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Thrilling Safaris at Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Ever had the thrill of seeing regal leopards and majestic elephants roam free in their natural habitats? Such wildlife encounters and a whole lot more awaits at the Yala National Park!

Plan Your Safari
Located in the southeast part of the country, this park can be accessed via the gates at locations such as Palatupana and Katagamuwa. For a safari tour, Sri Lanka is best explored via 4WD vehicles and Yala is no exception. A little after 6:00am and again after 4:00pm are generally the best times for spotting wildlife.

Kings of Yala
The apex predator at the park is the Sri Lankan leopard; safaris here are very popular since it has the world’s highest density of leopards in the wild. Such wildlife drives can be organised by local travel specialists the likes of Walkers Tours as part of unforgettable excursions to spot these stealthy felines.

Other Wildlife
On your adventures in Yala, you mayobserve many other creatures too including elephants who may be gentle giants, but shouldn’t be disturbed! Keep watch to also spot sloth bears, water buffalos, spotted deer, toque macaques and mugger crocodiles. Part of the park encompasses the coast where sea turtles are known to visit too.

Diverse Birdlife
Equally impressive are the diverse bird species at Yala; one of the best places for birdwatching in Sri Lanka, the park has recorded around 215 bird species. These includeendemic varieties such as the Sri Lanka wood pigeon, Sri Lanka grey hornbill and Sri Lankan junglefowl which is also the nation’s national bird.

Places to visit in Colombo, Sri Lanka

With crowds of buzzing people and vehicles moving in a huge rush, Colombo- the commercial capital of Sri Lanka is an ever-busy city. Have you explored some of these iconic places in this metropolitan city?

Galle Face Green Promenade
From any city hotel in Colombo, the Galle Face Green Promenade cannot be too far for an evening walk. If your kids are with you, take them too as they will love a kite flying session here, and also to enjoy some amazing street food.

Dehiwala Zoo
It’s the National Zoo of Sri Lanka spanning across 24 acres of land. If you are spending a family vacation at a hotel such as Mandarina Colombo Hotel, visit the zoo with your kids because they will simply love the birds, fish, reptiles, and other animals that you will find there.

National Museum
Sri Lanka is a country with a proud history. So, if you want to know some interesting facts about it, the best place to head to is the National Museum of Sri Lanka. It is a huge white painted building that has been constructed in 1877.

Viharamahadevi Park
Victoria Park was its old name and now is called the Viharamahadevi Park. It also has a kiddies’ zone where children can play, while you have a leisurely walk around the park.

A Handy Guide to Sail in Hidden Islands in Krabi

Around two hundred islands and islets are sprawled around Krabi’s magnificent coastline, with many outcrops rising precariously out of the sea, which can only be admired from a distance. Others, although largely uninhabited, offer enrapturing white sand beaches, and ethereal cave exploration opportunities.

Best Times to Sail

Since Krabi is located to the equator, it has a tropical monsoon climate, which means that it’s quite hot and humid, with April and May being the hottest months of the year. Stormy weathers frequent the region between May and October, during which not all islands can be visited. November to March is considered the best time to visit.

Accommodation

Ao Nang beach is where navigators usually anchor off when they arrive at Krabi. One can find a myriad of facilities around the beach such as restaurants, spas, and many a hotel in Ao Nang. Krabi offering all kinds of accommodation from guesthouses to luxury properties such as Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort.

Sailing Charters

You can select from a variety of choices from powerboats to motor yachts and super yachts to sail around the Krabi Islands. Yacht chartering to Krabi is ideal for a sense of adventure.

Best Sailing Locations

Talabeng Island, Phang Nga Bay, Thalane Bay, and Bor Thor Village are some of the best places you can have leisurely sailing experience.

Top Taboos in Thailand

Thailand is a country with a rich culture. It’s amazing, but westerners may sometimes find this culture to be a little strange. This is why you should know mainly about its top taboos before you go.

Don’t touch the head of a person

In Thailand, they believe that the most significant body part of a person is the head, and because of this, touching the head will be considered so wrong.

No shorts or miniskirts to temples

Are you planning to visit any temples during your holiday spent at a hotel in Khon Kaen the likes of Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre? Adhere to modest clothing as much as possible, you can’t even wear a sleeveless top to a temple.

Do not touch monks

Touching a monk is forbidden in Thailand. You can have friendly conversations with them, but you should know your limits. Even when you need to take a picture together, you should first ask for permission and do it.

Do not criticize the royal family

Thailand Royal Family|Government of Thailand , Princess Ubolratana 2009-12-7 Royal Thai Government House , CC BY 2.0

Since you do not know about the King or his family, it’s always wise to avoid any conversations about them. Criticizing them is a serious offense in Thailand.

Whale Watching in Mirissa

While Sri Lanka is popular for leopard and elephant safaris, don’t forget it is also one of the best places to see majestic whales, especially in the coastal town of Mirissa.

Planning Your Visit
Mirissa lies tucked away along the island’s south coast and is around 150 km from the commercial capital, Colombo. The main season for whale watching is from November to April and the town offers beachside accommodation at properties like Sri Sharavi Beach Villas & Spa close to the harbour where excursions launch from.

The Adventure Begins
When it comes to whale watching, Mirissa Harbour is the place to go to; excursions usually departaround 7:00am and can take around three to five hours. Do have a hat or cap since it can get quite hot; some tour operators will offer snacks / breakfast, while it’s a good idea to have motion sickness medication just in case!

Awe-inspiring Sights
Because Mirissa is near the migratory routeof whales, it offers an ideal chance to see these marine mammals. While no sighting can be guaranteed, you still have a good chance to spot the largest creature on the plant; the blue whale. On your voyage, you may also see sperm, fin and killer whales too.

More Marine Marvels
As a bonus, you have a chance to encounter dolphins, some of which can get quite animated and acrobatic! Bottlenose, common, striped and spinnerdolphins are amongst the species one may spot in the ocean. Keep your eyes peeled for you may also see turtles, flying fish and even sharks.

Five-day Indigenous Tour in Tropical North Queensland

Trek through thriving rain forests and explore the serene mangrove ecosystems of Tropical North Queensland to discover some spectacular locations. An indigenous tour will bring you up close with two of the world’s oldest living cultures: the Aboriginals and the Torres Strait Islanders.

Getting There

During your stay in Australia at one of the Middlemount service apartments the likes of Oaks Middlemount Suites, it’s a great idea to head out on a five-day indigenous tour in the Tropical North Queensland. Embark on a ten-hour road trip to Queensland, which promises mesmerising views.

First Two Days

Follow the footsteps of a local indigenous guide and embark on a day trek through the Daintree Rainforest, which would take you past coastal habitats, raging rivers, and gushing waterfalls. Expect excellent insights into the ancient herbal remedies from your guide. The next day, head over to Cooya beach to visit the fishing grounds of the Kuku Yalanji people to experience spearfishing techniques.

The Next Two Days

You can follow the art trail in Cairns and Laura to adore the Quinkan Rock art sites that feature hundreds of centuries-old rock paintings. Learn how to survive in the wild during the next day with a Pamagirri guide and practice on your spear-throwing skills.

The Final Day

During your final day, treat yourself to a night of cultural flavours. The traditional food cooked in an underground oven would produce hitherto unknown flavours on your taste buds as you savour them beneath the stars, listening to live aboriginal music.

A travel guide to Townsville

Townsville is now turning into a wonderful tourist hub. The quaint buildings, the old pubs and simply everything about the city is quite stylish which makes it alluring to visitors. Here are a few things to look out for if you plan on visiting.

Public Buildings

The private buildings are nice alright, but the public buildings have a charm of their own that’s even more amazing! The best example for this would be the Townsville Post Office which was built in 1886 with a clocktower that has been structured to the Early Victorian Classical Revival theme.

Viewpoints

When visiting Townsville, something you need to do is to see the city from above. Now, you don’t need one of those expensive helicopter rides for this. There are several viewpoints for this, the most popular one would be Castle Hill.

Botanical Gardens

There are 2 main nature parks in Townsville, Queens Gardens which is just 9-minutes away from Oaks Townsville Metropole Hotel is a wonderful spot with tropical flowers and trees. Anderson Park Botanical Gardens is a little further away and within the place is a lagoon, picnic spots, and a conservatory.

Places to stay

If you are on the lookout for places to stay, there are historic hotels as well for a bit of old-world charm and for a taste of modern-day living, Townsville accommodation apartments are always available.

Why You Will Fall In Love with Wellington

It isn’t a surprise that many people consider New Zealand to be a magical utopia and the Lord of the Rings movies have everything to do with that. But in most cases, the reality is far from how a country is depicted in movies. But can we say that about Wellington?

1. The Bays and the Beaches

The prettiest part of Wellington that you will see is the bay and the beautiful sapphire beaches. The best hotels in Wellington will take you straight from your room right into the breath-taking seaside.

No machine-readable author provided. Donaldytong assumed (based on copyright claims)., Wellington Oriental Bay, CC BY-SA 3.0

2. Hill City

The city is also built around many mountains, with huge hills that slope into the waterfront bringing you a view worth it all every time you look out of your room in Oaks Wellington Hotel or any other local resort you may be staying at. You get the best of both worlds.

3. Brunch & Coffee

Coffee in New Zealand is as delicious as coffee in Australia so make sure that you head out to a hearty brunch at any of the local cafés and ask for plenty of coffee.

4. Mt. Victoria

Everyone who visits Wellington must climb Mt. Victoria. If you want to see what the city looks like from the heavens and want to see plenty of greenery this is where you should go.

The Ultimate Weekend Trip to Port Stephens

Port Stephens is a fantastic pit stop on the way to the Pacific Coast or Sydney and is a place you should spend the day and make the most of it. Here’s how.

1. Set Your Alarm to See Dolphins

Set your alarm for the morning and leave your Port Stephens accommodation and head out to sea to catch a glimpse of the dolphins. If you can take a kayaking tour you can get even closer to the dolphins in the harbour.

2. Grab some Breakfast

Head back into Oaks Port Stephens Pacific Blue Resort for a hearty breakfast. You can look over fantastic views of the beach in the morning light from your restaurant while you enjoy a delicious meal and some Australian coffee.

3. Hit the Road

Hire a car drive off into the desert at Worimi National Park to see the spectacular dunes. You can try some quad biking or sandboarding if you’re feeling adventurous.

4. Try Some Walking

In the afternoon, once you’ve had lunch and a little nap, head out to Tomaree National Park for some trekking with spectacular views of the dramatic Australian landscape as your reward.

5. Sunset Dinner

Finish off your day at Port Stephens with a sunset dinner of freshly caught seafood and a nice draft of cool beer.

Explore the National Parks in Khon Kaen

Those who love nature or outdoor adventures have much to look forward to on a visit to Khon Kaen; national parks in the province rich in flora and fauna offer unforgettable journeys of discovery.

Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham National Park

The Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham National Park features forest landscapes and a couple of sandstone mountains. Those visiting here from a hotel Khon Kaen has to offer can look forward to camping in certain areas while highlights include the Tat Fa Waterfall and the Ubonr at Reservoir for fishing and boating.

Nam Phong National Park

More exploration awaits at the Nam Phong National Park, ideal for an excursion from properties such as Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre. Set amidst mountains and views of the local dam, the site’s main attractions include the Hin Chang Si viewpoint and Famue Daeng Cliffs with its prehistoric paintings.

Phu Wiang National Park

If you love dinosaurs you are bound to love Phu Wiang National Park where you can see excavation sites showcasing findings of dinosaur bones! The Dinosaur Museum provides more insights into the prehistoric findings, while you can also enjoy hiking and visiting sites such as the Thap Phaya Suea Waterfall.

Phu Pha Man National Park

More nature expeditions await at the Phu Pha Man National Park known for its idyllic waterfalls and caves. The parkhas some key places of interest like the Phaya Nakarat Cave featuring intriguing stalactites and stalagmites, Lai Thaeng Cave with paintings depicting pre-historic life and the scenic Tad Fah Waterfall.