Category: Miscellaneous Adventures

Deep Water Diving in Kathu

One of the premier destinations for deep water diving, Kathu in Phuket provides an unforgettable adventure beneath the waves. Look to combine diving excursions with health retreats Phuket has to offer, letting you find peace for mind, body and spirit. Thanyapura is one such option and features holistic wellness that combines perfectly with the active lifestyle Asia is known for.

Diving enthusiasts can head to Kathu where one can find colourful coral reefs and vibrant marine life amidst the clear waters of the Andaman Sea. Pa Tong town is an ideal base from which to set off on your diving adventures and lets you truly explore Phuket’s fascinating marine world. Plan a trip to the Similan and Surin National Marine Parks which offer plenty of diving fun, while not to be missed is a chance to head underwater and visit Richelieu Rock. The Koh Racha Islands are also known for dive sites worth exploring. On your excursions you may come across such marine life as blacktip reef sharks, lionfish and fusiliers to name but a few of the species that inhabit these waters.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Google+

Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park, which is in the catchment of the Minneriya reservoir built in the 3rd century CE, is synonymous with the Sri Lanka elephant ever since it was observed that a large number of them congregate here to graze during the dry season. This event has been identified as the largest seasonally recurring wildlife phenomenon in the country. The importance of the area around the Minneriya reservoir to wildlife was recognized as far back as 1938 when it was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary. In 1997 it was upgraded to a Wildlife Park.

Other than the elephants the park is home to a diverse range of wildlife including the Sri Lanka leopard, the Sri Lanka sloth bear, the purple faced langur, the toque macaque, two species of deer and the gray slender loris that are among the 26 species of mammals, both large and small that are found here. The park has also been identified as an important bird area in Sri Lanka with 160 species of birds being spotted around the reservoir. They range from large populations of water birds to migrants and residents and include flocks of pelicans, jungle fowl, cormorants, grey herons, babblers, parrots and bulbuls among others.

Pythons, water monitors and crocodiles are among the 25 species of reptiles that inhabit the park. The park’s other denizen’s include nine species of amphibians, 26 species of fish and 75 species of butterflies.

However the other wildlife pales in comparison to the elephants that can be easily spotted and are in a large group. The ‘Gathering’ as the congregation of elephants here is now called, are elephant herds from Matale, Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa districts that come to graze on the succulent grasses and enjoy the water of the reservoir from mid July till end October. The elephants usually come out of the surrounding jungle in the cool of the evening and it is indeed one of the most amazing sights to see them trickle out until they form into quite a large herd said to number 400 sometimes. This is a rare opportunity to observe them in the wild and in endearing family groups.

Whether it is viewing elephants or any other wild life, the natural beauty of the park is part of the amazing experience at Minneriya National Park.

Stay at Hotel Sigiriya in the shadow of one of Sri Lanka’s famous cultural sites and in the heart of the dry zone, home to many of the country’s wildlife. This prominent hotel in Sigiriya provides guests with spacious, comfortable accommodation and a host of modern facilities and amenities including relaxing Ayurveda spa treatments that make a stay here enjoyable. Stay at such conveniently located hotels Sigiriya to have unforgettable cultural and nature experiences.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Island Hopping Maldives

Maldives is a country with more than thousand coral islands. When holidaying in Maldives, island hopping is one of the exciting activities that you can embark on as it lets you make the most of your journey. It is always great to have a comfortable Maldives island resort to get back to after a tiring day out in Maldives. Kuramathi Island is one of the best options available as it is known for its elegantly designed Maldives villas. If you are planning on an island hopping tour, do not forget that it is one of the best ways to explore the beauty of Maldives during a holiday. Every island of Maldives boasts of a unique atmosphere and you can explore its breathtaking landscapes, lush vegetation and pristine beaches as well as you can visit many resorts scattered across the Indian Ocean by taking up on an island hopping tour. During an island hopping tour, you can also engage in many outdoor sports such as scuba diving, snorkelling and jungle trekking to make it an action-packed day out.

Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry. Google+

Bird’s Nest Stadium

Famed as one of the world’s most iconic sporting arenas ever built, the Bird’s Nest found in Beijing, China played host to the 2008 Summer Olympics. Looking for the perfect Beijing hotel experience? Then a stay at the Grand Millennium Beijing which offers a host of Beijing hotel deals will be your base from where you can explore this engineering masterpiece.

Built in 2003, the stadium was officially unveiled in 2008 to showcase sport’s most popular festival. The stadium gets its name from a grid formation that resembles the interwoven branches of a bird’s nest. Following the Olympics, the stadium was used for a friendly football match between the English Premier League’s Birmingham City and Beijing Guoan in 2010 while the stadium is scheduled to host the 2015 World Athletics Championships.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Google+

Trekking Sri Pada (Adam’s peak)

Explore the spectacular island of Sri Lanka from up above, in an air taxi Sri Lanka has to offer. Cinnamon Air is a renowned Sri lanka air taxi service provider, making your holidays more exciting. Soaring amidst the enchanting landscape of southern Hill Country, Adam’s peak, locally known as Sri Pada, has long been sparking the imagination of many. Rooted in history and shrouded in myths, this majestic mountain is scared site for devotees of various religious faiths. Thousands of pilgrims as well as hikers and trekkers arrive here during the well known six months season. However due to the large crowd arriving here during this period, one way of avoiding this congestion is to visit during the off-season.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Wutong Mountain

Absorb the essence of a riveting holiday amidst the natural beauty of Wutong Mountain. Bordering Luohu and Yantian in Shenzhen, China, Wutong Mountain rises to an impressive 944 metres above sea level and is the highest peak in the area. If you’re in the area, look for serviced accommodation Shenzhen has to offer. Ascott Maillen Shenzhen with its well appointed Shenzhen serviced apartments will prove to be an ideal option of lodging.

Go on a picnic with the family or simply take a trek along any one of the hiking trails that will lead you to this iconic attraction in Shenzhen. Be greeted by lush greenery and enchanting streams that surround the mountain that serves as an important source of the Sham Chun River. When you reach the summit, you can enjoy scintillating views that pan out towards Hong Kong.

 

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Google+

Bird watching in Turks & Caicos

Renowned as one of the Caribbean’s favorite bird gazing holiday hubs, Turks and Caicos truly packs a punch when it comes to the sheer number of winged inhabitants sheltered within its tropical confines. Regarded as a location where birders can observe the stunning creatures that call this wondrous island home in their natural habitat, there is no finer venue for bird watching in all of the British West Indies than the verdant landscapes of this picturesque island.

Salt Cay is the self-proclaimed bird watching heartland of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and is deemed so due to its meager human population and vast reserves full of salt flats and forests of mangroves. These environmental factors make Salt Cay ideal for bird watching activities and nature excursions as the peace and quiet required for the popular pastime are a given in this idyllic corner of the islands. Visitors can spot migrating birds on their way towards the Bahamas as well as native bird life in the salt flats of the Cay. Highlights include the Yellow Throated Warbler, Mangrove Cuckoos, Bahama Mockingbirds, Bahama Woodstars, Blue Grey Gnatcatchers, and the Belted Kingfisher. Mourning Doves, Great Blue Herons, Smooth Billed Anis and Pink Flamingos are also crowd favorites at the venue in addition to White Cheeked Pintails, American Coots, Black Necked Stilts, Western Sandpipers and American Oystercatchers.

Other bird watching locales in Turks and Caicos include the Northwest Point National Park in Providenciales. Blessed with picture-perfect shores and coastline pelicans, varied seaside bird varieties are also commonly found here while other highlight birds occupying the marshes and mangroves surrounding the park’s two saline ponds include Greater Yellowlegs, Ospreys, Sanderlings, Bank Swallows, Tricolored Herons and Reddish Egrets. Roseate spoonbills, West Indian Whistling Ducks and Yellow Crowned Night Herons are also among the species that call this sanctuary home.

West Harbour Bluff’s covered beaches and hilly terrains on the other hand serve as a lush home to White Tailed Tropic Birds, King Fishers, Brown Pelicans, gulls and Yellow Crowned Night Herons while the Frenchman’s Creek and Pigeon Pond Nature Reserve’s mud flats boast Bananaquits, Great Egrets, Antillean Nighthawks, Green Herons and Thick-billed Vireo as well as American Kestrels, Ruddy Turnstones and terns. The 3-mile-long coastline of Frenchman’s Creek National Park is another treasure trove for birders as the area is infested with Willets, Antillean Nighthawks, Reddish Egrets and Yellow Crowned Night Herons.

Travellers in search of the best health and wellness Retreats in Shambhala should look into the COMO Shambhala as an option for all their accommodation needs. Regarded as a premier wellness retreat for holidaymakers and corporate visitors, this stylish rest pulls out all the stops when it comes to a relaxing vacation.

Scuba Diving in Thailand: Enjoy the Mysteries of the Ocean

Thailand has proven to be a popular holiday destination in Asia as tourists eagerly flock to the country enticed by its vast shopping prospects, amazing sightseeing and of course, the idyllic delights of islands such as Phuket. One of the greatest attractions of such islands, one that appear to become more and more popular every year, is scuba diving for the underwater visibility is tantalisingly high around most dive sites in Thailand. As a result, scuba divers are treated to picturesque sightings of corals, an abundance of sea life and even underwater shipwrecks.

While over two hundred thousand tourists visiting Thailand opt to dive, scuba diving is progressing rapidly towards becoming a multi-million dollar industry. With more tourists visiting the country annually, the Thai administration has taken steps to improve facilities and open up better diving sites as well. One of the best locations in and around Thailand for this activity include the well known island of Phuket whose abundance of healthy coral fosters a hospitable environment for a thriving underwater world. For those visiting Phuket, Racha Yai, Ter Bay, Racha Noi and Koh Doc Mai are iconic locations for divers but tourists should take care to inquire prior to doing so in order to avoid strong currents.

The Koh Phi Phi Island is another location which is home to several dive sites. Found between Phuket and Krabi, this island’s natural beauty above sea level is deeply complemented by its splendour beneath its shores. Diving sites along the beaches of Ao Nang and Railay as well as Chalong Bay are ideal for those staying at Krabi resorts and these sites are conducive for scuba divers as well as those who wish to go snorkelling. Furthermore, scuba divers will also find the King Cruiser wreck an exciting underwater excursion for it is known for the sea anemones that attract schools of fish making it a wonderfully colourful site.

Hence, it is abundantly clear that it does not matter which Trang resort you may opt to stay at for, in terms of diving, for the Thai coastal belt is dotted with amazing dive sites. However, if you wish to experience true luxury as well as amazing diving experiences on your visit to Siam, ensure that you check in at Anantara Si Kao Thailand and allow its lavish comfort to soothe your soul.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

Google+

Underwater Adventures in Maldives

Maldives is popularly known for its white sandy beaches and alluring blue waters, but it is also one of the best sites for underwater adventures. The clear blue waters are perfect for snorkelling, deep-sea diving and scuba diving. Since Maldives comprises of 1192 coral islands spread over a large area there are so many places to explore when you visit. Aqua fanatics will be amazed by the rich diversity of marine life that surrounds the islands. There are over 1000 different species that have been sighted in Maldivian waters. There are 21 species of whales and dolphins, around 5 species of sea turtles and 187 species of coral to name a few. Spotted eagle rays, squirrel fish, banner fish, scorpion fish and lobsters could be found living amongst most reefs. The occasional sea turtle and whale are often spotted when you take the plunge into the deep sea.

Maldives has been recognised as one of the premier sites for scuba diving. The warm, clear waters and the marine ecosystem in the country provide the perfect setting for scuba diving. The 26 atolls are home to a number of species and colourful coral reefs. The major dive sites in Maldives include Banana Reef, Broken Rock, Fesdhoo Wreck, HP Reef, Guraidhoo Kandu and Safari Island. There are many more locations that you could visit, since the different atolls have a range of coral reefs to explore. Visitors who are not familiar with scuba diving should try snorkelling. Snorkelling gear can be found in any of the resorts or diving schools in the country. Also it is an underwater activity that is safe and easy to learn. Most often a group of people will be with you during the sessions and you will have a guide to help you navigate the waters.

The diving environment is ideal all year long but there are some months such as June to August when the monsoon rains may get in the way. Nevertheless, you are sure to enjoy your underwater experience no matter what. Maldives resort offers diving packages. Look for accommodation in Maldives that includes underwater adventures because it will add to your vacation time in the country. Check out Anantara Dhigu Maldives for luxurious rooms, facilities and some great deals for underwater explorations.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Google+

Batticaloa Lighthouse

Also known as the Land of the singing fish, Batticaloa is a small town that harbours many wonders within it. The Batticaloa Lighthouse located near the estuary in Palameenmadu is one such gem that is a must-visit when in the region. Look for a Sri lanka Beach Resorts to lodge in during the stay and Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa is a recommended Sri Lanka resort located within the area ideal for a comfortable stay. Standing 28 metres high, this structure built in 1913 by the British makes a beautiful sight against the brilliant blue skies. Once on top, the visitors are treated to beautiful panoramic views of the scenic Batticoaloa district consisting of lush green hedges, whitest of sands and the bluest of oceans. Fondly referred to as the Muttuwaran lighthouse by the locals, a name that translates into “where the lagoon meets the sea”, it is located exactly where the lagoon meets the Indian ocean. Consisting of five windows and one observatory deck, the Batticaloa Lighthouse makes for a place not to be missed if one happens to be passing the region.

Jayani Senanayake is a writer who dabbles in travel and all things exotic. Under the pseudonym of Calliope Sage, she writes of the allures that must simply be discovered. Google+