our leisure

Tips for travelling with our children

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:52:00 +0000

When school holidays comes, its time to take our trip with our children. Travelling with our children may be more challenging inherently vivacious, mischievous, and easily bored. So a trip with our children can be a perfect test of patience and preparedness to us. Here are some tips you can apply when you traveling with our children

Before departure

You should make a list what stuff should be brought including your children stuff such as specific food, diapers, jackets, socks
Don’t forget to bring a medicine for your children , we know that children is more vulnerable toward new situation.
Let your children bring their toy especially their favourites.
Consider to prepare a new toys for your children for a surprise just in case they get bored with so they will not bother you

On transport

Try your best to make your children quiet ,you can let them read book, listening to their favorite music or get concentrate on their toy
Consider to take some anti sick drugs for your children

On tourism destination

Make a note for them to bring in their pocket contains hotel address, telephone number, just in case, if your children get lost.
Give them proper advice what to do when they get lost.
If possible try to take a rest time during the day for your children.
The final is always pay attention to your children

That’s my simple tips for you hope it can help you . Thanks for reading and im waiting for your response.

The Wat Pho Temple

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:21:00 +0000

Thailand is one of the exotic countries in Far East.The country has a very long history. We can see a bit of this past history from "Anna and the King" movie. Nowadays, Thailand has become the main tourism destination in South East Asia.In last post, we have discussed about the beauty of Thailand nature in Phuket, now we will discuss abou the cultural heritage tourism in Thailand ,Wat Pho temple, which also have been registered by UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MOW) as MOW documentary heritage for Asia and Pacific Region.

It was built as a restoration of an earlier temple on the same site, Wat Phodharam, with work beginning in 1788. It was restored and extended in the reign of King Rama III (1824-51), and restored again in 1982. Actually,its official name is Wat Phrachetuphon Vimon Mangkararam Ratchaworamahawihan, although it is commonly called Wat Pho.

The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds, divided north-south by Sanamchai Road running east-west. The northern walled compound is where the reclining Buddha and massage school are found.

The southern walled compound, Tukgawee, is a working Buddhist monastery with monks in residence and a school.

The main attraction for the tourist is The statue of the Reclining Buddha (Phra buddhasaiyas) which measured 46 meters long and 15 meters high, is covered in gold leaf and illustrates the Buddha’s passing into nirvana. Mother-of-pearl inlays decorate the feet and the eyes of the smiling Buddha and the feet are also adorned with 108 lakshanas, the auspicious characters of the Buddha (108 being a sacred number in Buddhism and in Hinduism.

Outside the viharn of the Reclining Buddha are hundred pagodas and several halls that contain a vast collection of Buddha statues. There are over 1000 images of Buddha images in this area.The main images are Phra Putthadevapatimakorn: the principle Buddha image is enshrined in the ubosot. It contains Buddha relics and the ashes of King Rama I.
Phra Phuttaloknatsasadajan: this image stands in an alcove. It is the tallest bronze standing Buddha image.

The other attraction is Wat Pho School of Traditional Medicine and Massage. In this place, the preparation of herbal medicines and diagnosis are taught here, as well as the traditional massage seen in the sculptures compiled on King Rama III’s orders. The teaching is practical, and every day large number of visitors, Thai and foreign come to study and to be massaged. For those interested in traditional Thai medicine, there is a pavilion that serves to both teach knowledge and give treatment. The walls have marble tablets describing basic anatomy and treatments. In the late afternoon, traditional medicine practitioners are there to dispense herbal mixtures. Nearby, there is a cloister where you can have a traditional Thai massage for a small payment. Wat Pho is often known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Even prior to the temple's founding, the site was a center of education for traditional Thai medicine.

White Heron castle

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 05:29:00 +0000

Japan is one of the country in East Asia , which known to all over the world for its electronic and automotive products. Japan is also well known for its tourism.When we discus about tourism in Japan we will refer to the main symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji. Yes it is undeniable that Mount Fuji has become symbol of japan tourism but there is a lot of great things we can find in Japan. Actually beside the great nature , Japan also has an interesting art and culture. We can recognize the example of the interesting and unique culture from the magnificient architecture art of Japan, Himeji Castle. It was registered as the first Japanese world cultural heritage by UNESCO along with Horyuji Temple in December, 1993;

The Himeji Castle is located in Himeji City in the western Hyogo. It was built in the mid-14th century, and it rebuilt and renovated many times by Japanese ruler at that moment . Its figure was likened as a white heron spreading its wings, and thus called White Heron Castle. It was designated as a national treasure in 1931, and as the World Cultural Heritage in 1993.
The main complex, which consists of one main tower (donjon) and three secondary ones, is located on two hills. The main donjon ,which rises six storeys from a massive stone is connected by corridors and passages (wateriyagura) to the other three , forming an inner court. At the base of the main donjon once stood a palace, which was later destroyed by fire. It is strengthened by two wood columns that run from the fifteen meter stone foundation to the roof. The eastern and western donjon consists of four floors, three of which are visible. The northwestern tower has five floors, only three of which are visible from outside. Guarding to this central compound (Hommaru) are a number of twisting gates, walls , and subsidiary towers that posed a daunting obstacle to any attackers.
The castle grounds are divided into an inner walled zone(Ninnomaru) and a outer walled zone (Sannomaru) surrounded by a double moat. The donjon complex which forms the nucleus of the castle is situated at the highest location in the center of the inner walled zone. From farway the roofline architecture of its tower resemble a flock of herons in flight, suggesting the castle’s name Shirasagi-jo or White Heron Castle.

Japanese pizza - Okonomiyaki

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 05:11:00 +0000

Do you like to eat pizza?

How about Japanese-style pizza? If you like to eat Japanese food, you should be able to guess what I mean by Japanese pizza or pancake.

Yes, It is Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き). The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked"

In Japan, there are two kinds of okonomi-yaki style basically: Osaka and Hiroshima style. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, chopped cabbage is cooked on top of thinly spread batter. Also, yakisoba noodles are usually added in Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, while Osaka-style okonomiyaki, chopped cabbage is mixed with the batter and cooked together.

The batter is made of flour, grated yam, water or dashi, eggs and shredded cabbage, The menu of an okonomiyaki restaurant will provide several kinds of filler ingredients like pork, shrimp, squid, octopus, kimchi, mochi or cheese. An order of okonomiyaki consists of a bowl of pancake-like batter and a dish containing diced vegetables and the meat or seafood. There is another variation of okonomiyaki called monjayaki, which served with a layer of fried noodles (either yakisoba or udon)
The chef will come by to turn on the grill at your table and brush the surface with oil; after that-if it's a cook-it-yourself place-the adventure begins. Start by mixing together all the ingredients; then, when the grill is hot enough, pour the mixture onto the grill. To flatten the pancake and push it into shape, the chef will use a kind of spatula. Before and after turning, the top of the pancake will be brushed with a special sauce, and then added with aonori (green seaweed powder) and katsuo (dried bonito shavings) .

Chinese New Year Celebration in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:04:00 +0000

Chinese New Year or sometimes we called as Lunar New Year is celebrated on starts of the Lunar calendar, which usually falls between late January until late Februari . The celebration last for about two weeks. It is celebrated in China and all around the world especially in area inhibited by Chinese people. No exception in Singapore. Chinese tradition says that in Lunar New Year celebration all debts from the past should be cleared, with homes spring-cleaned and new clothing to wear, a brand new start. Chinese New Year is also become a moment for a family to reaffirm ties with a good dinner that traditionally takes place on the eve of the New Year.

Chinese New Year celebration in Singapore is also known as the ‘Chun Jie’ festival. The major events of this grand festival include Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations, Chingay Parade of Dreams and Singapore River Hong Bao. The event of ‘Cap Goh Mei’ is conducted on the last day of the final day of this magnificent celebration.

After dinner people usually go to Chinatown area to soak in the heart of the festivities.The area usually has been crowded by many people (local and tourist), adorned with decorative red lantern light, banner and dominated with red and gold colour, symbolizing prosperity, health, wealth and good fortune in the new year ahead. Singapore’s Chingay Parade is the major of the festival. The parade helds a party that lasts for two nights, Chingay Parade is often considered the climax of the celebration of the Spring Festival in Singapore. The parade is participated by salsa artists, circus acrobats and traditional dancers and acrobats performer. There is also a nightmarket along the streets which sells festive goodies, toys, ornament, snack, fruit, clothes at the cheap prices.

Singapore is also famous for its delicate cuisine, especially in the Chinese New Year festival. Bak kwa (thinly sliced fragrant barbecued pork), prawn rolls (a paste of dried prawns rolled in thin wraps and deep fried till very crisp), yusheng (literally means raw fish) symbolize abundance and prosperity). There is also interesting trend for tossing yusheng, It has become popular at dinner troughout the festival. Kueh baulu (small sponge cakes that are slightly crisp on the outside and spongy soft on the inside), groundnuts to symbolize good health and longevity, sweet candy to symbolize a sweet year ahead and chocolates wrapped to look like gold coins to symbolize wealth and prosperity. All food is great, you should try on that.

Besides Chingay Parade, you might like to the other of Chinese Festival of Arts - Huayi, at the Esplanade Singapore. This event is specially organized for those who appreciate traditional and contemporary Chinese arts and culture. Be intrigued by the stellar line- up of song and dance.

While, The carnival at the River Hong Bao also draws the high tourist visit during the celebration. This festival is usually held for a seventeen days period with large-scale displays of Chinese mythical character including Chinese god of fortune and 12 chinese zodiac animal. The fair also feature traditional arts, traditional food and folklore of the ancient China. The entire area of the fair remains adorned with floats, legendary Chinese heroes, cherry blossoms and pagodas.

Bunaken the underwater paradise

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:12:00 +0000

Do you like enjoying a beautiful scenery? How about beautiful underwater scenery? It absolutely can be your unforgettable moment in your life.You should try to visit one of the most beautiful underwater scenery in the world, in Bunaken Marine Park.
The Bunaken National Marine Park was established in 1991 and is located on North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. The park area is about 89,065 hectares, which only 3% is terrestrial, including Bunaken Island. It is well known for its amazing underwater aquatic ecosystem.

The waters are really deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), quite clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27-29 C) .You can find a lot of species of tropical fish and coral reefs here. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.While, Big fish like marlin, tuna, stingrays, sailing, skipjack, barracuda, hammerhead sharks sometimes also seen in these waters.

Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific, are found. Biology experts believe that the abundance of hard corals is the most important factor why the levels of diversity in the park is so high. Hard corals are the architects of the reefs, without them, numerous marine organisms would be homeless and hungry. Many species of fish are closely associated with particular types of corals. In shallow water just a few meters offshore lies a band of eye-catching reefs, while further out, in the 60 to 120 foot zone another band of coral reefs teams with all sizes of fish, brilliant in hues and decoration, swimming around you in a great numbers, In the thousands of little nooks along the wall you will see delicate pencil-thin blue-ribbon eels, clear and reddish-striped coral shrimp, lurking lobsters and scuttling crabs. In deeper waters will really get your adreanlin rush in your head. So by using some proper diving equipment you can enjoy these, directly in front of you. For those who do not like diving is available boat with glass bottom to see the beauty of the seabed. Enjoying the beauty beneath the sea, the depth reaches 100 meters.

To support the tourist destination , there are many accommodation facilities from cheap motel to luxurious hotel in this area. The restaurant which provide delicious seafood are also available here to serve you. So if you want to have an unforgettable underwater adventure why don’t visit here someday….

Phuket 'the pearl of South'

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 04:36:00 +0000

We will discuss about the best tourism in Thailand, Phuket, sometimes it is called as ‘Pearl of South’ the largest island in Thailand. Phuket Island runs 48 kilometers (34 miles) north to south and 21 kilometers (16 miles) east to west. Phuket is broken by a chain of mountains and valleys mainly from a north-south range running down the west coast.
Phuket is connected to the mainland by a short bridge and is accessible by car or bus. While, Phuket International Airport is located in the north of Phuket island. The island itself is divided into three districts Talang in the north, Kathu in the west, and Muang in the south.

In Muang district, there are many islands. One of the most famous island here is Mai Ton Island, which well-known for its natural environment, white beaches, and clear waters. The other is Kaew Island, which has a fine beach too. The famous tourism destination, Nai Harn Beach, which located in north part is popular for swimming and yacht sailing. The white sandy beach and crystal clear water of Nai Harn makes it one of the best beaches in Phuket. While, Kata and Karon Beach also has best waters for swimming and snorkeling among the coral reefs. There is a lot accommodation facilities, restaurants, bars, and clubs, and a regular daylight bus service runs to Phuket Town and the other beach resorts. Karon Beach is the second largest of Phuket's principal tourist beaches and is a popular destination for tourists.

In Kathu District, The main object in this district is Patong beach. There are lots of restaurants, bars, night markets, tourist shops, massage parlors and night clubs and even strip clubs at Patong beach. Patong has a fast-pace, lots of tourists and really comes alive all the night, so it is the best place for party and have fun all nights. Every possible pass time imaginable can be found here. Not to be ignored is the fine bay stretch of beach that promises great swimming, snorkeling and many more.

The last district is Thalang district, This district has several kinds of cultural tourist destination, such as Thalang National Museum , which display of ancient artifacts and exhibits relating to the historical 1785 Battle of Thalang. There is also Two Heroines Monument , built in commemoration of the sisters who lead the past battle. The other interesting tourism object is a home of the Buddha golden statue that emerged from the earth many years ago, Wat Phra Tong .

The final words, Phuket has much more to offer than just beaches. The people are warm and friendly, the culture is rich and the food is delicate. There is great shopping, a lively night lifescene for you who like it and the last it also offer you some great activities such as scuba divings, snorkeling etc. I think its one of the paradise in this world. In our next posting maybe, we will discuss the Phuket destination spesifically…

Christmas quotes

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 03:38:00 +0000

Here is some Christmas quotes :

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
Norman Vincent Peale

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
Hamilton Wright Mabi

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.
Augusta E. Rundel

Remember, this December, that love weighs more than gold.
Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
Oren Arnold

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!
Francis P. Church
From the New York Sun, September 21, 1897.

If there is no joyous way to give a festive gift, give love away.
Author Unknown

Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.
George Mathhew Adams

From Home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another.
The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other.
Emily Matthews

Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing,
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing,
Returns to you glad.
John Greenleaf Whittier

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.
W. T. Ellis

The merry family gatherings -
The old, the very young;
The strangely lovely way they
Harmonize in carols sung.
For Christmas is tradition time -
Traditions that recall
The precious memories down the years,
The sameness of them all.
Helen Lowrie Marshall

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
Burton Hillis

Love came down at Christmas
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Stars and angels gave the sign.
Christina Rossetti

Christmas ... is not an eternal event at all, but a piece of one's home that one carries in one's heart.
Freya Stark

I heard the bells on Christmas Day.
Their old familiar carols play.
And wild and sweet the words repeat.
Of peace on earth goodwill to men.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Christmas is a time when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ.
Bart Simpson

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
Calvin Coolidge

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
Washington Irving

Christmas reminds us we are not alone. We are not unrelated atoms, bouncing and ricocheting amid aliens, but are a part of something, which holds and sustains us. As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same. Christmas shows us the ties that bind us together, threads of love and caring, woven in the simplest and strongest way within the family.
Donald E. Westlake

Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents.
Louisa May Alcott

Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.
Mary Ellen Chase

Do they still make wooden Christmas Trees?
Charles Schulz
Linus Van Pelt in Peanuts.

Forget about the crackers,
And forget about the candy;
I'm sure a box of chocolates
Would never come in handy;
I don't like oranges,
I don't want nuts,
And I HAVE got a pocket-knife
That almost cuts.
But, oh! Father Christmas, if you love me at all,
Bring me a big, red India-rubber ball!
A. A. Milne
King John's Christmas.

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.
Roy L. Smith

Heap on the wood! - the wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will,
We'll keep our Christmas merry still.
Sir Walter Scott

And is it true? and is it true?
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me?
And is it true? For if it is,
No loving fingers tying strings
Around those tissued fripperies,
The sweet and silly Christmas things,
Bath salts and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie so kindly meant.
No love that in a family dwells,
No carolling in frosty air,
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this single Truth compare -
That God was man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine.
John Betjeman

And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmastime.
Bob Geldof and Midge Ure
Do They Know It's Christmas?

And So This Is Christmas;
And What Have We Done?
Another Year Over; A New One Just Begun;
And So Happy Christmas;
I Hope You Have Fun;
The Near And The Dear Ones;
The Old And The Young.
John Lennon
Happy Christmas (War is Over).

At Christmas play, and make good cheer,
For Christmas comes but once a year.
Thomas Tusser
The Farmer's Daily Diet, 1557.

Merry Christmas for all creature on earth

from /www.allgreatquotes.com/christmas_quotes.shtml

Tips to get cheaper airplane ticket

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:48:00 +0000

Airplane has become one of the most important means of transportation in this modern era. This transportation enable us to reach some destination, even it is located in the other side of our world, in less than a day. So using this transportaton is inevitable for an international traveller.But as we know airplane ticket prices have risen drastically in the last few year due to many factors such as gasoline prices, security measurements etc. However, it is still possible to find a cheap ticket if you are willing to be. You just need to do a little research. The Internet is a great tool for helping you find it that leave you with a little extra cash to spend on your trip.
Here are some tips to get cheaper airplane ticket .We realize that these tips doesnt always work, especially for business-purposed trip but for leisure purposed trip, it may help you , so check this out our tips :

• The more flexible you are, the greater your chances of finding a cheap ticket.
If you insist on travelling on specific dates you will pay a lot more. If you can leave or return even a day earlier or later you'll often save you a lot of money. So be flexible it is answer.

• The earlier you book the ticket, the greater your chances of finding a cheap ticket.
When you buy earlier you will save your money. Book at least two weeks before your flight (preferably three), and at least 30 days for international flights.

• Avoid weekends flights, if you can.
Flying midweek means cheaper ticket because usually fewer people fly at that time.

• Avoid busy holiday
When holiday comes , its time to airlines to take advantage by rising the ticket price. People can understand it. So suppose you really want to save your money why don’t you consider to delay your trip after holiday?

• Unpopular flight times
Most of the discount rates are available on unpopular flight times, typically with early morning or late night departures or arrivals.

• Be a member of a frequent flier program
If you are a member of a frequent flier program you can save money of flights not only by using your miles to purchase tickets, but also by taking advantage of the special rates offered to club members.

• Compare between round trip ticket price and one way ticket price
Sometimes round trip ticket price is cheaper than one way ticket price. So ask and compare it.

• Find information about special price
You can find a lot of information about airplane ticket price on the internet.
Some airlines offer cheap tickets directly through special web deals. Visit an airline website and locate links for special Internet offers, Most offer weekly or monthly specials to particular destinations, and you can often save a lot of money by booking your flight online.

• Using neighboring airport
Use neighboring airport, then take another means of transportation (train for example). It needs more time to spend of course, but sometimes it will save our money.

Japanese natural art , Mount Fuji

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 06:26:00 +0000

When we discuss about Japan tourism, we will refer to one mountain, Mount Fuji. This mountain is sacred for Japanese people. A beautiful proportioned cone in astonishing nature. The height is about 3776-meter above the sea level.In the peak, the climate is very cold due to the altitude and it is covered by snow all the year. Snow-capped Mount Fuji is the tallest and most famous mountain in Japan. It last erupted in 1707 and is now dormant. The almost perfectly symmetrical cone shapes make it one of the most beautiful mountain in the world, and an undeniable symbol of

Japan

. We can find this mountain in many picture and art depicting Japan. More than 200,000 people climb to the top of Mount.Fuji in a year, and 30% of them is foreigner.

Mt. Fuji is located in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and is surrounded by five lakes: Lake Kawaguchiko, Lake Yamanakako, Lake Saiko, Lake Motosuko and Lake Shojiko. The five lakes can be accesed by bus or taxi from Fuji-Yoshida or Kawaguchi-ko train stations.

The most popular period for people to hike up Mt. Fuji is from 1 July to 27 August, while supporting facilities are operating, although it can be ascended all the time, but winter time will become a significant problems, so if you are not an expert hikers, its better to avoid it.
When you want climb this mountain, make sure that you have some proper preparation. There are ten stations from foot of the mountain to the top. Climbers start ascending from one to the the four "fifth stations" which are accesible by bus or car. There are four major routes from the fifth station to the top with an additional four routes from the foot of the mountain. The major routes from the fifth station are the Kawaguchiko, Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya routes. The routes from the foot of the mountain are the Shojiko, Yoshida, Suyama, and Murayama routes. The stations on different routes are at different sea levels.

Although it is only the second highest fifth station, the Kawaguchiko route is the most popular route because of its huge parking area. During the vacation time, most Mount Fuji climbing tour buses arrive there. The next popular is the Fujinomiya route which has the highest fifth station, followed by Subashiri and Gotemba.

There are eight peaks around the crater at the summit. Many of climber hiking throughout the night to witness the sunrise from the top of the mountain.

Tips Sunbathing safely

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 07:27:00 +0000

Sunbathing is the one of the most favorite activity we do in our leisure time, especially in our holiday. It is something that can be done to get someone to relax and keep from having to deal with so many stresses in life. Relaxing in the sun is something that requires no effort to do and the most important it is free. A person can just go and relax in the sun without having to worry about anything. Moreover when you go to the beach of course you will not miss this activity. Another reason why people like to sunbathe is that they want to get bronzed skin (often we called as tanned) It's so gorgeous for some people . Yes it looks healthy and attractive, but you should know that over exposure to the sun can lead to bad effect, from light effect like sunspot or wrinkle to the worst one like skin cancer. So it is important know how to sunbathe safely. Here are some tips how to do a safe sunbathing :

Avoid sun exposure in midday . Before 10:00 a.m. is a great time to tan because the sun is not at its strongest, while in the midday, sun exposure will be harmful and painful for your skin , so take a right time to tan.

Do not stay out in the sun for more than 30 minutes at a time. Dont rush your tan. Getting a good tan takes time and patience. Do not do it in one day. You will only end up with sun damaged skin and sore sunburn. Take your time and slowly expose your skin to the sun to build a gradual tan. This is the healthiest way to get good coloring.

Be sure to protect your face at all times. Your face is one of the most sensitive part of your skin. Even if you use a lower SPF sunscreen on your body, use a higher level SPF on your face. Consider using a hat to protect your face from the sun. You can protect your eyes to with sunglasses to make you more comfort.

Use a good SPF sunscreen and apply it regularly. At the beginning of the summer while your skin is still not used to being in the sun you will need use a sunscreen with a higher SPF level. You can use a sunscreen with a lower SPF level, when your skin has become accustomed to the sun.

Use lots of moisturizer. After you have been out in the sun always be sure to properly moisturize your skin. These lotions are saturated with moisturizers that preserves the moisture within the skin. Do not rub the lotion in. Apply enough so that a small amount is visible on the skin. If you can’t see the lotion, you haven’t used enough.

Eat healthy diet with plenty fresh fruit and vegetable. They are rich in substances which essential for your healthy skin. Furthermore you should also reduce your junk food consumption because it has bad effect for your skin health.

Take a supplements such as vitamins C, D, E , beta carotene, selenium, calcium and zinc. These will give you a boost sunscreen and help to prevent skin damage.

If after all your effort to prevent , you still end up with sunburn , you can use some natural remedies to relieve your sunburn. You can use it this ingredients topically They are aloe vera, lavender oil, calendula, green tea. Its reported that it may helps reduce inflammation and soothe your sunburn.

Why become a backpacker ?

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 05:49:00 +0000

Backpacker is a term refer to young people (it can be solo or duo) who like to travel usually abroad with low-budget cost.

They usually use low-cost airlines, public transportation, preference of youth hostel or even free accommodation from locals, an interest to make relationship with local people and don’t forget they use a backpack of course.

It’s not only about the budget I think , more than that it’s about a lifestyle. A lifestyle which has a passion for a challenging adventure. Recent research has found that, "...backpackers constituted a heterogeneous group with respect to the diversity of rationales and meanings attached to their travel experiences. ...They also displayed a common commitment to a non-institutionalised form of travel, which was central to their self-identification as backpackers.

So it can be differentiated between backpacker and usual traveller, who emphasize in the comfortness on their trip. 

Some backpackers do it to spice their lifes up because of getting bored from his / her day to day job. It’s about a freedom of creating the challenging adventure , making new stories and discover a new things in outer world.

Become a real backpacker needs a qualification. It’s not very hard to be, but you need to possess some qualities before you start your journey. A backpacker needs to be independent. You have to be willing to take risks and responsibilities by yourself. That includes looking for proper accommodation like hostel, seeking information, and choose your meals and transportation. It’s hard to succeed if you always depend on others to do the job. Dont worry if you haven’t had that qualification now, just learn and learn again. Never give up. You can find many tips how to become  real backpacker from various sources.

Being prepared is very important for backpacking. You need to find some information (from internet or travel guide) and plan your trip, especially about your destination and how to get there. Without planning, you might have a terrible trip. Plan your travel route and destinations wisely so that you can save time and money. You also need to prepare your equipments such as backpack with all of its equipment ( such as medicine, dictionary, travel map etc). Don’t forget to be smart in packing your stuff, so you could save space and reduce the weight of your backpack. The other important thing to be prepared is about the documentation for your trip. You can bring camera, handycam or maybe just a diary to accompany you. It will be your sweet memories in future.

The principal thing, you must be willing to sacrifice. Backpackers encounter many difficulties and challenges. They have to travel for long hours, endure bad weather, and sometimes interact with bad local people. It’s not all honeymoon experience and you should prepare to pay the price for your golden experience.

Finally, backpacking is not just about experiencing the new things, but also an inner journey of self discovery and character development.

So if you have a leisure time , what are you waiting for ? Take your backpack and lets start your own challenging trip and make it become your unforgetable momment in your lifetime.

“Strange dish from Japan | Fugu dish”

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:47:00 +0000

Do you like to taste “strange dishes” from all over the world ? It's one of the fun hobbies to do in our leisure time. If the answer is yes, you should try this. Fugu fish, the most delicate, dangerous, and expensive fish in the world that, in spite of being extremely poisonous, continues to be the most stimulating delicacy for special feast in Japan. Fugu is the Japanese word for pufferfish and the dish prepared from the meat of pufferfish. It can be lethally poisonous if prepared incorrectly. It contains lethal amounts of the poison Tetrodotoxin in the organs, especially the liver and ovaries and the skin.
The poison can paralyzes the muscles while the victim stays fully conscious, eventually dying from asphyxiation. There is no known antidote. The standard treatment is to support the respiratory and circulatory systems until the poison dissipates

There is an old expression "I want to eat fugu, but I don't want to die" in Japan. Since fugu's poison can lead to instantaneous deaths of diners, only licensed chef are allowed to prepare it. You must have special skills and knowledge about fugu to be licensed. Poisonous parts of fugu are differ, depending on the kind of fugu. Because of the strict regulations, the number of deaths is decreasing
So the next question is “What does fugu meat taste like in reality?” Some people who’ve tried describe it as one of the most sublime flavors in the world. Others, apparently less enthusiastic, or simply more objective, describe fugu meat as a cross between chewy and crunchy, said by the Japanese “shiko-shiko” in one’s mouth when absolutely fresh. That’s what some consider the main attraction of the risky meal. But taste isn’t everything. Many say that fugu is simply addictive!
People who’ve tasted fugu report a funny feeling in their mouths, as if they had been shot with a dose of dentist’s novocaine. After a licensed Japanese chef carefully cleans the poisonous puffer, removing the 11 deadly parts of the fish, including the skeleton, skin, ovaries, intestines, and liver, enough of the neurotoxin remains to produce a mellow tingling glow, a flush, and a drug rush.
Fugu dishes are usually expensive. One meal can cost $100 to $200 per person at a famous restaurant. But there are inexpensive fugu dishes (from $15 to $20) available at some restaurants. It's said that the most poisonous fugu, "Tora-fugu," is the most delicious. Tora-fugu is expensive and can cost over one hundred dollars at a fish market.You can find the dish not only in Japan of course, but also in other parts of the world.
In United States for example, as of 2003 only seventeen restaurant serve it, twelve are in New York.
Find other interesting in Japan here

Beach Tourism in Kuta - Surfer's paradise

noreply@blogger.com (ourleisure) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:57:00 +0000

Beach tourism in Kuta - Surfer's paradise

Have you ever thought about the most beautiful beach in the world ? Maybe here is the answer Kuta beach.
Kuta, located in southern Bali, called as paradise island in Indonesia , South East Asia, was a sleepy fishing village half a century ago, but it has slowly expanded since the 1960s after its long sandy beach was discovered by travellers mostly from Australia.

Long golden beach, stunning coral reefs, a vibrant island culture, international cuisines, luxury shopping, and world-class surfing are just a few of the activities that visitors can enjoy here. Nowadays, Kuta is known as much for its luxury accommodations, fancy restaurants, and nightclubs as it is for its wild parties and festivities.
There is a lot of domestic and international tourist come here every year. The beach stretches as far as the eyes can see.
On the beach, people enjoy parasailing, banana boat trips, swimming , being massaged, while others are seen sunbathing - enjoying tropical sunray. For sunbathing tips click here
As for swimming Kuta’s surf sometimes can be very dangerous with strong current and undertow on some tides. Always swim within the flag markers on the beach, keep near the crowds and lifeguards and everything will be ok. Surfing is the name of the game at Kuta Beach. There are a number of options for surfers of every age and ability, so there’s no reason to miss out on the fun. Kuta Beach is famous for its sandy bottom, which not only creates a relatively safe environment for those just learning, but also allows surfers to cut loose without having to think about any coral reefs or rocks lurking below the surface of the water. Beginners can take their pick of various surfing schools in the area. Two of the most popular are Rip Curl school and Quicksilver school of Bali. Coconut trees line the sand beach as far as the eyes can see towards the north stopped by the runway of Denpasar’s airport far in the west. Before sunset, crowds rush to the beach waiting to watch Kuta’s legendary sunsets.Maybe its hard to express the beauty of Kuta sunsets with some words, It is better to see it with your own eyes, of course when the weather is fine.Then as darkness falls, Kuta’s nightlife starts to throb with loud music from bars and restaurants, while shops stay open till late at night. So what do you think now ? Maybe you want to make this beach become your destination to visit someday??