Travel Clever » Attractions

The Eden Project in Cornwall

b-travel — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:01:03 +0000

The Eden Project in Cornwall is the largest greenhouse in the world as it spans to more than 15 hectares. The greenhouse was first opened to the public in 2000 but it was only the next year visitors were given full access to the site.

The greenhouse is not only known because of its size. It is established with very interesting design as the plants are housed in a transparent “biodome.” The group behind the Eden Project continues to collect plants from various countries and places them inside the greenhouse. The domes have different setting as they simulate the plant’s ideal environment. Many plants that can live with the natural environmental settings in Cornwall are planted outside.
But the plants inside and outside the domes are not the only attractions in the Eden Project. The Eden Project features a very impressive landscape design.

In various locations, animal structures made from plants and trees are also found. There are also activities for adults and kids that help understanding the importance of nature while having fun. More often the famous greenhouse sponsors events such as music festivals, marathons and workshops.
The best way to enjoy the Eden Project is by booking a package which consists of hotel or holiday cottages and spend a few days in the area, allowing enough time to explore the area.

Time traveller in Likya

b-travel — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:10:36 +0000

Lycia (or Likya) refers to an ancient territory in south west of Turkey, the name Lycia is still popular and would refer to the two popular provinces: Antalya and Muğla. The historical significance of Likya has made these provinces a tourist attraction not only for its natural beauty but also for its history.

The remaining structures that tell of the past of Likya are the stone tombs. These tombs are carved in the mountains, a detail which helped in their preservation. The artifacts that were found in the region are now in displayed in the British Museum.

The two provinces in Lycia are well known in Turkey for tourism. Antalya is regarded as the main tourist destination in the country. The natural beauty of the city coupled with historical structures built during the Middle Ages has attracted tourists since the 70s. Structures from the Hellenistic, Byzantine and early Ottoman still exists in the province. The natural beauty of Antalya is not just on their beach but also for their forests and waterfalls. Muğla may not be as popular compared to Antalya but it’s still a tourist destination because of its beaches. The white structures of Muğla are also a testament of the province’s dedication to the marble industry. For the gourmet traveller, Likya has a delicious attraction in store: the Likya wine is one of the first wines that were produced in the world.

The ancient region of Lycia is not just another piece of history for everyone to learn. It is home to some of the most remarkable attractions in Europe. The provinces of Muğla and Antalya will always provide an experience that can’t be easily forgotten.

Abandoned attractions in the USA

b-travel — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:00:18 +0000

Abandoned places often provide that mysterious atmosphere to their visitors. Still they offer something unique to tourists – a chance to take a look at the structure and even equipments when the place is still in operation. There will always be an abandoned place in any country worthy to be visited and America not exempted to that rule.
But what makes some abandoned places in America interesting their historical value and structural beauty. Visiting these places is also free because they are practically standing structure ignored by authorities.

The following are highly recommended places to visit in USA:
Office of Sun Microsystems (Palo Alto, CA) – Sun Microsystems is still one of the biggest internet-related companies in the world. But it has experienced some drastic changes during the dot-com bubble. The result is abandoned office spaces that still hold some supplies. Some of the lights are even working in some of their abandoned offices.

Monastery (Staten Island, NY) – Although it’s a private lot owned by a community college, the area was closed for decades without any development. The church still stands although not used. Part of the area is a school complex with a lot of graffiti.

Cemetery (Rochester, New York) – Abandoned? Yes. Destroyed? No. The Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester has a historical value to the country. It’s the first municipal cemetery since it was opened early 1800s. But the area was eventually abandoned even though well-known people are buried here. It’s a bit mysterious for some trekkers but it’s still beautiful because the structures still stand to this day.

Top Castles in the World You Should See

travel clever — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:00:33 +0000

Kasbah du Toubkal
Located in the highest peak in North Africa, this Moroccan castle is currently a private resort that offers elegance in the midst of vast wilderness. Accessible only by animal transport, the area is visited by tourists because of its remoteness with 5-star accommodation.

Burg Gutenfels
Located in the southwestern end of Germany, this magnificent castle overlooks the river Rhine in the edge of the cliff. The caste is not restored but well-kept which means tourists will see and stay in castle with its decorations intact. It’s a bit rusty, but the authenticity is unmistakable.

Chateau St. Philippe
Found in the Alps, the original structure was built in 1000s but it has undergone various changes until 1800s. It’s well known in the area because of its classic French castle atmosphere. The surroundings only confirms the beauty of the castle because of the French market. Shops that feature different type of cheese are also near the castle.

Xara Palace Hotel
Mdina is a well known fortified city in a beautiful island in Malta. Found in the remote area in the city is this beautiful palace hotel that provides a remarkable view of the area. It’s a favorite destination of European tourists who wanted to be secluded but would have world class services.

Ambley Castle
This castle used to be called home by Queen Elizabeth. It’s also one of the oldest hotel castles as it was built more than 1,000 years ago. Aside from the beautiful hotel, the palace is surrounded by a massive wall used to protect the palace from invasion.

Visiting Naples: tips and warnings

travel clever — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:33:26 +0000

Because Naples is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, visitors should not be put off by the city’s bad reputation for its crime level. Unfortunately, street crime is a reality in Naples which often concerns tourists and foreigners. This does not mean that it is a place to avoid, however tourists should become aware of the risks. So here is some advice for people planning a stop in Naples throughout their Italian holidays.

First of all, it is a good idea to study the city map before starting to wander around in order to identify where one should be more cautious. This is especially the case for places such as Piazza Garibaldi, the central square in front of the train station, where tourists are often accosted by illegal taxi drivers or other persuasive offers which is better to refuse right away.

Also, you will see that the town centre is structured in main streets surrounded by a dense network of small and narrow streets. The areas known as “Spanish Quarter” are especially known for theft and pick pocketing. Visitors should be careful in entering these neighbourhoods alone not display valuable objects such as cameras, mobile phones and watches. Be particularly careful as well in carrying bags with shoulder straps as snatchers are expert in ripping these off. A safe trick to carry around money and important documents is wearing a money belt.

Another daunting aspect tourists will immediately discover is the traffic in Naples. Car and scooter drivers are totally undisciplined and even experienced drivers will struggle a lot. On the other hand, the transport network and tourist circuits are overall good which is why the safest choice is probably that of going on a double decker bus of “City Sightseeing Italia” tour, which will take you around the most beautiful works of art and spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples.

Northern Lights in Iceland

b-travel — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:15:07 +0000

Experience the most breathtaking “show” that Iceland is proud of – the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. It’s a natural phenomenon of lights that we should all experience and see first-hand at least once in our lifetime.

Aurora Borealis is a result of the thin air being electrically charged so it shines and make different colors of the spectrum. Aurora Borealis can only be seen from the North and South Pole. When you plan to visit Iceland for the show of lights, plan your vacation within the months of September to April to get clear visuals of the Northern lights at night. You’ll surely be mesmerised by the great view that not everyone get to see firsthand.

You’ll find different colors in the sky, the usual ones being green or white and sometimes you’ll also find pink, red or yellow.

For the best Northern Lights experience, you can stay in the very popular hotel – Hotel Ranga, well known for being in a perfect spot and many tourists book heir hotel accommodation here weeks before their planned vacation date just to get a spot. It’s really worth a vacation, you’ll surely want to come back to Iceland and experience it all over again.

The attractions of Ovacik

b-travel — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:31:30 +0000

When you travel to Ovacik one thing that you should expect is calmness and tranquility. It’s a great place for your honeymoon but also for family fun. Ovacik is a small village near Hisaronu set on a plateau on the foot of Babadag (paragliders in Europe know this place very well as this is their favourite destination). The area has small hotels and private villas and the place is less crowded compared to Hisaronu. Tourists who want to spend a relaxed evening can choose a cosy restaurant or can walk along the beach.

In Ovacik, you get accommodations from 2 to 3 stars for tourists on a budget. Nonetheless, it’s really the place that you’ll fall in love with and you don’t really need to spend a fortune on your hotel accommodation. Attractions close to Ovacik are: Oludeniz beach (4 km away) or the town of Levissi.

In Ovacik, you would expect Turkish dishes being served in restaurants but you will also get a good alternative of other dishes as well - Chinese and Italian. If you want to save up then go for fast food restaurants. Spend more on what really matters to you and you’ll surely have an unforgettable holiday.

The best diving place in the Philippines

b-travel — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:42:18 +0000

The Philippines have over 7,000 beautiful islands and many local diving spots for divers. In fact, it’s very easy to find a diving location along the beaches of the Philippines and here is just a small compilation of the best diving destinations in the country.

Boracay is a very popular beach resort in the Philippines and it’s well known for its fine white sandy beach and it is also a great place to go diving. You can explore the deep blue sea here through diving at a cheap rate!

Coron Bay is the best place for shipwreck diving. There are more than 12 World War II Japanese wrecks and Coron Bay has become a very popular diving destination around the world! The water has good visibility (up to 80 feet) and it has no currents. Gunter’s Cave is another must-see spot in Coron Bay.

Donsol is great for divers who want to see some whale sharks. You’ll find several whale sharks in Donsol from December to May of every year as they pass by Donsol during their migration. The interaction with the sharks is regulated by the Depratment of Tourism: a limited number of boats may “mob” a shark and up to 40 swimmers can follow a shark on the surface.

Lastly, the Tubbataha reef is one of the best diving spots in South East Asia. Tubbataha is over 95,000 hectares and you’ll find many different marine species here.

Travel to Venice Biennale

b-travel — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:30:15 +0000

The Venice Biennale may not stir up a lot of conversation from regular travellers. But for an art enthusiast, mentioning the event alone could start hours and hours of conversation. The Venice Biennale is not your regular art exhibit in Italy. The event is often dubbed as the “Olympics” of the art world as every major artist around the world participate in the event hoping to win the Golden Lion – the top prize of the event. Venice Biennale happens once in every two years and it is regarded as the oldest art competition in the world.

In particular, the art exhibit is held in a public park of Venice named Giardini. This park features 30 pavilions – all dedicated to the art works from around the world. These pavilions are handled by a curator that controls the art being exhibited in different pavilions. Dance, music and film are also featured in the event. Venice Biennale coincides with the Venice Film Festival that complements the already impressive art works shown in art competition.

The thrust of Venice Biennale is often on the Avan-Garde but they are never confusing and often very stunning. More than 70 countries are represented in the event and each artist, more often than not, expresses their art with a serious influence from their country’s culture.

What’s more impressive in the event is the time frame. Venice Biennale usually starts February and ends in November. Each form of art (painting, music, dance, theater and film) has specific time-frame in order for the form of art could be highlighted. For ten months, Giardini becomes the paradise for artists around the world.

Where to travel if you are a Beatles fan

b-travel — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:28:37 +0000

Even though Beatles has performed their final gig decades ago and John Lennon has been gone for nearly three decades, their music still entertains everyone around the world. Their influence could be noticed in many forms of music as they are credited to be the inspiration for different bands and artists.

If you’re a fan of this great band and love to travel, be sure to visit these places to get closer to the phenomenal band:

Abbey Road, London – featured on the cover of an album with the same name, the street where the band was pictured is often emulated by fans. Although there had been changes on the surroundings, the exact path where the band walked is still there.

Rishikesh, India – visit this magnificent city in India and feel the spiritual influence that helped the band to become a lot more spiritual in their lyrics. Although it’s quite unfortunate that the teacher that influenced the band passed away in 2008, the city is still a great place to learn transcendental meditation.

The Queen Elizabeth Hotel – this hotel became famous when John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed there from May 26 to June 2 in 1969 as an anti-war protest. The room where they stayed (Suite #1742) is now preserved. Most reporters active during those days claim that the couple gave more than 150 interviews daily.

Central Park, New York City – aptly named Strawberry fields, this small area in Central Park was specifically built to honor the late member of the Band, John Lennon. Yoko Ono donated half-million dollars to improve the 2.5-acre memorial.