Tanah Lot of Bali, Indonesia

This group of photos were shared by my friend who was in Bali recently. This series captured the Tanah Lot, a famous rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali. The first two shot were taken about 15 minutes just before sunset. Tanah Lot is home of a famous pilgrimage temple, the Pura Tanah Lot and a popular picture motiv for tourists.

According to Wikipedia, Tanah Lot means "Land in the Middle of the sea" in Balinese language. Located about 20 km from Denpasar, the temple sits on a huge offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.

Entrance Ticket Price : (as on 19 August, 2008)
Domestic Children : Rp. 5.000, Adult : Rp. 7.500
Foreigner Children : Rp. 10.000,- * Adult : Rp. 10.000

The following shot is from denzani from sxc.hu

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Ready to Shop in The Great Singapore Sale?

Have you already book your air ticket to Singapore? If you have not, you may want to make plan to book your flight now - especially if you are a certified shopaholic. The annual shopping extravagant is coming to Singapore soon. The Great Singapore Sale (GSS) is one of Asia's most anticipated events. The GSS will be from 23 May to 20 July 2008 this year and the whole event will last for about 8 week. You can enjoy discounts of up to 70% on just about anything (fashion, watches, jewellery, electronics etc), anywhere (from downtown Orchard Road to Marina Bay to the shops in the heartlands).

How do you get to Singapore? The award winning Singapore Changi Airport is recognised as one of the best airports in the world. With 80 airlines serving more than 180 cities in over 50 countries, you can easily find an airline of your choice to get to Singapore. With the fleet of budget airlines, flying to Singapore from Asian countries like Philippines, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Indonesia etc has never been easier and cheaper. Be sure to book your air ticket now; the earlier you book, the more you save.

Start your shopping experience in the Changi Airport Shopping City with over 300 retail and F&B outlets in Changi Airport. With such a wide varieties and choices to choose from, its no wonder that the Changi Airport Shopping City is voted the World's Best Duty Free Shopping. You can also shop with confidence as the prices at Changi Airport are guaranteed no higher than established downtown shops or you can ask for refund. Find more information about Changi Airport at: http://www.changiairport.com/changi/en/index.html

How do I getting to City? Getting to the city from the airport is one of the easiest things to do. There are varies form of transport which you can choose from:

1. Taxi (Cab) - The journey to city costs between S$18.00 and S$32.00 and takes approximately 30 minutes.

2. Airport Shuttle - There are different schedules for the different terminals. Please approach the Airport Shuttle Counter on the arrivals level to register. It costs S$9 per adult and S$6 per child.

3. Train (MRT) - The Changi Airport MRT Station is located under Terminals 2 and 3 and linked to the arrivals and departures by escalators and lifts. The first train arrives at around 0530hr and the last leaves at midnight. A single fare to the city costs about S$2.70 (inclusive of S$1.00 refundable deposit) and takes approximately 27 minutes. Tickets are available at the station. If you are traveling with little or light luggage, you may want to consider this option. (Look to picture on left, courtesy of MICA)

4. Public Bus - Public bus service 36 goes to the city. The first bus arrives at around 0600hr and the last leaves at midnight. A single fare costs below S$2.00 and takes about an hour. Bus stops are located under Terminals 1, 2 or 3. Please prepare the exact fare as no change will be given. (This is the least advisable especially if you have big or many pieces of luggage.)

Where do you stay? Singapore offers a wide variety of accommodation types to suit all budgets and preferences. They range from backpacker, budget and youth hostels to boutique and five-star hotels. You can google for the kind of accommodation that you suit your need and budget. I would recommend HotelTravel.com. When I was googling for hotel for my trip in Phuket last year, HotelTravel.com was able to provide me the best rate for most of the hotels I was looking at. Not only that, their service is prompt, friendly and with online support.

How do you move around? Moving around in Singapore is one of the easiest things to do because of the highly developed transportation network, provided you know where you are going. As mentioned earlier, the GSS is located from downtown Orchard Road to Marina Bay to the shops in the heartlands. Depending on the location of your hotel, there are 3 modes of transportation at most time. You can catch a ride on Taxi (cab) or MRT or public buses from your hotel to Orchard Road (Orchard Road MRT station) and from there you can just take a slow walk along the whole stretch of Orchard Road all the way to Dhoby Ghuat MRT Station; you will see all the major shopping malls on both sides of Orchard Road. From Dhoby Ghuat MRT Station, you can take a MRT ride to Cityhall MRT Station where you can continue your shopping trip. (The Picture of Suntec City Shopping Mall within walking distance from Cityhall MRT Station, courtesy of MICA)

And while you are in the vicinity of Cityhall MRT Station, you may also be interested to take a look at one of Singapore landmarks: The Esplanade, theatre by the bay. (Photo on the left, courtesy of MICA)


From Dhoby Ghuat MRT Station, you may also consider taking a MRT ride to Harbor Front MRT Station where you will find one of the latest mall, Vivocity, in Singapore. (Photo on the right, courtesy of MICA)
http://www.vivocity.com.sg/

What do you eat? Eating in Singapore is never boring if you may ask a Singaporean. Singapore is a food paradise and being a multi-racial country, you have a wide selection of cuisines to choose from. We guarantee that our local food like Bak Kut Teh (Pork Ribs in Tea Soup); one very unique food that you must definitely try. Laksa (noodles in a spicy coconut broth); this is one of the Singaporeans' favorites. Roti Prata (Indian pancakes) will leave you wanting more. If you are not so adventurous in food, you can always stick to the many fastfood chains like MacDonald, KFC, Burger King etc. I am sure you can find something to your liking.

What do you wear? Singapore has an equatorial climate, which is warm and humid all year round. Rain falls throughout the year. You can leave your winter clothing at home, just t-shirt and jean will be fine. And of cause a good pair of walking shoes.

What will be the next thing to do? Make sure you marked the date for the GSS and book your air ticket earlier. I'll see you in Singapore!

PS: Don't forget to get your tax refund. Check for more information at: The Official Great Singapore Sale's Site

Priceline.com Airfare - save up to 40%

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Romantic Getaways in the East Coast of Malaysia

A very detail and good information from the NSMAN magazine on a different kind of Romantic getaways. Hope that this will be good information for you to plan your different kind of Romantic getaways in the East Coast of Malaysia.

Romantic getaways need not be clichéd affairs in plush resorts and posh restaurants. Take the road less travelled to the East Coast of Malaysia and experience romance of a different kind.

Pulau Perhentian

Pulau Perhentian - located off the coast of Terengganu - is a marine park divided into two islands, Pulau Perhentian Kecil and Pulau Perhentian Besar around which menagerie of aquatic life thrives.

Diving or snorkelling hand-in-hand with your loved one is a wonderful way to explore the colorful marine life. If you start off at D'Lagoon to the north of Perhentian Kecil, the currents will take you along a haven of soft and hard corals, large angelfish, parrotfish and blackspotted snappers flitting in and out of corals. Green turtles and manta rays also make occasional appearances here.

Off the west end of Perhentian Besar is another dive site for coral connoisseurs. Known as Tanjung Besi, or Iron Cape, large tracts of staghorn corals play home to shoals of gaint groupers. Humphead parrotfish frequently stop at the reef to snack on shrimps while the crevices between the corals are inhabited by large moray eels.

Must See:

The famed Long Beach at the north end of Perhentian Kecil is great for a leisurely night shore dive. Look out for blue-spotted stingrays, cuttlefish and plenty of reef fish. Also renowned for its buzzing nightlife, Perhentian Kecil has many cafes and watering holes that are open till late.

Must Stay:

Tropical Reef Chalet: Located on Perhentian Besar, it is the perfect place for peace and calm. Prices from RM 40. http://www.pulauperhentian.com.my/

Petani Beach Chalet: This waterfront chalet offers gorgeous views. Prices from RM 90. http://www.pulauperhentian.com.my/

Getting There:

The only way to reach Perhentian is by sea from the Kuala Besut jetty in Terengganu. Get there by

- Road: Drive or take a bus from Singapore to Kuala Terengganu.
- Plane: Fly to the Kota Bharu airport in Kelantan.
- Rail: Take the railway train to the Tanah Merah train station in Kelantan.

Taman Negara

It's Malaysia's premier nature park which has been in existence since dinosaurs walked the earth some 130 million years ago. Lush and expansive at 434,300 hectares and stretching across three states - Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, it will take weeks to explore the country's largest national park comprising a cornucopia of primary forests.

And what better way to embark on this grand adventure at Taman Negara than with a loved one? Take a walk through the lowlands, carpeted by verdant riverine vegetation, flanked by lush ferns and rare species of orchids. Move upland onto the intermediate slopes and find oaks and laurels. Walk further upslope for a closer view of wide palm flora.

For a masterful acrobatic performance only nature can offer, watch out for showboating primates: macaques scampering across riverbanks and nippy leaf monkeys darting and leaping from branch to branch. Families of gibbons can also be found dwelling in the midst of the forest canopy, their presence made conspicuous by sporadic echoing sreeches.

Competing with the lush forestry is Gunung Tahan, Peninsular Malaysia's highest mountain. Standing 2,187m above sea level, scaling this imposing mass is possible, especially for couples who love the outdoors. Take a canoe out on Tasik Kenyir, or pack a picnic lunch and your swimsuits for some quiet time alone. This is the perfect setting to relax and appreciate each other's company.

Must See:

With more than 250 species of birds in the park, this is the place to be for bird watching. Or head down to Lata Berkoh Cascades for a cooling swim in the deep pool below the falls before retreating to the rocky overhang for a picnic. Visit also the Orang Asli - indigenous people - settlement at Kampung Yong and the limestone cave at Gua Telinga. Carved by a stream, the cave is another fine examples of Mother Nature's art at Taman Negara.

Must Stay:

Rainforest Resort Taman Negara: Located in Jerantut, Pahang, the resort offers packaged tours of the nature park; ranging from night jungle safari to rapid shootings; from white river rafting to cave explorations; and many more. Prices from RM 207. http://www.rainforest-tamannegara.com/

Tahan Guest House: An inn situated opposite the Taman Negara nature park headquarters in Kuala Tahan, Pahang, provides visitors with an affordable, yet comfortable stay. http://www.tahan.com.my/

Getting There:

The town of Kuala Tembeling in Pahang is the transit point into Taman Negara. You can access Kuala Tembeling via road and rail.

- Road: Drive from Kuala Lumpur to Jerantut in Pahang, then, travel 16km north to Kuala Tembeling.
- Board one of the Jerantut-bound taxis at the Pudu Raya Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur or take a bus from the Jalan Tun Razak Bus Station in Kuala Lumpur to Jerantut before switching to a bus or taxi bound for Kuala Tembeling.
- Rail: There is a direct railway from Singapore to Kuala Tembeling. Approximately nine hours of travel.

Kota Bahru

Humming with activity and oozing rural charm, Kota Bahru is the perfect backdrop for a back-to-basics romantic adventure. For a start, explore the State Museum and the Cultural Centre and relive history by walking through the many sites located around town.

The State Museum showcases an extensive range of exhibits and documents on Kelantan's arts, crafts and musical traditions. Locally referred to as Gelanggang Seni, the Cultural Centre is akin to a history book on Kelantan's illustrious cultural legacy.

Another not-to-be missed monument is the State Mosque or Masjid Al-Muhammadi. Named after the late Sultan Muhammad IV in recognition of his contributions to the state, the mosque features elegant arches and golden-colored domes.

Round off the Kota Bahru proceedings with a visit to the Siti Khadijah Market. In the mornings, locals throng the bazaar for fruits, vegetables, freshly ground spices, dried seafood, pickles, fish-cakes, delicacies, sweetmeat and a colorful assemblage of other goods. Interestingly, the majority of the traders at the market are women.

Must See:

Check out the garishly colored fishing boats plying the rivers off the Pantai Sabak Fishing Village. The jetty is at its busiest around three in the afternoon when fishermen return with their day's catch. The beach is transformed into a marketplace, with spirited haggling of prices and fishermen sorting out their catch.

Must Stay:

Lee Guesthouse: This hostel provides sightseeing services. Prices from RM 50. http://www.hostelworld.com/

Renaissance Kota Bharu Hotel: Pamper yourself in this hotel, located in Kota Bharu's commercial and shopping district. Prices from RM 399. http://www.marriott.com/

Getting There:

Kota Bahru is accessible by road and air.

- Road: Drive from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bahru via Pahang or take a Transnasional bus from Lavender Street in Singapore. It travels direct to Kota Bahru.
- Take a flight from Kuala Lumpur to the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kelantan, then take a taxi to Kota Bahru.

Travel Notes:

- Although handshakes between men and women are acceptable, Muslim women may acknowledge introductions to men by nodding and smiling. Handshakes with men should only be initiated by the womenfolk.
- Permission should always be sought before taking any photographs at places of worship. More often than not, this is usually permitted.
- Refrain from openly displaying affection like kissing or embracing in public as personal propriety is closely observed in Malaysia.

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Thailand Scuba Diving Vacation

Thailand is sandwiched between The Gulf of Thailand on its eastern coastline and the vast expanse of the Andaman Sea on its western coast. It is in these body of waters that scuba divers can explore the marine life of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean without having to cross continents.

The waters in Thailand have one of the richest and diverse marine life in the world because conditions here for coral growth is almost perfect with an average temperature of 28 Degree Celsius all year round and fantastic underwater visibility.

Because of these almost ideal scuba diving conditions and attractions, the scuba diving industry in Thailand is thriving robustly with the proliferation of first class scuba diving facilities, services and diving schools.

When you throw in what the tourist industry has to offer in Thailand such as fantastic entertainment, a spread of accommodations, hotels and resorts for every budget and Thailand's renowned delightful cuisines, you can be assured of an enjoyable scuba diving vacation.

The Gulf of Thailand has hundreds of islands on its 1,840km (1,143 miles) long coast. The gulf is a shallow bowl shaped body of water separated from the South China Sea by a pair of underwater ridges that extend from Vietnam on one side and Malaysia to the other.

The sea bed bottom here is mostly mud mixed with sand and shells. Corals are usually found around the fringes of the gulf islands. There are several rivers in the north bringing enough sediment and freshwater to inhibit coral growth until to the south or the eastern side of the Gulf of Thailand.

The underwater scenery in the gulf is perhaps not as visually appealing as those of the Andaman Sea as it has slightly less variety of marine life. Marine parks such as the Ang Thong Marine Park include spectacularly formed limestone islands with lush rainforest covering them and many of these islands are actually uninhabited.

World famous resorts of Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui offer excellent scuba diving facilities as well as other reacreations and entertaiment.

The Andaman Sea was already thriving thousands of years ago with Chinese, European, Thai and Indian trading vessels plying its waters. Today, the Andaman Sea is more of a playground for dive boats and sailing yachts rather than for trading vessels.

One of the better known playgrounds for divers in the Andaman and is often rated amongst the top scuba diving destinations in the world are the Similan Islands. Divers can explore Similan, the Surin Islands and the Mergui Archipelago in liveaboard diving cruises.

Thailand's Andaman Sea stretches 870km (541 miles) from Tarutao National Park on the border of Malaysia to the Surin Islands on the border of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). It is part of the Indian Ocean and is separated from the Bay of Bengal by the Andaman-Nicobar Ridge. Quaint formations of granite outcrops can be senn in the Surin and Similan Islands.

Other island groups such as Koh Phi Phi are shaped by massive limestone and calcium carbonates since prehistoric time.

The only problem when you travel to Thailand for scuba diving is where to start your diving vacation since there are so many excellent dive spots to choose from and you will be spoilt for choice.

Caribbean: 3-night cruises from $229! Free upgrades and more - Expires 2/8/08

About the Author: Chris Chew runs a travel information website at http://www.asiatravelbest.com/

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Great Places To See In India, Sri Lanka, Singapore And Malaysia

Pretty good travel information and tip for the above mentioned countries. Personally, I am from Singapore and so I have added some more information which I hope might be useful to you. If you have any information or tips which you want to add for the respective countries, do feel free to do so in the comment. This will serve as very good information for people who will be reading this article. Thank you.

India

Come to the land of mysticism and modernity. Must visits include Rajasthan with its splendid forts and palaces. Enjoy desert Safari at Sand Dunes near Jaisalmer. Ride on top of the camels and live in nomad style tents with all modern amenities. Don’t forget to carry your own sunscreen and bottle of water.

Come; see the Taj, the gift of eternal love from an Emperor for his beloved Empress, one of the 7 wonders of the world. Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in Agra. There are many other forts and palaces built by the Emperor all across Agra and the national capital, Delhi .

Known for its beautiful beaches and churches, Goa is a traveler’s paradise. There are many water sports activities and the food is extremely cheap. There are many places to visit and things to do in Goa.

There are many domestic no frills airlines which fly to most cities in India. Goa, Agra and Jaisalmer are well connected by flights. India is serviced by most international airlines and has a great well connected train network. There is a range of hotels to choose from. Budget hotels are clean, neat and offer many facilities to the foreign traveler. While the top end hotels offer the best in accommodating, dining and ambience. Apart from local food, you can find restaurants that serve Italian, Chinese, Thai and other foods. Always carry your own bottle of mineral water and lots of sunscreen lotion. The best time to visit India is the winter months from November to March.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka also known as Ceylon, Pearl Of orient is a Buddhist country and has some of the most beautiful Buddhist sites. The beaches are splendid as it’s an island nation, but the hills are very beautiful. Enjoy the tea plantations which are based in the South and the East of the country. The Ceylon tea as is popularly known is enjoyed by connoisseurs all over the world.

Places to visit include Colombo, which is the largest city and a very colorful city. The mosques and temples are very pretty and definitely worth a look. Kandy is one of the most sacred cities. The Octagonal Dalada Maligawa temple houses the sacred tooth of Buddha. Visitors can see the daily homage procession of monks clad in white carrying lotus blossoms. The city is old Buddhist capital and is steeped in history.

Sri Lanka has a great climate all year round. Visitors will find the locals as gracious hosts and the food is also cheap. The local food includes a lot of seafood and is very delicious. There are many restaurants that serve other cuisines and are very easy to find. Don’t forget to try the local “kasippu”(booze of the working class). It can be quite potent so be careful.

Singapore

The city nation is a very modern with huge towers that house huge malls, offices and great penthouses. Singapore is a global city and much of its population is European, Indian and Chinese. It has beautiful temples and Churches. Raffles Hotel is upmarket hotel named after the founding father of Singapore. Visit Singapore at any time of the year and as it has the same climate round the year. But time your visit around religious festivals or shopping festivals.

(Most of the Singapore population is made up of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian and other minority. With recent encouragement from the local government for foreign talents, we are seeing more and more different nationalities in the small country. Basically as what the author mentioned, you can visit Singapore all year round as the weather is always hot and wet throughout the whole year.

Usually you can expect more rainfall towards the end of the year to the start of the year till about February. The hot weather will start from March all the way till about August. From there onwards, the weather would be slightly cooler. However, in Singapore, the weather changes very fast; at one moment it might still be hot and sunny but rain falls the next moment.)

A great time to visit is the Christmas time where the entire Orchard Road is lit up. There are great bargains on shopping especially during the shopping festivals held in June and August. All international brands for clothing, electronics, shoes, home products are present in Singapore. Shopping in Singapore is more expensive than in the rest of Asia.

(Christmas is a great time to visit with great shopping as most mall will extend their operating hours. You will see the main roads in the shopping areas and malls beautifully decorated with Christmas lightings.

The Chinese New Year would also be a good time to visit as you can expect all kinds of goodies and food in Chinatown. The dates of the Chinese New Year follow the lunar calendar and thus changes every year. Therefore if you plan to visit Singapore during the Chinese New Year, you got to find out when is the period. For the Chinese, they celebrate the Chinese New Year elaborately. For the Malay and Indian, which are the other two main group of races in Singapore, they celebrate their new year at different time of the year too.

And if you like shopping, usually the best time to visit Singapore would be in June where we would be having the Great Singapore Sales every year.

One important event for you to take note is the F1 race in Singapore coming in September 2008. Watch out for it.)

Enjoy the local food all over Singapore. The food is delicious, cheap and very hygienic. There are many restaurants that attract the best chefs from all over the world. The hotels are clean and offer many amenities. You can find great deals and even the three star hotels are clean having all modern amenities. Singapore is serviced by all international airlines and also by Singapore Airlines.

(Truly, one activity that you can do all day and all night is eat. In Singapore, you can expect a variety of food ranging from Chinese to Malay to Indian food. The best places to find good food are not necessary in the hotels. You can find good food, depending on your preference, almost anyway in Singapore. However, you will need a good guide or someone you know to bring you around to taste the different food in Singapore.)

There are many places to visit and you can pickup great bargains for knick knacks at the Arab Quarter, Chinatown and Little India. Use your bargaining skills and learn to bargain like locals to find the things that you are looking for. Most shopping malls have fixed prices. The Singapore Zoo, Sentosa Island with its Underwater World and Jurong Bird Park is a must on every traveler’s list. The public transport is very efficient and economical and includes city buses, the Underground metro and local taxis. English is well spoken and understood as it’s an international city.

Malaysia

Malaysia is truly a beautiful country. The country has progressed in the last few decades after its Independence in 1957. The country has one of the finest beaches, mountains and tourist spots in the world. The country is well serviced by all international airlines and Malaysian Airlines that flies to most destinations around the world. The Malaysian society is a mix of the Malay, Chinese and Indian.

Kuala Lumpur or KL as its popularly known, boasts of the Petronas Twin Towers, one of the tallest skyscrapers in Asia. It houses the Petronas Company and other multinational companies. Entry for visitors is free but only a 1700 free visitor passes are given out on first come first basis each day. It’s closed on Monday and the visitors are allowed only till the 41st floor.

Langkawi is an island off the coast of mainland Malaysia. You can reach here by a 45 minute ride on a ferry or fly out from KL. All domestic airlines service this small island. Most international chains of Hotels are present on the Island. While on the Island there are plenty of water sports activities and bargain shops for the shop-a-holics. The wildlife is abundant here and most of the hotels built almost inside the once pristine forests. It’s a duty free centre and most of the daily use stuff is quite cheap and readily available. The cable car ride at Mat Chinchang Mountain is a must when you are here.

Malaysia is a modern country, though its quite traditional with 90% population being Muslims. Wear covered clothes when visiting mosques and other religious places of interest.

About the Author: Alex J Smith writes for Datravelers.com It's a website where travelers can host their own travel blogs, upload photos and find unbiased travel information.

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No 1 selling destination New York City in Viator

For the most part, New Yorkers--both born and bred, and those who have adopted it as their home--believe Manhattan is the center of the universe. In their minds, no city is as vibrant, culturally flush, fashion-forward, nor has a comparable restaurant/nightlife scene. While this New York-centricity may be grating, the truth is they’re kinda right. With its history, iconic buildings and architecture, never-ending arts, diversity of cultures and neighborhoods, and wealth of things to do, Gotham is undoubtedly among the top metropolises in the world. Simple advice for visitors: pack comfortable shoes and prepare to go, go, go.

Traveling to New York City? Check out Viator's suggested itineraries to help plan your upcoming trip.

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Phuket Here I Come

We only decided to go for a trip in Phuket, Thailand in March and since we were not planning to join any tour, I felt a little stress; how am I going to plan for this trip. I had never done anything like this; planning for an free and easy trip.

The thing to settle was to decide the exact date which we would be taking the trip. It was a little challenging since I am in Singapore and she is in Bangkok and we had to match our schedule. However, it was not difficult to decide on the date.

After we decided on the date of travel, I booked her a round trip domestic flight from Bangkok to Phuket and gotten my own air ticket to Phuket. Booking the tickets was not such a difficult task; the difficulty was booking the hotel room. How was I going to book the hotel. I had no idea where to start. Luckily I have a friend who is a pretty experience free and easy traveler. She guided me to a few website to search for hotel. One of them is http://www.hoteltravel.com/.

From her guidance, it was not too long that I become quite an expert searching for hotel online. All I needed to do was to search for 'hotel in Phuket' in the Yahoo! Search Engine. Through my research for hotel online, I found that the rate given by Hotel Travel is the best. Not only that, it gives a map of the beach where I will be going to and the exact location of the hotel. Thus even before I went to Phuket. I already had an idea where the hotel will be and how long it would take to travel from the airport to the hotel. Hotel Travel also provides reviews for the different hotels by their customers. I found these reviews pretty useful as it helped me to decide on what to expect from each hotel. For anyone who is booking your hotel online, you can start by doing a search in the search engine in the location where you will be heading to.

The dates that we were traveling to Phuket, April 8 to April 12 were considered high season for some hotels because of the Thailand's Songkran Festival and most of the hotels which I wanted to book were fully booked. Did not know what to do except to put ourselves on the waiting list. The worst scenario was to change the date of travel. I did not really want to change the date of travel as I really looked forward to meeting her in person.

We were very fortunately that after a day or so, we got a confirmation from Hotel Travel for our hotel. I could not be more excited; finally everything was going on as planned.

Phuket here I come!!!

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Traveling with Pet

Something which I received through my email. I find this quite useful tips especially if you will be traveling with your pet.

Pets have special needs when they travel, so planning ahead is essential. This advice can help you make sure your pet is prepared to travel long distances locally.

Taking your pet on a holiday

Your pet should be wearing a collar with its name and your contact number on it. In Australia we use the microchip system, which is highly effective and recommended. Recently laws have changed and it is illegal to have unchipped animals. If your dog is returned to the rspca or to the local vet, they can scan the microchip and find your contact details. This is really important as your pet may become disorientated or panic and run away or get lost.

Car Sickness

In particular if your pet is a kitten or a puppy they won’t have traveled in a car before so its a good idea to get them used to the feeling. To do this take them for short rides. Use this experience to familiarize them with where they sit in the car. If your dog or cat is particularly anxious in the car bring there bed or basket so that they can settle down in there own space in the car.

Some people prefer to use carriers for there pets especially on long drives, put something of your pets inside the carrier to reinforce that traveling is a postive experience. Sometimes using a small treat to get them comfortable in the carrier can be helpful. Don’t feed your pet right before leaving. Feed the night before as this will mean your pets stomach is settled. If you travel with your pet regularly and they have persistent carsickness your vet might prescribe motion sickness medication. To combat motion sickness and travel fatigue in your pet remember to give them frequent stops at parks so they can walk around go to the toilet.

At these stops it is better to walk your pet on a lead as they might be disorientated and run off. If you are intending to take your pet on a long plane journey and know it is very anxious then you may be able to speak to your vet about having a tranquilizer prescribed.

Packing for your pets holiday

Before leaving home you need to pack some practical things like a water dish, feed dish, plastic bags, a lead and your pets favorite blanket or perhaps a favorite toy to make the journey a lot more comfortable. If you pet requires any medication remember to carry this. If your move is permanent you can arrange to get a copy of your pets records from your vet so that you can give these to the vet in your new area.

Search for pet friendly accommodation

If you are going on a long journey use the internet to search for pet friendly hotels or camping along the way. This is also a good reason to have your pets health documentation with you, as campgrounds, hotels or kennels will need to see these before they allow your pet to stay.

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Top 5 Attractions In Delhi

Located on the sprawling banks of the river Yamuna, Delhi, the capital of India, represents an intriguing blend of a myriad of ancient and the modern civilizations, reflected not only in its diverse cultural heritage and historical monuments but also in the present social structure and lifestyles. The city chronicles the history of the various civilizations and dynasties that flourished here for over 3000 years. Their legacy survives in the many ancient monuments left behind by their rulers, each a chronicle of the glory of its times and a reflection of the prevailing cultures. The remains of seven distinctive capital cities can be seen here.

Here is a pick of the top five tourist attractions in Delhi:

Qutub Minar

A mammoth minaret (238 feet tall) built from the remains of 27 Hindu and Jain temples during the years 1193–1369, commemorating the victory of Qutab-ud-din over the city's last Hindu kingdom, Qutub Minar is one of Delhi’s oldest monuments. Decorated with calligraphy representing verses from the Koran, it tapers from a 50-feet diameter at the base to just 8 feet at the top. The first three floors are built with red sandstone, and the upper two with white marble.

In the same complex stands a mysterious Iron Pillar, bearing fourth-century Sanskrit inscriptions from the period of King Chandragupta II, that has intrigued scientists to no end because it has withstood centuries of climatic upheavals and remained rust-free till today. A popular legend says that if you can encircle it with your arms while standing with your back touching it, any wish will be fulfilled.

Red Fort

Popularly known as Lal Quila and built by Shah Jahan during the years1618–1647, Red Fort, with its massive sandstone walls and exquisite architecture, is the ultimate reminder of the sheer wealth, splendor and power of the Mughal Empire. There are many must-see places within the fort, resplendent with intricate decoration, with separate rooms and balconies for the womenfolk, swimming pools, and natural air conditioning. It also houses an Archaeological Museum.

Jantar Mantar

Built in 1724 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, this esoteric, awe-inspiring salmon-colored stone-and-brick structure is an observatory used by the king for measuring time and calculating the positions of the stars and planets, and for prediction of eclipses. It houses multiple buildings with unique architectural combinations of geometrical forms, each meant for a specialized purpose of astronomical measurement.

Purana Qila (Old Fort)

Believed to have been built on the ruins of the ancient original city of Delhi (Indraprastha, founded in 3rd or 4th century B.C.), by the Afghan ruler Sher Shah during the years 1538–1545, the Old Fort with its massive walls and three imposing gateways gives a fair idea of its lost grandeur. It houses a small octagonal red sandstone tower, used by King Humayun as a library, the Qila-i-Kuhran Mosque, and a small archaeological museum.

India Gate

Built in sandstone, India Gate is a war memorial to commemorate the sacrifice of Indian soldiers during World War I. The sheer grandeur of the architecture of the neighboring Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhawan must not be missed, either.

So, start planning your trip!

About the Author: By Gabriel Adams, find Budget Hotels in Delhi at http://www.budget-hotels.biz/

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