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Thursday, July 16, 2009

Taking Holidays to Turkey - With a Difference


Having spent the last 15 years taking holidays in Turkey my wife and I are always looking for a nice place to relax and escape the hordes that descend on Turkey's beach resorts during the summer months. Both of us are in the service industry so we are always desperate to "get away from it all". Why Holidays to Turkey all the time I hear you say? Well, my wife is Turkish and she wants to go there at least once a year so I do not really have much choice in the matter.

She always has an excuse to go whether it is for visiting family or friends; there is always someone whom she has not seen for a while. This year we decided on a cheap family holiday and chose to visit a friend who runs a camp site in a secluded valley about 20 miles away from the nearest major holiday town of Fethiye. Due to the fact that we were traveling with our 1 year old son, we decided to go on a schedule flight from London Gatwick to Dalaman in Turkey. The airline we chose for this occasion was an obscure schedule airline called Cyprus Turkish airlines which I had never flown with or heard of anytime in the past. The reason we chose to fly with them is that they offer a whooping 25 kilograms of luggage per person; whereas a lot of the other cheap holiday charters to Turkey offer a tiny allowance of only 15 kilograms.

Due to the fact that we were well and truly stung the previous year, when we thought we had purchased a cheap flight to Turkey only to find out that we had to pay £90 pounds worth of excess luggage (the flight only cost £123) - not a pleasant start to our first family holiday! This time we did our research and I must admit it paid off even though we paid a lot more for the fare; we received free food and drink on board, which a lot of the other cheap holiday airlines do not offer. In fact we were 10 kilos over our allowance as my wife likes to take most of our fixtures and fittings from our family home to our family holiday.

The flight was pleasant enough, no in-flight entertainment, but who needs that with a 1 year old baby in tow. On arrival to Dalaman we were picked up by a Turkish gentleman called Ahmed in a massive jeep type vehicle which looked like something like a monster trucks. It was a very pleasant drive! We drove through beautiful Turkish holiday resorts such as Gocek, Calis beach, Fethiye and Olu-Deniz.

After crossing the holiday resort of Oludeniz and going past the huge Resort of Lykia World, the road turns into a dust track. The road between Olu-deniz and Kabak (the campsite) is carved into the side of huge cliffs, 300 meters above sea level with no barriers to stop vehicles from plunging in to the azure sea below. Thankfully our driver could see the terror in our eyes and drove very calmly and carefully. On arrival to Kabak bay our driver let the 4x4 kick in and we started to descend using a road very similar to a donkey track, in the pitch black.

Once we arrived we were shown our accommodation which consisted of a wooden hut built around a tree, with a balcony and also the added bonus of a shower and toilet! Turan camp consists of 16 bungalows, 6 of which have shower and toilet facilities.

My first night was spent eradicating our mosquito problem with my bare hands. I finally managed to sleep and I was greeted by the most magnificent view in the morning, there in front of me I was presented with the beach and the towering mountains all around us; it was truly awe inspiring. Unfortunately this place really does not know the meaning of health and safety. We were constantly chasing our baby boy all around, who always seemed to find the most dangerous areas to play in. To top things he came out with chicken pox on our second day of the visit.

Kabak bay is on the ancient Lycian way which is a path along the southwestern coast line of Turkey. My plan was to walk some of it, but I did not get any chance since my days were spent looking after baby and keeping him out the sun and away from dangers. Although we were in a truly amazing place, it was not what I had in mind for a cheap family holiday. After 6 days the chicken spots had started to fade and my wife and I thought that enough was enough and decided to check in to an all-Inclusive family holiday resort nearby Fethiye.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Memorable Honeymoon Tours In Kerala

Situated on the southern tip of India, Kerala is one of the most beautiful states in the country. Curving alongside the sapphire majestic Arabian Sea, Kerala is a great land of great nature beauty located in south India.

Nowadays Kerala has become a globally renowned destination for an ideal and memorable honeymoon tours in India. It attracts newly married couples from around the globe with its truly romantic atmosphere formed by tranquil and picturesque backwaters, pristine palm-fringed beaches, verdant hill stations, lush plantations, exotic wildlife sanctuaries & national parks, thick forest, etc. Ayurvedic & spa resorts, health centers, wonderful art forms, tradition & culture, kind hearted people, etc also mesmerize couples on their memorable honeymoon tours in Kerala, The God’s Own Country.

Kerala these days offers some stunning & scenic destinations which make Kerala the most sought after romantic holiday destination for honeymooners from India and abroad. Honeymoon is the most unforgettable moment of one's life. If you are a nature enthusiast then why are you waiting for..?

Go for a memorable honeymoon tour in Kerala to experience the incredible and beautiful sun-kissed beaches, relaxing backwaters, wealthy culture and tradition. Kerala almost has got the every charming spots where you can enjoy the extraordinary memorable moments of your honeymoon vacation with your spouse. The misty and attractive landscape of the famous hill resort Munnar, vast stretched out open beaches of Kovalam, Varkala, Poovar, Fort Kochi etc. and the amazing, extraordinary experience of Alleppey and Kumarakom houseboat cruise will be an addition to your memorable honeymoon tours in Kerala.

For a memorable honeymoon tour in Kerala, you can opt for various tour packages that include the incomparable natural beauty and charm of various hill stations like Munnar, Wayanad, Ponmudi, Idukki, Peermade, Wagamon, Devikulam, Lakkadi, Malampuzha, Echo Point, etc. These pictorial hill resorts of Kerala are very special and famous destinations amongst the honeymoon traveler domestic as well as foreigners. Honeymoon couples, on their memorable honeymoon vacation in Kerala, love to enjoy their precious moments on various enthralling backwater destination of Kerala. Backwaters of Kerala are very attractive and the best way to explore them is a luxury houseboat cruise. During your memorable honeymoon vacation in Kerala, we suggest you not to miss to enjoy the charm of tranquil and beautiful backwaters with houseboat cruise. Alleppey, Kumarakom, Kochi, Kollam, Kozhikode, Kuttanad, Thiruvallam, etc are popular backwater destinations in the state.

There are various scenic beaches in Kerala, the God’s Own Country which attracts a large number of honeymoon couples every year from all over the world. Kerala has got several beautiful, well maintained serene beaches and equipped with international standard of tourist facilities. Beaches of Kerala are very much perfect for a memorable honeymoon holiday which offers in fact delightful and absolute romantic atmosphere mingled with full of fun and water sport activities.

Kovalam is an attractive and internationally well-known beach resort in the state with clean sandy beaches, pleasant waves and excellent accommodation facilities. Varkala is also a very famous and developing beach destination in the state of Kerala and also known for the religious significance of the people of the region. Fort Kochi, Mararikulam, Cherai, Alleppey, etc are amongst the other popular beach resorts in the state of Kerala where you could think to spend your memorable honeymoon tours in Kerala in an extraordinary way and amidst absolute romantic ambiance.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Noosa – Go for a ride!


Noosa is a beautiful picturesque town on the Sunshine Coast. It is not only on the way to Fraser Island but worth a visit in itself. Before I arrived on Hamilton Island for the final round of „The Best Job in the World“ I already had visited Noosa and was hoping to return one day. Famous for its surf and rich weekend houses, I found some of the best food on the coast there. Here I have to confess, I am a little bit of a food tourist – so I might not be completely objective, when I say Noosa is beautiful, as the food definitely put me in a very happy mood. I can only recommend Gusto Restaurant by the river and Sails at the corner of Hastings St & Park Rd. Sails is directly by the beach and offers as good a view as delicious seafood.

Even though we did not go surfing, we went for a ride anyways: Horseback Riding on the beach with EQUATHON. Alex Watson, triple Olympian is a world class rider and made Equathon a world class horse riding experience. Those are no tired, old and slaving horses! They are healthy and beautiful Australian Stock Horses. Watson says: „Our aim is to bring people and horses together in rewarding relationships.“ ...Kermit and me hit it off from the start. In the beginning he was a little stubborn, but like most men, once you establish the hierarchy, adapting fast. - Just kidding! There are numerous tracks on Noosa North Shore, we passed through gum tree forests, saw kangaroos and finally had great fun cantering along the beach. After that we were definitely in love!
Together, Magali, George and me shared a holiday apartment at the Breakfree French Quarter Resort. Not far from Main Beach and the boardwalk, as well as close to the river canals and bus station, the resort is very close to everything that Noosa has to offer. Noosa's National Park with its five heads along the North Shore was just around the corner as well and I was happy to return to the place where I had seen my first wildlife koala. See my blog about Noosa on 01/05.

Noosa – Go for a ride!


Noosa is a beautiful picturesque town on the Sunshine Coast. It is not only on the way to Fraser Island but worth a visit in itself. Before I arrived on Hamilton Island for the final round of „The Best Job in the World“ I already had visited Noosa and was hoping to return one day. Famous for its surf and rich weekend houses, I found some of the best food on the coast there. Here I have to confess, I am a little bit of a food tourist – so I might not be completely objective, when I say Noosa is beautiful, as the food definitely put me in a very happy mood. I can only recommend Gusto Restaurant by the river and Sails at the corner of Hastings St & Park Rd. Sails is directly by the beach and offers as good a view as delicious seafood.

Even though we did not go surfing, we went for a ride anyways: Horseback Riding on the beach with EQUATHON. Alex Watson, triple Olympian is a world class rider and made Equathon a world class horse riding experience. Those are no tired, old and slaving horses! They are healthy and beautiful Australian Stock Horses. Watson says: „Our aim is to bring people and horses together in rewarding relationships.“ ...Kermit and me hit it off from the start. In the beginning he was a little stubborn, but like most men, once you establish the hierarchy, adapting fast. - Just kidding! There are numerous tracks on Noosa North Shore, we passed through gum tree forests, saw kangaroos and finally had great fun cantering along the beach. After that we were definitely in love!
Together, Magali, George and me shared a holiday apartment at the Breakfree French Quarter Resort. Not far from Main Beach and the boardwalk, as well as close to the river canals and bus station, the resort is very close to everything that Noosa has to offer. Noosa's National Park with its five heads along the North Shore was just around the corner as well and I was happy to return to the place where I had seen my first wildlife koala. See my blog about Noosa on 01/05.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Top Attractions in the Cape Town City Centre

The Cape Town city centre offers a wealth activities and attractions for visitors. Be sure to explore the city bowl when you visit the city!

If you're travelling to Cape Town, one of the best places to explore is in the vibrant city centre, where the streets are lined with museums, restaurants, craft markets and boutiques. In the colourful city bowl, visitors are invited to discover a smorgasbord of cultural attractions, as well as some of the cities top dining establishments, trendy bars and nightclubs.

Below, find out more about Cape Town's top tourist attractions, and don't miss out on these next time you visit the beautiful city of Cape Town.

Greenmarket Square
Greenmarket Square is one of Cape Town's oldest markets, and hundreds of years ago, was the place where slaves were sold and vegetables were traded. Today, the paved square, which is located between Shortmarket and Longmarket Streets in the Cape Town CBD, is a popular craft market featuring a variety of African curios, arts, crafts, fabrics, music, clothing and trinkets. Here, you'll be able to haggle with sellers for the best possible prices, and it's the ideal place to pick up souvenirs and authentic African goods.

Cape Quarter
The Cape Quarter is one of the city's most fashionable enclaves, featuring an eclectic mix of bars, boutiques, restaurants and lifestyle stores. Here, Capetonians and visitors in the know can be found enjoying in this hidden corner of the city. The Cape Quarter, whilst fashionably modern, has managed to preserve the historic charm of old Cape Town, and the area has been built around the architecture and design of yesteryear. Enjoy meals in the outdoor piazza, shop for quaint keepsakes at the boutiques, or simply enjoy the charm of this hidden gem in the city centre.


Noon Day Gun
When the Noon Day Gun is fired every day at noon, even locals pay attention! For more than 200 years, the Noon Day Gun has been used to signal the time - initially, for ships anchored in Table Bay, and today - many like to think - for those working in offices in the city centre! Visitors to the Cape are fascinated by this ritual, and are encouraged to experience the daily tradition at Lion Battery on Signal Hill, from 11.30 Mondays to Saturdays (excluding public holidays). There are, in fact, two cannons (in case one fails), and they're the oldest working guns of their kind in the world.


Gold of Africa Museum
The Cape Town city centre is home to so many museums that it is sometimes referred to as the “Museum Mile”. There are many museums worth visiting in the city centre, including the South African Museum, Bo Kaap Museum and the Slave Lodge. A lesser-known museum - and one that is slightly off the “beaten-track” of the Museum Mile - is the Gold of Africa Museum, which showcases gold artworks and designs, and features magnificent gold exhibitions. There's also a shop, a restaurant and a goldsmiths' studio in the building, which is believed to be one of the finest examples of old Cape architecture still in existence today.



Cape Town city centre nightlife
The Cape Town city bowl is famous for its vibrant nightlife, which starts up as the sun goes down, and often keeps going until the early hours - especially on the weekends. Long Street is a particularly popular spot for trendy bars and clubs, and there are plenty of late-night spots for tireless revellers. For those seeking a tamer evening out, enjoy world-class fare at any of the top restaurants in the city bowl, or sip refreshing drinks at a quaint pub or fashionable bar. But, for a true taste of Cape Town nightlife, throw on your dancing shoes and head out for a night of disco lights and dance tunes.

Central holiday accommodation in the Cape Town city bowl
Make the most of your Cape Town holiday by booking accommodation in the lively city bowl. You'll be within easy reach of these, and other, top tourist attractions, and you'll experience cosmopolitan Cape Town from the heart of the city. Book accommodation at a luxury Cape Town hotel now!