Who has not seen the pics in TV in 2007-soldiers up to their teeth in weapons- hitting unarmed people to death – like a Japanese journalist. Monks with bloody heads. This is how the mass-demonstration of the monks was crashed.

Mandalay today is a rather (not tops) modern city- noisy – but without the hectic of other Asian metropoles. And you see relatively few soldiers. Modern buildings surround the clock – tower, erected by the colonial masters to teach their oriental charges to be "on time" – which is so much likely as the proverbial snow in hell. A few streets from there you find the Zegyo market.

In a few years – so the talk goes – this will vanish and be replaced by yet another neon-lit supermarket hall, but right now, the market-women still reign over the food on this town. Tomatoes, bananas, two dozen kinds of dried fish – but also with mountains of crab-paste, bean-cookies, and the best of all:  snake fish – supposed to supercharge male potency.  Not too far away we find men with white streaked faces – and flex-machines drilling into a huge white marble block – ahhh – we hear with surprise – this is going to be one of Buddhas toes.

Other families work on Buddhas elbow and Buddhas stomach. A very special artist will be in charge of Buddhas face. Apparently this is a real profession in Burma – "the maker of Buddhas face".  A rather strange profession, we find, but interesting all the same, just like the other one – that of the gold-beater: he beats 10m2 hair-thin foil of gold out of a 32gram piece of real gold, as he hammers on that piece for days on end. This – is also for the Buddha, of course.

We all love Thailand, but let’s face it, it has it’s ugly side, too. Whereas Myanmar is – on the surface of course- the virgin – (as yet untouched by Tommy Hilfinger, Mercedes and Burger King style buildings and stores, it is still somewhat authentic) and Thailand (in comparison) is the whore. 

Apparently 400 000 tourists came to Mayanmar in 2006, 20 000 of those were Germans. After the monks’ demonstrations and the following unrest, tourism collapsed.  Hotels released staff or closed down all together, souvenir shops closed.

The generals don’t really care. They are making big profits with  Jade, Teak-wood, gas and minerals. The chambermaids, bell-boys, gardeners – in short – the small people of the population have no income now.  And even the more educated people don’t understand the "boykott" for political reasons = the cold shoulder the Western world is showing them.

Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon is surely fascinating. Especially in the evening, when the last rays of sun touch the golden needle of it’s top, with a slight pink-rosè touch…. Women with jasmin-chains around their neck kneel in awe and prayer. Pink clothed nuns are saying their ritsch-ratsch prayers in endless monotony.  Pictures of peace and pure bliss. These are just as true as the other side: the violence – the death of innocent people.

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Technorati Tags: Adventure Luxury Travel, eco tours, historical travel, luxury bargain travel, luxury resorts, off the beaten path, tour package

Inverness, commonly called the capital city of the Highlands, was granted city status in the year two thousand and one and at this moment in time is the the only city to be found in the region. Strangely Inverness has no legal boundaries which can cause problems with population assessments.

The problems are made worse because the city’s population is on the increase, Inverness has the highest growth rate in the UK. One of the things we know for certain is that the city has a very happy population, in 2008 the Telegraph took a survey of the quality of life in 189 cities in Britain and Inverness was ranked fifth. Following on we can state that Inverness is a beautiful place in which to spend time and this is most probably one of the factors which make Inverness immensely popular with tourists.

Luckily there is a great deal of Inverness bed & breakfast accommodations with the majority being able to be booked online.

Inverness is also referred to as the gateway to the Highlands of Scotland for the clear fact that it is the best place to make the most of the Highland public transport system and an incredible number of tourist attractions are relatively easy to reach. Possibly the best way to see them is by using an organized bus tour or day trip.

There are a few companies visiting places such as, Culloden, Loch Ness or Urquart Castle or for the hardy tourists it is possible to visit such places as John O’Groats on a days round trip. There are also a few city tours, such as those run by City Sightseeing or Tony Harmsworth.

A small number of tourists choose to stay in 2 different places in the Scottish Highlands such as Inverness then Fort William. The town of Fort William is more popular with people who enjoy sports especially rock climbers, hill walkers and ramblers who take their chances going to the top of Ben Nevis which towers above the town center. In a similar way bed and breakfast accommodation in Fort William and rather like other bed and breakfast accommodation in Scotland it is often not incredibly expensive, excellent value for money and incredibly tidy, clean and comfortable with unbeatable hospitality.

One important fact you should remember is that the airport for Inverness is, about, 7 miles east of the city at Dalcross. It is easy to catch a bus to the small but busy airport which is quite reasonable. If you require a map of the area then you will discover that they are free at the tourist office, on Castle Wynd in the town center. While you are staying in the city you should make a note to visit Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Inverness Castle, the ’stone of tubs’ and Mercat Cross especially the Castle Garrison Encounter, an enjoyable interactive experience.

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Technorati Tags: Adventure Luxury Travel, Best Kept Secrets Travel, Eco Tour, european vacation tour, historical trips

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Some peopleare lucky enough to realize that the last shirt has no pockets – meaning, you cannot take your money into the grave. We folks get older, there is always the danger that something happens and you are immobilized for the rest of your remaining days. I’ve met such people. What they regrettet most was – why did I not travel and see the places I want to see still while I still could? 

For a traveling experience out of the ordinary, consider a luxury tour of the world. Many people are not attracted by traditional tours, but these tours are different. They are more like a customized vacation, with your every need and want taken care of. You decide where to go and what to do, and the luxury tour planners’ job is just to make it come true. Lack of money should also not be a hindrance, on this site you’lllearn how to travel in luxury but on a shoestring budget.

We have millions of choices when it comes to destinations. Some are more interesting than others and some are rather unusual. There are destinations that are easy to get to and others that are quite complicated. Another way to enjoy your holidays is to buy a timeshare that is also great fun.

Try a getaway that will lead to the other side of the world. If you want to go to a beautiful beach and the best place to dive in Asia consider Sipadan, Malaysia. This island is east of Borneo and has a fantastic underwater life. There is a lovely small village in the northern part of Palawan Island. El Nido has access to many islands and a secret lagoon. This travel destination is located in the Phillippines. Explore the islands and feast on the scrumptious fish dishes.
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If you are interested in monuments you might go to the Angkor Temples in Cambodia. It is one of the most famous archeological sites in the world and also one of the best. The Great Wall in China is a fascinating travel destination. An authentic part of the wall remains in Simatai and you will be delighted by the grandeur of the Chinese Empire.

Those who enjoy travel destinations that involve mountains and deserts are in luck. In Algeria you will find one of the best views of the Sahara Desert. Visit France and gaze at the Alps. Be sure to visit Chamonix which is a very popular tourist attraction. If you go to India, you can see the Himalayan Mountains in all their grandeur. You can hike through beautifully landscaped areas and meet the friendly folks who live in the area.

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xx

By: Daniel Wright

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

Technorati Tags: Adventure Luxury Travel, Best Kept Secrets Travel, Eco Tour, eco tours, european tours 2009

There are certain places that unchain your phantasy – the name Timbuktu is certainly one of those. The reality is – right there in Timbuktu nobody understands why tourists ever come here, what are they actually looking for?

It’s been a place of travel novelists of all classes, from Chatwin downwards, for people writing their diploma thesis – and for Donald  Duck.

So Timbuktu is a place that carries its past as a front page promise. But there is nothing really worth mentioning – or to be seen – from the past.

There are no surrounding landscapes – there is just dryness, nothing grows, there is hunger, and sometimes there is war. Tuareg-folks have fought time and again,  since 1996 they keep more or less peace.

The dream of all Mali- people is not adventure travels in the desert, but the dream is Paris, London, New York, Rome.  The place is so poor that it takes hours to change a 10 000 West-African Franc  bill – just nobody has so much money. The value of this bill is Euro 15 – a bit under US$ 20,-; so the tourist has no choice but to eat so much food and drink so many cokes until the sum of his consumption has been adding up to about this amount of money – !

The golden times of Timbuktu were about 500 years ago, in the 15th and 16th century. In that time it had 100 000 inhabitants – today a weak 3rd of this is still around. The city was rich then through trading salt from the North and gold from the South. It’s real fame founded on Timbuktu’s university and its professors,  that came all the way from Cairo and Fes, the famous library (which looks nothing today – inspite of careful renovations – where priceless manuscripts were kept – and the high number of students back then, reading Islam theology and besides this, also Aristoteles.

So Timbuktu’s fame only lasted 2 centuries, until in 1591 an army from Marocco conquered the city – and brought along with it the language – French – some architecture, and couscous.  The latter is really a blessing for any tourist, as you’d be at a loss what else to eat there. So Timbuktu is living it’s myth to be a constant victim – of foreigners – first the Tuareg – who came in search of water, the army from Marocco – who came in search of gold and brought fire arms,  and the French colonial occupiers, who came to erect a world empire, with Timbuktu somewhere in the middle.  In 1988 Timbuktu came on the list of UNESCO  world heritage.  First the city was left to rot, and once it was rotted for good,  they started renovating it to death – since today’s sightseeing highlights are not recognizable when compared to old photographs of the same buildings.

Something funny happened in 2007 – and if that is not typically African – then I don’t know it: Timbuktu appeared on the list of nominated places to be voted on as one of the 7 new age world wonders.  Now it took a very long time until Mali offcials even realized their city actually was on that list.  Then – politicians and uban-dynamic telecom managers and tourist marketers from Bamako took a while to digest that surprise and started a hectic voting campaign. They actually reached the finals and took pace 14. Not bad – actually.  They needed 100 million votes – the organizers said, to make it  to the top 7.  And Timbuktu was unable to establish a lobby big enough to follow through. Operation "a click for Timbuktu" started

And all inhabitants were steered towards the Telecenter to give their free votes. But finally, this was not enough to compete against the Colloseum in Rome or the Taj Mahal. Timbuktu’s dirt-structures stood no chance in this competition- but still, in a last minute action half the African continent was mobilized to vote for Timbuktu.  If the organizers had started just 1 month earlier, they would have made place 7 easily. It would have brought new fame, new sponsors to conserve the library and its manuscripts, more tourist, more development and money.

An ugly new city has been erected in the last 15-20 years – with foreign money, of course, and Libya has financed one runway for an international airport.  There is just one way NOT to be disillusioned when returning from Timbuktu, and that involves quite a lot of work. You’d have to read the travel adventure reports of Leo Africanus, Mungo Park, Reneé Caillié, and in between the Segu-Tales of Maryse Condé, BEFORE you actually depart for Timbuktu.  But even then you’ll have to give your imagination a strong boost – too see that myth that once existed. So whenever somebody mentions Timbuctu it is called: The Mysterious City. And a typical sentence of people in Mali  is the calling on all 333 holy and wise men to perform miracles – like- the soccer ball should  fall jam-smack into the goal,  the malaria-infection rate should  sink, and the votes for the world-wonder list should mysteriousely double. 

Yet, some miracles do happen there: last year, when 2 Austrian tourists were kidnapped in Petra, the islamic kidnappers brought them to Mali, and after a couple of months they were actually still alive and released.  Both looked about 20 years older at their return, caused by sunburn, thirst and hunger they were suffering during their captivity. They told an eerie story about their life in captivity with the Moslem fanatics in secret, far off  places.

This story can be credited to Ingrid Turner, an Austrian journalist,  and translated by B. Vetter , publisher of http://www.eerietravelsecrets.com;  B.Vetter lived in Africa herself for 10 years.

Technorati Tags: Adventure Luxury Travel, Eco Tour, eerie travel secrets, historical trip, history travel, tours of europe

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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.

Technorati Tags: Adventure Luxury Travel, Best Kept Secrets Travel, Eco Tour, Global Resorts Network