Ideas For Your Next Cruise

Have you thought about the destination for your next cruise?




Could it be the Caribbean which many cruise ships cruise around. Where will you visit? How about Belize, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grand Antigua, Cayman, South Carolina, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, the Bahamas or Mexico. These are all destinations from cruises setting out from places such as Fort Lauderdale.




You could try a cruise in the Mediterranean calling at such destinations such as, Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain, Gibraltar, Portugal and other Mediterranean countries. When visiting Gibraltar you must check out the “Rock” but look out for the Apes. These are known as the Barbary Apes and they want you to feed them. I have seen people being attacked by the apes in their search for food. It can be very scary if it is you being attacked but very funny if you are watching it. If it happens to you just let go of the food and the Apes will leave you alone. It’s the food they are after.




There are other places to cruise in Europe such as Norway, cruising up the coast and fiords visiting isolated communities in the deep-sea valleys on the west coast of Norway. The scenery is dramatic and by cruising above the artic circle you can experience the land of the midnight sun. This sun never sets in summertime but in wintertime it never rises. Because of this you need to make sure you only cruise this area in the summer. Just as much fun as Norway is Alaska where you can get just as dramatic scenery and it is just as much fun.




Some cruise ships in the US spend the winter months cruising the Caribbean and the summer months cruising the West coast of Alaska. These ships need to reposition themselves during the fall and springtime and do this through the Panama Canal. These cruises are highly recommended due to the unique experience of the Panama Canal. The US completed the canal in the early part of the last century although the canal was started by the French. The canal starts at the Gatun locks at the Atlantic side of Panama and travels to the Pacific side which lowers ships over 50 feet in the series of Miraflores Locks. The Panama Canal is one of the wonders of the engineering world.




Cruises do not just take place on the sea though and you could try cruising the rivers of the world. How about the great Mississippi river from New Orleans to Little Rock, St Louis or Pittsburg. Companies also run theme cruises covering themes such as the Civil War, Steamboat racing and special Fall cruises.




You could also try Europe and cruise on the river Rhine, Elbe, Danube, Seine or Rhone rivers to name just a few, or you could try your hand at captaining your own boat on the canal systems in France or the UK. Don’t forget further to the east of Europe there are many other countries offering river cruises. There are also rivers such as the Nile and Amazon as well. Whatever you choose to do, just enjoy yourselves.

The Sights of Bangkok in Thailand

One of the most popular destinations in Asia to visit over recent years has been Thailand. This of course has also coincided with the booming popularity of Thai cuisine around the world. Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, is the main entry point where the vast majority of tourists to Thailand will use.


Bangkok is a very interesting city because in addition to the usual modern buildings of offices, hotels and shopping centers, there are also about 400 exotic Thai temples that seem to stick out among the urban landscape. There are Thai citizens on the streets dressed in modern business clothing as well as Buddhist monks in saffron robes. Yet this is what part of Thailand is. The traditional mixed in with the modern. In fact, it’s the traditional attractions that make Thailand so magical. The temples are sights that one just cannot see in the western world. They are like objects that popped out of an Asian fairy tale.


Like many other large Asian cities, Bangkok is congested with traffic, people and pollution. In fact, the air can be bad enough that there are locals wearing surgical masks in the streets. With an average annual temperature of 28 degrees Celsius or 83 degrees Fahrenheit, it can be somewhat uncomfortable outside for some tourists, especially those from northern climates. Also beware that there will be people on the streets who will try to hustle tourists and direct them to their own businesses and tours. But unlike places in the Caribbean, Thais are polite and not aggressive people. For example, once upon arrival at the international airport, there will be people within the terminal including the ones at the booths who will be offering taxi transportation to your hotel. Although these are legit, they will charge a premium compared to the taxis waiting outside the terminal. There is a similar situation at the hotels. The taxis waiting right outside the main hotel entrances do seem to quote more than those waiting on the side streets just further down. The three-wheeled ‘tuk tuk’ vehicles also vary a lot so it may be wise to ask for quotes from a few drivers rather than taking the first one you see. The tuk tuks are a fun ride by the way so they should be experienced at least once while in Bangkok. The city also has various public buses and river taxis which are long boats used on the river canal system. A nice way to spend some time is to take a ride on one of these river taxis to cruise the canals which some refer to as the ‘Venice of the East’.


The Grand Palace is probably the most visited attraction in Bangkok. This complex is surrounded by walls built in 1783 and contains government offices, royal residences monuments and the Emerald Buddha Chapel. The Royal Chapel which contains the Emerald Buddha is the monarch’s private chapel. The Buddha itself is actually a one piece jade sitting on top of a golden altar. It’s not a large Buddha but it is very special. Apparently, they change the Buddha’s clothing which is also made of gold on a seasonal basis. There are numerous monuments on the grounds that are dedicated to past monarchs. Walls with large mythological scenes are displayed throughout. The buildings and monuments within the Grand Palace have some very striking colors including golds and greens. Gold color is used quite a lot and the distinctively curved Thai roofs on the buildings are very detailed. Equally stunning are some of the interiors of these buildings with their magnificent rooms and halls used for different ceremonies and events. Some of these halls have special royal altars.


One temple not to miss is Wat Pho which is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. It features a giant Buddha lying on its side. Even the soles of this Buddha’s feet have very intricately detailed designs. Other nice temples to see are Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) and Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple). The Wat Pho temple has traditional Thai massage services which are very popular among tourists. Other temples such as Wat Mahathat and Wat Parinayok also have Thai massages available. The Royal Barges or long boats which are used during ceremonies on the river are also nice to see. The details put into decorating these boats are just remarkable.


For wildlife enthusiasts, there’s the Pasteur Institute’s Snake Farm where poisonous snakes are fed daily and visitors can watch handlers milk cobras for their venom. There is also the world’s largest Crocodile Farm. The national sport of Thai kickboxing can be seen at two different stadiums in Bangkok. Both the Ratchadamnoen and Lumphini stadiums feature events throughout the week on different days. Thai theatre and traditional dance are very interesting to watch as cultural entertainment. These can be seen at theatres as well as some of the top hotels in the city.


Bangkok has some good shopping opportunities especially for jewelry, handicrafts and textiles including silks as well as cottons. As in other locations in Asia, vendors in the streets will expect some bargaining of prices where the retail stores have fixed prices. Just like in Hong Kong, Bangkok has many custom tailors who can make suits, shirts and dresses for clients within 24 hours. Some will even delivery the finished clothing to your hotel free of charge.


There are some general guidelines of etiquette in Thailand that should be followed by all visitors. The Thai royal family is revered in this country so no outsider should ever make any even slightly negative remarks about the country’s monarchy. Temples should not be entered unless one is covered with long pants or skirts. Shorts and shoulderless tops are not permitted in temples. Footwear is always removed prior to entering any temple. Images and statues of Buddha, even postcards, are considered sacred in Thailand so one should never climb on one or do anything that will show disrespect. Public displays of affection between men and women are also frowned upon. Of course this seems to be a complete contradiction to Bangkok’s famous red light and adult entertainment districts such as Patpong. But this is yet another example of the contrast that’s found in Thailand.

Rental Booking Tips For Vacationers

You’ve found the perfect vacation rental and now you’re ready to book it. Overall, the process should be easy. Hopefully, the owner has attached a calendar showing the property’s availability. Most will do this as it makes no sense to pursue a vacation rental property if it’s not available at the time you want to travel.


If you’ve never physically seen the property, you might be nervous about booking it. Whether it’s several hundred dollars a week or several thousand, you want proof that you’re getting your money’s worth. Unfortunately, you won’t get your “proof” until you actually put the key in the door and open it. But before you change your mind and book a room at a major hotel chain, just slow down and do your research. When reserving a vacation rental, you should go through the same steps as you would before making any type of major purchase. And the beauty of the Internet is that you have all the information you need, right at your fingertips.


Begin by analyzing the information that the owner has put together. You’ll be able to tell just from reading the description whether the vacation rental property is one you’d consider. Oftentimes vacation rental owners include pictures of various parts of the property to give you a better idea of what you can expect so look closely. Also gather information about the property’s location then use the Internet to research the location itself.


Once you’re satisfied with your selection, contact the property owner using the information provided. Be sure you discuss beforehand ALL costs, including the down payment, security deposit, and cleaning fee. Inquire about the cancellation policy too, just in case. If you’re not satisfied after this discussion, repeat the above steps to search for another vacation rental.


When you’re ready to strike a deal, the vacation rental property owner will provide you with payment instructions. Get everything in writing and follow the instructions you’re given precisely. That way, you’ll avoid unpleasant surprises upon your arrival.

Borneo - Exotic Island Paradise

SABAH is Malaysia's premier destination nature adventure located on the northern tip of the island of Borneo, the third largest island in the world. Sabah is popular for its wildlife conservation attractions, rain forest, surrounding nature and islands, beach resorts, tropical white sandy beaches, crystal waters, and its warm and friendly. If you are thinking of visiting Borneo, these places of interest and activities you an idea!


Mount Kinabalu


Let me start with my favorite place and definitely not to be missed if you are visiting Borneo, Mt. Kinabalu (4093 m). It is the summit of Borneo and the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia. This mountain is sacred to the locals. Thousands of people around the world have traveled to its maximum. At the foot of this mountain is Kinabalu National Park, a botanical paradise where rare plants are: orchids, carnivorous plants Nepenthes Rafflesia, the world's largest flower.


Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre


If you have not heard yet, the most popular native of Borneo is the orangutan. The world-famous Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre enables visitors close contact with these amazing animals. This sanctuary allows visitors to witness an exciting conservation program in action. Located on 43 square miles of beautiful forest, the sanctuary helps once captive orangutans learn to fend for themselves in nature. Watch how these orphaned orangutans are taught to climb, and then go to a platform where you can witness to those who come from within the forest for their daily meals of milk and bananas.


Danum Valley Rain Forest


If nature is close to his heart, then this next destination I will present is a must visit, Danum Valley. Danum Valley is located in the tropical forest of Borneo where nature is at its most pristine. As it moves ever further into the jungle, you suddenly come across a magical paradise of the Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL), built overlooking the magnificent surroundings of SEGAM River and flanked by high mountain ranges. BRL is an impressive resort, designed by naturalists and built on stilts with the traditional materials of wood, and has the comfort of a 3 star hotel. I totally recommend Danum Valley to those who yearn to see wildlife in a primeval forest of Borneo - the rare Sumatran rhino, proboscis monkeys, Orang Utan, elephants and over 275 species of birds.


Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Island


When you think you have enough cars and want to take a day's break idling around the power load, then I suggest you take a boat trip of 30 minutes of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. The park consists of five beautiful islands and is a well-known sanctuary where peace and tranquility reigns. The tropical white sandy beaches are ideal for relaxing and tanning. The clear water is fantastic if you like diving or see sea life and corals. The park is also a great place for a picnic barbecue at the long hours of golden sunshine. Other activities include windsurfing, fishing, paragliding, kayaking and bird watching.


Golf Vacation


If golf is your sport, then try the numerous golf courses in Sabah quality. One of the courses as described by its designer - "I had to create a masterpiece, combining the natural splendor of mountains and seas, with ingenious architecture, and create a first-class field to provide a friendly championship game however, a challenge for the top professional and amateur golfers alike, "-. Graham Marsh words Just say the quality of golf courses.


Rafting


For the true adventure seeker looking for an adrenaline-pumping activity, Sabah offers some of the world's most exciting sensations. My most terrifying experience, just because I'm not a good swimmer, it's rafting down the river Padas (a grade 3 river). While trying to negotiate the rapids along this raging river for a distance of 5 kilometers, benefit from the breathtaking view the surrounding rainforest offer. However, be warned, do not take your eyes off the rapids and waves too long!


Diving


Off the northeast coast of Borneo is a small jewel of an island, Sipadan, with a marine ecosystem so perfect and unique that is recognized worldwide as one of the best dive sites in the world. Sipadan Island rises as a pristine Coral Sea mount, 650 meters from the floor of the Sulawesi Sea. The summit on the east coast of Borneo is a magnet for marine life ocean. As soon as you enter the clear waters of Sipadan Island, you will understand why they have been a journey that has taken you across the world. As you begin to descend into the tropical water also understand why the World Wildlife Fund, says, "There is nowhere on the planet has more marine life on the island.

Holidays in Mexico

Holidays in Mexico are always lively and colourful events that try to draw in as many participants as possible. While Mexicans do tend to celebrate similar holidays as their Western counterparts, the local traditions and culture have transformed these holiday observances into brightly colored fiestas much more unique and exotic.

Some of the major non-working public Holidays in Mexico include Christmas. Most Mexicans tend to celebrate Christmas on the eve of December 24, and open their gifts at midnight after a day spent dining out with their respective families. A quaint Mexican tradition is the Posadas (shelter), which take place from December 16 to 24. Every night during this time, a procession to one of the houses in the neighborhood (with a different house each night) takes place, where a re-enactment of Joseph and Mary seeking a place to stay is done, after which the participants are invited inside the home for food and prayer. A similarly-themed holiday, the Day of the Holy Kings, which celebrates the Three Wise Men who visited the child Jesus as a child, is celebrated on January 6.

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