World Famouse Tourist Spots

Hawaii Island

2009-02-02T03:35:00.000-08:00

When you think of a tropical vacation, you can’t help but think of the beautiful islands of Hawaii. Nestled in the warm waters of the pacific and formed by volcanoes, the Hawaiian Islands are a popular vacation destination all year round.

At Go Visit Hawaii, we help thousands of people research their Hawaii vacations each year and find the best deals for Hawaii hotels, activities, and restaurants. What sets Go Visit Hawaii apart from other Hawaii travel sites, is our unbiased advice based on our personal vacations to all the islands. What’s unique about this site, is that it’s written from a tourist’s perspective. We’ve learned many tips and tricks and are eager to share them with you an a very practical way. No matter what type of Hawaii vacation you are looking to book, at Go Visit Hawaii you will find the best resources to ensure a memorable Hawaii vacation.

You’ll find many money savings tips here. You’ll also find tips for where to go and what to see on each island. We endeavor to include the important information on Hawaii that we think every vacationer will need. We sincerely hope that we can be of assistance to help you make the most of your Hawaii vacation. Sometimes readers contact us to tell us how Go Visit Hawaii helped them have a great Hawaii vacation. We love getting that feed back.

The popular destinations of Maui, Kauai, Oahu, The Big Island, Lanai, and Molokai are all featured on our site. We encourage you to explore these individual island guides that are stocked full of great information to help you plan your vacation.

Great Smoky Mountains a popular place to camp

2009-02-02T03:29:00.000-08:00

The crisp mountain air makes the Great Smoky Mountains a popular place to camp and there are plenty of sites for both RV’s, tents, and trailers. The campsites in the park include Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont, Lock Rock, and Smokemont. Cades Cove and Smokemont are the only ones open all year. The rest are open only during the warmer months of the year (March to November, approximately).

Elkmont is the largest campground, with about 220 sites. The smallest is Big Creek, with only 12 sites. Elevation of each site ranges between 1,000 and 2,600 feet above sea level for all but one site: Balsam Mountain. This campsite features 46 campsites at an elevation of 5,310 feet above sea level, which has a noticeable impact on the weather conditions. You can expect the temperature to be between 10 and 15 degrees cooler at this campsite when compared to the others, and a little more damp.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

2009-02-02T03:22:00.000-08:00

On the border between North Carolina and Tennessee lies the most visited National Park in the USA. This national gem lies in the southern Appalachian Mountains, just a short distance from Knoxville, Tennessee (to the northwest of the park) and Asheville, North Carolina (to the east of the park). I’m talking about Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a popular family vacation destination in the eastern United States.

Attractions:

The Great Smoky Mountains received their name due to the blue mist that surrounds the mountain peaks and valleys, giving the appearance of smoke when viewed from afar. The Cherokee name for the region is “Shaconage”, meaning “place of blue smoke”. The park is very large- more than 800 square miles (512,000 acres) in total area with entrances on both the Tennessee and North Carolina sides.

Among the gateways to the park, the most popular of these is Gatlinburg, Tennessee, located on the north side of the park itself. This tourist- oriented city includes many resort condos and other places of lodging, along with many specialty shops and places of entertainment. Most visitors start their adventure in Gatlinburg, enjoying the amenities of the city before beginning the ascent into the Great Smoky Mountains.

The park offers much in the way of mountain and forest scenery. Among the mountain peaks, the best- known is Clingmans Dome. At 6,643 feet above sea level, it is the highest point in the state of Tennessee and the second highest point in the continental U.S. east of the Mississippi. There is a walking trail that leads to an observation point at Clingmans Dome where you can enjoy a great view of the Smoky Mountains. Keep in mind that this trail is open only from April 1 through December each year.

The Smokies also offer some scenic waterfalls. If you visit from the Tennessee side (entering at Gatlinburg), the closest waterfall is Laurel Falls, which is close to the Sugarlands Visitor’s Center. Another waterfall is Ramsay Cascades. Both offer a scenic, cascading drop of water over rocks, but Ramsay is more difficult to get to. It requires a hike of more than 7 miles through the forest. Laurel Falls is closer to the roadway and it can be reached from a paved path. Other waterfalls in the park include Rainbow Falls, Tom Branch Falls, Indian Creek Falls, Hen Wallow Falls, Grotto Falls, Juney Whank Falls, Mouse Creek Falls, Abrams Falls, and the tallest one of all, Mingo Falls, which has a drop of 120 feet. All of the waterfalls require a certain amount of hiking, although some are easier than others.

Black bear, wolves, birds, and other wildlife are found throughout the park. There are a couple of poisonous snakes, too- copperheads and rattlesnakes. Elk, once extinct in this part of the United States, have been reintroduced to this park and are growing in number.

The Appalachian National Trial cuts through the center of the park, following very closely to the Tennessee/North Carolina state border. All together, there are more than 800 miles of hiking trails in the park with varying degrees of difficulty.

Route 441 is the main gateway to the park, and it’s open all year unless severe weather conditions require it to be closed. Other scenic roads/routes exist in the park, but they are closed during the winter season. Some of these scenic roads include Balsom Mountain, Rich Mountain, Parson Branch, Roaring Fork, and Clingman’s Dome. The opening and closing of these roads varies slightly, with some of them opening in mid- March and others opening in April or May. They all close in November.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

2009-02-02T03:17:00.000-08:00

12 kms west of Kottayam town is this small village Kumarakom, which has a beautiful bird sanctuary on the banks of the Vembanad Lake and is an ideal place for backwater cruises. The 14-acre sanctuary is an ornithologist's paradise and a favourite haunt of migratory birds like Siberian stork, Egret darter, Heron and Teal. There are also different varieties of local birds like waterfowl, wild duck, cuckoo, owl, water ducketc. The sanctuary is open from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm and the best months to bird watch are between June and August. Close to the sanctuary, in the beautifully wooded ground near the backwaters, is coconut lagoon heritage resort, which is one of India's most discrete holiday destinations. Guests stay in genuine 'Tharawad' (traditional wooden) cottages and love this unique culture.

Tourist hotspots need climate solutions

2009-02-02T03:12:00.001-08:00

A report on the effect of climate change on tourism says the countries that are likely to be hardest hit have ‘poor’ information about the implications.

The report was jointly developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Oxford University, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Certain regions and destinations are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, because tourism is so vital to their economy, and because the impacts from climate change are especially significant. It says the destinations most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change over the next few decades are the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, islands in the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, Australia and New Zealand.

The report ‘Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Tourism Sector’ will be launched in Oxford on Tuesday 8 April at a seminar and workshop for government officials from Tourism and Environment Ministries worldwide, organised jointly by UNEP, Oxford University, UNWTO and WMO.

Dr Murray Simpson from Oxford University’s Centre for the Environment, lead author of the report and director of the seminar, said: ‘Tourism is both a victim and a contributor to climate change. One of the greatest concerns is that some of the most acute impacts, environmental and socio-economic, are being experienced in developing countries and small island developing states, affecting the livelihoods of already impoverished communities. We have a responsibility to assist in building capacity in these destinations to meet the threats and opportunities presented by climate change. Although the publication has been developed for developing countries and small island developing states, the frameworks, tools, practices and process can be equally relevant to developed nations such as the UK.’

The report outlines the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change. It also gives advice and case studies on ways that destinations can adapt. For example, ski resorts can provide ‘four season’ attractions that do not rely on snow; new hotel developments should be set back from the coast if there is the potential of coastal erosion; water shortages could be tackled with new dams or water recycling systems; improved management of coastal zones can reduce the long term effects of coral bleaching events.

The publication also discusses how the tourism sector can reduce its environmental impact, and explores the current trend to become ‘carbon neutral’. New Zealand, Norway and Sri Lanka have stated their aim to be ‘carbon-neutral’: defined as being energy efficient, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, and compensating on carbon emissions with projects saving emissions elsewhere.

Dr Simpson stresses that tourism is a vulnerable and highly climate-sensitive economic sector and needs ‘mainstreaming’ so it is given the same priority as sectors like agriculture, energy and transport. The report points out that long haul destinations, which are likely to be affected by mitigation policies, are often in developing countries with economies that are heavily dependent on tourism. The spread of disease like malaria or dengue fever, or the risk of social unrest and unstable food security are other possible impacts of climate change for destinations in developing countries. The report warns the tourism sector that increased operating costs are likely in the event of extreme weather events, to repair infrastructure damage, cover insurance costs, and provide emergency back up systems for water and energy.

Among its recommendations, the reports says the tourism sector should: engage more with other tourism stakeholders and other sectors at local, national and international levels to share information and ideas; identify current and future risks; assess what adaptations can be made, using other case studies coupled with consultation with national and international experts; and monitor strategies adopted and feed data and experience back to other stakeholders. It points out that tourism firms, airlines and tourists themselves have a major role to play in adaptation and mitigation.

Source: University Of Oxford

Tourist hotspots need climate solutions

2009-02-02T03:12:00.000-08:00

A report on the effect of climate change on tourism says the countries that are likely to be hardest hit have ‘poor’ information about the implications.

The report was jointly developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Oxford University, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Source: University Of Oxford

Tourist hotspots at risk of closure

2009-02-02T03:11:00.000-08:00

Some of the world's most famous tourist attractions, such as Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Italy's Amalfi coast, could be closed to visitors within a few years because of worries about environmental damage and climate change, a report warns today.

Some destinations could be permanently closed to tourists by 2020 or face restrictions on numbers and a sharp increase in admission prices, the study, carried out for the insurance company Churchill, predicts.

It warns that in 20-40 years' time the Great Barrier Reef could be "severely damaged", forcing its closure, while other parts of Australia would be off-limits because of a rise in bushfires and insect-borne diseases. Other affected destinations include the Taj coral reef in the Maldives, Goa in India, Florida's Everglades and Croatia's Dalmatian coastline.

The report says coastal attractions are particularly vulnerable. "Many resorts will run the risk of damage severe enough to put their long-term viability as destinations in doubt."

Closer to home, hotter summers, colder winters, rising sea levels and extreme weather could lead to the end of the Scottish skiing industry and put golfing holidays at risk.

Source : guardian.co.uk

Cave art hoax hits British Museum

2009-02-02T02:53:00.000-08:00

Fake prehistoric rock art of a caveman with a shopping trolley has been hung on the walls of the British Museum.

The rock was put there by art prankster Banksy, who has previously put works in galleries in London and New York.

A British Museum spokeswoman said they were "seeing the lighter side of it". She said it went unnoticed for one or two days but Banksy said three days.

Banksy also hung a sign saying the cave art showed "early man venturing towards the out-of-town hunting grounds".

It read: "This finely preserved example of primitive art dates from the Post-Catatonic era.

"The artist responsible is known to have created a substantial body of work across South East of England under the moniker Banksymus Maximus but little else is known about him.

"Most art of this type has unfortunately not survived. The majority is destroyed by zealous municipal officials who fail to recognise the artistic merit and historical value of daubing on walls."

Banksy is best-known as a graffiti artist who has attracted a cult following for stencilled designs that satirise authority and modern society.

He hung his own art in the Tate Britain in London in October 2003, which was not noticed until it fell to the ground, and has done the same in four New York galleries.

The British Museum praised the way his rock was hung and the style of the sign, which was "very similar" to their own design.

A spokesperson for Banksy said he sneaked the work into the museum on Monday and it was found on Wednesday.

He ran a competition on his website for fans to have their photographs taken with the rock, offering a shopping trolley as a prize.

A British Museum spokeswoman said: "We're reasonably confident that it hadn't been up for that long, maybe a couple of days.

"It looked very much in keeping with the other exhibits, the explanatory text was quite similar."

It is now being exhibited at Banksy's new show, Outside Institute, which opens in London on Friday. It will have a sign saying it is "on loan from the British Museum".

The British Museum spokesperson said they were expecting it back when Outside Institute ends in June.

"He has said to us that we can keep it," she said.

Source:bbc.co.uk

British Museum 'is Britain's most popular attraction'

2009-02-02T02:27:00.001-08:00

The British Museum is a major tourist attractions in London.The British Museum was founded in 1753. Its initial collection came from Sir Hans Sloane, a physician and scientist. An avid collector of curiosities, Sir Hans Sloane bequeathed his collection to King George II when he died in 1753. Within Sir Hans’s collection are 71,000 objects of all kinds, including 40,000 printed books, 7,000 manuscripts, 337 volumes of dried plants, prints, drawings, and antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Ancient Near and Far East, and the Americas. They reflect his own scientific interest.The British Museum got off the ground when King George II gave his formal assent to establish the it on 7 June 1753.

The British Museum opened to the public in Montagu House on 15 January 1759, in Bloomsbury. It is still located there, although Montagu House has seen much changes since then. The expansion of the British Museum over the centuries resulted in the opening of branch institutions, including the British Museum (Natural History) in 1887, now called the Natural History Museum. The British Library spinned off into a separate entity in 1997. Today both the Natural History Museum and the British Library are major London tourist attractions in their own right. As with all national museums and art galleries in Britain, the British Museum does not charge an admission fee except for charges levied for temporary special exhibitions.

The first exhibition galleries and reading room for scholars opened on 15 January 1757. In 1772 the Museum acquired its first antiquities of significance, a collection of Greek vases from Sir William Hamilton. The Thomason Library and David Garrick's Library were added to its collection. At that time, the British Museum has not yet acquired the ancient relics that visitors see today.

SeaWorld Orlando Adventure Park

2009-02-02T01:25:00.000-08:00

Once a side-trip for visiting families, SeaWorld has become a full-fledged destination of its own for tourists and area residents. The original, and still best reason, to visit the park is to meet Shamu, the world's most famous killer whale. With amazing acrobatics worthy of applause for 3000 pound+ entertainers, be ready to really experience the show if you're sitting in the first few rows (you're definitely going to get wet)!

Believe, Shamu's heart-touching production, gives the trainers a few minutes in the spotlight as they tell the audience how much these creatures mean to them - and to the world. But the kids will only really care when the killer whales start jumping into the air, and it really is a site to behold (those who have been paying attention to the story will probably want mom and dad to buy them a Believe necklace, though). The park's black-and-white stars are also showcased in Shamu Rocks, a rock 'n' roll-inspired multimedia show featuring awesome visual effects and music mixes by Savage Garden, Jennifer Lopez, Rascal Flatts, Shakira, and others. Other popular attractions include Shamu's Happy Harbor, a huge kids' play area with rides geared toward younger guests (height restrictions do apply) and a great place for parents to recover in the shade; Wild Arctic, home to polar bears, walruses, and seals in a very un-Florida like fifty degree environment; the open-air, dangling-feet Kraken roller coaster; and the 400-foot tall landmark, The Sky Tower, where you can see downtown Orlando and the other area theme parks. SeaWorld is also quickly becoming known for its myriad of stage shows including Odyssea, a Cirque du Soleil-like circus with acrobatics, great music and a fantastic set and the new Blue Horizons show that features dolphins, a rainbow of exotic birds and a cast of divers that plunge into the pools. Take advantage of the park's special ticket offers, which frequently include "two-days for the price of one" deals that let you spread out your fun. Florida residents can receive unlimited entry to the park for the price of one day's admission. Arrive as early as you can, both to the park and any of the animal shows. Seats fill fast! And, if you have an autograph hound and don't mind tripping over little feet, Shamu & Crew characters are usually found near the front gate before lunch. Strollers and lockers are available for rental. Diaper-changing and nursing areas are also located within the park. The Baby Care Center is located in Shamu's Happy Harbor. Special Programs and Camps: SeaWorld offers a number of differentDay Camps and Resident Camps for kids from five to 18. Up Close Tours, Sleepovers, Birthday Parties and even a Beluga Whale swim and feed make up some of the unique opportunities at the park. Visit the website or contact the park for additional information or to make reservations.

What’s New: The Waterfront at SeaWorld, the park’s largest expansion, is a 5-acre nautical neighborhood that bustles with activity and immerses guests into a rich tapestry of festive entertainment, dining and shopping.

Lalmai Moinamoti and Shalbon Bihar

2009-01-21T03:31:00.000-08:00

They are famous historical and archeological places around Comilla. These are a series of hillocks, where the Northern part is called Moinamoti and the Southern part is called Lalmai; and Shalbon Bihar is in the Middle of Lalmai and Moinamoti, which the was established in 8th century by King Buddadev. Salban Vihara, almost in the middle of the Mainarnati-Lalmai hill range consists of 115 cells, built around a spacious courtyard with cruciform temple in the centre facing its only gateway complex to the north resembling that of the Paharpur Monastery.
Kotila Mura situated on a flattened hillock, about 5 km north of Salban Vihara inside the Comilla Cantonment is a picturesque Buddhist establishment. Here three stupas are found side by side representing the Buddhist "Trinity" or three jewels i.e. the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

Charpatra Mura is an isolated small oblong shrine situated about 2.5 km. north-west of kotila Mura stupas. The only approach to the shrine is from the East through a gateway, which leads to a spacious hall.

If you are in Comilla and already visited Lalmai, Moinamoti then don’t miss to go Moinamoti museum – where you will find the historical things found in Lalmai & Moinamoti of 7th & 8th centuries. The Mainamati site Museum has a rich and varied collection of copper plates, gold and silver coins and 86 bronze objects. Over 150 bronze statues have been recovered mostly from the monastic cells, bronze stupas, stone sculptures and hundreds of terracotta plaques each measuring on an average of 9" high and 8" to 12" wide. Mainamati is only 114 km. from Dhaka City and is just a day's trip by road on way to Chittagong.

Bangladesh: A Land of Attractive Tourist Spots

2009-01-21T03:22:00.000-08:00

Though one of the world's small countries, yet Bangladesh boasts of certain
world class attractions and assets. Bangladesh have a variety of attractions
for visitors and tourists. These include archaeological sites, historical
mosques and monuments, resorts, beaches, turbulent sea, anthropological
signs, hill communities, forests, flora and fauna.

Bangladesh offer ample opportunities to tourists for angling, rowing, jungle
trekking, sun and sea-bathing and above all to be in and amidst the pristine
nature. Bangladesh is bestowed with the bounties of nature. Its captivating
natural beauties have brought many travelers from far and near through ages.
One of such travelers aptly observed, "Bengal has hundred gates open for
entrance, but not one for departure".

Besides, Bangladesh is heir to a rich cultural legacy. In two thousands or
more years of its chequered history, many illustrious dynasties of kings and
Sultans have ruled and disappeared and have left their mark in the shape of
magnificent cities and monuments, the desolate ruins which are still visible
in places throughout the country.

The archaeological treasures of Mahasthangarh, Paharpur Buddhist Vihara, a
world heritage site and Salbana Vihara at Mainamati and sixty-domed grand
mosque at Bagerhat, also a world heritage site, Kantaji's Temple of
Dinajpur, the Hindu temples of Chandranath at Sitakund, Adinath at
Moheshkhali, Sonargaon and Dhakeshwari in Dhaka bear testimony to its
devotional past.

Most outstanding places in Bangladesh also include Cox's Bazar beach, Dhaka,
Kaptai, Chandanpura Mosque, Zia Memorial Museum in Chittagong, Kuakata,
Rangamati lake and tribal life, Sylhet tea garden, wildlife of Sundarbans.
Other places of tourist attractions are Shilaidaha Kuthibari (Kushtia, a
memory place of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore), Sagordari in
Jessore, Mujibnagar Memorial, Gandhi Asram, Jamuna Bridge, Trisal and Sri
Chaitanya Temple.

Our private sectors also have come forward for investing in building theme
park, eco park and amusement park etc. Among these, Nandan Park and Fantasy
Kingdom had given a very good momentum in tourism sector. Above all, simple
and friendly people of Bangladesh along with its tribes isolated from modern
society by their own distinct culture and way of life make Bangladesh a
distinguished and unique attraction for tourists.

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), national tourism organization of the
country, has renovated the existing tourist facilities and created new
facilities at important tourist spots. The tourist facilities created so far
include hotel, motel, cottage, youth hostel, restaurant, duty-free shop,
land and water transport at different tourist spots. Besides, BPC offers
city sightseeing tours and attractive river-cruises, package tours and
excursion trips.

Moreover city sightseeing tours for transit passengers on request and river
cruise packages are organized for the guests in Dhaka. Bangladesh is
significantly in a more better position for tourism. Keeping conformity with
the general trends of tourists who prefer calm and quiet tourist resorts of
the East than traditional crowded tourist spots of the West, Bangladesh can
offer a calm environment situation and natural beauties in the winter
season, when tourists of the West felt it so difficult to roam freely to get
pleasure in the snowfall environment of the West.

The tropical climate has made the country luxuriant in vegetation. Mango,
lichi, banana, coconut and jackfruit trees are common sights everywhere in
the country. The flora of Bangladesh can be very good subjects for
specialist tourism. Animals such as elephants, bear, bisons, monkeys etc.
abound in the hill districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.

Like the Sundarbans, the hilly area is an ornithologist's paradise. Birds
both migratory and resident are a feast to the beholder's eyes. Varied
reptiles like sea turtles, tortoises, crocodile, python and cobra are but
common sights. Herds of spotted deer in the Sundarbans are wonderful sights
to see. Facilities are available everywhere including big hotels. Telex,
cables and phone connections are easily made to any part of the world.

BPC offers sightseeing, cruising, excursion and readymade as well as
tailor-made all inclusive guided package tours in and around Dhaka and other
places of interest throughout the country. In capital Dhaka, there are a lot
of attractive places for visit. These are Lalbagh Fort, Mosques, Temples,
Churches, Central Shaheed Minar, Suhrawardi Uddayan, National Memorial,
National Museum, Mukti Juddha Museum, Ahsan Manzil Museum, Fork Art Museum,
Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, National Poet's Graveyard, Martyred Intellectuals
Memorial, Bahadur Shah Park/Victoria Park (1857 Memorila), Old High Court
Building, Buddhist Monastery, Bangabhaban, Ramna Green, Shakhari Bazar,
Baldha Garden, National Botanical Garden, Dhaka Zoological Garden, National
Park and Sonargaon.

The commercial capital and the largest international seaport of Bangladesh,
the healthy city (declared by UNESCO), Chittagong is located in a
picturesque hinterland of large hill forests and lakes. It is really an
amazing vacation spot. Its green hills and forests, broad sandy beaches and
fine cool climate always attract holiday makers. It combines the hum of a
restless seaport with the pleasure of a charming hill-town with its
undulating topography.

In Chittagong, there are many attractive places. These are World War II
Cemetery, Foy's Lake, Ethnological Museum, Bayazid Bostami Mazar, Court
Building Museum, Patenga Beach and Sitakunda. Cox's Bazar is a
conglomeration of miles of golden sands, towering cliffs, surfing waves,
rare conch shells, colorful pagodas, Buddhist temples and tribes, delightful
seafood. It is the tourist capital of Bangladesh having the world's longest
unbroken (120 km) smooth, sandy, shark-free beach slopping down to the blue
waters of the Bay of Bengal against the picturesque background of a chain of
hills covered with deep forests.

Cox's Bazar is one of the most attractive tourist spots in the world. The
beach is good for bathing, sunbathing and swimming. The breath-taking beauty
of the setting sun behind the waves of the sea is captivating. Visits to the
fascinating picnic spot at Himchhari, Teknaf, Buddhist Temple at Ramu and
nearby island of Sonadia, St. Martin island, Inani Beach and Moheskhali are
memorable experiences of one's life time.

Kuakata is rare beauty scenic spot on the southern most tip of Patuakhali
district. It has a wide sandy beach from where one can get the unique
opportunity of having a glance of both sunrise and sun set. Parjatan holiday
homes at Kuakata offers a number of facilities for the tourists. Kuakata is
the places of pilgrimage of the Hindu and Buddhist Communities. Many
devotees arrive here during the festival of Rush Purnima and Maghi Purnima.
On these occasions, they take holy bath and traditional fairs are held here.
All these extraordinary events in addition to panoramic beauty make the
beach more attractive to the visitors.

Three hill districts---Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari---are paradise
for nature lovers. These districts offer dazzling beautiful spots where
nature has been least disturbed. Far from congested, polluted and madding
crowd of the plains, its scenic and calm spots offer rare opportunities to
the tourists.

Sundarbans, the abode of Majestic Royal Bengal Tiger, is located 320-km
southwest of Dhaka and is the biggest mangrove forest. These deeply dense
mangrove forests are criss-crissed by a network of rivers and creeks.
Tourists find here tides flowing in two directions in the same creek and
often tigers swimming across a river or huge crocodiles basking in the sun.
Other wildlife in this region are cheetah, spotted deer, monkey, python,
wild-boar and hyeanas. The UNESCO has declared Sundarbans as a world
heritage site.

Sylhet, a land of devotion and nature's bounties is in the northeast of
Bangladesh. Sylhet is the foremost tea granry of the country. The tea
gardens mile after mile like a green carpet spread over the slopes of the
hills are a feast to the eyes of the travelers.

tourist attractions in Sylhet are: the Shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal,
Jaintapur, said to be the capital of ancient kingdom, Shahi Eid Gah,
Madhabkund (famous for its fascinating waterfall, Temple of Sri Chaitannya
Dev, Srimongal(famous for large tea gardens in soothing and comfortable
climatic conditions), and Tamabil-Jaflong which is glimpse of the waterfall
across the border inside India from Tamabil and stones rolling down the
sides of hills or to the plains is beholder's delight.

BPC runs a number of modern but economy hotels, motels and cottages through
out the country. Besides, there are huge luxurious private hotels and
different government and semi-government and departmental rest-house/guest
houses, which may be hired. International standard hotels are available in
Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.

A tourist may bring in any amount of foreign exchange in the form of
Traveller's Cheque, foreign currency notes, or other foreign currency
instruments provided he/she makes a written declaration in Form FMJ
obtainable from the customs at the port of entry. However, no declaration is
required for bringing in of foreign exchange US$ 5000 by foreign tourists.
While leaving Bangladesh a tourist can take out unspent balance of the
foreign currency brought in.

Bangladeshis are proud of extending hospitability to the tourists who would
find it comfortable with the improvement of law and order situation in the
country. For necessary information, please contact with Bangladesh Parjatan
Corporation, Head Office, 233 Airport Road, Tejgaon, Dhaka-1215. Tel (880-2)
8117855-9, 9120392, fax: 880-2-8126501, e-mail:bp...@bangla.net Tourists
also can visit the website (www.bangladeshtourism.org). (PID Feature)

The Tower of London

2009-01-20T02:12:00.000-08:00

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower), is a historic monument in central London, England, on the north bank of the River Thames. It is located within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and is separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill.

The Tower of London is often identified with the White Tower, the original stark square fortress built by William the Conqueror in 1078. However, the tower as a whole is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.

The tower's primary function was a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison (particularly for high status and royal prisoners, such as the Princes in the Tower and the future Queen Elizabeth I). This last use has led to the phrase "sent to the Tower" (meaning "imprisoned"). It has also served as a place of execution and torture, an armoury, a treasury, a zoo, the Royal Mint, a public records office, an observatory, and since 1303, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

Top ten tourist spot of London

2009-01-20T02:08:00.000-08:00

10 Tower Of London
Tower Hill Tube (yellow or green line)
- look around the outside for free, for ~£8 go inside to see the Crown Jewels
9 Museums, Museums, Museums
- British Museum : Russell Square Tube (blue line), donation, huge, lots of mummy's
- Victoria & Albert: walking distance, donation
- Natural History: walking distance, charge until 4:45pm (closes at 6)
- Science: walking distance, charge until 4:45pm (closes at 6), good for kids
- And many more
8 Churches
- St. Paul's: St. Paul's (red line)
- Westminster Abbey (yellow or green line)
- And one on almost any square you find
7 Palaces
- Buckingham Palace: Approaching from Trafalgar Square is a nice walk
- Kennsington Palace: in Kennsington Palace Gardens
- Windsor: a day trip
6 Parks
- Hyde Park: Large Park with speakers corner on Sunday morning
- Kennsington Palace Gardens: connected to Hyde Park, Princess Di's home
- Regent's Park: Our favorite, flowers even in the winter and the zoo (charge)
- Parks near Buckingham Palace
5 Shopping
- Harrod's: Knightsbridge (blue line) or walk! Bring lots of money. Closed Sundays
- Oxford Street: Hyde Park Corner to Oxford Circus (red line)
- Regent Street: Oxford Circus (red line) Liberty is a must for sewer
- Covent Garden: Covent Garden (blue line) An upscale flee market
- Portobello Road (Sat.): Notting Hill Gate (red, yellow or green) REAL flea market
- And many more. hint: To think in $'s, multiply by 1.5 i.e. a £20 sweater costs $30
4 Afternoon Tea
- For a break from tourist-ing, stop by any hotel for "Afternoon Tea"
- Our favorite is the clotted cream and jam on scones!!
3 The West End
- One night, walk from Covent Garden to Leicester Square to Piccadilly Circus
- Detour anywhere that looks interesting (Soho, Chinatown) The areas are safe
2 Double Decker Bus Ride
- Take the regular city busses and sit up top (see Transportation below)
- Or take the 'Official London Sightseeing Bus' for narration, get on/off at your leisure
1 Big Ben
- This is what we think of when we think London
- You get a great view from Trafalgar Square
- See Big Ben up close from Westminster(yellow or green)
- Trivia, the bell, not the clock is called Big Ben

Bomb blast at tourist spot

2009-01-20T02:05:00.000-08:00

Seven Spanish tourists and two Yemeni drivers were killed on Monday when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into their convoy at an ancient temple in Yemen, officials said.

The interior ministry said the bombing in the restive northeastern region of Marib appeared to be the work of the al-Qaeda network."Preliminary information indicates that the al-Qaeda organisation is behind the cowardly attack," an interior ministry official told the Saba news agency.

"This criminal attack has killed seven Spanish tourists and two Yemeni nationals who worked as drivers and tourist guides, and wounded six Spanish tourists and two (Yemeni) nationals."

It was one of the deadliest bombings targeting foreigners in Yemen, the ancestral homeland of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden which has been battling a number of attacks by the network in recent years.

Witnesses said the attack occurred as the tourists were wrapping up a tour of a temple in Marib which dates back 3000 years to the time of the biblical Queen of Sheba.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The security official said on the website of the Yemeni defence ministry's newspaper that the bomber slammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the tourists' five-car convoy, which included a police car.

In Madrid, an official had said earlier that six Spanish tourists had been killed and seven others injured in the attack.

Witnesses said the blast took place around 6pm (0100 AEST) in a western suburb of the town of Marib, 170 kilometres east of the capital Sanaa.

Tribal sources said it was heard as far as 20 kilometres away from the site of attack, near the Mahram Bilquis, or temple of the moon god.

Yemen has faced a wave of Islamist unrest among its Sunni Muslim majority which it has been fighting with help from US special forces based over the Bab al-Mandab strait in Djibouti.

In October 2000, 17 US sailors were killed when suicide bombers attacked the destroyer USS Cole off the southern Yemeni port of Aden in an attack claimed by al-Qaeda.

In October 2002, a similar attack against the French tanker the Limburg killed one Bulgarian crew member and wounded 12 others.

Thirty-six Yemenis are currently on trial charged with planning and carrying out attacks for al-Qaeda but several are on the run after tunnelling out of a Sanaa prison in February last year and are being tried in absentia.

Last month, a soldier with "emotional problems" opened fire on oil workers with US energy giant Occidental Petroleum killing an Indian woman engineer and wounding six other people, including the local American boss, in the eastern Shabwah province.

In September 2006, four bombers and a security guard were killed when Yemeni security forces foiled suicide bombings against two oil refineries. In March 2003, a Canadian was killed and another wounded after a Yemeni gunman opened fire at an oilfield east of Sanaa.

Yemen, which has 20 million inhabitants, is one of the world's poorest countries, despite its proximity to oil-rich Saudi Arabia.

The country has also been plagued by frequent kidnappings of Westerners, although all but one have been carried out by tribes with grievances against the central government and the hostages have been released unharmed.

Yemen has also faced a deadly uprising among the Zaidi minority in the mountains on the Saudi border although a ceasefire brokered by the gas-rich emirate of Qatari took effect last month.

In November 2002, a Hellfire missile fired from a US predator drone killed six al-Qaeda suspects in the Marib region, one of them a leading suspect in the sinking of the USS Cole.

It was the first strike outside Afghanistan of the so-called US war against terror.

Source : smh.com.au

Banff National Park, Alberta

2008-12-31T01:13:00.000-08:00

It is one of the Canada’s top tourist destinations. Once you enter into this park, you will be enclosed by glaciers, mountain lakes, mountains, and rushing rivers. Within Banff, you will find Tunnel Mountain campgrounds and this park have special regions for tents and RVs.

The basin and cave is a naturally occurring hot mineral spring inside a limestone cave. Deer, moose and elk can examine your campsite. Ensure that you protect your cooler from curious bears.

If the park is filled with heavy crowd, for few hours move on to the Columbia Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park. You will be travelling on one of the most scenic drives in the world as it wends its way through mountain glaciers and passes.

link:

www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/index_E.asp

www.banffalberta.ca

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banff_National_Park

www.banffnationalpark.com

Masjid Jamek , Kuala Lumpur ,Malaysia

2008-11-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

Masjid Jamek is one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak River and was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback.

The then Sultan of Selangor officially opened the

mosque in 1909, two years after construction was

completed.The mosque was built on the first Malay

burial ground in the city . Before the national

mosque, Masjid Negara, was opened in 1965, Masjid

Jamek served as Kuala Lumpur's main mosque.

The mosque has a Moorish architecture. Across the Klang River stands the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a building that was designed by the same architect and shares a similar style.

Nearby is the Masjid Jamek LRT station that is served by the Kelana Jaya Line, Sri Petaling Line and Ampang Line. Dataran Merdeka is also nearby.

Read Deatail About Moorish Architecture

Tourist spots in Malaysia

2008-11-02T06:16:00.000-08:00

Malaysia, a land of ready smiles and incredible contrasts beckons the visitor with a rich diversity of experiences. A charming, fascinating land of warm, friendly people, here you get a taste of all of Asia in a single destination.

There are many beautiful places over there like nice beaches, gardensand many wonderful things.The beaches over there are very attractive.

If you want to know some general information about Malaysia please clik on the following LINK.

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Pangkor Laut Spa Resort -Malaysia

2008-11-01T16:26:00.001-07:00

A collection of 148 traditional villas linked by raised wooden pathways above the translucent water of a jungle-rimmed white beach, this is straight out of a glossy travel mag. Modern in-room comforts are offset by the exotic locale: jungle behind you, turquoise water in front, and mountains all around.

You’ve sun-bathed on the beaches of Bali, tanned under the palms of Phuket - for your next luxurious South East Asian escape head to a private island resort in south west Malaysia: Pangkor Laut.

There are dozens of activities from golf to mountain climbing to a day-long cruise on a Chinese junk in the bay. Welcome to paradise!There are five restaurants in the resort, a Spa Village complete with whirlpool, yoga pavilion and steam room that rehabilitate the most jaded traveler. And should lounging around doing nothing not suite your style.

Ladakh - India

2008-11-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

Lagakh is known and famous for trekking and this region can be divided intwo three parts – The area around Kargil, the Indus Valley and Zanskar.

KARGIL (LADAKH)-

This region is just behind the great Zoji La Pass, the center being Kargil, a small town with narrow streets bordered by apricot groves.

INDUS VALLEY (LADAKH)-

Its elevation is said to be about 3500 m, it lies between the Zanskar Range on the South and the Ladakh Range on the North, This is the geographical backbone, and the historical heartland of Ladakh.

ZANSKAR (LADAKH)-

One of Ladakh’s farthest regions. A 300 km long valley ringed by mountains, only accessible by high passes. The Valley of Zanska

Chung Tai Chan Temple,Taiwan

2008-11-01T16:15:00.000-07:00

Completed in 2001, the massive Chung Tai Chan Temple is more than just another modern temple - it is an international centre of Buddhist academic research, culture and the arts.

The temple is 150m tall and sits on a 60-acre lotus hill outside Puli. It took 10 years and the donations of countless members of the Chung Tai Chan Buddhist community to complete. Chung Tai Chan is an international branch of Buddhism founded by the Venerable Master Wei Chueh - the Master who is said to have revived the Zen tradition in Taiwan.

From the start, the Master was determined to build something grand, something that would appeal to the modern eye as much as the soul. To achieve this, modern technology was embraced rather than shunned. Only top-quality materials and artists, both Taiwanese and foreign, were used during construction. One master craftsman is said to have spent 10 years collecting coloured jade for the delightful 18 Lohan reliefs. Marble from 15 different countries was imported and pure teak used for the seven-storey indoor pagoda. Interestingly, the pagoda was built the old way without metal nails or screws.

Places to stay in Phuket, Thailand

2008-11-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

One of the top most tourists’ destinations in the world as well as in Asia, has these wonderful resorts to offer.

Holiday Inn Resort Phuket: 52 Thaweewong Rd | Patong Beach, Phuket 83150, Thailand

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa: 231 Moo 3 | Mai Khao, Talang, Phuket 83110, Thailand

Amari Coral Beach Resort: 2 Meun-Ngern Rd | Patong Beach, Phuket 83150, Thailand

Banyan Tree Phuket: 33 Moo 4, Srisoonthorn Road | Bang Tao, Cherngtalay, Amphur Talang, Phuket 83110, Thailand

Twinpalms Resort: 106/46 Moo 3, Surin Beach Road | Cherngtalay, Phuket 83110, Thailand

The State of Pro Surfing in Hawaii

2008-11-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

It’s been 32 years since the ASP World Tour officially began. And in every year since 1976 there has been at least one Hawai’i surfer in the Top 10 come years end. With only 3 events left for the 2008 year on tour, that streak is in jeopardy of coming to an end.

With a total of 5 world championships making their way back to the islands over the past 31 years, Hawai’i’s professional surfers have always had at least some sort of impact on the world title race. However when Andy Irons unexpectedly skipped out of his 2nd round heat with Jihad Khodr at the Quiksilver Pro France, the Kauai’i surfer tumbled all the way down to no.13 in the overall ASP rankings and left Hawaii without any representation in the current Top 10. That has to be pretty strange for the place that many consider to be the epicenter of the surfing world. Even stranger than that is the real scenario that Hawai’i could go from having 5 surfers on tour in 2008 to a mere 2 on the 2009 Dream Tour.

‘08 has been anything but a smooth ride for Hawai’s current WCT surfers. Although he hasn’t been the same dominant, intimidating A.I. that we’ve come to know in recent years, Andy had been fairly consistent up until the Trestles event. He went home with a 33rd from the Trestles event, and then followed that result up with his France no-show. Brother Bruce, and current world no. 14, made his overall displeasure with the tour known by announcing his decision to bail on full-time tour status next year. In classic Bruce Irons fashion, the Volcom-rider completely blew minds on his way to winning the “Somewhere in Indo” event, and then went on to blow minds again, although in a very different way, with laying down of scores in the 2+ range during his very brief appearance at the Quik Pro.

Fred Patacchia started off the year with a frustrating leg-injury at the hands of Pipeline and it really took Fred a few events to get back into form. He finished runner-up to Bruce in Indo and, aside from his Trestle’s showing, seems to be riding some decent momentum. He’s currently sitting at no. 18 and will more than likely seal himself a spot on the ‘09 tour in the next couple of events.

Roy Powers and Pancho Sullivan round out the rest of Hawai’i’s pro-surfing contigent. Pancho, at no. 40, will definitely have to climb back on tour via the WQS next year and Roy, at no. 23, is flirting with having to do the same.

The overall future for Hawai’i’s pro’s is actually very bright. Between Clay Marzo, John John Florence, Torry Meister, Mason Ho, and many others, Hawai’i has an absolute slew of up and coming rippers that will most likely compete for the world championship for years to come. However it may be another few years before those guys are actually set to make noise on the Dream Tour. If Roy doesn’t finish in the Top 27, that basically leaves Hawai’i’s tour hopes heaped upon the enigmatic A.I., and a somewhat resurgent Freddy P. Sunny Garcia, currently no. 20 on the WQS tour, has an outside shot of being on the ‘CT next year, but even then you have to wonder about how well he’ll be able to compete with the new breed of surfing that’s taking place on tour.

So while there are still 3 events, and most importantly the Pipeline Masters left for Hawai’i’s current group of pros to make some noise, it’s been an uncharacteristically off year for the state of pro-surfing in Hawai’i. While this seems to be more of an abnormality than a sign of things to come, the possibility of having no surfers in the Top 10 come years end is something that none of us expected at the beginning of the year.

Besakih-mother temple(Indonesia)

2008-10-31T06:53:00.000-07:00

Besakih Temple in Karang Asem regency, Bali, has been proposed as a member of the World Cultural Heritage List. The temple constitutes a powerful religious icon that unifies thousands of Hindu followers from different castes throughout Bali and beyond.

Besakih, often referred to as the "mother temple", consists of five temple compounds around the main temple. These represent the five holy directions, and there are also tens clan temples which are used for ancestor worship on different days. Other compounds honor the founding father of Besakih temple, Rsi Markandya, and Basuki - the holy guardian dragon believed to dwell in a cave on Mount Agung. As the mother temple, Bekasi is the site of Bali's largest and most elaborate purification ritual - Eka Dasa Rudra - held once a century.

To date, Indonesia has three national cultural conservation structures that have been included on the "World heritage List", namely Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple and Sangiran Archaeological Site. Besakih Temple will be the fourth.

Kintamani Volcano Tour

2008-10-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

KINTAMANI VOLCANO

The villages of Kintamani and Penelokan provide a great view of the still active Mount Batur and its fantastic lake. Seven miles in diameter and sixty feet deep, Batur caldera is simply astounding. From Penelokan, take the road Kedisan on the shores of the lake where boats can be

rented to cross over to Trunyan. The spectacular mountainous region around Kintamani with its deep Crater Lake and bubbling hot springs, make this region a must to visit. Batur Lake is the largest lake in Bali and the region offers some of the most spectacular views to be found anywhere on the island. Batur Lake also provides water for an underground network of streams and springs across the southern slopes of the mountain. Kintamani is really great for day trips, trekking or simply for getting away from it all for a few days.

The district is the earliest known kingdom in Bali, dating from the tenth century. The evenings get cool up here but it's well worth the stay overnight to climb the volcano and watch the sunrise. Many cheap cottages are available here.

Kintamani can run through Payangan or from Denpasar through the Sangeh monkey forest, Plaga and Lampu, arriving to the north of Kintamani. Bemos to Kintamani are available from Ubud via Sakah (notable for its huge "Baby" statue). They also run via Tampaksiring and Bangli. From Denpasar bemos leave for Kintamani from the Batubulan terminal until late afternoon.

Tour to Kintamani is a very impressive experience where Kintamani Area have very beautiful panorama located in plateau and also encircled by mountain atmosphere with the windblast from Mount Batur. Carpet of Batur Lake seen far below and also there are local resident house beside of Batur Lake. Beside of that, Mount Batur which to date still be active growing its beautiful for Kintamani Area.

The Beautiful Bali

2008-10-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

BALI ISLAND

The island of Bali is part of the Republic of Indonesia and is located 8 to 9 degrees south of the equator between Java in the West and Lombok and the rest of the Lesser Sunda Islands (Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba and Timor) in the East. Flying time to Jakarta is about 1.5 hours, to Singapore and Perth (Australia) 2.5 and 3 hours, to Hong Kong about 4.5 hours, and to Sydney/Melbourne about 5.5 to 6 hours.

GEOGRAPHY

The island of Bali has an area of only 5,632 square kilometers (2,175 square miles) and measures just 55 miles (90 kilometers) along the north-south axis and less than about 90 miles (140 kilometers) from East to West. Because of this it's no problem to explore the island on day tours. You can go wherever you want on the island and return to your hotel or villa in the evening.

Located only two kilometers east of Jawa, Bali's climate, flora and fauna are quite similar to its much larger neighbour. The island is famous for its beautiful landscape. A chain of six volcanoes, between 1,350 meters and 3,014 meters high, stretches from west to east. There are lush tropical forests, pristine crater lakes, fast flowing rivers and deep ravines, picturesque rice terraces, and fertile vegetable and fruit gardens. The beaches in the South consist of white sand, beaches in other parts of the island are covered with gray or black volcanic sand.

WHAT MAKES BALI SO SPECIAL

There is the combination of the friendly people, the natural attractions, the great variety of things to see and do, the year-round pleasant climate, and the absence of security problems. And then there is Bali's special "magic", which is difficult to explain.

As soon as you step off the plane you might sense the difference. In the villages you'll notice the quietness and wisdom in old people's faces, and the interest and respect in the young's. Old men sit at the road side caressing their fighting cocks. Beautifully dressed women walk proudly through rice fields and forests carrying offerings on their heads to the next temple. There is the smell of flowers, and in the distance you hear the sound of gamelan music.

Gods and spirits have been an important part of Bali's daily life for hundreds of years. Gunung Agung – Bali's holy mountain – is internationally regarded as one of the eight "Chakra" points of the world. This may be more than an coincident. Watch out, the moment you feel the magic of this island, you're addicted for the rest of your life.

The island of Bali is blessed with the line of beaches surrounding it.

Sanur.

On the southeastern side of Bali, Sanur beach is easily reachable from Denpasar, about a 5 to 10 minute drive. Sanur is an excellent site to watch the sun rises, as you jog along the white sandy beach. Being one of the first resort developed in Bali, Sanur maintains its traditions. Only a stone thrown away from the beach, ancient temples stand as solemn as they have been in centuries past.

Kuta and Legian

Practically on the opposite side of Sanur, the beaches of Kuta and Legian stretch on the southwestern side of Bali, again only about 5 to 10 minute drive from Denpasar or the airport. Surfing is a major activity in these beaches. Shops, Kecak dance performances, pubs, and other facilities make Kuta a tourist mecca.

Jimbaran

Jimbaran is directly south of the airport, on the way from Denpasar towards Nusa Dua. The village of Jimbaran is the narrow neck of the island of Bali, and thus it has two remarkably different beaches. On the west, Jimbaran Beach faces the Jimbaran Bay, recently lined by new luxurious resorts. On the east, the beach faces the body of water sheltered by Benoa Harbor.

Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is a new luxurious resort area where the world's most sumptuous hotels gracefully integrate into the beautiful white beaches. Crystal clear water provides excellent snorkeling and diving site, and the waves on the northern and the southern part of Nusa Dua allow for great surfing opportunity.

Soka Beach

Further northwest from Denpasar, on the way to Gilimanuk, the ferry port town that connects Bali and Java, there is a small quiet beach called Soka Beach.

Medewi Beach

Continuing along the path towards Gilimanuk, near the village of Pulukan, the beach of Medewi is another beautiful beach.

Lovina Beach

Near the northern tip of the island of Bali lies a stretch of villages by the Bali Sea. Lovina Beach is the name. It is well known as an excellent site for sunset watching, snorkeling, and diving. Night life activities are also abound, as well as chartered boats to go out into the sea. If you like what Kuta offers but do not like the crowd, Lovina Beach is for you.