The selective traveller seeking one of the quality Maldives island resorts will find an ideal choice in Naladhu Maldives. This superior Maldives hotel offers well-furnished interiors and courteous hospitality to meet the demands of any visitor. Travellers to the Maldives should make it point to explore the capital Male. There are numerous places of interest, and shopping in the vibrant markets is always an attraction. There are also many monuments and buildings of historical and cultural interest. The numerous streets are pleasant to explore, and you will find exotically appealing goods as well as traditional Maldivian foods which are always a delight to sample.
Month: December 2012
A Thrilling Swim with Gentle Giants
Located on the Indian Ocean, just south of Sri Lanka, is the island nation of Maldives. Comprising of over 1,000 small islands, Maldives is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Asia owing to its beautiful tropical scenery, pristine coastal features, and thriving hospitality and tourist industry. It is also home to a variety of cultural and leisure attractions, making it a fun and exciting destination.
Since Maldives is known for its wonderful beaches and turquoise waters, aqua activities are quite the highlight, and one of the most thrilling and mesmerizing underwater experiences offered by Maldives is swimming with Whale Sharks. A most exciting and sought after activity on most tourists’ Maldivian “to do lists”, swimming with these gigantic fish is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Whale Sharks are the largest species of fish in the oceans, and are known to grow up to 40 feet and weigh over 47,000lbs. Although these giant fish are a species of sharks, they are far from violent and aggressive. On the contrary, they are gentle and timid creatures with a tendency to be playful or friendly with scuba divers and swimmers. Dotted with unique white spots and lines on its body, whale sharks are magnificent creatures, and swimming with them is truly a wonderful experience. Many local scuba diving centres in Maldives offer the opportunity to swim with these large sharks, and even accompany you on the dive so that you have a safe but memorable experience.
Divers have been advised to resort only to passive interaction with these gentle giants of the water, because any overly active action can be mistaken as a sign of aggression and scare them away. What is more fascinating about swimming with whale sharks in the Maldives is that you will also get an opportunity to witness the truly stunning beauty of the many coral reefs and diverse marine life that exist beneath the surface of the waters. Thus, for a thrilling and exciting underwater experience include swimming with whale sharks to your list of things to do in Maldives.
Tucked away on the tip of the South Male Atoll is Adaaran Club Rannalhi, a luxury and tranquil Maldives resort. Offering accommodation in a plush Standard Rooms and elegant Water Bungalows, this reputed Maldives hotel also provides a host of wellness, relaxation, and leisure facilities and amenities, making it ideal for a soothing and memorable stay.
Dart Stables- Gear up and ride across the valley
Queenstown is one of the top holiday destinations in New Zealand and its perfect picturesque landscapes will make you realize why it is considered so. Make your holiday a relaxed and a peaceful one by finding a convenient Queenstown hotel accommodation which promises you all modern comforts. Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview is one such New Zealand Queenstown hotel recommended by most of the travellers to the city. The best way to explore the scenic beauty of Queenstown is by riding across Glenorchy and Te Wahipounamu on a horseback. Dart Stable is popular among the travellers to the city for offering unforgettable memories of horse riding. You can watch horses of numerous breeds at the Dart Stable while riding across exciting treks in Queenstown.
Water Sports in Naladhu
On your visit to the world famous tourist destination Maldives there is a plethora of activities to enjoy. If you choose to stay at a Maldives hotel such as Naladhu Maldives, then be sure to indulge in various available water sports. Maldives Island resorts such as this provide ease in finding opportunities for taking part in water sports such as kayaking, surfing, wakeboarding and more. Go water skiing over emerald waters, kayak to a desert island nearby or even take a seaplane photo flight during sunset when in Naladhu. You will find ideal surfing sites only quick boat ride away from the island.
Water Sports in Abu Dhabi
If you are on a luxury holiday in Abu Dhabi, water sports are a must-try exciting activity. After an adventurous outdoor spend the day, what you need is a luxury Abu Dhabi resort to relax and unwind. Located in the heart of the city, Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara is an ideal place among the many other Abu Dhabi beach hotels to enjoy a luxury stay after an exhausting day. Water Sports in Abu Dhabi is a popular activity among the many travelers to the city. The country has the perfect climate which suits the outdoor water sports such as jet-skiing, kayaking, wind surfing, snorkeling and diving. Abu Dhabi also hosts many water sports events throughout the year and most of these events cater to the international water sports enthusiasts all around the world.
Motor Yacht Rides in Maldives- A must experienced motor ride
Caribbean yacht rides have always been the widespread choice and most people’s dream vacation but lately a cluster of small islands have slowly established themselves as an equally popular destination for this activity. An archipelago of 1,190 coral islands, the Maldives with its renowned beaches, jade green to blue waters and spectacular marine life, its abundant mysteries and adrenaline pumping adventures, is the perfect paradise to explore from aboard a yacht.
Though now considered a recreational activity, motor yachts were initially used by the Dutch Navy to chase pirates in low waters. In fact the origin of the term actually goes back to an early usage of the Dutch word meaning ‘hunt’. Motor yachts can be categorized into 5 types. Day cruiser yachts are the very basic options and have no cabin space or spare amenities while luxury yachts are the other extreme and are equipped with all modern amenities, have more space and luxurious finishing. Weekend yachts fall in between and have one or two cabins, cruising yachts are designed to allow living aboard for a considerable amount of time and sport fishing yachts are more for those who pursue fishing seriously.
A holiday on a yacht requires quite a fair amount of planning in advance. After carefully deciding on the type of yacht you desire; a decision that should be based on your duration aboard, number of people accompanying you as well as facilities you want, the sailing route should be figured out. If you are sailing the waters of the Maldives, then Bandos Island, Felidhoo, Ari Atoll and Dhangeti are some of the places that you should definitely drop by to. The feeling of going on your own little journey of exploration, aboard a yacht, where all you can see is miles and miles of blue waters, is so addictive that you will definitely come back for more.
For those of you who are wary of staying at sea for a long time, the numerous Maldives Island resorts are an equally attractive accommodation option. A hideaway with unexpected delights everywhere, Naladhu Maldives, will make your vacation that much more memorable. This luxurious Maldives hotel offers a truly unforgettable stay on an island paradise where you can get away from it all.
Family Adventures
When you are looking for a family getaway this vacation, there cannot be any place better than Family Adventures in Queenstown. The place has numerous activities in offer to keep the whole family occupied and content. Ideally located Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview provides perfect Queenstown hotel accommodation for the holidaymakers who are looking for convenient hotel within the vicinity of the city’s many attractions. This New Zealand Queenstown hotel offers a luxurious stay and a peaceful sanctuary after tiring outdoor adventure pursuits. You can engage in sightseeing trips, adventurous excursions such as rafting and cycling. Sightseeing in Queenstown is an exciting activity as the city is steeped with history. Family Adventures will promise you a memorable visit to Queenstown.
Duolun Culture Street- Cultural Awakening
Duolun Street in Shanghai was originally constructed in the early 20th century and went by the name of a long forgotten British missionary. It came into its own in the 1920s and 30s when the writer Lu Xun and other progressive writers of the time like Mao Dun, Guo Moruo and Ding Ling moved into the area gathering other similar literary types around them making the street a cultural and literary centre. Doulun Street was opened to the public as Culture Street in 1998 and is the place that people come to, to find links with China’s pre revolutionary cultural scene. Located north of the Bund the once lavish homes and shops in this 8 km stretch have been refurbished and cars have been banned so that it is now a lovely pedestrian area of bookshops, tea houses, antique shops, galleries and historic homes. The Duolun Museum of Modern Art is there as is a 1920s Christian church with upturned eaves, the old film café that shows Chinese movies of the 1920s and 30s, the League of Leftist Writers Museum with the hall where the league was founded restored to its original condition and a mid 1920s mansion of a fabulously wealthy Shanghai entrepreneur are all in the neighbourhood.
The street is also famous for a variety of architectural styles ranging from Islamic to French Neo Classical to traditional Chinese styles and a fusion of eastern and western styles typical of the 1920s and 30s. Life size bronze statues of individuals who contributed to the areas heritage are found everywhere in all kinds of poses as if they are participating in the life going on around them. An outdoor museum of sorts, it is an interesting place to spend some time learning about Shanghai’s literary roots away from the tourist hordes.
Stay at the 88 Xintiandi Shanghai to enjoy a unique location amidst a thriving shopping, dining and entertainment district just outside Shanghai with easy access to the city. The well-appointed studio, one and two bedroom suites offer some of the most contemporary and comfortable residences in Shanghai, a boon to modern travelers looking for longer stays and a place to unwind. Guests at this Shanghai boutique hotel find this an excellent place from which to explore the big city.
Cardrona Adventure Park
Located halfway between Queenstown and Wanaka in New Zealand, on the Cardrona Valley, the Cardrona Adventure Park guarantees fun for the whole family. With so many activities ranging from quad bikes, buggy and monster truck rides, visitors whether amateurs or veterans, will love the energetic experience of the park. There is something for everyone here. The park is open from 10.00 am to 5 pm every day, and all you need to bring along is sturdy footwear. Be dressed in appropriate clothes for the ride, and bring along your excitement of course!
The drive to the park itself is a beautiful experience. You will have a view of the magnificent crown range of hills. The drive of about 40 minutes although long is a picturesque journey.
With various rides catering to the skill level and physical abilities of participants, there is indeed something for everyone. Children and adults alike will enjoy the Cardrona experience. Children as young as six years can drive their own quad bikes, while most adults have a tendency to like the famous snow run experience.
If you prefer a more scenic experience then the park offers rides over water, mud and snow on the drastic hills. Or maybe you would like to try one of the adrenalin pumping all terrain action rides meant for thrill seeking adventure junkies. Monster trucks and off road vehicles are also renowned experiences of the park mostly among those who just cannot get enough.
Queenstown makes an ideal base from which to visit this attraction. The city is renowned for its beautiful sceneries surrounded by the majestic mountains and Lake Wakatipu, country like atmosphere and clear skies, but above all for the warmth of its hospitality. Excitement, peace and serenity all packed into one city; what more can you ask for while on vacation.
If you wish to retire to a luxury hotel Queenstown after all those scream inducing rides and thrills then look no further than Millennium Hotel Queenstown. This Queenstown hotel, is well known for its luxurious accommodation and star class service standards. It is the ideal place to stay at for the traveller in need of a little pampering, at the end of a long day of sightseeing and excitement.
Bird Watching in the Maldives- Taking Wing
While the Maldives is celebrated for its amazing diversity of marine life, due to its location far away from a large landmass and its small size the Maldives does not have an abundance of its own avifauna. Most birds found on the islands are Eurasian migratory birds and therefore are seasonal while some are typical of the region and a few are found among the vegetation and marshes of the various islands.
According to bird checklists around 165 varieties of birds inhabit the islands from time to time. Some rare and threatened varieties of birds that visit the islands intermittently include the Feruginous Duck, Jouanin’s Petrel, Spot Billed Pelican, Pallid Harrier, Black Tailed Godwit, the Lesser Kestrel and the Eurasian Curlew. The common Mynah and the House Sparrow that are visible on the larger islands are listed as introduced species. Among the commonest birds spied in the Maldives are the crow, the koel with its distinctive cry and the white breasted water hen found nesting under low bushes. While the large grey heron is also a common sight several other species of heron are also glimpsed from time to time. Two types of frigate birds are known to use the Maldives as their breeding grounds. Two species of noddies, several species of terns, the Audubon’s shearwater and the white tailed tropic bird are also to be found here during breeding time. Addu Atoll in the south of the Maldives is known as a nesting ground for the fairy tern.
For keen bird watchers the best way to see pelagic birds in the Maldives is to take a trip out to sea with fishermen who locate shoals of tuna by identifying concentrations of sea birds feeding on shrimp and small fish chased to the top by the big fish hunting below. Birding tours organized as part of the live aboard experience is also another wonderful way to view tropical pelagic birds and migrants from the palaearctic eco zone. The most rewarding time to view these birds may be during the spring and autumn migrations when a whole variety of birds can be spotted. Early mornings are also a good time to view birds as they are most active and noisy at this time. Due to its small size bird watchers in the Maldives may need to visit several locations to see a variety of avifauna.
For anyone thinking of pristine white beaches, sun, warm blue sea, gorgeous marine life, privacy and sublime accommodation then Cocoa Island Maldives is the place to be. Enjoy well appointed spacious contemporary villas and suites with wonderful ocean views at this Maldives luxury hotel as well as tasteful Asian fusion cuisine, rejuvenating holistic spa treatments and blissful days in total relaxation. Head to this exceptional Maldives resort for that much dreamed of vacation.
Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.