Tag: luxury hotel group

Wildlife of Bali Calling to Her Admirers in the Many Voices of the Wild

Hidden in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lies the beautiful island of Bali, wrapped in her charm of the sea, with a voice of the wild untamed. Although Bali is the smallest province of Indonesia, it is the largest tourist destination of the country, and has been so for many decades in the past.

This little island is indeed a treasure trove for those who love the four legged or winged creatures that call the forest their home. Some creatures that roam the deep green jungles are endemic, some are endangered, while the rest are beautiful too to behold in their comforting abundance. Almost 14% of Bali is sacred to these creatures to roam free, undisturbed by their common greatest enemy, the man. These initiatives have ensured that the wildlife of Bali, is a thriving one.

The many little balls with colorful feathers that chirp on leafy branches and pick up fallen twigs to build their crude nests, are all relatives of the family of around 280 species of birds in Bali. Out of these, the Bali Starling with her black tipped tail is one especial, as the bird is critically endangered and endemic. Sacred Kingfisher, Stork billed Kingfisher, Sea Eagle, Lesser Adjutant, Dollarbird, Black Racket-tailed Treepie, Black-naped Oriole, Java Sparrow, Crested serpent-eagle, Yellow- vented Bulbul and the Great Egret are some of the many wonderful feathered creatures that roam the Balinese skies.

Mammals including the wild Banteng, Javan Rusa deer, Wild Boar, Indian Muntjac, Leopard Cat, Sunda Pangolin and Black Giant Squirrel inhabit the forests of Bali. However its greatest treasure, the majestic creature called Bali Tiger that was endemic to the island, was driven to extinction by poaching and habitat reduction in the year 1930. It is however unforgotten by the Balinese, while the skins and bones of the last of the kind sprawl lifelessly in museums around the world.

Squirrels and Monkeys spread their witty cheer amid the trees in their numbers while snakes such as King Cobra, Reticulated Python and Water Monitor along with spiders govern with fear. Bats remain well represented and are worshipped too, at Goa Lawah (Temple of the Bats) by the locals.

The waters of Bali also provide a home for many marine species like Hawksbill Turtle, Giant Manta Ray, Bumphead Parrot Fish, Hammerhead Shark, sea snakes and Dolphins.

The beauty of Bali can be explored while indulging in the opulence of the many hotels of the island. Out of these Uma belonging to the luxury hotel group of COMO Hotels and Resorts is highly recommendable, being an award winning hotel as well.

Explore Under the Sea in Caribbean

The Caribbean conjures up scenes of paradise found where pristine beaches and palm laden lands lie interspersed on an azure canvas that is as delicate as it is breathtaking. As one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for honeymooners and beach lovers this intriguing corner of the world has always been a hotbed of activity for water sports lovers all year round as the Caribbean oceans are also regarded among the world’s finest surfing venues.

Littered with stunning rock formations, abundant marine life and ancient shipwrecks, what lies beneath the Caribbean waters is just as intriguing as what lies above with rainbow-hued species and breathtaking corals occupying a submerged wonderland. One need not be an experienced diver to explore this captivating fantasyland under the sea as the tour operators in the Caribbean offer visitors a number of ways to get up close and personal with the brilliant marine heritage of the country.

A glass bottom boat excursion is often described as one of the easiest methods to explore the Caribbean sea bed as one need not even know how to swim to view the spectacular scenes of multihued coral lying beneath the surface. The glass bottomed ocean vessel takes visitors across several islands of the Caribbean in a cruise that can last up to several hours. The Atlantis Submarine is also on hand for more adventurous visitors and a typical tour takes passengers hundreds of feet beneath the ocean surface across much of the Caribbean including Grand Cayman, Aruba, St. Thomas, Barbados and Cozumel.

Helmet diving is another unique way to explore the underwater surface as anyone aged 5-85 can don the special helmet and climb down to the ocean floor using a ladder to walk among schools of fish and corals that lie between 10-12 feet below the waves. Avid snorkelers and scuba divers can also take a tour of the underwater wonderland the old fashioned way with diving gear rented from innumerable rental services on the beachfront and via hotels. Courses on scuba diving and snorkeling are also available at many hotels and diving schools in the islands.

Travellers on the lookout for an award winning hotel in the Caribbean should look to the COMO Hotels and Resorts conglomerate for all their accommodation needs. As a luxury hotel group with a number of elegant establishments all across the Caribbean, seasoned travellers could hardly imagine more eclectic spaces to spend their valued vacations.

History Of Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small nation situated between India and China. The country is known for its cultural richness and its picturesque landscapes, which have earned it the sobriquet ‘the Last Shangri-La’. Much of the country’s past is a mystery and has been obscured by myth and folklore. It is believed that the first humans settled here sometime around 2000 BC although it emerged as a nation only during the seventeenth century. Before that the land was composed of several fiefdoms that were constantly at war with each other.

Ngawanag Namgyal, a Tibetan lama, is credited with unifying the country in 1616. He imposed a legal and civil system in the country and declared himself the ruler. However, the system fell to pieces when he died and the country was torn apart by war for two more centuries until Ugyen Wangchuck came to power in 1885. He was eventually named the Druk Gyalpo, the Dragon King in 1907, a title that would pass down his bloodline.

All Bhutan’s rulers have attempted to modernise the country by establishing more schools, and building better roads and newer hospitals. This trend was continued by Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who imposed sweeping reforms to make the Bhutanese government more efficient. It was during his reign that Bhutan was formally inducted as a member nation of the United Nations. He was succeeded by his son, Jigme Singye Wanchuck, whose ideology of Gross National Happiness led to a 2011 UN resolution that emphasises social and economic policies based on the happiness it will bring to citizens. While Bhutan is still considered a developing nation, it is a wonderful place to visit and tourists are sure to have a lot of fun here.

Tourism in Bhutan is a little peculiar. Foreigners are charged a daily fee that covers accommodation, food, and even a local guide. For more information on the tariffs one can head over to the official tourism website. When it comes to staying in Bhutan one should try COMO Hotels and Resorts. The luxury hotel group has anaward winning Hotel in Paro that promises a delightful stay.