Archive for January, 2011

Song of the post:

And not only did the beach not dissapoint in its splendor, it also had more Moai!

As we watched the sun set, we bonded over our stories of romantic liaisons around the world (Alicia had a soft spot for foreign men as well and had even fallen in love with a man that, believe it or not, lived in the same city as me–small world, huh?).

Not wanting our enlightening conversation to end, we made plans to spend the rest of the evening together.  As Alicia drove me back to my hotel in order for me to get ready, she told me that I was about to experience a night I would never, ever forget. . .

I have to admit that like most women I love a good cocktail!  However, for me the only true place to enjoy a tropical blend is while sitting on white sandy beaches or in a vibrant local bar somewhere far, far away from home.  From my own traveling experience, Mallorca is the perfect place to do just this.  Leave all the stresses and strains from your daily life behind and truly soak up the relaxing ambiance of this beautiful Mediterranean island.

After a long day of basking in Mallorca’s balmy climate you may feel the need to satisfy your thirst and revive yourself for the evening activities, such as with a pina colada or a mojito.  If on a “girly holiday,” like I was, the most enjoyable place to indulge in these cocktails is in a local bar.  In the Mallorca bars you will find a delicious array of cocktails being served and one will undoubtedly tickle your fancy.  Pachas Pub in the heart of buzzing Magaluf has some of the best and most potent alcoholic concoctions on offer!  Feeling refreshed after enjoying your delectable drink and with live music filling the room with pulsating beats, you will feel reinvigorated with a new-found energy to dance the night away.

If you start to feel weary from all the evening’s excitement, you may want to head back to your hotel for some much needed rest.  Mallorca hotels like the Son Matias Beach are close enough to the central nightlife in Magaluf that you can easily make it back in time for a decent night’s sleep in a dreamy state of holiday bliss.  Although if you prefer a more indulgent and luxurious stay then I would recommend La Residencia.  Set in the beautifully idyllic mountain village of Deia amongst the lush Mediterranean landscape, this five-star hotel offers a totally different experience and would be the perfect place to sip your cocktails in style.

So, now all you have to decide is where to enjoy your delicious drink: on the beach with panoramic ocean views, in a buzzing bar, or amongst the unforgettable Mediterranean scenery.

Isabella Rose is an enthusiastic traveler with a love of adventure.  Having traveled extensively in Italy and studying History of Art and Italian at Bristol University, it has been her lifelong dream to move to Italy to revel in the Italian art, culture and of course the gelato!

When thinking of traveling to a tropical location; warm temperatures, low humidity, and beaches that span far and wide are what most people think about.  Destinations like Hawaii, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Cancun all come to mind first, with little regard to other options, which may offer the cheapest flights.  With thousands of miles of coastline located all around the world, many excellent beaches are overlooked.  Samila Beach in Songhkla, Thailand has grown into one of many notable beach destinations not only in South East Asia, but around the world as well.  Excellent beach conditions combined with the incredibly low prices expected from Asian destinations makes it a top choice for travelers on a budget.

With so much in its favor, it is a surprise that Samila Beach has remained little more than a hidden treasure for global travelers.  While it is growing in popularity among foreign travelers, it is still a popular destination for locals, meaning low prices on everything from food to hotels to rental cars.  Resort accommodations can be found for as little as 1,100 Baht for three-star accommodations, while four-star accommodations are priced just slightly higher at 1,700 Baht.  With accommodations right along the beautiful ocean at prices that cannot be touched by most Western destinations, this is an ideal spot.

Booking a Flight

While the prices in Thailand are without a doubt on the cheaper side, travel arrangements can quickly put a damper on the festivities.  An overpriced flight can eat away at any perceived savings, making a poorly planned trip just as costly as a trip anywhere else in the world.  As such, comparing many flight options, as well as booking a flight early, will make all the difference in terms of squeezing the most value possible out of the trip.  Visitors should be careful to do their research in order to find the most affordable Asia holidays.

Planning your Trip

While many feel the point of a trip for relaxation is to go with the flow, the resort town of Songhkla is not without additional attractions.  Local nightlife, golf courses, and sailing are all part of the stay, and as such, any traveler should prepare a general itinerary of activities on and off the beach.  Those looking to get the most out of the region should certainly consider the many available South East Asia tours.  For those interested in a rigorous, well-planned itinerary or those looking to squeeze the most out of their time on the beach, going with a travel agency is an excellent choice.  Combining total customization with local travel agents, Selective Asia has become one of the best travel agencies in the UK specializing in Asian travel.  Regardless of your plan or provider, Samila Beach should be a first choice for anyone interested in a vacation abroad.

Song of the post:

In case you missed my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th stops on the island, click here, here, here, here, and here.  Before we arrived at Alicia’s favorite place, we stopped at yet another place with a backdrop so beautiful it looked as though someone had painted it.  I think this is the 1st destination I have ever visited where no photo edit programs are needed to retouch my pictures!

And finally a picture of my gorgeous tour guide Alicia on the volcanic rocks:

About a half a mile away was Alicia’s favorite place, or should I say stone?  The Rapa Nui have sacred spots all over the island, the majority are unknown to outsiders.  The one that she had taken me to is the most famous and is a stop on all tours.  Even though countless people visit it on a daily basis, as previously mentioned, it is Alicia’s favorite place.  You are supposed to connect with the energy of the stone with your hands and once you are able to feel it you are to make a wish and then touch the stone.  She swears that every single wish she has made has come true.  With those odds I had to try it out for myself.

Me post-wish.

I will let you know in about 4 months if my wish came true of not!  Then it was on to the final stop of the tour. . .

Song of the post:

In case you missed my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th stops on the island, click here, here, here, and here.  The next stop was my favorite of the day.  I was already so blown away by everything I had seen thus far, that to say I was not expecting even more awesomeness would not be honest, but I was certainly not expecting something as awesome as this.

I suppose it was the combination of the statues and the ocean together, I am not sure?  What I am sure of is that the magnitude of beauty in that one setting was enough to make me tear up instantly and even just looking at these pictures now causes the same reaction.

The following picture is one of the best I have ever taken:

And to get a perspective, these Moai average around 20 feet tall.

Then it was time to put down my camera and “just be.”  Well, until a pair of wild horses ran by, that of course had to be photographed!

After about an hour of sitting in awe and admiration, we then left for Alicia’s favorite stop on the island. . .

Song of the post:

In case you missed my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd stops on the island, click here, here, and here.  Around the next corner of our walk I am certain you can guess what lay ahead, more Moai!

Alicia talked in great detail about the history of the statues and the different theories of how they came to be.  She also talked about their “energy.”  She swore that when she is in the plane returning home from a trip abroad she can actually feel an energy shift in the air once she is near the island.  I know a lot of people might discard this as nonsense, and I respect that, however I was completely enchanted with her words.  You see, I am a Chinese Medicine Doctor and I work with qi, or energy, every single day.  So, she was definitely speaking my language.  I know that I was on a high from being on Easter Island, but I could definitely the feel the intense energy radiating from the statues.

Every single Moai is different and it was impossible for me to choose a favorite, since each one has something special about it.  The following photo is of the tallest Moai, measuring almost 33 feet long!

Our last stop on the mountain was a hidden lake.  Every year they have the Tapati Rapa Nui festival, where all of the islanders compete in different sporting events, a lot taking place in the lake.  Alicia told me that she was the reining champion in most of the swimming events.

After a picnic lunch we set off to my favorite stop on the tour. . .

As the gateway to South Africa, Johannesburg offers a hub of activities and exciting events allowing any traveler to embrace the true spirit of the country.  To absorb the culture whilst trying something new, why not sample some delicious African dishes or view some exotic African wildlife in Jo’burg’s famous nature reserves, national parks, or safaris?

To experience African spirit and culture at its height, dining at Moyo Zoo Lake is a must.  Inviting you in with its eclectic array of African sights, smells, and sounds, this cosy restaurant in Norwood offers traditional African cuisine at its best.  Live music fills the room with African beats and unusual arts and crafts are on display.  Moyo’s relaxed and soulful atmosphere truly embodies the attitude of the local people.

Famous for its natural game reserves, private lodges, and stunning national parks, Jo’burg is the perfect place to get up close and personal with some exotic animals (though be careful not to get too close!).  The Lion and Nature Reserve situated in the Cradle of Humankind is a great example of this, as in this World Heritage Site you can see, touch, and photograph different species known to native Africa, including: lions, tigers, cheetahs, springbuck, rhinos, and buffalo. With their slogan as “the nearest faraway place,” this reserve is a great place to take in the African culture without having to travel too far.

As the New Year is upon us, 2011 is definitely the year for new experiences.  If your New Year’s resolutions offered the promise of adventure and travel, then go ahead and spice things up with a trip to Jo’burg!

Isabella Rose is an enthusiastic traveler with a love of adventure.  Having traveled extensively in Italy and studying History of Art and Italian at Bristol University, it has been her lifelong dream to move to Italy to revel in the Italian art, culture and of course the gelato!

Song of the post:

In case you missed my 1st and 2nd stops on the island, click here and here.  Alicia, my tour guide/soul sister, and I continued on our drive.  In the distance, I spotted some mountains and was surprised to see them, since the scenery had been quite flat thus far.

As we got closer, Alicia pointed towards the mountains and said in a childlike wonderment, “Do you see them?  They are amazing, si?”

Sadly, I am not blessed with the best vision, so no, I could not see “them.”  But, with my camera zoom I could! 

We parked the car and set off to wander up the mountain and make friends with the Moai.  This part of the island is the most visited, because most of the Moai have been restored, some even close to their original grandeur thanks to various sponsoring countries.

Before we stepped foot on the trail, Alicia tucked a native flower behind my ear, claiming that all Rapa Nui women wore them.  She then snapped the following picture without any warning, also claiming that that is the only way to take a picture.

Alicia has seen the Moai thousands of times, yet she still oozes excitement about being up close and personal with them.  I adore people like this; people who refuse to become jaded and allow life to continuously delight them.

It was amazing to me just how close you were allowed to get to the statues.  Though I was warned bad luck would be upon me if I touched them, so no touching for me!

With each passing Moai, Alicia had a different story tell.  Can you imagine growing up as a child with these statues practically in your backyard?

With each twist and turn of the path, my heart beat faster and faster.  What would I see next?

In 2005, after experiencing a miserably boring New Year’s Eve spent at home, I vowed from then on I would travel somewhere exceptionally fabulous for the holiday.  Since it is my favorite day of the year, I feel that it should be celebrated in style!

Here is a look at the places I visited for the last 5 New Year Eve’s:

London, England 2006.  We rung in the new year on the River Thames inside a boat.  Fireworks were set off from the London Eye.

Madrid, Spain 2007.  5 minutes before this picture was taken my camera was stolen from my pocket.  Thankfully, my girlfriend had her disposable camera with her.  While my friend took this picture, an unknown Italian man gave me a huge Hollywood kiss for good luck and then turned around and walked away.  Guess the night was not a total loss?

Barrosa Valley, Australia 2008.  Because of a severe drought, no fireworks were permitted in that part of Australia, which was our last stop on a 2 week road trip.  This is the wine region of the country, so we celebrated by drinking lots and lots of wine.  Do not worry, we did not drive after drinking, although we did have excellent caravan insurance.

Machu Pichu, Peru 2009.  The plan was to ring in the new year in Cuzco, however a group of Peruvian women decided to go on strike at the train station and it stopped all of the trains for 6 hours.  Thus, we ended up celebrating at the train station.

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil 2010.  I cannot imagine a more unforgettable place to spend New Year’s Eve!  I joined over 3 million people all dressed in white on Copacabana Beach and watched 20 minutes of the most amazing fireworks illuminate the city.

As you read this, I am currently in Paradise Island, the Bahamas. For 2011, I attended a ball with the theme of Alice and Wonderland and then headed to the streets of Nassau for Junkanoo until sunrise.  I am sending you all big kisses and hugs and hoping that all of your wildest dreams come true in 2011!!!

PS  Where is your favorite place that you have celebrated New Year’s Eve in?  I am always looking for new places!