It’s a place we all dream of – a remote island miles from civilization, the sun, sand and sea and all the time in the world to do just nothing! The tiny and remote Drawaqa island in the Yasawas group of Fiji is just the place to relax and unwind. The Barefoot Lodge on this island is perhaps the closest one can get to nature when on a holiday and it offers a genuine Fijian island village experience. No electricity, running water, phones or TV to distract you. The only sound you hear is the gentle lapping of the water and a soft wind blowing in the coconut palms. Accommodation is simple and the only way to reach the island is by ship or boat.

Visitors here can snorkel, go fishing, visit a neighbouring inhabited island and even plant a tree but the best way to soak in the peace and tranquility is to snuggle in a hammock strung between two coconut trees and snooze. After all sleeping is not a bad idea on this lazy island.

Via: Stuff

The Chinese government had banned foreign tourists visiting Tibet following violent anti-government riots ahead of the Olympics in Lhasa and the nearby provinces, which have a predominantly Tibetan population. The restrictions were put, according to government officials, for the safety of foreign tourists and journalists.
The Chinese reaction was swift with troops sent in to stifle the demonstration. They performed drills in town squares and set up checkpoints around sensitive areas including Buddhist monasteries, which were surrounded by security forces and closed off.

Hundreds of suspected perpetrator have been arrested in the last three months, with many sentenced to years or life in prison in short trials for their role in the protests. Security agents carefully monitored the Olympic torch run through Lhasa and only a few handpicked foreign journalists, were invited to cover the event.

According to the official Xinhua News Agency, Life in Lhasa had returned to normal, however despite the lifting of the ban, it’s still not clear how accessible Tibet really is given the fact that foreign visas to China are being restricted in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.

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via: IHT

Abdul Qader al-Husan, Head of Jordan’s Rihab Centre for Archaeological Studies, confirmed that they have evidence to believe that the church was sheltered by early Christians, the seventy disciples of Jesus Christ, who fled persecution in Jerusalem, founded and took shelter in churches in northern Jordan. This discovery has been labeled as an ‘important milestone for Christians all around the world’. We may here say that in this age of sin and adultery, such spiritual disclosures are a miracle in itself. Apart from this great and holy historical achievement, we also expect a long season of spiritual plunge in Syria.

Via: Nola

The arrival point is Tehran, also the capital of the country which houses the embassies and other structures of political importance. The people of Iran are extremely friendly; probably more than in any other part of the world which extends to mean they would even stand and greet strangers on the road striking a conversation. Every city in Iran is famous for one thing or the other which can be for making mullahs’ robes, tents or mattresses or for growing pomegranates or some citrus fruit.

Some of the cities are even famous for sexual potency or homosexuality. These cities can be visited by road from Teheran and each one has its own unique story to recite which is either deep rooted in the Islamic culture or reflects the rich history of the country.

The mosques of the country are architectural masterpieces each of them very beautifully made and preserved. The city of Persepolis also known as the city of minarets reveals beautiful twentieth century excavations which have come to represent the country of Iran itself. The journey to the city of Yazd is another visual delight with pistachio farms and lilac pale snowy mountains adorning the sceneries. The Iman square is extremely beautiful with its aesthetic Islamic architecture at its best.

The best period to visit is autumn-winter and the food available is good and cheap. The way of dressing has to be kept conservative and the women have to compulsorily keep their heads covered as an obligation. The country is extremely beautiful with the breathtaking sceneries and the aesthetic architecture and creates a very beautiful canvas which amalgamates beauty of nature with that of man-made excellence.

Via: The Telegraph

Now, you get your fix by watching Japanese having their sweet moments in the hot chocolate tub!

Source: 3yen

Now it is the turn of China to register its name in the race of famous buildings and construction of new and different designed structures. The architecture group, Atkin has uniquely designed and constructed water filled quarry in Songjiang, China and has won the first prize in an international design competition. The quarry has a beautiful 400bed resort hotel with all the natural beauty around. The whole construction is done underground with all the facilities along with the water sports, restaurants, cafes etc.

There seems to be a competition among the architecture groups worldwide to offer unique and amazing designs with all the comforts of modern life. There is a hunger of something new and exciting every now and then in the people today and that is taken care of by the new generation of designers and marketers.

Via:myinterestingfiles

If you have a taste for weird and exotic food and are bored with the regular meaty fare you get in the eateries, then you must try the exotic rat dishes served in one of the two Taiwan village restaurants. The Ho-la diner and Jiashing restaurant together dish out about 18 kg of rat fare every day. While Ho-la serves ten varieties of rat platters including rat soup and battered, black pepper-dipped, deep-fried rat, Jiashing serves 12 rat platters, focusing on one similar to the more common kung-pao chicken.

Rat meat became popular among people who could not afford poultry or meat way back in 1940’s and the flavor seems to have caught on with fervor. Wait, don’t smell a rat yet; the rats that are hunted grow up on crops from the surrounding fields and are not from the sewerage and drains. So, you can safely conclude that were hale and hearty before they reached your platter! The place is so much in demand at the meal times that you have to book table hours in advance if you don’t want to wait.

Looks like humans want to gnaw everything that creeps, crawls or walks!

Via: Stuff

When William Blake penned down about ‘Tiger’, he did say:

Tiger! Tiger! Burning bright,
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

People can interpret those lines in any form of philosophy or psychology, but the simple matter of fact is that, probably Blake was also marveling at god’s creation by looking at this powerful and splendid creature. Not for one moment did the poet imagine it to be weak, loving or tender. It was always a symbol of force, might and all conquering raw passion and energy. So, very rightly, Blake says that it is a creature to roam with majesty ‘in the forests of the night’.

But then the ‘Tiger Temple’ in Thailand is a place where you find these mighty creatures roam with unabated freedom among human company. Tigers in this temple have been bred by the monks and have always spent their lives in the quarry that is adjacent to the temple. While the whole thing started way back in 1999 when the temple found an abandoned tiger cub, it slowly lead to the locals giving the temples a few more cubs that were found in the surrounding forests. Now the temple has nearly 35 tigers, many of them full grown and as powerful as any.

The Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, 100 miles north of Bangkok and is a major tourist destination, especially those who seek the thrill of walking with this stunning beast of nature. But there are growing concerns that this unnatural proximity might eventually lead to a casualty which is better avoided than later regretted. An incident very recently where a tiger walking beside a monk chose to turn back and speed towards a bunch of British tourists has caused a few flutters. Many believe that despite it not leading to any major incident on that day, the inevitability of someone losing a limb or even life one day is too obvious to see.

For long many believed that these tigers were drugged, removed of teeth and claws and are hence totally harmless. But nothing is more distant form the truth than that. They have always been in human contact, since their very birth and hence feel no threat in human company. For the tigers in the Tiger Temple, we are a natural part of their surroundings that they have no necessity to attack. This is nothing new as we have seen famous environmentalists hang out with mountain Gorillas and tame be friends with the Lions that have grown up with humans.

This is not to say that visiting them is a good idea though. A photo with a Tiger sleeping in your lap for $15 is not really the best snap you will ever get. Sure, these Tigers will never ever attack the monks that they grew up with, that is understandable and acceptable. But tourists are strangers to these wild cats and they might in one moment take anyone out. Visiting the temple is fine, but going that close might be going a bit too far. As Blake did say, they are at the end of the day, mighty force of forests and jungles; not your pet cats!

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The festival goes back a long time. It was started off in 1963 and rejuvenated in 1985 following the cultural revolution in China. Hundreds and thousands of wander-thirsty tourists throng the festival every time, braving the sub-zero temperature.

The theme of this year’s ice festival happens to be France. The culture and history of France has been etched on snow with unparalleled skill, marked by incredible accuracy, down to the minutest intricacy. The snow replica of the Eiffel Tower looms high and proud, while Napoleon Bonaparte on his horse looks as powerful and vigorous as he must have when he ruled. A larger-than-life sculpture inspired by Rodin sits contemplatively, dwarfing all those in the vicinity.

Some of the structures are created by piling up ice blocks, carved with chisels and chainsaws, to make huge models of buildings. Lights are frozen in the middle of them creating the beautiful displays of colour. When the neon lights are lit during the night, it all takes up the aura of a fairy-tale land. Wow! Isn’t it a sight worth dying for!

A million bows to the genius of man! A million kudos to his artistry, his hone of talent, his indomitable zeal!

Source : Daily Mail

It is the most renowned and looked for global contest that celebrates individual and team athletic excellence. Preparations of the next edition of Olympics, scheduled to take place in Beijing from August 14-24, 2008 is starting to get underway. In a bid to encourage and participate in the spirit of the games’ languages abroad, an non-profit organization based in the US has organized a unique volunteering programme. Titled ONE WORLD, YOUR ADVENTURE language touring package, the programme is designed for those who would like to be in Beijing during the lead up excitement of the Olympics.

Thrilled at the possibility this progrmme offers, one of the volunteers who has already signed up for the programme, John Baker, an MBA student from Toronto said,

I can’t wait to go. I mean, being in Beijing in and of itself is wonderful, but to be there during the final preparations for the Olympics is like a dream come true. I’m just glad I’ll have a place to stay without having to pay ridiculously expensive prices.

The Olympics are a big attraction across the world, specially so this time because it is happening in Bejing, which is gateway to several fascinating tourism locations in China’s Northern region. Numerous parks, temples, and market places dotted across 18 districts that comprise Beijing, entices visitors with shopping offers. Apart from shopping is the attraction of one of the greatest monuments to human ingenuity, The Great Wall of China just a short distance away.

Volunteers feel that this is a wonderful opportunity to break language barriers that often mar the ability to fully enjoy the cultural aspects of a foreign country. But then the kind of a travel opportunity offers a chance to learn from the native speakers of the language.

The quest to achieve personal excellence motivates both the student of international languages as it does the pupil of athletics. Dreaming to achieve one’s goal is only physically manifested with the discipline to practice with the best tools that are available.

Learning the various mechanics of a language requires dedication, but the reward is tremendous as it is for athletes who transcend the initial discomfort derived from strenuous conditioning. To learn more about the ONE WORLD, YOUR ADVENTURE program in Beijing visit the Languages Abroad website.

Via

Who says ‘Living in caves’ was outdated? The phrase that suggests that you are not in sync with the times, took a new meaning when a cave was literally transformed into a school.

Mid-Cave Primary School is aptly named so because it lies in between two caves is situated in a poverty-stricken village in Ghinzou province, Southwest China. The people found an innovative way to make the best use of nature’s resources when they lacked funds to build a school for children. They turned one of the three caves nestled on a mountain into a school so that their kids are not denied the basic education.

The kids have to spend over six hours trekking up and down the hills in order to quench their thirst for knowledge. Could there be a better example of ‘Practical Environmental Sciences’?

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Cambodia’s magnificent temples in Angkor Wat are globally renowned and attract more visitors than most other locales in the country. But what is virtually unknown is the clean, unspoilt, golden and idyllic beaches of the Buddhist country.

The best beach in the country is perhaps at Koh Tonsay, where a midnight Swim is like taking part in your own personal light-show. The island sited just off Kep, south of Cambodia has crystal clear seas around it. Once you get into the water you are in for a treat of fireworks, marine life flits past you like a school of fireflies under the water. Biologically speaking it is just phosphorescence emitted by plankton on contact. The best draw of this wonderful tropical island is its solitude.

Decades of war had kept the country out of the tourist eye and Cambodia has recently begun to enjoy a dramatic resurgence as a tourist destination. A boom, fuelled by the temples of Angkor. What is not well knonown is the immense potential locked in the country’s magnificent south coast, which sweeps down along the Gulf of Siam, reaching from Koh Kong and the border with Thailand in the north right down to Vietnam. There are several silvery beaches and thousands of acres of sandy shores which can be easily compared to India’s Goa or Thailand’s Phuket.

It is best to visit these beaches before it becomes inundated with tourists, as of now much of the coastline is free of commercial development that is ubiquitous in Thailand, India and other rbeach resorts. There are bamboo huts for accommodation and little guesthouses. The best part of this nation are its people, ultra friendly and cooperative.

Another equally attractive location is the Siem Reap, where three days aren’t enough to take in the sheer magnificence of the temples of Angkor. But for the nature and water lover they don’t come anywhere near the beauty of the sea, sand, and glistening water that the country offers.

A fiver hour bus journey from Siem Reap leads to Kep and after a drive through lush green rice-fields and rugged mountains the sea-front comes to the fore and shocks thhe visitor. The Kep-sur-Mer was gounded in the 1920s by the French as a premier resort. After independence in 1953, Kep remained a favourite of King Sihanouk who built an opulent summer house on the sea.

The civil war has taken its toll on this quaint seaside town. But one thing that war couldn’t destroy was the natural charm of the place: the glimmering turquoise waters, the throng of little islands, among others. One of the best places to stay here is a designer place called the Champey Inn and, on the hill, a clutch of quaint little thatched bungalows called the Veranda Natural Resort, all connected by a web of gnarled wooden walkways.

Closeby is Koh Tonsay aka Rabbit Island accessible by the longboat. As we approach the island it appears like a blob of jungle, then coconut trees come to view and then a row of thatched roofs and finally, a motley band of locals and foreigners lolling on the sand.

Formerly this island was used as a prison for criminals. Today it houses six or seven law-abiding families who are coconuts and fish farmers. The sublime views offered by the island makes it seem like paradise and gives you the feeling of isolation. The sunsets are transcendental.

One of the most attractive but run-down riverside resort is Kampot, only about 20 km from Koh Tonsay. This town which used supply sweet pepper in its hey dyas is enjoying a tourist revival, thanks to a few foreign tourists who came to enjoy its languid riverfront. One of the main attractions here is the gruelling trek up Bokor mountain, now a national park boasting elephants and tigers and cobras.

Sihanoukville, is one of the most developed resort town in the country. Created by flattening a patch in the middle of a jungle in 1955, this town has more than six fantastic beaches, stunning islands and the nearby Ream national park. Sihanoukville shows potential of becoming the coastal tourism hub of Cambodia’s.

From here the best outing is to Koh Russei, or Bamboo Island, where one can laze around on its small but squeaky clean golden beach and indjulge in snorkling around its reefs. The island is so small that 50 tourists will make it appear crowded. Another island further up is the Koh Ta Kiev, which is almost always deserted, surprising considering that it offers immaculate white sand half-moon beach washed by clear cobalt waters, it’s perhaps more beautiful than Koh Tonsay.

It is interesting to see that a country famous for the Khmer Rouge massacres and Angkor Wat temples is rebounding as a grand tourism escapade. But it is growing at breakneck speed. Groups of westerners and Australians are descending upon the beaches to enjoy the place. It is better to visit right now than later because once it gets developed then the rustic charm is lost.

Source: The Guardian

The market is almost full of toys made out of plastic, but Japanese traditional toys still make their mark. They are charming and they have been used as toys for centuries in Japan. The toys are made of wood and are colorful. This beautiful art has been practiced since the 18th and 19th Century.

Takeji Nakagawa of take-g toys uses this art and mingles it with his own innovation to create beautiful and modern toys. Like all cultural art, Kyuodo Gangu has been confined to Japan and its surroundings only. Some people argue that the reason behind this is the conscious efforts of traditional thinking people.

Popyah- another contemporary traditional style has been doing the rounds as well. Popyah seems to be more into clay and ceramic figurines. Although they are cute and colorful, the building material is not exactly what you would like for a toy. The art being confined to regions makes it difficult to buy them.

So, if you are interested in buying a piece of this art, you may have to travel all the way to the parts where it’s made.

Source: daddytypes

When you visit Sri Lanka, you are pretty much touring a war zone. At least that’s the impression that some tourists like Mian Ridge get. As you sip your drink, you might be greeted by a couple of soldiers on there gun boat, giving you the feeling of being in a war zone.

With the ongoing battle between the military and the Liberation of Tamil Tigers Elam (LTTE), it is a full on Civil war like situation in Sri Lanka. Successive check points on the road are just an added hassle for the tourists visiting the region.

As a result of all these, the percentage of tourists visiting Lanka dropped to about 24. Besides the LTTE conflict, yet another contributing factor to the tourism decline is the Tsunami. Several hotels were wrecked in this part of Asia.

In yet another blow, tourism suffered badly when the LTTE rebels took over a military post in the Yala Wildlife sanctuary. This happened on October 15, 2007. Further attack s like an air attack on the Katunayake Air Force Base by the rebels, destroyed part of the International airport in Sri Lanka. So, folks involved in the tourist business in Sri Lanka have been worried quite a bit lately.

Added to all these, the travel advisory issued on Sri Lanka by many Western countries kept a lot of foreign travelers out of Sri Lanka. For any developing country, tourism is a great way to boost up the economy. So, for Sri Lanka the war resulted in no tourism, which resulted in an economic decline of the nation.

Image Credit: Tourism-srilanka

A hospital themed restaurant that recently opened in Xinzhu, Taiwan, attracts lots of diners there and mind you, none of the diners are sick. The restaurant is a complete hospital with waitresses in nurse’s apparel and the décor in pristine white, complete with x-rays and prescriptions adorning the wall. The theme is not just about the décor, you get served on the hospital beds with drinks and beverages served from a vat suspended from the ceiling.

Now that you are in it, you might as well play along being a patient, so request for a wheel chair to be wheeled around to your table by the nurse or opt for crutches and walk to your table as the nurse-waitress helps you along. At your table, request for beverages to be injected into your mouth with syringes!

Oh yes! You can rush into one of the ‘emergency rooms’ (aptly named so) in case you need a wash room.

Hopefully, you don’t fall really sick while you try ‘Sick Dining’!

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