Live That Life!

China As An Eco-Tourist Destination

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 09:19:00 +0000

While China may not be as popular as Europe as Tourists destination, yet... I say yet because it might change in the years to come. For people who might already be bored with the same touristy places and sights, there are many off-beaten tourists destinations in China that can whet the appetite of the adventurous nature lovers. Here below are some of these destinations:

Sichuan: Jiuzhaigou

This massive lake is the crown jewel of Jiuzhaigou, a region full of stunning alpine lakes and waterfalls. The lake is filled with incredible water that changes color throughout the day and year. The color comes from the reflection of the surrounding landscape, as well as algae and calcified rocks at the bottom of the shallow lake. Autumn is the best time to visit, when the lake surface appears as a multi-hued painter's palette.

Mount Huangshan

A UNESCO World Heritage Site set amidst “the loveliest mountains of China,” Mount Huangshan, aka Mount Yellow, is a once-in-a-lifetime trek for many Chinese. The 1,863-meter mountain is renowned for its oddly shaped pines, spectacular rock formations, hot springs and seas of misty and melancholy clouds. For me, the place looks surreal.

Hailuogou Glacier National Park

Also known as "Conch Gully," Hailuogou park sits at the eastern foot of Gonggar Mountain in southwest China's Sichuan province. The magnificent glacier, which drives through woodlands, cliffs, peaks and gullies, is accessible all year round. It appears at its best in early morning sunshine. More than 10 hot springs are spread beneath the glacier. Two are open to the public, including one at an elevation of 2,600 meters.

Nalati Grassland

Softly rolling hills that are so distinctly pure and green. The prairie is a great place to experience Kazak customs. Locals still play traditional sports, live in yurts and raise falcons to hunt for the family dinners, it is like being transported in a different time...

Hunan: Zhangjiajie

The giant quartz sand pillars of Wulingyuan are said to have been the inspiration for James Cameron's floating mountains on the planet Pandora in his Oscar winning movie “Avatar.” In reality, the Wulingyuan area in Zhangjiajie, a city in Hunan Province in southern China, is home to more than 3,000 of these stone columns. The tallest pillar in the stone forest stands more than 400 meters high. Wulingyuan authorities have renamed one of the pillars “Mount Hallelujah,” the name of the main floating peak on Pandora.

Henan: Longtan Valley

This 12-kilometer, U-shaped valley marked by a stripe of purplish red quartz sandstone has earned the name, “The No.1 Valley of Narrow Gorges in China."

Its steep cliffs, lush vegetation and jagged valley attract sightseers from all over China. The nearest traffic hub to Longtan Valley is Luoyang, a major city in Henan Province. It's about 60 kilometers away. Major cities connected to Luoyang Airport by direct flights include Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Jiangxi: Mount Lu

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, Lushan National Park, with its centerpiece of Mount Lu, is more than a tourist attraction. It's a cultural and spiritual symbol of China. Upward of 1,500 famed painters and poets from various periods of ancient and modern China. Masterpiece poems are engraved in calligraphy on the mountain cliffs.

The nearest traffic hub is Mount Lu Airport. It's about 10 kilometers away. Major cities connected to Mount Lu Airport by direct flights include Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Shennongjia

The 3,200-square-kilometer nature reserve also purports to be “the only well-preserved sub-tropical forest ecosystem in the world's mid-latitudes,” with more than 5,000 species of animals and plants. It’s home to snub-nosed or golden monkeys, a rare and protected species in China.

Wuhan is the nearest major city and traffic hub to Shennongjia. From Wuhan's long-distance bus station at Xinhua Lu, take the daily coach to Xingshan County. Then transfer to a mini-bus from Xingshan to Shennongjia.

Benxi Water Cave

Exploding with color, the Benxi Water Cave was formed more than 5 million years ago. Today its main sections are a "drought cave" and a "water cave." A dramatic array of stalagmites and stalactites are covered in vibrant greens, yellows and reds. The water cave contains the world's longest underground river at 5.8 kilometers. Of this, only 2.8 kilometers are accessible by boat. The drought cave is rather small. Only 300 meters are open to the public. The temperature in the cave remains a constant 10 C. Sweaters and pants are highly recommended.

Yunhe Rice Terrace

Literally meaning "peaceful clouds," Yunhe and its surrounding rice terraces have been home to farmers for at least 1,000 years. Winding in a maze up mountainsides from 200 to 1,400 meters, individual terraces can be constructed of as many as 700 layers. Rainy days are the best time to visit, when steam from evaporating river water floats through the terraces, creating a kind of agricultural dreamscape.

Reference: CNN: 40 beautiful places to visit in China

Surreal Spectacles

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 15:48:00 +0000

Mother Nature can also be an artist - creating surreal spectacles that are jaw-dropping, mind-blowing, difficult to believe but very very fascinating. Some are too beautiful for words, others seem to not belong in this world. But I think there is only one conclusion, there is probably no way for Man to replicate them. Only Mother Nature can create these spectacular phenomenon.

The Beauty Pool of Yellowstone National Park - The hot spring allows luminous algae and bacteria to flourish creating a vivid array of colors.

Balls Pyramid - The worlds tallest sea stack, at 562 metres, in Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia.

The Champagne Pool - A colorful hot spring in the Waiotapu Geothermal area of New Zealand. The surface temperature of the big spring is 74 degrees celsius and it bubbles are due to uprising carbon dioxide. Minerals contained in the hot water are gold, silver, mercury, sulphur and arsenic.

The elephant rock formation in Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada - A strange natural sandstone rock formation resembling an elephant.

Tufa pinnacles at Mono Lake in Sierra Nevada - Mono Lake is a closed hydrological basin meaning water flows into it but it doesnt flow out. The only way for water to leave is through evaporation. Four vertical feet of water can evaporate during the course of a year.

The pink Lake Hiller lake in Western Australia - Scientists have proven the strange pink color is due to the presence of algae which is usually the cause of strange coloration.

The Great Blue Hole in Belize - A large submarine sinkhole which is over 984 feet across and 407 feet deep. The sinkhole was formed during several episodes of quaternary glaciation when sea levels were much lower.

The Wave in Utah - Carved rock eroded into a wave-like formation made of jurrasic-age Navajo sandstone that is approximately 190 million years old.

These extraordinary natural phenomena just need to be shared.

Credits To: Yahoo

Cappadocia

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:41:00 +0000

Cappadocia is Turkey's most visually striking region, especially the "moonscape" area around the towns of Ürgüp, Göreme, (to name a few), where erosion has formed caves, fairy chimneys, and sensuous folds in the soft volcanic rock.

Cappadocia contains several underground cities, largely used by early Christians as hiding places before Christianity became an accepted religion. The underground cities have vast defence networks of traps throughout their many levels.

Today the area is a popular tourist destination, as it has many areas with unique geological, historic, and cultural features. The best historic mansions and cave houses for tourist stays are in Urgup, Goreme. The rocks of Cappadocia near Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms. The lunar-like setting has become popular for hot-air ballooning.

Surprisingly tourists are assured of world class amenities offered by some hotel caves. Now that would be a good experience - living in a cave (albeit the inconvenience of one). Instead we can enjoy modern day marvels together with ancient ones. Quite unbelievable!

Extraordinary Hikes and Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:54:00 +0000

Yosemite Grand Traverse

Hello! After a long hiatus, I'm back and once again ready to tackle topics about living the life that perhaps we longed for, dreamed about, or maybe are lucky enough to live it...

Here are some extraordinary hike trails featured by NatGeo for the thrill seekers. Most of them need some kind of expertise, but if you've got the heart for it - then go for it!

Highlining at Cathedral Peak, Yosemite, California

Virgin Rivers, Zion Narrows, Utah

Trek Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska

Petra, Jordan

Shawangunk Mountains, New York

Grand Teton Climb

Freshwater Caves, Florida

Big Bend of the Rio Grande

Diamond on Longs Peak, Colorado

Eolus Peak, Chicago Basin, Weminuche

Chicago Basin, Weminuche, Colorado

Astounding Geological Rock Formations

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:54:00 +0000

Third Part in a series on astounding geological rock formations from around the world. The geologic world we see today—from rock canyons to moqui marbles—is billions of years in the making. For time incomprehensible, magma flowed and rocks took form. Minerals aggregated. Floods cut earth to shape basins and canyons, now carved artwork of dirt and crumbling stone. Surprisingly the scenes of the rock formations look like they belong to some other planet ...

Bisti Badlands, New Mexico

A remote no-man's land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bisti Badlands in central New Mexico cover about 4,000 acres of high desert. In this expanse there are hoodoos, swirled clay hills, layered stone, coal, silt, mud, shale, and other "phantasmagoric formations of earth and stone," as one guidebook puts it. Looks like Mars to me...

Nambung National Park, Australia

Nambung's famous pinnacles are eerie limestone formations built over eons from shells and other accumulated sediment of an ancient sea. Once buried in deep sand, the pinnacles now stand exposed after wind has blown the desert away grain by grain to reveal the nature sculpture art.

Atacama Desert, Chile

Among the driest places on the planet, the Atacama Desert is a plateau on South America's Pacific coast stocked with endless weird formations in salt flats, basins, planes of sand and lava flows.

Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

Tens of thousands of interlocking basalt columns form ocean-side displays unique enough to garner World Heritage Site status by the United Nations. The site's hexagonal posts, formed from solidified lava, represent stair steps tumbling into the foamy sea.

Devil's Marbles, Australia

Immense egg-shape boulders called Karlu Karlu sit exposed in desert air at the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve in the Northern Territory of Australia. A complex geologic origin involves granite spheres formed by magma then later lifting to become exposed as the crust moved and sandstone eroded away.

Etretat, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France

Etretat's chalk cliffs, famous for their natural arches and gleaming prominence above the Atlantic waves.

Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick

Tidal erosion in the Bay of Fundy has cut these lopsided rock fins, sometimes called the Flowerpot Rocks. Sedimentary conglomerate and sandstone are no match to the ocean's persistency, which submerges the base of these formations twice a day.

Perce Rock, Canada

Quebec's iconic Perce Rock, included among the "Seven Wonders of Canada" by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, is an island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence that boasts a gigantic natural rock arch. Visitors can kayak around the limestone formation, which is more than 1,000-feet-long and almost 300-feet-tall, or walk to the rock on a spit of land that emerges in low tide.

Wave Rock, Australia

This outcrop in Western Australia curls like a wave that's about to crash. It is actually a 50-foot-tall formation of granite that eroded underground before becoming exposed to air and weathering smooth. It's one of several similar "wave rocks" near the town of Hyden. Really awesome! Like giant waves frozen in time...

Reference: Forbes Traveler

More Geological Artworks in Arizona and California

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:52:00 +0000

There are works of arts that are so stunning, that you literally hold your breath and stare awe-struck in disbelief! There are multi-colored rock formations that are carved by nature, over million of years in bare lands that tumbles out of view like an art gallery designed by no less than the gods that spread across not only in Utah but across Arizona and some in California as well!

Slot Canyon, Arizona

Formed by water and polished smooth from innumerable flash floods, slot canyons cut vertically into stone to create deep natural chambers—some just shoulder-width across but 100-feet-deep. Sunlight trickles in and bounces on sandstone walls, light revealing red and tan rock that can glow like it's illuminated from within.

Garrapata Beach on the Big Sur, California

Coastal headlands crash into the sea at Garrapata Beach, a state park off U.S. Highway 1 near the town of Carmel, California. Waves break on rocks often obscured by fog, with dense redwood groves standing above like sentinels on the watch giving it an eerie atmosphere.

Monument Valley, Arizona

Improbable stacks of stone define the buttes of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, a Navajo Nation preserve administered like a National Park. Meandering rivers long ago exposed the park's tall stone, washing sand and sediment away to unveil formations that resemble palaces on Mars.

Mono Lake, California

Calcium carbonate deposits called tufas sprout in and around Mono Lake, an alkaline body of water that's thought to be one of the oldest lakes in North America. Fault lines at the base of the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range keep the Mono Lake area geologically and geothermically active to this day.

Devils Tower, Wyoming

Devils Tower is a 1,000-foot-high monolith of columnar basalt. The flat-top formation is cylindrical and fluted, with basalt columns and thousands of cracks marking up a 360-degree vertical face.

Reference: Forbes Traveler

Stunning Geologic Artworks In Utah

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:57:00 +0000

There are works of arts that are so stunning, that you literally hold your breath and stare awe-struck in disbelief! In Utah there are multi-colored rock formations that are carved by nature, over million of years in bare lands that tumbles out of view like an art gallery designed by no less than the gods!

Glen Canyon, Utah

Cliffs carved over millions of years by the rushing Colorado River define Glen Canyon, now part of the reservoir of Lake Powell. Sandstone cliffs tower over placid water, where boating, fishing, kayaking, scuba diving and swimming are touted activities by the National Park Service, which administers Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Bryce Canyon, Utah

In Southwestern Utah this immense high-altitude amphitheater of eroding stone has water- and wind-sculpted hoodoos and undulating red, orange and white rock pinnacles poking into the sky. Some spires are 200 feet high and at an altitude near 9,000 feet.

Arches National Park, Utah

More than 2,000 natural arches dot Arches National Park in east-central Utah. Fins of sandstone eroded for eons by water and wind eventually formed into these great hoops of stone, including Delicate Arch (pictured), a 50-foot formation that is a symbol for the state of Utah.

Grand Staircase Escalante, Utah

In this park's 1.9 million acres, hikers and rock hounds can find slot canyons, river valleys, hundred-story cliffs and natural sandstone arches. Iron oxide concretions called Moqui marbles which are pea- to softball-size natural rock spheres—sit in the sun by the tens of thousands deep in the monument's back country.

Zion Park, Utah

Skyscraping rock walls, sandstone domes and narrow canyons make Zion National Park one of the country's most dramatic natural preserves. Deep red Navajo Sandstone and a stone-sawing section of the North Fork of the Virgin River define the park, which attracts hikers, climbers.

Reference: Forbes Traveler

Palawan

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:57:00 +0000

I've been blogging about interesting travel destinations from different parts of the world for some time now, surprisingly there is one place that I haven't mentioned yet... Palawan - a place which belongs to our very own beautiful archipelago!

An anchor tourist destination, Palawan is one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. The island province of Palawan has been declared as a nature sanctuary of the world, and for good reason.

It is wrapped in a mantel of rainforests, outstanding dive sites, majestic mountains, primeval caves, and pristine beaches. It is surrounded by a coral shelf that abounds with varied and colorful marine life. A diver's paradise, it has miles of sub-surface coral and rainbow reef walls which surround the coasts and coves teeming with rich marine life.

St. Paul Subterranean National Park. Unesco protected "World Heritage Site". The longest underground river in the world

A favorite and popular travel destination in Palawan is the isolated island of El Nido which boasts of incredibly astonishing seascapes. It's scenic landscape, crystal clear waters, and relative isolation attract and fascinate most travelers and visitors. The 45 islands and islets and the surrounding sea present endless opportunities for adventure, nature appreciation, and even just simple pleasures.

The most striking feature of El Nido is its scenic landscape - massive limestone islands of varying shapes and sizes scattered about the sparkling sea. The limestone cliffs of El Nido were naturally carved out of extensive and thick layers of coralline deposits. They formed 250 million years ago in the shallow sea covering the area that North Vietnam and South China now occupy. These layers slowly rose from the sea as a result of the collision of India and mainland China about 60 million years ago.

You can bask in the sun for as long as you want since there are resorts which can afford to give you much longed for privacy and amenities.

Reference: Wow Philippines; El Nido Resorts

Just wondering...

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:55:00 +0000

I've been wondering lately where my page rank of 2 has gone. I admit there really was a time when I was not able to update my blog because I was quite busy. But this time I really took some time to update it as much as my schedule could possibly allow. I hope Google/Blogger.com will give it back. My blog has a steady number of visitors and I've put hard work into it, improving it... I just don't want to lost it easily.

Being Secluded in Baan Krating...

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:04:00 +0000

People have different quirks and pleasures with regards to their dream vacations. There are some who like sophisticated settings and grand hotels. There are others who love beaches and who would like to stay in beach resorts. While a few would like to wake up to birds chirping and who would like to listen to crickets and night birds breaking the stillness of the night.

Baan Krating Phuket Resort boasts of a secluded location and offers an exotic holiday destination, with a unique jungle setting, overlooking the glittering ocean.

This hut probably looks quite simple on the outside but actually offers comfortable amenities like the one shown below...

Now if you don't like huts, there are villas to choose from...

Their restaurant is set in the open air, under the trees, and overlooking the beach. I can already imagine, cool breeze... chirping birds... some things can be overwhelming.

They have a pool too...

Would you not want to hold hands with somebody special as you walk down these steps...

Towards this private beach...

Angkhang Nature Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:43:00 +0000

Nestled in the midst of a picturesque mountainous countryside in Thailand, lies A ngkhang Nature Resort. It is a perfect delight for lovers of mountain retreat.

This resort has well-equipped guest rooms and suites, with mountain or garden views. Developed as part of the Royal Angkhang Research Station, under the Royal Project Foundation, Angkhang Nature Resort is situated at a comfortable and scenic three-hour drive from Chiang Mai city centre.

The one thing that strikes me most is actually the architectural design of the place. It reminds me so much of old houses made of wood. This mountain retreat has blended naturally with the mountains and in spite of its modern amenities has retained some kind of an old world charm.

The mist covered mountains further lent it some kind of detached and rustic existence. Not definitely one for those who love the city lights.

Up High On The Cliffs of Big Sur

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:21:00 +0000

Are you one of those who, if given a choice for a vacation, would prefer a mountain resort instead of a beach or ocean resort? Then this is for you ...

Post Ranch is a luxury 30-room inn set spectacularly on the cliffs of Big Sur and boasts of breathtaking panoramic ocean views of the California coastline and Pacific Ocean.

Several of the accommodations here include a handful of tree houses which face the mountains ...

Surprisingly most of its rooms are modern in design and feature stunning floor-to-ceiling views of the Pacific Ocean...

It has a new Cliff House whose deck is suspended almost directly over the crashing surf below.

A restaurant with a magnificent view...

And swimming pools that seem to stretch towards infinity...

Post Ranch is described to be environmentally sensitive and completely in sync with its tranquil settings.

Reference: Yahoo Travel

Enchantment in Phoenix

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:09:00 +0000

I never realized that Phoenix offers more than just endless spaces. Since I am half a world away from this state, I was glad to find that there are surprisingly beautiful oasis in this rock country.

Enchantment Resort in Sedona (Phoenix, Arizona) is an adobe casita style accommodations sprinkled along the base of a canyon ringed with towering rock formations. It is said that at sunset, the crimson canyon walls seem lit from within.

Located on 70 acres in the Coconino National Forest and tucked against the vermilion walls of Boynton Canyon, the resort provides a unique opportunity to discover the culture and heritage of the native American people. Sedona is an area for adventure with access by hiking, jeep tours and mountain biking.

Both Tii Gavo and the Yavapai Restaurants feature 180 degree views of the canyon so spectacular that it is said that one can actually see ancient cliff dwellings.

Reference: Yahoo Travel

New Trends - Glass Bath Tubs

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:29:00 +0000

The juicy hues of the new Jolie Glass Bathtub from Regia are sure to please those of us who enjoy a little bit of fun in our daily routines. Looking like a bright and beautiful glass of cool-aid, the Jolie bathtub is just ready for you to plunge into. It will define the style of your bathroom, as light filters through its transparent sides and casts the color around the room. A sense of freedom from the norm pervades the Jolie, as a freestanding tub it can be located wherever you like in your bathroom, with a matching sink pulling together the whole look. Also, a matching headrest fits neatly onto the side of the tub, and can be positioned anywhere. The loveable, unique character of the Jolie bathtub from Regia will arouse a sensation of playfulness in those who encounter it!

Looking like something from a futuristic film, the new Cristalli glass tub from Novellini is a sight to behold. A highly unusual material from which to construct a bath – glass gives a clean, minimalist look to the design. From the Elysium collection, the tub is European design for chic, city-living types with an eye for the newest trends. The longest sides of the bathtub are straight, while the ends flair out in a smooth, gleaming curve. Cristalli is complement by a tall, angular faucet, and looks amazing set on a polished floor. Clearly an ultra-modern choice for the discerning consumer… the new Cristalli is from Novellini.

There’s something wonderfully unusual about a clear sided bathtub like the View from Teuco. The gently curved glass panel puts one in mind of an aquarium, a soothing, relaxing, underwater environment. The View bathtubs are suitable for bathing with a partner! Generous in size, they both include a blower massage with invisible jets to massage your whole body efficiently. Enjoy the health benefits of increased blood circulation and cell metabolism with a whirlpool bathtub .

Reference: Trendir

Some of the World's Quiet Places

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:08:00 +0000

What we need is not a complete absence of sound, but sometimes we need to be in places that sound the way the world did before the cellphones, sound systems, and TV were invented . Long before traffic became a part of our lives... In excesses, noise has negative effects on our body systems. It raises stress levels, can potentially cause heart and immune system problems, and even raise blood pressure. But quiet solitude is still out there, ready to be found. Around the world remain quiet accessible places , where the constant din of civilization simply drops away...

Gobi Desert, Mongolia

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Kalahari Desert, Southwest Africa

Hoh Valley, Washington

Loch Lomond, Scotland

Anza-Borrego State Park, California

Cape Cod, Mass.

When We Have To Stay Overnight...

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:13:00 +0000

Some of the world’s best airports these days are trying to change the way we travel. Many of these airports aspired to transcend beyond being just mere hubs, and instead worked to becoming more like upscale malls, offering services and distractions like swimming pools and fitness clubs, expansive shopping facilities, play areas for children, first-rate hotels for overnights and in some cases, even fine art. Some of these places are starting to attract people who don’t even have a plane to catch. It is becoming increasingly clear that an airport which aspires to improve the level of comfort and convenience for the passengers who travel through it will have an advantage over those that do not.

The following airports are voted as the current world's best layover or overnight stay for world travelers.

Changi Intl Airport (Singapore)

Dallas Fort worth Intl Airport (Texas)Munich Intl Airport (Germany)Hongkong Intl Airport Incheon Intl Airport (Korea)Lufthansa Terminal (Germany)Zurich Intl Airport

Central Japan Intl Airport

Reference: Forbes.com

Happy Earth Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:57:00 +0000

Do you have the heart to carve the mountains and cut down the trees...

Just so you could get this view?

Must we wait for the rains to come...

To be reminded that nature has its own harsh way of lashing back...

Poverty should never be an excuse not to take care of our environment!

Each and everyone of us - regardless of age, gender, and status in life should feel responsible and must share in the responsibility of keeping our world clean and green.

We have a legacy to keep - that is to nurture the legacy of loving our home, Mother Earth... Please pass this on to our children, so that they may still have a home in the future!

Happy Earth Day!

Photo credits: Google

Travel: World's Best First Class

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:01:00 +0000

At a time when some carriers have eliminated first class altogether (in order to focus on business class), 35 others have not only kept it, but kicked it up a gilded notch. The ones keeping it are striving for "that wow factor." Right now, first-class is all about creating an over-the-top experience for passengers. It may not be exactly like staying in a five-star hotel--after all, there are no king-size beds and Jacuzzis on board--but with all its lavish amenities, first-class flying comes pretty close.

Qatar Airways

Flying first-class here means access to a separate terminal in Doha that mimics a five-star hotel with several fine-dining restaurants, a medical center, and a spa with sauna and Jacuzzi. On board passengers get caviar service, full-size pillows, white linen mattresses, Australian wool blankets and Bulgari toiletry kits. The seats are 79 inches long, have 15-inch LCD screens and come with a 23-inch meal table that allows dining for two, just as in a restaurant.

Singapore Airlines

Passengers here have total control of their experience including picking between Dom Perignon and Krug champagne and food whenever they want it and however they want it whether it's an extravagant five-course blowout or a quick meal served all at once. The seats are 82 inches long and 35 inches wide. Fliers are given a Ferragamo toiletry kits, Givenchy sleep suits and slippers.

Seats flatten into beds with sheets, a down duvet and oversize pillows.

Cathay Pacific

Seats here become 'suites,' thanks to sliding panels that provide total privacy. They turn into 81-inch-long beds and have built-in massagers. Each flier also gets a personal closet to store belongings. Cathay got high marks for its food: It's one of the only carriers to have rice cookers, skillets and toasters onboard, so parts of meals are prepared fresh, like eggs made to order.

Malaysia Airlines

The seats are individual pods that turn into 180-degree flat beds. Fliers also get plush blankets and pillows. Food includes Malaysian cuisine, like a signature satay. On the ground, Kuala Lumpur's first-class lounge has a new upscale restaurant.

Thai Airways

First-class fliers are greeted by a personal concierge at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi's Airport who checks them in and escorts them through security. The lounge has wi-fi, a sauna and a spa offering Thai massages. When flying into Bangkok, a concierge fast-tracks fliers through immigration, customs and baggage claim. Seats on board become comfortable 180-degree flat beds. Other amenities include Bulgari toiletry kits, cotton pajamas and a choice of 22 entrees, which can be pre-ordered.

Emirates

Each of the roughly 18 seats in first-class can be transformed into a mini-suite by the use of sliding doors. Other perks include soft pajamas, slippers, 600 channels of on-demand entertainment, chauffeur service from select airports, seven-course meals served on bone china and access to lounges that have wi-fi, an extensive dining buffet and are decked out in Italian marble.

Jet Airways

This airline boasts the longest flat bed in the sky: 83 inches. Seats have 24-inch flat-screen televisions and can be configured so that two people can dine together. Champagne onboard is either Dom Perignon or Krug, and toiletry kits are filled with Bulgari products. Food includes a wide range of Indian and Western dishes. On the ground, an attendant escorts passengers through check-in and to the lounge.

Lufthansa

This airline, ranked third on the top-10 list, is a star performer on the ground. When fliers arrive at Frankfurt Airport, they lounge on couches and sip drinks while an attendant checks them in. After clearing security, they are led to a lounge where a chef cooks any meal of their choice. When it's time to board, they are driven to the aircraft in a Mercedes. Comfortable lie-flat seats and efficient service await them onboard.

Korean Air

The airline also placed in the top 10 because of its excellent ethnic food that includes choices such as steamed oxtail, Korean bibimbop and various top-grade meat dishes.

Qantas Airways

The lounges in Sydney and Melbourne have a library, a fine-dining restaurant, a business center and a spa that offers massages. Seats onboard are 6.5 feet long, and entertainment is video on-demand (400 channels). The designer silk toiletry kits--Akira Isogawa for men, Collete Dinnigan for women--are stuffed with Payot products. Meals are eight-course affairs.

So next time you may want to fly First Class you are assured the amenities will be great!

Reference: World's Best First Class

Tranquil Oasis

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:27:00 +0000

With so much demand from work or family activities, it is difficult to find some moments to relax from stress. We feel we sorely need a tranquil oasis to soothe frayed nerves at the end of a very demanding day.

Water has always been considered nurturing and soothing. There's nothing like a cool dip in a deep blue swimming pool - especially on a hot summer day... to relax us.

However, much as many people would love having a swimming pool, having one is a luxury only a few could actually afford.

For the few lucky homeowners, a pool can not only enhance a house, it can also become an important activity area for family and friends.

Let's take a look at some of these dreamy oasis... and wish we could have any one of those featured! Haha...

Let's Share Some Laughs...

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:27:00 +0000

BECAUSE I often have to catch a pre-dawn bus to get to my job, I was concerned that I wasn't always visible to bus drivers in the darkness. So I attached a reflector to my lunch box and put on a jogger's vest that was bright orange and had small flashing lights.

The first morning I wore my new gear, the bus zoomed past but then stopped. I ran to catch up with it and, as I boarded, asked the driver, "Didn't you see me?"

"I saw you," he replied, "but I thought you were a road sign."

-- Contributed to Reader's Digest "Life In These United States" by Jim Manookin

Photo Credit: Google Images

Cenote - A Mystery

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:36:00 +0000

Ever heard of Cenote?

They are deep underground water-filled-sinkholes that lies east of the major Chichén Itzá ruins, a dark underground world the Mayans called Cenoté. At present times, one goes to Cenote through a vertical hole with narrow stair steps (carved by the Mayans themselves) with slimy ledges that could plunge you deep over 20 feet below if you will not be careful. After you've crawled under some especially low hanging stalactites, a beautiful blue green pool of unknown depth stretches out before you.

Every once in a year a rare event happens, sometime in April you might experience a sight to behold! A piercing beam of light streams in from the ceiling and touches the tip of a massive stalagtite which hangs down just inches from touching the surface, illuminating the pool and the entire chamber.

There is a dark mystery to Cenoté. Mayan petroglyphs depict human sacrifices at these sites. What lies under this Cenoté is not known, no one has ever been able to reach it's depths.

Credits: Mysterious Places

Making Up for The Lost Time...

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:57:00 +0000

Seemed like I left my PC to the cat!

Left unattended for several months, I would not have been surprised if my PC had packed its belongings and left me... or maybe it would have transferred its affections to the cat. These past few months were very difficult indeed. With Nanay (our mother) getting sick, our lives were turned upside down.

Now I am trying to make up for the lost time...

The Youngest Country On Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 04:54:00 +0000

Multi-cultural, diverse, stunning, pristine, young… These are just some of the words used to describe New Zealand. I have a lot of friends, former officemates, who have moved to New Zealand together with their families, to work and live there. They have described the country so beautifully that I begun to develop a romantic affinity over the place. According to them pictures could not even do justice to the beauty of its landscapes.

Dubbed as the youngest country on earth because it was the last land mass to be discovered, New Zealand’s awesome landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor activities, and a great place to unwind.

In fact UNESCO has recognized 3 areas as world’s heritage sites which mean that these places (Tongariro National Park, Te Wahipounamu and the Subantarctic Islands) are considered and recognized as having outstanding natural and cultural value for everyone. Active volcanoes, ancient native forests, prehistoric glaciers, snow-covered Alps have been internationally recognized as irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.

But New Zealand is not just all mountains and landscapes, it has bustling and modern cities as well, which are described as diverse, sophisticated, and multicultural. In fact New Zealand is one of the world’s most favorite travel destinations. There are 3 popular cities Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest city, while Wellington is the capital. On the other hand, Christchurch is known as “The Garden City” because of its well-established expansive parks and public gardens.

Auckland New Zealand

Traveling to New Zealand is made easier by online booking services. Cheaperthanhotels NZ makes it easier to look for Auckland Hotels, Wellington Hotels, and Christchurch Hotels. In fact it can provide listings of New Zealand hotels ranging from budget accommodations to luxury hotels. Here you can search and find prices on accommodation that are cheaper than hotels and offers last minute and year round discount accommodation throughout the country.

Photo Credits: Google Images

Antarctic Skies...

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 10:31:00 +0000

A rare and spectacular cloud formation appeared at the end of the polar night at Australia’s Mawson station in Antarctica. These so-called nacreous clouds were situated high in the stratosphere, some 20km above the ground, and indicate extremely cold temperatures in the rarefied atmosphere.

The weather balloon measured temperatures down to -87˚C in the vicinity of the cloud layer. That’s about as cold as the lowest temperatures ever recorded on the surface of the Earth. Amazingly, the winds at this height were blowing at nearly 230 kilometres per hour. Clouds this spectacular are seldom seen.

Our nearest star, the Sun, from a distance of 150,000,000 kilometres, provides us with light and warmth and from time to time a magnificent nighttime ‘laser light’ show. Well, not quite a laser light show, but something on a much grander scale. The Southern Aurora, Southern Lights or Aurora Australis are term used to describe the displays we see in out southern skies when the sun has had a particularly bad day!

Images from a frozen land...

Reference: This Tasmania

An Ancient Rock City

noreply@blogger.com (Must Be That Girl) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:39:00 +0000

Are you someone who is fascinated by ancient cities? Here is one - Petra, Jordan

Petra, an ancient rock city in present-day Jordan, known to the Arabs as Wadi Musa because of the stream that flows through it, was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom until its defeat by the Romans in AD 106. It then became part of the Roman province of Arabia. After several centuries as a flourishing trade centre, it declined with the shifting of trade routes away from the city. It was captured by the Muslims in the 7th century.

Its ruins were rediscovered in 1812 by the Swiss traveler Johann L. Burckhardt. Excavations since the mid-20th century have revealed many rock-cut monuments, including tombs with elaborate facades carved in the rose, crimson, and purple sandstone of the surrounding hills.

A narrow winding pass between towering walls leads to the open plain upon which stood the ancient city, while the plain is surrounded by hills in which tombs have been carved in the pink sandstone. Throughout Petra every available rock surface has been worked into a vertical face and in many cases sculptured into the façade of a temple, shrine, palace, or dwelling. The site includes some 800 structures, the best known of which is the Khazneh el-Farun (or so-called Pharoah's Treasury), a mausoleum, monument, or temple with a two-story facade and Hellenistic split pediment.

Petra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

Photo Credits: Google Images