Friday, December 30, 2011

Winter Travels

Winter Travels
When we left Maryland on December 31st to head out on a two-week plus trip, we asked you to pray that there would be no snow on the days that we traveled. God really answered your prayers!

We made it to Connecticut without any problems and had a good week there. AFTER we left they got over two feet of snow, making it one of their biggest storms ever. The day AFTER we arrived in Pennsylvania, it snowed. It wasn't a huge snow, but would not have been fun to drive in. On the way from Pennsylvania to Ohio we got into a short, but heavy snow shower. Within 15 minutes we were out of it.

We had a great week in Ohio. Again, there was snow while we were there, but we only had to travel short distances from my cousin's house where we were staying to Cedarville, about 12 miles.

The most snow we got into was when traveling from Ohio back to NW Pennsylvania where we were scheduled to speak. It was pretty, but it did slow us down a bit. This house is really pretty, but you wouldn't believe the number of really ugly houses we drove past. We were behind this plow for awhile. It wasn't really plowing, just laying down sand. Only about 5 miles from our destination we saw this spin-out. Thankfully we didn't have any problems until we arrived at our friends' house and couldn't quite make it up their drive. The combination of slowing down to turn into their drive and then the need to keep up speed to get up the hill just didn't happen. It didn't take much to back down the drive and do it over again.

Snowy weather and beautiful scenery always reminds me of Robert Frost's poem,

Monday, July 4, 2011

Dubai Travel

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN

The UAE is a family-oriented environment and small children are welcome and appreciated everywhere. The larger hotels have a good selection of kids' meals, especially in room service. Very small children do not normally eat out at night, but are often welcome. Phone ahead to check. In any case baby-sitting services are available in the main hotels.

There are lots of activities for children, both in and around the five-star hotels, special amusement parks and many green areas. Children under 12 usually qualify for discounts on admission fees to most museums, amusement parks, swimming pools and entertainment centres.

WOMEN TRAVELERS

The UAE is extremely safe for women travellers, nevertheless women travelling alone are a novelty and you may find yourself at the focus of unwanted attention. You will probably have a more relaxed visit if you stay in one of the four or five star hotels, especially if you can use the hotel's private beach facilities.

Women in the UAE have a much more liberal lifestyle than many of their Gulf counterparts (i.e. women are permitted to drive, work etc) however, women travelers should be aware that they are visiting a society which has strong traditional roots.

If you wish to avoid hassle or risk causing offence, do not wear tight or revealing clothes away from the beach clubs and resorts. You will also find that clothing suitable for the more cosmopolitan cities may not be comfortable or convenient for independent travel in rural areas. Loose trousers and a long sleeved cotton shirt will suit a wide range of situations.

When socializing in local company wait until a hand is offered to you for a handshake, some devout Muslims prefer not to shake hands with a woman.

Remember that one advantage of being a woman in the UAE is that women are normally served first at banks and post offices, police stations and other government offices frequently have separate queues for women.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Travel to Srilanka

Sri Lanka has more than 2,500 years of continuous written history by means of the Mahawansha, and was also mentioned in several ancient Indian texts. One of the most famous is the Ramayana, in which the island, which was referred to as Lanka, was the island fortress of the evil king Ravana, who captured the wife of Rama an incarnation of the Hindu God, Vishnu. Legend has it that Hanuman the monkey flew over to Lanka and destroyed the capital by setting it on fire, while Rama and his remaining troops later crossed over from the mainland by building a land bridge across the sea.

The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century BC, probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-3rd century BC, and a great civilization developed at such cities as Anuradhapura (kingdom from c.200 BC to c.1000 AD) and Polonnaruwa (c.1070 to 1200) also they have two more kingdoms Kandian Kingdom and Jaffna Kingdom . Then British came and connect all three kingdoms into one for the administrative purpose and left as one country in 1948.

Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1796, and became a crown colony in 1802. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.

With end of the 30 year prolonged bitter separatist war in the May 2009 it seems this island nation is on a new chapter of its history.
[edit] Climate

Since Sri Lanka is a tropical country, you can expect the rain anytime of the year in most parts. However, the two major rainy seasons are North-East monsoon (October to January) and South-West monsoon (May to July).

Being an island, the climate of Sri Lanka changes dramatically from one part of the country to another. For example at Nuwara Eliya, in the hills of Central Province, has a temperature around -5-20 C throughout the year, whereas Hambanthota, located in the dry zone, has a temperature consistently around 30-35 C.
[edit] Terrain

Mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior.

Highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
[edit] Talk

Sinhala, spoken by the majority Sinhalese, and Tamil, spoken by the minority Tamil and Muslim groups, are Sri Lanka's two official languages. English is commonly used in most cities, especially Colombo, Kandy and Galle, and by government and tourism officials. Don't expect everyone, everywhere to be able to speak it fluently. In the beach and tourist areas you will have no problem with English. Most people in rural villages however cannot speak any English, beyond a few simple words.

* Sinhala Language The greeting in Sinhala is "ayubowan", pronounced "aybohan" It means "May you live longer"; 'Thank you' is "Bohoma istuti, pronounced "bohame stutti" and "how are you" is "kohomada", pronounced "Ko homede""
* Tamil Language: The greeting in Tamil is "Vanakkam"; 'Thank you' is "Nanri"
* Sri Lankan Muslim: If you meet a Muslim it is polite to say "Assalamu Alaikum" (Arabic) which means "peace be upon you"; and Thank You "Jazakallahu Khaira "جزاك الله خيرا"" (arabic)

Sinhala writing is much more curved than Tamil. After a while, you'll learn how to distinguish between the two.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Auckland Travel

Auckland Wilderness Walking Tours (half day) so you can see some of New Zealand’s best wilderness walks. We take you far off the beaten track, along a path uncharted even by the most comprehensive guidebooks and deep into the timeless rainforest.

You’ll walk through shaded, pristine valleys and steep yourself in the fresh scents and the pure sounds of the bush. You’ll scale dramatic rocky outcrops to drink in eye-misting, breathtaking views. You’ll hike along the soaring coastal cliff and watch the sea surge and crash on the windswept black-sand beach below.

Our Auckland Guided Wilderness Walking Tours (half day) highlights include:
• The Waitakere Ranges, known to local Maori as Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa, or the great forests of Tiriwa, in memory of one of their esteemed ancestors. Time stands still in this ancient rainforest which is home to rare native flora and fauna, towering native trees, secret waterfalls and pristine streams.
• The wild West Coast with its sheer, soaring cliffs and unique black sand beaches pounded by the mighty Tasman Sea.
• Snacks and hot/cold drinks in a secluded bush glade or in a sunny cliff top clearing.


Auckland Guided Wilderness Walking Tours (half day) cost NZ $145 per person.

Auckland Guided Wilderness Walking Tours (half day) include:
Transport to and from Auckland Central, a full, personal, half day Auckland Guided Wilderness Walking Tour, snacks, hot/cold drinks and all equipment, plus all taxes and park fees.

Auckland Guided Wilderness Walking Tours (half day) timeframe:
Pick up 10am and return 2pm;
or pick up 2pm and return 6pm.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Honeymoon in Hawaii

There are so many reasons why Hawaii turns up as No. 1 on the list of top destinations for honeymooners year after year. For one thing, once you get outside crowded, touristy Waikiki, it's absolutely beautiful. Serene.

Best Hawaiian Hotels for Honeymooners >

The air is filled with the fragrance of exotic tropical flowers, such as plumeria. Thick banyan trees gracefully drop their branches to the ground, and grow upwards from there. The water is a pristine turquoise blue. The beaches are immaculate, and uncrowded.

And you can try out just about any water sport you ever imagined. After all, surfing began here.

The food is great, too. You can get just nearly anything you like, but preferred local delicacies come from the sea. Fresh mahi-mahi and opakapaka plucked from the Pacific Ocean and garnished with Hawaiian macadamia nuts are heavenly. Maui onions are sweet as can be. And the island's kettle-cooked potato chips are so salty and crunchy, they redefine the meaning of sinfully good.

See More on Your Vacation

It feels like another world, but it's the USA. And it's easy to get around, once you arrive. Don't plan to stay long in Waikiki; it's too urban, too crowded. The kind of place you should see once...and then depart for calmer shores.

Hawaiian Air makes it relatively easy to island-hop and even offers inter-island air-hotel-rental car packages. If you're going to be spending any amount of time here, I suggest you do that.

Four days on one island and three on another could be the perfect amount (if you can't stay a lifetime... which you will consider doing).

Definitely plan to rent a car, and go exploring. There aren't that many roads on the outer islands, so it's unlikely you'll get lost. But it is likely that you'll come upon scenes of exquisite beauty, where you'll feel compelled to pull over and simply marvel at how amazing nature can be, when all her elements are in perfect balance.

You'll have to sleep sometime. And there are many, many places to choose from, in all price ranges. On the next pages, I've compiled a list of what I believe to be the...

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Monet's Garden

Monet’s Garden

Monet’s Garden is open from April to October and is an easy hours drive from Paris. I went last year at the beginning of April which was a huge mistake as very few of the bulbs were in flower. It didn’t really matter because there were cherry trees in bloom as well as some annuals and daffodils but it would have been so much more beautiful later on when the tulips, irises, wisteria, and so many other plants are in flower. You can see the flowering calendar here.

Whenever you go though, it’s still amazing to see the garden which inspired the Impressionist painter. The highlight is the Japanese water garden where you can see the famous Japanese bridge and water lilies depicted in his paintings.

Monet’s Garden is a little tricky to get to using public transport so I suggest hiring a car to get there.

Day Trips from Paris
Chantilly

The town of Chantilly is most well known for being the birth place of Chantilly cream. The French both invented and perfected Chantilly cream and if you’re anything like me you’ll enjoy it at every opportunity when in France. Of course I’m not suggesting you go to Chantilly to spend the day indulging in cream, the reason to take a day trip there is to visit the Chateau de Chantilly.

The chateau is just plain adorable. It’s surrounded by a moat and extensive formal and informal gardens. You can easily spend hours wandering around the woods and that’s exactly what I did.

Chantilly is easy to get to by both car and train so there’s really no reason not to go.

Chateau de Chantilly
Chartres

Chartres is one of the most relaxing day trips you can do from Paris. There aren’t loads of thing to do so there is no need to rush around. Take your time to visit the famous cathedral and then wander around the old town. My favourite thing to do when visiting towns like Chartres is to pick a nice little cafe to sit in where I can people watch or read my Kindle and then move along to the next little cafe and rinse and repeat. There’s not much to do but enjoy a long lunch, do a little window shopping, and cafe hop. What more do you want from a pretty town one hours drive from Paris.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Paris Travel

One of the most beautiful cities in the entire world that present vacationers and tourists great historic scenery and monuments is Paris - the Capital of France. There are quite a lot of interesting places to visit if you are in Paris - the City of Light as it is called by its citizens. You can never want of things to views. For those who love sightseeing Paris is the right place for that. Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triomphe, Notre dame cathedral and others are some of the interesting places to visit.

However, one of the problems facing vacationers which make it difficult for them to have affordable breaks in Paris is the high cost of things in Paris. Indeed, living in Paris is more expensive than cities and Provinces in France. However, having affordable breaks in Paris is a possibility for all those who know how to plan for their trip. You will be having cheap breaks in Paris if you can keep to the following tips.

Before you move into Paris, you need to plan for your break there and then budget for it on time. Do not just go to Paris without making adequate budget for your holiday in Paris. Budgeting is the first secret of having cheap breaks in Paris. The problem many people are having is that they do not know how to budget properly for their trips. Use a sheet of paper and write out things that you may need to buy in Paris in case you want to shop in the city. Surf the internet and find out places of interest to visit. Write down the places you will like to visit. Find out what it will cost you to visit those places including transportation fees. The information you have gotten will help you to in enjoying cheap breaks in Paris.

Your dream of having less expensive breaks in Paris will come true, if you stick to your budget. There is the tendency for people to buy what is not in their budget. Buying against your budget will militate against your effort to have cheap breaks in Paris.

Look for airlines that offer affordable flight to Paris. The cheaper your transportation fee, the brighter your chances of having cheap break in Paris are. Flight fee can increase your budget. Using airline with fantastic packages helps to reduce the cost of your break; thus it is a stepping stone in having cheap breaks in Paris.

Accommodation fee is another thing that can increase your budget. There are various hotels and vacation rentals in Paris. It will be better for you to choose a hotel that is close to the places that you will like to visit. This will reduce the transportation cost and thus making it possible for you to have cheap breaks in Paris.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Niagara Tours and Attractions

IAGARA FALLS TOURS
Maximize your stay in Niagara. See the best the city has to offer in one economical tour package. Convenient pick-up & drop off at Hotel entrance.

Spring / Summer Tour Stops





Skylon Tower

Whirlpool Rapids


Maid of the Mist

Whirlpool

Floral Clock

Table Rock

Horseshoe Falls

Journey Behind the Falls

Bird Aviary








Fall / Winter




















Winter Festival Of Lights
Winter Festival Of Lights

This tour includes:

* Rossi Glass
* Table Rock at the Brink of the Falls
* Disney Light Display
* Skylon Tower
* Niagara Parkway Light Displays

This tour departs the hotel lobby nightly at 6 PM and takes you on a guided trip through Niagara's Festival of Lights.

BOOK TOUR:
Month: Day: Year: # Adults: # Kids:

Hilton Premier Niagara Falls Tour
Hilton Premier Niagara Falls Tour

This tour includes:
Admissions to the following attractions:

Spring Summer Tour

Maid of the Mist Boat Ride
Journey Behind the Falls
Skylon Tower w/free night illumination return pass
Floral Clock
Whitewater Rapids
Butterfly Conservatory

In addition, you'll receive free passes to the White Water Boardwal and the brand-new Niagara Fury (a combined $30 per person value) that you can use at your leisure during your stay at Niagara Falls.

Fall Winter Tour

Imax Theatre and Daredevil Museum
Journey Behind the Falls
Skylon Tower w/free night illumination return pass
TableRock Viewing Point
Whitewater Rapids
Butterfly Conservatory



Your tour guide will offer full-narration along with exceptional door-to-door service, giving you a day sure to provide memories to last a lifetime.
BOOK TOUR:
Month: Day: Year: # Adults: # Kids:

Wine and Dinner Tour
Wine and Dinner Tour

This tour includes:
This tour departs every Friday and Saturday evening at 4:00 PM from the Hilton lobby. The tour includes a visit to four Niagara wineries with an extensive tour at one winery and tastings at all four. You will also enjoy a full sample of Niagara's "world renowned" ICEWINE. You tour comes complete with a succulent dinner at the esteemed Epicurean Restaurant.

You will visit:

*Reif Estate Winery (Ice Wine Sample)
*Peller Estates Winery
*Jackson Triggs Winery (Tour)
*Dinner at Epicurian Restaurant
*Shopping at Niagara-on-the-Lake

(Wineries and restaurants may be substituted due to special occasions)



BOOK TOUR:
Month: Day: Year: # Adults: # Kids:

Niagara on the Lake Winery Tour
Niagara on the Lake Winery Tour

This tour includes:
*This tour departs every morning from the lobby of the Hilton at 10:00 AM. The tour includes a visit to three Niagara wineries with an extensive tour at one winery and tastings at all three. You will also enjoy a full sample of Niagara's "world renowned" ICEWINE. You will enjoy a gourmet lunch at the esteemed Queenston Heights Restaurant.

You'll also be given ample time to visit the many shops and museums in historic Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The tour also offers some interesting and informative facts about charming Niagara-on-the-Lake and the rich history of the surrounding areas.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Travel Australia

2-Nights Snorkel to Adventure

2-Nights Snorkel to Adventure beginning and ending in Cairns.

2 nights from $619 per person




Click Here for Full Itinerary



Featured Destinations

Cairns

Cairns is the sunny garden city where the Great Barrier Reef meets the Wet Tropics Rainforest, mountains and the gulf savannah not too far away. The city's water front boasts a world class marina and wharf used by visiting cruise liners, yachts and tour vessels. Cairns is situated in the Northern end of Tropical Queensland Australia. It's a modern city with a good location to explore some of Australia's vast array of flora and fauna. With a magnificent Casino, Cairns is alive with more activities than a visitor will ever have time for. The principal attraction is the over 60 national parks from the wet tropical rain forests and lush tablelands to the truly wild Cape York Peninsula and the Great Barrier Reef.









Valid Travel Dates


Number of Nights: 2
Vacation Inclusions:

* 2 nights accommodation on board including linen
* Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D) as per itinerary
* Transfers between your accommodation and the boat
* Snorkel equipment

Friday, January 21, 2011

Las Vegas Attractions

Arts FactoryDowntown 105 E Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas. (702) 676-1111



The Arts Factory Las Vegas is a collection of artists, architects, photographers, graphic designers, & galleries all gathered under one roof and is located near downtown Las Vegas in the Arts District. Facility rental is available. First Friday's event every month is from 6pm-9pm. Free of Charge.


Atomic Testing Museum, 755 E Flamingo Road, Las Vegas

(702) 794-5161. The museum provides multiple viewpoints on the Nevada Test Site and its impact on the nation. An 8,000 square foot exhibit hall with artifacts from the Smithsonian Institution, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, pieces of the Berlin wall and World Trade Centers. Designed to be a highly interactive experience. Touch screens, motion sensitive plasma TV presentations, audio interviews with former workers from the test site, more multi media components.



Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

3600 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas. Bellagio Casino Hotel.



Just beyond Bellagio's gracious lobby lies the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, a kaleidoscope for your senses. Open 24 hours. Bellagio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas



Las Vegas Attractions!



Bellagio Gallery Of Fine Art. Open daily.

3600 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas. Bellagio Casino Hotel.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art presents exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and works on paper by the world's most influential artists. Rotating museum caliber exhibitions, which have featured renowned artists ranging from Picasso to Warhol, offer visitors a rare opportunity to view legendary works of art carefully selected from prestigious international collections.

Bellagio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas



Bonnie Springs Old Nevada, Red Rock Canyon Ave., Nevada

Open daily 10am - 6pm, plus admission. An old western town, restaurant, shops, Western shootouts, and horseback riding. Petting zoo, cowboys and cowgirls, a miniature train ride, and on weekends and holidays, a "posse" show where the kids can even help track down the 'bad guy". This little old mining town offers simulated gunfights in the streets, an 1880's melodrama in its Saloon, even a public hanging, with an obliging Stuntman swaying in the wind. (702) 875-4191.



Circus Circus Hotel and Casino - Circus Acts

2880 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas



World-renowned live circus acts free everyday! Performances are daily from 11am. Circus Circus Hotel and Casino Las Vegas



Las Vegas Attractions!



CSI: The Experience at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

3799 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas. Survey the crime scene, gather the evidence, solve the case! This dynamic interactive experience offers visitors a hands on challenge to solve a hypothetical crime: 3 murders, 15 lab stations, 15 suspects, 3 killers. Guided by videos featuring cast members from the hit TV show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, alongside real life forensic scientists, you? Recommended for ages 12 through adult. MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Las Vegas



CSN Planetarium & Observatory, Northeast / North Las Vegas

3200 E Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas. (702) 651-4759.



CSN Planetarium & Observatory have educational and entertaining programs year round.





Las Vegas Attractions!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Driving Directions to Atlantic City

Driving Directions to Atlantic City

Located in the heart of the northeast and within easy driving distance of a third of the population of the United States, Atlantic City is convenient to get to whether you ride a bus, take a train, drive, or fly. The seaside resort is readily accessible by air through two nearby International Airports or by car and bus along three major highways.

Whether you need to find the Atlantic City Boardwalk, locate an Atlantic City Casino, or find a particular restaurant in Atlantic City, you can find what you’re looking for with our interactive Atlantic City Map!

By Land

From the North, major interstate highways connect with the Garden State Parkway South, to the Atlantic City Expressway.

From the South, I-95 to Delaware Memorial Bridge to Route 40 to Route 322. Or via Lewes, Delaware, take the Cape May-Lewes Ferry to the Garden State Parkway North to the Atlantic City Expressway.

From the West, via Philadelphia, Walt Whitman Bridge to North-South Freeway (Route 42) to Atlantic City Expressway.
By Air
The Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) is located just minutes from the city and offers shuttle, taxi and rental car transportation. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is a quick 60-minute drive via the Atlantic City Expressway.

View Airport Transportation/Limousine Listings

By Rail

NJ Transit Rail runs direct from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. For more information, call 973-275-5555. The Atlantic City rail station adjoins the Convention Center. Free casino shuttle service is available from Atlantic City terminal to all casinos.
Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) provides comfortable and convenient weekend travel between NYC and Atlantic City. Departing from New York’s Penn Station with one stop in Newark, NJ, ACES continues direct to Atlantic City. Travel time is approximately 2.5 hours and ACES provides nine trains running Friday through Sunday each weekend.

By Bus
There is frequent motorcoach service from New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC via all major carriers.

www.academybus.com www.njtransit.com
www.greyhound.com/home www.shorelineexpress.com

Local Transit
Atlantic City's unique Jitney mini-buses stop at all hotels and attractions. The city's famous wicker rolling chairs provide service up and down the Boardwalk and, of course, taxis are readily available.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Medieval bridge

Getting to Ponte de Lima:
The closest airport is at Porto, where the A3 freeway towards Spain passes within 2km of Ponte de Lima (take the Ponte de Lima Sul exit). From the Porto Airport, you can take the airport-bus to Porto and then a bus to Ponte de Lima or Viana do Castelo.
Tourism Office.:
The tourist Office is on Praça da República, which you are likely to pass if you've parked along the road from the A3 exit. Upstairs you can visit a small museum with local handicrafts and historical information. You can get information here for staying in local manor houses as well.
Internet Access in Ponte de Lima:
You can get free internet access at the public library on Largo da Picota, just near by the Igreja Matriz (Matriz Church)
Markets:
The huge Monday market, held twice a month, has been held in Ponte de Lima since 1125.
Ponte de Lima Attractions:

Ponte de Lima is starting to be recognized as a tourist destination. This is neither good nor bad, but depends on what you're looking for--tourist facilities are being added, as well as resort features like golf courses.

There are two plane tree lined walking streets along the Lima river, the Alameda de S. Joao, and the avenida d. Luis Felipe. They offer interesting strolling areas.

The Medieval Bridge is documented to have been started in 1368. It's 277 meters in length and 4 meters in width, with 16 large arches and 14 smaller ones. There are more arches buried below. On the opposite side of the river is the Roman bridge, built for military use between Braga and Astorga.

Across the bridge, the Guardian Angel is a stone quadrangular monument on the banks of the river. It's an ancient chapel, but there's no clue as to when it was erected. It's been rebuilt many times when persistent floods damaged it.

The Capela de Santo Antonio da Torre Velha dominates the scene across the river. To the east of the bridge is a delightful garden which includes a picnic area and a small folk museum.

The fountain in Ponte de Lima's Main Square was completed in 1603 but wasn't located in its present location until 1929, when it was moved to the Largo de Camoes.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

the Brown Rabbit Walkabout

he Brown Rabbit Walkabout

The East Coast Trail runs along the east coast of the Avalon Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Hiking trails start at Fort Amherst in St. John's and end in Fermeuse.

With the help of hiking maps you can begin and end your hike wherever you feel most comfortable, doing only small parts or the entire trail from beginning to end.

We offer a wonderful 9 day walkabout package for hiking the East Coast Trail. Our package includes pick up and drop off at St. John's Airport, accommodations, daily transportation to and from trail heads, 3 meals a day ( full breakfast, packed lunch, and full supper). All our meals are home cooked and we will take care of any special dietary needs, just let us know before hand.

We cater to hikers travelling alone, or groups up to 20 persons. Having hiked much of the trail ourselves, we are quite acquainted with the different sections and can give you advice on many details of the trail. We also sell packages of East Coast Trail Maps.



Day 1:

You will be greeted and picked up by Bill at St. John's Airport, and transported to The Brown Rabbit Cabins, where you'll enjoy a wonderful home cooked supper. Your hiking vacation has now begun!

Day 2:

Hiking trail #1 starts at Fort Amherst, St. John's, and goes to Black Head, lasting between 4-7 hours. (See East Coast Trail Map #1 )

Day 3:

Day 3 starts at Cape Spear, the most easterly part of Newfoundland. From Cape Spear the hike takes you to Maddox Cove, and lasts between 4-6 hours. ( See East Coast Trail Maps #2 and #3 )

Day 4:

Tired of walking? No problem! Today you can put on your sea legs. You can take a whale watching boat tour or go sea kayaking. Either way you'll be thrilled with the sights and sounds of the sea.

Day 5:

Today you are ready for the most challenging and beautiful hike of the East Coast Trail. Your hike starts at Shoal Bay Road and ends at Bay Bulls. Breathtaking scenery. ( See East Coast Trail Maps #5 and #6 )

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Travel to Indonesia

If you never going to travel to Indonesia yet so you should try to visit Indonesia because there are so many beautiful places you can find. Not only beautiful of the place also the people are very nice. The cultural is unique too, so these are the reasons of Indonesia. When you start for planning to vacation travelling to another countries why you don't choose Indonesia become one of your target. I think that is the right choice and here the most beautiful places in Indonesia you can find :

1. Lombok

Lombok Island is located near Bali, actually in the east of Bali island. It's easy to go by air or by sea. Maybe this island is near Bali so the cultural of the people is not different. They have unique cultural tradition and the people are friendly.

Lombok is one of great island in Indonesia after Bali. Like Bali you can find many beautiful places in Lombok such as amazing beaches, outstanding waterfalls, golf park, little islands around and many others. So Lombok is the best choice for travelling.

2. Bali

Bali Island the most beautiful island in Indonesia even in the world. Many thousand tourist from everywhere visit bali every years. They come to Bali to see the beautiful and the unique cultural tradition of the citizen. Most of tourist say that bali is the most beautiful island they ever visiting and the people are very friendly.

The most famous place in Bali is Kuta Beach. This is the long white sandy beach and the sea is best place for surfing. Now you can also enjoy trip in Bali by cruises. Many cruises you can choose like The Lembongan Island Reef Cruise, the Beach Club Cruise, the Sunset Dinner Cruise, the spectacular trip aboard Aristocat, the Ocean Rafting 3 Island Cruise and Dolphin Cruise. You can also enjoy diving with Odissey Submarine.

So many other amazing places you can search in Bali. And the trip to bali is unforgotten experience for many people.

3. Bunaken

Bunaken National Marine Park is one of the first marine park in Indonesia. It is located in North Sulawesi and established in 1991. The park is contain of five island, there are Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. As the name the beautiful of this place is under the sea. You can see many sea creatures such as corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges.

In Bunaken you can find that this place is harbor of some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. There are big number of families and species of sea creatures are in Bunaken. So for the tourists who like diving, this is the right place for you.

4. Borobudur

Borobudur is one of the biggest Buddist Temple in the world. It was build in the 9th century. It is located in Magelang, Central Java. It is easy to find this place because it is near from Yogyakarta. The temple is very high. If you like to journey to ancient monument, Borobudur is best choice for you.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Travel Calcutta

Simultaneously noble and squalid, cultured and desperate, Kolkata is a daily festival of human existence. And it’s all played out before your very eyes on teeming streets where not an inch of space is wasted. By its old spelling, Calcutta, India’s second-biggest city conjures up images of human suffering to most Westerners. But Bengalis have long been infuriated by one-sided depictions of their vibrant capital. Kolkata is locally regarded as the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation. Several of India’s great 19th- and 20th-century heroes were Kolkatans, including guru-philosopher Ramakrishna, Nobel Prize–winning poet Rabindranath Tagore and celebrated film director Satyajit Ray. Dozens of venues showcase Bengali dance, poetry, art, music, film and theatre. And while poverty certainly remains in-your-face, the dapper Bengali gentry continue to frequent grand old gentlemen’s clubs, back horses at the Calcutta Racetrack and play soothing rounds of golf at some of India’s finest courses.
Click here to find out more!
As the former capital of British India, Kolkata retains a feast of dramatic colonial architecture, with more than a few fine buildings in photogenic states of semi-collapse. The city still has many slums but is also developing dynamic new-town suburbs, a rash of air-conditioned shopping malls and some of the best restaurants in India. This is a fabulous place to sample the mild, fruity tang of Bengali cuisine and share the city’s passion for sweets.