Author: Lavinia Woolf

Incredible Things to Do in Ao Nang, Krabi – A Splendid Holiday

From discovering islands of mesmerising beauty and hiking through verdant rain forests to exploring exquisite temples, there’s a lot you can do while in Krabi.

Relax at the Beach

After experiencing the constant hustle of Bangkok, Ao Nang is an ideal place to chill and relax. It is blessed with the most incredible beaches making it quite popular among beach bums. This is something you simply must do while holidaying at a hotel Ao Nang Krabi has to offer such as Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort.

Explore Hong Island

A spectacular island that you simply mustn’t miss during your trip to Ao Nang, Hong Island is located in the Than Bok Khorani National Park. The striking turquoise lagoon is the main highlight of this island besides the soft-powdery beaches that are fringed by coconut trees.

Caitriana Nicholson from 北京 ~ Beijing, 中国 ~ China, Hong Island tour (4442329613), CC BY-SA 2.0

Visit the Emerald Pool

Spend a day at the Emerald Pool to experience a different slice of nature. This is a favourite spot for hikers and wildlife enthusiasts. The water is surprisingly warm, which makes it ideal for a great swim.

Treat Your Taste Buds

Ao Nang night market is the best place to relish mouthwatering Thai food. One may come across a variety of vendors selling a range of delectable food including mango sticky rice, pad thai, and more.

Super Fun Activities to Do at Night in Melbourne – Enjoying the Nightlife

Melbourne is among the best cities to explore after dark as the city comes alive with its nightlife. So, if you’re in the mood for some merriment, here’s a look at some of the most fun and exciting activities you can try here at night.

JacsWiki, Old (Former) Castlemaine Gaol, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Eureka Skydeck

You can start your night out by enjoying an amazing view of the cityscape by visiting the Eureka Skydeck. If you’re up for it, you can also climb onto a glass cube that will net you n unobstructed 360-degree view of Melbourne at night.

Catch a Show

If you’re staying at one of the hotels Southbank has to offer – for instance, the WRAP on Southbank – you should definitely consider going to see one of the many shows in the city. These range from musical operas at Her Majesty’s Theatre to blockbusters at the Regent.

Go on a Ghost Tour

One of the spookier things you can do here at night is to take a ghost tour at the Old Melbourne Gaol. Built in the 1800s, this building once held some of the country’s most dangerous and notorious criminals.

Visit the Night Market

Of course, there are plenty of great shopping opportunities to take advantage of here in Melbourne and the Queen Victoria Night Markets are among the best. Here you can shop for everything – from new clothes and threads to fresh produce and souvenirs.

Best Mountains to Explore near Sydney – Get rewarded with peace of mind

Appreciate the great outdoors while you are in Sydney. You get the perfect chance to get closer to nature through this activity, and you can gain some self-satisfaction too!

Blue Mountains National Park (Mount Banks)

Mount Banks is surely for those who are interested in the beautiful views. Enjoy heavenly views of the Grose Valley while you are at the top.

Barrington Tops National Park (Careys Peak)

This is a World Heritage Site and known for the best that the Barrington Tops National Park has. This is one of the best ways to enjoy the Australian wilderness.

Linda Muldoon, Barrington Tops National Park, Honeysuckle Walk, CC BY-SA 4.0

Wolgan Valley (Donkey Mountain)

Reaching this summit will surely delight the adventurers out there! Expect to meet pagodas, canyons, caves, and rock orchids while you take your journey.

Burning Mountain

This is also known as Mount Wingen. 30 m beneath the mountain, there has been a fire for over 5500 years, and yes… now you see why it’s given the title ‘Burning Mountain’

Holidaying in Sydney

While you are enjoying all the beautiful harbour views from any Sydney Darling Harbour hotel the likes of Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites, just decide to enjoy a hike or a stroll over these beautiful places.

Unleash Your True Explorer in Glenelg, South Australia – Adventuring Under the Hot Aussie Sun

Glenelg is one of the best places you can visit in South Australia, especially if you’re intent on doing some exploring and sightseeing. So, here’s a look at some of the best landmarks and sites you can visit during your time here.

User A1 at English Wikipedia, OldGumTreeGlenelg2, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

The Glenelg Visitor Centre

The first stop you’ll want to make on your Glenelg tour is the Visitor Centre. As the name implies, this is a great place to get all the info you need about the region and read up on all the best places to visit and tour. If you’re staying at a centrally-located Glenelg holiday accommodation – for instance, the Oaks Glenelg Liberty Suites – it’s just a quick walk away too!

The Glenelg Art Gallery

If you have an eye for art, you should definitely visit the Glenelg Art Gallery. Here you can view the works of various local artists that range from stunning landscape paintings to abstract portraits.

The Jetty

The Jetty is one of the most iconic landmarks in Glenelg, which means it’s an absolute must-visit if you’re touring the region. Rebuilt in 1969, this is a great place to relax, grab yourself a drink and wait for the oceanic sunset.

The Proclamation Trail

This is a tour you should sign up for if you want to see most of Glenelg’s highlights in one go. You can cycle along to landmarks like the First Landing – where European settlers first discovered Glenelg – and the Old Gum Tree.

Explore Water Sports at Pasikudah and Kalkudah

Pasikudah and Kalkudah beaches in Sri Lanka are not just for those who wish to sit back and relax! They are also ideal for those who love going on adventures and collecting colourful memories.

Diving

Open your eyes to something very exciting! Explore the underwater world and enjoy how the marine life exists in their natural habitats in the Indian Ocean.

Jet skiing

Jet skiing is for those who love the thrill of speeding! You may try this experience with an instructor in front if you don’t feel confident enough to ride it on your own.

Windsurfing

Let the waves and the winds offer you an amazing experience. Learn to balance your body on a surfboard and master an exciting adventure.

Banana Boat Rides

During your family getaway spent at resorts like Amethyst Resort Passikudah, here’s something that you can try out with all your family members. It will be a delightful bouncy ride on a banana-shaped boat, and even the kids will enjoy it.

Kayaking

Any of the 3-star hotels in Sri Lanka located here would recommend you a kayak ride if you inquire about a good relaxing water sport. Gliding through the water alone or with your loved one peacefully is surely a refreshing experience.

 

 

 

Unforgettable Whale Watching in Africa

An experience you are bound to cherish for a lifetime, the sight of humpback whales swimming wild and free in the ocean is not to be missed on a visit to Mozambique in Africa.

Key Destinations

The Quirimbas and Bazaruto archipelagos are amongst the best places to visit in Mozambique for those looking to enjoy this activity. You will find accommodation at islands here and some properties including those belonging to brands such as Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas even offer whale watching excursions which add to the convenience factor.

Image Credit: Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas

Best Time to Go

When it comes to whale watching in Mozambique, the best time to plan your holiday would between July / August and October. It is during these months that humpback whales make their way to warmer tropical waters from the Arctic.

What to Spot

Depending on the day and some luck, it is not unheard of to spot up to 30 whales! These marine mammals which can grow to lengths of around 60 feet, migrate to these waters to mate and subsequently give birth to young; one may spot them arching over the water, expelling air via their blowholes or leisurely swimming in protected waters.

Other Species

It is not just whales one can observe when here, but bottlenose dolphins, endangered dugongs and from April to July, whale sharks too. The waters are ideal for snorkelling and diving to spot diverse marine species including giant manta rays, while from October to April you can witness turtles visiting the islands to nest as well.

Mozambique Wildlife Safari

Mozambique isn’t the typical urban country where high-rise buildings are all you see. The country and its people are very much in tune with nature ad attempt to protect their wildlife. This is exactly what makes a safari here so exciting.

The abundance of wildlife

The Limpopo National Park in Mozambique is one of the most impressive parks which has been merged with South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Now wildlife in the two regions roams free. A safari here is one of the top things to do in Mozambique.

Gorongosa National Park

This was the regions most abundant national park in the 1960s. But once the civil war began, animals were poached for ivory and meat. Now projects have begun to bring the park back to its former brilliance and visitors get to see it all.

Judy Gallagher, African Lion – Panthera leo, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique (45650835935), CC BY 2.0

Moving to water

When it comes to wildlife, Mozambique is also blessed with rich marine life. There are many diving and snorkelling opportunities available to witness it all.

Tours and places to stay

Now that the country has recovered from the civil war, there are many hotels belonging to large chains like Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas that have decided to set up here. They may even organize your tours.

How COVID – 19 will change the travel industry?

COVID 19 both as a life-threatening disease and as a fast-spreading pandemic has caused so much of damage to the world – it has resulted in the death of many individuals as well as it had made a huge impact in the economies of almost all the countries around the globe. Read on to know how it would affect the travel industry in particular in the coming months and even years.

Overview

The COVID 19 Panedmic has indeed taken the world by a dark and ominous storm. It has claimed the lives of over 0.9 million people by the time of this writing and it has crippled the economies of a great many nations. Numerous industries have been highly affected as imports and exports have come to a complete standstill. Among the many industries, travel and tourism is the one which has been hit the hardest and countries which GDPs greatly rely on tourism are struggling to surface back to where they were financially before the calamity.

Personal Hygiene

As we are now moving towards embracing the ways of new normal – learning to live amidst the spread of the pandemic, numerous precautionary measures and safety practices are being implemented and adapted into the daily routines of people around the globe. Hygiene practices such as washing hands occasionally, wearing a mask all the time when you are out in public places, maintaining a distance of at least a meter from others, are being followed by many and they are already being instilled on to people’s daily routines.

Laws and regulation

Travel laws and regulations are being changed drastically to ensure safety and to curb the spread of the virus. Many countries now request a COVID 19 report during the visa approval process and tourist destinations around the globe have decided to not offer visas on arrival. Some nations have also gone to the extent of enforcing hygiene practices for if a person fails to follow them would be fined or face other types of penalties and punishments.

The future

The scene of the future of travel, although seems a bit bleak during this time, there are occasional glimmers of victory in the news media of nations succeeding in the battle against the pandemic. Some countries have already opened their gates for tourists and numerous resort establishments are already preparing to receive guests with upgraded health and safety practices. For example, Oman Resort properties the likes of Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort now use enhanced cleaning technology and have digitalized most of its operations so that you won’t have to interact with others directly. There is now a lot of hope that things would return to normal very soon.

Dambulla in One Day

Located close to many Sigiriya hotels the likes of Aliya Resort& Spa, Dambulla is a significant city of the Central Province in Sri Lanka. Due to its central location, Dambulla is also used as a major vegetable distribution point in the country.

Visit Dambulla Cave Temple – Morning

Dambulla Cave Temple or the Golden Temple of Dambulla is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka. It is one of the mostextensive and best-preserved cave complexes of the country.

Explore Ibbankatuwa Prehistoric Burial Site – Afternoon

Within a three-kilometre radius of the Dambulla Cave Temple lies an ancient burial site of the country called the Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Tombs. Many ancient tools and goods along with cremated remains have been found during excavations.

Hike the Rose Quartz Mountain Range – Evening

Not many know that there is a Rose Quartz Mountain Range in Sri Lanka, which is the largest of its kind in Asia. At the very top of this mountain, one may come across a gleaming white statue of Lord Buddha. The legends say that Emperor Shah Jahan used rose quartz from this place to build his masterpiece, the iconic Taj Mahal.

Relax in NamalUyana – Late Evening

Spread over 260 acres of land is a forest of Ironwood trees in Dambulla. It also houses the Rose Quartz Mountain Range and contributes to an ecosystem of various birds and mammals.

 

 

The Whistler Essential Guide to Ski

If you are someone who enjoyed the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, then you will just love to have a ski vacation in Whistler for so many reasons. This guide will help you realize your dream.

Where to spend your ski vacation?

Choosing any of the Whistler ski resort establishments is what you need to do to have a great vacation. Many resort options the likes of Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre are available for your consideration.

Image Credit: Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre

The ski area

The ski area linked by two mountains Whistler and Blackcomb covers a huge area of 8171 acres. This area has a lift-served vertical drop of 1,610 m and that serves 37 lifts.

Plan your day

Start your day from the Whistler Mountain because it’s generally sunnier in the morning there. Enjoy the Blackcomb peak in the afternoon and this is what that most of the visitors do.

Getting to know the ski area

If you are a beginner, note that the Whistler Mountain is very beginner-friendly. There is a learning area in which you can undertake confidence-boosting green runs and some lifts as well.