Eerie Travel Secrets

Any tourist thinking of Peru thinks of Machu Picchu. More than half of all Tourists want to see this "new world wonder", so that 2000 tourists on a historical tour per day are visiting the place. Unesco is already considering to declare this open air museum as "threatened" world heritage.

So we have been there – what to do now? At least – so our friend Plabo says – you should trek there on the Inka-path. No chance, we say. Already 15 years ago there were about 1000 people on this path per month, today there are 20 times more – no – thank you. You have to book 4 months in advance to make this historical trip. So we decided to take the modern, rather expensive express train. And we would see to climb into Inka heaven in Choquequirao. The so called "golden cradle" – the sister town of Machu Picchu – is just as big, but only 25% of it has been unearthed as yet. And it is rather unapproachable – no road leads there. But our tourist organiser knew a trekking path, so we decided to undertake a big comparison between those two great historical places.

Judging by which place is better known – well 1:0 for Machu Picchu – no doubt. The approach to both places? Well – the Inka path- meant to be a spiritual experience – and considered a piece of art in itself, due to mass tourism – is dead in our judgement.

On our way to Choquequirao we are almost alone. It is not really an original Inka-path, but a breathtaking natural spectacle all the same. snowcovered mountains, wild rivers deep down, the path through a 1500 meter long canyon puts body and soul through a much harder test than the "real" Inka-path.
This makes it 1:1;

This brings us to "location" comparison.     lies on a mountain ridge. Lovely, but in truth, Machu Picchu’s location on the "sugar hut" formed rock, makes great fotos and the view from there is breathtaking, almost equal as if you would fly over the landscape.
Here we go: 2:1 for Machu Picchu.

And where do you see more lovely historical things? we,, already at 7 in the morning you see Machu Picchu full of tourists with their breakfast bun in their hands – it’s the largest open air museum in the world, at 11am the trains from Cusco approach and the place is packed – you cannot really make pictures without a lot of strangers inside…

whereas in Choquequirao we just meet two minigroups of tourist – that’s all.
So as for taking home pictures of the ruins themselves, and enjoying a guided tour and the eerie travel secrets- like virgins thrown to death to pacify the sun god- and other stories you are told, in Machu Picchu you cannot even hear them for the noise of the crowd, and so Choquequirao wins.

Which brings us to 2:2;

Actually, you should see both.

Would you like to hear more insider travel stories, you are welcome to the Author’s site http://eerietravelsecrets.com; besides being an extensive traveller, the Author, B.J. Vetter also runs a business, check it out if it is suitable for you, too: http://realmoneydoublingforexrobot.com

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Learning Spanish Online Learning German Online Learning French Online Learning Chinese Online Learning Japanese Online In today’s competitive and evolving world, the importance of education has never been more important. People are now more aware of the continuing need to improve one’s self through adult learning. Due to factors such as time constraint, e-learning has quickly emerged as an alternative means of continuing education.

So if you are seeking to learn a foreign language, whether for professional or personal reasons, online learning is absolutely the right  choice for ANYONE.

And I’ll say it CLEARLY here – this is especially for those who feel "under-priviledged" in life because of their background.  I don’t need to mention the hype of New York High Society parents putting their 3-year kids into foreign language classes or engaging a private (foreign speaking) Nanny to teach them – well – if you are the normal person with no such means in your background  – now – you can catch up to those from the "other" side if you are determined – and – I promise you – you’ll catch up fast!!-

Unless you are one of those who buys a course and never actually use it or listens to – but then again, you are probaby also the type who skipped out of school because your parents PAID for it, or you sign up for any kind of course and never go there – well – let me tell you – you cannot be helped!

I’m also not sure if it helps to buy your children an online course – because – honestly – I think you ought to do some "connecting motivation" before you do so – to make it worth the effort (_your money – if you are paying).  What I mean to say – you’ll have to have conversations with them that THEY ask you – PLEASE – I WANT to learn that language because I want to know more about that culture etc. because I want to go there one day or see and studay this and that and know the lingo when I do that. And I want to start NOW ! So what I would do is – I’d say – ok – I’ll "borrow" you the money – and I’ll make exams  and proof of progress steps – and as they progress – you somehow can reduce the dept or actually make them pay step by step – this is up to you.

But in general – things that do not require any kind "sacrifice" (like a reduction in pocket money) are not considered as "value" – this is why so many kids drop out of school – they do not see education as "value" yet – as they cannot see their lifespan in reality in front of them, like we parents do.

 As globalization continues to be the trend these days, more and more people feel the need to learn at least one foreign language. Again, due to the fact that ein averag city life you have to spend 30 min or more to commute to the next place where courses are held – and then all this back home- another 30 minutes  -this is "wasted time" -!! 

The major advantage of learning foreign languages through e-learning is the convenience it presents to the learner.

Materials can be made available anytime, anywhere. The learner can access modules at his own time and he work on his courses at his own pace. Computer assisted language learning has been in existence for many years now. In fact, its roots can be traced back to the 1960s. This technique began with a simple drill and practice approach. As more pedagogical elements were introduced, computer assisted language learning evolved into a more interactive experience. The question many people ask is just how effective is learning a foreign language online?

The main difference between classroom learning and e-learning is the presence of a teacher. A good teacher recognizes the learning needs of the student. In addition to that, a good teacher recognizes the learning style of each individual student. He capitalizes on both factors and enhances learning through different techniques. Due to advances is many e-learning platforms, these factors have been taken into consideration. The learner’s needs and learning styles can now be dealt with accordingly. Today’s e-learning platforms offer a wide range of approaches to suit each learner’s specific needs.

  Learn Spanish Online!

 Learn German Online! 

Learn French Online! 

Learn Chinese Online!

 Learn Arabic Online!    

Some platforms even make use of facilitators – human or otherwise – to encourage the student and enhance the learning process. When combined with the convenience of studying at one’s own pace, e-learning proves to be an effective way of learning a new language. Studies show that more people prefer e-learning to the traditional classroom sessions. The flexibility the e-learning offers seems to be one of the major factors that students take into consideration. Some personalities react more positively to the online learning environment. One explanation is that the relative anonymity that this type of learning gives a student more confidence.

Studies show that learning languages online seems to present a more relaxed learning atmosphere. It has been proven time and again that such a learning atmosphere does a lot in terms of enhancing the learning process. The student learns more and in a shorter span of time than normal.

The student also tends to remember more of what he has learned. Online foreign language learning also capitalizes on the amount and quality of information and resources that can be found on the Internet. E-learning programs take advantage of this situation, enhancing learning even more.

Learning French Language= Benefit Of Learning Online

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By: Philip Nicosia Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com LearnMyLingo.com delivers a variety of quick language learning programs right to your desktop and a free language learning guide, 8 ways to learn a language quickly and easily. learning a foreign language online

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Make Money on Vacation

Indonesia In Extreme Style

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For most travelers Republic of Indonesia is mainly associated with Bali island. However, the country has a lot to offer for those who are eager to take a rest far from trendy resorts and beach exotics. Those who love everything out of ordinary can choose an extreme tour.

Travel managers say that the number of tourists who choose adventurous trips is getting bigger and bigger. Indonesia is probably one of the best places to spend your time this way. The country includes: Greater Sunda Islands (Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Java and Madura), Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku islands and the western part of the New Guinea island, formerly known as Irian Jaya. This is the real expanse for extreme travelers.

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The most typical pastime is a trip to Java and Bali islands. This is in fact not an extreme tour, and it suits simple tourists who love active rest. Having arrived at Jakarta, travelers change their means of transport to Jeeps and ride along the Java island, admiring volcanoes, national parks, active geysers and wild animals. I trip like this usually includes a tour around huge internationally renowned temples, like Buddhist Borobudur and Hindu Prambanan. In Borobudur you can observe 1500 VIII-X century bas-reliefs and sculptures whereas Prambanan offers stunningly graceful and realistic sculptures that portray gods. After a week of walks along rural roads tourists find themselves on Bali. At day, the best pastime is sunbathing and swimming whereas at night you can spent your time clubbing and partying. Such 15-day tour costs no less than $1500.
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Those who value real adventures are offered other kinds of trips. For instance, you can pay $2,5-5 thousand and spent your time on Irian Jaya island living among cannibals (better not to spend too much time here) – an ancient nationality which managed to preserve its world-known traditions. Tourists live in real Papuan villages, raft along tropical rivers, participate in magical rituals and wild hunting using primitive tools. You will also get your doze of adrenalin when participating in tours called “Visiting head hunters”. This is a trip to Kalimantan island, during which you will travel on Jeeps, boats and by foot along the primeval jungles surrounded with rhinoceroses, giant butterflies, orang-utans and bears. Travelers spend two weeks on getting acquainted with customs and tempers of local wild tribes, familiarizing themselves with a fabulous sultan’s palace in Tenggarong, dancing at Tanamur – the country’s most famous disco and doing shopping at local floating market.
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Another kind of extreme tour is a trip to Sumatra island, where you can enjoy Krakatoa volcano, which erupted in 1883 – this was one of the largest cataclysms in history of human being. Travelers will also float along the Palembong canals – the Venice of the South-Eastern Asia, visit Bukittinggi, the capital of Minangkabau ethnic group. Some scientists say that it is in this city that descendants of Macedonian warriors and Amazons live. The journey is accomplished with a tour around the jungles.

By: Tatyana Kogut.

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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Technorati Tags: Bali holidays, join Global Resort Network, off the beaten path, travel secrets, wildlife tour packages

Eye to Eye With A Sumatran Tiger

called Panthera Tigris Sumatrae, the Sumatran Tiger weighs in the range of two hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds for males and one hundred and sixty to two hundred pounds for adult females. Length is about seven and a half feet for males and six and a half feet for females. Body color is darker than other tiger variants and stripes are narrower. Face and neck is characterized by marked growth of hair, giving the appearance of a mane. Paws have webbing between toes that enables the big cat to swim at quite a rapid pace.

An inhabitant of dense lowland and mountain forests, swamps and peat moss forests, the Sumatran Tiger is a solitary and nocturnal feline that takes a variety of prey animals for food. These include wild boar, tapir and deer typically but also fowl and fish at times. Even orang-utans are hunted when they come down from trees.

Our guide was taking us up Bukit Lawang in the North of Sumatra so that we could meet one of Sumatra’s last orang-utans. Walking in front of us with his long bush-knife in an atmosphere that reminded me very much to my last sauna-visit back home, we hassled to keep up with him when he suddently disappeared. We heard him crying out loud "Ouhouhouhouhou!" After a while he came back with a bit of anger on his face – "I’ll bring him into your sight – I promise!" But the orang-utan keeps in hiding.

Meanwhile, we are allowed to taste from a huge Chinin-tree, it tastes really bitter; I make a mental note to drink a Gin and Tonic tonight, which also contains chinin.

After an hour we sit down on an old tree-trunk fully exhaused, scratching our thorn-wounds and moskito-bites. Then we hear a growling far away, I feel a chill crawl over my spine and forearms, we exchange looks while the guide makes a sign for us to hush-up. Then we can take a glimpse of him through the shrubbery – a tiger! I’m so scared and elated at the same time, I can hardly breath. Luckily, he takes no notice of us but, after pausing a while, he proceeds in the other direction.

So we got to see one of the last Sumatran tigers; other animals included in the cat’s diet are porcupines, crocodiles, snakes and young rhinos. Our guide tells us, the tiger has been seen forcing some of its prey to take to water in a chase, where it swims over and kills them.

Early in the twentieth century, tigers occupied nearly the entire island of Sumatra. They are now only found in some scattered and segregated reserves. Many tigers live outside the protected areas and are shot by poachers or come into conflict with locals. They are among the many species on the once serene island of Sumatra that are losing the battle of survival to human encroachment.

Mating season for Sumatran Tigers is in the times of Winter and Spring though they have been known to mate year round. Pregnancy lasts three and a half months following which a litter of up to six cubs is born, with two to three being the norm. The young begin to venture outside their den at two weeks of age and start hunting at around six months. Independence is gained at two years of age. Lifespan is known to be fifteen years in the wild and twenty years in captive programs.

If you also want to take a chance to see a tiger, you should fly via Singapore to Medan in Indonesia, from where it is not too far into Gunung Leuser National Park.

You can enjoy a luxury holiday, and take half-day trekking tours into the jungle – be sure to hire a professional guide.  To really see the best, you should book 2 days and stay overnight in a camp. It’s eerie, yes -; but actually, in 2 days you do stand  a good chance to meet up with an organg utan. Calculate Euro 50/person/day for such an adventure.

The author, Brigitta J. Vetter, is a member of Global Resorts Network and can as such travel extensively. If you are interested to check out the incredible club-memberships, check Global Resorts Network 

B. Vetter

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Technorati Tags: eco tours, Global Resorts Network, off the beaten path, vacation resort packages

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Jewish Quarter Budapest, Unesco World Heritage, How you Can Contribute to Save It on Your European Tour From Doom Through Speculation
Most of us enjoy a bit of a historical vacation, but on a European Tour Package you can actually get quite fed up by being dragged to yet another chruch of the XY century. Here is a tip about some intriguing ruins-caf called Simpla kert in the jewish quarter of Budapest. Translated this means simple garden and each and every night you ll find it full with about 800 young people, local and foreign intellectuals, having a great time amidst almost naked walls covered with artful graffiti and furniture from the fleamarket. Simpla kert is a former steel-factory in Kazinczy-Street and is a living example for how the old Jewish Quarter of Budapest could be saved.

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Because it is situated on the edge of the partly protected quarter of the Unesco World Cultural Heritage, where real-estate speculation blooms. Faceless new flats can be seen some places between old rubble and un-renovated lovely old buildings. An civil-initiative has protested against the destruction of the old quarter by corrupt politicians.
The history: 1786 the Austrian-Hungarian Kaiser Josef II. Released a tolerance degree allowing Jews to settle right on the fringes of Budapest, outside of the city-walls. Quickly a lively Jewish Quarter developped , full of carftsmen-shops kosher foodshops, Caf s and restaurants as well as Synagoges. This came to an end with worldwar II. About 60.000 jews were kept in the Jewish Quareter imprisoned, around half of them were killed later on and the rest scattered across Europe or overseas after the Communists took over Hungary. Only a handful of them stayed on.
Simpla kert is not the only place in the quarter who brought young life back there s a couple of new restaurants, a jiddish cabaret and so on. In spite of their really bad condition, some people had the idea to use the old buildings. There was no money but a bunch of good ideas. The founders negotiated cheap rent and befriended architects helped to make the place safe . Furniture came from the fleamarkets and techncial stuff from cast-offs of Viennese pubs and restaurants, or friends. Attila Busak, owner of Szimpla kert says: we could never plan for a long timespan, so we added on as we got money in from the business, to make it look good and comfortable. A really good kitchen and a diversity of cultural events make this the in place of Budapest and beyond.

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The brand Szimpla has become known all across Europe by now as a meeting point for young people who want to quickly jet by cheap flight to the Hungarian capital for a few days. Szimpla kert, Szimpla Caf and Dupa Restaurants just a few streets further along the kert are actually connected with each other by their cellars a common feature also in old Vienna. This is, however, a place you should avoid at all cost. Unless you want to be in for a rather eerie surprise and one of Hungary s best kept secrets.
Should you be interested to learn more about

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For over a century, the Samoset Resort has been
considered the premier coastal resort location in Maine,
renowned for spectacular and expansive views of
Penobscot Bay and distant islands.

Durante más de un siglo, el Resort Samoset ha sido
considerado el primer resort de costa situado en el estado de Maine,
y conocido por sus espectaculares y extensas vistas de
Penobscot Bay y sus distantes islas.

Play golf on the 18-hole, ocean-side,championship course,
which has been featured in Golf Traveler and Golf Digest
magazines.

Jugar a golf junto al océano, en su campo profesional de 18 hoyos, el cual ha sido destacado en las revistas Golf Traveler y Golf Digest.
All luxurious rooms and suites feature a private balcony
or terrace overlooking the ocean, outdoor pool and lush
gardens, or the awarding winning golf course.

Todas las lujosas habitaciones y suites disponen de balcón privado
o terraza con vistas al océano, piscina al aire libre y exuberantes
jardines, o al galardonado campo de golf.

When comparing the exact dates and unit size, here is
what you’ll pay elsewhere for a one week stay…

Expedia
$1,364.51

Travelocity
$1,280.66

Hotels (.com)
$1,364.51

Orbitz
$1,372.14

Comparando las fechas exactas y el mismo tamaño de apartamento, esto es lo que tendrá que pagar a través de otros mayoristas por una semana de estancia…
Expedia
$1,364.51
Travelocity
$1,280.66
Hotels (.com)
$1,364.51
Orbitz
$1,372.14

Why not book this beautiful one-bedroom unit through
membership and pay only $398 for the entire week?

¿Porqué no reservar este bonito apartamento de una habitación a
través de nuestra membresía y pagar $398 solamente por una semana entera?

 

That’s nearly a $900 savings on this one week alone.

Esto es cerca de $900 de ahorro en esta semana tan solo.

These types of savings are available exclusively to our
members.  Click here, if you’d like to become a member of Global Resorts Network.

Este tipo de ahorros está disponible exclusivamente
para nuestros miembros.

Enjoy Life!
 
¡Disfruta la vida!

P.S.

While you’re there, choose from a full body massage,
facial, or 1 1/2 hour combo.

P.S.
Mientras esté allí, elija entre un masaje completo de cuerpo,
facial o 1 ½ de combo.

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Technorati Tags: Best Kept Secrets Travel, resort vacation package, romantic vacations, saving Global Resorts Network, surf

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The silence of the Grootberg-Plateau is magic an endless view into the Clip River Valley with table-mountains left and right. In the warm light of the morning sun the slops are shimmering once reddish, once yellow, then ocre coloured or white like snow. It is really breathtaking at first.

This is Damaraland, 1700m above sea level, an area where you will find almost no literature about, located around the Brandberg, Namibia s highest mountain with 2573m high, leading down to the Huab-River and towards the West, bordering on the Skeleton Coast.

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Whoever is travelling here, needs both: a reliable vehicle and guide. The guides (mostly of German origin) will show you the scarced Welwitschia mirabilis plant, or the typical African wildlife. Damaras are one of the oldest ethnias of Namibia. They mostly still live in intact villages, as they have nearly no chance to find jobs. Would it not be for the pilot-project Grootberg-Lodge
Namibia Government has realized, that eco-friendly tourism is a success and can help not only wildlife, but also people. It can create jobs which enable the locals to actually stay within their environment, and the money helps the families.
Dominic from South Africa and Simonetta from Rome have established the first Luxury but Eco friendly Lodge consisting of 11 pretty chalets on this plateau, 7 further to follow in the surrounding landscape. Investment came not only from their own pockets, but also from the European Community.
Men and women from the region helped with construction and were trained to become guides, cooks, drivers and waiters. We are proud of our jobs says Crosley. As soon as I have saved enough money, I can marry at last! Some of the communitiy’s money has already flowed into infrastructure school was renovated And books bought; in 10 years time, so the plan right now the Lodge should be managed complety by Damaras.
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The employees have a happy attitude if it was a good day they will sing in the kitchen, dance with the guest in the Lounge, they tell about the tribal culture. The Lodge is led as environmental-protective as possible, just the design is not exactly eco! It is exclusive, inviting and warm. Food is mostly served on the veranda, where also the discussions and chats after dinner take place, with a free view on the watering-place where you ll see Onyx, Kudus, antilopes and zebras. During the rainy season you ll even see some lone elephant coming up the the plateau.

It is so beautiful, there is only the food to be mentioned: a true boorish Curry (Boboti) and a addictive making Rock-Shandy red like the earth of Africa, just to mention a few. The guide Chris is adamant to show you the little five of Africa rather than the big five . Like the beatle Tok-Tokki, making a handstand. The White Lady the dancing spider. The cheeky desert-chameleon, and the sneaky Sidewinder-snake and the coloured gecko.
If you have childred (or remained a child yourself) you ll enjoy taking a ride down the sand-dunes on sledges . Passing the salt-piste of Swakop we ride towards the largest seal-colony in Africa Cape Cross, at mile 108, where you ll have action pure: around 100 000 seals are fighting for space on the tight and rocky peaks showing out of the boiling Atlanctic white foamed ocean tide, pushing the babies around, biting each other in open fight or is it just play who knows – something for nature film-lovers.
After this you ll have a lovely candle-light dinner on a lonely Lodge on the sea-shore watching the Namibian sky with its millions of stars one of the most stunning features of Africa those clear night skies, you think you can actually pick your stars.
The tour goes on to see a morbid ships-graveyard along the Skeleton-Coast , the 500km long stretch of coast reaching up to Angola around 400 wrecked ships can be seen here the waves licking on them golden sand dunes visible ashore.
Some decades ago I was camping there with a group from Windhoek and we celebrated New Years Eve there. We lit a magnesium-firework and the landscape looked exactly delighting like Kitzbuehel in new fallen virgin snow just as white. Howling jackals later at night who feasted on the scraps of our braii-vleis (grilled meat) brought us quickly back to African shores and reality, but I ve spent many years in Namibia and never heard of a human actually being hurt by jackals. And on this trip we met a couple of geologists in their lonesome tent somewhere in Kaokoland, which we crossed when we came to Skeleton-coast from inland (Outjo), and we invited them to our Silvester-party. To supplement our dwindling meat-supply, we had cought around 150 catfish by night using a flahslight and handlines not very sportive, we knew, but we were in a hurry. We smoked them in an old barrel which we filled with oakwood sawdust (we had brought a few kilos of that along for smoking fish, along with a bag full of lemon), for around 2 days and it was absolutely delicious.
And one of them told us the best kept secret of the Damaras and please note – while he was still completely sober: the geologists working for one of the big mining companies in Canada, were prospecting in Namibia then still called Southwest-Africa with little success. They found traces of this and that mineral, but nothing spectacular and they actually felt put under pressure by their bosses.
Then, one of their Damara-guides told them the story of the valley of the women . Women expecting babies they did not really want for whatever reason went into this valley all alone, to perform some rituals, and after 3-10 weeks they came back to the village and the pregnancy had always ended by then. And of course, their guide contributed this to witchcraft in connection with a certain location etc.
But our two geologists knew better than to believe in witchcraft: equipped with Geiger-counters they visited the valley of the women which was absolutely empty just the usual sand dunes of the desert but they measured radio-active presence on their instruments which explained why those women had lost their embryos – and shortly afterwards our friends – they could claim their success to their bosses: locating the greatest uranium-mining area in Southern Africa.

They did not mention if they shared their bonus with their guide (actually I m quite sure they did) but fact is: besides the DeBeers diamond mining, uranium mining is today one of the few income streams of Namibia until there is a substantial degree of growth in Eco-tourism.
However, if you plan your Wildlife Tour Package you can do so without peril even when pregnant because if there were truly another radio-active area in Damaraland, our keen geologists would have found and exploited it by now! The best kept secrets of African travel I let on above happened some 50 years ago, and for Africa this is antique history indeed as there is little documented of their older culture.
If you d like to read more untold historical vacation stories, eco tours and secret travel adventures, check back here regularly.

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