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Pleasures of Exploration

It has been often said that cycling is one of the best ways to see and experience a country. Getting to know the natives, come in close contact with its culture and the landscape are the reason oft cited. The deeply rural area and forests around the Sigiriya fortress are great places to explore and to get acquainted with rural life in the dry zone, an area with its own particular characteristics.

There is plenty of excellent accommodation in and around Sigiriya that can be used as bases for explorations. Traversing the unpaved back roads of Sigiriya fortress by bike is the best way to experience the sights and sounds of the area. The Pidurangala archaeological site dated to the 1st and 2nd century BC just 2 km away from Sigiriya fortress is easily accessed on a bicycle. The archaeological remains and the cave temple atop the rock are noteworthy but what make the visit truly worthwhile are the gorgeous views of Sigiriya rock and the surrounding forests.

While bikers will find that the area immediately adjacent to the rock fortress is a forest reserve with endemic flora and fauna, further away they will encounter a mix of green paddy fields, irrigation canals, small reservoirs, patches of thorny scrub jungle, an occasional ‘chena’ where the forest has been burned to facilitate temporary agriculture and cattle grazing on grassy slopes. Taking a break by a canal to cool off is a lovely way to experience the rural surroundings of Sigiriya. The terrain is flat and is not too difficult to navigate on a bicycle. Bikers are also bound to come upon wildlife such as macaques, monitor lizards, small mammals, snakes, peacocks and water birds that are common on the forest tracks around Sigiriya fortress.

An early start will not only allow a greater area to be covered but it will also help to avoid the hottest time of day. Bicycles can be hired from almost all the hotels and guest houses in the area. As no travelling on the highway is involved a bike will be the ideal mode of transport to negotiate the narrow and unpaved rural tracts. Traveling by bicycle will definitely allow a deeper appreciation of the considerable natural beauty of the area. Proper safety procedures should be observed to avoid getting into uncomfortable situations.

Within easy reach of the archaeological and natural attractions of the area, Hotel Sigiriya offers well appointed accommodation and a range of services and facilities that make stays in this hotel in Sigiriya comfortable. One of prominent hotels Sigiriya it is the ideal place to relax in after a days’ sightseeing or traveling the back roads.

Pleasing the Senses

The Skyline Rotorua on Mt Ngongotaha is a premier entertainment venue easily accessed from the city. The first part of the adventure begins with a ten minute gondola ride up to the 487 meter summit of the mountain. Swinging high in the gondola, that is an eight seater cabin of a cable car, riders can see the city spread out below them in the most spectacular fashion with Lake Rotorua and famous geothermal areas clearly visible. The 900 meter cableway transports adventure seekers and sightseers up the mountain.

Passengers are picked up from Fairy Springs Road. As the facility is in operation throughout the day visitors can take a gondola to view the city below at a time of their choosing. If the weather permits dusk is one of the most romantic times to take a gondola ride in the summer. There is nothing to eclipse the view of the sunset spreading over the city below and the lights coming on. Departure times and frequency vary according to the seasons.

Once at the top visitors have several options, they can soak in the gorgeous view, trek among exotic and native plants, experience the Sky Swing billed as a ‘thrilling ride at 120 km.ph, 50 meters above ground’, experience the 4D ride of the planet at Skyvue, visit the jelly bean shop and enjoy dining with Rotorua spread our below. Going down can be an exciting affair again either via the cable car or the luge, a cross between a go cart and a toboggan. Three exciting luge tracks are available for various skill levels. Going downhill at a really fast clip through the twists and turns of a redwood forest has to be one of the most exciting experiences. Once at the bottom, adventure seekers can get right back onto the gondola for a trip to the top of the mountain. Apparently one luge ride is never enough.

A Gondola Annual Pass provides free access to Skyline Rotorua all year round. It allows unlimited gondola rides, everyday for 12 months and exclusive discounts for Skyline activities and venues for the card holder and everyone accompanying the card holder as well.

The most appreciated aspect of the Millennium Hotel Rotorua is its location by Lake Rotorua and easy access to the city’s many attractions. As a prominent city hotel in Rotorua guests are offered a selection of spacious well appointed rooms, on site leisure facilities inclusive of a heated swimming pool, gym and spa with indulgent treatments and dining venues well known for their use of fresh local ingredients and their range of traditional, seasonal and international culinary delights. This Rotorua hotel also offers facilities for business and other functions starting with assistance for planning events through to catering.

Windsurfing

Set amidst azure ocean waters, soft sandy beaches and refreshing ocean breezes, the island of Sri Lanka is a perfect place to enjoy a thrilling array of water sports including windsurfing. Look to stay at hotels Sri Lanka has to offer along the South Coast since this part of the country is well known for its idyllic shorelines that can be found in areas such as Kalutara. Amongst the leading Kalutara hotels, The Sands is well worth considering when in search of South Coast accommodation that lets you enjoy water sports as well.

Kalutara is one place in Sri Lanka that you can try your hand at windsurfing. This exciting water sport depends on wind power rather than motorised vessels. However, the lack of a speedboat is made up for by the power of the wind that propels the windsurfing board along the waves. While windsurfing can be enjoyed almost the whole year through in the South, November to April are generally considered the best months. One can hire out windsurfing boards and get lessons in this activity and be out on the waves in no time.

Jet Rides in Rotorua

If you have the need for speed and want to feel an adrenaline rush similar to that of driving Formula One cars then jet rides in Rotorua is the kind of activity that is worth trying. One place where you can enjoy jet rides is on Lake Rotorua and those in search of a nearby Rotorua hotel can stay at Millennium Hotel Rotorua. This hotel in Rotorua is walking distance from the lake and is an ideal starting point to your excursions in the region.

Jet rides take place on jet boats that can reach incredible speeds of up to 100kph in a little less than five seconds taking you on a thrill-a-minute ride on the water. Lake Rotorua is the perfect playground for this activity as these high-speed boats have plenty of room to perform a range of manoeuvres that add more action-packed excitement to the ride. Even at such high velocities one can enjoy the spectacular natural landscapes that surround, making jet rides in Rotorua an activity that you won’t soon forget.

Boat Cruises Queenstown

Set against awe-inspiring alpine scenery, Queenstown which is nestled by the tranquil waters of Lake Wakatipu is an ideal place for boat cruises. If you are in search of Queenstown hotel accommodation within easy reach of the lake then consider Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview. This well placed New Zealand Queenstown hotel provides hassle free access to the town centre and makes an excellent base for your travels.

Boat cruises on Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown offers a fun adventure on the water and provides a unique perspective of this enchanting town. For a memorable excursion look to take a cruise on the historic vessel known as the TSS Earnslaw, while more modern boats are available as well. On your journey of discovery you will go past many sites of interest and depending on the route you take you will see the Remarkables Mountain Range, Hidden Island, Cecil Peak and a host of other attractions. Such cruises let you enjoy a laidback sightseeing tour and give you a chance to truly appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature decked out in all her finery.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Seaplane Photo Flights

Maldives is an archipelagic island nation in the Indian Ocean and it has thousands of islets of varying sizes. While some of them are inhabited, the majority of atolls are uninhabited islets, which are scattered in the region.

Tourists who visit these islands by the hundreds of thousands every year only get to spend their time at a selected few islands which have been turned into luxury resorts where one can enjoy the best of comforts, local healing therapies and spa treatments and year round sunshine.

With white sandy beaches and blue green waters, these islands are indeed a photographer’s dream come true. When one reaches the Male International Airport at the capital one gets a glimpse of the scenic beauty of this part of the world.

One of the best ways to have a memorable time in the Maldives is to head off on a seaplane photo flight. It is an opportunity to enjoy sightseeing from a different angle and a view of a lifetime. It is one of the finest views of this island nation. Tourists will be flying over uninhabited islands, which one might not get to see otherwise, shallow lagoons, fishing villages with their fish laid out in the sun to dry, luxury resorts with their cabanas dotting the sea in diverse shapes and the varied shades of blue of the ocean mingling with the blue of the sky. What is more, one can even spot schools of colourful fish and certain times even dolphins jumping off the water with their bodies glistening in the sun; it is sure to be a view worth cherishing.

What is also one of the most exciting parts about one of these sea plane tours is the fact that both the take off and the landing will be on the water. Any traveller keen on taking some beautiful shots of these islands would have a great time on one of these sea place photo flights and even if you are not a photographer, these views are simply breathtaking.

These flights can be arranged for tourists staying at a Maldives resort such as Cocoa Island Maldives. It is one of the finest to choose from for any traveller keen on enjoying the best of holidays at Maldives luxury resorts.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Mountain Biking in Hua Hin

If you love to cycle and are looking to have an exciting outdoor excursion at the same time, then mountain biking in Hua Hin is just the thing for you. Before beginning your pedal powered adventures, look to stay at Hua Hin hotels that will help organise mountain biking outings. One such option is Anantara Hua Hin Thailand Resort which is one of the leading beach hotels Hua Hin Thailand has to offer.

When it comes to mountain biking in Hua Hin, one can plan tours to many areas in and around this charming locale. The Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is one area that is well suited for mountain biking and one will come across a range of backdrops ranging from limestone mountains to freshwater marshes. You can also observe the many wildlife that can be found here. Another area where one can enjoy cycling is the vineyards around Hua Hin. Set amidst verdant greenery, these locales provide a quaint countryside setting where one can enjoy a fun day out in nature.

Diving in North Ari Atoll

While the Maldives offers plenty of fantastic dive sites for you to explore, one area that is well worth heading to is the North Ari Atoll. Those in search of Maldives diving resorts that offer easy access to some of these spots can opt to stay at Kandolhu Island. This luxurious Maldives resort has a Dive School that provides PADI certification as well as organising diving tours and night dives too.

Look to explore the underwater worlds that lie beneath the waters of the North Ari Atoll where one will come face to face with a vivid array of marine life both great and small. Hafusa Thila is a site that one can visit as is the Fesdu Wreck which is a 30 metre fishing trawler that has sunk and that houses an artificial reef. Also of note is Ukulhas Thila which is well known for its manta rays that can be spotted especially from December to March, snappers and moray eels. Other fish species one can come across when diving in North Ari Atoll include batfish, lionfish, cleaner wrasse and blue fish.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Snorkelling and Diving in Koh Samui

If it’s underwater exploration you seek on your holiday along with a chance to observe a colourful array of marine species, then snorkelling and diving in Koh Samui is just the thing for you. It is best to stay at a Samui hotel or resort that offers such excursions. Affiliated to a diving school, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui is one such Samui resort that provides plenty of opportunities for you to head off on tours of the deep.

Being an island, Koh Samui is surrounded by azure waters on all sides and offers snorkelling and diving enthusiasts easy access to the region’s many popular underwater sites of interest. The Lamai Reef and the Chaweng Reef are two areas that are well suited for both these activities and let you discover the rich marine biodiversity of the region. The Ang Thong National Marine Park is another site definitely worth exploring on a diving or snorkelling excursion, while Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao are perfect for such activities as well.

Underwater Tours in Aruba

Blessed with stunning marine biodiversity, Aruba is a perfect place to embark on an underwater tour. Before setting off on this exciting journey of discovery, make sure you find accommodation at one of the Turks and Caicos luxury resorts that provide the very best in contemporary comforts. Parrot Cay Turks & Caicos is one such Turks and Caicos beach resort and offers plenty of opportunities to explore the world that lies beneath the waves.

Diving is a great way to see the many colourful sights that can be found along the seabed. Underwater tours in Aruba provide an ideal way for one to get up close with the myriad of coral and fish life that call these waters home. On your excursions you are likely to come across sea fans, soft coral, brain coral and boulder coral, while sturgeon fish, sergeant major, brown chromis, yellowhead wrasse, foureye butterflyfish and yellow goatfish are among the fish species one can find here. Those who do not know to dive can take heart, because submarine tours are also available and provide spectacular views of the colourful kaleidoscope of life that can be found in the waters surrounding Aruba.