Archive for the Category »Destinations «

A much needed holiday
Saturday, January 02nd, 2010 / koneill

Economic difficulties still exist for many of us despite the economy looking like it is starting to get back up on its feet. Even during the problematic financial climate many families still chose to go on holiday as they saw it as an ideal way to get away from the stresses and strains of every day life. At the end of the day, many of us deserve a break every now and again to stop us from going round the bend.

This is especially so as the winter weather seems to darken the mood of many people. What we all need is a pick me up, a week away from it all at a place where the whole family can have fun and enjoy the time together. There are many places in the UK where this is possible but probably no more than the fantastic, action packed Holiday Parks that are to be found around the UK in some of the nicest destinations.

Holiday parks are strategically located around the UK to ensure that visitors can have fun outside the complex as well as inside. Seaside resorts have long been a favourite amongst the British public and as such the holiday parks decided to make a trip to the seaside even more impressive. The way they have seen the niche in the market and filled it with great fun and activities for the whole family, has been well thought out and timed perfectly.

The parks are now favourite destinations amongst families looking to take a break. The great thing about the Holiday Parks is that you can take a weekend break there as well as a week long break and you will have a great time. They understand that money is tight for many families at the moment so a weekend break may be just in budget for them.

There is so much to do for all the family there you will never get bored or run out of activities and things to do. There are kids clubs for the little ones, but don’t worry parents as there are trained child carers on site to make sure they play safe and have a good time. For the older children there are activities such as paintballing and other fun activities. At night there are a range of shows available to enjoy after you have had a meal and tasted some high quality food.

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Living, Working and Staying In Bristol
Thursday, December 31st, 2009 / koneill

Long before the years of the Merchant Venturers, the city of Bristol has been a indispensable and thriving center of business, not just as the gateway to theSouth but to international trade with a enormous and busy docks complex at Portbury and Avonmouth, close to Bristol, importing 1000’s of automobiles daily, 12 million tons of cargo employing more or less 5000 employees.  For this reason it has always been easy to find cars for sale in Bristol.

Bristol has always been plunged in History from the days of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and before, to the beginning test flight of Concorde technology at its best, adapting and surviving through good times and bad, withstanding the test of time encompassing ingenuity, dedication and passionateness symbolised by the evolution of the latest Bristol Space Planes project.

The recent recession has hit Bristol just as tough as any urban center around the earth but in Bristol and the west country, organizations have joined together to exchange ideas and offer help and assistance to any business enterprise fighting the recession.  You can find many of these Bristol businesses in any good Bristol business directory.

You can find numerous different extensive guide to Bristol|guide Bristol online with Bristol business directories, jobs in Bristol, Bristol properties for sale and community pages.  These sorts of website allow people to get connected with other people living in the region.  Whether they are looking to find someone special with dating in Bristol or to try and arrange to eat at Bristol restaurants with a helpful Bristol restaurant guide.

Bristol also has a brilliant music and arts scene with venues like the Colston Hall, Hippodrome and the charity St George’s concert hall. There are umpteen nightspots and small gigs taking place every night of the week. Last, but not least, the Old Vic Theatre Company and the very active Theatre School.  As a result of all these events taking place, many people from outside the city come to find hotels to stay in Bristol.  There are a tremendous range of Bristol hotels to opt from and they will meet most people’s budgets.

Shopping in the city of Bristol has just got more electric with the starting of the Cabot Shopping centre in the middle of Broadmead, including the top names in designer shops and eating places with parking for simply one pound an hour. With everything that Bristol has to offer up it would be a terrific idea for anyone to come and visit the urban center.

 

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Itik Itik: Philippine Folk Dance That Imitate Ducks Gestures
Monday, December 28th, 2009 / koneill

If most Philippine dances are originally patterned after the European dances during the time of the Spanish regime, some dances have evolved from an already known Philippine dance. One such example is your Itik itik- one of the popular dances in the Philippines.

According to one story about the origins of the dance, there was this young woman named Kanang and she was considered as the best dancer and performer in the province of Surigao del Norte. And at one baptismal function, the performer was asked to dance the Sibay- another significant native dance and at the middle of her performance she began making her own steps. The steps imitated that of the movements of the ‘itik’. The ‘itik’ is a duck and her actions during the said presentation are like those by the animal- shifting steps and there were splashes of water on its back while attracting its mate. And while the steps were original and strange, the spectators were mesmerized and soon they began copying and mimicking the moves.

According to records, the dance came not only from Surigao del Norte but in the Visayas region as a whole also. in the other version of the story about the roots of the dance, it was said that this dance has originated from the dance ‘Sibay‘ which was then danced to the tune of the ‘Dejado’ music. The ‘Sibay’ is a popular bird dance in the Visayan Islands. This was confirmed by Reynaldo Gamboa Alejanadro and he added that the Visayan Island where the dance originated was Samar. Reynaldo Gamboa Alejandro is considered as the Philippine dance authority. This information was also backed up by a book that was written in 1668 by Fr. Ignacio Alzina who is a Jesuit missionary to Samar.

In that book, the Jesuit missionary explained a dance that copied the bird that was famous in Samar and the ‘Sabay’. In the same book, the missionary said that the dance imitated the flying birds. Therefore, how accurately is the dance executed by the dancer? As it was mentioned the steps of the dance resembled the movements of the wading and the flying ducks or the ‘itiks’. The dancers here copy the swaying gait of the waddling feet and also ape the intense energy of the close-cropped flapping wings.

There are around six separate foot sequences that the dancer is expected to perform and these series of foot movements form part of the dance steps. Right now, there are modern versions of this dance and this can be seen in many parts of the country.

The present and the modern version of the dance are from the following areas;

. Carmen
. Lanuza
. Cantillan
. Carrascal

These are all towns in Surigao del Norte. Though this version of the dance from Surigao del Norte was a thing of beauty and very popular, there are other versions of the dance that have sprouted in other parts of the archipelago. Other than the original ‘Itik ittik’ Surigaonon, there were other versions of the dance and these dances can be found in the Visayas. The other versions of the dance can be seen in Sibomga, Cebu and in Tibiao, Antique. The dance is currently performed during special events or during the country’s ‘Linggo ng Wika’ which is a celebration of the country’s language during August. The dance forms part of the culture of the country and considered to be one of the dances that help shaped the Filipino culture in terms of dance and identity. At present, the word ‘Itik itik’ has been utilized as a name for one small celebration in Metropolitan Manila. There is an ‘Itik itik’ festival which is a week-long festival that culminates every last Sunday of February and the festival is hosted by Barangay Kalawaan in Pasig, City.

At the center of the festivities are the ducks- duck races, biggest duck contest, duck catching, swimming contest, best cooking, dancing and a parade in honor of the barangay’s patroness, St. Martha. For the locals, the she is the patroness of the duck-raisers. And more importantly the name of the festival raises the profile and the prominences of the name ‘Itik itik‘ as people are reminded of one important dance in Philippine culture, even though the dance is not specifically performed in the festivities.

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There Are Many Activities You Can Enjoy During Your Lake Tahoe Stay
Sunday, December 27th, 2009 / koneill

Brought to you by free car insurance quote.

Lake Tahoe has a lot to offer to tourists. You have to remember that the winter Olympics was once done here and this was the setting of some television shows and movies. Given its ideal location, you can enjoy a Lake Tahoe Getaway regardless of when you decide to come here. 

Since it is already December, one thing that a lot of people will be doing is skiing. Right now, there are over a dozen ski resorts in Lake Tahoe. A majority if these just opened in the last week of November and these will open until April or May of next year. 

You can learn how to ski and go down the slopes if you are an experienced skier. Another option is to replace those skis with a snowboard or tube which could be just as fun when you are in the snow. 

If you decide to come here next summer, most resorts there have equipment you can borrow. These include a water ski, parasail, kayak and sail boat. You can also do some snorkeling since there are beaches nearby and a cruise that offers dinner once a week. 

For those who want take a tour by air, you can enjoy a helicopter tour or a hot air balloon ride. Such trips can only get off the ground assuming that there is good weather otherwise the trip will have to be rescheduled. The helicopter tour to and from the airport will be an hour. The hot air balloon ride lasts about 4 hours. 

There are also guided tours provided on land. You can go with a guide as you go hiking along a trail or ride a carriage that is pulled by a beautiful 2,000 pound Blond Belgium horse. As you are riding, the tour guide will give you a brief lesson in Tahoe history. Sadly this tour is not available right now since it only operates from May to October. 

Although you won’t be able to see that much if you are cruising, you will be surrounded by the breathtaking view of the mountains and trees. You will get to see Emerald Bay, the Fannette Island, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Vikingsholm Castle which the M.S. Dixie II and the Tahoe Queen offers when you take a 2 hour sightseeing cruise. 

Throughout the year, various races, competitions, dances and events are done. Already planned for next is the NBC Sports 2009 American Century Celebrity Golf Championship. Although the date has not yet been formalized yet but it could fall in July, you can expect big names like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, the NFL’s Ben Roethlisberger, Billy Joe Tolliver, Jerry Rice and Tony Romo, NHL great Jeremy Roenick, and from Hollywood, John O’Hurley, Kevin Nealon and Ray Romano are expected to attend. 

So you don’t miss out in any of the festivities, do some research online and try to include this as part of your itinerary when you decide to have a Lake Tahoe Vacation. You may not always participate in it but at least you can actually watch it. 

Reservations for your Lake Tahoe Holiday can be done through your travel agent or by yourself. It is going to be fun and exciting so make the most of it when you decide to come to town!

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Travelling with children on safari holidays free activity download
Sunday, December 27th, 2009 / koneill

When nature meets us – our experience with Elephants while on safari in Africa

My wife and I love Africa and we couldn’t resist the temptation to visit our friends in Africa and visit the continent, when Juliette was nearly two years old we travelled from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania both the mainland and Zanzibar.

We had a splendid safari and actually had no trouble with finding food for our daughter or cots in the hotels etc. In fact the whole trip was just perfect. We were very careful to use mosquito nets, to cover her with a strong mosquito repellent and in fact she was not bitten once in the whole trip.

So if you are thinking of travelling to Africa with your family but are worried whether your children will enjoy the safari and whether they will be safe, we hope you will be encouraged with our personal experiences. Juliette has been on many safaris since a very young age and we have many friends who have children that have grown up in the safari lodges so the answer is a simple one, yes children are fine in the wild conditions.

Children tend to love the wildlife and a safari is usually a wonderful experience for children of all ages. It can get a bit long and hot for children so we have some suggestions for you;

  • take with you some animal spotting safari games
  • learn the Swahili names for the animals which will help the children build a relationship with your driver and should provide fun.
  • You can download “safari games” free from the web and this will keep them busy.  We have a FREE children’s activity pack which you can view or download and print free of charge and includes a safari animal check list with Swahili animal names, plus some other fun stuff.

One dramatic episode that we had that I would like to mention because it could be useful for other parents travelling with young children while on safari…
We went on a night drive in Zambia in an open vehicle with other guests from the lodge.This was so exciting and turned out to be one of the most amazing we have ever done. We found a young leopard and soon we were right in the centre of a herd of buffalo that was being ambushed by four female lions. We could see that the lions missed their prey. Our daughter in all the bewilderment began crying, within seconds the lions who usually regard vehicles as just part of the landscape started to see the vehicle as a possible prey, like a small animal in distress. Fortunately our guide acknowledged the change in mood and drove us away quickly to safety with a pack of lions following us.

Because the food in safari lodges are flexible you won’t have any problems with children’s food. There won’t be any problems keeping the children amused, this will be a new and thrilling experience where they will be introduced to different cultures and maybe poverty, the experience of Africa may possibly play an important role in the education of your children.

Common sense is if the parents are sensible and make the children abide by the safari rules no danger will come to the children. To help your children get the most out of the safari we suggest that you sit down and explain to them how different Africa is, where there is danger around. There is no need to overemphasize but camp rules are there for your protection and must be followed, because if they are not, the consequences can be serious. For very young children I propose you pick your camp carefully and make sure your travel advisor knows you are travelling with children so they can find the most suitable for children. We can guide you on this from personal understanding as we have been on many safaris with our children. We also have a lot of information for going on safari & travelling in Africa

It is recommended that young children should not be vaccinated and are excused in most countries for yellow fever but truthfully I don’t feel this should be of concern. It is an uncommon disease which you wouldn’t come across in a safari lodge. Your focus of concern should be malaria which is a problem all over the tropics. The locals catch it frequently and it is frequently judged no worse than an attack of flu. Although dangerous depending on the strain, the answer is prevention. Young children cannot take malaria tablets but please get advice from your doctor. Don’t forget to apply mosquito repellent profusely all over them, cover their arms and legs before the sunsets and make certain that the children sleep under mosquito nets. If you take these safety measures you can reduce the risk of malaria to almost zero.

Don’t be scared about taking your children to Africa,  it is a wonderful experience for them and we have been back with Juliette many times, but do cover them up well and no safaris in open vehicles for very small children

Note: The above information is advice given on the basis of the author’s experience at the time of writing and the author cannot take responsibility for any traveller choosing to take the advise above. Travellers should speak to their GP and take advice from the relevant authorities before travelling.

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Welsh Castles (Part 2)
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 / koneill

Carrying on with the list of the best castles in Wales is the next selection of Castles that you should visit if you are on one of those family days out.

Gwydir Castle

This castle is located in the really nice area of Snowdonia and was built by a man known as Howell Coermore in 1365. Coetmore was the commander of the longbow men at the Battle Of Poiters. The castle was originally home to the Wynn baronets who were descendants of the Kings and Princes of Gwynedd.

Meredith Wynn was a strong supporter of King henry VII and after the War Of The Roses he started to rebuild the castle. This castle was touched upon again until the 1540's and after this was left until 1828.

In 1989 the prince of wales opened the newly refurbished dining room from the 1640s.

Caerphilly Castle

The castle was buitl ver close to a site in which the Romans had built a fort in on 1268. This castle actually covers a huge thirty acres of land making it the largest castle in Wales. This castle was only built to show the Anglo-Normans power and it did this as no person would go anywhere near it.

When a force of a thousand men tried to take the castle in the 14th century it was almost taken but it managed to survive the beating and carried on. The castles defences were somehow still intact.

The 15th century saw the castle kept in reasonable condition with no real refurbishments happening until the late 1700’s.

If you are into your history or are interested in either of these castles then why not take one of those UK family holidays UK to go and check them out. Some of the castles here can be very interesting to go around and although a tour may seem like a dull option it is usually the best way to do things.

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Best Castles In Wales (Part 1)
Thursday, December 17th, 2009 / koneill

These castles are some of the best Wales have to offer. Many of these are only visited by a few people and some of them have hundreds of visitors a year. Why not take a trip to Wales and have a look at these castles!

The Brilliant Cardiff Castle

The Romans were the first to use the castle and it can be found right in the middle of a very busy city. The Normans then came and covered the original fort with earthen ramparts and constructed their own fortification on top of it all. The great thing is that over the next three centuries the castle was never stopped when it came to improvements. The 12th century saw only one realy improvement and that was a stone keep whereas between the 13th and 14th a gatehouse and the black tower were both added. After this the later centuries proved to be hard on the castle and were only renovated to what people see it as today in the late 18th century.

Chepstow Castle

This castle was in the making a year after the Battle Of Hastings and was actually built very close to the river Wye. it would seem that chepstow was a very quiet castle for its time as it very rarely saw a battle. It was modified a lot in the 12th and 13th centuries and the importance of it declined in the 14th century. After the battles of 1690 the castle’s defences were dismantled and the castle was taken by the state in 1953.

These are just two of the castles that Wales has to offer the general pubic which of course means that you can personally see the inside of both these buildings along with your family on one of those family days out. Family holidays UK are very popular indeed in Wales and both of these castles see a lot of guests every year so do not miss out and visit Wales soon.

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Top Southern Israel Attractions
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 / koneill

When one thinks of the country Israel, the Dead Sea would most probably come to mind. It is one of the locations in Israel that draws hundreds of tourists, as well as being the most salt-saturated of all waters around the globe. It is said to be eight times saltier than regular seas. It is so salty that no plants or animals live in it. Just a few miniscule bacteria and fungi manage to thrive in its harsh environment. But nevertheless, it is a favorite spot for those who live along the Mediterranean basin and tourists around the world. Located in southern Israel, the Dead Sea has been a setting of religious events throughout human history. It plays an important role to the development of various religion and beliefs. Being frequently mentioned in religious anecdotes adds more character to the area.

The Dead Sea is famous for its health benefits. It is believed to have healing and cosmetic powers. The unique climate in the region has reported to have aided in different types of ailments. Because of its high atmospheric pressure, people suffering from respiratory dysfunctions, such as cystic fibrosis, benefit from the Dead Sea. Its unique position of being below the sea level allows people to sunbath for longer periods of time without getting the harmful and dangerous effects of long exposure to the sun’s ultra violet rays. The climatic condition in the Dead Sea is said to be helpful in psoriasis treatment, among other skin disorders. Compared to famous beaches and resorts that are located above and within sea levels, the Dead Sea remains only a few of its kind. Treatments such as climatotherapy, heliotherapy and thalassotherapy are also available to tourists around the world.

Those who wish to have a view of the water will be thrilled to find that many of Dead Sea hotels sit in front of the coastlines. This marvelous beauty of nature is conveniently located within walking distance to many of the hotels. Hotel packages are abundant, with prices ranging from a more or less to 0 per person. There are hotel packages with prices that already include lodging, meals, beverages and the use of their facilities. Some Dead Sea hotels are located on the edges of the Judean desert, overlooking the Dead Sea itself and the magnificent Moav mountains.

The city of Eilat is located further down south of this magnificent country. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations because of the many hotels situated along the coast of the gulf. Along the coast are top luxurious and economical hotels in Eilat. Guests can choose from a wide array of packages that range from to per person. Eilat hs more than just the beaches to entertain its visitors. It has restaurants and promenades as well as pubs and nightclubs for those who enjoy the nightlife.

There are more than just a handful of things to discover in the Holy Land. The southern part offers resorts and beaches from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Eilat. Guests can pamper themselves Mediterranean style or take advantage of nature’s gifts of cures and remedies.

 

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Five Reasons To Book A Lanzarote Holiday
Sunday, December 13th, 2009 / koneill

Lanzarote is one of Spain´s most popular holiday destinations.With an enduring appeal for visitors from Northern Europe.And with flights taking just four hours this is the closest winter sun option for British and German tourists.  But what exactly is the appeal of the Island of Fire?

 

1) Climate

The key to Lanzarote´s popularity as a holiday destination lies in the fact that the island enjoys fantastic weather all year round.It´s situated just off the coast of Morocco.  So there is very little rainfall and an awful lot of sunshine.  Along with average temperatures of 22 Celsius.

 

This makes it warm enough to enjoy beach holidays and days by the pool all year round.

 

2) Beaches

There are close to 100 beaches dotting the coastline.  The three main resorts of Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen all boast striking stretches of sand.  But these playas are man made – using sand from the nearby Sahara.

So beach lovers in search of an all natural experience need to get out and explore.

 

Locals tend to agree that the most impressive beach on the island is Famara.  Due to its sheer size – measuring around 8km long.  And because it is flanked by the impressive Famara massif range of cliffs.

 

Over popular playas includes the stretches of white sand which are collectively known as Caleton Blanco in the north of the island, on route to Orzola.As well as Playa de Garita – the pretty beach located in the seaside village of Arrieta.

 

3) Scenery

The scenery on Lanzarote really is unique and out of this world.Thanks to the fact that the island endured lenghty eruptions in the 1730´s.Which completely altered the islands interior – replacing agricultural land with lava fields.

 

The rest of the island boasts a more conventional beauty.With loads of stunning spots to explore, such as the Green Lagoon and the Valley of 1000 Palms.

 

4) Tourist Attractions

Mention Lanzarote and the name César Manrique soon crops ups.His work is visible everywhere – on coffee mugs, car stickers and even roundabouts. 

 

He also created Lanzarote´s main visitor attractions such as the Cactus Garden and the Jameos del Agua.  Whilst also campaigning for the controlled development of tourism.Succesfully securing bans on ad hoardings and high rise buildings in the process.

 

5) Accommodation

There are plenty of places to stay in Lanzarote.The island offers everything from studio apartments through to five star hotels. 

 

Holiday villas in Playa Blanca are especially popular.  As the growth of the internet means that tourists are now able to book their own accommodation direct online with the owners.Bringing down the cost of holidays in Lanzarote.

 

 

 

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Traveling in Vietnam
Saturday, December 12th, 2009 / koneill

Vietnam, once a war torn land with memories still recent in the minds of many, is not often seen as a tourist destination.  But in recent years, Vietnam is changing this attitude.  While some of the local services can be challenging, this small country is drawing tourists from all over the world to its beautiful beaches and amazing cities.

When you are organising a trip to Vietnam, it's a good idea to check the various flights and schedules.There are not any direct flights from any of the major airports, however, Vietnam can be reached by several carriers.

Research the country thoroughly, which can be difficult since there are many websites that have sketchy information about travel to Vietnam.  You will however, find several blogs and first person accounts that can assist you with your travel plans.  If you’re planning luxury Vietnam travel over basic budget style travel, you will find many accommodating hotels and tours to indulge you.  There are also several reputable tour operators to meet your needs.

If this is your first trip to Vietnam, it's probably wise to set your first time visit with one of these top tour operators.  They will help plan the majority of your trip for you from accommodations to excursions to various areas, making sure that you get, at the very least, an overview of the country.Of course, you can play it by ear by reading up on the different points of interest and attractions and book your adventures a la carte.  If you have a favorite travel planner, you may wish to consult them for assistance.

Various tour operators offer luxury Vietnam travel as well as a budget tours.  Remember that this is an emerging country and most likely, you will find that you can choose a luxury vacation for much less than in other countries.  Some suggestions for a great vacation in Vietnam are as follows.

You will need to begin in the city, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.  From here you can head to architecturally rich port of Hoi An.If swimming and snorkeling is your preference, Nha Trang and the outer islands are great places for you to visit for a few days.  If you’re wanting a trip full of exciting adventures through the jungle, you can do that to.  Travelling through the various country villages and climbing into the mountain area where the elephant is a part of everyday life for the people of the mountain.  Historical tours are also available and encompass the history and mysticism of the Vietnamese people as well as those people that came from other countries to settle on the island for various reasons and of course, the remnants of war.

Vietnam is a fascinating country with much to offer, so when you think of visiting Asia, consider Vietnam.

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