But since the fire is still here. I would like to talk a bit about how new year’s eve was celebrating in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Different people have different ways to celebrate the new year’s eve. It’s true. Some just having small family party, some will find it hard to resist offer celebrating with glamour party in hotels. For many of Jakarta residents who were not celebrating in either way, they have a tradition of spending the night on the protocol streets that lead toward main monument (Monas Square) and/or to the Taman Impian Jaya Ancol. It’s a vacation sites that becomes one of the icon of Jakarta. The government usually organize massive celebration in Taman Impian Jaya Ancol with live shows, grand fireworks party, etc.

Along many corners in Jakarta, we could easily find sellers of colorful paper trumpets with many variety of shapes, and we could buy it in very cheap price. Many people are willing to spend their times on their cars, or motorcycles, among the traffic jam that could last for hours even after the countdown has over. For those who have not reached Monas or Ancol when the new year’s countdown start, they still looked exciting being part of the mass with other strangers on the street, and together everyone blew the trumpets on the first seconds of January. It’s a simple and cheap way on celebrating the new year. And still not lessen the excitement created by the situation.

Actually, the fireworks are not only held by the government. In many elite housing area, many private residents sponsored the fireworks show. I am lucky enough to live in one of such areas and witnessing the beautiful fireworks from the comfort of my home, that was held around my neighborhood area. It’s awesome! I don’t have to spend hours on the street, sweating all around with many people that gather in Ancol beach area, and still can enjoy the beautiful fireworks. But yes, the excitement and fun will be different of course.

While dancing and performing, they also compete for the prizes offered. Thus, becoming more competitive and the participants are ‘forced’ to be more creative, and of course, giving us even greater exciting tourist attraction.

The Junkanoo festival is made possible by the effort of the whole community. Families, friends and neighbors gather within groups which consist of 500 to 1000 members. These groups perform together at the parade. The preparation took months ahead with intense practice for the dancer, musicians, and creating customes.

Today, there are four (4) major Junkanoo groups that compete earnestly every year for the grand prize. The “Valley Boys” and the “Saxons Superstars” are considered to be the two senior groups. We now have “Roots”, which was formed in 1991. There is also the “One Family” Junkanoo group, which was formed and organized in 1993.

Beside the fancy costumes, the vital part of the festival is the music. The rhytmic sound of goatskin drums, cowbells and whistles are accompanied by a separate brass section. Following the tradition by their ancestors, the local people stretch goatskin across the drum opening and “tune” it by burning a candle under the skin to tighten it to the right pitch.

Not every moment of the year you can witness this unique parade. The Festival is held on the Bay Street twice a year, 1st of January, and every 26th of December. The parade normally begins with a shotgun start at 2 a.m in the morning (yes, it’s before the dawn!), and continues until approximately 9 a.m when the results of the parade are publicly announced in world-famous Rawson Square. But winning is really not everything here actually. Since the excitement of preparation and rocking to the sounds of Junkanoo drummers, cowbellers and dancers, completely exonerate us to get up and rushly go to Bay Street that early in the morning to get the best spot to witness the parade.

Bootless Bay is just 22 km east of Port Moresby (the capital of Papua New Guinea), on the south coast of Papua for exact. It is famous for its rich marine diversity, and visited regularly by botanist, marine biologist, and others who has special interest in flora, fauna, and rare marine species around Papua New Guinea. It has three small islands : Lion Island (uninhabited), Motupore, and Loloata. One of the best possible access to the rich dive environments of Bootless Bay is through Loloata Island.

Some of the finest dive sites are on the barrier reef beyond Bootless Bay. It has tidal currents which instead make great supply of food that support a very good fish population. There is a series of bommies on the reef edge which called Pumpkin Patch. Some are joined with ridges, others separated by deep gullies. You should take a look around before jumping into the water delightfully, since Bryde’s Whales have sometimes passed by this area. Under the water, you can find Pygmy Seahorses, black coral shrimps, Long-nosed Hawkfish, Merlett’s (Rhynopias) Scorpionfish, Ornate Ghost Pipefish, these are only a very small fraction of marine treasures that can be found here.

Other water activities besides diving also can be found here, such as snorkeling, kayaking, wind surfing, water skiing, and line fishing. You can have a brisk walk or stroll along the beach and foreshore on the early morning or late afternoon, as the best time to say. Local Sightseeing tours can also be arranged to explore further about the island.

Besides famous for its diving site, Papua New Guinea also has vast biological diversity of the flora and fauna. All the recognised species of “Birds of Paradise” are represented here, and even more, other species of bird life in combination with the unique marsupial, mammal, insect, etc.

With so much diversity of culture, choice of scenery, flora and fauna, for sure Papua New Guinea offers so much as a travel destination. Cultural performances, Tropical Beachside Hotels, Mountain treks, spectacular scenery, unequalled scuba diving, bird watching, you name it. From the highest mountain peaks to the bottom of it’s oceans, you can enjoy all outdoor nature in great delight.

If you were me, or anyone whose in love with this sport (but I guess, who is not?), this would be the first thing associated with that city name : FOOTBALL!!!

Yes, as the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, which is also known as the “Paris of the South”, has glorious buildings, wide avenues, and spectacular monuments. We can enjoy fabulous shopping, famous wines, superb food, while digesting the fascinating historical and cultural aspects.

But the most wonderful thing about Buenos Aires is the fact that it is the Football Capital of the World, as you may say. There, it’s hardly any day goes by without a match.

Talking about Football, you can see great video about Buenos Aires here : http://partofthegame.tv. It has 5 different channels with all related to football. Do you want to know some secret ritual kept between some great player? You’ll find some funny stuff too here….Some are really ridiculous that makes me laugh until my stomach ache. They even record the magic moments in Euro cups from time to time.

Don’t forget to turn on your speaker though, and prepare to feel the magic of football from the comfort of your own computer.

By the way, you could actually see videos of many different cities in the world too, that has relation with football history. Sevilla, Manchester (Yes, the headquarter of MU), Liverpool, just named it!

About the author :
Kevin Smith has brought to you this Dubai review article. If you wish to get more information about the lovely country, please visit http://dubaitravelsite.net

Today let’s see Himalayan regions.  Especially the part that is in India. The blossoming forests and wild life sanctuaries are the attractions of India.The tours in the Himalayan Range are awe inspiring. Mountaineering, river rafting, hiking, climbing and trekking are some of the stimulating and incredible adventure tours provided here.

Several trekking locations have become an important aspect of India tour packages, which was earlier famous for its wildlife, cultural, sports, sightseeing and shore excursion tours.

Some of the world craved trekking locations are as follows :

• Sikkim Trekking

The snow clad mountains artistically envelope the pearl of India, called as Sikkim. Its energising locations, stunning peaks and lavishly adorned heritage, hardly needs an explanation.

• Darjeeling trekking
You might have heard about Darjeeling Tea. But do you know that Darjeeling is also one of the most admired trekking destinations in West Bengal? its perfection in trekking lies in the abundance of flora and fauna, in addition to its stretched tea fields.

• Ladakh Trekking
The Jammu and Kashmir Valley harbours this breathtakingly beautiful trekking location, which has evolved as a dream destination for over seas tourists. The Buddhist monasteries and high mountain peaks have added to its charm.

Trekking doesn’t need much hassle thing though, just by walking with the sticks, covering large distances on the rugged terrain, you will have adventurous trekking. Moreover, while doing this at your own path, trekkers can interact with the nature, the real life of the natives, in a rustic manner.

We’ll cover more in detail about this in later post… See You…

Following are some of the things to do when holidaying in Fuerteventura:
Betancuria

Capital of Fuerteventura, this part of the island is really small, but has remarkable archeological and history rich structures and museums, for those interesting holiday in Fuerteventura.

Spanish Finca

This countryside is not a big attraction but can be visited when holidaying in Fuerteventura for the delicacies like sauces, jams and cheese, local Craft ware and Aloe Vera. From abundant plants amazing flowers, to marvelous scenery, this attraction is worth paying a visit.

El Museo de La Alcogida

El Museo de La Alcogida is an open-air museum presenting the essence of rural and rustic village culture and life. The show puts forward humble and self effacing farmers, craftsmen and houses of old times, worth making it a superb tourist attraction. When on a holiday in Fuerteventura, the museum can also be visited for experiencing the low-ceilinged and shady café-bar.

Oasis Park

This tourist attraction is spread across the area of 50000 square metre and also supports a botanical garden, as well as a zoo. There are amazing camel safari and stunning views from up hills.

Casa Santa María inside Museo Artesanía

This picture perfect restaurant surrounded with laurel trees, parasols, bougainvillea, citrus trees and cactus garden . This restaurant is a tourist attraction in itself as it helps tourist and visitors unwind, when on holidaying in Fuerteventura. Some of the delicacy you can relish in this place include home made cakes and wines, Lanzarote smoke salmon and sizzling pork fillet. Many said that to have its local cuisine is the best way to enjoy a great holiday in Fuerteventura.

La Lajita Zoo

Located at the eastern coastal rural community of La Lajita, this zoo is perfect way to enjoy family time when holidaying in Fuerteventura. From small animals, camel safaris, horse rides, a parrot show, palm trees to a beautiful bar, this tourist attraction offers a lot.
Islote de Lobos Nature Reserve

This tourist attraction is a natural reserve and is quite admired by tourist and visitors holidaying in Fuerteventura. Many people simply visit this reserve for tranquility, abundance of natural beauty, peace of mind and lots of recreation. The easy way to reach this attraction is via a boat ride from the land of Corralejo. Islote de Lobos does not just offers freshness and calmness, but also has breathtaking views to capture.

Best time to visit of holiday in Fuerteventura

Many believed that the best time for a holiday in Fuerteventura is between November and February, because there are less heat and not much of rain.

It’s Railay Beach we’re talking about, one of Thailand’s most sought-after beach areas. There are no roads in Railay, only beautiful golden sands and longtail boats everywhere. Actually it is connected with the mainland, but you must go through limestone cliff and steep jungle areas which is not favorable. So the only way to get there is.. by the SEA. That’s right, you must use boat to get there…

By the way, talking about how to get there. It’s only ten minutes by boat from Ao Nang. Alternatively, It takes 30 minutes from Chao Fa pier in Krabi Town to get to Railay Beach by long tail boat. Boats cost no more than 50 or 60 Baht per person per trip.

People usually go to Railay to avoid crowds and busy city activities. The sunset view also very beautiful here. You can find many resort areas in Railay, scattered around the four beaches, that is Ton Sai, Railay West, Railay East, and Phra Nang Cave beach. The accomodation ranging from very basic fan-cooling bungalows, to exclusive resort.

One of the famous activities in Railay including Rock-climbing. On-site climbing courses are available in area with the best climbing instructors in the country. You can also visit some caves, explore in Sea-Kayak, snorkling, or just tanning your skin on the warm sunny beach.

If you prefer to have wonderful holiday at beach, away from the hassle dazzle of big city life, you would like Railay Beach to be one of your major destination this holiday.

Anyone interested?

So the smart thing to do is to prepare in advance and look for ways to save money while, at the same time, enjoy more of your holiday trip.

Here are some money-saving tips to delight your travel experience :

1. Double check and confirm your departure time
This is to avoid unpredictable cancellation when you finally arrives at the airport/port. The last thing you want to hear is to find out that your flight has been cancelled after you excitedly leave your home in anticipation of how great your holiday will be. Also to avoid having to stay overnight at the airport in uncertainty.
2. Know recent luggage regulation and weigh your bag(s) at home
This is very important thing to remember, as many travelers don’t really pay much attention to new regulation. We want to avoid overweight charges and other unnecessary charges beforehand. You may want to redistribute your baggage with your travel companion and pack in more compact way to avoid having to pay $ 50 or more just because your excess 5 pounds.
3. Pack light & pack smart
You don’t have to bring everything yourself. Common travel items usually available at your hotel. Contact your reservation hotel to find out. Similarly, if in any case they do not provide, you should consider to bring the amenities from home. Find the compact travel package for your convenience.
4. Find discount and coupons at your destinate attraction in advance
Many local attraction offer discount and coupons if you are willing to spend some time find out through the web. You can start from this blog, where I will try to regularly inform of any coupons and discounts available for your trip.

5. Request extra nights/services if you’re staying quite long (eg.5 nights) in the same hotel, Basically, whenever possible, the hotel would be willing to do anything to offer high hospitality to their loyal customer. You better talk to the manager/sales/marketing agent before you arrive, instead of the reservation agent. Especially during low season, they would be more than happy to consider giving you extra spa treatment, complimentary night-stay, dinner for two, or some similar things.
6. Discover the ‘hidden fees’ by the airlines and hotel
Some airlines don’t provide food during the flight, and might even charge you for headphones. Better bring your own entertainment and maybe a little snack (and water) in case you have to wait for long hour delay or having to go through long journey. Food purchase at the airport could be double in price than the usual.
7. Bring your own internet connection
This is true for PDA user / business travelers. While some hotels still offer free internet connection, many would charge you quite expensive for the service.
8. Prepare a detail map and learn to read it precisely
You might not consider it important. But especially if you are not using a tour guide service, preparing a detail map of the city will save your time and money and avoid being lost somewhere.

Anyone want to share more tips on saving money on travel?

Wow, Alaska!!! This is one of my favourite topic! Feel like I never get enough with it!

Have you ever heard about Denali National Park? It is the heart of the Alaska range.

The interesting thing about the Alaskan Range, is that the completely different climate between the north and south side. The south side has moisture, transitional maritime continental climates with cooler summer and warmer winters. But the north has drier climate and huge temperature fluctuations to the north.

Denali lies in the north of the Alaska. At middle elevations you can find tundra. And at the highest elevations, lies glaciers, rock, and snow.

It has extraordinary variety of wildlife, more than any other in the United States. You named it, grizzly bears, black bears, caribou, dall sheep, moose, golden eagle, gray wolf, beavers, and so on. The park is also well known for its bird population and fresh ten species of fish including trout, salmon, and arctic grayling.

Denali park rangers maintain a constant effort to “keep the wildlife wild” by limiting the interaction between humans and park animals. We cannot feed the animals, as it is strictly forbidden and may cause adverse affects on the feeding habits of the creature. But you still can view animals from safe distances.

Besides wildlife, you can also find over 450 species of flowering plants fill the park, and can be viewed in bloom throughout summer. Goldenrod, fireweed, lupine, bluebell, and gentian filling the valleys of Denali and are often used on postcards and in artwork.

Enjoy some pictures of Alaska’s Denali National Park, and put your comment on this post please 

PS : do you see the Dall Sheep pic? It’s so cute, isn’t it?

dall-sheep

wonder lake, denali