An African Safari Experience

If there is a great place for an African Safari Experience then it must be the Aberdares. The Aberdares are a mountain range located North of Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. All 483 km² of the Aberdares National Park is located in the ranges and it’s approximately 180 km North of Nairobi. The park, overwhelming in its beauty, is a total delight to savor. A three hour safari through the undulating Kenyan countryside will get you to the Aberdares National Park. Our tour guide informed me that the Aberdare Mountain Range was named after Lord Aberdare, who was President of the Royal Geographical Society in the late 1800's. Driving up to the Aberdares was truly refreshing and breathtaking. One minute the rain was pounding heavily and suddenly the weather eased us into a sunny and fresh atmosphere as we approached the National park itself. The rain in the Aberdare region is intermittent and heavy especially within the park itself. Occasionally the roads in the park are closed off when the rain in the park gets too heavy. The raindrops were the largest I have ever seen and they made a light thumping sound as they pounded the tour vehicle like petite arrows. How I now understand why the band TOTO lamented that they missed the rains in Africa in their 1980’s hit AFRICA. When the expansive African sky decides to let loose it does so with fervor and elegance. The perfect ambiance for kissing in the rain……….but I digress. I was temped to pelt out of the car and let myself loose in the rain. The Aberdares National Park was established in 1950 with the intention of protecting the Aberdare flora and fauna. Apart from other hotels, there are two game-viewing lodges. Game-viewing because a guest at these two hotels is able to view wildlife at night as they sneak in to lick some minerals and satiate their thirst at waterholes near the lodges. The two lodges are the Treetops Lodge and The Ark. Apart from cosy accommodation and game viewing, Treetops Lodge is historically famous as the place where in February, 1952, a young English girl while on an African Safari descended the tree house lodges as Queen Elizabeth II. Her father the King had died during the night. Nonetheless, this review focuses on the Ark Lodge. The Aberdares National Park boasts of flourishing dense forests that cover the slopes of the enormous ranges and provide a fitting backdrop for an extensive range of flora and fauna. The Ark shares the nestle of the Aberdares with diverse game, misty moorlands, lush forests and chilled rivers that cascade gloriously down the landscape. Game safaris into the depths of the Aberdares can also be arranged although those are a different itinerary form the game viewing trip to the Ark. Opened in November 1969, The Ark is chiefly meant for the close range viewing of wildlife. Guests to The Ark are first chauffeured to Aberdare Country club which is the base hotel of the Ark Lodge. The Aberdare Country Club is located a short distance past the entrance to the Aberdares National Park. The Country Club is fine-looking and set on lavish manicured lawns and gardens. After a sumptuous meal the guests are driven into the heart of the Aberdares National Park to the Ark Lodge. Most of the luggage is left at the Country Club for safe keeping and guests are only allowed small hand luggage for the overnight stay at the Ark. It’s advisable to carry personal effects like medicine/toiletries/wallets that are essential for an overnight stay at the Ark. The Ark is a tree lodge constructed in the shape of Noah's Ark and built to blend into the Aberdare vegetation and not to disturb the animals that come to the waterhole. The Ark has three terraces or ‘decks’ overlooking the Yasabara waterhole and salt lick. The decks which have balconies offer a terrific close-up view point. Photographs of sterling clarity can be taken from the various view points. Though, at night, guests are not allowed to use photographic flashlights because the flash unsettles the animals. A non-smoking ground-level bunker for more game viewing provides excellent photographic opportunities. This bunker has no glass barrier and there’s nothing between you, your camera lens and the animals! As if that is not enough, there’s another glassed-off, non-smoking lounge on the ground floor level. This glass enclave viewing area gives guests a life-size experience of the game. At 18.00hrs the crimson floodlights are turned on so that viewing goes on uninterrupted. Expect to see various animals within a few metres like the elephant, buffalo, rhino, bush bucks, giant forest hogs and Sykes monkey. It was interesting to see the elephant scratch the saltlick rock with its massive tusks and then proceed to crunch and munch the salt. When the Jumbo licked the salt to its liking it then proceeded to quench its thirst. I wonder how many litres of water it took for it seemed to stay a while at the waterhole. We were extremely fortunate to see a Rhino lick the salt with its lugubrious mouth. Some genets (small wild cats) played without a care around the waterhole and fed on moths and insects attracted by the lodge lights. The Ark is not a place to sleep because the animals keep arriving. An endless parade of elegance. There are bells in the cosy self contained rooms that chime softly to alert you when the big game appear. The number of rings lets you know exactly which animal has arrived since each animal is assigned a different number of rings. This allows one to choose whether to go and view the latest arrival. One can turn the bell off completely in case the urge to sleep overwhelms. The lodge staff provide hot water bottles which will usually be found snuggled between the beddings. The hot water bottles are especially inviting because the nights get really really chilly. Some rooms have windows that overlook the waterhole but I was not fortunate enough to have a room with such a window. Earlier during the day lots of unusual birds frequented the waterhole. They include Egyptian geese which cackled loudly, various species of ducks, herons and birds of prey. Other birds present in the park are the Scarlet tufted Malachite Sunbird which is mostly found in the moor lands, green Malachite Sunbird, the violet Tacazze, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, heron, kestrel, bee-eater, black African duck, doves, sacred ibis and the crowned eagle which feeds on monkeys. I never for a moment imagined that the dexterous monkey can fall prey to a bird. The monkeys that are present are the black and white colobus monkey, Sykes' monkey and the black faced vervet all swinging wildly in the thick foliage. Carnivores are represented by the Hyena, the elusive leopard and the lion. The Lions of the Aberdares have a more hairy mane that would put the manes of the lions in the savannah plains to shame. Other animals include reedbuck, dikdik, suni, waterbuck, bongo and duiker. Rarer animals like the Golden Cat and the forest antelopes can only be viewed by taking a safari into the Aberdares Park. When I eventually decided to go to bed I placed the hot water bottle between my thankful feet. The Ark Lodge is the best place to relish undisturbed views of wildlife that visit the waterhole. Meals are included in your stay and all were excellent, bar service is available as well. Dinner and breakfast are served in the main dining room, and on one of the viewing decks is a lounge and bar which remains open all night for tea and coffee. The Ark Lodge is wheelchair accessible. Children under the age of 7 are not permitted on The Ark unless on special 'Children’s nights'. The experience of game viewing is a unique and exclusive experience not to be missed.

Parasailing in Kerala

Parasailing is a sport for outdoor adventure sport lovers, involving a parachute and a boat. The person practicing parasailing is attached to a parachute and then tied to a motorboat, which drives off, getting, and keeping, the person off the ground. Parasailing is considered by many a hobby rather than a sport, since the person on the parachute has no control over movement and speed and therefore becomes simply a passenger. Some countries perform parasailing without a boat, by attaching the person to a land vehicle. This is, however, considered more dangerous, and only recommended to those who have some practice in parasailing beforehand. Parasailing can be practiced by anybody, as it does not require any specific skill except the ability to swim. Parasailing in Kerala Kerala, God's own country and also known as the land of water bodies as it is bordered by the Arabian Sea at one side and has an intricate mesh of lazuline backwaters, lakes and 44 rivers with their extensive tributaries and distributaries. Thus availability of such a large number of bodies of water make Kerala a fine destination for water sports and thrilling activities like Catamaran Sailing, Kayaking, Snorkelling, Wind Surfing, Canoeing and obviously Para Sailing. Such adventurous activities are arranged by numerous Beach Resorts and Sports club. Every beach offers different type of activities owing to the depth of the water and other favourable resources. Parasailing has gained great popularity among the youngsters. It is a perfect sport for those who are brimming with enthusiasm and zest for life, for those who are not afraid of heights and who are the lovers of risks. Best time-Parasailing can be done anytime except for monsoons. The Varkala Beach which is located about 51 km from Thiruvananthapuram, offers scuba diving, parasailing, deep sea fishing and windsurfing .The Alappuzha Beach also offers water sports activities. There are three kinds of parasailing- Platform Parasailing, Beach Parasailing and Winch boat Parasailing. The best season to enjoy parasailing in Kerala would be October to March. The skies are clear and cloudless, as the rain clouds have poured already. The temperature and flow of wind is really ideal to enjoy the ride and one can enjoy the pleasure of viewing the clear sky and the beauty of water below while parasailing. In Kerala there’s nothing quite like being winched out into the sky with the parasail billowing out behind you. You’ll rise one hundred metres into the air, and then the ride is up to you. Sit back and enjoy the feeling of being suspended in the air with nothing between you and the open environment, or ask for a wild ride where you’re unceremoniously dunked into the water before being hoisted back into the sky. If you're after a real thrill that will turn you into a human kite for a while, then parasling in Kerala is for you. You also don't need any sort of skill. Experienced operators will make sure you are strapped into your harness good and proper, and then all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride of a lifetime.

A Jamaica Travel Guide

Jamaica has always been a special place since Errol Flynn, Noel Coward, Ian Fleming made it famous over 70 years ago. It has always been the first place people will name when asked about an island in the Caribbean. In truth Jamaica has it all, which means a Jamaica Vacation or a Jamaica Honeymoon will be something extra special. Just what makes Jamaica extra special is the real question, and this Jamaica Travel Guide will try to supply some of the answers. There are beaches to die for, mountains, and the most incredible red sunsets anywhere in the world, but that by itself is probably not enough to make you want to take a Jamaica vacation or honeymoon. There is no doubt it is quite unlike other Caribbean islands close by in that it really does cater for a broad range of tastes. After all where else caters for everything from the idle beach bum to the wealthy, the honeymooner who wants isolation to the partygoer who is looking for an all action resort. Jamaica, regarded by many as the most beautiful Caribbean Island is the ideal place for a tropical vacation. When you look at the many differing types of people who go on holidays to the Caribbean, they all have different ideas of a perfect tropical vacation. When you look at Jamaica and see lushly covered mountains, waterfalls cascading down onto beautiful white sand beaches, exotic flowers, and activities to suit all. Jamaica is a well developed tourist island, so if you want to play tennis or golf you can, scuba diving isn’t a problem, and if you are a night owl then there is everything from piano bars to limbo shows. The only area that isn’t well developed is shopping, so husbands and men generally can be relieved to know that Jamaica is not a shoppers paradise – Yet!! Choosing when to travel to Jamaica is an important part of a Jamaica Travel Guide, and Jamaica really has an idyllic climate so it is a year round tropical vacation destination. The average temperature is 77degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 82 degrees in the summer. The coastal plains in the north get the benefit of the trade winds that blow from the Atlantic , and then there tends to be a breeze morning and evening caused by cooling and heating of the land. It rains in May, and from August to October, but to be fair it doesn’t rain every day, and the showers only last a couple of hours maximum. To make use of any Jamaica Travel Guide you need to know what type of tropical vacation you are planning. Do you intend to travel on your own, or as a couple, or in a group. Jamaica has a huge variety of places to stay , enough things to do to satisfy even the most diverse of tastes. It really doesn’t matter if you are a bunch of college students, honeymooners, or a family there is something for you. Getting married in Jamaica is very affordable, especially if you avoid the peak season from Late December to Late April when accommodation costs are at their maximum. The type of accommodation you are looking for will be available, unless you must travel at peak season when early booking is essential, but then Jamaica isn’t any different to any other Caribbean Island. Here you will find everything from Casual bed and breakfasts to inns with old world charm. There are super all inclusive resorts to luxury villas, in fact Jamaica has it all and more. Then there is the small issue of what do you want to see and do. You can easily spend a week sipping pina coladas on a beach or by a pool, lying in a hammock under a palm tree with a good book. On the other hand you could go scuba diving, or river rafting, horse riding, or play golf on world class courses. Jamaica has something for all in the way of attractions and activities to keep you as busy or as idle as you want to be. This Jamaica Travel Guide can only touch on this tropical vacation destination, but it is obvious that Jamaica is one unique and incredible Caribbean Island.

A Caribbean Honeymoon On A Small Island Off St. Vincent

Why you should consider Young Island Resort off the coast of Saint Vincent as the destination for your Caribbean Honeymoon A Caribbean Honeymoon spent on Young Island off the south coast of Saint Vincent could be just the little piece of heaven you are looking for. Young Island resort comes heavily recommended by everyone who has stayed there because this is a resort where you will get top class service, fantastic food, a very good wine selection, and last but not least peace, quiet, and tranquility. Be warned this won’t be a Caribbean Honeymoon full of the nightly Jump Up, or even television in your room. Young Island resort is definitely not like that, but caters instead for honeymooners, and discerning guests. For your Caribbean Honeymoon it is recommended that you have a cottage right on the beach, so that you can just walk out, go along a path and you hit the very nice fresh water swimming pool, which unusually for the Caribbean is open 24 hours a day every day. The back door takes you across the patio and onto the beach, which is cleaned every morning, and so it is absolutely spotless. You can snorkel off the beach, having borrowed the gear from the man who looks after guests down there, probably best described as the beach attendant. If you can book Cottage Number six which is a luxury cottage on the beach with a plunge pool, and behind the cottage hammocks and a gazebo. One of the best things in an hotel on any holiday are waitress served meals, in other words non buffet. This always denotes a quality resort which Young Island certainly is, and this type of service should give the reader a big tip if they are thinking of making a booking on Young Island for their Caribbean Honeymoon. The food generally speaking is amazing, and you can expect a lot of beautiful seafood including freshly caught crab, lobster, scallops, as well as lamb, steak, poultry. Meals are taken in little thatched gazebos, and the view from the tables is incredible. The meals were described by someone recently as absolutely scrumptious, including and especially the home made yoghurts at breakfast You may wish to be completely idle if this is where you are spending your Caribbean Honeymoon, but one bit of exercise you should take is to walk up to the top of the island. It may not be very energetic but the view is worth it, as is the walk along the beach at sunset and watch dusk at what is aptly called Sunset Point. The staff at Young Island have ready smiles, and are friendly and very helpful. The real beauty about Young Island resort is that it is small with not so many guests so you do tend to engage more people in conversation. This means you do meet some very interesting people, who are much like you because they too have chosen this superb Island resort. Young Island is beautiful and the perfect spot for a Caribbean Honeymoon. There are masses of brightly coloured flowers which only adds to the romantic atmosphere. For more information about St Vincent and the Grenadines go to http://www.caribbean-vacationspots.com/categories/St-Vincent-and-The-Grenadines/

I Love Touring Paris - The Fifth Arrondissement

The 5th arrondissement is on the Left Bank of the Seine River in central Paris. It is often known as the Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter) although it's been a long time since many have spoken Latin there. Its population is slightly under sixty thousand and the district provides almost fifty thousand jobs. It is fairly small; less than a square mile (about two and a half square kilometers). This is one of the oldest districts in all Paris and offers some attractions dating back to the time of the Romans who never called it the Latin Quarter. The Roman town Lutetia was built in the First Century BC. The Arenes de Lutece (Lutetia Arena) once held at least fifteen thousand spectators and considerably fewer gladiators. It was built in the First Century AD and included the longest Roman amphitheater. The 135 foot (over 40 meter) long stage hosted both plays and gladiator fights. There were probably animal cages as well, surely not for the plays. The upper level held the poor, the slaves, and women while the lower level was reserved for the big shots. Just in case the spectators got bored they did have a great view of the Seine River. The city was sacked by barbarians in the year 280 and some of its stone was removed to build up the defenses. The arena was subsequently transformed into a cemetery, and then filled with the construction of city walls in the early Thirteenth Century. The arena was more or less forgotten; nobody knew where it was but neighborhood kept its name. The arena was accidentally rediscovered in the 1860s during the construction of a streetcar depot on the site. The famous Nineteenth Century writer Victor Hugo played a major role in preserving these ruins. The area became a public square in 1896 and is open to the public daily and evenings in the summer. The Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) was established in 1980 by eighteen Arab countries and France. This Institute provides extensive information about the Arab world and promotes its cultural and spiritual values. The Institute also supports cooperation and cultural exchanges between France and the Arab world, especially in science and technology. In 1989 it won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The Jardin des Plantes is France's main botanical garden. It includes an aquarium, and a small zoo founded with animals from the royal menagerie at Versailles (not the two-legged variety). Its gardens include a rose garden, an alpine garden, an Art Deco winter garden, Australian and Mexican hothouses, and a maze. The Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle (National Museum of Natural History) was founded during the French Revolution. It was quite a center of scientific research. One of the winners of the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics, Henri Becquerel, held its chair for Applied Physics when he accidentally discovered uranium's radioactivity. Four generations of Becquerels held this chair from 1838 until 1948, which must be some sort of record. The Musee de Cluny, officially known as Musee National du Moyen Age (National Museum of the Middle Ages) is perhaps the most outstanding medieval building in Paris. It was the town house of the Abbots of Cluny, dating back to 1334 but was rebuilt in both Gothic and Renaissance style starting near the end of the Fifteenth Century. The Musee de Cluny has a fine collection of important medieval artifacts, in particular tapestries, Gothic sculptures, and illuminated manuscripts. Herman Melville mentioned this museum in his famous novel Moby Dick. The Thermes de Cluny are what remains of Third Century Gallo-Roman baths. Its best-preserved section is the frigidarium, the cold-water pool in which bathers dipped to close their pores after enjoyed the hot-water sections. Some of the original decorative wall painting and mosaics remain intact. These baths were poorly defended and probably destroyed by barbarians, those dirty barbarians, towards the end of the Third Century. The Pantheon (from a Greek word meaning all the Gods) was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. It sits on top of Montagne Sainte-Genevieve and overlooks all Paris. While this is a great-looking building the architect died before its completion, and not all his plans were followed. The building was intended to be a church in honor of King Louis XV's recovery, but the French Revolution intervened and the Pantheon was transformed into a mausoleum. In alphabetical order, some of the great buried here include Braille, Dumas, Hugo, Marat (French Revolution leader disinterred after little more than a year), Moulin (French Resistance leader), Sklodowska-Curie, Soufflot (Pantheon's architect), Voltaire, and Zola. The Latin Quarter is home to many universities and other centers of higher education, and naturally scads of bars, bistros, restaurants, and nightclubs. Some schools have relocated to more spacious quarters in other parts of the city or region, surely to the regret of their student population. Of course you don't want to tour Paris without sampling fine French wine and food. My article I Love French Wine and Food - A Maconnais (Burgundy) Chardonnay reviewed such a wine and suggested a sample menu: Start with Pate en Croute de Grenouilles au Bleu de Bresse (Frog and Bresse Blue-Cheese Pie). For your second course savor Poulet de Bresse a la Creme-Trompettes de la Mort (Free-Range Bresse Chicken in Creamy Sauce with Horns of Plenty Mushrooms). And as dessert indulge yourself with Ile Flottante (Floating Island, a Meringue Island in a Custard Sea.) Your Parisian sommelier (wine steward) will be happy to suggest appropriate wines to accompany each course.

Ten Things To Do In Rwanda

Rwanda, the land of one thousand hills and 'hundreds attractions' is an extraordinary place where serene scenery and placid people greet you at every juncture. Rwanda is safe and secure with an overwhelming renaissance of Rwandese national pride and cultural reconstruction. It is full of sights and delights, waiting to be explored. If Rwanda is on your travel list there is no better time to runaway to Rwanda...visit today you would want to stay! The country is well known mostly because of its horrible recent history and you might think that Rwanda should therefore be more the scope for No governmental organization than for travelers. Nowadays, nothing is less true. Rwanda has wonderful people, breathtaking beautiful lakes, challenging mountains, stunning scenery, perfect climate, rare species of apes, excellent roads, express buses, good and cheap food and beer, various accommodation options, fast internet, only few tourists outside the gorilla-homes, you will found it all in Rwanda, a safe and yet to be discovered backpackers haven! Because of its small size, Rwanda attractions are near each other and can be reached quite easily and safely. 1. KIGALI CITY: A NICE PLACE TO EXPERIENCE AN AFRICAN CAPITAL Kigali is an interesting mix of rural and urban town overflowing on juxtaposed hilly terrain. New construction is everywhere and large mansions stand side by side with mud brick huts and lean roads. It has a peaceful feel and the center is located upon the hilltop expanse. It feels safe and getting around is easy on foot or minibuses...many and new. For a bit more taxis can whiz you anywhere without breaking the bank. Kigali is a nice place to experience an African capital. 2. KGALI GENOCIDE MEMORIALS CENTER IN GISOZI During the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, over a million people were murdered. Some 250,000 perished on the streets and in the houses, churches and hospitals of Kigali alone. The Kigali Genocide memorial center contains ten mass graves- a site of burial for almost victims, who were killed in the Kigali region. After the genocide, as mass graves were being discovered around the city. It was decided that a single monument/ burial place should be created, where the victims could be laid to rest with dignity, this is now their final resting place. The memorial houses a children’s section, a particularly powerful experience to read about the children- how they lived, and how they died. Amongst other things, it traces how things came to being so bad, how the ideology of genocide emerged, how the tragedy could have been averted, and how the world ignored the signs and warnings repeatedly. Some of the survivors of the genocide have been trained as guides at the center. Open 10am to 5pm daily. Entrance is free but at the door there is a box for donation. The place is really heart breaking! 4. MOUNTAIN GORILLAS TREKKING A Mountain Gorilla Trekking is the pinnacle of all the wildlife experiences available in Africa and Rwanda is with no doubt the best place for this. People are limited to spend only one hour with the Gorillas and expect to hike for two to four hours to see them. These incredible primates are divided into four groups that have been habituated over the decades; it’s a thing not to miss in Rwanda. Don't miss spending an hour with these magical creatures. It does require planning in advance, and contacting the National Park or a local tour operator to check what the latest system they have implemented with regards to how you get a permit - but it is all worthwhile. Also, don't be put off by the price - a high price is needed to ensure that protecting the gorillas is economically sustainable for the local area. 5. MOUNTAINS CLIMBING The National park office offers guided climbs to the top of 2 volcano among the 5 of the Virunga chain, Visoke (3711m) and Karisimbi (4705m -the tallest). The climbs to the summits are not technical and can be done by fit hikers. The scenery is great! However, the trek to Karisimbi's summit is an overnight trek and should be prepared properly. 6. NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK This national park is a preserved part of rain forest which houses 13 species in all, including humankind's closest living relative the chimpanzee, as well as the handsome L'Hoest's monkey and hundred-strong troops of the delightfully acrobatic Angola colombus. The most important ornithological site in Rwanda, Nyungwe harbours almost 300 bird species of which two dozen are restricted to a handful of montane forests on the Albertine Rift. Please come with your car or book a tour with a local tour operator otherwise it is very hard to reach the place and get away. You can camp there and pitch a tent but you have to consider bringing all food and water with you as facilities are limited. The entry fee has recently been increased so check up the actual fares. 7. AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK Akagera is the best national park of Rwanda - very helpful park-ranger help to find you all animals in park - mainly, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, baboons, buffaloes, hippos and crocodiles. 8. RUSUMO FALLS Rusumo is a Marvelous and spectacular falls of the Akagera River, a part of the most distant headwaters of the river Nile. The falls is located in the Eastern part of Rwanda at the border with Tanzania. If you happen to cross the border with Tanzania at Rusumo don't forget to see the Rusumo falls. 9. THE BEAUTIFULLY LAKE KIVU The beautifully Lake Kivu is a large deposit of fresh water that marks the western border with DR Congo and one of the Great Lakes of Africa. The lake is in the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika. Beneath the lake lie vast reserves of approximately 55 billion cubic of dissolved methane gas which have not been exploited. Lake Kivu is a tourist center, safe to swim (but just ask locally to be completely sure). There are nice beaches, gorgeous landscapes and the sunsets are regularly stunning. There are some excellent places to stay on the Lakeside such as Kibuye and -especially-Gisenyi near the DR Congo border. 10. BUTARE CITY IN HUYE The most popular tourist attraction in Butare is the superb National Museum, which houses perhaps the finest ethnographic collection in East Africa. The rooms are spacious, without the excessive clutter of distracting memorabilia. This makes the well-labeled exhibits easy to appreciate and enjoy. Absorbing displays of traditional artefacts are illuminated by a fascinating selection of turn-of-the-century monochrome photographs, providing insight not only into pre-colonial lifestyles, but also into the subsequent development of Rwanda as a modern African state. Here the Intore dancers can be commissioned to perform, but this is not a good deal for a single traveler. If a group is present the price would definitely be worthwhile as shows are few and far between. mountain gorilla tour . ------------------------------------------------------- Fact about the Nyiragongo volcano in Goma Congo Nyiragongo volcano is located in Virunga National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, At around 19 kilometers of Goma, very close to Rwandan border, in a safe and easily accessible area. The Nyiragongo is one of Africa 's most dangerous and the most famous for its semi permanent lava lake. The volcano is also known to the people of Congo as a sacred mountain where an angry spirit is trapped, The volcano is still active and it has erupted several times throwing lavas toward the town of Goma and other neighboring villages. Any body knows about how long the volcano has been erupting, but since 1882, it has erupted at least 34 times, including many periods where activity was continuous for years at a time, often in the form of a churning lava lake in the crater. The volcano partly overlaps with two older volcanoes, Baratu and Shaheru, and is also surrounded by hundreds of small volcanic cinder cones from flank eruptions. Volcanism at Nyiragongo is caused by the rifting of the Earth's crust where two parts of the African Plate are breaking apart. A hot spot is probably also partly responsible for the great activity at Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. The lava emitted in eruptions at Nyiragongo is often unusually fluid. Nyiragongo's lavas are made of melilite nephelinite, an alkali-rich type of volcanic rock whose unusual chemical composition may be a factor in the unusual fluidity of the lavas there. Whereas most lava flows move rather slowly and rarely pose a danger to human life, Nyiragongo's lava flows may race downhill at up to 60 miles per hour (up to 100 km/h). This is because of the extremely low silica content. Hawaiian volcanic eruptions are also characterized by lavas with low silica content, but the Hawaiian volcanoes are broad, shallow-sloped shield volcanoes in contrast to the steep-sided cone of Nyiragongo, and the silica content is high enough to slow most Hawaiian flows to walking pace. The last known eruption was in 2002. The Volcano erupted and ajected a large cloud of smoke and ash high into the sky and spewing lava down three sides of the volcano. One river of lava flowed right through the center of Goma and into Lake Kivu , effectively bisecting the city. Hundred of people were burnt to death . At least 400,000 people fled their homes when the lava swept down the flanks of Mount Nyiragongo and through Goma's main street before pouring into Lake Kivu on the Rwandan border. The thousands of displaced, came back after three days and tried to rebuild their lives by erecting wooden huts on top of the lava. Somewhere beneath lay the remains of their homes. The lava had set like concrete. It was impossible to dig trenches for water supplies and drainage. Even to sink a hole for the simple African drop toilet wasn't possible. The sharp irregular stones made walking difficult and slashed the tires of cars and motorbikes. Lava dictated everything. It was the foundation for people's homes, their yards, the building blocks for yard walls and the surface of the roads. Buildings that had survived were submerged and set fast one story deep in it. Even if the 2002 eruption was described by many Congolese as the worse; But the 1977 was many times than it. The difference is that the first didn't destroy houses like the last one, but its burnt many peoples. On 10 January 1977, the crater walls fractured, and the lava lake drained in less than an hour. The lava flowed down the flanks of the volcano at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour on the upper slopes, overwhelming villages and killing at least 2000 people. Some reports quote much higher figures of up to several thousand people. The hazards posed by eruptions like this are unique to Nyiragongo. Nowhere else in the world does such a steep-sided stratovolcano contain a lava lake containing such fluid lavas. Efforts have been made to level the lava on the way to the lake, so that it can be used as a road. "I visited several volcanoes with different grades of activity before, but never saw its destructive powers in a way like this. The landscapes that it created are amongst the most bizarre I've ever seen" says one traveler. Let's hope the people of Goma, will finally reach a life without natural disasters and equally disastrous effects of political struggle!

Honeymoon In Belize At An Ambergris Caye Resort

A Honeymoon in Belize is becoming a popular option, and the hard part then is putting together a honeymoon package, after deciding where to stay. A good choice would be the Xanadu Island resort on Ambergris Caye. A Honeymoon resort benefits from being small, and Xanadu Island resort has only eighteen rooms, right on the beachfront within ten minutes walk of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye The kind of accommodation you might decide to take on your honeymoon package could well be Suite number two which is an oceanfront loft with views to die for. Get up early, about half past six, make a cup of coffee in the kitchen, go outside onto the deck, and watch the sunrise, and if you do this once, you’ll do it everyday. Ambergris Caye is a real island getaway, and Xanadu Island resort even more so. It is hidden on a beach lined with palm trees, and what you see from your dawn and daily outlook is the turquoise Caribbean, and the white line of the reef. The breakdown of the accommodations is a Studio, Loft, or 1,2,or3 bedrooms. Each suite is airconditioned, plus ceiling fans, cable Television, unlimited internet access, as if you’d want that on your Belize honeymoon!! Added to that hairdryers, safe, beach towels, and not forgetting your own private deck which is shaded from the sun. There is a long pier with a thatched shade at the end and a swimming platform, so you can snorkel over the hotel’s own man made reef. There is a lovely pool, and loads of hammocks and sunbeds around the pool and on the beach. The complimentary bikes and kayaks allow you to explore Ambergris Caye, and the bicycles are especially useful to take you into San Pedro to the great restaurants there. If your honeymoon in Belize isn’t to be just relaxing at the Xanadu, but you wish to be more energetic, then why not try Scuba Diving, sailing, fishing or take a guided eco tour to the rainforest.. In addition tours to Mayan ruins can easily be arranged. Whilst there is no restaurant at the resort, this won’t detract from your honeymoon vacation at all, after all who needs boring hotel restaurant food anyway. There are two local markets close by, so snack meals can easily be organised in the kitchen which is very well equipped. Some suggestions for feeding yourself are George’s for breakfast, Casa Picasso for dinner, Crazy Canuck’s Bar on the beach, and Monkey Bites for breakfast or lunch The management team at the Xanadu Island Resort go out of their way from even before you arrive for your honeymoon in Belize to ensure you have an enjoyable and stress free time. From the immaculately maintained property, well looked after rooms, nothing is left to chance, even ensuring flights and taxis are all there when you need them. Xanadu Island Resort on Ambergris Caye could give you the perfect honeymoon in Belize, and research shows that most people who have gone there for their Belize Honeymoon would return. For more information on a Honeymoon in Belize go to http://www.caribbean-vacationspots.com/categories/Belize/

France Map - Great Holiday Ideas

Be ready to get impressed on your travel France as the country has everything that one could expect from a holiday. Amongst the five top most tourist destinations in the world, facts about France let you see why it is so. It has the fashion capital Paris as its capital city, beautiful nature, beaches, the mountain scenery, and monuments all make it a great tourist destination. Moreover, the experience of visiting the country can vary as to the place you select for your holiday. Holidays on a beach, in the countryside, the big cities to the beautiful villages, all have something on offer for its visitors. There is plenty to explore and discover, loads of activities to get involved in and certainly life long memories to take back home. A great destination, France provides number of holiday ideas a few are mentioned here. • Adventure Holidays Take on an adventure holiday to see the real France. For those who love adventure travel, adventure holidays can be a fantastic option. Get a taste of the place, meet the local people when you head on an adventure holiday. On offer are all kinds of different activities that one can pick from like from the extreme sports to the more ordinary. These holidays come in complete package holidays, and tailor made for adult only adventures or for a family holiday that can cater for all ages of children. It’s the horse riding that catches your fancy, mountain biking or is it the hiking, you can find all this and much more for your holiday. • Cycling holidays With cycling being a national pastime in France, the organized cycling holidays are becoming very popular. These holidays provide with an opportunity for the visitors to cycle their way into the country and explore the region while having a go at the sport. This year round activity is a very popular among all ages and weather has a big role to play. In addition there are quite and beautiful countryside, with number of roads available for cycling. The well-maintained roads provide excellent cycling areas for cycling. Tour de France, the greatest cycling event in the world takes here in the country. For not the regular cyclists there are organized cycling trips, which combine cycling with accommodation, visits to the areas along the route. • Skiing holidays If you are on travel France for a skiing holiday then you will find the country has some of the best ski areas and ski resorts. France is a very popular destination among the tourists and if you skiing is your cup of tea, then Alps provide with excellent ski areas. With many ski classes made available for the tourists who are beginners, everyone can enjoy. Tourists can choose from a wide range of ski accommodation from ski resorts, private ski chalets, chalet apartments to hotels. The ski accommodation meets the needs of all skiers. • Golfing holidays France can turn out to be an excellent choice for a golfing holiday for both the professional and amateur golfers, as the country has a variety of golf courses. Playing golf amidst snow-capped mountains or Mediterranean views, it is a wonderful experience. France is a fantastic destination for golf holidays all the year round and plenty of sunshine adds on to the charm of the place. There is a lot of choice as the France map is dotted all over with golf courses. With the specially designed golf holidays, wherein one stays in a luxury villa, a private golf course and this blend of comfort and quality with golf is a quite experience. • Holiday on a River Cruise With the varied landscape that France has, a river cruise holiday is a perfect way to enjoy the countryside, the history and the culture as one travels from one place to another. It is the right idea for a relaxing and a different kind of holiday. A river cruise lets you experience, what you can never otherwise see, with every region having its own specialty and beauty. • Camping holidays Travel France for a great camping holiday, which is a great holiday idea for fun and adventure. In the recent years, camping has caught on with the tourists and with thousands of campsites available, it is all the much easier to embark on a camping holiday. One will get easily spoiled for choices, with so many to choose from, right from hiring your own tent, caravans, or even a mobile home, is a great way of touring the country. The campsites are well maintained and organized, offering all the facilities for relaxing and entertaining holidays. Wherever you travel a France map would be a handy tool and should be your accompanist all through your holiday.

Diving Holidays For Single Travellers

Sharm El Sheikh offers some of the best sites for diving and snorkeling in the world. More Europeans learn to dive here than anywhere else in the world and the resort is ideal for diving holidays for singles, beginners and experienced divers alike. The climate is hot, the water warm and clear and great for diving any time of year. However if you would like to dive in extra warm waters it is best to visit between the months of June and September. Sharm El Sheikh lies at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula in the Red Sea. There are over forty dive sites in the region and nearly fifty dive centers. With such an abundance of dive sites on offer the variety of diving is amazing. From reefs, coral formations, walls and wreck, the dive sites are diverse and teeming with a range of marine life including jacks, snappers and barracudas. With its pristine coral reefs and countless species of fish Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran are amongst the more famous dive sites. Ras Mohammed has some steep coastal cliffs that plunge underwater to depths of over seventy metres. The Straits of Tiran have four circular reefs surrounded by steep drop offs. More advanced divers can enjoy world class wreck diving by taking a day boat to Thistlegorm, if you are willing to brace the four hour boat trip or the slightly more bearable two and a half hour trip to Dunraven. For divers Sharm El Sheikh offers unparalleled access to some of the best diving in the world. The beauty of diving is that it is a sport that can be enjoyed by individuals or as part of a group. Complete beginners can begin with an ‘intro dive’ to get them accustomed to diving in the Red Sea. Reassuringly all the dive centres have qualified English speaking instructors to accompany each dive, providing and running diving courses and diving experiences. Experienced divers who already have their PADI certificate can enjoy organized dives with fellow divers. Aside from being one of the greatest diving destinations in the world, Sharm El Sheikh also has plenty more to offer its visitors. When you are not diving there are other watersports to keep you occupied such as swimming and parascending. Simply relax in the cosmopolitan resort or take the opportunity in between dives to do some desert exploration and visit biblical sites. Outside of the water test your skill and luck on the casino floors or for those that love to shop take a leisurely stroll through bazaars and shopping centres in search of curious and exotic finds. If you are a night owl you will get the chance to boogie the night away and meet like minded people. Diving holidays to Egypt are available with most major operators but if you are traveling alone it may prove difficult to avoid paying a single supplement. However there are a few tour operators that specialise in offering diving holidays for singles, catered to the single unattached traveller.

Welcome To Miami

Miami is a sub-tropical city, climatically very different from most places in the USA. The city is a cosmopolitan playground that attracts more visitors than any other US destination. Miami appeals to holiday makers wanting warm sun, clean sandy beaches, a laid back lifestyle, sophisticated entertainment in clubs and bars and a mix of art, music and international cuisines. Travelers visiting Miami may actually spend their time in Miami Beach, a separate municipality situated 4 miles (6 km) across Biscayne Bay from downtown Miami. The combined greater Miami area includes several ethnic neighborhoods such as Little Havana and Little Haiti. The population of the Greater Miami Area is a 50% mix of assorted Hispanic and the diverse cultural mix is evident in Latin American languages, cuisine and music throughout the city and. Dining in Miami offers the opportunity to visit a different ethnic restaurant every night and enjoy diverse international cuisines. Once upon a time, Miami attracted mostly retirees turning their backs on snowy, colder climates but nowadays it attracts the ultra-chic glitterati, cashed up yuppies, the boating and yachting fraternity and Cuban immigrants. ** Miami Vacation Attractions Greater Miami is a great base for access to several major Florida holiday attractions. The northern tip of the Florida Keys is just off shore, the Everglades are just a short distance inland and the affluent enclaves of Palm Beach and Boca Roton are just a short distance along the coast. The Miami Beach Promenade, aka South Beach, is a favorite spot for cyclists, skaters, joggers and skateboarders. This is the most instantly recognized beach front location in existence and the place to be seen if appearances are important. Many of the early Miami buildings from the early 1900's have been restored. A walking tour around the South Beach precinct is recommended to see the spectacular rejuvenation of the 1920's buildings in the Art Deco Historic District. Miami boasts fine museums, galleries, historic gardens, zoos, sports stadiums, spring fed natural pools and of course, the ever present golf courses. Greater Miami has lots to brag about when it comes to world class golf courses and is home to some of the most testing courses in the world. ** Miami Vacation Cruises The busiest cruise ship center of any city in the USA is the Port of Miami with holiday cruises to the Caribbean and Latin America making up the bulk of these cruises, but there are also cruises to all parts of the world. Cruises are usually well equipped for gambling and casinos open as soon as the ship passes into international waters. Non stop food, games, movies and onboard activities ensure guests are always entertained and well fed. ** Miami Hotels & Resorts Miami visitors are offered a range of hotels, resorts and vacation rentals to satisfy all tastes and budgets. There's accommodation and prices to suit everyone, ranging from the restored boutique hotels in the Art Deco and South Beach district, modern glass and chrome high rise hotels, budget hostels, beach front condos and villas, serviced apartments, inns and guesthouses... it's your choice. ** Miami Vacation Transport Miami International Airport is one of the major airports in the USA, and a major hub city for American Airlines. Major domestic airlines such as Delta, Northwest/KLM, United and US Airways and Continental all servive Miami as well as several economy carriers. There are two Amtrak trains that run daily from New York down to Miami and the travel time is approximately 27 hours. The Metro-Dade Transit Agency runs two Miami rail systems, one being Metrorail which is a modern elevated commuter train that connects downtown Miami and the southern suburbs. Metromover is an elevated line looping the downtown precinct and connecting with many of the important attractions, shopping and business districts. Tri Rail is the south Florida commuter train service that connects Miami with North Palm Beach and all centers in between.