Sunday, February 25, 2007

Top 5 Things To Do In L.A.

By Gabriel J. Adams

SUMMARY: When visiting Los Angeles, you will come across the pulse of the second largest metropolitan region within the United States. As soon as you visit this city, you will encounter a variety of diverse communities, including the infamous Hollywood region.

When visiting Los Angeles, you will come across the pulse of the second largest metropolitan region within the United States. As soon as you visit this city, you will encounter a variety of diverse communities, including the infamous Hollywood region, and the entertaining Downtown section of the city. Below you will find some of the most popular stops in Los Angeles to consider when planning a trip to an area:

Hollywood

Whether you’ve heard of this district from the media or read about the legends in the pages of gossip magazines, Hollywood is often referred to as the entertainment capital of the world. When visiting this section of the city, you will find the Walk of Fame, which is situated along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Honored at this attraction, you will find a variety of theatre, radio, movie and television personalities to explore.

Sunset Boulevard

When visiting Los Angeles, many first-time visitors often head for this location to experience an array of exciting city aspects. Some of the most well known sights in the area include a variety of clubs, studios, and hotels that have made guest appearances in some of the most recognizable films and TV shows. After following this street, you will also encounter a couple of legendary California beaches, which have even served as film sets for the once-popular Baywatch TV series.

Museum Row (Wilshire Boulevard)

The museums situated on this street offer a wide range of themed establishments, which offer exhibits ranging from natural history to modern art. Some of the sights you might want to visit include the La Brea Tar Pits, Craft & Folk Art Museum, Petersen Automotive Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. As you head for this section of the city, you should know that a day doesn’t do this attraction-riddled row justice.

Disneyland

Mickey and Minnie Mouse aren’t just for the kiddies. Visitors of all ages add Disneyland to their itinerary, even if it’s just to say they’ve been there. It is a must-see attraction that some only dream about. Whether you hop on the Pirate’s of the Caribbean ride, experience Space Mountain, or enjoy a tasty meal at one of the many eateries, the atmosphere is like traveling through a living fantasy.

Santa Monica Beach & Pacific Park

The Santa Monica Beach is considered one of the most famous beaches in the Los Angeles area, which has been used to shoot films and television shows, such as Three’s Company. This youth-filled beach land often accommodates more than 90,000 visitors. Some of the features here include arcade games, and rides such as the West Coaster or the Pacific Wheel. Venice Beach is also in the area, which offers great opportunities to rollerblade, catch a tan, and swim. Shoppers may also visit the nearby Third Street Promenade.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Sanibel Island - Florida - Au Natural All the Way

By Jennifer Weiss

SUMMARY: Banking on its stunning and beautifully preserved natural beauty, Sanibel Island is the place to go for recreational adventures and waterfront pursuits that need no cosmetic attention.

Just offshore of Fort Myers, Florida, you can find a little barrier island that has left the glitz, glamour, and tourist attractions to the rest of the state. Banking on its stunning and beautifully preserved natural beauty, Sanibel Island is the place to go for recreational adventures and waterfront pursuits that need no cosmetic attention.

The beaches of Sanibel Island are always the main attraction with their 12 miles of stunning blue waterfront that are sure to surpass even the wildest expectations for sheer elegance and pristine beauty. World-renowned for their excellent shelling, visitors can explore miles and miles of unobstructed white sands at the popular and secluded Bowman’s Beach. At the Sanibel Causeway Beaches, sightseeing is always the order of the day as dolphins frolic around the bay and sunset brings spectacular views and gorgeous colored skies.

While the beaches offer scenic beauty and recreational pursuits such as swimming and windsurfing, the waterfront is more than just a place to soak up the warm Florida sun and explore the depths of the Gulf. At Lighthouse Park Beach, the Sanibel Lighthouse is a picture-perfect attraction that towers over the land at 94 feet. Also available are a nature trail, where you can enjoy a hiking excursion whenever you need to stretch your legs, and a fishing pier with surprisingly excellent reeling opportunities.

Occupying more than half of the island and known as one of Florida’s best refuges, the J.N. ("Ding") Darling National Wildlife Refuge along Sanibel-Captiva Road is the perfect place to soak in the unfettered beauty of the island. Off Wildlife Drive, which is not open on Fridays, visitors can hike the Indigo Trail in search of alligators, white ibis, or night heron or stroll the Wulfert Keys Trail for a view of Pine Island Sound. The Bailey Tract offers biking along a 100-acre tract that is teeming with wildlife and freshwater plants, while canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, and boating can also be found throughout the wildlife refuge.

After exploring the natural wonders of the island, punctuate your stay with a little history by stopping by the Sanibel Historical Village and Museum. Here you will find displays that highlight and recreate the island’s history, from its Calusa tribal era all the way up to its pioneer days. The turn of the century clothing is always an interesting sight, as are the various pieces of memorabilia, but Pioneer Clarence Rutland’s original home from the early 1900s and the Burnap Cottage, the oldest building on the island, are can’t miss favorites.

Due to its prime location just off the mainland, Sanibel Island is also a convenient jumping off point for numerous other Florida excursions. Visitors can cross the bridge to Captiva Island, which offers 6 miles of unspoiled beaches in a secluded and sparsely populated paradise. For those who want a little more action, the nearby Fort Myers area is a bustling wonderland of sights and attractions such as Manatee Park, the Edison-Ford Estates, and Lover’s Key State Park.

For a vacation filled to the brim with the sun, sand, and surf of this lovely barrier island, consider the waterfront convenience and the many amenities of Sanibel Island vacation rentals. Sandy adventures and seashell-hunting expeditions lie just steps out your backdoor, while the comforts of home offer a much needed reprieve from the untamed amusements of the great outdoors. To experience an island getaway without any of the hassles that can crop during a family vacation or a romantic retreat, book your Sanibel Island rental today.

Friday, February 16, 2007

See Singapore for less than USD$100? See our tips!

By Priscilla Tan

SUMMARY: If you are planning to visit Singapore yet don't want to burn a hole in your pocket, no worries, we've got great tips for you. We will show you how you can see Singapore in 3 days with USD$100.

If you are planning to visit Singapore yet don't want to burn a hole in your pocket, no worries, we've got great tips for you.

We will show you how you can see Singapore in 3 days with USD$100.

Tips :
1. Stay at one of the budget accommodations (from US$7.00/night)

2. Eat at hawker centre (ie non air conditioned food court). Meals here are very cheap and you can get a decent meal plus drink at less than SGD 4.00 (US$2.50)

3. Travel on public transport. A whole day pass cost you only SGD6.00 (US$3.80)

A suggested 3-day itinerary:

Day 1 : After your breakfast at a hawker centre, pick up a walking map from any of the Singapore visitor centres and choose for yourself one or more of the DIY walks. You can choose from any of the
City walk, Singapore River walk or Ethnic walk (Chinatown walk, Little India walk or Kampong Glam walk to choose from)

After the walk, visit the Asian Civilisation Museum, Singapore Art Museum or Singapore Philatelic Museum on Friday evenings from 6pm - 9pm when admission is free. After museum visit, head to Clarke Quay or Boat Quay (the most hip night spots) for a nice time of relaxation at one of it's many riverfront restaurants or pubs.

Day 2 :
1. Visit Sentosa - Singapore's resort island. Before you go, check out the Sentosa website for special promotions where you can sometimes get a special package to visit most of the attractions at 40% discount. (Work out to be around US$34.70)
You can easily spend one whole day at Sentosa as there are many things to see and do. However, if you want to go on a zero budget Sentosa trip, you can hang out at one of the 3 beaches and visit the musical fountain at night before heading back to mainland Singapore.

Day 3:
Visit the Singapore Botanic Garden or one of the nature reserves in the day. Go for a little window shopping at the famous Orchard Road (Singapore's shopping street) and in the evening, catch one of the free performances at The Esplanade (Singapore theatre at the Bay) (check website for timing of free performances).

Monday, February 12, 2007

Mexico – Vacation in a Romantic Tropical Paradise

By Metodi Mladenov

SUMMARY: Mexico, bordered in the south by Guatemala and Belize and in the north by the United States of America, covers several thousand square miles and is divided into 31 states and the federal districts. The Sea of Cortes, the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico surround it.

Mexico, bordered in the south by Guatemala and Belize and in the north by the United States of America, covers several thousand square miles and is divided into 31 states and the federal districts. The Sea of Cortes, the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico surround it.

Mexico is rich in, history, traditions art and religion and offers a complete tourist infrastructure. Mexico is a diverse country that hosts one of the archaic cultures of the Olmecan tribe, around 1500 years BC.

Mexico is famous for its nice and warm people, art and archeology, unique food pyramids, museums, Haciendas, vast seashores, architecture and cities. The varied climate zones range from Snow Mountains in the Sierras to rainy jungles in the Southeast and desert in the Northwest.

Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel, Los Cabos and Patzcuaro, are the most commonly visited cities in Mexico that provide luxurious lifestyle and bonding with nature. According to WTO, Mexico is the 8th major destination for foreigner visitors.
Chichen Itza, Uxmal, EkBalam all bears rich history and heritage of the majesctic Maya civilization. San Miguel de Allende is another historic vacation destination that attracts tourists.
Landscape, Climate, People & Food

The Mexican landscape is a combination of desert zone, semiarid zone, temperate forests and tropical rainforests. High rugged mountains, high plateaus and tableland, low coastal plains are all found in the same country.

Mexico is monolingual, Spanish being the main language. However, this Spanish is different from the Castilian Spanish spoken in Spain. Mayan or Nahuatl, the native languages are still widely spoken in some regions.

Spicy food and Tequila shots are the attractions of Mexican cities. Enchiladas, Tacos, Tamales, Chicharron, tostadas, Pozole spices up every tongue that has a taste for new cuisines. "Platillo Tipico" is a local specialty not found everywhere is a variation, of a recipe.

"Michelada" is beer cocktail served in almost all the pubs of the country. Its usually beer mixed with lime juice. There are other variations called "cubana" that includes Clamato cocktail, soybean sauce, salt and a little bit of hot sauce.

The Culture
Mexicans are religious catholic people with somewhat relaxed sense of time. Respect Mexico's laws. Mexican culture is often accepting of hitchhiking and it is a common practice among Mexican young adults. Being the land of festivity and celebration Mexico celebrates: the Fiesta of san Sebastian, The fair of the 3 Kings, New year, Blessings of the Sea, Palm Sunday, Flower Fair, Fiesta of St. Mark the Evangelist, Fiesta of St. Isador the Farmer, National Ceramics Fair, Guelaguetza, The Day of the Virgin of Charity and Assumption Day, Celebration of San Miguel Arcángel, Annual Fiesta del Tequila, the Yucatan Bird Festival, Night of the Radishes and many other festivals to invigorate the local spirits.
Vacation Rentals

Vacation rentals are mostly situated in places that overlooks the sparkling blue ocean and white sand beach. There are Mediterranean villas, condominiums, residential homes, beach houses, and other types of residential properties available for vacation rentals.

Most location offers spectacular views of the sea, rocky tide pools, sometimes surrounding Desert Mountains, family owned jungle and palm tree estates facing the Caribbean’s. The heated pool, with swim-up seats dolphin fountains, are the luxuries and comfortable amenities provided to enjoy the surrounding nature.

All furnished insides with exclusive architecture, large living rooms, fully equipped bars, spacious rooms, studios, kitchen, private palapas, relaxing in the Jacuzzi cooling off in the pool and bird watching sipping margaritas are all the value additions to these vacation rentals.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Discovering Panama-A Retirement Paradise

By Mona Sutherland

SUMMARY: Panama is a great place to live and retire and is considered one of the most secure capital cities in the region, practically free from natural disasters. Its tropical climate has two seasons, the rainy and dry seasons. The entire year is usually like spring, with average temperatures ranging from 70ºF to 90ºF in the city.

Getting to Know Panama

The word “Panama” means “abundance of fish and butterflies.” In addition to the variety of wildlife, one will also discover in Panama an abundance of great opportunities to live, retire or invest.

The population of Panama is approximately 3.2 million and its territory approximately 29,157-square miles. Panama possesses a democratic government and, consistent with the governance model for democratic states, is divided into three branches: legislative, judicial and executive, commonly referred to as “separation of power.” Panama’s economy is very stable in part due to the circulating currency, which is the United States dollar. Furthermore, Panama possesses a first-rate banking system.

Panama is a great place to live and retire and is considered one of the most secure capital cities in the region, practically free from natural disasters. Its tropical climate has two seasons, the rainy and dry seasons. The entire year is usually like spring, with average temperatures ranging from 70ºF to 90ºF in the city.

Urban or Rural Retirement

Where to people want to retire? Some retirees may imagine their retirement in the country with a temperate mountain climate among vegetation, fresh breeze, beautiful rivers and a variety of flora and fauna. Others may want to spend their retirement lying on a white sand beach shaded by a palm tree from the vibrant sun, taking an occasional dip in the crystalline waters. Another option for retirees is to live in a high-energy city full of 5-star restaurants, casinos and commercial centers. Panama offers all of these options to the retiree. In Panama, the best of various worlds is concentrated in a warm, friendly country, perfect for retirement.

Quality of Life for the Retiree

The cost of living in Panama is moderate, and much less than in the United Status. Baby boomers can retire comfortably with a modest budget. Housing, public services, gasoline and other general expenses are accessible.

Many are surprised by the infrastructure in Panama City, as was George Bush on his official visit in 2005, commenting that he had not expected to find a modern city. Panama possesses the tallest buildings in Latin America, according the Web site http://www.skyscraperpage.com. Furthermore, from Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, flights leave everyday to important international destinations. In addition to a modern airport, Panama’s highway systems and ports are well structured.

In terms of services, Panama has achieved impressive developments in communications, such as cellular phone coverage, various long-distance providers, broadband Internet and satellite and cable television.

Panama possesses excellent medical facilities and, like all professionals in the field, adheres to high quality standards.

Legal Incentives for Retirees

The local laws offer multiple benefits for foreigners, both retirees and investors. Some of the incentives include:

• No taxes on income generated outside of Panama.
• Discounts for retirees on medicine, medical attention, restaurants, movie tickets, public services, airline tickets and accommodations, among others.
• Exoneration of taxes for a term of 10 to 20 years for the purchase of undeveloped real estate, depending on its value.

Panama welcomes retirees with open arms.
A survey by the Panamanian Institute of Toursim (IPAT) revealed that the thing that tourists and foreigners residing in Panama liked most about Panama is the people. Panamanian’s warmth, friendliness and hospitality have won a place in the hearts of those who visit, with many choosing to stay.

But, there are not words to describe all that Panama has to offer. Come check it out for yourself!

Friday, February 02, 2007

6-Days in the Winelands [Stellenbosch] of the Western Cape - South Africa

By Gerald Crawford

SUMMARY: The heart of South Africa's wine industry, Stellenbosch is a place of great beauty and culture that's steeped in South African tradition. The Stellenbosch Wine Route is arguably the country's most famous, and the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin area includes 106 cellars - most of which are open to the public. Enjoy a long day's wine tasting, and wine buying and you'll sip more than our great South African wines - you'll taste our South African way of life.

The heart of South Africa's wine industry, Stellenbosch is a place of great beauty and culture that's steeped in South African tradition.

The Stellenbosch Wine Route is arguably the country's most famous, and the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin area includes 106 cellars - most of which are open to the public. Enjoy a long day's wine tasting, and wine buying and you'll sip more than our great South African wines - you'll taste our South African way of life.

This is a self-drive holiday suggestion with a rental car.

Day 1:

Stellenbosch and the Winelands

We visited Stellenbosch wine attractions that boasts more than 106 cellars within a 25 km radius! We could only manage 4 in one day. Learn more through a guided cellar tour. Stellenbosch's cultural heritage is unsurpassed and is depicted in local art galleries, antique shops and the Village Museum. The town has many examples of fine Cape Dutch architecture and it is perhaps more desirable to discover "Stellenbosch on Foot". Cycle routes, hiking trails and horse-trails are found in and around the town.

Day 2:

Paarl, Wellington, Tulbagh and Ceres

The town of Paarl, is just 38 km from Stellenbosch, lies cradled in the Berg River Valley. It is renowned for its illustrious past, its unrivalled natural beauty, flourishing wine and fruit industry and gracious architecture. The 11 km long Main Street is dotted with historic buildings, shops, restaurants and charming places of accommodation, and is where the head office of the wine industry, the KWV, is situated. Drive on to the village of Wellington (11 km) and over the Bainskloof Pass, that in the days of old, was the only gateway northwards to Tulbagh (57 km) and Ceres (63 km). Tulbagh is a beautiful town that was restored to its original splendour, following the great earthquake of 1969. Ceres is essentially a fruit-growing area.

Day 3:

Strand, Gordon's Bay and Hermanus

The coastal route along the R44 will take you all the way through to Hermanus (98 km), but spend some time on the endless stretches of beach at the Strand (22 km) or stop awhile in the scenic seaside town of Gordon's Bay (29 km), with its selection of gift and shell shops, its harbour cafés and sheltered beaches. Hermanus is a holiday mecca renowned for its whale watching, particularly between June and October.

Day 4:

In and Around Cape Town

Only 48 kilometres from Stellenbosch, along the R44 and the N1, is South Africa's oldest city, Cape Town, affectionately known as the Mother City. Founded in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck, it is the parliamentary capital with a population of over 2 million. Some worthwhile places to visit are the pentagonal-shaped Castle, erected in 1666, the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the magnificent Two Oceans Aquarium, a trip in the cable car to the summit of Table Mountain and the bustling "flea market" at Greenmarket Square. Kirstenbosch, the National Botanical Gardens, stretches over 560 hectares.

Day 5:

Cape Peninsula Roundabout

The Cape Peninsula coastline is renowned for its expanse of pristine beaches, coves and tranquil bays, the best known being False Bay that forms a horseshoe from Cape Hangklip to Cape Point. The more scenic Peninsula drive is from Stellenbosch, along Strandfontein to Muizenberg from where you may continue your journey along the coastline to Simonstown (60 km), the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point (14 km). From here it's on to the spectacular beaches of Kommetjie (15 km). The drive over Chapman's Peak to Hout Bay (25 km) offers views of unsurpassed scenic splendour. Next stop is the World of Birds, with its more than 400 species.

Day 6:

Franschhoek, Worcester and Montagu

Drive along the scenic Helshoogte Pass to Franschhoek (35 km), a town renowned for its fine wine, exclusive restaurants and sidewalk cafés. The history of this French Huguenot settlement dates back to 1688 and its history can be viewed at the Huguenot Museum. From here, a 30 minute journey via the Franschhoek Pass brings you to Villiersdorp (33 km) and on to Worcester (47 km). Visit the KWV Brandy Cellars, the Wine Route and the Kleinplasie Living Open Air Museum. A visit to the Schools for The Deaf and The Blind are rewarding outings. Drive along rugged mountain roads with spectacular scenery, through the imposing Cogmanskloof Tunnel to Montagu (72 km). Enjoy the town's hot water springs, or one of the many hiking trails.

See the wonder filled country for yourself.