Wednesday, June 30, 2010

see bali bird park at bali indonesia

Bali Bird Park is the only bird park in Bali which is located in Gianyar regency arroud one hour from Nusa Dua area and about 30 minutes from Sanur. Encompassing two hectares of botanical landscape, the park provides sanctuary to almost 1000 birds of 250 different species.

an innovative approach towards the display of rare and tropical birds has progressed from traditional exhibits to that of showcasing mixed species in their natural habitats & in large walk in Aviaries and free range throughout the park.

The park accommodates an amazing display of flora with more then 2000 tropical plants including 50 varieties of palms alone and attracting numerous butterflies. Incorporating a breeding, research and veterinary facility within the complex, the park has a high success rate in the captive reproduction of exotic birds such as the Bird. of Paradise and Hornbill.



What to See
The park is divided into regions that recreate the natural habitats of their birds, complete with indigenous plant life and traditional artefacts for authenticity.

Experience the original Jungle birds of Bali and encounter the world's rarest bird, the Bali Starling.

Discover the exotic birds of Papua and one of the most comprehensive collections of Bird of Paradise in the whole world. Travel to Far East Indonesia, home to an amazing array of birds as well as the extraordinary Komodo Dragon, a giant carnivorous lizard which is a direct descendant of the dinosaur and rarely seen in captivity.

See the fantastic Javan Hawk and Serpent Eagles - & listen to the sweet sounds of Java's song birds echoing through the foliage. Visit the deep jungle and misty mountain ranges of Sumatra for rare and strange endemic birds. Venture to other tropical continents to view their collection of South American exotics such as the Scarlet Macaw and Toucan, witness the Congo Grey Parrot and other birds of the African Savannah. See Cassowaries, Cranes, Storks & Pelicans and many more birds as they wander freely living and breeding uninhibited throughout the park.

What to Do
Stroll within the boundaries of bali bird park's giant walk-through aviaries that replicate the natural eco-systems of the Bali Jungle and Papuan Rainforest.

Pathways and bridges are carved through the dense foliage where only filtered sunlight manages to penetrate the canopy of greenery overhead.

Several vantage points have been strategically positioned to catch glimpses of free flying birds as they follow their survival instincts of foraging for food, nesting and mating.

These protected enclosures safeguard rare species from outside predators, whilst still exposing them to the various aspects of living in the wild.

Conservation
The Park have successfully bred many species, including the rare Pesquet’s Parrot and numerous Bali Starlings. We accommodate more than 40 species of protected Indonesian birds in the park, a growing number of which are now breeding successfully under the care of their staff.

The staff are proud of their new additions some of which can be seen in their incubators through the observation windows of the laboratory & nursery building.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

travel to flores

Flores is a most fascinating and beautiful island. Long hidden in the shadows of its more famous neighbor Bali, the island of Flores is finally emerging as a unique destination of its own. So, after visiting the lair of the Komodo dragons, take time to marvel at some of the wonders of Flores. Here you can swim in pristine lakes and waterfalls, dive at one of the 50 spectacular dive sites, go kayaking among craggy coasts and mangrove shores, explore mysterious caves and be warmly welcomed by the island’s people in their rituals, dances and daily life.


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Flores spells adventure, diving, eco-tours, and mountain climbing interspersed with visits to prehistoric heritage sites, traditional villages and cultural events.

Until recently, many tourists have only been familiar with Labuan Bajo, the small port located on the western-most tip of the island, and the taking off point for a visit to the last natural habitat of the prehistoric Komodo dragons, the islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar.

Situated in the province of East Nusatenggara, Flores is a long island that contains some of the world’s best kept secrets. A chain of volcanoes stretches the length of this 450 km long and narrow island, creating complicated V-shaped valleys and knife-edged ridges - terrain that was near impenetrable until recently and has separated the island into many distinct ethnic groups.

Administratively the island is divided into 8 districts; West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo, Ngada, Ende, Sika and East Flores. Further east are the adjacent islands of Alor and Lembata.

Here you will find some of the world’s most exotic underwater life. Diving in the pristine seas of Komodo, divers find themselves swimming along with huge manta rays, dolphins and dugongs, while whales can be seen passing Flores’s east coast during their migration period.

The island itself is surrounded by sparkling white beaches, where one beach even has pink sand. Mt. Kelimutu, near the town of Maumere, has three different coloured lakes that can change colour from time to time.

Besides Komodo dragons, Flores has been in the world’s limelight with the discovery of the Flores hobbit, or homo floresiensis, a new hitherto unknown prehistoric human species, whose remains were found in the caves of Liang Bua.

This island is indeed ancient, having been untouched for centuries, once inhabited by prehistoric men and still living prehistoric animals, as well as containing remnants of a petrified forest.

At the easternmost tip of the island, Larantuka is famous for its Easter-week rituals that still continue the old Portuguese traditions brought here some 500 years ago. While at adjacent Lembata , islanders hunt whales manually, harpooning precariously from small boats.

travel to south africa

South Africa is a visually breathtaking land of vast plains, rolling mountains, golden beaches and barren deserts. The rich game viewing is as spectacular and diverse as South African scenery, with everything from plodding elephants to splashing penguins.

South Africa's cities are also enormously varied, with hustling Johannesburg at its heart, and cosmopolitan Cape Town an enclave of European chic at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

In between find safari lands and quaint towns breaking up the Karoo wilderness, while the seaside fun of Durban and scatterings of coastal resorts line the pretty southern Garden Route.

Much diversity is also found in South Africa's people, with 11 national languages drawn from its indigenous African population, and a colonialist legacy that brought Afrikaners, English and Indians.

It is the plentiful wildlife and accompanying luxurious safari lodges that are South Africa's major draw, with the world-famous Kruger National Park in particular delivering uniquely African sights and memories.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Hyundai Modification Car

Hyundai is one of the Korean-made cars thats quite competitive with Japanese-made cars. today, many Hyundai cars are specifically designed to meet the tastes of young people such as Hyundai atoz, and others. and sometimes young guys like to make modifications on their vehicles as do buzz up the machine and add an accessories, of course they need a good hyundai accessories for their vehicles.

http://robson.m3rlin.org/cars/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/hyundai_street_concepts_02.jpg
in order to appear elegant, you also have to make modifications and adding acesoories to your Hyundai's car.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

travel to sempu island east java indonesia

Sendang Biru Beach is located on Sumbermanjing Wetan distric, about 69 km from the south of Malang, East Java. It is well known for the biggest fish auction in Malang and a place for fishing harbour. It is called Sendang Biru because it has a blue water.(Sendang in Javanesse language means source of water).

In special occasion such as Syawalan (it is the 7th or 8th day in the month of Syawal) many people take a boats to the Pulau Sempu to take the water from its spring water. It is believed just like “Widodaren water” in Wendit which can bring many advantages for health.

The beach that facing Pulau Sempu only separated by a narrow strait which is often used for sailing or other water sports. Pulau Sempu is a nature reserve with freshwater lake full of catfish spread in the forest and lakes around the island.

Sempu Island is technically a natural conservation area, 60 km from malang, east java with no population except the wildlife. It’s only a 5 minutes boat trip from a fisherman’s village called sendang biru. the boat will stop at teluk semut (ant’s bay) in sempu island.

My destination at sempu island is a lagoon located inside the island called segara anakan. from teluk semut we have to walk about 2 hours to reach segara anakan in normal condition. unlucky for me, the rain pour hard the night before i came. so the track is slippery and muddy and we need about 3 hours to reach segara anakan.

But it’s all worth it. I was welcomed by a beautiful white beach with calm clear water with high rock on the other side. As if it is my own swimming pool. The first instinct after a muddy walk is to dive in to the water. There’s water splashing inside from the ocean through a hole from the rock. It’s getting dark, I look above and after years living in a big city I realize it’s been a while since I a clear starry night sky.

I lie down on the beach. Looking at the sky hearing the ocean waves splashing the island’s rocks then fell asleep. the next day I climb the rock on the side of the island. on top you can sit and enjoy the view of the Indian ocean. hope one day you’ll be here, trust me, in sempu you’ll realize how small you are in this world.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Two tons of catfish being prepared for festival

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has prepared two tons of catfish to be sold to the public with cheap prices during a "Catfish Festival" held at East Parking Lot of the Bung Karno Sports Stadium on June 19 to 20.

Head of Data Center for Statistics and Information (Pusdatin) of KKP, Soen`an Hadi Purnomo, said here on Friday, two tons of catfish that had been prepared was donated by the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

"Some will be sold alive, some are sold after being cooked, and partly for the purposes of cooking demos," he said.

Held for the first time, the Catfish Festival will be opened by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, accompanied by Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Fadel Muhammad, Governor Fauzi Bowo, as well as mothers from the Solidarity of Indonesian Cabinet Wives Association(SIKIB).

A total of 37 catfish `pecel` (salad served with peanut sauce) stalls joined forces to sell a ton of "catfish pecel" worth Rp6.000 per package. While the 600 kilogram (kg) of live catfish will be sold directly to the public at the price of Rp7.000 per kg.

"The rest is 400 kg will be used for cooking demonstrations that will be followed by 150 participants from the Greater Jakarta area," he said.

Catfish-related exhibitions will be held during the festival. Communities can get various kinds of information ranging from technical catfish cultivation, feed, until processed catfish.

Another interesting thing is made with a special business meeting to reconcile the processing of catfish farmers and entrepreneurs.

Some stakeholders such as PT Alang-alang from Boyolali, abon (boiled and fried shredded meat) catfish producers, "Cat Fish Club", Lele Lela, Department of Marine Fisheries in Yogyakarta and Central Java, to the catfish feed companies will be participating in the festival.

Activities, aimed at dissemination of fishery products, particularly catfish, will also enlivened with the campaign "Gemarikan" or Joy of Eating Fish.

The government target is to continue increasing fish consumption of the community. The KKP data mentioned the community level of fish consumption in 2005 reached 23.95 kg per capita per year, while the year 2009 it had reached 30.17 kg per capita per year.(*)

Gede Pangrango Mountain national park -The Rich Diversity of Mountain Forest

Gunung Gede and Pangrango are the first five parks that had distinction of launching Indonesias National Park Program. Located on Bogor, Cianjur and Sukabumi districts with cover area around 15,196 ha. It is the most accessible mountain to climb from Jakarta. By only 2 hours drive south of Jakarta and 5 " 6 hours trekking, you will find a tranquil rainforest, self guided trail and a spectacular view of West Java from the peak.

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The national park consists of twin volcanoes: Gede 2958 m above sea level (asl) and Pangrango 3019 asl. The two summits are connected by a high saddle known as Kandang Badak, 2400 m asl. The mountain slopes are very steep and are cut info rapidly flowing stream, which carve deep valleys and long ridges.

For those fortunate enough to stand on the summit of Mount Gede in clear conditions the view is spectacular. Some people, including, it is said, Raffles, have claimed to be able to see the Java Sea to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south. Occasionally climbers with very good eyesight or maybe imagination " have sighted Sumatra on the west! Mount Pangrango is less scenery, but more rich in flora than Mount Gede.

Getting There

Visitors usually enter the park by one of four gates :


  • Cibodas Gate (Cianjur) is the main entrance and the site of the park Headquarters. It is located about 100 km from Jakarta/2.5 hour drive; 89 km from Bandung/2 hour drive.
  • Gunung Putri Gate (Cianjur) is close to Cibodas and can be reached via Cipanas and Pacet.
  • Selabintana Gate (Sukabumi) is 60 km from Bogor/1.5 hour drive, and 90 km from Bandung/2hourdrive.
  • Situgunung Gate (Sukabumi) is 15 km from Selabintana in the direction of Bogor.
  • Except from Situgunung, Mount Gede and Pangrango summits may be reached on clearly marked trails.

Where to Stay

Accomodation in the park is in simple guesthouses. The park also provides some camping grounds, including one at the Alun-alun Suryakencana, a flat area near the top of Gunung Gede. There are many hotels, villas and bungalows in the Puncak Pass-Cipanas area. This area is quite close to the Headquarters of the park.

Among the mountains in West Java, the twin volcanoes Gede-Pangrango are very famous for hiking and mountain climbing. There are 4 trails to go up to the summits of of the mountains; two trails are from Cibodas, one from Gunung Putri and another one from Selabintana, Sukabumi. Climbing the mountains and watching the sunrise from the top or the crater wall of Gunung Gede are the most exciting attractions for visitors.

Moving Around

You can go around Selabintana Park and Cibodas Park, if you didnt have a plan to climb or hike.

Dining Guide


Before start hiking or climbing, be sure that you already eat, or you can bring some food and drink from your place. Otherwise, you can buy some food and non alcohol drink on the nearest supermarkets for your supply during your activities on mountain.

Souvenir Tips

Among the mountains in West Java, the twin volcanoes Gede-Pangrango are very famous for hiking and mountain climbing. There are 4 trails to go up to the summits of of the mountains; two trails are from Cibodas, one from Gunung Putri and another one from Selabintana, Sukabumi. Climbing the mountains and watching the sunrise from the top or the crater wall of Gunung Gede are the most exciting attractions for visitors.

Travel Tips


Permit :
All visitors must buy a ticket when entering the park. Recreational visit tickets can be obtained from ticket hatches at each of the four gates. In addition, mountain climbing permits are required:


When living the main trail from Cibodas gate to Cibeureum Waterfall in order to climb to the hot water stream/Air panas.

When turning off the trail to Cibeureum waterfall of Selabintana, Selabintana Gate, Beyond Bobojong camping ground upon entering the National Park proper from Gunung Putri Gate.

Should you wish to climb the mountains you must obtain the permit either at the National Park Headquarters, Cibodas or at Selabintana Resort Office.
Register at the National Park Office:
- Monday-Thursday 07.30 - 14.30
- Friday 07.30 - 11.00
- Saturday 07.30 - 13.30

Tools & Equipment


  • Minimum hiking gear : hiking or climbing shoes, warm clothes, sleeping bag (if staying on the mountain overnight), raincoat, waterproof clothing, flashlight and medical kit.
  • Carry enough food and drink (non-alcoholic).
  • Do not climb alone, preferably there should be at least three people in your party and preferably you should be guided by someone with knowledge of the trail.

Conservation Tips during climbing


  • Take nothing but picture : have respect for untouched nature by trying not to cut through thick foliage of places where animals may be living.
  • Leave nothing but footprint: Pack in pack out. All garbage should be brought back to civilization and disposed property.
  • Kill noting but time: Hikers and campers should never molest of otherwise disrupt the natural flow of things in the woods. Stay relatively quiet and you are likely to see animals and birds at work and at play.
  • Try and stick to established trails when hiking. Hike in a single file to minimize the chance of widening a trail.
  • Use biodegradable soap and wash away from water resources such lakes and streams. Dispose of waste water in a shallow hole dug with a trowel.
  • Build only one small fire, if permitted, and use only existing fire pits.

several tips if you go hiking in the gede pangrango mountain west java indonesia

Due to some questions about the possibility to do mountain hiking near Jakarta, though I'm supposed to answer it personally, I suppose it's better to be open in this case.

Gede Pangrango

The most favorite ones are, for most Jakartans, Mount Gede and Pangrango or in Indonesian Language, they are called Gunung Gede and Gunung Pangrango (Gede literally means Big while Mount means Gunung).
It takes around 6-8 hours (from the entry in Cibodas) to go to the peak of Mount Gede and perhaps some 12 hours to get to the peak of Mount Pangrango
this place is managed as one of Indonesia's national parks.
The garden of edelweis, the everlasting flower, in Gunung Gede, precisely located on Suryakencana is undoubtedly the favorite place for mountain hikers.

Don't get surprised to see lots of mountain hikers, especially on weekends mainly rookies in this place, the access is relatively easy from Jakarta.
These Gunung Gede and Gunung Pangrango are close to one another, and worth a visit indeed, definitely !!!! just imagine your in a huge garden surrounded by everlasting flower overlooking breathtaking view. I also like the waterfall, hot water spring and the exotic red-lip orchid on its rain forest.

All you might need is perhaps the equipment, use your jacket, sleeping bag, or whatever you need, a guide might be needed.
and the most important is the entry permit, please get it around 1 week before the hiking,
keep in mind that the permit is limited for each entry (Cibodas and Gunung Putri)

Kantor : Jl. Raya Cibodas PO Box 3 Sindanglaya
Cipanas 43253, Cianjur, Jawa Barat
Telp. (0263) 512776; Fax. (0263) 519415
E-mail : tngp@cianjur.wasantara.net.id

perhaps you do need your Bahasa Indonesia skill to communicate to one of the staff there
I have also seen some offers to go on specially arranged trip, but it would cost much more. Anyway it's up to you to choose, but at least, you know how to arrange your trip.

travel to ijen crater indonesia

Ijen plateau or known as "Kawah Ijen" is highly recommended to mountain buffs and hikers. The Plateau was at one time a huge active crater, 134 sq km in area. Today, Ijen is a quiet but active volcano, and the landscape is dominated by the volcanic cones of Ijen (2,368 asl) and Merapi (2,800 asl) on the northeastern edge of the Plateau, and Raung (3,332 asl) on the southwest corner.


The magnificent turquoise sulfur lake of Kawah Ijen lies at 2148 m above sea level and is surrounded by the volcanos sheer crater walls. The vent is a source of sulfur and collectors work here, making the trek up to the crater and down to the lake every day. Sulfur collectors hike up in the morning and return around 1 pm when the clouds roll in. They carry shoulder basket of pure sulfur from a quarry on the lakes edge under the shadow of the sheer walls of the crater. The mineral at Kawah Ijen is purer and is worth commercial exploitation despite the horrendous labor involved: Javas homegrown sulfur is a natural source of sulfuric acid, in great demand in the oil-refining business and in the production of fertilizers.

as usual this posting is a just prologue for the travel destination in the world especially in indonesia, for complete information please find your self trough google.

regards

sources : daydaily.com

travel to mount bromo east java indonesia

When you visit East Java, don't forget to visit Mount Bromo to see the sunrise. Many domestic and foreign tourists visit Bromo to see the sunrise from one of the highest mountains on Java island (2,392 meters above sea level).

Mount Penanjakan (2,770 meter above sea level) is an ideal location to see the sunrise slowly from the east at about 04:30-05:30 am as night clouds slowly disappear and are replaced with a dim sunlight. Next, yellowish red light appears slowly to form a golden half ball. Watching the sunrise with a cup of hot coffee or tea and a cool wind flowing will provide a special sensation.




sources : indonesia.travel

travel to mount gede, bogor wes java indonesia

Because of its easy access, the Mount Gede-Pangrango National Park with its spectacular panorama is a favourite site with visitors. Located in the province of West Java this Park encompasses the peaks of Mt. Gede, Mt. Pangrango. Around these peaks are tea plantations, recreation parks, waterfalls, hot springs, lakes and accommodation facilities within the park as around its periphery. The Park was declared nature conservation area in 1889, although prior to this the Cibodas Botanical Gardens was already established here in 1830, where cinchona (quinine) and coffee were first cultivated to become Java’s most prominent exports in the 19th century.


Most notable about the Gede-Pangrango Park are its three very distinct ecosystems: a sub-montane ecosystem (1,000 m to 1,500 m altitude), a montane ecosystem (1,500 m - 2,900 m) characterized by large tall trees, and a sub-alpine ecosystem (2,400 m. and higher), characterized by grassy meadows where the Java edelweiss grows in abundance. It also has a savanna as well as marshland ecosystems.

In 1977 UNESCO declared the Gunung Gede-Pangrango National Park a Biosphere Reserve.

Today the Gunung Gede-Pangrango National Park covers 15,196 hectares that include Cibodas, Cimungkat, the Gunung Gede-Pangrango Reserve , the Situgunung recreation area, and the forests on the slopes centered on two volcanoes. These are Mt. Gede, (2,958m ) with its gaping crater and fumaroles, and Mt. Pangrango (3,019 m). The two are connected by a high saddle at 2,500 m above sea level.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

raja ampat underwater expedition in indonesia

The roaring engines fixed to a large wooden boat are finally quiet. Nothing can be heard but the rifting little waves, lapping against the vibrant paint on the sides of the vessel that gracefully slows down. Native birds hop on the tip of a small tree in one of the deserted islands in the distance.

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Raja Ampat or ‘Four Kings’, is the name given to these islands and comes from a local myth. The four major islands found here are Waigeo, Misool (which is home to ancient rock paintings), Salawati, and Batanta.

Underwater enthusiasts flock to this region because it offers the world’s best marine sights. Two days earlier, some of these travelers had been at a deafening corner of a tourist trap in Bali. Once they took their flight to the bird head of the island of Papua everything changed as they embarked on a diving tour of a lifetime. In the Raja Ampat islands, divers can explore vertical underwater walls. The thrill of drift diving is another great challenge. These are the awesome experiences you will find in Raja Ampat.
Meanwhile, on this tour several divers were well equipped and looked advanced. The territory within the islands of the Four Kings is enormous, covering 9.8 million acres of land and sea, home to 540 types of corals, more than 1,000 types of coral fish and 700 types of mollusks. This makes it the most diverse living library for world’s coral reef and underwater biota. According to a report developed by The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, around 75% of the world’s species live here. When divers first arrive here their excitement is palpable. It’s common to hear people praise God as they take in the remarkable scenery. Others prefer to remain in silence taking in the overwhelming sight of so many islands with crystal clear water that softly brushes over the white sandy beaches.

“Disini bagus!”, says the friendly local guide who had been appointed by the tour operator who runs an eco-lodge in Raja Ampat, indicating that they have arrived at one of the most fantastic diving sites. On other days, this guide is just a simple fisherman. The local fishermen here are accustomed to foreigners and are friendly, especially when offered pinang (betel nuts) or some sweet candies. These are very popular and offering these sweets is considered polite and a good way to win an instant smile. The fishermen usually eat this snack during Para-para Pinang, or social chatting and exchanging funny stories while chewing Pinang. In many respects, like nature, culture, and history, these fishermen are closer to the Moluccas.

“No doubt about it, Raja Ampat is definitely the richest place for fish that I have ever been.” -
-Dr G.R. Allen

“I was like a five-year-old, seeing a reef for the very first time. I was awestruck, held by the incredible power of this richest reef. We must, with all available resources, preserve the beauty of Raja Ampat. This may be the last frontier.” –Michael Aw

“I love the people, I love the diving, it’s super! I’ve never been for a second time to the same dive destination but now I’m thinking about going back for the third time! Should I say more?” –Peter van Dalen

(These testimonials are taken from www.iriandive.com)

While the landscape may look like a dream, this is not an illusion. As you embark on your dive, the phrase ‘Attention to detail’ takes on new meaning as pigmy seahorses swim around your fingers. Manta Rays and wobbegongs will glide right by you. Tuna fish, giant trevallies, snappers, and even barracudas are there to complete your underwater ‘meeting list’. Not to mention the friendly assistant of the dugong, and a busy colleague, the turtle. Natural and untouched beauty is the main attraction here. With no unnecessary adages, the sky, the lush islands, the sea, and everything above and under it is genuinely saying ‘Welcome to Raja Ampat Islands; your personal Disneyland of diving sites’.

More facts about the Raja Ampat Conservation Area:*

This area is home to 1,511 species of reef fish in the Bird’s Head Seascape;
1,320 species of reef fish in Raja Ampat;
75% of all known coral species in the world;
10 times the number of hard coral species found in the entire Caribbean;
In the Birds Head Seascape there 600 species of hard coral recorded;
5 species of endangered sea turtles;
57 species of Mantis Shrimp;
13 species of Marine Mammals;
And 27 species of endemic reef fish found only in that area

sources : www.daydaily.com

Thursday, June 10, 2010

caribbean scuba diving

This website brings to you the Best Caribbean Resorts. We love caribbean scuba diving. The Caribbean is also a great place to learn to dive with fantastic warm waters and great visibility also you get the best diving schools and the best instructors. From fantastic Caribbean all inclusive resorts to great value options the Caribbean Islands can and do welcome everyone. We have a new section for caribbean restaurants so that when you come you can get some recommendations already depending on which island you are on. Please don't forget to contribute something if you feel it isn't right for you- we all need and value your opinion.

ScubaDivingCaribbean

The culture is so varied and fascinating attracting the worlds past pirate adventurers and modern day scuba divers and scuba instructors. The Caribbean islands in general are safe have fantastic people ready to welcome you and who will engage you in conversation as sometimes its too darn hot to do much else, well unless you go get in the water !

It may not be the best diving in the world in some respects but do you really want to be stuck on a liveaboard or face 2 days of travel to perhaps see your schooling Hammerheads if you get lucky ? Of course you do sometimes but not every year. And if your going to do it often then plan ahead to retiring here in the caribbean. Have a look through the islands and get some ideas about your next Caribbean Holiday. Buying property in the Caribbean is a hot ticket, being so close to the U.S. and Canada, it is home to many expats. So come and explore the website upload some photos. Send us some news, we really would love to hear from you.

Monday, June 7, 2010

travel to new zealand

A word of advice: there is no such thing as paranoia while traveling !Crucial during travel is the possession of a passport and visa or permit to visit the country which should have at least a six month validity just to be on the safe side.

New Zealand has strict visa schemes (most recently a woman was denied a resident's visa because the government felt her obesity would 'put a strain on the country's resources') However, there are a number of countries the residents of which do not require a visa permit to travel or stay in Kiwi land for a period of three months or less as long as they have valid passports. Some of those countries are France, Brazil, Ireland, Greece, Belgium, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, and Malaysia etc.

Keeping copies of all documents ready in case the originals are misplaced or stolen is a necessary precaution. Inform a relative or friend to be ready to fax or e-mail you copies of any documents necessary in case the situation arises. Traveler's insurance is a must and can be claimed in case any luggage is lost or stolen. As a side note there is no need to worry about snakebite kits, as the country has no snakes!

People wishing to travel the length and breadth of the country are well advised to backpack across it and stay at the simple yet affordable youth hostels of the International Youth Hostel Federation located in most areas (and can be booked via the Internet). Rent a caravan or other inexpensive vehicle to drive across if walking won't suit you (though be warned that the cost of petrol does add up) since looking to public transport to travel everywhere will cause quick cash outflow.

There are beaureaux de change and foreign exchange kiosks in most places. Major credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted across the country so carrying cash isn't necessary. For students the possession of an international student I card will get you discounts on entry fees at a large number of museums, theatres, movies etc.

Eating well especially if you're on an adventure holiday or backpacking is recommended but having every meal at a restaurant is not .It will cost approximately$25-$45 a head per meal. Preparing your own food is the best option. Youth hostels generally allow guests to cook for themselves in their kitchens. Shop for necessities at small local shops, not big department stores where rates are higher. In case there isn't a kitchen to cook your own meals in the vicinity buying snacks off roadside vendors is another good way to eat well within a budget while experiencing local flavor. The country is very clean and any such food is reasonably hygienic. Avoid expenditure on alcohol, Internet, camera film etc as it adds up substantially.

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Summertime is the busiest and most expensive. It's smarter to visit during the off seasons. The climate is cool so carrying warm clothes (but not too many) is a good idea. Remember, while traveling packing light is the golden rule especially if backpacking or any kind of walking is on the agenda. Heavy trunks and suitcases full of unnecessary accessories are not the way to go. Do not carry pair upon pair of shoes. Wear a sturdy pair and your feet (and back!) will thank you.

Friday, June 4, 2010

travel to san diego

It's that time of year - the snow is melting, the wind is winding down and spring is just on the other side of the month. It's also about time to ramp up flights to San Diego (SAN), and that's precisely what many airlines are doing.

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Discount airline JetBlue already currently flies non-stop Boston flights to San Diego, but starting April 7, American Airlines intends to resume daily San Diego flights from Boston (BOS).

On May 2, Delta/Northwest will be boarding daily Memphis flights to San Diego. Memphis is a significant hub for Delta/Northwest.

Discount airline AirTran brings back non-stop San Diego flights to Atlanta (ATL) starting May 5, with a single daily departure. On May 21, the AirTran intends to go double-daily on the route and also launch San Diego flights to Milwaukee (MKE).

On June 1, WestJet joins the San Diego line-up offering Calgary flights to San Diego three times a week.

Watch for seat sales, cheap San Diego flights and more, and check with the individual airlines for booking tickets.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

travel to mentawai indonesia

The Mentawai Islands are located approximately 100 miles west of the Sumatran port city of Padang, Sumatra. There's 4 main islands in the chain, with numerous smaller islands surrounding those, many lined up perfectly to snag swells generated by the active Indian Ocean. Things have changed alot since the beginning but there are more options than ever to surfing the Mentawais.