Submarine diving in Maldives

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The latest buzz in Maldives is Submarine diving. This activity is fun and a great way to explore the colourful world of life under the sea in Maldives. Tourist attractions on the islands are somewhat limited, but the biggest attraction and most popular is definitely the colour reefs and diverse variety of marine life.

If you’re not a fan of swimming or not even strong at the activity, but desperately want to explore the treasure trove of the ocean, then submarine diving is the perfect activity! Submarines can usually hold a total of 50 people and descends to a depth of 150m, while stopping at depths of 25m and 40m.

Sites like The Maldives Travels have a list of places you can visit while on the islands and more information on the islands if you need to do more research before booking your trip.

The submarine diving tour is believed to be the first and largest deep diving tourist submarine in the world.

While on your tour, you’ll be able to see lion fish, anemone fish, butterfly fish, parrotfish, sea turtles, sting rays, manta rays, eels, giant groupers, grey reef sharks, white tip and black tip sharks and even whale sharks!

lion fist
Lion Fish By Alexander Vasenin (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The further down you dive, the more exotic the species you’ll come across. On your dive, you will be able to see ship wrecks and coral reefs.

Submarine dives even happen at night for those who are interested in looking at sea in a different view. Some of the corals species that you’ll be able to see are the brain coral, staghorn coral, rose coral, star coral and many others.

Underwater Maldives Colors Corals Trip Color
Underwater Maldives Colors Corals , Photo via Maxpixel, CC0 Public Domain

Submarine diving is also great for those travelling with children, as it’s a great way to show the little ones what life under the sea looks like, without worrying about their safety and the ability to swim!


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+

The Magnificent Geopark in Langkawi

Langkawi sky bridge
By Flickr user “The Dilly Lama”  [CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons
Langkawi is an archipelago that features more than a hundred different islands. The main island, also named Langkawi, was given the status of ‘World Geopark’ by UNESCO. The status of geopark is misinterpreted by many, but the title is only given to a place of scientific importance in regards to archaeological, scientific, ecological and cultural reasons as well. These islands have become a renowned tourism destination and there is an incredible amount of eco-friendly things to do in Langkawi as well as a range of hotels and resorts to choose from such as the Berjaya Langkawi Resort.

One of the best points that garnered Langkawi’s reputation as a geopark are the various rock formations that are to be seen. These formations are in turn surrounded by dense jungle, which hasn’t changed much in more than a million years. An immense load of the flora found in the geopark is exclusive to Langkawi. The Mangrove Rivers that snake through the Langkawi landscape contain an abundance of exotic life, ranging from aquatic creatures to various species of birds.

The MachinChang Mountains are one of the most notable aspects about the geopark. These rock formations are ancient, and were formed more than five-hundred-million years ago. This mountain range was the very first section of what is now South East Asia, to rise from under the oceans. The oldest section of this formation is Teluk Datai.

The Dayang Bunting Geopark is the second largest island of the entire chain. The island is famous for a massive lake that is situated in the heart of the dense forest. The lake was the result of a colossal limestone cave that collapsed. The lake is regarded as a spiritual place due the legend associated with it, where a divine maiden buried her dead child here and blessed the lake with fertility.

If you’re looking for a breath-taking voyage into nature, then Langkawi is a definitely a place worth thinking about.

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

Trails Leading to Adam’s Peak

 

Adam’s Peak, commonly referred to as Sri Pada by the local populace, is one of the most sacred places on the island. Each of the major religions present within the island has their own beliefs about the nature of the mountain, especially in regards to the footprint-shaped formation that is located at the summit. It is one of the most essential experiences involving Sri Lanka destinations which are bound to be a part of packages offered by any vacation provider the island has to offer such as Aitken Spence Travels.

The footprint is the hallmark of the mountain, and the name is derived from a belief that Sri Lanka was once the biblical land of Eden and the first man was the one who caused the footprint. The Buddhist majority of Sri Lanka believes that the footprint belongs to the Lord Buddha and is a mark of his visit to Sri Lanka after being invited by the god that resides over the mountain.

There are various trails which can be utilised to reach the summit of the mountain, and the most popular of which is the Hatton-Nallathanni route. It is also the shortest since it starts off at a fairly high elevation, reducing the required distance. For the most demanding experience, there’s the Ihala-Maliboda trail where the majority of the trail is through thick jungle. Venturing through this trail will also require you to cross a number of lakes, which are known to contain flash floods. The initial eight kilometres of the Ihala-Maliboda trail are through very isolated terrain.

The ideal season to visit Adam’s Peak is from December through till May. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, there are night tours that can be arranged as well for those looking to scale the mountain after sun-down. Regardless of what time you choose, scaling this mountain is an essential experience if you find yourself in Sri Lanka.

Adams Peak, Sri Lanka
Adams Peak, Sri Lanka, Img. Src;[Aitken Spence Travels]
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Flight Experience at Bangkok

Looking for ways to have fun indoors while in Bangkok? During days where there are less than stellar weather conditions in play, a visit to the mall might be one of your best bets for a day full of fun and unexpected surprises. Head down to the Gateway Ekamai Shopping Centre and check out Flight Experience Bangkok; a fully-fledged flight experience simulator smack-dab in the middle of a shopping mall! The Gateway Ekamai shopping mall is quite accessible both via road and via Skytrain, with the closest stop being the Ekkamai BTS Skytrain Station. If you are staying at a boutique hotel in Bangkok like the many found in the Sukhumvit area such as Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18, a trip to the mall by road should take you around twenty minutes or less. Once you get to the mall, go up to the second floor of the shopping centre to find your destination.

Flight Experience Bangkok boasts two separate flight simulators and offers an unbelievably authentic flying experience for patrons aged five and upwards! Although the half-hourly and hourly sessions do cost a pretty penny, they are comparatively cheaper to similar counterparts in European countries and in the land down under (i.e. Australia). So it’s worth forking out the dough for such an experience during your Thailand holiday as opposed to one in a western country. For those of you who have always dreamed of piloting an aircraft and being at the helm of a plane that is of a similar size to the Boeing 737, this is your chance to live out your dream, minus all the pesky requirements involved in actually going out and working towards getting a pilot’s license. Or for those who do plan to do exactly that one day, this is a great opportunity to get a taste of flying and confirm that it is a career path that you would actually like to commit to.

A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, Joanna James ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought. Her interests include Politics, law and Philosophy. Google+

Puri Saren Royal Palace; A cultural fortalice.

The Puri Saren Royal Palace, also known as the Ubud Palace is a historical building complex located in Ubud. Famously known as the focal attraction of Ubud, this is the official residents of the royal family of Ubud. Built by the late lordship of Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel, this is a charming complex of unique architecture and tasteful garden design.

At the northern end the palace is the Monkey Forest road. The Ubud Palace is considered a convenient stopover, as it is strategically surrounded by the Ubud Art Market, various local and international restaurants just a few steps away along the main Jalan Raya Ubud especially if you are lodging in rooms and villas in Ubud, to catch all the city’s got to offer provided by the many hotels rooted in the area such as COMO Uma Ubud.
The forward-facing area of the palace is accessible for viewing to the public. Photographs of the complimentary times are displayed on the sides, which can be viewed via walkthroughs. A local guide will be available to educate you on the major historical milestones of the palace and answer your queries.
It is comprised of a performance stage with a backdrop of angkul-angkul traditional gate and guardian statues. The premises are famous for the wonderful Balinese arts and striking evening dance performances with gamelan orchestras. The tickets for these performance shows will usually be sold in the evening, so be sure to catch a show on your visit there.
While serving as a cultural repository of Balinease art, dance and literature, the palace also hosts various international events such as the opening ceremonies of the annual Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in its meeting halls and stage.
Do keep in mind when visiting; to not touch the historical artefacts as they are fragile and delicate.

Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+

Aquatic adventures in Sri Lanka

A holiday in Sri Lanka has so much to offer travellers seeking fun and adventure. Whether you are planning a sandy beach vacation at one of the beautiful beach hotels in Sri Lanka, such as the luxurious Amagi Hotels and Resorts, for example, or an exciting safari tour around the island, Sri Lanka has something for everyone. With so many beautiful beaches to choose from, it’s no wonder water activities top the list of sought after activities by visiting tourists. The West coast of the island is famous for its stunning beaches, coral reefs that are close to the shoreline; ideal for snorkelling and diving.

Img. Src:[Destinations at Amagi Hotels]
Coastal towns like Hikkaduwa, Ahangama and Weligama offer the best surfing conditions along the South-west coastline, with waves reaching as high as 6 feet. However, these areas are also popular tourist destinations and therefore generally crowded. If you’re willing to travel a longer distance to experience the great surf waves, head to the surfing paradise of Arugam Bay. Located on the east coast, A-Bay, as it’s fondly known by locals, is less crowded and offers world class surf breaks.

There are several coral reefs around the island that are located close to shore, which are perfect for snorkelling and diving. The top diving sites are Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna, to the west and Trincomalee on the north-east coast. North of the international airport, are holiday destinations like Negombo and Kalpitiya. Negombo is great for fishing and boating whilst Kalpitiya, a peninsula bordered by the Indian Ocean and a lagoon, is a good spot for Kite surfing. Kalpitiya is also well-known as a prime location for whale/dolphin watching. For those who prefer leisure activities over extreme sports, southern towns like Bentota and Koggala offer water safaris along the lagoons, where tourists can view wildlife, try their hand at fishing and even take in a view lagoon islands.

 

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Top Diving Spots in the world

There’s no better way to explore the beauty that makes up the underwater world of fascinating marine creatures, colourful coral reefs, ancient shipwrecks and so much more, than with scuba diving. Whether you are just beginning or have been diving for years, there are a host of different diving sites around the world, with each offering its own uniquely wonderful diving experience.

The turquoise waters and vast coral formations are just some of the reasons that attract divers to the stunning Maldives Islands. Resorts themselves boast great diving opportunities within their house reefs, like the Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi, for example, which is located near other note-worthy diving sites. Maldives offers several deep reefs and shipwreck dives along with the mesmerising experience of leisurely swimming alongside groups of manta rays and sharks.
Travel further east, and discover the many exciting diving locations that Indonesia has to offer. From the coral gardens off Bali’s coast, to the staggering amount of life diversity at Raja Ampat, the options are endless, but it’s the Lembeh Strait that wins out as best Indonesian diving location. Under the calm waters that divides Lembeh Island from the mainland, lies an extraordinary world, full of exotic looking flora and fauna. An underwater photographer’s dream, the dark ocean’s bed is home to an amazing display of rare sea creatures – mandarin fish, mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, hairy frog fish and dragonets to name a few.
However, if you’re more interested in wrecks than reefs, the Red Sea is the place to be. The tumultuous waters and strong winds and numerous reefs make this area hazardous to navigate. The ancient Egyptians and Romans travelled along Red Sea regularly and often ran aground. Even today, it’s not unusual to hear of vessels sinking near the reefs; plus, there are several sunken war ships in the area. These are of course, just a few places that offer great diving sites. From beautiful coral reefs to wreck diving, there’s so many diving destinations in the world to discover.

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

The Ghost Tower

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Do you love ghost stories? Does hearing about a real life haunting make your hair stand on end, but leave you wanting to find out more? Then, by all means, do read on and hear the tale of the infamous Ghost Tower in Sathorn, Bangkok!

While traversing the streets of Sathorn you will come across a rather derelict looking building that has now become amongst the well known Bangkok tourist attractions in the city.

This structure which was originally known as Sathorn Unique was initially meant to offer luxury apartments, but when the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 hit, construction was suspended too.


Video by It’s better in thailand via Youtube


Neglect and disrepair took over and this unfinished tower soon attracted a whole different set of “crowd” than was originally intended.

Stories of it being haunted soon began to propagate with claims including that the building had been constructed on the grounds of what was once a graveyard, which angered the spirits here and who in turn plagued the project and those who worked on it.

Little wonder that for those who love ghost stories, this 49-storey tower has become such a popular attraction amongst the many others you can find out more on at travel blog sites like Travel Bangkok Now.

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The Ghost Tower is something to be seen from the outside and is generally off-limits to the public.

However, there have been instances where people have snuck inside and made their way up to the top floor.

Alexander Blecher, blecher.info [CC BY-SA 3.0 de , CC BY-SA 4.0  or GFDL ], via Wikimedia Commons
This is by no means advised, though since it is an abandoned building that is unsafe, not taking into account encounters with any angry spirits that may still wander its hallways.

Adding a new twist to the tale, in 2014, a body of a Swedish national was found on the 43rd floor of the building, apparently having committed suicide by hanging himself.

And so the frightening tales of the Ghost Tower continue to grow and provide quite a unique sightseeing opportunity in Bangkok… from the outside of course!


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+

Diving with Manta Rays in Maldives

Tipped to be one of the most exhilarating and unique underwater experiences on offer in the Maldives, diving with manta rays is not for the faint of heart. Though these gentle giants are in fact, one of the most docile marine species in the ocean, they do cut imposing figures especially when one interacts with them in their own turf. Available through a variety of Maldives villas and resorts with diving centres including the Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives and innumerable others, diving with manta rays is specifically geared for seasoned divers.

The Maldives is not only home to large schools of manta rays but is also one of the few diving hotspots in the world where spotting the large creatures is almost guaranteed due to their large local populace. Visitors who wish to experience a scuba diving excursion with manta rays will typically be transported to a site in the Indian Ocean such as Hanifaru where many mantas are known to feed during high tide. After the speedboat ride, divers will typically wait for high tide as the rising waves cause the manta rays to gather in one location to feed on plankton. Hanifaru is, in fact, one of the top diving destinations in the paradise archipelago and is especially well-known as a popular spot to witness manta rays as well as other marine creatures in their natural habitat.

Although manta rays appear fierce and imposing their nature is anything but hazardous to humans although divers must be careful when coming face to face and interacting with the creatures. Noticing the various patterns and spots on their bellies and skin has helped marine biologists and seasoned divers in the area to differentiate one manta ray from another. Diving fanatics who are based in the Maldives are certainly adept at interacting and recognising individual manta rays and also look to photograph them using underwater cameras. Tourists and those who are diving with the rays for the first time, however, should exercise caution and respect the distance between one’s self and the ray and enjoy the experience.

Stay Adventurous
Stay Adventurous, Img. Src:[Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives]
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Top Ski Spots in Queenstown

queenstown, lake view
Lake Wakatipu , Queenstown by Oaks Club Resort

In the South Island of New Zealand, Queenstown has been a popular tourist destination for a number of years and has been steadily increasing in popularity. This city is regarded as Australia’s and New Zealand’s favourite winter playground, enticing many a ski enthusiast to plan ski holidays to the glistening alpine peaks of the region. When looking for accommodation for your visit, be sure to choose a Queenstown hotel which will cater to your individual needs. There is a plethora of Queenstown ski resort in the area such as the Oaks Club.

Skydiving is one of the biggest challenges you will face in the name of adventure. A free fall from 15,000 ft above the ground level, this sport is not only about adventure, but also a challenge t conquer your fears. A visit to Queenstown is almost incomplete without experiencing its famous bungee jump. You can leap from bridges, climbs or special platforms perches on the edge of a cliff or stadium roofs. You can leap off against the stunning backdrops of Queensland that will simply take your breath away.

This city warmly welcomes winter sports enthusiasts from all around the world visiting the four main ski fields: Cardrona, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone. Queenstown offers a huge variety of activities for the adventure sports enthusiasts which include bungee jumping, tramping, sky diving, jet boating, snowboarding and much more. It is no easy game; you need to be mindful all the time if yourself. There are a number of restaurants and bars that feature the wine of the region for those visiting Queenstown for a more relaxed holiday and also malls for those who would like to indulge in a bit of retail therapy.

Queenstown is the ideal venue to let loose among the slopes and enjoy a ski holiday like no other. Surrounded by snow-capped hills and mountain ranges as far as the eye can see the breathtaking winter wonderland that is Queenstown is a dream come true for winter sports enthusiasts the world over.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+