TRAVELLING

So you're planning a trip to Florida? You're not alone. About 50 million people visit Florida each year to take advantage of all that the beautiful state has to offer.

Here are some tips to make the most of your vacation.

1. Go to Sea World

Located in Orlando, the theme park capital of the world, Sea World offers something a little different from the rest of the parks. Dolphins! Who doesn't love them? But they've got lots of other fun sea critters, plus activities and rides. Fun for all!

2. Try Lummus Park and Beach

Known as Glitter Beach to the locals, this beautiful piece of South Beach in Miami (SoBe) is a favorite pick for photo shoots, and because of its majestic and unique beauty, it attracts a hugely-diverse mix of people including top celebs. If a fun Florida vacation for you includes a lot of people-watching then this lovely beach destination is a must.

3. Watch the Fireworks

If you're going to Disney World in Orlando make sure you remember to stick around after dark for their incredible pyrotechnic display. You won't be disappointed and this event will be a treasured memory of your perfect Florida vacation.

4. Feel Tropical in the Keys

While you're snorkeling, hiking, or dining in the Florida Keys, you'll feel like you're on an exotic Caribbean island, but you won't need a passport to get there. This is the southernmost region of the Sunshine State and driving to these islands is at least half the fun.

5. Canoe in the Everglades

The Everglades is 1.4 million acres of adventure, including hiking and kayaking. Be on the lookout for such endangered species as the green turtle, the Florida panther, and the American crocodile.

6. Relax on Amelia Island

Whether you stay in a bed-and-breakfast or a luxurious resort, you'll be in heaven on this beautiful island. While you're there, be sure to check out the charmingly eclectic shops of Fernandina Beach, which was once a Victorian seaport village.

7. Visit St. Augustine

You'll love the rich history and great shopping of this beautiful city. Spend some of your vacation moments learning more about the wonders of Saint Augustine and who knows, you may just find that Fountain of Youth that the Spanish explorers were so sure existed. Sign up for a guided tour so you can relax and enjoy the sights, and if you're brave enough, try the haunted tour!

8. Catch the Strawberry Festival

If you're going to Florida in late winter, check out the 11-day long Strawberry Festival, an annual event since 1935, where you'll find tons of carnival rides, activities, and strawberry snacks, plus live music every day from big names like Sara Evans, Josh Turner, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

9. Don't Forget Your Sunscreen

Even if you're not planning on going to any of the beaches, you're still going to the Sunshine State, after all, and you'll get lots of sun while you visit the sites no matter if you are in downtown Miami or strolling along the grounds at Epcot in Orlando. You don't want any painful sunburn to put a damper on your trip and a convenient package of sunscreen is a cheap and easy way to prevent this from happening.

10. Don't Stress About Money

If you've decided beforehand that you'll only spend a certain amount on souvenirs and that you'll go out for a nice dinner only a limited number of times, you'll be less likely to feel guilty and stressed when you part with some of your hard-earned money. But above all else you should remember, you're on a Florida vacation! Have fun!

Off the Venezuelan coast, in the Caribbean sea lies the island Curacao, having its capital at Willemstad. It consists of several islands, among which some are even uninhabited till date. Among the several languages spoken, the official ones are Dutch, Papiamento and English, although the sole recognized regional language is Spanish. It has a total area of 444 sq. Km, inhabited by a population of 140,796 (according to 2008 census). The currency is Netherlands Antillean Guilder.

There are different theories about how Curacao got its name. Curacao means heart in Portuguese.

Curacao is known as centre in trade, which means healing, as it has various floras growing in the island. Spanish traders named it Curacao which was continued by the Dutch. Another theory is that Curacao was the name the indigenous people of Curacao had used to label themselves.

Traveling Curacao

Curacao serves as a beautiful tourist destination and is a beautiful island which adds a charismatic charm to it. Following are airline companies that provide airline travel services to Curacao.

Aserca Airlines

Fly Exel

Jamaica Air

The Curacaos airport is quite a major airline stop. There will however be a departure tax of $32 which will be charged at times for your departure and arrival but at times, a waiver will also be given of these fees. The fee for flights to Aruba and Bonaire however costs to a price of around $8 USD.

Accommodations

Once at Curacao, you may find several hotels and resorts to suit you as per your requirement. However, we can help you find the best hotels and restaurants in the place. Some of the best hotels in Curacao are the Avila Beach Hotel located in Penstraat, the Breezes Curacao Resort located near Dr. M.L. King Boulevard, and Curacao Marriott Beach Resort in Piscaderabay.

Travel Tips

Clothing:

The place has a tropical temperature, so lose and casual clothes are preferable. Care should be taken to protect oneself from the sun, especially around noon. So hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotions should be carried along. Most of the indoor areas are air-conditioned, so take clothes accordingly. Shorts and sandals are not allowed in some of the restaurants and casinos

Currency:

Antillean Guilder is the currency locally used, also called the Florin. The exchange rate is, US $ 1= Nafl 1.78. The rate varies at shops and restaurant. All major shops and stores accept US dollars. Credit Cards and travelers cheques are easily accepted. The exchange office at the airport opens at 7.30 am till 4.00p.m. Also, almost all midsized shopping centres have an ATM.

Health:

There is no tropical illness as such in Curacao. Stomach disorders due to food generally dont happen. There is good hygiene supervision in the kitchens of the restaurants. Feel free to have whatever food you wish. But take good care of protecting yourself from the sun, especially in the afternoon. You may find sunglasses, t-shirts and sunscreen lotions helpful.

Attractions

The place has a number of spots to visit and plan trips. Of all the number of beautiful locations, here are some of the Day-Trips that you must surely go on for a ride and enjoy. These are surely the places you shouldnt miss:

Dolphin Academy:

This complex near sea aquarium is a shelter to six dolphins. There are natural basins linked to the sea, where these dolphins swim around. You can choose from among the various ways like swimming or snorkeling with the dolphins, or taking up training classes to communicate with the dolphins to get to know these mammals better.

Wild Curacao:

An expert on the local nature and history takes you through a special walking tour through exotic and intriguing places in the wild. These trips are organized only on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays. The full moon walk through the salt planes of Jan Tiel is simply breathtaking. Other places include Boca Table, West Punk, Knip Beach and Jan Oak.

The Ostrich Aloe Safari:

This ones simply amazing. You get on a zebra jeep and are driven off to the secluded North Eastern Island, with a guide narrating you about the countryside. At the Aloe plantation, you get acquainted to the healing values of the Aloe plants that are grown there. Next, you get an encounter with the Ostrich.

The Herb garden of Den Paradera: This place was cultivated by Dinah Verris in the past gives you knowledge about the wide variety of crops that are grown there. You can even buy souvenirs and products.

Hofi Pastoor:

This is a small garden that is near the village of Barber. It provides you a nice experience if you are a nature lover. This place is located on the road to Westpunt in Barberton.

Curacao is a great tourist destination which invites people all over the world to enjoy its natural beauty and various exotic locations. A perfect mixture of pleasure and solace.

Albania is a mountainous country and the one of the smallest countries of Europe. The residents supposedly descended from ancient Illyrians.

Culture

The culture of Albania is majorly influenced by that of the mainland Greeks especially in the urban locality; nodding one's head means '˜no' where as shaking the head means '˜yes'. To greet someone, handshaking is preferred, though Shoku (Comrade) was used before, which has been long forgotten now. People dress informally here. Swim suits are meant for the beaches, otherwise women are expected not to dress in a revealing outfit. When addressing someone prefix Zoti(Mr) or Zonja(Mrs) before the name and always remember to carry some gifts when visiting someone, although flowers aren't much acceptable. The guests are served with coffee, raki or sweets. Smokers don't have to worry much, but they should avoid it where they see a sign of Ndalohet Duhani or Ndalohet pirja e duhanit.

Travelling within the country

Buses with relatively cheap fares operate in the main cities of the country or taxis are another choice which provided service for some main hotels.
Visit Dajti Mountain and experience Dajti Ekspres Cable car for an unforgettable 15 minute ride passing through Dajt Oark to reach Tirana. The route is about 4.2 km long and the ride costs ~6.5.Alpha Yachting provides crewed yacht which is a luxury in itself. Tirana Bank is the best place for withdrawing money as it allows access to Visa cards.

Eating Out

Restaurants are not always sufficiently heated, so always wear warm clothes if out in the night during winters. Foreigners are charged more than the locals. Both the entry fees as well as any merchandise will be on a higher scale, so it's better not to reveal the fact that you are a foreigner when out on the streets.

Site Seeing

If you enjoy canoeing, this is the right place to be. There are places right outside Tirana which is an amazing site for not just canoeing, but also rock climbing, hiking, and camping.

Accommodation

If you want a 5-Star ambience, try The Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers, which is situated in the middle of a shopping and entertainment center. There are about 151 rooms and 56 suites. So, along with the comfort, one can shop at once convenience here. Another hotel which provides all modern facilities is Hotel Mondial. It is located 1000 m away from the city and is also a good example of traditional architecture.

Getting There

One of the best and the easiest means is to go by air. Albanian Airlines is the national airline which works in collaboration with Tyrolean Airways, and provides service to almost all the big European cities. The airport, Mother Teresa, is 16 miles or 26 km away from the capital. A tourist bus is available every 3 hrs to get to the city center and takes about 30 minutes to get there. Taxis are available round the clock. While waiting for any transport service, tourists can check out the duty free shops, bank, eateries and car hire at the airport. A departure tax of $10 USD is imposed on all foreign nationals. Check out www.flyalbanian .com for flight times and offers.

If trying to get there by sea, try the ferry services which are provided by Adriatic Line and Agoudimos. The main ports are Durres (has ferry connection to Italy, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, and Ancona), Vlora (has ferry connection to Bari, and Brindisi), Saranda (has connection to Corfu), Shen Gjini (has ferry connection to Bari). Check out www.adriatica.it and www.aqoudimos-lines.com for more information.

Bus is another option. Buses start from Istanbul, Athens and Sofia. Internal passengers have lots of options with bus services provided. If traveling by road in a private car, there is road network to the Kosovo region, but they are too dangerous to use because of the political tensions within the region. Crossings at Hani I Hotit, Bllata, Oafa e Thaes, Tushemisht, Gorica, Kapshtica, and kakavija can be taken. If tired one can take halts at hotels or other designated areas. There is a network of 18,000 km, out of which only 7450 km are main roads, for local travelers. About 2138km stretch of these roads is in poor condition and has pot holes, and utmost safety precautions should be taken when driving on such roads. Speed limit should be strictly followed on highways as well as within towns. Driving at night should be better avoided because of the absence of street lights on the road except for urban areas. Traffic should drive on the right-hand. There is a shortage of gas stations in the countryside, so filling the gas tank completely when passing through urban area is recommended and since there is lack of national recovery system; travelers should be prepared for an emergency or breakdown before hand. One should carry necessary documents like International Driving Permit and national driving license.

Duty Free Items

Following are the items that can be carried without customs duty being levied on them:
1. 1liter of spirits or 2liter of wine
2. 250ml of eau de toilette
3. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
4. 50ml of perfume.

Prohibited Items

Things that are prohibited to carry are firearms, narcotics and ammunitions. Special export permission should be taken for precious metals, books, antiques, work of art, or material of national or historic value.

Wolverhampton - West Midlands was graced with Queen Victoria's presence just after her dear beloved Prince Albert's death in the year 1866 November. Her visit was even more special because it is though to be her first since his passing.

The gifted sculptor Thomas Thorneycraft sculpted a magnificent life-like statue of her dear Prince and cast it in bronze. This is the reason for the Queen's visit to unveil this artwork for the entire city to see and honor.

In the 1770's Wolverhampton was best known for the remarkable steel jewelry and toys they made. From something so dreary as steel beautiful works of art where hand crafted. Things like trinkets, rings, swords hilts and even extravagant buckles. This trade continued to flourish well into the 1790's.

Art has always been an ever present part of Wolverhampton and it shows by the opening of The School of Practical Art in the 1850's and then the Art Gallery The Grand's association with the school upon its opening in 1884.

Famous people of the present and past haveresided here as well. Famous sportsman include Percy Stollard, Olympic Swim Medalist Anita Lonsbrough, Denise Lewis and Bert Williams. Famous oliticians include Sir Charles Pelham Villiers MP, Button Gwinnett and Baroness Helene Hayman.

Famous actors include Goldie and Nigel Bennett. Famous well -known musicians are Robert Plant, Jamelia and Dave Holland as well as the rock groups The Mighty Lemon Drops, Babylon Zoo and Cornershop.

Art lovers will delight in the historical places that are brimming over with current and vintage art pieces and performances. In 1894 The Grand Theatre on Lichfield Street opened for the first show. Since then Charlie Chaplin made a debut here with his hilarious antics as did Sean Connery in a well based theater show

For performances either on an amateur or even a professional venue try going to the Arena Theatre on Wulfruna Street and catch a great show or production. For crafts of a contemporary kind visit The highly renowned Bliston Arts Gallery and for the more hip and modern art try the Tate Bantak House where you will want a little of everything the pop art lover would want.

The Royal Air Force Fire Service museum and Royal Air Force museum are places every child would love to visit with their dad. There is also the historically rich Chillington Hall and Himley House as well to tour through and be amazed at the architecture of the times.

An elegant Victorian manor house named The Wightwick is full of history and beauty in its design and its rooms. Mr. Theodore Mander built this home for his family. He came from a long line of 19th century industrialist who where very successful for the times they where living in. Edward Ould did all Designing of the home including additions of a parlor room and more later on.

Atop the highest point within the center of the city you will spy the architectural rich St. Peters collegiate Church. The earliest parts still standing today have been dated to the 1200's. More architectural magic can be found from the 15th century. This is truly a place you just have to take a tour off while vacationing here.

This is the perfect vacation to enjoy food, music, art, history and so much more with your entire family. Just think of Wolverhampton - West Midlands as the perfect historically rich vacation destination.

New Zealand is known for its great natural beauty and one of the best ways to see the country is to hire a campervan and explore by road. For those planning to travel on New Zealands roads, here are some useful safety tips.

Drivers should be aware of New Zealand traffic laws. Motorists can legally drive in New Zealand for up to 12 months with a current drivers licence from their home country or an International Driving Permit (IDP). If the licence is not in English, drivers will need to carry an English translation by an accepted agency with them while driving.

In New Zealand, they drive on the left-hand side of the road and give way (yield) to oncoming traffic from the right. If this is different from the situation you are accustomed to in your home country, you may want to take some time to get oriented on the quieter back roads before driving in heavy traffic.

The maximum speed limit in New Zealand is 100 kilometres per hour (100km/h) in the country and 50km/h when driving in urban traffic. If you are towing a trailer or caravan, the maximum speed is 80km/h on the open road. These speed limits pertain to normal driving conditions when it is safe to travel at those speeds. During bad weather or in the presence of other hazardous conditions such as people or animals on or near the road, drivers must not exceed 50km/h.

A tourist may want to go at a slower pace than other drivers. For drivers going below the speed limit with others waiting behind them, they should move to the left side of the road when it is safe to do so.

Signs are posted warning drivers of upcoming curves, and drivers should pay attention to these warnings. All signs use standard international symbols with distances given in kilometres. In New Zealand all drivers and passengers are required to wear safety belts, and children under five must use approved child restraints.

Overseas travellers will often suffer from jet lag, so it is important for drivers to make sure they are well rested before getting behind the wheel. If necessary, drivers should schedule their driving as not to interfere with their sleep patterns. Sleepy drivers should take breaks and naps, and if they find themselves nodding off while driving they should roll the windows wide open and pull over as soon as possible. Caffeinated drinks, such as tea or coffee can help drivers stay alert.

Drivers should try to get between 8 or 9 hours of sleep a night, or more if they are still feeling fatigued while driving. Also, it is a good idea to avoid driving more than 6 to 8 hours a day. Taking a break every two hours and walking around to increase blood circulation can help improve alertness and reduce fatigue. Another good idea is for drivers not to overeat as this can induce drowsiness. If possible, share driving times with other passengers.

Of course, one should never drink or take illegal drugs while driving. The legal blood alcohol limit while driving in New Zealand is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood. However, any amount of alcohol can act as a depressant and contribute to drowsiness while driving. So the best advice is that drivers should not drink any alcohol at all.

Always take into account the vehicle's size while driving, along with the overall load weight, since this can influence your ability to brake and stop the vehicle. Also, drivers should find out what emergency services their campervan hire company provides.

Are you gearing up to plan your next family vacation? Due to the economy, many families are vacationing closer to home. After all, it is no secret that the affordable family vacations are located close by. With that said, you might be surprised when you look at Jamaica. Yes, Jamaica is often associated with luxurious romantic getaways and yes Jamaica is typically associated with a huge price tag, but it doesnt have to be. Despite what you might have heard in the past, affordable family vacations can be found in Jamaica! How so?

All-Inclusive Jamaica Resorts: In Jamaica, you will find a great selection of all-inclusive resorts. While some of these resorts do have age restrictions that prohibit children under the age of say 14 or 16 from staying onsite, there are many resorts designed for families and even more resorts where guests of all ages are welcomed. These resorts are perfect for affordable family vacations because they have activities, facilities, and services designed for children and their parents. For instance, it is common to find daycare centers or babysitting services, kiddie and family pools, game rooms, family-friendly restaurants, and more.
But wait! What about the affordable family vacations part? Here is the best part! Not only do you save time (one arrangement plans and pays for most of your trip), but you are also likely to save money. What you are buying is a packaged travel deal. Your stay includes your room or suite, many forms of onsite entertainment, qualifying airport transfers, tips, food, drinks, and snacks. Saving money isnt guaranteed, but most families do save anywhere from $50 to hundreds of dollars! Many tourists just like you try to estimate the cost of all their food, drinks, activities, and so forth at the end of their trip. When comparing that estimate to the cost of their all-inclusive travel package, most saved a considerable amount of money.

Make Use of Inclusions: If you do opt for a stay at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, getting affordable family vacations is easy when you make use of all inclusions. Basically, these are things you already paid for because they were included in the cost of your stay. So lets stay that your resort has a rock climbing wall; you and your children should use it! In fact, the more you make use of a resorts inclusions, the more money you save
Traditional Vacation Packages: While we are particularly found of all-inclusive Jamaica travel packages for affordable family vacations, there are standard travel packages available as well. You can and should examine these. We are sure youll find all-inclusive to be your best bet, but we also encourage you to examine all your options. For example, a standard Jamaica travel package typically includes airfare, car rental, and hotel stay. If looking to keep it simple, this might be a good choice for you. However, keep in mind that your food, drinks, snacks, and tips arent included; therefore, you will need to cover these yourself. Families looking to plan affordable family vacations need to do a lot of planning and preparation when staying at a traditional hotel.
Moneysaving Travel Discounts: Whether you opt for an all-inclusive Jamaica travel package or a traditional travel package, you are encouraged to book your travel plans directly through the resort. Yes those third-party travel websites are nice, but the resorts and hotels themselves tend to offer even better deals and discounts. The type of discounts you find will vary, but it is not uncommon to get stay X number of nights and get one free, book now and save later deals, and so forth. These deals can significantly lower the cost of your trip giving you affordable family vacations!
The examples above are just a few of the many ways that you and other families can find affordable family vacations. Other tips include price comparing all-inclusive resorts, booking your trip in advance, and maybe travel in the off-season where travel costs are lower. Since you will find a lot of deals and discounts now, there is no need to wait to book your trip. So what are you waiting for? Jamaica is within your reach; it can be the home of affordable family vacations just like yours!

A catered chalet holiday is a perfect holiday compromise; it is less formal than a hotel yet less of a challenge than a catered holiday. The staff are there to make your stay as enjoyable as possible by keeping your room clean and tidy, providing excellent catering services and creating a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
The aim of a good chalet holiday is to create a real home from home feel without the usual stresses and strains of ordinary home life, and with a few luxuries thrown in for good measure.

On a luxury chalet holiday the staff will make it easy for you to be able to enjoy all the benefits that the ski resort has to offer.
Different chalet companies may vary but in general you will start the day with a wholesome breakfast to get you started for the day ahead. Luxury chalet holidays provide an extensive catering service and breakfast; lunch and dinner are available so there is no need to worry about getting food on the go. And with all that exercise on the slopes working up an appetite you will definitely appreciate some quality home-cooked food.
Most people are very eager to get skiing or snowboarding on the first day as quickly as possible. It may be that you are a seasoned skier wanting advice on wheres best to explore or you may be a novice skier that needs lessons; then the staff at your chalet holiday will be able to help you. Good chalet staff should be able to advise you on everything from information about the chalets themselves to the area you are staying in
You can organise skiing lessons in advance to your arrival to eliminate any unnecessary hassle from your stay. Some companies can even sort out lift passes for you and advise you on where to hire any equipment. The staff on a chalet holiday are quite literally invaluable.

With the staff looking after your every need, you are free to enjoy the beautiful surroundings that come with a luxury chalet holiday. After a tiring day on the slopes you can relax at the resort, refuel with some high quality wholesome food and soak up the afternoon sun on the terrace or the balcony of your chalet. Many chalets also provide a bar area so you can relax with an alcoholic drink at the end of a tiring day.
A chalet holiday can last for as long as you want it to, perhaps you are looking to make a quick getaway to the slopes for a brief break away or maybe you are looking to spend an entire winter in an exciting destination. The warm and welcoming atmosphere of a chalet holiday will make you want to stay for a life time and that is why people tend to return to their favourite resort again and again.
The luxury of being looked after following an energetic day on the slopes appeals to many and this is why luxury chalet holidays are so popular. Of course different resorts will vary in quality and facilities but the concept remains the same. You have the same luxuries of a hotel stay without the formalities; and all the freedom of a self-catering holiday without the hassle.

As we know how to hard to choose the right web hosting and finding an appropriate web host from among the thousands that offer the service can be a bit like hunting a needle in a haystack. A web hosting reviews, however, can offer a starting point for your search. In order to place your website online you must do so through a web host – a company or individual that offers access to the Internet through a server.

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Good lacework hosting should name notably of support without the further cost. Your online storefront is initiate 24/7, and inasmuch as the succour should adequately ensure your enterprise at all times.

Bandwidth is the amount of data your site can transfer in a given period of time. This is sometimes referred to as transfer. Storage is basically the measure of hard drive space your web site is allowed to take up on a server.

Dedicated hosting , or more like dedicated server, is where your web site gets one entire server to itself. You are pretty much entitled to all of the resources this server has to offer. The entire bandwidth and hard drive capacity is yours including memory for processing and whatever else. With larger, traffic intensive web sites dedicated hosting is pretty much a must but shared hosting is usually more than sufficient for individuals and small to smallish medium businesses.

Shared hosting is basically when a hosting company puts your web site on a server with web sites from other customers. Your hosting provider will usually give you monthly limits for bandwidth, storage, email accounts and such. Depending on what server you were put on and how good your hosting provider is sometimes things can get a little crowded on a server and cause your site to be slow and unresponsive.

Free hosting is shared hosting you get from a free service like geocities or another. It is usually incredibly limited. Sometimes you can "earn" a decent free hosting account by posting in forums and such but in my opinion paid hosting and a real domain name are much better.

Paid hosting is actually inexpensive these days. You can get good solid hosting that will support a small business for under $100 per year. Usually hosting providers include a free domain name and free setup as well as a money back guarantee.

Be vigilant and have fun. Getting a web site is the cheapest way to start a business.

If you are coming to Australia for a holiday you may be coming through Brisbane, it's a popular way to get into the country. This city has everything, all the art, culture and music you could want, and it's almost everywhere you go. Of course there will be great places to shop and to dine while you are there. But Australia offers a lot more than the big cities, it has some incredible natural spaces. To have a change of pace while you are here, stay in Brisbane and then go north a bit to experience the Sunshine Coast, home of the fabulous beaches.

The Sunshine Coast is a region known for its beautiful clean beaches, relaxing atmosphere and tranquil hinterland. This region offers a beach front holiday combined with miles of mountains and valleys, offering many vineyards and scenic spots. It is a great way to off set the city life found in Brisbane.

Maroochy is one of the most popular tourist areas on the Sunshine Coast and offers many incredible accommodations as well as fine dining establishments. There are many adventure opportunities in this region as well as fun tourist attractions to keep the kids happy. Fishing is a popular activity as well as beach combing and people have been known to turn up some exciting treasures on these shores.

Participate in day tour on Fraser Island or take the opportunity to explore the wilderness by four wheel vehicle. The number of opportunities to go are amazing, explore the rainforest or relax with a romantic beachside dinner, or with a walk on the beach in the moonlight. The number of things to do here will fill all your time, it will be hard to make a decision about which one you will want to experience.

Whatever your pleasure the Sunshine Coast is a nice place to spend a few days when visiting the Brisbane region. Take a holiday from the city life and breathe in the fresh air in this beautiful coastal region. A perfect holiday destination for international and domestic travelers alike, the Sunshine Coast of Australia is a tropical getaway that will allow you to relax and appreciate nature on a whole new level.

King's Lynn in Norfolk was known as Bishops Lynn prior to the 16th century - the word Lynn being derived from the word for a tidal pool. It was a port town and during the ages has been used to export different produce.

Founded in 1095, where a settlement grew up around a Benedictine Abbey, this area was part of an estate owned by one Bishop De Losinga. Rights to hold markets were granted in 1101 and this charming Norfolk Town is still a market town today. Starting on Valentines Day a great fair is still held for two weeks.

In the 12th Century Bishop Turbus a church was erected in the honor of the patron saint of sailors, St. Nicholas, and Kings Lynngrew to become a large and very important town with a population of around 5 500 residents. Salt, wool and grain were exported from this port, while timber, pitch iron and fish came in from Scandinavia by sea and this may have proved its downfall.

In 1331 a severe fire affected the town and perhaps this would have been fine had it happened after the Black Death which was brought in by Sailors in 1348. But unfortunately things never happen this way. The Black Death was already sweeping Europe and had it not been for trading ties, Britain's may never have suffered this calamity. When it reached Kings Lynn it wiped out half the population. The last plague outbreak was in 1665 and thatched roofs were also banned in 1572.

Stone walls had been built to protect the town by the 13th century and in 1406 St Georges was built as the firs religious guildhall - this was converted into a theatre as late as the 20th century.

Kings Lynn while it was still Bishops Lynn was a magnet to religious guilds of all kinds and from 1500 to 1510 Thoresby College was built, which was their first religious guild, but the king took control of the town in 1537 and renamed it Kings Lynn. Guess who? Why Henry VIII of course! Priories, friaries and abbeys were closed.

As you can imagine, there is a good deal of very interesting historical aspect to be found in this town even today, and perhaps the most significant historical landmark is Greyfriars Tower.

This feature is the only surviving part of a magnificent Franciscan friary from medieval times. The tower was rapidly decaying in recent times until it found itself a finalist in the 2003 series of BBCs Restoration. This brought attention to the leaning tower as it is called and it has now been completely repaired.

No matter which part of the world you are from, there is bound to be a fairly easy way for you to get to the part of Africa you wish to travel. You can fly from most major ports into South Africa with SAA. From there, you can get a connecting route to almost anywhere in Africa you please.

Other major airlines from Europe, Australia and America frequently have flights to South Africa. British Airways, Lufthansa and KLM are of the most frequent European Airlines. Emirates Airline has regular flights from the East.

It can often be cheaper to fly to Johannesburg from London via Dubai with Emirates than direct with other airlines. This may also be the case if you are flying from Australia.

If there are no direct flights from your own country to the African country you are visiting, then you will need to get a connecting flight from OR Tambo aiport in Johannesburg.

Most African countries have their own airlines which do domestic flights between major towns in their country and to other African countries.

South Africa has a number of airlines of which quite a few lost cost airlines that fly between Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Mango, 1Time and Kulula have great deals if you book at the right time.

Their air crafts are most probably the ugliest on the tarmac but they get the job done and you won't ever get onto the wrong plane. Mango is very distinctly orange, the entire plane is orange. 1Time looks like a dirty red spot and Kulula a bright dark green overgrown bug.

If North Africa is your destination, you may consider driving from Southern Europe and taking the ferry from Spain to Morocco. These trips require much more planning than flying in.

Road networks in Africa are from average to bad to non-existent in certain places. Hospitals and medical services are few and far apart and not all African countries are safe to drive in if you are not an expert on schemes and bribery.

The Italian cruise liner, the MSC Melody, do some trips between Durban on the East Coast of Africa and Genoa in Italy. After the recent attack on this liner by pirates from Somalia this service might now be in jeopardy.

Quite a number of boat cruises are available between Durban and some of the Islands in the Indian Ocean. The MSC Sinfonia has regular cruises to Portuguese and Mozambique Island, of the coast of Mozambique, and occasionally to Mauritius.

The ideal for any traveler coming to the Southern part of Africa will be to start the trip in South Africa and from there travel to the other African countries.

Patong Beach: A Variety of Activities and Accommodations

Patong has nearly everything imaginable that suits all tastes of any traveler. The business traveler or the leisure explorer will be comfortable here. Patong Beach Resort &Spa will make everyone feel special with its exquisite atmosphere and service. It has a total of 160 rooms. There are 70 Superior, 46 Deluxe, 40 Family, and 4 Junior Suites. There is a poolside bar for cocktails and a sports bar with a pool table.

The resort is very close to the beach, enabling a myriad of social and athletic activities to be readily accessible. These include wakeboarding, jet skiing, kite boarding, and parasailing. The low-key tourist can indulge in relaxation on the beach with a cool breeze and waiter to beach chair service. To get a little exercise, there is volleyball, Frisbee, and football in many places along the beach. After sunbathing, shopping, and sightseeing, travelers can take a pleasure cruise along the river in the evening. Why not rent your own private island? More adventurous travelers can go bungee-jumping, trekking through the jungles and forests on elephants. Rock-climbing, shooting guns, or boating trip to Kho Phi Phi and Phang Nga are available also. Jeeps, cars, and motorcycles are also available to rent for exploring the many outlying areas of Phuket Island. Nature lovers can visit the Phuket Butterfly Farm and Insectarium. There is also a local zoo and a snake farm. Slightly more unusual excursions include the Phuket Monkey School, Orchid Farm, The Gibbon Rehabilitation Center, and The Sea Shell Museum.
Many tourists and travelers from all walks of life visit Patong for the internationally famous nightlife. Discos, Irish pubs, cabaret shows, and an endless choice of bars can keep a vivacious traveler up all night. Shoppers can fulfill all their needs at the numerous markets, malls, and souvenir shops providing many accessories and unique gifts. The ubiquitous and affordable Thai massage parlors are available after a long walk around town. For expatriate and tourist eating choices, there is nearly every kind of Western European and American cuisine available, along with many others. There are many events to see and participate in to experience Thai culture. Among them are: Muay Thai Boxing, Thai cooking classes, and Thai language courses.

Patong Beach is an exciting and resilient place which reflects the character of the Thai people. There are a lot of accommodations available as Phuket has developed a variety of luxury resorts. Christmas is a the high season, so it is important to book a hotel in advance at this time The swaying palm trees and fun-loving people, create an opportunity to experience a vibrant culture. Living the beach lifestyle at an affordable cost is many peoples' dream. Patong Beach will leave lasting memories for anyone who visits this beautiful beach. Remember to book a room early during the winter months, as this is the high season.

Are you looking to take a vacation but are unsure of what places to consider or how to begin? If so, regardless of your age or the size of your family, consider including amusement parks in your next trip.

Amusement parks can be the ideal vacation for a wide variety of people. Whether you are looking for a trip packed with scheduled events and entertainment or if you would prefer a wide open trip with no agenda at all, visiting amusement parks can meet your hopes for a great trip. A great thing about amusement parks is that they are full of options no matter what kind of trip you hope to have. Contrary to popular belief you will find much more than just huge rides and cotton candy at amusement parks, although you will certainly find those things too.

One of the best things about amusement parks is the wide range of people that they attract and entertain. Families with young children, families with older teens, young couples without children or older adults can all enjoy amusement parks equally. Not many other vacation options can keep people of all ages and interests occupied and happy for hours on end. Your children may love visiting the petting zoo or getting their face painted. Amusement parks offer these things while also having tons of fun adult rides and shows as well. Your whole family can choose an activity they would like to do and then you can fill entire days enjoying the fun of being together doing things you each love.

There are amusement parks in many states around the country. Do a little research to find amusement parks near you or in areas that you would like to consider visiting. Some amusement parks will have hotels onsite or very nearby that can sometimes be purchased as part of a package with tickets to the amusement park. Make sure that the amusement parks offer everything that you and your family will want to enjoy. Usually, the larger the amusement park, the more opportunities and activities will be offered. Often you can purchase family packages that offer tickets to amusement parks for a specific number of days at discounted rates. You will have to do a little planning ahead to know how many days of vacation you want to spend.

So get excited about your next vacation! Make plans to visit amusement parks and experience days of nothing but fun for the whole family.

Andalucia, which is Spain’s southernmost autonomous community, is a place of unrivalled natural beauty. The state, which consists of eight provinces, each unique in its own offerings is rising up meteorically on everyone’s chart of the best tourist destinations in the world due to its varied and till now, untouched and undiscovered beauty. Andalucia’s natural beauty is unique in itself because it is one of those rare places on earth that offer mankind all the treasures of nature at one place. So while the region boasts of sandy beaches and untouched countryside villages on one hand, it is complemented by snow covered peaks and lush jungles on the other. Excellent weather, more than 3000 sunny hours an year, beautiful natural ports, awe inspiring historical monuments and inhabitants who are full of life and hospitality have made Andalusia one place where everybody wants to go.
No wonder then, that the eight provinces of Andalucia-- Cadiz, Cordoba, Almeria, Jaen, Granada, Huelva, Malaga and Seville—boast not just of a large number of tourists at any time of the year, but also of a varied cosmopolitan environment created by thousands of expatriates who have made this beautiful state their home. However, the people of this community, instead of taking away from the natural beauty of this place, have added to Andalucia’s charm because of their extremely tolerant, exuberant and fun loving nature.

Andalucia’s untouched beauty has something to offer to everyone. While the coastlines of Cadiz and Huelva boast of Atlantic beaches and seas that are perfect for water sports, the coastline from Almeria to the Strait of Gibraltar offers a smooth sailing climate that perfect for nature and animal lovers. If you want more action then you can head towards the tourist centers of Costa del Sol, Costa Tropical, the Costa de la Luz and Costa Almeria along the region’s 900 kilometer coast line. There are a large number of places on the coast where whale Andalucian tourist spots are famous not just for their natural beauty, but also for their hip and happening social scene, discos, nightclubs and a large amount of celebrity population that keeps frequenting them. Sports lovers can have fun skiing on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range on indulging in a wide variety of water sports on the coast.
On the other hand, if you want to experience the peace and quiet of the countryside, you can turn towards the famous “white villages” in the provinces of Seville, Cadiz, Granada and Cordoba, which transport modern day travelers to almost medieval villages where life seems to have stopped at a perfect point in time. The villages’ old world charm is peppered by scenes of natural beauty ---lush green mountains, meadows and fields that reassure you that yes indeed, Andalucia is paradise on earth. If you are an adventure or nature lover, then a trip to at least one of the famous national parks is a must for you. Not only will you be able to see a large number of endangered species and other wild animals, the trek itself is an unforgettable adventure.

My Andes mountains adventure started with a graveyard.

All the monuments near the first refuge weren't for climbers without skill. This graveyard is testament to the unpredictability of high places. Chimborazo is very high. It randomly drops large rocks or pieces of glacier on you, and has weather that changes by the minute. Hiking to the second refuge, we could hear the rocks and pieces of ice falling somewhere above.

"El Refugio Edward Whymper" is a simple, unheated, hut at 16,000 feet. It's named after the English climber who first made it to the summit of the mountain. It isn't completely unheated. When somebody feels like carrying wood up to 5000 meters, the fireplace might raise the temperature 3 degrees.

We drank "mate de coca" a tea made of coca leaves, which are also used to make another product - one that is taken up the nose. That seemed to help. We went hiking for a short while, which was the sum total of my acclimatization. Paco cooked something, and after eating I slept for at least an hour before starting the ascent at eleven that night.

Mount Chimborazo

Mount Chimborazo is in Ecuador, about 100 miles south of the Equator. At it's peak, it is the furthest point from the center of our planet. Earth bulges at the equator, making Mount Chimborazo even further out there than Everest. It's the closest point to the sun on the planet, and yet still the coldest place in Ecuador.

Paco, my guide, woke me up at ten that evening. He frowned when he saw my sleeping bag, which packed up smaller than a football, and weighed a pound. My frameless 13-ounce backpack didn't seem to impress him either. In any case, although it was below freezing in the hut, just as he said it would be, I had stayed warm - as I said I would.

Paco didn't speak a word of English, and I was just learning Spanish. Since our whole group consisted of him and me, we had some communication problems. I thought, for example, that the "night" (a few hours) in the hut was included in the $130 fee. He thought I was a mountain climber.

Actually, I had practiced once with crampons and an ice axe on a sledding hill near my house. I climbed forty feet while people walked by with their sleds, warning their kids to stay away from me.

I think Paco was telling me he didn't like the papery rainsuit I was using as a shell. He frowned at my homemade one-ounce ski mask. When he saw my insulating vest, a feathery piece of poly batting with a hole cut in it for my head, I just pretended not to understand what he was saying.

I hadn't planned to climb Chimborazo with such lightweight gear, but I had come to Ecuador on a courier flight, and could bring only carry-on luggage. I had only 12 pounds in the pack to begin with, so by the time I put on all my clothes that night, the weight on my back was irrelevant. The weight of my body, however, wasn't. Paco had to coax me up that mountain.

Glaciers Near The Equator

The glaciers start near the hut. Hiking soon became mountaineering. I put on crampons for the second time in my life. During one of my many breaks ("Demasiado" - too many, which I pretended not to understand when Paco explained in Spanish), I noticed that the thermometer I carried had bottomed out at 5 degrees fahrenheit. I wasn't cold, but I was exhausted at times - the times when I moved. When I sat still I felt like I could run right up that mountain.

We struggled (okay, I struggled) up the ice, hiking, climbing, jumping over crevasses, until I quit at 20,000 feet. I had also quit at 19,000 feet, and at 18,000 feet. Quitting had become my routine. Lying had become Paco's, so he told me straight-faced that the summit was just fifty feet higher. Maybe I wanted to believe him, or maybe the lack of oxygen had scrambled my brain. In any case, I started up the ice again.

We stumbled onto the summit at dawn. Or rather, I stumbled. Paco, who seemed somewhat frail down at the refuge, was in his element at 20,600 feet. Dirtbag Joe, a nineteen-year-old kid from California with ten dollars in his pocket, borrowed equipment, and my Ramen noodles in his stomach, was waiting with a smile.

The sky was a stunning blue color that you never see at lower elevations. Cotapaxi, a classic snow-covered volcano to the north, was clearly visible 70 or 80 miles away. Chimborazo's shadow fell across forty miles of land to the west. I had never seen anything like it.

Handshakes all around, and it was time to get off the mountain. I was told you don't want to be on Mount Chimborazo when she wakes up. She wakes up at nine a.m.

Paco was looking at his watch, and telling me to hurry. He got further and further ahead. Was he going to abandon me? When I caught up to him at the hut at nine a.m., I heard the rocks begin to fall out of the ice above as the sun warmed it. Now I understood. We really needed to get down to the refuge by nine. A thousand feet lower a photograph that mercifully doesn't show my shaking knees ended my Andes mountains adventure.

Coit Tower is a typical San Francisco landmark located on Telegraph Hill to the north side of the Financial District. Coit Tower could be seen from many places of the city, and is reachable via a steep road and from the usual walking path. Coit Tower stands 180 feet tall, and many visitors like to contact the top of the tower for eye-catching looks of San Francisco and the nearby areas. Coit Tower as well features a series of murals painted in the Works Progress Administration, portraying local occupations and neighborhoods.

Coit Tower was built with funds provided by Elizabeth Wythe
Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who donated a third of her fortune upon her death during 1929 to smarten the city of San Francisco. Lillie Coit was a world voyager, and brought back many relics from her experiences, but in fact regarded San Francisco as her true home and desired to stay a permanent legacy to the city. The funds were used to build two memorials: Coit Tower, and a sculpture in Washington Square that depicts three firemen.

It is generally believed that Coit Tower was built as a memorial to the firemen of San Francisco, as Lillie Coit was a lifelong enthusiast of the fire department. However, in spite of the tower's similarity to a fire nozzle, many historians agree that Coit Tower was just built to improve the beauty of the city. Coit Tower is as well surrounded by steep sceneries grounds which are as well pretty pleasant to be walked through.

Visitors to Coit Tower could take a pulley to the top, appreciating the mind blowing murals along the way. The murals have been reinstated and as well particularly treated so that they would always remain integral, and are considered a very vital part of the history of San Francisco. Among other things, the murals portray farmers in the fields, a bank robbery, and a view into the port, a busy city street, and a lot of variety of other scenes as well. San Francisco Shuttle Tours are accessible of Coit Tower in which the murals are explained in detail. The walk is extremely physically demanding, and space for cars is also limited. Getting to Coit Tower is well values the attempt, however, as visitors are content with a peaceful setting and the striking views of a beautiful city.

The winds cut deeper and make progressively louder noises as the days shorten. Fog creeps in from the sea more often. And then Halloween shows up, as if to really remind us about things otherworldly. It's no wonder Oregon's northern coast has a load of ghostly tales swirling about. It's no wonder the remake of "The Fog" currently in release is set in a fictional North Oregon Coast town. From flying pots and specters who've moved from one building to another in Seaside, the ghostly legends of a hotel in the Nehalem Bay, to the myriad of hauntings in ancient Astoria - there's plenty for the ghost-hunting tourist in this pristine and stunning area.

SLEEPLESS IN SEASIDE

Tales of things creepy abound in Seaside - but they're hard to find. It's almost as if they've been swept under the carpet.

For almost 100 years, the old Hotel Seaside (later named The Seasider) was a grandiose, beautiful building that was a sort of centerpiece to Seaside, at the Turnaround. So it's no surprise that place acquired tales of apparitions and otherworldly guests over the years. There were numerous spirits that purportedly haunted it.

These days, the Shilo Inn sits in that spot. But when the old hotel was torn down, the spooks moved to Girtle's Restaurant, just down the street on Broadway, according to owner Bob Girtle. He recounted numerous stories of otherworldly happenings in the restaurant, having seen them himself or coming from various employees who tell their own tales. They talk of seeing the mysterious shadows of feet walking behind the door of a closed-off area of the kitchen, visible from the small space between the floor and the door. This happens when it's not possible anyone else is in there, say Bob and his crew. They don't even check that room anymore when they see the shadows.

Then there is the notorious flying coffee pot in the galley area between the kitchen and the main dining room. Bob and others on his staff have experienced this more than once. Sometimes it moves a bit, others it literally flies across the hallway.

Bob said he inherited some employees of the old Seasider back in the 80's, and at least one said they saw some of the same ghosts.

John Sowa, owner of the New Orleans-style eatery Lil' Bayou, also related tales of moving objects in the kitchen and a strange sense of someone being near him while alone in his office. Kitchen utensils are found in different places than employees have left them, or an object suddenly falls off a hook or a shelf.

Lil' Bayou lies in the historic Gilbert District of Seaside, which is filled with old buildings, almost all with upstairs areas that are often unused. The charming, atmospheric area has gone through a rebirth in recent years, and often there are whispers of ghosts coinciding with many of the renewed buildings.

The Seaside Aquarium may have a closet containing something - or rather, an upstairs that could be haunted. When the building was a natatorium back about 80 years ago, there were apartments at the top floor. That area isn't used much at all now, but manager Keith Chandler says he's heard whispers over the years the top floor is haunted. Various stories have been handed down through the generations about noises coming from there.

EERIE AND NOT-SO-EERIE ON THE BAY

Manzanita, which caps the north end of the Nehalem Bay, is shrouded in mists and mystery, with Neahkahnie Mountain looming overhead and legends of a galleon and its buried treasures. Some versions of that tale contain atrocities, like purportedly burying their African slaves alive with the treasure to keep the natives away.

On its beaches, there are mysterious piles of rocks that have appeared over the years, apparently overnight. Sometimes they appear as single piles or stacks. No one has ever figured out who is responsible, creating speculation of an otherworldly artist.

In nearby Wheeler, facing the Nehalem Bay, Old Wheeler Hotel owner Winston Laszlo says he's encountered several things in that old building he couldn't really explain. Sometimes, he said, he believes he sees someone in the corner of his eye, only to discover there's no one there.

Once, Winston was looking in a mirror in the hotel's public area and saw the reflection of a man sitting in a chair behind him. Winston says he turned around to look at the man, whom he didn't recognize as a guest, and there was no one there.

A pair of ghost hunters even came to the visit the place and took photos of what they believed could be "spirit orbs" just outside the basement area. Winston still has copies of these.

Winston and wife Maranne Doyle-Laszlo say the entire building seemed to be against them during the process of remodeling the ragged old construct into the first-rate hotel it is now. They had a nagging feeling a presence seemed to arrange one disaster and setback after another, such as when a window blew out in a storm. Then, one day, they say the building seemed to accept them, and reconstruction proceeded smoothly thereafter. (www.oldwheelerhotel.com. 877-653-4683.)

In an email just before her visit, ghost hunter Martina DeLude told Winston that made sense. "Ghosts that haunt residential and business locations become very threatened when someone starts changing things that they are accustomed to. Some spirits actually become incensed when furniture is moved around. Just like the living, most spirits do not like change. Possibly, as soon as they realized that it was once again going to become a hotel - perhaps something they may remember - they decided to help you along instead of stifling your efforts." There's more on their investigation of the Old Wheeler Hotel at http://www.nwpprs.com/Investigations/Places02/OldWheeler.html.

In other tales, Wheeler Antiques owner Garry Gitzen says a Wheeler woman, descended from local tribes, actually burned down her own house in recent years because disturbing spirits haunted it. She did this in lieu of tearing the thing down, never rebuilding it, with rumors floating about that Native American children had died in a fire in that spot in ancient times.

Not all is creepy here. According to Winston and Garry, there is a host of well-meaning spirits there known as the "Good Spirits of Wheeler," and Ekahni Books owner Peg Miller says the place is a sort of "spiritual vortex lite." They all point to something they call a "Wheeler Moment," where serendipity seems to suddenly rear its head. Locals talk of numerous circumstances where pleasant, happy coincidences popped up, assisting folks in some way. They all note various incidents where someone is discussing wanting to do something, and someone or some opportunity arises that helps things along - like the time the Garry and Winston were talking about creating a film festival, and they discovered a documentary filmmaker was staying in town.

ASTORIA - OR GHOSTORIA?

At the very tip of Oregon, Astoria is full of major ghost stories of one sort or another. That's no surprise, considering it's the oldest settlement west of the Mississippi.

The Liberty Theater is widely regarded as haunted. It was once a haven for the likes of Duke Ellington, Jack Benny, Guy Lombardo and supposedly even gangster Al Capone. Purportedly, it's also occupied by someone named Paul. One employee was quoted as saying that Paul is "quite handsome," giving him the nickname Handsome Paul. He apparently wears a "white tuxedo and a panama hat," according to the Clatsop County Historical Society.

Cast and crews over the years have talked about spotting him. While mostly just an apparition, he's been known to slam doors and make other unruly noises. Other tales from the theater include objects gliding through the air, knobs unscrewing themselves from appliances and utilities, as well as two or three other inhabitants from beyond.

Also famous for being haunted is the firehouse there, plus the town has a brutal history of men being "shanghaied" in the early part of the century.

Only a wishful fantasy a hundred years ago, the modern airline can now boast being one of the largest corporate industries around the world. Spurred on by massive competition between the ‘big three’ jet manufacturers – Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas, and Boeing – the 20th century has given birth to this most technologically advanced industry.

However, these three corporate giants, located on the West Coast of the United States, have met with stiff competition from specialized companies in Europe, such as Airbus Industrie. Airline manufacturers in Brazil, Australia, Canada and other parts of Europe have also increased the standards that are expected of a modern airline.

Airlines surged ahead with massive expansion and vigorous growth after the World War II. Then came the world-wide recession during the early 1980s, forcing the airlines to engage in unique new patterns to woo new customers onto their flights and keep the old ones. Bankruptcies and mergers to avoid bankruptcy became common fears on the stock markets. This resulted in the aircraft manufacturers sinking fast and needing to make sharp reductions in production. The flying customer became like almighty God to the airlines – the savior from final dissolution.

Fare cutting battles delighted those who had become dependant on airlines for business transportation and allowed the once-a-year traveler to become a traveler during every major holiday. Frequent flyer clubs were almost giving away toasters in order to sign new customers on. The airlines began to join with telephone companies to offer an extra 1000 bonus miles for switching one’s telephone service.

One of the greatest boons presented for the travelers was being able to fly from a smaller community by a commuter airline. Small town airports sprang up around the globe: one no longer needed to drive hundreds of miles to Chicago or Denver or London to catch a plane. Keeping up with a changing society, the airlines replaced ‘stewardesses’ with both male and female ‘flight attendants.’

The challenge of massive air-control for the crowded skies requires that the various airlines work harmoniously in planning and developing airports. These airports have become works of art with fountains that reach three stories up surrounded by luscious, peaceful greenery to soothe the weary travelers. Luxurious lounges for frequent travelers who pay dues are available. Merry-go-rounds and child care can even be found.

Of course, inside the airliner itself is a world of conveniences to take the traveler’s minds off of the time spent in the air. Individual movie screens can be found for each person, along with a full schedule of channels to choose from. An array of radio and music choices are also there, along with whatever electronic hook-ups one might need for their lap-top computers or cell phones.

A hundred years ago the thought of flying from one continent to another in a ‘big bird’ was fantasy, and the current airline structure couldn’t even have been created in one’s wildest dream. It pays to dream big! And to follow your dreams!

Childhood memories are made of bright colours and tingling tastes and ring with fun and laughter. As you rekindle thoughts of those days when simple pleasures brought huge delight, the times that spring to mind are always care-free school days, delicious home cooking and classic seaside holidays.

Glorious days spent on the beach with bucket and spade, fish and chips by the sea or sticky-sweet candy floss and the vibrant lights of the fair! Sadly, when we return to our favourite places they never seem to live up to expectations. The hotel that you stayed in year after year has been turned into flats, the pier is off-limits due to repair work; everywhere is just a little bit tired and in need of some TLC. Yet there are some places that are bucking the trend and a return visit will excite and surprise you.

A popular seaside destination for over 200 years, Great Yarmouth has been attracting visitors to the stunning Norfolk coastline for the past two centuries. The first visitors came to reap the health benefits of seawater. The Great Yarmouth Bath House was opened in 1759 where guests could partake of seawater baths or, if brave enough, take a dip in the North Sea – but just for a few moments! Today, many come to experience what is great about UK seaside holidays while also enjoying many of the attractions the town and surrounding county has to offer.

Great Yarmouth has recently benefited from an extensive regeneration project with vast financial investment. Incredible improvements have been made to the seafront, market place and town with over £30 million of both private capital and public funding including that from Government, European and Local Authority pots.
The resort holds a dynamic blend of old and new, charm and character, whilst being full of vibrant energy, colour, excitement and surprise. The regeneration includes aspects of both improvement to current areas, along with exciting new construction projects including the build of an outer harbour.

Areas of the town have significantly benefited from the cash injection with a new look esplanade, with modern lighting that dances across the sands; additional seating and feature lighting in the Market Place for performance and events, and new road layouts with a pedestrain link to the town centre.

The town also has a fascinating historical heritage and funding is being invested in restoring and improving these elements. The 102 year old Wellington Pier is undergoing a complete re-build to restore it to its original glory. Maritime House (formally the Maritime Museum) located on the seafront has undergone restoration and repair and is now the new Tourist Information Centre, while the historical character of The Rows (Market Row and Broad Row) has been enhanced by Victorian style lighting and period paving.

In 1982 I worked as an English speaking tour guide, but during my free time I learned Italian language by my own method autodidact using English – Italian; Italian – English dictionary and grammar book.. I spent about 2 hours a day to learn it, sometime early in morning, in the afternoon and sometime late at night. I succeeded to keep in my mind 2 words a day but I found much difficulty in learning the grammar because it is very different with my mother language Balinese and Indonesian, but I insisted to meet with success. Day by day, week by week and month by month, and ….. finally I got it.

In October 1982 one of my friend who run a travel agent in Bali asked me to handle his clients, they were Italian and speak a little English. That was my first time to practice my Italian tongue. When I met them at Bali International Airport, the first question I must answer was “where is the best place to dive”. With honesty actually I didn’t know the answer, but I promised them for the good news the day after.

I visited my friend’s house and meet Bli Monyoh, a fisherman live in Sanur the village on the southeast coast of Bali. I knew he was a good fisherman and very smart in shooting fish, diving with his own talent using very simple dive equipment.

We talked about diving places and he told me that in order to discover most enjoyable dive, must visit 2 o 3 different places of the fascinating underwater world among the coral reefs. Mr. Bli Monyoh looked at his Balinese calendar to see a good day to go to the sea. My clients were crazy about dive.

The first day he brought us to Semawang at Sanur by his outrigger sail boat. Located in front of Sanur Tourist Beach. Dives at a few meters depth was rewarded by beautiful underwater panoramas, table and trophy shaped coral and sponges, a thousand of colorful fishes swim by in kaleidoscopic profusions. I am not a swimmer or a diver, I just sit on the boat and prepared the needs when they go up. Was a wonderful day.

The second day Bli Monyoh brought his companion a smart diver named Agung Toya, together with them some gun (exactly an arrow) unwound by a strong rubber band made of tire. Before living Sanur, Bli Monyoh laid an offering and perfumed incense in front of a temple and prayed to God. Along the road about one and a half our drive, he stopped several times for praying where there are temples for God’s blessing, safety and luck. Even before touching the water he did so.

When we arrived at Buitan was a very traditional fishing village, located at the district of Manggis Karangasem eastern Bali near Candidasa, I was amazed by the beauty of the nature, a spectacular panorama or the terraces ricefield, rural ambience and the Majestic Mount Agung at the far back, for Bali it is the place of the Supreme God “The Navel of the World”. The sea was magnificent, clear blue water, remained untouched by modern influences, seduce everyone especially beach and dive lovers. Now Buitan boast a luxury 5 stars hotel and some small accommodations in Balinese style bungalow.

When we were preparing everything for dive a cordial local man came close to us and gave his own wooden boat used for free in the hope of us catching a lot of fish. We sailed at 09.00 a.m in calm sea. About 50 m from the beach we arrived on the coral reef where the wave breaks itself. Under very good weather we could see a wonderful underwater world among the coral reefs.

My Italian clients brought their own dive equipments because they were the holder of PADI license. While the native divers used their own talent. Wow, wow, wow, what a great day, we fished a lot (only selected fish), one thing surprised me that Bli Monyoh got 4 king lobsters. At 11.00 a.m. we finished our adventure and the local man was waiting us on the beach ready with his woods fire, chili, onions, garlic, salt and coconut oil. We grilled our fish in relax atmosphere on the beach with nice breeze of the ocean, than enjoyed a delicious gala lunch in cowboy style. Wow amazing, we really celebrated and enjoyed a great day.

Now in Bali there are some exciting and fascinating, world renowned dive sites: Nusa Dua, Sanur, Padang Bay, Gili Tapekong, Tulamben, Amed, Nusa Penida and Lembongan and Menjangan Island.

So if you are a sea and dive lover why don’t you choose Bali for your next destination, this enchanting island is waiting for you with its fascinating underwater world. Plan your travel and book your preferred hotel or contact your travel agent. The quickest and the easiest way is, go online and choose Bali Dive. One of the most reliable dive center on the island now is Ena Dive Center (www.enadive.co.id).