Travel and Leisure Articles

A romantic getaway on the Mississippi is your most preferred choice if it had probably crossed your mind at a time to spend a qualitative and worthwhile moment or vacation with your heartthrob or loved ones in a serene and romantic environment that displays the richness of nature. With the foreknowledge that romance is quite closely knitted to cruising, the fun to be derived from cruising with a loved one on a boat moving gently on calm and peaceful water whether from the sea, river, lake or ocean while on a romantic getaway on the Mississippi cannot be overemphasized.

The Mississippi has abundant water resources and serene climate which has given both residents and tourists lasting recreational opportunities that include swimming, boat riding and fishing among others, hence a romantic getaway on the Mississippi river simply reminds anyone of the time when life moved pretty much slower with nice features as the best choice because of the gracious movement style of the ships, the tranquillity of the waters and the carefully packaged romantic environment around fun lovers. All passengers on board are assured of a good sightseeing as they call at beautiful and outstanding ports. You can enjoy an evening sunset ride with your spouse that probably costs less and more intriguing than a regular sunset evening in the town or metropolis.

Cruising on the Mississippi is unarguably a lifetime memorable experience because of its uniqueness which includes provision of adequate security of lives and properties by a team of experienced and well trained staff on board and the opportunities for passengers to have a firsthand view of the gifts of nature, the waters in its calmness and the Americas in a serene environment. As the riverboat goes by, the passengers may enjoy their view of the getaway arch in St. Louis, relax and listen to well packaged jazz music in New Orleans or enjoy their mouth watering Cajun cuisine. Passengers also stand the chance of having different discount cruises from major cruise lines as shall be discussed later. By having a cruising recreation of one, two or even more days along the St. Laurence river or even down the Mississippi you will definitely experience a memorable and affordable romantic vacation throughout North America.

Available on the Mississippi for fun lovers who desire driving by themselves are small boats and houseboat rentals. Discount cruises are available among many lines who offer early booking discounts and other special offers and updates in order to get more passengers and have less empty staterooms on board their ships. A discount cruise becomes a better offer for individual passenger only if it meets her basic interests and requirement. Having a romantic getaway on the Mississippi is a fantastic experience hence coming on board at summer; passengers should come with hats or sunglasses to help keep away the sun. If you have ever nursed a wish of being alone with your cherished one in a serene environment, your best option will be a romantic getaway on the Mississippi.

As promised, here we are with another visit to China before the Olympics begin today (08-08-08) - [original blog version was a couple days earlier]. If you’re an Olympian or a spectator, the adventure of experiencing China’s opening on the world stage promises to be nothing short of thrilling. The infrastructure, including Qingdao Olympic Village, has been ready for the influx of athletes, officials, and journalists, and Beijing and Hong Kong are welcoming spectators. Since Olympic Village opened two weeks before the Olympics, many of the photographers, journalists, TV networks, as well as officials and athletes, have already been on site for a few days to a week or more. Rehearsals for opening and closing ceremonies have gone well. Everything looks wonderful!

However, China’s outward shine is understandably lacking a bit of luster, in the minds of journalists and a few IOC officials, at this writing, because of Internet access restriction issues for journalists reporting and recording the events. This, coupled with the recent handling of the unrest in Tibet, has tarnished the otherwise (mostly) glowing sheen of China’s entrance onto the pageant walkway, as it were.

For China visitors, in any capacity, none of this should change the spirit of adventure, though, in the next weeks and months. Adventure, good or bad, positive or negative, is still adventure, and should be viewed and experienced as just that. My adventures have not all been positive, but they’ve all been adventurous! I wouldn’t expect it any other way. If all experiences, and outcomes of those experiences, are known in advance to be comfortably positive, where is the sense of adventure? Predictability is generally the opposite of adventure. “Indiana Jones” knew adventure had no bounds, and he left predictability behind in the classroom!

So, if you’re going to China anytime soon, will it be for the Olympics? Or will you go after the Olympic torch has been extinguished? Or will you opt for other adventure travel - to more far-flung parts of China - even during the Olympics? We’ve previously mentioned a few possibilities, and will discuss more distant destinations sometime after Olympiad XXIX is history. China is, after all, a very large country, even if we don’t consider the large semi-autonomous regions such as Tibet or Mongolia.

Of recent interest to me was the transportation across large expanses of China, from one city to another, one province to another. There is no infrastructure of four-lane divided highways connecting distant cities like the Interstate Highway system (begun under President Eisenhower in the 1950s) does in the U.S.A. Rather, Chinese President Hu Jintao has opted to connect his country by a gargantuan expansion of the air travel infrastructure that dwarfs anything ever attempted by any other nation until now.

The recent (February) opening of the world’s largest airport terminal, in Beijing, is only the beginning; the main terminal - of three - is nearly two miles (3.2 kilometers) in length, covering approximately 10,000,000 square feet (929,030.4 square meters). To meet demand, 97 more new airports are being built (and another planned for south Beijing within ten years). And 3,200 new jet planes are being purchased.

If your adventure includes traveling to more than one main location in China - and why wouldn’t it? - your travel can be the non-adventurous part of your itinerary. With all new planes, new airports, courteous agents, free luggage check-in, flight hostesses who provide excellent service - with a smile!, and good food (yes, they have meals!), what could be more - well, mundane? Ha-ha! On top of all that, ticket prices - when bought in China - are a fraction of comparable distance flights in the U.S.A.! Does it get any better?

Batangas is a province located on the southwestern part of Luzon in Philippines with Batangas City as its capital. This is a popular destination situated close to Manila, which is over 2-3 hours drive from here. This city is known for its lovely beaches and great diving sites that are ideal for observing marine life. The diving sites in this region also offer outstanding options for macro photography.

Besides, the centuries old churches are also good places to visit and see the grandeur of the historical past. The city of Batangas is a major recreational, religious, commercial, industrial and educational center of the province. This city can be easily accessed by means of road transport system and by boats and ferries as well. In addition, the well-equipped hotels in Batangas provide good accommodation option to the tourists.

Various places of attraction in the city include Plaza Mabini Park, one of the two man-made parks in Batangas City. The Plaza has a double lifesize bust statue of Apolinario Mabini which stands prominently at the center. Laurel Park is the other man-made park in the city. Basilica of Immaculada Conception is another place of attraction here located close to the parks. Other places of interest include Isla Verde, Calumpang River, taal volcano at Taal lake and 2 waterfalls namely the Tingga and Ilijan Falls that flow all through the year. Additionally, the slopes of Mt. Banoy and Matoco point provide panoramic views of the city and the bay as well.

Various activities that can be enjoyed here include swimming, relaxing, visiting churches, snorkeling, and mountaining besides others. For shoppers, there are few interesting buys like the Barong Tagalog - which is worn on special occasions, and the very popular Balisongs or butterfly knives. There are also many special eatables and beverages, which are a specialty of this small city.

Batangas offers some best possible accommodation options for the guests keeping in view the comfort of tourists. There has been a constant rise in various accommodation options available in the city. This rise in hotels is mostly because of the increase in the number of tourists in the city. Different hotels, lodges and resorts offer variety of options for travelers to choose the best hotel for their stay. The online hotel reservation service can also be used to instantly book a hotel. This process is safe and secure and will help you to reserve hotels in Batangas without any hassle. Above all, the hotels in Batangas are well-equipped to provide good accommodation option to the tourists.

If you are looking for budget hotels in LA you should look at hotels in the Downtown region, Hollywood and Santa Monica.

Downtown LA

Unlike the downtown regions of other cities, Downtown LA isn’t the most happening place in the city. A lot of money had been put into this area and a number of cultural centers have been constructed. But tourists often skip this area and head to the Westside, Hollywood and the beaches. The area is characterized by earthquake proof high-rises and skyscrapers and is the business center of the city. It also has within its boundaries ethic communities like Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Chinatown and Los Feliz. Accommodation in Downtown LA is cheap but keep in mind that if you want to go to the beach or visit the studios you will have to travel a bit.

Hollywood

Hollywood is more an illusion than the actual industry itself with more and more movie studios leaving the neighborhood for Burbank, Westside, etc. The dereliction of the neighborhood however does not stop tourists from coming here. Today, a massive $1 billion regeneration project is underway and Hollywood is again gaining the popularity of its old days of glory. There are many sites to be visited here, the Walk of Fame, the Kodak Theatre, for instance. There are many new luxury hotels here but you will also find several budget hotels in the area.

Santa Monica

If all you want to on your vacation is sun, surf and sand then you should find a hotel in Santa Monica. It is L. A’s premier beach community. This is also a great place to shop. Although there are many luxury hotels here, you will be able to find some discount hotels in the area.

Egypt is a country with rich history, culture and heritage. Most people know Egypt on the surface - they hear about pyramids, camels and deserts. But as you get to learn more and more about Egypt, you soon find that Egypt has more to offer. In recent years, more and more people are starting to fall in love with this warm country. Do you know why?

For example, Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada have beautiful beaches where you can visit for relaxing sun tanning sessions. If you have a more active personality, you can even rent boats or go diving at the beaches.

Sharm el Sheikh is well known among visitors for red sea diving opportunities. The red sea occupies a part of the Great Rift Valley, and it is common knowledge that the sea is rich with minerals. When you have mineral rich waters, marine life thrives. The red sea records over one thousand invertebrate species and over two hundred soft and hard corals.

You can spend hours diving within the sea, enjoying the wonders of nature. Species include soft coral (Dendronephyta species), Lionfish (Turkeyfish), Two-Banded Clownfish (looks very much like Nemo), Blue Spotted Stingray (these are at the sea bed), and more!

If your plan is to go diving at Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada, the best way to go about arranging for a diving trip is to locate a diving operator. There are several diving operators located in the area, and you want to choose a reliable operator to work with. Unless you are a very experienced diver, try not to go diving on your own. That is because the local operators know the waters better than you do, and they can bring you around. They will also be able to provide you with the necessary equipment so that you don’t have to bring everything on your own. The cost for hiring a dive operator is usually within the range of 200 to 300 Euros for about 2 to 3 days diving.

Before embarking on your trip, be sure to take care of the logistical details such as applying for travel insurance. Travel insurance is usually approved immediately, but try not to leave this important task to the last minute.

To make your diving trip more exciting, try to do some research in advance. There are many books available on red sea marine life that you can purchase. When you have better knowledge on the marine life, you will most certainly find your trip more enjoyable. Otherwise, when you dive, you will just be witnessing a whole world of unfamiliar but extremely colorful marine life. If you have more knowledge about the marine life, you can easily recognize them. If you like, you can even focus on one or two species and observe them more closely.

One of the first caravan health and safety items is a good first-aid kit. This is a must and can be bought from camping stores, St John Ambulance or a whole range of retail outlets. Some kits are designed for administering first aid in major trauma situations. While these items are necessary, even if never used, you should also carry the bits and pieces that will see you through minor injuries and upsets. Make sure you check your first-aid kit regularly in order to get rid of out-of-date items and replenish stock.

If you take prescription medicine, ask your doctor to provide sufficient prescriptions to last the trip, particularly if you are spending time in remote regions. Repeats cannot normally be filled all at once so it may be necessary to stop at a pharmacy every few weeks to get more medicine.

If you need specialist non-prescription medicines and other health products, particularly on a non-traditional nature, you should carry enough stock to last the trip, or at least the length of time between major centres. Do not forget sunscreen and insect repellent. Pack brands that you have used before as these products can cause skin irritations and allergic reactions.

FIRST AID KIT

Your caravan health and safety first-aid kit should contain:

• First-aid handbook to help identify and treat various conditions
• Bandaids (various shapes and sizes) to dress all types of small wounds, cuts and abrasions
• Tweezers to remove splinters and prickles
• Scissors to cut dressings, tape and so on
• Gauze bandages to hold dressings in place and protect wounds
• Cotton wool and buds to clean and dress wounds
• Elastic bandages to support joint injuries and treat spider or snake bites
• Pins or clips to hold elastic bandages in place
• Triangular bandages to use as a sling, to secure a splint, and to cover head wounds
• Non-adhesive dressings to cover wounds and abrasions
• Anti-itch cream to treat bites, stings and some rashes
• Antiseptic to treat open cuts and wounds
• Alcohol swabs to clean around wounds
• Cold pack to treat sprains, swellings and some bites
• Latex gloves to prevent the spread of infection
• Diarrhoea tablets
• Anti-nausea tablets
• Motion-sickness tablets
• Aspirin or paracetamol
• Throat lozenges
• Eye soother
• Lip balm
• Antihistamines to treat allergic reactions

This is the fourteenth page of 23 with related information about making the most of your caravan holiday. Check our website at www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/caravan-holiday.html for the other articles.

Caribbean cruises are all the rage these days. When you consider the range of amenities and facilities, the varied ports of call, and the range of activities on offer, Caribbean cruises are pretty good value. They offer much more than any one Caribbean resort can offer, and can be great fun no matter what the weather is like. Modern cruise liners are huge and can usually handle rough weather in stride without the passengers on board even noticing. The popularity of Caribbean cruises has resulted in several cruise lines operating in the region, as well as several different routes to choose from. So how do you decide which cruise line and route?

Firstly, let us take a look at the Caribbean cruise lines on offer. The big names are Royal Caribbean, Princess and Norwegian, and it makes sense to look at these three first. They have made their names based on their reputation of reliability, service and range of amenities, services, activities and routes. The pick of these would have to be Royal Caribbean. They have the largest and most modern fleet of cruise ships in the Caribbean, and, despite normal fares being a tad expensive, have some surprisingly cheap Caribbean cruise package deals especially in the off season. However if you are planning your vacation for a high season, book well in advance as Royal Caribbean is often sold out months beforehand. Norwegian is also a great cruise line and a little cheaper than Royal Caribbean, while Princess is another good option for those looking for a deal. There are several other Caribbean cruise operations that work on theme-based cruises, such as Celebrity, which may suit certain travelers’ tastes.

Now, on to Caribbean cruise routes. Generally cruises take place in a certain area of the Caribbean, visiting the ports of call particular to that region. Basically, the Caribbean Sea can be divided into Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern areas. Depending on the length of the cruise, one or a few of these regions can be explored. There are also cruises just to one destination, such as Bermuda or the Bahamas (both of which are technically not actually part of the Caribbean, but close enough!). Personally, I think the Eastern and Southern routes are the most interesting. The Eastern routes usually stop in at fantastic places such as Antigua, St Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla, all of which are steeped in history and have the friendliest people. These routes may also take you through the French and Netherlands Antilles, which have their own distinctive cultural atmosphere and magnificent sights. The Southern cruises also take you to magical islands such as Trinidad, Tobago, Curacao, Aruba, Barbados and Bonaire. Those with enough time and money can easily combine these two regions into one cruise, seeing what I consider to be the best of what the Caribbean has to offer!

California is an attractive, diverse and a popular tourist destination in America. The state flaunts the grandeur of world-famous tourist spots like Hollywood and Disneyland. Along with the unique art and culture synonymous with California, it also offers local health destinations. These health destinations are part of some of the world’s finest hotels, which offer special facilities like spas.

California has a large number of spa hotels that offer various types of treatment and relaxation packages. Most of the spa hotels are based around natural water sites and lakes. People suffering from mental and physical stress or health related issues, such as weight imbalance, cardiac imbalance and other such distress, usually choose to visit these spas. Spa hotels offer a number of facilities to their guests and most of the spa hotels in California offer the best. There are many new hotels coming up that also offer spa facilities.

Most spa hotels offer special treatment, under proper professional guidance. These mostly include hot baths, massages, manicures and pedicures. The newer hotels offer aqua aerobics and body conditioning. Detoxification and yoga are also offered at most hotels. There are some spa hotels that offer medical spa treatment under the guidance of doctors. Spa hotels also offer excellent cuisine and services, to suit the needs of their in-house visitors.

These hotels are usually expensive and it is advisable to research and locate the right one that suits specific need and budget. Most hotels offer vacation packages that prove to be economical. People can also visit spa hotels during the off- season period, in order to get better deals.

Spas are relaxing and rejuvenating and are one of the best ways to kick-start a new health lifestyle. California hotels have many quality spa hotels offering a tranquil environment that helps to soothe tension.

Good Friday is, of course, one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar, as it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. And Good Friday in the Holy Land means time for Christian pilgrims to throng the streets of Jerusalem’s Old City as they retrace Jesus’ final steps. Visiting the Holy Land at Easter, and especially the Old City of Jerusalem on Good Friday, is a must for any committed Christian.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Via Dolorosa in the Old City are important elements of any Christian’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land: the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Sorrows) is the street that Jesus walked down bearing his cross, and many of the “rest” points are marked out for tourists to follow, while the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the point of his crucifixion and resurrection. I have been there on Christmas Eve and was quite amazed at the raw power religion can convey, I’m sure it’s even more intense on Good Friday. Just watching some of the TV coverage of the day’s events can be very moving, many people are quite overcome by events and being so close to the core of their faith.

Many people stay overnight in the Old City or Jerusalem city center and then return to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Easter Saturday to witness the miracle known as the Holy Fire. This Holy Fire magically appears when the Patriarch of Jerusalem exits the tomb of Christ after praying inside and he spreads the fire to others via pilgrims candles. This Holy Fire is deemed so special it doesn’t even burn, and you can often see people waving their hands through the flame of their candle.

Happy Easter!

Being Chicagoans, we’ve always enjoyed the changing of the seasons. Spring brings rebirth and summer offers the warmth of all that’s good about life. Autumn arrives in a blaze of color, while winter has its own quiet sense of beauty.

And so, in our travels, we tend to gravitate toward areas offering the best of all four seasons. We couldn’t have found a better place than Maine. Maine is mountains, lakes, and rivers - an outdoor sports enthusiast paradise. Maine is rugged picturesque coastline teeming with fresh seafood just waiting for you to sample. Maine is National Parks and trendy beaches. And Maine is a shopping and gastronomical delight.

Before we visited, a friend asked us, “Why Maine?” We responded that there are several good reasons to visit Maine. As we left after a one week visit, we agreed that we can’t wait to return some day. There’s literally a new discovery around every turn.

Maine Wine: Really?

Upon arriving in Portland, a charming port city about 100 miles from Boston, one of our first questions was directed to a farmers market vendor. Are grapes grown in Maine?

Yes. Grapes are grown here, despite a growing season 90 days shorter than Napa Valley. Numerous hardy varieties thrive here, along with several delectable types of fruit. We visited 7 wineries on this wonderful trip and enjoyed numerous well crafted wines, almost all produced from Maine grown grapes and fruit.

After enjoying Portland for a couple of days, we set out north from Portland up Route 302, just about 1/2 hour to Blacksmiths Winery, in Casco.

In the tasting room, we learned that Maine is well known for its blueberries. In fact, Maine is America’s largest wild blueberry growing state, and many make their way into Blacksmiths Winery’s Blueberry wine which is actually a blend of two wines. It is fragrant, off dry, and fruity, perfect for summer.

Blacksmiths also offers several traditional wine varieties, made from grapes imported from growers across the country. But we so enjoyed the blueberry, and the fact it’s born from Maine soil, that we sampled another “grown in Maine” wine, the Elderberry.

Moving to the Mid Coast area, our next stop is Maine’s very first winery, Cellar Door Winery and Vineyards, near Camden in the small community of Lincolnville. The winery is located on a farm that dates back to the 1790’s, complete with a vineyard, orchards, and fruit trees. Sticking with the Maine blueberry theme, we tried and proudly purchased the Blue Lobster Blue, and enjoyed it later with … what else … lobster and bleu cheese.

Next it was off to Union, just a few miles west from Camden harbor, for a stop at two wineries. Union is home to Savage Oakes Winery and Sweetgrass Winery and Distillery.

We were intrigued by Savage Oakes tagline: “Featuring Maine Wines From Maine Grown Grapes”. Owners Buddy and Holly Savage produce wine from nine different varieties of hybrid grapes, grown right on their 95 acre farm. On our visit, seven wines were available, all interesting and well made blends that highlight Buddy’s deft hand and passion for winemaking.

Sweetgrass opened their winery in 2007, focusing upon fruit wines and their award winning Back River Gin, with fruit brandies next on the agenda. It’s a picture book property, with a hiking trail that travels through the farm and overlooks the Medomak River Valley. Take advantage of the picnic area while enjoying a glass or two of their crisp and fruity Apple wine, or Bleujolais, a fruity and spicy blueberry offering. Of special note, the wine labels on their bottles are works of art in and of themselves!

All told, there are seven wineries in this beautiful state, each offering a unique experience for the wine travel lover. It was truly delightful to visit them all, and experience everything that Maine has to offer.