Wonderful resorts at Moorea Island

It’s name means ‘Yellow Lizard’, the island itself is shaped much like a giant fork lying in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Moorea Island, part of Society Islands, a group, which itself is part of the larger, French Polynesian archipelago and a French Protectorate, lies some 17 kms northwest of Tahiti, a famous tourist attraction in the region that draws thousands of visitors every month.

Moorea like its famous neighbour too, gets its fair share of tourists thanks to its close proximity to Papeeta, the Tahitian capital. Ferries often does round trips between the two islands. It is often featured in American wedding magazines as an ideal honeymoon destination.

For those, who wish to make a beeline to Moorea, here are some of the better places to stay:

Sofitel Moorea Beach Resort:
BP 28 | (formerly Sofitel Ia Ora Moorea), Maharepa, Moorea, Society Islands 98728, French Polynesia

Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa:
Moorea Island,Bp 3410 Temae, Maharepa, Moorea, Society Islands 98713, French Polynesia

InterContinental Resort & Spa Moorea:
Papetoai | PO Box 1019, Moorea, Society Islands, French Polynesia

Sheraton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa:
Papetoai, Moorea, Society Islands 98729, French Polynesia

Fare Vaihere:
Baie d’Opunohu | Papetoai, Moorea, Society Islands 98729, French Polynesia

Enjoying the sun and surf at Istanbul’s beaches

While not touring the great monuments of the Byzantium Empire or the great mosques built by various Sultans, then why not head towards any of these great beaches in the city.

Burc Beach: This is more of a family (read: Children) oriented beach. If you have children then you must definitely head towards it, otherwise, ignore it. It is located about 10 miles or 24 kms from the city centre.

Solar Beach: Located, literally, walking distance from the Burc beach, this is a good spot for all those tan-lovers. One of its famous spectacles is the night-time beach party that takes place here every night. Frolic during the day, tango during the night.

Dalia Beach : This is more of a private beach than a public one. A small, natural inlet ensures the visitors to privacy from the general public. Located about 38 kms from the city center, it houses an excellent fish restaurant.

Istanbul partys on!

Being a cosmopolitan city that it is, Istanbul cradles the best of both, Eastern and Western World.

The former Constantinople, or Byzantium, as the city was known during the days of yore, has something to offer for everyone, irrespective of taste and culture.

Among its many delights, are some of its well-known nightspots, where after a hard day of sight seeing, many tourists converge to shake a leg or two.

Babylon: The city’s premier concert venue, stages Turkish, jazz, rock and even electronic music shows. Among the famous of all events is a monthly, ‘Oldies with Goldies’ event, where have said to fight over tickets.

Balans: This is a popular rock club, where it is experiencing growing popularity with the introduction of the newest form of ‘electronica’ genre of music. It is also a pub and has its own brewery, too.

Nardis Jazz Club: Located at the Kuleidibi Souk, this simple, yet elegant Jazz club attracts all the jazz lovers who converge here to hear the local musicians.

Daydream Island – For all those daydreamers out there

Daydream Island is one of the many favourite holiday destinations for the Queenlanders in the Whitsunday Islands archipelago. One of the seven islands of the ‘Molle Group’ in the Whitsundays, Daydream is a small island measuring only 400 meters at its widest point.

With ever-present tropical waters and white-sandy beaches, supplemented with plenty of under-age activities, it is not hard to see why this tropical paradise is famous among the residents of the sunshine state.

There are only two resorts that cater to ever growing tourist population. The one, which is at the north-eastern end mainly, caters to day tourists, while the newer one, Daydream Island Resort and Spa, have all the facilities for over-nighters.

Similarly, all the tropical islands, Daydream too, offer a plethora of activities to suit all ages. Some of the popular ones are snorkelling, water polo, kayaking, tennis, beach volleyball, mini-golf and even yoga sessions.

Top activities must for every visitor to Rottnest Island

For visitors, to completely enjoy the thrills of Rottnest Island, it is necessary to go along the these walking trails to better acquaint themselves with the island.

Vincent Way Heritage Trail
This 2 km walkway, taking about 45 minutes will take you by all the buildings situated on Rottnest Island’s old settlement.

It starts at the seawall, built between 1846-49, by the Aboriginal prisoners, and takes the visitors past, Cottages H, J and E, the Buckingham Palace, the Lodge Resort, Chapel, Ranger’s Office, and the former residence of Governor Hampton, who use to live here in the summer of 1864.

Cape Vlamingh Heritage Trail
This single kilometre walking trail takes a leisurely 30 minutes and takes the walker past the wreck of Kiryo Maru, Bridge Rock and Blow Hole.

Along the way, you will also be view dolphims frolicking along the coast, Quokkas and Dugites, as well as island’s flora such as the sea berry saltbush and the coastal daisy.

Gastronomic Turkish Delights

Without doubt, all the dished mentioned below are among the most famous and ‘most-turkish’ of all Turkish dishes. And no matter which even country you visit, if there is a sizeable population then you will definitely come across these Turkish delights.

Turkish Coffee: Known locally and even in literature, both regional as well as nation, as ‘Kahve’ it is literally not for the mild taste buds.

Meze: This is mostly a starters dish and consists of hummus, feta and stuffed grape leaves. It is served with an anise-flavoured drink call ‘raki’.

Doner Kebab: This is more of a sandwich with thin leaf of meat, including (upon choice) of either beef, chicken or lamb served in either a flat bread or a bun with yoghurt, sauces and salad.

Baklava: This sweet pastry stuffed with all kinds of dry fruits and cooked in syrup, literally, melts in your mouth.

Phetchaburi – Thailand’s paradise, which is a closely guarded secret

One of the famous, yet, hidden area of Thailand is the central district or province of Phetchaburi. Lying in the middle of the strip of Thailand, leading towards Malaysia, Phetchaburi lies, south of the capital city of Bangkok.

One reason that this area has escaped the local and international tourism itinerary is that this has been for years, being Thailand’s Royal Family’s holiday retreat.

Phetchaburi, have a very rich history and it offers some of the most tranquil natural as and cultural sites, as well as some of Thailand’s most unspoiled and tranquil villages and beach resorts.

Some of the local cultural monuments include the local temples, which dates back to the days of Aytthaya, the ancient Thai capital from 1350 to 1767. Then there is the Royal commemorative Park Museum that showcases the lifestyle of King Rama II, by exhibiting artifacts dating to his reign.

Another historical monument is the Phra Nakhon Khiri – the City on the Mount. Yet, another is the Palace Mountain or as it known locally as the Khao Want, an historical park with palace buildings, temples and halls, on situated on three hilltops.

West Indian Ocean – Home to the ‘extinct’ coelacanths

One of the most interesting and ancient species found near the island of Comoros, is marine specie called, ‘Coelacanth’. It is also referred to as a ‘living fossil’ – it was considered to be extinct.

More of a fish than any other specie, Coelacanth is a unique fish, which most biologist thought to have become extinct millions of years ago. But it’s chance discovery by local fisherman, has biologists rewriting marine species’ history.

The fish relating to the lungfish is normally found along the eastern coast of Africa, though, certain closer sub-specie have also been found near Indonesia.

These fishes live in underwater caves at depths of 90 to 150 meters during the daylight hours and move out during the night to hunt and to swim, but only to swallow depths of 55 meters.

These fishes are carnivorous feeders, feeding on cuttlefish, squid, eels and small sharks and other fishes found at their depth, and in and near volcanic habitats.

These fishes having 5 fins can swim pretty much straight, backwards, and even sideways, while hunting so that the prey doesn’t get the time to escape. They have a special electroreceptive device called a rostral organ near the skull that probably helps them in prey detection.

Sheremetev Palace: A ‘grand palace’ hotel

One of the grandest palaces of the historical city of St. Petersburg is the Sheremetev Palace.

Situated on the banks of River Neva, is a pure example of Russian architecture of the eighteenth century. Though, it is not confirmed as who built this palace nor much is known about its financier, but according to records, its first aristocratic owner was Count Alexander Dmitriyevich Sheremetev of St. Petersburg, who purchased it in 1883.

Count Sheremetev, a direct descendant of the long-established noble family of Sheremetev, who by nature of their heritage, had extensive business concerns and was one of the main aristocratic families of the region.

The count’s family owned this palace till 1917, when it was forcibly taken by the state to housed state institutions.

Since its construction, the palace has changed many hands. It is now back in private hands, though, now more as a hotel than as a private residence.

Southern Hemisphere’s Stonehenge down under

Are you interested in Rock Formations and doesn’t feel like going to the rainy and cold UK then head down south, to Aussie Land.

There you will find, among plentiful of sunshine as well as a splendid array of rock formations, assemble on the very shape and pattern of the famous and ancient ‘Stonehenge’.

The locals proud of their Irish ancestry, at Glen Innes – the self-acclaimed Celtic Capital of Australia – in New South Wales had constructed the southern hemisphere’s first and only standing rocks formation.

Called the ‘Australian Standing Rocks’, this rock formation contains some 40 giant granite rocks, some of which weighs over 30 tonnes. Out of these 24 of these representing 24 hours of a day, act as a clock, calendar and compass, all in one.

These stones formations have been modelled on the ancient stones of the ‘Ring of Brodgar’ at Orkney, Scotland, an ancient site dating back to 2,500 B.C.

From the time of its completion, the Australian Stones have served as a gathering place on various occasions for locals belong to various communities of Celtic background.