Travel Africa

It's impossible to capture the beauty of Cape Town in words or photos. It can only give a glimpse of the magic.

Long, long ago when the likes of Dias were traveling the seas to discover new countries the Cape was called the "Cape of Storms". Cape Town has very interesting weather patterns. Most of the times it is warm and sunny but when the "Suidoos" (the local name for the very strong South Eastern wind) starts blowing you have to hold onto everything you own.

Table Mountain is the best example of this unpredictable weather. The one minute it's open and beautiful and the next minute the misty clouds come blowing in. Within minutes a white tablecloth of clouds rests on top of the mountain.

But it doesn't matter how bad the weather is, there is always something to do. A big world city framed by the mountain on the one side and the ever changing ocean on the other side.

VICTORIA AND ALFRED WATERFRONT (V&A): Very commersialised and expensive but a total treat.

The vibrant atmosphere and energy is addictive. The aquarium is well worth seeing. If you have children it is a must. There is a touch area with a variety of sea plants that can be touched to get an idea of the textures. Feeding times you can watch the sharks having their lunch. There are great restaurants and coffee shops for the hungry. In the designer shops you can virtually shop till you drop.

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE MOTHER CITY: The cable car is an experience on its own, with a rotating floor and magnificent views when going up and coming down the mountain. Phone in advance or check on the website if the cable car is going up. It is not always open. The weather can change in a second from great to foggy and cloudy. On the top is a restaurant and shop with great views.

Cape Town is full of historical buildings that are worth a view and great for pictures. In the famous Castle of Good Hope, you'll find examples of beautiful antique furniture. You can also experience the dark dungeons where prisoners were kept. It's horribly cold, pitch dark and small. You can take a guided tour at the Castle and get all the info on Jan van Riebeeck, the Van der Stel's, Lady Anne Barnard and everybody that was involved in the beginning years of the Cape.

There are also numerous historical church buildings. Take a drive through the city area on a Sunday or Saturday afternoon to visit all these buildings. During normal business hours the streets are too busy to find parking.

KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDENS: Don't miss this. You can pend a whole day and still haven't seen everything. You will only find indigenous South African plants like Protea, Fynbos etc. There is a path up Table Mountain from inside the gardens. We climb for a while but it is quite steep and we had no idea how long it would take. I wouldn't advise this unless you have all the info on hiking up to the top of the mountain.

The weather can change very quickly and then it is dangerous to be out somewhere on the mountain. On Sunday afternoons (late afternoon) in summer you can attend musical concerts. There is a nice restaurant or bring your own picnic basket. Lots of space for a picnic.

MALAY QUARTER The old Malay quarter or as it is called nowadays the Bo-kaap is worthwhile seeing. It is basically in the city. Drive in Wale Street to Green point. The area has been upgraded in a lot of places and property prices are rising sharply. It is conveniently located and has a great atmosphere. The houses are painted in bright colours and look festive. Streets are still cobblestone and narrow. From the top the view over Cape Town is amazing.

CAPE POINT: Contrary to some beliefs this is not where the two oceans meet. The actual meeting point is at Agulhas. Nevertheless Cape Point is an incredible experience. The last time we went there Chapman's Peak was closed due to rock falls and we took the road past Kommetjie and Scarborough. The whole area is a nature reserve. There are 2 200 different plant species to see, as well as a lot of smaller animals. You can take the funicular to the point or take a walk. It is a bit of steep to climb but do-able. The view is absolutely amazing. Stop at the Dias cross in the reserve. It is a big stone cross that commemorates his achievements.

GREAT CONSTANTIA: THE OLDEST WINE ESTATE

The history of the farm dates back to 1685 when it was granted to the first Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, as an experimental farm for agricultural produce. Van der Stel named the farm "Constantia" and the produce of vegetables and fruit was supplied to ships that called in at the Cape. You can taste and buy the award winning red and white wines at the cellars. There are daily wine tours, tasting and buying of wines.

CLIFTON: THE PLAYGROUND OF THE RICH

Clifton is not for those scared of heights and narrow roads. The houses seem glued to the cliffs. They park on top of their roofs or so it seems. Any builder that can build a house here deserves a reward. Most of the houses are more mansions than houses and are worth a few million. Clifton is especially famous for its beaches but the water is still cold like the rest of the Cape waters.The small rock pools are excellent for children to play in and obviously not that cold. Unfortunately it is also the ideal spot for beach parties and some of these areas can be very dirty.

CHAPMAN'S PEAK: The view is worth paying the R22 toll fee on this road. You don't need to come back the same way. From Noordhoek you can take the Muizenberg road back to Cape Town. From Hout Bay go back past Landudno and Camps Bay which is the other beautiful coastal road.

KALK BAY: A tiny little place a few kilometers out of the city. The shopping experience is very different form that at the V&A. Here you will find individualistic little arty shops each with it's own character and style. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, away from mass production, you need to visit Kalk Bay's main street. Cape to Cairo and Papagayo stands out but they are all worth a visit. The shops are so nicely decorated and painted in vibrant colours. There are also nice art galleries, a theatre and restaurants.

SUNSET ON SIGNAL HILL:

Instead of going up to the cable car take the road to the right and drive up Signal hill. Lovely sunset.

CENTURY CITY: Century City is a bit out of the city close to Milnerton. It is a lovely centre with each and every shop you can think off. Less designer stores than at V&A and obviously not that expensive. The MTN science centre is a hit with children. You can buy a family ticket and spend the whole day there. You get a stamp on your hand and can move in and out as you please. Make sure you attend the "camera obscura" session. It works with mirrors and even though you are inside the building you can see the reflections of the cars moving, the movement of the water in the canals and whatever is happening outside. All the other mall things are there like movies, places to eat, lots of chain stores etc, etc.....

MORE RESTAURANTS AROUND CAPE TOWN BLUES

Sit outside with a beautiful view over the beaches of Camps Bay and the very busy and interesting street running next to the sea. You'll see anything from a top of the range Ferrari to a "gedaan" (run down) taxi, a luxury tour bus to an old beetle. The menu offers seafood, pasta and a few grill goodies like hamburgers, lamb rib, steak etc. Nice cocktails and wine list. Excellent service.

MARINER'S WHARF (Hout Bay)

There is a beautiful upstairs area for a sit-down meal with spectacular decor. It opens at 12 in the afternoon. If you are too hungry to wait go to the open area downstairs. Get a box of real fish and chips and have a feast.

FARMSTALL, NOORDHOEK On the other side of Chapman's Peak is Noordhoek. The Farmstall has all the traditional South African cakes and pastries, like scones and milk tart.

This is but the tip of the iceberg and just a few of the exciting places to visit. Explore and feel like Dias with every new discovery.

Travel Writing - How to Write Travel Articles

Writing articles about traveling is really exciting especially if you love to see other places and meet new people. Here's how you can become a travel writer:

1. Travel. You can't just be a travel writer. If you want to be more effective in this field, you've got to go out and really travel. See as many places as you can. This will not only require a lot of energy but money as well. Ensure that you have enough before you board that plane.

2. Keep a notepad and pen handy. You really can't rely on your memory when you traveling so, it's better if you have something to use to jot down every thing that you think your readers might want to know about.

3. Don't forget the pictures. It's not enough that you tell your readers that the place you've been to is spectacular. You need to incorporate some visuals to engage these people. If you have the resources, I recommend that you invest on a high-end digital camera as pictures will make a huge impact on your articles.

4.

Define your audience. Who are the people that you are writing for? Are you targeting those who are traveling on budget or those who can afford 5-star hotels? It's important that you know your audience early on so you'll know what information to share that will meet their needs and demands.

5. Offer tips. Don't just talk about tourist spots as your readers can surely find these information everywhere. Instead, offer some tips and your discoveries. For example, you can tell your readers the most affordable accommodation or the best restaurants in a particular place.

Air Travel Principles: Traveling With Electronics

On this day in age, it sort of feels as if all persons have once or more piece of electronic equipment with them, usually always. That electronic equipment may just include a mobile phone, a beeper, a laptop, or a private information assistant, generally known as a PDA. If you're one of the most contributors that regularly travels around with one or more of these digital items, there is a just right likelihood that you will be taking them with you if you happen to board an plane. If so, there is a likelihood that you would be able to be concerned with whether they are a contravention of air commute rules.

Relating to figuring out which electronics are prohibited aboard an airplane, you can find that almost all are allowed. In spite of this allowance, it's nonetheless a good idea that you simply consult with your airline or airport, in advance. Since maximum electronic models are dear, you not are looking to get to the airport only to be informed that you are prohibited from bringing your whole belongings with you, especially something as dear as most digital package.

As beforehand mentioned, many people keep a cell phone or pager with them always. All mobile phones and pagers are approved aboard airplanes. In addition to being approved onboard, they are allowed to be stored for your carryon baggage. Your mobile phone or pager, like maximum different electronic equipment, might be suspect to inspection, if want be.

Laptops and private information assistants, generally known as PDA's, are also approved aboard airplanes. You're additionally allowed to store them for your carryon luggage, in the event you decide to. If stored to your carryon baggage, your computer or private information assistant machine might want to be scanned along with the rest of your carryon luggage. This screening process is protected and shouldn't harm your accessories.

While the screening course of is protected for most digital package, it isn't for all. There's a chance that your movie, especially movie that has but to be evolved, could be ruined by means of the x-ray machines. Within the tournament that you are storing a digital camera in your carryon bags, it is very important notify airport security. They have different ways of checking your digicam or movie accessories. Other recording units, such as virtual cameras or camcorders, are also approved aboard an airplane, even to your carryon baggage. It's safe for this stuff to go throughout the x-ray screening process.

As beforehand mentioned, many of the above mentioned electronics can both be saved for your carryon bags or your checked luggage. If you'll be able to store the items for your carryon luggage, you might be urged to take action. It's no secret that checked baggage gets tossed around in a number of various fashions. With expensive electronic equipment, your package is much less prone to endure injury if you're the one in command of caring for it. In addition to a discount in wreck, most airways are limiting the use of luggage locks. Which means that it may be unwise so that you can shop expensive apparatus in your checked luggage, particularly if you cannot lock it. Honestly, you by no means know who may need get right of entry to to it.

Via holding the above mentioned data in brain, you need to be capable of pack appropriately in your subsequent journey, whether or not that trip is a business trip. Even if maximum airlines do not have restrictions at the digital machinery that you simply carry onboard, you can find that using these items is often limited. A large number of airways will handiest can help you power up your camcorder, mobile phone, pager, PDA, or laptop for the duration of specified instances.

Hampi Travel

About Hampi:
Hampi is a very famous village, situated in the Northern Karnataka state of India. During the 14th century empire it was the kingdom of Vijayanagar. Now it is nestled within the ruins of Vijayanagar empire, hence sometimes it is also known as 'Ruined City', which is spread over an are of 26 sq km. Adorned with majestic hills and valleys it houses more than 500 monuments, which are listed as ''Group of Monuments at Hampi'', by UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Attractions at Hampi:
With its heritage monuments and temples it attracts a lot of tourists and pilgrims every year. Some of the major attractions at Hampi are:

Shri Vijayavitthala Temple:
This is an excessively beautiful temple, dedicated to Lord Vitthal (Lord Vishnu), that makes everyone speechless with its charismatic architecture. The construction of temple was started in the vicinity of King Krishna Deva Raya in 1513 AD, which continued till 1565 AD. The temple reflects the best example of Dravidian architecture style.

Stone Chariot:
Stone Chariot is located inside the Vijayavitthala temple complex. It is believed that the chariot is supposed to be carved out of a single rock. The complex carving work of the chariot is seen nowhere in the world. The chariot looks like a model of temple chariot, which is being used during a traditional procession.

Shri Virupaksha Temple:
Shri Virupaksha Temple is located in the foot hills, known as Hemakuta Hill. The temple is also called Pampapathi Temple, which is one of the most important as well as the holiest temples of the region. The origin of the temple dates back to 7th century, which houses a shrine of Lord Shiva, Lord Pampa, Bhivaneshwari Devi.

King's Balance:
King's Balance is also known as Tula Bhara or Tula Purushadana, which contains two lofty granite pillars of 15 feet each, supporting a 12 feet stone beam. It was used by the kings of Vijayanagara to weigh on certain occasions such as - Lunar or Solar eclipse.

Stepped Tank:
Stepped Tank is one of the most applauded remains, located in Durbar area. It is a small tank of around 22 sq m and 7 m deep, which is built of chlorite schist. It was used by the members of royal families.

Other Attractions: Akka Tangi Gudda, Anegondi, Badava Linga, Ugra Narsimha, Zenana enclosure, The Underground Temple, Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple, Hazari Rama Temple etc are the other attractions at Hampi as well as one of the most important part of Karnataka travel.

TRAVEL CONCIERGE SERVICE: FOR YOUR TRAVEL CONNECTIONS

Travel concierge service is a company that specializes in providing travel services that you can use for your journeys and holiday connections. This company does have professionals who are well trained to provide you with your traveling information and advice. No matter what you want for your travels, this company can offer you what in terms of hotel reservations, travel arrangements, flight bookings e.t.c. If you want go for long holidays any where in the world, travel concierge service is better placed to help you with your travel needs and demands. They are have specialist knowledge incase you want to can go on cruise around the world, a safari or you want to make online booking for flights, hotel accommodation or car hires for any vacation.

Travel concierge service operates through a network of companies that are better placed to provide you all types of travel needs.

For example, if you want to relax in the beach and go away for hot sunny holidays, this company can provide you with detailed information on your travel arrangements. However, some places might require an advanced bookings before you travel. In this case in the company can recommend and take you to tourist spots has lots of restaurants, night clubs or clubs.

Travel concierge service can also assist you with details if you want to go on shopping trip in some of the major shopping centers in the world. It is important to get some traveling tips before you venture out. The first thing you need to know is to prepare the necessary documents like passport if you want to outside the country. You also need a visa to allow you enter into any foreign country. In such as a case you will be required to book and have the confirmation of your flights for your intended destination before hand.

Travel concierge service can also help you get an insurance cover for travel arrangements. With this kind of cover you won't have to worry about your safety and those of your belongings wherever you go. Just before you travel, make sure that you have taken the right medication and vaccinations where appropriate. You should also have the right currency if are traveling outside your country or ways of getting access to money while on holiday. It is also important to make sure that your luggage does not go beyond the required weight otherwise; you will be required to pay more for excess or leave some of your belongings at the airport.

 

Travel companions ?your travel buddies

Single holidays are a different and unique way to travel around the world. Due to recession and tough economic climate more and more tourists are undertaking solo travel.

 

A couple of decades ago, most of the solo travellers used books or electronic gadgets like a iPod, laptop to be there travel companion as they found it better way to kill there time n loneliness while travelling all alone.

 

But now we see a change in the trend. Even though individuals have to go on a solo holidays they don't have to actually "single". You can actually have a partner on your holiday. With a travel companion you don't have to worry about all the "don'ts" of being a single traveller. You don't have to worry about going to any restaurant, museum, art gallery, historical site all alone. So you have a travel companion without defeating the whole purpose of travelling single.

 

You are with some one with whom you can share your travel ideas and experiences making your solo vacation all the more exciting and beautiful.

In fact the way you look at an all singles holiday would completely change if you have a travel partner who shows you around, helps you mingle with new people. You would definitely take with yourself unforgettable memories and exciting stories from your foreign destination when with your travel buddy.

 

Again the question arises how does one find a travel companion and even if a solo traveller finds a partner would he or she be the ideal person to holiday with? Hmmm

 

Well there are plenty of websites on the internet that help you choose a travel buddy just as per your needs. So whether you travelling for business or pleasure these websites give you ample of choice if you are on a look out for a holiday partner.

 

But all the joy and excitement of the solo holiday is taken away when you consider the cost involved in your travel. You might have to pay in doubles even when your holidaying all alone .Often you end up paying hefty single supplements.

 

A single supplement surcharge for most rooms or cruises is about 40% of your total cost of holidaying and it's mostly not possible to argue your way out of it.

 

You are stuck in a situation where you don't want to cancel your solo vacation and neither you able to find some one who could share your room or cabin. In ‘No Singles supplement holidays' the travel agencies aids the solo traveller by pairing them with other singles on holiday in to double occupancy program. Most travel companies catering to your need to find a travel partner ask you to submit a personal profile and also list the destinations you would like to visit. Gradually you start getting potentional matches as per your choose you can contact them or hold a meeting with them.

Travel Tips

Everyone knows that travel is really cost sometimes a huge amount of dollar. This undeniable fact can be a barrier why people sometimes get rid of travel even they are in their vacation time or holidays. Some say, it is for the budget sake, avoid expenses, in the other side its true. Financial problem is really a headache nowadays. But wait; there are people in this planet that they really love travel or some because it is really important to them. I made this travel tip for everyone because I know everyone loves travel, If you are a traveler or not, I hope this tip is really a help.

This tip is from my experience and shared from the fellow traveler about travel in cheapest way.

First key to budget travel is to plan ahead. Organized the places and activities you want to experience.

Planning and spending travel dollar wisely is a priority for most families.

Don’t forget to check the availability of budget, spending the budget wise make the travel more enjoyable. If not, you surely stranded.

Be simple and avoid extra things that not so important. Even if your travel budget is so tight, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the travel.

Be aware that small things can be add up with a huge amount. Hotel extras, restaurant, car rentals, gas, ticket for special attractions, drinks add-on makes your budget goes crazy.

Make sure that you always focus of the things you want to enjoy your travel. Things to learn, peoples to meet, views to see, adventure to experience is the basic thing in travel that is very important to make your travel become a real travel.

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