Category: Land

Victoria Peak

Sometimes the best holiday experiences come from the simplest of things; this is very true for those who get a chance to view the most breathtaking vistas of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak. Before heading to this famous point, make sure to find centrally located Hong Kong serviced apartments from which to set off on your tours of the city. Citadines Ashley Hong Kong is one such serviced accommodation Hong Kong has to offer and provides an ideal base in the Tsim Sha Tsui area where you can enjoy the very best the city is known for.

 

Hong Kong Island’s highest point, Victoria Peak is also an exclusive neighbourhood set amidst spectacular views of Victoria Harbour, the New Territories and not forgetting the glittering skyscrapers. For a truly fantastic sight visit during night, when the lights come on and the cityscape takes on a whole new aura! For one of the best vantage points head to the viewing platform known as Sky Terrace 428 which can be found at The Peak Tower. The Peak Galleria and the Lions View Point Pavilion are also great spots in which to enjoy the views. One of the best ways up Victoria Peak is by way of the Peak Tram which is a funicular railway that offers stunning panoramas on your way to the top!

Wahiba Sands

The Wahiba Sands area stretches across 180km from north to south and around 80km from east to west. It is an area of geographical significance and scientific interest, and is a definite must see for tourists in the area. The name ‘Wahiba Sands’ was coined from the Bedouin al-Wahiba tribe who are the inhabitants of the area. The way of life of these inhabitants provide an interesting glimpse into a nomadic way of life that is fast disappearing under the wheels of modernity.

The landscape boasts a rich biodiversity of both plants and animals in the area, ranging from 200 species of flora (plants) to over 15,000 invertebrates. At the edge of the desert is an oasis named ‘Al Huyawah,’ which is an intriguing site for tourists. Also, close to the oasis, Bedouins can be seen harvesting and farming dates, which are sold to local markets and are a delicacy in the region. The desert landscape also opens up an opportunity to interact with Bedouin women, whose lifestyle affords them with more social and economical mobility as they often come to the rescue of lost tourists, and are skilled crafters who will offer a range of homemade product for sale.

If one is adventurous, there is a rugged path that can be used for trekking. Tourists can hire a local guide for 80 OMR or use one of their own cars with fuel which will cost 30 OMR for the trip. If one wishes to travel with real Middle Eastern authenticity they can make the journey on came back. This will take 7 days in total to complete the journey, and car support will be necessary. The price ranges from 20 – 30 OMR for a camel ride per day. Also it must be kept in mind that a fee must be paid for the camels’ return journey home.

In order for one to begin their odyssey at Wahiba Sands, it is highly recommended that visitors to Oman seek accommodation at a quality Oman Hotels such as the exclusive Sur Plaza Hotel. This elegant Hotel Sur Oman combines modern amenities with spacious rooms to cater to an ideal stay for both business and leisure visitors.

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden

The Philippines is home to the impressive Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, a 14-acre site that opened its doors to the general public in 1959. Visitors looking for accommodation close to the site should invest in a hotel in Manila to fully immerse themselves in the vibrancy of local and international wild life and horticulture. One such Manila hotel is the Heritage Hotel Manila, which boasts modern amenities coupled with a central location, making it easy to roam around the city while sightseeing.

The zoo currently houses over 800 animals including various species of reptiles, mammals, birds, among others as of the last count in 2007. Noteworthy of special mention is the Wildlife Rescue Centre, which functions as a halfway house for animals who are sick, injured or have been abandoned, performing the double duty of a humane society and a zoo. The zoo also boasts two magnificent aviaries, space for crocodiles to frolic and an India elephant donated as a calf from Sri Lanka, and who is the zoo’s most famous animal fixture. Additional, there is a goose section, a tiger enclave, an African Veldt enclosure and a domed area that houses storks, peafowl and herons. The complex also boasts the botanical garden, home to an extensive plant collection collected from the plant-rich Philippines islands and the South Pacific area, where visitors can learn more about the rich array of plants on display. In addition, boats can be rented in the nearby lagoon. Both educational and entertaining, the Manila zoo complex will be enjoyed by the whole family. If bringing the children, visitors can take advantage of all the rest stops and play areas scattered through the complex. In addition, souvenir shops and various eating places add more zing to the visit. The zoo is open from 7am to 6pm daily, and admission will cost visitors the nominal fee of PHP 10. So bring the entire family down for a fun, entertaining day of communing with nature in the city!

I-City in Shah Alam

A fun water park by day and an electrifying LED based lights spectacular by night, I-City in Shah Alam provides an exciting time out for the entire family. This site can be found around an hour away from the Malaysian capital and if you are in search of Kuala Lumpur serviced apartments from which to set off on your excursions then Ascott Kuala Lumpur makes an ideal option. This modern short stay apartment in Kuala Lumpur is ideally situated in the Central Business District making it well suited for both business and leisure travellers.

A great place to beat the heat, I-City in Shah Alam is home to Waterworld where you can enjoy some watery thrills and spills. Not to be missed is a chance to try the 160-foot long water slide known as the Tornado which will take your breath away! The site’s SnoWalk which has artificial snow also offers a cooling respite, while the Ferris Wheel and Trick Art Museum also provide plenty of family fun. It is at night however, that I-City really comes into its own; artificial trees, plastic figures of giraffes, flamingos, peacocks and more all come alight as countless LED lights light up the area in an array of colour.

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+

Hiking Adventures in Koh Samui

Koh Samui has a wide variety of attractions for the nature lover. Among the many things that travellers can do there ranges from hiking, trekking and exploring the Ang Thong National Park, visiting the Samui butterfly garden, game fishing, elephant trekking, snorkelling or jeep safari.

For those who are into hiking and trekking there are a number of routes and treks in the area. Tourists can take one of the jungle treks and tread through thick jungles covered with massive trees and spot a variety of birds and insects. From time to time one is sure to come across beautiful viewpoints providing panoramic sceneries of these and the other island in the horizon. Some of these treks lead to waterfalls such as the Nauamg waterfall. At the end of an exhilarating walk you can enjoy a dip in one of the pools in the area and cool down as well. Many tourists take a picnic and double up the stroll into a nice little picnic amidst the greenery and the amazing surroundings.

Among the diverse places that a traveller can saunter about in the area, there is the Buddha Magic garden. There are exquisite sculptures located here and from here one can also get an impressive view of the greenery of the jungle around as well as of the island.

The best way to find the many trails in the region is to hold of a map and explore where the trails lie and take one of those. The good news is that while there are a number of attractions on the way, a welcome treat of tiny restaurants are also there at the end of some trails.

Most of these walks can be enjoyed from the various Koh Samui Resort. For the travellers staying at Chaweng Hotel who are looking for ways to explore the vicinity by foot, there are many places to stroll about and for the traveller who is staying at a place such as Anantara Lawana Resort & Spa Koh Samui, there is much pampering awaiting them at the end of a tiring day exploring this tropical region.

Emerald Pool in Krabi

Although Thailand may be well known for its numerous cultural and historical attractions, there are several lesser known attractions, more like well kept secrets that any traveller will be thrilled to explore and one such place is Emerald Pool in Krabi. Be sure to book a Trang resort close to regional attractions and Krabi resorts such as Anantara Si Kao Thailand are ideal in this regard. As an interesting Eco-tourism place, Emerald Pool in Krabi can be reached by taking a drive from Ao Nang in Krabi. With its beautiful green aquamarine waters, the pool and its surroundings are bound to be a treat for nature lovers and Bird Watchers.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

Google+

Surfing in Kuala Lumpur- Strengthen your skills in the man- made wave pool

Being the vibrant capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a city with many fascinating attractions and exciting things to do. A convenient Kuala Lumpur hotel would always let you make the most of your trip while you try out adventurous outdoor activities in the city. Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur is one such luxury hotel in Bukit Bintang where you can reside while you enjoy and grasp every fun-filled activity in the city. Surfing in Kuala Lumpur is one of the thrilling outdoor activities you get to experience while you are in the city. The outstanding feature of surfing in KL is that you do not get to surf in the sea but in a grand man-made wave pool. This wave pool is an ideal place to learn surfing and strengthen your skills as it lets you release your tension. One of the places which offers this modern facility is Sunway Lagoon Theme Park in Kuala Lumpur. Even the best surfers in the world have visited this man-made wave pool and performed amazing stunts in these artificial pools.

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. Google+

Bird watching in Abu Dhabi

Though bird watching might not top your list among attractions in Abu Dhabi, it is indeed a good way to spend the day and you will be surprised by the numbers and different species found in Abu Dhabi. Situated on the route of migrating birds on their way to southern or central Asia for breeding and wintering in Arabia and Eastern Africa with the coastline facing the northwest, it attracts hundreds of species of birds annually. The cultivated gardens, tidal creek and watered central reservations of Abu Dhabi create a haven for birds flying across large expanse of desert lands in search of their breeding and resting grounds further east. Although with rapid development the numbers have decreased in the past years, the hope is that with the increased gardens and greenery, more birds will continue to rest at Abu Dhabi despite the busy city.

There are a number of vantage points to watch bird migrations in Abu Dhabi but one can simply watch from anywhere green and still count a considerable number of birds and species during certain peak periods. There are a number of scattered islands along the Arabian Gulf where colonies of seabirds breed and their migrations can be viewed from the spit running northwest. The best place would be right at the northwesterly edge of the spit from May to August and also though autumn and winter till April when birds arrive in large numbers from their northern breeding grounds. Species seen here include reef heron, great blackheaded gull, lesser sand plover, slenderbilled gull, small waders and a number of other seabirds.

Along the Batin are patches of greenery and deserted beaches as well as areas of reclamation where birds such as masked shrike, redstart, isabelline shrike, hoopoe and many others have been seen. Great numbers can be seen at dawn and dusk during April behind some of the quieter roads where well watered central reservations can be found. Most impressive place to see waders are at the sewage outfall at the tidal creek on the east side of the island. Birds such as great white egret, purple heron, greyleg goose, and many others who come to feed near the creek including male black francolin and baillon crake can be seen if you are lucky.

Abu Dhabi beach hotels along the coast with little clusters of green are sure to attract migrating birds as well as those on their way to the islands on the gulf. After a busy day of sightseeing and shopping in the city come relax at a spa in the Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara with the sounds of the twittering birds to soothe your mind. It is an Abu Dhabi Resort that ensures a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

Fun with Wind Surfing in Maldives

Velassaru Maldives is one of the most amazing Maldives resort that one would come across while on the search for a Maldives island hotel. This hotel is modern and includes all necessary facilities to pamper you throughout your vacation. The friendly staff and the beautiful natural surrounding would add more value to your stay.

While in these beautiful island you would come across many activities based on the turquoise blue sea around it. Windsurfing is one such exhilarating activity that you could take part. Even if you’re a beginner do not worry because this is one perfect place in the world where you could learn windsurfing throughout the year. Sail in the beautiful Indian Ocean while feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin and the water splashes that would be refreshing. While cutting through the waves feel the soothing sea breeze that would touch your face and make your ride relaxing. Enjoy paradise and take home lovely memories.

Adventures at Wahiba Sands- Desert Stories

Wahiba Sands is a 12,500 sq km desert area in Oman that aroused scientific interest after an expedition in the late 1980s discovered an uncommon diversity of terrain and flora and fauna. Scientific interest aside, this is the type of desert in everyone’s imagination with miles upon miles of rust and honey coloured dunes, some towering over 100 meters interspersed with flat sandy areas. Except for parts occupied by Bedouins of the Al Wahiba tribe that has given the region its name and tracks left by dune bashers, the desert remains empty and gets even more magnificent further into the interior.

One of the best ways to have an adventure as well as experience the vastness and solitude of the desert and explore the sands is to stay in a nomadic desert camp in the middle of the dunes, run by local families. The accommodation is rustic, a ‘barasti’ house built of palm logs and leaves with a basic wind tower and absolutely no frills, not even electricity. The houses are set in a circle in the middle of which is a campfire in the evenings with Arabic style seating of colourful cushions and rugs. Desert experiences at the camp includes camel and horse rides over the dunes in the mornings before they heat up, Bedouin music, camaraderie and food round the campfire and dune bashing under the stars in the night. Quad biking trips, sand boarding on the dunes and trekking are other ways to experience the desert. The fact that there is no sign of life other than in the camp for miles around is the most remarkable experience here and the fact that anyone can get atop a dune to take a closer look as it is just a matter of a few steps from the accommodation.

For an experience of a somewhat more vigorous kind, the best option is to hire an experienced driver and race up and down on the steep slopes of the dunes in any part of the desert. For those wishing to have a bash themselves joining one of the many 4×4 clubs and getting some training will be a good idea.

For guests who like adventurous holidays Millennium Resort Mussanah is very well placed to offer them an active lifestyle. An onsite private marina, swimming, diving and snorkeling opportunities and dune bashing and mountain trekking are some of the activities within easy reach from the hotel. Additionally guests can enjoy spacious contemporary accommodation and many excellent facilities and amenities at this well known Oman Muscat hotel. Stay at this Muscat hotel to enjoy the many adventurous opportunities that Oman has to offer.