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Fun Adventures in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

If your holiday plan includes spending long days on the beach, surfing the waves, going on foodie tours and partying on the shore, then Hikkaduwa in Sri Lanka is the place for you!

South Coast Escape

This laid-back town can be found along the island’s south coast; it is around 98 km from Colombo, the commercial capital and is easy to reach via the Southern Expressway or by train. Hikkaduwa resort, hotel and Airbnb options abound offering accommodation for varied budgets.

Hikkaduwa Beach

Golden sands bordered by azure waters await at Hikkaduwa Beach where soaking up the sun is a way of life! Beachside resorts the likes of Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon offer the ideal coastal base to also enjoy diverse dining and the happening nightlife scene in and around the beach area.

Ocean Escapades

Hikkaduwa also features thrilling water sports; there are some excellent waves for surfing especially for beginners, while snorkelling lets you explore the local marine national park home to assorted coral and marine life. For more in-depth exploration you can go diving to hotspots the likes of Black Coral Point and Kirala Gala.

More Adventures

There’s much more to do in Hikkaduwa; you can visit the nearby Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya, which is a temple on a small island, see turtle conservation in action at the Sea Turtle Hatchery & Rescue Centre and indulge in rejuvenating spa treatments. There’s always something new to discover!

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+

A First Time Visitors’ Travel Tips for Thailand

The land of smiles as fondly called by many is truly welcoming despite the noisy smelly nature of some places. Culture shock may or may not hit you once you’ve landed, but then you’ve come to experience something different. Here are a few travel tips.

When to visit

October to April is usually the peak season in Thailand. Summers are very hot and often are subject to little summer rain now and then. You could also come in time to observe festivals which take place from October to November.

Forgot something? Go shopping

Forgotten to pack in your favourite top? That’s too bad, but what’s brilliant is that you can go shopping for clothes from your favourite brands and for better prices too! 7-11 is the one stop shop to visit for basic items you might need.

Getting around

Taxis are quite alright to take to get around in the city. However, it would be advisable to agree on a price before you get into the vehicle. In the south, the taxis are a bit different. These are called songthaews. Tuk-tuk rides too may prove to be a good experience.

Finding your lodging

There are plenty of luxury hotels in Thailand. Hotel offers are available almost all year round at properties such as those by Chatrium Hotels & Residences. Homestays and boutique hotels are available too. Thailand can fit any budget so why not give it a try?

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

Jeddah’s Best Art Galleries

Taking a stroll around the streets of Jeddah is enough to discover plenty of art galleries featuring Middle Eastern creativity. Here are some of the best art galleries that you should not miss.

Tahlia Street Galleries | Image Credit : Ahmed Abdulbasit (Pakistan), Jeddah galleria, CC BY 4.0

Arabian Wings Gallery

Known as one of Saudi Arabia’s largest galleries the Arabian Wings Gallery boasts over 1500sqm of space to create the illusion of endless space. Making full use of its huge girth this gallery is a treat to explore up-and-coming artists as well as established names such as Damien Hirst, Banksy, and Heba Amed.

Athr Gallery

The Athr Gallery is one of Saudi Arabia’s classiest and most celebrated galleries in Jeddah for contemporary art. It displays montages, ink drawings, photographs, sculpture, scripture, and abstracts. The works of renowned Saudi Arabian artists are displayed at this venue located at Tahlia Street, which is 11 minutes away from Ascott Sari Jeddah, one of the best Jeddah apartments in the city.

Darat Safeya Binzagr Gallery

This gallery was established to accommodate the work of Saudi Arabian artist Safeya Binzagr and while it continues to showcase a wide selection of the artist’s work, there are other displays too covering and exhibiting the work of international and local artists.

Al-Alamia Gallery

The exhibits at this gallery are wholly enchanting; there you are treated to stunning landscapes, floral painting, authentic Islamic artwork and lots more. There is also a fine selection of celebrated Arabic artists work up for sale, which gives you a chance to take home some unique masterpieces.

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+

My Travel Itinerary for Sri Lanka

Looking for a splendid beach vacation in Sri Lanka? The Eastern coast of Sri Lanka retains much of its pristine beauty with its unspoiled beaches and tranquil atmosphere. Do read on to know more facts!

Mirissa

If you want to make the best out of your holiday, you should spare some time to visit Mirissa for Whale and Dolphin watching. You will have the opportunity to view the most famous and the largest marine mammals, “Blue Whales”. Also, you will see several other whale species, exotic marine life, and dolphins.

Arugam Bay

If you want to receive the best out of Sri Lanka beach holidays, it’s worth visiting the stunning Arugam Bay to have a great experience while feasting your eyes on glorious sunset views. Undoubtedly, this place is a heaven for those of you who seek a laid-back ambience along with a welcoming and diverse community.

Yala National Park

As one of Sri Lanka’s premier safari hotspots, the Yala National Park is a thriving safari hub worthy of exploration. It will give you the opportunity to witness a broad variety of wildlife in Sri Lanka. If you are luckier, you’ll be able to witness magnificent a leopard. Those visiting this part of the country will have a plethora of accommodation like Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts which offers some of the best places to stay in Sri Lanka.

Sigiriya

Sigiriya, also known as the Lion’s Rock, is a popular hotspot among many tourists who visit Sri Lanka. Visit this heavenly place on earth and get to know the rich history of the country. You’ll certainly be mesmerized seeing this giant rock palace against the backdrop of lush green surroundings and clear blue skies!

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

Thrilling White Water Rafting in Sri Lanka

If your idea of a perfect holiday involves lots of action-packed thrills, then white water rafting in Sri Lanka is for you! Here’s what you need to know about this activity in this tropical island paradise.

White Water Rafting| Img by: Timeworks via Pixabay

Rapids of Sri Lanka

The premier place for white water rafting is Kitulgala, a favourite stop on adventure tours in Sri Lanka. The Kelani River here offers grade two to three rapids ideal for younger participants too. Those with more experience can look to tackle the rapids at the Sitawaka (grade three to four), Mahaweli (grade two to five) or Kotmale (grade four to five) rivers.

The Kitulgala Rapids

Those enjoying white water rafting offered by adventure specialists the likes of Nature Odyssey can look forward to challenging several of the Kelani River’s distinctive rapids. The experience lasts for around 90 minutes and the rapids have uniquely named sections such as Killer Fall, Head Chopper and Butter Crunch!

The Ideal Period

The months from May to December are generally considered the best time for this activity in Kitulgala; this is mainly because the seasonal south-western monsoon makes the river swell which leads to faster rapids too.

Other Activities

The ideal complement to Kitulgala white water rafting is the many activities you can enjoy in and around the Kelani River. These include waterfall abseiling, rainforest trekking, canyoning and performing confidence jumps from varying heights to rock pools below!

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

A Travel Guide to Suzhou

China is an ancient civilization that has managed to preserve much of its history even to date. One of these preserved age-old cities situated a short distance away from Shanghai is the skilfully landscaped Suzhou.

Gardens in Suzhou | image Credit : SteFou! from Lübeck, Germany, Suzhou-classical-garden-corner-1, CC BY 2.0

Classic Gardens

The beautiful city of Suzhou has famed the world over with its amazing classic garden collection. There are approximately 60 gardens in the area of which 9 have been recognised as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Water Towns

The brilliance of archaic China is still evident in the marvellous water towns in Suzhou. Water from various rivers and canals flow across the towns. One may come across short bridges, interconnected streets and so on bringing out a nostalgic feel to the surrounding.

Kun Opera

Being one of the oldest forms of opera in the world, the Kun Opera combines the perfect mix of rich literature, traditional dance and ancient tunes to bring together a masterpiece! For this, the opera was deemed Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001. The best place to watch the Opera would be at Suzhou Opera Museum a short distance away from Ascott Midtown Suzhou.

Travel & lodging

If you are planning on visiting Suzhou, many a Suzhou serviced apartment have come up and are readily available for accommodation. As for travel, since the city is located close to the capital, there are trains running from Shanghai to Suzhou.

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

Venture into the dark corners of the ocean floor in Hikkaduwa

Venture into the dark corners of the ocean floor in Hikkaduwa to explore under sea marvels of ship wrecks, rock formations, caves and the beautiful coral reefs. The sea surrounding Hikkaduwa has hidden underwater mysteries and magical marine life for people to explore.

Water sports

There are many things to do in Hikkaduwa while staying at luxury hotels such as Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon. Hikkaduwa is ideal for many kinds of water sports, deep sea diving, snorkelling and viewing of coral reefs under water via taking a ride on a glass bottom boat. There are variety of colourful tropical fish and other gorgeous marine life to be viewed as well.

Deep diving

There are so many under water sites for divers to explore; ship wrecks, reef and rock formations, underground caves and multi-coloured coral and tropical fish inhabiting the reefs are all part of an exciting diving experience in Hikkaduwa.

Historic shipwrecks

The shipwreck is a main attraction for divers here. Many divers visit this site to enjoy the adventure of diving to explore these underwater shipwrecks. An oil tanker known as Steam Ship SS Conch transporting oil to Madras hit the rocks and sank on 3rd June 1903. The parts of this broken ship are scattered over a large area on the sea beds of Hikkaduwa and part of the hull had turned upside down forming a large cave which became a safe haven for marine life and a variety of fish inhabiting it now. Divers can have a great experience swimming through this cave.

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

A Thrilling Kithulgala Adventure Experience

If you are an adrenaline junkie or are just looking for a thrilling outdoor adventure, then make visiting Kithulgala in Sri Lanka a top priority! From white water rafting to abseiling down a waterfall there is plenty of action-packed excitement to look forward to.

Kithulgala Adventure| Img by: Nature Odyssey

White Water Rafting

The Kelani River has made Kithulgala the most popular place in Sri Lanka for white water rafting. Local tour specialists the likes of Nature Odyssey give you a chance to enjoy grade 2 and 3 rapids which have some rather unusual names for certain areas; Butter Crunch, Rib Cage, Killer Fall and Head Chopper are a few. Don’t be put off by their names though, it really is a lot of fun!

Waterfall Abseiling

A quintessential part of the Kithulgala adventure experience, abseiling down a waterfall is a pure adrenaline rush that lets you truly be “one” with the cascading water. Reputed operators ensure safety comes first as you make your way down the rock face, which sometimes can be over 100 feet high.

Confidence Jumps

Also called a waterfall jump, this activity involves jumping down from a height to natural pools below. The jump-off point can be at varying heights depending on where you are taken; greater heights require greater confidence in yourself! Do make sure to choose experienced excursion providers who follow proper safety measures.

Rainforest Walks

For a land-based adventure in Kithulgala, travellers can embark on a trek through pristine rainforest areas. On your journey, you will encounter picturesque waterfalls and streams along with wildlife including colourful bird species.

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

The Sir Bani Yas Challenge – A challenge like no other! – An outdoor challenge for all

The first of its kind, the Sir Bani Yas Island challenge is an outdoor triathlon organised by Husak Adventures. The challenge consists of a run-bike-kayak race across the island and is meant to be an enjoyable experience for all.

Image Credit- JKrabbe at English Wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Challenge Summary:

A Fun outdoor triathlon open to anyone over the age of twelve with various fitness abilities.

Event route

Using three different disciplines the event route covers the entire island a complete distance of 50 km. The breakdown of the route consists of 10 kilometres of trail running, 37 kilometres of mountain biking and finally three kilometres of kayaking. Campsites will be alongside the beach usually at one of the two Anantara Abu Dhabi beach resorts. The participants will switch between two legs of trail runs and mountain biking to conclude with a couple hundred meters run after the final a Kayaking leg.

Your checklist

Your checklist should include a sleeping bag, headlight, change of clothes and swimwear since the camp is located at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort which is beside the ocean. For the challenge, it is recommended that the participants wear sportswear and/or synthetic shirts.

Provisions by the organiser

The challenge organisers will provide you with a kayak and a mountain bike, water, a map of the course and the stations closing time, a challenge t-shits and finally the challenge medal.

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+

Adventure Sports in Oman

Be it thrills above or below the waves or exciting excursions amidst stunning natural landscapes, Oman offers fantastic adventure sports for those in search of an action-packed holiday.

Scuba diving

Image Credit-Soljaguar [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5], from Wikimedia Commons

There is nothing like heading into the mysterious ocean depths to get your heart racing with excitement. Cockleshell Bay, Coral Garden and Mermaid Cove are among the diving hotspots in Oman. What’s more, resorts like Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara even offer PADI Open Water Courses for first timers.

Stand-Up Paddleboarding

While it may not be fast-paced, stand-up paddleboarding or SUP does offer an adventure-filled way to do some exploring as you paddle your board across the waters. Easy to find at a Salalah beach resort, this activity is best enjoyed from October till May.

Canyoning

For land-based fun, you could always enjoy some canyoning as you scramble, climb, swim and sometimes even abseil through rugged terrains. Snake Gorge and Majlis Al Jinn Cave are among the places in Oman you can try this activity.

Safari in the Desert

While technically not a “sport”, a desert safari is nevertheless one of the most thrilling activities in Oman, especially at sites like Wahiba Sands, Bawshar Sands and the Empty Quarter. On this adventure, you can look forward to seeing everything from wildlife to traditional Bedouin lifestyles.

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+