Category — General
Exotic Massage in Israel: Snakes are the best pain-reliever!
If an exotic massage is what you are looking for, consider visiting Israel. The place renowned for its Dead Sea salts and celebrated therapeutic resorts has a new delicacy on = list, and if you take currency exchange rates into consideration, now might just be good time to go. The Israeli shekel has dropped in value in relation to the U.S. dollar in the past 2 months. So by choosing Israel as your travel destination, you could also benefit from better exchange rates. There are many things to see in Israel – be it the grandiose Bahai Gardens in Haifa, therapeutic spas in the Dead Sea area or gorgeous Eilat’s Red Sea beaches in the south. But if bizarre peculiarities are what give flavor to your travels, you shouldn’t miss the communal village of Talmey El’Azar in Northern Israel. It is here where you can receive a quite bizarre yet reportedly re-energizing snake massage. Although not unambiguously stress-relieving, clients of the therapist Ada Barak, who performs this unconventional treatment, claim the massage to be an effective way to soothe aching muscles and stiff joints. Barak makes use of California and Florida king snakes, corn snakes and milk snakes. For about 70 bucks (300 shekels), you can have six of the non-venomous reptiles slither your pain away. With six lively serpents hissing into their ears, not many people mange to enjoy the exotic massage fear-free. But with the success rate paralleled to that of Dead Sea salts and exotic oils, the treatment is becoming a popular exotic massage among locals and tourists. What might remind of a modern version of some ancient torture practice might soon be added to Israel’s most successful treatment methods and show up at a day spa near you one day.
June 27, 2007 No Comments
Best Deals for the Best Scuba Dive Vacations! Dive Into the Best Currency Rates.
A weak US Dollar does not have to stand between you and your best scuba dive vacations! If corals, fish, and ship wrecks are your summer must-see, you probably already know about some of the best diving spots out there. But which ones are the best and the most affordable with the current exchange rates?
With the US dollar a lot weaker than this time last year, choosing a location with a poor currency exchange rates may pull quite a few extra bucks from your wallet. When looking for your scuba vacation, consider traveling to a country with a currency that weaker than United States dollar can considerably cut down your travel expenses. While Heron Island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, just as the Vanuatu scuba dive in South East Asia, lures the divers with thousands of species of fish and remarkable natural treasures, these destinations are not necessarily the cheapest.
To turn your scuba diving vacations into the best deal possible, watch out for the exchange rates. Here are the world’s 8 best scuba diving destinations where a weaker US dollar will not affect your budget plans:
1. Belize
The warm Caribbean waters of Belize are one of the most acclaimed scuba diving destinations. Here, you can swim alongside nurse sharks and stingrays in Shark Ray Alley, take a look at the fascinatingly diverse marine life while gliding through the Barrier Reef, or explore Belize’s famous Blue Hole, a perfectly circular limestone sinkhole more than 400 feet deep. Belize Dollar is fixed to the US dollar, the average USD to BZD exchange rate being 1:1.96.
2. Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
The islands of Turk’s and Caicos are a true divers’ paradise. Thanks to the government determination to protect its valuable natural environment, untouched reefs, dunes and drop-offs are awaiting under the water.
Although the US dollar being the Turks and Caicos currency saves you money on exchange rates, the cost of the diving tours skyrockets when the tourist season hits peak (mid-December to mid-April). Therefore, it’s best to plan your trip between April and July as the water gets unbearably hot afterwards.
3. Cayman Islands
Mid-December through mid-April is the peak tourist time in the Caymans, too. This spot often referred to as the best Caribbean diving site, is an ideal US-dollar destination thanks to its clear and warm waters.
4. Mozambique
Islands of Mozambique are totally undeveloped and a nature-lovers’ dream. Along with the reefs and clear waters, you can experience wonderful night diving and wreck explorations in the Marine National Park. The best months to visit are June, July and August. Mozambique’s currency being fixed to the US dollar, the USD to Mozambique’s Metical rate oscillates around 25544.1:1. Before you head to Mozambique’s irresistible waters though, check government travel advisories. Some places in the country are still affected by a long civil war and may suffer unrest.
5. Yap, Micronesia
Another place where you can benefit from avoiding exchange rate losses while planning your scuba dive vacations is Yap. This little island in Micronesia with the US dollar currency, but is certainly among the world’s brightest diving treasures. It is known for its incredibly diverse marine life, especially the mysterious and largest of all rays, the manta ray. It’s recommended to visit the island during the dry season between December and April.
6. Bonaire
The marine park of the Bonaire waters offers the divers a wonderful sight of an unspoiled underwater ecosystem. The best time to indulge into the diving pleasures in the Caribbean waters of Bonaire is between September and December, as the sea is the calmest at that time. Netherlands Antillean Gulden is fixed to the US dollar. Hence, exchange rate fluctuations will not affect your scuba dive vacations’ budget plans.
7. Hawaii
To avoid downsides of traveling while the US dollar is weak, staying within the country may be a reasonable strategy. Giant sea turtles, whales and sharks are redundant in the fertile volcanic ecosystem of the Hawaiian waters. Although not as clear as those of some sheltered islands, its waters offer a great scuba diving adventure thanks to the richness of Hawaii’s marine life.
8. Florida
Florida is the best scuba diving destination on the North American continent with countless scuba diving shops along the entire Gulf coast and Atlantic coast. While the Gulf coast usually outperforms the Atlantic Coast in visibility, the latter offers a wealth of reefs and shipwrecks. The convenience of and economy of Florida travel, alongside with the abundance of tropical fish, manatees, giant turtles and dolphins account for one of the best scuba diving vacations.
June 12, 2007 No Comments
Going to Turkey For Cheaper Medical Care
A lot of people have been going to other countries for medical care, especially Turkey. One specific Hospital which is very popular is Jinemed Hospital. They offer IVF, plastic surgery, and dental care. Jinemed has very high success rates after introducing assisted reproductive technologies in Turkey 17 years ago.
“Jinemed Hospital’s medical team consist of American & European Board certified Doctors with practice experiences in the United States and Western European Countries.” This news comes from www.ivfturkey.com A max of three embryos or possibly four are allowed to be transferred by law.
Jinemed was founded by Professor Dr. Teksen Camlibel, a Physician who has 12 years of experience in the United States and 22 years in Turkey. The five sections that the Hospital specialize in is Infertility, Gynecology, Urogynecology, Gynecology Oncology, and Obstetrical Center. “Jinemed Hospital has a great team of English Speaking Doctors and we are serving UK patients since long years. Currently, American Patients are also choosing Jinemed because of our expert medical team with consultants in the USA, and favorable costs.”
June 11, 2007 No Comments
Travel to China
Shanghai lights
As China’s economy has grown explosively over the past quarter-century, so
too has Chinese tourism. Shanghai, the largest city on China’s coast, boasts
an expatriate community of over five percent (over one million foreigners in
a city of 24 million people). Coastal cities in general are heavily
Westernized, but the Chinese tourist can choose whatever degree of
Westernization s/he wants. The “Middle Kingdom” also features countless
historical monuments, from the 2000-year old terra cotta army in the tomb of
the first Qin emperor in Xi’an, to the Jin Mao Tower in downtown
Shanghai(currently the world’s tallest skyscraper, the blue-lit tower shown above).
As a completely different culture, however, China also has those
characteristic red flags to watch out for. Scams are not very common, but
they can be costly. One which I have heard about frequently, but never
myself experienced, is one of an attractive girl coming up to a male
tourist and asking to practice her English over a cup of tea (in an empty
teahouse). A bouncer (or three) then shows up and informs the gullible
tourist that the tea cost several hundred USD, and payment is then
“requested.”
Chinese are generally very polite, but never be too trusting in a completely
alien environment. Having a local business associate or connection is very
helpful for avoiding “tourist traps,” giving clear directions, bargaining (this
does not require a translator, but generally offer absolutely no more than
40 percent of a vendor’s initial price for anything, and stick to it).
Food sold from streetside vendors and low-end restaurants is also generally
unhygienic by Western standards. I would recommend sticking with upper-end
food, or otherwise bringing along a vacation’s worth of Immodium AD.
Virtually all hotels, from Shanghai Mariotts to at least one hotel in Rigazi,
Tibet, offer internet access for fairly cheap, and internet cafes are
everywhere. The business-inclined tourist will have very little trouble
staying in touch with the wider world, and China’s online-censorship system
is usually ineffective: certain domains and corporate-news sites are
blocked, but the vast majority of internet sites are easily accessible.
Tourism in China, even in the biggest cities, is eye-opening, and utterly
different from more conventional European vacations. It is also quite
inexpensive – after accounting for the plane ticket. And bargaining.
May 30, 2007 No Comments
Facts about Airplane Travel
There are many misconceptions about airplane travel. This article is to give you a little insight about how safe flying on an airplane really is and to get some of the biases that people have misconstrued over the years due to media biases or people not really knowing what they are talking about. A lot of people fear traveling on airplanes because they may think it is dangerous or they are afraid of heights or whatever the reason may be.
Statistically speaking, airplane travel is the safest way to travel. You may have heard the saying before that you are more likely to be killed in a car accident. This is actually true, sources say that it is 1 in 11 million chance of being involved in an airplane crash while it is only 1 in 5,000 chance of getting killed in an automobile accident. I know it’s a soar subject to talk about but people really need to learn the truth.
I have to say that I am a little uneasy about getting on to a plane myself because planes are massive structure flying at very very high altitudes. Just thinking about it can give you the shivers. But, In order to travel overseas or get to a far destination at a reasonable time, you need to be able to get on to an airplane. Some people may miss out on some really great experiences because they don’t want to fly.
I have heard all types of incidents and have been in a few myself. Turbulence is a normal everyday occurrence when flying, it is simply masses of air colliding at different speeds. Some can be more violent than others depending on the factors involved. Some causes may be passing aircrafts that give off small air currents, warm air rising and cold air sinking, current shifts at high levels or even air that is flowing up and over mountain peaks. A plane is designed to take the turbulence and keep stability while in flight.
I think knowing about what is happening when traveling on an airplane will put you at ease a little bit more rather then experiencing these natural occurrences without knowing what is happening. I am sure that most of you are well aware of what is going on because you are as curious as me. But, those of you who don’t know why these things happen will be able to better understand and hopefully calm your nerves a bit.
April 13, 2007 No Comments
A Turkey Getaway
Turkey is a great place to go on a vacation. A hot region in the summer time and a country with many attractions. My suggestion for travel would be to go and see Istanbul, the most well known city with many things to do. You will not be unsatisfied by this choice, there are plenty of great sights and people to make you feel welcome.
The above picture is a view of Haghia Sophia in Istanbul. This massive structure was the largest church building until the creation of St. Peter’s in 1626. The interior view of this church is breathe taking and is a wonderful experience to say the least. Plenty of original paintings of religious figures are displayed throughout. Haghia Sophia is presently a museum that is open to the public.
As you may know, Turkey is bordered by eight different countries. It shares a border with: Georgia, Bulgaria, Greece, Armenia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq and Syria. Being surrounded by so many cultural differences you can imagine that Turkey would have a very colorful culture with many influences. Remember that the land was being occupied by early nomads and later was known as the Byzantium and Constantinople empires respectively, on the land which is now Istanbul. These empires were very progressive in their times.
Istanbul is the most popular and biggest tourist attraction in Turkey but, I advise you to please go where you like. There are plenty of beautiful places to visit in this country and some people may prefer a spot that is less of a tourist attraction. If you want the feel of what it is really like to live in Turkey and experience the natives daily lives, they may go for the least popular city or one that is lesser known by the majority of people but still very rich in culture and wonderful to visit.
April 10, 2007 1 Comment
Getting to Know Venice, Italy
Have you ever heard about the “City of Water”? Well, you will find this city in Italy, called Venice. Venice is completely unique being that it is built on many small islands and surrounded by water. You will not find another place like this anywhere. That is why Venice is one of the most popular cities in the world.
Venice is a great place to vacation and I am sure that everyone has dreamed about visiting at one point because it is so extraordinary. The city was built on about 120 different islands and there are canals, bridges and ancient pavements all throughout the city. A solid foundation is holding all the buildings in place with wooden posts that are driven into the ground. These piles are very strong and do not decay because the soil is waterlogged and does not have any oxygen, the absence of oxygen preserves the wood.
Boats are the main means of transportation and the canals take the function of roads. They have boats moving around the city just like other cities such as New York or Chicago will have cars and other means of transportation to get around. Motorized water buses make their routine routes around the canals such as a subway would do. Because of the unusual circumstances, you will basically be getting around on foot or water.
The best time to visit is in the spring time. The winter time can get extremely cold and unpleasant but the scenery can be amazing. In the summer the heat can get rather excessive. The choice is certainly yours but I think that you would be better off in the spring because the heat is not too scorching and will be most comfortable.
You might want to make your visit soon if you have never done so yet. The reason I say this is because the city is actually believed to be sinking. Some tests suggest that the city is no longer sinking but they are not quite certain yet. More studies will have to be conducted and plans of saving the city are in progress right now.
April 6, 2007 No Comments
African Wildlife Splendors
Africa is known for it’s vast amount of open land and wildlife. People who are looking to experience the thrill of watching wild animals such as lions, monkeys, hippos and many many more will surely want to go to Africa. I love wildlife and I think it is fascinating seeing these animals roam around and interact with each other. There is such a large variety of animals in Africa because there is so much open land for them to survive.
Instead of always watching the wildlife shows on the Discovery Channel, plan a trip to Africa so you can learn about the animals first hand. I am not putting down the great shows they have on the Discovery Channel because I watch them myself. I am just trying to let you know how exciting it can be to make a trip out of this when you have some free time.
If you plan a safari you are really looking for an adventure of a lifetime. You can take the whole family on a safari and learn all about your favorite animals. But, that is not all that you will do. You may be taken to a remote area and hike into a volcano’s crater and camp out in the desert with a small group.
There are many different packages that you can do for a safari. You can go on private or group adventures each giving you a different scenario. Some of these safaris can last a couple of weeks while you are roughing it out in the wild and some may be very luxurious, creating a blend of wildlife participation while accommodating you with reserves. My point is it is up to you what type of trip you want to take and there are plenty of variations that are offered.
April 6, 2007 No Comments
India Travel Information
I think everyone wants to see the Taj Mahal in person. It is such an exquisite building with many intricate inscriptions on the walls. The architecture combines the styles of Perian, Turkish, Indian and Islamic designers. So if you want to go see this mausoleum then get yourself to Agra, India and enjoy all of the beautiful things it has to offer.
When visiting India you may want to decide on which kind of weather you would like to visit in. Keep in mind that the northern and southern parts of India have very different climatic patterns. India basically has three seasons: the cool, the hot, and the wet. The wet weather is the monsoon weather and would probably be the worst time to visit. The best time to visit is when it is cool because it would be more comfortable.
India has many great festivals throughout the year. In Delhi they have the Republic Day Festival which occurs in January on the 26th. This is a national event because the Constitution of India came into force and they began experiencing a Republic. The mood is very patriotic and there is certainly a diversified unity throughout the whole country.
Here is a list of festivals that you can look up and research in case you want to visit on one of these events: Indian Festivals
You will need a passport and visa to enter and exit the country at any time. Make sure you make arrangements to get all the necessary requirements for the trip and be sure to get them prior to leaving. You can get your visas from an Indian Embassy or Consulate. Tend to your personal belongings while riding on different means of transportation because petty theft is common, you don’t want to lose your passport!
Taking these rules into consideration you should be much better off. India is a land known to be unpredictable, you never know what you will see. Be sure to have a great time and I am sure you will because There are so many beautiful things to see and places to go.
April 4, 2007 No Comments
XBOX 360 Water Balloon Challenge
Xbox 360 celebrated the launching of the new generation console in Australia on Coogee Beach. Not only was this a record breaking launch but they also raised money for a local lifesaving group. If you were lucky enough to be in Australia at the time, you would have been able to go to this joyous occasion.
There were a total of 2,849 participants that showed up for the event to throw water balloons in dedication to the new console. These participants were gamers from all across the world who are so loyal to their gaming that they showed up for support. These must really be die hard fans!
Since their have been approximately 55,000 units sold in the country since March 23, 2006 (day of the release), that is exactly how many balloons that they launched and managed to break a record. The last record was held by Spain in 2005 when 50,855 balloons were launched by 2,677 people. I think that they have set a high bar to beat now.
Australian’s love the beach and it is a big part of most of their lives. That is why five dollars from everyone’s registration fee went to the Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club. “It was a great chance for everyone to jump in and remember the joy and fulfillment that comes from playing games of any kind,” said David McLean, who is the regional director of Xbox Australia and New Zealand.
This shows how people celebrating and having a good time can also come together and donate a generous amount of money to a good cause. Don’t forget they also broke a world record, that seems like a pretty productive time to me.
April 4, 2007 No Comments
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