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Posts Tagged ‘Destinations’

Have you heard of Dubai’s famous indoor ski slope? When you try to imagine it do you think of something like a slope in the middle of the mall covered with fake synthetic snow? A ride fit, at best, for kids? Well, you are as horribly wrong, as I was! I stood with my mouth agape when I finally saw it first hand. We are talking a proper ski slope with real ice and snow blowers that blow proper (although man made) snow onto the slopes. A full size ski lift to take you up to the top of the slopes, tobogganing and ski hire. We are talking a full size operation here where people can actually take skiing holidays to Dubai.

Perhaps it is time to consider taking your holidays to Dubai, because if you have not already done so you have missed out on one of the best most varied experiences there is to be had!

Many people actually learned to ski on that very slope in the downtown Dubai mall in between luxuriously relaxing days at the beach sipping exotic cocktails. Don’t even get me started on those gorgeous beaches either. They are simply stunning Caribbean style. Do a Google search for Dubai pictures and see for yourself.

And if you do decide to take your holidays to Dubai, while you are there why not zip off into the desert on a camel safari for anywhere from a few hours to a few days. I loved pony rides on the beach just as the sun was setting and then there was the awesome water slides with rapids, wave pool and even the Jumeirah Scarah ride which proposes to get you up to approximately 80km per hour! Once was enough for me and I have since decided that I shall not attempt to go that fast again unless in a motor vehicle! The rapids were awesome though.

Well Dubai now is the new center of the world and it’s totally amazed by the beauty and variety and you will be to if you decide to take you holidays to Dubai.

The Forbidden City, located at the center of Beijing municipality, was the seat of power for 24 emperors from 1406 to 1911. It took thousands of artisans and 14 years to complete the colossal complex spread over 720.000 square meters with 9.000 bays of halls and rooms which become a symbol of China’s monarchial grandeur built on the blood and sweat of its toiling peasantry. Significantly, however, the main entrance to the imperial city, Tiananmen or the Gate of Heavenly Peace, connects the past with the present in a curiously fatalistic manner.

And the Forbidden City is not so forbidden anymore. It is one of China’s major tourists’ attractions where hundreds of hawkers accost visitors and shove tourist books in their faces, quoting prices with huge margins for bargain. China is waking up from decades of slumber.

So, what we have in China today is tremendous economic freedom without political empowerment of the citizenry. Corruption and nepotism are logical outcomes of this situation. And the middle class is too tiny to influence the system. According to one estimate, middle-class groups with income ranging from 2,500 dollars to 10,000 dollars per year constitute less than five percent of the population. By contrast, lower income groups even in wealthier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou do not earn more than 900 dollars a year. About 60 percent of China’s population still lives in the countryside, with per capita income less than 300 dollars per year.

Having said that, one cannot ignore China’s huge population base of 1.3 billion people. Even at five percent, the country’s middle-income segment numbers at 65 million people. These people are the architects of the future China which, many observers predict, will be the major economic powerhouse of the world by the end of the decade. A glimpse of this can be had in Beijing’s scores of multi-storey shopping malls where customers literally trip over each other to move ahead. Its huge and fashionable hotels are crawling with guests, as are its eating houses, bars and discotheques.

Mention Switzerland, most people inevitably think of cheese. The Swiss themselves think a lot about cheese, too. These days, the Swiss attitude to cheese seems to have become slightly more satirical : “There’s no wife can prepare a fondue like any good Swiss.”

Fondue had something of a vogue overseas in the 1970′s, but it is dtill going to strong in Switzerland, where it is practically the national dish. It’s made with melted cheese in a pot that has been rubbed with garlic. White wine matbe a dash of kirsch ai also added.

The  recipe for fondue and much more can find at the local dairy in Gruyere north of the Lake of Geneva in western Switzerland, where the famous cheese of (almost) the same name is made. The village dairy its name, is open for visitors who want to see the highlight technical side of the cheese making procees, and gleams with steel and white tiles. Silver pipes and tubes wind themselves from one big industrial vat to another, and everything is washed down from  blue host by a man in white wellington boots, a long white apron and a sterile cap. The dairy looks like an operating theater in the hospital, encased in glass as if to seal it off from the very mountain air on which the cows thrive.

Milk is brought in from the surrounding farms, where it is place in huge vats and heated until curdled. The curdled milk is then cut with a harp. Visitors can buy cheese aplenty at the dairy.

Cheese isn’t the only reason to visit Gruyeres, this is also one of the fines remaining examples of a fortified medieval village in all Europe. A small market town grew up here in the thirteenth century, and many of the medieval buildings remain, surrounded almost entirely by walls and others fortifications. In the village square, you can see stone blocks carved with hollows, used as grain measures for the medieval markets that once took place here every Sunday. Read the rest of this entry »

London – the capital of England and home to hundreds of places to visit and things to see such as the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, the Tower of London and museums galore.

Catch a show at one of dozens of world renowned theatres or simply grab a beer in any of the hundreds of pubs in London and do some people watching. Maybe you want to go shopping in the fashionable Knighsbridge area or visit Harrods, Debenhams and popular with the royalty, Fortnum and Mason is renowned for its fine foodstuffs. If you want specialist teas, caviar and other tempting treats then this is the place to go.

There are hundreds of great quality London hotels to suit every budget and with the help of the London Underground you’re never far away from any attraction.

Grab your camera and get snapping at Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London.

We thing the best way to see all London has to offer is from the top deck of an open top double decker bus. You can buy tickets that include entrance to lots of great attractions like Madame Tussauds, London Zoo and the London Eye. Get a hop-on, hop-off ticket if you want to explore London at your own pace.

If you found this page because you were searching for hotels in London we hope you check out London Hotel.com

Have a great time!

The Olympic Coast of Washington is the most primitive natural coastline in the 48 contiguous United States. Part of an ecosystem stretching from Oregon to Alaska, with a rainforest that seldom sees temperatures below freezing in the winter or exceeding 80 degrees in the summer.
(By Gregory Rouse)
This trip, being surrounded by a temperate rain forest with the opportunity for views of wildlife, plants/trees, island sea stacks, and the ocean with it’s changing tide pools, provides a unique experience rarely found elsewhere.

Travel is mostly along beaches and rocky shores, except for a few headland trails. The terrain includes sections of sand, cobbles, rocks, logs and forest trails. Navigation is simple, but rising water from the tide can cut you off. Read the rest of this entry »

Following some 50 years of near isolation from the rest of the world, Albania is the perfect destination to visit for those seeking unspoiled diverse landscapes, tradition, history and a crowd-free environment.

Albania is bejeweled with beautiful inland lakes, raging rivers, natural lagoons, high peaks, a stunning coastline, and fine sandy and pebble beaches. All this and more is combined with genuine Albanian hospitality, so what better place to enjoy a walking holiday?

Walking holidays in Albania need not be long, a short five day trek is enough to see some of the country’s highlights, however, the best treks allow time to explore more of this diverse country and its fascinating attractions. Also the best walking holidays in Albania consist of a combination of hikes in spectacular mountain landscapes and interesting cultural visits to local places of interest. On these holidays you may see such attractions as the Adriatic Coast, the Ionian Coast, Llogara Pass and the historical towns of Butrint,
Gjirokastër and Berat as well as several archaeological sites.
The best walking holidays in Albania may also offer a range of accommodation from a variety of hotels to traditional local Albanian village houses, and they won’t break the bank which is an important factor to take into consideration when planning a holiday in the current economic climate. The Albanian treks also vary in difficulty so you are almost guaranteed to find one to suit your personal preferences, budget and physical fitness level.

In conclusion, the best walking holidays in Albania offer an itinerary that includes both trekking and culture, a choice of accommodation options, and a holiday option for everyone from moderate walks to more challenging treks.
(By Hannah L Green)

When you think about the ocean, what is the first thing that comes to mind? If relaxing on the beach sounds good, but does not completely satisfy your thirst for adventure, a Mauritius vacation may be exactly what you have been looking for! Not only will you enjoy the vast beauty of the ocean, you will have many opportunities to experience its many wonders first-hand. After all, an ocean is not only for swimming and viewing pleasure it is a chance for excitement!

One of the best ways to truly enjoy the ocean is to get into it and look around! When you vacation on Mauritius, you can have this hands-on, up-close experience, and be able to appreciate the ocean’s beauty in a way that can onlly be fully appreciated when you see it with your own eyes. For one example, you could look at any number of colorful books, magazine illustrations, or even photographs, yet not be anywhere near prepared for the breathtaking beauty of the coral reefs you will encounter in the ocean alongside Mauritius island. Even this one factor alone will make your Mauritius vacation the trip of a lifetime! You will see some of the most spectacular coral reefs that exist anywhere in the world.

Your exploration of the ocean will not stop at this, however; there is much, much more! For a luxurious day out on the ocean, you can join one of the cruises or you can rent a boat and venture out on your own. If you love the ocean, there could not possibly be a nicer way to spend an afternoon! Read the rest of this entry »

It’s vacation planning time again, and you know for sure that you want to spend it quite differently than in the past. A different vacation because perhaps, the year so far has been a trying and stressful one with all the talk of job cut backs, economic uncertainty, and now even swine flu. Why not just simply take a hike, a hiking vacation that is, and on the peaceful tropical Caribbean island of Barbados. Get back to nature, interact with friendly folks, refresh yourself with, scenic walks, fresh air, and the soothing sounds of the waves against the fine sandy beach. A Barbados hiking vacation takes you on a journey revealing the uniqueness of Barbados and Barbadians, by way of four scenic, revealing, and positively memorable hikes.

The hikes and their accompanying stories highlight how Barbados came into existence, seemingly out of nothing from 1627, when the British settled and transformed a jungle that others rejected, to the jewel it is today. Even the island’s geological formation is a unique story of something “out of nothing”. Many visitors to the island look forward to meeting local village personalities, and learning about outstanding Barbadians of bygone days. Read the rest of this entry »