Travel Around Planet

Archive for March, 2010

A Mixed Bag Of Marvels: Melbourne

Melbourne the queencity tears through the evening with its contrasting starlit spires which complements the golden hue of the horizon. The city is regarded as the cultural capital of Australia featuring Victorianera architecture many museums and beautiful gardens but what makes Melbourne unique is its weather which can change drastically and so quickly that it is also called the city of four seasons in a day. Travelers from around the world flock to Melbourne to catch up with major sporting events and exploring the surrounding regions.

Melbourne is the secondlargest city in Australia and the capital of the southeastern state of Victoria located at the head of Port Phillip Bay. The sportscrazy city boasts of a multicultural population comprising of Greeks Vietnamese Italian Jewish and others. Melbourne is full of tourist attractions and is indeed one of remaining few cities in the world which still have trams running right through the roads. While you take a ride through the city streets you may spot the remaining Victorianera building among the modern highrises. Melbourne has one of the worlds largest casinos named the Crown Casino and theres Albert Park which is home to Melbournes F1 Grand Prix circuit and you surely wont want to miss that much of a speed. For travelers who love to dip their taste buds on culinary delicacies Melbourne presents an abundance of affordable high quality restaurants offering almost every cuisine.

Adventure lovers can have a whale of a time in Melbourne with a visit to the Grampians National Park which is famous for its hiking trails wildlife and wildflowers. Its perhaps the best place where you can spot Kangaroos right across the road when they come to feed. If you are lucky enough and have decent eyesight you might as well spot the endangered koalas. Though some luck might come in handy! A trip to the Phillip Island presents a delightful view the penguin parade in all its grandeur. St. Kilda is Melbournes beachside suburb and is immensely popular. The photogenic nature of Melbourne couldnt have gone unnoticed and for sure its one of the most popular filming locations in the world. Going around Melbourne is easy and cheap with car rentals but some people actually find it interesting to roam around Melbourne by cycling and they do come cheap!

Accommodation in Melbourne is excellent which ranges from budget hotels to midrange to luxurious hotels in and around the city. The City Center houses some of the best budget and luxurious
hotels in Melbourne but travelers can also look for cheaper options in the seaside suburb of St. Kilda.

About the writer:  Avail best deals on Melbourne hotels through AsiaRooms at affordable prices and make your trip to this wonder city of Australia a never forgetting experience.

The Great Outdoors Of Amsterdam

You can head out from behind the central station and follow the signs for Ransdorp Zunderdorp Schellingwould and Durgerdam and you’ll find yourself in no time biking through green countryside.

Alternatively if you follow the Amstel River out for around 40 minutes or so you will not only have the joy of the river side bike ride but will also find yourself in the beautiful countryside surrounding the village of Oudekerk.

Within Amsterdam there are also several parks and gardens open to the public. In the old part of the city you will find the wonderful Vondelpark where locals and tourists a like enjoy the festive atmosphere in the summer. A little west of the vondelpark you will find the Rembrandpark where you will experience a far more laid back park; due to it’s size it is generally quieter and a perfect location for a picnic or even just an afternoon walk. You will certainly find yourself at some point during your stay in Amsterdam at the Museumplein; more a green area than an actual park the Museumplein is cornered in by the Rijksmuseum the Concertgebouw and the Van Gogh Museum. Again this is a perfect place for a picnic or for a little relaxation in between museum hopping.

If you prefer more rugged parks than tailored parks you must check out the Amsterdamse Bos on the outskirts of the city. Here you will experience a much more forestlike park and can take your choice of walking horse riding or canoeing! This is also the venue for several open air theatre events during the year. Other parks include the Westerpark the Oosterpark the Wertheimpark and the Sarphatipark. The latter is a favorite sunbathing spot in the summer months.

The beach is also within throwing distance of Amsterdam. The nearest beach is Zandvoort which can be reached by train in 27 minutes. If you are not so concerned about the authenticity of the experience however you can also check out the suburban beach in the suburb of IJburg. Take the 26 tram to the end you will see signs for this artificial beach called ‘Blijburg’.

As a city Amsterdam is very easy to get around and so you don’t really need to worry about staying close to a green area. There are in total over 400 hotels in the city but none the less it is always worthwhile to book ahead especially in the summer. Every tier of accommodation is represented in Amsterdam and one can stay in a dorm in a hostel for around 15 Euros a night or pay in excess of 400 Euros for a top hotel. For those looking for neither extreme however you should expect to pay between 100 and 200 euros for a 34 star hotel. Prices can be very much inflated during holidays sometimes as much as double the offpeak price.

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Vanuatu Travel Guide

Vanuatu previously known as the New Hebrides Islands is an archipelago nation consisting of 83 islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean north of New Zealand and east of Australia.

The British and French who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century agreed in 1906 to an AngloFrench Condominium which administered the islands until independence in 1980. European settlers released several saltwater crocodiles on the island although today’s population on the island officially stands at 2 or 3 mediumsized individuals on the Banks Islands and no breeding has been observed. Despite its proximity to Papua New Guinea crocodiles do not naturally occur on Vanuatu.

The climate is tropical and almost always warm with temperatures in the 20s and 30s celsius. The wet season runs from November to April and can be very rainy and humid. Cyclones may occur from December to April.

HOW TO REACH

By boat Vanuatu’s main ports are PortVila on the island of Efate and Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo.

The Pacific and Orient Pamp;O Cruise lines operate regular cruises through Vanuatu waters.

Tallship Soren Larsen sails from Fiji to Port Vila and Santo and explores the northern Banks Islands once a year. 2008: Sails from Lautoka to Yasawa island then Vanuatu 18 nights from 31 Aug18 Sept.

Subsequent 11 night cruises explore the Banks Islands then the isolated islands of central Vanuatu depart from Port Vila via Tanna island to New Caledonia on 19 Oct

By plane The main international airport is located in PortVila with flights to and from:

Australia Brisbane Air Vanuatu Qantas code share and Pacific Blue

Sydney Air Vanuatu Qantas code share

Melbourne Air Vanuatu

New Zealand Auckland Air Vanuatu and Air New Zealand

Fiji Nadi Air Vanuatu and Air Pacific

New Caledonia Nouma Air Vanuatu and Aircalin

Singapore Singapore Airlines

Solomon Islands Solomon Airlines

Direct flights from both Sydney and Brisbane to Luganville with Air Vanuatu

STAY SAFE

Port Vila is on the whole a very safe and friendly environment. You are unlikely to encounter any trouble unless you do something extremely provocative.

There are no seriously poisonous snakes spiders or insects on Vanuatu however there are various poisonous aquatic animals that you should beware of if you are swimming snorkeling or diving in the area. The most dangerous of these is the stonefish. Saltwater crocodiles are present so the likelihood of an attack is minimal.

About the writer:  With the help of the Island Eye mapping tool you can have a virtual tour on the main towns attractions and Isle of Wight hotels. Isle of Wight is the nicest place in Europe where you can have a pleasant rest. See what is coming new and updated.