Travel-Trails

Wild West of Bolivia

2007-11-04T02:15:00.001-08:00

A bus ride 7 hours north of Salta and we were at the Bolivian border. A desert with cities on either side of the border. We walked over the border. It was as expected people running everywhere, people waiting everywhere and the one armed immigration official working at a steady pace, despite the massive queue, with his other arm occupied with a cigarette. We decided we didn't want to stay at the dodgy border town so we caught the train to Tupiza.

Tupiza is the 'Wild West' of Bolivia. There may as well be tumbleweeds rolling up the main street. The scenery surrounding could be out of 'Young Guns' or any Hollywood western movie, or equally a Guns 'n' Roses film clip with Slash shredding in front of a church with the red rocky mountains in the background. Being inspired we decided to take a horse ride for a couple of hours. 5 minutes out of town and it felt like we were completely alone. We rode/walked around for about 3 hours. This confirmed that I still don't know how to ride a horse and that neither does my backside.

Our guide, Bella and Alex (from Salta) who seems to be following us.

Mmmm, still not bored of cactuses.

Straight out of Indiana Jones

Posted By - Mick and Bella
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Travel to Sikkim

2007-10-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

The first week of our trip, my brother and I did a bit of traveling. We went into the state of Sikkim, which is situated in the Himalayas, bordered by Bhutan, China, Tibet, and Nepal. The trip was both relaxing and hectic. I needed the time to decompress after finishing school, but the non-stop travel (we left by overnight train the night we arrived to India and continued moving throughout the state every 2-3 days) left us a bit worn out.

The serene and quaint nature of Sikkim, however, gently lifted the stress off my shoulders. At first it was a bit foreign, as I forgot how it felt to DO NOTHING, but soon after, I was content spending my days looking at the Himalayas from deck of my hotel room.

The first leg of the trip, we went to Gangtok. There we did a bit of touring, but by the end of three days, we were quite tired. The first day, we saw Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok. View was particularly spectacular from Ganesh tok. I will post some images when the opportunity arises. We were able to the Kanchangega, the third highest mountain in the Himalayas from there. Gangtok was a busy town and Rishi found its mildly metropolis nature agreeable.

As such, when we went to remote Rabongla (where the nearest store was 20 km away), Rishi was not satisified. We spent two nights there. During the day, we did a bit of hiking about. The view from the hotel would have been spectacular, however, it was cloudy both days. Nonetheless, the seclusion from all was needed (there was not even cell phone signal!).

The final portion of our trip was in Pelling, where we spent 3 days. Despite its small size, Pelling is stratified vertically along a mountain slope, into three sections. This unique segmentation makes for a reasonable hike - especially because our hotel was in lower Pelling and all the sites were in upper Pelling. The hotel in Pellling was particularly nice and we spent a good amount of time simply lounging about. There was not a whole lot to do over three days, so I did what I haven't done in quite some time . . . watch TV!

The end of the trip, however, was a bit exciting. We nearly missed the train back to Kolkata! Since I cannot read Hindi, I kept asking persons regarding where the correct train was. Turns out there were two trains to Kolkata and everyone directed me to the wrong one. At the last minute, I overheard the correct train number and raced to the appropriate location. Because our seats were not confirmed, there was a bit of confusion in finding the correct one. At the end, I had to hop on a moving train, only to encounter that someone else was sitting in my seat . . .

Posted By - Harbir
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Scuba Diving In Fiji Islands

2007-10-27T00:58:00.001-07:00

The islands of Fiji are well known for its spectacular scenery and world class attraction for sea sports such as big game fishing, snorkeling, sailing and scuba diving.

Fiji is a favorite scuba diving location for many scuba divers from all over the world and its highlights include a fantastic variety of colorful soft corals, more than 1200 species of fish, 12 species of whales and dolphins.

There are also many scuba diving resorts in Fiji which cater to all kinds of budgets and divers. Alternatively divers can choose live aboard dive boats or if you are a tourist on vacation in Fiji do not know how to scuba dive, you can take up lessons there or simply go snorkeling off the pristine beaches.

The Fijian archipelago is encircled by a huge reef and therefore there are many shallow lagoons to swim, snorkel or frolick in. There are also thousands of scuba dive sites to choose from. Most dive locations are easy to get to with plenty of resorts offering scuba diving scattered around the Fijian islands.

The water temperature is just perfect for scuba diving with at its coldest at only 25C. On warmer days, it is about 30C. Water visibility in Fiji is excellent with superb visibility of up to 40m or 120ft is a norm rather than exception.

Mamanuca dive sites in Fiji is easily be accessible by boat from the Nadi Airport area on the main island of Viti Levu. Several resorts in the Nadi offer full diving facilities and there are numerous day packages for snorkeling and scuba diving. The diving landscape in Mamanucas consist of shallow lagoons with hollows and bommies and excellent marine life. There are some interesting caves to explore, especially in Sawa-i-Lau in the Yasawa Group.

If you are in Fiji for a scuba diving vacation, you must dive in the world famous Astrolabe Reef on Kadavu in the Southern Islands. This dive spot has excellent hard and soft corals and abundance marine life. There are more soft corals along the north and south coast with some interesting caves to explore. Majestic drop-off can be found on the western tip of Kadavu.

Another excellent dive spot is the Beqa Lagoon to the north of Kadavu boasts of beautiful soft corals, reef bommies and passages. This dive location is famous shark feeding activities with many species of sharks including hammerhead sharks.

The Rainbow Reef in Northern Islands is another world famous scuba diving destination. If you are diving in the Rainbow reef, you will enjoy diving the Great White Wall and advanced drift diving through channels.

These are just some of the many fabulous scuba diving sites in Fiji.

Posted By - Chris Chew
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Honeymoon in Seychelles

2007-10-21T23:52:00.000-07:00

Once you have arrived in the Republic of Seychelles, an archipelago nation of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean about 1600km east from Africa, I am sure you will leave all the bad memories away and will be thrilled from the moment you will lay your eyes on the beautiful sights. You are not sure if what you're seeing is something made on a computer or if it's real.

For those that plan a honeymoon in Seychelles, you should know that the best time of the year is in July with a great weather, temperatures from 25C to 30C (77F to 86F) and outside of the cyclones' areas. You should also know that from November to May the chances to rain are pretty big, so make sure you choose your dates wisely.

Choosing accommodation in Seychelles

If you haven't opted for a hotel from the beginning you should know that you can choose one of the rustic villas that will assure all your necessary comfort to make your stay great. Choose from the ones that are directly on the beach with a water view, or those that you can see on the small hills filled with luxuriant green palms.

What to do in Seychelles

Seychelles islands

Once settled at the hotel or villa, and after smooching enough, start with the Islands. Use a rented car ($70 a day), take the bus (3 rupee per ticket - $1=6.4 rupees) or if you want to make some trips between the islands use the catamaran for an extreme experience. The most important islands are Mahe, Praslim, Silhouette and La Digue, while the others are islands where nature seems to be untouched. Also, look for the islands guide (in English) that will sure help.

Seychelles Ste Anne Marine National Park

Another great place to visit is the Ste Anne Marine National Park which is formed from many smaller islands, just a few kilometers away from Mahe. Here you get to see the ornithological and marine reservation, you can go snorkeling to see lots of exotic fish with live colors can be found or pet the gigantic tortoise that you can only find here or in Galapagos. You may also choose the daily excursion to the three smaller islands Cerf, Round and Moyenne, that every tourism agency in the area offers.

Botanical garden of Mont Fleuri

This is another place you can go. I mean that's a must if you love plants and would love to peace your mind. Here you get to see the unique Coco de Mer palm that grows 25-34m tall. The fruit is called sea coconut, double coconut, coco feese or Seychelles nut, thanks to the dimensions 40-50cm in diameter. Visit it daily form 6am to 6pm.

Silhouette Island

Silhouette Island is 20km NW of Mahe and is the third largest island. It is surrounded completely by a coral barrier so imagine what snorkeling would be around these areas. It's also worth visiting the tropical forest that you usually need to walk to. The small mountain on the island is 620m high so imagine what the view is all about.

Go fishing in the Seychelles

I am not sure how thrilled your loved one will be, but if you both share the same passion, fishing, it's worth taking some time and relax for one day. You know you can catch a barracuda?

I will cover food and hotels in depth in a future article. SO long for now and hope you have a great honeymoon, if not a honeymoon then just a great vacation.

Posted By - Travel Manual
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A Cheap Holiday Whitewater Rafting In Honduras

2007-10-17T13:19:00.001-07:00

If you really feel ambitious, you might enjoy a ride down the rivers of Honduras. A cheap holiday vacation in Honduras can be extremely adventurous when you plan your trip around the whitewater rafting experience. Imagine the off-season in Honduras finding new uncharted waters with more rapids than you could ever need. You plan a vacation that includes a guided tour or if you are experienced, you might try the waters yourself. There are so many uncharted waters in Honduras just waiting to be discovered. Can you imagine discovering the next best place to do some rapid shooting and sharing it with the natives?

Every year you will find people from everywhere planning a cheap holiday vacation to Honduras to do just that, find some new waters to have the adventure of a lifetime. Many times, rafters start in La Ceiba, which takes you on the tour of a lifetime through a beautiful gorge and some spectacular jungle areas. The Honduras holiday vacation is one of the best presents you could give to yourself. I f plan the trip during a holiday that is also an off-season time, you can find some cheap holiday packages that allows the entire family to go along.

The months of November and December are the best time to visit Honduras because the rainy season is done and the waters are ready to send you on a thrill you will not forget. The challenge of whitewater rafting as the waters rise and fall is incredible. You can look around at many different travel sites on the Internet to find the one that is the best as far as a cheap holiday deal. You will find that many include hotel accommodations, airfare and sometimes the rafting package as well.

You will find that a trip to Honduras is going to be less expensive than a trip to Walt Disney World. You do not have to spend money to enjoy the beautiful scenery while out on the river waters. It is all free and just waiting for you to come and enjoy. Look around and see when you should plan your cheap holiday to Honduras.

Posted By - Admin
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The Calmest Island in Greece

2007-10-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

I recently read a magazine that had made a list of the ten calmest islands on Greece. Paxos, one of the Ionian Islands, came on the first place. I wasn't surprised. The island has around 2,300 inhabitants and is well known for its slow pace and peaceful atmosphere. Coming here is a pleasant change from the hectic tourist spots on other Greek islands. We travelled to Paxos by boat from Parga on the mainland, but boats also depart from Korfu 14 kilometers away.

When you approach Gaios, one of the three main villages, remember to keep your camera at hand as the boat enters the inlet and passes the islands of St Nicholas and Panayia. If I knew about the view I wouldn't have left my camera in our hotel room in Parga. In Gaios town, follow the narrow alleys and explore the local shops before stopping for a meal at one of the cozy taverns or coffee bars. And don't act surprised if you find yourself sitting next to some Hollywood star. Since the British actor Peter Bull moved to Paxos in the 60's, the island has attracted many British and American celebrities.

If you appreciate serene islands you will also love Antipaxos, 15 minutes by boat from Paxos. During the summer, boats depart frequently from Gaios, Lakka and Loggos. Board the earliest morning ferry from Gaios to make the most of the magnificent beaches Voutoumi and Vrika.

We returned to Parga in the evening, but if we hadn't already a booked hotel room we would definitely have stayed on Paxos. It's not an island you want to leave in the first place.

Posted By - Erica Johansson
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Holiday in Ireland

2007-10-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

Just back from a week in Galway

Had a great time and if only the weather would sort itself out in this Country of ours - Ireland would be the place to be for the hols!

Surprisingly the cost of eating out and entertainment is not so different now to the holiday resorts abroad so financially its not a problem.

Speaking of eating out, there are a few places I would like to bring your attention to if you plan on visiting Galway in the near future.

Returning from a trip to Spiddal we stopped off in Bearna Village at 'The Pins' restaurant for some dinner - and can I say it was a gourmet delight. The decor and layout of the restaurant was superb and comfortable too.

The staff were the highest class - they were attentive, efficient, and above all pleasant and good at their jobs. Well, what can I say about the food - it was the best. The ladies and gents were like a trip to the ritz (not that I went into the gents but got a report from the other half) Highly recommend this restaurant - we returned for a second meal on the last night of our holiday - its part of 'The Twelve Hotel' check it out www.thetwelvehotel.ie

Another place to tell you about is 'The Forge' Pub & Eatery in Moycullen - terrific service and food was excellent

It makes all the difference when the service is good.

It has been a while since I have done an Irish summer holiday and was surprised by the growth of some of small villiages - one of them being Cliften.

There is so much to do on an irish holiday that we have all forgotten this with our travels abroad, and walking in Galway City on a warm evening you could be anywhere with so many visitors and nationalities Dont forget there is no hassle with the airports and you can pack in whatever manner you like and just shove it in the boot without fear of getting charged extra at the check-in desk.

However one thing puzzles me in all of this - we travelled through a lot of towns and stopped for lunch in pubs and coffee shops and I wonder what the thinking is behind not bothering to put a fresh coat of paint on the premises for the tourist season - some places looked really shabby and you would think that if any money is to be made in the tourist trade in this county it would be in the summer season so why why would you not make your premises look its best to entice people in .

Thats all for now

Posted By - Margaret
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Travel Cambodia - Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, Sihanoukville and Roads From Hell

2007-10-12T01:32:00.001-07:00

Cambodia is a land on the mend. From 1977 through 1980, the Khmer Rouge ruled the country, fanatics bent on genocide. Millions were killed and the period was put to film in the movie, "The Killing Fields." Fortunately, those days are over and the country is becoming a tourist destination. Cambodia is a land of incredible contrast. Thick forest, mountains and pristine rivers compliment amazing white beaches. When you get down to it, however, travelers know Cambodia for two things, Angkor Wat and the nastiest roads around. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. The city is a combination of old French beauty and modern condominiums. The city is full of amazing Wats [Buddist monasteries], including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and Wat Moha Montrei. Modern buildings surround these monasteries and it's difficult to avoid a feeling that the old ways are being lost.

Still, the vibrancy of the city is impressive considering the fact that it was completely abandoned for three years in the last 70s. During this period, the Khmer Rouge tried to return the Cambodian people to their agricultural heritage and evacuated all cities. The only exception, of course, is Tuol Sleng, a high school used to torture and kill "enemies of the state." Just beyond the city, one will also find the infamous killing fields where thousands upon thousands were put to death.

Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville is a small, sleepy village on the Southwest edge of Cambodia. Fairly undeveloped, the area is an oasis similar to the beaches of Thailand. The difference, however, is the lack of tourists. Depending on the time of year, the beaches can be more or less empty and privacy assured. Rooms run between $5 and $15 a night and come with private bathrooms. If you are looking to lounge professionally, Sihanoukville is a very good place to do it.

Angkor Wat
Stunning. There is no other word for the temples of Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a temple surrounded by hundreds of others. Each is unique and worth a look. The most famous are Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Phrom. Angkor Wat is in the best shape as well as the most known. The Bayon is impressive, but the constant mob of tourist makes it a pain to visit. Ta Phrom is amazing because it has been left to the jungle, which is to say trees and the structure have become one in many areas. If you have seen Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie, you have seen Ta Phrom. Personally, I prefer Angkor Wat to the Pyramids in Egypt.

Roads From Hell

Cambodian roads are evil. There is simply no other way to put it. The country is hit by monsoons every year and is still recovering from the Khmer Rouge. This combination has resulted in roads with huge potholes, missing bridges and pretty much the worst elements of Dante's Hell. Avoid them if at all possible!

Posted By - Richard Chapo
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Lhasa and Rural Tibet

2007-10-09T05:07:00.000-07:00

Wow! So much more to write and say about our journey. But I cannot get myself in the mood to write! Perhaps because there is so much I am not sure where to start. Hopefully some of the photos will speak for themselves. Tibet is one of the few places on the trip where I have been really amazed because it is so unusual and different yet also relaxed in taking it all in! The land is also just breathtaking and really contributes to the experience.

Rolling hills, yaks... tiny rural towns that look like the old West

Potala Palace here in Lhasa (were the Dalai Lama lived before exile) built over hundreds of years each Lama adding on since the 1600s... includes the tombs of all the previous Lamas- intricate gold and inlay... a maze of tiny rooms narrow passages and ladders. Pretty much vacant - has an empty lonely feel since Chinese ransacked and all the monks/Dalai Lama left...but then to have all the Tibetans prostratingm chanting and walking koras so devotely and in crowds around the outside.... yet they can't come in except as tourists to see. A bizarre concept.

Jokhar temple in the center of town - the most sacred site of pilgrimage... Dark ornate rooms...crammed with Tibetans carrying yak butter offerings... smoky from the candles...every inch adorned with gold statuary, fabric or mural/painting. Need more photos to better illutrate... everyone moving in clockwise roation from little chrine to shrine up the levels all the way to the roof... many many monks chanting in low tones... amazing atmosphere- felt really out of this world... Then in front of the temple all the Tibetans lying directly on the ground in worship...up and down chanting...it was hard to tiptoe through them to get back out.

Other notables.... quaint narrow streets to wander (in the old quarter- not the new Chinese neighborhoods- that said- has been nice to go there the modern grocery store and buy snacks and toiletries) Neat Muslim quarter ( talk about confusing...to be be Tibetan, Chinese?, AND muslim!)

YUMMYYUMMY food aplenty...and cheap! Yak dumplings. Fresh steamed buns.Szechuan (sp?) Chinese EVERYTHING. Yak yogurt. Snickers! Euro bakery with cinnamon rolls. Sweet milk tea (NO salty greasy yak butter tea for us)

Lovely just to wander around town. People watch....
Not doing Tibet or Lhasa any justice here in writing , just having writers block. Feeling too relaxed and happy to motivate? More in person as we are nearing the 2 week countdown!!! AAAAEEEEEIII! (Don't know if thats good or bad- I think both!)

Tomorrow we fly to Beijing for a fast 3 days of touristic sights... Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Tianamen (sp?) square...
Then we are on the Transiberian Rail from Beijing to Moscow (via Mongolia for 5 days.) SO may not be blogging for a awhile! Will write more as SOON as I can.

Posted By - Molly
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The Bahamas: A Pirate Fan's Perfect Travel Destination

2007-10-08T00:44:00.000-07:00

The Bahamas is a magical string of 700 islands in the middle of the Caribbean that has been a popular tourist destination for decades, says AMT American Express Travel. The Bahamas is a world-renowned travel destination with a rich history. In 1492, Christopher Columbus made his first landfall on the island of San Salvador in the eastern Bahamas. Columbus commented on the shallow water of the sea surrounding the islands, calling the water "baja mar". It is from these words that the name "Bahama" came. Since the Bahamas islands are located close to Florida they caught the attention of explorers, settlers, invaders and traders. Pirate History in the Bahamas One of the most interesting things about the Bahamas is its history with pirates. Black Beard, Calico Jack and Captain Henry Morgan himself were known visitors to the Bahamian islands. 1680 to 1731 was the golden age for Bahamian pirates. These islands made an ideal home base for pirates because of the numerous islands and islets. These were great places to hide their renegade ships and stolen treasure. The islands were also close to well-traveled trading routes, creating the perfect opportunity to plunder merchant ships. The battles fought between pirates, merchants and other authorities often caused may casualties, especially ships. These ships often sank off the coast of the Bahamas, laden with gold, silver, and other antiquities. Spanish galleons were easy prey for pirates. These ships carried stolen riches from the native peoples of South and Central America. Pirates would hide this treasure in the numerous limestone caves dotting the Bahamas or bury it somewhere on the miles of beaches. Rumors of treasure still hidden in the Bahamas exist today. Pirate William Catt is supposed to have buried loot on his namesake, Cat Island. Sir Henry Morgan, who preferred the island of Andros, is said to have buried treasure throughout the many islands. Where rumors may be false, the Bahamas certainly offers a mystique that encourages its visitors to indulge in opportunities for adventure and seclusion. American Express Vacations is beginning to offer special tours for travelers interested in highlighting famous pirate sites all over the islands of the Bahamas. Modern Day Fun, Rest and Relaxation The Bahamas of today is still full of adventure and excitement. The islands of the Bahamas are some of the most popular locations for travelers in the world. A big draw to most Caribbean tourists, the Bahamas cater to travelers on a moderate to high-end budget. American Express Travel offers a number of moderate and high-end accommodations that give the best value for your money. There are no accommodations such as hostels because the focus of the island is a luxury experience. But travel to the Bahamas is on most world traveler's to see list.

Posted By - Virginia Morgan
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Interlaken - Heaven in the Swiss Alps

2007-10-03T02:20:00.001-07:00

Interlaken, Switzerland was our perfect break from the city sightseeing of Europe. Nestled in the Alps in between 2 lakes and a river, it is incredibly beautiful, we could have stayed here the whole summer.

That said, the hostel we stayed at was probably our worst. We were informed when we got there that whole backpacks had been going missing, there were no locks on the doors, and it was almost in the middle of the forest - beautiful, but slightly creepy. Neither of us have seen the movie hostel, but if we had, this probably would have been a scene right out of it. In the end, it turned out being little more than a hassle, but every back packing trip has to invlove one of these hostels, right?

One of my favourite Swiss experiences was the Jungfrao railway, the highest in Europe, up to the top of the glacier field. It was sooo beautiful- 360 degree views of mountains and glaciers, the pictures don´t really do it justice. We were also able to do an icredibly tiring hike over the glacier to a little rock climbing hut.

One morning we also tried canyoning. It was super fun, basically they show you how to get down the canyon any way possible with very little equipment. Now this is glacier water, and although they give you a wet suit, just the shock of the cold water is enough for a thrill, then they have you sliding down waterfalls, repelling down cliffs, and basically just getting rocked by the power of the rapids. A lot of fun!

The rest of our time was spent wandering around the cute little villiage and doing nearby hikes. The weather was perfect, sunny and crisp, and we even happened to be in town for an air show so the town was full of energy.

It's kind of funny how much we loved Interlaken considering it reminds me so much of the Canadian rockies but maybe home is where the heart is, or maybe we were just happy to go to a place that didn't involve the usual palaces, churches and museums!

Posted By - Gina Anderson
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Travel Portugal: A Land True To Its Past

2007-10-01T03:52:00.001-07:00

Perched on the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal stands out among its neighbors as one of the oldest and yet most traditional and conservative European civilizations. Visitors can view 22,000 year-old Paleolithic art on the rock faces of Vale do Côa, and human occupation of this region dates 500,000 years back in time! The Celts settled here around 750 B.C. and were followed by Romans, Visigoths, and Greeks among others. The Moors enjoyed their infamous occupation from the 8th to the 13th Century and left their culture and ornate, whitewashed architecture as an eclectic signature on the Iberian Peninsula.Today, Portugal's homogeneous culture and dedication to tradition is largely due to Salazar's oppressive rule during the mid-1900s. As a result, visitors can enjoy a more culturally authentic stay in Portugal than any other European nation.The north-south axis of mainland Portugal creates regions of dynamic terrain and unique specialties. The popular Douro Valley stretches 125 miles along a winding river and is famous for the string of port wineries at its edges. Cruises are now offered along the entire length of the Valley, beginning in Porto. The resort town of Lagos in the southern Algarve region attracts sun-seekers and history buffs alike. Prepare to be swept away by this hidden gem encircled by 15th Century walls.

Travel Portugal in the Atlantic

Two groups of islands off the Atlantic Coastline belong to Portugal and are a perfect and serene escape from the mainland, offering centuries of Portuguese history all their own and a look into the region's natural beauty. The Azores Islands archipelago lies 907 miles from the coast and is a haven of turquoise lakes, rolling green hills and sandy beaches. Monasteries, cathedrals, forts and ruins dating back to the 15th Century, when Portuguese navigators encountered the outcropping, are sprinkled about the islands. To the South, the enticing subtropical climate of Madeira Island and the surrounding volcanic archipelago is a bastion for adventure-seekers, resort luxuries, Madeira wine and untouched 15th Century architecture standing dramatically on seaside cliffs. Both of these secluded retreats are easily accessible from major airports on mainland Portugal.

Tips to the Savvy Traveler

Nearly all of Portugal works on Siesta time and 97% of the country is Catholic, therefore also affecting commercial hours and holidays. Most shops, banks and pharmacies are closed between 1 PM and 3 PM (yes, even in major cities). Make special note that museums also close in the middle of the day between 12:30 PM and 2 PM. Almost everything except museums closes by 1pm on Saturdays, and plan on simply eating and resting on Sundays when nothing is open. To plan your trip wisely, check the hours of operation of attractions you'd like to see before planning your trip or booking your room!Lastly, be aware when traveling by taxi. Fare is metered within urban limits, but once you leave these boundaries, you will be charged by the kilometer in addition to the price of the driver's return trip to the starting point. When taking a taxi after midnight, negotiate the price with the driver before getting in the car, especially if you've been indulging in Port!

Posted By - Driesels
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Stopping by the Woods on a Rainy Evening - I

2007-09-28T06:01:00.001-07:00

An electric morning at ST

Excited by the prospects of a different day ahead, i sped towards Sona Towers to see the day begin as soon as possible. I was greeted by familiar excited faces of my colleagues waiting for everyone to assemble.

There was usual teasing and stuff but by the by, the atmosphere was infectious with anticipations for the day ahead. There was a cool breeze and white clouds in the sky making it a picture perfect day.

Though we had to wait for the lazy bugs (i had partied whole night too, but i can sleep in the bus ;-) ), yet, it was not drudgery, not boredom, just lot of laughter and noise and clicking cameras and gingerly exchange of introduction with familiar faces. Finally amidst all this comedy and pandemonium, we left at quarter to 8. IST, you know!

Sugary Biligiri

Enroute, we had sugarcane. The farmers were so good natured here that they gave us a few sugarcanes just on seeing how we were eying them. Ah! It reminded me of my childhood days when on a buffalo's back i used to suck on a sugarcane stick without a worry in the world.

The place that we were headed to was Billigiri Rangana Hills (BR Hills). Its approximately 230 kms away from Bangalore towards Mysore and at an altitude of about 5090 ft. above sea level. At an easy pace, it took us about 6 hours to reach the place.

Posted After talking to the officials at the Forest Office, a Ranger accompanied us to the cottage where we were supposed to stay at night. It was a simple hut of 3 rooms, a hall and a kitchen that had all basic amenities. The most surprising thing to me was that there was round the clock electricity - really helped! I recharged my camera batteries.

Junglee cottage and Lunch

After checking in at the cottage we went to this small hotel for lunch. Well, i did not find it agreeable to my pallate but my Kanadiga friends liked it very much. They said it was better than Chandrika.

My surprise lay elsewhere! 50 (26+24) people ate at a bill of just Rs 750! Unimaginable in Bangalore - filling meal at Rs. 15 which makes my colleagues happy! Really amazing. The show biz of Bangalore has really not penetrated here. Simplicity is still in its pristine glory.

I noticed Sitesh tipping the rangers with Rs.30 and how happily yet hesitatingly they accepted it. If i try doing that in Bannerghatta National Park - i think they will tip me instead! ;)

a Temple, the Wet Carpet and Deers

We also visited a local temple. It was raining and the whole mountain range was magically transformed to a lush green carpet. I have my religious beliefs close to my heart and do not visit temples often. I rather enjoy His creation more than idolatry - something that we conceived, created and propagated. So, i stayed outside as usual, enjoyed my Cadbury's Temptations and His Green Carpets. Post lunch we went for a safari ride. We chanced upon some Cheetals and a couple of wild boars. Though Vaibhav stalked one of them, he was unsuccessful in getting a shot.

Posted By - Jha
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Stopping by the Woods on a Rainy Evening - II

2007-09-28T06:00:00.001-07:00

Fire, Ghost and Theology

At sundown we were back to our lair, had dinner and campfire! Some people will remember that game of Truth or Dare forever! ;-) There were some pretty nastily crafted questions for unsuspecting folk like Sashwati and Deepthi. I just escaped with naming my crush in THBS. Actually, i was not asked the right question, my fortune! No one let Pavan ask it! ;-)

Even after stubbing out the camp fire, the night was hardly over. We met Swami Abhayananda cloaked inside the flesh and bones of sleepy Abhay! Well, it started with ghost stories from Vipin, but ended with discussions on theology, karma, reincarnation, you name it! I particularly enjoyed pestering Abhay for one story of a fortune teller that i had instantly developed an appetite for. We laid down our funny bones well beyond midnight amidst peels of animated laughter and jokes that even ghosts would have considered blasphemous! Abhay was scared ( citation needed! ;) ) to share our room.

Idli, Gaj, Mountain and the Tiger's appartment

Next day, lazy morning... A very tasty breakfast and off we went to K Gudi. People went berserk for a photo session with one of the tame elephants over there. There were elephant safaries for ladies and some insistent guys. I got some lovely photos of blooming Gulmohar engulfing the forest in its flaming red flowers.

And in the mountains there had to be a trek (logically enough)! No! I am not putting up my own photo here which some sadist shot when i was sweating like a pig. Its totally gross. We also came across a thicket which the ranger said was supposed to have been a tiger's lair at night. I am not sure, i did not find any tiger hair on the many thorns in the thicket or pug marks on the soft soil.

Bliss

Ill-scented and hungry after the trek, we headed back to Bangalore. But the adventure was not over yet. We saw a crude dam on the way, and there was this vast stretch of land, water and mountain that queerly enough reminded me of Windows Xp default desktop wallpaper named as Bliss.

I wondered what name they would have given to this breathtaking sight. I just fell in love with it and shot at it with all kinds of scene compositions that i had known. Well, one of them did end up as Shailesh's desktop. I have, however still kept the old one, which still remains my favorite.

Posted By - Jha
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Stopping by the Woods on a Rainy Evening - III

2007-09-28T05:44:00.000-07:00

Shiva's Samudra

Then we headed to Shivana Samudram. A steep descent and cool, rushing waterfalls caressing the tired and weary muscles. Some people resisted the temptation, i have no idea how ?! Its hilarious to see what games an empty stomach plays on our minds. There were a lot of synthetic food on sale over there, but i chose wild bitter berries sauced with chilli/lemon paste over them and ate them too. In fact i rather enjoyed eating them just like centershock chewing gum!

Maddur vada & Dusk

Finally, we reached Maddur. There we had lunch. And then a swift drive back to Bangalore amidst Antakshari and omnipresent flashing cameras.

Epilogue

The most special thing about this trip was that most of the things about it was not planned beforehand. Well, i think this was a good way to demonstrate that smart decisions can be reached in nick of time and its not always that if a discussion has many members, the decisions will not be unanimous. Its unplanned nature also gave a juvenile fabric to the trip, where everyone had a say and no one was treading down a beaten path or being vetoed out by some invisible pre-determination. In my opinion the credit should go to the accomodating attitude of Sitesh and Deepthi and the fact that though Deepthi knew Kannada, yet Sitesh put the onus of translation on Harish thereby bringing all of us into descision making roleplay. No wonder it was a great success.

Though physically tired after the trip, i feel mentally reinvigorated. Also last but not the least, i made some great friends.

Posted By - Jha
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My parents on holiday in Norway

2007-09-27T23:15:00.000-07:00

This year my parents did something they haven't done in thirty years: they spent their summer holiday driving through Norway. And so did we. To check where they were going, we decided to meet up with them at the cabin of Annett's parents. Don't get me wrong, it was the only way we could avoid running in to them on our own holiday.

At the cabin Gaute introduced us to his new girlfriend Runi, and we went fishing with the eight of us. We caught a lot of fish, although my mother caught mostly water plants, trees and other leashes.

There is a Norwegian proverb stating that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes. In the pouring rain, Annett's mother, my father and me the next morning took the boat to fetch a net. Because I borrowed effective rain gear, the rain wasn't bothering me at all. Instead it made the fishing experience somehow more real. The sky and the water both had the same gray color, and the only color was coming from the forest: several shades of green, fading to gray with distance. Pretty, in a mystical sort of way.

Afterwards we prepared the fish outside in the rain. Outside, to keep it clean inside. This time Bastian had to share the fish heads with Inu, but he didn't seem to mind. I guess more than forty fish heads is a lot, even for an ever-hungry Labrador.

Inu had the time of her life. She was constantly exploring the area around the cabin. We didn't bother anymore to keep an eye on her all the time. She managed to fall into the water, and so she swum for the first time. And she lost her first milk teeth. A couple of times we had to put her in the room, because she wanted to play with Bastian all the time. We think of her as the annoying side kick of Bastian. This is too much for Bastian, with his hundred dog-years he just doesn't manage to play so much anymore.

It means a lot to me that my parents know what my life here is like. By the time I post this on my blog, Maarten and Marian have payed us a visit. In the autumn we plan to go camping in the mountains together with Joost and Annieka. Bjørn will probably start working for Trolltech in Berlin, and might go to its main office in Oslo now and then. I'm glad that our advertising of our sleeping couch is paying off.

Posted By - Georg Muntingh
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My Singapore Holiday

2007-09-26T23:34:00.000-07:00

Exotic. Simply , 'Zimbly' ( remember Tamil is official! ) exotic.

That's how I would describe Singapore.

Our tour began upon landing at Changi on June 12th after which we headed straight to Little India - the township where our hotel was located. The drive was superb. Clean roads, beautiful cars , green trees and super sexy bikes ! Seeing Chinese people ride them reminded me of Police Story ( Jackie Chan ) ! There are some really cool models in China/Singapore ( most of them come with a front glass ) . The city is very well planned and structured. Quite literally so ; for, we came across a truck carrying labourers and even the labourers were seated in an orderly fashion ! There were exactly 3 striaght rows with 8 people each ! :-)

Day 1 was the Night Safari trip. A lot of work has gone into simulating the real jungle experience and it is by no means wasted. You are taken on a long tour on a tram into a forest where you see wild animals on either side and very close to you . As you move along, the announcer gives you very interesting information about the animals you see and she makes it so exciting ! The quiet atmosphere and flawless rendition reminds you National Geographic ( only , this time you are inside the TV ). Great Experience.

On the side of the entrance , there is an Animal show every 1 hour called Creatures of the Night. We sit around in an open Amphitheatre and the host brings animals to the stage and makes them do interesting things. I am amazed by how they make it not only entertaining but also educational. Most importantly, they spell out a hidden message on Environment And Conservation. Like the mongoose in the show which picked up plastic bags and neatly dropped them into the waste bin !

Day 2 was the visit to Jurong Bird Park and Sentosa Island. The bird park is so big , it will probably take you two full days to see all of it. It is as exciting as the Night Safari , there are two interesting shows with birds ( Hawks , eagles and other birds of prey go wizzing above your heads !) . We went around on a mini-train and stopped midway at a place called the Lory Loft where you have a huge netted enclosure of lories. You can move around with a small cup of bird seed and feed these birds .They coolly perch on your hands - but if you try to touch them , they'll fly away !

Sentosa Island is a beautiful place. The underwater world is one of the best attractions there. You walk through a transparent glass tunnel where you see exotic fish and shark swim all around you. Other attractions are the Dolphin show ( which , surprisingly - is not very great. My parents tell me the one in San Diego is much better ) , and the Merlion . The cable car ride where you cross the sea is fantastic . The tour ends with a laser show called 'Songs of the Sea' where they use water , lights , music and fire(!) to construct an amazing visual experience lasting half-an-hour.

Day 3 was a tour of the city. Did you know that Subhash Chandra Bose formed the Indian National Army in front of the City Hall at Singapore ? The Supreme Court of Singapore is located on top of the City Hall. I must admit I was amused when the tour guide called it the 'supreme' Court - I mean, it is serves only a small city of 4 million people ! However, it is by no means taken lightly by the people there . The law is very very strict in Singapore. For example, drug trafficking invokes a mandatory death penalty. And corruption attracts rigorous imprisonment and caning on the seat of your pants ! In fact, the court is in the shape of a flying saucer. Supposed to be symbolic of a gateway to hell for the wrong-doers ! If you drive around in Singapore, you can't miss the skyscrapers. ( You could have a panoramic view if you take the special sky ride at Sentosa ). Some of them have lovely shapes - there is one which looks like a slice of cake, one which is a chocolate and one which...was meant to be a mike ( stage microphone ) but looks like a jackfruit ! ( This building is where plays/operas are held ).

Out tour came to end on Day3 and we reached Changi Airport four hours early for our 20:15 flight back to India. The airport is simply mind-blowing !! If you go to Singapore budget some time specifically to go around the airport . For those familiar with Bangalore, imagine a super-mall comprising The Forum + Garuda + Bangalore Central. Multiply the size of this mall by a factor of 20. Now , you might get something close to Changi. You get the idea.

Seriously - its incredible. After security check, you can catch a free movie or work out at the Gym. Or , you could sit around in the Lounge and watch TV. Or, you could go back and forth in the Travellator ( the 'horizontal' escalator ) :-) Well, you begin to wonder if Changi is primarily an entertainment super-mall which , INCIDENTALLY, manages to land planes !

Ah, that brings me to the end of this travelogue. I must not forget to narrate that funny incident at the Mustafa Center ( Singapore's 24/7 shopping mall ). I was wandering around when three burly policemen came out of nowhere , gave me a handout and walked away. The handout said, " Beware of pickpockets and shop-lifters ". I felt good ( thank-you- that- was-very-kind ). I turned over the page and saw - " Shop Theft is a crime ! If caught ......." . Oops . Now, why the handout ? Was I a potential victim or the thief himself ! LOL.

Posted By - Kandarp Srinivasan
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Travel to Scotland

2007-09-25T23:32:00.001-07:00

View from the Train, leaving the Edinburgh Waverly train station -- The Water Tower flying the American and Scotland flags.

The cottage & water Tower where we will be staying as guests of Susan & Gerry Goldwyre shown hear preparing for a welcome champagne toast.

Once we were off the cruise ship, we travelled by limo to King's Cross Train Station in London. We boarded the 12:00 train called The Highland Chieftain which made several stops on its trip from London to Inverness. It was a 4 1/2 hour train trip from London to Edinburgh Waverly station. The scenery is beautiful and pastoral as the train travels at over 100 mph. Fields of grasses, hay bales, sheep, cattle and small villages all among the green rolling hills. You think you could be somewhere in the USA until you see the old buildings and farms. In the major cities there is more modern architecture among the old. Many old stone walls and bridges.

The sun is out as the train travels at the high speed through the countryside. We arrive at a town which is right at the border of Scotland and England--Berwick-upon-Tweed. Here there is a famous ancient Roman style bridge that you can see as the train comes into the bend and then uses that bridge to cross the river. After this crossing, we are in Scotland and the train travels within sight of the coastline of the North Sea. So much I could describe to you about the sights - what a beautiful country! I know you'll be reading more later about it so I'll stop here for now.

Gerry & Susan are waiting as the train pulls into the Edinburgh Waverly station. It is so great to see them and feels like we just saw them -- can't believe it has been over 16 months! With all of our luggage, they needed to bring two cars. Gerry takes the luggage in his car and Steve and I join Susan for the drive to their home.

Susan gives a quick tour down The Royal Mile and then off to Dalkeith where they live. We see from the window of the car the famous volcanic remains called Arthur's Seat and lots of people climbing this mountainous formation. Guess what - so will we Susan tells us :-)

When we arrive, we finally get to see The Water Tower and Cottage that Gerry & Susan have told us and showed us pictures. It is even more lovely than we could have pictured. We get the grand tour and then a champagne toast. Gerry cooks up a lovely dinner and we sit out in the garden overlooking the hillside as the sunsets catching up on making plans. An absolutely delightful start to our visit. We couldn't have found better friends or a more lovely place in Scotland!

Posted By - Lynn & Steve
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Taste of Taiwan - Moon Festival

2007-09-25T00:10:00.000-07:00

Moon Festival, also known as Mid-Autumn Festival, falls on Sept. 25, so I have Tuesday off of work! I also have Saturday off because the kids have to make up their day of regular school on Saturday. From asking some people and researching it on the internet I've learned that there are several different versions of the myth behind the holiday, but basically the holiday celebrates abundance and family. There are so many versions, I can't even begin to list them here! Anyway, it's the second most important holiday here (next to Chinese New Year). Everyone gets the day off and families gather outside to "bbq" and look at the moon. Another big part of the holiday is the mooncakes, a traditional Chinese pastry which is only available around Moon Festival. I tried some at work and so far my favorites are the ones filled with red bean paste. I know it sounds weird, but it's good!

All is well in Taiwan. I can't believe it's just one week from October! It's going by so fast already. Teaching is good. We're getting another foreign teacher, an American girl, this week. I met her briefly on Friday. I'm glad that I won't be the only western female around the school now. I broke my streak of having no students cry in my classes. I had one student cry on Thursday because she couldnt answer a question and one four year old cry in the little kids class on Friday for no apparent reason. I try not to take it personally. In both cases the TAs pretty much deal with the situation but it's annoying because, especially in the little kids class, the other students get so distracted. In talking to other teachers and my roommates I think it's a pretty common thing to have students cry. Sometimes, though, I just want to be like "grow a backbone, kid!" I had one very interesting experience while teaching my advanced class on Saturday morning. Right now they're learning about nationalities (ie, so-and-so is from Greece, he is Greek, he speaks Greek.) So I was showing them where some of the places on their vocabulary lists were located on a map (U.S., Argentina, Brazil, Greece, Spain, Hungary, etc.) Well first I showed them where Taiwan was located and they first words out of their mouths were "So small! So small!" It really seemed as if they'd never seen Taiwan on a map before and that they had no knowledge of just how small it is. And this was my advanced class (mostly 12-14 year olds.) I couldn't believe it!

This past week was my birthday. I went out with friends to a bar downtown which was so much fun! Last night I had my first Taiwan club experience which was interesting. I went to Luxy, a very upscale club downtown. It was a lot of fun, too. The most amusing part of the night was the ridiculously dressed Taiwanese dancers who were on stage some of the time! They were wearing these huge, furry boot-like things! Many people wear boots here...I just don't understand it because it's so hot!

I've done a couple more touristy things since I last wrote. I visited Longshan Temple which is in the city. It was so cool! The colors are very vibrant and it was full of people praying, making offerings, and burning fires and incense. I also went to the "tourist" night market/Snake Alley. It's a huge night market and also a place where people go to eat snake for dinner. (I got that whole thing out of my system last summer in Vietnam when we had our feast of cobra, turtle, etc!) This reminds me, I'm not really sure that I've explained the whole night market concept. There are huge markets throughout the city with food stalls (and other products: clothing, shoes, etc). They open up at night and are filled with people (every single night of the week.) There's one about a 7 min walk from my apt. that I go to a couple of times a week. They have every kind of Chinese food you could want and also amazing fresh fruit juices. (I especially like the mango juice and the watermelon juice...just about $1 US!) I typically eat a beef and vegetable dish at one of the stalls which is about $3 US. The one by my apt. is huge to me but it's not even as big as some others I've been to in the city! It's pretty much what people do at night. I was joking with one of my roommates the other night about where Taiwanese go on dates. I said "What do you do? Go to the night market?!" (I was completely joking.) But he said that is what they do!

In other news...my first visitor is coming! Charlie just bought his plane tickets a few days ago and will be here December 27-January 8. We'll spend some time in Taipei, but will also travel around Taiwan for a few days. Well, that's it for now. I have posted a lot of new pictures on my photo site (photos of everything I talked about in this post, plus photos of my neighborhood!) So take a look!

Posted By - afloyd
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Things to See and Do in Sydney

2007-09-24T03:13:00.001-07:00

Sydney is one of the best places in the world that is worth exploring. It offers much tourist attraction that travelers shouldn't miss. Here are some of the things you can see and do in and around Sydney:

Sydney aquarium
Perfect for the whole family and friends, Sydney Aquarium lets you walk under water and see the sights of Australia's rich and diverse marine life and habitats. Sydney Aquarium houses more than 650 species that includes over 6,000 individual fish and other aquatic creatures.

Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House never fails to mesmerize tourists with its splendid and elaborate façade and structure. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sydney Opera House is one of the most magnificent, unique and popular buildings of the 20th Century. However, what travelers see outside is, so to speak, just the tip of the iceberg.

Known as the venues of top performing arts in the world, it showcases outstanding art productions like theatre, ballet and musicals and is home of internationally renowned performing arts producers such as Opera Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company, and the Sydney Symphony.

The 1.8 hectares of land elevated 25 metres above sea level houses five spacious theatres, five rehearsal studios, two large halls, ten bars and restaurants, and a handful of souvenir shops.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
Locally known as "the Coathanger", Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks not just in Australia but across the globe as well. It links the city centre in the south and the residential north.

Thrill-seekers are welcome to the BridgeClimb, a guided walk to the top of the world, or as high as 50-storey. The tour is available at Dawn, Day, Twilight or Night.

The foot of Sydney Harbour Bridge, known as "The Rocks" is a busy tourist spot consisting of various leisure destinations like art galleries, shops, cafés and restaurants.

Above are just few of the many things that guests can experience in Sydney. Finding a place to stay while touring the rest of Sydney is recommended so one can relax and rejuvenate after a day packed with activities. For a fine hotel accommodation, one can count on Sovereign Inn Crows Nest. It offers cozy rooms and superb hotel services at very affordable rates. Plus, it is admired for having a strategic location where guests can witness the magnificent view of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Parramatta River.

For more information on hotel accommodations, feel free to visit http://www.sovereigninnsydney.com

Posted By - Sarah Miller
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I'm back from Zambia

2007-09-20T00:17:00.000-07:00

I'm back from Zambia. The flight home was easy enough--an hour's delay in Atlanta but otherwise easy enough. I slept A LOT on the plane and have felt good this afternoon....I hope to get a good night's sleep this evening.

What new in Zambia: Retail spacelots of new stores. Most of the places are chains that were based in South Africa (Bata Shoes, Shoprite and Mr. Price are three.) The good news is that products sell for less. The bad news, much of the sales revenue leaves the countryalthough all the retail developments employ people and the consumption opportunities give people a reason to aspire for middle class or higher status.

My friend Muwana took me to a couple of local Zambian social clubs. Our first stop was the BP Clubliterally run by British Petroleum for the employees but available for others to visit. The BP Club is located near ZNBC's Mass Media ComplexMuwana's office location. It was a good place to be because it was off the beaten pathno mini bus routes were particularly close so if you didn't drive yourself or take a taxi, you'd probably select another place. The room would likely hold 50-60 people but there were probably no more than two dozen patrons when we arrived.

Muwana introduced me to several friends, including Joshua who upon hearing my name was Greg, told me he had a nephew named Greg and that for the evening, he'd be calling me Nephew. I called him Uncle. A doubting friend who walked up questioned us on the family relationship. As quickly as I could I said, "Look at our smiles and the sparkle in our eyesyou'll see that we are related." It was a good time for all to laugh.

Later we went to an Irish pubthe sort of place you'd see in the U.S. with all sorts of plaques or signs saying things like, "Liquor kept the Irish from conquering the world." The bar, McHags, is located in Manda Hill Shopping Center.

Food: It was great to have N'shima again. Made from boiled corn meal, the thick paste is the Zambian equivalent to bread. I enjoyed lunch with two friends at a restaurant called Food Fayre. During the week, they have a buffet style meal. Saturday, when we were there, we ordered from a menu board. The three of us had village chicken (a Zambian equivalent to free-range chicken), rape (a green similar to kale), okra, and lowanbi (a local vegetable that's boiled and cooked with some peanuts mixed in.) Delicious! The meal cost about 15,000K per personthat's a little less than $4.00. While it seemed like a bargain meal for a hungry worker, I found myself thinking later that I often spend only about $1 for lunch by bringing something to work or keeping some cans of soup in my office. The simplest option in Zambia would be to walk a little further to an open market and buy some bread, fruit or vegetables from a seller's stall.

Zambian Phrases:
"It's just there." A location reference that could mean 100 feet away or several miles.
"Where do you stay?" Where do you live?
"I'll just pass by on my way to . . ." or "I'll pass by at 18:30 hours." I'll stop by while I'm on my way. Or, I'll stop by at 6:30 PM.
"Do you take ______?" Do you eat or drink or consume something.

Things I brought back:
Basketsa suitcase full of them. A tablecloth with a guinea fowl pattern. Some small animal carvings. A bottle of Mosi Beer, made by Zambia Breweries, a company once controlled by the government but privatized and then purchased in full by SAB-Millerthe combined South African Breweries and Miller Brewing. And, renewed friendships and wonderful memories!

Posted By - Greg
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Travel Alaska... An Adventure of a Lifetime

2007-09-19T23:54:00.000-07:00

So you're like John Locke of the TV series Lost and simply (literally) dying for an adventure. Or maybe you're just bored to death and you want to experience more of life. Have no fear no need to travel across the globe to taste adventure in the wilds of Africa or the rain forests of South America. Why should you when you've got Alaska. Alaska the 49th state and fondly known as the Land of the Midnight Sun and The Last Frontier.

Most people believe that Alaska, a name which comes from an Aleut word meaning "land that's not an island" is simply tundra in the middle of nowhere because of it's distance from the lower 48 states and because most of the stories you hear about it are usually related to the cold and snow and so-called vast, desolate, open spaces. But you thought wrong.

Alaska - the largest state (by land mass) is also one of the least populated - is a land that combines the beautiful snowy scenery of the Alps with the challenge of an adventure trip to the Congo.

Don't believe me?

That's okay because I've got proof.

River Fishing
When someone mentions Alaska, people usually visualize a land of ice and frozen desert. So it's a bit hard to imagine people being able to fish in such a place. But like I mentioned earlier, Alaska is a place filled with adventure, a place well worth traveling to.

For your Alaska fishing adventure, you can try your luck at hooking any of a variety of prized fish like: Silver Salmon in Resurrection Bay during August and September, the King Salmon of the Lower Kenai River from May to July or Red (Sockeye) Salmon, Dolly Varden and Rainbow Trout in the Upper Kenai River.

Rafting
Yes, you can raft to your hearts' content and pretend you're a lone wanderer having an adventure in the midst of the vast array of Alaskan wildlife. Travel and encounter the many natural wonders of Alaska. Listen to the stories of the natives. Catch a glimpse of moose and bald eagles as you hold on for dear life while traversing the rapids of Kenai River Canyon - a trip that is highly recommended and one that you don't want to miss.

Backpacking
This is an adventure you must grab because there's virtually nothing that compares to backpacking in Alaska. You can of course choose your own adventure travel destination: Brooks Range, Artic Refuge, Talkeetna Mountains, and Wrangell-St. Elias to name just a few.

Sea Kayaking
This not so common adventure is one that only traveling to Alaska can bestow upon you. This is not for the feint of heart and make sure, that you don't attempt this alone.

Expeditions to Walrus Island
So you haven't seen any of those furry adorable creatures up close? Find yourself aching for more of a marine adventure rather than a landlocked one? Or perhaps you're content to simply watch. Have no fear because Alaska's Walrus Island has it all. You can view walrus, other marine mammals and rare bird species from the comfortable deck of a cruising yacht. But if you want a bit more of a challenge, you can take a hiking trip and see more of the Alaskan wildlife.

Dog Sledding
This is probably the most popular sport in Alaska and an adventure worth telling your grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends, barber or whoever will listen. If you so choose, you can simply watch the dog sled races or try it out yourself by mushing your own team. The Siberian huskies, are highly trained so there's no need to worry about your safety. Plus, if you have the time, you can also visit the renowned author, husky owner and Alaskan original Mary Shields.

Fjord Exploration
If you've ever dreamed of experiencing the sheer scale of an honest-to-goodness glacier that the pages of a book or movie screen just can't convey then Alaska is the place to be? Unless, of course you prefer Greenland or Iceland for your icy adventure. I think not... and just another of many reasons why we should be thankful for the great State of Alaska.

So... are you now convinced that traveling to Alaska is an adventure that you must not miss? I sure hope so because if you're not - what's wrong with you. Just kidding, however before making reservations be sure you've got everything you need like clothes for wide range of temperatures and a comfortable pair of hiking boots.

Have a great trip and enjoy everything that Alaska has to offer!

Posted By - Brian Cahill
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A Travel Story: From San Francisco to Cairo, "Let's All Stay Together"

2007-09-05T02:24:00.001-07:00

Our tour guide kept saying Lets say together These three little words made me feel like I was in elementary school, then I would remember why she kept saying this to our group and I would immediately find the core of my group and join them.

If your travel destination has shown up on the US State Departments Travel Alert within the past 12 months, then you too may want to travel with a group. Or if you are traveling alone, or if you and your travel companion dont want to spend a lot of time thinking about your next venture while visiting far away places then, group travel would be the answer.

Travel is Education at its best, or at least that is our slogan. When I traveled to Egypt a few years back, there had been some problems, nothing serious but Egypt was listed on the US Department of State Travel Alerts. I was traveling alone and I needed the security of a group so I sign up for a 10 day group tour and cruise to Egypt. It was one of the most memorable journeys of my life. I traveled from San Francisco to JFK, New York, then to Paris and then to Cairo, Egypt.

Egypt had some issues with terrorist and US citizens had been involved in a couple of the incidents, so the lets all stay together idea was foremost in my mind. When we landed at the Cairo International Airport we saw guards walking around the Airport with machine guns on their back. From the moment I saw this, they never had a problem with me staying with the group.

A couple of little old ladies on the tour stopped me from fibbing about where I was going for the morning or afternoon. They would wait down stairs in the hotel lobby and catch me when I was coming out of the elevator. Oh, you are feeling better; good we can catch a cab and go to the bazaar. It seems that the little old ladies did this to several of the younger travelers. Needless to say, they always got their way, one way or another. Free Time was scheduled on the tour, however our group had grown close and pretty much stayed together. Our group consisted of couples, college students, little old ladies, professionals, retired individuals and me. We were a regular UN from the US.

In Cairo women were not allowed in the casinos at night without a male. So the women who had husbands ended up sharing their husbands attentions with all the single women on the tour. We just selected the couple that suited our personality and tagged alone with them. No, there was no under the cover activity going on! It was good clean honest survival tactics. For some reason they forgot to mention in the tour brochure that women were not allowed in the casinos without a male. (Yes, they have casinos in Egypt)

During my stay in Cairo, I wore a scarf over my head when I went out of the hotel. I did this out of respect. Cairo, at that time had over 14 million people living there and 75% were Muslims and 25% were Christians. Even though I was not a Muslim, I felt more comfortable covering my head and blending in with the Muslim population.

Our tour went something like this; Full day tour featured the Egyptian Museum, the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza, the Solar Boat, the Citadel, the Hanging Church and the famous Bazaar over a 3 day period

Then it was time to depart Cairo and catch a train to Luxor to begin our Nile Cruise. Our train ride was overnight and we had sleeper cars so privacy was not an issue. During the train ride while viewing the terrain, the small towns and the living conditions of the Egyptians, we had time to reflect on all the information, history and lessons we had experienced while in Cairo.

We sailed from Luxor to Aswan (Aswan is the gateway to Africa and was a prosperous market city on the crossroads of the ancient caravan routes) and then caught a flight back to Cairo) The river boats go back and forth from Aswan to Luxor, so some of the Americans on another tour flew to Aswan and then sailed back to Luxor.

Once on the luxury (small) cruise ship, it was like floating on air, where ancient pictures of the Nile River banks could be seen from each stateroom and the dinning rooms. Almost every moment of every day for 3 days there was a Kodak moment happening on the shores of the Nile River. The cruise revealed the most intimate details of the river banks. The ship was extremely modern and the sights were exceptionally ancient. It felt like we were caught in a time machine.

Our tour was high end meaning it was a 5 start tour, the hotel was beautiful and the cruise on the Nile was breathtaking. I returned to the United States feeling more knowledgeable and more willing to stay with the group when traveling to far away places. All the questions I had asked myself about my American History were answered.

Posted By - BS1234ondskfacyu
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Enjoy vacation at Florida Beach

2007-08-31T03:52:00.000-07:00

If one starts thinking about a vacation in the United States, then the best state for it is Florida, the home of Walt Disney World. Florida also has some of the country s best golfing, beaches and man-made attraction making it the ultimate vacation paradise. Perhaps the most popular and famous of all the different ways to enjoy Florida's beauties is by way of Florida beach vacation rentals.

Primarily, Florida is known throughout the world for its beaches. The Florida beaches stretch over eight hundred miles. The Florida Panhandle region stretches from Pensacola to Tallahassee, and the Florida Keys are a beachgoer s paradise. However, the entire state of Florida is surrounded by beaches with sparkling sands and emerald waters. These beaches strongly affect the Florida lifestyle. The activities one might find on a Florida beach are endless. There is fishing, swimming, kite surfing, body surfing, diving, snorkeling and scuba diving, among other amusements. Florida beach resort rentals are the ideal places to enjoy with your family.

Some of the beaches where one can enjoy beach vacation rentals are Clearwater Beach, Cocoa Beach, Crystal Beach, Daytona Beach, Delray Beach, Flagler Beach, Fort Myers Beach, Flagler Beach, Hammock Beach, Highland Beach, Hollywood Beach, West Palm Beach, Vero Beach, St. Augustine. Pete Beach, St. Augustine Beach, South Beach, Seagrove Beach, Sea crest Beach, Satellite Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Rosemary Beach, Pompano Beach, Panama City Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Pensacola Beach, Palm Beach, Ormond Beach, Navarre Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Miami Beach, Melbourne Beach, Madeira Beach and Jacksonville Beach.

Posted By - Free Hobbies
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Adventure Travel in Nepal

2007-08-31T02:40:00.000-07:00

With its majestic Himalayan Mountains and fascinating local culture, Nepal is a favorite destination for adventurous travelers. Each year thousands embark upon the experience of a lifetime to spend days or weeks in the breathtakingly beautiful country of Nepal.

Most adventure travelers in Nepal will be treated to magnificent views from high in the mountains. They will wander through pure forests and past clear mountain lakes, rivers and waterfalls. They'll visit remote Buddhist monasteries and shrines and see tiny mountain villages, full of friendly locals.

Trekking expeditions in Nepal are quite popular. They typically involve a small group of people who have been given a list of equipment, such as hiking boots, to bring with them to Nepal. Once they arrive in the country they set off together to explore. There is usually a trekking staff that comes along on the trip and carries most of the camping equipment and even the travelers' bags. They set up the camp, cook meals and break camp, leaving the traveler to enjoy the trek without the physical hardship of toting heavy packs.

Treks are available for people with various abilities. While a person should be in good shape for these treks, one does not need to be a tri-athlete to take part. There are more strenuous treks for those in great physical condition, as well as easier treks. Many of the easier treks are appropriate for families and allow children to participate. Some companies rate the treks they offer by level of difficulty, to help travelers judge which trek would be best for them.

While trekking is one of the most popular forms of adventure travel in Nepal, it is by no means the only one. There are many ways to enjoy the great outdoors in beautiful and mysterious Nepal.

The Himalayas make Nepal a favorite destination for mountain climbers. There are well over 100 peaks open to mountain climbers in Nepal, including the famed Mount Everest.
The mountains of Nepal also have trails for mountain bikers of varying skills.
Nepal offers challenging climbing cliffs for avid rock climbers.
While rafting and kayaking in Nepal, adventurers can float along picturesque mountain rivers enjoying tranquil views, far from the well-traveled paths.
Finally, adventure travelers in Nepal can choose to experience a jungle safari from a jeep or the back of an elephant.

Nepal's wildlife reserves and conservation areas boast a variety of unique animals, including the Royal Bengal Tiger and the Greater One Horned Rhinoceros.

Posted By - Guide4Tourism
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NY Times: Steak Out In Paris

2007-08-31T01:49:00.000-07:00

This has little to do with travel photography, however I couldn't resist featuring it for many reasons. The first is that it's about the type of food I ate almost daily while I was growing up, the second is that it's narrated by Mark Bittman (more on him later), the third is that it\'s about Paris (one of my very favorite cities) and the fourth is that it's about brasseries and bistros (my favorite type of restaurants).

Mark Bittman is an interesting character...he's a celebrity cookbook author, appears on PBS and has a weekly culinary column in the New York Times, but what makes him unusual is that not only does he subscribe to the minimalist cookery school but he's as opinionated as they come....and that makes him interesting and a must-see on television.

His choices of the bistros in this piece are equally interesting...Le Severo, Chez Georges and Au Boeuf Courrone are traditional no-fuss eateries, and are quintessentially Parisian. These are the places I look for when I visit this eternal city.

The photographs are by Ed Alcock, a Paris-based photographer who shoots for the NY Times and The Guardian, who happens to hold a PhD in mathematics. That's interesting too.

An enjoyable multimedia slide show, but I wish the producer (Emily Rueb) could've added a snippet or two of Parisian street singing, especially since the biopic movie of Edith Piaf is currently in theaters...that would've completed the circle nicely.

Posted By - Tewfic El-Sawy
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Into the land of Pharaos and Pyramids - Egypt

2007-08-30T04:01:00.001-07:00

I've just arrived two days from my vacation from Philippines when my boss asked me to go to Cairo the following weekend to conduct training on financial management to Program managers coming from different country offices. Still suffering from jet lag but this does not stop me from saying yes as going to Egypthas always been my dream. Though I admit conducting a workshop to Senior Program managers is a bit nerve wracking let alone the preparations that I have to do in so little time but the idea of seeing the pyramids in person motivated me to accept this last minute assignment. Aboard AirFrance from Atlanta-Paris-Cairo, I finally arrived Cairoat past 2 am as I have missed my flight from Parisdue to delayed flight from Atlanta. Anyway, as I got out of the airport, I was a bit scared as nobody from our office came to picked me up. I bravely hailed a taxi and asked him to bring me to Hotel Pyramisa. Luckily, the driver is so nice and was playing the role of a tour guide at the same time pointing all the places of interest as we drive to the city, he was driving so fast and madly (I thought Manila drivers are the worst) and he blatantly asked for a tip which I readily gave as anyway I arrived the hotel safely at the wee hours of the morning. First two days I did not go anywhere as I am so tense with my coming session so I decided that I will enjoy only after I have run my workshop successfully. So as soon as I was done with my session on the 2nd day I finally went out with my two female colleagues working from Ivory coastand Congo, an American and French. We decided to eat at a seafood restaurant by the Nile River. The food is good and the price is reasonable, but one thing that really strikes me most is the customer service. The Egyptians are really nice and always make sure that their guest or customers especially foreigners are well accommodated and satisfied. This is the same case in the hotel where I was staying. However, I also noticed that the food servers and even hotel staff are mostly men and I seldom noticed any female. I just wonder if this has something to do with their culture. On the 3rd night, we had a Nile dinner cruise where aside from sumptuous buffet dinner, there were belly dancing and singing to entertain us while the boat was cruising the Nileriver. Anyway the workshop lasted only three days and on our 4th day we had a tour of Cairoand Giza. Our first itinerary was to visit the pyramids of Gizaas well as the Sphinx and seeing it in person is really a dream come true for me. It amazes me how they were able to transport and assembles each block which weighs approximately 80 tons and build it like a Lego into a pyramid. Let alone its architecture, the different secret chambers where the body of the Pharaoh and its treasure is stored. We even went inside one of the pyramids where actually inside is empty since of course any item discovered are already in the museums. After the trip to the pyramids and sphinx we browsed some local stores and its so funny because the vendors just to catch my attention are shouting "aloha" to me.. maybe they thought I am from Hawaii. Then there is this guy who approached me and keep on telling me I am pretty and that my eyes are beautiful .. I told him thanks but I am not buying anything.. but he said that he is not a vendor and he just want to say that I am beautiful and even asked the confirmation of my colleague .. I said thank you again but at that point I was really embarrassed.

Anyway, our next stop is to go to the perfumery store.. there we had given some refreshments while we tried different scent of essence which according to them is the base ingredient in making all these designer perfume like channel, lancome, estee etc. Of course being a shopaholic no persuasion is needed and I just found myself spending almost $200! ask me if I use these essential oils.. no I dont and its just sitting somewhere in my house. After that we headed back to Cairo and visited the old Cairo, the hanging church, Ben Ezra synagogue, Coptic museum then we proceed to Citadel and visited Mohammed Ali mosque where they asked me to wear this raincoat like cape to cover my body as according to their standard is inappropriate to be worn inside their place of worship. At that time we were tired and hungry so we went to a ship by the Nile River and had our lunch on a cruise ship.. well I am beginning to like this lifestyle. After lunch though we are really exhausted, we visited the Egyptian Museum of Cairo where there we saw hundreds of artifacts, treasures of the pharaohs and mummies. There I saw Tutankhamun's gold coffin, his masks, gold plated furniture, his gold mask inlayed with turquoise and lapis lazuli, his funeral items jewelries and so much more and can only conclude that pharaohs during those time really live extravagantly and wonder what if I was one of the Egyptian queen would I have so much treasures and jewelries like they do? Well I bet I will have more ;-). After the museum trip we headed back to the hotel and had some drink with my colleagues. While responding to my emails a guy who is in his mid 20s approached me and asked me if I am a Thai actress that he used to see on TV. I said to myself hmm nice pick up line but it is not working. I told him no coz I am a Filipina, of course to catch my attention he said all those things that I am attractive etc etc .. even though he does not speak English fluently you can tell that he is trying his best. Then eventually asked me if I can have a drink with him at the bar, I graciously declined it and told him that I got some work to do.. I was actually screaming inside my head to back off and leave me in peace!!! Eventually he got the signal that I am not interested and he said goodbye. I went back to my hotel room at almost 11pm and packed my clothes as in about 5 hours I will be catching my plane to Paris for an overnight which another adventure awaits me. My trip to Egypt is very short... only 5 days but truly I have seen and experienced so many things that I will never forget.

Posted By - Maricor
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Must Do Things On A Maldives Holiday

2007-08-29T23:46:00.001-07:00

When you arrive for a Maldives holiday in the Indian Ocean, the rest of the world seems very far away. Tiny islands and atolls are home to stunning hideaway hotels, often with accommodation built out over the water on stilts. This is the perfect destination for a romantic honeymoon, a luxury scuba diving experience, or simply as an escape from the stresses of everyday life.

The Maldives are a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean. There are a total of 26 atolls stretching out into the Ocean, made up from a total of 1192 tiny islands. Only about 200 of these are inhabited. The name 'Maldives' is said to be derived from the Sanskrit phrase 'Maale Dhivehi Raajje'. This translates as 'The island kingdom of Male'.

The islands are surrounded by beautiful coral reefs that are ideal for diving in. Scuba diving and snorkelling rank amongst the finest in the world here and each resort has its own dive school offering courses for first timers as well as experienced divers. The waters around the Maldives are home to over 1000 different types of marine life and they provide a truly spectacular sight! Watersports abound with windsurfing, sailing and water skiing all on hand, while the surrounding seas boast some of the world's best big game fishing year round.

This is a Muslim country, and Ramadan is observed here. Throughout the year alcohol is readily available at all the hotels, but you are not permitted to bring duty free liquor into the country. Any bottles you do bring will be confiscated upon arrival and returned on your departure. No restrictions are placed on what you are allowed to wear on any of the tourist islands, however when visiting inhabited islands such as Male', visitors are asked to dress in a modest manner.

Posted By - Eleanor Ramsay
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The Taj Mahal !

2007-08-29T23:17:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, July 12 we took a long weekend away from Mumbai and headed north to the capital city of New Delhi with a day trip scheduled to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. Our day trip to the Taj was scheduled for Friday, July 13. Upon checking into the hotel we saw a sign reminding visitors that the Taj, because it is essentially a mosque, is closed on Fridays. So we immediately called our travel agent to ask them how we could have a trip to the Taj scheduled for a day it was closed. Realizing the mistake, they gave us a full day tour of Delhi for Friday on the house and rescheduled our trip to the Taj for Saturday! The sights of Delhi were very majestic, the most amazing being Humayun's tomb. The temperatures were scorching, reaching over 110 degrees F over the course of the day.

We were soaking wet and exhausted by the late afternoon when our tour wrapped up. We were up by 6:00 a.m. on Saturday morning for the four hour drive to Agra. We payed a visit to Akbar's Mausoleum before seeing the Taj and having our very WOW moment at the very deserving wonder of the world. It was breathtaking. Hot, sweaty, tired, exhausted we were on our way back to Delhi in the mid-afternoon sun and arrived back for our last night in Delhi before heading back for Mumbai on Sunday afternoon.

Posted By - Kate and Duke
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The Longest Day of My Life - Bangalore to Seattle via London

2007-08-29T06:53:00.001-07:00

0824 PDT, 28th May 2007. Seattle, WA.

You must have heard the phrase "being ahead of time". I just experienced it, when I flew from Bangalore to Seattle via London. I left Bangalore at about 0245 IST in my cab as I had my flight at about 0630 IST. It was pretty cool in the night and I was feeling damn excited about the trip.

The British Airways flight left on time. As always, I was unlucky enough to have an old fellow besides me. There was an empty seat between the two of us and I kept hoping someone 'interesting' would show up. But alas, it never happened. Anyways, I was more interested in sleeping at that time (Just to clarify, when I said 'sleeping' I meant 'dozing' and had no other malicious intentions).

The flight seemed pretty long, probably because I could hardly sleep. However I could see some really beautiful views from top. We flew over Dubai (check the snap above) and Mainland Europe before landing at Heathrow, London (LHR). The flight was delayed for about half an hour or so. That forced me to hurry to catch the connecting flight. I managed to finish the formalities just in time! I wanted to call up a few friends in UK but unfortunately I just couldn't.

After spending a few minutes in the Terminal 4 of LHR, I boarded the BA flight to Seattle. This time as well I didnt get to sleep much. Not because of any disturbance of any sort but because the view from the top was simply breath-taking.

We flew over Iceland, Greenland (see the snap above), Canada and finally landed in Seattle. Yippeeee!!! I have reached the country of dreams!!!

Gotta go now. Its Memorial Day here (an off day) so gotcha see some cool places around. Till then you can enjoy the pics I clicked on the Longest Day of my Life...

Posted By - Sethx
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Jaipur & Train Travel

2007-08-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

My safari at Ranthambhore National Park and day trip to Jaipur was good, but very exhausting. It is nice to be back in my 5 star hotel with soft bedding, marble bathroom, turn down service, etc. I am still very sleep deprived, but it was worth it.

Jaipur

I was really looking forward to Jaipur since so many people had told me how nice it was and how it was the best shopping in India. Although it had some really nice things to see, it is not a nice city. It looked just like the India I had been exposed to so far. Since it was Sunday the tour guide told me the markets I wanted to go to were closed. On the way back to the train station however, I saw that the markets were open. The guide pretended to be surprised, but he had lived in Jaipur for 40 years and these markets are very popular so I knew he had lied.
Fortunately the shops my guide took me to (that secretly give him commission for everything I buy there) were good. Jaipur is amazing for shopping. If you want to decorate your home with goods from India or if you like jewelry, go to Jaipur for a week. The prices are good and you can get some really neat things. I had a traditional Indian shirt made for me for about $10. I picked the fabric, they took my measurements, and made me the shirt right there.

The jewelry there is beautiful. They specialize in diamonds, emeralds, and rubies and the prices are great. I didn't have the budget to buy any of those items of course, but they were beautiful. There are also a lot of artists in Jaipur who do really detailed paintings on silk and rice paper that you need to use a magnifying glass to see all the detail.

I rode an elephant, which was neat but very rough. Each step the elephant takes moves your body a lot and after a ten minute ride I was very nauseous. There is a palace inside a fort near Jaipur that is called Amber Fort. It was very beautiful and you could tell that in its prime was an amazing palace. There was a lot of marble, as marble is mined in Jaipur, and the paintings on the walls were made of real gold, emeralds, and rubies. The palace was occupied by the king that invented Kama sutra, and the Kama sutra pictures are drawings of him and his wives. He was said to have over 300 mistresses in addition to his 6 wives. The palace had a natural air conditioning and heat system built into it.

Traveling by Train in India

My coworker from LA and I went to the train station directly from work on Friday. One of my trainees from work went to the train station with us to help us because I had heard that the station is very busy and that finding the train may be hard.

The station was so busy and all the writing and announcements were in Hindi. We would have been lost without his help, thanks to God for having him there to help us. Train stations in India are really dirty.

On the first and second train we were in a 4 person cabin, each person had their own bed bunk style twin bed. On the first train I had an upper bunk and on the second train we had the cabin to ourselves. It was first class Indian train travel, but not luxurious by American standards. The bed was hard, I doubt the sheets were clean, the train seemed very old, etc. But it was more than adequate, and it is nice to get to lie down and get some sleep.

Eventually we learned the system of how a foreigner survives a train station. There are men in red shirts called porters, you tell them your train and seat number and they carry your bags for you, take you to the right area on the platform (the trains are VERY long), stay with you till the train arrives and then show you to your seat. 50 rupees is a tip they are happy with, a little over $1. It is definitely worth it.

Traveler Tips:

I do not recommend coming to India on vacation, but I guess it is for some people. If you do ever come here are some tips.

Spend lot of time shopping in Jaipur; it must be some of the best shopping in the world.
Only travel by train in India if you do not care when you arrive at your destination and ONLY take first class AC. The other classes are really bad (first is bad enough) and in economy people are packed in and only some lucky ones even get a seat.
Stay in a really nice hotel, you will need a nice place to rest that has 4/5 star restaurants in it. Mid-range hotels can be very cheap ($15+) and 4/5 star hotels are pretty expensive ($200+) so you will be tempted to stay in a 2 star hotel. But you need easy access to high quality food (or you will get very sick) and a nice retreat after a long day so if you travel here, do it right.
Go on wildlife tours. It is nice to get away from the busy cities and to see animals in India that are not wild in the US.

Posted By - Tiffany
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About the site

2007-08-29T05:09:00.000-07:00

This site is wonderful. Lets share our experiences.

-Robert

Posted By - Robert

First Blog

2007-07-23T05:06:00.000-07:00

This is first blog