Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
Feb
25
Posted under
Travel For those people interested in going to festivities like I do, here are some festivities in Barbados you shouldn’t miss.
This is a week long celebration of Barbados for its anniversary. This festivity celebrates the first
settlement in Holetown last February 1627. The festivity started February 17 and ended February 24, 2008. I guess this is one celebration we will have to look forward to next year. But don’t worry there are still more festivities we can look forward to.
This festivity features a collection of music including classical, opera, jazz, Latin and Caribbean. The celebration started last February 23 and will end on March 15 of 2008. It will be held at the Holders Plantation House. So if you are a music lover, don’t miss it!
- Amistad’s Atlantic Freedom Tour
Celebrated on March 28 to April 5 of 2008, this shows when Freedom Schooner Amistad lands in Barbados for the historical recognition of the Atlantic Slave Trade’s abolition’s 200th anniversary.
This is a two day festivity celebrates the local fishermen’s contribution to the island. The Oistin Fishing Village holds this annual celebration traditionally during Easter weekend, which would be March 22 to March 24 this year. They will have competitions such as fish boning, boat racing,crab racing, and the most popular fishing.
It is a popular festivity done each year that gospel artists wouldn’t miss. The Artists from United States, UK, and Caribbean are always present during this celebration which will be held from May 19 to May 26 of this year.
This is again a celebration for music lovers, a two week festivity for Celtic Music Lovers. This year, it would be held on May 2008 and it features Welsh Choir and the Scottish Folk dancers.
Feb
12
Posted under
Travel I was so amazed when I went to South Carolina last weekend. I never thought that there
could be such a beautiful place in that state. I was breathless and speechless when I was proven wrong by my friends. I was arguing that there could never be a place that I would love as much as I love the Caribbean. I was incorrect.
My friends dragged me to Charleston of South Carolina because I didn’t want to believe them. They told me “You should experience it, if you don’t want to believe us then might as well come and see it for yourself”. And so I did. To my surprise, I
was blown away by the beautiful architectural artistry of the cities wall-to-wall mansions. They had cobbled stone streets, ancient cemetery, and iron gates.
We even spent time on the beach of Kiawah 
to watch the moon rise. It was quite an experience. We stayed at the Orient-Express Hotel ; the rooms are all so stylish and some rooms are like the ancient Charleston mansions. During the daytime activities, we went to the beach. And enjoyed kayaking, fishing, and watching the dolphins play around. At the end of our tour, we got satisfied from the relaxing Spa treatment.
Feb
08
Posted under
Travel
A lot of us usually get lost when we go to a different country. We usually hire a cab to take us to our destination; but let’s face it; it’s not at all cheap. I’ve looked up some of the traveling services available in Korea. Hope this helps you when you visit Korea.
I learned that Asiana Airlines and Korean Air handle domestic flights. A domestic destination usually just takes about an hour from Seoul. They use Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport for the domestic travels. It is one way to travel easier from one city of Korea to another.
- Local and City Bus Services
Traveling using the local and city bus is the least expensive way to go around the city or to the towns of Korea. They have this intercity bus network that connects all cities and towns of the country. It is quite easy to use since the buses running from the city to the suburban cities are numbered according to their route. The fare ranges from $0.52 to $1.57 in US dollars or 500 to 1,500 won.
- Long Distance Express Buses
Unlike the local bus that has a regular stops within the cities; the long distance express buses has a certain stop that goes directly to your destination. This has more expensive deluxe bus seats, where you can have an access to a mobile phone and an ability to watch movies. The deluxe bus only has three seats. But don’t worry, they also have the regular bus which is less expensive, this bus has four seats side by side. The long distance express bus connects you from one major city to another major city.
They have this KORAIL (as what the Koreans call it), short for Korea Railroad. KORAIL
operates three kinds of trains, the super-express, express, and the local. It is interconnected in a nationwide network of cities. The super-express train connects Seoul to the cities of Busan, East Daegu, Mokpo, Iksan, and Gwangju. But for most famous destinations in Korea, it can be reached thru a single or direct transfer using the express train. The local trains are the ones that have the frequent stops from within the cities.
As for all the countries, the subway is the most convenient and easiest way to travel. The
subway of Korea offers the safest, easiest, fastest, most comfortable means of transportation from the main cities of Korea. From Seoul it is linked to the other intercity or satellite cities in Korea. The train takes about 2 to 3 minutes of interval during the peak hours and 4 to 6 minutes in non-peak hours. The fare takes only about 900 won or $0.94 US dollars.
This is one way to travel where you can appreciate the beauty of Korea. It’s the most pleasant way to see Korea. It will take you from one island to another; the routes are from Busan to Jeju-do Island, Pohang and Ulleungdo Island, and Mokpo and Hongdo Island.
Feb
04
Posted under
Travel
I was with my friends and my girlfriend in Mexico last week, and we just experienced the greatest Spa treatment ever in our entire lives. We went to Puerto Vallarta and stayed at Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort . Since I won the bidding for their 6-night package for two; I went with my girlfriend, and my friends tagged along. Grand Velas gives this ultimate all inclusive vacation including a very exceptional dining and hotel accommodations.
We enjoyed playing golf and some other water sports. We all went shopping, sightseeing, and we did a lot of activities such as scuba diving, sailing, whale watching, and deep sea fishing.
They have an ocean view restaurants where they have innovative cuisine, tranquilizing ambience, a very artful presentation, and we had a very exceptional culinary experience.
After all that fuzz, we tried their most popular Mexican Sensational Spa. They say it is really world class, so I wouldn’t want to miss it. They have body scrubs and peeling, body wraps, bath therapy, massage therapy, hand and feet care with Day Spa rituals. I tried their massage therapy and Oh Man, I just loved it! It was something different; it is very hard to explain. All I can tell you is to try and experience it for yourself. Your money will be all worth it, no single cent is going to be wasted.
Jan
31
Posted under
Travel
I’ve been to Hawaii and I enjoyed my 2 weeks of stay there. I wanted to share the fun experience I had in Hawaii. I have visited a lot of beaches and places in Hawaii during my stay, but only a few captured my heart. Here are the top 5 beach that I can recommend for you guys to visit in Hawaii.
1. Big Island, Waikoloa Beach
Found on the Big Island’s of Kohala Coast. This beach amazed me with the exquisitely
landscaped walking paths from ancient fishponds to an aurulent sand beach bordered by a dancing palm trees. The palm trees looks like its dancing to the beat of the waves. Contemporary homes driven by historic plantation design are very popular in Kohala Coast. You can walk from Waikoloa Beach Villas to Anaehoomalu Bay, and it is very near Kings’ Shops where you can find high-end shopping boutiques, as what they call it the one-stop shopping center. It has resort fashion, art galleries, and a lot of souvenir stores. On the border of Waikoloa Beach Villas is the Beach Golf Course where you can enjoy playing with your golf buddies.
2. Poipu Beach, Kauai
To be seen at the south shore of Kauai with yellow sand crescents. The beach goers enjoy snorkeling, hiking, swimming, kayaking, scuba diving, surfing, mountain biking, horse-back riding, and wading in this island. Surfing for beginners is most appropriate here since it has perfect wave-breaks. Swimming and snorkeling can be enjoyed in the calm waters near the rocky points. People can also enjoy the use of the golf club and tennis courts here. Kaui brings a romantic vision for the honeymooners and for those who wants to have a memorable moment of marriage.
3. Shipwreck beach, Lanai
It is not a typical swimming beach, other people may enjoy getting tanned by the beach, but
some people would prefer going to Shipwreck beach. Here you can enjoy the nice view of Molokai and Maui, green sea turtles and whales, World War II Liberty Ship, and the Po’aiwa Petroglyphs. The shipwreck is found to be made of lava rocks, boulders, sand, and washed-up timbers.
4. Ka’anapali Beach, Maui
Found to be the most famous beach in Maui, 2 miles
south of whaling town of Lahaina. There are a lot of activities we can indulge ourselves into, like snorkeling in crystal clear waters, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking, or jet-skiing. It is the most populated beach in Hawaii. For surfers, surfing can only be enjoyed on a seasonal basis. Sunsets are found to be most beautiful in Ka’anapali. It is said to have the elegant hotels in Hawaii, has nice accommodations, and shopping centers.
5. Waimanalo Beach Park, Windward Oahu
The most beautiful beach in Oahu; where families can have picnics and barbecues in the
shaded areas right next to the beach. Bodysurfing, swimming, and boogie boarding are the activities that we can enjoy doing here. We can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the coastal mountain ranges of Oahu and Manana Rabbit Island.
I hope you’ll enjoy your stay in Hawaii as much as I did. Some of the beaches may be fun for me and may not be fun for you so also try to visit some of the other beaches.
Jan
29
Posted under
Travel
I am planning to a trip to Singapore next week. I am wondering what I should expect to see in Singapore. And so I tried to check it out using the internet. And I am so amazed that Singapore can be unique as they are. They have so many cultures, arts, architecture which I enjoy the most seeing, and cuisine. I heard that Singapore has a friendly neighborhood, “the most welcoming people they met” as how they describe them.
A variation of nationalities are said to be found in Singapore; Chinese, Malays, Indians, and Eurasians are usually found to inhabit this country. That is why they are called the Garden City or
Instant Asia. They have 60 international airlines, and a new convenient way to travel using the Changi Airport Mass Rapid Transit from their airport to their islands. I also learned that they have public transportations like buses and taxis. I even learned that smoking in public places is against their law. And for first time offenders, they have to pay $1000 Singaporean dollar. Whew, it’s good thing I am not a smoker. I was told to bring summer clothes since it is warm in Singapore. So I decided to bring just my shirts and jeans. At least now I know that I don’t have to bring my bulky jackets with me.
Jan
23
Posted under
Travel
I’ve visited a lot of countries already. And you can’t just enter their grounds without abiding by their laws or the regulations that they require. Unfortunately, there are a lot of diseases we can acquire while traveling. That’s the main reason why the government of that certain country would require you to get vaccination; it’s for your own good and their country’s. Like for the person who loves to travel to tropical countries, they would need to get vaccinations against hepatitis, yellow fever, polio, diphtheria, typhoid fever, and a lot more other diseases.
First, obtain information about the country you plan to visit, and check what vaccine they would require. Also, consider the risk of exposure; for example, if you are not going to
the rural places and don’t expect to get exposed to the disease, then maybe you don’t have to get the vaccine. But of course, if you really want to be sure, might as well get it than be sorry afterwards. Although preventive medicine has been proven to be successful, still it is not 100% sure you won’t acquire a disease when you get vaccinated. At least you took the liberty of being precautious in preventing a disease.
Prevention is not only thru vaccination but also by educating yourself to how a disease is being acquired. Polio, hepatitis A and typhoid can be avoided by eating uncontaminated food and drinking clean water. These days immunization is not that mandatory, yellow fever vaccine is only required if you are traveling to South America, Africa, and Asia. Set up an appointment with your doctor at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to your travel since the effectiveness of these vaccines require a certain period of time before it gets activated. For pregnant woman, make sure that you get checked by your obstetrician before traveling, and if a necessary immunization is
required let your physician know about it.
Let me give you some of the popular destinations that might require you to get vaccinations.
· Australia - although this country does not have yellow fever risk, the government still require the person entering their country to get yellow fever vaccination if you are from a country that has yellow fever or if you are passing by a country that has one. They would require a proof you’ve obtained a vaccination.
· Canada - they require the routine vaccinations, such as MMR vaccine, DPT vaccine, and the other childhood vaccines. Also, vaccination against hepatitis B.
· China - routine vaccination is also required, Hepatitis A and B vaccines, typhoid for those who might get exposed to infected food and drink, rabies, Japanese encephalitis,
· Egypt - same as in China, they require routine vaccination, Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies, and polio.
· France - routine vaccination, hepatitis B for people who might get exposed with blood or body fluids, person who have sexual contact with local population, and rabies for people who plan to go to nature trips.
· Guam - again, routine vaccination, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid vaccine.
· Hong Kong - since this country has been exposed to SAR, then you would need to have the routine vaccinations, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and Japanese encephalitis.
There are actually a lot more preventive medicine you should be educated on. My advice is get checked and get shots or boosts for your own protection.
Jan
21
Posted under
Travel
I have traveled a lot when I was young. My parents love to travel, as far as I could remember, we have been traveling every single opportunity we can get. I can say that I grew up on the road. And I have adapted that passion for traveling from my parents. I travel almost anywhere I like, whether I am alone, or with my friends, relatives or my family. I never pass on a chance to have a vacation.
I try to get the best travel deals that I can. Vacation packages are much cheaper, convenient, and
easier to get. And it is more fun to travel with someone, better than traveling alone. Take it from me, I’ve done it so many times and it is no fun. But sometimes I have no choice but to go alone since not all people like to travel as much as I do or some of my friends are not available during the time I have a chance to take a trip. Don’t get me wrong, traveling alone can also be fun. You get to meet other people, go places you’ve never been, you know sometimes your companion don’t want to go to a certain place since they have been there before and they don’t want to waste their time going to the same place.
Hi! Matthew Lawrence here! A 26-year-old architect and gamer by heart. I hope you like this new website. I'll be writing mostly about exercising, fitness, and of course, games. I usually update every 2 days during the weekdays so stay tuned!
