Archive for February, 2009

New Zealand's Bay Of Islands

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

The Bay of Islands, on New Zealand’s North Island, is an area of unspoilt coastal beauty with a sub-tropical climate. The Bay of Islands is a favorite holiday destination for tourists. It covers an area on the east coast of Northland province, the warm north of New Zealand. The main place to stay is Paihia, a small, peaceful town with a golden sandy beach that is perfect for all types of water activities. This includes sailing and fishing. From Paihia, you can explore the area to discover its interesting history.

On the nearby Waitangi National Reserve, visit the house where the historic Treaty of Waitangi was signed by the Maoris and the British in 1840. This reserve is special to all New Zealanders. Learn about the Maori culture in a traditional Maori Meeting House and admire the 35-metre long Maori war canoe which is launched into the water once a year on 6 February, the Waitangi Day national holiday. There are number of guided tours that will give you a unique insight into this special and spiritual place.

From Paihia, take a short boat trip over to Russell, a former whaling and trading port once dubbed ‘the hellhole of the Pacific’ because of its reputation for attracting drunken sailors and other undesirable characters. It is now a sleepy village with few signs of its more colorful past. It is home to Christ Church, the oldest surviving church in New Zealand. The bullet holes in its wooden walls are a lasting reminder of the Maori uprising and siege of 1845.

The Russell Museum gives a fascinating insight into the history of the town and includes a scale model of Captain Cook’s ship, Endeavour, which was the first European ship to sail into the area in 1769.

Throughout your stay, you will find that Bay of Islands is a tranquil and beautiful place that contrasts with its turbulent past.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

For more information, visit New Zealand.

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Go Oriental – Travel To China

Friday, February 27th, 2009

People touring all the important countries of the world; prioritize their travel to China. People’s Republic of China is the world’s most populated country, touching the 1.3 billion mark. With such a huge population and the large area, it is bound to be diverse and hence makes for a hot tourist destination..

Natural And Man-Made Wonders
China is a beautiful blend of natural beauty and man-made architecture. Nature here is bountiful with magnificent mountains of Guangxi Zhuang, deserts like Xinjiang and rivers as Yangtze. Man has erected splendid structures like ‘The Great Wall of China,’ beautiful bridges, structurally planned buildings and other monuments. This makes it one of the worlds most sought after tourist spot and the reason for people to travel to China.

Getting and Staying There
While planning to visit China, it would be wise, if you take a tour package for travel to China. However, be sure to do some research of your own, so that you can choose a suitable tour. While in China, you can go around by road, train or even by air. Accommodation is available to suit all budget and taste.

Places to Visit
Beijing, the capital of China is a must-see during your travel to China. Cities of Hangzhou and Suzhou are extremely beautiful. The most popular destinations in China are: The Great Wall of China, which is one of the seven wonders of the world; Tiananmen Square; the Forbidden City of China, the famous temples of Shibaozhai and Yangtze River, which is a very astounding natural marvel. Boat cruise on River Yangtze is breathtakingly beautiful as it takes you through various exquisite Chinese cities and places of historical importance.

People of China
People of China are very gentle, hardworking and thoughtful. Their main religion is Buddhism and Taoism. Most people speak Chinese and local people do not understand English very well. This can cause a little problem for the tourists. Other languages spoken here are Korean, Tibetan, and Mongolian etc.

China is rich in culture and has vast areas to explore. Your world-tour will never be complete, if you do not visit this oriental country.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

 

Barney writes about various topics, and chose to write about China travel because of it’s rich history; travel to china is ever increasing, on what seems to be a daily basis.

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Warsaw: The Ancient Is History, The Modern A Necessity

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Like most other inland European cities, Warsaw is built around a large body of water, straddling the sparkling Vistula River. The small fishing town was first fortified as a Masovian stronghold in the early 14th century. Compared with the histories of its pre-Roman Polish neighbors, the city of Warsaw is practically a fledgling on the grand timeline of human settlement in the region. However, it did not take long for Warsaw to become the center of the Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth and soon thereafter the capital of the (periodically) independent Poland nation until present.

Warsaw is far more inspiring for what has come and gone in the city limits and in the minds of the people than for the physicality of the city today. Warsaw has been destroyed and rebuilt more times than fathomable in its brief history. No other European city experienced quite as extensive horrors and bombardment during World War II from Nazi (and Russian) forces than Warsaw. Over 80 percent of the city was completely razed, including the Old Town and Royal Palace, and nearly 800,000 citizens perished. Though many important buildings were restored after the war, the city has lost much of its Baroque luster and instead has grasped on to the modern era of post-communist art and architecture. The invaluable history is well documented in the immaculately maintained museums and exhibits while, outside, the commitment to present and future life is clearly a driving force in Warsaw’s working gears.

Rebuild, Revive, Reinvent

Travel to Warsaw to marvel at its graceful execution of eclecticism. The visible stratification of decades in time is embodied by the rotating façades of building structures. Art-Deco and elaborate Modernist office buildings of the 1990s independence era rub shoulders with giant stone-slab housing complexes built during the chilling post-war Communist period, and somewhere in-between, old Baroque-style manors and museums accent the amalgamation. Many tours lead in and out of these fascinating buildings and locations.

Take the Memorial Route to the Struggle and Martyrdom of the Jews 1940-43 through the former Jewish District, which was transformed into a ghetto and then obliterated in WWII, and pass 16 commemorative granite blocks representing significant people, places or events. Just south of here visit the tallest skyscraper in Poland, the triumphant Palace of Culture and Science, a gift from the Soviet Union in the 1950s. Although it was destroyed per Hitler’s orders, the restored Royal Palace in Old Town should also be visited. Much of the grand residence has been returned to its 18th century splendor, complete with a museum of the salvageable works of art. Much of Warsaw’s grid-like structure is rife with greenery. Warsaw University hosts a magnificent Botanical Garden and the south of the city is just the beginning of the enchanting Kabacki Forest.

Travel to Warsaw to experience all of the joys of the big city, but with a uniquely Polish twist. The city is not only the seat of the National Opera and Philharmonic, but also jamming with jazz clubs and music bars. Come seek out the nuanced history in Central Europe’s staggeringly modern metropolis.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

 

For more information on international travel and discount airfare to Warsaw, visit www.cfares.com, your source for cheap airfare on the web.

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Romania’s Top Ten Cities To See And Enjoy

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Romania is a country in Europe. Although it was not a major tourist destination before the 1990s, now, it has opened itself up to people who would love to see historical places as well as beautiful sceneries. Here are top ten cities in Romania that a visitor should visit.

1.) Bucharest City

In Bucharest, you can visit Romania’s famous museums like the Village Museum and the Museum of the Romanian Peasant as well as Curtea Veche Museum. A lovely walk along the Old City is also a must for any visitor. Likewise, visiting the many churches here as well as monasteries should also be included.

2.) Brasov City in Transylvania

This city has a lot of beautiful places and buildings to see, among them is the Old Town where you will find the Black Church as well as the Piata Sfatilui or Council Square. There are also museums here as well as the infamous Bran Castle, known to be Dracula’s Castle. There are great places to ski here in Brasov also.

3.) Sibiu City of Transylvania

There is an old town here that you can visit if you want a taste of history as well as culture. Likewise, there is also the Citadel of Sibiu and the Huet Square for you to see. You can also see many fortified churches during the Medieval Period that are still standing.

4.) Sighisoara City

For a culture-high, this city is a must-visit as well. Here, you will surely enjoy the sights of the Sighisoara Citadel. You can also visit its Weapon Museum, which houses a lot of medieval weaponry.

5.) Cluj-Napoca City

So far, this is the most popular city in Romania and is the capital of Transylvania. As such, there are a lot of places to see here like the many museums such as the National Art Museum ad the National Museum of the History of Transylvania. Or you can always visit its parks like the Botanical Garden as well as Central Park.

6.) Constanta City

This city is home to many museums such as the National Museum of History and Archeology, which houses artifacts dating from the Greek and Roman eras. You can also find here the Statue of Ovid. If you want more of nature, then this is a great place to sunbath in its beaches or walk in its parks.

7.) Lasi City

The Place of Culture can be found in Lasi City, which is also another tourist destination if you want to know more about the culture and history of Romania. There are also several churches like the Trei Lerarhi Church as well as the Metropolitan Church. You can also take a relaxing stroll or a nice rest in the city’s Botanical Garden.

8.) Suceava City

The main tourist destination here is the Suceava Fortress. This ancient fortress was erected during the 14th and 15th century and was made more impressive by Stephen the Great. As such, this was never overpowered by attackers.

9.) Timisoara City

This is a wonderful city to visit as it has the Opera Square or the Piata where you will also get to enjoy the wonderful sight of the Roman Orthodox Cathedral as well as get to see majestic palaces of the rich Romanians. In this city, you will surely love a walk in its parks. You can also visit the Union Square or the Piata Unirii where you will get to see historical buildings like the Catholic Dome and the Baroque Palace, etc.

10.) Gura Humorului

This is not in par with the other cities but still a good place to visit nonetheless. Along the way to Gura Humorului, do not forget to drop by Bucovina to see the Painted Monasteries. You can also go to Voronet where you and your loved one will surely enjoy a leisurely walk where the landscape is a great sight to behold.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

 

Jonathan Williams is the travel writer for Destination Guide TV – the place to share travel videos. Visit www.destinationguide.tv/romania to view or share Romania travel videos.

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Boredom Impossible in Memphis

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

While it is certainly unfortunate, the fact is that many vacation spots are either designed and built for children or for adults—almost never for both. It may be true that such places offer options for both adults and children but both groups are rarely happy with the results. One way or another, the adults either end up spending the majority of their vacation traversing from children’s hot spot to the next or the kids become lost in a maze of boring choices and spend the majority of the vacation wandering about looking for anything to relieve their boredom.

One such place that caters to the interest of both adults and kids is Memphis, Tennessee. It’s a true family vacation spot that ensures that both the adults and the kids get their load of fun and enjoyment. Whether it is the outdoor activities such as hiking and biking that the family is into or park rides, there is plenty of variety that ensures that adults and kids get to enjoy a good holiday.

Taking a ride down the Mississippi River is a memorable and enjoyable experience for both children and the adults. It’s a quite an adventure to people of all ages to trace the Mississippi River up to its origin. All said The Mississippi River provides a cherish-able vacation spot for the family.

History buffs will absolutely fall in love with the sheer possibilities that a trip to Memphis offers its visitors. The Memphis Belle, the infamous bomber made so by the Hollywood movie of the same name, is on display for all to see when they visit this historic and vibrant city.

The mighty Graceland is steeped in all the magic and history that surrounds it. This great mansion has been preserved exactly as it was when the King was alive. It was made famous by Elvis Presley and millions of fans go to Graceland every year to take part in the annual candlelight vigil held on August 16th— the anniversary of the King’s death.

Heard of a group of ducks taking a ride down the elevator for a feed at the grounds? That’s the famous Peabody Hotel which has dedicated its roof as a home for these spoilt ducks. This spectacle, which happens around 10 am each day, is a sight to remember for both adults and kids. This hotel is a popular spot for tourists and local big shots that visit the hotel very frequently.

Libertyland Amusement park is a popular spot with children that is also closely located to entertainment spots that cater to the adults of the family. This place is reputed for its vintage 1909 carousel and does provide other popular entertainment such as midway games, rides and such other shows. Weather not permitting a visit to a park, the Children’s Museum of Memphis deserves a visit for entertaining and educational displays that are likely to keep the children highly absorbed.

All in all, Memphis is one of those rare places where there is something exciting to do, regardless of what age group you belong to. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check into the wide assortment of activities offered by this exciting town. Make a list of the places you will visit this year and postpone the others to your next visit. One thing is for sure, you will visit Memphis again!

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

 

Priscilla Rozee is the chief editor for F memphis, a fantastic resource for information about memphis. For questions or comments about this article why not visit: www.funinmemphis.com/articles
Get a unique version of this article from our memphis article directory

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