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By Alan, on January 10th, 2012
 Iceland is a trip that is unforgettable, given the excellent scenic views and the friendly nature of the people that live there. It will be hard to ever take a trip half as magical once you have been to Iceland if you make sure that you stop by some of the top attractions in the country.
First off, make sure to venture towards the Blue Lagoon which is a geothermal lake that is thought by many to have natural healing properties. The water in the lagoon is kept at 40C and is so clear that you can see through it while bathing. One of the most stunning aspects of the lagoon is the fact that you can bathe in a natural jet stream while surrounded by ice and snow.
Other natural attractions that you make sure you see while in Iceland are the many geysers that are dotted around the country side. Strokkur geyser in particular is one of the most famous geysers in Iceland and also one of the most predictable, making it almost a sure thing that if you wait 15 minutes or so you will get to see it shoot up into the air.
To get a look at the Icelandic natural wildlife make sure to head over to theWestmannIslands, where you can arrange a tour to see some of the best landscape in the country. Often referred to as a paradise, the islands are a sight to behold.The Lake Myvatn Conservation area is also stunning, and you can see lava fields, a crystal clear lake, mud flats, and volcanic craters all in one. While in the park also make sure to stop by the Waterfall of the Gods which is one of the strongest waterfalls in Europe.
By Alan, on January 3rd, 2012
 Slovenia is a small country located between Italy, Hungary, Croatia and Austria and in recent years has become a big attraction. It is very easy to reach the country through all major forms of transport and for those holidaying in the Alps is only a short drive away. The town is known for its thermal spas and lively towns and is also a place where you can come to swim in the Adriatic Sea. The cave systems located in the towns of Skocjan and Postojna are unique in the cuisine is something that is influenced from many different countries across Europe.
In the North you will find the Julian Alps which many would call some of the most beautiful mountains and all of Europe. It is a paradise for people who enjoy kayaking, biking, walking and fishing among other activities. The National Park in the region is untouched and there are thundering waterfalls and majestic peaks to be seen. Hikers are treated to a well marked paths and there are also plenty of activities for those who prefer watersports.
As a tourist destination Slovenia dates back to the 1800s and there are numerous hotels and other forms of accommodation for visitors in the country. Bled is one of the most famous holiday destinations in the country and has a great deal to offer visitors, especially those who enjoy sports such as golf or tennis. There are numerous cultural events held in the town all year round which are also worth attending.
Winter sports have become increasingly popular in Slovenia and the skiing locations here are known for their fair prices and safety. One of the most famous ski centres in all of Slovenia is Kranjska Gora which has over 30 km of ski runs rated at numerous different difficulties. There are nearly 20 ski lifts available for skiers and plenty of accommodation options, including studio apartments as well as modern hotels. Private rooms are also another place to stay while skiing in Slovenia and many of these are run by local farms.
On the other side of the Alps near Maribor you will find a particular family friendly skiing area which has over 20 lifts and has a reputation that extends internationally. The skiing area is over 200 ha large and there are a huge range of skiing runs in this skiing area which extends for a total of over 50 kilometres.
The area is particularly family friendly because of its excellent skiing school which is catered towards children, especially those of the younger age. The school has plenty of equipment for people to rent and there is a specially designed ski run which stretches for 5 kilometres where children can learn to ski. The slope is also lit during the night time with bright floodlights so that guests in this part of Slovenia can ski whenever they wish.
The hotels in this part of Slovenia are some of the best in the country and they offer a first-class experience for guests. The facilities at these hotels are excellent and offer everything you would expect during your holiday. Slovenia is known for its thermal spas and many of the hotels in this region have them and provide a perfect place to relax after a day skiing. Food at these hotels is generally a very high quality.
By Alan, on December 29th, 2011
 New Zealand includes a good number of large and smaller lakes. The springs in the Central Highlands are fed by Lake Taupoand the Tongariro River on central North Island which is by far the largest lake in the country.
With an area of 616km² it is bigger than Lake Constance. The lake is located in the caldera of a super volcano of epic proportions and therefore is obviously of volcanic origin.
The next largest lakes are all located on the South Island and were carved out by glaciers. The largest of these glacial lakes is Lake Te Anau, with an area of 344 square kilometres, followed by at 80km long and 291-square-mile Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown, and the 192km² Lake Wanaka. An interesting aspect of these designated Southern Lakes regions is that many of the glacial lakes are deeper than their surrounding altitude, thus is the basis for the individual lakes below sea level.
New Zealand is also criss-crossed by numerous rivers and streams. The longest river in the country is located in the North Island, the Waikato River with a length of 425 km, which flows from Lake Taupo to south of Auckland at Port Waikato where it joins the Tasman Sea. The Clutha River in the south of New Zealand’s South Island is, at 340 km, the second longest river in the country.
It rises out of Lake Wanaka and flows about 75 km to the south of Dunedinin into the the South Pacific. The third longest river in the country, the 290-mile Whanganui River on the North Island at Wanganui flows into the Cook Strait.
By Alan, on December 29th, 2011
 Suzhou in China is famous for its canals, stone bridges, waterways, pagodas and exquisite and classical gardens. More than 42% of the city is water, and is bisected by the Great Canal that stretched from Shanghai to Hangzou, and Suzhou well deserves its reputation as the Chinese Venice.
The history of Suzhou dates back 2500 years, and is also famous for the ancient pagodas and temples that were recognised for their classical nature and beauty in 1997 when the gardens were listed at world heritage sites by UNESCO.
Situated only 100km from Shanghai, Shuzhou is one of the major cities in the south east of jiangsu province, and its strategic position on the Yangze River delta and close proximity to the likes of Hangzou and Shangai has been instrumental to its development, both culturally and economically.
It thoroughly deserves its status as one of the must see destinations for travellers to China, and nobody who visits should deprive themselves of at least a few days in Shuzhou. One of the main attractions when you get here is Zhuozheng Yuan, or the Humble Administrator Garden. It one of the largest in the city and has an around of approximately 52,000sq metres.
It is also one of the four most classical gardens in all of China, the other three being the mountain resort of Chengde, the Summer Palace and the Lingering Garden, also found in Suzhou. Zhuozheng Yuan was first created in 1509 and began life as the private garden of a former public servant who simply wanted somewhere to spend a humble life.
When you take into consideration, however, that it is said to have cost a boatload of silver to create, and was 16 years in the making, there is nothing particularly humble about it at all.
By admin, on December 22nd, 2011
Whenever we think of Iceland, cold climates come to mind. You certainly don’t think of packing a swimsuit and tanning lotion. But now there is a different way of experiencing the country, through its heated swimming pools. The country has natural geothermal energy so practically every town has a large heated swimming pool where everyone goes to socialise and take in the beneficial purity of the water for healthcare. When driving along the roads, you can see from distances hot water a steam being pumped from the ground and this is used in the large swimming pools in the hotels. The water is also minalmally treated so people can benefit from its purity.
All of the large pools have at several “hot pots”. These are hot tubs that are filled with water and heated to different temperatures. These much smaller pools are the place to be if you want to score a business deal, meet new friends and catch up with the family and social interactions can be seen between seniors, children and business professionals. Even if you do not speak Icelandic, people will likely try to include you in the friendly discussions.
All the pools are not that expensive to visit and towel and swimsuit rentals are handly available. The best way to experience the pools is to swap between the colder lap pool and the hot pots. Despite Iceland’s famously cold winters, most pools are outside and it can be an uncomfortable run from the two pools. One of the most famous pools to visit is the Hverageroi pool, which is 45km from the capital city and takes advantage of the areas dense geothermal activity with similar facilities: hot tubs, a lap pool, a sauna and a spa and fitness centre. If your budget is still being stressed, it is best to obtain travel vouchers for Iceland to make sure you get the best deal.
Article by Emily Patterson
By Alan, on December 21st, 2011
 The Petronas Towers are located in Kuala Lumpur and are one of the most famous sites in the city. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and it is one of the most popular destinations for a holiday in the entire Asia-Pacific region. It is a city full of glamour and has a huge amount of attractions for people to explore.
The culture in the city is particularly interesting as it is a confluence of different types coming together in one place. This has an effect on so many aspects of the city including the buildings, the food, and just about everything else. The people from Malaysia are particularly known for being warm and welcoming and make any tourist feel very at home in their city.
Malay cuisine is one of the greatest things about visiting Kuala Lumpur and for those who like being adventurous with their food then this place is paradise. There are a huge range of different cuisines available and you will never run out of options to tantalise your taste buds. Malay food is a mix of conventional ingredients and exotic spices and it will be irresistible to anyone who enjoys great food. One of the most traditional dishes in Kuala Lumpur is a vegetable salad made with chilies and vinegar and is delcious. Noodle soup is also very popular in Malaysia and forms a large part of the Malay people’s diets.
If you want to taste the most popular food in Kuala Lumpur then you should head to Chinatown where there are a huge array of street food stores offering a huge range of food. The food is cooked in front of your very eyes and there is a vast range of cuisine available.
At the other end of the spectrum you have some very fine restaurants in the city and there are a wide range of international bars, cafes and bakeries. Kuala Lumpur really has something for everyone, from fine dining to street food, and all of these places will have something wonderfully delicious for you to try.
One of the most popular restaurants in the city is the Revolving Restaurant which is located at the Menar Tower. The Chinatown Pavilion is another great restaurant serving up some fantastic wonton noodles and its rice dishes are on unmatched anywhere else in the city.
If you are looking for a traditional hawker stall where you will find the traditional beef noodles then it is definitely worth going to Chinatown. Jalan Hnag Lekir is one of the most popular stalls in the area and once you have tried the food there you will know why. As well as fantastic food Kuala Lumpur or has a wide range of hotels to suit any budget and provides a fantastic place for tourists to relax after exploring the city and its delicious food.
By Alan, on December 17th, 2011
 Colon Island is the most developed island in the Bocas Del Toro archipelago and the capital of this area is Bocas Town and it is located on the island. The archipelago is made up of nine islands and there is a population of just under 10,000 people, with half of these living in Bocas Town.
The islands around Colon Island have traditionally been the place for backpackers and remain largely undeveloped but they are quickly becoming a place for resorts and the outside world is beginning to have a significant influence the area.
For those that want to visit these islands as they are naturally, now is the time to do so, because in a few years it will be too late. There are a great deal of activities to do on the islands including diving and snorkelling, the beaches are also spectacular and provide the perfect place to relax.
If you want to reach the area it is very easy to fly from Panama City or from Costa Rica to the main airport in Bocas Del Toro. Despite the native language being Spanish, English is widely spoken, almost as widely as Spanish itself.
This is because many of the Afro-Caribbean inhabitants of the island who come from English-speaking countries such as Jamaica and Providencia. The ancestors of these English-speaking people came to the area over 100 years ago to work on banana plantations.
If you want to find an undeveloped part of the Caribbean then this is the right place to head to, the natural wildlife is diverse and there is a great deal to see. There is also a Marine reserve which was the first one to be created in Panama and is nearly 25 years old. The underwater scenery here is stunning and there are beautiful coral reefs which can easily be reached by boat.
If you want to see some nature above the waves then you should head to the bird sanctuary which is located in the north of the island. Here you will find a great many species that seek sanctuary in the building at various times of the year. If you visit at the right time of year it is also possible to see turtles laying their eggs on the beach and it is well worth coming out at night to see this happen.
One of the biggest disadvantages as a tourist location is the fact that there is a lot of rain. From December to July there is regular rain every day and it is usually very heavy, the rain is unpredictable throughout the rest of the year and can occur at any moment. Economically the country has greatly improved over the last few years and this has meant that accommodation has become more expensive, however it is still possible to find rooms for $15 a night and meals for a couple of dollars.
By Alan, on December 10th, 2011
The Central Asia Rally, which will take place next May, offered those adventurous travellers a unique opportunity to fully explore a part of world that has effectively remained unchanged for the past 5 centuries. Those who participate in the rally race overland in vehicles from Budapest in Hungary to Dushanbe in Tajikstan. The goal is not to have necessarily the best time, but to have a memorable journey along the way.
The Central Asia Rally kicks off on the 26th May 2012, and is the latest escapade from The Travel Scientists, the notorious adventure travel firm. From the start in Hungary to the finish in Tajikistan and everywhere in between, which includes the Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, The Pamir Highway and the Silk Road, those participating will be treated to a hectic whirl of stunning vistas, amazing cultures and some very raucous parties.
The course is well over 7500km long and will take the drivers around 18 days to get from the beginning to the end.
Event organizer Aravind Bremanandam, a veteran of similar races in locations around the world, promises an adventure like no other. “The Central Asia Rally is basically managed mayhem that is part road rally, part adventure travel, part social experiment, part gateway into the unknown, part high-octane party.” What type of traveller do they cater to? “It’s not for everyone,” Bremanandam says, “but it is for anyone who wants to step outside the bland boundaries of modern travel and share an experience that is unique, thrilling, and unforgettable. We build a community of like-minded thrill-seekers and set them loose on the adventure of a lifetime.”
Though billed as a rally, the event is not for professionals. Participants come from all walks of life and can choose from three formats. The ‘Competition’ category is the most popular and includes a timed component along with additional daily challenges. The ‘Touring’ category removes the clock and allows participants to compete at their own pace. The ‘Extreme’ category is for the most daring racers and demands that they compete in a unique vehicle: a rust bucket from the ’70s, decommissioned ambulance, hearse, or similar.
The event is billed as ‘minimal assistance.’ Organizers provide help and expertise with necessary documentation, rally preparation, and route planning (and are usually first to welcome racers to each evening’s lively festivities) – it is up to the racers to decide their exact route and get themselves from start to finish each day. Therein lies the fun: participants share goals and destinations, but each journey is unique. The epic stories that result are a highlight of the group celebrations that close each day’s travel.
The Central Asia Rally also includes a charity component, continuing a tradition in which The Travel Scientists give back to the communities they visit. For this event, they have chosen an isolated village deep in the Pamir Mountains; participants are encouraged to meet the villagers, learn more about the challenges they face, and contribute time and money to help alleviate suffering.
The Travel Scientists were founded five years ago to promote adventure travel through some of the world’s most exciting locales. Founders Attila, Gábor, and Aravind carefully design events for a growing legion of adventure travel enthusiasts who want to share unique experiences that recall the glory days of exploration.
The Travel Scientists have sponsored races in exotic locations across the globe, including the ‘Rickshaw Challenge’ (Southern India during monsoon season), ‘Caucasian Challenge’ (through former war zones in Eastern Europe to current ones in the Caucasus), and the ‘Trans-Sahara Run’ (from the Med to the Atlantic across the world’s most forbidding desert).
By Alan, on December 5th, 2011
 Located between Mozambican and Madagascar in the Indian Ocean are the Comoros islands, which derive their name from the Arabic word for moon. They are relatively isolated compared to other countries in the Indian Ocean and this has meant they are visited by far fewer tourists each year.
The archipelago that has the islands on them is located between African and Arab civilisations and Arabic influences can be clearly seen in the islands architecture. In a way similar to the Seychelles, which are very close by, the islands enjoy tropical weather, clear water and wonderful palm trees.
The history of the island has been rather troubled and many people think this is why they have not been so popular with tourists. The islands were made independent from France in the middle of the 1970s and the separate islands have not been united since. Since independence from the French, there have been numerous revolutions on the islands and the last one occurred in 2008. The fourth island remains a French overseas territory.
Many people who visit the islands will feel that they are somewhat neglected. The streets have a lot of potholes and many of the hotels seem rather run down. The amenities and services that they are offering are also somewhat lacking and only one of the hotels on the island has running water 24 hours a day. This might be another reason why there is a considerable lack of tourism on the islands.
The entertainment options on the islands are seriously limited and even on the most popular one, Ngazidja, there are only three decent restaurants in the capital city. One of the greatest adventures that can be done on the island is hiking up the Karthala volcano. This volcano reaches heights of nearly 2400 meters and the top of it is usually covered in a blanket of clouds.
The volcano is active, but it has not had an eruption in the last few years so visiting it now is generally regarded as a safe option. Be aware though that this could change as in the past 100 years the volcano has erupted on 20 separate occasions.
The paths up the mountain are terribly marked and it would be well recommended for you to hire a guide so they can show you the way to the top. Unfortunately, showing you to the top is one of the only things they can do and any questions you ask them will remain largely unanswered.
The nature on the way up the volcano is spectacular, but when you get near to the top you can clearly see that the volcano has recently been active. The landscape is completely barren and there are just rocks and ash strewn around the place. At the top you will find the crater, which has collapsed, and the view from the top is incredible. Anyone who comes to visit this island will see that it has a lot of potential for tourism and in a few years it will not be the isolated paradise it is today.
By Alan, on December 1st, 2011
 For some people, going to a destination with plenty of tourists means that it is a tried and tested place which they will probably enjoy. It also means that there are adequate facilities in place and everything is going to be quite easy. For some people though, this is not an ideal holiday, and there is a growing market of people who are looking to get away from the tourist crowds and find something a little bit different.
The problem with the most idyllic of these places is that they are going to eventually be discovered by tourists. A perfect example of this is Yelapa which is located in Mexico. Thirty years ago it was possible to come to this slice of paradise and rent a house for less than a hundred pounds a month and enjoy fresh fish on the beach every night for a few cents. It was somewhere that was largely inaccessible by road and the only way to get to it was by boat.
People realised what a paradise this place was and is it didn’t take long for tourist agencies to start setting people up with holidays in the area. Today it has been overrun with tourists and is a very different scene. There are still places out there that remain relatively untouched however, for now at least.
Montana is a great destination for a holiday and Storm Lake is somewhere that hasn’t yet been discovered. The accommodation in the nearby town of Anaconda is still cheap because the tourists are not so present and you can rent a room for about one hundred and twenty pounds a week. There are also several casinos in the region for people who enjoy gambling and there are some great pubs and restaurants.
There is also a theatre of historical interest called the Washoe Theatre which is regarded as one of the most beautiful theatres in the United States. Just outside the small town is a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus.
If you really want to get away from tourists completely then you should leave Anaconda and head out onto Highway 1 for around 40 miles and you will eventually see a sign for Storm Lake. From here you can drive a further 10 miles, keeping left, and you will find the lake. There is plenty of parking available, but it is an inadvisable to take a small car and you should consider renting a four-wheel-drive as the road to the lake can be a little treacherous.
There is excellent fishing available at the lake and there are some good hiking options around it. There seems to be an endless amount of lakes, mountains, and general wilderness surrounding it and if you go hiking up here you aren’t going to find any other people, just nature.
If you are looking for another destination without tourists then it can be well worth checking out a small place in New Mexico called Alamogordo. This is a place with great weather all year round and it is rarely cold, there are also some interesting attractions in the region including a zoo.
The area has a lot of desert and if you want to escape this they can be a good idea to drive up into the surrounding mountains and there is a fantastic observatory at a place called Sunspot.
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Iceland is a trip that is unforgettable, given the excellent scenic views and the friendly nature of the people that live there. It will be hard to ever take a trip half as magical once you have been to Iceland if you make sure that you stop by some of the top attractions in the country.
