Visiting the Iti National Park
March 23, 2008
Visiting the Iti National Park
by: Jakob Jelling
The Iti National Park in Greece is one of the main natural parks tourists could meet in this country. This park is situated towards the southern side of the valley of River Sperchios and counts with a wide variety of trees, plants and animals which provide it with a very unique and interesting environment.
Those tourists who enjoy green areas, trees and plants could be able to have a great time while visiting the Iti National Park. Within the park, visitors can meet some unique trees and plants such as, per example, oaks, cedars, oleanders, arbutus, and the Alpine lily lilium cholcedonium.
Besides its plants and trees, this park counts with a very special fauna that consists on a great amount and variety of animals of different species. The Iti National Park has wild goats, wild boars, deer, rodents, tortoises, reptiles, as well as an amazing variety of birds among which there are vultures, eagles, partridges, hoopoes, hawks, and owls.
Las Vegas - A City Guide
March 22, 2008
Las Vegas - A City Guide
by: Nivedita Balamurugan
Introduction
Las Vegas is the most populated city in Nevada, United States. The city was founded in the first decade of the 20th century, and is a major vacation, shopping, and gambling destination. The center of gambling in the US, Las Vegas is sometimes called Sin City due to the popularity of legalized gambling, availability of alcoholic beverages any time (like all of Nevada), various forms and degrees of adult entertainment. The nickname favored by local government and promoters of tourism is The Entertainment Capital of the World. The city’s glamorous image has made it a popular setting for films and television programs.
History
Major events in Las Vegas’ history include:
˘ Establishment of Las Vegas as a railroad town (May 15, 1905).
˘ Legalization of gambling (March 19, 1931).
˘ Completion of Hoover Dam (October 9, 1936).
˘ Opening of Bugsy Siegel’s Flamingo Hotel on what would become the Las Vegas Strip (December 26, 1946).
˘ Above-ground testing of nuclear bombs (1951 to 1963).
˘ The floods of 1955, 1984, 1999, and 2003.
Maui Vacation Resorts - Which Do You Choose?
March 21, 2008
Maui Vacation Resorts - Which Do You Choose?
by: Chris Sutton
You’ve finally made that big decision on where you want to go for your next vacation! Mexico? Caribbean? Europe? Nope…you’ve decided to visit the number one rated vacation island in the world. Look out Maui, here we come!
Now that you have made that big decision to take a Maui vacation, it is time to decide where you are going to stay. Is there really a difference in the quality of resorts on Maui? Actually, there is a BIG difference between Maui resorts but it’s not necessarily the quality of the resorts. Actually, the decision on which Maui resort you pick should be based more on what type of experience you want to have during your Maui vacation!
You need to ask yourself several important questions regarding the type of Maui resort where you want to stay. They are…
Do you want to stay in a hotel or a condo. If you are planning on doing some cooking while you are on your Maui vacation, you will probably want to rent a condo.
Nightlife for a Florida Vacation
March 20, 2008
Nightlife for a Florida Vacation
by: Caroline Brame
Florida has long been known for a party destination mostly due to the fact that Spring Breakers have come to the Keys, Panama City, Fort Lauderdale, and Daytona for years. However, Florida has a great nightlife any place any time of the year, no matter what the reason. Learn about hot spots and locals secrets to get the most out of your Florida vacation.
Jacksonville
Kick off the night in Jacksonville, home to the University of North Florida and a great twenty to thirty-something crowd. The party scene is found over the Intracoastal Waterway at the Jacksonville Beaches. Start the night right at Ragtime Taproom and Brewery, a locals’ favorite known for great microbrews and live music. Voted “Best Brew Pub” year after year, the large bar starts filling up with the after-work crowd and does not empty until closing time. Head to the boardwalk to find The Atlantic, known for tasty appetizers and a great happy hour. Nightly music will range from jazz to hard rock and techno and begins around 9:30. If the typical “beach bar” is what you are in the mood for, look no further than Bukkets. Play pool, grab a drink, or watch people on the boardwalk in this high-energy drinking hole. Freebird Live was built in commemoration of Jacksonville native Ronnie VanZant of Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is where to go if you are looking to hear great live music. Past performers include Charlie Daniels, Willie Nelson, and Blues Traveler. Jacksonville has it all: a great nightlife, gorgeous beaches, and locals that love to have a good time.
Travel Games
March 20, 2008
Travel Games
by: Steve Gillman
One of my favorite travel games is chess. Okay, it’s just one of my favorite games, and I have three-ounce set with a cloth board, so I can take it anywhere. The last time I used it was in the town center of a small pueblo in the Andes Mountains. The games below are primarily car travel games, but can be adapted to other forms of travel too. Have fun!
Educational Travel Games
Some games get you thinking, learning something, or at least showing off what you know. Here’s one for the family. Have the driver, or another designated host, asks questions like “What temperature does water boil at?” or “What’s the Capital of Columbia?” or “With sales tax of 7.6%, what’s the total cost of a $23 sweater?” For the kids to love this one, you may have to pay twenty-five cents for each right answer.
Another car travel game starts with someone looking out the window and randomly selecting an object. Players then try to imagine a creative way to make money with it. Old barns become places to advertise, cows are rented out for kids parties, and an house that is being moved becomes a traveling discotheque.
Bali Hotels Or Bali Villas
March 19, 2008
Bali Hotels Or Bali Villas
by: Made Dertha
Dear Reader,
One says that traveling is not an exact science, to combine between their cultures, traditions, countries and different languages sometimes are not easy. Trust an expert, contact your reputable travel agent may be important.
Most people come to Bali want to see and enjoy its arts and cultures, its fabulous nature’s views, its nice beaches, its friendly people, for pure relaxation and some for business and stay on. Whatever is one’s aim, the accommodation is one of the most important aspects in order to get the comforts and memorable holiday.
There are a myriad of accommodations to choose from in Bali, from five-star luxury Bali hotels or Bali Villas to budget one just a few dollars a night. The main tourist hub is in the southern triangle formed by Sanur, Kuta and Dusa Dua. For those who prefer the comforts of home and the relaxation of the beach, this is a good starting place. Other beach areas are Lovina in the north, Candi Dasa in the east and Canggu and Yeh Gangga in the west.
Outdoor Grills
March 18, 2008
Outdoor Grills
by: Cat Greenbriar
Grilling outdoors is a number one way to make great food and have a great time. There are many options out there for grilling. Outdoor grills can range from the very simple to the very elegant.
A free standing outdoor grill is a simple standard that works well in places like outdoor parks or apartment complexes. The standard grill is simply a grill and a box, with perhaps a few shelves for food and tools, and handles for moving and turning a hot grill. These grills are great for community areas because they are easy to clean up and do not require any additional maintenance from the landlord for supplying propane or gas.
Grills only get more complex than the free standing grill. Gas powered grills for the home or patio are built with a number of components that make grilling outdoors just as if not more exciting than cooking in the kitchen. Gas grills often have two grilling levels, so it can cook meat as well as vegetable, and heat breads all at the same time. Some are also equipped with a stove eye, so it can cook potted food like beans.
Bali Travel: The Undying Balinese Arts
March 17, 2008
Bali Travel: The Undying Balinese Arts
by: Made Dertha
The island of Bali is literally a very beautiful island situated under the equator in Indonesian Archipelago, is one of the most interesting and ultimate tourist destination in Asia. Since the first decade of the 20th century visitors have given to it several nicknames “Island of Gods” - “Island of thousand Temples” - “The Last Paradise” - and also often called “Island of Artist”.
The spirit of creativity pervades everything in Balinese life, from the cultivation of the steeply-terraced rice field to the elaborate temple offerings of flowers and foods given to the gods at times of celebration. Dancing, playing the gamelan, painting and carving is as much a part of an ordinary day as working in the offices, in the fields or feeding livestock.
In ancient times, the people of the Indonesian Archipelago followed the ways of animism and ancestor worship. By around A.D. 600 however, Indian ideas and beliefs began to spread throughout Southeast Asia. Both Buddhism and Hinduism became active force on the islands of Sumatra and Java. When Islam gained control of Java in the 16th century, many Hindu princes, their followers and artisans fled to Bali. They established principalities on Bali.
Rock Collecting Trip
March 16, 2008
Rock Collecting Trip
by: Steve Gillman
Rock collecting wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was arrowhead hunting. Then we met Felix. He was a Mayan Indian, he told us, whose family had migrated from Mexico. Now he was living in an old RV. He was there to enjoy the hot springs, like us. The Arizona desert has more than just hot springs hidden in it though.
We shared meals and campfires for a week, and then he took my wife Ana and I into the desert to show us ancient metates (grain-grinding stones) and arrowheads. In addition, we found Apache Tears, Fire Agate, and hundreds of other beautiful rocks of every type. They were just laying scattered in the desert once he showed us the right places.
Irina, a nineteen-year-old self-described “rainbow kid,” who had been living in her van for months, rode with Felix in his old pickup. Ana and I followed in our van. Two hours at the first stop yeilded many beautiful rocks, and a few pieces of ancient pottery. The recent rain had made the rocks and artifacts stand out, washing them clean.
Florida Camping
March 15, 2008
Florida Camping
by: Steve Gillman
Florida camping can be expensive. My wifa Ana and I paid $23 to camp in our conversion van one night. Of course, it was at a beautiful state park on the beach, and in the morning we saw a dolphin swimming near shore.
Florida camping can be inexpensive too. While at the beach, we heard we could camp for free at the isolated campgrounds which dotted the Apalachicola National Forest. Naturally, our frugality sent us into alligator country.
We camped two nights in the dark woods, next to the dark waters of a slow river. There was was an old guy who seemed to be living there, and a young couple with their two-year-old daughter. Lester was from England, Kari from Texas, and Indya was born in Guatamala. They met in India, of course.
No crowds, and the price was right. March nights can be chilly here, so the six of us circled the fire at night, trading stories, and sometimes sneaking down to the water to look for the eyes of alligators. Unfortunately, we saw nothing, but we did hear splashes in the night.
Lake Talquin
