarangire Lion Project and Masai Giraffe Conservation Demography Project. For more than thirteen years now, this protected region has been recognised as a lion conservation unit. Safari Facts Safari packages usually combine itineraries including Tarangire National Park tours with that of Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. This is also known as the Northern Circuit Package. This is because these three reserves are in close proximity to each other. It allows the tourists and visitors to drive to all parts of this circuit. These safari packages allow tourists to get an excellent chance to see the large herds of elephants in these reserves along with the unique Baobab trees. The vegetation and landscapes on offer here are amazingly diverse with a blend that cannot be found anywhere else in Africa. During these safaris, walking tours are provided at various camps and this allows visitors to experience something unique in comparison with other game drives in this continent. These game drives and guided walking tours offer cultural visits to all neighbouring villages in order to get a taste of Tanzanian village life. The Tarangire National Park also houses two very rare game species. They are the greater Kudu and the Oryx with fringe ears. Another sight unique to this park is pythons, lions and leopards climbing trees. The game available here is not used to safari vehicles and this allows tourists to get a unique experience to see the animals in a real wild habitat. Safari seekers on Full Game Package to Tarangire National Park get to enjoy game viewing drives in four wheel drive open-topped vehicles. They will relish the experience of watching big herds of antelopes of all types such as lesser Kudu, elands, impalas and Kongoni along with zebras, gazelles, buffaloes, wildebeest, elephants and leopards. The safari packages include these game drives, fees for guides and drivers, guided walking tours, lunch, soft drinks and mineral water bottles.

The Great Himalayan Circuit and the Impressive Himachal Pradesh Mountains

Himachal Pradesh is a favourite destination for many tourists in the northern part of India. Thousands of foreign and local travellers come here every year to see the rugged mountains of the western Himalayas that crown this state. Very few places in India can match the incredible range of the high altitude deserts, the expansive apple orchards, the serene pine forests and the rolling foothills of the lofty hill stations. The lower hills swell with palaces, castles, temples and forts. Himachal Pradesh is home to all the major Himalayan ranges. These high altitude deserts are cut off from the outside world by snow for almost six months of a year. The mystique of the Himachal Pradesh Mountains is impressive. The lofty peaks of the Dhaula Dhar, Pir Panjal and western Himalayan range provide an opportunity for adventure activities ranging from rafting and treks to skiing and Buddhist meditation. The Tibetan Buddhist culture is prevalent in the ancient monasteries of Lahaul and Spiti. The elevation of the Dhaula Dhar Mountains ranges from four thousand to six thousand metres above sea level. In the east, Shimla is India’s most popular hill station. Further north, Kinnaur is the eastern neighbour to Spiti and is fast becoming a popular destination for domestic hill tours. In central Himachal Pradesh, Kullu and Manali valleys provide a great attraction for foreign tourists, adventurers and honeymooners. Manali is the start of the main overland route to Ladakh. In fact, the Great Himalayan Circuit starts in Kashmir and slides through the mountain valleys of Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti to Kinnaur and ends in Shimla. [Source: Wikipedia and Lonely Planet Travel Guide]

Anbar Bibi Mausoleum

In the Zangiota village of the Tashkent region, about fifteen kilometers away from the main city, close by to the Zangiota Mausoleum lies the Anbar Bibi Mausoleum. It is also known as `Kambarana’. Anbar Bibi was the wife of the great Sufi Saint Sheikh Ai Khodja ibn Mansur who is also buried nearby in the northeast. His mausoleum is also a famous tourist destination for all people visiting Tashkent. The Zangiota Mausoleum and the Anbar Bibi Mausoleum were built by Amir Temur Lang in 1397. Anbar Bibi is the saint woman of Zangiota village who is patronized by all women, particularly mothers. This Mausoleum has become a popular pilgrimage destination for women from all parts of Central Asia. The mausoleum is the burial vault of Anbar Bibi, her mother who was called `Ulug Pashi’ and Sheikh Ai Khodja ibn Mansur’s mother who was called `Bakirgani’. Anbar Bibi and her mother Ulug Pashi assisted all women of the village in resolving matters of social and religious concerns and settling disputes. Before he died, Zangiota (Sheikh Ai Khodja ibn Mansur) requested that all pilgrims, whether they were male or female, visit the graves of his wife and his mother in law. Today, on Fridays and holidays, the Zangiota village draws hundreds of people from Uzbekistan and even remote regions of Central Asia. Anbar Bibi’s Mausoleum is situated southwest of the Zangiota Mausoleum. There are three headstones in one chamber. The building is crosswise and is covered by double sphere conical cupolas on the arch canvases. The walls were made with burnt bricks. There is a big garden and beyond the main entrance is a hall of prayer.

How do you find Tigers in the Indian Parks?

Seven years ago, I went excitedly to the Corbett Park in India with every expectation of coming across at least one tiger during my stay there for three days. I came back disappointed for I saw none. There were pugmarks at some places or were they? Forget Corbett! There have been similar people like me coming back disillusioned from many a national park in India without sighting a tiger. The tiger tales of Corbett have remained just legends and nothing more than that. The poachers have left nothing much for the coming generations. The actual number of tigers is falling rapidly in India. One of my friends has recently sighted a tiger in Nagzira and the Koka Forest. Elsewhere in Ranthambore, big cats were sighted in Rajasthan. Was I plain unlucky or the others are smarter than me? India has always been famous for the Taj Mahal and the Bengal Tiger. The Taj Mahal is easy enough but the Bengal Tiger is pretty elusive. Sooner than you expect, this magnificent tiger will probably disappear from the face of the planet Earth. In the world, there are not more than three thousand tigers left. This may be hard to believe but it is true. At the beginning of the twentieth century, there were almost one hundred thousand tigers in India. Do you want to know what that figure has come down to as of the present? It is one thousand seven hundred and six tigers left as per the 2011 tiger census. The bloody British/Nawab/Rajah hunting expeditions, the evil poachers and the encroachment of people into the animal habitats have collectively taken their toll on this now rare species in India. Who is going to do anything about this and will it be done fast? High hopes. The coming generations in India will only be able to see tigers in tiger tale books and this animal will join the myth and folklore species. Coming to grips with the current situation, if you are planning a vacation to look out for tigers, perhaps Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan may be the place to go for. You may be able to catch a face to face situation with the about-to-be-extinct big cats. Will any poacher or any Wildlife Preservation Organizations raise up their arms to answer ‘Yes’ for the tiger being declared as an endangered animal in India? In the pre-independence era, tiger hunts were considered fashionable with the British officers and the elite of the Indian society. They perhaps still are with the Bollywood eunuchs. These hunts provided entertainment for the Maharajas. Even after independence, hunts were organized when the Royalty visited. Do you believe that? One specific extravagant hunt was organized in 1961 by Maharani Gayatri Devi for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip when the royal couple visited Jaipur. It took twenty five years for an independent nation to initiate a nationwide ban on tiger hunting. The Wildlife Protection Act came into being in 1972. It became illegal to hunt tigers or take ownership of their body parts. The Tiger Task Force was set up in 1973 and, at first; nine forests were declared as tiger reserves. Nowadays, families do not need to play rough to view the tigers as there are several resorts and hotels that have come up as a result of the tiger tourism awareness. Vanyavilas which has been developed by the Oberoi group is about one hundred and eighty kilometers from Jaipur. It was the hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Jaipur and it means `forest resort’. It has been included in Travel and Leisure’s listing of the top hundred hotels in the world. Vanyavilas is a good foil for a decent jungle safari. The guests can stay in luxury tents in this huge resort which is surrounded by landscaped gardens. The guests get to sleep in the tents. They will get to see not only the tiger if they are lucky but about over two hundred species of birds that include the crested honey buzzard, serpent eagle and the Pariah Kite. Visitors have to remember that the Forest Department which is responsible for the conservation of wildlife has put a limit on the number of people touring the Ranthambore National Park on a daily basis. The place which brought back my belief that tigers do exist and can be spotted in India was Tadoba Reserve near Nagpur in Maharashtra. I have seen five tigers spread across four days in a span of two successive years which involved two visits to the park. Tiger sightings have been quite frequent during the months of May and June when they come to the lakes to cool themselves down. So, before it becomes too late, see the tiger for real before the hunters, poachers and villagers eliminate them with their greed to possess and destroy.

Spending an Italian Vacation in Rapallo

Rapallo has become a resort town in the Province of Genoa in Italy. You will find many hotels and restaurants crowding the bay to the south of the town. When the rainy season recedes, many tourists visit this section of the Italian Riviera each spring. This was a backwater area and many people came for the extra ordinary beauty of the bay here. This was one of the favorite spots of Ezra Pound. He wrote most of his Cantos here in the nineteen thirties. Pound always found rest here in his hectic career. He eventually settled down in the close by village of St. Ambrogio. Rapallo also featured in the regular vacations for D.H. Lawrence and Ernest Hemingway. This resort is well known for its large marina and its castle which is now open for exhibition. The landscape here is magnificent and the Mediterranean offers splendid vistas. This is almost a postcard town. It is a seaside resort where you can relax and forget the bustle of heavily crowded places. The town is on the Gulf of Tigullio with pines rising from the hills that are behind the town. You get a great view from the beautiful Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro which is at a height of over six hundred meters in the hills. The main street in Rapallo is an esplanade between the shore and the hotels. Fishermen are always busy at the rocks that are below the walkway. If you stay in any hotel, you can view the whole bay. You will find a statue of Cristoforo Colombo with the palm trees surrounding it. There is a long white pier that juts into the bay. There will be ferries going in and out of that bay. Below your hotel balcony, you can hear the waves smash against the stone walls of a castle that was built in the sixteenth century to safeguard the town from the attacks of the pirates. This castle is lit by orange floodlights in the night and it looks great against the dark sky. There are several pizzerias for you to dine in. You can select from many restaurants along the esplanade. There are people frequenting these restaurants till quite late in the night. The Farmer’s Market is held on most weekdays and you will see quite a range of fresh fruits and vegetables. Its Historical Center has been renovated. The well known hotels are Lido, Excelsior Palace, La Villa Manuelina, Rosa Bianca and Framon Grand Hotel Bristol. You can also rent a villa for about five hundred dollars a week. The nearest connection place is Genoa. Rapallo is connected by many trains from Genoa. You can reach Rapallo by train, car or boats. If you reach Rapallo by a boat, you will be able to see the breathtaking waterfront. You can take a boat trip to Portofino. During summer, Rapallo becomes a very important summer vacation town on the Ligurian Riviera. During winter, Rapallo tends to become very windy.

Scenic Vistas on the Mexican Riviera

Cruises to the Mexican Riviera are probably one of the most affordable in the world. Most of the Mexican Riviera cruises leave from San Diego in California. They are mostly of seven-night duration. These cruises are a popular choice for people as a vacation, particularly for those that live on the western coast of the United States of America. The number of cruises that are available is growing because the cruising season lasts throughout the year. The Mexican Riviera is also called the `Gold Coast’. It is on the western coast of Mexico. The cruise has many attractions. There are plenty of opportunities for shopping and fishing. There are many historic churches in the villages. There is wildlife also in the Mexican Riviera that includes whales, dolphins and sea lions. There is a large variety of tropical fish that can be seen in the vistas here. The cruise lines operating in the Mexican Riviera are the Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, the Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line. They offer their cruises throughout the year. Royal Caribbean offers a seven night cruise on the Mariner of the Seas liner which is the largest cruise ship that is home porting on the west coast of the United States of America. The popular ports of call on the Mexican Riviera cruise are Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. The cruises begin mostly from San Diego in California. It is an ideal location to begin and end your Mexican Riviera cruise vacation. The weather is beautiful throughout the year. San Diego has more than seventy miles of world class beaches. The Big Bay offers many adventure opportunities for the whole family. You can explore San Diego before you take your cruise. All cruises leave from the downtown ship terminal. Some of the cruise lines offer baggage service where the ship personnel will collect your baggage and take it to your cabin for you. The first usual port of call on the Mexican Riviera cruise is Cabo San Lucas. It is a resort place. You will find many famous celebrities on vacation here. The most famous attraction in this region is the Land’s End. It is a series of formations of rocks at a point where the Pacific Ocean meets the Cortez Sea. The landscape is filled with all kinds of cacti. The place is also famous for sports fishing. It is a golf circuit haven with many championship golf courses of international class. Whale watching can be done during January to March season. The official language used is Spanish. The most important structure at `Land’s End’ is El Arco which is a large arch of granite that was formed by waves and wind. The next usual port of call is Acapulco which is another well known resort point of Mexico. You can see cliff diving shows here. It has good beaches and a vibrant nightlife. It is a major sea port in Guerrero State on the Mexican Pacific Coast. The Acapulco Bay is deep blue in color. The places of interest in Acapulco are the San Diego Fort, The Zocalo or the Town Square and Nuestra Senora de la Soledad Church. You can see many dolphins at the Acapulco Magico Mundo Marino. You can watch the professional cliff divers at the La Quebrada. The next usual port of call is Puerto Vallarta which is a historical place. Its town area is full of shops and bars. You can watch the wonderful whales at the Puerto Vallarta Bay and the dolphins at the Banderas Bay. At Puerto Vallarta, you can also take the famous pirate ship tour. The Pirates of the Bay tour is a show that has impressive acrobatics too. Two costumed pirates will welcome the tourists and give them ID bracelets along with color codes for deck seating. While here, you may also visit some tequila factories or try catching the Pacific sailfish while watching the blue marlins. The next usual port of call and the last one is Mazatlan. It is well known for its deep sea fishing and water sports. It is a resort city at the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Many cruise operators are hesitant to stop over here for issues of security concern, much like the St. Croix Island in the Caribbean. The important places to visit, however, in Mazatlan are the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Esplanade along the Olas Atlas Beach. If you are looking for reasonable cruise fares to the Mexican Riviera, you should not travel from mid-June to mid-August as the tariff is highest during this period. This is because most families travel when their children have school vacations. The off-season rates are available from January to May. The average temperature in the Mexican Riviera throughout the year is quite high and generally in the eighties (Fahrenheit). It can get quite humid and hot during the summer. The scenic vistas of deserts, beaches, blue surf and big fish are unforgettable along the Mexican Riviera and the southern region of Baja California where there is great weather all the year round. This place has been spiced up and romanticized by the Hollywood stars and writers.

Escape with a relaxing Croatia Yacht Charter

Croatia has become a popular destination for people who want to sail. Visitors are attracted to its beaches and blue waters on account of its hot climate. People get to see and visit more than a hundred little peaceful islands in the neighboring Adriatic Sea. Yacht charter in Croatia is an ideal way to go about visiting these islands and the major cities along the coast. It is a marvelous experience to explore these places. Croatia yacht charters can give you an opportunity to explore the Adriatic Sea by selecting all sizes of sailing boats or luxury yachts. You get the option of choosing among large sized motor yachts, gullets and catamarans. The rentals of mega yachts are very popular for sailing in Croatia. Perfect Place for Sailing You can do sailing in Croatia if you love the sea and the sun. All water sports enthusiasts rent boats in Croatia to spend a perfect summer holiday. Apart from sailing, this place has many attractions. There are many interesting archaeological sites. Among them, there are eight national parks and six sites in the World Heritage category. There is plenty of night life on offer on the islands with some great diners and bars with live music. Dubrovnik in Croatia provides a Middle Age touch to the visitors. It is an impressive sight when you arrive into Dubrovnik by the sea route. It is a perfect place to stop for a yacht charter in Croatia. Another major Croatia yacht charter town is Split which is one of the largest Dalmatian towns on the Adriatic Coast. The number of gullets and sailing yachts that are available here make this a major port. Split is an important place for tourism. The town offers many attractions in the form of restaurants and shops. Pula is another place in Croatia where its coastal waters allow the visitors to do fishing, diving and snorkeling. Pula is also known for its ancient surviving Roman monuments, the First Century Amphitheatre being the most famous. This is among the six biggest Roman arenas that have survived in the world and has been named as the `Arena’ locally. Another important attraction at Pula is the Gate of Hercules that also dates back to the first century. Private Tours and Sailing Holidays in Croatia Croatia has a lot to offer to the tourist today with neighboring Slovenia and Lake Bled as extensions to the sailing holiday. The coastline is packed with glamorous islands and ancient ports with their sights of wilderness. You can get in touch with us to plan your sailing in Croatia as we offer many private tours to suit one and all. You can plan your yacht charter in Croatia from Opatija, Dubrovnik or Split. These charters can take you to the lovely islands on tours stretching up to eight days. Croatia yacht charter can take you on private tours to explore the beauty of the coastal areas. While on tour, you can visit the Krka and Plitvice National Parks. You can also visit the historical town of Zadar which is like a cultural capital of Croatia. Explore the Hidden Gems of Europe while on a Sailing Holiday in Croatia We can arrange the private tour for you to discover and explore some of the hidden and rare places of Europe while sailing in Croatia. You can start from the Port of Dubrovnik. It is an ancient walled city that has streets of cobbled stones, vintage boutiques and fine dining places. Dubrovnik is also well known for its wine and good seafood. You can also plan a yacht charter in Croatia at Split and Opatija. The Adriatic Sea is packed with many scenic islands. Croatia yacht charter is the biggest attraction for sailing enthusiasts. The pristine beaches and the beautiful waters are a pleasing sight for many a tourist. Luxury Yacht Specialists We can offer you the largest database of rentals for boats on the Adriatic Sea as Croatia yacht charter specialists. We offer a fleet of motor boats, sailing boats, catamarans, gullets and luxury yachts to make sailing in Croatia an easy and enjoyable experience for you. Simply browse through our site and pick out a yacht that suits you from our full service yacht charter in Croatia. Our team is always ready to offer the ideal luxury yacht charter to visitors. We also offer our full charter service to private individual or business clients. The charter could be for any special occasion or just for holidaying. We can take care of all car and mini-van transfers from the airports before you decide to escape with a relaxing Croatia yacht charter.

Airlines can now fly through Volcanic Ash Clouds

A new tool will now allow air planes to fly through volcanic ash clouds and tackle unnecessary disruptions. There is a group of scientists working at the Norwegian Institute of Air Research and they have informed that their latest tool will help to keep the flight paths open. It is called Airborne Volcanic Object Imaging Detector (AVOID). This tool was earlier tested and introduced in Sicily with a test flight over Mount Etna. It is an active volcano that looms over the Mediterranean island. This technology has been designed by a British scientist by the name of Dr. Fred Prata. The system uses heat detecting cameras and combines them with satellite data and atmospheric modelling to inform the pilots where an ash cloud is located and where it could be heading. This jet testing technology can make it feasible for pilots to identify an ash cloud ahead at altitudes of almost anywhere between 5000 and 50000 feet. AVOID uses two fast sampling thermal infra red cameras that make images and identify anything that is in front of the aeroplanes. The two cameras have been tuned to identify silicates which are the components that make up the volcanic ash. The cameras would be able to identify the silicates up to a hundred kilometres or maybe more even at a mean height of around thirty thousand feet and that information can be relayed straight back to the pilots in the cockpit and they will be able to see the volcanic ash in the atmosphere ahead of the aeroplane and manoeuvre around the cloud or patches of clouds.

Experience the Natural Beauty of Vietnam by Train Travel

Those people who are interested to explore Vietnam’s natural beauty and cultural wealth can plan one of their best vacations to connect on a spectacular travel adventure of their lifetime. The journey is incomplete without travelling by train. The classic Vietnam train tour is offered with the great rail journey from Hanoi to Sapa and the magnificent northern parts of Vietnam. Asian Travel and Tours, who are based in Hanoi, will take care of all your Vietnam train bookings and provide you with Vietnam train schedule and Vietnam train timetable. They do this through Vietnam National Railways who have done a lot for the advancement of the rail transportation system in Vietnam. The facilities that are being provided for people preferring to travel by Vietnam train are pre-processed and pre-packaged supply of food to the passengers along with refined mineral water bottles. Other facilities that are being provided are ticket covers, trolleys and plastic cups. There are no better professional tour operators than Asian Travel and Tours who can confirm your Vietnam train tickets easily. The tickets are available at a promotional price being offered by from Hanoi to all other Trans Vietnam cities. Vietnam train is a great option for all travelers to see the countryside of Vietnam by travelling comfortably. You are offered trips on new trains that are equipped with modern air-conditioned cars and berths for comfortable overnight journey. Some trains even have coupes. Vietnam train tickets include government tax and transportation insurance. In addition to the Vietnam train bookings, you can book special promotion tours to reach various tourist destinations in Vietnam through Asian Travel and Tours who are the specialists in train travel all over Vietnam. Vietnam is a land of rich and natural beauty. You will get a good opportunity to experience the picturesque scenery of the whole country if you travel by Vietnam train. Travelling by train is a very affordable way in Vietnam. It will cost you much less than flying or renting a car or going by bus. It is safe and comfortable. You have to be aware of the Vietnam train schedule and the Vietnam train time table to plan your journeys. The major route is between Hanoi and Saigon with stops along the journey at Hue, Nha Trang and Da Nang. For long distance travel, it is advisable for you to use Vietnam train bookings in air conditioned sleeper trains. Soft seats are fine for short distance only. If you are not pressured with time and you are not travelling overnight, then the soft seat is ideal. With air conditioned coaches, you cannot take photographs of the scenery outside. If you would like to record your journey by the Vietnam train, you have to book Vietnam train tickets in non-air conditioned trains. Hard sleepers and hard seats have to be avoided altogether as they are usually crowded and uncomfortable. The best time of the year to travel by train is in the autumn season. The weather is cool between August and March.

Leh - The Land of Many Mountain Passes

Leh is the capital of Laddakh district situated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, amidst the lofty mountain ranges of the Great Himalayas. (Leh Laddakh) is flanked by two of the greatest mountain ranges on either side, the Himalayas and the Karakoram mountains. (Leh Laddakh) is an ethereal desert area caressed by freezing winds and sharp sun rays. The thin air makes the heat in the summers more sharp and intense. In fact it is not surprising that if a person would be sitting out in the summer with his feet in the shade, he could suffer from a sunstroke and frost bite at the same time. The mean altitude is three thousand five hundred metres above sea level and the temperatures range between twenty seven Celsius in summers to a sharp dip down to twenty below zero Celsius in winter. ‘Laddakh’ is a Persian word that means ` the land of many mountain passes’. The native population of Laddakh is believed to be of an Indo-Aryan origin from the Indus Valley, but over the years, a mix of cultures between India and Tibet have seen the facial features change to rounder faces, shorter noses and thin slit eyes. The people of (Leh Laddakh) are very simple and good at heart. The main religions dominating this region are Buddhism and Islam. This used to be a bustling trade route in the past between Punjab and Central India but since China has closed all borders, tourism has become the core industry of (Leh Laddakh). Owing to its specific ecological balance and climate, this place has a fascinating mix of wild life. Some species natives to this area are the Yak or wild ox, Ibex, Tibetan Shapu and the wonderful blue sheep. There are many beautiful places to be seen here, mainly the Leh Palace and the Buddhist Monasteries. The Leh Palace has always been a big attraction for tourists in the city. It exudes a certain sense of mystery and the landscape around it is extremely beautiful and scenic. Some of the famous monasteries are Alchi, Gompa, Sankar Gompa, Hemis Gompa and the Likir Monastery. The Laddakh festival is attended by many people as it showcases the cultural richness of the region. It is held during the winters, when the majority of the population is not busy at work due to the severe climatic conditions. These festivals are attended for their atmosphere of great festivity and gaiety. One of the main attractions of tourists visiting (Leh Laddakh) is the beautiful winter trek organized by the tourism authorities. The Zansker winter trek is one such unforgettable experience as it is made over a strange route when the hikers traverse over the frozen Zansker River. All these treks pass through breath taking mountain regions and locales. Adventure sports like parasailing, river rafting and skiing are also very popular in (Leh Laddakh). Many tourists voice the sentiment that was coined by the Moghul Emperor Jahangir when he said that places in Kashmir like Pahalgam and Leh are the closest that we can get to heaven on earth.

Exciting Travel Destinations - USA and Thailand

We love to travel because traveling remains as one of our favorite hobbies since our childhood. We need to satisfy that streak of adventure that remains buried within us by visiting interesting places in the world and sharing those adventures with our near and dear ones. There are many places of interest in the world but the New World and the Orient fascinate many travelers. People seek high adventure when they plan their holidays in USA. We will find an awesome range of travel opportunities in any part of the United States of America. We will find glamour and excitement in the western part; we will come across the beauty of the Great Lakes in the North Central. There are majestic skyscrapers and lush Appalachian Hills on the Eastern Seaboard and the soulful Pan-handle of Florida in the Southeast to charm you. If we are seeking high octane thrills, we can think in terms of river trekking down the Colorado River with its streak winding its way through the depths of the Grand Canyon. The most popular holiday destinations in USA are New York City, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles as per a survey done by the Kuoni Group. There are many among us who are fascinated by the mystic Orient. In the East, one of the highest priorities of people who plan their holidays is travel to Thailand. In recent years, Thailand has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world for its sea sports, massage parlors and coral reefs. Winter is the ideal season to plan our travel there when the days are milder as the remaining part of the year is mostly humid and hot. Thailand is the heart of Southeast Asia. Millions flock to the Pattaya and Phuket beaches in Thailand as they find them to be the ideal places to chill out from the strenuous routines of modern life. Whether it is vacation time in the United States of America or in Thailand, we will always come across many hidden sights that will remain embedded in our memory. We cannot forget the magnificent towering structures of New York City or the floating markets and the pristine beaches of Thailand.

The Surfaris of Morocco

Morocco is a fascinating place. It is known for its world famous cuisine and the Berberian culture. The markets are mostly open-air and spread all over the country with wares like leather, jewelry and carpets. The Moroccan leather is considered to be the softest in the world. The country has an oriental touch to it. Morocco is located on the Atlantic coast of the African continent and is situated northwest of the famous Sahara Desert. Morocco is blessed with excellent surfing weather conditions. The coastline has hot winds coming out from the desert. Surfing at this place is comfortable for both the beginners as well as the experienced surfers. The surf camps Morocco are totally mobile. Classes are held at different beaches based on the surf conditions for that particular day. The surfing camps in Morocco are known as `Surfaris’. The biggest surf camp is usually set up in the calm surfing village of Tamraght which is fifteen kilometers north of Agadir and four kilometers south of Taghazoute at the Atlantic coast. The surfers will experience calm and relaxing conditions. This area has a micro climate which means that it rarely rains here and the average day temperatures are around twenty degrees Celsius in winter and around twenty eight degrees Celsius in summer. The prices at the surf camps Morocco are fifty five Euros per day/night for standard accommodation and sixty four Euros per day/night for upgraded accommodation. If you want to take the Surfari package for a fortnight, it will cost you seven hundred and forty Euros for standard accommodation. Surf Maroc is Morocco’s largest surf camp. It has been there for over a decade now. It is at Taghazoute. Surf Berbere, another camp near Taghazoute, offers good surfing packages in the little surf towns and you get to surf with some of the cleanest, longest and least crowded rides that can be found in Morocco. These beaches are just four and a half hours away from London and people prefer coming to Morocco to surf all the way from England. People love to sharpen their surfing skills here in the surf camps. There is invariably a reliable swell throughout the year. In winter, the beach break is about five meters while in summer, it is about three meters. The surf camps are managed by qualified trainers. You can have your own individual plan and discuss your personal objectives with the instructors. The training does not focus merely on the practical lessons. You will also learn about the ocean and how to tackle winds, currents and tides. You will learn to select the right wave to surf on. You can move on to the practical lessons once the basics have been learnt. Beginners are given more time on the basics and how to mount the board and paddle. They are then taught how to proceed with elementary surfing actions, control of the surfing board and reading of the waves. The lessons last for about three hours per day and there is free time to practice and chill out on the beaches. If you want to focus more on learning surfing skills, even two lessons per day can be accommodated by the instructors at the surfing camps in Morocco.

Book a Cruise to the Norwegian Fjords

Norway does not come to your mind immediately when there is a mention of cruises. Yet, the fjords of Norway, its fingers, have fishing villages that are picture perfect with some dramatic waterfalls. All nature lovers would like to book a cruise to the Norwegian fjords as these deep water bodies are a perfect way to relieve your anxieties and stress. These fjords are carved inlet glaciers that come into the western coastline of Norway. The Norwegian mountains are rising steeply to each side of the coast with waterfalls that cascade. The towns by the waterside are pretty. It is a lovely feeling to explore these fjords in a cruise ship that can enter deep. The larger ships will not be able to do that. The small cruise ships can also drop anchor close to the shores. Many tourists prefer to visit the fjords on a midsized vessel. In addition to the fjords, other highlights of the cruise are the Grieg Museum at Bergen, Mount Dalsnibba at Geiranger, Hellesylt Waterfall at Hellesylt, Arctic Cathedral at Tromso and the Art Nouveau District at Aalesund. Some of the popular cruise operators to the Norwegian fjords are Mundy Cruising, Fred Olsen Line, Hurtigruten Tours, Crystal Cruises, Azamara Cruises, Holland America Line and Oceania Cruises. The Norwegian fjords are well known for their breathtaking landscape. This has come about due to the mighty glaciers cutting in to the coastline over thousands of years. The region is characterized by overhanging cliffs, exciting waterfalls and rock walls. Working ships are operated to cruise the entire length of the Norwegian coast. The duration of the cruise is mostly twelve days. It starts from Bergen and ends at Kirkenes. The main focus of this cruise is to see the landscape which is spectacular. The ports of call are up and down the coastline of Norway. The highlight of the cruise is Bergen, the old capital city of Norway. It is the birthplace of the famous Norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg. You will also be reminded of the great film, `Song of Norway’ when you visit Bergen which has both Renaissance and Mediaeval buildings. The natural splendour of this region exceeds all other sights. Bergen has a historic hanseatic port. The Hanseatic League was formed to protect the economic privileges in the cities along the trade routes spreading from the Baltic to the North Sea. This city was founded by King Olav Kyrre in 1070. The first capital of Norway was Trondheim. Bergen became its capital in 1217 and remained for the next eighty seven years when Oslo became the capital in 1300. The primary reason for the importance and growth of Bergen as a city has been due to the dried cod trade from the northern coast. Bergen is surrounded by seven mountains. Mount Ulriken is the highest mountain at seven hundred meters above sea level. For lovers of music, the cruise operators do include a visit to Edvard Grieg’s house in Bergen which is later followed by a pianoforte concert at a lakeside. The house has become a museum and it is full of scores of music sheets and information on Grieg’s life. He is also buried in the vicinity of the house. Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord are both popular and have been declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. These fjord cruises are mainly operated during summer between June and August when the climate is warm after the winter snow has melted and you will be able to see the rolling green hills. The weather is warm in July and August when the daylight hours are the longest. Naeroyfjord is regarded as the queen of the fjords. It is situated in the south east of Bergen. It is totally surrounded by mountains and marvellous glaciers. There are many fjord villages with their orchards. Geirangerfjord has many waterfalls and farm hills. There is a well known golden route mountainous road with the sharp Trollstigen road with hairpin bends offering a breathtaking view of the fjord. The Geirangerfjord has a lovely mountainous backdrop and a `Seven Sisters’ waterfall. The fjord is sixty two miles in length. Sognefjord is the longest navigable fjord in the world. It is surrounded by high hills and steep waterfalls. Some voyages have an option to conclude at Copenhagen or Stockholm instead of Kirkenes. The port of Kirkenes is turning out to be an important one for vessels that are conducting seismic explorations in the Arctic. This northern Norwegian town is close to the gas and oil fields. You will not forget your holiday amidst the Norwegian fjords with their unique sights. Norwegian fjords are one of the greatest cruise destinations in the world.

Bombay and how it looked a Centenary ago

Erstwhile, ‘Bombay’, 100 years ago was beautifully built by the British where the charm of its imagery and landscape was known to baffle all. The look and feel of the city was exclusively reserved for those who lived in that era and those who used to breathe an unassuming air which culminated to form the quintessential ‘old world charisma’. World Luxury Council (India) is showcasing, ‘never seen before’Collectors’Edition of 100 year old archival prints on canvas through a Vintage Art Exhibit. The beauty of the archival prints is that they are created with special ink which lasts for 100 years, thus not allowing the colors to fade. The idea is to elicit an unexplored era through paradoxically beautiful images of today’s maximum city and present it to an audience who would have only envisioned Bombay 100 years ago, through the eyes of their forefathers. The splendid collection would be an absolute treat for people to witness and make part of their ‘vintage art’memorabilia.

10 Places to visit before it is too late

Environmentalists have been warning us again and again about the impact certain places may have that will make their existence difficult in the days to come. We are lending a deaf ear to that. It is perhaps time to speed up with your travel plans, if any, to these places as these nature’s blessings may just not be there sometime in the future. Ten places are threatened. These places may just disappear before you plan your trips to them. 1. The Dead Sea in the Jordan Rift Valley, which is therapeutically a wonder of the world, has shrunk by about a third of its size in the last forty years. 2. The Valley of Kings in Egypt is also in danger as the rise in tourism and the damaging fungi are eroding the ancient tombs there. 3. The Maldives is the lowest nation on Earth. The islands are situated just eight feet above the sea level and the islands are sinking at a rapid pace because of the meltdown of ice caps from global warming. 4. The Everglades in the United States of America which are vast wetlands are being threatened by farming and water diversion and they have reduced already by half their original size. 5. Olympia in Greece, which has been the home for the Olympic Games, is being threatened by wildfires and continuous hot summers. 6. Venice has been sinking for a long time due to rising sea levels and increased flooding and the woodwork in most of the canal buildings is not making things easy for the city. 7. The Arctic Pole has decreased as the ice is melting on account of oil and gas explorations and the pole is decreasing by about three per cent per decade. 8. The Antarctic Pole is also decreasing because of the global warming on account of mining explorations and the sewage that has been dumped and discharged into the sea along with such rubbish that cannot be decomposed for many years. 9. Taj Mahal, another wonder of the world, in India, is facing swift extinction because of the continuous corrosion of its facade by the extreme pollution in the neighbourhood and its wooden based foundations for the mausoleum make it prone to threat of collapse. 10. Amazon Rainforests are known as the lungs of the world as they produce almost twenty per cent of the world’s oxygen by themselves. They are the world’s largest tropical rainforests. They are also being threatened by explorations in oil and gas and mining, resulting in heavy pollution.

You can take a Virtual Tour of the Grand Canyon with Google Street

You can save yourself many dollars and the travails of laborious journeying and take an exciting virtual tour through the Google Map sourced backpack-mounted cameras to get the 360-degree panoramic view of the Grand Canyon. In the last few months, Google Maps have stepped up its cartographical strides to give you breathtaking details in the maps and take you to exotic locations like the Grand Canyon, snowy mountains or even the coral reefs under the oceans through their Street View. They have developed `Trekker’ which is Google’s backpack mounted camera system for people to explore the magnificent 360-degree panorama captures on a virtual hike. What other better place you could wish for other than the Grand Canyon to use the `Trekker’? Recently, a team of five people packed with `Trekkers’ went on the trails of the Grand Canyon in the company of ten other Google engineers. They captured images during a span of three days. Last year, another company called `Nature Valley Trail View’ conducted a similar trek using its own 360-degree camera system. Not many people heard about it. But, Google, this year, is planning to incorporate the images from their recent expeditions to the Google Maps’ global service. Each `Trekker’ unit has a set of fifteen cameras. These cameras are connected to an Android device to capture the 360-degree panoramic images. The Google team took 9500 panorama captures that covered seventy miles of paths and trails around the Grand Canyon National Park. The trek included the famous trails like the Bright Angel Trail, the Phantom Ranch and the Meteor Crater. All this scenery is now available to you in Street View and you can take a virtual tour of the Grand Canyon in the comfort of your living room. Take a look! https://youtu.be/mpcar4L_EXY