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Central Asia Travel Destinations: Uzbekistan

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:03:11 +0000

Uzbekistan lies at the heart of the Great Silk Road. For centuries, oases of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva brought respite to the caravans as they made their way across the desert. A tour through this country immerses you in the essence of the progress of civilization as it moved west.

Today, Uzbekistan preserves this heritage while striving to bring its largely rural, historically nomadic populations better lives in a post-Soviet world. Slightly larger in area than California and with a population of 26 million, Uzbekistan contains more than half of Central Asia’s people.

Known as the ‘sunny republic,’ Uzbekistan is arid with annual rainfall between only 4 and 8 inches. But its heavily irrigated river valleys make it the second largest cotton exporter in the world. It also contains important mineral resources and is a world leader in gold production.

Historically, Uzbekistan is exceedingly rich, making it a truly great tourist destination. More than 4,000 historic sites dot the country, and thus its stature as the pearl of the ancient Silk Road. Civilization was already ancient here when Alexander the Great conquered the region in the 4th Century BC. Up until the discovery of ocean routes to India and China, Uzbekistan lay at the crossroads of communication between East and West and was the center of trade and exchange of ideas.

The conqueror Tamerlane (1336-1405) was born near present day Shahrisabz and created an empire that extended throughout Central Asia to Turkey and south to the Ganges. Tamerlane was also a patron of the arts and transformed Samarkand into a magnificent capital for his empire. Importing artisans from conquered territories, He and later rulers commissioned majestic buildings many of which still stand.

Central among them is the Registan, which was the heart of the city. Madrasahs or Muslim religious academies face three sides of the square, giving, one built by Tamerlane’s grandson who also built an observatory which he used to advance the science of astronomy during his reign.

Another legendary city is Bukhara, lying to the west. Another oases for Silk Road caravans, Bukhara became one of the great learning centers in the Muslim world and spawned the mystical Sufi sect of Islam. The city today still contains 350 mosques and supports more than 100 religious academies. With narrow streets, many parks and gardens, numerous historical sites and lively bazaars, a visit to this ancient city will satisfy a diverse range of interests. Travel here and you are sure to find something that resonates with your spirit.

Further west still, you come to a museum under the blue sky, Khiva. A city reputed to have been founded by Shem, one of the Biblical Noah’s sons, Khiva has preserved its ancient past and been turned into a living record of its days as a key center of trade along the Silk Road. The historic center of the city contains spectacular examples of Islamic architecture. Palaces, minarets and mausoleums from centuries ago have been preserved and refurbished making Khiva a lens through which you can gaze into history.

Asia Travel Guide

admin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 22:02:48 +0000

While Europe will always be a popular tourist destination as well as the beaches of Hawaii and Australia, why not try out Asia travel the next time you plan a vacation?

Take for example, the country of China, which has always been one of the places that easily come to mind when you think of Asia travel. Must-sees while you’re in China are the Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Great Wall of China, Tiannamen Square, however, these are all just from the Northern part of China, there’s still so much to see in the other parts of this huge country, like the futuristic city of Shanghai and the cuddly pandas that abound in the city of Cheng and the wholesale markets in Guangdong where a lot of the fashion accessories that you see in malls may have come from. Visiting China may be fairly cheap – but it does depend on which city you go to, small cities like Dongguan may have a low cost of living as opposed to the bustling city of Shanghai, which is very similar to the very cosmopolitan city of Hong Kong.

Of course, engaging in some Asia travel practically requires you to immerse yourself with the local culture. One great example is China’s local food culture, which is definitely a lot different from what people are used to in Chinese restaurants abroad. Some people say that enjoying Chinese cuisine is an acquired taste, especially when it comes to the street food. Expect to see all sorts of animal parts and insects, cut up into little pieces and skewered on sticks – as snacks. Unique treats like fermented tofu and mung bean soup are also something for the more adventurous.

But what about other countries to explore for Asia Travel? Well, if you are the beach bunny type then you might want to check out the lovely beaches of Bali in Indonesia or the relaxing waters of Phuket in Thailand. Both are very budget-friendly Asia travel destinations by the way, from the accommodations down to the food, you will surely get more bang for your buck at these places.

For city slickers however, there is the lovely city of Singapore which is just beside the equally charming Malaysia where tourists can find the city of Kuala Lumpur. It is interesting to note that as neighbors, there are a lot of similarities between these two countries like the huge ferris wheel. As for hotels though, expect Singapore to offer higher rates – even for backpacker hostels. In order to make the most of the great shopping opportunities in both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, schedule your trip starting from May to August wherein there are myriad of shopping sales available.

Of course, there are definitely a lot more places to explore while you are in Asia, like the tropical country of the Philippines and the ever-vibrant city of Tokyo in Japan, among others. While Asia is a continent which is fairly safe to travel to, do keep in mind that you should always be aware of your surroundings and take caution in whatever you do. Do not keep your money in just one place, make sure that you keep your passport in a secure place, and don’t just trust strangers – especially the ones who are very eager to take you someplace. Don’t forget to bring your credit card in case of emergencies, an updated guide book and map, as well as list of the local emergency numbers – just in case.

Melbourne : Tourists’ Heaven in Australia

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:21:25 +0000

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia after Sydney, is the capital of the state of Victoria. The city has many famous Victorian architecture and museums, theaters, parks, gardens, and some other plave to visit. Its population of 3.5 million inhabitants is strongly multicultural (populous Greek, Italian, Jewish, Vietnamese, etc). They are also avid sports Melbourne hosts the annual Grand Prix Formula One in Australia and the Australian Open Tennis.

After several time went to that beautiful place, I listed some of “must-see” travel spots in Melbourne. You should try my recommendation if you ever visit that place sometime .

Here are the list of things that you must see or do in Melbourne :

Royal Melbourne Zoo – One of the oldest zoo in the world, founded in 1861. Admission is $ 23 (adult). It is a very nice zoo. Very few cages but open spaces (one crosses the park kangaroos and a huge sailer). You can meet the responsible stewards of animals and talk with them. The animals in the outback are well represented: kangaroos, wallabies, emeux, koalas, wombats, etc. Platypus. To get there: Take tram number 55 on William Street to stop “Royal Park”.
Melbourne Aquarium – near the Yarra, in the center, an aquarium with glass tunnel. Manta rays, sharks, tropical fish. Pleasant visit. The adult entry is $ 25.
Royal Botanic Gardens – Everyone agrees that the Botanic Gardens are a haven of peace in the city. Beautiful gardens, very pleasant.
St Kilda – Melbourne Beach! Very nice for cruising. Trams 96 or 109 from downtown.
Wine tours in the Yarra Valley.
The Penguin Parade to Phillip Iceland.
The Hanging Rock (known from the film “Picnic at Hanging Rock” from the seventies).
Healesville Sanctuary with Australian wildlife.
Queen Victoria Market – Very lively, north of the city, good food and many memories … Ideal for gifts! Go there on Sunday before closing for the best prices on fresh produce. In summer, the walk also takes place at night, many deco booths, souvenirs, etc.. and food has tasted on the spot.
Rialto Towers observation deck - the 56th floor of a tower, an observation deck can see Melbourne as a whole. Very nice sunset.

Melbourne has a very lively restaurants and offers a wide variety of styles. The newspaper “The Age” published a restaurant guide and there are usually a few leaders to keep track of the vast diversity. It should be noted that in most places, such as demand St. Kilda in good restaurants on Sundays or public holidays a surcharge on the regular menu price will be charged.

How about the accomodation while you travel there? Easy. Melbourne Accommodation can be choose to help you find the best but cheap accommodations, including hotel/apartments, transport, even clear information about everything in Melbourne.

Argghhhh…. I really love this place. I plan to go back there again sometimes.

Caballo City : Natural Tourism in Peru

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:45:14 +0000

Caballo is a city surrounded by a huge jungle landscape, part of the Province of Ramón Castilla in the Loreto region, Peru, is located at 311 km from the city of Iquitos, on the right bank of the Amazon River in the gorge of Caballococha , close to the trapeze Amazon to get it 2 days we travel by boat or air access from Iquitos. Both the city and across the province play an important role in communicating border with neighboring countries such as Brazil and Colombia.

The city has the basic facilities to serve tourists visiting the place. The area has high biodiversity (ecosystems, species and genetic material of great importance), natural beauty and an indigenous population comprising different ethnic groups that make up one of the attractions of great interest to foreign and domestic tourists, tourism in the area has been increasing each year, which has determined that the use of resources is orderly and responsible to lead to an acceptable conservation of these resources, you should also mention that the authorities committed to the sector have been forced to provide better quality tour packages, giving priority to ecological tourism, promoting the conservation of areas important to exploit its resources.

The city’s cuisine is based on the variety of fish, forest and wild animals and insects in their area, which are prepared with a variety of dishes, among which will name the Inchicapi, the John, sarapatera,Tacacho, timbuche, the patarashca, the jerky, the girl juane, among other delicacies typical of the forest.

Another places to visit near the city is Lake Cushillococha, located 6 km south of Caballo and near the borders with Colombia and Brazil for only 3 hours drive. In the dry season is accessible on foot from Caballococha, in time of increasing the lake is accessed only by river. This lake is a tributary of the Amazon River, where you can do canoeing, hiking, fishing or swimming. Its waters, relatively dark and up to 8 m deep, are rich in various dolphin species such as gray and red (river dolphin), shad, and yulilla boquichico. Along its banks live Cushillococha native community, an ethnic Ticuna, who are engaged in subsistence agriculture, hunting, gathering and fishing are also skilled craftsmen and manufacture fiber and JICRA chambira hammocks, woven bags species chambira fiber.

Please make eco-tourism and enjoy the scenic beauty of the jungle, Caballococha welcomes you with its charm and simplicity of its people.

Tanti, Argentina’s natural beauty

admin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:12:03 +0000

Tanti is a beautiful city located in the heart of Cordoba in Argentina, surrounded by green hills, where rivers and waterfalls invite tourists crystalline nature lover and sports to enjoy the beauty of the region.

Tanti is the starting point to enter the Punilla Valley, recognized by the kindness of its climate, its cultural heritage and a complete tourist infrastructure coupled with wonderful scenery make it an unforgettable destination for spending a delightful vacation.

Nestled in a beautiful valley, the town of Tanti has great natural resources as the communities of Estancia and Villa Santa Cruz Vieja Lake, gateway to the North Valley route in which cities and towns are filled with history, beauty and tradition .

Tanti offers a range of possibilities that will make the stay of tourists a trip to remember forever, enjoy the scenery adorned the tops of the hills, ravines and valleys that lend themselves to ecotourism, adventure and also to enjoy their spas.

You can go trekking, mountaineering and photography of scenic beauty that offers us the Punilla Valley. Attractions such as the Grotto of Our Lady, the beautiful waterfall of Los Chorrillos, exotic Fern Cave, the Museum of Rocks and Minerals & Wilkins Castle, await visitors.

Tanti is located 50 kilometers from the city of Cordoba in the west of the Punilla Valley, since it is possible to access very easily to the Pampa of Anchal who is a vast plain on the elevated height of the big hills.

Tanti has a pleasant climate, the summers are hot and humid, and cold winters and dry. Tanti expected his visit to offer the best of their nature and friendly people.

Gramado, Brazil European corner

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:47:41 +0000

Gramado is a bucolic place located 126 kilometers from Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul and is the third most visited tourist destination in Brazil, is a place of exuberant nature.

Gramado is located in is called the “gaucho hill” and is known as the “Switzerland of Brazil”, the charm of its natural beauty attracts many tourists to this beautiful place, where the landscape is dominated by mountains, valleys adorned pine forests and crystal clear streams.

Gramado is part of the tourist corridor in the region of Hydrangeas flower found anywhere and is the flower symbol of the city, this is characterized by the order and beauty of the city that residents are determined to maintain the Tourists travel to this city in order to enjoy the tranquility of the place.

The city of Gramado was founded by German and Italian immigrants, so its residents are white skin and blue eyes, they’re very attached to their ancestral traditions as seen in their customs and are very religious people.

The appearance of the city reminds us somewhere in Europe for its architecture and thoughtful landscaping, the city’s climate is pleasant in the evening forced to take shelter.

Gramado has the largest tourist infrastructure of Brazil, has two fair centers, large hotel capacity and a large network of restaurants where you can enjoy the extraordinary cuisine of the city.

The main attraction is the city itself that stands in harmony with the nature of the place, Black Lake, an artificial lake whose shores were reforested with trees of the same German Black Forest, pine trees and hydrangeas decorating the place.

Quilombo Valley populated with native Araucaria forest is the place for which you can make guided tours, do trekking or camping, Knorr park where the theme park “Santa’s Village”, the Mini World Playground made from replicas miniature of famous buildings in Germany, with its castles and amazing stories.

The park where the snail is seen in all its majesty the cascade of the same name, is also the antique car show is one of the most visited tourist attractions, travelers arriving at Gramado is entranced by the amount of hydrangeas that grow everywhere and the cleaning of the city that its residents care very carefully.

If you appreciate food, Gramado has many restaurants offering typical food of Brazil and Germany and Italy, the city is also famous for the delicious chocolates that are made there also are popular festivals such as the Winter Festival, Brazilian film festival and the Feast of the colony.

If you friend traveler seeking a quiet place to spend your vacation, Gramado is the Brazilian city of choice.