business travel and tourism: December 2010

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Have a Colourful Holiday in Batam

Indonesia is made up of many islands and Batam is one of them. It is situated in the province of Riau islands. Batam is a great place for a holiday. There are so many things to do on this island. The most popular attraction is the waterfront area of the city which offers the tourists amazing water sports. There is more that you can do in the waterfront area like racing with go karts and a lot of shopping. The Ocean Water Park and another island called Barelang Island are two places that you ought to visit when you are here in Batam. Batam Center is the place that you can visit if you are interested in historical buildings and landmarks or even if you want to look at great architecture.

Batam is filled with entertainment and nightlife. For the best nightlife in the city you have to move to what is called the Nagoya district in this small island. There are a huge number of karaoke bars, popular night clubs and pubs. Two places that you might want to make a sure to visit are the Planet Ozon and Ozon Discotheque.

Go on a Journey of Taste and Class

Dining is something that is a part and parcel of holidaying here. But to make that experience of dining most memorable and to enjoy it, you have many fine restaurants that you can visit to enjoy the great cuisine. One of the most visited places for fine dining in Batam would be the sea food restaurant named Golden Prawn. This is situated in Bengkong and here is where you will get some of the best seafood dishes. Batam also offers a good fast food experience. A1 Pujasera, the Nagoya food court and Windsor would be fast food places that give you the best flavours.

Accommodation is one of the most important factors while on a holiday. Batam has numerous options when it comes to stay. Resort apartments are yet another choice that you can make. There is something new now called Kelong in Batam that is accommodation for those who like to watch sunsets. Excitehotels.com offers hotels in Batam that you can choose to stay in. You are given the option of staying in a luxury suite, a three-star hotel or if you are on a budget you have budget hotels too where you can enjoy comfort and class.

Holidays in Lorraine

Lorraine is one the 26 administrative regions of France and is located in the north east of the country near to the German border. There are two major cities in the area of Lorraine, Metz and Nancy, as well as lots of countryside for hikers and cyclists to explore. The region has its own strong culture, including local German dialects, though everyone you meet will also speak French. While visiting, you should try the speciality of the area: Quiche Lorraine.

Metz and Nancy

Metz is considered the capital of the Lorraine region and is a town that dates from Roman times. There are numerous churches in the modern town of Metz that are worth visiting, including the Gothic cathedral of St Stephen and a Romanesque Protestant church on an island in the Jardin d'Amour or Garden of Love. The city is also home to a branch of Paris' Pompidou centre, displaying works of contemporary art from the permanent collection in the capital. The museums of Metz, also known as the Golden Courtyard, are split into four sections covering archaeology, medieval history, architecture and fine arts.

Nancy is home to the impressive Place Stanislas at the heart of the town. In the summer, there are pavement cafés and street performers in the square, but it is still worth visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site at any other time of the year. The city has a strong art nouveau connection, which influences many of the buildings you can still see today and can be seen in many of the artefacts at the Musee de l'Ecole de Nancy. If you want to escape the city streets, there is also a botanical garden in the town, an aquarium and a museum dedicated to the history and culture of Lorraine.

Outdoor activities
The landscape in the Lorraine region is ideally suited to three sports; walking, riding and mountain biking, though there are also winter sports areas in the region when the snow is falling. One of the more unusual ways of exploring the region is on a “rail bike” or drasine. This unusual contraption uses an old railway line through some of the most beautiful Lorraine countryside that was closed in the 1990s. Now families can climb aboard a rail bike and cycle along the track enjoying the view without having to worry about traffic. Children may also enjoy a donkey ride in the Vosges Mountains or a ride on a motorised skidoo if you're visiting in the winter.

The Best Of San Pedro

San Pedro town is located in a very strategic position on the famous Costa del Sol as it is barely 10 minutes from its very happening neighbor, Marbella. And it is within easy reach of the refreshing natural beauty exuding from the Sierra Ronda Mountains plus the spanning lush vegetation in the valley areas.

San Pedro was previously an old farming community which was famous for its production of sugar cane. Today, it still maintains its natural beauty that is so refreshing through the natural landscapes and simple lifestyle found here.

Main Attractions

The best San Pedro has to offer is its superb beaches, which are excellent for sunbathing as well as swimming on pleasant days in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. Other delightful bay activities include fishing, surfing, sailing and diving which are suited for all family members. This makes San Pedro a highly favored and popular family destination for a delightful vacation.

The backdrop for San Pedro’s beach is a distinct row of palm trees stylishly flanking the avenue with many excellent restaurants, making this area the perfect romantic set up for the evening before indulging on your appetite. For the shopaholics, the wide shopping variety will satisfy them to their heart’s content as there are plenty of bargains to be found at the local markets (which are held every Thursday), up to the big shopping complexes and trendy boutiques in and about Marbella.

There is an extraordinary yachting marina at the exclusive Puerto Banus.

The holiday crowd at San Pedro is not as huge as other places, but it is still a good place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty as well as the annual feria or the local summer fair that is held in mid-October.

Historical Attractions

There is the very historical church, the Paleochristian Balisilica, which is located at the seaside together with Roman Baths from the 3rd century, called the Las Bovedas. Do check with the tourist center for opening hours to these historical sights. The church is located close to Bora Bora Beach Club in the woods with the Necropolis, while the Roman Baths are further away, along the west side of the beach going towards Guadalmina. These baths were destroyed, but are now restored to the delight of the locals and tourists. Its keys are kept at the turismo should you want to enter into it.

Top Mistakes People Make In Planning Cheap Luxury Holidays

The concept of cheap luxury holidays sounds like a contradiction in terms, but it's not. Luxury holidays can be affordable, including those for the whole family, so long as you know how to go about it and where to look.

The biggest mistake people make in planning luxury family holidays is trying to do it on their own. Without taking advantage of the benefits provided by experienced experts in affordable luxury travel, it's extremely difficult to get the right deals at the right times that will save you money while still affording you a vacation in style.

Booking your luxury family holidays based on your own schedule and not that of the airlines is the next biggest mistake people make in planning cheap luxury holidays. Every travel day is not built equally in the eyes of the airlines. If it were, everyone would fly out on a Friday night or Saturday morning and return on a Sunday night. Airlines know this, and that is why those particular days are usually among the most expensive to fly. It is far better to base your luxury holidays' schedules around the airlines' booking calendar.

Airlines are also aware that travelers often wait until the last minute to book their travel arrangements, and take advantage of this fact by progressively increasing fares the closer it gets to any given travel day. Booking at least 2 weeks ahead of time allows you to avoid this fare trap (or an unfair trap, if you ask us). A wise and savvy traveler is not an airline's best customer because he or she knows how to plan cheap luxury holidays instead of planning costly ones.

Many travelers have at least caught on that booking luxury holidays online is cheaper than booking them over the phone or in person. Likewise, many people realize that fares are typically cheaper on Mondays, Tuesdays, and on holidays themselves than any other day. But just one example of a little-known secret that an industry insider can put to work for you is that there are certain days to book your tickets (independent of the actual travel day) that give you a better deal on fares. As most people book their travel tickets on Thursdays through Tuesdays, it is on Wednesdays when airlines generally offer the lowest fares.

These are just some of the tricks at a traveler's disposal for planning luxury family holidays on the cheap. To avail yourself of all the insider tricks of the trade, however, it helps to have a trade insider on your side making sure you don't get taken for a ride by the airlines instead of the other way around, like it should be.

Wet and Wild Theme Park on the Gold Coast

A amusement park that attracted well over a million people each year entailed a vacation destination that provides a more-than-enjoyable destination. Gold Coast Wet 'n' Wild Water World, based in Oxenford, Queensland, Australia has been running for 26 years at the time of the year 2010. It has accumulated its fame as the 8th favorite and most used park within the whole globe. Also, it took over as most visited place in Australia. Upon 26 years of operation, the primary water park has produced 4 pools, 15 water slides and children's area.

Vacationers will delight in Wet and Wild Park amusement park in Gold Coast since it satisfies the various personalities of guests. For all those people that desire to feed their adrenaline rush craze will discover their place in Extreme H2O Zone. The zone offers extreme water adventures through its extreme slides. The water park's slides are in form of funnel slides, open and enclosed tubes.

Tornado is the favorite of many guests because it gives them the sensation to be stuck in the middle of tornado. The ride is conducted in funnel of 15 meters platform that then drops in to the crazy storm feeling of 14 meters tube. Experience the scariest feeling of being inside a space black hole. The Blackhole slide creates the illusion of being lost in a black hole via its black enclosed tubes. The riders are exposed into an experience of a monstrous black hole through long twisted and twirling tubes. If there is tube skating, there is also pipe rafting. Kamikaze ride blows up two riders sitting on a raft as the 70 degrees "U" shaped pipes launches the raft upwards and downwards. Other than Kamikaze, is definitely the fastest and longest slide called Mach 5.

Other than four extreme rides, there's also rides that are ideal for guests that are in search of milder adventure including AquaLoop, Surfrider, River Rapids, Mammoth Falls, Flow Rider and Super 8 Aqua Racer. And then for those individuals who're up for swimming, you will discover pools and beaches that come with various ambiances. There's 36 degrees Celsius Whirlpool Hot Springs, one-meter swell Giant Wave Pool, the sluggish river of Calypso Beach and playing area for the children called Buccaneer Bay. In addition to the rides and water forms, surrounds the food booths which are made ready to feed hungry visitors.

There is so much have fun with in the park. In fact, the term "enjoy" could suffice the explanation of fun and thrill offered in the park. Moreover, the Gold Coast premier water park doesn't just let guests have fun with the wet and wild theme park, it also successfully left riders the experience of natural tragedy simulations with the fantastic concepts of tornado and black hole rides

Uganda Top Ten Attractions

It is almost a month now since our Nature series team launched its wide strides to Uganda. The first write-up on gorilla tracking has been a great welcome to a diverse community in the travel and tourism world. This time round, we have been chasing after a fortune of identifying Uganda’s top ten attractions and we found an incredible list of our fortune here!!

1. Kidepo Valley National Park

The Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s most spectacular parks. It is 1,442 square kilometres and harbor scenery unsurpassed in any other park in East Africa. Tucked into the corner of Uganda’s border with Sudan and Kenya, the park offers breathtaking Savannah landscapes, which end in rugged horizon. The vegetation can most excellent be described as open tree Savannah which varies much in structure and composition. Mountain forest dominates some of the high places, while areas along the Lorupei River support dense Acacia geradi forest. The flora and fauna of the park are more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. The landscape throughout the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions. The Kidepo Valley National Park was established in the 1960s. Kidepo Valley National Park is a 1436 km² national park in Karamoja region in northwest Uganda. Kidepo is rugged savannah, dominated by the 2750 m Mount Morungole and transected by the Rivers Kidepo and Narus. Perennial water makes River Kidepo an oasis in the semi-desert which hosts over 86 mammal species including lion, cheetah, leopard, bat-eared fox, giraffe – as well as almost 500 bird species.

2. Sipi falls

Sipi Falls is supposedly one of Uganda’s most beautiful sights. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Uganda and is about 15 km from Kapchorwa. Sipi Falls is a series of three waterfalls and lie near Kapchorwa, north of Mbale. The waterfalls lie on the edge of Mount Elgon National Park, near Mount Elgon on the Kenyan border.

3. Mt Elgon National Park, Uganda

Mt. Elgon National park is located near Mbale in the Eastern part of Uganda. The park covers 1,145 sq km. It is named after Mt Elgon (4,321m), an extinct Volcanic Mountain that lies on Uganda’s border with Kenya. In the prehistoric times this mountain stood taller than Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in East Africa. Though the Mountain is shared by Uganda and Kenya its highest point Wagagai peak (4321m) lies in Uganda. The mountain has got three other major peaks which are Kiongo (4303m), Mubiyi (4210m) and Jackson’s summit (4165m). Mt. Elgon is known locally as Mt. Masaba. Masaba is the name of the founding ancestor of the Bagisu who is said to have emerged from a cave on the slopes several centuries ago. The Park can be accessed by road. The journey takes around 3-4 hours from Kampala along a good tarmac road. Hiking is the major tourism activity. Climbing Mt. Elgon is not so much challenging and therefore can attract both medium climbers and the experienced climbers. From here, you can visit the exquisite Sipi Falls for scenic viewing, Nature walks from Budadiri trailhead. Community visits and participation in Imbalu dances.

4. Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi

The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi are regarded as the major spiritual centre for the Buganda people, the largest Ugandan ethnic group. They constitute a site embracing almost 30 ha of hillside within Kampala district. Most of the site is agricultural, farmed by traditional methods. At its core on the hilltop is the former palace of the Kabakas of Buganda, built in 1882 and converted into the royal burial ground in 1884. Four royal tombs now lie within the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, the main building, which is circular and surmounted by a dome. It is a major example of an architectural success in organic materials, principally wood, thatch, reed, wattle and daub. The site’s main undertone lies, however, in its indefinable values of belief, spirituality, continuity and identity. Guides at Kasubi lead visitors around the area and into the building, explaining the history of the Baganda and the cultural traditions associated with the tombs.

5. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

It is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with more than 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns. The park is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and is situated along the Democratic Republic of Congo border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the western Rift Valley. It comprises 331 square kilometres of jungle forests and contains both montane and lowland forest and is accessible only on foot. Many species of birds and butterflies can also be found there, as well as many endangered species, including the mountain gorilla. Bwindi is also an incredible preserve home to some of Africa’s most endangered animals. It is a haven for gorilla tracking.

6. Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 100,000 ha in western Uganda and comprises the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which includes Africa’s third highest peak (Mount Margherita: 5,109 m). The region’s glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa’s most beautiful alpine areas. The park has many natural habitats of endangered species and a rich and unusual flora comprising, among other species, the giant heather.

7. Mpanga National Reserve

This is a government nature reserve 453 hectares in size. Gazette around 50 years ago, the 45km2 Mpanga forest reserve near the small town of Mpigi, lies 37kms west of Kampala on the road to Masaka. It is a compact forest offering a cathedral like atmosphere in which to enjoy fabulous bird watching. The main forest center in 500 m from the main high way and marked by a decorative sign. Visitors are welcome to picnic or camp at the forest center and follow any of the well marked trails to the south of the river. The reserve protects an extensive patch of medium -altitude rainforest, characteristic of the vegetation that once extended over much of the northern lake Victoria Hinterland, but has largely been cleared over the past century due to human activity. Wide footpaths (initially made by researchers) crisscross the forest where Celtis mildbraedii and Bosquieia phoberos form the dominant tree species. The forest is now is now open to public.

8. Mabira Forest reserve

Mabira forest lies along the main highway running from Jinja to Kampala. Its actual location is 54 km from kampala and 20 km from Jinja. The forest centre is on the edge of Najjembe village approximately 500m north of the main road. If you are coming from Kampala, it is signposted to your left before you reach the roadside market at Najjembe. The Mabira forest project was established with help from the European Union. There are 10 forest trails catering for people of all time schedules and abilities with options of both guided and unguided trails. If you are not rushing to the west of Uganda or needing to get to Kampala in a hurry, then consider Mabira Forest – a pleasant backwater and stop over.

9. Lake Victoria, Uganda

While the communities living around the lake have many stories to tell in addition to the lake being a source of living for them, no need to add to what Wikipedia says;
“Lake Victoria or Victoria Nyanza (also known as Ukerewe and Nalubaale) is one of the Great Lakes of Africa. Lake victoria is 3rd biggest lake in the world covering 68,800 square kilometres (26,560 mi²) in size – making it the continent’s largest lake, the largest tropical lake in the world, and the second largest fresh water lake in the world in terms of surface area (third largest if one considers Lake Michigan-Huron as a single lake). Being relatively shallow for its size, with a maximum depth of 84 m (276 ft) and a mean depth of 40 m (131 ft), Lake Victoria ranks as the seventh largest freshwater lake by volume, containing 2,750 cubic kilometres (2.2 million acre-feet) of water. It is the source of the longest branch of the Nile River, the White Nile, and has a water catchment area of 184,000 square kilometres (71,040 mi²). It is a biological hotspot with great biodiversity. The lake lies within an elevated plateau in the western part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley and is subject to territorial administration by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The lake has a shoreline of 3,440 km (2138 miles), and has more than 3,000 islands, many of which are inhabited. These include the Ssese Islands in Uganda, a large group of islands in the northwest of the Lake that are becoming a popular destination for tourists”

10. The people of Uganda the cultural diversity

The Uganda culture is made up of a dissimilar array of cultural groups. It includes a number of religious groups like Christians, Sikhs and Hindus. People speak in 40 languages out of which Luganda is the most common. Swahili is also used while English is the official language. Literature of Uganda is very rich as well. Many of the regions like Buganda, Bunyoro and Toro had kingdoms of their own. Lake Kyoga forms the northern periphery for the Bantu-speaking peoples, who dominate much of east, central and southern Africa. In Uganda they include the Baganda and several other tribes. In the north live the Lango and the Acholi, who speak Nilotic languages. Iteso and Karamojong who speak a Nilotic language, occupy the east parts of Uganda and few Pygmies live isolated in the rainforests of western Uganda. Each of the tribe is very respectful to their tradition and the culture of Uganda can be best described as a melting pot of diverse cultural practices. The Uganda people are quite hospitable.

Amazing Zaragoza

Zaragoza or Saragossa is Aragon’s capital that lies 250 kilometers away form Madrid and Barcelona; the former at its south west and the latter at Spain’s southeast coast.

Overview
Zaragoza has everything modern with a high population; its appeal is its natural environment which tourism did not mangle. Many tend to bypass this quaint site thinking that it is just another side stop when traveling by train to and from Barcelona and Madrid, but the more adventurous who make this side stop are always pleasantly surprised with their find.

There are so many eateries which offer authentic Spanish cuisine for those on the look out for great gastronomical offerings. They will not be disappointed with the Aragon cooking here.

Historical attractions

Besides food, the old town offers impressive historical architectural sites such as the castle of Aljaferia which is the most impressive Moorish edifice that one can find outside Andalucia, a site that supposedly housed a Roman Forum, a theatre in honor of Caesar Augusta and the magnificent Virgin Mary Basilica which is world famous.
An ancient 14th century Cathedral, the La Seo, is a magnificent sight for all visitors while none should miss the famous Tapestry Museum. You will be delighted with the manors and palaces around the city.

Museums are an important part of Zaragoza with the Fine Arts Museum taking top place. It houses beautiful paintings from Aragonese artists such as El Greco, Goya and Ribera. Then the Museum of Camon Aznar boasts of paintings from renowned artists such as Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Velazquez, Renoir, Goya, Sorolla and Manet, making this place a haven for art lovers.

International affair

Zaragona plays host to an international expo that happens for 6 months from June 14th to September 14th but only every 5 years. Each expo held has a different theme on a general issue.

There are usually many magnificent pavilions, interesting shows and numerous attractions that you can spend weeks there; no wonder the expo stays for 6 months. It is a definite stop for any visitor to Zaragoza for the expo that is of such high standards. Even the locals and all of Spain would try to make it whenever the expo is on.

It was in 1851 when the very first international expo was held in London. It was such a success that similar expos followed and were held in different parts of the world which saw the birth of Eiffel Tower in 1889. These expos drew in the crowds in huge numbers which saw the formation of the BIE or Bureau of International Expositions in 1928 to oversee the planning of such expos.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The Asian Gardens of Portland

Portland is a city that has many gardens and which is one of the reasons why one of its nicknames is 'City of Roses' due to the many rose gardens that can be found in this city. These are just one of the reasons why you should considering Oregon rentals. But there are a couple of other gardens that have a slightly different feel to them. They are ones that have been influenced by Asian culture and reflect the Asian counter part very well

The first of which, which was opened in 1967 is the Portland Japanese Garden. Obviously a garden that is related to Japanese culture. The Japanese garden is comprised of five different garden styles that each reflect the different settings of Japan. There is the flat garden which is meant to represent how the gardens in Japan continue to develop the dry landscape style over time. This garden has clipped trees and shrubbery to give you a sense of space. This garden is also meant to show the four seasons of Japan, the lace leaf maple is meant to show autumn, whilst the weeping cherry reflects spring, back pines represent winter and summer is shown by the imaginary cool “water” of the raked gravel surrounding the Circle and Gourd Islands, this is meant to symbolise enlightenment and happiness

The Strolling Pond Garden is one that is made up of to upper and lower ponds that are connected via a stream. On the upper pond there is a moon bridge and on the lower one there is a lower zigzag bridge that leads to a beautiful waterfall. In Japan Strolling pond Gardens were meant to be for the wealthy, aristocrats or feudal Lords during the Edo period. They were meant to be used for recreational means but were seen as a perfect place to relax and reflect on things.

The Tea Garden is certainly a place for quiet and reflection, this is where you would find a tea house. These are meant to show guests that they can throw away all their troubles and worries with its intimate feeling of being enclosed and away from the outside world.

The Sand and Stone Garden is one that many associate with Japan when they think about Japanese gardens. These are known as Karesansui which means dry landscape, these are often shown as Zen gardens as they are part of the Zen monastery. But this style of garden wasn't meant for meditation but more towards contemplation. The garden was looked after but the monks as it was part of their practice.

The Natural Garden is the most recent addition to the Portland Japanese Garden. This makes it the most state of the art garden out of them all, they actually have a name for it called zoki no niwa. This is a style that features plants that aren’t related to traditional Japanese gardens for example there you will see the vine maple which is native to the area of Portland but not Japan.
This garden use to be called Hillside Garden due to the fact that a part of the garden has steep terrain and that the trees and shrubs give the illusion that the setting is wild yet calm. The garden was originally plan as a moss garden but it was difficult to maintain the plants in the area, so it was redesigned in the 70s and then redesigned again due to earth movement.

There is another Asian inspired garden in the city of Portland, this one is focusing on the Chinese gardens and is called Lan Su Chinese Garden. Formerly known as Portland Classical Chinese Garden and it is well known as the Garden of Awakening Orchids. It is called Lan Su Chinese garden because it represents Portland and its Chinese sister city Suzhou. The Su in the name derives from Suzhou and Lan represents Portland This garden was opened on September 14, 2000 although there was an effort to build a Chinese garden at the beginning of the 1980s.

Most of the plants that you can see in the garden is indigenous to China. But the unique thing about them is that they weren’t imported from China, as they can't be due to import bans. The plants were found in parts of Oregon that must have been imported before the import ban was imposed. Some of these plants date back to 100 years and there are over 400 different species.

Asians are the second biggest community in Portland which could be the reason one of the reasons why these gardens exists thanks to the sister cities of Sapporo and Suzhou. The community bloomed and these gardens are the full representation that they could proud of their cultures.

Enjoy the Brilliance of a Holiday in Malaysia

Malaysia is an Asia-Pacific country sharing its borders with Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia. The capital of the country is Kuala Lumpur, an extremely exhilarating city. Malaysia boasts of a rich historical background right from the Japanese invasion to its independence and is an embodiment of rich cultural and economical stature.

Malaysia has a mixed variety of tourist attractions including the hustle-bustle of the Capital, Kuala Lumpur, the Langkawi Island to the pristine beaches and beautiful hill stations like Genting and Cameron Highlands. Kuala Lumpur is a developed cosmopolitan and a self-contained city with a perfect blend of high tech amenities and cultural ethics intact. Kuala Lumpur offers some key attractions like the Aquaria KLCC, the Petronas Twin Towers, the National Art Gallery and the Petrosians Discovery Centre.

Explore a Spectrum of Destinations

Malacca is a lively town situated in the south of Malaysia. It is a concoction of the Chinese, British, Dutch and Portuguese cultures and also includes the famous and beautiful backwaters. It also offers various adventurous activities to the tourists. The Ethnographic Museum portrays the relic of the Dutch period in all its glory. Georgetown located in the Penang Island, is the country’s leading resort locales. It is a small city and can transfer you into an age long lost frequented with the Chinese culture and the mystic yet dazzling era. Cameron Highlands is one of the popular hill stations of Malaysia and is composed of plenty tea plantations and Vegetable Farms.

Shopaholics are provided with a myriad choices in Malaysia that can overwhelm them! Right from the meticulously crafted handicrafts to the top notch brands of the world, you can find it all here. It is a real experience wandering through the streets of Chinatown and bargaining for the local souvenirs. An exciting mix of duty free shops can also be found in the city. For all those who have an experimental palate, they have got to try out the local Malay cuisine finding its roots in the ethnic groups. Some of the famous delicacies are Apam Balik, Ayam percik and seafood including shrimps, crab, fish, squid, etc. So go ahead and tingle those taste buds! Excitehotels.com offers you reasonably priced

Luxury Villas Rental: An Economical Option to Explore Phuket

With the passage of time, Phuket has become one of the most recognized and reputed tourist destinations in the world. Besides of lush green forests and scenic beauty, the place is housing a number of known beaches such as Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Laem Sing Beach, Kamala and Patong. People going after exploring Phuket are advised to search luxury villas rental. Apart from cost effective rates, it offers comfort and relax to make holidays memorable. Natai luxury villa intends for giving comfort along with privacy. Luxury villas rental invites tourists to explore the place and watch its eternal beauty. In fact, the place can be explored with anybody - family, friends or spouse.

Reasons making Phuket an apt tourist destination

Phuket comprises of all ingredients that are necessary for an apt holiday destination. The place not only provides quality accommodation in the finest luxury villas rentals, but also comprises of known beaches. In addition, one chooses the place for leisure activities like diving, game fishing, elephant riding and sailing as well. Besides, an ocean of people explore the place to enjoy yummy seafood and colorful nightlife. Natai luxury villa has been considered as an economical option with style and comfort in the place.

Choosing luxury holiday rentals Phuket

Luxury holiday rentals Phuket are considered as the best option for people going after exploring Phuket. The place has everything one expects from a tourist destination. In fact, there are a wide selection of real estate agents available helping individuals to manage their property in Phuket. If you want to get saved from the hurdles of searching luxury holiday rentals Phuket, you can consider such a company. Such a rental in Phuket comprises of a number of modern facilities and amenities. Some of the popular facilities include pools, etc.

Staying in Phuket

Apart from secluded farmhouses and apartment, Phuket comprises of a number of luxury villas rental. To get a good accommodation, assistance of a tour and travel company is suggested. To search a company, the internet plays a very important role. A known and reputed company avails luxury villas rental at economical rates.

AP-Natai.com provides Luxury Villa, Land and villa in Natai, Luxury Villas Rental and private villas in Natai. We offer luxury holiday rentals, Phuket luxury property, Phuket Luxury Villas Rentals and Phuket beach front villa in largest and beautiful Thailand Island.

Holidays in Loir-et-Cher, Loire Valley, France

The deprtement of Loir-et-Cher is located in the centre of France, on the Loire River. The area is known for its historic towns and castles, such as the famous grand Chateau de Chambord. Although towns in the region are located on the Loire River, the less famous Loir Valley in this region is a beautiful place for those who enjoy the great outdoors, with walking and biking routes to follow and historic settlements to visit.

Castles

The Chateau de Chambord is the largest and most visited of all the castles in the Loir-et-Cher region, and looking at its grandeur you would be amazed to know it was first built as a hunting lodge. The castle has 440 rooms, 84 staircases and a 20-mile wall around the grounds, so save plenty of time to visit. The highlight of the tour is the double-helix open staircase in the centre of the castle that is rumoured to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci. The Chateau Chaumont started as a defensive medieval fortress, but developed over the centuries into a beautiful royal palace. Located on a hill above the town of Chaumont, you can enjoy great views over the river and the surrounding countryside from the castle's towers.

Blois

The historic town of Blois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher and is located on the lower Loire River near the wooded Sologne area. Filled with paved squares, twisting cobbled streets and outdoor cafés in the summer, Blois is also famous for the castle in the centre of the town. The architectural styles of the castle date from the 13th to the 17th century, giving the building a rather haphazard and eccentric appearance. Perhaps the most impressive feature is the external spiral staircase in the Francois I wing. A museum dedicated to magic is also located on the Place du Chateau. The House of Magic not only features exhibits about the history of magic, but often has demonstrations and live shows too.

Sologne

The Sologne region to the south-east of the town of Blois is a wooded, marshy area that can appear dull in bad weather but is a great place to explore in the summer. There are a number of designated walking and cycling routes through the Sologne as well as horseback riding and organised nature spotting tours. If you are visiting the Sologne during the hunting season, between October and March, make sure you don't wander from the marked paths and out yourself in harm's way.

Luxury Hotels in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a wonderful place as your base of operations to explore South America. This is a vibrant, modern, sophisticated city with all facilities. Accommodation of every kind is available. There are beautiful luxury apartments and luxury hotels to suit comfort lovers, where you will be pampered and you will be able to relax and recover your strength and stamina in between your explorations and adventures.
Once you have chosen your accommodation and settled in, you will find that there are many short, guided tours to introduce you to the city and its environments. Or you can explore it in a leisurely way on your own. Buenos Aires is often called the Paris of South America. This is because of its wide boulevards, sidewalk cafes and gardens reminiscent of those in France. The architecture is a combination of colonial Spanish and colonial French, side by side with buildings that are energetically modern. It has an excitingly European flavour with a distinctly South American vitality. The city alone will take a lot of sightseeing, to really appreciate it.

Then there are day trips, as well as trips lasting two or more days, to show you the charms of spectacular Argentina. In addition, you will find many exciting package tours venturing out into the rest of South America.
Some of the day trips not to be missed are:

* The ferry trip across the Rio de la Plata to Colonia del Sacramento, a charming little Portuguese historical town, the oldest in Uruguay.
* The Tigre and Parana River Delta. This is a short trip to the northern part of Buenos Aires. Your best bet is to take the coastal train, so as not to miss the beautiful scenery. The Delta is a mass of waterways and canals, with ferries and boat trips available, as well as some really interesting islands.
* A two hour bus trip from Buenos Aires is the town of San Antonio de Areco. If you visit this town you will step back into Argentina’s past. There is a strong frontier gaucho culture, and old world simple charm. The old buildings, traditional food and handcrafts, make this a worthwhile visit.

If you are ready to travel out for a few days’ sightseeing, you should try and see these attractions, which are just a few among many:

* Iguazu Waterfalls. A spectacular sight, and one of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls. In fact, some who have seen all the great ones declare this to be the best. The series of cascades border the countries of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
* Bariloche is a town in a postcard picture perfect part of Argentina. Its beauty consists of lake scenery with soaring mountains and pine forests. In summer it is a draw card for outdoor nature lovers, with adventure sports, hiking, cycling, horse riding and scenic drives. In winter it is transformed into a winter sports paradise.
* Mendoza is the way to a wine lover’s heart. Its cuisine is also very special. It famous vineyards are situated close to the Andes Mountains, and this is the place to come if you are a gourmet or a connoisseur of fine wines. You will also enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Tarragona- A Perfect Place For Your Holiday

Tarragona has been described by the famous poet Virgilius as being the most pleasant place to relax. Tarragona is inhabited in the present by 100,000 people who earn their living from the petrochemical industry and tourism. Tarragona is the deepest Port of Spain and the most productive fishing port in Catalonia. It initially attracted the Romans in the 3rd century BC; three centuries later it became the capital of the province, a position that it still occupies today. Tarragona will attract you with its archaeological sites, the interesting museums and the unique architecture, so you should put it on your list of places to visit. Being under Roman control, the ruins in the Roman Amphitheatre represent one of the most important sightseeing places in Tarragona. About 14,000 spectators could watch the gladiator fights and the executions that used to take place in this amphitheatre. If your curiosity for the past is still not satisfied, you can visit the 6th century Santa Maria del Miracle Church, or the Romanitat Museum, a place where you can admire some of the oldest objects discovered in this city. The Archaeological Museum hosts a mosaic representing the head of Medusa, which became so popular, that it was transformed into the symbol of Tarragona.

Continuing to be surprised

Sightseeing is not the only activity in Tarragona. For those who are not untouchable when it comes to nature and beautiful places, the Balco Del Mediterrani is a very popular place; it offers spectacular views over the Mediterranean and some say that you are surrounded by a unique feeling here, probably thanks to the spirit of the sea. The beaches stand below the Balco, always ready to offer you perfect relaxation on their delicate sands. The Arrabasada beach and the Llarga Beach are among the most popular and the reason why so many tourists choose Tarragona as their destination. For another type of entertainment you can choose one of the many restaurants and pubs, which, of course, offer a good selection of tapas. In the evening the dance clubs are waiting for the young or for those who have kept their spirit young. You can dance here until the morning comes on traditional Spanish music, so they are also a perfect way to come into contact with the Spanish culture. The antiques market is perfect for souvenirs, so you also have the possibility to buy nice presents for your loved ones. Enjoy your holiday in Tarragona!!

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