Bali Adventure

Seminyak Ku De Ta Restaurant with Bali Villas Around

2009-09-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

Bali has long been renowned as an eminent tourist destination in the world. Bali is one of thousands of islands constituting the Indonesian Archipelago. Full of magnificent beaches, Bali is the most favorite destination for tourists all over the world. With breathtaking sceneries and it's culture, not to mention its people, Bali is the place for people wanting to escape from daily activities, enjoy a honeymoon, or even, have a great time with family and friends.

Magnificently situated on the hottest island, Seminyak is the most stylish and gracious places on the island of paradise. Seminyak has evolved over the past decade to become a sophisticated neighbourhood with an outstanding choice of international dining alternatives like KU DE TA, which equally popular with expats and tourists. The traveller have probably learned by now the breakfast and sunset drinks are the best deals.

Seasoned travellers whom of which are regular patrons of KU DE TA restaurant from all over the world are now discovering the privilege of staying in a luxury Bali villas in the district of Seminyak or Oberoi closed enough to KU De Ta restaurant. A beachfront Bali villas in Seminyak will be a perfect sanctuary offering maximum relaxation for your hectic life.

Dont panic if you are looking for some bali villas near to KU DE TA, there are lots of them offering various hospitality and services. Entering Bali villas seems like coming to the real adventure that life has to offer. Ensuring the timeless bliss, villas in Seminyak Bali will pamper both domestic and international travelers with extreme fun and comfort. Bali villas network or their website at www.balebali.com will offer their best help to accommodate you in one of villas available around KU DE TA restaurant.

by dharma putra

Romantic Honeymoon Destinations

2009-07-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

So much emphasis is put on the wedding and reception, the honeymoon is often an afterthought. But after your special day is over, you will want a time to relax and connect after the wedding. By choosing a romantic destination for your honeymoon, you can recuperate from your long wedding preparations, relaxing with your new spouse.

Beach Front Property: Beaches are a popular choice for honeymoons, thanks to the soothing sun, sandy beaches and umbrella drinks. Popular beach destinations include Aruba, the Bahamas, the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort in French Polynesia, the Hawaiian islands and St. Lucia.

Beautiful, relaxing and rejuvenating, a beach based honeymoon is sure to provide more than just a tan. Just make sure both you and your spouse are happy with a relaxing, laid back holiday.

Big Lights, Big City: If you aren't the type to laze on a beach, an action packed big city honeymoon might be a better option. Take in a play, hit the museums, dine out or hit the tourist traps together.

Big cities ideal for honeymoons include Atlanta, New York, San Francisco or Las Vegas. And Walt Disney World in Orlando isn't just for kids. It can be a fun for newlyweds too. Be careful to not plan too much though.

Overseas European Tour: Going overseas can be more costly but will create very memorable honeymoon. If you want to experience a romantic new culture with your new spouse, try Paris, France or Venice, Italy. Train tours and cruises travel all through Europe, making it easy to visit more than one country on your honeymoon.

Exotic Locations: If you want a true adventure, try a more exotic location such as Bali, Belize, Thailand or South Africa. It requires more planning but will leave you with plenty of exciting stories to tell when you get home.

Your honeymoon is one of the most important trips you'll take in your lifetime together. The honeymoon vacation marks the beginning of your life as a married couple. Choosing the right location for you and your spouse is crucial to creating memories you will always cherish. by Mary Kidwell

Relax And Unwind This Summer And Take A Luxury Trip To Bali

2009-07-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

This summer experience awe-inspiring natural beauty, sun soaked beaches, adventure, and excitement all in one package. This glorious package is your trip to Bali. Visit some of the world's most exotic beaches, and scenic beauty along with exciting activities. This location is sure to provide you with the best holiday.

Bali is the jewel of Indonesian Island and offers locations engulfed in the profound enigma and glamour of pristine beaches and panoramic landscapes. First, get yourself booked at a resort that offers the best view and services. There are a couple of five star hotels as well and most of them are located along the beach so that you have a tranquil and serene holiday. Most of the resorts are on the eastern and western side like Kuta, Tuban, Seminyak, and Nusa Dua. Nusa Dua offers the most luxurious resorts that offer many water activities and spa therapies.

If you are interested in the honeymoon packages, Bali Island is the ideal stopover. Some of the best and convenient packages are available at the mesmerising beach resorts along with all the wild activities that the package offers. Experience the calmness of the smooth rolling water, tropical beauty, and crimson sunsets along with the soft sensual fragrances of the flowers of the island.

The water activities include paragliding, aqua marine diving, rafting surfing, snorkelling tours, sailing, jet skiing, glass bottom boat, banana boat ride, and turtle island tour. The latest innovation in water activities is the fly fish: it is flat rubber boat that is attached to a speedboat and sends you flying in the cool air. So give your senses a thrilling experience and enjoy the water activities.

Watching the playful dolphins is also a great soothing activity and the turtle island tour is also a great experience. If you are in a mood of having an informative tour along with all the fun, go for these tours.

When you are done with the water play and are in a mood of adventure, go for trekking. The Bali trekking adventure is unique in its own way as you get to explore the dense lush green tropical forests along with the colourful birds and their natural habitat with the flora and fauna. While you are on your trekking trip, don't forget to take a trip to Elephant Safari Park, Bedugul, the exciting Balinese Village, or the traditional rice field.

Cycling in Bali can also be a new experience for you as you go tumbling down the rough hilly mountains and enjoy a delicious lunch in the captivating ambience of the mountains. Golfing is also an option for you if you want to enjoy peaceful golfing experience in a serene location. Many resorts also offer this activity apart from the various clubs that you can join and have a wonderful time golfing.

This holiday is sure to leave you refreshed and exhausted at the same time. Bali Islands is a must to see and the best location for your family to have a fun filled holiday. by David Hughes

Top Ten Luxury Vacation Rentals For Fun Getaways

2009-07-25T20:13:00.001-07:00

Vacation rentals: enjoy a home away from home with lavish amenities in prime locations. According to many industry insiders, the vacation rental market is on the rise. Lodging industry expert Glenn Haussman recently reported on the "explosive growth" of vacation rentals in recent years.

"Vacation rentals are really starting to catch on," said Margie Van Zee, COO and Founder of Bella Palazzo, a company that markets high-end vacation rental homes to discerning travelers. "This is a more intimate experience and we are also able to offer all the hotel type amenities and services."

Haussman also notes that this surge in vacation rental business is in sync with the current economic crisis. "Travelers look for ways to not only save money but also the ability for multiple generations of a family or a group of friends to spend more intimate time with each other."

Indeed, many of even the most lavish vacation rental properties offer prices that, when divided among a group of 10 or 12, can cost less than or equal to a traditional hotel room.

Where to begin when choosing your villa or chalet? We've rounded up some of our favorite villas around the world, from mountain chalets with ski-in/ski-out access to a tropical estate with a pool in the living room. Bring everyone along to each of these stunning properties on our list of the Top 10 Vacation Rentals for Fun Getaways with Family and Friends:

Sol de Occidente in Costa Careyes, Mexico. Location, location, location. It's an incredible castle on the tip of a lush peninsula between two pristine beaches. Surrounded by an infinity pool, this six-bedroom vacation rental in Costa Careyes offers private bungalows, a romantic bedroom suite in a tower on a Top Ten Luxury Vacation Rentals For Fun Getawayscliff and a private beach with a palapa.

Cove Spring House in Barbados. It's known as the "most coveted home on Barbados" and certainly lives up to its reputation. This luxury villa offers a private beach, ten exquisite bedrooms, Ralph Lauren furnishings and a staff of 16 to attend to all your needs. It's hard not to slip into the island's leisure lifestyle with the expansive verandas and outdoor lounges, a private movie theater, fresh water swimming pool and spa.

Forty Two in Queenstown, New Zealand. Set over three floors, this urban townhouse is fun and flirty in the heart of Queenstown. The style is urban chic: New Zealand materials given a contemporary twist. It's the perfect place to call home while you're on your wild adventure in Queenstown. Enjoy a rooftop terrace, exquisitely appointed bedrooms and additional services like a personal concierge, private chef and/or in-house catering.

Shore in Bali. It's sleek, sexy and modern. Set in a large tropical garden with two swimming pools, this exquisite private villa on the Indian Ocean combines modern amenities and rich Balinese flavor. The mood Top Ten Luxury Vacation Rentals For Fun Getawaysis open, airy and in complete harmony with the serene surroundings. Did we mention the elevated living room/lounge has a glass floor with the swimming pool underneath? Completely chic.

Villa Maha in Marrakesh, Morocco. It's a regal escape just minutes from central Marrakesh that celebrates the art of living Moroccan style. The rounded living areas and cupolas open onto regal terraces and exquisite gardens. Let yourself go in the surprising architecture, fine details and unique atmosphere. This private villa in Morocco is truly a remarkable vacation rental for a distinctive vacation experience.

The Lodge in Verbier, Switzerland. As part of the reputable Virgin Limited Edition, this luxurious chalet receives Sir Richard Branson's stamp of approval, and thus a coveted position at the top of the luxury travel scale. The Lodge is situated on a quiet road just a short walk from the resort town Verbier. It's a stunning nine-bedroom chalet renowned for its stylish interior and exceptional personal service from a 13-person staff. For fun on the Top Ten Luxury Vacation Rentals For Fun Getawaysslopes and après ski in Verbier, The Lodge has it all.

Bond House in Cape Town. Designed by South Africa's leading architect Stefan Antoni, this vacation rental in Cape Town is an architect's dream. Glass walls let the sun soak the airy interiors and expansive terraces open onto spectacular views of Camps Bay and Table Mountain. This luxury vacation rental in Cape Town offers a swimming pool, elevator, lounge bar and seven exquisite bathrooms.

Sogno di Luce in Saint Tropez, France. It's not just a villa, it's a villaHotel. This newly constructed vacation rental is perched atop a sun-drenched hill overlooking the Bay of St. Tropez. Enjoy the privacy of a vacation home with the attentive service and amenities of a luxury hotel in this innovative villaHotel concept. The private villa includes six king-size bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, atrium ceilings and elegant furnishings. The chic pool terrace echoes the iconic flavors of St. Tropez glamour.

Villa Turquesa in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This sumptuous villa is one of the greatest discoveries in Cabo San Lucas. It has it all - oceanfront views, easy beach access, a large infinity-edge pool, Jacuzzi and a swim-up bar. It's the prime villa choice for a fun-filled vacation that maximizes entertainment for up to 18 guests. Lounge on the poolside daybeds, fire up the BBQ, watch a movie in the surround-sound home theater or stay in shape in the fully-equipped gym. What else do you need? Oh right, stroll down on your Top Ten Luxury Vacation Rentals For Fun Getawaysprivate walk to a secluded beach for a dip in the Pacific. Simply paradise.

Tagomago Island in Ibiza, Spain. Ever thought you could have your own island in the Mediterranean? Love the stylish atmosphere but want to avoid a crowded resort? This innovative property combines intimate island getaway with the renowned style of neighboring Ibiza for a dream private island retreat. The only estate on the island is a modern and trendy mansion offering sophisticated furnishings and the highest standard amenities. Surrounded by spacious terraces and exquisite chill-out lounges, Tagomago guarantees pure leisure on your own private island in the Mediterranean. by Ollivier Jacq

Loosen Up And Relax This Summer And Take A Comfort Tour To Bali

2009-07-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

This summer experience breathtaking natural lovliness, sun soaked seashores, adventure, and thrill all in one package. This glorious package is your tour to Bali. Visit some of the world's most exotic seashores, and beautiful beauty along with thrilling activities. This spot is sure to provide you with the best trip.

Bali is the jewel of Indonesian Island and offers site engulfed in the profound mystery and attraction of perfect seashores and panoramic landscapes. First, get yourself booked at a resort that offers the best view and services. There are a couple of five star hotels as well and most of them are positioned along the coastline so that you have a peaceful and relaxing tour. Most of the resorts are on the eastern and western side like Kuta, Tuban, Seminyak, and Nusa Dua. Nusa Dua offers the most comfortable resorts that offer various water activities and spa therapies.

If you are interested in the honeymoon packages, Bali Island is the ultimate stopover. Some of the best and suitabl packages are obtainable at the mesmerising shoreline resorts along with all the wild activities that the package offers. Experience the serenity of the smooth rolling water, tropical beauty, and cerise sunsets along with the soft sensual fragrances of the flowers of the island.

The water activities consist of paragliding, aqua marine diving, rafting surfing, snorkelling tours, sailing, jet skiing, glass bottom boat, banana boat ride, and turtle island tour. The latest innovation in water activities is the fly fish: it is flat rubber boat that is attached to a speedboat and sends you flying in the cool air. So give your senses a exciting experience and get pleasure from the water activities.

Watching the playful dolphins is also a great soothing activity and the turtle island tour is also a great experience. If you are in a mood of having an enlightening tour along with all the fun, go for these tours.

When you are done with the water play and are in a mood of adventure, go for trekking. The Bali trekking venture is exceptional in its own way as you get to see the dense lush green sultry forests along with the colourful birds and their natural habitat with the flora and fauna. While you are on your trekking trip, don't forget to take a trip to Elephant Safari Park, Bedugul, the exciting Balinese Village, or the customary rice field.

Cycling in Bali can also be a new experience for you as you go tumbling down the rough hilly mountains and enjoy a scrumptious lunch in the charming ambience of the mountains. Golfing is also an option for you if you want to enjoy peaceful golfing experience in a calm location. Many resorts also offer this activity apart from the various clubs that you can join and have a wonderful time golfing.

This holiday is sure to leave you refreshed and exhausted at the same time. Bali Islands is a must to see and the best location for your family to have a fun filled holiday. by Allan Michael Taylor

Bali White Water Rafting Gives Full Tour Challenge in Bali

2009-07-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

Bali has some rivers as a source of rice field irrigation, in addition, are a suitable place for white water rafting. The rivers are still natural with full stream challenge make white water rafting tour in Bali into one of the favorite choice of the tourists who took Bali vacation. There are two rivers that made main place this adventure activities, namely: Ayung River and Telaga Waja River.

Ayung River is located in the Payangan, near Ubud. This region can be achieved in about one hour drive from Kuta or Nusa Dua, forty minutes from Sanur or Denpasar. Ayung River rafting offers a different sensation, and of course very challenging to be tried. Ayung River comes to embrace you in kicking water bursts. An hour and a half of the full course rafting does not put Ayung River on the second rank after Telaga Waja. Despite its entitlement as class II and III stream rapidity, this eight-kilometer daring water track gleams beautifully under the sun sparks. Indeed, its location exposes a remarkable facet of Bali wilderness, where the green stays emerald - and as precious as it is for the surrounding inhabitants. This river also has several small waterfalls that can be used for photo capture. See also the beauty of carvings along approximately two hundred meters created by the artists in Ubud that can be used as a backdrop for photo capture.

Telaga Waja River is located in Karangasem regency, the eastern province of Bali, the river length is almost twelve kilometers stream down from the foot of the Mount Agung. It offers unforgettable adventure that since the river and the surrounding is still natural than other places that offer similar adventure. Your adventure will be begun since you started rowing scull...enter the atmosphere of a mystical nature and also beautiful, through tropical forests that are still wild, pure nature, hanging plants, vine plants. It creates exciting adventure, truly almost perfect scenery that can not be seen in the city. A family adventure is surely recommended to go along since Telaga Waja River stretches as far as twelve kilometer, seizing approximately two hours of a full-course ride. Perhaps, it may serve you as the most awaited time to finally figure out what your spouse's biggest fear is, either the water or the speed. These and other features on Bali White water Rafting such as daunting curvy slides distinguish Telaga Waja River to be a perfect wet thrill for fearless beginners.

White water rafting in Bali is very safe, so do not be afraid. Safety and security procedures are owned by the individual instructor or a guide lead you. There will be at least 1 instructor each boat. by Armawan

How To Live The Life You Want

2009-04-18T00:37:00.000-07:00

Are you attracting into your life the things you desire? Ask yourself the following two simple questions:

1. What are you attracting into your life right now? 2. How can you begin attracting more of what you really want?

If you find that something is missing in your life then you just might have found the answer here. Universal laws govern the universe and these basic principles of life have been around since the very onset of creation itself. These laws apply everywhere, to everyone and to everything. Every second of every day. Are you aware that the Law of Attraction is working in your life right now, right at this very moment. Whether you are aware of it or not, it is. The things you have, the people in your life, the job you have, the situations you experience - everything in your life is where it is because of the simple laws of attraction. The key steps to attracting into your life the things you desire are basically very simple, and once you get the 'hang' of how to utilise these steps, you will be amazed at your magnetic powers. To invoke the law of attraction for positive gain, you must first decide in absolute specificity what it is that you desire. The next step is to visualise it in your life and really feel what it is to have it, believe that you will get it and allow yourself to have it. Understand that the Law of Attraction will not dump all you desire into your lap like magic. However, it will provide the METHODS to gain the things you want, and as you focus on your goals, the actions you take will definitely work in your favour.

1. Be very clear and specific on what you desire 2. Visualise having it, and raise your vibrations to increase the energy 3. Allow it (Avoid resisting - just say 'yes') 4. Focus on achieving your goal 5. Take the necessary action

Once the above steps are performed, you are almost there. Taking the necessary action towards reaching your goals is essential if you are to be successful. To summarise, the basic three steps to achieving the life you desire using the universal law of attraction are:

1. Ask - know exactly what it is that you choose to manifest into your life 2. Believe - know that whatever it is you ask for can really be yours 3. Receive - stay focused, take the action and it will come to you.

Everything you experience in your life is a result of the vibrations you created as an energy being being matched by similar vibrations. If you want to experience something different in your life, whether it is more money, more love, more freedom, more security, more fun, more adventure - then you need to master your vibrational frequencies. This is why people say, "things always happen in 3's". If you have a strong negative experience, then you tend to be sending out thoughts and emotions that attract more experiences of the same frequency - more negative experiences. A stubbed toe is followed by an argument with a spouse which is followed by a flat tire. The worst part is, that without awareness of the impact of thoughts and feelings, each of these incidents tends to compound the thoughts and feelings of the individual, spinning to worse and worse experiences, creating 'a really bad day'. So the truth about thoughts and feelings are:

Truth 1: Nothing exists without thought. Truth 2: Nothing is good or bad - there are only interpretations. You decide if they are pleasant or unpleasant.

I you like this article, you can read more at http://noblesilver-thesecret.blogspot.com/ by Sterling Lowery

You Have To Do Your Homework In Order To Find Cheap Travel Insurance

2009-04-18T00:35:00.000-07:00

Finding cheap travel insurance is relatively easy if you do your homework first. Purchasing budget travel insurance makes getting the insurance you need at a price you can afford a viable option for every traveler.
Your homework checklist:
Where are you going?-Are you traveling close to home or a number of miles away? Are you staying in the country or traveling abroad? Pinpointing your destination is important to determine which type of insurance plan you need and how much coverage you should buy. Almost all travel locations are insurable but there are some that will cost you more money than others, including:
• Remote locations • Dangerous places including war zones and destinations on the government's terrorist list • Adventure destinations
How are you traveling?-If you travel by car you can take advantage of rental car insurance, flying by plane or cruise means you'll need protection against lost baggage and trip cancellation or interruption. Many travelers forget the importance of staying safe while getting to their destination. Remember that your trip begins the minute you leave home and so should your travel insurance coverage.
How long will you be staying?-Considering the length of your trip is also important to selecting the proper travel insurance. If you are traveling just once, then single-trip insurance is probably your best choice, but if you're traveling multiple times throughout the year, you may want to consider multiple trip insurance. Multi-trip insurance allows you to pay one premium amount but take several trips within a specified time frame.
What's the purpose of your visit?- Are you traveling on business? Taking a cruise? Adventuring around the world? What you plan on doing while you are traveling plays a large part in the type of policy you select. Business travelers can receive upgrades and discounts on multiple trips, whereas adventure travelers can purchase cheap travel insurance plans that are catered specifically to sports and recreational activities like snowboarding and backpacking.
One of the best places to find discount travel insurance is on the web. There are a number of travel insurance sites that offer incredible travel discounts to every travel location you can imagine. You can also find deals on accommodations, travel packages, and recreational activities. by Bob willman

Chasing Alberta Black Bear

2009-04-18T00:32:00.000-07:00

My role as the founder, owner and President of the United Outfitters Association affords me the luxury of visiting many of the world's best outfitters. It also provides me the opportunity to assess the daily routine of their respective operations. Exploring new country and hunting in diverse locales is also an added bonus of my chosen profession.

During one of my recent adventures, I came across an outfitter that deserves mention. In the latter stages of May a few years ago, I visited Harvey McNalley's Alberta-based bear hunting operation for a little R&R and bear hunting.

Harvey's bear operation at the time of my visit was rather special, as he was one of the few outfitters in northern Alberta who maintained a camp requiring air travel. A Beach 99 and a Havilland Beaver float plane are the two means of transportation.

Located 125 air miles from Fort McMurray, Alberta, the aptly named McNalley Lake is home to Harvey's main guest camp. Nestled at the bottom of a gently sloping, jack pine-studded hillside, the cabins overlook the crystal-clear waters and sandy shorelines of the secluded lake. Three spike camps are also available by request for the more adventurous bear hunter.

My particular excursion began with a long drive from my then home state of Wisconsin. After nearly 30 hours of driving, I arrived in the picturesque city of Fort McMurray, Alberta during an early morning drizzle. I checked into a hotel and met with the company liaison later that afternoon. After being introduced to the rest of the crew and making a run to the grocery store for a few can't-do-without supplies, we settled in to our rooms for the night. The next day we hopped a flight from Fort McMurray to Fort Chipewyan, Alberta.

From Fort Chipewyan, we were flown into camp via a short float plane jaunt. I flew into camp on the first flight with Pennsylvania natives Tom McAndrews, Allen Strickler and Mike Siddons. The second group of hunters, which included Jim Parrish, Stephanie Smith, Curt Chesley and his son, Justin, were all residents of the state of Tennessee.

After landing, we unpacked our gear from the plane and were given a brief introduction to the area. We then separated into three groups. Mike and Allen headed out on ATVs to a remote spike camp. Following suit, Jim and Stephanie hopped aboard the Beaver for another short flight to their own spike camp, leaving the three remaining bear chasers and me behind to experience wilderness life from the main camp.

Success would come early in the hunt.

On the first afternoon afield, Tom McAndrews killed a beautiful cinnamon-phase bear with one shot from his twelve-gauge slug gun. I heard Tom shoot from nearly three miles away as I quietly sat in my tree stand. The fatal shot echoed across the pike-infested waters of Rusty's Lake and softly tickled my ears. It was 8:20 p.m. He later said that he had watched a big black boar feed at the bait barrel for over two hours before an even bigger cinnamon-colored bear entered the scene. Steadying his crosshairs on the bear's midsection, Tom squeezed the trigger and was rewarded with a bear that possessed a perfect spring coat and a hide that would square out at 7 feet even.

On the same evening, Jim Parrish harvested two very respectable bears. One of the black boars squared 6 foot 2-inches and the other bear measured 7 foot 2. After Jim dropped the smaller boar in its tracks from 15 yards with one shot from his rifle, a second bear appeared from the shadows to investigate the ruckus. Responding to his guide's frantic command, Jim killed the second boar as it was attempting to drag off his first bear. Adding to the first night's success, Allen Strickler raised the tally by taking a big 7 foot 3-inch black boar with a single shot from his high-powered rifle.

The second evening resulted in one nice black being taken by Stephanie Smith. A well-placed shot from her 30-06 anchored the 6 foot 10-inch boar after a wavering death-sprint of only 30 yards. Stephanie displayed an amazing amount of patience by allowing the bear to enter and exit the bait area several times before it presented her with an effective shot angle.

The third evening of the hunt tested the steel nerves of 15 year old high school sophomore Justin Chesley. He was the hero of the day, taking a huge 7 foot 4-inch boar and a 6 foot 5-inch sow. Justin shot the sow while en route to his stand location. His guide, Shane, spotted the feeding bear and led Justin on a thrilling stalk attempt. Easing to within 50 yards, Justin raised his gun and instantly dropped the bear at the thunderous crack of his rifle's deadly report. Sneaking up to the downed bruin was an adventure all in itself. Little did they know that another bear was lurking nearby.

As Justin and Shane were slowly approaching the fatally-wounded animal, another bear suddenly popped into view. Thinking that it was the same bear Justin had just shot, Shane barked at Justin to shoot again. With another round from his trusty rifle, Justin collected the largest bear of the week. Facial scars and several bite marks on his backside indicated that the big seven and a half foot boar was quite the scrapper. Needless to say, Justin's father, Curt, was one proud papa that day.

After seeing Justin's two bears, Curt was determined not to be outdone by his 15 year old son. With only a few days left to hunt and the thought of being skunked hanging over his head, Curt shot two bears on the fifth night out. The first boar was a black juvenile and the second bear had a multi-phase hide that ranged in color from light blonde to rusty cinnamon. Both animals were shot within 15 minutes of each other. Although he acquired the same number of bears as did his son, Curt made me promise to never reveal their size. I agreed to his request seeing as though he suffered enough humiliation after a tape measure indicated that Justin's bears were substantially larger in size. All kidding aside, Curt was not ashamed of his accomplishment and neither were any of us.

By the end of the week, two more big black boars were taken by Mike Siddons. One of the bruisers measured 7 foot 3 and the other 6 foot 8. With two more animals added to the meat pole, the stats confirmed that 11 bears had been taken by seven hunters. After doing the rest of the math, we discovered that 50 percent of the bears taken during the week squared over seven feet!

All in all, it was a great hunt. However, Lady Luck chose to frown on yours truly and I wound up not taking a bear. I saw bears every evening and had several opportunities to arrow a true trophy, but simply failed to capitalize. Needless to say, my trusty Hoyt bow and I will be returning to Harvey's wilderness camp in the coming years to have another go at a big northern Alberta black bear. by Steve Peters

Komodo Cruise, Adventure in Dragon island and Find Gargantuan ReptilThe Jurassic World

2009-04-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

Komodo National Park is a world heritage site, encompasses Komodo, Rinca and several neighbour islands. The Islands surrounding incredible coral, reefs, mandrove and beauty beaches and sea. Endogenous Komodo dragons are the iconic mascots of West Flores. Komodo and its surrounding islands were designated as a National Park in 1980. In 1996 UNESCO declared the Park as a "Word Nature Heritage Site," with the further designation of "Men and Biosphere." Komodo and Rinca are hilly and desolate yet beauty islands, sandwiches between Flores and Sumbawa, that are home to gargantuan reptile.

Sea Safari with Buginese schooner offer fantastic packages cruise to Komodo, Labian Bajo and other neighbour islands. You can starting in Bali or starting in Labuan Bajo. You can choice as your.

Komodo National Marine Park, is an original habitat of the biggest lizard in the earth. Komodo National Park offers its visitors with the beautiful landscape, quite and calm, bring you close with a touch of Nature.

The island located between eastern Sumbawa and western Flores lie three tiny grass-covered islands Komodo, Padar and Rinca. Each islands together form the Komodo National Park, a protected wildlife reserve. This is the home of the giants lizard known as the "Komodo Dragon" it was thought to be a myth until the turn of the century.

Not just amazing while look the giant Komodo Dragon, explore the Komodo's under water and ecosystems which has well known as the best diving site in the world. Beautiful corals, reefs, thousands sort of fishes to the crystal water and beautiful beach are await to visit. by danang

Welcome to Karangasem Regency

2009-02-15T06:49:00.000-08:00

Beachside or sea view property in the southern part of Bali has become so expensive in the last few years, that astute investors are starting to look further a field.

A growing number are taking a good long look at karangasem on Bali's east coast The Aman group's amankila has been here for some years, and have been joined by Alila hotels more recently. Large new projects are underway. Just north of Padang Bay, at he seaside village of Amuk five kilometers to the south of Candi Dasa, plans are well advanced for the construction of a an international cruise ship terminal comprising two 150 metre piers and terminal complex contruction is expected to be completed in 2009 and to cost almost US$10 million. Ultimately it is hoped that the facility will attract as many as 200 cruise ship a year. Large yet, Korean investors are developing 124 hectares at Bugbug and perasi, north of Candi Dasa. The project is said to be worth US$153 million and includes an 18- hole golf course from one of the world's elite designers, as well as an integrated resort with villas, and condole. Perhaps the most important incentive for the potential purchaser is that by the end of this year, the provincial government is expected to change the zoning of much of the coast so that it can be developed from a tourism development point of view. What's the attraction and why has it taken so long for people to acknowledge it? The reason is simple- beachfront property, or property with panoramic coastal and mountain views, is still abundant and still at very affordable prices. The topography is somewhat similar to the Bukit. From Padang Bay right the way through to the northern borders of the regency, the foothills rise quickly from the coast. And this type of landscape allows homes to be designed constructed to take advantage of stunning views. So why has it taken so long for the east coast to be" discovered" Up until a couple of years ago, few but the most independent of visitors made it to Karangasem. For one thing it was agony getting there. Sure, you could climb on the perama shuttle with enthusiastic German backpackers, or for the truly hardy, the Batu Bulan-Amlapura public bus, along with the chickens, pigs and sacks of rice and sugar. This was a bit of an adventure, but the novelty palled somewhat after the first six or seven hours, as the bus stops at every wide spot on the road. One of Bali's best kept secrets Karangasem, the regency which makes up most of the east of the island, is one of Bali's best kept secrets. Because it has had relatively little tourist development, large parts of the regency are still "the way Bali used to be" It contains some real treasures. For example there's a village inhabited by Bali Aga, the original people of Bali, whose culture and traditions are unique. There's world class diving on the wreck of a 10,000 tonne ship.

There are two fabulous water palaces, there's an astoundingly attractive temple on the side of the island's biggest volcano. There are stunning rice fields and snake-fruit plantations, white-water rafting, a temple in a cave with a troop of monkeys, there is wonderful snorkeling at bay after bay along the Amed Cemeluk coast. Unspoiled friendly people, great accommodation to suit all budgets, fresh sea food. The local government seems to be highly efficient and visitor-friendly. the roads and other infrastructure in Karangasem are some of the best on the island. The list goes on. What the regency does not have, is the noise and crowds of the tourist centres of the south. Karangasem is peaceful, laidback and relaxed. Back in the 1980s,there were high hopes that the seaside village of Candi Dasa would become the Kuta of the East coast. This expectation was doomed from the start because it was based on a fundamental misunderstanding. It happened like this… intrepid travelers passing trough Candi Dasa liked what they saw-a white sand beach with a beautiful unspoiled lagoon full of coral and tropical fish, simple bamboo huts on the water's edge, cheap local food- so they stopped and stayed. And when they returned to the south they told their friends who come too, and stayed and stayed. The Candi Dasa locals, a bit bemused by this influx, popped down to Kuta to check it out and decided (without asking what people wanted) that they would build Candi Dasa something to rival the success of Kuta. And this was the misunderstanding, for the flood of visitors to Candi Dasa were motivated as much by a desire to escape Kuta's commercialism as to enjoy Candi Dasa's unspoiled ambience. The result? The more Candi dasa developed, the fewer the travelers who stayed. Word-of mount did the rest. It wasn't until almost a decade later that the area started to realize its true potential. Fast forward to the mid 90s, and the very canny Aman Group, creative hoteliers par excellence. High above the Lombok Strait, they built the truly outstanding Amankila. Stand-alone villas cascading down the cliff-face to the sea below. More recently, Alila Hotels, as creative and unique in their own way as the Aman people, put the village of Manggis well and truly on the map. So what's the Karangasem coast all about and what opportunities does it offer? Coming from the south on the new highway you cross into Karangasem Regency a little to the north east of Kusamba, at Goa lawah , the famous "Bat cave" temple. It's at this point that the foothills of the mountains in the interior come tumbling down to the coast, and this is where the fabulous views across the Lombok Strait begin. A little further on, you come to the Padang bay turn off. Padang Bay This is the ferry terminal for road traffic to and from Lombok and the islands of nusa tenggara timur A succession of rusty roll. The crossing round the ---- usually takes about four hours but the Lombok --- otorious for its currents and sometimes the crossing can take up to 20 hours in adverse conditions. ( At 250m, it's one of the deepest straits in area and carries vast volumes of water as it's one of the main passages for the Indonesian through flow that exchanges water between the Indian ocean and the pacific Ocean. Despite its role as a ferry port, Padang Bay has more than a little charm. The land overlook the bay has great views north, east and back down the coast. Labuan Amuk Bay From Padang Bay north east to Manggis, the road runs a little inland from the coast, but minor roads lead trough coconut groves down o he shore. It's along this stretch that the national oil company pertamina has its oil-tanker terminal. There are also plans o build a cruise ship terminal nearby. Manggis Home to boat the Amankila and the Alila, Manggis is one of the most attractive parts of the coast. An elevated promontory, the patih hill at 227 m and the 136 m Indrakila Hill, juts in to the strait. From its cliff tops there are wonderful views across the strait to the east, and back to the volcanic peaks to the north and northwest. On clear days the 3726m peak of Lombok's mount Rinjani, Indonesia's second highest mountain can be plainly seen. At see level, along the black sand beach are acres of coconut plantations. It's along this stretch of coast that the international cruise ship terminal is being built. Balina Now the road hugs the coast. Inland there are rolling foothills giving good views up and down the shore. Balina is moderately developed with guest accommodation, and there's marine reserve. The beach is black sand and rocky in parts, but it's pretty and largely unspoiled. Tenganan This community, living in a valley between the 340m Pudak and 315m Kangin hill, inland from the main road is home to the Bali Aga people whose forebears were the original Balinese who came to the island before the Hindu Majapahit era. Their villages are built in a style totally different to a typical Balinese community.Although particularly conservative, the Bali Aga have parlayed their uniqueness into becoming a major tourist attraction.The land to both the east and the west of the valley is particularly attractive and offers fantastic views. Candi Dasa The village of Candi dasa proper is of little interest to the prospective landowner, beyond the facilities it offers. It has money changers and several reasonably well-stocked mini markets. But it's mostly under-occupied mid-range hotels, guest and restaurants. The beach no longer has the appeal it did 20 years ago. Much of the reef was dynamited to provide building-foundation materials. The currents swept away the white powder sand and upset the ecology to the point where nothing much lives in the lagoon any more. Ugly groynes were constructed from concrete drainage pipes to halt the erosion, but their effectiveness is questionable. However he land to the east of the village, after the road to amlapura has disappeared inland, is particularly interesting. The 229m Gumang Hill Lies a little inland and slopes o the coast providing a bit of elevation over a largely unspoiled stretch of coast. This is where the Koreans are building their US$ 153 million 18-hole golf course and integrated resort. A quick look at the map show ha that even with this development, there is still plenty more beach and hillside land available along this stretch of coast. Amlapura The regency's capital and the largest city in East Bali, Amlapura has little to recommend itself beyond being the seat of local government. As has been already mentioned, I seems that the civil service is particularly competent here, since the infrastructure throughout the regency is the envy of the occupants of the rest of the island. The roads are particularly good, for example, and it's said that to the bureaucracy is very investor-friendly in terms of permits and smoothing the way for development. Mount Seraya Coast The north of Amlapura is dominated by Mount Seraya, 1238m. the main road on its way to Amed, Tulamben, and points further a field, runs inland to the west to skirt it. But the coast, because of its historic inaccessibility, is largely untouched and offers spectacular views. However there is a coast road that runs all the way to Amed. To go the whole way is a bit of an adventure, especially in the wet season when the hundreds of mountains streams are in flood. But a both the Amlapura and Amed ends, the road is quite good, and already westerners, who prize views and peace and quiet over shopping and nightlife, have bought substantial plots and are building homes to take advantage of the stunning views. Amed The road from amlapura to amed winds up the western slopes of the mount seraya massif, passing the Tirtagangga water palace, before crossing the pass at Abang.

Here are spectacular rice terrace views that many contend are second only to the views at tegallalang north of Ubud. Here the views stretch all the way to the coast, and on a clear day, right to Lombok.

Amed more properly refers to the first of a series of fishing villages that run southeast back down the coast towards Candi Dasa, but to westerners the whole stretch of coast is known as Amed.

Previously Amed has its hardy fans-those prepared to drive for hours and to put up with indifferent restaurants and funky accommodation-but now it is well and truly on the map. For reasons that are unclear, it has become incredibly popular with the French, and this is the foreign language of choice during the season.

As a result Boutique hotels and beachside bungalow abound and there are quite a number of more than adequate restaurants, many of them specializing in fresh seafood,(this is, after all, a major fishing community and the barbecued mackerel is to die for.) there's a small but surprisingly well-stocked mini-market, moneychangers, and event internet. Live bands perform at venues such as Wawawewe twice a week.

Villas, both beachfront and those perched on the steep hillsides, are appearing like mushrooms after a shower of rain.

So what's appeal of Amed? Apart from its really interesting topography (the road hugs the sea, swooping from headland to white sand beaches back to headland like the Adriatic coast), the swimming is good and safe, the snorkeling and diving is excellent, the people are simple, friedly and honest the air is clean, and there's no traffic. Tulamben Half an hour further to the north is Tulamben, fast becoming one of the major underwater photography sites in Asia. The road meanders through rice fields and crops and then breasts a ridge in the foothills before dropping in to the Tulamben area.

It's markedly different terrain from Amed. It perches on the edge of the lava flow from Gunung Agung's last major eruption in 1963 and is a rocky and wild environment. What brings westerners to Tulamben is the diving. It's long been know for the wreck of the 10,000 tonne USAT liberty, a cargo ship run ashore after I was attacked by Japanese planes towards the end of world war two. The cargo and all items of value were stripped from the ship and it sat on the shore quietly rusting away until Gunung Agung blew its top on 17 march 1963. the seismic activity was so strong that he ship was this lodged from the shore and quietly slipped into the sea.

Over the years it has been colonized by hundreds of different species of fish, corals and marine life and has deservedly become known as Bali's premier diving site. More recently, adventurous divers started to explore other areas nearby and to their surprise found some of the world's rarest sea creatures living in the volcanic sand. Now Tulamben has become a Mecca for underwater photography enthusiasts and is regularly featured in international dive magazines.

There's feeling that Tulamben , in the not too distant future, will experience a blossoming in eco-tourism related development. Already some substantial parcels of beachfront land have come on the market. An eye to the medium term It's grand spectacular view that Karangasem is an area that is certainly well worth considering by the purchaser who is either looking to build for him or herself, or for the investor who prefers to take the longer view.

While the tries and true areas of south Bali such as Oberoi, the Bukit , Batu Belig, and Cangu offer more immediate benefits.- the opportunity for early and consistent rental revenue streams for example-karangasem has its pluses, not the least of which is the relative affordability of the land iself. Karangasem is well worth taking a closer look at. by Adi Krisnayana

Around the World Trips - See More, Do More, Spend Less

2009-01-27T07:02:00.000-08:00

Around the world trips are a fantasy for most, and a very economic reality for few. Several of my clients refuse to believe they can see ten countries for the price of three just by a little extra planning.

I once purchased the following:

Sydney>Singapore>Saigon>Kathmandu>London>Toronto>San Francisco>Sydney

Total cost? $1250. That isn't a typo.
The reason I was able to purchase these flights at such as discount was that I purchased them in bulk, known as a "Round The World" ticket. They work like a wholesale store: large travel agencies buy thousands of tickets at a time and sell them individually to travelers. If you purchase then tickets at once (rather than a standard round trip) you get a great discount. I love the look at people's faces when I show them how to see more of the world for the same amount of money. Here's how you do it:

Avoid flying to "off the beaten path" destinations. The major hubs of the world are usually cheaper to fly to than secondary airports, and this is especially true if you're buying in bulk. Think of your round the world ticket as a general overview of where you'd like to go; for example, don't include every city in Asia you want to see, choose a flight into Bangkok (the largest southeast Asian hub, and therefore the cheapest) then figure the rest out when you get there. I recommend choosing one or two major hubs for each continent you want to visit, as this keeps your flight costs down while also providing flexibility along the way.

Include surface segments. Once you have a general outline of dream destinations, fill them in using surface segments. For example, you could purchase a flight from Sydney to Bangkok, then travel overland from Bangkok to Beijing (another cheap hub) before flying to London. The surface segment allows you to see more of the countryside between these two cities, and add several new countries to your itineraries. Furthermore, you'll save more money traveling by train than by plane (one ways are often the most expensive way to fly).

Add stopovers into your trip. I used this to my advantage on my last round the world adventure. The itinerary had a layover in Singapore (which I hadn't planned on visiting), which essentially gave me a free trip to SIngapore! Before purchasing a round the world ticket, ask your travel agent if they permit stopovers like this; most do.

Go big or go home. Round the world trips grow less expensive the longer you're gone. My advice is to take at least six months (preferably a year) for a trip such as the You'll find that by flying to ten destinations, several will be super cheap (e.g. Thailand, India, Nepal, Argentina). If you plan accordingly, you'll be able to extend your trip by spending more time in these areas. A friend of mine spent two weeks in Bali with just enough money for food and board. He hadn't planned on visiting Bali, but it was a stopover, so he took advantage of it. Those two weeks in paradise cost him less than three days in London. Use this economic differences to your advantage.

Around the world trips deserve more attention than they get. Not only can you save a ton of money by batching several dream destinations together, you often find yourself in countries (and situations) you never expected. If you are interested in pricing out a few different options, I highly recommend using airtreks.com.by adam costa

Generation Gap Surfing, Bali

2008-12-25T21:30:00.000-08:00

Six hours earlier, the noise of waves crashing ashore had woken me from a deep sleep. Mounting excitement propelled me from the bed when I realised from the volume of sound that the waves were substantial. It was still dark, but I knew that I could catch the dawn from my suf-board if I left immediately. A while later I was several hundred metres out to sea, battling my way further out and, between soakings, watching the dawn paint the sky from a celestial palette of pinks, yellows and crimsons. I was totally alone and knew that this was not safe or sensible, but I did not care. I felt that my daring to be there gave me a kind of spiritual ownership of the place and that this feeling more than compensated me for my almost complete lack of other worldly possessions - the most valuable of which I had with me, my board. I usually love my board, but sometimes I blame it when I fall off and swear at it big-time. One of the reasons I love my surf-board is that, after I've blamed it for my shortcomings and sworn at it, it never holds it against me or sulks in any way. I can just jump on and ride away, as though nothing had happened.

I am now having lunch with my Dad, who has flown in from Perth, en route to a business meeting in Tokyo, to see me and presumably to try and coax me into his company - or any company at all, provided it's not the company of surfers. He's not had much luck at this task. Six months ago, when I was having a blast, neglecting my university studies in favour of chasing Perth surf, he tried pleading that I should pack in surfing as my Mum was worried sick that I might be eaten by a shark. This happens to a fair few surfers down-under. I felt a bit sorry for both my parents when their plan rather back-fired on them: I agreed that it wasn't safe, quit uni and came surfing here instead. I just hope he hasn't heard about the surfer who washed up here drowned the other month. I think a blow on the head from his board after a major wipe-out was probably the cause. I'll probably not make an old corpse myself, but I don't care. My Dad's hotel, the Maya Ubud, is quite a contrast to mine. It looks like a palace compared to my lodgings, but then so does everywhere. I look again and realise that I'm not doing the Maya Ubud justice by including it with 'everywhere'; it really is tastefully and typically Balinese, whereas mine is about as basic as you can imagine - thin mattress, fly-sheet, fan, shared cold shower.

My Dad asks me what I think of the Maya Ubud.

"It's lovely, Dad, exquisite".

"Wouldn't you like to be able to afford to stay here?"

"Not really, Dad. I think that right now, at this very moment, I'm enjoying being here more than you are, because you're used to staying in these places, whereas for me to come here and eat this fab food is a really special experience".

I suddenly remembered that Dad gets offended when I put his values down that bluntly. I had been talking to him just as though he were one of my surf buddies. To try to make amends I quickly added "I really appreciate your coming all this way to spoil me, but honestly there's nothing I need that I don't already have. I really enjoy my life here. Better than that, I love my life here, because I always live in the present. Everybody knows that living in the present is the key to contentment."

"Son, if you live in the present you'll never achieve anything in life. In order to achieve things it's necessary sometimes to dwell on the past and worry about the future". I had to disagree. "I'm sorry, Dad, but I totally disagree .There's no intrinsic meaning in achieving anything anyway, so why should I bother? I might as well live in the present and be as content as possible."

This isn't the first time we've had this conversation. My parents are so cool about my complete rejection of their value system, I really respect them, not just for their attitude about this issue, but also for all they've done for me in the past. Actually, there is one source of intrinsic meaning in my life - she's called Jenny and she's from California. In order to go and be with her in the States, I've realised that I'm going to need to go back to Oz and get some money together. So I discuss this with my Dad, who's delighted.

"I wasn't so different from you when I was your age" he said.

"Not quite so idle, but not far off it" he continued. "In those days there wasn't a sub-culture of idleness, so people who wanted to laze about had to laze about with low-lifes. The problem these days is that civilized young blokes like you can laze about with other decent young people, so it's much more enjoyable. "

"Your mother's more worried about you than I am. I reckon that you'll get bored rigid with this sooner or later. Besides, you said you were doing this to reject meaninglessness, but your life of pleasing yourself has got to be the most meaningless life imaginable. I stopped idling around when I set up home with your mother. I spent over a decade in jobs that were often rather dull, but it never really bothered me, because I knew exactly why I was doing it, I had all the meaning I could possibly have in my life, in providing for you and your sisters. So I'm not too worried, I reckon what you need is to really fall for some woman, then start imagining what you could do to make her as happy as you possibly can."

This article was first published in Adrenaline ezine

For island-hopping and adventure sports at the best beach destinations in Thailand, go to Andaman Adventures.com, the web's definitive guide to all the best beach destinations in Thailand : the perennially popular Railay/Tonsai (click here for the destination and here for the climbing), the rebolted Koh Phi Phi (click here for the destination and here for the climbing), plus the new destinations Koh Yao Noi(click here for the destination and here for the climbing) and Koh Lao Liang (click here for the destination and here for the climbing)

Ao Nang is currently the best all-round Thai beach destination, offering the optimum balance of an unspoiled environment with a wealth of accommodation and activity options. by simon ramsden

Best of Southeast Asia Highlights: Beaches

2008-12-25T21:29:00.000-08:00

When one thinks of Southeast Asia, the attraction of its beaches inevitably pop up. Certainly, Asia has many sights to offer, and its beaches are a constant draw for many reasons.

A great draw of Asia's beaches is the selection of award-winning, internationally recognized resorts and hotels at reasonable rates. The selection of hotels to choose from is staggering: practically every international hotel brand from Hilton to Shangri-La is available. One unique luxurious Asian-based hotelier is the Banyan Tree Resorts that offer exclusive and decadent holidays in Asia. The hotel sector of the Southeast Asian tourism industry is extremely competitive. Hotels and resorts regularly undergo upgrading once every few years to keep up with the Joneses. This means one good thing for the traveler: great deals on hotels are always possible, even in the high season.

Most visitors to Southeast Asia will experience excellent and friendly service - 'pleasure' and 'pamper' are just some mottos these hotels operate by. Think luxurious suites with extravagant comforts such as private Jacuzzis and pools. Personalized spas, massages and beauty treatments in the privacy of your own room or villa. Dining options amidst lush greenery and panoramic sea views. If the 5-star hotels are above your budget, there is a wide range of mid-priced hotels and accommodations to suit different budgets. Some mid-priced hotels are operated by locals, and are a great way to get to know the colorful cultures in Southeast Asia.

The best part about beaches in Southeast Asia is the great variety of beaches and activities to cater for different interest groups. Beaches and island living is synonymous in many parts of Southeast Asia, so there will a beach to meet everyone's needs. The islands of Indonesia, the well-known beaches in Malaysia and Thailand, the new beach spots in Vietnam and Burma all offer great, if not different, beach experiences. While some will cater to families with their range child-friendly activities, facilities and services, others target the partygoers with a continuous stream of daytime and nightlife options. Others in search for privacy or pampering, such as honeymooners or corporate leaders, are literally spoilt for choice with the lavish range of spa and beauty resorts. What this also means for the traveler is that each beach experience will differ from another, given the rich diversity of the countries.

Bali is a popular choice among foreigners due to its good air connections. This mellow island is surrounded by stretches of great beaches and range of activity, and the locals are hospitable and friendly. Other popular, something-for-everyone-beach vacations include Krabi or Phuket in Thailand and Danang or Hue beaches in Vietnam.

The warm waters of Southeast Asia also attract many diving, surfers and water-sports enthusiasts for its rich and diverse marine life or waves, depending on what you are looking for. Thailand's Koh Chang or Koh Phi Phi, the islands off the west coast of Malaysia, and the Mergui archipelago in Burma are just a sampling of the range of great diving spots and sea adventure in Southeast Asia. Many diving spots are not as easily accessible as popular beach resorts, but the more remote the waters, the richer the marine life. Many specialized diving tour groups will make the land-transfer arrangements so that getting to such remote destinations is not impossible. Some diving spots operate seasonally due to the monsoon season, so check before booking your flight.

Finally, no beach retreat is complete without the mention of food. Many Asian cultures communicate their emotions and culture through their food, so food is seen as a very important aspect of the Asian identity. Travelers will never go hungry while on vacation at one of Southeast Asian beaches. Many cuisines are a mix of indigenous ingredients with influences from predominantly Chinese or Indian cuisines. Influences from other cuisines are also common, given the influx of top international chefs working in the luxurious beach resorts. Most hotels in southeast Asia will offer a sumptuous buffet breakfast as part of the accommodation package, and travelers will drag themselves out of bed for the breakfast buffet, as the buffet spreads are usually simply too good to pass. Travelers will also want to sample local fare that will be available. by www.WorldCheaper.com

Sacred Waterways of Bali, Indonesia

2008-12-25T21:24:00.000-08:00

Take a break from the cold steel of modern times to be nurtured by a more symbiotic relationship with nature, in one of the most spiritually artistic places on the planet. World-famous Bali is celebrated for the artistry of its people as well as for its cultural intensity, spectacularly sculpted scenery and well-developed infrastructure. It is arguably southeast Asia's most stylish destination, with some of the most understatedly opulent resorts in the world vying to outdo each other in the fine lines of their architecture and the often exquisite taste of their fittings and furnishings. These designer resorts usually perfectly complement their often stunningly beautiful settings, either baking on white sandy beaches, nestling on terraced hills or perching atop sea-cliffs.

5-star resorts the world over are often beautifully designed, but on Bali the 5-star vacation experience is different. Here it is not necessary to insulate yourself in luxury establishments in order to avoid the outside world, as is unfortunately necessary in the capital Jakarta. The beauty of Bali's rice terraces can not be adequately described in words or art and must, like those in the Philippines Banaue, be seen with the eyes. These landscapes, sculpted by human hands, sometimes feel too man-made to be real and almost like journeys inside a painting, in which a careful artist has skilfully enhanced the bounties bequeathed by nature to maximum effect and optimal proportion. The serried rice terraces compete for the eye's attention with burbling irrigation canals and with the jungle-shrouded rivers which sometimes form a convenient path-way for Balinese women to sway gracefully beneath improbably precarious loads perched on the top of their heads. In a society where art is regarded as so fundamental a part of a person's life that the local language does not have a word for it, the entertainment is also stylish. Balinese dance is justifiably world-famous for its subtle sign language and beautiful costumes, but not so well-known are the coming-of-age dances in which one teenage girl at a time dances surrounded by a circle of up to a hundred boys. After she taps a boy with her fan, he dances with her, but in a very different style to hers. Whilst she is attempting to maintain grace and elegance, his sole objective is to squeeze her bum. It sounds uncouth, but is just hilarious, as she vigorously defends herself, often by jabbing her fan, to painful effect, into the most sensitive parts of the boys' anatomies.

In a deeply religious Hindu society, everybody pays great attention to the ceremonies that mark life's major events, with funerals in particular being very grandiose events full of colour and excitement: a Balinese's last journey takes so long to organise that bodies must be temporarily buried while the myriad arrangements are made.

All Balinese bear one of only four given names, Made, Nyoman and Ketut. A family's first child is always christened Putu/Wayan, with the second known as Made, the third as Nyoman and the fourth as Ketut. From the fifth child on the naming cycle starts afresh, with any fifth child that makes an appearance known as Putu/Wayan.

The latest threat to the lovely rice-terraces, after the solution of the pest problems caused by the Asian Development Bank's 'Green Revolution' project, comes from an unlikely quarter: prosperity. Balinese farmers, especially young ones, are leaving the land in droves for better-paid and physically less demanding jobs as caddies and waiters. It is hoped that some of the huge numbers of tourist dollars flowing into Bali can be spent subsidising rice farming, in order to preserve this unique landscape and its aquatic traditions. The best time to see the rice paddies is during the hour before dawn, the hour the Balinese call "the silk time". But, even for the chance to experience heaven, that is a little too early for most visitors, who prefer the twilight hours.

The night was balmy and, after supper, the moon rose, yellow and huge. After a short walk along a tree-lined lane we came to a gap in the trees. Water chattered and laughed in the gullies all around us and, spread out before us, was a blue, moonlit valley. The terraced paddy fields hugging the contours of the hills were filled with still water, drained of colour by the night. Each patch of black water reflected it's own little moon. A breeze crinkled the satin-like surface and scattered the golden moon-beams. Then the breeze died, the gold reassembled and the moons settled back into their pools. Frogs croaked. Water gushed. Briefly we mourned the loss of all those moons until our eyes adjusted to the dark and the banks of the terraces came alive with more light. Sparkling sequins of white light flashed around as our minds reeled in the attempt to take in such beauty. Whether the moons or the fireflies were the most beautiful is impossible to say, as both art and words are inadequate to the task of framing such serenity. If heaven exists then maybe it looks a little like Bali.

Water is sacred in Bali. Everywhere you go, you hear it bubble and gurgle and giggle and splash. The ancient irrigation system consists of a network of gullies and channels, dykes and runnels that carry the precious fluid from the river and through the sinuous, rice-paddied, terraces. Water is so vital to rice, and so to life, that in Bali the temples control its flow. The priests are the experts in how the waterways work. They know where each channel runs and when each sluice needs opening, and it's their duty to ensure that every terrace gets filled and that every farmer gets an adequate flow.

Every day, in the late afternoon, all over Bali, you'll see villagers, in their sarongs, sauntering down to the rivers to bathe. The women gather in one place, dipping and laughing, shampooing their long black tresses. The men gather in another, splashing each other and playing with their children. "They want to give us taps," I heard one man exclaim, "they say it will make life easier. But we don't want water from taps. It contains chemicals. We have this beautiful river, how can anybody improve on this?"

Tirtaganga is a special place where, in bygone days, Balinese Kings built a great Water Palace. The kings are long gone, but there is enough grandeur left to enable you to imagine attendants in vivid sarongs laying gold cloth on gleaming stone steps to aggrandize the journey of the king and his courtiers to the three jade-coloured swimming pools. These days the steps are mossy and the spirit statuary is mottled with lichen. Instead of gilded princesses, rice farmers wallow and chat while their wives offer flower-filled palm-leaf baskets to the Gods.

It is unsurprising that Balinese love their island, but it might surprise some readers to know of the lengths to which these gentle people have in the past gone to defend it. In the 1840s the Dutch established a presence by playing various distrustful Balinese realms against each other, before mounting large-scale naval and ground assaults, first against the Sanur region and then against Denpasar. The Balinese were hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned, but rather than face the loss of their island, 4,000 of them marched to their deaths in a suicide attack on the invaders. Afterwards the Dutch governors were able to exercise little control over the island, and the religion and culture remained intact.

When Japan occupied Bali during World War II, a Balinese military officer, Gusti Ngurah Rai, formed a Balinese army of freedom fighters. When the Dutch returned to Bali to reinstate their pre-war colonial administration, they were opposed by the Balinese rebels. On 20 November 1946, the Battle of Marga was fought in Tabanan in central Bali. Colonel I Gusti Ngurah Rai, 29 years old, rallied his depleted and nearly beaten forces in east Bali at Marga Rana, where they made a suicide attack on the heavily armed Dutch. The Balinese battalion was entirely wiped out, breaking the last thread of Balinese military resistance.

The well-developed infrastructure for leisure activities, including golf, sailing, diving, dancing and partying, complements the island's idyllic landscape and turns Bali into, for many holiday-makers, the best destination in southeast Asia if not the world.

If dancing is your way of reviving your energy and spirits after an aeon behind a desk, then you will be pleased to hear that Bali has the clubs you need. Try the 15,000 watt Double Six, where DJs from across the world play eclectic and variable mixes that have only one thing in common: the ability to make you want to shake your bits till dawn. If you get bored of getting on down to the music then get on down in a more extreme way, courtesy of the club's bungee jump. KUDOS, the hippest place on the island, prides itself on a computerized colour mixer that synchronises the music with pre-arranged lighting sequences of the bar and interiors.

This article was first published in Adrenaline ezine

For island-hopping and adventure sports at the best beach destinations in Thailand, go to Andaman Adventures.com, the web's definitive guide to all the best beach destinations in Thailand : the perennially popular Railay/Tonsai (click here for the destination and here for the climbing), the rebolted Koh Phi Phi (click here for the destination and here for the climbing), plus the new destinations Koh Yao Noi(click here for the destination and here for the climbing) and Koh Lao Liang (click here for the destination and here for the climbing)

Ao Nang is currently the best all-round Thai beach destination, offering the optimum balance of an unspoiled environment with a wealth of accommodation and activity options. by simon ramsden

Your CSS Adventure Begins Here

2008-12-16T18:11:00.000-08:00

When you are in need of qualitative website templates for your project there is a possibility to choose between their different types. One of the most popular web templates types appreciated by web designers nowadays represents CSS templates.

In general CSS - Cascading Style Sheets - means the technology on the basis of which CSS Website Templates are created. Cascading style sheets makes it easier for web developers to arrange and stylize web pages. Using CSS technology becomes more popular nowadays also because of its compatibility with all popular browsers which makes CSS a very useful and convenient option.

CSS Templates are valued by web masters as they possess modern technologies together with convenience of use. They are presented in different categories and will fit any of your purposes. Whether you decided to create a vivid personal homepage or want to launch competitive e-commerce website you won't regret if you choose CSS Templates. Using them as a basis for your online web presence you will make your source look impressive and striking.

CSS layouts imply the possibility of adding multimedia and animation effects and thus will make your website live and dynamic. And what is not less pleasant - making use of CSS Templates you can always expect to maintain high ranking by search engines which makes your website a popular source. Another advantage of CSS Templates is that they are easy to work with. There are little software requirements for using and editing these templates. You only have to install any of popular HTML editors you'd like to work with (e.g. Dreamweaver, Frontpage etc.), Macromedia Flash in order you need to add and edit animation attachments and Adobe Photoshop to work with the images.You don't need to have special knowledge to manage your CSS Tempalte and moreover you can always get the necessary help from the templates' provider support system.

One of the sources where deserving CSS Templates can be found is Layoutspack.com. This web company provides its customers with professional website templates of premium quality on the terms of templates membership. CSS Templates at LayoutsPack are created by professional team of web developers and possess high-grade graphics so you can be sure of your website's success.

So stay abreast of modern web technologies and choose CSS Templates to establish your vivid online presence. by Wendy Poo
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Camping With Your Kids

2008-12-16T18:09:00.000-08:00

Camping can be a very exciting activity for the children. It is often regarded by parents as an opportunity to bond with their kids during the weekends. Moreover, it will also be an opportunity to teach your kids new things about the environment and some life skills. You can develop team work and cooperation between your children while camping.

However, you should note that bringing your kids out to camp is not just a matter of pure fun and excitement. Rather, it brings certain responsibilities. To make sure that you can make the most out of your aspired camping experience, below are some tips that you should apply.

Involve your children in your plans

Make sure that your children are involved in planning for the camping activity. Let them play a part in choosing the camping site. However, as they make the choice, make sure that you explain to them the activities that they can do and the kind of environment that awaits them in their chosen camping ground.

Let them decide the camping activities

Aside from letting the kids choose the camp site, let them decide the camping activities that all of you will engage in. Choose camp games and activities that are quite exciting, entertaining, informative, and educational. Also, make sure that each of your children has camp responsibilities that fit their age and actual capabilities. You can ask them to help with the cooking, cleaning, or collecting firewood based on their capability.

Let them pack their own bags

Let your children pack their own things for the camping trip. However, you should provide them with a basic checklist in order to make sure that they will not forget to bring all the necessary tools and equipment needed. Also, you should double check their bags before you set out for your camping adventure.

Do a dry run in your own back yard

If your children are going out to camp for the first time, it will be best if you do a test camp out in your own backyard. Aside from the fact that such can be a good bonding activity as well, this will help you assess whether your children are really ready for an outdoor camping activity.

Teach them about basic camping rules

Before you bring your children to the campsite, make sure that they are well aware of the basic camping rules. This will not only keep them safe. Instead, such will also keep you and your kids out of harm's way. Tell them where exactly are they allowed to play and run around, what time is the curfew, what their tasks are, and other rules and regulations.

Pack emergency first aid kits

Never forget to bring emergency first aid kids for yourself and the children. Be aware of the fact that since children are quite playful and sometimes careless, they are highly at risk for a wide variety of potential dangers out in the camping site.

Assign partners or buddies

If you are planning to bring four or more children, assign partners or buddies. Explain to them that they are tasked to look after each other and they are supposed to watch out for each other at all times. This can help you manage your young companions a lot easier.by Benedict Smythe

How to Store Your Camping Gear Properly

2008-12-16T18:08:00.002-08:00

Choosing camping equipment is a serious endeavor. Camping is not just a very challenging adventure; it can also be quite expensive as well since most of the gears and tools that you will need are high priced. Once you have bought the right set of camping gears, the next thing that you should do is to make sure that your investment is not wasted. You should store your camping gear properly so that you can use your gear over and over again every time you set out for a camping trip. Below are some ways by which you can store your gear properly.

Storing your Tents

a. Regardless of your tent's fabric, make sure that you store it in a dry place. Moreover, make sure that your storage area is free from pests such as mice, cockroaches, and other insects that may nibble your tent and render it useless for your next camping trip.

b. Before you pack your tent away, you have to check if the whole of the tent is completely dry inside and out. Keep in mind that extra moisture may promote the development of mould and mildew in your tent. Such may also introduce a rotting smell to your tent that is quite difficult to get rid of.

c. When packing your tents, make sure that your tent pegs are stored in their own bags. Never let sharp ends stick out of the bags as these may introduce tear and wears to other fabrics.

d. When you put your camping gear inside your cabinet, make sure that you do not place it under a heavy pile of objects that might introduce cracks and damages to the poles.

Storing your Sleeping bags

a. In the same way that you store tents, you should make sure that you keep your sleeping bags in a cool but dry place in order to avoid the formation of molds and mildew.

b. If you can, wash or wipe off your sleeping bag before you put it away. Make sure that you let it air dry out in the sun before you put it in your storage cabinet that is free from mice and insects.

Storing your heating equipment

a. Before you away put your stove or your lighting equipment, make sure that all of them are clean. You should also check if they are all working properly as well. If not, you might as well get rid of them right away and buy another one. Make it a point to keep some spare bulbs.

b. When you store your heating equipment, make sure that you put them in their own protective cases. This will help you ensure that they will not be damaged especially those gas lighting tools that have brittle glass parts.

Storing your cooking gear

a. You should gather all of your cooking gear together and check each of them for probable damages. List your cooking gears so you can easily verify anything that is missing. On your next camping trip you will know what needs to be purchased.

b. Make sure that all of your cooking tools are clean in order to prevent rust or dirt from rendering the tool useless. Store them properly. If you can, put them in separate boxes in order to prevent scratches and cracks.by Benedict Smythe

Nightshift Legacy: The Jaguar's Eye Game Review

2008-12-16T18:08:00.001-08:00

After the Nightshift Code, PlayFirst releases the sequel to this hidden object adventure with Nightshift Legacy: The Jaguar's Eye. In this game, you again get to meet with the original characters, Mike and Isabel in a new storyline filled with greater dangers and mysteries. But how does the installment fare when it comes to gameplay? Well, that's what we aim to figure out in this review.

The story of the game starts with both heroes of the Nightshift Code still together exploring jungles in search of missing and hidden artifacts. This time around, they chanced upon the discovery of the Jaguar's Eye Codex, which is supposedly to bring unrivalled power to the person who owns it. However, this discovery also opened up dangerous encounters for the duo, ending also in the involvement of Isabel's relatives. Somehow, Isabel's past and the Jaguar's Eye are connected to each other too, but what that connection, however, is what you're here to find out.

Just like the original game, Nightshift Legacy: The Jaguar's Eye is a hidden object adventure where you are tasked to find listed objects serving as clues to further develop the game's storyline. A classic hidden object gameplay is employed in every scene and you have to find all clues before you go to the next level. But what sets this game apart is really not the gameplay because there's really nothing new about classic item finding. What's really significant in my opinion is the game's story, but before we discuss that, let's talk about the mini-games first.

In this installment, you also get to witness several unique mini-games that are sure to keep you interested in all the game's developments. For example, instead of just the usual jigsaw puzzle you encounter on other hidden object games, this time, the puzzle pieces can overlap each other too. This means that other than just placing the pieces on their correct locations, you also have to set their layers, thus adding more challenge to the gameplay. The other mini-games are just as unusual, making them more difficult but definitely more enticing to play.by Ruff

Enjoy The Extraordinary Culture In Chester.

2008-12-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

Past is one of the toughest suits of England's tourism, but when it comes to stating the report of its folk, no one does it preferable than the drives, walls, and architecture of Chester. This vivid city is a pocket-sized pocket of experiences that introduces England in a whole new way. You never will know what Roman England is about until you have walked the allies of Chester. From red sandstone walls that organise Tudor and Victorian buildings, to the shopping roadways in the town centre, you will find concoction of England's past in elevated fashion.

Chester holds a legion of attractiveness to give tourists imbued enjoyment. Tourists should see the Roman section of the borough. Called the 'Deva,' the Latin name for Chester, it is one of the most exalted soldiery exit of the English island throughout the time of the Romans. Here you can pinpoint the urban place walls stationed in the centre. The place centre has civil pathways and alleys that will take you to ground experience of the urban place. You can also walk over the top of the Roman walls that surround the place. You can also locate the Amphitheatre in Vicars Lane. The Amphitheatre is of Roman origin. The excessive stone structure is still home to some of the classic plays of England.

Chester has modern attractions and contemporary tourist activities on top of the classic tours and museum exploration that one can do. Play seekers can visit the Catton Hall paintballing station, a 200-acre field that depicts Chester's fortifications, villages, bridges, and forts. Another fun combat simulation is available in the Catton Hall archery field. You can try out test targets with a wide variety of bow and arrows. Archery is a demonstration of England's roster of arrow snipers that helped fortify the urban place against foreign invaders. Other activities in Chester include adventure sightseeing and heritage tours.

Chester has attractive gourmet shops set to delight anyone who wishes to sit down and take in culinary excellence. One of the more favoured shops in Chester is the Watergates Wine bar in Watergates Street. Watergates stands in front of an 11th century cobbled street. The Piccolino is an Italian restaurant near the metropolitan area centre. Its huge selection of Italian food will bring you a taste of Italy Chester style. Finally, Siam restaurant in the place road will give you a glimpse of exotic Thai food.

Chester has a spectacle of sports events and art exhibits that will fill up your day holiday in the municipality. For local football, you can watch the FC Chester in action. The football club plays in the Coca-Cola 2 league, a 4th-tier league in the English football scene. You can also watch the Chester Roman if you want a taste of American football. Chester also has a strong tradition of rugby, winning the Cheshire Cup several times. Local pubs and bars have their TV sets pointed to the Chester Racecourse where you can bet on horse and dog races.

Only a few English towns can match Chester's history. Once you find the urban place centre, bask in the museums, and delight in the shopping outlets, you will be impressed with what Chester has to offer. Chester is perfect for single-day holiday trips, as you can easily fill a day's itinerary with memorable events.by Gracia Westolick

All I Want For Christmas is More Leads With Web 2.0

2008-12-16T18:04:00.000-08:00

What do you want for Christmas this year? Is it more leads to build your business? Do you strive to have 50-100 leads each day? How can this be achieved in such a competitive network marketing industry? The answer today is Web 2.0. It describes the changing trends in the use of world wide internet technology and website designs. This technology is used to enhance creativity, communication, secure information sharing, and collaboration and functionality of the web world wide. It has led to the development of culture communities and hosted services, such as video sharing and social networking sites, blogs, wikis and folksonomies. We ask ourselves why Web 2.0? What was wrong with the old way of marketing? Why use Facebook, My Space, You Tube, Linkedin, Yuwie, Direct Matches, Twitter, or any other social media platform to connect with people and find prospects? The answers is simple just stick around and I will tell you why? The old way of marketing is no longer in existence. We can continue to do it that way, but we will not get any where fast in making money. In the past our up line told us to go ask our family and friends to join our business adventure. They will not turn us down they are family and friends. Well of course they joined our business, but that is as far as it went. They never purchased the products we were selling, they were just a name on our list. We were told to put up flyers about our business all over town. People will come running to us from all over to get into our business. Well that never happen no one called. We handed out business cards in restaurants, hair salons, and to strangers on the street. They looked at it and proceeded to threw it in the nearest trash can. The next step was to start buying leads and then making cold calls all day long. We spent all day making calls and maybe got two prospects. Time was lost and so was money. We worked hard and put more and more money went into our business just to find out we were making no residual income in return. What was the answer to this problem? Should we give up on our dreams to have personal and financial freedom? Should we go back to the corporate world and have our life's dictated to us by a boss? What could make life easier for network marketer so we could enjoy the life of an entrepreneur, business owner and network marketer? We want freedom and we truly thought we could have it with network marketing. What will we have to do to fulfill our life dream and desires? There was some serious thinking going on in the internet world to make life easier for the network marketer and also to reach out to people who may learn in different ways. The answer was Web 2.0 with the use of social networking platforms. Today there are several social media platforms available to anyone who wants to expose themselves and their business opportunities to the world. There are several reasons why we need to be active in social media. If you are in any business it is the way to build trusting relationships online. It is place for us to meet other network marketers and build a team of individuals who will become joint venture partners with us. People are connected to other people it is human instinct for people to be attracted to other people. People do not attract themselves to a product, they buy a product because they respect the integrity of who is selling it. Build your prospect list through attraction marketing by using the social media platforms. Web 2.0 has open the door for any network marketer to reach out to the world and expose any business with any technology which is available. It could be blogging, article writing, videos, podcast, and social networking. It is a whole new internet marketing world out there and there is plenty of competition. So check you Christmas list twice and find out if you have Web 2.0 written down because Santa is on his way to bring you some leads so your business will prosper in the New Year of 2009.by Ann Carron

How To Grow An Online MLM Business The Right Way

2008-12-16T18:03:00.002-08:00

Growing your online MLM business is easier than most think. Most people overestimate what they can do online and tend to scare themselves away from hitting it big time. Growing a success online business boils down to 2 points.

1. Using online strategies that will help generate an endless total of newly recruited leads. The more leads you can generate, then more will turn into downline members.

2. Taking those new leads and showing the a proven automated system that has everything in place to create success.

Your online MLM business will succeed once you have tested and tweaked your own marketing system. Your marketing system will consist of both free and paid sources of marketing. Whether it is building your website to top the search engines or if you are paying for PPC.

Your system is what will be shared with your downline so they can duplicate your efforts. So you should have your marketing system down to a precise formula that will make it that much easier for you team to gain success.

No matter what you tend to do to grow your business you have to track everything you do. Tracking is too often overlooked because it can be boring and take some time to set up different campaigns, but it is crucial. The more you track the easier it will come for you to become wealthy.

Testing and tracking is what will set you apart from the rest of the online MLM business owners. Some started with the misunderstanding of what it takes to grow a business. Many think it some smooth sailing adventure with little or no work involved. They are wrong.

But to your advantage it can be easier with the right training, support and marketing system in place. Stop believing everything you see and start becoming a success story. Your future will depend on you.

With your online MLM business you can paid on the efforts of many around the world. Growing your business online allows you to touch 1,000's in as many countries as you want. Imagine going to bed tonight and knowing that you have people in your team all over the world growing your MLM business.

When you can start to have control over your whole process of generating an endless amount of leads then you are in the right position to grow a very successful online MLM business. Once you have your proven marketing system complete you know you have made it and your financial worries will no longer exist.

So if you want to take your MLM business online and create a free future then you need to become a leader and create a perfect marketing system. A marketing system that you can share with your downline and help make it easier for them to and in turn they can share with their downline as well. It is a win win situation when you have everything in place. It is time to take the next step and get started today with your proven system.by Matt Belock

10 Holiday Ideas for a Trip to Norway

2008-12-16T18:03:00.001-08:00

Norway is a place of awe-inspiring beauty, where many people's lives are dominated by the sea as in the days of the Vikings. The smaller cities are undiscovered gems.

Here are Ten reasons to visit, to help start your holiday planning and further research

Cruising: The best way of experiencing the coast and fjords is on a cruise ship. Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Voyage) operates departures up and down the coast on every day of the year, with cruise ship standards.

Fjords: Deep inlets from the sea give the coast its character. You will enjoy outdoor leisure activities, such as walking, cycling and scenic tours if you base yourself at Hardangerfjord or Geirangerfjord.

Arctic Adventure: The north of Norway lies above the Arctic Circle, experiencing the midnight sun in June/July and weeks of almost constant darkness in December/January. Go whale watching in summer or snowmobiling in winter.

The Northern Lights: This meteorological phenomenon occurs in winter when the night sky is lit up in a dazzling display. Your best chance of observing them is on a cruise ship or far from civilisation.

Winter sports: The most popular ski resorts of Hemsedal, Lillehammer, Geilo and Voss have a snow record you can depend on, as well as fine facilities for beginners. March and April are the ideal months.

Glacial attractions: Even in summer, you can experience the majesty of ice. Jostedalsbreen glacier is easily reached from the fjord country north of Bergen.

Food and drink: Prices might be high but you'll dine well on breakfast and dinner buffets where fish, seafood and maybe reindeer take pride of place. It's best to take your own drinks however!

Vibrant cities: Oslo has all you might expect from a capital city, but Bergen has the advantage of a real maritime feel and fascinating medieval history.

Island life: A trip to the remote Lofoten Islands is unforgettable. Fishing is still the main industry and they are served by Hurtigruten coastal ships.

Furthest north: The visitor centre at the North Cape tells you this is the furthest point north on the European mainland, but another promontory nearby claims the same distinction.

Norway has got to be one of the most scenic countries in the world, and one that is increasingly easy to reach as more air links open up - now is most certainly the time to think about a holiday in Norway - it is simple to organise an independent trip, or of course you will find many specialist tour operators who feature city breaks, cruises and special interest holiday packages. by Jimi St Pierre

Animal To Watch For In Caves

2008-12-16T18:02:00.001-08:00

The sinister and damp chambers of a cave perform as home to several creatures that can be both scary and crawly. Some animals are accustomed to go inside caves just to relax or hibernate; while others stanch navy dwellers that can't live outside the caves. No concern how big a cave is, it is an universe to countless animals that can be delicate or risky, minute or gargantuan.

Getting into caves could be the essential adventure for you. Nevertheless such activity can show dangers that lurk in the dusk. Living creatures can rapidly capture you off protect and give you a prickling or, shoddier, killing. So be equipped for these animals when cave exploring.

Bats dwell inside caves to withhold from the light of day. A little disturbance could certainly start them and, before you know it, hundreds or thousands of panic-stricken bats will be rapid your way and you can simply get immovable in the blow. With razor definite teeth and claws, bats can rip your cave clothes or your skin. If this happens, sentry your eyes or you will live in darkness evermore.

Snakes honey the cold and unlit spaces; and the cave is a total haunt for these crawling predators. Snakes are perilous in two conduct; they could be noxious or constrictors. So be alert for snakes, they raid without alarm when they feel threatened. Be assured to attire protective clothes especially if you are new to cave exploration.

Bears live in caves to hibernate. It would be unfortunate if ever you would unsettle a bear in hibernation or encounter one that is on the way out of hibernation. Bears are amazingly sharp and tiring animals; and there have been actual news of bears attacking humans. So be ready, know if the cave you are exploring is within a region famous for bears.

Ever heard of the New York subway alligator? Well, that hearsay is pure urban legend. Nevertheless it signifies how crocodiles and alligators honey murky and damp environment particularly when they are laying eggs. When you are inside caves, especially those near lakes or swamps, be alert for these big reptiles because, no necessary to declare, they can easily have you for breakfast or dine.

Creepy crawlers are abundant inside caves. That is why you also have to watchdog out for spiders, frogs, insects, and minor reptiles like salamanders and iguanas. While some crawlers could be very vicious, most of them are downright uncomfortable if ever they get to you. by basketball753

Things to do on Holiday in Madagascar

2008-12-16T17:57:00.000-08:00

With its exceptional diversity in geography, biodiversity and culture, there's something new for you to do each time you visit. The following are popular activities that you might like to consider:

Lazy Days at The Beach
Madagascar is famous for its fine white sands and calm, clear waters, making it ideal for a relaxing day at the beach as well as snorkeling when the tide is low. Some ideals spots to experience the characteristic sandy white beaches include Nosy Ve, and Anakao.

Madagascar's Unique Wildlife
Madagascar is home to some of the most extraordinary wildlife including lemurs, a rainbow-array of chameleon species and bird species you will find nowhere else in the world. Berenty Private Reserve is a popular hotspot for wildlife viewing in Madagascar and is most popular for its brown lemur, ring-tailed lemur and sifaka populations.

Madagascar's Unique Flora
Madagascar's unique wildlife is sustained by its unique flora. Two recommended spots are: Adohahela National Park - the reserve has three distinct zones of rainforest, spiny forest and the east-west transition forest, which is the last place on earth you will find the Triangle Palm tree. Mandena Conservation Zone - the zone protects rare littoral forest (similar to coastal rainforest), with 60ha of wetlands. It includes 22 species of endemic flora and 200 large tree species.

Hiking & Walks at Andringitra National Park
The national park was established to protect the fauna and flora in the area. Its main attractions are its landscapes, vegetation and hiking. The main hiking circuits offer a spectacular adventure of waterfalls, caves, medicinal plants, forests, granite peaks and escarpments, and an encounter with the characteristic ring-tailed lemurs.

Tombs & Sub-fossil Elephant Bird Eggshells
Location: Anakao in the south A day exploring Anakao fishing village by foot is rewarded by discovering some ancient tombs at the peninsula and fragments of subfossil eggshells from the extinct Elephant Bird (Aepyornis). The elephant bird is said to have been so large in size that it could easily carry away a creature the size of an elephant.

Diving in Madagascar
Madagascar offers outstanding biodiversity amongst its reefs and islands. The coral reefs in this area have not been affected badly by coral bleaching (an effect of global warming) and you may come across almost every species of coral known in the western part of the Indian Ocean. By boat you may come across dolphins and hump-backed whales, and underwater you may be lucky enough to spot a whale shark.by John Simms