Our man in Mui Ne (Vietnews Online)

Resident Mui Ne writer Adam Bray takes AsiaLIFE beyond the tourist basics and offers a view of ancient and modern Mui Ne in threes

Continued here:
Our man in Mui Ne (Vietnews Online)

Miami a Premier Tourist Destination

The most exciting city in Florida, Miami is a stunning and often intoxicatingly beautiful place.

Miami has long been a premier tourist destination, acclaimed for its physical beauty and its excellent climate.

This colourful city in southwest Florida is not just Americas favourite vacation. It is also the gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America, and the hub of a vibrant cruise industry, its port jammed constantly with sleek passenger liners.

The whole area has an exotic Latin feel to it from the delightful architecture in pastel coloured Coral Gables to the genuine Cuban community in Little Havana. Families will appreciate miles and miles of pristine beaches, year round warm weather and attractions such as the Seaquarium, Gator Park and Metrozoo. Raging nightlife will keep the young and lively up till all hours and the shopping is to die for. South Beach is home to numerous nightspots, frequented by the rich and famous.

The best place to base yourself in Miami has got to be South Beach stunning Art Deco architecture and best place to shop, eat, drink and enjoy the sunshine. The area has seen a lot of regeneration over the last decade and most buildings have been restored to their 1930s splendour. Try Lincoln Road for shopping, Ocean Drive for people watching and if your ready for those infamous huge portions pay a visit to The Big Pink a funky diner on Collins Avenue.

This town once had the highest murder rate in the US and a majestic coke habit. It is hard to picture that now on South Beach, with its restored glory of Art Deco buildings a string of cake coloured blocks piped with neon and soothingly curved edges that basks in the more natural shades of the sand, palm trees and sunset. This is the heart of a trip to Miami its sassy and often sleazy altar to the sun.

Tourism is the mainstay of the local economy; each year millions of visitors use the hotels and tourist facilities of the city and its offshore island beaches.

North of the city miles of beautiful sandy beaches are hemmed in by southeast Floridas major tourist resorts along the Gold Coast, like Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach and Palm Beach.

Notably food includes rice and beans, fried plantains and shredded pork sandwiches and is found in every neighbourhood. It is, however, complemented by sushi bars, American home style diners, Haitian restaurants, Italian eateries and Indian venues, among a handful of other ethnic cuisines.

Top 10 British Tourist Attractions

It’s no surprise that most of the top 10 visitor attractions in Britain are in our capital city, London. However, with Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Alton Towers bucking the trend, there’s much to be seen outside of London. Between the top 10 attractions in Britain, they welcome over 33 million domestic and overseas visitors each and every year. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 free and paid visitor attractions, based on the number of visitors each year (2008 figures): Blackpool Pleasure Beach 6,000,000+ vistors annually Entrance Charge With an astonishing 6m+ visitors each year, the Blackpool Pleasure beach deserves its number one spot on our list of top 10 visitor attractions in Britain. Home to over 125 rides and attractions including the Big Dipper, Grand National and the Avalance white-knuckle roller coaster, it’s Britains top tourist attraction yet again. Having celebrated its centenary in 1996, Blackpool Pleasure Beach continues to amaze thrill seekers and families. Open February-November. British Museum 5,932,897 vistors annually Free Entry The British Museum contains a huge collection of art and artefacts from across the world. Founded in 1753, it was the first national public museum in the world, and has always granted free public admission since its doors opened. The museum celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2003, which saw the restoration of the Kings Library and new permanent exhibitions. The museum is open every day, charges may apply for special exhibitions. Tate Modern 4,862,581 vistors annually Free Entry One of four Tate art galleries, the Tate Modern stands on the south bank of the River Thames in London, and houses some of the UK’s collection of international modern art from 1900 to the present day. Situated in a disused power station, the gallery contains important works of art from Picasso, Matisse, Dali, Warhol and Magritte amongst other famous artists. Open every day apart from 24-26 December, the Tate Modern continues to attract visitors in their millions each year. The National Gallery 4,382,614 vistors annually Free Entry Housing the national collection of Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries, the National Gallery contains over 2,300 works of art from many famous painters, including Van Gogh, Turner, and Van Eyck. First opening in 1838, the National Gallery is committed to free entry to visitors so that its priceless collection of art can be enjoyed by everyone. Audio trails and tours are available. Natural History Museum 3,698,500 vistors annually Free Entry One of three large museums in the South Kensington area of London, the Natural History Museum contains some of the world’s most important specimens in the areas of Zoology, Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, and Palaenotology. Famous for its permanent exhibitions of dinosaur skeletons, the Natural History Museum opened its doors and allowed visitors entry free of charge since 2001. London Eye 3,500,000 vistors annually Entrance Fee Having attracted over 30 million visitors since it opened in 2000, the London Eye is one of the most iconic landmarks in London’s skyline. Astonishingly, it receives more visitors annually than the Pyramids of Giza (3m) and the Taj Mahal in India (2.4m). The 135m observation wheel now stands alongside some of the world’s most famous attractions, and is an icon in its own right. A new feature for 2009 is the 4D Experience (included within ticket price), which is a pre-flight 4D show of the flight. Located in Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank of the River Thames, the London Eye is now the most paid tourist attraction in London. Alton Towers 3,100,000 vistors annually Entrance Charge Alton Towers is a world-class theme park and resort based in Staffordshire. With over 3 million visitors in 2008, it’s the second most visited theme park in Britain, after Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Alton Towers is home to some of the fastest rollercoasters in the world, including Nemesis, Oblivion, Air, and Rita, Queen of Speed. With many new and proposed attractions on the cards for Alton Towers, the theme park continues to draw visitors from across the length and breadth of Britain for a totally thrilling day out. Science Museum 2,705,677 vistors annually Free Entry Founded in 1857, the Science Museum in London is renowned the world over for historic collections of scientific artefacts, from aircraft to microchips. Originally opened to house items of interest from The Great Exhibition in 1851 in Hyde Park, the collections form an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical change since the 18th century. With over 300,000 objects on display, the collections represent social, cultural and scientific aspects of science. Tower of London 2,161,095 vistors annually Entrance Fee Built in the 1080′s by William the Conqueror, The Tower of London’s role has been a fortress, royal palace and prison through its long and bloody history. Situated next to the River Thames and Tower Bridge in London, the Tower of London is famous for its stories of torture, executions and prisoners, which include Sir Walter Raleigh, Guy Fawkes, Anne Boleyne and Queen Elizabeth I. Victoria and Albert Museum 2,065,300 vistors annually Free Entry Often abbreviated to the V&A, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is famous for housing the largest collection of decorative arts and design, with over 4.5 million objects of art, spanning 5000 years. Objects include ceramics, glass, furniture, jewellery, photographs, silver and ironwork. Devoted to temporary exhibitions of art, there are usually more than 10 different exhibitions held each year.

It’s no surprise that most of the top 10 visitor attractions in Britain are in our capital city, London. However, with Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Alton Towers bucking the trend, there’s much to be seen outside of London.

Between the top 10 attractions in Britain, they welcome over 33 million domestic and overseas visitors each and every year.

We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 free and paid visitor attractions, based on the number of visitors each year (2008 figures):

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

6,000,000+ vistors annually

Entrance Charge

With an astonishing 6m+ visitors each year, the Blackpool Pleasure beach deserves its number one spot on our list of top 10 visitor attractions in Britain.

Home to over 125 rides and attractions including the Big Dipper, Grand National and the Avalance white-knuckle roller coaster, it’s Britains top tourist attraction yet again. Having celebrated its centenary in 1996, Blackpool Pleasure Beach continues to amaze thrill seekers and families. Open February-November.

British Museum

5,932,897 vistors annually

Free Entry

The British Museum contains a huge collection of art and artefacts from across the world. Founded in 1753, it was the first national public museum in the world, and has always granted free public admission since its doors opened. The museum celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2003, which saw the restoration of the Kings Library and new permanent exhibitions. The museum is open every day, charges may apply for special exhibitions.

Tate Modern

4,862,581 vistors annually

Free Entry

One of four Tate art galleries, the Tate Modern stands on the south bank of the River Thames in London, and houses some of the UK’s collection of international modern art from 1900 to the present day. Situated in a disused power station, the gallery contains important works of art from Picasso, Matisse, Dali, Warhol and Magritte amongst other famous artists. Open every day apart from 24-26 December, the Tate Modern continues to attract visitors in their millions each year.

The National Gallery

4,382,614 vistors annually

Free Entry

Housing the national collection of Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries, the National Gallery contains over 2,300 works of art from many famous painters, including Van Gogh, Turner, and Van Eyck.

First opening in 1838, the National Gallery is committed to free entry to visitors so that its priceless collection of art can be enjoyed by everyone. Audio trails and tours are available.

Natural History Museum

3,698,500 vistors annually

Free Entry

One of three large museums in the South Kensington area of London, the Natural History Museum contains some of the world’s most important specimens in the areas of Zoology, Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, and Palaenotology. Famous for its permanent exhibitions of dinosaur skeletons, the Natural History Museum opened its doors and allowed visitors entry free of charge since 2001.

London Eye

3,500,000 vistors annually

Entrance Fee

Having attracted over 30 million visitors since it opened in 2000, the London Eye is one of the most iconic landmarks in London’s skyline. Astonishingly, it receives more visitors annually than the Pyramids of Giza (3m) and the Taj Mahal in India (2.4m).

The 135m observation wheel now stands alongside some of the world’s most famous attractions, and is an icon in its own right.

A new feature for 2009 is the 4D Experience (included within ticket price), which is a pre-flight 4D show of the flight. Located in Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank of the River Thames, the London Eye is now the most paid tourist attraction in London.

Alton Towers

3,100,000 vistors annually

Entrance Charge

Alton Towers is a world-class theme park and resort based in Staffordshire. With over 3 million visitors in 2008, it’s the second most visited theme park in Britain, after Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Alton Towers is home to some of the fastest rollercoasters in the world, including Nemesis, Oblivion, Air, and Rita, Queen of Speed. With many new and proposed attractions on the cards for Alton Towers, the theme park continues to draw visitors from across the length and breadth of Britain for a totally thrilling day out.

Science Museum

2,705,677 vistors annually

Free Entry

Founded in 1857, the Science Museum in London is renowned the world over for historic collections of scientific artefacts, from aircraft to microchips.

Originally opened to house items of interest from The Great Exhibition in 1851 in Hyde Park, the collections form an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical change since the 18th century. With over 300,000 objects on display, the collections represent social, cultural and scientific aspects of science.

Tower of London

2,161,095 vistors annually

Entrance Fee

Built in the 1080′s by William the Conqueror, The Tower of London’s role has been a fortress, royal palace and prison through its long and bloody history. Situated next to the River Thames and Tower Bridge in London, the Tower of London is famous for its stories of torture, executions and prisoners, which include Sir Walter Raleigh, Guy Fawkes, Anne Boleyne and Queen Elizabeth I.

Victoria and Albert Museum

2,065,300 vistors annually

Free Entry

Often abbreviated to the V&A, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is famous for housing the largest collection of decorative arts and design, with over 4.5 million objects of art, spanning 5000 years.

Objects include ceramics, glass, furniture, jewellery, photographs, silver and ironwork. Devoted to temporary exhibitions of art, there are usually more than 10 different exhibitions held each year.

Costa Rica Has Unlimited Tourist Potential

Costa Rica is a country located in Central America that has unlimited tourist potential and is ranked as one of the most visited international destinations. One of Costa Ricas main sources of income is tourism.

Rugged highlands are found throughout most of the country. The country has a relatively long coastline in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as a number of rivers and streams that attract specialist rafters from all over the world.

Costa Rica is a democratic and peaceful country, and it has not had an army since the year 1949.

Although the country is small and it covers only 0.03 percent of the surface of the globe, it proudly shelters a 6 percent of the existing biodiversity in the entire world. 25 percent of the country is composed of conservation and natural protected territory.

Costa Rica is also an attractive country for investment and it offers great potential for the establishment of important multinational companies, thanks to the outstanding academic level of its population, as well as the high standard of modern services and social and political stability.

The visitor can enjoy lovely tropical beaches, the grandest adventures, the wonders of nature, culture, all the necessary components of an ideal vacation.

Going to the beach is a must when travelling to Costa Rica and a nice suntan is always possible. It is not advisable however, to try to tan in just one day because it takes 24 to 48 hours for the skin to produce melanin, a dark pigment that reduces the aging process caused by sunburn. The healthiest thing for you to do is to use a UV sun blocking lotion.

Throughout our history, the indigenous population of pre Hispanic origins have been added movements of immigrants which settled in these lands, making it their home. Populations of European origin, mainly Spaniards, persons of African and Asian ascendance, as well as people from different places of the American continent have interacted among them, enriching the cultural backgrounds in the process.

Currently, besides the predominant half breed component, there are ethnical national groups and colonies of immigrants recovering their particular cultural heritage

Its easy to get around Costa Rica, and if you stick with public transportation, travelling within the country can be quite inexpensive. There are bus services to just about every town and city and high quality buses serving the main tourist destinations. Taxis are also plentiful and inexpensive, and in San Jose they are required to operate with meters for most trips.

Qatar Tourist Attractions

The nation of Qatar has numerous tourist attractions for any visitor or native to the country. Rich in history, there’s a wide selection of places to visit and sights to see in this Arab nation, whether you have an academic interest in the country, are looking to have some fun, or want to experience life in the luxurious comfort of one of the wealthiest nations in the world.

Doha, the capital of Qatar, is resplendent with hotels, restaurants, and more for the visiting tourist. The Corniche Bay, a seven kilometer long ocean front, is one of the most beautiful sights in the entire peninsula. Featuring paved walking paths and a variety of shops and restaurants, it’s a must visit for anyone in the capital city. The Al Bida Park, known as the best picnic spot in Doha, is part of the Corniche Bay area, and is host to some of the more upscale businesses of the area.

Also featured in Doha are a number of museums. The Qatar National Museum showcases the culture of the Qatari people; it’s been in operation since 1901, when it was converted from the former palace of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Qassim Al Thani. The ‘Wind Tower House’ is host to the Ethnographic Museum, which depicts the history of the development of Doha and Qatar from the emirate it once was to the financial power house it is now. Other museums in Qatar outside of Doha are the Al Khor Museum, located a little over 50 kilometers to the north of Doha, the Al Wakra museum less than 20 kilometers south of the capital, and the Weaponry Museum.

The first of these is a museum dedicated to anthropological studies of Qatar, its life, and its people. The Al Khor museum heavily features information on fishing and marine life, as the city has long been famous for its port activities. The Al Wakra museum likewise has some sections on the life that’s grown in Qatar, though it is more focused on preserving artifacts from previous and current Qatari generations, as well as showcasing the architecture and technology of the thousands of years of history of this nation. The aptly named Weaponry Museum has multiple exhibits displaying over twenty-one hundred items, covering a wide range from ancient swords to modern firearms.

There are also other parks and attractions in Qatar, for those looking to spend more time outside and not as comfortable in the confines of a museum. Aladdin’s Kingdom is an amusement park located in the West Bay region; it boasts 18 different rides suitable for all ages, and is part of a landscaping project that introduced numerous greenspaces as well as an artificial lagoon to the area. Other amenities in the park include a cafeteria, theatre, and separate mosques for separate genders. For animal lovers, the Doha Zoo just off of the Salwa highway has an exotic collection of animals both from the local ecosystems as well as from neighboring and far off countries. While it doesn’t feature as heavily on the ‘fun’ scale as The Kingdom does, the Zoo does have its own recreation and amusement section for kids who are not interested in the wildlife on display.

Qatar also is host to numerous historical landmarks: Dukhan, a little over eighty kilometers from Doha, is the original place in Qatar where oil was found, the singular event that transformed a once meek fishing and pearling nation into the resource powerhouse it is today. Al Zubra is a city that hosts a now disused fort, which was up until the 1980′s a functional military base planted square in the middle of an ancient castle.

All in all there are many, many sites to visit in Qatar, probably more than one can see in just one visit! Whether it’s the beautiful sandy beaches all over the nation’s shores or the artificially created Palm Tree Island resort, there’s a great number of wonderful tourist attractions inside and out of Doha.

Popular Tourist Destinations in L.a

Southern California, and specifically Los Angeles remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States today and continues to grow in popularity with each passing day. Los Angeles offers everything for everyone in the family. From Disney Land to sporting events, Los Angeles has it all. The Angels, Kings, Dodgers, Clippers and Lakers all call Los Angeles home. Los Angeles is referred to as ‘Cities within a city’ and it is where the world goes to party. Only miles from Loa Angeles are Hollywood, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Hermosa Beach, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, Sunset Blvd., Venice and Marina del Rey, and plenty of tourist spots to go to in Los Angeles.

In the Los Angeles area tourists can visit plenty of sporting events for the basketball, hockey and baseball lover as well as attend concerts at a variety of venues throughout the area. Any family that wishes to vacation in the Los Angeles area might want to take more than a week when there to make sure that they hit everything that the area has to offer. For concert lovers there is the Disney Concert Hall, the Greek Theater in Hollywood, the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa, the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, the Verizon Amphitheater in Irvine and the Universal Amphitheater in Universal City.

Other tourist spots to go to in Los Angeles while on vacation are Disney Land in Anaheim, the Getty Museum in Santa Monica, Griffith Park in Hollywood, Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, the Hollywood sign in Hollywood, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown, Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, the Santa Monica Pier, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Venice Beach and Universal Studios in Universal City.

For the sports enthusiasts in the family, there are plenty if stadiums and arenas to visit while in Los Angeles. Some tourist spots to go to in Los Angeles for sports enthusiasts are Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine, Edison Field in Anaheim, Hollywood Park in Inglewood, the Home Depot Center in Carson, the L.A. Coliseum in the Downtown district, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the Pauley Pavilion in Westwood, the Santa Anita Park in Arcadia and the Staples Center in the Downtown district.

For the television show enthusiast in the family, don’t worry, there are plenty of tourist spots to go to in Los Angeles to view television show tapings. Tickets can be obtained from Audiences Unlimited, located in Universal City; from CBS, located on Beverly Blvd. and the tickets are for talk shows, game shows and sitcom tapings; Paramount Pictures, which is located on North Gower Street. The tickets for any of Paramount Pictures’ sitcoms and talk shows can be obtained as far in advance as five days prior to the taping of the show at their offices or on their website. Los Angeles offers plenty of tourist attractions for every member of the family and plenty to do in a week’s span.

There are several airports to fly into to get to one of these lovely spots such as LAX, Long Beach Airport or Orange County’s John Wayne airport. Even the Inland Empire has the Ontario International Airport. So, you have options. Just make sure to get the right transportation like a shuttle or taxi.

Paradise Hotels in Mexico: The Best Kept Secret Tourist Destinations

Paradise hotels in Mexico stretch to the white long beach of the Caribbean Sea. Most of the hotels feature a natural surrounding with a taste of Mexican heritage and hospitality. Guests can experience a worry-free vacation with utmost fun and relaxation.

Below are some of the Paradise hotels in Mexico.

Hacienda Paradise

Hacienda Paradise is the most fashionable destination in Quintana Roo at Playa Del Carmen. It is a boutique hotel near the crystal beaches of Mexico. The hotel offers hospitable atmosphere and elegant accommodations.

They provide non-smoking rooms. Each room features hardwood furniture with luxurious beddings of king, queen and double beds. In-room facilities include a wireless internet, cable TV, telephone and a ceiling fan. Guests can relax at the balcony for a view of the pool and garden.

Bathrooms are more spacious with marble interiors. It includes a magnifying mirror, organic bath amenities, a hairdryer and a shower with dual jet option.
Hacienda Paradise also offers luxury rooms for 1 to 2 persons at $99.00, 3 persons for $129.00 and 4 persons for $159.00.
Try the holiday extender to the hotel’s outdoor swimming pools, Agave Azul Restaurant and holistic services at their partner hotel known as Playa del Karma Casa de Luz y Sanacion. This hotel also offers a wide range of services like laundry services, currency exchange, wake-up calls and beach club services.
Paradise Village Hotel

Paradise Village Hotel lies along 440 acres of property. It is located at Paseo de los Cocoteros 1 in Nuevo Vallarta. It features an upscale resort, beaches, a golf course with world-class marina and a spa.

This five star hotel offers excellent facilities with 706 suites in their 4 buildings. It includes 2 lagoons, pools with waterfalls and underwater grottos along with 2 outdoor Jacuzzis. Business enthusiasts can use their conference area for 600 persons and the meeting function areas can accommodate 500 persons.

Sumptuous dishes and drinks are served at the hotel’s 3 restaurants (Kaybal, Faro de Tulum, Mayapan), 2 snack bars and a sports bar. There are also hospitality rooms for late departures and underground parking areas.

Guests can visit the Paradise Village Marina nearby. It offers a world-class boating pleasure. Pamper yourself at the hotel’s luxury full-service facilities Spas. Spa Hacienda del Paraiso and the Palenque Spa are the 2 therapeutic shelter of Paradise Hotel.

The hotel offers special discounted rates like the family package of 4 or 7 nights’ luxury accommodations and a 3 night’s spa getaway

Freedom Paradise

Freedom Paradise is a 3 star all inclusive hotel in Tankah, Mexico. It lies on the Yucatan Peninsula 70 miles south of Cancun. This hotel is found on a secluded 300 meter white long beach along the Caribbean Sea. The hotel illustrates a superb Mexican-Caribbean architecture. It houses beautiful gardens with fountains with a variety of swimming pools.

The hotel has 112 regular rooms with a king sized bed or 2 double beds. Most of the rooms offer great views of the ocean. Rooms are well-equipped with air-conditioning, satellite TV and ceiling fan.

Other amenities of the hotel include a sun bed, armless chairs, walk-in shower and well-built furniture. Sports enthusiasts can use sporting facilities like tennis court, billiards and table soccer. Guests can experience the clear waters of Riviera Maya by using kayaks, rubber boats and snorkeling equipments. Additional charges are made for those who want to scuba dive and go fishing.

Freedom Paradise also offers religious and civil weddings, as well as banquet facilities with great deals on honeymoon packages.

Tourist Tours In Mexico

Each year, a large number of individuals, couples, and families make the decision to travel to Mexico. Most have visited Mexico before. If you are planning a Mexico vacation, and you have never been there before, you may have some concerns. You may be wondering what places are safe for you to visit.

Mexico is like all other countries. There are areas that are known as tourists attractions and then there are other areas that tourists are advised to stay away from. You can easily learn about these areas online. Researching every city and town in Mexico is a long and daunting process. To save time and a costly vacation mistake, you are encouraged to examine the benefits of taking a guided Mexico tour.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of booking a guided tour in Mexico is that you will be with a local who is familiar with the area. Guided tours are held in areas that are considered safe. In addition to showing you around certain areas of Mexico, your tour guide may be able to offer you additional travel tips and suggestions. These suggestions may help you with your vacation after your guide has ended.

If you are interested in taking a guided Mexican tour, you will have to find the tour company which you wish to do business with. There are a large nubmer of guided tour companies in the area. If you do not have a preference as to which company you would like to tour with, you may want to first search for a destination. The destination you select will be important in determining what you will learn and see while on a guided tour.

Many guided tours take place in Cooper Canyon, the Oaxaca Mountains, the Yucatan Peninsula and Baja. In Mexico, Baja is most known for its water activities. Many popular guided tours include whale watching and kayaking. Whether you set out to watch the whales or you select a kayaking tour, you are sure to see Gray whales. Many times, they will come right up to your boat, making for great pictures or video footage.

Cooper Canyon and the Oaxaca Mountains are guided tours that are ideal for those that love to hike. To participate in these tours, it is advised that you receive the proper health clearance. You tour will likely follow trails, but much of the terrain can be rough. The Yucatan Peninsula is ideal for travelers who wish to learn more about the ancient history of Mexico.

The above mentioned destinations in Mexico are just a few of the many. Guided tours are found all across Mexico. If there is particular topic or activity that interests you, you are sure to find a guided tour that will offer you excitement. Hikers often select a hiking tour, boats often opt for boat tours, and history lovers often select tours that focus on the history of Mexico.

In addition to selecting where you would like to go on a guided tour, you will also need to determine how long you would like that tour to be. In Mexico, guided tours can last as long as one day or over one week. You should easily be able to determine how long a guided tour is by looking at the price. Weeklong guided tours can cost thousands of dollars, but most of your accommodations are taken care of. Some guided tours can be considered all-inclusive vacations.

Journey Mexico, Siesta Tours, and Ufly Mexico are three of the most well-known guided tour companies in Mexico. You can examine the tours found by these three companies by visiting their online websites or by requesting free travel brochures. If you are interested in finding additional tours, your local travel agent may be able to offer you assistance.

By selecting a guided tour of Mexico, you do not always have to be looking over your shoulder. Vacationing in a safe area with an experienced tour guide is about as carefree as your Mexico vacation can get.

The allure of Mombasa – Kenya’s all round tourist resort

Mombasa is a major sea gateway for the whole of eastern Africa. It is Kenya’s oldest town and the second largest metropolis, after the capital city, Nairobi. It is also the air gateway for those coming to enjoy the beaches along the Kenyan Coast. From Mombasa, you can enjoy Kenya’s magical wildlife safaris.

Mombasa has a long history dating back to 200 AD. There is an old harbor that is still visited by trading dhows bringing frankincense, Myrrh and marvelous Persian and Bokhara carpets for the Mombasa bazaars. A walk around the old town is a fascinating maze of narrow streets, overhanging balconies and mysterious doorways leading to dark interiors. History and culture of Mombasa A melting pot of diverse culture, once conquered by the Portuguese, Mombasa has seen many rulers and conquerors – the Arabs used Mombasa for the slave trade and the British used the town as a naval and trading post.

Fort Jesus, overlooking the entrance of the old port of Mombasa, was built by the Portuguese in 1593 to protect their trade route to India. An Italian architect, Jao Batisto Cairato, designed it; it was the ‘crown jewel’ of his career. Fort Jesus is today hailed as one of the best examples of 16th century military architecture. In 1962, the Fort opened its doors to the public as a museum and has since remained a popular attraction for foreign and local tourists, researchers and students.

Alongside Lamu town, Mombasa is the epitome of Swahili. Many buildings in residential areas, and part of the old town are still built in the original Swahili architectural form, with a blend of modern plans. Swahili houses are large and spacious, with intricate carvings in wood and plaster and lavish doorframes.

Beach Activities in Mombasa Besides swimming and simple sunbathing, you can undertake a wide variety of water sports and water activities while on vacation in Mombasa. These include scuba diving, snorkeling, dhow trips, deep-sea fishing and many others. The waters below teem with abundant marine life. In Mombasa, the sun shines all year round. The diversity of activity is simply unequaled.

Night life in Mombasa Nightlife in Mombasa is limited mainly to eating out while many of the nearby beach hotels feature discos, casinos and nightclubs. North and south of Mombasa Island are the most developed beach resorts with a wide choice of hotels that have nightlife activities.

National parks for wildlife viewing from Mombasa Because of Mombasa’s proximity to wildlife national parks and game reserves, visitors to Mombasa are able to enjoy safaris to so of Kenya’s wildlife areas. Day excursions to the parks and even short overnight safaris can be easily arranged from Mombasa.

Towards the south of Mombasa, there is The Shimba Hills national reserve and the adjoining Mwalugange Elephant sanctuary represent an environment of extraordinary diversity. Both are no more than 250 square kilometers and 36 square km respectively and yet together they form one East Africa’s most diverse plant and animal havens. It takes less than 1 hour to drive from any of the hotels in the north coast of Mombasa to Shimba Hills Lodge.

Apart from Shimba hills, and to the interior of the country, you find the Tsavo National park. This park is split into two sectors of East and West covering a total area of over 20,000 sq km. Tsavo was once famous for herds of over 60,000 elephants. Although these herds have since been depleted through drought and poaching, it is still possible to see large herds on the east side.

Over the west are the Mzima springs where Hippo and Crocodile can be seen from an underwater hide. Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is a small, private game sanctuary adjoining Tsavo and has a high concentration of wild animals. Driving from Mombasa to Tsavo East gate will take 2 hours at most.

Further inland from Mombasa, you find a little gem of a park – Amboseli – situated right at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. Elephants abound in the lower forest and swamp areas. Cheetahs are found on the salt flats, Giraffe wander through the Doum palms while herds of Zebra and Wildebeest feed on the open plains. The snow-capped dome of the mountain provides the perfect backdrop to the peaceful grazing game, making this park a photographer’s paradise.

Tourist Attractions in Koh Samui Island Resort

The Thai resort island Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand after the famous James Bond island of Phuket. The island is roughly circular in shape and is located just off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus which is near the mainland town of Surat Thani and it is also one of the most popular tourist attraction in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Koh Samui has a land mass of almost 230 sq km ( about 90 sq mile) with a population of about 50,000 people (2007). The main island is surrounded by about 60 other smaller islands. The central part of Koh Samui is almost uninhabited and is dominated by a mountain jungle with Mount Khao Pom as its highest peak at 635m (about 2100ft). The island’s lowland areas are inter-connected together with just one single road that weaves the circumference of the island.

Historians estimated that the island started to see its first inhabitants in about 1500 years ago. The early settlers were probably fishermen from Malaysia and Southern China. The island even appears on the Chinese Ming Dynasty maps way back in 1687. No one knows for sure how Koh Samui got its name. Some speculated that it was derived from a native Mui tree while others think that it is a hybrid of the Chinese word “saboey”, which means “safe haven”.

Situated on the southwestern coast of the island is Nathon, the ancient capital of Koh Samui. This area is a still major fishing port and also an inter-island transportation hub today. Koh Samui was an isolated self-sufficient community until as late as the 20th century as it had little contact with mainland Thailand back then. The island did not even have a road until one was built in the early 1970s.

Today, the island of Koh Samui is one of the most popular tourist attraction in Thailand and it even have its own international airport, called Samui Airport. Bangkok Airways have flights to and from Samui every day. Samui Airport also receives flights from Bangkok and other major cities in South East Asia.

Samui island’s economy used to be based on subsistence agriculture and fishing, however, from the 1980s, the tourism industry grew by leaps and bounds and is now Koh Samui’s main source of income.

Being an island, Koh Samui’s main tourist attractions are naturally its white beautiful beaches and beach resorts. Tourists can find stretches of beaches and accommodations along the beaches of Chaweng, Lamai, Maenam, Bophut, Bangrak, Choeng MoN, Ao Tong Takian and Nathon with Chaweng and Lamai beaches being the most popular but crowded. For tourists who prefer a quiet beach for relaxation, then check out Maenam beach.

Another popular attraction in Koh Samui is a 12 metre (35 ft) tall statue of the Buddha, affectionately called “Big Buddha”. This statue is located at the top of a ceremonial dragon-steps at the temple of Wat Phra Yai. Koh Samui and is also home to quite a few other impressive temples such as the Wat Khunaram. Wat Khunaram is where the mummified body of Loung Pordaeng, a monk who died in a meditating lotus position is on display.

A sightseeing trip to see Papa and Mama rock at the south of Lamai beach can be very hilarious due to the rocks’ hilarious resemblances to the male and female sexual genitals.

To the more adventurous tourists, the jungle mountain in the interior of the island is a good camping ground for jungle trekking. This area is also home to a number of beautiful gardens, waterfalls at Na Muang and rubber plantations.

Animal lovers can also visit Koh Samui’s numerous animal attractions such as the crocodile farm, the monkey theatre, take elephant rides, a snake farm, a marine aquarium and a butterfly garden.

Most tourists to Koh Samui will make a day trip to the awe inspiring Ang Thong National Marine Park. The best time to visit Koh Samui is in summer (Feb-Apr). With such interesting landscape and attractions, no wonder this island is drawing tourist from around the world all year long.

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