Showing posts with label Biking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biking. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Bonaire island (the right place for the amazing vacation)


Bon Bini on Bonaire!
If you want to practice a lot of diffrent sports from scuba diving to windsurfing or just relaxing at the beaches, you`ve just found the right place for the amazing vacation.
One of the most extra ordinary thing to do in Bonaire is to see the wildlife. Iguanas meditatively toast themselves atop the desert rock formations of Washington Slagbaai, while vast orange-pink clouds of flamingoes drift across bone-white salt flats. There are only four places in the world where flamingo colonies breed-Bonaire is one of them. In fact, more flamingoes live on the island than humans. This chariness seems to be unnatural: if nature ever dressed a diva, the flamingo is it. The pink cotton candy feathers, the graceful, wavy neck, and the long sinewy legs all seems to cry “look at beautiful me“.In fact, the birds are so sensitive to noise and intrusion that the slightest disturbance will cause them to quickly flee. They will never come close to people, and on Bonaire, you must go to them. There are two places to see Bonaire’s flamingoes. One is at the Pekelmeer Sanctuary to the south, where the birds flock around the salt ponds; the other at Lake Gotomeer, in Washington Slagbaai National Park in the north.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Niagara Falls (one of the largest falls on the Globe)


Niagara Falls is the second largest falls on the globe next to Victoria Falls in southern Africa.
One fifth of all the fresh water in the world lies in the four Upper Great Lakes-Michigan, Huron,Superior and Erie. All the outflow empties into the Niagara river and eventually cascades over the falls.
length of brink: 1060 feet
height: 176 feet (due to rocks at the base actual fall is 70 feet)volume of water: 150,000 U.S. Gallons per second
The word “Niagara” is derived from the Iroquois Indian word “Onguiaahra” meaning “the strait” There is an international boundary between the United States and Canada. Before the invention of film, tourists would sketch pictures of the Falls. The flow was also halted over both falls on March 30th 1848 due to an ice jam in the upper river.
The movies Niagara and Superman were filmed in part at the Falls.
In the past ten years, two daredevils lost their lives trying to conquer Niagara.
In the evenings, intense spotlights bathe the falls with different shades of color.
The first person to go over the Falls in a barrel and survive was a 63 year old
female schoolteacher.


High wire tightrope acts used to be performed across the river. Most notably was “Blondin” who once actually carried his manager across on his back, stopping midway to rest ! The Falls make a tremendous sound as the water goes over and lands at the bottom. Twenty percent of the worlds freshwater lies in the Great Lakes, and most flows over Niagara Falls.
The tremendous volume of water never stops flowing, However, the falling water and mist create ice formations along the banks of the falls and river. This can result in mounds of ice as thick as fifty feet.

If the Winter is cold for long enough, the ice will completely stretch across the river and form what is known as the “ice bridge”. This ice bridge can extend for several miles down river until it reaches the area known as the lower rapids. Until 1912,visitors were allowed to actually walk out on the ice bridge and view the Falls from below. February 24th of 1888 the local newspaper reported that at least 20,000 people watched or tobogganed on the ice. Shanties selling liquor, photographs and curiosities abounded. On February 4th 1912 the ice bridge broke up and three tourists lives were lost.

Niagara Falls, Canada provides a vast array of year-round activities for the entire family. Beautifully-maintained biking and walking trails line the world-famous Niagara gorge while numerous golf courses, ball diamonds, playing fields, swimming pools and rinks unite local citizens and contribute to a strong sense of community. Whether you currently reside in Niagara Falls or are planning to locate here, we invite you to explore and discover why Niagara Falls is a great place to call home. As the helicopter gently lifts off from our Victoria Avenue location, the awe-inspiring views of the Niagara Region begin to appear below. We wouldn’t want any picture-taking opportunity to be missed so cameras should be ready to go right from the start!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Great Wall (the travel icon of China)


The Great Wall of China is really one masterpiece of human power and construction. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus stretching approximately 6,700 kilometers (4,163 miles ) from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the section of the great wall are now in ruins or even entirely disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.
Today, it is the travel icon of China – and one of the leading vacation travel destinations in the world.
The Great Wall was originally built in the Spring, Autumn, and Warring States Periods as a defensive fortification by the three states: Yan, Zhao and Qin. The Great Wall went through constant extensions and repairs in later dynasties. In fact, it began as independent walls for different states when it was first built, and did not become the “Great” wall until the Qin Dynasty. Emperor Qin Shihuang succeeded in his effort to have the walls joined together to fend off the invasions from the Huns in the north after the unification of China. Since then, the Great Wall has served as a monument of the Chinese nation throughout history. A visit to the Great Wall is like a tour through the history backwards, it will bring you great excitement in each step of the wall.
The construction of the Great Wall began between the 7th and 8th centuries B.C. when the warring states built defensive walls to ward off enemies from the north. It was only a regional project then. Until the Qin Dynasty, the separate walls were joint together and consequently it stretched from east to west for about 5000 thousand kilometers and served to keep nomadic tribes out. The Wall was further extended and strengthened in the succeeding dynasties. Especially during the Ming dynasty when the northern nomadic ethnic groups became very powerful, the Ming rulers had the Wall renovated 18 times. As a result, not the remains from the Qin dynasty were restored, but some 1000 kilometers were constructed to a full length of 6,700 kilometers.

The “North Pass” of Juyongguan Pass is known as the Badaling. This particular area of the Great Wall is where most tourists visit. When used by the Chinese to protect their land, this wall was extremely protected by guards, because it was protecting China’s capital, Beijing. Badaling is very difficult to access. Made out of stone and bricks from the hills, this portion of the Great Wall is 7.8 meters high, and 5 meters wide.
Representing the Ming Great Wall, Jinshanling is considered to have the most wonderful sights of the Great Wall. It runs 11 kilometers long, ranges from 5 to 8 meters in height, and 6 meters across the bottom, narrowing up to 5 meters across the top. Wangjinglou is one of Jinshanling’s 67 watchtowers, rising 980 meters above sea level.
ShanHaiGuan Great Wall is refered to as the “Museum of the Construction of the Great Wall”, because of a temple, the Meng Jiang-Nu Temple, built during the Song Dynasty. The ShanHaiGuan Great Wall is known for many different things, both with the construction of the wall, and also its history.
The wall is complemented by defensive fighting stations, to which wall defenders may retreat if overwhelmed. With more than 10,000 watch towers (which were used to store weapons, house troops, and send smoke signals), each tower has unique and restricted stairways and entries to confuse attackers. Barracks and administrative centers are located at larger intervals.
Anyway if you decide to visit this place it will be an unforgettable trip, which will enchance your life with enchanting experience to the magnificent Great Wall – one of the great wonders in the world.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Leadwood Lodge (an extremely exclusive accommodation)


Leadwood Lodge is an extremely exclusive accommodation in South Africa, and offers the ideal self-catering bush lodge in a secure and secluded bushveld setting. The lodge is tucked amongst large indigenous trees overlooking a non-perennial riverbed where game such as impala, giraffe and zebra roam freely, and guests can enjoy listening to the calls of abundant bird life.

he lodge boasts with two spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and comfortable king-size beds in the main lodge, and there is a separate self-contained room with a double bed, an en-suite bathroom and a kitchenette. Indulge yourself in a unique open-air shower experience. Take your sirit on bush walks, game drives, mountain bike rides or simply relax.

The right location of the lodge is in the area of the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate which is a mere 40-minute drive from the Kruger National Park. The town of Hoedspruit offers various restaurants and supermarkets where you can stock up on personal food supplies. Visit the surrounding areas such as the Panorama Route, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window.

The staff at the lodge will made your experience very enjoyable. The lodge even had a very romantic dinner set up and Mack, which is the safari guide, is an excellent one. He really knew his stuff and will manage to find everything you want to see. The intimacy of the lodge is great and it will make the personalized service so much more enjoyable. You will feet like you were visiting a family. You can’t wait till the next safari.

 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Udzungwa Forest Camp (you will have a comfortable, relaxing stay in beautiful surroundings)


Udzungwa Forest Camp is located at the forest’s edge, within walking distance of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park main gate in Tanzania. At Hondo Hondo, as it is known locally, you can be assured you will have a comfortable, relaxing stay in beautiful surroundings.

The camp offers six large canvas forest tents. All the hot water is heated using solar energy alone, and as a back up, in case of heavy rains and little sun, there are elevated bucket showers. Electric lighting is provided throughout the camp with low-energy LED bulbs, and each tent is equipped with general lighting, personal solar reading lights and a socket for charging phones, cameras etc. All the tents have comfortable spring mattresses and are tastefully decorated with local furniture. The views from the private verandas and open-air bathrooms are of the surrounding valley, mountains and forest.

Meals can be served under the stars on your veranda or in the cosy Lozenge Bar. The camp staff can provide you with a full board and picnics in the park, and there are also essential snack foods on sell, cold beer and wine, spirits and soft drinks. Activities include hiking in the rain forest, visiting the Sanje Waterfalls, swimming in the plunge pools, mountain biking, guided tours, river canoe safaris, birdwatching, primate spotting, and day trips to Mikumi National Park.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Homtini Guest Farm (offers spectacular natural sceneries)


Homtini Guest Farm offers spectacular natural sceneries of the Outeniqua Mountains,and it  is a 90-hectare working farm nestled in the indigenous forest overlooking the Homtini Pass, South Africa. It lies along the old Seven Pass Route between Knysna and George, and is very close to the Millwood Forest Reserve and gold mine.

Accommodation consists of three luxury, Self-catering Cottages, privately situated and each with their own tree-top veranda, one Family Bungalow and four secluded Tented Lodges. Guests also have free use of the swimming pool and sauna on the farm, and any children accompanying you should bring their bikes along.

Aromatherapeutic massage is available in the comfort of the Forest Cottage or Tented Lodge, on the deck in summer, and next to a roaring fire in winter. There are also three walking trails through 60-hectares of private indigenous forest. Food supplies can be obtained from a mini-market just down the road, which sells lots of fresh local produce.

Beintg guest of Homtini Guest Farm, you will have the chance to get around with the herd of multi-coloured Nguni cattle? Come and get fresh eggs for breakfast straight from the hen, if you dare. Taste the farm honey, although it is recommend you let the farm staff get this one for you. Pick your own veggies from the vegetable patch, take an invigorating forest walk, and steam-off in the sauna followed by a soul-rejuvenating massage.

Bordering Homtini Guest Farm is the Millwood Nature Reserve, with its beautiful golden streams and waterfalls, and its historic gold mines. Enjoy a romantic picnic on one of the sites with braai areas, a little café with home-made food, and plenty of hikes through the forest which you can finish by jumping in a cool, deep spring.  For the more adventurous, Knysna and its surrounds is a centre for outdoor pursuits. Enjoy anything from diving, abseiling, quad biking, paragliding, and even bungy jumping is within easy reach.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Lakaz Chamarel(a magical place in the midst of)


Lakaz Chamarel is a magical place in the midst of nature, situated in the island of Mauritius. Being their guest you will reveal the picturesque valley of Chamarel and feel the smooth rhythm of Mauritian life in this haven of peace. Experience the exclusivity of our 20 bedrooms and suites with their open-air bathrooms. Taste the savour of an excellent, fine Mauritian cuisine. Relax at the swimming pool or during one of our essential-oil massages. Explore the surroundings or go out cycling, as your mood dictates. In all simplicity and with refinement, Lakaz Chamarel welcomes you.

Lakaz Chamarel is a small boutique hotel and concept guest house, charming and refined. Located in full nature and nestled in a small valley next to the splendid National Park of Black River, this vast property in the heart of the mountains of Chamarel is easily accessible.

Lakaz Chamarel comprises a main building with a living room, TV room, dining room, lovely verandah, and and open-plan bar and a kitchen. Features also include two swimming pools, a wooden thatch roof kiosk and a second open bar with a dining room. Scattered around the main building, the rooms are individually decorated representing the diversity of the different cultures on the island.

The owners are Mauritians. The husband has been the director of two of the most beautiful and well known 5 star hotels on the island for the last 30 years. The wife, Virginie who is present everyday at Lakaz, has overseen all details of architecture and decoration herself. Around them a team of 40 persons at your service! Some of them even live on the property with their families. With this property, their dream is to create a haven of peace where they can come and feel the peacefulness in harmony with the nature…and share it with others…

Seokama Lodge(the ideal getaway for nature)


Seokama Lodge is situated in the heart of the Waterberg mountains, South Africa, in one of the great wilderness areas there, an easy 2.5 hours’ drive from Johannesburg. This is the ideal getaway for nature lovers or groups of friends and families. Experienced game rangers will look after you and take you on game walks and night drives. Guests will be welcome to walk on their own and take a picnic basket to the bird hive, go mountain biking, or simply relax around the pool. Seokama is booked exclusively for one group at a time, ensuring guests’ privacy.

The lodge consists of four luxury East African-style Tents with en-suite bathrooms, and a modern comfortable thatched lodge area with an open-plan lounge and dining room leading out onto the deck with a swimming pool and stunning views of the surrounding bush and mountains. Bed and breakfast is available on request, as well as fully-catered photographic courses.

Activities on the property – Game drives, wildlife, guided walks and birding.

Getting there: From Gauteng, take the N1 North towards Bela Bela and then take the Thabazimbi/Bela Bela Road/R516 for approximately 50 km. Ignore the first Rooiberg turn-off for Zebula and Mabula Lodges, as this is a gravel road. Take the second Rooiberg turn-off to the right and head into the town of Rooiberg. Continue straight through, passing the Koekepan Pub on the right-hand side, until you come to a gravel road. Continue straight on the gravel road, past the Modimolle turn-off on the right. Continue straight and Seokama is the first gate on the right-hand side after the Modimolle turn-off.