Month: September 2016

Tips for Jungle Trekking in Habarana

Habarana is a quiet village in the central part of Sri Lanka with a small population, some jungle and a number of Sri Lanka resorts. The Sri Lankan hoteliers have been ingenious in selecting Habarana as a popular base station for sightseeing and touring; roads lead from Habarana to the eastern coast of Trincomalee, Sigiriya and Dambulla two cultural landmarks are within proximity and even the former kingdom of Polonnaruwa is accessible within about an hour’s drive. As a standalone destination, Habarana’s two greatest attractions are the jungle landscape and the serenity of an unpolluted township. Even at a location such as Cinnamon Lodge Habarana which is by the main road that connects Habarana to the rest of the country, there is much tranquility and freedom from the world.
The jungle treks are fascinating affairs which are typically for one night and two days. The jungles are not modified by man, hence one can experience very primitive ways of living under the shades of the tall trees amidst some shrubs and camping by a lake. There are many lakes, rivers and other bodies of water in and around the area, some of which have played a pivotal role in irrigating the country. Kayaks are thrown into these flowing streams to give every expeditor a taste of water adventures. Bird watching, jungle trails and learning to make Sri Lankan dishes are a part of the tour.
Generally, a BBQ is held in the night and the freshest of fish would be available for grilling. Simple camps are set up with a few tents and a small fire. An early start each morning helps as the humidity is very high in the afternoon in spite of the dense jungle. Being comfortably and appropriately dressed makes it much easier for everyone to enjoy the outdoor experience with a spot of climbing, wading and scrambling through. Since the facilities available have been kept to a bare minimum such that the natural feel is not lost, if there is any specific medicine or type of pillow or protection you require, it is best that the guides are informed or that you provide them for yourself while being respectful to the others who are joining you.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Longtail Boat rides in Dubai

Dubai has a reputation for offering its tourists an amazing array of experiences and attractions, and one of the latest additions is the Longtail Boat Ride to the Dubai Marina. Offering a sightseeing experience with a Thai twist, a Longtail Boat ride is sure to be highly memorable.

Longtail Boats

The longtail boat is a mode of water transport traditionally hailing from Thailand. The long and slender body of the boat is covered by a thick canopy and is powered through the waters by an engine at the rear. Apart from the canopy above, the boat is open on the sides, making it a perfect vessel for sightseeing tours.

Longboat Rides in Dubai

The Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, a popular Palm Jumeirah hotel, recently offered, for the first time in Dubai, sightseeing tours on longtail boats to enhance the experience of their patrons. Thus, visitors to the resort can climb aboard the beautifully crafted ‘Ruea Hang Yao’ longtail boat and head out along the coast of Dubai. The boat is constructed completely out of wood and boasts a predominantly oriental design – a nod to the Thai origins of longtail boats. The boat ride promises awe-inspiring views of Dubai’s spectacular and ever changing skyline. The boat ride costs AED 120 for a return trip and is fully worth the cost.

From the Palm Jumeirah to the Dubai Marina

The longtail boat ride starts from the Palm Jumeriah and goes along the coastline of Dubai to the scenic Dubai Marina. The views of the skyline of Dubai from the longtail boat are simply amazing and you will get a great opportunity of witnessing some of the beauty of the Palm Jumeirah itself, as well as several other reclaimed islands along the coast of Dubai. Make sure you take a camera along with you because you are definitely going to want to take a few pictures of this picturesque boat ride.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

Pasta Point

An archipelago of over a thousand islands should definitely offer some surfing opportunities; when you stay at one of the best Maldives resorts these can be described as unparalleled opportunities. The pristine blue waters that bless the shores of Maldives have been the main crowd puller to the country for dozens of years. The locals have brushed up on their hospitality and cuisine to make a mark beyond their natural gifts. However, the vistas that unfold along every coast, the cruises between atolls and the fine marine adventures that are promised to every tourist are difficult to compete with.

In order to make every marine aficionado’s surf dreams come true, the waves and waters that surround Maldives work overtime. The wave machines around the country help create more adventurous waves for surfers and include reef breakers, point breakers as well as beach breakers. The North Malѐ atoll has its own wave machine known as Pasta Point which is not too far from the iconic Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and is more or less used exclusively by the dwellers at the hotel.

As obscure as the name may be Pasta Point is an amazing reef break which dishes out lefthanders which are unmatchable. The ideal time of the year to benefit from these four to six metre high waves is between May and August each year. The number of surfers who are given access to Pasta Point is regulated and capped at thirty; this makes it safer and more convenient for those who ride the waves. There are several other breaks within proximity of Pasta Point and can be accessed by boat, so once you have your fair share of the fun on the Pasta breaks, be sure to arrange a short boat trip to jailbreak or Honky’s which are right-handers and lefthanders respectively.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Udawatta Kele Sanctuary

Kandy, the capital city of Sri Lanka’s hill country, is one of the most historic and fascinating destinations in Sri Lanka. Bearing the title as the last Sinhala Kingdom before British colonization, the city of Kandy is a hub of culture and history. The city is home to sacred and iconic attractions such as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Royal Palace of Kandy, and the National Museum of Kandy. The city is, therefore, a top tourist destination and with numerous hotels, including the likes of Hotel Hilltop Kandy.
Of the many things to do in Kandy, Sri Lanka, one of the most highly recommended activities is exploring the sprawling Udawatte Kele Sanctuary. The Udawatte Kele Sanctuary, located south of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, is one of the most oldest and historic forest sanctuaries in the hill country or Sri Lanka. With its thriving flora and fauna, unique attractions, and stunning beauty, the Udawatte Kele Sanctuary is, without a doubt, an attraction well worth visiting.
When the Kandy served as the seat of the Sinhala Kingdom in the 14th Century, this sanctuary was exclusively reserved for the enjoyment of the Royal family. Following British colonialism, this amazing forest lost its exclusivity. However, owing to its ecological value, in 1856, the forest was declared in the forest reserve. It was in 1938 that the forest was declared a forest sanctuary, a title it has retained ever since. The sanctuary spreads over 257 acres and is home to over 135 species of trees, species and shrubs, many of which have stood strong for at least 300 years. The forest is also inhabited by a number of mammals and reptiles. However, it is the avifauna that is the main highlight in terms of fauna, with the sanctuary being home to over 80 species of birds, including the Three-Toed Kingfisher and Yellow-Fronted Barbet. Other attractions of this awe-inspiring sanctuary are the Senkadagala Cave, the Garrison Cemetery, and the Kodimale Peak.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

7 Awesome things to do in Colombo

Colombo, the illustrious and historically important commercial capital of Sri Lanka has a myriad of attractions for every tourist and resident. The Sri Lankan hospitality is much spoken of and respected, tour the streets and you will see how many people dine out; host guests for lunch, tea, and dinner even on weekdays and how upbeat the whole city is in spite of the sultry weather and the terrible traffic jams. Colombo hotels exemplify the level of luxury and warmth the Sri Lankans are accustomed to and offer a plethora of services that capture the interest of the locals who wish to unwind and the foreigners who want to bask in comfort.
Spas and ayurvedic treatment in Colombo are great revivers after extensive sunbathing and shopping. Spa Ceylon which is adjacent to Cinnamon Grand Colombo or Siddhalepa Ayurveda Spa is two hot picks with excellent massages and wellness routines. A visit to the monumental Independence Square, a jog around the area and a short stop at the resplendent Independence Arcade Shopping Precinct is a good combination of relaxing activities in a greener and more beautiful part of the city. Awaken the spiritual part of you by visiting the Gangaramaya Temple or the ancient Valukaramaya Temple, both of which are dedicated to Buddhist devotion. The brass carvings and memorabilia in the former and the murals in the latter bear testimony to the rich Buddhist heritage of the country.
Catch some action at SSC or Keththarama where cricket matches are hosted; the thought of watching the enthusiastic Sri Lankans cheer their home team to victory should be as compelling as the wonderful stroke play and bowling themselves. Does a quiet sunny afternoon on the beach interrupted only by the rumbling of a train or a loud and vibrant night on the same beach sound intriguing? Then Mount Lavinia is the place to be; mouth-watering seafood, BBQs, Chinese food, DJ music, dancing out on the sand and stepping out to wet your toes with ocean waves are all on the cards in this part of the world.
If you are in a hurry but still want to see as much of Colombo as possible, hop aboard a City Tour bus as it cruises through the streets to show you some of the finest buildings, parks, and venues of the city. The Vihara Maha Devi Park and the long stretch of art and paintings on the road bordering it are two others to be penned down in the To Do list. The gardens come alive with kids, parents, ice cream, and candy floss vendors in the evenings but is a quiet refuge in the mornings and afternoons for a stroll or to a read a book. The art and paintings on display along the street are colourful and reasonably priced; the artists themselves can be found there often and bespoke creations can be done, rolled up and taken wherever you wish.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Desert Adventures in Oman -Getting an adrenaline rush in the midst of a spectacular desert

 

A tourist hotspot for seekers of the Sun when the wild winters take over their native lands, Oman is frequented by many travellers. However, most are content to simply stay in a luxury hotel in Oman, do a bit of shopping visit a souq and overall spend their time within the limits of the glamorous city of Muscat. And yet, there is so much more to do in Oman, especially if you are one who is into adventure sports.
One activity that you can engage in is dune bashing. Akin to riding on a rollercoaster, you will be driven over and across the spectacular dunes of Oman, where a 4WD will traverse up and down these amazing creations of nature in ways that will keep you gripping your seat with white knuckles. An average dune bashing ride will last for about one and a half hours, a time that you are unlikely to ever forget. If you are confident of your abilities and wish to mingle with the dunes at a more personal level, you can try quad biking where you will tackle the sand dunes on your own on a quad bike. Closer to the elements than when dune bashing on a 4WD, a simple half an hour of this exercise will have your adrenaline pumping and yourself covered in sand. Be warned, though – quad biking is considered quite addictive. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself out in the sand the next day as well. For a milder adventure, you could enjoy a camel ride and pretend to be a participant in a story of 1001 Arabian Nights. Or try a new way of travelling altogether on the sand by taking on sand boarding, which is similar to snowboarding except it is on the sand. If you wish to make an ideal end to all these activities, you could opt for camping in the middle of the desert. You can either do it the traditional way with minimal amnesties or stay with Oman Hotels for a luxury camping experience. Whichever you choose, you are guaranteed to have a ball of a time.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Madu Ganga Boat Safari -Discover Balapitiya’s Estuary

Sri Lanka is blessed with beautiful rivers and lakes that run through the country making it one of the most popular tourist destinations. The Madu Ganga or Madu River in particular is a river located in the south west of Sri Lanka which joins the sea at Balapitiya and is visited by locals and tourists all-round the year. Madu Ganga is complete with hundreds of little islands scattered through the river and plenty of Madu Ganga hotels, which are dotted along the river.

A boat ride along the river will take the keen explorer in between the mangroves, where travellers are advised to keep a keen eye out for crocodiles or water monitors! So be careful not to fall over! While on the boat safari, it is a great way to spot some wild fauna in Sri Lanka, like monkeys swinging from the trees or colourful kingfishers diving for their prey. As the surrounding islands are mostly wet and marshy, visitors are treated to a wide array of flora as well. The boat ride through the Madu Ganga usually lasts for a couple of hours, although be sure to watch as the sea water mixes with the fresh water, as the tides change. Many hotels in the area such as The River House Balapitiya offer guests boat rides along Madu Ganga.
The largest island known as MahaDuwa, or locally known as Maduwa, is home to a Buddhist monastery. This island is thus the more popular one for the travellers of the Madu Ganga. Worshippers flock to this island to offer flowers and prayers, while young monks excitedly display a 150 year old religious book, fringed by coconut palms which were believed to have held the Sacred Tooth Relic once.
The locals that live along the river are known to produce cinnamon and is therefore a great place to get some fresh, real cinnamon! The river is also a great source for seafood, in particular lagoon prawns! Big, delicious prawns are caught in traps, mostly after the sun sets.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Dubai Desert Wildlife

The camel is the most well-known creature to roam the desert; therefore it has earned an accolade for itself as the ‘ship of the desert’. Apart from endless golden sand, dry gusts of wind and desert palms very few images come to mind when picturing a desert. Boutique hotels in Dubai are usually packed with people who want to explore and learn about the actual topology, geology, and biodiversity of deserts. The hotels in the city promote desert treks; Desert Palm PER AQUUM is one hotel that does so, complete with guides, food, and vehicles included in the package.

The exploration of Dubai deserts would bring to earth the realities that are hidden amidst the sand and rocks. It is believed that in the past there were far more species of life that existed in the desert terrains of Dubai, but as the years passed some have become extinct while others are endangered. Some are seen so rarely that they even wildlife experts are unsure of their continuity as a species.

The existence of gazelles, oryx, and invertebrates in addition to the much spoken of camels has been confirmed. Arabian leopards have been spotted prowling around in mountainous areas where there is access to water while the hares that reside in this part of the world do not live in burrows but out in the open. Their beige fur acts as the camouflage and they survive easily from the wetness of the grass they consume. The tahrs and mountain gazelles occupy the mountainous regions with the leopards but only the tahrs squabble with the Arabian leopards for water as the mountain gazelles can do with or without for long periods of time.

The invertebrates such as snails, scorpions and spiders are common in the sand and fall prey to some of the larger animals. Yet, their population is always on the rise, unlike their larger counterparts who devour them.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.

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Ubud Rice Field Trekking

Ubud regarded as the cultural capital of Bali is cocooned in lush green hills, rice paddy terraces and verdant forests. The place is loved for its vivid display of arts and crafts that will prove to be a treat to any culture buff. As for rice field trekking that is simply the icing on the cake to your holistic journey in Ubud.

What is Rice Field Trekking – An Experience of Nature

A rice field trek will include visits to ancient temples, treks through misty mountains and rolling paddy fields as well as time for a refreshing plunge in the natural pools located around the area.

Allures of a Rice Field Trek

Starting at a rustic north Ubud village the trek offers one a taste of the nation’s traditions and culture. You will visit Taman Sari Temple one of the oldest in the area home to a natural spring. Continue along the backroads across olden villages and stumble upon famous Bukit Temple. Along the way your guide will point out local plants such as cocoa, tamarin, soursop and coffee.

Rice Fields and Traditions

Your trek across the paddy fields promise to be quite a thrill. Watch as local farmers tend to the crops using traditional methods. The fields are made up of sloping terraces cut into the hills that exude quite a stunning effect. You will love the salubrious climes inundated with the trill of birds, refreshing breezes and breath-taking views.

Perfect Ending

After your trek to the paddy terraces you get a refreshing break and drink of sweet coconut water; right within the paddy fields. After which the trek continues to the valley where you cross the Wos River bridge to meet your pickup. This fabulous and soothing tour aimed at revitalising mind body and soul is offered by COMO Shambhala as one of the wellness activities practised in and around the holistic confines of Ubud.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Saiq Plateau In Oman

Oman in the Middle East is not only a center of commerce- it has a vibrant and vivid history and Mother Nature has been very bountiful and gifted Oman with some unique natural features. The ancient township of Nizwa has historical, cultural and natural wonders and visitors will never lack things to do in NIzwa. Quite the contrary they will be hard put to choose between the many activities like visiting the Nizwa Fort and Souq and Jabrin Castle.. Being comfortable goes a long way in enhancing enjoyment of travel and for visitors to this region the Alila Jabal Akhdar with its spectacular setting combined with luxurious facilities would be an ideal choice.

Saiq Plateau is one of Oman’s unusual natural curiosities and is an upland plateau of vast extent in the Hajar Mountain Range with the Oman’s much loved limestone massif Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain in Arabic ) rising skywards from the center. The plateau has an altitude of approximately two thousand meters above sea level and is north east of the historic township of Nizwa and bounded to the north by craggy mountain peaks and by the vertiginous Wadi Al Ayn to the south. Wild donkeys, lizards and birds populate the plateau while some ancient beehive shaped cairn tombs can be seen to the far left of the vast space. The road to the bottom of the mountain range is well engineered but the upward climb to the hills involves dramatic hairpin bends and only four wheel drives are allowed. Wild olive and juniper trees dot the wayside.

The Mediterranean like climate has resulted in the Saiq Plateau being farmed for over a thousand years and a wide range of fruits which do not adapt well to the climate of the lowlands are grown here and among them are peaches, pears, pomegranates and grapes. A wide range of roses bloom here and the fragrant damask rose grows near the summit of Jebel Al Akhdar.

Many traditional villages can be found in the area and are well worth a visit.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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